You Are the Challenger

One person carries the burden of the past, while the other carries the burden of the present.

Even though she knew that Lin Yu and Kevin were actually similar types of people, and perhaps even somewhat sympathetic, Hua still felt...

—In tomorrow's battle, perhaps only one of Kevin and Lin Yu can survive.

"Oh dear, Hua, what's wrong?"

When Elysia finally came to her senses, she saw the worry on Hua's face and immediately showed the smile that she often wore.

Are you that worried about your little lover?

"Elysia..."

Seeing her friend deliberately changing the subject, Hua didn't say much, but just stared at the other person with a helpless look.

Faced with Hua's earnest expression, Elysia awkwardly stuck out her tongue and whispered to Hua.

"Okay, it's my fault. I shouldn't have said those things at this time."

"The problem is, even if you're worried now, you can't change the fact that the two of them will inevitably fight each other."

"But--"

"There aren't that many 'buts'."

Elysia, having put away the core of the Herrscher of Constraint, spoke to the Elysian Realm, who was clearly still worried beside her.

"Don't worry too much. Kevin and Lin Yu, those two idiots won't die."

Although she didn't know why Elysia said those words with such certainty, Hua, who trusted her, did indeed see her worries fade considerably after a moment of stunned silence.

Looking at her friend beside her, Elysia spoke in a deliberately lighthearted tone, as if addressing Hua, yet also as if talking to herself, before continuing her words.

"We don't need to think too much right now."

"All we need to do is put everything aside tomorrow to witness this battle, which is of paramount importance to all mankind, and that will be enough."

Chapter 339. You are the challenger.

The following day. World Serpent Base

In a World Serpent branch base that hadn't been destroyed by Otto, the administrator Gray Serpent, observed the two figures on the battlefield and felt...

This is just too exciting.

More than three months have passed since Kevin was released from prison. In these three months, the administrator Gray Serpent and his 'brothers' have long since come to terms with reality.

Back then, the World Serpent, which had been suppressed by Schicksal because of Lin Yu, hoped to use all its high-end combat power to rescue their Venerable Lord Kevin from the Quantum Sea, and then use the Venerable Lord's supreme power to suppress Schicksal, so that the World Serpent could continue to execute the Stigmata Plan smoothly.

But later...

Venerable Lord Kevin was indeed rescued by their efforts.

The problem is that Kevin got into trouble not long after returning to this world.

Lin Yu, who was originally far inferior to Kevin, actually obtained the core of the Herrscher of Constraint on that day.

Even Kevin at his Kevin, possessing the Chimera Power, would likely suffocate against the Herrscher of Constraint.

Unfortunately, Lin Yu, the Herrscher of Constraint, is even more troublesome than the Herrscher of Constraint from their era.

After his fight with Lin Yu, Kevin returned to the World Serpent headquarters with serious injuries.

Although Lin Yu disappeared for a period of time afterward, Gray Serpent's joy was short-lived, as Lin Yu returned to Schicksal once again to continue his operations.

It can be said that, in the eyes of the Gray Serpent, the reason why the Stigmata Plan is progressing so slowly is entirely Lin Yu's fault.

As for Gray Serpent's speculation that 'Lin Yu was a card in Otto's hand,' it has now been proven false.

Otto was sent to hell by Lin Yu. After that, Gray Serpent realized how ridiculous his previous speculation was.

However, another absurd speculation made by Gray Serpent at the time turned out to be the truth.

Lin Yu is a harbinger of doom. In the six months since he left Changkong City, he has transformed from an ordinary agent who couldn't even get a proper identity into a powerful figure qualified to fight against Venerable Lord Kevin.

The assessment that Gray Serpent made at the time, 'Venerable Lord Kevin, has the appearance of Lin Yu,' actually seems quite accurate in retrospect.

Kevin went through at least a few years from high school to facing his Finality, while Lin Yu...

The Gray Serpent thought that humans were incredibly unlucky to have encountered such an ominous star.

Yes, even to this day, Gray Serpent still doesn't believe Lin Yu is capable of 'saving the world'.

Even if he is strong as the Herrscher of Constraint, he is still no stronger than the combination of the Moonlight Throne and the Fusion Warrior squad from 50,000 years ago.

Back then, during the final desperate struggle of the Previous Civilization, it was only through the combined attack of Venerable Lord Kevin's strongest strike and the Moonlight Throne's Limitless Shot that the Herrscher of the End Honkai Energy to negate 30% of the Herrscher of Finality.

Even though the Anti-Entropy of this era has repaired the Moonlight Throne and launched the mass production plan for the Moonlight Throne that failed to begin decades ago, humanity no longer has time.

Lin Yu gave others false hope, but ultimately lacked the ability to lead humanity to victory...

In Gray Serpent's eyes, Lin Yu now is clearly more like a malignant tumor that harms humanity than Otto, who ruined the hero of Schicksal and allowed the Honkai to develop unchecked.

But now, he also sensed that his Venerable Lord Kevin had developed a mutual respect with Lin Yu.

It understood the Venerable Lord loved humanity and felt gratified to see a warrior fighting for humanity.

But now that things have come to this, the Venerable Lord has still been bewitched by Lin Yu...

He didn't offer any solutions!

Whether it's the Venerable Lord of the Elysian Realm, Su, Miss Elysia, or my true master—you shouldn't just watch the show; quickly stop this battle that's completely detrimental to us!

Even though the administrator, Gray Serpent, was extremely anxious, it had no choice but to remain silent.

After all, with all Thirteen Heroes of the Elysian Realm present as spectators, it's now impossible for this duel to stop.

"Hey, I'm telling you."

Looking at Lin Yu and Kevin staring at each other on the battlefield, Chikage, who had destroyed three Soul Steel Bodies since yesterday, said with great displeasure.

"Weren't you going to fight? What's with you all standing still now?!"

"Chikage".

Elysian Realm Kevin, who was standing next to Chikage, spoke to Chikage at this moment.

"Don't speak. Their battle has already begun."

"Tch, a battle of wills, huh?"

Knowing Chikage Kevin from the Elysian Realm was talking about, Qianjie spoke with even greater dissatisfaction.

"No matter how intense the clash of momentum, it is not as direct as piercing the enemy's body with the sword in your hand."

"Fighting requires bloodshed—does this kind of Mom and probing mean anything at this time?"

Chikage's words were rough, but right now, no one really thinks he's wrong.

Kevin and Lin Yu represent their respective eras.

After learning that Lin Yu claimed to have a way to deal with the Herrscher of Finality, even Griseo and Pardofelis were eager to see what methods Lin Yu could use to completely subdue Kevin.

At this moment, Pardofelis glanced at Apponia beside her and asked Apponia in a low voice.

"Sister Nia, what do you think? Will Kevin be the winner this time, or that guy named Lin Yu?"

When faced with Pardofelis's question, Apponia recalled the scene she had witnessed yesterday and was momentarily stunned.

Lin Yu indeed in that scene, but his presence did not mean Lin Yu would be the 'winner'.

If Lin Yu wins, and truly defeats the Cocoon of Finality using special means as he said, thus avoiding a future where humanity would forcibly win through the Stigmata Plan, then that would naturally be a good thing.

But if Lin Yu fails, Apponia believes that Kevin would absolutely not kill him.

When the Stigmata Plan continues and is successfully completed, Lin Yu, as Stigmata Awakener, will naturally be able to continue living.

"I have no idea."

"Oh, I see."

Although she already knew she was very likely to hear this answer, Pardofelis still felt a little disappointed after hearing it.

Sigh, after leaving Elysian Realm, knowing that this civilization is still 'living so healthily' with so many delicious and fun things, I really don't want this era to need the Stigmata Plan.

But now... sigh, it's not up to me to decide this.

I shouldn't have betrayed Boss Kevin, but now that I think about it, Boss Kevin will definitely fight with all his might, but he...

—Perhaps they didn't even want to win.

So, keep it up, Lin Yu! I've heard that we might even be able to replace our Soul Steel Body with a physical body later on.

For everyone's bright future, you absolutely must let Boss Kevin see enough hope.

Meanwhile, Mobius watched the energy fluctuations that were gradually emerging on Lin Yu's body, feeling that his research desire had been completely stimulated by Lin Yu.

Mobius is a researcher specializing in biology, but that doesn't mean she has no interest in other research-related areas.

At this moment, Lin Yu was surrounded by extremely strong magical energy and Dimensional Force, which were clearly not Honkai Energy.

Having noticed these secrets, Mobius felt his professional instincts were about to kick in.

Or rather...

—If she hadn't been so certain that even Lin Yu, who had lost the core of the Herrscher of Constraint, could beat her up, she probably would have already relapsed into her illness.

Sigh, I really want to study this man's body.

But saying it directly is definitely not an option.

Even if Kevin could beat him... it wouldn't work.

Kevin would never let me lay a hand on him.

This is such a pity.

If he didn't know what kind of person I am, maybe I could pretend to be young and try to get close to him.

But now...

After giving the two Sues beside him a cold look, Mobius gave up on those thoughts.

Sue must have told him about us long ago, which is why he understood our personalities and fighting style when he first met us.

"Thinking about it carefully, what Mr. Chikage said is not wrong."

Facing Kevin, who had not yet undergone Honkai Beast transformation, Lin Yu suddenly suppressed the aura emanating from his body and spoke to Kevin.

"At this point, there's really no point in Mom -law testing each other like this."

"We don't have much time left. If I lose this battle, I will assist you with the Stigmata Plan, but..."

In that instant, Lin Yu, whom Kevin had been watching, suddenly vanished without a trace.

Lin Yu, who had already appeared behind Kevin, took out the Seven Thunders of Retribution and slashed at Kevin's back.

"Right now, I see absolutely no possibility of defeat."

"You should probably figure something out, Kevin."

"To me right now—you are the challenger."

"Really? I see."

"Then—let me see your power."

Yes, there's nothing wrong with what Chikage said.

Even though Lin Yu and I both know that the other is not an enemy we need to confront head-on, I still have no intention of giving up on the Stigmata Plan, and he doesn't want to carry it out, so we can only communicate with swords.

The test was over, and his determination truly exceeded my expectations.

So, just as you said, there's no need to keep Mom like this.

Kevin, wielding the Greatsword of Annihilation, did not restrain his aura at this moment, unlike Lin Yu. Instead, he made his aura rise continuously.

"This is...!"

Seeing that the energy fluctuations on Kevin's body had become so strong that they were visible to the naked eye, Hua, who had witnessed such power before, had already figured out Kevin's plan.

As the energy intensity continued to increase, Kevin's appearance also underwent some changes.