Arrow

As Pardo focused, the arrow condensed and grew larger, wild energy radiating from it. The moment she let go, it shot forward.

In an instant, the sea was swept up and split apart. Scattered force pounded against the surroundings, blurring everything around it. Along the way, it struck that barrier. Usually, the barrier could not hold out for even a second. Although they did not see it shatter into pieces, a crisp cracking sound rang out.

Seeing that it had worked, Pardo did not feel anything out of the ordinary. Worried that something else might have gone wrong, she hurriedly asked Huang Hao, "Does this count as a success?"

Slowly, Huang Hao's weak voice came through. "Success..."

After hearing those two words, Pardo finally breathed a sigh of relief and began worrying about Huang Hao instead. "Are you all right, Senior? Why do you sound so exhausted?"

"..."

"Did you really not know whose power you were using?"

Pardo acted cute to avoid the awkwardness from earlier, then turned and said, "As long as we land this arrow, we win, right?"

Seeing the stars shining in Pardo's expectant eyes, Huang Hao did not want to discourage her, but he had to explain the truth. "No. To reduce casualties, this arrow was fired too early."

"Huh? Then what will happen to everyone?"

"I spent five years thinking about the first arrow. I only had a moment to think about the second."

On the Herrscher's side, there were not many warriors left. Basically, only half of the original number remained.

Seeing the dwindling warriors and his teammates who could not take the field because they had been preparing in such a hurry, Kevin suddenly found himself caught in a dilemma.

"Damn it!"

Kevin cursed and immediately charged forward with the warriors. However, they were quickly forced back. Although his defenses were extremely strong, his teammates were different. They had neither his talent nor a protagonist's halo, and could be said to be little more than extra fuel for the Herrscher's domain.

After Hua cleared the Honkai Beasts around them, she came to Kevin's side to secure his surroundings and said, "Do we really have to sacrifice all our teammates..."

Kevin nodded and casually wiped out a group of dead apostles.

Seeing that Kevin was still holding on, Hua said no more. The two worked together tacitly to reduce the pressure and fight the Herrscher.

Just then, Kevin sensed a powerful threat flying toward them from afar. The power felt incredibly familiar, yet terrifying.

Kevin ignored the dead apostles beside him, leaped up, and rolled forward, pressing Hua beneath him. He raised Skyfire and prepared to defend.

At first, Hua did not react. She was utterly bewildered by Kevin's sudden action and had just opened her mouth when she felt immense pressure bearing down from above, crushing the words out of her.

Before they could get up, the sound of an explosion rang out again. Once the noise subsided, the two of them finally rose to their feet.

Hua was the first to ask, "What happened?"

"It should be him. At present, only he has that kind of power. After all, Huang Hao's plan was to fire this arrow and kill the Herrscher."

As Kevin answered Hua, he warily watched the dust cloud left by the explosion, checking whether the Herrscher was still alive.

"But wasn't the plan for us to wear down the Herrscher first?"

"Exactly. He was too impatient. From here on, we'll have to rely on ourselves."

Kevin calmly answered Hua, then picked up Skyfire and took a battle stance. Hua also gripped her Divine Key and kept a wary watch. Once the power of that arrow faded, the Herrscher charged out again...

Back on the other side, Pardo asked again, "So what do we do now? What about the rest?"

Huang Hao did not answer her question right away. Instead, he asked, "Do you feel any discomfort?"

Pardo froze for a moment, then immediately answered, "No."

"Do you remember the movements and method from before?"

"You remember them."

"Good. Do it again. Only this time, I won't be able to remind you."

After Huang Hao's weak voice faded away, Pardo felt power surge into her once more, while the black space slowly shrank.

"Listen, I won't be reminding you this time. Don't get the position wrong either..." He spoke this sentence very slowly, his voice growing weaker and weaker until it vanished completely.

"Senior! What's wrong, Senior?" As Pardo assumed her stance, she anxiously asked about Huang Hao's condition, but received no response.

Pardo had a feeling that Huang Hao was already gone. All she could do was hold back her tears and struggle to form the final arrow.