Fated Defeat

Su Qing'an once asked Fu Hua about the principles behind [Thousand Stars], which involved complex and numerous human body knowledge, biology, and Honkai Energy construction details, and even required subtle adjustments based on an individual's physique and physical data.

The [Thousand Stars] technique that Su Qing'an is currently cultivating was personally tailored to him by Fu Hua, and the records of his deaths in the virtual space were also part of the data collection process.

Overall, the current Honkai Energy circulation rate is the safest and most cost-effective state.

However, being the safest also means that if safety considerations are completely disregarded, it can become even stronger.

"Su Qing'an, I know you're the kind of person who's willing to risk your life for others in crucial moments, but [Thousand Stars] is a double-edged sword. So, in this process, I hope you can cherish your physical condition."

In the boy's hazy consciousness, the girl's words in his memory melted into his heart like delicate, cool snowflakes.

I'm sorry, Hua.

But I had no other choice.

Five seconds is the limit for the body to remain unharmed, and ten seconds is the absolute red line for the body to avoid irreversible disability.

His current physical condition is such that he can barely sustain himself for three seconds.

Rather, releasing [Thousand Stars] while shrouded in malice is an enormous challenge.

Besides, what good would it do you to use [Thousand Stars]?

Without the Divine Key Adaptability, one cannot draw the Jizo Mitama. This is a rule that Su Qing'an is destined to never break. Even if he uses [Thousand Stars], it can only make him faster.

But even if you're fast, what good will it do? Can you pull it out before the Divine Key can react?

It's a joke.

Yes, it's like a joke.

But that's exactly what Su Qing'an thought. He knew all too well that this ridiculous idea was nothing but wishful thinking.

But there was no other choice.

The gambler faces a game he is almost certain to lose, and he has only a pitiful single chip in his hand.

To gamble or not?

Before me lies hell, behind me lies an abyss.

It's a choice to sit and wait for death.

Or will they choose to disregard everything, ignore all possibilities and rationality, and gamble on an outcome?

Su Qing'an chose the latter. Ironically yet earnestly, he placed a one-yuan coin on the table in front of several billionaires at a magnificent and extremely luxurious high-class gambling game.

The boy said, "I want to win."

Yes, he wants to win.

Even if the price is my life.

The Honkai Energy flow rate of [Thousand Stars] is increased to the limit in order to obtain greater power.

Su Qing'an made her decision to burn through her last remaining chips.

In a second, or even less, his body would succumb to the Honkai Energy, leading to his death.

The blood-soaked demon face on the hilt twisted into an even more dangerous and ferocious appearance. The ethereal yet real purple lines originated from it and pierced through the boy's palm. They began to merge into a strange core-like object in front of him, seemingly oblivious to his presence.

A jet-black hue, like mist, swirled around the core, as if forging something.

Jizo Mitama.

It was about to revive; Su Qing'an realized the situation.

The core-like object in front of me should be the source of evil, and as long as I pull out the Divine Key and kill this source, all of this can end.

[Thousand Stars]

The boy silently recited the name in his heart, and as the Jizo Mitama began to revive, the influence of evil thoughts on him was no longer as great as before.

This also meant that the release of [Thousand Stars] was not as difficult or dangerous as he had previously thought.

However, the structure for building this skill and the control over Honkai Energy are extremely demanding, and even with this level of mental fortitude, there is still a possibility of failure.

But it doesn't matter. Unlike before, Su Qing'an no longer needs to consider using her skills perfectly without getting hurt.

His only requirement was that it be used.

The Honkai Energy burned with magnificent colors, such dazzling flames that even the boy's bloodied body was illuminated with unparalleled beauty.

His blood, which made him look disheveled, seemed to have been tainted with a different kind of charm. The blood overflowing from his pores disappeared mysteriously into nothingness, like fireworks that would eventually fade away without a trace.

That's the result of the extremely unstable cycle of external Honkai Energy.

"Ouch, that hurts!"

It wasn't Su Qing'an speaking.

It's Yae Rin.

As the boy's Stigmata, she was undoubtedly a part of his body at this moment. Apart from the spiritual erosion caused by evil thoughts, she truly felt all the pain that Su Qing'an suffered.

Su Qing'an was no longer able to speak, but he still tried to comfort the girl through telepathic communication.

He said softly:

"I'm sorry, Rin."

"It'll be ready in a bit... just wait a little longer."

"It will be over soon."

Intense flames blazed around the boy, their beautiful yet ominous color enveloping him layer by layer. The carefree spirit and familiar clanging sounds vanished—this was the difference caused by moving towards extremes.

[Thousand Stars] was finally completed, albeit with some stumbles and setbacks.

Honkai Energy dances within the body, and this sharp and swift waltz will, in an extremely brief moment, slash through blood vessels, crush bones, and crush flesh, ultimately causing the boy to die a gruesome death.

Life is condensed into this one second, and a person's entire life is displayed in the brilliance of this instant.

Su Qing'an drew his sword.

That was a speed that surpassed the limits. If Su Qing'an were to unleash the [Time Cutter] at such speed, it would be the only sword strike in his life that could outrun time.

Even from a distance of ten thousand meters, this sword can slice off a cherry blossom in the blink of an eye, as if time has stood still.

Even the Emperor-class Honkai Beast Ganesha, who had once given Su Qing'an a hard time, would have its life easily ended by this one sword strike.

But Su Qing'an is now putting all of that into drawing his sword.

Before the muscles melted and the bone frequencies shattered, in that extremely brief moment that seemed like an illusion, nonexistent.

Speed is power.

An extremely dull, subtle yet undeniably present rustling sound reached the boy's ears, only to be suddenly amplified by a violent, tumultuous roar.

There's been some activity! All our efforts, which had been like throwing a stone into the sea, have finally yielded a result.

Is it going to succeed?

What then awakened reality was a fine, continuous rain of blood.

Blood streamed into his eyes like a curtain, and the boy looked down blankly, only to find that the place that should have been his right arm was now empty.

The rustling sound he heard in that instant was not a sign that he was about to pull out the Jizo Mitama.

Rather, it's a warning sign of limb breakage or fracture.

The joints of the arm could not exceed the limit of the Jizo Mitama's defense and were directly dislocated. Then, the terrifying speed brought by [Thousand Stars] led to the current result.

A complete and utter defeat.