Even the Protagonist Doesn't Know What Snarky Comment to Make (Shocked.jpg) / Mowang: It's Fine, We're the Villains

An invisible heat wave exploded outward from Fu Hua, and even the training ground's floor seemed to bake hot. The air warped from the intense heat, letting out faint sizzling sounds. A heart-palpitating pressure enveloped the entire space—the terrifying presence of a Honkai Beast sovereign descending, a top predator.

"W-Wow!!" At the edge of the field, the Herrscher of Sentience was so frightened that she forgot to keep yelling, her eyes wide. "O-Old Antique, are you serious?! W-What kind of form is this?!"

Mei and Bronya's expressions changed sharply as well, and they instinctively stepped back half a pace.

"This power... far exceeds any state of the Squad Leader recorded before!" Even Bronya's calm voice carried a trace of barely perceptible gravity.

Mei clenched her fists, her eyes full of shock. "The Squad Leader... actually hid this kind of power?"

Even Elysia, who had been smiling all along, slightly reined in her smile. Surprise and curiosity shimmered in her pink eyes. "Oh my, this really is... getting serious, isn't it?"

Xilian remained quiet, but her gaze flickered slightly as she watched the fiery red-haired figure in the arena.

Only Mo Wang, after his initial surprise, wore more of an expression caught between laughter and tears. Looking at Fu Hua, whose momentum seemed capable of burning everything to ashes, he could not help complaining, "Hey, hey, no way, officer? You're even using Deliverance? Honored Immortal, aren't you taking this a little too seriously? This was just a friendly spar!"

At that moment, Fu Hua—or rather, "Chi Yuan"—had completely entered another state. Her crimson eyes locked onto Mo Wang. They no longer held their usual calmness and indifference, only bestial ferocity and a thirst for battle. She did not answer, nor did she need to.

The next instant, she moved!

The ground