Dusk-Seeing Reflection Satellite Slash

When Bai Ye stepped into Central Exhibition Area No. 1, the place was already a complete mess.

Roaring monsters, panicked crowds fleeing for their lives, helpless Rhine Lab employees, and Blacksteel International personnel constantly attacking the monsters.

There were already plenty of bloodstains on the ground, along with severed limbs and corpses that had died in all manner of gruesome ways.

For example, the corpse in front of Bai Ye had a massive hole gouged through its abdomen, its organs torn out and scattered everywhere...

"Fucking appetite killer!"

Bai Ye forced down the discomfort in his stomach and turned his gaze toward the enormous monster in the distance.

Or rather, the moment one entered the central exhibition area, this monster was the most eye-catching thing there.

"No wonder this thing is called Cerberus... It really does look the part."

The monster had the massive body of an elephant and seemed to be canine in shape, except it had three heads. It was practically a medical miracle.

Bai Ye looked up at the three-headed hound, which stood as tall as three people, and the corner of his eye twitched.

"This definitely counts as a boss..."

The Blacksteel International employees were doing their utmost to stop Cerberus, but a monster of this size was clearly beyond what ordinary humans could contain—a man who had tried to block Cerberus with a heavy shield was sent flying in a single exchange.

More importantly, Cerberus clearly bore traces of biotechnological modification, such as the metal shell covering its body and the six mechanical prosthetic eyes glowing red on its three heads.

This thing... really seemed like some mythical creature from hell!

"Clang, clang—"

Blacksteel crossbowmen kept firing at Cerberus, but all of the monster's vital points were covered in heavy metal. Even with Originium Arts, it would be difficult to penetrate them in a short time.

"Hold it back! Group A, send two people to help evacuate the visitors. Everyone else, stop this monster with me."

To Bai Ye's surprise, the Blacksteel International operators did not lose their heads in the chaos. Faced with danger, they displayed exceptional combat discipline.

"As expected of Blacksteel International..."

Bai Ye helped the injured visitors and Rhine Lab employees evacuate while waiting for Texas to arrive. Their Blacksteel colleagues had temporarily held Cerberus back, so Bai Ye needed to clear out a battlefield first.

"What kind of monster is that?!"

Texas and Astesia quickly rushed over from Exhibition Area No. 9. Astesia stared wide-eyed at the monster fighting the Blacksteel security personnel, her face slightly pale.

"Should we go in?"

Texas's voice remained calm. She did not seem frightened by the sight before her as she drew her Originium sword and looked at Bai Ye.

"Of course... but I need to work out the tactics first."

Bai Ye opened the list of divine arts and skills. First-circle divine arts were far stronger than prayers, but against a massive monster with thick hide and absurdly high attack power, they still were not enough.

"I don't want to wrestle with a monster. As for magic stone arts like tracer rounds... they work well enough against humans, but against this boss, they're probably less useful than crossbow bolts."

But when he flipped to the skill list, Bai Ye's eyes lit up. A skill he had never used before caught his attention.

"Texas, hold it down for thirty seconds!"

Bai Ye gripped [Hagiri] with both hands, took up a slashing stance, and stood still.

"I understand."

Though she did not know what Bai Ye was planning, Texas still raised her Originium sword and charged forward.

The girl kicked off the ground and leaped into the air, then stepped directly onto the greatshield of a Blacksteel International heavy shield guard at the front and jumped onto Cerberus's left head.

"Roar—"

Though it had been fitted with electronic prosthetic eyes and mechanical processors, the monster still retained most of its biological instincts. Feeling a "little bug" standing on its head, it wildly shook its neck, trying to throw Texas off.

"Pfft—"

With her nimble movements and excellent balance, Texas thrust her Originium sword down just before she was flung away.

"Awoo—"

The sharp Originium sword passed through a gap in the metal armor and plunged viciously into Cerberus's left head. Texas then grabbed the hilt and climbed back onto the monster.

That blow had clearly hurt it. Cerberus threw its head back and roared, shaking its neck even more violently. It even twisted its other two heads around to bite Texas.

"Nicely done, little girl."

Seeing this, the Blacksteel International captain raised his hammer and repeatedly struck the monster's pillar-thick legs, trying to distract it.

Bai Ye stood in place and slowly closed his eyes.

The boy was neither spacing out nor going idle. He was using the energy within his body to commune with the power of the moon.

A wisp of moonlight quietly gathered around the tip of Bai Ye's raised blade. It continued to grow until it enveloped the entire Hagiri.

This wisp of moonlight was energy manifested from a concept. After all, in the real world, moonlight was merely sunlight reflected by a satellite...

Bai Ye had never used this move before, since enemies would not stupidly let you charge up an attack. Yet this time, everything went unexpectedly smoothly.

The monster was nearly driven mad by Texas and the Blacksteel International operators on the ground.

Texas in particular kept dodging the bites of the other two heads while standing atop one of the monster's heads, occasionally slipping her blade through gaps in the metal shell to leave wounds on its body.

Its metal armor was too heavy, leaving this three-headed hound without the slightest agility. Otherwise, if it simply charged around with its sheer weight, no one would have been able to stop it.

"Texas, move!"

Bai Ye suddenly opened his eyes. His black pupils had turned completely silver-white as he swung Hagiri toward Cerberus.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, a pillar of silver-white light instantly shot across the exhibition area, striking Cerberus squarely in the middle neck.

[Dusk-Seeing Reflection Satellite Slash]

It was a beam created by reflecting the radiance of the moon and gathering it together, sword energy condensed from the power of the moon.

Though it was called a slash, its essence was actually a magical cannon blast.

"Hiss—"

The metal armor held for only a moment before the beam pierced through it. Then, like a hot knife through butter, the torrent of silver-white energy effortlessly sliced off the monster's middle head.

"Thud—"

Blood erupted forth, even splashing onto the ceiling. The enormous canine head crashed heavily to the ground, its scarlet mechanical prosthetic eyes slowly going dark.

For a moment, the battlefield fell silent, as though something had clutched everyone by the throat and left them unable to make a sound.

"Roar—"

A miserable howl tore through the brief silence. The monster had not died; the horrifying blend of biological and mechanical modifications had granted this Cerberus an extraordinarily powerful life force.