Chapter 245
"Eh?" The azure eyes of the Codename J reflected Efnir's cold face, and surprise, as well as subtle suspicion, surfaced in her eyes. "What... is this power?"
Efnir snorted coldly, released the spear from her hand, and clenched her other hand into a fist. The moment the Codename J finished speaking, she struck her cheek.
Bang--
A dull impact erupted at the end of the punch's force. At the last second, Codename J blocked Efnir's punch with both arms, flipped in mid-air, and dragged his feet in the ground, leaving a grotesque furrow. Meanwhile, Efnir's spear pierced through the black dust and headed straight for her chest.
"Snort!"
Codename J exhaled and raised her knee, forcefully turning her body to narrowly dodge the stab. At the same time, she delivered a whip kick that grazed the blade and shaft of the gun, slamming it into Efnir. The force of the gun blade left a deep bloody gash on her abdomen and side of her leg. Gray blood drew a long line in the air, ending with Efnir's raised elbow strike and the gun returning to Efnir hand.
The fierce winds swallowed the collapsed ruins, and the swirling dust waves engulfed the night sky like a sea of fog.
Two explosions Codename J, like deep-sea torpedoes, pierced through the thin mist simultaneously. The wind pressure swept across the plains. Efnir gun tip touching the ground, leaped up again, her figure obscuring the starlight, while Codename J slammed into a thick wall and sank deep into the ground.
She propped herself up, her expression grave as she tilted her head, dark gray blood welling in the corners of her grey eyes—despite her timely defense, she had still been injured by Efnir's punch.
As an agent, the girl in front of me is a bit too strong. Although she is not at her peak right now, it is still a novel experience to be suppressed by an agent like this.
Could it be those people from the "Zero Series"?
Why are those guys here?
Before she could even think, the tip of Efnir's spear, trailing a long silver flame, pierced through the clouds and rapidly magnified in her eyes.
"You've got some skills, but you're asking for it!"
The spear shattered layer upon layer of high walls, and the gray, massive waves engulfed Codename J. But the next moment, the waves surged back, Efnir nimbly withdrew the spear to her waist. With a horizontal kick, the spear stirred up waves that swept away the gray mist, and the wall as tall as a person turned into dust. Codename J was also forced back several steps.
Efnir narrowed her eyes.
Although she had the upper hand, she could clearly sense that the energy of Codename J seemed to be rising.
178. Collision
"This is bad... Although Miss Eve has been gaining the upper hand, we can't seem to kill Codename J. How are we supposed to fight her? -- She even deliberately turned herself into complete Dregsification to repair herself. This is the first time I've ever seen such a fighting style."
"Me too."
Inside the temporary command post at the rear, Lapith, Trilice, and others analyzed the intelligence.
"It seems like Codename J is constantly getting beaten up, but if she really is immortal, then she will definitely be the final winner."
"Tsk... troublesome guy."
"Perhaps our guess is correct. Codename J doesn't care what happens to her 'body'... To her, it's just a 'clothes' that can be discarded."
The screen displayed a real-time recording of the battle between Efnir and Codename J, transmitting the footage back. Due to the intensified energy fluctuations and the ongoing battle, numerous surveillance systems and drones had crashed, forcing them to rely on cumbersome methods for simulation and calculation.
Lapith looked at the transmitted images, raising an eyebrow thoughtfully. "That thing broke free. As expected... it's not that simple. What we saw before was probably not her complete form."
Yukina clutched the Beacon tightly in her hand. "Will my sister be in danger?"
Yukina and Furan, along with the rest of the Main Sequence Star and the Muses, came here, except for Ayse.
"Saori... how is Saori?"
Furan gripped the communicator and asked Fushihara Ayaka on the other end.
"Don't worry... Saori is alive, she's just... badly injured... We'll bring her back safe and sound..."
Fushihara Ayaka's voice was broken and distorted due to communication interference, but the fact that Saori was alive was undoubtedly the best news, and it finally relieved Furan.
"I will send Saori ... to meet you there... Ayse's mission... is to deliver the Apostle Beacon to Efnir ..."
"Fushihara Ayaka said."
Efnir entrusted the only Apostle Beacon to Ayse in order to ensure Saori's ultimate safety.
By using the power of the Apostle to directly construct energy matter within Saori's body, the destructive power of the bomb could be reduced to the greatest extent. Ayse succeeded in doing so, so although Saori was seriously injured, her life was saved.
However, this also means that Efnir, who is currently fighting, cannot rely on the Apostle Power.
Yukina couldn't help but worry, "Naoko... alright?"
"It seems there are no problems now... I must say, your chief lady is truly exceptionally strong," Trilice glanced at Lapith gaze remained fixed on the screen, seemingly oblivious to her words. "Even in the Central Province ... oh no, comparing her to those in the Central Province might still be a stretch."
Trilice sighed softly, popped the candy into her mouth, and mumbled indistinctly, "But judging from her expression, she might just be given the 'qualification'."
"'Qualifications'...?"
Yukina and Herul turned their gazes toward them.
Everyone present, except for Lapith, had no idea what Trilice was talking about.
Trilice shook her head, offering no explanation.
"Hopefully the battle goes well... In any case, this Codename J looks like a tough opponent. It's strange, Codename J, is she actually some kind of 'mutant'? Or... eh?"
As Trilice pondered a solution, she suddenly tilted her head, a look of surprise on her face. "Wait! The Field Monitoring has failed..."
"Trilice, what's wrong?" Lapith asked, casting a questioning glance her way.
"Have no idea."
Trilice looked helpless. "The feedback signal from the Boundary Stele disappeared by more than half all at once. I don't know what method Codename J used, but the Boundary Stele's 'field' couldn't detect her, or rather, it was absorbed by her... Tsk, is it even possible to do something like that?"
Field Monitoring is a system that uses Boundary Stele to monitor the energy field within a city area in real time. By analyzing changes in the force field, Xijing City can quickly grasp the situation on the battlefield and locate the location that causes the energy change at the fastest speed. It is the most reliable guarantee for monitoring Erosion Disaster and Apostle activities.
However, the failure of monitoring means that it is even more difficult for these rear personnel to intervene in the battle.
"It's broken? Let me see."
Lapith replaced Trilice in front of the computer, but gradually her expression became serious.
As long as it is energy, it can be reflected and received, and it can also penetrate and devour. The Boundary Stele's monitoring system relies on the fluctuation of energy reaction and the method of capturing reflection within the force field to calculate data. Similarly, as long as the object being measured can firmly control all energy around itself and take all the power of Corruption and Order Force under its own control, then the Boundary Stele System will be helpless against it.
In other words, at this point, Codename J was able to capture all the energy around him without letting a single bit leak out. Obviously, it was extremely difficult to do this, requiring the power and technology to have absolute control over energy.
"This is troublesome..."
Lapith stood up, Trilice, Lin, and the others gathered around. "Trilice, get ready, we might be going in. Eve from Xijing City... one person can't take her down. We need to prepare our third plan."
"But we can't contact Efnir! The Shard is still in her hands... If we get close, we'll be caught in the crossfire."
"Not the past," Lapith paused, "But a shift in the battlefield."
The blinding silver light and the gray darkness cleaved the night sky into two distinct halves, turning the night white and swallowing the stars and moon.
The collision of energies ignited the air, and the intertwined silver and black flames illuminated the night sky. Fushihara Ayaka stood on the roof of the armored vehicle, staring intently at the battle in the distance. The shockwaves hit her face, cutting a bloody gash, but she didn't even blink.
"Sir! All our communication equipment has failed!"
Fushihara Ayaka glanced at the soldier, gripped her binoculars tightly, and said, "We're leaving here. Also, get me a signal flare."
At this moment, Efnir and the Codename J swiftly intertwined on the battlefield. A silver spear pierced through the gray curtain like a meteor, while azure light blocked with a palm strike. Silver and azure crossed, leaving two distinct afterimages and a dazzling flash of fire in the thick dust and fog. The next moment, a distant abandoned building exploded with a deafening roar, breaking in half and collapsing. Another loud bang followed, and a silver meteor plummeted vertically from mid-air. A beam of silver light shone through the cracks in the shattered building. In the next instant, countless rubble crumbled, and the foundation sank and bulged under the intense bombardment. Floating rocks, like the spine of an animal, emerged from the ground, with Fracture spreading across the entire street centered on the collapsed building.
The spear drew a silver arc of light across the ground. Efnir spun back, steadied herself, and then rested it in her palm.
As the smoke cleared, Efnir gazed in the direction of Codename J —a bloodstain marked her face. This was the only time she had been injured by Codename J, but compared to Codename J, who seemed tireless and unafraid of injury, Efnir's injury had already subtly altered the course of the battle.
Efnir raised her hand and forcefully wiped away the bloodstains on her face, her light blue hair ribbon on her wrist stained crimson.
She narrowed her eyes, raised her eyelids, and kept a distance between herself and Codename J, her gaze fixed on Codename J without leaving her. She raised the long gun in front of her, and her breath turned into white mist in the night.
Not far ahead of her, Codename J slowly and stiffly crawled out of a pile of rubble.
They were both watching and observing each other.
"Hmph... I have to admit, you're still more powerful," Codename J said, spreading her arms wide, seemingly vulnerable all over, but she had the capital to be so defenseless. "But Agent, you can't kill me."
Efnir glanced around; the dust and mist from the battle gradually dissipated, revealing the surrounding scenery.
What appeared before them was a chaotic and dilapidated scene, with collapsed buildings and walls everywhere, crumbling old streets and broken buildings. This was the old district, and the already dilapidated buildings had been completely destroyed by the battle between the two. All that could be seen were ruins, and the scenery of the past was buried under the rubble.
"Your strength is barely passable," Efnir said, turning her gaze back to Codename J, her face expressionless. "You will pay the price for your actions!"
A sinister look appeared on the face of the Codename J. "Agent... you'll regret this!"
179. Slaughter
Azure light and silver meteors pierced through the smoke and dust. The armor Codename J rubbed and collided with the spear, creating a deafening roar. The two suddenly separated by a hundred meters before colliding violently again, their intertwined radiance bursting into countless streaks of light in the night sky.
The next moment, azure threads sliced through the night sky, piercing straight through buildings, while a silver spear followed closely behind, its blinding starlight bursting forth amidst the dust.
With a deafening crash, the leaning old iron tower collapsed with a piercing sound and sparks, and the lights in the distance gradually disappeared into darkness.
Efnir landed lightly on the collapsed half of the high wall, glanced in the direction of the signal flare, breathed slightly, and frowned—her gaze fell on the long spear in her hand, where stardust was flowing.
Weapons formed from the Order Force are usually incredibly sturdy, yet they showed signs of damage during their collision with Codename J. This damage wasn't physical, but rather a change in the stability of their energy—clearly due to Codename J's abilities.
Efnir gripped her weapon tightly, the Order Force continuously repairing the spear, but the repair speed was clearly unable to keep up with the damage caused by the continuous attack.
In situations like these, the Apostle Power can be much more convenient.
Just then, a signal flare rose into the night sky, its light gleaming.
Efnir turned her gaze toward the direction of the signal flare.
"... Have we arrived here yet?"
The rising of the signal flare meant that Efnir and Codename J's battle lines were too close to the city. From the beginning, Codename J seemed to be intentionally shifting the battlefield from the old city to other areas.
Efnir looked back and saw the Boundary Stele, which stood straight in the very center of the city like a terrifying, enormous sword. From anywhere in Xijing City, one could clearly see the towering metal building simply by looking up.
Clearly, Codename J intends to drag the battle into other districts, using a large number of ordinary people as hostages or simply using the Boundary Stele to hinder Efnir's actions.
She couldn't defeat Efnir, but she could use other means to achieve her goal of escaping.
In other words, when Codename J began to seek other breakthroughs in the battle, it proved that Codename J had acknowledged her disadvantage.
This disadvantage can be multifaceted; for the Codename J, it represents the risk of defeat.
At this moment, the figure Codename J slowly emerged from the dust. She squinted and glanced at Efnir, then at the direction of the Boundary Stele.
Efnir observed her gaze and actions.
"Is the target the Boundary Stele?"
Or is it... a deliberate attempt to distract them?
Efnir spoke slowly, "You seem to be in a hurry? What's wrong? Are you running out of that strength you're so proud of?"
Although this sentence was a test, it clearly touched the sore spot of Codename J. Her calm expression had long since disappeared, replaced by a ferocious look that had turned to gray matter.
There is no such thing as endless energy in this world, and the power that a person can bear is even more limited.
Efnir could feel the soreness in her muscles and the wear and tear on her weapons. Similarly, the energy of Codename J was rapidly depleting during the battle with Efnir.
"You're right, my energy is indeed being constantly depleted by you," Codename J sneered, "But so what? If I weren't in a weakened state, you would have no chance of defeating me."
"Then I'll kill you right now."
"Hmph, despicable agent..." Codename J's hoarse voice sank into the night. She pushed aside the rubble that was pressing down on her, and appeared before Efnir, clutching her pierced chest. "I don't know what kind of deal you made with that guy, but I advise you, this is not a power you can control."
"'That guy'?" Efnir turned her wrist, the spear slowly dragging along the ground. "What are you talking about?"
"You know perfectly well Codename H."
"Heh... I think you might have misunderstood something. Codename H is no different from you. After killing you, she'll be next."
"Hmph, who knows. 'That power'... it doesn't belong to you, does it? I can sense its presence..." Codename J stared at Efnir, a hint of amusement and anger flashing in her eyes. "She just gave you that junk, and you're all grateful to her. But she only wanted to use you to keep me here, her purpose was just to buy time, wasn't it?"
Efnir remained expressionless, but the word "Shard" suddenly came to mind.
"'Junk'? You mean this?"
Efnir shook the bracelet inlaid with the "Shard," while Codename J narrowed his eyes.
"That's a familiar power. Where did you get it from?"
"You know about it?"
Codename J sneered, clearly having no intention of answering. She scoffed, "You can maintain your power under its influence, so it's definitely related to her. But if you think you can kill me with something like this, that's laughable. Let me tell you, even if you can kill me today, it's just a more powerful clone of mine. Once I'm dead, the rest of me will come and eliminate you all one by one! Just imagine, the day I'm dominated by nightmares—I will surely arrive as scheduled."