"Roar!" The Doomsday Beast, shaped like a mechanical dragon, spat a cyan breath beam from its mouth.
Crack, crack, crack! Amid a piercing screech, the Peace Shield surrounding Herta Space Station shattered completely. Orange particle fragments swept through the space around the entire station like a raging wildfire.
"The Peace Shield is gone. It's our turn to take the stage!"
With a sideways kick of her long, graceful leg, Himeko hooked the suitcase beside her onto her waist, her beautiful eyes filled with resolve.
"This Doomsday Beast is no ordinary foe. If we can't overpower it, we should at least stall for as long as possible."
"Once Ms. Herta comes online, she may have a way to deal with a monster like this..."
Gripping his gentleman's cane with both hands, Welt spoke slowly.
"Y-you! Get down here!"
A hint of nervousness on her pretty face, March 7th drew her bow and was the first to attack.
An icy-blue magic arrow struck the Doomsday Beast's head, bursting into a spray of shattered ice.
Although it left no wound, March 7th had drawn the Doomsday Beast's aggression, and it dove straight toward the edge of the Starrail Platform.
"March 7th... since when was she this brave?"
Watching March 7th's actions, Lin Feng was rather surprised.
The pink-haired girl had been trembling with fear when they mentioned the Doomsday Beast earlier. How had she suddenly become so brave? It really was baffling.
"W-well, everyone's right here with me! There's nothing to be afraid of!"
March 7th's answer left Lin Feng somewhat speechless.
Sure enough, her little scheme was simple: I'm good at drawing aggro. I'll leave fighting the monster to everyone else.
"Get a taste of what I can do! Hi-yah!"
Seeing the enormous beast land at the edge of the Starrail Platform, March 7th gave a sharp cry and immediately unleashed her ultimate.
Her ice arrows transformed into ice bunnies that rained down on the Doomsday Beast's head, making a whole field of frost flowers bloom at once.
They still caused no damage, but they successfully drew the Doomsday Beast's attention.
A claw as massive as a high-rise came crashing down toward March 7th's head with terrifying force.
Seeing this, Lin Feng did not hesitate for an instant. He swung his baseball bat up to meet it.
Thud! A dull metallic collision rang out. Although Lin Feng barely managed to block the Doomsday Beast's attack, he was driven back dozens of meters.
"Hiss... what incredible strength. It really is far stronger than the Doomsday Beast I faced before."
That first exchange gave Lin Feng a sense of the Doomsday Beast's strength.
In size, strength, and attack speed alike, this Doomsday Beast far surpassed the one from his previous Path Simulation.
"Rules are made to be broken!"
He held the bat horizontally before his chest with both hands, surging cyan energy coating its surface.
Lin Feng leaped dozens of meters into the air, swung his weapon with both hands, and landed a heavy blow on the Doomsday Beast's head.
Yet the seemingly fierce attack left only a slight dent in its outer armor.
"Cavernous Illusion, Long Dream, One Awakening! Break!"
Just as Lin Feng twisted away, Dan Heng's spear thrust followed, striking the same spot and piercing the Doomsday Beast's armor.
"Press the advantage!"
"Lava Explosion!"
Himeko waved her hand, and a wheel-shaped drone soared through the air, unleashing a fierce assault.
She too became a blur as her mysterious suitcase unfolded. Its roaring monomolecular saw blade spun at high speed, and crimson flames streaked across the Doomsday Beast's armor, leaving a gash more than ten meters long.
"Roar!" The Doomsday Beast spread its enormous mechanical arms and swept them toward the group, intent on crushing them.
Provoked by these insignificant humans, the Doomsday Beast prepared to crush the troublesome ants with overwhelming force.
"Void Break!"
Welt swept his cane outward, and dark-purple spatial rifts intersected in a cross that stretched across the sky.
The Doomsday Beast's attack was halted, and traces of erosion from Imaginary power appeared on its building-sized claws.
"Everyone, work together! Let's bring down the Doomsday Beast!"
"Even if we can't defeat it, we have to buy enough time for Herta Space Station's personnel to evacuate..."
Himeko's pretty face was full of resolve as she repeatedly swung her monomolecular saw blade while directing her drone to coordinate its attacks.
Soon, everyone was using every means at their disposal, locked in a fierce battle with the Doomsday Beast.
"This... we're barely scratching it..."
Although Lin Feng did not stop attacking, he felt rather speechless.
Their attacks were all powerful, but against the mountain-sized Doomsday Beast, they were undoubtedly doing little more than scratching its hide.
This monster was nothing like the weak creature from his earlier Path Simulation. It possessed some of the might expected of a Planet-Destroying Rank monster.
Himeko and Welt might have had ways to seriously injure the Doomsday Beast. However, they were in Herta Space Station's Support Cabin, and using wide-area attacks would likely cause severe damage to the station.
Lin Feng naturally understood their reasoning. If the Astral Express crew destroyed Herta Space Station while intervening, the Express's reputation would likely suffer, creating a host of unnecessary problems.
Meanwhile, in Herta Space Station's Central Control Zone.
A pink-haired girl in a uniform adorned with an astronomical emblem watched the holographic surveillance feed, her clear blue eyes filled with worry. Her slender hands clenched into fists, Asta looked terribly nervous.
Herta Space Station's defensive barrier had been breached, and the battle between the Astral Express crew and the Doomsday Beast had reached a stalemate.
Of course, most importantly, Lin Feng was also visible on the screen, making her especially anxious.
Although she had only shared a brief romantic encounter with Lin Feng under March 7th's name, in Asta's eyes, he was already the most important person to her apart from her mentor, Ms. Herta.
So, watching Lin Feng battle the Doomsday Beast, Asta's heart raced. She could only hope nothing went wrong.
"My lady... should I lead the Security Department's fighters over to support them?"
Watching Asta's nervous, agitated expression, Arlan spoke apprehensively.
"It won't help even if you go. You're no match for the Doomsday Beast!"
Asta pursed her lips and spread her hands, her face full of helplessness.
Even Lin Feng and the others could do nothing against the Doomsday Beast. What could the wounded Arlan and the Security Department accomplish by going there? Get themselves killed?
By now, Asta had realized how fragile Herta Space Station's defenses were and decided to make changes as soon as possible.
"Um... my lady, Herta Space Station might fall. Would you like to leave first?"
"There's still a private backup escape ship near the Central Control Zone..."
Seemingly remembering something, Arlan spoke with a grave, earnest expression.
"Huh? I'm not leaving... Lin Feng, he..."
"Ahem... as Herta Space Station's acting station director, how could I flee in the face of danger? I swear to stand or fall with the station!"
The beautiful pink-haired girl clenched her slender hands into fists, her eyes filled with determination.
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