Scars on the Crown
Just as everyone felt a sense of relief, a flash of light streaked across the sky. Then, through the windows, they saw Ivan the Terrible's horns crackling with powerful lightning atop the mountain. Immediately afterward, a pillar of lightning as thick as a tower struck straight down towards Chaldea.
Everyone held their breath. Even Koyanskaya were far away, could hardly breathe as they looked at this terrifying power that filled them with despair.
"That guy said not to go out, but he still got into trouble!"
Seeing Rin's apparent anxiety, Koyanskaya showed no concern. Instead, she stopped the convoy, set up the lightning protection device, and clapped along like someone attending an auction, seemingly quite interested.
"So you're worried about him that much? I thought that after being with me for so long, you had already thrown away feelings for him."
Rin's cheeks flushed slightly, and she turned her head and gave a cold snort.
Looking at Ivan the Terrible in the distance, she unconsciously clenched her fists. She didn't feel any resentment towards Bai Mo; in fact, she felt somewhat grateful. After all, strictly speaking, her current predicament was largely due to her father's actions.
She knew very well that the fox beside her was no philanthropist. If it weren't for her connection with Bai Mo, she probably would have treated her as a commodity from the very beginning, maximizing her short-term value.
Having known Koyanskaya for so long, she was quite a shrewd businesswoman herself. Naturally, she had seen many of the fox's darker sides. Every time she saw those desperate people, she couldn't help but feel grateful for her relationship with Bai Mo.
Moreover, after such a long separation, Bai Mo's first words to Koyanskaya were of concern for her, which warmed her heart. Now, seeing the Terrible Emperor's attack, which was most likely aimed at Bai Mo, she couldn't help but feel worried.
"Boss, aren't you worried? If you could win over Mr. Bai Mo, your business would surely flourish."
"Little girl, you've even learned to dig holes for me now?"
Koyanskaya immediately saw through Rin's intention to get her help. While pinching her ear, her expression was somewhat frightening, but a hint of admiration flashed in her eyes.
"It would be a lie to say I'm not worried, but he's the most promising investment target I've ever seen. Remember what I told you? The best approach with this kind of investment is to invest quietly and not interfere with its development."
If it yields results, we should not hesitate to increase investment. Now, let me confirm how much the previous investment has appreciated.
Koyanskaya took a glass of red wine from the car and looked at the lightning pillar in the distance. The next moment, a dazzling cold light flashed from the opposite side of the lightning pillar, splitting the thick lightning pillar in two.
Thunder raged, and everyone held their breath.
Rin's eyes were filled with disbelief, and she murmured:
"No way..."
Ivan the Terrible had once again stood guard for an unknown period of time, single-handedly protecting the empire behind him. But now, that spear of the empire had been cleaved.
If this scene were to reach Moscow, it would cause a huge uproar. Only now did Rin realize that even in this world full of powerful figures, the man from before still held an unshakeable position.
Meanwhile, everyone at Chaldea was utterly dumbfounded. What was going on? Had they stumbled into a great battle during the Age of Gods?
On Bai Mo's arm, the Blade of Hell gleamed with a blinding cold light. His power passed directly through the Shadow Border, the blade's power undiminished, and it severed the Terrible Emperor's lightning pillar.
"Ivan the Terrible seems to have noticed us?"
Upon hearing Bai Mo's words, Sherlock Holmes raised an eyebrow and then spoke:
"So that's how it is. That enormous monster was Ivan the Terrible. Then those familiars chasing us were the Oprichniki created by Ivan IV in history."
"This makes the Terrible Emperor's attack on us understandable. To eliminate his subordinates in front of the emperor is undoubtedly a provocation against Kingship."
Upon hearing this, Goredolf's expression changed drastically, and his recent narrow escape instantly turned into deeper despair.
"Technical advisor, are you kidding me? Wouldn't that mean we're doomed?"
"It's too early to draw conclusions. The Murderous Hunters are undoubtedly acting as familiars, and such a massive operation couldn't have come without a price."
Sherlock Holmes calmly analyzed, while Bai Mo's gaze was fixed on Ivan the Terrible in the distance. At this moment, a ball of lightning the size of a meteorite had gathered above the monster's head, as if it had increased its power again after its first attack failed.
Meanwhile, on the surrounding mountains, countless Murderous Hunters appeared like ghosts, their dark figures covering the entire mountain range like flies swarming over corpses.
"Although he lacks a clear combat awareness, the aftershocks of a fight will still tear you apart." Bai Mo raised his hand, and a dazzling light surged into Shadow Border. The armored vehicle's engine started instantly, roaring loudly.
You should leave here first; I'll come find you later.
Bai Mo got out of the car, and Sherlock Holmes then pretended to follow.
"I'll handle this too. You deal with the Terrible Emperor, I'll draw the attention of those Murderous Hunters. Otherwise, we won't be able to get out of Shadow Border. Even if we're lucky enough to get out, we'll be seen as provoking the Tsar, and those guys won't let us off the hook."
It's just starting another manhunt.
Bai Mo waved his hand in response to Sherlock Holmes's words and said:
"There's no need for that; they won't care about you."
Upon hearing this, Sherlock Holmes raised an eyebrow. Bai Mo slowly stepped forward, looking at the lightning ball that resembled a meteorite. He opened his hands, and an invisible stream of energy gathered in them.
The Terrible Emperor in the distance let out a deafening roar, proving once again that his power and prestige remained undiminished. This Tsar, who had stood on the border for countless years, was a testament to his enduring authority.
Faced with this attack that was about to destroy half a mountain range, Bai Mo clapped his hands together. The wind howled like two circular saws colliding. Then, in the center of these two forces, a vacuum blade slashed across the sky.
Only a faint trace remained in the air.
Arriving first despite being the last to strike, the 760,000-strong Heaven and Earth Sea Tiger Sword cleaved the lightning ball in two like an apple, the lightning itself splitting into two branches. The powerful thunder raged, leveling the mountain ranges on both sides.
But will this attack attract Terrible Emperor's attention? Will it be enough to make Terrible Emperor's attention completely focused on Bai Mo?
Yes, because Bai Mo wasn't demonstrating his power. Sherlock Holmes' eyes widened, and he couldn't help but chuckle twice.
"I see, what an arrogant yet effective provocation! I sincerely admire your decisiveness. In that case, we'll be fleeing. Mr. Bai Mo, I wish you continued success in your military campaign."
After he finished speaking, the surrounding lightning vanished instantly, followed by a deafening roar that echoed through the mountains. The Terrible Emperor roared, and at that moment, there was a sharp gash on the crown on his head, a piece of which had been sliced off by the Heaven and Earth Sea Tiger Sword!
Shadow Border strode away, and none of the surrounding Murderous Hunters looked at them; they were all staring at the arrogant man before them.
In their eyes, those guys were no longer important; their only thought now was to tear this madman who dared to challenge the Tsar's authority to pieces.
Lightning reappeared, like a pillar supporting the heavens and the earth, or a pillar at the edge of a deathmatch arena. Bai Mo slowly flew up from the air, a black and white trench coat instantly appearing on his body, his gaze fixed on the Tsar atop the mountain peak.
"Nine hundred and thirty thousand horsepower, but how much of that can you unleash with only a vague sense and consciousness?"
The Mad Giant Shark appeared in his hand, like a warrior storming into a palace, ready to sever the crowned head. In the distance, the hearts of everyone, whether from Chaldea or Koyanskaya's group, raced.
"Come on, my best early-stage investment, let me see just how high your stock price has soared."
With a soft laugh from Koyanskaya, lightning on Ivan the Terrible's scepter transformed into a long blade, reaching the heavens and piercing the earth, slashing straight down at Bai Mo.
Bai Mo also showed no hesitation, the Mad Giant Shark in his hand shone brightly, unleashing 760,000 units of power— the God-Severing Thunderbolt!
Under the terrifying power of the God-Severing Thunderbolt, the Thunder Blade instantly disintegrated, and the Mad Giant Shark, like a frenzied shark swimming upstream, opened its blood-red maw and tore at its prey!
"Whoa--!"
Although Ivan the Terrible's actions were purely subconscious, his power was terrifying. The shattered lightning instantly transformed into a large net, about to trap and kill Bai Mo.
Bai Mo freed his left hand and swung it out fiercely. Countless bloodthirsty Great White Shark emerged from the lightning-shrouded net. He maintained the power of the God-Severing Thunderbolt while unleashing another killing move.
Heavenly Martial Killing Way -- God-Severing Way!
Thunder and the Great White Shark clashed here, and everyone watched this unimaginable scene, this incomprehensible battle. The colossal beast roared at the sky, as if it were fighting against the heavens and the earth.
In Shadow Border, Muniere, looking at the blinding light on the screen, turned to Sherlock Holmes and pleaded:
"Please, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, let me see the truth with your Noble Phantasm! Please, I can't even open my eyes during this battle, I can't take it!"
"Don't waste your precious magic in a place like this! Get out of here, or you'll die!"
Goredolf slapped him on the back of the head, almost laughing in exasperation at the absurdity of the remark. He grabbed the man by the collar and shoved him in front of Roman, ordering the doctor to thoroughly examine his mental state.