Mister Zero, Her Story: Chapter 57 – “Heroic Spirits”
The torrential rain continued, the blue and silver figures facing each other amidst the downpour.
Alyxsia steadied herself, her body battered and bruised, her giant machine rumbling towards her.
Most of her combat power came from this machine.
Without it, she was just an ordinary “Peril” level ability user.
But “Peril” level nonetheless.
Luo Yan, with her “Difficulty” level aura and “Ruin” level attack power, posing a threat to a “Peril” level ability user with a strange Forbidden Technique…
To Alyxsia, she was no less terrifying than the unconscious Hua Qiling on her back.
And Alyxsia remembered Grifres’s grave expression when mentioning “Miss Luo Yan,” even more serious than when speaking of Hua Qiling.
She had not only faced the crimson monster formed by the “Witch of Envy’s” will fragment, but she had also instantly killed a “Ruin” level ability user from a long distance.
Even Qin Wen, a “Ruin” level expert, had needed to exploit Myers’s momentary lapse in concentration and be within range of her sword formation to achieve such a feat.
And Luo Yan, with just a sniper rifle, could kill from kilometers away…
If Luo Yan was on Yan City’s side, she would be a major threat to Dawn.
Because of this, the Dawn teams were acting cautiously.
But they hadn’t expected…
Even in direct combat, this girl named “Luo Yan” possessed terrifying strength.
—Using a Forbidden Technique with almost no cost, Alyxsia finally witnessed this miracle firsthand.
And it was the Life-type Forbidden Technique, “Manjusaka,” no less…
A technique that devoured the life force of both the user and the target.
The fact that Luo Yan could use it unharmed, even just surviving it, was terrifying.
But…
Why did this mysterious and powerful girl speak like a child?
“This is war, ‘Miss Luo Yan’,” Alyxsia composed herself and said gravely.
She activated her giant machine, the rumbling steel torrent about to be unleashed. “Perhaps you’re still young, you don’t understand, but just know this…
“In war, both sides must do everything to kill the other, to annihilate them, to crush them.
“In war, life is expendable.”
Luo Yan’s eyes darkened. She raised her sniper rifle and aimed at Alyxsia.
“…Including your life, is that it?”
Before losing consciousness, Hua Qiling had transferred the authorization for the “Ember’s” energy to her.
And along with it… ten “Philosopher’s Stones.”
Almost Yan City’s entire remaining stock.
The recent string of disaster events had strained their resources.
Creating “Philosopher’s Stones” required the “Ember’s” energy, but right now, the “Ember” couldn’t spare any.
And with Luo Yan now at her peak, her combat power was unprecedented.
With “Manjusaka,” she could even hold her own against a “Peril” level ability user.
“…Me?”
Alyxsia frowned slightly at Luo Yan’s question.
Then she sneered, her spiritual energy surging, dispelling the surrounding aura of death.
“Of course, including me—provided you can kill me.”
The giant machine rumbled, and mechanical soldiers and drones emerged, charging towards Luo Yan.
“Although Yan City has surprised me lately, you, Hua Qiling, and that Qin Wen who’s intercepting Team Four…”
Alyxsia’s spiritual energy linked with the steel torrent, guiding the mechanical army towards Luo Yan.
“But before absolute power… it’s all meaningless.
“—You are… too weak.”
“Weak…?”
Luo Yan murmured softly.
Before her, the mechanical soldiers advanced, the stench of oil filling the air, even the heavy rain couldn’t wash it away.
This was Alyxsia’s true strength, the origin of her nickname, “Mobile Fortress.”
She had attacked Hua Qiling alone earlier because she had been cautious, worried that Hua Qiling might escape before the giant machine arrived.
But… it didn’t matter now.
A confident smile appeared on Alyxsia’s lips.
She had learned from Grifres that Luo Yan possessed both mind-related and life-related abilities.
And both were useless against her steel torrent.
Machines had neither life nor soul; Luo Yan’s abilities wouldn’t work.
And the only variable, Hua Qiling, was unconscious, her “Eagle Eye Vision” no longer a threat.
“The lives of the weak are not meaningless. Every life has value… no, rather, all lives… deserve respect.”
Luo Yan slowly closed her eyes. When she opened them again, they were completely crimson, the black pupils radiating malice, yet restrained by a silver light.
Alyxsia, staring at Luo Yan, saw those eyes and instantly realized,
“That’s… the Demonic Offering, the ‘Eye of Fear, Envy, and Defilement’!”
At the same time, a crimson mist suddenly spread, enveloping the battlefield.
—The “Envy” domain, “Soul Eater.”
“Primordial Demon will detected! Danger! Danger! Danger!”
The alarm blared through the Yan City Anomaly Management Bureau, the third time in recent days.
And this time… the alarm didn’t stop.
Rhine’s anxious voice came through Alyxsia’s communicator.
“Alyxsia, come back! Immediately! There’s a Primordial Demon’s aura at your location!”
“I know, I… I see her…”
Alyxsia murmured, a conflicted look on her face.
She was trapped, mesmerized by the “Eye of Fear, Envy, and Defilement.”
However, the mechanical soldiers, having received their orders earlier, continued their advance towards Luo Yan, unaffected by Alyxsia’s mental state.
Although Luo Yan possessed a terrifying “Demonic Power,” her base aura was only “Difficulty” level.
It seemed any one of these mechanical soldiers could kill her and interrupt her ability.
But… before the steel torrent could reach Luo Yan, figures suddenly appeared, blocking their path.
The mechanical army’s advance was halted.
“Wha…?”
Alyxsia stared in shock.
What… what were these…?
Before her steel torrent stood figures clad in silver.
Their expressions were resolute, their eyes filled with anger and defiance.
Alyxsia, who had almost broken free from the “Eye of Fear, Envy, and Defilement,” lost her focus and was drawn back in.
“These are the lives you disregarded,” Luo Yan whispered.
—The ultimate form of “Envy” could rewrite wills and souls, and Luo Yan could now achieve this.
The fallen Yan City guards rose again, charging towards Alyxsia’s mechanical army.
But their resurrected bodies didn’t mutate like the townspeople controlled by Mrs. Natalie.
Instead, they gradually became translucent, pure white.
This was because Luo Yan’s “Envy” was fundamentally different from the “Witch of Envy’s” demonic power.
She didn’t forcefully rewrite their souls and wills, but followed their desires, reshaping their souls.
She gave these extinguished lives a chance to fulfill their final wishes.
Driven by this will, their souls temporarily solidified by “Envy,” the Yan City guards, in their former bodies, faced their powerful enemy with human courage.
This phenomenon would later be known as “Heroic Spirit Transformation.”
“To… protect Yan City!”
The Heroic Spirits roared in unison, their voices echoing through the sky.
They were now far stronger than before, some even nearing “Ruin” level.
Lin Ze, whom Alyxsia had casually killed, was among them, now a powerful “Ruin” level ability user, leading the charge.
Facing this onslaught, Alyxsia, already nearing her limit, was forced to retreat, her steel torrent dwindling.
Her giant machine, under heavy attack, began to crumble, and Alyxsia herself, her mind still affected by the “Eye of Fear, Envy, and Defilement,” was struck several times.
“This is their power, the lives you called weak,” Luo Yan whispered, looking at Alyxsia, her eyes filled with sorrow for the lost lives. “I… simply followed their wishes… and helped them… that’s all.”
Alyxsia, finally breaking free from the “Eye of Fear, Envy, and Defilement,” looked at Luo Yan with fear, her usual arrogance and indifference gone.
“Are you… the ‘Witch of Envy’?”
“No… the ‘Witch of Envy’ isn’t human, not even a living being… She, and the other Primordial Demons, are just concepts…”
The answer seemed obvious…
“There were… two Devil’s Apostles in ‘Ghost Town’…”
Alyxsia bit her tongue, trying to stay conscious, to break free from the “Eye of Fear, Envy, and Defilement.”
But the seed of “Fear” had been planted. Facing Luo Yan, Alyxsia had only one thought.
Escape.
“Alyxsia! Report your status! You have to leave immediately!”
Rhine’s voice came through her communicator. Alyxsia focused her mind and forced out a few words.
“A…cknow… ledged… Situation… out of control…”
“Do you need backup?” Grifres’s voice was grave.
Alyxsia hesitated, then shook her head.
“No, I… can make it back.”
She retreated, even abandoning her beloved giant machine to buy herself time.
The Heroic Spirits’ assault could last for a while longer, but Alyxsia didn’t dare gamble.
If she lost, she would die here.
And after looking into the “Eye of Fear, Envy, and Defilement,” the deathly aura she had suppressed returned, stronger than before.
If she delayed any longer, she would be severely injured, even without the Heroic Spirits’ attack.
She might even… die.
Finally breaking free, leaving her giant machine behind to hold off the pursuers, Alyxsia used the last of her strength to activate her power armor.
She retreated from the southwestern front line, fleeing towards Dawn’s command center.
Thus, the battle for the southwestern front line temporarily ended.
Of the seven hundred and twenty-three defenders, five hundred and forty-one were dead.
The rest were seriously injured.
Luo Yan closed her eyes, exhausted, the surrounding blood mist slowly dissipating.
The alarm in Yan City also stopped, and the “Witch of Envy’s” aura vanished.
“Even at my peak, using ‘Envy’s’ domain for the first time is still incredibly taxing…”
Luo Yan’s face was pale, her body swaying.
Just then, a hand supported her.
Luo Yan looked up and saw a blurry, unfamiliar face.
“Who… are you?”
She asked, confused.
“I’m Director Hua Qiling’s assistant, Lin Ze,” he smiled, then looked at Hua Qiling’s sleeping face, a hint of relief in his translucent form. “Thank goodness, Director Hua Qiling is alive…”
“But you…”
Luo Yan could see that the “Heroic Spirits” were fading, about to disappear completely.
Their final wishes, their last wills, had been fulfilled, and their temporarily solidified souls were dissipating.
This wasn’t something Luo Yan’s power could prevent, unless she twisted their wills, like Mrs. Natalie.
But she would never do that.
“We’re already dead, but it’s alright,” Lin Ze smiled serenely, looking up at the gloomy sky above Yan City. “Being able to protect Yan City, protect our home… is enough.”
“…I’m sorry for your loss,” Luo Yan whispered.
“Please don’t be, Miss Luo Yan,” Lin Ze’s expression turned serious.
“This was our shared will… Being able to fulfill this seemingly impossible wish, thanks to you… we are content.”
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