The explosion echoed through the sky, its fiery blast rising to the heavens, blasting a massive hole in the roof of the Tenshukaku. Everything within a ten-meter radius turned to ash.
Hu Tao and Xingqiu watched the shockwave surge towards them, their hearts pounding. They glanced at Klee again, their eyes filled with reverence.
Who would have believed such a terrifying force came from the hands of a little girl…
Thinking this, the two of them looked again at Diona, who stood serenely beside them, and Noelle, who seemed long accustomed to such events.
Eh… well, it seemed quite a few people believed it.
After escorting Klee back to safety, Ying first glanced at the Raiden Shogun. Seeing that she remained motionless, Ying finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Phew…"
Her home was demolished, yet she acted as if nothing had happened. She truly had incredible composure.
But that was for the best, as long as it was beneficial to her.
Knowing that the Lady would soon be reborn from the ashes, Ying wasted no more words. She turned directly to Hu Tao and Xingqiu and asked,
"Are you ready?"
Hu Tao immediately shook the Staff of Homa in her hand.
"Ready, ready! This Hall Master is already impatient. Let's begin soon~"
Xingqiu beside her chuckled, teasing,
"Look at how eager you are."
With that, he extended his palm and placed it on Hu Tao's back.
Diona wiggled her small ears and quickly walked to Hu Tao's side, also placing her palm on her.
"It's not much, but it should be barely enough. It's all yours~"
As the two exerted their strength, Hu Tao instantly felt a surge of potent elemental power welling up within her, filling her body and making her feel invigorated.
Ying watched the scene with excited anticipation, a flood of happy emotions rising within her.
Here it comes, Hu Xing Zhong… Pfft! Hu Xing Mao is here~
Heh heh… I never imagined that elemental power could actually be transferred. If that's the case, could Lumine also transfer her elemental power to me?
If that were possible… then perhaps I'd truly have the confidence to defeat Ei in a straightforward battle~ ๑乛v乛๑
"Crack…"
Just as Ying was lost in her daydream, a scorching flame erupted from the center of the recent explosion, forcefully yanking Ying's wandering consciousness back.
Looking at the center, Ying took a few steps forward, her gaze solemn as she stared at the Lady who had just revealed herself. She prepared to join the nearly formed Hu Xing Mao in facing this opponent.
However…
"You… you…"
The Lady maintained a posture of looking down, wanting to speak but conveying a sense of immense difficulty.
Such an unusual demeanor did not escape Ying's sharp eyes. Not only could anyone with a modicum of sense perceive the Lady's current state was far from optimal, but based on Ying's understanding of the Lady, after being reborn from flames, she would surely unleash a torrent of mockery, uttering words that sounded utterly chuunibyo.
Seeing her now appear even weaker than before her elemental transformation, Ying pondered for a moment before her eyes suddenly widened. She glanced back at Klee with disbelief.
Uh… could it be that she was actually blown into such a sorry state by the bombs…
As the thought surfaced, Ying inexplicably felt an unshakeable confidence bloom within her.
Looking at the Lady once more, Ying blinked her eyes and quietly retreated to the sidelines, leaving the stage to Hu Tao alone.
She had expected to expend some effort, but she hadn't anticipated Klee providing such a tremendous surprise.
Speaking of which… wasn't she supposed to just go fishing today…
If I had told her in advance that I needed her help to fight monsters…
"Gulp…"
The thought made Ying involuntarily swallow.
A truly walking nuclear bomb.
"Roar—————"
Just as Ying was contemplating this, the Lady suddenly let out a soul-shattering roar.
"You… you… all of you… go to hell!!"
As soon as the words fell, the Lady's hand instantly condensed a whip filled with blazing fire, which she swung heavily towards Klee and the others.
Seeing this, Ying immediately stepped in front of them. After all, none of the people behind her could currently withstand such an attack.
Hu Tao, not far away, frowned slightly. With a dash, she appeared in front of Ying and severed the incoming whip with her Staff of Homa. She then turned her gaze back to the Lady, her eyes growing even colder.
"To ignore this Hall Master and attack my defenseless friend. Very good. You will pay the price for your actions!"
"Rumble~~~"
As Hu Tao finished speaking, a thick bolt of lightning descended from the sky, smashing down fiercely onto the Lady's location.
"Boom————"
Instantly, dust flew, smoke billowed, and sand and stones scattered, creating a sensation akin to a heavenly tribulation.
Hu Tao froze for a moment, then immediately turned back with annoyance, looking at Ying, who hadn't yet fully retracted her attack stance, with a resentful expression.
"If you're going to attack, Ying, then this power of mine will truly become a mere decoration!"
"Ah? Ah… Cough cough~ Sorry, sorry. I just got a little antsy."
Chided by Hu Tao, Ying sheepishly retracted her hand, though a sly smirk still lingered on her lips.
Oh, I just remembered, she beat me up so badly back then. If I don't get a few hits in now, I'll definitely feel unfulfilled.
The Lady, struck by the lightning, had turned into a lump of charcoal. Feeling the pain radiating from her body, her form trembled in fury.
"Damn it… damn it!!"
Another gust of hot wind swept through, and the Lady once again brandished her whip, intending to flay Ying alive.
Seeing this, Hu Tao clearly would not allow it. She rapidly charged forward, engaging the Lady in a fierce exchange.
"Clang~ Clang~ Clang~~"
Their weapons collided incessantly, back and forth, the fight intensely fierce. However, it was evident that under Hu Tao's increasingly aggressive offense, the Lady was gradually falling into a disadvantage.
This was not only due to the various buffs Hu Tao had accumulated but, more importantly, because the Lady had already endured a barrage of brutal attacks. Her injuries had worsened considerably, and even the flames within the room could no longer be sustained, slowly extinguishing.
In just a moment, Hu Tao seized an opportunity and ruthlessly swept her staff towards the Lady's wrist, the one holding the whip.
"Screech~"
A trickle of blood flowed from the Lady's arm, simultaneously igniting her killing intent.
"Damn girl, you're asking for death!!"
Accompanied by a furious shout, the flames surrounding the Lady flared up once more, her body spinning rapidly to transform into a fiery tornado that engulfed Hu Tao.