Chapter 17: Hair Slides Past the Eyes, Raging Flames Burn Everything!

The Far East Branch is sparsely populated.

The woods near St. Freya Academy have all been turned into defensive fortresses.

On the way to find Himeko, Yunduo didn't encounter any obstacles.

The fire sword moved straight ahead, leaving a straight charred line on the ground.

The scorching temperature ignited the weeds on the ground, and tiny sparks began to burn.

Soon, sensing the Honkai Energy reaction, a flash of red appeared before Yunduo's eyes.

Amidst many Honkai Beasts, a figure stood tall!

She wore bright red armor and held a heavy sword.

She had a fine figure and a heroic, spirited air—a total 'Big Sister' vibe.

Her swordsmanship was extremely exquisite, as she occasionally leaned to the side to dodge the Honkai Beasts' attacks.

She was Murata Himeko!

Practical combat teacher of St. Freya Academy.

Forever single, addicted to alcohol as if it were life itself.

Speaking of which.

The reason Kiana and her group joined St. Freya Academy was because of Himeko.

Kiana once blocked a fatal blow from a Honkai Beast for Mei in Changkong City and was severely injured, leading to Mei's blackening and subsequent Herrscher transformation, slaughtering in all directions.

Later, Himeko arrived in time, used the Nexus System to take Mei's full-power strike, and recovered Kiana and her group.

Afterwards, she persuaded Mei, Kiana, and Bronya to be enrolled in St. Freya Academy together, serving as their instructor.

Yunduo didn't feel much when she was reborn as Himeko.

At that time, after teaching Kiana swordsmanship and swinging that dazzling blade, her life passed by hazily like alcohol.

Only every time after getting drunk, Yunduo could feel Himeko's pain.

The struggle when facing her father's death.

The daze of being the only survivor of the assault team.

And the faint hope when she later joined the Saint Freya founded by Theresa.

She wasn't as strong as she appeared on the outside; besides being a warrior, she was also a girl who longed for love and a family.

At this moment, Himeko was clearly lacking strength; facing the vast sea of Honkai Beasts, it was hard for her to hold on alone.

Beside her were three weak Valkyries, their bodies soaked in blood and their armor tattered, only able to barely protect themselves and powerless to help Himeko.

The roars of the Honkai Beasts and their own shouts as they drew swords and fired guns blended into a mess.

The air was filled with a thick smell of blood and the stench of the Honkai Beasts.

In the center of the Rush-type Honkai Beasts and Tank-type Honkai Beasts, there was a massive entity.

Molten Emperor!

The Molten Emperor, standing a full hundred meters tall, was taller than a ten-story building; from up close, it looked like a giant mountain!

The four of them were as weak as ants before it.

Intense Honkai Energy gathered around it, and the scorching fire elements caused the surrounding temperature to rise by dozens of degrees out of thin air!

"Himeko..."

Yunduo murmured and immediately drew her sword, preparing to assist.

Looking at their current situation, it was almost impossible to deal with this mutated Molten Emperor.

This Honkai Beast definitely had the strength of an Emperor-Level Honkai Beast!

It was already a high-ranking Honkai Beast, worlds apart from an ordinary Molten Emperor!

A few ordinary A-Rank Valkyries could kill one by giving their all, but this one couldn't be harmed at all without the strength of an S-Rank Valkyrie... "Hyaaah!!!"

Himeko sidestepped to dodge an attack from a Tank-type Honkai Beast, taking the opportunity to pull up her greatsword and slash with all her might!

The power-filled greatsword plunged directly into the Honkai Beast's head, blood spraying from the tip of the blade.

Sizzle!

The Honkai Beast's blood flowed onto the ground, immediately corroding the area below.

Honkai Energy seeped into the soil, making it uncultivable for a hundred years; a piece of land was directly ruined.

"Captain, there are too many Honkai Beasts here. Unless we wait for reinforcements from Principal Theresa, we can't kill them all!"

A blue-haired Valkyrie blocked the bite of a Rush-type Honkai Beast with her knife and shouted in a hoarse voice.

"Yeah, and there's a Molten Emperor; we have no way to deal with it at all."

"Why hasn't Principal Theresa arrived yet?"

Hearing the weak voices of the temporary Valkyrie Squad members, Himeko repelled a Honkai Beast, stepped back a few paces, and said, "This Honkai Beast tide has a Frost Emperor; Theresa went to deal with it. Let's hold on a bit longer; she'll be here soon!" To be honest, her sword-wielding hand was already numb.

From the discovery of the Honkai Beast tide to her asking Theresa for support, three full hours had passed.

In such a crazily large Honkai Beast tide, the few of them had almost fallen into an abyss.

Unless the leading Molten Emperor was killed, low-level Honkai Beasts would continue to appear incessantly!

"Captain, there's someone over there!"

Just then, a member spotted the approaching Yunduo and reported to Himeko.

Hearing this, Himeko looked over quickly, her figure also freezing for a second as she recognized that familiar person.

"Kiana? Why would she come here?"

Himeko's face was full of disbelief, and her sword-wielding hand slowed down slightly.

This was fatal on the battlefield.

However, she did indeed hesitate.

Although the Kiana not far away was wearing unfamiliar Valkyrie armor and her temperament had changed a lot.

But Himeko could tell at a glance that it was definitely Kiana!

She's only a C-Rank Valkyrie!

How could she come to the core area of the Honkai Beast tide?

Never mind the Molten Emperor; she would have a hard time dealing with even a Templar-class Honkai Beast, and a single slip-up could mean death under the beasts.

Himeko bit her lip, her muddled brain clearing up a lot in this instant, and she hurriedly shouted, "Don't come over!"

But for some reason, Kiana seemed not to hear and ran straight toward her.

And looking at the direction she was running, she would definitely enter the Molten Emperor's attack range!

Shuhu, Himeko suddenly noticed that the Molten Emperor, which hadn't moved for a long time, began to move its body.

Even if it was just a slight movement, it was captured by the experienced Himeko.

This was the warning before a Honkai Beast launched an attack.

One must know that the attack speed of Honkai Beasts is extremely fast; unless one can catch the warning, it is hard for the physical body to dodge their swift attacks.

Seeing this scene, Himeko's heart began to beat rapidly, like a ball rolling inside her chest.

Not good!

Danger!!!

Can't dodge it!!!

Himeko pulled up her greatsword, gritted her teeth, and as if disregarding her own life, leaped toward the space in front of Kiana.

As a teacher, she had the responsibility to protect her student!

Time passed very slowly at this moment, as if a fish were swimming past her eyes.

Himeko could only hear her own panting and the violent pounding of her heart.

Her body's muscles adjusted to their peak state within a second, preparing to meet the upcoming self-sacrificial protection.

"Aunt Himeko, I want to become the strongest Valkyrie!"

Kiana's once-confident oath rang in Himeko's ears.

"Kiana..."

"Get out of the way!"

Before Himeko's voice could ring out, the Molten Emperor's attack arrived.

It moved its hundred-meter-tall body, its form turning into a bolt of lightning, and that diamond-shaped hardest part of its torso detached to form a beam!

Beam Cut!

This was the Molten Emperor's swift attack; while charging with its body, it fired two beams to perform a powerful cut across a fan-shaped area.

Everything in existence would turn to dust under this strike!

Never mind a C-Rank Valkyrie.

Even an S-Rank Valkyrie couldn't guarantee remaining unscathed under this blow!

"Kiana!!!"

Himeko cried out, catching Kiana's cape and pulling her into her arms.

In the next second, Himeko prepared to close her eyes and use her body to protect her.

She was already prepared to sacrifice herself.

But she never expected—

At this moment, Kiana seemed like a completely different person.

Himeko noticed her sharp, deep blue eyes.

That was the gaze a warrior should have!

She drew a greatsword glowing with burning fire, looking like a God of Fire descending, and slashed at the Molten Emperor.

Smooth silver-white hair slid past Himeko's eyes, and her brain felt dizzy.

All breathing abruptly stopped at this instant!

"Flames—"

"Burn to ashes!!!"