Chapter 319: The First Slash
"Not yet. The Central Core still needs time to evolve and improve. The effects of the Hall of Heroic Spirits and the Hall of True Words also need further testing. And this kid's temperament still needs some tempering. We'll be staying here for a while longer."
Sigurd shifted his gaze to Senti, who had her head resting on Fu Hua's shoulder.
Senti glanced sideways at Sigurd and then rolled her eyes.
"Say whatever you want. I'm used to it. You're only getting away with that sharp tongue because you've still got some strength left. Otherwise, someone would've flattened you long ago."
"You're not really in a position to talk, are you?"
"I just can't be bothered to lie. I prefer being honest with people. Totally different from someone who deliberately says things just to annoy others."
"I, Sigurd, have always treated others with honesty. So it's the same."
"…Shameless! Old Timer, let's go! Don't talk to him—he's toxic!"
Still clinging to Fu Hua's back, Senti stuck her tongue out at Sigurd with an exaggerated grimace.
Sigurd, unfazed and feeling he'd said nothing wrong, simply shook his head and ignored the child's tantrum.
Fu Hua reached behind her and gently patted Senti's round, perked-up bottom with a smile.
"Alright, stop bickering with Sigurd. You'll never win against him in a war of words. By the way, I heard you were asked to serve as chief instructor for the million-strong new army. Aren't you worried about the soldiers at the front?"
"Worrying doesn't help. I've done everything I could to teach them well. But in the end, this is their world—we can't do everything for them. They'll have to stand on their own."
Senti murmured from Fu Hua's back, sounding gloomy.
She had thought she wouldn't care about those weak, ant-like soldiers. But now, knowing they were about to face real combat—combat where even someone like Durandal might not survive—it left her deeply unsettled.
Fu Hua was taken aback for a moment, her eyes widening slightly.
Sigurd turned his head and said:
"So, you've finally started to think like an adult?"
"…What's that supposed to mean? You wanna fight? Want to taste the might of this immortal's Edge of Taixuan!?"
"If you behave yourself going forward, I might just give you that opportunity."
"Deal! I'll behave, but once we leave this world, you must face me in a fair duel!"
"Agreed. A gentleman's word—"
"—is a promise carved in stone!"
Senti clasped Sigurd's extended hand, grinning wide and showing a row of perfect white teeth. Her smile was bright—but also slightly menacing.
Sigurd nodded in satisfaction.
So that's what the kid wanted—another round of getting her face bashed in! Why didn't she say so earlier? A little odd, sure, but Honkai Herrschers were all a bit strange anyway. Maybe their hobbies were just different from humans'. In any case, he'd be happy to oblige.
Fu Hua, however, could only raise her hand to her forehead and let out an exhausted sigh.
"Sigh…"
Little Xuan, she thought, I'm sorry. This time, I really couldn't stop her. Not being able to always watch over and protect Senti… that's my failure.
…
Two days passed—neither short nor long—vanishing before anyone noticed.
On a mountain ten miles from Qixing Lake, Zhuge Kongming stood at the center of the Big Dipper Formation. Her feather fan swayed gently as she looked out toward the lake, pale blue sleeves fluttering in the wind.
"Lady Kongming, there's little time left. You haven't slept in two days. Why not rest before the beast reveals itself?"
Zhuge Kongming shifted her gaze—clear and calm as an icy lake—and lowered her hand holding the fan, placing both hands behind her back. Without turning her head, she replied:
"No need. I won't rest until the beast is destroyed. Notify all spellcasters: the rest period is over. From now on, everyone must maintain formation. Until the beast is slain—no one retreats!"
"Yes, Lady Kongming!"
The young assisting spellcaster quickly backed out of the formation, pulled a sound-transmission talisman from her Taoist robe, and activated it with a flicker of flame.
Zhuge Kongming turned her eyes back to Qixing Lake, now swirling with numerous vortexes. Glimmers of starlight danced in her gaze, and her lips curled into a cold, determined smile.
"As a spellcaster, I cannot face you in direct battle. But let the first blade to strike the demon be wielded by me, Zhuge Kongming."
Zhuge Kongming slowly raised both hands. Her feather fan trembled in the sudden rush of swirling air, while the Seven-Star trigram beneath her feet lit up in radiant brilliance. An invisible force surged toward her from the four corners of the world—heaven and earth resonating at her call.
The young female spellcaster had just finished her transmission when she sensed the overwhelming shift in the world's spiritual current. She swallowed hard, then hurriedly pulled out pen and paper to begin scribbling what appeared to be a tangle of chaotic lines.
"Is this… what Master meant by 'a once-in-a-millennium prodigy'? This is terrifying! The scope of this spiritual formation covers the entire border of the realm, yet Lady Kongming is manipulating yin and yang forces alone—like picking something out of a bag?! I must record this! This formation… this technique… I could study it my entire life—no, it's worthy of becoming our sect's sacred scripture!"
She excitedly documented every change in the atmospheric pattern, unwilling to miss a single detail.
Zhuge Kongming, meanwhile, slowly closed her eyes. The powers of the heavens and earth converged within the stillness of her mind, awaiting only one thing—the arrival of her target. The moment of her first strike.
…
At the shore of Qixing Lake, the great army stretched across the land like a steel tide. Siege structures and tactical installations were arrayed in precise lines. At the front of it all stood Durandal, atop a high platform erected at the very edge of the lake. Her long sword stood planted beside her, cape flowing in the wind, a commanding and awe-inspiring sight.
Behind her, in the central command region, Kiana devoured a hearty meal of meat and wine with astonishing speed. But her eyes gleamed sharp as blades—focused, alert.
Scattered around her were over sixty thousand martial experts, each one unique in attire and bearing, drawn from every school and faction across the land. Some sat cross-legged in meditation, others meticulously cleaned their weapons—waiting in silence for the war to come.
This impromptu army, once intended as a mere flanking force, had now been elevated to form the heart of the central corps—a position of honor. Neither cannon fodder nor reserve, it was a gesture of respect for those who had answered the call.
At the now-scraped-clean table, Kiana took the last swig from a massive jug of strong liquor and slammed it down.
BOOM!!
The wine jug shattered along with the table. Kiana turned, wiped her mouth with her sleeve in her usual carefree manner, and raised a massive halberd high above her head.
"Brothers and sisters! Are you all full? Are you ready?!"
Her voice, imbued with true qi, rang out like a war horn—rolling across the plains.
Kiana, the second princess, had long been known for her commitment to agriculture and trade—saving untold thousands of commoners from poverty and disaster. Her virtue and merit had already earned her deep respect from the martial world. And now, her bold and unpretentious demeanor only solidified their admiration.
Her call was met almost instantly by powerful shouts infused with qi from all directions.
"We're full! Ready!"
"Is it time to begin?"
"Just give the word, Lady Kiana!"
"…"
After a brief moment of silence, Kiana drove her halberd into the ground, gouging out a deep pit. She opened her arms wide and declared:
"Heroes of the realm! I, Kiana, shamelessly thank you on behalf of all the people of this world for your great virtue and righteous hearts! Now we've eaten, we've drunk, and you've received your armor and weapons—everything I could give you has been given. From this moment on, we are no longer just friends or guests. I am your general, and you are soldiers of the central army. Once the orders are given—advance or retreat—you will follow them to the letter. Disobey, and you face the law of the army, without mercy!"
Her gaze swept over the crowd—sharp as a drawn blade. But all she saw in return were figures standing proud and unwavering.
Then, her expression softened into a confident, fiery smile.
"Good! I thank you, brothers and sisters, for putting the mission first! All who answered the call have been recorded by name. In the name of His Majesty, I swear that after this battle, none shall go unrewarded. For the people of the realm—fight to the death!!"
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[1] https://www.patreon.com/collection/95348?view=condensed
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[3] https://www.patreon.com/posts/140631608
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