Two dazzling flames, like burning torches, stood facing each other in the cold void of low Earth orbit, illuminating the night sky like two erupting living stellar beacons.
The screech of climbing energy surged silently in the vacuum, even causing the surrounding imaginary space structure to emit low groans of being overwhelmed.
The divine patterns engraved deep in Shu's pupils had brightened to their limit.
The result of the probing was confirmation of the opponent's "equivalence." Then what followed was no longer a time for holding back.
He clearly remembered the sense of powerlessness when he was forcibly delayed by Theory—not every overpowering force could end a battle swiftly.
When the ranks were similar, or when the opponent possessed certain special resistances or rule protections, the battle could fall into an annoying seesaw.
And the mirror-like existence before him undoubtedly possessed all the conditions to turn a "seesaw" into "mutually assured destruction."
No delays.
He had to use his full strength to crush through with absolute superiority!
In a flash of thought, the command for the dual-core Herrscher-level Honkai energy within Shu's body to operate at full power had already been issued.
But at the same time, a more decisive thought arose.
Summon the "Scepter"!
It was the manifestation of the complete authority of the "Herrscher of Dream," usually sealed in the deepest part of the Fire Moth base in ARC City as his ultimate deterrent and trump card left for the base.
Only when driven by dual cores and wielding the Scepter was he theoretically in his most complete "form"!
It was also the source of his confidence that he could utterly crush this guy in front of him with overwhelming suppression!
Come on!
If you have the ability, conjure up another identical Scepter for me!!
The summons was answered.
Almost at the same instant he had the thought, far away on the thirteenth underground level of ARC City, that "Scepter," flowing with dreamlike colors and which could almost be called "magnificence" itself, trembled slightly.
In the next instant, it directly ignored all physical distance and spatial barriers between it and Shu, following the most essential link with its summoner to respond across the ultra-distance.
A "rift," whose color was too subtle to describe, bloomed silently in the void between the two Shus.
This was exactly the form of movement Shu used when he tore open imaginary space while chasing Desire.
The huge purple colorful gem at the tip of the Scepter slowly poked out from the rift.
Shu raised his hand, his right hand already half-closed, ready to welcome the descent of this ultimate weapon, pushing his own state to the peak to settle the victory in one fell swoop—
However, after poking its whole body out, the Scepter stopped strangely.
Shu's thought of transforming into a paragon of luck in one go and crushing the opponent into a second Theory also froze abruptly.
Because the Scepter did not land in his hand, nor did it even show signs of flying towards him. Instead, it trembled slightly right in the middle between the two Shus.
What was going on?
Shu could clearly feel that the invisible "traction line" between him and the Scepter was still strong, and the summons he applied had not been blocked or weakened.
But the Scepter just didn't move towards him even a bit more, as if it had hit an invisible wall in the void.
No... not a wall.
Shu suddenly reached out and yanked hard. The trembling Scepter jerked a little towards him, then was pulled back by another force that also suddenly increased, returning to its previous position again.
It was just that the Scepter was trembling more violently now.
Was it another identical traction?
Shu suddenly felt like his brain was congested; he was a bit horrified.
It was a force completely identical in nature, intensity, and even core fluctuation to the summons he issued... coming from right opposite him, also firmly "grabbing" that Scepter, forming an evenly matched tug-of-war with him!
He looked up abruptly, his gaze shooting towards the opponent like lightning.
The sight that greeted his eyes almost escalated his horror to fear.
The [Shu] opposite him now had a look of shock, apprehension, and extreme confusion on his face, almost identical to his own.
That [Shu] had obviously made the exact same judgment and decision at the same moment!
Full power outbreak, and summoning that "Scepter" he regarded as his ultimate trump card!
And he... actually succeeded in establishing a link with the Scepter and applying traction!
Their energies were still rising violently, and the dazzling flames on their bodies had turned into magnificent colorful robes.
But at the midpoint between them, that "Scepter" emitting heart-palpitating fluctuations became the strangest focal point.
It floated there trembling, both ends enduring completely equal traction, only in opposite directions.
Even the colorful light originally flowing steadily on the Scepter became disordered due to the pulling of two forces from the same source but in opposition, starting to flicker rapidly.
Then, seemingly having had enough of such contention, or perhaps a certain fixed command Shu had previously applied to the Scepter took effect.
The Scepter, almost torn apart by the two, suddenly tore open imaginary space on its own, plunged headfirst into it, and then disappeared completely.
The pull on the Scepter lost its target, so in the instant both of them were stunned, this mutual pulling force acted on the distracted opponent.
Their bodies flew rapidly towards each other like attracting magnetic poles at this moment, and the subconscious choices of the two who reacted were even exactly the same—
Raising a fist at the opponent's face for a merciless punch!
Just an instant before this punch was about to land solidly on the opponent's face, a shout from Otto suddenly came through Shu's earphone.
"Both of you stop!"
Stop?!
Now?!
Otto, are you... wait... what do you mean "both"?
Could it be... Otto is also ordering the other guy?
In the instant of raising his fist, a series of thoughts flashed quickly through Shu's accelerated mind.
In a flash of thought, Shu still decided to trust Otto's choice more, turning the Anticipation originally fully used for attack into protection on his body surface, while simultaneously extending his other hand like lightning to grab the collar of the opponent who was already close at hand.
The third horrifying collision was forcefully stopped. Both Shus chose to abandon their attacks at the last moment, turning to deepen their defense while grabbing the other's collar to control them.
The picture froze on two Shus looking exactly the same and dressed exactly the same, grabbing each other's collars quite synchronously, with their other hands raised high, fists clenched tight, as if they were going to smash into the other's face in the next moment.
"Otto!" / "Otto!"
Neither paid attention to the other, but shouted the name of the culprit who caused this scene in unison.
Then both froze abruptly, looking at each other in disbelief.
"Wait" / "Wrong"
"How can you hear it too?" / "Why can you hear it?"