Everyone present was well aware of Saigo Homura's genius in the field of research.
No matter what kind of monster the enemy developed, they believed that with enough time, Saigo Homura could inevitably create a superior product or a counter to the enemy's creation.
However, creating a prototype in a single day, a single-use version in three days, and a personally-adapted BDA within a week... that speed was just too ridiculous.
Based on his past pace, even with cheats, he shouldn't be this fast.
Unless he had received some kind of assistance.
Talent couldn't be improved in the short term. The only things that could affect research speed were better research methods or more comprehensive research data.
If it were the former, and a more efficient research method truly existed, there was no reason Saigo Homura wouldn't have thought of it before, only discovering it recently.
But if it were the latter, the source of that more comprehensive research data was hard not to speculate about.
The enemy had managed to leapfrog ahead by using the inhumane method of human experimentation. The very reason Saigo Homura had no answer to the Bull of Heaven was his refusal to use such methods.
And now, all the enemy's research bases had been destroyed, and all their research data had been collected.
Using their human experiment data as a resource would indeed drastically accelerate the research progress.
However, for the researchers themselves, the choice of whether to use data from human experiments was a moral dilemma.
One could, of course, use rhetoric to absolve oneself—since the victims had already made their sacrifice, wouldn't ignoring the fruits of that sacrifice be an extreme waste?
But it was crucial to understand that once scientific progress was built on the foundation of human experimentation, any future research bottlenecks would inevitably lead to the revival of new human experiments due to path dependency.
Acknowledging the contributions of the sacrificed would, in a way, lead to the endorsement of human experimentation.
If the pattern of "sacrifice first, repent later" became acceptable, then the evil of human experimentation could never be eliminated. At worst, it would just become a charade.
"Homura..."
Izayoi opened his mouth, wanting to ask Saigo Homura if he had used the data from the human experiments.
He had no intention of passing moral judgment on his younger brother; he only regretted that he hadn't paid attention to this issue.
He couldn't imagine how much his brother must have agonized over making such a choice.
As his older brother, Izayoi knew that Saigo Homura was not the type to use data from victims without a heavy psychological burden.
"What is it, Brother Izayoi?"
Saigo Homura looked up in confusion at his brother.
"...It's nothing."
Izayoi hesitated for a second before shaking his head.
He didn't know how much his brother had to steel himself, or how much pressure he faced, to make this choice.
But he knew that since Homura had already made his decision, all he had to do as his older brother was support him.
After all, he himself didn't know which choice would be better for the future.
"?"
Saigo Homura gave Izayoi a strange look but didn't press the matter, instead continuing.
"The development of this BDA will prioritize Brother Izayoi; I have the most data on him. Miss Ayato, could you send me the data for your commonly used weapons? I'll start researching it now, but it might be a bit slow. As for Percher, I'll need to collect your combat data first. If you have time, I'll need your help with some tests."
"Mm."
"Alright."
"No problem."
The three had no objections to this arrangement.
Kudou Asuka, however, spoke up with envy.
"Are BDAs only for you Original Codex Holders? I thought I could get a power-up too!" (TL: alas better use codex)
Hearing this, Saigo Homura retorted speechlessly.
"Miss Asuka, do you even need to get stronger right now? With your current power, you're probably the strongest one among all of us at this stage, aren't you?"
At these words, everyone froze.
"Eh? The strongest of all? Me?"
Even Kudou Asuka herself was a little shocked.
"I can't just pretend I didn't hear that."
Kudou Ayato was clearly not convinced.
"I'd love to say that's impossible, but Homura, you're factoring in the Bull of Heaven's combat power, right?"
Sakamaki Izayoi, after a moment's pause, understood.
"That's right."
Saigo Homura nodded.
"Although Miss Asuka can't use a BDA, she can control Avatars through her Aura. In your hands, the remaining Bull of Heaven could potentially exert power at a Four-Digit level. Even Brother Izayoi would have a hard time facing you in a direct confrontation right now."
Against the Bull of Heaven in its normal state, Izayoi already couldn't deal with its water-based immortality.
Empowered by her Aura, the Bull of Heaven's strength would increase more than tenfold. Even with Izayoi's ultimate physique, victory would be impossible.
"I can't argue with that..."
Izayoi shrugged. He always had a headache dealing with opponents he couldn't damage.
"Am I really that strong?"
Seeing even Izayoi concede, Kudou Asuka blinked, feeling as if she were in a dream.
All she did was obtain a Divinity and bring the Bull of Heaven under her control... okay, she had indeed gotten much stronger in the last two days.
"Of course you are."
Saigo Homura nodded, reaffirming his statement, and then muttered under his breath.
"Or rather, even though you're not a Third Stellar Particle Codex Holder, the difference between you having a BDA and not having one is negligible. Sometimes I suspect your Aura is essentially a natural BDA..."
If this guess was correct, then the Aura Kudou Asuka possessed was a BDA that could control other BDAs, Avatars, and even all Third Stellar Particles—a BDA King, so to speak.
Kudou Asuka, who hadn't heard clearly, asked curiously.
"It's nothing."
There was no need to voice a baseless theory. Saigo Homura shook his head and changed the subject.
"What I mean is, with Kasukabe and Miss Asuka's power, even if the enemy is a Four-Digit Irregular, we're not completely helpless."
Hearing this, Izayoi and Kudou Ayato, who had been left out of the power ranking, showed expressions of frustration.
Kudou Asuka, on the other hand, was feeling a little smug. She nodded and said.
"That's right! With the Bull of Heaven as our main offense, plus the support of Yō, Izayoi, and the others, we should at least be able to tie up that Typhon incarnation."
"As long as we're not defeated instantly, we'll have enough time to tell him the truth and let him know he's got the wrong people."
"Then, with just a few words, we can turn foe into friend and make the enemy surrender willingly!"
The vision Kudou Asuka painted earned nods of approval from everyone.
"Miss Asuka is right."
"As long as we explain things clearly, everything will be fine."
"A brilliant idea, Asuka!"
However, this line of reasoning was torn to shreds the very next day by the enemy who arrived as promised.
BOOM!!!
A massive canyon split the earth, and a tsunami spread out in all directions. The colossal Bull of Heaven was vaporized and torn apart in a violent explosion. The tremors in Tokyo Bay were felt throughout all of Japan.
The sky and earth changed color, revealing an apocalyptic scene like a meteor striking the planet.
The coast of Tokyo Bay was now a field of ruins.
"Asuka... Asuka, are you okay!"
"I'm-I'm fine! Ayato blocked the impact for me, so we're both safe! What about Percher? She's still new and hasn't learned much martial arts, is she alright?"
"She's fine! Percher dove to the seabed and used her turtle form to ride it out!"
"What about Izayoi? I remember he was at the very front. I think I saw him spit up blood?"
"I don't know. I detonated the Bull of Heaven early, so Izayoi shouldn't have taken a direct hit, but he was too close, so it might be risky."
"I'll go look for him! Asuka, cover me with the Bull of Heaven. This opponent is no ordinary person!"
"Got it!"
The Bull of Heaven, with its water-based immortality, descended from the sky, enveloping Tokyo Bay in a thick fog.
In an environment where you couldn't see your hand in front of your face, gathering information through conventional means was difficult, which helped them hide.
Before long, Kasukabe Yō found a drenched Sakamaki Izayoi. Fortunately, his injuries weren't severe, and soon, everyone was finally regrouped.
"That was a real crushing defeat!"
Izayoi, his face pale, said with a smile.
Yes, the battle had barely lasted two exchanges before their Salvation Group met with a disastrous defeat.
Neither Kasukabe Yō's Genome Tree nor Kudou Asuka's Bull of Heaven could do more than keep them alive; they were completely unqualified to fight for victory.
After a thorough trouncing, their group of saviors was scattered to the winds by the enemy's overwhelming power.
While it wasn't quite a desperate struggle for survival, they had to use all their wits and be extremely cautious just to get back together.
And now, the defeated group still felt a lingering fear of Typhon's incarnation.
Though they held no resentment toward him, they couldn't help but marvel at how terrifying he was.
"That guy's physical abilities are truly terrifying. It's the first time I've seen Izayoi lose a fistfight. Even Ayato's attacks couldn't break through his defense at all," Kudou Asuka lamented.
This defeat was a complete rout. They had used their full strength and still couldn't harm the enemy. Even divine-level martial arts couldn't pierce his defenses.
In terms of both offense and defense, the enemy was far superior to Izayoi.
"A Four-Digit Irregular, indeed."
Even Kasukabe Yō was somewhat impressed.
"But didn't Black Rabbit say he only has the power base of a human? Can a human's base strength reach that level?"
A human experiment subject shouldn't be able to surpass Izayoi, a Third Stellar Particle Codex Holder. Not only did the enemy surpass him, he crushed him. Wasn't something wrong with that?
This encounter had raised too many questions.
Even Percher complained indignantly.
"Weren't we told that with just a few words, he would surrender willingly?"
"So why did he go berserk after we told him the truth and revealed Izayoi's name and story?!"