The Tyrant's phasing ability involved shifting its body between Imaginary Space and Real Space, which was similar to the Subspace Lance used by the Second Herrscher. But for a mere high-level Honkai Zombie to use such an ability, it was obviously impossible for it to come without a cost. Its duration and transition speed were certainly weaker than the Second Herrscher's.
After all, this was just a high-level Honkai Zombie; it couldn't completely ignore the conservation of energy. To gain something, one must give up something else.
Given the Tyrant's energy level, the consumption from phasing must be significant for it as well. Although Honkai Zombies stored and utilized Honkai Energy more efficiently than Valkyries of the same level, it wasn't to an exaggerated degree. Its Honkai Energy would eventually run out.
As his mood gradually calmed, Ming Yu began to clarify the current situation, and his gaze toward the Tyrant became colder. At least, he could see a glimmer of hope for victory. Next, it would be a contest of who had better endurance.
Taking a deep breath, Ming Yu slowly moved to a position about seven meters away from the Tyrant. This distance was the absolute limit of his sword waves; any further and their power would drop sharply. Moreover, at this range, he could more easily dodge the Tyrant's attacks. He couldn't guarantee that the situation where he could "see" the attack would happen every time.
Stopping in his tracks, Ming Yu slowly raised his spirit blade. A crimson glow appeared on Sakura Fubuki's blade, and immediately, a bright sword wave shot toward the Tyrant's position.
Seeing Ming Yu's action, Theresa quickly understood his intention. She nodded in approval and whispered, "Not too stupid after all, knowing to wear down the Tyrant's phasing time like this."
The crimson sword wave passed straight through the Tyrant's body, slowly dissipating into nothingness a meter or two behind it.
Glancing at Ming Yu with impatience, the Tyrant's eyes remained disdainful, as if to say, "Is this all you've got?"
Ignoring the provocation in the Tyrant's eyes, Ming Yu swung his blade and sent out another sword wave. For the sword waves to have some offensive effect, Ming Yu had to go through a brief moment of channeling his energy. While not difficult for him, it wasn't something he could do effortlessly; he had to consider his own energy consumption.
Focusing his attention on the spirit blade in his hands, he had no mind to care about a Honkai Zombie's mood.
As sword waves flew by one after another, ultimately dissipating, Ming Yu's expression didn't change much, but the Tyrant was gradually losing its composure.
The sword waves traveled quickly, but due to the distance, they were easy to dodge. The Tyrant seemed to have no intention of expending more energy on attacks of this level, simply sidestepping to avoid a sword wave.
Seeing the Tyrant dodge instead of phasing through the attack, Ming Yu's pupils constricted. Now is the time!
Although it was too late to fire another sword wave, Ming Yu hadn't intended to rely solely on that method of attack. His body suddenly tensed, building up power, and in the next instant, he vanished from his spot.
Just as the sword wave passed the Tyrant, a crimson blade light slashed toward the still-sidestepping Honkai Zombie at an even faster speed.
Seeing Ming Yu's tensed body, the Tyrant instantly figured out his intention, the composure on its face no longer holding up.
Reflected in its eyes was that rapidly approaching crimson afterimage. A hint of panic appeared on the Tyrant's face, and it hurriedly crossed its arms in front of its chest, hoping to provide some measure of defense.
As the distance closed rapidly, Ming Yu could even clearly see the panic and astonishment in the Tyrant's eyes.
Elated, Ming Yu's grip on his blade tightened. All the Honkai Energy in his body converged into the spirit blade in his hands, causing Sakura Fubuki to shine with a brilliant red light, carrying an air of severing all in its path.
Sakura Fubuki, with its dazzling blade light, slashed upwards diagonally from the Tyrant's waist, passing through the Honkai Zombie's body without any resistance.
As the slash passed, Ming Yu's expression turned ugly. He felt no sensation of cutting through a solid object from Sakura Fubuki.
Looking up, the fear on the Tyrant's face had vanished, replaced by boundless triumph spreading across the Honkai Zombie's pale face.
That dodge just now was just the Honkai Zombie's ploy. Its phasing time was far from over, and its previous panic was just an act to lure Ming Yu in.
The Honkai Zombie uncrossed its arms, and after a brief charge, its right fist swung heavily toward Ming Yu's chest.
That last slash had consumed too much of Ming Yu's stamina, leaving him in a state of stiffness. At this distance, he could clearly feel the spatial fluctuations caused by the Tyrant's punch, but his body couldn't react at all.
Move, body, move! If I get hit by this, I'll definitely die!
Alarm bells blared in Ming Yu's mind. The central nervous system in his brain continuously issued dodge commands, but his body couldn't execute them.
Even with all his strength, Ming Yu could only barely move his vital heart out of the way and managed to muster a little Honkai Energy to defend his chest. For the rest, he could only leave it to fate.
Thump!
A solid impact sounded. The Tyrant's powerful punch directly shattered Ming Yu's weak defense, sending his body flying high into the air.
In mid-air, Ming Yu's body curled up like a shrimp. He spat out a large mouthful of blood and flew more than ten meters before tumbling a few times on the ground and coming to a stop.
His chest was completely numb, he didn't know how many ribs were broken, and shattered bone fragments had pierced his internal organs. Only endless pain radiated from inside and outside his body. Ming Yu's mind went blank, unable to even think.
"Ming Yu!" Theresa shouted as she rushed toward the fallen Ming Yu. At this moment, she couldn't care about the threat of the Honkai Zombie; her eyes were only on her injured student.
Before, she could allow herself to hide in the back, as she currently had no combat ability. But now, with her student's life hanging in the balance, she could no longer tolerate her own inaction. Even without her power, she was still the Principal. She couldn't abandon her student and flee for her own life.
Seeing the heavily injured Ming Yu, Hiyokumaru's mind went blank. Endless hatred and rage surged from the bottom of her heart. Although her memory of Ming Yu was only a few hours long, a voice deep inside told her that this person was very important to her.
She turned to look at the triumphant Tyrant, her eyes glowing with a murderous red light. Wisps of red mist swirled around the little fox, and the four tails behind her gradually split into five.
Hiyokumaru raised her hands above her head. A scorching fireball quickly formed and rapidly expanded to a size of two meters. Under the firelight's glow, the little fox's five tails danced wildly behind her.
"Die!" Hiyokumaru shouted, hurling the fireball in her hands at the Tyrant.
Faced with the massive fireball, a trace of fear flashed in the Tyrant's eyes, and it unhesitatingly activated its phasing. Although it didn't have much time left, it was more than enough to withstand this one blow.
Besides, this was the last resort of these intruders. After this, wouldn't they be at its mercy? With phasing active, the Tyrant wasn't worried at all.
The fireball was fast, reaching the Tyrant in the blink of an eye. But the fireball didn't pass through the Honkai Zombie's body. Instead, it exploded in front of it, and violent flames instantly engulfed the Tyrant.
Its vision was filled with fire, but the Tyrant's mind was calm. Even this couldn't break through its phasing.
The flames continued to burn and consume. The sound of something shattering slowly echoed through the space, and dense cracks gradually appeared on the Tyrant's body.
This flame had actually burned through the boundary between Imaginary Space and Real Space!
In terms of pure destructive power, this flame wasn't strong, but under the authority of a Herrscher, it was able to break through the boundary separating Imaginary Space and Real Space.
Without even a chance to let out a scream, the Tyrant vanished within the sea of fire, turning into specks of starlight that scattered away.