One-Inch Punch: Heaven Splitter. This was the most destructive move in Fu Hua's self-created Inch-Heart Fist Style.
In the previous battle, Fu Hua had not used this move on Leo Ash, not only because she didn't want to seriously injure the young man, but also for another reason.
This move required a charging process.
If it were against an ordinary enemy, Fu Hua would have used this move to defeat them at the right moment long ago.
But charging up in front of Leo Ash...
No matter how confident Fu Hua was, after clashing with him, she didn't think she could find an opportunity to charge up against Leo Ash in his current state.
If the timing for charging wasn't right, not only would the user fail to heavily injure the enemy with a powerful move, but they would also be targeted by the opponent due to the opening created by charging.
Especially since powerful, charging moves were generally fierce and powerful, and a fierce, charging move usually meant a relatively slow recovery.
If the opponent could dodge this punch, Fu Hua had no doubt that Leo Ash could seize the opening as she recovered and land a few heavy punches on her.
If it weren't for the fact that Fu Hua felt Leo Ash had 'lost control', she really wouldn't want to use this extremely risky move on a highly perceptive ally.
But now, many things were out of her hands.
Facing Leo Ash, who had erupted with a terrifying aura, Fu Hua fiercely threw a punch at him.
Similarly, Leo Ash, looking at the formidable enemy before him, also finished gathering his power and threw a punch at Fu Hua.
The punch Leo Ash was using now was not a terrifying move like Galactica Phantom, but just an ordinary straight punch enhanced by the [Release Power] characteristic of Royal Guard and his Stigmata's amplification.
However, under the two preconditions of him frantically pushing his Honkai Energy for enhancement and constantly using Royal Guard to parry Fu Hua's punches, this ordinary straight punch from Leo Ash was already terrifyingly strong.
In mid-air, the two had already thrown their terrifying iron fists at their opponent.
But just at this moment, a sapling suddenly sprouted from the large crater Leo Ash had punched out, instantly growing into a towering tree that stood between Leo Ash and Fu Hua.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
At this moment, both of their punches were blocked by this tree simultaneously.
Although their iron fists easily punched through the abruptly appearing tree, as wood chips flew in the air, the tree had already dissipated a significant amount of force from both their fists.
"Tch... meddlesome..."
After this punch was thrown, the Honkai Energy patterns and the Stigmata on Leo Ash's body began to gradually disappear.
On the other side, Fu Hua, who had punched through the tree, used its branches as a foothold and landed lightly and steadily on the ground.
"Alright, alright, this spar is over. We'll call it a draw."
After saying this, Himeko looked at Yuno outside the battlefield, who was drenched in sweat as she withdrew her Honkai Energy, and nodded in satisfaction.
Then, she looked at Leo Ash with displeasure and said to him.
"Second Lieutenant Ash, I understand your determination to showcase your strength to gain the attention of your superiors, but before you officially enter St. Freya High School, as your Commander and Teacher, I hope you can understand one thing."
"The ones you need to fight with your life on the line are the 'Honkai' on the battlefield, not your own comrades within Schicksal. No matter what past you have, you should engrave this in your heart!"
"...I understand."
Feeling the concern mixed with dissatisfaction in Himeko's gaze, Leo Ash turned his head and gave Fu Hua a deep look.
At the same time, when Fu Hua's eyes met his, she instinctively averted her gaze.
What a cold pair of eyes.
Fu Hua could feel that Leo Ash wasn't targeting her specifically.
If another A-rank Valkyrie had stepped onto the battlefield just now, Leo Ash's actions would probably have been similar.
So, my feeling that he was a relatively normal person when we first met was just an illusion?
This cold gaze that observes everything... this is what matches the intelligence Otto gave me.
A vengeful demon who, after having his parents taken away by the Honkai, seeks to step onto the battlefield to kill the Honkai and human traitors—this is the true Leo Ash.
That ordinary feeling from before was just a disguise he put on to keep his companions from worrying.
On the other side, after saying those words, Leo Ash began to drag his weary body towards the exit of the training ground.
The fatigue in his body wasn't because Fu Hua had hit him too hard; it was purely a side effect of him constantly pushing his Stigmata.
As for this side effect...
Yes, this was also a 'thing' he needed.
If he were to use his Stigmata normally, he certainly wouldn't be corrupted by Honkai Energy in such a short time.
And those Honkai Energy patterns from just now were clearly the result of Leo Ash excessively draining Honkai Energy.
By excessively draining Honkai Energy and storing it in his Stigmata space, he could also appear like a fearless, rabid beast, launching fierce attacks on Fu Hua.
After displaying this frenzied posture, Leo Ash's objective was basically accomplished.
As for that cold gaze when looking at Fu Hua...
—Don't ask, it's just the Cold, Handsome Man.
Anyway, the groundwork had been laid. Someone like Fu Hua, who was smart but not overly so, would definitely start to interpret everything Leo Ash did based on his previous performance and his expressionless face (after activating Poker Face), imagining it to fit the persona he had constructed.
As for how effective it would be in the end...
In any case, Leo Ash had already done everything he could within his limits. If Otto was really so bored as to spy on him 24/7, then there was nothing he could do.
But he felt that Otto himself wasn't that bored.
Not to mention his work at Schicksal, Otto himself still hadn't obtained the Second Divine Key, hadn't had his fill of Kallen Fantasy, and hadn't developed Kallen Fantasy II.
Even if he paid close attention to K423 and those around her, there would be a limit.
"Um, Senior..."
Seeing Leo Ash's weak state, Kiana mustered up her courage and walked up to him.
However, before she could speak, Leo Ash spoke first.
"I'm tired, Kiana."
"Whatever it is, let's talk tomorrow..."
After leaving these words, Leo Ash took his leave from everyone's sight.
Watching Leo Ash's departing back, the four who had just been interacting with him and Fu Hua suddenly felt that his back was a bit unfamiliar.
And after thinking about it, they realized that they actually never knew what Leo Ash was usually thinking.
After realizing that Leo Ash's hatred for the Honkai was far beyond ordinary...
As Cocolia's daughter, Bronya felt her guilt towards Leo Ash rise another notch.
As a former recluse who had 'come to her senses' after being advised by Leo Ash, Yuno felt that his psychological problems were no better than hers.
Kiana, who already knew Leo Ash's past, realized that he still needed someone to watch over him—his self-destructive tendencies were too severe.
And as a Herrscher, Mei, who had almost killed Leo Ash by mistake, had a thought surface from the depths of her heart.
*Leo Ash, if you truly hate the Honkai so much...*
*Then why didn't you kill me that day?*
....
That night, Fu Hua contacted Otto, who had been waiting for her report, right on schedule.
"Oh, my dear old friend."
Looking at Fu Hua's expression, Otto still smiled at her with that exaggerated tone.
"It seems today's test is over. And the test for that young man should have gone smoothly as well."
"Yes, very smoothly."
Looking at Otto, Fu Hua, for some reason, felt her desire to smash his head in rise even further.
But now, she also knew very well that there was no point in getting angry at Otto for no reason.
"Leo Ash's close-quarters combat skills are good, and he's especially outstanding in defense. He was able to block many of even my punches."
"Additionally, with his Stigmata, he can deliver extremely explosive straight punches. But at the same time, if he uses his Stigmata to enhance himself for a long time, he can easily be corroded by the Stigmata in return."
Recalling the earlier battle, Fu Hua added.
"That Stigmata is just as you said, truly dangerous. About a minute of normal use will cause his body to be about halfway corroded."
"Although the Honkai Energy patterns caused by the corrosion disappeared after Leo Ash stopped using the Stigmata, in my opinion, this Stigmata is still something that 'should be avoided if possible'."
"I see."
*No wonder Leo Ash was still subconsciously uneasy about the Stigmata when he was under the influence of Fenghuang Down.*
*Now I completely understand. A Stigmata that does enhance oneself after use, but at the same time causes a large amount of Honkai Energy to corrode the body, is indeed a very dangerous power for Leo Ash.*
"Other than that... there's probably nothing else to say. Oh, right."
Remembering something, Fu Hua adjusted her glasses and said to Otto.
"If possible, I still hope you don't rush him onto the battlefield."
"Oh, what's this, old friend? You saw this kid... don't tell me you're catching feelings?"
"Don't be ridiculous, Otto."
Facing Otto's teasing, Fu Hua said coldly.
"I just think that his mental state is still very problematic."
"Leo Ash's qualities as a Honkai-resisting warrior are very high. If we can reduce some of the problems he has, I think..."
At this point, Fu Hua's words suddenly stopped.
Otto, seeing this, took over the conversation and said to her with a smile.
"Alright, alright, I understand. But old friend, you also need to understand one thing."
"I can personally promise you these things, but we also have to respect Leo Ash's personal will. If he still wants to go to the battlefield under circumstances that comply with the rules, then I don't think I have any reason to stop him."
As if remembering something, the fake smile on Otto's face completely vanished.
"This is his dream. And dreams are fine if they are realized. But once a person with a dream realizes they cannot achieve it, the word 'dream' becomes a curse, clinging to that person until they die."
*Yes, just like me, becoming a prisoner bound by a curse, yet always yearning for that unreachable thing.*
"Dream?"
Hearing Otto's words, Fu Hua said in annoyance.
"That's not a dream, that's an obsession. And if an obsession is too deep, it's not a good thing."
"Dream or obsession, if he wants to do it, I won't stop him."
Otto, who had readjusted his emotions, put on that fake smile again and said to Fu Hua.
"If you're so worried about him, how about you pass on the [Edge of Taixu] to him?"
"Judging from how his fighting skills could suppress you for a short time, his learning ability is not a problem. And if he learns the [Edge of Taixu]... even just a part of it, it would be enough to suppress the damage the Stigmata does to his body."
"I was planning to do so even without you telling me. But..."
At this moment, Fu Hua looked at Otto with suspicion.
"Aren't you worried that he will interfere with your plans?"
"Worried? Why should I be worried that a warrior under my command who is preparing to fight the Honkai wants to become stronger?"
Seeing Fu Hua's 'cut the crap, you're definitely trying to fool me' expression, Otto said with a helpless smile.
"It's not like I haven't used the feather to see his true thoughts. Since he already knows I'm not a good person and still judges that listening to me is the right move, then after I've confirmed that he's no longer a problem, I will of course want to nurture him properly."
"It's just that, old friend, I hope you'll be a little careful when you teach him the Edge of Taixu. After all—you know what I mean."
Otto didn't spell it out, but Fu Hua knew he was telling her to be careful not to expose her identity as a spy.
"Don't worry, I know my limits."
After cutting off communication with Otto, Fu Hua lay on her bed and finally understood why she was so concerned about this young man.
In her fragmented memories, by comparing the memory shards in her mind, she realized—how similar Leo Ash was to her past self.
Possessing powerful fighting skills, watching his parents die because of the Honkai, meeting a senior who saved him and then embarking on the path of fighting the Honkai, and even once almost going astray for the sake of fighting the Honkai, and so on.
It was precisely because there were too many similarities between them that Fu Hua felt...
—She saw a shadow of her past self in Leo Ash.
......