Honkai Impact 3rd, what should an ordinary player do at the start?

Page 107

Even the combat body made of soul steel was instantly torn in half, leaving a white mark, and the purple bishop's robe was tattered.

Clearly, five hundred years had made this bishop too arrogant, to the point that he hadn't prepared much in terms of individual combat strength.

Just as he would eventually be defeated by Durandal, he is currently no match for another Stigmata Awakener.

Even if Jiangcheng cannot compare to Durandal, and the Void Archives are unusable, Otto, who was completely unprepared, is no match for himself who had planned everything in advance.

—This almost became a dazzling solo performance.

The sharp-witted monster faces off against only the tanky Iron Man.

He turned around and swung his sword, stepping and sliding... using the most basic sword techniques to their fullest extent, turning the spacious room into a stage for Jiang Cheng to perform a solo show.

Blood slowly splattered at the boy's feet. The remnants of the former Jizo Mitama had become a crucial backdrop to the war—after slicing through Otto's body, all that remained was the eroded and destroyed soul steel, which could not even maintain its form and was left behind like liquid.

In most cases, the soul steel flowing in the air doesn't even have a chance to land before it is cut again by the katana that is slashed out once more.

Along with Otto's body—

"call……"

I don't even have the energy to talk and disturb my mood.

The Archbishop of Destiny was in a state of utter disarray, unlike anything he had ever experienced.

Possessing theoretically greater power, yet completely unable to unleash it, all the preparations made in advance froze and crashed in an instant, even the Void Treasury was forcibly interfered with, and even now, the Heavenly Fire Judgment, which was half-constructed in the air, is still floating in the air, and its body is as heavy as if it were filled with lead.

……

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PS: Part of this is based on the scene when Jiang Cheng met Joyce in the visual novel. It's a pity that Jiang Cheng planned to kill her quickly and didn't want to leave much time, otherwise he would have been soaking in the hot springs next.

Chapter 97 I can defeat Otto without Mei

Essentially, these medicines are completely unnecessary; they are only used for the most extreme and stable purposes.

Jiang Cheng has now realized his foolishness—Otto's current combat strength is mismatched with his preparations.

The price I paid was too high, at least compared to the abilities Otto demonstrated.

So arrogant, so presumptuous.

He even suspected that he wouldn't need any Stigmata. Let alone passing the Sakura Reincarnation, he might not even need basic Stigmata. He could simply use Jizo Mitama to carefully approach Otto and gradually erode him with his authority to easily destroy him, who was now a pure technological creation. Then Raiden Mei could take over the battle.

Because he had heard many people exaggerate Otto's abilities before he transmigrated, he immediately recognized Otto as an invincible ultimate boss, and thus prepared far too much.

Originally troubled by the preparation process of Jizo's Soul, the delay with Otto was resolved by this arrogant guy—he even came to my doorstep and still wanted to chat with me.

As for Otto's individual combat strength and his prepared plans, they were instantly wiped out by Raiden Mei and Jizo Mitama.

They had originally planned that even if they succeeded, they would try to stall for time with Otto until they survived, waiting for Mei to come and help.

It doesn't matter.

He has no regrets.

Even if given another chance, he would not hesitate to take everything he could prepare.

And if we are well prepared, perhaps... perhaps he alone can do it, without needing to call Mei at all!

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……

Holding onto this idea, even now that everything about Otto has been confirmed to be sealed off, Jiang Cheng still did not call out that name—he was prepared too thoroughly, so thoroughly that in the very first instant of close combat, in the very first instant of experiencing the immense violence that seemed to tear even the Soul Steel apart, he could vaguely see a moment of panic on his completely uncomposure face.

Unfortunately, this bishop had experienced so much despair in his life that he had become desensitized to it.

He was still thinking at a high speed.

Jiang Cheng also tried his best to avoid thinking about it.

The blade flashed in circular arcs, its attacks, like a burning sky beneath the crimson blade, were always ever-present.

Even if I can't break through the defense, it doesn't matter. Even if the next strike might be useless and easily blocked—it doesn't matter if I know it will be blocked before I even make a move.

All it takes is a swing, a collision, or contact with Otto's body to transfer the corrosive power.

Even though the vast majority of his energy was devoted to fighting against the floating islands and all the plans prepared by Otto.

To avoid missing anything important, the entire room was forcibly sealed off completely.

In this situation, the power held by the erosion can still transfer the poison it carries, especially the poison related to technology and consciousness, to Otto's body during the collision, like an accumulating ultimate move that gradually builds up the poison.

Otto will only get weaker and weaker.

With Mei blocking the way, no one can come here to help him.

Each of Jiang Cheng's strikes was stronger and more violent than the last. The veins that bulged on his arm flowed through his blood vessels, and his heart, pounding like a roaring rocket engine, was filled with highly concentrated drugs and energy that had been awakened to full activity.

“Crack!”

Even the Jizo Mitama, forged from Soul Steel, emitted a sore sound from extreme metal fatigue.

Otto had lost count of how many times his right hand had been shattered, and this time the liquefied metal was healing particularly slowly.

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I wonder if Otto regrets choosing a bunch of cheap people to win people over instead of being more cautious and choosing professional guards at this moment—although it's possible that Valkyries could be used. In Rin's perception, Mei's speed and efficiency in causing destruction far surpasses that of herself by hundreds of times. The electromagnetic barrier directly enveloped the floating island, forcibly blocking all information.

Those people were shouting—"For His Holiness the Bishop!"

Those small fry who charged forward with weapons weren't even qualified to participate; Jiang Cheng turned around and killed them all with a single backhand slash.

Blood splattered everywhere, but this time, the battle was no longer marked by the stench of blood spilled from the blades.

The result of no longer concealing his strength was the most ordinary attack. A casual wave of his right hand and a semi-circular slash was enough to wipe them out. Not even their scattered organs could be seen—they were pulverized/corroded in a single blow, leaving only a pile of flesh and blood.

The result of no longer concealing his strength was the most ordinary attack. A casual wave of his right hand and a semi-circular slash was enough to wipe them out. Not even their scattered organs could be seen—they were pulverized/corroded in a single blow, leaving only a pile of flesh and blood.

This attack was merely a preparatory step.

Jiang Cheng dodged Otto's straight punch by turning his body to the side.

Then, bending over and lowering his body, he swung his right hand backward again to unleash the Jizo Mitama.

—Lightning One-Sword Style: Kesagiri!

The attack, which was incidentally caught in the arc of the swing, was actually aimed at only Otto.

As for Otto, who completely withstood the attack and was the one the Valkyries were trying to save, he simply liquefied his abdomen, neck, and head in an instant, letting his body go limp, and easily dodged the attack.

But neither of the two people present cared about any of that.

—Even Otto.

This seemingly benevolent bishop is actually a master of mischief, carelessly creating trouble and causing Valkyries to sacrifice their lives and heroes to do everything in their power to clean up his messes. He never cares about Valkyries' lives, treating them as mere consumables—consumables on the battlefield, consumables to clean up his messes, and even consumables on the experimental table.

These warriors who use artificial stigmata technology are already heading towards death every day from the moment the surgery is successful.

Jiang Cheng only gave one slash before immediately turning away—the feedback from Jizo's Soul was that they couldn't even make two A's together.

However, Otto, who created his battle body using Soul Steel as raw material during the Second Honkai Impact, is indeed an enemy that requires him to go all out and take things seriously.

They still have some reaction time, but they've realized they can't use their preparations, so are they planning to fight head-on?

Also.

The Soul Steel Body is much harder than most things.

Bell, ready to erode Otto's soul steel body the moment it crashes down again.

It can now be confirmed that there is nothing more hidden inside this body, and he is indeed powerless to resist the erosion.

Don't worry, I'll pack up his entire body and send it away according to the relevant procedures. I know you're scared about this, so I'll be very careful. Now you can call for Mei.

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……

All you need to do is call Mei.

Relying on the power of the Herrscher of Thunder, Otto can be killed in the fastest time—just like before, the current battle doesn't even need Stigmata, all that's needed is Mei and Jizo Mitama to finish everything as quickly as possible.

It is not simply a wild fantasy or delusion.

This is already a fact.

After the Jizo's Soul takes effect, all that's left is to defeat this last remaining life and destroy the Soul Steel body specifically designed for combat.

Why strike again?

Why hasn't it been named yet?

Why are we still fighting?

These are things she just can't understand. Even while thinking, her body obediently continues to engage in battle. Even though her thoughts are running in a chaotic manner, in the midst of a fierce exchange where there's no room to breathe, she still chooses to swing her next sword, dodge Otto's next attack, and then flip her body over, her waist and stance becoming one, twisting her waist as much as possible, and smashing down the Jizo Mitama with almost a slamming force... All she had to do was call out Mei's name.

The senses, operating at their peak, almost reaching super-speed, now seemed to conjure up a hazy image of that girl before their eyes. It was as if Raiden Mei was saying to her... no, if it were Mei, she would definitely say now—call out my name quickly. If you call out my name, I will come to help you. You don't need to keep trying like this.

but--!

--No!!

Like a wild galloping horse, his senses, almost out of control, were once again firmly locked in Jiang Cheng's hands by the reins—the choice of the simplest, most appropriate, and most reasonable answer was...

Say no without hesitation.

A resounding no.

He—Jiang Cheng—would never call for Mei if he could, and if he wasn't facing death.

Because once Mei is summoned, she will definitely use those potions, and even more potent activators.

In order to ensure stability and to supposedly experience the same pain, they would not hesitate to inject all the drugs into their bodies.

This is probably the idea that one would rather get hurt than see their loved one get hurt.

Even knowing it's incredibly foolish, even knowing that calling out now is the best option, even knowing that this wouldn't be considered excessive harm to the Herrscher.

--don't want!

Absolutely not!

Without hesitation, I chose to crash into the wall; without hesitation, I chose the thorny path; without hesitation, I chose the most foolish option.

Jiang Cheng gripped the Jizo Soul tightly, swinging his sword again and again, clashing and fighting against it.

Fight against pure, flowing synthetic nanomaterials with muscles, bones, skin, and the knife in your hand.

To prevent Mei from suffering the same pain as him, he would even push himself beyond his limits. Even when he had exhausted all his strength, he would endlessly repeat in his mind that he must never see that painful posture, and he must never feel Mei's trembling body again. All the skills and martial arts routines that he could never understand or learn were now readily available to him.

Talent! Talent! Talent!

What could not be found no matter what was finally overcome.

The movements, though clumsy and seemingly imitative, finally became smooth and free.

At first, he still used the sword violently, but as time went on, his power became more and more rounded, and his sword movements became more and more gentle, like a carefree child playing under the blue sky, casually waving his arms, becoming one with the gentle breeze. His swordsmanship was no longer confined to the Raiden Ittō-ryū style, and various ancient sword techniques naturally appeared in his hands: the "Reverse Roll Blade Style" of the Kyōshin Meikō-ryū, the "Heart Eye Hetsu" of the Shindō Munen-ryū, the "Mutō-dori" of the Yagyu Shinkage-ryū, the "Shishi Jigen" of the Kojigen-ryū... All the sword techniques recorded on his Soul Steel prosthetic limbs were merging into his body, greedily absorbing everything from the past as experience.

As a creation of Velvet, what is recorded is definitely not some literal imitation; it is a physical embodiment of the essence of everything. Therefore, as its wielder, he is familiar with almost all the essence of swordsmanship. However, this is the first time since he mastered the art that he can wield all martial arts at will. Without thinking, the flashes of swords naturally appear in his mind, and he only needs to imitate them.

war!

war!

war! ! !

……

Fists and feet clashed desperately against blades. Even breathing became an absolute imperative. The only sounds in the completely silent room were the screeching of steel scraping against each other and the heavy thuds.

In the intense clash, even Jiang Cheng's clothes were slightly torn, and his armor was no longer able to withstand the damage. What remained to protect him was his bare flesh. Crimson lines had spread from his neck onto his white skin, forming irregular and haphazard straight lines that eventually circled his left palm and the back of his hand.

The power of the Stigmata was maximized during the battle, and its potential was realized in a frenzied manner as real combat power.

A heart stimulated to its extreme by drugs can even shatter glass or a human eardrum with its beating.

This is no longer a realm that ordinary people can interfere with. Even if an ordinary person gets within a hundred meters, or even a thousand meters, they will be torn to shreds. Even if they dodge Jiang Cheng's slash, which is impossible for a Valkyrie below S-rank to avoid, the shockwave from the swing and the wind from Otto's fist are enough to kill an individual from a thousand meters away.