A sudden pang of dread flickered in Sledgehammer’s heart, an inexplicable fear instantly sweeping through his body.
Pa!
Taking advantage of this sudden pause, Jiang Jian Yue broke off the insect blade and withdrew backward.
Not far away, Yuki Asahi was half-kneeling on the ground, his Golden Eyes bursting with dazzling light.
The overwhelming “fear” that arose from Jiang Jian Yue’s imminent danger surged like a torrent into Sledgehammer’s heart.
But because Jiang Jian Yue had already broken free at this moment, the emotional bombardment instantly weakened by a level.
What should I do…
Is there any way…
To defeat this monster…?
On the shattered window of the third floor, Black Mamba witnessed the brutal battle below.
He saw Yuki Asahi struggling to rise after being struck, his eyes burning with unyielding flames.
Information about Yuki Asahi flashed through his mind, and in an instant, a plan took shape.
After notifying the yacht to be ready, he spun around sharply.
He faced the staff and a few tourists who had gathered on the third floor to avoid accidental bombing.
Black Mamba’s voice carried undeniable authority and incitement as he growled in fluent Japanese, “Listen!”
He pointed to the blood-soaked boy standing up again outside the window below.
“See that boy? He’s one of us! He’s here to protect Lake Toya!”
He deliberately raised his voice to ensure everyone could hear.
“That monster downstairs! Is a Russian Spy! A terrorist!”
“Their real target is to destroy Lake Toya and cause chaos! They want to ruin everything here!”
The crowd, once fearful, was stunned by the impact of his words.
Russian Spy?
Destroy Lake Toya?
Damn, how can this north, north, north puppet be so evil.
“That boy!”
Black Mamba pointed at Yuki Asahi, his tone resolute and filled with deliberate trust and hope.
“He is our Hope! He’s the only one who can stop that monster!”
“He needs our support! Place your Hope in him! Believe in him! He can win! For Lake Toya! For everyone’s safety!”
The staff and tourists followed his finger, their gazes focusing on the boy below, standing tall against the terrifying Black Giant.
“Go! Go! Go!”
Black Mamba shouted, clapping his hands without a hint of embarrassment.
No one shouted with him, but small streams of encouragement began to gather, and sparks were lit.
Downstairs.
Yuki Asahi’s body trembled violently.
A familiar warmth filled his heart, and he quickly realized the source of the emotion—it came from the people upstairs.
Expectation! Hope! Trust!
Though faint… it was enough.
On the third floor, those who had been hesitant and doubtful found themselves, for reasons unknown, feeling a sliver of hope for this unfamiliar boy.
“Go!”
A short-haired female tourist joined the shout, and the emotion quickly spread to those around her.
Like a snowball rolling down a mountain, the cheers on the third floor grew from Black Mamba’s lone cry to scattered applause, then erupted into raucous cheers.
Not enough yet!
All in!
The people on the third floor felt a dizzying surge.
Overwhelmed by the amplification of emotion, the world in their eyes was reduced to nothing but the boy below.
Then came even more frenzied shouts, as if possessed—or like fans watching their beloved idol live.
This gathering “Vision” instantly ignited the power boiling within Yuki Asahi, fueled by anger and the desire to protect!
Vmm—
An invisible shockwave seemed to burst around Yuki Asahi.
He suddenly raised his lowered head, and the light in his Golden Eyes was no longer a burning flame, but as brilliant as the midday sun.
A sense of power flooded his body; the intense pain in his arm and the pressure in his chest were swept away by this warm current, rendered insignificant.
“Come!”
Yuki Asahi roared, his voice filled with unprecedented confidence and strength.
Sledgehammer, still distracted by the earlier heart-stopping terror and Jiang Jian Yue’s escape, now saw the change in Yuki Asahi—especially those Golden Eyes that seemed to pierce the heavens—and alarm bells blared in his mind.
He roared, abandoning his pursuit of Jiang Jian Yue, swung the Armor-Piercing Staff with a shriek that tore through the air, and smashed it down on the boy whose presence was swelling with momentum!
The orange-red light at the tip of the staff blazed at its peak!
Jiang Jian Yue clutched her side, surprise flickering in her red eyes.
Facing Sledgehammer’s earth-splitting strike, Yuki Asahi did not dodge.
He clenched his right fist, golden light coiling around it like something tangible, even emitting a low hum.
“Hrahh—!”
With a shout, Yuki Asahi stepped forward, leaving a deep footprint and crack on the ground.
His right fist, condensed with the hope of the people and his own power, shot forward like a cannonball to meet the falling Armor-Piercing Staff!
Clang—!
A metallic crash, far louder and more deafening than any before, exploded!
A shockwave visible to the naked eye erupted from the point of impact, instantly clearing the snow and rubble from the ground.
The anger on Sledgehammer’s face vanished, replaced by incredulous horror!
He felt as if his staff hadn’t struck flesh, but had slammed into a speeding steel fortress.
A tsunami of force surged up the staff.
Crack!
The sound of shattering echoed.
The blue-black hardened skin on Sledgehammer’s arm, tough enough to resist explosions, fractured like brittle glass where the fist met the staff.
“Urahh—!”
Sledgehammer let out a muffled cry of pain, feeling his grip split open and his arm bones strain under the force.
The heavy Armor-Piercing Staff was knocked skyward, flying from his grasp.
His massive body staggered backward under the force, leaving deep footprints in the hard ground with every step.
“Impossible!”
Sledgehammer’s blue eyes widened, full of terror.
This boy… how could his power suddenly soar to such a level?
“Yue! Get back!”
Yuki Asahi shouted, body flashing like lightning as he closed in on Sledgehammer.
His Golden Eyes locked onto the target, both fists becoming a blur of golden afterimages!
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
No longer probing with technique, it was pure strength and speed overwhelming the foe.
Each punch was heavy as a mountain, landing precisely on Sledgehammer’s hastily raised arms, his solid chest, even his injured waist.
Sledgehammer’s blue-black skin shattered and broke like paper under the relentless assault, blood seeping from the cracks.
“Ugh—!”
He roared in agony, trying to fight back, but Yuki Asahi was too fast, too strong.
He could only defend helplessly, unable to withstand the barrage of fists.
The sound of bones breaking was clear, and Sledgehammer’s massive body was driven back, utterly powerless to resist.
Boom!
With a final uppercut, Yuki Asahi poured all his strength into a blow that crashed into Sledgehammer’s jaw!
The giant’s body was lifted from the ground, flung backward, and slammed into the lakeside railing over a dozen meters away.
The sturdy metal guardrail twisted and bent under the impact.
Sledgehammer collapsed against the warped rail, drenched in blood, his blue-black skin shattered away to reveal torn flesh beneath.
He struggled briefly, then fell limply, losing consciousness entirely.
On the devastated battlefield, only Yuki Asahi’s trembling, ragged figure remained.
As the light faded from his eyes, Yuki Asahi’s heart suddenly stopped, and he collapsed to the ground.
“Yuki!”
Jiang Jian Yue almost stumbled as she rushed to his side, icy fingers trembling as she reached for his neck.
His pulse was so faint it was barely perceptible, his breath like a candle about to flicker out.
Are you an idiot? Why do you keep fighting so desperately!
The cold composure from moments ago was gone, replaced by overwhelming panic.
“No. Don’t…”
Her body moved faster than her mind.
She quickly laid Yuki Asahi flat on the ground, interlocked her hands, and pressed hard against his chest.
Once, twice, three times…
She put all her strength into each compression, as if trying to force her own life into him.
Cold snowflakes fell on her trembling hands, and onto Yuki Asahi’s pale face.
“Wake up! Yuki Asahi! Wake up!”
She growled hoarsely.
Between compressions, she pinched his nose, lowered her face, and pressed her lips to his, passing her breath—warm with her own life—into him.
Once, twice…
She could feel the faint rise and fall of his chest, but there was no sign of revival.
That fragile pulse seemed ready to vanish at any moment.
Why?!
A searing pain exploded in her heart.
Why… why could her power only work on herself?
She could instantly heal her own wounds, but could only watch helplessly as Yuki Asahi died?
“Why can’t I give it to you… why…”
Her movements became mechanical and desperate, each compression accompanied by silent questions and stabbing pain.
She stared at Yuki Asahi’s closed eyes, bloodless lips, feeling his breath grow weaker and weaker.
The crushing sense of helplessness and terror shattered her icy shell.
“Uu…”
A stifled sob escaped her throat.
Then a second, a third…
Her tense nerves finally snapped.
She suddenly stopped pressing, collapsing onto Yuki Asahi’s chest, drained of all strength.
Scalding tears flowed like a breached dam, instantly soaking his cold shirt.
Clutching his chest tightly, her body shook violently as she tried to suppress her cries.
“Idiot… idiot Yuki… wake up…”
Vmm—
White Falcon appeared beside her, wearing armor and carrying an AED.
He froze.
Then, without hesitation, he kicked the Missy off Yuki Asahi.
Sorry, Missy!
You’re crying so hard, I don’t have time to comfort you!
Saving a life comes first.
Foid corruption at 90%. Also a crutch attack and getting kicked off her boyfriend’s dying body, I wonder how the anime will play THAT up
Kicking your own miss to save her boyfriend, lmaoo that’s gonna be so funny