Chameleon's attacks rained down on Jun An like a torrential storm.
Jun An immediately countered using his shadows. However, although the shadows could momentarily entangle him, Chameleon quickly broke free.
Even when Jun An morphed the shadows into sharp blades for offense, the Artificial Honkai Eruption allowed Chameleon's entire body to be covered in tough scales. Jun An's attacks could only carve small gashes into the armored hide, inflicting minor superficial wounds.
"Kid! With power like yours, you can't possibly defeat me!"
Chameleon roared defiantly while relentlessly attacking Jun An. Despite his tough talk, a trace of fear had already crept into his heart.
This is my strongest form! Yet, he could cut through my scales even in his normal state! My armor, enhanced by Honkai energy, can even withstand armor-piercing rounds!
What would happen if he learned Artificial Honkai Eruption too? He absolutely must die here!
Chameleon's assault intensified. Jun An's evasions became quicker, but it was Helia, being flung about wildly on Jun An's shoulder, who truly suffered.
Not only was she dizzy, but sometimes she could even feel Chameleon's sharp claws graze past the tip of her nose, sending shivers down her spine.
Yet, she didn't dare get down. After all, her speed couldn't match Jun An's, who was skillfully dodging Chameleon's attacks.
"Helia!"
"Wh-what is it, Captain?"
Hearing Jun An call her name, the disoriented Helia immediately snapped to attention. "Is there something you need me to do?"
As an A-rank Valkyrie, Helia was already operating at peak alertness. Being an experienced A-rank, she recognized she likely wouldn't be of much use in a direct confrontation on the front lines.
Therefore, Jun An must need her assistance in some other way.
"You don't have acrophobia, right?"
"Huh? N-no, I don't." Why does this sound like casual small talk? Helia thought.
"Figured as much."
Jun An promptly tossed Helia high into the air, then drew Xuanyuan Sword, preparing to unleash a powerful attack.
– System, you know the drill.
[Understood.]
[Generating Mission...]
[Mission: Kill MANTIS x3. Reward: 100 Skill Points. Time Limit: 12 hours.]
"Trying to hit me? No way!"
Seeing Jun An draw his weapon, Chameleon's shadow immediately vanished. He had already glimpsed a fraction of Jun An's strength. Coupled with the fact that he wasn't primarily a combat-type MANTIS, he naturally wouldn't dare face this attack head-on!
Thus, Chameleon instantly used his ability to refract the surrounding light, simultaneously inducing a degree of illusion in his opponent to complement his color change. This was the true essence of the Chameleon ability.
By coordinating these two powers, Chameleon could even make the surrounding environment change according to his will – a truly divine skill for snatching victory from chaos!
But even so, his MANTIS instincts still made him feel a bone-chilling killing intent.
"You still didn't listen to what I said earlier."
Jun An stared intently at an empty spot where the Honkai energy signature pulsed like that of a giant Honkai Beast, and slashed down without hesitation!
Sword of Taixu, Form Intent – River Severance!
Jun An's single strike carved a long, narrow gash across the ground, nearly cleaving Chameleon in two from shoulder to waist. Bleeding profusely, Chameleon's eyes rolled back, and he fainted dead away.
"Taken care of."
Jun An reverted Xuanyuan Sword back to its easily portable form, then reached out and deftly caught the falling Helia.
"Th-that's it? It's over?"
Helia stared at the scene, finding it hard to believe. "Captain, you... who exactly are you..."
A MANTIS, Himeko's adopted son, named Jun An, and that familiar sword strike... Helia had seen it before, during the subjugation battle against the Fifth Herrscher, the Herrscher of Ice.
Back then, World Serpent and Schicksal had allied temporarily. Jun An had briefly joined World Serpent and launched the assault against the Herrscher of Ice alongside Durandal.
At that time, Jun An had used a similar technique to excavate the Herrscher of Ice's core, though he wasn't using Xuanyuan Sword then, but rather a replica of the Key of Destruction.
But unlike that time, this instance was much closer, and it made her heart race...
"Hm? You couldn't feel it?"
Jun An explained, "It's just simply sensing Honkai energy, then striking wherever the energy concentration is highest. Anyone who has diligently undergone Valkyrie psychological training should be able to sense it too."
"That's not what I meant."
Helia, blushing slightly, pulled away from Jun An's embrace and tidied her hair. "Besides, what do we do with Chameleon now?"
Looking at Chameleon's miserable state on the ground, Helia frowned. "We can't just let him die like this, can we?"
Although Helia was averse to killing, the Chameleon before her was a mercenary. Even if he died, he had no rights, nor did he qualify for prisoner-of-war treatment, not to mention he had undoubtedly killed many people on the battlefield.
Just letting him die seemed too easy for him.
"MANTISes are tough. I didn't sever his spine; he won't die."
Jun An looked at the bleeding Chameleon, then turned to Atari. "Chief, we need to take this guy back to Schicksal for trial, throw him before a military tribunal. You don't have any objections, right?"
The Chief nodded numbly. This Chameleon, capable of rampaging through armies, was felled by a single sword strike – delivered by a kid who looked barely fourteen or fifteen!
Only now did she truly begin to comprehend the sheer scale of the behemoth that was Schicksal.
Atari swallowed hard and asked cautiously, "Respected Miss Himeko, Mister Captain, do you have any further instructions?"
"Mm, just wait here."
Jun An immediately added, "Himeko, you stay here and watch Chameleon to make sure he doesn't cause trouble. I don't trust anyone but a MANTIS watching him. Helia, you come with me."
"Me?"
Helia looked puzzled but still nodded immediately. "If there's anything I can help with, I will certainly do my utmost!"
Atari asked, "Where are you going?"
"To their lair, naturally. Wipe them out in one go."
Jun An glanced at the incapacitated Chameleon. "After all, they already came knocking with an attack. We can't afford not to hit them while they're unprepared, before their spy relays intel back."
With that, Jun An directly took Helia aboard the Helios. Besides, the system had given a twelve-hour time limit for the mission; a swift resolution was necessary.
"Then I'll take this guy down for some emergency treatment. You have needles and thread, right? Plant ash and bandages?"
Himeko asked, "Just patch him up enough to stop the bleeding, stitch him closed so he doesn't bleed out and die."
Atari nodded, breaking out in a cold sweat, then pointed Himeko towards the field hospital behind them, weakly asking, "Aren't you going to give him anesthesia?"
From Himeko's tone, it seemed she planned to directly stitch up half his body with just needle and thread. Did she even have a medical license?
"Mercenaries don't qualify for POW treatment." Having said her piece, Himeko grabbed one of Chameleon's legs and simply dragged him away, showing absolutely no intention of treating him like a wounded patient.
After Himeko left, Atari finally picked up her communication device. "Adjutant, are you alright?"
"Thank God! I just heard you were attacked by that fearsome devil! You're actually unharmed!"
A man's voice came through the device. "My dear Chief, I always objected to you being on the front lines! I told you, we should pull back the line, worst case scenario, we could..."
"No, no, no! We should thank Schicksal!"
Atari let out a long sigh, then her expression turned excited. "You have no idea what I just witnessed!"
The man responded, "What did you see? I hope it's good news."
"Hope! It's the hope of our victory! The hope of ending this suffering!"
Atari declared, "Immediately assemble the army! We must reach Dedades within three hours! Go now! Kasle is surely celebrating his victory already; he would never know this is our chance!"
"Our defeats were due to that terrifying power! Just as we crumble when facing overwhelming force, so will they!"
Although Atari had only witnessed one or two minutes of lightning-fast combat and the ground swiftly devastated in that battle, she had a strong premonition: Jun An would definitely win!
"So, listen to me! Immediately take all the troops under your command and head over! Yes, you don't need to leave any guards for me!"
Atari paused, thinking, glancing at the bloody trail left as Chameleon was dragged away. She added as compensation, "But remember, our savior is a merciful person. He desires to show his kindness, especially in front of girls. So, absolutely do not kill civilians or prisoners! Doing so will cost you your lives!"