Chapter 49: A Match Made in Heaven

"Very well..."

Seeing Serenade's unwavering confidence, Kallen couldn't help but relax slightly. Even then, she kept her dual guns at the ready, prepared to intervene at any moment.

In Kallen's mind, regardless of nationality, every human was within her protective embrace.

This principle had guided her actions since childhood.

Even during the Eastern Campaign in Shenzhou, facing enemies... Kallen had never taken a life.

As for others...

If she witnessed any wrongdoing, she would strive to stop it. Without direct knowledge... there was little she could do.

Serenade and Kallen stood ready behind the others, prepared to intervene at any moment. Meanwhile, Yae Sakura and the wolf-like Tentacle-type Honkai Beast engaged in a fierce battle, the tension mounting with each passing second.

This particular Honkai Beast was, by far, the most formidable enemy Yae Sakura had ever faced.

The last time... Yae Sakura encountered a mere lowest-tier Honkai Beast, easily defeated even by a C-rank Valkyrie.

But the creature before her now... proved to be a match for Yae Sakura.

As the Honkai Beasts' tentacles suddenly struck, Yae Sakura, braced in a defensive stance, locked her eyes onto the incoming tentacles.

There were over a dozen tentacles, spaced out, which placed Yae Sakura at a disadvantage.

But it was only a disadvantage if she stood idle. Instead... she grasped the Void Blade with both hands, channeled the power from the Stigmata on her back and her own spiritual energy into the sword.

"Die! Crescent Moon Slash!"

With a forceful swing forward, a near ten-meter-wide crescent-shaped sword slash shot forth, striking at the tentacles before her.

After the crescent sword slash passed, more than half of the Honkai Beasts' tentacles had been severed, but a few still remained unharmed.

As the tentacles were about to touch her, Yae Sakura remained utterly composed...

Her left hand released its grip on the hilt, while her right hand, with its five graceful fingers, lightly took hold of it. She effortlessly controlled the void blade, twirling it with flourish before her.

The tentacles lunging forward couldn't even come close to Yae Sakura's body; they were sliced into pieces and fell to the ground.

The remaining tentacles met the same fate, severed by her strikes. The Honkai Beast let out a anguished howl, completely losing its rationality.

It opened its massive, wolf-like maw and drew in a powerful breath, like a black hole ready to swallow everything in its vicinity.

Yae Sakura simply planted the Void Blade in the ground, stabilizing herself and preventing the Honkai Beast from pulling her in.

The suction continued for about a minute before the Honkai Beast ceased. With its mouth still agape, it unleashed a devastating beam of honkai energy directly at Yae Sakura.

The beam carried a terrifying amount of honkai energy; even an A-rank Valkyrie struck by it would face certain injury or death.

"Oh no, Yae Sakura is in danger..."

Behind Sakura, Kallen could see that even she wouldn't dare to risk such a shockwave head-on. Her expression changed instantly, and she couldn't help but prepare to intervene.

"No need, trust in Sakuta. She's the shrine maiden I've trained; this level of danger... won't phase her."

Seeing Kallen about to act, Serenade quickly stopped her.

Only a Honkai Beasts of this caliber could offer Sakura a chance to grow. If Kallen interfered now, it would be pointless. Besides... this level of risk posed no threat to Yae Sakura.

Having trained Sakura for years, Serenade knew her capabilities intimately.

So... Serenade believed in her.

"But... it's just too dangerous... Uh... what's happening...?"

Kallen was about to protest when...

The situation in front of Sakura suddenly took a turn for the unexpected.

It was as if... the space-time around Yae Sakura had come to a standstill, though not quite; it merely slowed to an extent that made it indistinguishable from halting...

"Ouroboros!"

As the Honkai Beasts' devastating shockwave was about to hit Yae Sakura, she promptly activated the Void Blade's weapon skill.

Around Yae Sakura, a region of slowed space-time formed, moving with the weapon's wielder.

The shockwave's speed became slower than that of a snail.

At that moment, Yae Sakura grasped the Void Blade and directly thrust it into the shockwave.

To the horrified onlookers of the Honkai Beasts and Kallen, the terrifying shockwave was instantly absorbed by Yae Sakura's peculiar weapon.

After absorbing the shockwave's Honkai energy, swirling patterns of light appeared along the blade of the Void Blade, as if adding a special effect to it.

However... this was no mere aesthetic. It was the passive ability of the Void Blade. It could absorb an enemy's energy-based attacks and then transform that absorbed energy into its own power, enhancing the wielder's attack.

This was the Void Blade's passive skill: [Energy Absorption].

The Void Blade's damage had temporarily increased, and Yae Sakura wasted no time. She charged at the Honkai Beasts with her katana held high.

The Void Blade struck directly at the wolf-shaped Honkai Beast.

The beast attempted to defend itself, but it was too slow. Yae Sakura's Void Blade pierced through the beast's body.

The Honkai Beast let out a painful howl before violently kicking Yae Sakura away.

The Void Blade's damage left the Honkai Beast feeling weakened. It collapsed onto the ground, continuously wailing in pain.

The Honkai Beast's kick had certainly rattled Yae Sakura, yet she held on. Having already tasted its power, she knew full well the terrifying creature's regenerative ability and tenacity.

At this rate, it'll be fully recovered in no time, she thought grimly. So, ignoring the pain that coursed through her body, she once again drew near, Void Blade in hand, hersing determination to deliver a finishing blow.

But... as Sakura closed in, the Honkai Beast's tentacles suddenly appeared. They danced menacingly, wrapping around the swift dancer before she could react.

"Ugh!" Sakura grunted. The tentacles bound her body, tying her limbs so tightly that her bones creaked audibly, the sound alone enough to make one wince.

Intuitively, the honkai beast sensed that this catch would be particularly delectable. Consuming her would not only heal all its wounds but possibly even make it stronger.

So, the Honkai Beast rose again, its cavernous maw yawning wide as it slowly began to devour Yae Sakura...