High above the ground, the Herrscher of Thunder maintained what she considered a "relatively safe distance" from the hostile Newborn World Serpent forces below.
Faint arcs of electricity flickered through her violet eyes.
This was another application of her Authority over electromagnetism.
With Kali indirectly supplying enormous computational power through the Herrscher of Blood's Authority, the Herrscher of Thunder could continuously monitor the neural activity of enemies within a certain range and, in effect, read their thoughts in real time.
And through that ability…
"You intend to trap me inside a small World Bubble, then kill me once I have nowhere left to run?"
"Hmph."
A cruel sneer spread across the Herrscher of Thunder's face.
"Ignorant humans."
"Ants."
"…"
Kali, linked directly to her nervous system, found herself momentarily at a loss for words.
If I hadn't gone to all this trouble to keep you under control, you arrogant idiot, those "ignorant ants" would probably be back at Headquarters opening champagne by now.
Still…
When Kali had accidentally exposed her own position before, it had been the Herrscher of Thunder's unexpected intervention that saved her.
Without that help, escaping safely would have been far more difficult.
No matter how she looked at it, Kali owed her a favor.
And more importantly…
The Herrscher of Thunder was also a believer in God.
So Kali chose to keep her thoughts to herself.
Fortunately, this new companion born from Raiden Mei's body was at least willing to listen whenever the Exalted God was brought up.
In Kali's eyes, that alone counted for a great deal.
For now…
"Our original plan was only to attack the Mu Continent today so you could get some practical experience and gradually adapt to this new fighting style."
"But I didn't expect these superhumans to prepare such a targeted response so quickly."
"That tells us one of two things."
Kali began analyzing the situation.
"Either they believe they are fully prepared to defeat us…"
"Or…"
The Bloody Little Snake narrowed her crimson vertical pupils.
"The Mu Continent is even more important to them than we expected."
In simpler terms…
The enemy was either ready.
Or desperate.
Possibly both.
And no matter which was true…
"Begin guerrilla warfare, Herrscher of Thunder."
The Bloody Little Snake spoke in a human voice.
"Do not let those calculating humans pin you down."
"Keep moving, and use your speed to destroy as many cities across the Mu Continent as possible in the shortest amount of time."
"Hmph."
The Herrscher of Thunder was visibly displeased.
Then Kali added:
"The entire reason these people are fighting is to protect those weak, ordinary humans."
"The more you destroy what they are desperate to save, the more they will suffer."
Once again, the Bloody Little Snake was coaxing her like a child.
"Besides, everything we do here is only meant to provide cover for the most important step."
"Don't worry."
A hint of amusement entered Kali's voice.
"We'll be claiming the real prize very soon."
The Herrscher of Thunder paused.
Then smiled.
"That's true."
Her thinking had always been simple and direct.
Clearly, "Blood" and "Thunder" were already carrying out a larger plan.
There was no need to rush.
No need to settle everything through brute force.
The next moment…
BOOM!
Under the watchful eyes of MEI, Aponia, Sakura, and the others below, the Herrscher of Thunder transformed into a streak of crimson lightning once again and vanished into the distance.
Seeing this…
"This is bad."
MEI's expression darkened.
She immediately contacted the others through Vill-V's quantum communication network.
"The attempt to lure the Herrscher of Thunder has failed."
"Prometheus, what's the situation on your end?"
"All normal, Doctor."
Prometheus Prime's voice answered through the channel.
Almost simultaneously…
Clatter!
Across the world, the Girl Dolls participating in Operation Icebreaker finally reached the vicinity of their assigned targets.
At that moment, all 3,333 Undersea Temples scattered across the ocean floor activated their defenses.
The small black serpentine creatures that Elysia and her Sim had encountered before began pouring out around each temple in enormous swarms.
Faced with the incoming tide…
"Annihilation Mode, activate!" ×3000+
Two enormous mechanical fists materialized beside every Girl Doll, one on each side.
Dark-red spheres of energy rapidly condensed in their palms.
The attack pattern bore a strange resemblance to the Ninth Divine Key, Star of Eden, and its manipulation of gravity.
Then…
A storm of gravitational beams erupted.
Like an automated extermination system, each Girl Doll swept through the swarming black serpents surrounding her target.
The creatures were shredded in waves.
And while maintaining the barrage, the Girl Dolls continued advancing toward the Undersea Temples.
With each unit possessing combat power approaching that of an ordinary Herrscher, the defensive swarms posed little real threat.
Within moments…
"Unit 1379 in position."
"Unit 0255 in position."
"Unit 1076 in position."
Reports came in one after another.
After exterminating the creatures guarding their assigned sectors, the Girl Dolls reached the Undersea Temples they had been ordered to destroy.
Now they only needed to wait until most of the remaining units were in position.
Then they could…
"Something's wrong."
Back on the Mu Continent, MEI frowned.
Part of her attention had remained on the operation carried out by Prometheus's self-destruct force.
According to the countless simulations they had run before the battle, the Herrscher of Blood should already have noticed what they were doing.
Yet nothing had happened.
No sudden counterattack.
No unexpected tactics.
Not even the Alien Monster reinforcements they had prepared for.
It almost seemed as though the Herrscher of Blood did not care whether the Undersea Temples were destroyed.
Or perhaps…
"She wants us to destroy them."
The suspicion surfaced naturally in MEI's mind.
Strangely, however, her expression was nothing like the unease she had shown when the Herrscher of Thunder repeatedly disrupted their plans.
This time…
She looked calm.
Confident, even.
As though this possibility had already been accounted for.
"If I were the Herrscher of Blood…"
MEI murmured softly.
"How would I destroy humanity most efficiently under these conditions?"
She had long since begun forcing herself to think from the enemy's perspective.
And the answer came quickly.
"Of course."
"I would keep throwing out decoys."
"One after another."
"Anything that would keep the enemy's attention away from my real trump card."
The moment that thought crystallized, MEI opened the communication channel.
"Kevin. Elysia."
"Prepare yourselves."
As she spoke, her gaze shifted briefly toward Sakura.
For a moment, MEI hesitated.
Then she made her decision.
Sakura would remain on the Mu Continent.
As for the other two…
"I'm about to teleport you to…"
A brief pause.
"Yellowstone."