The moment it began, I lunged at Auntie and swung my fist.
I threw that punch partly to test how strong she'd become, but I never expected this reaction.
"You blocked that like it was nothing."
"Are you seriously underestimating me, Captain?"
"That wasn't my intention," I replied.
I put everything into that blow. Any Valkyrie below A-Rank would have dodged rather than tried to block it.
Only an S-Rank Valkyrie would even consider stopping an attack like that.
Auntie claimed she could match an S-Rank—but I didn't realize she had become this formidable.
The fact that she caught my punch on a single fingertip proved she was no ordinary S-Rank.
Not even Bianca, renowned as Cheonmyeong's strongest, would stop my punch with just a finger.
No wonder everyone around us watched with wide eyes.
"Is that the end of your attack?"
"Far from it."
"Alright then—hit me properly this time!"
"As you wish!"
At her words, I backed up swiftly and took a proper combat stance.
Realizing I was serious, Auntie raised her [Raging Heart], and its shape shifted.
[Shooting mode]
With the barrel of her Raging Heart resting on the ground, she fixed her gaze on me. The [Yuda's Oath] slung across her back caught my attention—but honestly, that stance was distracting too...?!
"Raging Heart!"
[Load cartridge.]
"Accel Shooter!"
[Accel Shooter]
"Shoot!"
A guided [Accel Shooter] projectile hurtled toward me like a beam. I rolled aside at the last moment.
But there were thirty-two rounds.
Even those I dodged were followed by others already arcing toward where I would land.
I had to evade what I could and bat away any that aimed for my vitals.
"Ugh?!"
Every shot was heavier than I anticipated, and as if the initial volley were just an appetizer, the rate of fire only increased.
I ended up blocking more attacks than dodging, and the number of shells swirling around me climbed even higher.
"This is dangerous."
At this rate, I'd become a sitting target.
It wasn't just [Accel Shooter]; she also unleashed [Divine Shooter], its rounds circling in neat orbits, steadily tightening their grip.
Neither [Accel Shooter] nor [Divine Shooter] could knock me out, but they were meant to disrupt my nerves and movements.
Surely she knew that—surely!
[Divine Buster]
"Theresa Beam!"
A surge of overwhelming energy erupted, and the world turned pink.
*
Captain slammed into the ground, pinned by the traditional [Divine Buster] known as the Theresa Beam. Everyone's eyes widened as they watched Theresa's attack bury him in the floor.
The Captain's specialty is close-quarters combat.
Ranged fighters have to unleash everything before he closes the distance, and that scenario is nearly impossible to engineer.
Kiana switched to her sword to force melee, and even Bronya, with her artillery, ended up using a spear to bring the fight close.
To viewers, the Captain's greatest asset was speed—so fast that if you weren't S-Rank, you'd never land a hit.
No wonder ranged combat was deemed useless against him—until Theresa shattered that notion.
Not a single blow went unreturned.
Those unfamiliar with him might think he'd simply let his guard down. But anyone who's seen him up close knows:
"Here he comes."
Theresa was no exception.
"Haaaaaaat!"
The mist cleared in an instant to reveal the Captain, and everyone leaned forward, captivated. His bangs framed golden hair that shot skyward, and his eyes glowed green without pupils.
A storm of golden energy swirled around him, a sight we'd seen countless times in the archives.
A Super Saiyan. His bloodline power.
No A-Rank Valkyrie could face him now. S-Ranks might barely hold on, but that's it.
Though stronger forms have appeared over time, this remains one of his signature transformations.
"Looks like you've snapped back. Honestly, if you'd been like this from the start, I wouldn't have held back."
"Sorry. I guess I underestimated you, Auntie."
—So now I'm really going all out.
Those words barely left my mouth before I rocketed toward Theresa. Four [Accel Shooter] rounds zipped into my path as if waiting.
"Inhale!"
I twisted back and evaded two. I deflected the other two with my arms and surged forward. Just as I readied my fist to strike, Theresa had already leveled her bombardment barrel.
[Photon Smasher]
"Fire!"
A high-velocity, straight-line burst of pink energy shot at me. This time, I just punched.
It might sound reckless to punch an attack the size of your body, but what happened next shattered everyone's expectations.
Despite the sheer size of the blast, my punch completely neutralized it, and Theresa broke into a cold sweat.
A direct high-velocity magic like that is weaker than Divine Buster, but it's still siege artillery.
Siegfried would have used the Schamash in greatsword form to cut it, but the Captain did something even more impressive.
"Originally, I planned to reload the cartridge during his defense and then hit him with Divine Buster... But that's impossible now."
Theresa stared at the fist hurtling straight for her.