Curvature technology could likewise produce the effect of spacetime locking. By generating a curvature field, it altered the degree of spacetime distortion around a target, thereby achieving a locking effect.
In fact, in terms of visual results, Vill-V felt it resembled the spacetime lock effect depicted in Honkai Impact 3rd even more closely. A curvature field distorted space itself, slowing the propagation of surrounding light and causing the environment to dim—precisely the visual presentation of spacetime locking in the game.
At the same time, this form of spacetime locking inflicted a gravitational tearing effect upon the enemy. If translated into game mechanics, it would be equivalent to a bleeding status—perfectly matching Bronya's "Dimension Breaker" entrance QTE. Hence the name.
As a veteran Honkai player, Vill-V held deep affection for Dimension Breaker. Snowy Sniper and Celestial Hymn—those were the golden days for free-to-play players.
Of course, Honkai's setting never actually included curvature as a concept. And Vill-V had never personally witnessed real spacetime phenomena in the Honkai Impact 3rd world, so she could not confirm whether this truly counted as spacetime locking in the game's sense.
But that was not important.
Real spacetime or fake spacetime—so long as it could capture a Herrscher, it was good spacetime.
A flicker of fear and confusion passed through the Herrscher of Wind's eyes as she found herself enveloped in pseudo-spacetime locking. From her perspective, the outside world suddenly accelerated. She had no idea what was happening.
But she was not the naive little girl of the Current Era who had once battled three B-rank Valkyries. The seemingly insurmountable shackles failed to imprison the Herrscher of Wind of the Previous Era.
She drew in a deep breath and gathered all the power of the Throne of the Wind.
Space instantly became turbulent. Everything trembled on the verge of collapse as Honkai energy surged like a violent storm toward the warped region created by the spacetime lock.
With the aid of the Throne of the Wind, she shattered the lock within mere seconds and shot hundreds of meters away, escaping the crushing descent of Tethys.
However, the Throne of the Wind itself was completely destroyed by the plasma torpedoes surrounding Tethys. For the time being, the Herrscher of Wind could no longer condense a second throne through her authority.
And what awaited her next was the bombardment of Tethys' heavy particle cannon.
Though parts of the warship had begun to disintegrate and most personnel on the bridge had been knocked unconscious by the shockwaves, those still awake clung tightly to their control levers. Blood streamed from their eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, yet they continued fulfilling their duty.
The blazing red warning lights reflected in their pupils as they swore to defend humanity's dignity to the death.
"Fire!"
Freshly freed from spacetime locking, the Herrscher of Wind had nowhere to run. Under the heavy particle bombardment, she began to falter. The Honkai energy she had raised through the Throne of the Wind plummeted rapidly.
Suppressing her dizziness, Himeko stared at the display panel. The Herrscher of Wind's Honkai energy level had dropped to 2000 Honkai Welt(s).
A smile curved her lips.
But the next instant, she saw the Herrscher unleash a devastating airburst that scattered the heavy particle stream. With a beat of her wings, she shot straight upward.
Himeko clenched her teeth and roared into the combat channel, "Stop her! Don't let her escape!"
The opportunity to eliminate the Herrscher of Wind had finally come. How could they allow her to flee?
Brilliant signal flares lit up the sky. The remaining MOTH fighter jets immediately deployed high-voltage capture nets and plasma shields, attempting to intercept the rapidly ascending Herrscher.
But the raging winds blew every aircraft aside. No one could stop the free wind.
In just a few short minutes, the Herrscher of Wind had ascended to an altitude of fifty kilometers.
Kevin, who had been preparing to intercept her, heard the combat transmission and raised his gun skyward with a sigh. "What is she trying to do?"
"Fifty kilometers... that's already within Earth's ozone layer... don't tell me—?!"
The Herrscher of Wind had no intention of fleeing. She remained above the ozone layer, tens of thousands of meters in the air.
The thin oxygen of the upper atmosphere posed no issue for her. From the moment she became a Herrscher, she had ceased to be human. Every aspect of her physical capability far exceeded human imagination.
The ozone layer was like a life shield Earth had set up for its children. For the past six hundred million years, it had protected life from ultraviolet radiation, filtering out the most harmful bands—particularly the deadly UV-B and UV-C.
Without the ozone layer, humanity would suffer from skin cancer, cataracts, immune system damage, and countless other illnesses. Life on Earth would not survive.
In 1985, a massive ozone hole had appeared above Antarctica, expanding at an alarming rate.
Faced with this global crisis, humanity united for the first time and signed the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. After thirty years of restricting refrigerants that broke down ozone, the lethal hole gradually recovered—averting human extinction.
And now, that very shield of life was about to be torn apart by the Herrscher of Wind. Billions of species would perish as a result. Earth would face a mass extinction event surpassing even the Triassic catastrophe.
"The gods create destiny and grant humanity freedom."
"Since humanity yearns to defy the will of the gods, then the gods shall reclaim the freedom they bestowed."
The Herrscher of Wind gazed upon the planet humanity had polluted into gray ruin. Her expression was neither joyful nor sorrowful.
"I am a Herrscher. The gods have granted me authority—to command endless storms, to traverse vast distances in an instant, the King of Longing."
"I am a Herrscher. I represent the gods, executing the divine will of Honkai and delivering the destiny of destruction upon humanity."
"The ozone layer of Earth has nurtured this planet for tens of millions of years..."
"Wind... scatter it for me..."
It was not difficult to tear apart Earth's ozone layer with the authority of wind. The atmosphere itself was a fluid. With slight guidance through Honkai energy, she could open an ozone hole spanning tens of millions of square kilometers above North America.
A spiral embodying the authority of wind rose in her palm. Just as she prepared to disperse the ozone layer beneath her—
The voice of Magician Vill-V echoed through the thin air.
"Since the Magician has not delivered her closing line, the show naturally continues. Look—the entire world is the Magician's stage!"
The Herrscher of Wind looked up.
Magician hovered above with a rocket strapped to her back, arms spread wide in exhilaration.
"Ah, dear atmosphere! How tranquil and vast you are. Let us make you roar at this very moment!"
Magician pressed a button. The rocket behind her began to disassemble.
"Human, have you still not understood the power of a Herrscher?"
In an instant, the Herrscher of Wind appeared behind Magician, her wind-wreathed hand slicing downward and cleaving her in two—just as she had done to Siegfried before.
"Humanity cannot defeat a Herrscher. Humanity has no right to freedom."
Magician's body separated—yet instead of blood gushing forth, countless threads erupted from the severed halves, wrapping tightly around the Herrscher of Wind.
Magician's "head" spoke in a voice brimming with enthusiasm.
"There is no impossibility in magic. So long as the audience still believes—anything is possible!"