Minato Namikaze: "A space-time ability? But I didn't see her make contact with Uchiha Hoshi. How did she pull someone into her own pocket dimension?"
Senju Tobirama: "Dragging someone into another dimension without any physical contact or a single precursor... that's far more formidable than the eyes of that Kakashi kid."
Uchiha Izuna: "Heh~ Are those not our Uchiha eyes regardless?"
Orochimaru: "But on another note, am I the only one who noticed what Princess Kazahana said? What exactly is the 'Imaginary Space'?"
[ After arriving in the Imaginary Space, Uchiha Hoshi's body finally stabilized. Although her arms and legs were encased in Honkai Beast armor, she didn't lose control any further.
"ROAR!!!"
A deafening howl erupted as Star Eater revealed her true form—a slender, elegantly lined Honkai Beast stretching a thousand meters in length!
Star Eater let out a roar and lunged toward Kazahana Koyuki, who was seated upon the throne. As her claws were about to reach Koyuki, the girl's face showed no sign of terror; instead, she wore a faint smile.
Because...
"ROAR!!!"
Another roar, distinct from Star Eater's, thundered from above. Accompanying the sound, a black shadow descended from the heavens, slamming into Star Eater.
Thud—
Star Eater was knocked straight down by the force of the impact.
Koyuki's companion Honkai Beast had hatched.
Having been replenished by the vast Honkai Energy of the Imaginary Space, the beast had not only hatched prematurely but its strength had reached the Judgment Class.
It was a creature hundreds of meters tall with a pair of sharp claws and thick, powerful arms. Its waist was somewhat lean, and its lower body was shorter, making it look like a bipedal werewolf. However, unlike a werewolf, its head was not lupine; instead, it wore a peculiar crystalline mask.
Upon this mask, images flickered one after another without overlap, as if reflecting countless different layers of space.
Inexplicably, the moment anyone saw it, a name surfaced in their minds:
—Space Tearer!
The moment Space Tearer appeared, it became locked in a brawl with Star Eater. Its claws were incredibly sharp, effortlessly leaving wound after wound on Star Eater's body. In a short span of time, large sections of armor were ripped away by its twin claws.
However, the vitality of a Judgment-class Honkai Beast is immense. Losing a bit of armor was merely like having the surface layer of skin scuffed.
While Space Tearer attacked, Star Eater took the opportunity to bite off a portion of its arm and swallow it instantly.
Having lost an arm, Space Tearer vanished on the spot as if teleporting, reappearing tens of thousands of meters away in the next instant. For a Judgment-class Honkai Beast, this distance was negligible.
But for Space Tearer, it was just right. It looked at its severed arm; supplemented by the abundant Honkai Energy, the limb was regenerating at a pace visible to the naked eye.
The same was happening with Star Eater.
Despite the missing arm, Space Tearer soon launched another assault. To a beast like this, was a severed limb even considered an injury? Even with only one arm, it utilized its ability to move freely through the Imaginary Space to leave a trail of wounds on Star Eater without letting the serpent touch it again.
After all, Space Tearer was essentially an assassin-type: high attack, high mobility, and low defense.
While the battle between the companion beasts raged on, the situation between the Herrschers underwent a new change.
Uchiha Hoshi spread her arms, a wild smile gradually spreading across her face.
"Hahaha~ Since the Second Herrscher has already made her move, I suppose it's my turn. You don't mind, do you?"
As she spoke, phantom outlines of uniquely designed cannons appeared one by one, surrounding Kazahana Koyuki in a full three-hundred-and-sixty-degree perimeter.
Looking at those phantom cannons, a flash of disdain crossed Koyuki's eyes. She stood up from her throne and looked down at Hoshi.
"Is this the source of your arrogance?"
"Why don't you try them and find out!?"
The phantoms solidified into reality. They were blue-and-white cannons that looked as though they were forged from Honkai Beast husks. Within their muzzles, terrifying Honkai Energy was gathering, ready to fire.
These were cannons Uchiha Hoshi had created by analyzing the principles of Star Eater's breath. Each one possessed a tenth of the power of Star Eater's own breath—formidable in their own right.
"Planet Devourer, fire!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
At Hoshi's command, every cannon she had named "Planet Devourer" fired simultaneously. Countless blue beams of light erupted, enveloping Koyuki's silhouette.
"First Herrscher, your memory seems to be quite poor."
Snap—
The familiar snap of fingers echoed again. Instantly, numerous voids appeared, swallowing every single attack.
Then, more voids manifested—this time surrounding Uchiha Hoshi and facing directly toward her.
In the next moment, countless blue beams burst forth, engulfing Hoshi's form. ]
Hatake Kakashi: "Is she dead?"
Orochimaru: "What does it matter if she is? Don't forget, that is only one of her clones."
A: "That girl shouldn't die that easily, surely? Even if it's just a clone."
Hidan: "Save me! What is with these monsters (Honkai Beasts)? Why won't they stay dead!?"
Deidara: "Now this is art! No matter who they explode on, such brilliant fireworks are truly a rare sight!"
[ The bombardment lasted for a long time. When it finally ceased, a figure suddenly burst through the smoke and dust of the explosions—it was Uchiha Hoshi.
She wasn't just alive; she was completely unscathed! This came as a great surprise to Kazahana Koyuki.
"I've been wondering since a moment ago... are you a Herrscher or a Honkai Beast?"
Looking at Hoshi's current state, Koyuki couldn't help but ask the question burning in her mind.
"Who knows? Am I a Herrscher or a Honkai Beast? Why don't you guess?"
Hoshi's attitude caused Koyuki's face to darken instantly.
"Heh~ I'll see just how long you can keep up that arrogance!"
Behind Koyuki, a multitude of Subspace Lances manifested and shot toward Uchiha Hoshi.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The Planet Devourers acted like floating cannons, drifting around Hoshi and firing continuously to intercept the lances. Meanwhile, under the cover of these funnels, Hoshi rapidly closed the distance toward Kazahana Koyuki. ]