[ Thus, Star Eater accurately predicted Space Tearer's position. After being struck, Space Tearer was shocked that Star Eater knew exactly where it would appear.
But it soon understood why. As Space Tearer vanished again, Star Eater followed it instantly. Before Space Tearer could even return to the Imaginary Space from the Real Space, Star Eater appeared before it, lunging with bared fangs.
Though surprised by Star Eater's ability to appear in the real world, its reactions remained sharp, and the two immediately locked in combat. In an instant, the scope of their battlefield expanded several times over. They flickered from the Imaginary Space to the real world, from the sky to the earth, from the Land of Snow to the deep ocean, and even atop high mountains.
With every appearance and violent clash, they would vanish just as quickly. By the time they reappeared, they were already in a different corner of the world. The battle between two Judgment-class Honkai Beasts triggered a series of natural disasters across the globe, witnessed by countless terrified onlookers. ]
Senju Hashirama: "What terrifying monsters. They are far more dangerous than the Tailed Beasts!"
Kurama: "Senju Hashirama! Shut your damn mouth!"
Minato Namikaze: "What's wrong with the Nine-Tails? Why such an extreme reaction?"
Kushina Uzumaki: "No idea."
[ "It seems your companion Honkai Beast's ability is to devour others to gain their powers."
Looking at Uchiha Hoshi, who was suspended in mid-air with only her head exposed, Kazahana Koyuki flashed a triumphant smile. To her, although Star Eater's abilities were unexpected, the First Herrscher was ultimately no match for her.
"On the other hand, observing you up close makes me realize your Authority seems incomplete."
Koyuki felt a sense of oddity.
"You give me the distinct feeling of being a fake. Is it just my imagination?"
Upon closer inspection, Koyuki noticed Hoshi's Herrscher Core was off. It wasn't just that the Authority was incomplete; the Core itself felt like a counterfeit.
"Your perception is sharper than I thought."
Hoshi showed no panic; on the contrary, she seemed quite pleased.
"You seem to think you've already won," she asked.
"Is that not the case?" Koyuki countered.
"Heh~" The gears in Hoshi's pupils began to turn slowly.
Staring into those eyes, Koyuki felt as if she were being seen through. Her Herrscher Armor felt non-existent, offering no sense of security, as if she had no secrets left.
"You..."
Koyuki sensed something was wrong and decided not to hold back any longer.
"Regardless of whether you are real or fake, the Land of Snow is my domain. Any intruder must die!"
The moment she spoke, Subspace Lances manifested around Hoshi, aimed like taut arrows trembling with tension.
"Die!"
Instantly, the lances shot forward like bolts from a bow. Time seemed to slow down, and Koyuki could clearly see the expression on Hoshi's face. She looked delighted, like a child who had just received a favorite toy.
Looking at the slowly rotating gears in Hoshi's eyes, an ominous feeling welled up in Koyuki's heart. Finally, the lances reached Hoshi, nearly touching her skin.
And in that exact split second, she vanished!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The Subspace Lances exploded under Koyuki's control. However, Koyuki felt no joy of success. Instead, she summoned even more lances and swiveled them to point directly behind her.
"As expected, my little tricks still can't compare to the original. I was discovered immediately."
Hoshi spoke from behind her with a sigh of admiration. Koyuki turned to see Hoshi standing there with one hand on her hip.
"Counterfeit!"
At this moment, Koyuki was finally certain: the First Herrscher before her was a fake. She had created a counterfeit of herself, and this fake had even stolen her own Authority!
"If you say so. However, the Second Herrscher's Authority of Imaginary is truly fascinating. Not only can you perceive spatial dimensions and manipulate space freely, but you can even turn Imaginary into Real. Truly impressive."
Hoshi manipulated the Imaginary power, manifesting lances identical to the ones Koyuki made. Under her control, the lances shifted into various shapes as she played with them, seemingly having the time of her life.
"Enough! Stop flaunting your cheap tricks!"
Koyuki saw this playfulness as a blatant provocation. And the provocation was undeniably successful. More Subspace Lances were produced, locking onto Hoshi.
"I want to see just how much of my Authority you managed to steal!"
Koyuki instantly locked down the surrounding space, leaving Hoshi with nowhere to run. At this point, Hoshi realized the severity of the situation. She had seemingly provoked Koyuki to the point of total fury.
Facing Koyuki's torrential assault, Hoshi summoned her floating cannons and Subspace Lances to defend herself, while simultaneously charging toward Koyuki. Constant defense was not her style.
Gradually, the anger on Koyuki's face faded, replaced by a disdainful smirk.
"A fake is a fake after all. Compared to me, your Authority is laughably weak!"
It was true. Hoshi had only decoded about thirty percent of Koyuki's Authority of Imaginary; she was nowhere near capable of manipulating space as freely as the original. She couldn't even break out of the spatial lockdown Koyuki had placed on her.
But then again, who said she wanted to leave? The outcome hadn't been decided yet; why think about escaping?
She reconstructed the greatsword she had lost earlier. Gripping the greatsword in her right hand and a Subspace Lance in her left, with lances flying from her left side and floating cannons on her right, she looked like a Valkyrie as she closed the distance to Kazahana Koyuki.
Watching Uchiha Hoshi charge with a two-handed greatsword in one hand and a lance in the other, Koyuki couldn't help but call her a monster.
"You...!"
No, she was a monster! What sane person transforms their own body into a Honkai Beast? ]
Might Guy: "Is this the battle between Herrschers and between Honkai Beasts? Truly terrifying. I fear I would have to open the Eighth Gate just to stand a chance against them."
Hatake Kakashi: "Guy, unless you are certain of a decisive victory, you had better never open the Eighth Gate."
Uchiha Madara: "The Eight Gates Released Formation? Even if an ordinary person opens the Eighth Gate, they shouldn't be much stronger, right?"