“Stop the mockery, you know who the enemy is.”

Before the dust had even settled, more roars surged from all directions.

Phainon's pupils constricted slightly, and with a shift in his sword stance, he slashed backward.

However, a sneer rang out in mid-air as a figure moved even faster than him, as if competing for the top spot. The man clenched his palms into a fist; this punch was like grasping the power of an entire nation in one hand, majestic and powerful. It pierced straight through the monster's chest, leaving Stelle in awe.

The monsters that were rampaging moments ago now seemed like they were made of paper, falling in swaths at the hands of the blonde man. Before long, the last monster was sent flying, crashing straight into a building's beam and falling silent.

“Heh, carelessness will cost you your life, ‘the Savior’!” The blonde man patted his palms. “These are all just minor skirmishes. It would be better if you and I fought to the death; the aftershocks alone would shatter them.”

“the Savior?”

Stelle subconsciously applied it to herself: “Ah? Are you talking to me?”

The man glanced at her sideways: “Who are you?”

“Shut up, Mydei! Do you want the Holy City to be destroyed?” Phainon glared at him angrily. “...And if I remember correctly, your responsibility should be to protect the citizens, right?”

Mydei dismissed it with contempt: “What do you mean? Which of these do you think doesn't count as a citizen?”

Phainon: “?”

Stelle whispered to Dan Heng: “The names here are getting weirder one by one.”

“You're avoiding the question. Aglaea told us to protect the people; are you just treating it as white noise?”

“You missed half the sentence: ‘Protect the citizens, clear out the foreign enemies’—those were her exact words. By dealing with Nicadori, the crisis of the Holy City will be resolved naturally. Then again, since you don't consider those two over there to be ‘citizens’ at all...” Mydei turned around, looking at the two with ill intent, “...then they seem to fit the definition of ‘foreign enemies’ as well.”

——

Honkai Impact 3rd.

Inside the Elysian Realm.

Almost at the same time, everyone's eyes turned toward the same direction—

At the man with his arms crossed, wearing a mask, with ‘do not approach’ written all over him.

Kalpas.

However, even though he felt everyone's gaze, he remained motionless. Of course, no one could see what kind of expression was under his mask.

“...What are you looking at me for? That guy isn't my counterpart. Aside from being battle-hungry, he has no similarities to me.”

“Hehe~” Mobius was the first to laugh. She leaned against the back of her chair, a certain gleam of pleasure flickering in her snake-like vertical pupils. “Oh my, we haven't said anything yet.”

“But your eyes have already said everything.” Kalpas's voice grew a few degrees colder.

“I'm just curious.” Mobius spread her hands, her smile deepening. “After all, the way that little blonde fellow fights is indeed a bit—”

She paused intentionally, her gaze lingering on Kalpas.

“—a bit familiar.”

“...”

Kalpas didn't bother with her anymore and turned his gaze back to the man named ‘Mydei’. If this guy could be considered his counterpart, then probably every battle-crazed person in the universe was. However, judging by power and technique, Mydei's strength was indeed quite good, equal to Phainon's.

...He felt like fighting him.

——

Dan Heng immediately became alert: “What do you mean?”

“The three priests of Janus share the same face and heart, their eyes and ears connected. Your every move has long been exposed to the sight of the Okhema people.” After saying this, he cast a meaningful glance at Phainon. “You seem to trust him quite a bit? I suggest you think twice.”

Phainon retorted dissatisfiedly: “Provoking allies at a critical moment like this, what do you think you're doing?”

“Ever since we met, I’ve told you that whether in the past or the future, the people of Suspended Blade can never agree to make peace with you...” Mydei crossed his arms and said coldly, “—I, Mydei, as the Successor of Suspended Blade, cannot act arbitrarily on such a matter. Moreover, at this point, it is even more necessary for me to remind our ‘distinguished guests’ that your host is hardly an expert in the art of hospitality.”

The Grand Craftsman nearby spoke slowly: “Enough... now is not the time for infighting. The Mad King has not retreated... the Chrysos Heirs must stop it...”

Mydei's tone softened slightly: “I haven't forgotten the main task. Step back. I alone am enough for what lies ahead.”

“As for you... Nicadori is at the Cloudstone Celestial Palace, and Aglaea told me not to interfere. Go ahead... ‘the Savior’.”

“I don't need you to tell me.”

Mydei looked at Stelle: “By the way, what's your name?”

“Hey, I'm not telling you!”

Mydei chuckled: “Isn't that name a bit strange too?”

After leaving the area, Dan Heng whispered to Phainon: “Is that your companion? He doesn't seem very friendly.”

Phainon sighed softly: “That is the Chrysos Heirs—heroes in the eyes of the world, but also mortals burdened with flaws.”

——

Konosuba: God's Blessing on this Wonderful World!

The girls' eyes were locked onto Mydei.

Every muscle looked like a work of art polished with a lifetime of effort by a sculptor, glowing with a healthy luster under the sun. Broad shoulders, a solid chest, distinct abs, and those two thick, powerful arms.

How rich and generous!

“If only we could trade Kazuma for him...”

Aqua looked completely infatuated, seemingly fully immersed in the other's muscular physique. And on the other side—

“Haa... haa... such thick and powerful arms, I really want to be choked by them...”

Darkness's condition was even more severe. Seeing her flushed cheeks, Kazuma silently looked away from her.

Though he felt a bit annoyed, he was also quite helpless because—

Kazuma lifted his left arm; his biceps under his clothes looked like they hadn't eaten enough, soft and without any definition.

Tch...

Kazuma spoke sourly: “By the way, are the people of Suspended Blade all that poor? The Successor can't even afford a single piece of clothing?”

“So what if he can't afford it? You guy...” Aqua rushed up and grabbed Kazuma's collar aggressively, “I advise you to mind your own business. A healthy and beautiful body should be shown off as much as possible. If he dressed up strictly, would you show us yours?”

“With that body of yours that lacks exercise and has legs thinner than his arms, I wouldn't even bother looking if you paid me.”

“What are you talking about, you useless goddess?!”

Aqua kept poking Kazuma's chest with her finger: “Did I say anything wrong? Your beanpole-like figure isn't even as heavy as the dumbbells he uses for training, right? If you want to refute me, why don't you complete a hundred push-ups tonight?”