The Vixen's Gambit: Tonight We Hunt

"So, this is probably what they call a superpower, huh?"

Lee chuckled.

Although the woman seemed suspiciously like a villain, the fact that she could coexist peacefully with someone like Mobius—a key member of the Fire Moth—in the Everlasting Paradise indicated she likely didn't harbor malicious intent toward humanity. "Actually, I can see the future, and I've already seen us getting along really well."

"Huh, really?" Elysia was genuinely shocked. Future vision? That sounded way too overpowered!

"Nope, just kidding."

Lee looked at Elysia's pink hair. Girls with this kind of trait usually fell into two categories: completely good-natured or deceptively sweet with a dark edge (yandere, perhaps). Which one was she?

"I just have a feeling you're not lying," Elysia said. "And if you're genuinely prepared to help us fight the Herrscher of the Void, why wouldn't I help you in return?"

"And besides…"

Lee smiled warmly at Elysia and said sincerely, "A cute girl like you? It's hard to imagine you doing anything bad."

[Target Elysia's favorability has increased. Current favorability: 8.]

[Current target charging efficiency: 800%.]

The favorability rise seemed a bit too fast, didn't it? Was it just a universal protagonist perk? After all, whether it was Otto or Denji, they both skyrocketed in favorability with people around them.

This kind of trait in a protagonist wasn't hard to understand. It made it easier for them to charge into the boss fight later while shouting about friendship and bonds.

But Otto's favorability rose because Lihua gave him the validation he lacked. Denji's rose because Shoko fulfilled his desires and gave him the love he craved.

What about Elysia? Could it be that she needed trust?

Still, all Elysia did earlier was glance at Lee and give her a favorability score of 4… Was it really just based on looks?

Or was she one of those altruistic, all-loving types?

Either way, it didn't stop Lee from elevating Elysia to top priority on her list of targets. She had now surpassed Mobius and taken the number one spot.

Sorry, Doctor, but her charging efficiency is at 100%!

"Well then, I'll leave the matters at Shanghai City to you, alright?" Lee practically skipped as she left.

Today, not only had she figured out how the Herrscher of the Void would appear next, but she had also gained a companion with a favorability of 4 right out of the gate. Fantastic!

If every day she went out and found high-value allies like this, life would be perfect.

"…What an interesting person."

Watching Lee's retreating figure, Elysia's eyes sparkled with curiosity.

She looked down at the badge in her hand, its back engraved with its owner's name.

"Lee?" she murmured thoughtfully. Looking at the now-empty hallway, she said softly, "She's much younger than I expected."

"I hope we'll get along even better in the future~."

Now that she knew the time and place of the Herrscher of the Void's appearance, killing this slippery foe was a walk in the park for Lee.

For instance, right now, she was calmly sitting in the shadows atop the headquarters' rooftop, watching the Herrscher of the Void deliver a dramatic monologue in the distance.

"Hmph, humans are such inferior beings. A little trickery was all it took to deceive them."

The Herrscher of the Void gazed down at the chaotic humans below. She hadn't even done anything yet, but just her mere presence, radiating pressure, was enough to throw these so-called human elites into disarray.

As expected, without that white-haired terror, the rest of humanity was nothing.

Just the thought of that terrifying white-haired woman made the Herrscher's legs feel weak. How could someone rip through a Herrscher's imaginary barrier like it was paper and almost punch her in half?!

The Herrscher of the Void had no doubt that if she hadn't retreated immediately after that punch, her fate would've been no better than those other fools who dared to seek power.

But fortunately, she was smart. The task the gods had given her was simply to destroy this world. If she annihilated human civilization except for that white-haired monster, it wouldn't change the outcome.

Feeling her summoned Honkai beast army being rapidly slaughtered in Shanghai City, the Herrscher of the Void wasn't angry—she was delighted. Anyone capable of this was undoubtedly that white-haired demon.

Her plan had succeeded.

Now, she would destroy the organization that dared to defy the will of the gods—

"You're standing so high up in a skirt. Aren't you worried about someone looking up?"

…

Where did this impertinent human come from? She was about to crush humanity's last hope, and someone asked her if she was afraid of flashing her underwear?!

Fine, she'd start by killing this insolent human—

When the Herrscher turned, filled with murderous intent, she was met with the sight of a white-haired girl leaning casually on a long blade, grinning.

Without hesitation, a spatial rift opened behind the Herrscher as she attempted to flee. But a hand moved faster than her retreat. Before she could fully escape, her head was seized, and she was dragged unceremoniously out of the rift.

"C-Can we talk this out?"

Dangling helplessly with her head in Lee's grasp, the Herrscher of the Void looked at the cold smile on Li's face and the drawn blade in her other hand, trembling as she asked.

"Right now? Are you joking?"

Lee was no saint, and the Herrschers of this era were not like the ones in Honkai Impact 3rd's main story, who still had a trace of humanity. They slaughtered humans mercilessly. To Lee, there was only one answer for them—kill.

A Herrscher who harms others deserves to die. If they run, kill. If they beg, kill.

The people of later generations might have their opinions on her actions, but could they be smarter than their ancestor? Because right now, she was their ancestor!

"Everyone must pay the price for their actions, Herrschers included."

"—Then die!!"

Failing to plead for her life, the Herrscher of the Void gritted her teeth. Hundreds of subspace spears materialized out of thin air, hurtling toward Li from all directions—even including the Herrscher herself in the attack.

Even if she died, she'd drag this human down with her!

Unfortunately, in front of Lee, who remained firmly T0 in combat strength, the Herrscher's struggle was laughably futile.

With a single slash of her blade, all the incoming subspace spears, except the ones targeting the Herrscher herself, were cut into fragments.

"Even though I wanted to capture you alive, the Flame-Chasers don't yet have a safe way to contain you… Herrscher of the Void, you're far too dangerous."

A flash of the blade. The golden Herrscher core and the two halves of the Herrscher's body fell to the rooftop floor.

In her final moments of consciousness, the Herrscher of the Void stared at Lee, who hadn't even gotten blood on her clothes, and had one last thought.

…Who's the real dangerous one here?