Morax the Geo Archon: Billionaire in the Chat Group

[Crimson Plume—Blazing Wings.]

At Fu Hua's soft command, flames began to shimmer around her body.

Her navy-blue outfit gradually burned away, transforming into a striking red-and-white qipao. The elegant and powerful attire revealed glimpses of pale, flawless skin beneath its flowing design.

Unlike Accelerator and Reimu, whose abilities caused widespread destruction, Fu Hua's power was sharp and efficient.

A single punch from her ignited a Dead Apostle entirely, while a casual wave of her hand pierced and destroyed a Honkai Beast.

Her fists, knees, shoulders, elbows, back, feet, and fingers—all parts of her body became lethal weapons.

Her refined, concise martial arts were the epitome of skill, bordering on the realm of mastery.

At least, in Zhongli's view, her techniques had reached a point of perfection: no excess strength wasted, no force spared where needed. Each movement was deliberate and exact, embodying the balance of not a move too much, nor a breath too little.

"Impressive, isn't it?"

Zhongli shifted his gaze to Subaru, standing beside him.

"She's incredible!" Subaru exclaimed with awe. "Can I train to be that strong someday?"

"Unlikely." Zhongli shook his head gently, a blank book appearing in his hand. As he spoke, he absentmindedly wrote in the air above its pages.

"Accelerator's powers are unique to him, a product of his world's laws. You could never replicate them. As for Shrine Maiden Reimu, her abilities are even more formidable. While there's a sense of universality in her strength, reaching her level undoubtedly requires significant external support. Based on my observations, much of her power likely stems from a contract."

"And Fu Hua?" Subaru asked, his interest reignited.

"Ah, the Immortal Chiyuan's strength could be emulated to some degree," Zhongli mused. "Her skills are human martial arts, honed to their absolute peak. In addition, her combat gear amplifies her capabilities significantly. Such equipment could, in theory, be reproduced."

Subaru's eyes lit up. "How long would it take for me to reach her level?"

"Hmm…" Zhongli crossed one arm over his chest, resting his chin on the other hand in thought. "At least a century. That's a conservative estimate."

"A c-century?!" Subaru's enthusiasm deflated instantly. "Forget it! I'll just stick to using my Return by Death to figure things out."

"Centuries are but estimates. Your growth isn't linear," Zhongli replied calmly. "Right now, you're terrified of even a slow-moving, feeble Dead Apostle." He gestured toward the restrained creature trapped in stone at the corner of the room, then pointed to the neighboring chamber where Bell was engaged in battle.

In that room, two of the three Dead Apostles Bell faced had already fallen, leaving only one enhanced by Honkai energy wielding a scythe.

"Bell's strength is hardly overwhelming, yet he stands apart from you because he's accustomed to battle and does not fear it," Zhongli observed. "His world often experiences conflict, while your homeworld, Earth, is the epitome of peace. On Earth, there was no need for combat experience. But now that you've traversed to a different world, practice is necessary."

"Your current world is far from tranquil, based on your descriptions. The half-elf woman you adore, Emilia, is a contender for the throne. Her path will inevitably be fraught with peril. Do you wish to see her die repeatedly, relying on your Return by Death over and over again to save her?"

Zhongli's tone was calm, as though he wasn't speculating about the future but merely stating an undeniable truth.

"And someday, you may face an enemy that no amount of Return by Death can overcome. A foe so insurmountable that no matter how many times you restart—ten thousand, a million, or even a billion—you cannot prevail. What then?"

Zhongli's words struck a chord with Subaru, stirring a vivid memory from his first day in the Witch's World.

He recalled meeting Reinhard van Astrea, the Sword Saint.

That fiery red blade, that flawless stance, that unparalleled righteousness that made one feel insignificant.

If such a person were ever to stand against Emilia, how could he possibly triumph?

"I understand," Subaru murmured, clenching his teeth. He picked up the longsword Zhongli had prepared for him and stepped into the room.

Zhongli nodded subtly and clapped his hands lightly. The stone shackles restraining the Dead Apostle disintegrated.

Drawn by the scent of living flesh, the creature staggered toward Subaru.

"Your Return by Death rewinds time upon your demise. Such manipulation of time is something even I have only studied for less than a century. Thus, my insights are limited to what you've described."

"For you, physical strength holds little meaning. Whatever power you gain is reset with every death. However, intangible assets—such as awareness and martial skills—can persist."

"Your focus now should be on mastering human martial arts."

Seeing that Subaru had begun to engage the Dead Apostle, Zhongli turned his attention to Bell.

Bell's battle with the scythe-wielding Dead Apostle was nearing its conclusion.

Though breathing heavily, Bell remained unscathed. The Dead Apostle, however, stumbled with sluggish movements, clearly on the brink of defeat.

As Zhongli observed, Bell dodged a wide scythe swing, stepped forward, and slashed the creature's neck with his short blade.

No blood spilled. The Dead Apostle's scythe clattered to the ground as its body collapsed, dissolving into motes of Honkai energy that dissipated into the air.

To most, this would appear to be the final death of the creature.

But to Zhongli's discerning eyes, it was merely Honkai energy altering its form, like water evaporating into vapor.

This world…

Zhongli furrowed his brow.

Only now did he fully grasp the meaning behind Fu Hua's and the chat group system's words.

[Honkai is the enemy of all order and civilization.][Welcome to the world of Honkai.]