On how PhDs become human evil

With a single sword strike, Bai Jie cleaved through the fiery storm that was hurtling towards him, and a bright blue light shone in his hand once more. An electromagnetic sniper cannon, over two meters long, was immediately aimed at Athena.

Without hesitation, Bai Jie pulled the trigger. Blue and white lightning gathered at the muzzle of the sniper cannon, and the special bullet, condensed from magic, achieved a speed comparable to the first cosmic velocity under the influence of electromagnetic force. The moment it burst out of the barrel, it transformed into a beam of electromagnetic cannon and blasted towards Athena.

Athena didn't recognize the sniper rifle in Bai Jie's hand, but that didn't stop her from avoiding it.

"Crack!"

However, just as the electromagnetic cannon approached within about 100 meters of Athena, it suddenly split in the middle, transforming from a single shot into more than 100 shotguns!

After all, the bullets were formed from Bai Jie's magic, so he could naturally control their shape.

"Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!"

The electromagnetic shotguns hit Athena completely, but the scene of lightning scattering in all directions that Bai Jie had envisioned did not appear. Instead, they all turned into stones in the form of lightning.

"It has taken me quite a surprise. I did not expect that you even possess the power of thunder, which I despise the most."

Athena's voice rang in Bai Jie's ears. Without any hesitation, a circle of spherical lightning swept out from Bai Jie's center. The black snake that had just emerged from the darkness was shattered by the lightning!

laugh--!

The sound of wind being torn apart rang out, the clouds in the sky were forcibly ripped open, and what fell from the clouds was a rain of death arrows that blotted out the sky! Its density was even comparable to a torrential downpour!

"Eden's Star!"

A small, azure ball appeared in Bai Jie's palm, and then a torrent of gravity poured out towards the falling rain of arrows.

"Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!"

Faced with the gravitational torrent, the black arrows were twisted and broken, turning into pure cursed power that continuously scattered in the wind. Using the gravitational torrent as a barrier, Bai Jie forcefully pushed through the dark rain of arrows and rushed into the clouds.

Just like below the clouds, above the clouds was an endless expanse of darkness, and flying not far from Bai Jie was Athena.

Athena dismissed the black bow in her hand and revealed a puzzled expression: "Godslayer, why do you not fight with the power of my fellow countrymen?"

Athena could sense that neither the flames and lightning that Bai Jie used, nor the weapons that appeared one after another, were divine powers.

In other words, Bai Jie has always been fighting Athena using his own strength.

"Well, my powers aren't exactly easy to use. One power has huge limitations, another is useless in battle, and the last one is something I have to use desperately."

Vereslana's power, the Eastern War God, has extremely strict conditions for use for each incarnation; it is not something that can be used casually.

Fenrir's summoning requires sacrificing an arm, and it would be terrible if it didn't kill Athena.

As for summoning Valkyries and that useless power to enhance subordinates' abilities, as Bai Jie said, they are completely useless in battle.

Upon hearing Bai Jie's explanation, Athena frowned, and a feeling of displeasure rose within her.

"It seems you don't want to show your power. In that case, I'll force you to!"

Bang------!

A loud explosion rang out in the sky, and Athena's figure rushed in front of Bai Jie in an instant. Her black scythe was raised high and then fell down with lightning speed, so fast that it was like a black line that swept across Bai Jie's front!

(Wow, so fast?!)

Before Bai Jie could even form the thought, a lightning-fast attack sent him flying, shattering his makeshift magical defenses.

(Not just speed, but strength has also increased?)

"Is now your time to be surprised?"

Athena once again closed in on Bai Jie with incredible speed. The black scythe in her hand had transformed into a black and gold steel spear, and the blade, sharp as a knife, slashed across Bai Jie's chest!

scoff!

Bai Jie's upper body clothes were immediately torn to shreds, and the black gun, after tearing through his clothes, relentlessly pursued Bai Jie's heart like a venomous snake.

"clang!"

In a hasty move, a Heavenly Fire Judgment was projected to block the black spear. Because it was an emergency, the Heavenly Fire Judgment was only the size of a dagger, and its strength was also greatly reduced. After blocking it once, it shattered into pieces.

Of course, Bai Jie did not intend to use the Heavenly Fire Judgment to block the shot, but rather to use the less than three seconds he gained to create distance.

Seeing Bai Jie use spatial teleportation magic to create distance, Athena did not continue to press her advantage. Instead, she put away her spear and laughed: "How pathetic. You're already trying to run away at this level? Godslayer."

"They were just caught off guard. Who would have thought that the goddess of wisdom would actually use tricks and not go all out in battle?"

"I did not cheat. It's just that I have been away for thousands of years and have only recently returned to my true form. I cannot perfectly control my power for the time being."

In other words, this is Athena's true golden age.

With a wry smile, Bai Jie tore off his tattered upper clothes, and for the first time in this battle, he exuded the aura of divine power.

"It seems the magic battle has come to an end. I will grant your wish and fight you with my power, Athena."

[Magician] Bai Jie left the battle, and [Godslayer] Bai Jie took his place.

"I am the strongest, destined to seize all victors. Humans and demons—all enemies, all hostile ones—I will thwart all who stand in my way. Therefore, I will break through all obstacles in my path!"

"Fear those who possess wings! Evil and powerful alike fear me, who possesses wings! My wings will bring you curses! Evil cannot strike me!"

The stone slab inside Bai Jie's body, symbolizing the ten incarnations of Veleslana, turned, and the pattern representing the [Phoenix] incarnation lit up.

"——————"

Bai Jie's figure suddenly disappeared from the spot. Before Athena could even look for him, she felt a punch coming from behind her!

Because it was a punch thrown at superhuman speed, the power of this blow was no less than being hit by a train at top speed. Athena was blasted directly towards the ground!

"Come on, let's begin the second round, Athena."

P.S.: The Conan movie is released tomorrow, and I've already bought the tickets. This is my first time seeing a Conan movie in a theater, and I'm a little excited!

P.S.: Should Athena live or die? Please choose!

Section 207, Chapter 20: A Devastating Direct Hit!

【Phoenix】.

This avatar grants Bai Jie super-fast movement speed and jumping ability that surpass physical limits. In short, it maximizes Bai Jie's agility, and its activation condition is being attacked at super-fast speed by an enemy.

If Athena, having fully mastered her power, unleashed a speed that swept across the sky like a storm, then Bai Jie, using the Phoenix incarnation, unleashed a speed that was like lightning rushing across the earth!

"boom--!"

The right fist, covered by enhanced magic, collided with the black scythe. Bai Jie and Athena's eyes met for a moment in mid-air. The next moment, Bai Jie disappeared from Athena's sight, replaced by a heavy fist that slammed into her back like an iron hammer.

After stabilizing herself in mid-air and landing on the ground, Athena hadn't even regained her footing when Bai Jie rushed in front of her again, unleashing a barrage of punches!

"Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!"

What appeared in Athena's eyes was a storm of fists. Although the Phoenix incarnation did not enhance Bai Jie's attack speed, the enhanced magic would. With the blessing of super speed, every punch of Bai Jie carried immense kinetic energy.

Now, Bai Jie is channeling all that kinetic energy into Athena!

"Clap!"

The black scythe used to block was instantly smashed into countless pieces by the punch, and Athena was mercilessly beaten all over her body by Bai Jie!

Shoulders, collarbone, neck, chest, abdomen, arms... Bai Jie's hands transformed into incredibly precise scalpels, landing precisely on various parts of Athena's body, the sound of bones shattering echoing through the ruins.

"Don't push your luck! You god-slayer!"

After enduring nearly a hundred punches, Athena finally seized the opportunity when Bai Jie took a breath, transforming her magical power into an incredibly pure impact that struck Bai Jie, sending him flying like a cannonball. Immediately afterward, another burst of magical power erupted, and the giant python, as thick as a football goal frame, rolled over everything in the ruins like a steamroller before pressing down on Bai Jie.

That is something the body cannot resist; if one were to confront it head-on, one would inevitably suffer broken bones all over their body.

"I am the strongest, and I hold all victory in my hands. Whether human or demon—I will crush any enemy who stands in my way! O bull with shining golden horns, grant me aid!"

Bai Jie, however, began chanting a new incantation. The super-fast blessing disappeared, and in its place, the avatar of the [Bull] lit up!

Facing the giant python that was charging at him, Bai Jie neither dodged nor evaded, but suddenly stretched out his hands at the last moment before he was hit!

"Boom!"

A dull thud sounded, but the scenario Athena had anticipated—Bai Jie being knocked away—did not happen. Instead, Bai Jie, with his musclesless arms, forcefully grabbed the python's two fangs in front of it.

"Ughh ...

Bai Jie roared suddenly, veins bulging on his arms, muscles taut to their limit.

As he roared, the giant python's body began to tremble irregularly and gradually detached from the ground.

"what?!"

Athena gasped in surprise, for right before her eyes, Bai Jie lifted the giant python high above his head with his bare hands!

With a mocking smile, Bai Jie gathered all his strength into his arms and, like a pitcher in a baseball game, threw the giant python into the air.

"Ha~~~~"

Taking a deep breath, Bai Jie spread his legs wide, assumed a standard horse stance, and brought his right fist to his waist. He then threw a punch at the giant python!

Boom—!

The cursed power erupted with the punch, the targeted impact piercing and shattering the giant python's body before heading straight for Athena.

"Hey!"

Athena swung her black scythe suddenly, and the magical force was instantly split in two, blasting past Athena from both sides.

Looking at the two deep ravines at her feet, Athena revealed a meaningful expression: "I never expected that you would be such a skilled boxer."

"I've only learned a few miscellaneous things; I'm not even at the master level."

This isn't Bai Jie being modest; it's just that he's really only at this level.

Back in the Honkai world, Bai Jie learned all the mainstream fighting styles in the world in order to kill Siegfried, that heartless man. However, as the saying goes, it is easy to learn but difficult to master. Some people spend their whole lives on a single skill and still can't reach the peak, let alone Bai Jie's method of learning a little bit here and a little bit there, which is like rain and dew spreading evenly.

Bai Jie was able to unleash such a terrifying punch for two reasons. First, he had just used the power-generating techniques of Bajiquan, a style of Chinese martial arts known for its fierce and powerful style. Second, the avatar he was using was specifically designed to enhance his strength.

【Bull】 is activated when the enemy possesses superhuman strength. The greater the opponent's strength, the greater the boost Bai Jie receives. If used against Hercules, Bai Jie could probably lift a building with one hand.

"Alright, we've fought this far and caused enough damage to the surrounding area. I think it's about time to wrap things up."

"The final stage?" Athena's expression darkened upon hearing this. "Do you think you can defeat me now? Admittedly, I am inferior to you in close combat, but if you think that this is all the power I, the former queen of the gods, possess, you are sorely mistaken!"

As she said this, Athena released her magical power with unprecedented intensity. The black mist enveloped the entire area within a radius of tens of kilometers with overwhelming force. Bai Jie, who was in the black mist, clearly felt that the black mist was continuously absorbing the life energy in the area and supplying it all to Athena.

In that instant, Athena's power rose to an unprecedented level.