So Pardo might have had some kind of superpower, but it was more likely that she was simply a case of survivorship bias.
Vill-V would never gamble Pardo's life on luck unless Pardo could punch the Honkai's dog head clean off with one blow.
Thus, all the Vill-Vs had prepared numerous escape plans for Pardo. Even if Pure Evil Vill-V wanted to take down the kitty instantly without leaving herself a backdoor, it would still take some time.
For example, Pardo's shout just now: "Vill-V, I don't want to die!"
That would trigger the voice-activated failsafe, causing the emergency escape device to activate immediately and transport Pardo away.
The experience of being transported would not be pleasant, though. Her entire body would feel as though it were being ripped apart, and for quite some time afterward, Pardo would be completely numb and unable to move.
Just like she was now.
Of course, it was also possible that Pardo had simply been so badly frightened that her brain had temporarily stopped responding.
"You all look rather surprised. Don't tell me you really thought the Flame-Chaser of Reverie would die that easily? It's an homage, understand?"
Pardo obviously had no idea that the Flame-Chaser of Reverie referred to her, nor did she want Vill-V playing a montage of her life as an homage.
The instant she saw Vill-V dressed as Azure Empyrea, tears began pouring down her face.
Although Vill-V looked like Hua, her voice and scent definitely belonged to Vill-V.
Because Vill-V constantly changed her appearance to tease Pardo, Pardo had learned to recognize people by their voices and scents. Even through a closed door, she could determine whether the person on the other side was Vill-V or someone else.
"Waaaaah—You scared me to death, Vill-V! I really thought I was going to die..."
"What's wrong, Pardo? I heard the bounty on you over in Dusk Street has already risen to five hundred thousand. Are they about to drag you in for the reward? Finders keepers, so how about giving me half~? If you die, though, then it'll all be mine."
"Come on, Vill-V! At a time like this, can you stop joking around? That... h-he..."
"Watch out for Odin!"
Before Pardo could finish speaking, Odin flashed directly in front of Vill-V and blocked her path.
On closer inspection, the man was not touching the ground at all. He was floating.
He looked Vill-V up and down. "Hmm. You're Vill-V?"
"Staring at a lady so rudely isn't something a gentleman should do."
Even as Vill-V teased him, she felt an immense pressure bearing down from above. If not for the barrier operating around her, she would already have been flattened against the ground.
Magician met his gaze without the slightest fear. She might not be able to defeat him, but she was confident he could not kill her either.
Yes, confidence courtesy of Pure Evil.
"That's right, it's me! The greatest magician of this century—Vill-V! If you're here to watch a magic show, then you've certainly found the right person!"
Magician rested one hand on the kitty's stone coffin and planted the other on her hip with a smug expression.
The air fell silent. Vill-V's self-introduction was met only by Odin's cold metallic face.
He stared directly at Vill-V without saying a word, giving no indication whatsoever of what he intended to do.
In any case, someone capable of trying to kill Pardo right in front of her certainly had not come bearing goodwill.
Simply observing without speaking was the best way to preserve one's secrets. At the same time, after displaying overwhelming power, remaining silent placed enormous psychological pressure on the other party.
Magician, however, was not feeling much psychological pressure at all.
Worst case, Pardo could just die one more time. What was there to be stressed about?
(Id: "The kitty is so cute. You could really bring yourself to do that?")
Fine. Then she would see whether there was still room for negotiation.
"Oh dear, looks like things have gone a little cold. How about I give you a surprise?"
If he had no opening, then she would create one herself. While playing hide-and-seek with "Tenmon Soji" earlier, Magician had already planted nuclear warheads throughout the surrounding area as a precaution.
Even if their power was insufficient to eliminate "Tenmon Soji," they would still be enough to collapse this entire region and bury him alive.
"Negotiation"—meaning communication through nuclear weapons.
Might as well plant another round of mushroom clouds.
"Planting mushroom clouds the moment negotiations break down... I wonder who Magician learned that from." Conductor glanced at Pure Evil, who was innocently whistling.
Pure Evil: "Humanity has always used nuclear weapons to gain leverage at the negotiating table. Nothing wrong with that."
Vill-V did not hold much hope that miniature nuclear weapons could eliminate the man in front of her either. After all, this was someone who could casually "grow a tree" with a wave of his hand.
Even Cosmic Juggernaut, built entirely from soulium, had failed to smash that damned tree apart. Miniature nuclear weapons would have even less of a chance.
And although they were called nuclear weapons, they were actually fitted with limiters designed by Expert, so the effective radius could be controlled.
However, controllable or not, a nuclear weapon was still a nuclear weapon. Everyone in this region would be affected by the high-temperature shock wave and excessive radiation.
Vill-V herself had a Herrscher constitution and would not die. As for Pardo... with her luck, she could probably still be saved.
Though spending the next two or three months lying in a hospital bed would be unavoidable.
But the moment her opponent exposed an opening, Magician would immediately seize the instant when he was distracted by attacking or defending and transfer herself and Pardo into Cosmic Juggernaut.
Cosmic Juggernaut could completely isolate them from outside influences. It was one enormous turtle shell. Once they were inside, they would have nothing left to fear.
The plan was dangerous, but it was also the only feasible one. After all, Vill-V had made absolutely no preparations for this situation.
Being able to improvise and throw together two plans in rapid succession was already difficult enough.
Vill-V was not some prophet. There was nothing like this in the Previous Era's original Honkai plot. Nor was she an invincible savior who could say there was no solution and then casually pull out countless perfect contingency plans. Things like that only happened in stories.
Normally speaking, even someone as skilled at scheming as Dr. Mei preferred to prepare her plans in advance. The one who started fights without a plan was Kalpas.
Even Kevin prepared and warmed up before throwing hands, all right?
Vill-V was already exhausted after managing to kill an alien that had appeared out of nowhere. Where was she supposed to suddenly produce another pile of specialized weapons tailored for this guy?
It wasn't as though Vill-V were a walking nuclear arsenal.
Vill-V silently watched Odin slowly raise one hand as dazzling golden light gathered in his palm. At the same time, her finger gradually pressed down on the detonator for the miniature nuclear warheads.
"If possible, I'd rather not use nuclear weapons," Vill-V warned aloud.
Vill-V was telling the truth.
Because aside from the immediate danger to herself and Pardo at such close range, her greatest problem was that once she planted those mushroom clouds, she did not have enough money to treat all the Taixu Gang members on the surface who would be caught in the miniature nuclear blasts.
Even with a Tokamak plasma magnetic-field confinement system restricting the radiation radius, the escaping energy waves would severely injure everyone caught within them. There would be no shortage of deaths or casualties either.
"Ugh, my wallet's going to bleed dry again."
Just as Vill-V hesitated, Odin moved.
He ignored Vill-V's threat.
The brilliant golden radiance transformed into a strange rune.
"Rune."
Odin's lips moved slightly. The word he uttered sounded like an incantation chanted within the depths of an ancient forest, yet also like a mysterious whisper echoing from the bottom of the sea.
The next second.
Vill-V's thumb, poised over the detonation button, stopped.
It was not because Vill-V had failed to resolve herself to display the art of explosions here.
The surrounding flames froze into a painting, while falling stones hung motionless in midair.
Vill-V's thumb became fixed above the button, unable to press down.
Time... had stopped.