Honkai Star Rail: I Played the Villain, Now the Heroines Want Revenge — Chapter 248

Chapter 248: Decisive Battle with Phantylia

After the Voidrangers Phantylia had summoned were dealt with, March 7th and Stelle immediately surrounded Orion.

“I knew that woman wasn’t any good, and it turns out she really wasn’t! She’s actually the Lord Ravager!”

“Orion, you were alone with her for so long, you weren’t ambushed by her, were you? You absolutely must not trust women like that again! Especially not ones who try to kiss you!”

The two were incredibly worried, afraid that Orion had been ensnared by a bad woman.

Orion looked at their nervous, fluttering expressions and said calmly:

“It’s fine. I’m okay.”

“Orion, how… how did you know she wasn’t Tingyun?”

Welt turned to Orion and asked, his expression serious.

He had absolute faith in Orion’s strength, but this question puzzled him.

“Yeah, yeah!”

March 7th leaned over, “How did you know? Did you, by any chance, know the real Miss Tingyun before?”

Stelle immediately followed up, her eyes narrowing in suspicion:

“Did you, Orion, secretly come to the Xianzhou before?”

“And even… left behind a romantic entanglement?!”

“No, no way?!”

The two girls went back and forth, looking at Orion with suspicion, as if they were about to catch him in the act on the spot.

Orion was a bit helpless with their vivid imaginations.

“I’m from Belobog, didn’t you know that?”

“Oh right,” March 7th slapped her forehead. “Before the Express arrived, you never stepped out of Belobog… So why, how did you find out?”

Orion just casually made up an excuse:

“I felt something was off about her before. Her energy signature.”

“Just now, I merely wanted to casually bluff her, to test my theory. But I didn’t expect her to be so easily scared and fall for it herself, revealing herself to be the Lord Ravager… To be honest, I didn’t expect her to fold that quickly myself.”

March 7th and Stelle exchanged glances.

“You didn’t expect it either…”

Stelle breathed a sigh of relief and patted Orion’s shoulder:

“I knew it, my good brother! You have high standards! You wouldn’t get involved with a woman of unknown origin like that!”

March 7th also smiled and nudged Stelle’s arm: “Are you happy now? Remember to treat me to a meal later, I stood firmly by you just now and spoke up for you!”

Just as they were chattering and chatting.

Fu Xuan, who had been watching the scene with a complicated expression, looked at the chaotic scene before her, then glanced in the direction Phantylia had fled. Her small face instantly became serious.

She quickly walked to Orion, her voice urgent:

“The Stellaron is deep within the Ambrosial Arbor, and Phantylia’s target must be it! We must rush there immediately!”

“Of course.” Orion nodded. “However, Master Diviner, do you still remember our bet?”

“Of co—”

Fu Xuan was about to say ‘of course’, but then realized Orion had already moved.

He didn’t even wait for her to finish speaking before he was already walking quickly towards the Ambrosial Arbor.

“Wait for us, Orion!”

March 7th, Stelle, and Welt, seeing this, immediately followed suit.

Only Fu Xuan was left stunned in place, then her small face flushed red with anger, and she stomped her foot.

“That hateful guy! He ran ahead!”

She gritted her teeth and immediately chased after him.

“I… I must win!”

…

Scalegorge Waterscape. The grotto-heaven sealing the Ambrosial Arbor.

Here, everyone saw two familiar figures.

The Luofu Cloud Knight General, Jing Yuan, and… Dan Heng.

However, the Dan Heng before them seemed a little different from before.

A pair of azure, glowing dragon horns had grown from his forehead, and his entire demeanor, once cold and reserved, now seemed ancient and noble, brimming with a quiet, immense power.

“This is… Dan Heng? You really turned into a little azure dragon?!”

March 7th gasped, her mouth wide open.

Dan Heng turned his head and looked at everyone, a wry, tired smile on his face.

“It’s… a long story.”

“Everyone, let’s put reminiscing aside for now. The situation is urgent…”

Jing Yuan interrupted them, his expression serious.

Stelle took a step forward; although she was also surprised by Dan Heng’s transformation, at this moment she was more concerned with the main issue.

“You’ve worked hard, Dan Heng. The situation is urgent. Quickly take us in.”

After hearing his companions explain the situation, Dan Heng nodded heavily, without any extra words.

He walked to the edge of the ancient sea that sealed the roots of the Ambrosial Arbor. He stretched out his hand.

“Boom–!”

The calm, jade-green sea instantly surged with huge waves. And then, the seawater seemed to be parted by a pair of invisible, giant hands.

A passage, a tunnel of dry land leading down into the depths, appeared before everyone.

“Go.”

Orion didn’t hesitate, being the first to lead the way into the path leading to the Ambrosial Arbor.

Jing Yuan, Stelle, March 7th, and Welt followed closely behind.

And Fu Xuan, who was always a step behind, arrived panting at this moment.

She looked at the rapidly closing seawater dividing line and quickly chased after them.

…

Everyone arrived at the deepest part of the Ambrosial Arbor’s root system.

The air was thick with the sickly-sweet, overpowering scent of Abundance.

They saw a giant, eerie, cancerous lotus blooming in the very center of the cavern.

Upon the lotus pedestal, a figure reclined.

She was massive, dressed in luxurious yet revealing robes, her form towering over them.

In her hand, she held an equally giant folding fan, half-covering her face, revealing only a pair of smiling, seductive eyes.

Her body was perfectly fused with the Ambrosial Arbor below. Golden, pulsating roots extended from beneath her, rooting into the Arbor, constantly drawing upon the power of Abundance and the “Great Stellaron” hidden within.

That was the Lord Ravager, Phantylia.

A new body, fused with the powers of Destruction and Abundance.

“Hehehe…”

“My benefactors, you’ve finally arrived.”

Phantylia removed the giant fan from her hand, revealing her enchantingly beautiful, massive face.

“You’ve come at just the right time. Come and admire… how is this new body of mine?”

She extended a giant, porcelain hand and gently stroked her waist, which was fused with the golden, pulsating wood of the Ambrosial Arbor.

“This is…”

Welt looked at the terrifying, divine-looking existence before him, his face somewhat grim.

He could feel that the pressure Phantylia was exuding at this moment was already comparable to, if not greater than, Asat Pramad’s before.

Fused with the Ambrosial Arbor, she was practically an immortal and indestructible existence within this grotto-heaven.

March 7th and Stelle were also a bit nervous.

“So… so big…” March 7th swallowed.

Stelle, on the other hand, held her Flame Lance in front of her and said to Orion:

“Good brother, this Phantylia looks much harder to deal with than that Asat Pramad guy. Can you… can you do it alone?”

Orion didn’t answer. He only looked at Phantylia on the lotus pedestal, his eyes calm.

Just then, Jing Yuan and Dan Heng exchanged glances.

Their past tacit agreement—a history shared by their former incarnations—allowed them to understand each other’s thoughts without words.

Jing Yuan stepped forward, shielding the others behind him.

“The Lord Ravager is not someone ordinary people can contend with. The Imbibitor Lunae and I will go first!”

“Everyone, look for an opportunity! Attack the connection between her and the Ambrosial Arbor!”

As his voice fell, Jing Yuan and Dan Heng moved.

The two, one left and one right, attacked simultaneously with perfect, practiced coordination!

Jing Yuan raised his long saber high, muttering incantations.

The next moment, behind him, a magnificent Divine General, clad in golden armor and crackling with lightning, stepped forth!

“Slash!”

With Jing Yuan’s command, the Lightning-Lord’s giant saber, carrying the power of ten thousand thunders, crashed down!

[Inorin’s Note: The “Divine General” is Jing Yuan’s most powerful attack, the Lightning-Lord, which is a separate entity he summons.]

Ten thousand rays of lightning, as if to completely purify that vile thing!

And on the other side, Dan Heng also unleashed the power of the Dragon Lord.

The moisture in the air gathered, condensing into a giant, roaring water dragon behind him!

The water dragon roared, its sound like a collapsing mountain, carrying towering, tidal waves as it swept towards Phantylia!

Lightning and raging torrents. Destruction and rebirth.

The two strongest experts of the Xianzhou joined forces, launching their ultimate attacks at the giant Phantylia.

“…So cool!” March 7th exclaimed, “I didn’t expect Dan Heng to have this move!”

Stelle also watched, her blood boiling. “Yeah, Dan Heng is so amazing! The General is also so strong!”

However, facing such a combined attack, Phantylia on the lotus pedestal merely let out a scornful, bored giggle.

“Heh heh, quite a spectacle indeed.”

She raised the giant fan in her hand and gently waved it at the falling lightning and water dragon.

Gently.

The lightning and the water dragon, powerful enough to split mountains and cleave rocks, were blocked the moment they touched the fan’s surface.

Then, with a casual flick, they were swatted aside, dissipating harmlessly against the cavern walls.

Seeing this, Jing Yuan and Dan Heng were both stunned.

“Is that all you’ve got?”

“The General of the Xianzhou, and… the Vidyadhara Dragon Lord.”

Phantylia’s coquettish laughter echoed, carrying disdain and mockery.

Then, relying on the Stellaron, she activated the full power of the Ambrosial Arbor!

The entire space trembled violently, and countless golden, thorned vines spread out from the roots of the Ambrosial Arbor in all directions!

Those vines were like venomous snakes, lashing out, rapidly coiling around Jing Yuan and Dan Heng!

“Not good!”

Jing Yuan’s expression changed, and he immediately urged the Lightning-Lord to attack again.

The Lightning-Lord’s giant saber brought forth a flash of lightning, striking at the wildly growing vines.

However, those vines were incredibly tough and difficult to deal with.

The Lightning-Lord’s saber qi cut through them, but after being severed, even more vines surged forth, regenerating instantly.

Suddenly, those vines became enraged, as if provoked!

Hundreds of vines shot up into the sky. Phantylia blocked the Lightning-Lord’s subsequent attacks with her fan, allowing the vines to assault Jing Yuan!

On the other side, Dan Heng’s situation was equally grim.

The water dragon he summoned was also entangled in a desperate struggle with the vines, but suddenly, he was seized by Phantylia’s other giant hand when she took advantage of an opening!

“Dan Heng!”

Jing Yuan, seeing this, grew anxious and wanted to go forward to assist.

But, at that moment, several vines had silently wrapped around Jing Yuan’s back.

“General, watch out!”

Everyone warned from a distance.

By the time Jing Yuan noticed the danger, it was already too late.

The vines wrapped around his ankles, his entire lower body, and then sharply pulled upwards!

“Ugh!”

Jing Yuan felt a massive force, and his entire body was uncontrollably hoisted high into the air, held upside down.

“Hehehe… I’ve got you, little general.”

Phantylia covered her mouth and giggled, looking at Jing Yuan, whom she had captured, and grew excited.

This sudden, shocking scene stunned everyone.

“General… how could this be?!”

Fu Xuan, who had just arrived, saw this scene, and her small face turned ashen.

The two strongest people on the Xianzhou, the General of the Luofu and the Vidyadhara Dragon Lord…

Were actually defeated so easily in a single encounter?

How was this possible!

“Damn it! Let them go!”

Stelle and March 7th angrily shouted.

March 7th drew her bowstring and shot a powerful ice arrow at the vines entwining Jing Yuan.

Stelle also brandished her Flame Lance and charged directly, wanting to forcefully cut off the vine tentacles binding Dan Heng.

However, all of it was futile.

Although they could barely break one or two vines, more vines would immediately surge from underground, re-binding Dan Heng even tighter.

These vines born from the Ambrosial Arbor seemed immortal and indestructible!

“It’s useless, my benefactors.”

Phantylia laughed.

“Your attacks, to me, are nothing more than a tickle.”

She no longer paid attention to the futile struggles of the others, turning her gaze back to Jing Yuan, who was suspended high in the air.

“Now, let’s play something more interesting.”

A cruel, sadistic smile appeared on Phantylia’s face.

She extended a giant finger, and a ball of black, destructive mist condensed at its tip.

“I will inject the ‘Seed of Destruction’ into your body.”

“Then, you will become my most perfect, most powerful Voidranger.”

“Imagine, the General of the Xianzhou, personally destroying your own home, everything you protected… What a beautiful, joyful sight that would be!”

That ball of destructive energy began to drift towards Jing Yuan’s body.

“Stop!”

Jing Yuan struggled, trying to resist, but his body was tightly bound by the vines, making him unable to move at all.

He could feel that destructive power slowly invading his body, polluting him, corroding his will.

Dan Heng, bound, was extremely anxious at this sight, yet powerless.

Fu Xuan, in the distance, was even more distraught and helpless.

Despair.

In the face of absolute, divine power, all their struggles seemed so pale and weak.

Just then, a calm voice rang out.

“Haven’t you made enough noise?”

Everyone’s gaze instinctively followed the direction of the voice.

They saw Orion take a few steps forward.

There was no particular expression on his face; he simply looked indifferently at everything happening before him.

Earlier, Jing Yuan and Dan Heng had said to let them go first, so he let them take the stage and perform.

Orion himself had stayed behind, silently clearing out the smaller enemies—corrupted beings that had been born from the Arbor—that were trying to flank the group.

But now, Jing Yuan and Dan Heng couldn’t hold on, so he had no choice but to step in.

“Oh?”

Phantylia’s movements stopped, and she looked at Orion with genuine interest.

“You’re finally willing to act?”

“Orion!”

March 7th and Stelle’s faces lit up when they saw him step forward.

“Good brother, quickly think of a solution!”

Orion glanced at them and nodded.

Then, he raised the black longsword in his hand.

He pointed it at the roots of the golden vines entwining Jing Yuan and Dan Heng.

Casually, he swung it forward.

However, the next second.

Those tough, stubborn, immortal golden vines… the moment Orion swung his sword…

They stopped.

They all stopped, as if frozen in time.

Then, they seemed to have all their vitality drained away.

They rapidly dimmed, their life force instantly vanishing, turning into a dry, ashen white.

Then, a gust of wind blew from the force of Orion’s cut.

Those countless giant vines simply turned into a sky full of ashes, scattering away.

“Thud.”

Jing Yuan fell from mid-air, staggering a few steps before regaining his balance.

Dan Heng also broke free from his restraints and quickly walked to Jing Yuan’s side.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.”

Jing Yuan shook his head, dispelling the lingering trace of destructive power within him.

But his attention was completely, utterly, not on his own body.

He looked at Orion, not far away, in shock, his heart filled with immense, profound awe.

This person… is unfathomable!

The Ambrosial Arbor vines… powered by a Stellaron and an Emanator… that he and Dan Heng couldn’t solve with all their might…

He actually… resolved them with just one sword strike?

Moreover, it wasn’t a severance.

It was… an obliteration.

He seemed to have directly cut off the ‘existence’ of those vines themselves.

What a terrifying method this is!

“Thank you, Sir Orion, for your assistance.”

Jing Yuan cupped his hands at Orion, then re-gripped his battle saber, ready to continue facing the enemy.

Dan Heng also looked at Orion, his heart full of admiration.

Indeed, with this companion, the Lord Ravager’s bizarre tricks were no problem at all!

And on the lotus pedestal, the triumphant, mocking smile on Phantylia’s face also froze.

“You… what did you do?!”

But Orion merely turned his head.

To Jing Yuan and Dan Heng, who had just broken free and were preparing to re-enter the battle, he said:

“Step back.”

“Leave this to me.”