She Hates Instinct

Jason was stunned, in every sense of the word.

The bullet screen was also stunned.

They didn't even know what had just happened; if they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, no one would have believed it.

A grade 3 magic-user had sent a pseudo-grade 5 combatant, whose strength was six times higher than hers, flying with a single hammer strike?

": Did I see that right? How is that possible!"

": Even with a set of sublime basic skills, you shouldn't be able to counter someone with six times your strength, right?"

": I see it now. It was 'Mental Shock'. She just used a sublime Mental Shock on Jason!"

": You call that a Mental Shock?"

": Are you talking about that skill, the one that's a low-level basic skill for grade 2 mind inquisitors, Mental Shock?"

": Good grief, I've never seen a Mental Shock bypass two whole grades and stun someone directly. And was this skill always this effective? I always thought it was just a filler prerequisite skill for the grade 2 super-move, Magic Water Moon."

": Proficiency-level 'Rectifying Life Link' and 'Sacred Order Protection', and sublime 'Hammer Strike', 'Block', 'Running', and 'Mental Shock'... Does the second young miss of the Order Court only train the mastery of basic skills?"

": Think rationally for a second. Jason's special skill 'Disorder Conversion' is still active. This skill works by sacrificing psyche points to convert into physical attributes. His current psyche value is very low, so his resistance to these types of mental skills is almost zero. Mental attacks are specifically effective against him."

": It's a perfect match. Big shot Dark Gold Rose must have thought of this, which is why he let the second young miss solo-tank Jason."

The discussion on the light curtain scrolled by, but Bai Youyou's expression did not soften. She kept her eyes fixed on Jason as he climbed back up. Her attacks clearly weren't enough to wound him; the blow that had looked so visually impactful just now was merely her taking advantage of the blank state he entered after the Mental Shock to strike while he was defenseless.

What she had to do was stall this guy and buy time for everyone else.

Jason refused to believe it. Shaking his head, he lunged at the girl again, but a hum rang in his ears, and his consciousness disconnected once more. A heavy hammer slammed into his face, sending him tumbling backward.

While dodging the chains and iron hooks flying through the air, Bai Youyou made subtle adjustments to her posture to avoid the spreading blood mist. As she maneuvered her footsteps, Jason climbed up again. Before his clouded pupils could even focus, he swung a massive hand, hacking down with his sharp axe.

The moment the axe neared her face with the speed of wind and lightning, Bai Youyou used Mental Shock again to strip him of his senses. At the same time, she stepped back to dodge, gripping the hammer handle with both hands. She swung the heavy hammer in a massive arc from the ground up, the momentum-filled blow smashing squarely into Jason's face.

This time, however, she failed to send him flying. The muscles on Jason's face twisted and twitched. Enduring the hammer strike Bai Youyou had landed, he forced his head straight. His mask shattered, revealing a face beneath covered in stitch marks, twisted into a cruel grin.

Bai Youyou's eyes flickered slightly.

She was certain her Mental Shock had hit him. In that moment, he should still have been in an unconscious state; it was his body's instinct that was defending. He had blocked her attack purely through the reflex of an unconscious body.

Bai Youyou tentatively swung her hammer in a rapid succession of strikes. This time, before her heavy hammer could land on Jason's body, he raised his sharp axe and blocked her attack head-on. These instinctive movements required no thought from the brain and were even faster. To her, he felt like a beetle with no-blind-spot defense, responding to the natural world with its hard wing covers, down to the precision of a single dewdrop.

She was starting to hate the word instinct.

Bai Youyou swung her hammer with built-up momentum, only to be blocked again by Jason. Wave after wave of Mental Shocks were released as the heavy hammer and sharp axe clashed back and forth inside the carriage. A normal person wouldn't even have been able to see their movements.

In a flash, the two exchanged dozens of blows. The floor beneath them sank, unable to withstand the heavy pressure. Violent shockwaves rippled throughout the carriage!

Bai Youyou's gaze remained steady. This was fine; as long as she could hard-lock Jason here through this method, it would be enough.

A dense surge of blood aura suddenly rushed toward her. Sensing something was wrong, Bai Youyou tried to pull back her swing, but those clouded eyes met hers. Immediately after, a heavy blow struck her chest, sending her flying backward. She crashed through several carriages before finally coming to a stop.

As dust and smoke filled the air, the girl stood up quickly, her breathing slightly ragged, and dashed to the side. A figure shrouded in blood mist pounced like a beast.

Blood-red flashes tore through the mist, flickering repeatedly. Bai Youyou retreated rapidly. Before she could even see Jason's movements, the sharp axe grazed past her vital spots countless times. Blood-aura chains pierced forward, causing blood to splatter from her shoulder, waist, and legs. A cold, piercing pain invaded her body from all over. The heavy hammer she held across her chest was knocked away. Jason's distorted face emerged from the smoke, drawing infinitely close.

He finally spoke his first words:

"Are you just tickling me?"

The divine endowment on his body shifted. Sharp, distinct red crystal clusters sprouted out, covering his body. They were both a protective shield and a slaughtering blade.

Bai Youyou clicked her tongue inwardly. Flames surged from her fists as she delivered a series of punches, creating rings of fire that struck Jason's face.

Looking at the red crystal clusters covering the man's entire body, Bai Youyou hadn't expected him to develop mental resistance so quickly. These Kerper crystals were produced in the hive city of Ohrim, where martial prowess was revered and magic suppressed. The nation was built on crystal veins, and its city walls were composed of this crystal, which could absorb and store mental energy.

Is it the effect of Darwin Skin?

Jason was completely unaffected. He grabbed her hand and lifted the girl into the air, twisting with force. The sound of bones snapping echoed. Despite the intense pain, Bai Youyou remained expressionless. She slammed her leg against Jason's face, her voice cold as iron:

"Judgment of Severance."

A phantom of the Mechanical Court expanded from beneath Jason's feet. Pale gold clock rings appeared one after another, and iron-wire-like strings intertwined. A judge wearing a golden steam mask sat high on the judgment stand, striking his gavel.

Jason's body trembled violently under the restriction. He roared and stood up, constantly tearing at the restraints binding him. The needle below moved faster and faster until it fixed on X. A sacred bell rang overhead, announcing that the time of judgment had arrived. A giant clock sword aimed itself downward,

Falling from the sky and crashing heavily onto him!

This was the ultimate technique of a grade 3 mind inquisitor—Sword of Judgment: Mechanical Court!

Jason was instantly slammed into the ground by the clock sword, and a sacred, majestic aura surged out from the turbulent afterwaves.

Bai Youyou lowered her hand. Her broken right arm hung limply at her side. Waves of pain radiated from the wound, forcing her right eye shut. The blood toxin that had seeped into her body was constantly corroding and biting at her flesh. While it prevented healing, it also whispered in her ear,

Making her thoughts sluggish.

She wasn't sure how high the man's mental resistance currently was, so she didn't relax, staring intently forward.

Once the light faded, the man's tall silhouette vanished into thin air from the judgment stand. Bai Youyou was momentarily stunned. In an instant, a bloody wind howled behind her!