Chapter 121: The Barbie-Doll Hercules

Adonsa has reached a limit in nanomaterials science, and the next breakthrough in material technology remains a distant, uncertain prospect. Currently, only two factors constrain its power: its method of movement and its energy efficiency.

Simple conservation of momentum is no longer sufficient to support Adonsa's output. The ground is only so firm, and the counter-reaction force it can provide is limited, meaning there is always a ceiling on movement speed. Energy efficiency is even easier to grasp: the heat generated by ordinary combustion is merely the energy released by the transition of electrons on the surface of atoms. It is less than one five-hundred-thousandth of nuclear fission—a proportion so negligible it is almost contemptible. Even the neon-condensation energy chain Adonsa currently employs is merely a makeshift measure. But that is a story for another time.

In short, with its strength increased tenfold, Adonsa instantly returned to a position of overwhelming advantage. Ran Bingqing’s impressive, lunging punch was nothing more than an egg striking a rock. Adonsa moved in kind, standing slightly upright and deliberately restraining its power; its long arm traced a short arc, striking Ran Bingqing squarely in the center of her face before she could fully commit.

Her head snapped back, her momentum was instantly shattered, and she was sent tumbling from Adonsa’s side, dragging across the ground like a fallen doll. Everything went as it intended, yet Adonsa felt no joy, for Ran Bingqing stood up without even dusting herself off, unscathed. Adonsa recalled the sensation of the blow; it wasn't so much that its massive power had been countered, but rather that the force of its own punch had simply vanished.

Vanished? Adonsa began to understand. Immediately, the tentacles atop its head swayed with excitement—this was an ability that suited its desires perfectly. Despite absorbing a straight punch from Adonsa that far exceeded the impact of a rocket, Ran Bingqing merely shook her head as if brushed by a balloon. Adonsa’s power barely affected her at all.

Ran Bingqing charged again, fearless. This time, Adonsa simply threw another punch, meeting hers directly in the center. The collision of the red and gold fists triggered a terrifying shockwave, upheaving vast layers of soil like the detonation of a landmine. Adonsa sensed that Ran Bingqing’s strength had grown significantly since the previous blow. Upon closer observation, one could see the gold on her skin deepening, and even her previously inconspicuous muscles had bulged noticeably, resembling those of an incredibly robust female athlete.

"Good! A perfect punching bag!" Adonsa laughed with excitement and threw another punch.

Ran Bingqing did not back down, and the two clashed again. Two punches, three, four... *Boom! Boom! Boom!* For some reason, Ran Bingqing’s body took on increasingly metallic qualities, each collision emitting a sound like a tolling bronze bell. Adonsa deliberately raised the power of each punch to the exact threshold Ran Bingqing could handle, and she lived up to expectations; every time she took a hit, her own strength surged dramatically.

The destructive power between the two grew increasingly horrific, churning the earth dozens of times over. Debris flew at near-supersonic speeds, capable of shattering a human skull in an instant. The shards that struck Adonsa were deflected without suspense, and Ran Bingqing remained equally unharmed. Curiously, however, the debris that splashed against her was not deflected; instead, it seemed to lose all momentum, dropping from mid-air without warning.

Energy absorption was the source of Ran Bingqing’s power. Kinetic, thermal, and electrical energy all fell within her realm of interference. The potency of this ability was beyond doubt: Ran Bingqing could absorb and convert over ninety-nine percent of the energy directed at her, storing it within her body to briefly transform it into her own strength. This revealed the advantage of the Box Garden Apostles: provided they possessed the "seed of power" and sufficient source energy, they could integrate disparate power systems, achieving a result far greater than the sum of its parts. For instance, Ran Bingqing had also cultivated the "Golden Bell Shield."

This was an advanced martial art from a world where martial prowess reached divine levels; it complemented her kinetic absorption ability perfectly, allowing her to unleash devastating close-quarters combat power.

Buffeted by the storm of battle, Nash struggled to keep his eyes open, saying uneasily, "It seems Adonsa is still holding back a significant portion of its strength. Even though energy absorption is a powerful ability, the human body has its limits... How much longer can Ran Bingqing hold out?"

Kander, in his "Blind-Seer" state, stared unblinkingly at the battlefield, his voice cold: "Ran Bingqing’s strength is constantly improving, but Adonsa is merely playing with us. Judging by their performance just now, Ran Bingqing can hold Adonsa for at most another minute."

Seeing Nash fall silent, Kander frowned. "The Golden Bell Shield is a high-level mystical martial art. Under the pressure of Adonsa’s energy conversion, it is constantly breaking through its own boundaries. The outcome may not be so pessimistic; it is simply that my tactical analysis system cannot accurately calculate the power of the mystical arts."

Nash asked, "Can we really win this battle?"

This time, it was Kander’s turn to remain silent. Perhaps he did not know, or perhaps he knew, but could not bring himself to say it.

Ran Bingqing channeled the absorbed energy into the Golden Bell Shield; the upgraded shield then enhanced her physique, expanding her capacity to withstand energy, creating a virtuous cycle. Relying on such a cycle, she could single-handedly challenge thousands of armies and slaughter mythical beasts! At least on the surface, the outcome remained unclear.

Having been used as a target for hundreds of punches, Ran Bingqing no longer possessed her original calm and capable demeanor. Her skin had turned entirely gold, and her muscles were so engorged they appeared almost bloated. Even without being struck, she emitted a low, bell-like hum. Vast power rolled through her golden muscles like a tide, straining her tempered, diamond-hard frame to its limits. She was a literal "Iron-Bodied Barbie."

The power of every punch Adonsa threw was accumulated within Ran Bingqing, serving as the perfect fuel to upgrade the Golden Bell Shield, pushing this advanced—though not supreme—martial art to an unprecedented level that would leave its creator stunned. If the total energy she had absorbed were collected, it could power an entire city for a day or two. Only because Adonsa was deliberately testing her limits could she absorb such a massive amount; otherwise, exceeding her threshold would have caused her to be vaporized instantly.

The tyrannical nature of the Golden Bell Shield affected the practitioner's will, fostering an indomitable, heaven-defying arrogance. Ran Bingqing could barely contain the overflowing violent impulses, forced to vent them through her constant clashes with Adonsa. Yet, no matter how she vented that power, the force Adonsa fed back only grew stronger and fiercer, causing her strength to soar on the surface while she suffered internally.

The sixteenth level of the Golden Bell Shield was only a step away from touching the gates of the Heavenly Court and ascending to the void, but even with such strength, she was no match for a serious Adonsa.

The two sides were incomparable from the start. Adonsa was not a single individual, but an entire systemic civilization. Behind it lay an endless sea of flesh and blood—a star-devouring monster built from the remains of billions of humans and vast resources. Had it not been thwarted halfway, Earth would have long since become a part of Adonsa’s body. Anyone opposing Adonsa was fighting against a vast, prosperous, and unified civilization.

*I am the civilization!*

Adonsa seemed to finally lose patience. In an instant, it entered a high-speed state once more, pushing even further. Every muscle and bone operated on the most perfect trajectory, conducting strength layer by layer until it gathered in the square inch of its fist.

The punch, moving at a hundred times the speed of sound, struck Ran Bingqing’s chest. A force of a hundred thousand tons slammed into her like a meteorite, friction igniting the air into red-hot flames. Ran Bingqing, now a golden avatar, was struck by Adonsa’s million-ton force against her own swollen, robust chest, producing a deafening, bell-like sound that resonated across the heavens.

Yet, this grand display was merely the tolling of a funeral bell for her inevitable defeat. A force of a hundred thousand tons required even Adonsa to draw upon the vast, near-infinite reserves of its main body. A hundred-thousand-ton blow was equivalent to an aircraft carrier, fully armed and crewed, crushing her chest; it could trigger a magnitude-six earthquake in a localized area, burying tens of thousands of people beneath the ruins.

Ran Bingqing, always resolute and self-reliant, saw her expression shift to one of sheer shock.