Becoming the Wasteland Overlord With My Harem System!-Chapter 228: Punches of Wrath

Ria wasn’t bluffing. If the girls got serious, they could easily eliminate Emperor Cyril and the castle in an instant, regardless of his artifacts’ protection.

However, that would undermine their goal of preserving the Empire and allowing Sophia to take control.

Therefore, although it was a slow process, they had to proceed gradually.

BANG! BANG!

Eve began shooting without pause, reloading her pistol as soon as it ran out of bullets. Although her shots failed to reach Emperor Cyril, the bullets fell to the ground, their kinetic energy completely spent.

Ria and Nina joined in, casting weak curses throughout the area, ensnaring everyone within it.

However, due to the throne’s effect, their curses couldn’t even approach the throne, let alone reach Cyril himself. To make matters worse, their curses rebounded with double the intensity, thanks to the range of the Bracelet of Magic Reflection.

Thankfully, they remained untroubled, as not only the witches but also the others—including Sophia’s group—were all equipped with Max-level Substitute Dolls.

Even if their curses bounced back, they would inflict absolutely no harm!

"I told you, it’s futile!" Emperor Cyril growled, his grin revealing his teeth. "No matter how hard you try, it is impossible to break through my defenses!"

He was proud, confident, and had no doubts about his artifacts.

"Even if I stand here for a decade, nothing would...!"

But just as he spoke, he heard something strange...

A soft, silent crack, like glass gently fracturing across a mirror.

With growing fear, he looked down at his accessories. Specifically, his bracelet, which featured a large, red gem—the "core" of the artifact. To his horror, he noticed a hairline crack had appeared on that core.

"...!"

This sent shivers down Cyril’s spine.

Never before had his artifacts shown such an obvious indication of degradation or wear and tear. Rather, he didn’t even consider the idea of his artifacts breaking from continuous use at all!

"What’s wrong?!" Arianne growled, her face appearing right in front of him. "Weren’t you going to say ’futile’ or something again?!"

CLANG!

At the same time, she brought her sword down again, launching another attack, identical to the last... but significantly restrained in force.

It wouldn’t reach a "feather-touch" level of strength, yet it was enough to potentially injure anyone struck. Just enough to activate his artifact’s "protection."

The force rebounded to her blade and her arms, but since the strength was held back, it barely registered to her—didn’t tickle her, much less cause pain! "Got it...!" she groaned, a vicious smile spreading across her face.

In the next instant, her arms became a blur.

A flurry of slashes followed, all delivered with the same controlled strength. Each attack rapidly drained the mana from Emperor Cyril’s defensive artifact!

"S-Stop...!"

He shouted, helplessly watching the ring on his finger start to dim, losing its golden sheen.

However...

"Who would stop just because they’re asked to?!"

Arianne didn’t.

She continued her relentless barrage. Eve’s bullets kept flying, as did the combined assaults from Nina and Ria.

In just a few seconds, three of the Emperor’s artifacts began to wail in distress.

They were battered and overused in such a short time. The mana that should have sustained them for decades was draining away faster than they could have ever imagined!

CRACK!

A solid crack echoed at last.

The ring on the Emperor’s finger shattered!

"...!"

Arianne felt it instantly.

Her sword was now free... unhindered.

"Say goodbye, fatty!" she growled, swinging her blade one last time.

However, it didn’t go as she had imagined.

As her sword neared the Emperor’s neck, she felt something graze the left side of her own neck. It happened so quickly that she was momentarily stunned.

"Tsk...!"

Realizing the danger, Arianne yanked her blade back, leaping away and clutching her neck. When she checked her palm, her worst fears were confirmed—her hand was stained red with blood. Her own blood!

If she had swung her blade with full force, she might have severed her own neck before she could stop it!

"Bastard..." Arianne growled, both furious and shocked. "You still have tricks up your sleeve, huh?"

The fear covering Emperor Cyril’s face froze, slowly warping into a crooked grin that was both unsettling and triumphant. "Ah, of course. Who said I only have one protection from each type?"

He spread his arms wide, as if to showcase all the accessories he wore for Arianne to see.

"I have dozens of them. What now? Did you really think you got me...?" He squealed into a sinister laugh. "Dream on, you knight-wannabe bitch...!"

Arianne’s expression stiffened in response.

Eve’s attack came to a halt, and even Ria and Nina paused their casting of curses. All three turned their attention to Arianne, who had lowered her head as she knelt on one knee.

"Ah..."

Slowly, she stood up, a potion materializing in her hand. After downing it in one swift motion, her injuries healed.

"So you think you’re tough, huh? You bastard..." Arianne whispered, her voice laced with cold menace.

She sheathed her blade before cracking her knuckles and stretching her neck side to side. Her eyes were devoid of light as they fixed on Emperor Cyril, with only one intent clearly visible.

"I’ll crush you...!"

BOOM!

Arianne’s figure vanished, only to reappear behind the pig emperor a moment later—she was so fast it seemed as if she had teleported!

Her fist rained down, striking the Emperor’s nape, the back of his head, shoulders, lungs, and shoulder blade. Almost simultaneously, she felt the same impact in those areas... Each blow carried the weight of her own strength.

"GUH!!!"

But Arianne didn’t stop.

Pain? She could just grit her teeth and endure. That was not something that could deter her.

"RAAAAAGH!"

After each punch, she moved a step to the left or right. Her fists flew like a machine gun, relentlessly pounding the unmoving Emperor from all sides and angles. No part of him was left untouched!

However, every hit she landed was reflected back at her.

Her nose bled, her eardrums burst, her lungs ruptured, and she vomited blood... But in moments, the extra "HP Tank" provided by the potion healed her up in an instant.

Right now, Arianne was literally spending her 10 "Extra lives" just to strike her enemy!

All because...

"NOBODY IS ALLOWED TO MOCK MY KNIGHTHOOD!!!"

For such a trivial grievance.