I Cultivated Too Long and Got Isekai'd Into a Game-Chapter 201: Henrietta’s Fight Strategy

At present, Henrietta was taking the lead in their exchange. Her swift movements, outpacing her opponent, were the only reason she could do so.

However, it wasn’t a pace she could maintain forever.

Her Spirit Descent was like a furnace. The longer she held it, the more her Qi drained away. Every breath, every punch, every dodge bled her reserves dry like water slipping through a cracked jug.

And she knew it. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

’As such, I need to end this before then...!’

Henrietta clenched her teeth, pressing the assault.

Her fists blurred, wrapped in searing blue flame as they hammered against her opponent’s guard. The Blazing Wrath Fiend staggered backward step by step, cracks forming in the stone beneath her.

But even as Henrietta’s fists found their marks, her enemy did not fall.

The fiend’s body was like iron, forged in flame. Her muscles tensed like coiled steel, her flames burned hotter with every strike she endured, and her grin only grew wider.

"You hit hard for a half-breed," the Fiend sneered, parrying Henrietta’s jab with a contemptuous sweep of her arm. "But is that all you’ve got?!"

"Kh—!"

Henrietta’s eyes widened as a counter came flying at her—a sweeping kick cloaked in white-blue fire.

She crossed her arms again to block, but the impact sent her flying across the stage like a ragdoll. Her back slammed into the ground with a sharp crack, the rock beneath her partially melting from the heat and impact.

"Henrietta!"

Uriel shouted, taking a step forward as if she wanted to rush to the fight and help her up—only to be forced back down by Lodia’s stern glare.

"This is a Bloodline Trial," he reminded coldly. "Interference means forfeiture."

’And forfeiture means death.’

Such were the words that remained unsaid but were understood by everyone present. Uriel’s fists trembled, but she forced herself to take a step back and watch, biting her lips in worry.

Henrietta coughed, rolling onto her knees.

Blood dribbled down her lip as she forced her body to stand again, her legs unsteady beneath her.

Already, her advantage was gone.

The fiend walked toward her, step by step, her grin full of bloodlust. "What’s wrong, half-breed? Where did your earlier energy go? Tired already?!"

With a grunt, Henrietta stood up and cursed. "Fuck you...!"

She dashed forward once more, forcing her battered limbs to move, but her rhythm was broken. Her punches were wild and desperate—hitting nothing but air. The Fiend weaved through them with frightening ease and, when given the opportunity, landed clean counterstrikes.

A knee crashed into Henrietta’s ribs.

A fist smashed against her jaw.

A spinning backhand, blazing with white-blue fire, slammed against her temple and sent her tumbling across the floor again.

"Urgh...!"

Her body screamed with pain. Her arms shook. Her Spirit Descent flickered, flames dimming under the strain.

Her breaths came ragged, Qi bleeding from her body faster and faster. She could feel it slipping away from her, like a candle about to snuff out.

And she realized—if the fight went on like this, she would die.

Her gaze flickered toward the audience, toward Xu Tao, who was watching the fight with a frown. Her knees trembled as she tried to rise again, only to stumble. She... didn’t want to show such a weak side of herself to him.

Her enemy was already charging at her, body cloaked in searing flames.

’I... I can’t win like this...!’

Desperation flared in Henrietta’s heart. Her brain rattled, trying to unearth memories that could help her in her current predicament, almost like revolving lanterns. And then, at that moment, she recalled a certain scroll.

A scroll that Xu Tao had given her to follow as her cultivation path guideline. On it, she recalled the part that she had curiously read through—the section she had yet to reach... but one that promised greater strength if used.

She hesitated only for a breath.

Then her eyes hardened.

’Master... Forgive this weak disciple!’

She bit her lip, recalled the content of the scroll like a recent video, and whispered the incantation written upon it.

The words were jagged and ancient—twisting like hooks in her throat as she forced them out.

And then—

BOOM!

Her flames exploded outward, a shockwave that blew back her enemy mid-charge.

The ground cracked beneath Henrietta’s feet as her aura erupted—no, it melted into glass instantly. Her blue fire ignited into a furious blaze that painted the entire stage with its glow.

However, it wasn’t just her flames.

Her strength surged—multiplied by a factor of ten at the least.

Her muscles swelled with Qi, curling up and storing strength. Then, in the next moment, she kicked the ground.

WHOOSH!

Her speed doubled, tripled, until her form became a blur of movement. She raised her fist, aiming right at her opponent’s face.

BAM!

Her punches struck with the force of falling mountains!

THUD! CRACK!

And her kicks carried the weight of storms!

The Blazing Wrath Fiend opponent she faced was sent flying backward before regaining consciousness and digging a fist into the ground, stopping herself right at the edge of the platform—just a step away from falling.

"W-What?!"

She staggered. She wasn’t just rattled by the series of attacks; she was baffled by their newfound strength!

"RAAAAGH!"

But despite her confusion, she wasn’t given time to collect her thoughts. Henrietta roared, her voice cracking through the stage as she pummeled her foe without pause, each strike carving shockwaves through the molten air.

The enemy was forced back, her earlier confidence erased under the tidal wave of blows.

From the sidelines, Jehanne, Alexis, and the rest of her family members were beyond shocked.

"What sort of heavenly technique is that?! The power balance tilted in an instant!"

"She’s... she’s overwhelming her! Was Henrietta always this powerful?!"

"Her strength... it multiplied in an instant..."

Even Alexis’s brows twitched.

His usually composed face stiffened, while Zetian covered her mouth with her fan, eyes narrowed sharply.

Uriel’s heart sank. She recognized the technique—the chant she whispered, after all. She had read the same thing from the scroll Xu Tao gave her and could remember it word for word.

"That scroll... It’s not meant to be used recklessly..." she whispered, trembling.

Because while Henrietta’s body surged with power, something else was slipping.

The technique from the scroll wasn’t something you could just use without practice. It was a technique that granted greater strength, typically used as a trump card when in a pinch. However, it was one that came with a heavy price...

Her eyes burned—not with clarity, but with madness.

Her irises glowed faintly red, her breaths ragged and animalistic. It was as if she had lost her ability for rational thought—at least, it could certainly be seen that way.

Her movements grew wild, her strikes unrestrained, uncaring of injury to herself so long as she could crush her enemy. Still, there was one thing that didn’t disappear from her—her desire to win!

"Ha... HAHAHAHA!"

Henrietta’s laugh was raw and guttural, a far cry from her usual composed self.

Her flames spread like wildfire, scorching even the edges of the platform as she drove the fiend into a corner.

"Y-You monster—!"

The fiend snarled, parrying the incoming attacks desperately. But even just parrying was enough to make the bones in her arms crack. Furthermore, Henrietta’s frenzy only grew wilder.

"...!"

Finally, a blazing fist shattered her guard. Both her hands were thrown up from the impact. But it didn’t end there. Another fist slammed into her chest, pushing all the air out of her lungs—no, she almost vomited her lungs instead! Blood spewed out of her lips like a spray.

Then, as if to put the icing on the cake, a roundhouse kick wreathed in azure fire hurled her entire body across the stage. She bounced once, twice, before rolling to a stop.

She was crawling on the ground, unable to breathe while coughing blood. Even her lively blue-white flames were now flickering weakly.

Everyone watching the fight felt both suspense and excitement. Those from the Evil Spirit side were mostly unconcerned, though. It was as if they didn’t care even if their kin lost the fight.

Xu Tao, who had been silent until now, finally opened his eyes.

He stared at Henrietta—at her distorted aura, her uncontrolled flame, and the creeping madness leaking from her every motion.

"Foolish girl," he muttered.

His casual whisper caught the attention of everyone else. Jehanne, for one, glanced at him nervously. "What’s wrong? She’s winning?" she asked with a confused undertone.

Xu Tao shook his head slowly.

"Henrietta, she... she’s not fighting as herself anymore," he said. "That technique, it sacrifices clarity for power. The more she uses it, the more she’ll lose her mind. Soon, she won’t even know who she’s fighting."

As if to prove his words true, Henrietta’s laughter rang out once more—louder, wilder. Like a predator enjoying the hunt of her prey.

She stomped forward, eyes gleaming red, her aura so suffocating that even they could feel its oppressive heat.

And for the first time, the Blazing Wrath Fiend—brutal, bloodthirsty, and proud—looked afraid.

Henrietta had turned the tide.

But...