Making Honkai Impact lll In A World Where Kallen Exists [Continuation]

With Bronya's battle reaching its conclusion, Rita ceased her pursuit. While she never truly revealed her trump card, it wasn't out of unwillingness, but due to the risks involved.

Durandal, before her departure, entrusted her with the complete responsibility of that world bubble. Rita felt obligated to protect it from harm.

Besides… a nagging sense of unease lingered in her heart.

She needed to wait. Wait for Durandal, who had been gone for twenty minutes, to return. She knew where she was – the best plan they had concocted together with Dr. Schrödinger.

The Dominion Theater gradually disintegrated in the void, signaling the end of this battle. The team continued their advance towards their planned destination.

…

Meanwhile, on another route, Fu Hua and Kiana, acting as a surprise force, were rushing towards their target, utilizing a pre-prepared path.

But things didn't go smoothly. As they moved, tons of Otto's fake copies and puppets popped up everywhere, trying to stop them.

Fu Hua was about to keep searching for the real enemy when she saw a huge fire in the distance. It was so big, she knew who had to be causing it.

She rushed towards the fire and found Kiana facing off against someone.

The person's appearance made Fu Hua pause, a sense of familiarity washing over her. The attire they wore made her furrow her brow – a traditional Chinese-style outfit. The three-foot long green sword in their hand and the jade pendant hanging from their waist were particularly striking.

Not everyone in this time period would choose to wear such things.

"You Rakshasa," the girl said, her voice annoyed, "why does your plan always go wrong? Even the enemy you promised is different..."

Fu Hua hadn't even gotten close to them, but she could hear the girl's complaining. It was clear she didn't want to fight in this battle.

"Before the Class Monitor gets here, I'm going to beat you," Kiana said calmly, her eyes full of fighting spirit.

As if noticing something, the girl's eyes lit up, turning towards the belated Fu Hua.

"Wait a minute... hehe, you'll have to beat me another time! My Grandmaster is here!"

"Grandmaster – the Red Immortal… The Phoenix empyrean, it's been a long time."

"What... it's you?"

As the girl's face came into focus, Fu Hua recognized her – Li Sushang, the daughter of her seventh disciple, a descendant of a friend from five hundred years ago.

-----

"Huh? She wants to fight the Old Timer too?" The Herrscher of Sentience, looking a little annoyed, glared at the girl standing in their way.

How dare everyone bully the Old Timer? Doesn't she have any pride?

Qin Suyi was alright, but Susang's master, Cheng Lingshuang, was no good.

She couldn't forget that critical strike she delivered to Old Timer.

Learning so well, just to attack her master, huh?!

"It seems so. I'm also curious why they got rid of me first." Fu Hua said out loud, thinking about it. She didn't really realize how weird it sounded.

As they watched what was happening, it was getting clearer and clearer that Otto was behind everything. It was almost as if every step of Principal Theresa's plan was under his control, a chilling realization.

"Ugh, probably because they think you're too nosy, too involved, and know too much," The Herrscher of Sentience said, turning her head. She wasn't holding back her thoughts at all.

Fu Hua's face darkened. She glanced at the Herrscher of Sentience, who was practically openly seeking revenge, and understood that she had imposed too many rules on her lately, causing some resentment to build up.

But if she didn't restrict her, she'd see the Herrscher sleeping all day, playing video games day and night, and it was a sight that made her heart ache.

"That's something to think about. It's clear the other side has a secret plan, but we still don't know what they want Kiana for..." Fu Hua said.

"It's obvious now, they're sending Kiana alone," the Herrscher of Sentience said.

"Tsk... Looks like you're not that important. Otto doesn't even see you," the Herrscher of Sentience said, making it clear that she was trying to start a fight with Fu Hua.

"If he really didn't care, he wouldn't have brought out this... Miss Li Sushang to block Fu Hua, Little Senti~"

Elysia, with an unusual familiarity, patted the Herrscher of Sentience on the shoulder, smiling at her.

With her around, she wouldn't allow things to get too heated.

Besides, she was quite interested in the Herrscher of Sentience. It was natural to interact with her more.

Okay, to be honest, Elysia really wanted to see the three Fu Huas sitting together, all wearing the clothes she had in mind. That would be so funny!

"Who doesn't know that? And you, stay away from me. I always feel like you have ulterior motives..."

The Herrscher of Sentience felt a tap on her shoulder and instinctively took a step forward, warily looking behind her, ignoring the fact that she was now very close to Fu Hua.

She didn't actually dislike Elysia, but she had a nagging feeling that something was off. Unfortunately, she couldn't directly probe her consciousness, even though her intuition told her she had the ability to do so.

To be honest, the few people with memory bodies didn't pose much of a threat to her, but that didn't mean she could take on a whole group.

-----

Li Sushang watched the two women huddle together, whispering and sharing secrets. Even though if they were planning a surprise attack, Li Sushang didn't seem afraid.

She mumbled to herself, but her voice was calm and steady.

"Don't get me wrong," she said. "The Rakshasa saved my life once, that's why I agreed to fight alongside him. But he only asked me to stop the Red Immortal. He never said anything about helping him with anything else. I can handle a one-on-one fight, but two against one? No way, I'd lose."

Fu Hua listened quietly, feeling a headache building behind her eyes. For a moment, she just stood there, thinking. Then, she finally spoke.

"Kiana," she said, "you might have to go first."

Compared to others, she undoubtedly knew Li Sushang better. A Chinese heroine, she thought she had disappeared in the long passage of time, but here she was again.

Fu Hua knew Li Sushang was a woman of her word. She valued promises and considered her word to be her bond. She lived by the old saying, "Once spoken, a thousand horses cannot bring it back."

Knowing that Li Sushang had agreed to help Otto, Fu Hua realized that changing her mind seemed impossible. If they attacked together, Fu Hua couldn't help but laugh a little bitterly.

She considered how much time they had, her own strength, and the whole situation.

It seemed like Otto had a good grasp of things.

Fu Hua couldn't think of any good solutions. If Otto wanted to stop her, then let him.

"Class Monitor..."

Kiana looked at Fu Hua, confused. But Fu Hua's gaze was unwavering. After a brief analysis of the pros and cons, she understood her Class Monitor's meaning.

She wasn't the reckless Valkyrie she once was. She had learned to think, to consider the bigger picture, to compromise...

So she nodded, asking a couple of worried questions, before agreeing and running in the opposite direction.

After all, Fu Hua's reasoning made sense – they couldn't both be held back, especially now that time was of the essence.

Fu Hua kept a watchful eye on the girl standing with her hands clasped behind her back, a serene smile playing on her lips. The three-foot long green sword in her hand seemed to not mind their conversation or Kiana's departure.

But Fu Hua didn't underestimate her in the slightest. It was because of her understanding that she felt a headache coming on.

In terms of Taixu sword energy, she was truly unparalleled in the world.

And right now... she couldn't use the Taixu Sword God's, which relied on Taixu sword energy.

But the attack Fu Hua had been expecting never came. She looked at Li Sushang, confused.

"No need," Li Sushang said, her smile never fading. "I only agreed to one match. One match is one match." She waved her hand, gesturing for Fu Hua to go ahead.

"He wouldn't give me anything extra for another match."

Should she say she had a true sense of chivalry, or was she already acting like a someone who was paid to do a job??

It was hard to tell. But her meaning was clear. She was bound by her promise to the other party.

"I've fought with my Grandmaster before, right? Even though I've forgotten, the Rakshasa said that the Red Immortal and I are even."

"...Sigh," Fu Hua sighed, looking at Li Sushang, who was ready for a fight and radiating confidence. Fu Hua already knew what was coming.

"You have a promise to keep, and I have a mission to complete," Fu Hua said.

"So... let's do this."

"Alright, then I apologize in advance, master Phoenix —"

The girl let out a light shout, and countless elegant sword lights surged forward, a continuous wave of sword energy striking.

[...She's so cute!]

[All she needs to say is that she's just a worker, just block a few attacks for show]

[Let the Little Senti come out and fight, two against one! They're all Fu Hua anyway]

[The Fu Hua and Kiana fans win big! The world famous painting – Mei in World Serpent]

-----

"Uh... are all Chinese people like that?"

Kiana looked at Fu Hua, curiously asking.

As for what she meant by "like that"... well, the boss had done some pretty silly things too, leaving a lasting impression.

"Hmm?" Fu Hua looked back, confused. She didn't understand what Kiana meant.

"It... probably counts, right? Look, wasn't the Old timer initially agreeing to be a mole for Otto? She only fought back after she finished her task and Otto was exposed."

The Herrscher of Sentience scratched her cheek, thoughtfully.

She was the first to understand what Kiana was asking, but it was something you couldn't just say out loud.

"But you can't say that's a typical Chinese thing, right? Don't most good people keep their word?"

The Herrscher of Sentience raised her chin, explaining to Kiana.

Kiana nodded, agreeing. "Yeah, that makes sense...but won't Otto punish the person inside? It feels like they're just pretending to do their job."

Kiana stared at the screen, where the person was basically saying they were just going through the motions.

All they cared about was keeping their promise!

"If it was something truly evil, Li Sushang wouldn't have been tricked. But in this case, it's more like she's still under Otto's control. Otto knows Sushang so well, it's like she's an open book to him."

The Herrscher of Sentience nodded, quite understanding.

Fu Hua looked at the Herrscher of Sentience with a sense of bewilderment. Why did she feel like the Herrscher didn't like to jump around in front of others, but couldn't stop jumping around in front of her?

What was going on?

She spoke eloquently with Kiana, but with her... it always felt like she was being deliberately obstinate.

It made Fu Hua feel a little uneasy.

Elysia and the others were clearly also curious about Li Sushang image. After all, the first time they saw her, they felt a sense of chivalry radiating from her.

Even though her attire had been altered, and the Valkyrie Armor accentuated her features, shedding the ancient aura, her image was still incredibly distinct.

Honestly, Eden's creative urge was already bubbling. She wanted to design a similar style for Elysia to wear.

Really, she had the idea. Elysia wouldn't refuse, right...?

-----

They exchanged several blows, but they were all probes, mere formalities. Sword energy flew, swords filled the air, streaks of light cut across a pair of gauntlets, but they couldn't cause any harm.

After all, they were essentially from the same school, and if they were just sparring, it wouldn't be easy to cause serious injuries with their strength.

And with her Heartless Sword, and her opponent's Heartful Sword, it was difficult to create a significant gap.

She didn't want to truly determine a winner, as that would only lead to them both being injured. She would no longer have the strength to help Kiana.

So... this was the only way...

"Since we can't determine a winner in a short time, then for the sake of the bigger picture, I'll choose to leave you behind and go directly."

Fu Hua looked at her, speaking calmly.

"...Huh?"

Li Sushang, who had taken up a fighting stance, was confused. She never imagined such a scenario.

An Immortal, a real Immortal!

From the legends she had heard since she was young, she never thought the other party would consider running away.

"This... this won't do, it's against the rules."

She said with some difficulty.

Being outmatched was one thing, but what should she do if the other party ran away?

"Therefore—whether it's you or me, we need to finish this quickly."

Fu Hua reiterated, staring at the other party's panicked expression with a blank face.

Running wouldn't solve the problem. The other party could easily chase after her, making the situation even more tense. But a prolonged fight would only drain their strength. She had to find a way to help Kiana.

So, she chose to gamble.

She gambled that their strongest moves would determine who would defeat the other. Only then... could she bypass her opponent and go to Kiana's battlefield.

"My next attack... I will give it my all. If you don't take it seriously, you might... perish here."

"I'm serious. So, if you want to fulfill your promise, then reveal your trump card as well, Li Sushang."

She spoke like this, but there were calculations in her heart.

She had to admit that she was at a disadvantage right now. Her spirit was still scarred, and she couldn't fight anymore.

And her opponent's trump card... was only the Taixu Sword God.

"Grandmaster just wants to buy some time for that white-haired girl, right? The Rakshasa is the same, he and I don't want to hurt you..."

"Do you think we have to reach the point of life and death struggle today?"

Li Sushang was reluctant to reveal her final edge, persuading her.

In her view, all she needed to do was stall for time. Kiana had gone, hadn't she...? A fake fight was perfectly acceptable.

She knew even better that the Master Immortal body was definitely not in great shape, otherwise she wouldn't be weaker than she was five hundred years ago.

Life and death struggle? No, on the contrary,

Fu Hua thought to herself, she only had this one path left... but she still said calmly,

"You should know what Otto wants to do. For me, it's an act of evil that I absolutely cannot accept."

" 'Five hundred years of history,' worth fighting for."

[Oh, hey? Where did my simple and unpretentious immortal go?]

[She's learned a lot from Otto, Red Immortal...]

[Sushang: Huh? ...Ah, yes, yes, yes]

[Li Sushang, I'm not lying!]

[Senti: !!! Alert!!!]

-----

"Speaking of which, I suddenly thought of something... it's said that Sushang is the same height as Bronya."

Luo Mo looked up at the ceiling, staring at the blank white surface, suddenly remembering something, and said it abruptly.

"Hmm? So?"

Bronya glanced at him, not offering any further comment.

"Well...the Valkyries' weight data is also interesting. She's actually quite a bit heavier than you, like 4 whole kilograms!"

Bronya paused for a moment, still confused. "I don't get what you're talking about at all."

The same height, but so much heavier. Shouldn't she be thinking about why the other person is so fat?

She felt a little disdainful, until she saw the smiles on the faces of those around her, and then she glanced at the proud figure in the game, her face turning black.

She felt like she had been discriminated against and insulted in some way, even though it wasn't important...

But she was still angry!

"Huh? You actually know girls' weights?" Elysia was a little excited, but also a little worried.

How did this guy get the Super duper ultimate pro max data? Blank technology? Super power....

If this lady lovely Elysia enters his game for her great Entrance, he immediately knows THAT

"Hmph...!"

Luo Mo, trying to downplay the situation, coughed nervously. "It's just some necessary data. I don't really know anything..."

He glanced at her eyes, then quickly looked away, feeling a rising panic. He felt like someone might explode if he didn't explain himself properly.

Speaking of which, he only remembered Elysia's weight…

What was her height again...?

Forgot! but it seemed like she was taller than Bronya.

Unfortunately... it couldn't be his killing blow for her.

Luo Mo felt a pang of regret for that part.

Elysia wasn't satisfied with the answer. She had a feeling the other guy knew something.

But then she thought about it, wouldn't it just be awkward if he said it? Plus... who knows where he got the data from.

After all, if he could make such a magical game, and even create stigmata that even Mobius couldn't replicate, then something a little more outlandish was understandable.

But... involving weight...

It made Elysia a little embarrassed, but seeing Bronya's fiery eyes next to her, she realized someone was having a worse time.

She decided to pretend nothing happened and just watch the show.

"Boss... Bronya advises you to avoid irrelevant topics..."

Bronya rolled her eyes at Luo Mo, feeling a bit helpless.

Who cares about those things anyway? As long as Seele has them!

Speaking of which, sometimes the internet goes crazy about how... all the orphanage's nutrition went into Seele. After last night's test, she really believed it.

But, speaking of which, is Li Sushang really the same height as Bronya? Why does she look like she has such long legs?

And herself... she looked down at the ground, able to see the floor clearly, and couldn't help but draw another black line on her forehead.

"Sigh..."

She glanced at Fu Hua, feeling a little comforted.

At least there's still the Class Monitor.

-----

Su Sushang was troubled by Fu Hua's suggestion of a fight "worth fighting for".

She only wanted a sparring session, maybe to see who was stronger, and had no desire for a life-or-death struggle.

But it was her Grand Master, Red Immortal, who had spoken, and she had already made a promise...

She didn't ask any questions. In fact, she didn't need to.

She knew, this person before her, if she had ever considered herself even once, would not be standing here right now.

Perhaps, like the Rakshasa, she has indeed escaped her past, finding a new life in her long journey.

Only... what has been gained can never truly compensate for what was lost.

Therefore...

She took a deep breath, pushing aside her inner turmoil, clasped her hands in a gesture of respect, and with a glint in her eyes, said:

"Li Su Sushang, the eldest disciple of the 'Supreme Freedom sect', requests the honour of your instruction, Grand Master!"

She had said these words to countless people in the past.

In her long journey, she had issued countless challenges.

The only thing that remained unchanged... perhaps, was the light in her eyes.

No matter who she faced, her determination and sharpness never wavered, shining like a star.

She wouldn't fear any challenge, not even her former master, the one who was a genius beyond compare, nor the legendary Red Immortal, the Protector of China.

On Fu Hua's side, she knew every move her opponent would make, unable to avoid them, unable to escape. It was a technique she had created, passed down through generations…

…Unfortunately, now she couldn't utilize it.

"Tai Xu Sword Qi… Shen Yun!"

Li Su Sushang slowly floated into the air, an infinite glow emanating from her. A golden crack appeared in the sky above, with faint lightning flickering within it.

"Shen, the epitome of change, transcending all things with words…"

The atmosphere changed drastically, once again proclaiming the power of the Tai Xu Sword God to the world.

With a single swing of her sword, everything within her sight was engulfed.

Only a single point of black gold remained amidst the cleansing torrent, refusing to be extinguished.

"…Grip of Tai Xu's!!"

Fu Hua clenched her fists, her eyes unwavering, refusing to acknowledge defeat.

-----

Hearing the familiar words, the audience wore various expressions.

"It feels like the Tai Xu Sword God appears quite often. Do all members of the Tai Xu sect possess this power?"

"Huh? Class monitor, can she also use the Tai Xu Sword God?"

Kiana squeezed her eyes towards Fu Hua, asking with an inquisitive expression.

"Yes, she's incredibly talented, has been training with the sword since childhood, and is very dedicated. It was to be expected that she would master the Tai Xu Sword God…"

Fu Hua nodded, recalling the two times she had seen Su Sushang before, shaking her head with a smile.

"Speaking of which… Kiana, how's your training going?"

"Uh… well, that… right, class monitor, according to Shenzhou's ways, she's being insubordinate and disrespecting her elders. Aren't you angry?"

"…It seems you've been making progress in your studies recently, Kiana. Though your vocabulary… the general meaning is still correct."

Fu Hua looked at Kiana twice, unbothered by her avoidance of a direct answer. She'll know when they actually spar.

"Bah, what's wrong with that? How can that be wrong? I think Kiana's spot on!"

The Herrscher of Sentience decisively switched sides, standing with Kiana. It seemed she would join in criticizing Fu Hua if she made any mistakes.

Kiana scratched her head, chuckling.

She wouldn't engage in this!

Don't be fooled by the Little Senti jumping around. If the class monitor is truly in trouble, she'd absolutely abandon everyone else to help her.

As for agreeing with her words? After being tricked once, she's completely comfortable with their relationship. She doesn't want to step into that murky water.

"Martial artists must be respectful and follow etiquette, but they cannot retreat. Martial arts… forget it, Little Senti, you don't have to cover your ears anymore. I won't talk about this aspect anymore…"

Fu Hua glared at the Herrscher of Sentience, who had already expertly covered her ears, fulfilling her wish and ceasing her teachings.

She didn't actually have any ill feelings towards Li Su Sushang. Perhaps her feelings for her seven disciples are complicated and difficult to define.

But she did have a fondness for this girl who purely dedicated herself to martial arts and practiced chivalry… though, sometimes her stubbornness would give her a headache.

"So, can Grip of Tai Xu's defeat the Tai Xu Sword God?"

Kiana inquired. After all, it seems like the class monitor won't be appearing in later parts of the story. Meaning… she lost?

"Well, of course… it wouldn't work."

Before Kiana could express her surprise, the Herrscher of Sentience face fell as she finished the sentence.

"How could that be? Grip of Tai Xu's, after all, is just a variation of Tai Xu Sword, incorporating some old-fashioned boxing techniques, but it definitely can't beat this kind of big move!"

"Even when I, a Herrscher, I used this as my ultimate attack. You can imagine how powerful it is."

Fu Hua remained silent, but nodded, acknowledging this point.

"Based on general rationality, these two…"

"Okay, okay, I know you're trying to say it can't win. Stop talking in circles, old timer!"

Herrscher of Sentience pushed Fu Hua away with a wave of her hand, her voice impatient.

Fu Hua didn't mind her hand, she just felt a bit of a headache and wanted to rub her temples to relax.

Facing someone so mischievous and yet so indistinguishable from her memories,

Fu Hua found her teasing unbearable.

On the other side, the group watched this scene, finding it quite amusing.

"It seems Fu Hua and Little Senti are getting along quite well. It's been a while since I saw Fu Hua react like that~ Quite a surprise!"

Elysia watched with keen interest.

"You call that getting along? I've seen Fu Hua… no, I mean, I've seen her frown more times than in a whole year!"

Mobius retorted, watching Fu Hua and the Herrscher of Sentiece, her eyes filled with a certain kind of heat.

Unfortunately, Fu Hua is no longer easily fooled… she's learned to manipulate others. What a transformation!

"Oh, come on, Mobius, you still don't understand. How can I explain it?"

"Just speak normally, and don't get any closer. I can hear you clearly!"

Mobius pushed Elysia away with a sigh,

What's with her? Just talk, I'm not deaf. Also, I suspect you have something for Griseo, I need to keep her away from you next time!

"Let me explain properly, it's easier to understand when you're closer, right?"

"Alright, Ellie, let's watch how Fu Hua handles this."

Finally, Eden spoke, casting a helpless look at the doctor and Ellie's entangled state. She felt that being close to any of the Flame-Chasers had some drawbacks.

As for stigmata? Mobius clearly still couldn't resist Elysia, even after gaining power.

The only difference is probably...she no longer has to find ways to get Ellie's stigmata.

Stigmata… such an amazing power. She… was also curious.

Eden narrowed her eyes, picking up her wine glass to shield her view before downing it in one gulp, a blush creeping up her cheeks.

-----

In the split second before the Sword God's countless sharp edges were about to unleash, everything seemed to freeze.

But for the one being targeted by the sword, she understood this gap in time was merely an illusion, a fleeting moment bought by the opponent's speed exceeding human reaction.

As she thought at lightning speed, the aura of the sword, now taking on a gaseous form, continued to close in on her forehead.

For her, whose sword heart had been shattered, this strike was unstoppable, a force that would crush everything in its path.

The almost blinding light of the sword, the very reason she couldn't articulate her defeat, was the undeniable proof of her opponent's victory.

"Yes, it's the Sword God..."

"And I must face this blade."

In the frozen space, Fu Hua spoke to herself.

Truth be told, the best way to counter the Sword God was to clash head-on like she did with the Herrscher of Sentience, but unfortunately, she couldn't do that now.

She struggled to pull her consciousness out of the frozen space,

and inexplicably, she recalled the distant past of the SWARA experiment.

As Dr. MEI had said, she possessed a long lifespan, the SWARA granted her infinite growth potential, and it solved her excessive and abnormal mutations.

But that didn't mean it was completely harmless.

It was a catalyst, a limitation, something that worked deep within her consciousness, comparable to a strict rule.

"Possessed by a demon... must be slain..."

She couldn't help but chuckle bitterly. It was an irreversible side effect, then.

And in the recent experiment conducted by Anti-Entropy, under the supervision of Tesla and Einstein, she truly realized this point.

Her consciousness now entirely under her control, allowing her to walk the path she chose.

It sounded wonderful, but the disappearance of her sword heart and the SWARA, despite her body regaining its former strength, rendered her unable to reach her previous level of power.

The techniques that once relied on her sword heart were all forbidden, causing her strength to plummet, returning her to square one… Original point.

But correspondingly... the limitations of her body vanished, and forbidden techniques were awakened once again.

However, these were desperate measures, and she couldn't alter the subsequent consequences.

"But during the Second Eruption, your physical condition was even worse than it is now. Yet you were still able to use the techniques of the Void Sword God..." Einstein calmly analyzed for Fu Hua.

Fu Hua simply shook her head, saying helplessly,

"Back then, I still had Fenghuang Down, which was an exception."

"And it was then that I realized that even the Void Sword God could fail."

"At that time, another entity blocked the Herrscher..."

She paused, a sudden thought striking her, a possibility that seemed impossible.

What was mere idle chatter back then now had a concrete basis... After all, who would have thought that the Void Sword God would actually exist now?

…

As Li Sushang Taixu Sword God condensed and took shape, Fu Hua's heart remained calm.

No one could confirm this possibility for her – that's what she thought.

But now, she truly felt the hand of fate. She thought she would never face the Void Sword God again, that her speculation from the so-called Honkai God would end there, but unexpectedly...

"Nothing is absolute."

Fu Hua sighed softly, her gaze fixed on the opposite side. The golden giant sword was about to descend, bringing with it the force of a cataclysmic collapse.

She did not panic, but instead put her consciousness into her heart. She wanted to confirm her guess again. After all, her life was at stake.

The surface of the lake was clear, a sliver of light falling upon it. Due to a basic law of physics, it produced a definite yet difficult-to-discern refraction as it submerged.

By the time it finally touched the murky bottom of the lake, its direction was no longer the same as when it started.

At the same time as she sighed deeply, Fu Hua sighed long and deeply in her heart.

Or rather, after confirming that her judgment was not wrong, she let out a sigh of relief.

"Moo, Kabayis Ryu..."

Strange syllables flowed gently from her mouth — but after tentatively uttering one sentence, she stopped.

Her thoughts flew rapidly in her mind.

The test just now had confirmed her suspicions. Her sword heart, along with the mental imprint like the SWARA... had become a path deviating from the right track.

What she possessed was undoubtedly the realm of Still Water.

Still Water, Dustless, Clear Mirror, Void, representing the four realms of the sword heart.

For beginners, it starts with Still Water.

And about five hundred years ago... a blaze that shot up into the sky, a scene of a sword pointing at the forehead.

Her sword heart had already shattered, and she had never been able to return to it since. In other words –

"This heart lake shouldn't exist."

Fu Hua murmured softly, gazing at her heart lake.

Or rather, even if it existed, it shouldn't be trapped in Still Water.

She already had a faint answer in her heart.

"Is it you...?"

A gentle figure, with a hint of worry in her brows, appeared beside her, wearing the ancient attire of five hundred years ago. She didn't look like a martial artist, but rather exuded a strong scholarly aura.

"Zhaoyu..."

[We still don't know how many consciousnesses are burdened within Fu Hua's body.]

[Sword heart... Tai Xu sect... Damn, I want to learn too.]

[The Taixu Sword God targeted its founder. Is it the ultimate technique, invincible in the world, or is this person invincible in the world?]

[Makes sense. If someone can stop it, why can't Red Immortal do it?]

[These Chinese cultivation and sword arts are making me confused. Why don't they use numbers or stars for ranks.]

-----

"There are so many people in the Class Monitor's head."

Kiana complained, looking at Fu Hua's head with a sense of strangeness. There were a lot of people in the Class Monitor's consciousness.

But she didn't think about herself. Hadn't she also almost had enough people to form a mahjong table? If you counted Ms. Himeko, that is.

As for Bronya's core... there were even more people.

Or rather, wouldn't it be strange for a true strong person to only have one or two people in their head?

"Why... Zhaoyu? Is it really her?"

Fu Hua was somewhat surprised. She called upon her heart lake to check, but there were no anomalies.

Perhaps it was when she was fully healed, or perhaps it was the way she equipped her stigmata, but there were faint traces of others in her heart lake, bits and pieces.

The other party had already left, perhaps relieved to see their master restored to her former glory.

"Tsk, she's lucky she ran fast."

The Herrscher of Sentience also saw her actions, simply scoffing.

"Speaking of... Old timer, why didn't you ask me for help? You couldn't release it, but I could release the Void Sword God."

"The game says... you can't be found, right? If I knew where you were, I would have definitely asked for your help."

Fu Hua said helplessly. Besides, she didn't think she could persuade the other party to help. To be precise, she couldn't persuade her past self.

Now that they ate and slept together, she had a good grasp of the other party's mood.

Therefore, she also knew how to persuade her to fight. Whether it was an open plea or a challenge, it was all good. The only bad thing was reasoning.

She had learned that the hard way.

"Hey, that's what you get. I'll leave you a communication channel next time."

The Herrscher of Sentience was delighted, her little hand waving as she spoke.

Her smug expression was evident.

[Flashback 3: Escape/ lightning]

_____________

This is a story from five hundred years ago, a tale of escaping Schicksal and heading to the Far East.

This adventure picks up where the "Purple Phantom thief" chapter left off, right after the shocking truth about the human experiments was revealed and Kallen Kaslana managed to escape Schicksal with a mysterious Black Box.

This journey of escape is where Kallen Kaslana undergoes a crucial period of self-reflection.

The deck of a ship, shrouded in the stillness of midnight, was nearly deserted.

The cold moonlight painted the landscape in silver, and the wind carried a sharp chill.

The Danube River glittered beneath the moon, its waves like a tired and weary traveller.

Kallen stood alone, her face hidden under the shadow of her hood. She knew she couldn't be seen. A massive bounty was placed on her head, and countless people were searching for her.

It all started with that box,

And Kallen Kaslana held it close.

She knew she had to take it, but where could she safely lock it away?

Where was the right place to hide it?

Maybe it was the Far East, where the Immortal resided...

Maybe it was a place even further, an unknown land.

This was a lonely journey, destined to be one of solitude.

No one could be trusted, no one could be relied upon...

Perhaps, from the beginning to the end, she could only rely on herself.

"Budapest is a major city, Schicksal will definitely have sentries at the docks. I need to disembark before reaching there and travel overland to Belgrade."

"But if that's the case... why not simply cross the Carpathian Mountains and take the Cumanian Steppe?"

"Then..."

Kallen paused, her mind racing. She knew the dangers of both routes, but she couldn't share her thoughts with anyone.

It was too risky.

She tightened her grip on the box, her eyes fixed on the vast, star-filled sky.

As Schicksal's strongest Valkyrie, she hadn't faced such a miserable situation in a long time.

The events of recent days still left her with a sense of sorrow. The changes in Schicksal were unbearable, and the transformation of her friends was even harder to forget.

Now, she was completely alone.

"The last time I was this miserable was during the retreat from the Eastern Expedition..."

"...War truly changes everything."

"After that disastrous defeat, Otto's father... his grip on the entire organization became much weaker,"

"Everyone was fighting for power, looking for any advantage they could find."

"The shifting power made everyone smell the scent of profit,"

"They were desperate to show off their so-called achievements, just so their stories would sound more impressive when they were trying to climb the ladder."

"Victor was like that, the Archbishop was like that... Is Otto also..."

Kallen paused for a moment, unwilling to speculate or succumb to these malicious suspicions.

But deep down, she felt like she was falling into an abyss, a chilling sense of helplessness engulfing her.

"Though the profit he seeks is never something as shallow as money," Kallen said, her voice firm, almost as if she was trying to convince herself.

She wanted to believe that Otto's goals were pure, that his ambition was driven by something deeper than simple power.

That he was still fighting for the dreams they shared, just like he always had.

"...Miss Shakespeare was right,"

"The human heart is nothing more than a game of storytelling. When people believe in you, you become capable of anything in their eyes; but when people don't believe in you, you instantly become worthless."

"...But when did I start drifting away from Otto?"

"Was it after I learned about Sasha? Or perhaps... it started even earlier?"

She asked herself these questions, but there were no answers.

The small boat touched the shore, and Kallen, the fugitive Valkyrie, began her journey on land. The weight of her escape, of her betrayal, pressed down on her.

She knew the distance between her and Otto hadn't sprung up overnight.

It had been growing for a long time.

As early as when she became a phantom thief... as early as when she was filled with righteous anger over the 'Redemption Scroll'...

That rift had already subtly appeared.

She didn't know when it started, but she and Otto had become two people with their backs to each other, standing under the same twilight sky.

One watched the sunset burn out, teetering on the edge of collapse,

While the other had already stepped into the initial darkness, their figure fading away.

So close, yet so far apart.

Now, two different voices echoed from opposite ends of the world.

A child stood in the sunset, saying:

"Go ahead and act. Don't you want to make the world a better place?"

An old man stood in the darkness, saying:

"How can the world ever be better?

"Vileness is the passport of the vile, and nobility is the epitaph of the noble."

"But you have to decide, which one do you really want?"

"If only... I had supported him more in the past."

"He was the best friend I've ever had in my 23 years..."

"But now, we've built a high wall between our hearts..."

"Our ways of seeing the world have ultimately diverged at this age when we enter society."

"I, who draw my sword to right injustice, and you, who thirst for knowledge and dare to make deals with the devil..."

"...We could have complemented each other perfectly."

"Otto... are you still dreaming of building a machine that can make people fly?"

[Otto has revisited that time countless times, but time cannot be reversed.]

[Otto... he actually regrets it too. As he said, Kevin envies him, and he envies Kevin...]

[Otto has lost his mind...]

[Because he just wants to protect you. He doesn't want to be a great inventor, but to protect the girl who calls him a great inventor.]

[Well... it's a pity. If two people could understand each other without any obstacles, and see everything clearly, then there wouldn't be so many tragedies.]

[...Tsk, both of them are stupid.]

Kallen's voice continued to lament, completely alone now, facing the entire world.

Even though she thought she was strong and could handle anything, she couldn't help but feel a bit down.

"Why do you have to invest so much energy in those dirty deals?"

"Though I understand that only by diving into politics can a person truly prevent political disasters,"

"But Otto, what you're doing, what's the difference between you and Victor, and your father?"

"During the day, I saw that look in your eyes. Confused, helpless, lacking confidence..."

"...You're like me now, you don't even know what you're doing, right?"

The fugitive Valkyrie shook her head.

If she had the chance, she would lock herself and Otto in a small dark room and have a good fight, really figure out each other's thoughts.

She needed to really understand what was going on in his head and see if they could find some common ground.

Kallen wanted Otto to understand that she, the strongest Valkyrie in Schicksal, didn't need someone to protect her. She needed him to explain things to her, to help her understand what was going on inside her soul.

She longed to tell him; "I don't need you to protect me. I'm strong enough to take care of myself. What I don't understand is how to protect everyone else, how to guard them, how to make my dreams come true."

But Otto's actions always seemed to go against everything she hoped for.

She wished she could tell him, with complete conviction; "If we can't save the old world, then let's break it apart and build a new one!"

"But... at this age, we can't do that, can we?"

"Perhaps, time, is our greatest enemy..."

The fugitive Valkyrie finally realized something at this moment,

She was just as impatient as Otto, just as eager to prove the correctness of her beliefs through her actions.

She craved sealing that box more than anyone,

She craved proving Schicksal wrong more than anyone,

She craved someone to truly support her from the heart more than anyone.

But that person... could no longer be her best friend.

Besides, she had a more important task at hand.

She had to evade Schicksal's pursuit while dealing with the box that had brought so many problems,

On this journey leading to an unknown destination...

Dwelling on irreparable troubles was pointless.

As for what happens after that...

If she can still be her old self after sealing this cursed box...

"If I'm still kicking around by then... I'll go back and give him a good scolding."

The road ahead was long, and the sky was just beginning to lighten.

At this moment, she couldn't realize... what kind of cruel joke fate had in store for her.

[Huh? Why did she still die?]

[Things don't always go as planned...]

[If there had been enough time, Otto becoming the Archbishop might have saved everything...]

[The reality is, Otto didn't gain the power to protect her until long after Kallen's death.]

[Ugh! So annoying. Both of them are blind by their thoughts, ignoring their feelings]

-----

"Kallen went to find Old timer?"

The Herrscher of Sentience tilted her head, a hint of curiosity in her voice.

But she couldn't recall that happening. She was sure Kallen hadn't found her.

"Back then, the Immortal I was searching for wasn't on Mount Taixu. The mountain was completely destroyed, just ashes from a huge fire were left," Kallen explained, shaking her head.

She talked about things that didn't directly involve her, but her mind was also wandering back to her thoughts from that time.

Perhaps... if she had another chance, she could ensure there was no entanglement between them.

But time wasn't that merciful. It was fair, always moving forward, never stopping for anyone.

Kallen just shook her head and let out a quiet sigh.

"It was after that, grandma, that you were taken back, right?" Theresa asked, looking up at Kallen with curiosity. Then, she instinctively snuggled closer to her.

"Yes, at that time, I had a death wish. I wanted to use my life to make a final stand, to end my own life."

(TL/C: yeah, but before that. You were having Fun with Yae, while Otto was still struggling!)

Kallen said quietly, not stopping these questions.

"Sigh, if you guys had just communicated properly back then..."

Theresa's little face was filled with worry. Although she had always disliked Otto, that was just in the game, wasn't it? She thought,

She had looked through history over and over, but there was no information about him at all.

But now, she realized that her grandmother had a really strong connection with Otto. How to say it? She was scared to be friends with him, but with her grandma around, he didn't seem so scary anymore.

In a way, he truly loved her grandmother, willing to do anything for her.

She believed in his feelings,

But it seemed like her grandma didn't feel the same way about him. She cared, but there wasn't any romantic stuff going on.

Of course, Theresa wouldn't even think about asking her grandma about her feelings.

"Yeah, if we could just communicate properly..."

Kallen nodded with a touch of melancholy, her brow furrowed with a hint of sadness.

Communication, it should be the simplest skill humans possess, but in many cases, even though we do so much, we lack that crucial step.

Because of this, they never really understood each other.

(TL/C: Why? One word" Stoooopid~)

She thought that way on her journey of escape, but the situation was unpredictable. When she returned, it was all too late, the village in the Far East was also eerily silent.

"Perhaps from the very first step, it was one wrong step after another... I should have told him what was going on earlier. What I needed then was someone who would change the world with me,"

"I always thought Otto was that person, but he wasn't… If I had been clear about what was happening, he would have been willing to fight alongside me..." Kallen said with a touch of regret.

But these were just memories of the past waking up, memories of past sadness brought back to be felt.

She was still the same Schicksal Overseer, there were no ifs, ands, or buts.

…

The Flame-Chasers also saw that familiar object, and they suddenly felt like they were partly responsible.

"That black box... it must be it."

"Yeah, I think so too. Looking back at that part of the comic, it's pretty obvious."

"It's a legacy issue, I guess. Though I don't know how it ended up as a katana, it's definitely the Herrscher of Corruption."

Mobius nodded, a bit sheepishly. Who knew that sword would cause so much trouble later?

Oh, right, it was a black box.

But, if things hadn't gone a bit wrong, maybe RIN wouldn't have survived either, so they didn't say anything.

That thing... well, everything has its pros and cons. A Herrscher that's been controlled,

Who knows why humans would intentionally release it? That said, the place where they stored it should be secure.

Elysia let out a deep sigh, her eyes filled with sadness. "It could have been such a beautiful love story," she murmured, "but it was cut short. What a waste..."

She looked at the photos and memories of Otto and Kallen, their past together. It was clear to Elysia that they were on the verge of something truly special.

They were both incredible people, capable of doing amazing things.

Together, they could have changed the world for the better.

But fate had other plans.

Otto was so focused on Kallen that he missed a lot of important things.

He was blinded by his love, and maybe, just maybe, that was what ultimately led to their downfall.

Or perhaps, they were just too young and inexperienced to handle the challenges they faced.

The world threw them a curveball, and they weren't ready for it.

It's a shame, because they could have had such a happy life together.

"Love? Let's not even get into whether Kallen actually loved Otto. Just looking at Otto, it's clear his feelings for her were way more intense than just love," Mobius said, her voice sharp with suspicion.

"Wait, why are you so obsessed with love? It's just a word, right?"

Mobius looked at Elysia with suspicion, her voice laced with doubt.

"Hmm?" Elysia didn't blush, instead striking a pose for her to admire. After all, she was so cute!

"Something's wrong... You wouldn't have been tricked by someone, would you?"

"Oh come on, who doesn't long for a beautiful love story? It's like a dazzling diamond in the rough, shining brighter than anything else. Even I, with all my power, crave that kind of brilliance," Elysia said, striking a pose with a playful smile.

"What's wrong with wanting something beautiful?"

"Don't you want to have a sweet romance with me, Mobius?"

"Well...?" Mobius only heard the first part of the sentence, and was about to nod, then she heard the second part.

She couldn't help but twitch the corner of her mouth.

"Romance my foot! Go find someone else, don't bother me!"

"Heh... are you blushing?"

"You're imagining things."

-----

"Hey, you're back?" Raven asked, settling back into the plush sofa in the dimly lit lounge.

She held a colorful cocktail in her hand, its bright hues a stark contrast to the dark wood paneling and warm glow of the wall lamps.

The room felt cozy, like a high-end pub. Red velvet sofas lined the walls, inviting you to sink in and relax.

"Want a drink? Eden's got a whole collection of fancy stuff," Raven offered, gesturing towards the rows of expensive wine bottles gleaming in the soft light.

"I told you I don't drink."

A cold voice replied. It sounded familiar to the players, but also a little strange.

It had been a long time since they parted ways, even though they knew they would meet again someday, to relive the good times.

But different environments had shaped their growth paths. Even though their will remained unchanged, and their desires were still the same, their personalities and actions would inevitably undergo subtle changes.

"Oh, that's a shame," Raven said, taking a sip of her wine.

"It's one of the few things that are light and fun in this whole place… Elysian Realms * hiccup" She seemed used to the somber tone of the room, enjoying her drink as if it was a little escape.

Although the word "Elysian Realms" made people curious.

"It would be enjoyable for me if you didn't get in my way next time we meet."

Mei didn't appreciate it, her voice cold.

She seemed to speak less gently than before, without that hesitant feeling, quite... 'straightforward'.

"That won't do, work is work," Raven replied, taking another sip of her drink.

"Seems like you're enjoying losing," Mei countered, her eyes narrowing.

"Oh? So confident? Don't forget this is a consciousness space... If you're going to say that, I won't hold back next time," Raven warned, a hint of a smirk playing on her lips.

"Really? Then I suggest you review World Serpent's worker's compensation process, especially for mental health," Mei retorted, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Their eyes met. They bantered back and forth for a while, neither giving an inch.

"Alright, I'm not going to tease you anymore," Raven said, raising her hands in mock surrender. "You've been in Elysian Realms for too long, your mouth has gotten quite sharp. Where did that harmless little Mei go?"

"...You're just hanging around here, don't you have anything to do?"

"What could I do? World Serpent's been pretty idle lately, no action," Raven shrugged. "The last mission was a few days ago, handled by Grey Serpent himself. He said he accompanied the Lord to return the Void Archive to Otto."

"Void Archive?"

Mei's heart skipped a beat.

By now, she knew what the Void Archive was.

"Kevin... returned the Void Archive to Otto? Why? Wasn't the original agreement..."

Raven shrugged, a gesture that said, "It's not my place to know." How could she, a mere messenger, possibly understand the decisions of those above her?

Mei frowned, and Raven caught that subtle change in emotion.

"What's wrong? Are you still worried about your old friends on the Hyperion?"

"...More than that, I'm more concerned about Otto's actions themselves," Mei replied, her brow furrowed.

"Actions?" Raven asked, tilting her head in confusion.

"That man, like your Lord, always acts with meticulous planning, never does anything unnecessary," Mei explained. "Their sudden, unnecessary trade makes me feel uneasy."

"Then...why don't you ask the Lord yourself?" Raven suggested, her tone teasing.

"Aren't you coming with me?"

"Me? Spare me," Raven said, waving her hand dismissively.

"It's a rare chance to relax, let me enjoy it a bit. Just tell Grey Serpent that I was beaten by you and disappeared in Elysian Realms, whereabouts unknown." She chuckled lightly, her tone nonchalant, as if they were just discussing the weather.

Mei got up and walked towards the exit, then suddenly turned back, as if remembering something.

"...Thank you for telling me this, Raven."

Raven swirled the wine in her glass.

"Don't be like that, Miss Mei. Makes it sound like I was waiting here for you just to pass on a message. Just chatting, that's all... Don't forget, I'm still missing."

[World-famous painting - Kiana in Anti-Entropy]

[Kiana: Old friend? You're the old one! Mei and I are close!]

[What? Mei is so assertive now? Wuwuwu, she's finally not the cooking maid anymore.]

[Raven must be a World Serpent traitor.]

[I think that's just the normal mindset of a worker. One word - resignation.]

Mei said nothing more. She turned and walked back down the long, dark corridor, the silence amplifying her thoughts.

Finally, she stood before Kevin again.

Under the cold moonlight, the man on the steps was like a cold statue. He sat on his throne and said softly,

"Have you found the truth you seek? Raiden Mei."

"..."

"The further I dig into the past, the deeper the roots of truth are hidden. Sometimes... they even lead me to places that aren't so glorious."

"But perhaps those are the things I want you to see."

Mei considered her words for a moment. She didn't want to discuss this right now.

She didn't need the truth, she didn't need the past, she needed the present reality. She needed to understand what was happening right now.

"World Serpent returned the Void Archive to Otto."

"That's right," Kevin confirmed, his tone steady. He wasn't hiding anything.

"Do you know what Otto is going to do with it?"

"I do."

"... " Mei fell silent for a moment.

She didn't understand... If Kevin knew, why did he choose to do nothing?

Or was the information she had wrong?

She needed to think.

"What he's truly going to do will have no impact on World Serpent. It's the same for your former companions. In fact, it might even be slightly beneficial."

Kevin seemed to see into Mei's mind, adding that sentence.

"...You know, it's my habit to confirm things myself."

"That man's plan has already begun,"

Kevin interrupted Mei, his words firm and decisive.

"It's too late for you to go now."

"No, Kevin."

Mei spoke with a sense of determination.

"Even if time is tight, I will confirm the situation in my own way."

"In my own way... to help my companions."

[Oh, snap? Mei's going to make her move? Kiana finally won't be alone! Yay!]

[Kiana-Mei party wins big!]

[Mei has changed a lot, she's not fazed by Kevin, she's not holding back... Is she going to switch from defense to offense?]

[It seems like Mei is doing well in World Serpent, she even has someone to give her a heads-up when something happens to her little friend.]

[Mei: Don't even mention it, it's a whole big confusing mess. Everyone's a riddle-speaker, and they're all acting like they're possessed.]

-----

"Oh, isn't this Elysian Realms? Now that you mention it, I suddenly feel a bit nostalgic. After all, I designed it with Eden."

Elysia's eyes lit up as she looked at the things on the screen, suddenly feeling a bit nostalgic.

"It's a pity... that even now, my story hasn't been released..."

Elysia sighed, her eyes dimming.

She seemed truly heartbroken.

"Ahem... You can be sad all you want, but don't look at me."

Luo Mo coughed twice, a bit embarrassed.

"Sigh, I never get to see pictures of me and Mei, or stories of us fighting together... I might actually cry."

Elysia said with a sigh, as if she had lost the whole world.

"Really?"

Luo Mo's eyes lit up. Suddenly, he felt motivated.

"???"

"What's that expression? Are you still my best friend?"

Elysia said in astonishment. He was actually excited? What the heck!

…

____

Within World Serpent,

"Raven, always doing unnecessary things… It seems bringing her here wasn't a bad choice after all…"

Grey Serpent's inorganic voice echoed, his pupils reflecting a dark light.

He was a bit annoyed. Raven always did things that were unclear in meaning.

Now she was openly causing trouble for him. As expected, giving her to Schicksal as a hostage would be putting her to good use…

As for the villa, heh, he suddenly thought the other side's proposal wasn't bad either. After all, he'd paid the other side, it was Raven's problem if she didn't get it.

As for the Stigmata… Grey Serpent looked at the glowing card in Kevin's hand and remained silent.

"Don't worry about them, we'll continue doing our own thing."

"As for Raven… let her stay there."

Kevin picked up the card, closing his eyes as he spoke.

"Lord… Otto's existence is truly unrecorded in the world. Except for a novel mentioned in Schicksal's secret archives, everything else is an extension from the game. It didn't actually happen in history."

Grey Serpent said respectfully.

"...Hmm."

__________

Fu Hua didn't respond to Herrscher of Sentience offer of a communication channel.

But having a line of communication could be useful in case she needed to find the Little Senti. It was definitely necessary.

As for the other things the Herrscher of Sentience said, Fu Hua just ignored them.

Everyone else around them was enjoying the show. You see, Fu Hua is usually pretty quiet, and the Senti is always so energetic, so whenever they're together, funny things always happen.

Watching them argue was pretty entertaining, and Fu Hua's face showed more expressions than usual.

It was a good situation for everyone, wouldn't you say?

-----

It was a reunion with a long-lost friend after five hundred years - this was already the second time in such a short period, a fact that left one speechless.

The moment Fu Hua laid eyes on her, enlightenment struck.

All the things she had struggled to understand suddenly became clear, and her doubts were answered.

"The you that Kiana and the others met wasn't a figment of the Herrscher of Sentience's imagination," she declared.

"You've always been...here."

Lin Zhaoyu, her face filled with sorrow, gazed at her master, the giant sword looming above them, its golden light piercing the Gray sky.

She didn't want to see this, but couldn't stop it either.

"But all of this is meaningless now, Master," she said, her voice filled with despair.

"The events of five hundred years ago are long over. And now, not only me..."

"But even you...will be consumed by the dust of time?"

A sigh escaped her lips. Even she, it seemed, hadn't expected this outcome.

The Red Immortal, the creator of the Taixu Sword God, was about to be slain by the very being she had brought into existence. A poignant moment for everyone.

Knowing both sides so intimately, she felt utterly helpless.

"The power of the Taixu Sword god you created...is unstoppable," she lamented, her voice filled with despair.

"You, more than anyone, understand this, Master. Battling with a similar divine essence might offer a sliver of hope, but you...don't have the time to reforged your sword heart."

A mix of sadness and guilt lingered in Lin Zhaoyu's eyes. She gazed at her Master, the woman she once thought invincible, and felt a pang of grief.

"Not necessarily."

Fu Hua shook her head. She understood the Taixu Sword Qi better than anyone.

"The Five Essences of Taixu, it's the connection to the mind that truly matters. And at its core, divine essence is still just a manipulation of Honkai energy..."

"I still have the means to block it, redirect it, even dissipate it."

And in her mind, the faint glimmer of dark gold beneath the divine sword reappeared, flashing briefly.

"The Xuanyuan Sword, 'Grip of Taixu'...Master, are you going to take that blow with your own body?"

"With my sword heart shattered, how much of the Taixu Sword God I can block is still unknown. But theoretically...it's possible."

"But Master, it's your own Sword God - formless, boundless, originating from within. Tangible energy can be countered...but what about the 'formless' part? You don't have the Feather of Fenghuang Down anymore."

"Only by blocking this blow can I find a chance, a chance to do more to stop Otto. For this, I must..."

Fu Hua paused, then said it aloud.

"...say goodbye to you."

"...Master."

Lin Zhaoyu bowed her head, letting out a barely audible sigh. Her eyes, like a still lake, reflected a wave of emotion.

"You've decided...to leave the past behind?"

Lin Zhaoyu knew it in her heart.

Taking the sword energy with her body, bearing the Taixu Sword God with her memories...

This was something Fu Hua had done countless times before.

All her past, all that she had experienced, was being sacrificed in this moment.

As she had said, to protect "the now," the person before her had sacrificed her past countless times.

Compared to the Schicksal Overseer who sought to destroy the present and reclaim the past, they seemed to stand at opposite ends of a scale.

So, would she use the past as fuel again?

To abandon the present for the past, to burn the past for the present...which was right, which was wrong?

But it seemed there was no other way.

-----

"Hey, hey, hey, you're not even calling me? You'd rather burn the past than call for backup?"

"Or, you could just fake fight with that guy, you know?"

"I mean, I don't think he'd mind. You're such a stubborn old timer!"

The Herrscher of Sentience watched Fu Hua with a furrowed brow, muttering her complaints.

Couldn't she at least run away if she couldn't beat it?

Going head-to-head, really? Couldn't she see what a state she was in?! Seriously!

"Yeah, yeah, this time I'm on Team Senti, so Class Monitor...you should just leave it to me. You've already solved a huge problem, anyway!"

Kiana slapped her chest, beaming with excitement.

One person doing one thing, teamwork isn't a bad thing. Besides, during the dubbing, the Class Monitor didn't even show up, but didn't the problem get solved anyway?

"Who started calling me 'Little Senti'?! Call me—the Great Herrscher of Sentience!"

The Herrscher of Sentience narrowed her eyes, displeased.

[Yeah, yeah, the Great Herrscher of Sentience...Ugh, how embarrassing.] Veliona voice chimed in beside Seele, clearly not impressed.

"But it was a matter of great importance. Every ounce of strength would be a source of hope..."

"Though in the end, my plan failed, and the other side won...sigh."

Fu Hua said helplessly. She couldn't remain indifferent to such a catastrophic event. Knowing what she did, regardless of the reason, she felt obligated to do everything in her power to stop it.

"Fu Hua, are you going to burn your past memories again like the Second Eruption?"

Elysia couldn't help but ask. Of course, she didn't want Fu Hua to erase her past. It was fun meeting new versions of Hua, but she didn't want Fu Hua to hurt herself like that.

She still remembered the scene when they left the Elysian Realm. Fu Hua had actually let her hug her tightly.

While her mood was good, she was truly worried about her friend and her memories.

"I can burn them, but the me inside has no such intention," Fu Hua said calmly, pointing at the screen before turning to face them.

"And I won't have that thought in the future either."

"Whew, that's good."

Elysia breathed a sigh of relief, her smile broadening.

".....Sigh, Hua, no, Fu Hua. Actually, if your memories ever get full, or if you need a boost in combat strength, you can try burning the ones about me. I wouldn't mind..."

Mobius sighed, resting her slender hands on her chin, exuding a strangely fragile aura.

Fu Hua's face darkened, her body stiffening. Taking a deep breath, she said to Mobius helplessly,

"....Doctor, memories come in many forms. Those about you are undoubtedly very profound."

Of course, she understood what Mobius meant. In fact, Mobius had made her intentions quite clear, never trying to hide them.

She just wants to drag more people onto the experimental table, that's all.

"Even if I deleted the part about you, my body's memory would bring it back quickly."

Fu Hua couldn't help but rub her forehead, feeling like Mobius was always trying to trick her. Couldn't she find another sheep to fleece?

"Sigh..." Mobius sighed, realizing that she wouldn't get any help from that angle, then turned her head to show off to Elysia.

"See, Elysia, Fu Hua clearly has a better relationship with me. You? You should just go to sleep, you've been forgotten."

Elysia couldn't help but twitch her lips, feeling like Mobius was being unfair.

A better relationship, huh?

That was just her body's warning telling her about the danger! Elysia seethed with indignation. But in truth, Fu Hua had indeed made a strong impression of Mobius back then.

-----

Facing Lin Zhaoyu's question, Fu Hua shook her head, rejecting it.

"No."

Lin Zhaoyu couldn't help but look at her, her eyes filled with anticipation, hoping for a different choice, even though it was one she couldn't guess.

"That was something I used to do."

"By discarding memories, they became my strength, like pure fuel."

"Only now do I understand what it means to remember every moment of the past."

"Those memories are gone, but after burning, they still leave an indelible mark on me."

"As 'Hua', as 'Red Immortal Phoenix', as 'Fu Hua'..."

"They are like nodes in my life, connected to each other, forming the path I came from."

"That's not destiny, it's the path I chose for myself."

"The fleeting moments of life are nothing but failure followed by success."

Fu Hua spoke solemnly, revealing her inner will.

She refused to compromise with reality anymore. Those vivid memories were once her past selves, living and breathing.

She wouldn't use them as fuel anymore.

"You're relying on your 'past' and 'experience' to win today, aren't you?" Lin Zhaoyu confirmed.

"Those are all I have. Perhaps... you could add luck to that."

"..." Lin Zhaoyu fell silent.

Imagine, who could hear the words "relying on luck" from the mouth of Red immortal?

Are you Phoenix? Have you ever thought you were a chicken?

She had no reason to object, nor the ability to stop her...

It was just something that the former Red immortal would never say, or rather, it was impossible.

"Zhaoyu. I've made my decision... I'm going to 'tomorrow', taking all my 'past' with me."

"As long as I can do that, the past... will extend from this moment, just like tomorrow."

She wouldn't let go of any precious memories anymore, they were all part of what made her Fu Hua.

"Without the past..."

Fu Hua mused,

"...how can there be a future?"

Lin Zhaoyu let out a sad smile, bidding her farewell, sighing,

"Alright, Master,"

"If fate allows... we'll meet again."

Her thoughts began to swirl, time flowed once more.

"It's time, come, This Sword, I'll take it!"

The sword, formed by divine power, was unavoidable, about to pierce Fu Hua's forehead—just like back then.

Only now, the people on either end of the hilt and blade had long since changed.

"All that has passed, is now..." Fu Hua had said this countless times, as time flowed by.

But today, everything was different.

All that has passed,

"I will... remember it all."

"Not a single piece missing!"

The memory fragments of her seven disciples materialized, each piece peeling away, dispersing, representing Fu Hua finally breaking free from the shackles of the past.

"At the end of countless detours, Master, you finally found the real 'you'."

As memories flooded back, the Honkai energy within Fu Hua surged, and the Sword God... was finally blocked.

The dark light that had been adrift in the sword's shadow stabilized.

[Fu Hua is second to none when it comes to surviving against all odds]

[Ugh, the situation is dire, even Fu Hua is gambling... and she actually won?]

[Otto has so many hidden cards, he just casually stopped Fu Hua with one hand]

[As expected, Fu Hua's luck is all used for surviving, no lie!]

[I wonder who can last longer. Fu Hua, or Welt?]

-----

"Blocked the Taixu Sword God? Well, well, Old timer, you still have some tricks up your sleeve, huh?"

The Herrscher of Sentience patted Fu Hua on the shoulder, speaking in a very appreciative tone.

Fu Hua stared at the hand resting on her shoulder, silently looking at the other, her meaning clear.

But the Herrscher of Sentience didn't take it seriously, remaining nonchalant, chuckling.

"How did you do it? Tell me."

She said it without hesitation, in her eyes, anything belonging to the Old timer was hers, and hers was still hers, nothing to be concerned about. Right?

Fu Hua simply shook her head.

"Huh?" The Herrscher of Sentience looked doubtful.

"Without experiencing it first-hand, who can truly understand? Even knowing the principle doesn't guarantee you can actually do it..."

Fu Hua said helplessly.

Her in-game self was desperate, with no other options, but she now had more than one way to deal with this.

Besides, the second Eruption was indeed blocked by that move, and without any injuries. No matter who the opponent was, it at least proved that it was possible. The Taixu Sword God wasn't invincible, nor was it a guaranteed death sentence.

"Ugh, no matter how many times I see it, it's still so cool, chanting a spell, two fingers together, then whoosh, a giant golden sword bursts out from the sky, so cool!"

Kiana's face flushed with excitement, she waved her hands and feet, introducing it to others.

"Let's talk about it when Kiana can actually use it one day."

Bronya rolled her eyes.

She believed Kiana had the potential, and knew she was already learning. But without Fu Hua's constant guidance and the pressure of powerful enemies, it would probably take a while.

What made her even more annoyed was that she had confirmed she didn't seem to have the aptitude, learning was a real pain, might as well not learn.

"Hey, you're just jealous of me."

"Hmph, Bronya will take Seele out for a spin when she has time."

"Cough, cough, Bronya, lend me your motorcycle for two days, okay?"

"...No!"

"Come on, come on, just two days, Mei wants to go out and play too!"

"Alright, actually Seele gets a bit car sick, Bronya will take Mei-nee..."

"Go, go, go, I won't lend it!"

-----

Fu Hua gasped for breath, her strength depleted after the previous clash. However, her opponent was even more exhausted, bringing them back to a level playing field.

"While I still prefer to avoid a prolonged battle, this is the best outcome I could have achieved," she said.

"Not the Red Immortal, not the Grandmaster of the Taixu Sword School... there's actually another way? Wow!" Li Sushang exclaimed; her voice filled with awe.

"What an incredible feat! You truly are worthy of being the founder of the Taixu Sect."

"This move is truly brilliant, Red Phoenix Grandmaster, you win!" she said with a straightforwardness that belied her exhaustion. Her internal energy was nearly depleted, leaving her powerless to continue fighting.

Fu Hua remained silent. She was in no better shape herself, unable to offer support. In fact, she was even worse off than her opponent. It might be better to engage in another battle and satisfy her opponent's desire to fight.

"Right now, we're both unable to provide any assistance to other battlefields. Therefore... we can finally settle this on equal terms!"

"This is my way, as 'Fu Hua'..."

She extended a hand forward, a gesture that seemed both like a punch and an invitation to battle.

"...the greatest respect I can offer you in this 'duel'."

"Excellent! 'Fu Hua'... I accept!"

Sushang was taken aback for a moment, but seeing her Grandmaster's invitation, she couldn't refuse. With a slight smile, she drew her sword.

Let's fight!

Again!

Even though they were still ready to fight, both Fu Hua and Li Sushang were exhausted. Fu Hua had a bit more Honkai energy left, but not much.

She was about to face her opponent in a real showdown.

"It's a duel, but I'm sorry... I can't give it my all," Fu Hua said sincerely, her apology clear in her voice.

"I understand... You're still trying to catch up to that white-haired girl, right?" Sushang replied, initially surprised but then quickly smiling.

However, she wondered what chasing after the girl would achieve.

Sushang didn't understand why her master was so obsessed.

But in this battle, the winner would be able to leave.

"Alright, I've got just enough strength left for one last strike. So... this is it," Li Sushang said as she took her stance.

In a flash, swords clashed, fists flew, and the two warriors crossed paths. Both of them held their breath, focusing intensely on the fight.

"You shouldn't only have enough strength for one strike..." Fu Hua said with a bitter laugh.

"That's right," Li Sushang replied.

"So, I overestimated myself..." Fu Hua said, collapsing to the ground. It was clear who the winner was now.

During their final clash, a second sword appeared in front of Li Sushang. As more blades materialized out of thin air, the outcome was sealed.

It wasn't just Fu Hua who had used a clever trick to gain an advantage in this battle.

Li Sushang looked at her hard-won victory, leaning on her sword for support, and couldn't help but chuckle wryly. She was completely out of energy.

"Actually... there isn't really a 'victory' here. The only one who wanted to win was me," she said.

"Grandmaster, if you had thought more about yourself... and more about this moment, things might have turned out differently."

Fu Hua had tried to save some of her strength, but in the end, she lost the fight.

That's how battles are.

You can't let your guard down until it's truly over.

Even though Li Sushang only had enough strength left for one final strike and tricked Fu Hua, didn't Fu Hua also force Sushang to use her ultimate move, draining a lot of her energy?

They were both playing the same game, fighting with both their bodies and minds.

... After a long silence, Li Sushang patted her cheeks and said,

"I never thought I would win. What do we do now? The Rakshasa didn't say... Wait, doesn't that mean that guy didn't think I'd win either!"

She looked at her fallen master, the Red Immortal, and sighed, feeling a mix of relief and blessing.

"Sigh..."

"Thinking more about your companions... or thinking more about yourself, which one actually makes you stronger? I still don't understand. One fight isn't enough to figure that out. But... it doesn't matter."

"Because, Red Immortal, you... have truly started anew."

After a long pause, she walked over to Fu Hua, picked her up by the waist, and placed her in a clean spot. Using her sword for support, she stood by the railing and gazed out at the town.

The view from the observation deck was breath-taking.

She Sure felt very satisfied with this fight.

[Good~, gotta say, they both tricked each other, super impressive]

[One tricked a big move without getting hurt, the other snuck in a close-range attack, a true legacy]

[The fight was pretty cool, gotta say, Fu Hua really did a lot for Kiana, and her deception skills are getting better and better]

[The present, the past, the future, it's hard to say... Fu Hua chose to conserve her strength to help Kiana in the past, and ended up getting backstabbed]

-----

The fight was actually quite amazing, with swordplay and fists showcasing their full power. It's just that... players tend to focus on the weird stuff.

From Luo Mo's perspective, Fu Hua's reputation as the "Grandmother of Deception" is hard to shake. Honestly, because of the time period, everything Fu Hua does now makes her the "Grandmother" of it.

Using deception as a selling point, it's safe to say that everyone's love for Little Senti plays a part.

"Sigh, too bad, it was so close. I thought it was going to be the Old timer's comeback, but it turned out to be Li Su Shang's counter-attack and then another comeback. It was a strange fight."

"Can't they just have a good old-fashioned brawl with their real skills?"

The Herrscher of Sentience crossed her arms and snorted.

"The situation was urgent, Class Monitor was just thinking about the bigger picture. This wasn't a pure fight, why bother with all that fancy stuff?"

Seeing Fu Hua's gaze, Kiana naturally reasoned with Little Senti,

"Plus, their nature means that no matter who wins or loses, as long as it's not a fatal move, they'll be fine. No wonder Class Monitor let her guard down later."

"Hmm... that makes some sense."

"It's not a pure fight, it's also about conserving strength, making the most of every second."

The Herrscher of Sentience nodded approvingly and continued chatting casually with Kiana.

…

Fu Hua's residence, a duo of lonely souls who don't want to go to the Golden Courtyard for some reason.

"Looks like those disciples aren't entirely ungrateful after all. They knew to hold back against the Taixu Sword God."

Fuxi broke out in a cold sweat seeing that scene. After all, it looked like Fu Hua had been beaten up by her disciples again.

(TL/N: in case you forgot, Fuxi is one of Fu Hua's Old friends who died and came back with MC and Mobius help)

Thankfully, Fu Hua managed to turn the situation around.

As for those fragmented consciousnesses, the two of them didn't understand what they were. They were probably a fusion of SWARA, Grip of Taixu, Fenghuang Down, and those disciples.

But at least they didn't hurt Fu Hua, and that was enough.

"Heh, who knows what they were thinking. Those things don't represent them. Maybe it was just Fu Hua's memories."

Nuwa said idly. She was quite bothered by those seven things.

"But, as she said, no matter what, Fu Hua has taken her own steps. She'll forge her own path. We can rest assured about many things..."

Fuxi smiled. Seeing a Hua with her own consciousness, no longer solely dedicated to the Doctor's plan, was a good thing.

It was worth all the effort.

-----

On the other side, Kiana had already reached her destination and was communicating with Theresa.

But halfway through the call, the connection was abruptly cut off.

Something had suddenly blocked the signal, and the communicator only emitted a "no answer" tone.

There was an uneasy feeling in her heart.

From the distance, a faint, blurry whisper emerged, like a song carried by the wind, confirming her unease.

A male voice, smooth and elegant, calm and confident, as if everything was under control, rang out.

"Now, the new piece... should be placed (fall)."

"Even in situations beyond human control, there is always room for planning. This is no lie."

"If my old friend had come, things would have been more difficult."

"The one who survived that tragedy... she has more experience after all."

The man's voice sang softly, whispering in her ear, spreading like a gentle breeze.

In this town shrouded in mist and gloom, the hands that had been orchestrating everything according to a carefully laid plan finally stood before the challengers once more.

He spoke lightly, his gaze fixed on the red-armored figure in the distance, the great sword that could cleave through anything,

"Oh my. The second guest arrives just in time."

"Otto...? And that's... the Black Abyss White Flower?"

Kiana couldn't help but wonder on her face, how could the black abyss white flower... fall into Otto's hands?

If she remembered correctly, it should be in the hands of Durandal!

[Oh oh oh, Otto finally appeared!]

[The Tragedy of Restraint? What is that?]

[What happened to Durandal?! She's my idol! Don't tell me she's gone without a trace!]

--------

"He couldn't be referring to..."

The eyes of the Flame-Chasers flickered with uncertainty, instinctively rising from their seats, their gazes icy, their hands trembling slightly.

If there was ever a debate about which event caused the most damage to the previous civilization, no one could say for sure. But if the target was changed to the MANTIS, to the living forces fighting against Honkai, the name Binding undoubtedly surfaced in everyone's mind.

There was also a saying that the thirteen Flame-Chasers were the only thirteen warriors who survived after Binding.

It was actually quite accurate; that was the truth.

And if you knew the number of Fusion Warriors before the Binding, it would be a terrifying realization. Thousands of warriors were reduced to thirteen after that event.

If you counted the number of those who participated in the war, it was a survival rate of one in ten thousand.

"The Herrscher of Binding..." Mobius said, a hint of fear in her eyes.

"Ah, Binding," Vill-V closed her eyes, calming her emotions.

"Next time, we won't be so tragic..." Elysia said seriously.

"Hmph!" Kalpas snorted coldly, saying nothing more.

The Herrscher of Binding was a pain in everyone's heart, one of the most unsolvable problems. No one could have imagined that the later Herrscher forms would be like that, targeting human weaknesses.

All the MANTIS, their power to fight back was almost completely destroyed.