"Principal, bad news!"
Just as Kiana, in so profound way, was making the sa vow as her ancestors, the office door was suddenly thrown open.
A disheveled researcher in a white lab coat stumbled in, panting, and imdiately said, "High-intensity Honkai energy readings detected in Longkong City! It's suspected a Pseudo-Herrscher has been born! According to our projections, it's possible that the Honkai energy from the Third Herrscher's birth wasn't fully absorbed by her, causing the large amount of free destructive energy to spontaneously gather and give rise to a Herrscher. However, due to the incomplete energy, our projections indicate a 90% probability it's a Pseudo-Herrscher!"
"What?! Imdiately deploy the Hyperion! I'll go myself this ti! Where's Hiko?! Why are you the one informing ? Get her, the captain of the Hyperion, to the ship on standby imdiately!"
Although Theresa was montarily stunned, she quickly recovered, issuing orders instantly. After shouldering Judah, which was leaning in the corner, she prepared to depart.
The three young ones nearby, who had overheard the situation, exchanged glances. With tacit understanding, none of them spoke, instead silently following Theresa as she strode quickly out.
Due to the haste and her mind being preoccupied with thoughts of the Pseudo-Herrscher, Theresa didn't notice the three trailing behind her.
They weren't stopped even when they boarded the Hyperion, as most of the staff there recognized them and knew Kiana was Theresa's niece. They assud Theresa had permitted them to co along.
It wasn't until they reached the captain's room that Hiko, reeking of alcohol, saw the three behind Theresa. Her expression froze for a mont, then, looking at Theresa who was marching up, seemingly ready to reprimand her, she asked, "Theresa, what are you doing bringing these three along?"
Theresa, who had been about to scold Hiko for being drunk again, found her words stuck in her throat. She turned around, dumbfounded, and saw the three youngsters.
Raiden i smiled awkwardly, her expression tinged with embarrassnt. Bronya beside her maintained her usual deadpan expression, as if completely unaware of what was happening. Kiana, anwhile, looked guiltily at a nearby table. My, what a table that table is.
"Kiana! What are you three doing following ? This is a high-risk mission! Get off the ship imdiately!"
"Great Aunt! None of us are weak. We can help out if we go this ti! Besides, our main reason for going is to find sothing related to Xin Yu. We hope to build a cenotaph for him."
Actually, the pendant Bronya wore around her neck could have served as a substitute, but Bronya adamantly refused, unwilling under any circumstances.
"Please, Great Aunt! You know that for the past month, we've all been filled with regret and guilt because of what happened to Xin Yu. We want to make ands. You wouldn't want your niece to live with guilt and remorse forever, would you!"
"Sorry, Principal. I have reasons why I must do this."
"The Bronya wishes to repay him sohow."
"...Sigh!"
Theresa sighed helplessly and finally had to agree to let the three stay. However, it was agreed that they absolutely could not participate in the mission. After Theresa dealt with the Pseudo-Herrscher, she would take them to the youth's ruined ho to see if they could find any ntos.
Theresa knew this matter had to be resolved. If no form of compensation was made, it would definitely beco a thorn, lingering in the hearts of these three for a long ti. Once this thorn was removed, ti would heal all wounds.
Upon receiving its orders, the Hyperion quickly took off. This deploynt, naturally, did not escape a certain soone's notice.
"Pseudo-Herrscher..."
Otto read the report handed to him by his subordinate. After a mont of careful analysis, confirming there were no signs of artificial manipulation in the Pseudo-Herrscher's birth, he set the report aside.
It was just a Pseudo-Herrscher that hadn't fully matured. Little Theresa, ard with the Oath of Judah, should have no problem dealing with an opponent of this level.
What a pity, though, that the youth died so early. But perhaps it's precisely because he died that he left such a profound impression on K-423's heart.
...There really is so resemblance.
Otto looked at his computer screen, which displayed an image of Kallen he had drawn himself.
"Kallen..."
...
Xin Yu expressionlessly sliced apart an Assault-class Honkai Beast that had suddenly darted out from a corner. Then, he looked towards the end of the street, where a figure was slowly walking towards him.
"...Human?"
Xin Yu looked at the approaching person. She wore a miko outfit and had long, donkey-like ears on her head. Her body contained a considerable amount of Honkai energy. Although sowhat inhuman, her ntal state hadn't yet deteriorated to that of a Deadmask.
However, her ntal state seed very poor, as if she had experienced too much, exceptionally weary.
The approaching miko, Yae Sakura, was tense all over. Behind her, a wraith-like fox, visible only to herself, was constantly howling.
"Yae Sakura, are you insane?! Stay away from that man! That thing is definitely not human, not even a monster the Honkai could create! Get away quickly! That's a monster wearing human skin!!!"
The entity known as Higokumaru was on the verge of madness.
It had never seen a human so terrifying. No! That wasn't human at all! It was a monster wearing human skin, its insides an empty void of nothingness!
It was a terrifying void that even itself, a Herrscher of Corrosion, would be assimilated by if it dared to invade.
Yae Sakura gripped her long blade tightly. After taking a deep breath, she continued to walk forward with determined steps.
She and Higokumaru had been entangled for over 500 years. During these five centuries, they had constantly fought and struggled in the ntal world. Yae Sakura's spirit was on the verge of collapse.
She was too tired. After fighting for a full 500 years, her spirit had long since reached its limit. If not for the sheer willpower in her heart, Higokumaru would have completely replaced her long ago.
And now, as a monster that even the creature behind her feared appeared before her, Yae Sakura's first thought wasn't to flee or fight, but to hope she could be killed by this being.
She craved release.
She had done enough. Her 500 years of perseverance had wronged no one. Now, she just wanted to die peacefully, to see Kallen, who she wondered if was still waiting for her on the other shore.
"Damn it! If you're really killed by this monster, it won't even leave your soul behind! You'll never see Kallen! You won't even find peace in death!"
"That doesn't matter. A sinner like perhaps was never ant to see Kallen. Being able to die with you is enough."
"You lunatic! No! I want to live! I haven't taken revenge on humanity yet! I haven't destroyed this hateful world! You wretched woman, stop! Stop!"
Standing not far away, Xin Yu watched the approaching miko, her expression shifting between ferocity, calmness, relief, and pain. His face was filled with bewildernt.
"This... Could it be that this girl's Honkai erosion is too deep, and she can no longer control herself?"
Thinking this, Xin Yu snapped his fingers. The domain of Void that always existed close around him instantly expanded. Higokumaru, who was still trying to seize control of Yae Sakura's body and flee, could only let out a final scream before being completely suppressed back into Yae Sakura's body, unable to do anything.
Yae Sakura's expression imdiately relaxed sowhat. Seizing the opportunity, she quickly approached Xin Yu, knelt on the ground, and placed her long blade horizontally across her knees. To Xin Yu's utterly confused expression, she said:
"I beseech you, sir, grant death."
"...Huh?"
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