"Since Senti has left, let's continue strolling around."
"Mm, with Senti's abilities, there's no need for us to worry about her. Though... I hope she causes a bit less trouble."
"Emmm, that's probably impossible, right?"
"Uh... that's true."
The corner of Fu Hua's eye twitched. As she recalled the mischievous troublemaker in her mind, a dull ache spread through her temples. Every once in a while, she genuinely had the urge to tie the little Herrscher up with a chain.
Elias chuckled softly, then took Fu Hua's hand and led her toward the distance.
"Alright, alright. It's a rare trip, so let's not think too much. Since we're already here, let's just go with the flow and relax. If any trouble comes up, we can worry about it after the trip ends. What's important is enjoying the moment. Let's go, Hua."
"...Mm, you're right, Elias."
Fu Hua smiled and nodded. She still hadn't even settled her own matters, so there was no point worrying about others.
Looking at the white-haired boy before her, she slowly clenched her other hand into a fist. She couldn't waste the opportunity everyone had created for her. No matter what happened, she had to confess during this journey!
After that, the two continued their travels.
To be honest, Elias found it quite novel. Back in the Previous Era, whenever he traveled the world with Elysia, they would only stay in one place for at most two or three days.
After sampling the local specialties and visiting the most interesting attractions, they would immediately set off for the next destination.
But Fu Hua's travel style was completely different.
If he had to describe it, traveling with Elysia felt like speedrunning a game, while traveling with Fu Hua felt like exploring every corner of the map.
It was as if she wanted to experience every bit of beauty the city had to offer. Although it took more time and lacked a bit of excitement, this leisurely and unhurried pace had its own unique charm.
...
"This is wonderful. As expected, this land is the best. No matter where you go, you never get tired of it. If there's a next life, I'd want to be born here again... though, I probably don't have a next life anymore. After all, I can't really die now."
Elias and Fu Hua climbed a mountain with ease, standing at the peak and gazing out at the misty clouds and endless mountain ranges, a scene almost otherworldly.
"You really love Shenzhou, Elias," Fu Hua said, imprinting the scenery into her eyes as well.
"Mm. Whether it's Shenzhou in the Current Era, the Previous Era, or even in my past life, I love it all. So... thank you for protecting it, Hua."
Elias gently tightened his grip on her hand, his tone filled with both gratitude and faint regret.
If not for the fact that he had to sacrifice his life back then to activate the Authority of Origin in place of Elysia and safeguard the future of the Current Era, he would have wanted to enter the cryo chambers alongside the Flame-Chasers.
Then he could have protected this land in Fu Hua's place for five thousand years.
Even if not instead of her, at least he could have stayed by her side.
Unfortunately, even Elias was not omnipotent. He couldn't do everything perfectly. After all, he was still human—not a god.
"No need to thank me, Elias. I also love this land. Even without that mission, I would still have chosen to protect it."
Fu Hua shook her head. As she looked at the vast land before her, five thousand years of guardianship had long since bound her heart to it.
There had been times of monotony, times of exhaustion, and times of loneliness—but she had never once regretted it, nor thought of giving up.
"Then from now on, we'll protect it together," Elias said seriously.
"Mm!" Fu Hua nodded firmly.
The two stood side by side at the mountain peak, admiring the scenery. Their extraordinary presence, along with their strikingly handsome and beautiful appearances, left nearby travelers momentarily dazed.
Countless people inwardly sighed—this young man and woman looked like a pair of immortals straight out of a Shenzhou cultivation novel.
...Several days later...
"It's about time."
Fu Hua took a deep breath. She was someone who valued the "process," and now, that process had accumulated enough.
These past few days of traveling together had brought her much closer to Elias. They had created many beautiful memories together, so... now it was time to make her move!
Under normal circumstances, Fu Hua might have been satisfied with things as they were, stopping just short of confession. But now, she carried the blessings and expectations of everyone—as well as her own wishes.
So she couldn't be satisfied. She couldn't stop.
Taking another deep breath, the Immortal Phoenix secretly glanced at the white-haired boy beside her. She clenched her hands tightly, deciding to be a little greedy this time.
However...
(Gulp! I'm still so nervous! Will I really not get rejected? Probably not... right? But does Elias even like someone like me? I'm not as considerate as Elysia, nor do I have a figure like hers...)
The flat-chested immortal placed a hand over her completely flat "front armor," and in that instant, her confidence plummeted. The flame of determination that could have set the ocean ablaze turned into a flickering candle in the wind.
Confessing truly required courage. Compared to this, Fu Hua felt that facing a Herrscher, a Vipralopa-class Honkai Beast, or even the Herrscher of Finality would be far easier.
(Hua~ I've been waiting so long the flowers are about to wither.)
Elias couldn't help but laugh wryly as he looked at Fu Hua beside him. Even without using the Herrscher of Sentience's powers to read minds, he could tell exactly what this blockhead was thinking just from her expression.
(You're overthinking it! At a time like this, just go for it! As long as you make the first move, you've already succeeded!)
"Ah... Hua is always like this. You're decisive and calm when it comes to everything else, but when it's about yourself, you hesitate."
"Elias, could it be that you—"
"Shh... just listen to me for now. Let me demonstrate first. Have a little confidence. There are many things that might not be understood even if you say them—but if you don't say them at all, then there truly won't be any chance. After all... not everyone in this world can read minds like Senti."
Elias raised his hand and gently patted Fu Hua's head.
"You know, Hua? Among all of us, you've always been the most ordinary—yet also the most extraordinary person."
"Eh?"
"It's been like this since fifty thousand years ago. You don't have a special Herrscher identity like Elysia and me, nor do you possess talents like MEI, Vill-V, or Mobius.
"Nor do you have Kevin's natural gifts, nor are you an alien like Kalpas, nor do you have Eden's overwhelming wealth.
"You don't have Sakura's background, nor the special abilities of Griseo, Pardofelis, or Aponia.
"You don't even have ideals like Su and Kosma.
"It can be said that, Hua, you're just an ordinary, simple, plain girl—the most ordinary person of all."
"Yes... that's true."
Fu Hua gave a bitter smile and nodded. Thinking about it now, even she felt a bit helpless. She truly had no standout traits at all—everything about her was so utterly "unremarkable."
And someone so unremarkable like herself... surely wasn't a match for the most special and noble boy in front of her...
Just as Fu Hua sank into such dejection—
"As if! Quite the opposite! It's precisely because of this ordinariness that you are so extraordinary, Hua!"
Elias placed both hands firmly on her shoulders. His dazzling blue-and-gold heterochromatic eyes burned with intense passion and admiration.
"Think carefully about what you've achieved, Hua. You're one of the Flame-Chasers who saved the world, and the Immortal Phoenix who has protected Shenzhou for over five thousand years. You've accomplished things no one else in this world has ever done. That's why I know—"
"You're just like your own Artificial Cascade. Normally plain and unassuming, but once reborn through flames, you become a radiant and beautiful phoenix! So... take more pride in yourself, my dear Hua. You've never been inferior to anyone."
What burning, sincere words.
It felt as if they were igniting Fu Hua herself.
Her heart raced faster with every word he spoke.
Fu Hua lowered her head and remained silent for a moment, her body trembling slightly. "...Elias, you're always like this. Always saying things beyond our imagination. Affirming us, encouraging us, caring about us more than we care about ourselves."
"Is that so? Maybe. Because I truly love all of you the most—I've felt that way since my past life. Alright~ I've said everything I wanted to say. Now it's your turn, Hua."
Elias rested his chin on his hand, looking at her expectantly.
Having received his encouragement, Fu Hua was no longer nervous or hesitant. She finally understood that she had been overthinking things. All she needed to do was express her feelings.
There was no need to fear failure. After all, Elias would never let down their feelings, nor disappoint them.
And she also reflected inwardly.
How could Elias be such a shallow person? He would never judge a woman's charm based on something like the size of her "front armor." She had truly overthought it. And perhaps... he might even prefer smaller armor?
Elias (coughing lightly): (Ahem, smaller armor and no armor are two completely different concepts... though I do belong to the "bigger is better" camp, Hua, you're special...)
Fu Hua had already prepared herself mentally. Just as Elias had said, since he had already spoken his heart, now it was her turn.
"Elias... actually, I've always—"
However, just as the Immortal Phoenix was about to finally voice the feelings she had buried in her heart for fifty thousand years—
"Hm? Are you two confessing? How nice, how nice. So enviable... let's ruin it~"
"!!!" x2
Accompanied by a series of mechanical sounds, Elias and Fu Hua's expressions sharpened. In an instant, the pink atmosphere vanished, replaced by full alertness.
All around them, blonde doll-like girls had somehow surrounded them completely.
As a Herrscher that excelled in concealment, if it didn't reveal itself, the Herrscher of Dominance was nearly impossible to detect.
Elias: "Tch! Of all times to show up—you damned Herrscher of Dominance!"
Dominance: "Hehe~ hehe~ you're angry, you're angry."
Dominance: "Couples should all just die!"
Dominance: "Don't rush, don't forget our plan!"
Dominance: "That's right, we just need to touch him!"
Boom—!!
A blazing wave of fire suddenly swept through. The searing heat rivaled even the Herrscher of Fire, and in the blink of an eye, the group of dolls was reduced to nothing but ashes.
Elias stiffly turned his head, only to see Fu Hua, already in her Artificial Cascade state. Her eyes glowed red, brimming with killing intent.
There was no need for further words. Consumed by fury, the immortal spoke only a single sentence.
Fu Hua: "Damn Herrscher... have you prepared to repent? You won't even have ashes left behind."
Dominance: "!!!"