Ice Prison Hells slipped from her limp hands, falling onto the cold ground with a crisp clang.
Yae Sakura's legs gave out, and she knelt weakly on the ground, her pupils unfocused as she stared blankly at the spot where Pardo had disappeared.
In her mind, she uncontrollably recalled a moment not long ago, after that somber meeting... the cat-eared girl had secretly sought her out, rubbing her hands, her face bearing her usual smile, though more nervous than usual:
"Sakura, Sakura! That... I, I have an idea... I'll be the bait!"
She remembered frowning immediately, rejecting without a second thought: "It's too dangerous! No!"
But Pardo, uncharacteristically, insisted. Her voice trembled, yet it carried a sense of determination: "I, I know it's dangerous! But I've always been lucky! Really! Let's just decide! Otherwise... otherwise, I'll really regret it!"
By the last few sentences, the tremor in her voice was undeniable, tinged with a sob.
Proposing this plan had taken immense courage for her.
And she had entrusted all her hope and trust to herself... only to be, by her own hands... Just then, Madam Herta's nightmarish voice echoed again from very close behind her, carrying a faint, almost imperceptible sigh, yet chillingly devoid of warmth:
"What a pity."
Immediately, a hand clad in a black glove gently pressed onto Yae Sakura's trembling shoulder.
Data Transfer!
Madam Herta bent down, nearing Yae Sakura's ear, and slowly spoke in a devilish whisper audible only to the two of them:
"Killing her with your own hands... how does it feel?"
"Isn't it... very much like that time? Just like your... sister."
—"Sister"!
These two words were like a key, instantly unlocking a floodgate of sealed memories!
Countless fragmented images, filled with pain and gore, forcibly surged into Yae Sakura's mind!
...That sickly sister, who always smiled gently at her... was suspected of being a Herrscher vessel, imprisoned by fearful people, subjected to cruel treatment... She rushed to break her out, only to see... Kevin blocking her... her sister was already... that cold, scarred... corpse... She was clearly... just an ordinary girl who wanted to live! Why?!
...And... the spreading shadow of... the corruption... These memory fragments belonging to the Previous Era, to her true self, yet not recorded in the Elysian Realm's data, burst forth like a breaking dam, instantly shattering Yae Sakura's already precarious will.
A cold tear, without warning, slipped from her hollow eyes, dripping onto the icy ground, spreading a small, dark stain.
Madam Herta silently watched her collapse, her voice returning to its usual flat tone:
"Say'see you tomorrow' to this world."
Purple-red data streams, like living tentacles, spread from Madam Herta's hand on Yae Sakura's shoulder, rapidly covering Yae Sakura's body.
Yae Sakura offered no resistance, merely gazing blankly at the void where Pardo had vanished, as if her soul had already departed with her.
Finally, the purple-red data stream completely obscured her vision, swallowing her last silhouette.
The corridor of the Elysian Realm returned to dead silence.
Yae Sakura, Pardofelis, eliminated!
Madam Herta stood still, her wide hat brim obscuring her expression.
She seemed to be savoring the precise and cruel performance she had just orchestrated.
"System,"
she spoke softly, her tone calm and unruffled, "How was it?"
She was asking about her performance as the "villain" just now.
Subtle data streams appeared in the air, coalescing into the System's respectful voice: "Reporting, Madam. Behavioral patterns and emotional rendering meet the 'High-Threat Herrscher of Corruption' setting standards, successfully guiding the target's emotional collapse. Tactical assessment: effective."
The System paused, seemingly retrieving more precise vocabulary, then added, its tone still steady, but the content carrying a subtle judgment: "However, the methods... were a bit excessive."
"..." Madam Herta fell silent.
Beneath the hat brim, her dull purplish-black eyes shifted.
She hadn't expected the System to give such a critique.
Excessive?
For a moment, she was speechless.
This subtle pause lasted only a short time.
Madam Herta gently inhaled, as if expelling that unnecessary emotional fluctuation from her body.
She turned her head, her gaze falling upon a seemingly empty, shadowy corner of the corridor.
"Come out."
The shadow twisted, rippling like water, and a figure slowly stepped out.
Pink long hair, a tall figure, the iconic fox ears on her head, and the katana at her waist that seemed to condense cold air—it was indeed "Yae Sakura."
However, this "Yae Sakura's" eyes lacked the sharpness of a Flame-Chaser, replaced instead by a sense of calm.
This was Jack, a perfect replica of Yae Sakura's appearance.
At the same time, purple-red data streams seeped out of the void like living creatures, rapidly enveloping Madam Herta's entire body.
The data streams transformed, outlining a new silhouette—a petite figure, cat ears, and an outfit that was somewhat convenient.
As the light dissipated, standing there was no longer the mysterious Madam Herta, but the recently "deceased" Pardo.
Madam Herta—now to be called "Pardo"—looked down at her new image, curiously examining her current cat-eared girl's hands, gently clenching her fists, then raising a hand to touch the fluffy yellow cat ears on her head.
She tried lightly bouncing twice; her movements, initially a bit stiff, quickly became smooth and natural, even taking on some of Pardo's unique demeanor.
She raised her hand, looking at this slightly plump hand, and a smile curved at her lips, an arc utterly different from Pardo's usual sunny and cheerful expression.
"Not bad,"
she commented, her voice also perfectly mimicking Pardo's vocal cords, though the steady tone was a world apart from Pardo's usual liveliness.
"Even the subtle body habits are well-simulated."
She looked up at Jack, disguised as Yae Sakura: "The plan continues. Act according to the established route, and pay attention to the reactions of the other Flame-Chasers, especially... Kevin and Su."
Jack simply responded with one word: "Yes."
Her voice was clear and cold, but ultimately lacked a trace of soul.
Perspective shift.
Baiheng, riding her small vehicle, weaved through a quiet, deserted alley before finally daring to stop, gripping the handlebars and panting heavily.
She looked back with lingering fear, confirming that the Cloud Knights hadn't pursued her, and only then truly breathed a sigh of relief, patting her chest.
"That was close, that was close... I almost got caught by the Cloud Knights, good thing I ran fast..."
She muttered softly, taking off her round sunglasses that had slid down her nose to wipe them, feeling her back drenched in cold sweat.
"That really scared me, I thought I was going to be done for today... That Jingliu, haven't seen her in hundreds of years, how did her hands get so out of line!"
"Hmm?"
A cold female voice unexpectedly sounded beside her.
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