Chapter 260 Otto: Even a god cannot stop me from reuniting with Kallen!
Seeing Kiana's aggrieved look, Su Mu showed a subtle expression: "The Herrscher of Finality... that's not exactly a dream job."
To be honest, the story of Honkai Impact 3rd is much gentler compared to Honkai Gakuen 2; at least the ending is quite happy. Meanwhile, in a certain Honkai 2, the death count is tragic... despite having the cutest 2D art style, it uses that aesthetic to tell one gut-wrenching story after another...
Burning Chicken is still too kind. If they brought in Ling Yi Niang, the players would truly know fear. The demands of Honkai Gakuen 2 players long ago shifted from "don't let people die" to "make it quick, don't torture us"... this shows just how much trauma their young hearts have endured.
"Su Mu, what's with that subtle expression? I feel like you're thinking about something bad."
Elysia leaned in suspiciously. Looking at that exquisite, idol-like face, Su Mu remained unfazed: "Am I? Do you have proof? If you can't produce evidence, then you're slandering me."
"Proof? I am the living proof!"
Elysia hummed twice, lifting her chin like a little swan. "Every time you have a wicked thought, your eyes narrow unconsciously! That is the evidence of your bad intentions!"
Su Mu was stunned; he didn't even know he had such a habit.
"How did you notice that?"
Elysia stood with her hands on her hips, looking quite proud.
"Hehe~ don't underestimate my intelligence network!"
What an "Intelligence Elysia."
Theresa recalled the details of her time with Su Mu: "It seems that really is the case... Strange, why do you know so much about Su Mu..."
Facing her question, Elysia patted her chest: "Because of my excellent observation skills, of course! Details like that can't escape Detective Elysia~♪"
Theresa realized: "So you've been observing Su Mu this whole time?"
Her words made Elysia choke slightly, though she maintained her smile: "Is there a problem? Cute Theresa? As the ambassador for miHoYo, it's normal for me to pay attention to our company's Game Director, right?"
Theresa nodded: "True, it is normal... but I haven't heard about this habit from Bronya or Seele."
Elysia paused: "Eh?"
For some reason, the conversation between the two made Su Mu feel a bit uneasy.
It really lived up to the old saying: a woman's heart is a needle at the bottom of the sea... Su Mu felt that even another lifetime wouldn't be enough to figure out what women were thinking.
Fortunately, Theresa didn't pursue it further, and Elysia didn't bring it up again, though she moved noticeably further away.
As the game continued.
The perspective shifts to a city ravaged by the Herrscher of Death. A squad led by Amber entered the city to locate the Herrscher, but they were ultimately ensnared by the Herrscher's power and fell into a dire situation.
The next chapter recounts the past of Cheng Lixue and Fu Hua. After losing her parents, Cheng Lixue was taken in by Fu Hua. Fu Hua taught her calligraphy, the zither, and martial arts. Although Fu Hua was often taciturn and spoke little, her affection was genuine.
This was why Cheng Lixue worked so hard; she wanted to become Fu Hua's pride so that, perhaps, she could finally see Fu Hua smile.
However, Fu Hua always had to leave for various reasons. Cheng Lixue didn't spend much time with her; it was always brief reunions followed by long separations. Even so, every month, Fu Hua would make her a bowl of wonton noodles.
Eating those noodles made by Fu Hua was the happiest time for Cheng Lixue.
In fact, Cheng Lixue and Fu Hua didn't start as master and disciple. Before that, she had always addressed Fu Hua by her name, a relationship that left her feeling uneasy.
Finally, gathering her courage, she asked Fu Hua:
["Master, may I call you Master?"]
["...Yes."]
Although Fu Hua agreed with a gentle smile, there was a trace of sorrow in her eyes.
But Cheng Lixue, immersed in joy, did not notice.
The next day, Fu Hua left again.
By the time Cheng Lixue saw Fu Hua again, she had become a Valkyrie of Schicksal.
It could be said that Fu Hua gave her this life, and her teachings continue to influence Cheng Lixue to this day.
However, Cheng Lixue didn't understand why Fu Hua had to leave her back then.
Over the years, this confusion turned into an obsession, trapping her at the second level of the Taixu Sword Heart—the Unsoiled Realm—unable to progress.
"Sigh... Lixue, the Old Timer left you because she had her own difficulties."
Watching Cheng Lixue in the game, Senti couldn't help but sigh.
Having finished "Seven Swords," she knew how heavy the word "disciple" was for Fu Hua. If anything, after those experiences, agreeing to let Cheng Lixue call her "Master" was already a miracle.
Yet, Fu Hua never mentioned that past to Cheng Lixue. She was that kind of person—prone to carrying everything alone. Despite the immense pain, she hid everything in her heart and endured it in solitude.
It is precisely because Fu Hua is this kind of person that so many players feel for this girl from the Previous Era.
She has endured far too much... for her, immortality is a curse.
"You have the nerve to call her a 'girl'? Lixue is currently the Sect Leader of our Taixu Sect..."
Fu Hua looked helplessly at her younger "sister." Senti used to cause so much trouble for Lixue... when Fu Hua was busy, it was Lixue who looked after her.
During school, Senti was aggressive and loved to fight. Every time, it was Lixue who cleaned up the mess and apologized... one could say this troublesome sister really wore Lixue out.
"Fine, fine! Sect Leader it is! She really is doing a good job; I'm satisfied! My evaluation of her has always been high!"
Look at you evaluating her, you brat... Lixue hasn't even said anything, yet you're giving her a performance review.
"You... sigh, when will you honestly thank Lixue?"
Fu Hua shook her head.
As her disciple, Cheng Lixue had devoted herself to the Taixu Sect and served as a nanny for her naughty sister. When she took over as Sect Leader, Lixue was still a student. She balanced her studies while keeping the sect in perfect order... for all these years, she was the one holding this home together.
Seeing Cheng Lixue's story in the game made Fu Hua happy, as Lixue was her favorite disciple.
But remembering Su Mu's tendencies, she felt that maybe not appearing at all would have been better...
As Cheng Lixue's flashback ended, she followed orders to participate in the crusade against the Herrscher of Flame.
However, the power of the Herrscher of Flame was too much for her to handle.
She wielded Water's Edge, one of the 10th Divine Keys, which possesses the power to manipulate water flow. While water is the counter to fire, if the flame's temperature is too high, the water evaporates instantly!
Clearly, the flames of the Herrscher of Flame were beyond her. After a few exchanges, Cheng Lixue was defeated.
Even her Water's Edge was broken.
Looking at the struggling Cheng Lixue, the Herrscher of Flame fired a beam of fire.
The ray pierced through Cheng Lixue's abdomen. The intense burning pain was something no ordinary person could endure.
If the temperature hadn't been high enough to cauterize the wound instantly, she would have bled out.
Even in such a dire state, Cheng Lixue chose to fight the Pseudo-Herrscher to the death.
She used the Inch Edge style Fu Hua had taught her.
That look of being prepared to die made Fu Hua's expression soften with pity.
"Damn! Su Mu, you're not really going to kill off Lixue too, are you? You're a monster!"
Senti couldn't help but shout.
"No, wait, he wasn't human to begin with! Is he trying to reach a level worse than a beast? There's nothing but hell ahead!!"
Fortunately, just as Cheng Lixue was about to collapse, the familiar feather appeared, instantly dispersing the flames.
Senti's eyes widened as she stared at the figure appearing in the game, shouting in surprise.
"It's the Old Timer! Our Old Timer is here!!"
["Children, we need a hero. A hero is necessary!"]
["Celestial Hua, boundless is her power!"]
["Do you understand what it means to be the strongest savior in Honkai Impact 3rd?"]
["The power of 50,000 years from the Shenzhou Flatland—can a mere Pseudo-Herrscher like you actually stop her?"]
The moment Fu Hua appeared, the viewers in the livestream who were tense because of Cheng Lixue's danger finally relaxed.
The reason was simple: Fu Hua had arrived!
Facing the sudden appearance of Fu Hua, the Pseudo-Herrscher treated her as a major threat, manipulating her prideful flames to burn the person before her.
However, those flames were blocked the moment they drew near, as if they feared her presence!
["Don't come any closer! I don't care what kind of monster you are, my flames will burn you to ashes!"]
The terrified Pseudo-Herrscher increased her output, but Fu Hua simply dispersed the flames with a wave of her hand, as if she were their true master.
Within the fire, Fu Hua took the form of the Phoenix; the surrounding flames seemed to bow in submission.
Her beauty and strength left the Pseudo-Herrscher paralyzed, unable to do anything but watch Fu Hua approach.
["A long, long time ago, I met a Herrscher who controlled fire. Compared to her flames, what you wield is nothing more than a faint spark."]
As Fu Hua shattered the ground with a step, her fist struck the Pseudo-Herrscher's abdomen!
["Farewell."]
However, as the perspective shifted back to Cheng Lixue, the audience realized Fu Hua hadn't actually attacked.
She had used the power of Fenghuang Down to kill the Pseudo-Herrscher within an illusion. In the Pseudo-Herrscher's consciousness, she was already dead.
A body without a soul is just a breathing corpse.
"It might be a bit late to say this... but I can't help but complain... Fenghuang Down is way too convenient, isn't it?"
Kiana spoke up after seeing the screen.
"I've wanted to say this for a while! Why does the Class Monitor have such a useful weapon? It can kill, infiltrate, save lives... it's practically a Swiss Army knife for Valkyries!"
Theresa agreed: "The Key of Sentience is terrifying. It's hard to imagine how powerful the true Herrscher of Sentience would be."
Su Mu smiled at Kiana and asked: "Do you want to use Fenghuang Down too?"
Kiana nodded vigorously: "Of course! Who wouldn't want such a powerful Divine Key? If I had the Herrscher of the Void's power and Fenghuang Down, I'd be invincible! I could control your consciousness from a distance; I'd be a god in the illusion!"
Su Mu shrugged: "But do you remember the price Fu Hua paid to hold it?"
Kiana froze, remembering Fu Hua's tragic history since the Previous Era...
"Is the price of power being tortured like the Class Monitor? Then never mind, I don't want it anymore!"
Thinking of Fu Hua's past made Kiana's teeth chatter; that history was far too grim.
In the game, on the other side, Cecilia easily dealt with the Pseudo-Herrscher of Wind. There was a massive gap between Schicksal's S-rank Valkyrie, Cecilia, and the strongest A-rank, Cheng Lixue.
This was only against a Pseudo-Herrscher; the strongest A-rank already couldn't keep up.
Before a true Herrscher, an A-rank Valkyrie is nothing more than an ant.
Only S-rank Valkyries have the capital to fight a Herrscher.
Of course, there are levels among S-ranks too. For instance, while Durandal and Rita are both S-ranks, Durandal's strength is in a league of its own.
As for our dear Rita... haha, she should probably stick to competing with Stan.
At the same time, on the third battlefield, Amber was rescued from danger by Otto.
Using the power of the Mimicry Black Abyss White Flower, Otto dispersed the black mist spread by the Herrscher of Death. Then, using Mimicry Fenghuang Down, he invaded the Pseudo-Herrscher's consciousness.
He wanted to find the answer he had been seeking.
He hoped the Herrscher of Death could answer his questions, but he was quickly disappointed.
This Pseudo-Herrscher was a fake, a mere container of power.
The true Herrscher Core was still with Sirin. To find a way to resurrect Kallen, he had to find Sirin.
As the Pseudo-Herrscher was defeated, a large hand reached out from the void to reclaim the body—the power of the 2nd Herrscher.
["Heh, trying to reclaim this puppet? In your dreams!"]
Mimicry Judgment of Shamash appeared in Otto's hands. Joining them into the Greatsword, he swung the flaming blade, severing the hand and the Imaginary Gate behind it!
["2nd Herrscher, I shall come for you soon! No one can stand in the way of my reunion with Kallen!"]
Otto raised the Shamash Greatsword toward the closing gate, speaking each word with immense weight.
["Not even a god."]
END OF CHAPTER
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