Truly returning to fifty thousand years ago, once again seeing Sister from memory.
But why, why did things turn out this way?
Facing the undisguised disgust on Sakura's face, Higokumaru only felt her heart being torn apart. Even fifty thousand years of imprisonment wasn't this painful.
"Ahh!!!"
With a life-despairing cry, the large fox charging toward Sakura and Rin exploded from nothing, transforming into black torrents surging toward Rin in Sakura's embrace.
After the black energy dispersed, only a continuously struggling fox remained—Higokumaru's consciousness body.
She could feel her authority being devoured. Once entering Rin's body, she'd become part of the other party.
"No... I absolutely cannot become part of you, this fake. Absolutely not!"
But under the terrifying attraction, she still fell toward Rin's body.
Higokumaru despaired.
Finally seeing Sister—how could she dissipate like this?
Just as she completely fell into despair, a hand grabbed her neck scruff, simultaneously grabbing her fate of perishing.
Lucius received Higokumaru in his hand into the system inventory while keeping Higokumaru's hearing open, ensuring she could hear external sounds clearly.
Then he looked at Rin in Sakura's embrace.
After completely containing Higokumaru's Corruption authority, her entire body was covered with fine purple patterns, like a porcelain doll about to shatter.
At this moment, Lucius knew time had come.
Taking out a Revival Needle from inventory, he injected it into Rin's body.
Next moment, as if finally exceeding a certain critical point, Rin's body began transforming into countless golden light points flying toward the sky.
These light points continuously increased in the air, soon rendering the sky golden—like the nascent setting sun reflecting across the heavens.
Combined with the golden cross and chains filling the sky manifested by Binding divine authority not yet dispersed, at this moment there was actually a feeling of settlement screens after the protagonist team defeats villains through hardship in grand finales.
However, as a healthy and sunny story, naturally there wouldn't be scenes of giving characters blades!
After Rin transformed into light points and disappeared, at where she vanished, accompanied by intense Honkai energy reactions, a pink-haired figure rapidly sketched out.
Precisely Rin who'd transformed into light points and disappeared.
Thus, Lucius knew this 'Black Death' triggered by Herrscher of Corruption had concluded.
Those golden light points were actually also bacteria—however, live vaccine bacteria integrated with Phase One and Two Stigmata Gene Projects.
They would spread globally under Rin's only command after becoming Herrscher of Corruption, infecting every person they swept past, until Stigmata gene segments integrated into all people globally.
As long as they possessed partial Stigmata genes, those sleeping due to 'Black Death' would naturally awaken.
Although the process was somewhat turbulent, the Black Death plot node was completed.
But Lucius knew integrating Stigmata genes into all humanity and curing 'Black Death' was merely one goal. From when the first human with embedded Stigmata genes was born, some wonderful change occurred in the Imaginary Domain.
...
A certain layer of the Imaginary Domain.
Time and space were nearly undefinable. Here was only near-eternal solitude.
Until a certain moment, in boundless darkness, a point of light suddenly appeared.
These light points grew more numerous, dispelling surrounding darkness. They were independent yet connected, dotting Imaginary Space like bright stars.
Where starlight covered, space and time were redefined. Imaginary energy here was molded by some peculiar power.
Thus, a unique environment different from Imaginary Space was created. Each star here corresponded with certain individuals in Reality Domain who'd embedded Stigmata genes.
Using power here, corresponding reality individuals would gain various miraculous powers. However, due to incomplete Stigmata genes, what people in reality could obtain now was merely some improvement in Honkai resistance.
Correspondingly, information possessed by reality individuals would also back up here, continuously completing this still-crude space.
"Very good. Stigmata Space's birth had no unexpected variables."
In Shencheng Pharmaceuticals' laboratory, Mobius looked at Stigmata Space scenery on the screen, nodding with satisfaction.
Behind Mobius, Ein and MEI also attentively stared at the screen ahead.
Seeing this, MEI adjusted her glasses: "Doctor, your theory is feasible."
"Stigmata Space truly is a wonderful dimension." Ein praised.
Although not someone who loved fame and profit, being praised by geniuses she recognized, Mobius still showed happiness.
She turned, smiling at two companions: "Stigmata Space still lacks three phases of Stigmata gene injection before completion. From current perspective, seems distant. However, some technologies running using Stigmata Space can begin."
"Although Stigmata Plan isn't complete, as long as we connect it to the Stigmata Terminal prototype at Jiuyou Base, we can obtain a computer with computing power far exceeding current era technology."
...
Except for very few people, Stigmata Space's birth didn't cause much commotion.
Reality world, Austria region.
As countless light points drifted toward the sky, announcing this great plague's conclusion, Sakura holding Rin with stable breathing stood beside Lucius. Both looked at the sky.
Having lost Binding authority's support, the magnificent golden cross in the sky also gradually dispersed.
But Lucius could roughly predict what waves such a scene would cause in this religiously atmospheric place.
However, this problem temporarily wasn't his concern. Now he had another matter to do.
As the golden cross in the sky gradually dispersed, a tiny white figure fell from the sky—precisely former Schicksal Archbishop Kallen who continuously sacrificed her life for humanity's survival in this battle.
Lucius steadily caught her. As expected—no heartbeat, consciousness fluctuations dead silent.
Obviously, the great Archbishop had once again sacrificed her life for humanity's survival.
But no problem. As long as Revival Needle was in hand, even if souls returned to the underworld, he could pull them back.
Thus, placing Kallen on the ground, Lucius took out a Revival Needle from inventory. After gesturing at Kallen's neck, he stabbed it in.
Next moment, Kallen's body trembled. Her eyes slowly opened.
Just as Lucius was about to congratulate her awakening, he felt his body tremble slightly. Some quite ominous feeling suddenly surfaced in his heart.
Even that streak of white highlight atop his head stood straight up, trembling uneasily.
"Wrong, this heart-trembling feeling..."
Detecting danger, Lucius didn't hesitate, turning to run.
At this moment, Kallen also opened her eyes. Seeing the clear azure sky, she knew the crisis had resolved.
Simultaneously, fury suppressed in her heart toward a certain inhuman person finally exploded.
She did a carp jump to stand, grinding her teeth while surveying surroundings. After her gaze swept past Sakura holding Rin with a strange expression, she locked onto Lucius who'd already run a great distance.
"Lucius, stop right there!"
She stepped on short legs, chasing toward Lucius's fleeing direction. While chasing, she shouted exasperatedly: "I'll beat you! I will definitely beat you!"
But regarding Kallen's resentment-filled voice, Lucius turned a deaf ear, running toward the city district with all his might.
Laughable—I can't outrun your ancestor's UR-level body, but I can't outrun you, a Kaslana cub?
However, running like this wasn't a solution. Need to think of a way to shake her off.
Simultaneously... also use her chase to perform a play.
Switching perspective to Kallen's side, she discovered that after chasing a while, she quickly closed the distance with Lucius. But at this moment, she saw Lucius make a left turn at a street intersection and disappear from view.
Kallen hurriedly chased over. But just turning, she detected someone blocking ahead. She hurriedly stopped, but was still carried by inertia to collide with the other party.
Only hearing a pained sound, then accompanied by a falling sound.
"Ouch!"
"Sorry, sorry." Kallen's face showed apology as she looked at the person on the ground.
This was a youth with white hair and blue eyes, with a streak of black highlight on his forehead.
This youth stood from the ground, patting dust from his body. After smiling, he said: "It's fine. However, I think slowing down lets you appreciate the world's beauty. What do you think, little sister?"
Kallen's expression was somewhat awkward. But she quickly thought of her target, hurriedly looking toward the street's end, finding Lucius's trace long gone.
"Excuse me, did you see a black-haired youth?" Kallen gestured with small hands. "About this tall, with a white highlight on his forehead."
"I saw him turn left at the first street ahead."
"Thank you very much!" Kallen didn't pause. After getting information, she immediately darted out, voice traveling far.
Watching Kallen's departing back, the white-haired, blue-eyed youth's mouth pulled into a smile.
"Hehe... kids are so easily fooled. Time to go..."
After running some distance, Kallen suddenly stopped. Some extraordinary intuition continuously teased her thinking.
"Wrong! The city was already blockaded. How could an ordinary person appear?!"
She immediately returned, but found that kind youth who 'showed her the way' had already disappeared.
If she still couldn't realize Lucius had transformation abilities, she'd truly be a dummy.
"Damn! Got tricked!" Kallen ground her teeth in anger, but determination in her eyes deepened instead. "You think this will shake me off? Naive!"
"Lucius, you callous person! I will definitely beat you!"
She calmed her violently heaving chest, closed her eyes, simultaneously calling the remnant Binding power in her body.
"Binding authority, show your tracking power. Help me find him!"
Kallen knew Oath of Judah possessed automatic tracking function. Now as a humanoid Oath of Judah, she naturally also possessed thousand-mile tracking ability.
As long as she followed the feeling Binding authority gave, she'd definitely find him!
Soon, the ahoge atop Kallen's head suddenly trembled, ultimately pointing in a direction like a compass needle.
Kallen followed the feeling, racing through streets.
"Close, my intuition tells me it's almost here..."
But at this moment, Kallen again felt someone blocking before her.
She hurriedly braked but still collided with the other party. This time she felt a soft touch, but the other party wasn't knocked down.
"Lucius, give me... eh?"
Looking at the person blocking before her, Kallen froze.
This was a pink girl in Fire Moth combat uniform with flawless appearance.
"Ah, such a cute child~"
"Elysia?"
As former Schicksal Archbishop, she naturally understood Previous Civilization's Thirteen Flame-Chasers. Naturally recognized who the person before her was.
"Cute human cub, you also know Miss Fairy?♪~"
Meeting Elysia's brilliant gaze, Kallen's heart suddenly raised vigilance.
She suddenly thought—could this Elysia before her be Lucius' transformation?
Thinking of this possibility, Kallen carefully observed. Through meticulous observation, she discovered this Elysia's subtle movements were completely different from Lucius.
Seems not.
Kallen withdrew her gaze. Her small face also showed some awkwardness as she moved aside several steps with short legs: "No... don't know~"
Then quickly ran out.
"Very sorry, I still have business. Leaving first."
...
Walking empty streets, Kallen's face showed confusion.
"Strange. Binding authority clearly told me Lucius was nearby. How can't I find him?"
Thinking she'd been thrown into the sky like a Pokémon repeatedly and also tricked once, Kallen angrily jumped in place.
"Lucius, don't let me catch you. Otherwise I'll make you know what Archbishop's fury means!"
Just as she was indignant, she heard a roaring sound from the sky.
Kallen subconsciously looked toward where the sound came from and discovered a single-person aircraft flying low over the city.
Through superhuman vision, Kallen saw the passenger on this aircraft.
That was a pink-haired girl. Even just the profile showed flawless appearance.
Undoubtedly, that was Elysia.
But appearance wasn't what Kallen focused on. Because she suddenly thought of that Elysia she'd just seen in the alley.
Since that Elysia didn't seem fake, then now in the sky this one...
Kallen stared intently at the aircraft sweeping across the sky.
Then she saw Elysia in the aircraft look toward her, making some incomprehensible gesture. Her face even showed indescribable 'mockery.'
Arrogant!
Too arrogant!
Kallen's delicate small face showed raging fury. A pair of golden eyes stared deadly at the pink figure in the aircraft, grinding her teeth:
"How dare you be so arrogant!"
"Lucius, I'm really angry now!"
...
Kallen didn't know that after meeting that 'Elysia' on the street, the other party watched her back disappear down the street.
After confirming Kallen ran far, 'Elysia's' body manifested blood mist, quickly recovering to Lucius's appearance.
Yes, the Elysia Kallen encountered was actually his disguise.
He took out a dumpling emitting black energy from system inventory, throwing it on the ground.
This dumpling rolled on the ground several times, actually becoming a small fox with multiple tails—precisely Higokumaru he'd previously saved.
Lucius exaggeratedly breathed relief, saying to Higokumaru: "Alright, now you're safe."
Higokumaru seemed struck by some blow, extremely dejected. After hearing Lucius's words, she took a long time to react.
Although confined, she could still hear the commotion during the chase. So he was to escape that white-haired gorilla woman's pursuit?
"Why save me? Also, aren't you and that whitehead companions?"
Lucius crouched down, looking at Higokumaru on the ground: "Kallen is my companion, but even companions have disagreements. To save you, I had some disagreement with her. For this, I had to hide from her first."
"To save me, you had disagreement with her?"
Higokumaru felt confused. Her current self with power nearly completely lost had no value. If wanting Corruption authority, could find that fake. Why for her, this failure?
Thus, she straightforwardly asked her question: "Why? I shouldn't have any use value."
Lucius's face showed recollection, accompanied by melancholy and sorrow.
"If asking why, probably from sympathy of fellow sufferers."
"I can sense your heart is full of pain yet pure as crystal. Essentially you're not a bad person. You just hope to receive someone's affection."
"I once had a sister like you. Seeing you is like seeing her. I know this is just an illusion, but my heart can't stop wondering if her soul revived in you..."
Higokumaru understood. This person treated her as a substitute. But at this moment, thinking of Sister hugging that fake self, she actually felt some fellow suffering.
However, based on some stubbornness in her heart, she still said: "I'm not your sister."
"I know."
Lucius's tone was extremely frank, but Higokumaru still heard a trace of melancholy from it. This made her somewhat hesitant whether her words were too harsh. Should she be more tactful?
"I can provide you an opportunity to approach Sakura. But whether you can reverse your impression in her heart depends on yourself."
Hearing this, Higokumaru suddenly raised her head.
"Really... really?"
"Sakura and I are colleagues. Can still say a few words..."
Higokumaru heard the melancholy in Lucius's words. Thinking doing this would probably make Sister develop disgust toward him, right?
Thinking of this, Higokumaru's heart suddenly surged with some guilt.
Clearly two completely unrelated people. Even previously, she'd caused him harm. Yet he could do this for her—not only having disagreement with companions to protect her, but might also be disliked by Sister due to her wish...
Died from human malice in life. After death, was sealed by that crazy woman Mei for fifty thousand years. This was the first time she'd felt goodwill from others after such long time.
Higokumaru thought long imprisonment had worn away her response to others' goodwill. But at this moment, in the most vulnerable time when her heart was torn apart by Sister's disgust, she actually felt warmth in her heart.
"Is this... being moved?"
Higokumaru shrank her body, as if thinking hiding in shadow could avoid light.
But Lucius had already extended his hand toward her, saying somewhat sadly:
"I've seen your memories, know your origins. I know you're also a gentle child. You should also be yearning for love, right?"
"Since unwilling to give up, then grasp it tightly. Don't be like me, realizing too late when everything is already over."
Looking at Lucius's extended hand, Higokumaru confirmed—the person before her truly understood her. He was also truly trying to teach her not to leave regrets from hesitation.
She extended her paw, wanting to touch his hand. But when about to touch, she hesitated again.
"But I'm a Herrscher. Will your companions really agree?"
"This is..." Lucius fell into thought. After a while, as if thinking of something, his eyes lit up. "Right, I have a solution."
Then Higokumaru saw Lucius somehow produce a document with wings spread on the cover.
"Kallen is a Schicksal member, bound by Schicksal's discipline. Won't cross swords with fellow Schicksal members."
"As long as you also join Schicksal to become a Valkyrie, bound by organizational discipline, even if dissatisfied she can't act against you. This also protects you."
"But... you're an organization fighting Honkai, right? A Herrscher like me joining... really no problem?"
"I vouch for you!" Lucius's face showed determination. "I believe you're a gentle child."
Higokumaru felt warmth in her heart, almost agreeing. But she thought vouching for her meant placing all trust in her.
Such heavy promise both moved and frightened her.
Could she... truly not disappoint his trust?
Hesitation grew in her heart. Higokumaru subconsciously wanted to retract her extended paw.
But before that, a powerful hand firmly grasped it, pressing it onto the document before her.
A paw print appeared where signature was needed.
"Then you're our Schicksal's S-rank Valkyrie. From now on, we're a community of shared destiny saving the world together."
"You..."
Higokumaru looked at Lucius putting away the document, heart complex. But she ultimately didn't express opposition.
"Next, I'll try arranging you beside your sister. Whether you can obtain her forgiveness depends on yourself."
Hearing this, Higokumaru somewhat proudly raised her head.
o(￣ヘ￣o )
"Hmph, this is enough."
"Can't I handle a fake? Don't underestimate my bond with Sister!"
But Higokumaru expressing grand aspirations didn't notice that using blind spot coverage, Lucius's mouth couldn't help pulling up.
Hehehehe... finally pulled this silly child onto the bandwagon. Looks like she should even thank me!
Right, everything just now was acting.
The moment a person's psychology collapses is easiest to enter, even Higokumaru was no exception. What Lucius did was use this to play emotional cards, taking the opportunity to pull her onto the bandwagon.
After all, Rin's registration at Cocoon of Finality wasn't issued yet. To wield Corruption authority without side effects still required Higokumaru. Corruption's power was too suitable for using as a cow... teammate.
In consciousness space, another pair of eyes watched all this from beginning to end.
Yae Rin watched Lucius lower his head and seemed to understand something, but said nothing.
Then, a violent explosion sound from the sky attracted Lucius and Higokumaru's attention.
One person and one fox looked toward the sky, seeing a single-person aircraft trailing rolling black flames falling.
Lucius noticed the Fire Moth logo on the aircraft, couldn't help shaking his head regretfully.
"Don't know which unlucky soul encountered crashing like this."
...
Long-evacuated city airspace.
Elysia gripped the control stick, controlling the single-person aircraft to sweep past at low altitude. City scenery passed before her.
She saw the city completely quiet, no Honkai Beasts active. Everything seemed peaceful.
"Strange, no signs of Honkai disaster..."
After circling the city at low altitude several times, Elysia sent information to the combat channel.
"This is Pink Fairy, currently patrolling. Have not discovered high-threat individuals."
"—Command tower received. Continue maintaining vigilance."
After receiving orders, Elysia continued circling above the city. Since temporarily no signs of Honkai energy disaster, might as well treat it as an aerial tour.
Suddenly, snow-white swept past her vision. She subconsciously looked and couldn't look away.
"Ah, such a cute human cub♪~"
Seeing the white dumpling on the ground staring blankly at her aircraft, although knowing the other party couldn't hear or probably couldn't see, Elysia still waved at her and showed what she considered a perfect smile.
Then she saw the white dumpling's azure eyes on the ground suddenly invaded by golden color, like burning inextinguishable flames.
"Beep beep beep—High energy entity detected!"
Simultaneously, the detector equipped on the aircraft suddenly emitted piercing alarms.
Elysia hadn't figured out what was happening when she discovered...
"Eh, why is this child getting closer?"
She saw that tiny white figure on the ground like a reverse-flying meteor charge up, instantly about to contact her.
At this moment, she also noticed what expression the other party had.
—That was grinding teeth fury as if wanting to beat her to her knees!
"Lucius, repent!"
"Eat my super headbutt!!!"
"—Boom!"
Some time later, Fire Moth's combat channel heard exclamations.
"Oh no, Elysia crashed!!!"
---
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