"Is that so..."
Theresa was a little disappointed. She had thought that with Fu Hua around, she wouldn't have to worry about their entire group being picked apart by Durandal.
Sure enough, she had been too naive.
However, Theresa was not discouraged.
Right now, they were indeed very weak compared to Grandpa's side.
But—they could become stronger!
With the help of this magical Q&A space, Theresa believed that Kiana, Mei, and the others could grow rapidly.
"Kiana, you must learn to control yourself."
Theresa looked at Kiana with a serious expression.
"Although I don't like what Grandpa said, I have to admit—he's right. You must follow his advice. Master the power of the Herrscher with your own hands, and become a Herrscher who can determine her own path."
"Only then can you control your own destiny and gain the ability to shape this imperfect world into the one you envision, just as Himeko said in the earlier vision."
After receiving Kiana's firm gaze, Theresa nodded in satisfaction.
Then, she looked at Mei.
"Mei, I'm very reassured about you..."
"You're even smarter than I am. What should be done, what needs to be done—you already know without me saying it."
Theresa, who was always cautious and calculating, had no concerns to raise about Mei. So, she turned her eyes to Bronya.
But Theresa didn't know what to say to Bronya.
After all, the only thing revealed in the Q&A space so far was that Bronya would become the Herrscher of Reason.
As for how that came to be—it was still unknown.
"Practice more and prepare yourself to become the Herrscher of Reason someday," Theresa finally said awkwardly.
The remaining ones were Himeko and Fu Hua. There wasn't much to say about Himeko—Theresa knew her well.
As for Fu Hua, she had experienced more things than Theresa had eaten bowls of rice.
[End of this Q&A]
[Start of Settlement]
[Number of answers: 8]
[Correct: 6]
[Wrong: 2]
[Reward Box Distribution: 6 Homu Treasure Boxes]
With the Hom Treasure Boxes falling down, this answering session came to an end.
It was time to open the boxes again.
Theresa received a card called Powerful Resurrection Card from her Homu Box.
Together with the two cards Kiana had given to Mei, they now had three resurrection cards in their possession.
However, these cards were clearly useless unless all necessary ones were collected—unless they were willing to take a gamble.
Kiana also opened her box.
From it, she received a silver case.
"Wow, a whole set of dolls again?"
Grumbling silently, Kiana opened the silver box.
Inside, a tube of unknown potion lay quietly. Next to it was a golden broadsword.
Kiana and the others were puzzled by these two items. But when Fu Hua saw them, she instinctively muttered their names.
"Is that... the Meta-Morph Activator and Xuanyuan Sword?"
"Fu Hua, you know what these are?" Theresa asked curiously.
"...Hmm," Fu Hua nodded slightly. She didn't explain further but simply waved her hand. Instantly, information about the two items appeared:
[Meta-Morph Activator]
Product of the Previous Era MANTIS Project. Must be used in conjunction with the Xuanyuan Sword. If successful, it leads to a significant increase in strength.
[Xuanyuan Sword]
The tenth Divine Key—Key of Domination. Can only be wielded by warriors who resonate with the Meta-Morph Activator. Without resonance, this Divine Key is no different from an ordinary weapon.
"The Tenth Divine Key!?" Theresa shouted the moment she saw the name.
In her impression, every Divine Key was an incredibly powerful and precious weapon. Just like her own Judas, Cecilia's Black Abyss White Flower, and Siegfried's Judgment of Shamash.
And now... one could just get one from opening a box?
Although the description stated it had to be paired with the Meta-Morph Activator, and without a match it would be wasted—
Still, it was a Divine Key.
"Hey, hey, hey, don't get too excited just because you got a Divine Key!"
The Book of Fuxi, sensing Theresa's undisguised joy, poured cold water on her enthusiasm without hesitation.
"If it were any other Divine Key, maybe that would be fine. But this one's the Key of Domination."
"Unlike the other Divine Keys—there are a thousand of these!"
Book crossed her legs, clearly unimpressed with the Tenth Divine Key.
"This thing? My immortal used to have loads of them!"
As soon as those words were spoken, Theresa's eyes snapped to Fu Hua, filled with disbelief.
She was beyond shocked.
Not only that there were a thousand of the Tenth Divine Key—but also that Fu Hua once had so many of them.
Fu Hua sighed and gave a bitter smile.
"That was in the past. Now, I only have one."
She glanced at the Meta-Morph Activator and Xuanyuan Sword, her expression complicated.
"This thing can indeed strengthen someone, just as described."
"But... I remember the success rate of this project was extremely low."
"If you seek power from it, you must be mentally prepared. Of course... I'm not saying it'll kill you."
"Even if it fails, the Meta-Morph Activator won't harm your body. But if it succeeds—"
"—there's no going back."
Whether Fu Hua's warning would have any effect, however, remained to be seen.
By this point, after everything they had seen in the Q&A space, each of them likely already had the resolve they needed.
No one would retreat just because of a warning.
There was only one Meta-Morph Activator and Xuanyuan Sword.
In the end, after discussion, they were entrusted to Himeko, who had volunteered to take them.
Kiana, Mei, and Bronya would all become Herrschers in the future.
Theresa herself was similar to a MANTIS and possessed the Oath of Judah.
Apart from Fu Hua, only Himeko's future was uncertain.
Her final moment was wearing the Vermillion Knight Battlesuit and fighting against the Herrscher of the Void.
That was powerful, yes...
But before the Battlesuit arrived, Himeko's growth potential had already plateaued with age, and she could no longer progress.
If she was to protect Kiana and the others, Himeko knew clearly—she had to become stronger.
And the Meta-Morph Activator in front of her was a golden opportunity.
"Alas..."
Fu Hua sighed. Someone had finally chosen to use the Meta-Morph Activator.
But looking at that determined expression—she could only respect the decision.
In front of everyone's eyes...
Himeko picked up the Meta-Morph Activator and, without hesitation, stabbed it into her arm.