Chapter 250: A little licking will stop the pain

Rain clouds accumulated and gradually covered the sky, with the cliff, or the coverage area of the "Fourth Divine Key," as the boundary. Inward was the land, where people lived.

With the help of the "Fourth Divine Key," the sun shone brightly here with few clouds. Occasionally, white clouds floated across the sky, slightly blocking the brilliant sunshine and bringing some shade to the land that had become somewhat hot due to long hours of sunlight.

Looking out from the cliff... it was a completely different scene.

The rain clouds gradually accumulated, changing from sparse to numerous, and finally becoming one, blocking the sunlight in the sky.

Going further out, you could see the clouds thickening, changing from their original white to gray, and then to a dark color close to black... The sunlight could hardly penetrate the thick rain clouds, making everything in the distant sea appear extremely dim.

The sea breeze mixed with a damp smell blew in from afar, hitting the cliff, then either flowing back or circling over the cliff, squeezing slightly inland, bringing some moist air to the warm earth.

The waves surged from time to time, hitting the cliffs, with white waves occasionally emerging, washing the only rocks under the cliffs again and again... This was the proof of the coast that once existed here, the only traces left of the broken land.

But the seawater did not seem to intend to let go of this last fragment. The waves surged repeatedly, submerging the rocks again and again, as if wanting to carry them under the deep sea as well.

Among the few rocks, Elysia was leading the team to carefully explore everything around, trying to find some clues in this place that could already be said to be in ruins.

There was no way. The sense of threat coming from the ocean was too strong. Moreover, the sky over there was also strange. It was gloomy, with a constant damp and cold sea breeze. There was also a vague feeling that they were being stared at by some dangerous creature... All of this made them nervous.

They even had a guess... the huge monster that appeared in the sea might not have left yet, and even the two "Herrschers" might not have left!

If that's the case... their situation could be said to be extremely dangerous.

But since they had been down here for so long without any problems, they were probably safe... right?

Forget it, let's not worry about it. The important thing now is to collect all the data that can be gathered around, bring it back to the "Fire Moth," and see if we can analyze something... Hmm?

Elysia suddenly realized something and, regardless of the team members' questions, quickly jumped over several rocks and dove into the sea.

This action scared the others. They shouted on the comms and moved closer quickly, wanting to know what Elysia had discovered and why she was so impulsive... Fortunately, Elysia jumped out of the seawater soon after and returned to the team members. She shook her head to get rid of the slightly sticky blue seawater on her body.

'...Hmm? Sticky? Bluewater?'

"Be careful not to get hit by the seawater."

Elysia tidied up her hair, which was soaked by the seawater, turned around, and spoke to her teammates in a serious tone.

"It's okay if it's just a little bit, but if it's too much... you'll probably be dragged down."

"There seems to be something new in the seawater now. It's very dangerous... Tell others not to approach this area unless necessary. Also, inform companions in other areas to keep an eye out for any abnormalities in the seawater."

"By the way, give me the sealing container. I'll collect some seawater and take it back. Dr. Mei and Mobius should be very interested in this... After we collect the seawater, we'll pack up and go back."

Elysia gave orders in an orderly manner, but the team members were a little confused by Elysia's last words.

"Captain, are you not going to continue the investigation? There should be some areas that have not been explored yet..."

"…It's no longer necessary."

There was a rare hint of sadness in Elysia's tone as she showed the team members what she had just found underwater.

It was a somewhat damaged container. Perhaps because the surrounding Honkai energy was too dense, the "Soulium" was giving full play to its characteristics and constantly replicating itself to repair the damaged parts.

But perhaps because of the special properties of the ocean, or because of something else in the ocean, a blue substance clung to the container like moss, occupying the damaged part, making it impossible for the "Soulium" to repair itself...

This strange moss-like substance even showed signs of invading other areas, as if it was about to destroy this container that was barely maintaining its balance... But fortunately, Elysia found it, and discovered it in the accumulated seawater and among the complicated rocks, allowing it to complete its "mission."

Because... the thing sealed inside was a fiery red object that looked like a gem. It seemed that because it had left the barrier of the ocean, the energy emanating from it could be faintly captured by people.

"...Captain, is this... that?"

The others swallowed subconsciously and asked nervously.

"...Yes, it should be the Herrscher Core."

"Then this container..."

"It should be a part of the 'box.' In other words, it was made by Nozomi... I'll find out when I go back and ask Vill-V."

"......"

"Let's collect some seawater and then go back."

"Well, we get it."

The team members nodded one after another, putting away the sadness in their eyes, suppressing the thoughts in their minds, and focusing on the task at hand.

After all... the appearance of a Herrscher Core means that a Herrscher has been defeated. Plus, as Vill-V said, after she restored the data, she found that the last command of the "box" was "self-destruction." And right before her, there is another part that may belong to the "box" containing the "Herrscher Core"...

Also, the information observed previously showed that the energy wavelength of a Herrscher appeared for a moment...

By combining all the information, everyone was able to reconstruct the situation at that time.

It was probably because Nozomi fought hard here and found that the defense line had completely collapsed, so he decided to stay and cover their retreat. After forcibly sending Irine out of the battlefield, he stayed to fight with two "Herrschers"... No, it should have been one at that time, and then a new "Herrscher" suddenly appeared.

Faced with the attack of two "Herrschers," Nozomi also planned to make a desperate effort to defeat one "Herrscher" with the "self-destruct" program of the "box," successfully defeating it, and save its core.

As a result, he was attacked by another "Herrschers" and died...

Such a story emerged in everyone's mind almost naturally, and they also understood what Elysia meant by "you can go back"... because various signs were filling in this "story" and leading their thoughts in a very bad direction.

This was really painful because they did not see the "ending" with their own eyes. They did not see the corpse or anything that could truly confirm Nozomi's death. They could only rely on other things to infer.

But all these things led their thoughts to a bad ending, making them more and more certain... Nozomi was dead, died in battle, died heroically in the battle with two "Herrschers," and even killed a "Herrscher" before dying, successfully leaving behind the "Herrscher Core."

They had basically believed this set of speculations because it was the only "reasonable" one.

Therefore, they showed sad emotions, and under Elysia's command, they carefully collected some seawater and quickly left, following the way they came, heading inland toward a dry and safe place.

"......"

Standing on the edge of the cliff, Elysia paused for a moment, looking at the team members in front of her who were handing over to others. Looking at the "Herrscher Core" that was handed over and sealed in a new container along with the old container, she pursed her lips, not knowing what expression to show.

?!

But suddenly, she seemed to sense something and turned back abruptly, looking at the distant sea that was as dark as the night.

She just felt as if someone looked at her.

"Captain, what's wrong?"

Someone noticed Elysia's abnormality and remained on guard while looking at the dim distant sea, as if worried that another Honkai beast was about to crawl out of the sea.

"...No, it's okay."

Elysia blinked, sensed carefully, and found that she no longer had the feeling of being watched, so she shook her head and spoke softly.

"Let's go back first."

Elysia glanced at the dim distant sea again and, after confirming that the feeling had not reappeared, she followed the team members onto the aircraft and flew toward the base of the "Fire Moth."

…

......

And in the distant sea as dark as night, drizzles fell from the sky, landing on the sea surface, gently causing tiny ripples, which were then obscured and covered by the waves.

Crash——

It was the sound of crashing waves, accompanied by a hint of doubt.

"That's not the case, Mother."

Nozomi slowly withdrew his gaze, gently stroked the surrounding seawater, and spoke softly.

"That [Core] is useless to me. I, and we, don't need that kind of thing."

Crash——

"A threat? No, that's not a threat to us, is it, Mother?"

"Moreover... if we don't give them some expectations, some hope, and don't show them our shortcomings in some aspects... it would be too hopeless."

"And that's not what I want."

Crash——

"…Um, I'm sorry, 'Mother.'"

After a brief silence, Nozomi slowly replied.

"I really like them…"

"I'm sorry for being so willful all this time."

"Including this time, I added [siblings] without permission and made them the children of the 'mother'... I am really sorry."

"But... no matter what, I will still do it."

Crash——

The waves were gently rolling, and the white waves were quietly playing, gently lapping at his face, passing by his ears, and caressing the ends of his hair, which was white and the same color as the waves, adding a few drops of water to the hair that had already been soaked.

It did not blame him too much but just touched him gently, giving him some comfort and strength... Just as it had said before, the [Ocean] would give him strength, support, and it was also his... [Home].

And, no matter what, compared to "before," Nozomi was self-centered and willful, and after suffering from dryness and flames, he still wanted to leave [home] and stubbornly return to the land... Compared to that time, everything now is much better.

"...Yes, thank you, 'Mother.'"

Nozomi tilted his head slightly, letting the seawater slide down his face, feeling the seawater that became sticky for an instant and then quickly became smooth. He smiled and responded softly.

"Thank you for favoring me so much..."

Pull pull——

Nozomi felt his sleeves being tugged twice.

Turning back, he could see Skadi looking at him with a pitiful expression.

"Of course, blood relatives are also included."

"Um!"

Skadi nodded happily.

Then she stretched out her hand slightly, revealing her arm, which still had wounds, and spoke to Nozomi in a somewhat aggrieved voice.

"Blood relatives, it hurts..."

Ah... Nozomi actually knew this.

In order to "perform" for others, Nozomi and Irine had left a lot of scars on the giant Honkai creature, and those scars were more or less reflected on "Skadi"...

Of course, the wound was very minor, just like a person's finger being cut by a piece of paper, and it could be easily recovered. This was even more so for Skadi, who was in the rain and the ocean.

He just didn't know why Skadi didn't recover from her wounds this time... But it didn't matter. Just think of it as Skadi being unhappy or wanting to do something else. Nozomi didn't care about those.

"It doesn't hurt."

Nozomi gently took her hand and licked the delicate wound on her forearm with his tongue. The tip of his tongue was filled with the unique salty taste of seawater.

Along with a slightly moist and warm feeling, as well as a gentle breeze or a trickle of water flowing by, the thin wound on Skadi's forearm healed quietly and disappeared...

"It won't hurt if you lick it a little."

Nozomi said half-jokingly.

He just used a little bit of strength to help Skadi recover. She could do it herself, so there was nothing to be surprised about.

"......"

But Skadi blinked her scarlet eyes, and a hint of thought flashed in her pupils.

And then... she lifted her sleeves a little, revealing the wound on her arm.

"'Blood relatives'…"

Skadi looked at Nozomi, and blinked, and there was a hint of expectation and pleading in her words.

"......"

The corner of Nozomi's mouth twitched subconsciously, but facing such a request from a "blood relative"... it seemed difficult for him to refuse.

After all, they are blood relatives.

Therefore, Nozomi took her hand and pulled her a little closer, then held her arm and licked the wound on her arm again in the same way, helping her heal this minor injury, which was nothing to both her and him.

He didn't know if it was his illusion, but after discovering that Nozomi did not reject this request, Skadi's eyes seemed to become brighter and brighter...

Then, just as Nozomi stood up again and put her hand down... Skadi spoke softly.

"Blood relatives, and... there are also some here..."

She moved her hands to the hem of her bright red skirt and lifted it up a little... and then Nozomi held her hands down.

"That won't work."

"...Why?"

Skadi raised her head innocently, blinked her clear eyes, and asked doubtfully.

"…No means no."

"oh..."

Skadi lowered her skirt obediently, with a hint of loss in her tone.