The First Encounter

Even though they were still ready to fight, both Fu Hua and Li Sushang were exhausted. Fu Hua had a bit more Honkai energy left, but not much.

She was about to face her opponent in a real showdown.

"It's a duel, but I'm sorry... I can't give it my all," Fu Hua said sincerely, her apology clear in her voice.

"I understand... You're still trying to catch up to that white-haired girl, right?" Sushang replied, initially surprised but then quickly smiling.

However, she wondered what chasing after the girl would achieve.

Sushang didn't understand why her master was so obsessed.

But in this battle, the winner would be able to leave.

"Alright, I've got just enough strength left for one last strike. So... this is it," Li Sushang said as she took her stance.

In a flash, swords clashed, fists flew, and the two warriors crossed paths. Both of them held their breath, focusing intensely on the fight.

"You shouldn't only have enough strength for one strike..." Fu Hua said with a bitter laugh.

"That's right," Li Sushang replied.

"So, I overestimated myself..." Fu Hua said, collapsing to the ground. It was clear who the winner was now.

During their final clash, a second sword appeared in front of Li Sushang. As more blades materialized out of thin air, the outcome was sealed.

It wasn't just Fu Hua who had used a clever trick to gain an advantage in this battle.

Li Sushang looked at her hard-won victory, leaning on her sword for support, and couldn't help but chuckle wryly. She was completely out of energy.

"Actually... there isn't really a 'victory' here. The only one who wanted to win was me," she said.

"Grandmaster, if you had thought more about yourself... and more about this moment, things might have turned out differently."

Fu Hua had tried to save some of her strength, but in the end, she lost the fight.

That's how battles are.

You can't let your guard down until it's truly over.

Even though Li Sushang only had enough strength left for one final strike and tricked Fu Hua, didn't Fu Hua also force Sushang to use her ultimate move, draining a lot of her energy?

They were both playing the same game, fighting with both their bodies and minds.

... After a long silence, Li Sushang patted her cheeks and said,

"I never thought I would win. What do we do now? The Rakshasa didn't say... Wait, doesn't that mean that guy didn't think I'd win either!"

She looked at her fallen master, the Red Kite Immortal, and sighed, feeling a mix of relief and blessing.

"Sigh..."

"Thinking more about your companions... or thinking more about yourself, which one actually makes you stronger? I still don't understand. One fight isn't enough to figure that out. But... it doesn't matter."

"Because, Red Kite Immortal, you... have truly started anew."

After a long pause, she walked over to Fu Hua, picked her up by the waist, and placed her in a clean spot. Using her sword for support, she stood by the railing and gazed out at the town.

The view from the observation deck was breath-taking.

She Sure felt very satisfied with this fight.

[Good~, gotta say, they both tricked each other, super impressive]

[One tricked a big move without getting hurt, the other snuck in a close-range attack, a true legacy]

[The fight was pretty cool, gotta say, Fu Hua really did a lot for Kiana, and her deception skills are getting better and better]

[The present, the past, the future, it's hard to say... Fu Hua chose to conserve her strength to help Kiana in the past, and ended up getting backstabbed]

[Comment…]

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The fight was actually quite amazing, with swordplay and fists showcasing their full power. It's just that... players tend to focus on the weird stuff.

From Luo Mo's perspective, Fu Hua's reputation as the "Grandmother of Deception" is hard to shake. Honestly, because of the time period, everything Fu Hua does now makes her the "Grandmother" of it.

Using deception as a selling point, it's safe to say that everyone's love for Little Senti plays a part.

"Sigh, too bad, it was so close. I thought it was going to be the Old Antique's comeback, but it turned out to be Li Su Shang's counter-attack and then another comeback. It was a strange fight."

"Can't they just have a good old-fashioned brawl with their real skills?"

The Herrscher of Sentience crossed her arms and snorted.

"The situation was urgent, Class Monitor was just thinking about the bigger picture. This wasn't a pure fight, why bother with all that fancy stuff?"

Seeing Fu Hua's gaze, Kiana naturally reasoned with Little Senti,

"Plus, their nature means that no matter who wins or loses, as long as it's not a fatal move, they'll be fine. No wonder Class Monitor let her guard down later."

"Hmm... that makes some sense."

"It's not a pure fight, it's also about conserving strength, making the most of every second."

The Herrscher of Sentience nodded approvingly and continued chatting casually with Kiana.

…

Fu Hua's residence, a duo of lonely souls who don't want to go to the Golden Courtyard for some reason.

"Looks like those disciples aren't entirely ungrateful after all. They knew to hold back against the Taixu Sword God."

Fuxi broke out in a cold sweat seeing that scene. After all, it looked like Fu Hua had been beaten up by her disciples again.

Thankfully, thankfully, Fu Hua managed to turn the situation around.

As for those fragmented consciousnesses, the two of them didn't understand what they were. They were probably a fusion of SWARA, Grip of Taixu, Fenghuang Down, and those disciples.

But at least they didn't hurt Fu Hua, and that was enough.

"Heh, who knows what they were thinking. Those things don't represent them. Maybe it was just Fu Hua's memories."

Nuwa said idly. She was quite bothered by those seven things.

"But, as she said, no matter what, Fu Hua has taken her own steps. She'll forge her own path. We can rest assured about many things..."

Fuxi smiled. Seeing a Hua with her own consciousness, no longer solely dedicated to the Doctor's plan, was a good thing.

It was worth all the effort.

-----

On the other side, Kiana had already reached her destination and was communicating with Theresa.

But halfway through the call, the connection was abruptly cut off.

Something had suddenly blocked the signal, and the communicator only emitted a "no answer" tone.

There was an uneasy feeling in her heart.

From the distance, a faint, blurry whisper emerged, like a song carried by the wind, confirming her unease.

A male voice, smooth and elegant, calm and confident, as if everything was under control, rang out.

"Now, the new piece... should be placed (fall)."

"Even in situations beyond human control, there is always room for planning. This is no lie."

"If my old friend had come, things would have been more difficult."

"The one who survived that tragedy... she has more experience after all."

The man's voice sang softly, whispering in her ear, spreading like a gentle breeze.

In this town shrouded in mist and gloom, the hands that had been orchestrating everything according to a carefully laid plan finally stood before the challengers once more.

He spoke lightly, his gaze fixed on the red-armored figure in the distance, the great sword that could cleave through anything,

"Oh my. The second guest arrives just in time."

 "Otto...? And that's... the Black Abyss White Flower?"

Kiana couldn't help but wonder on her face, how could the black abyss white flower... fall into Otto's hands?

If she remembered correctly, it should be in the hands of the golden-haired knight!

[Oh oh oh, Otto finally appeared!]

[The Tragedy of Restraint? What is that?]

[What happened to Durandal?! She's my idol! Don't tell me she's gone without a trace!]

[Comment…]

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"He couldn't be referring to..."

The eyes of the Flame-Chasers flickered with uncertainty, instinctively rising from their seats, their gazes icy, their hands trembling slightly.

If there was ever a debate about which event caused the most damage to the previous civilization, no one could say for sure. But if the target was changed to the MANTIS, to the living forces fighting against Honkai, the name Restraint undoubtedly surfaced in everyone's mind.

There was also a saying that the thirteen Flame-Chasers were the only thirteen warriors who survived after Restraint.

 It was actually quite accurate; that was the truth.

And if you knew the number of Fusion Warriors before Restraint, it would be a terrifying realization. Thousands of warriors were reduced to thirteen after that event.

If you counted the number of those who participated in the war, it was a survival rate of one in ten thousand.

 "The Herrscher of Restraint..." Mobius said, a hint of fear in her eyes.

"Ah, Restraint," Vill-V closed her eyes, calming her emotions.

"Next time, we won't be so tragic..." Elysia said seriously.

"Hmph!" Kalpas snorted coldly, saying nothing more.

Restraint was a pain in everyone's heart, one of the most unsolvable problems. No one could have imagined that the later Herrscher forms would be like that, targeting human weaknesses.

All the MANTIS, their power to fight back was almost completely destroyed.

-----

Time goes back to an hour ago…

In the small town, Durandal was indifferent to the task Otto had assigned her. A sense of unease lingered in her heart.

Could it be... that the Overseer was right? That his plan would result in the deaths of millions?

She decided to talk to Nagamitsu and Rita again.

"Precisely because of this, right now... there is something I must entrust to you."

"You mean...?"

A serene white light seemed to envelop everything.

In the next instant, a beautiful Bodhi tree appeared before the girls.

"This special world bubble that contains the Bodhi tree is called 'Sumeru Mustard Seed'. I intend to entrust it, along with the authority of the Holy Sword, to you."

"At this moment, you are far more suited to bear the responsibility of anchoring the world bubble than I am."

Durandal said seriously, her eyes filled with determination.

She had things to do, and there were always things that needed to be done.

"...So, you've prepared yourself to oppose the Overseer, haven't you?"

Rita sighed, having already anticipated Durandal's actions. But she couldn't stop her, nor could she take sides.

But she would do her best to protect Durandal.

"This is the worst-case scenario. I don't know why he arranged for Nagamitsu to research that... plan that sounds like it shouldn't be executed under any circumstances."

"No matter what, I need to ask him personally what the bottom line of his plan is."

"Just like last year at the Schicksal airship... the impact of the Herrscher awakening on the world was much worse than his initial plan. But he didn't care at all."

Durandal snorted coldly. She was not satisfied with his actions. He had gone too far, and he showed no remorse.

"So, Durandal... have you considered that this could all be a ploy by the Overseer?" Rita tried to comfort her. (aka provocation)

"A ploy? Why?"

"I don't know. It's just... you should be able to sense it too. Ever since that incident this afternoon, the Overseer has been acting very strange."

"He seems to be... constantly using lies to cover up a secret he can't reveal. Normally, he wouldn't stoop to using 'lies' to hide the truth of something."

"..."

"But... no matter what, Nagamitsu messages themselves make it impossible for me to stand by and do nothing. Please understand me, Rita—"

"I truly believe that at this moment, and for the foreseeable future, you are more suited to shoulder the responsibility of protecting that world than I am."

Since that world bubble, not only had Durandal grown, but so had Rita, no less than her.

She began to think about how to gain her own independent space of action under the control of the Overseer.

Without her friends knowing... she had done everything she could to prepare.

Perhaps, all her previous accumulation was for this moment, for her to be able to luxuriously follow her heart's desire.

In any case, Rita, this time, did not stop Durandal from taking such a risk.

Although at this moment, she would be anxious deep down; although at this moment, she would still have doubts about the contingency plan she had quietly prepared.

But she understood even more clearly that after experiencing all the turmoil of today, recently, and even in recent years,

her friend now possessed a certain kind of determination.

The twin stars of the Unbreakable Blade said nothing more.

They silently walked to the place where they needed to say goodbye, and then silently waved farewell.

"I wonder how far the Overseer intends to go this time..."

"...Let's hope he still remembers his original intention."

Rita sighed softly, but her heart was uncertain. She didn't know how far the Overseer would go.

…..

At this moment, Otto Apocalypse's consciousness was immersed in boundless void.

He was recalling that spring, that "distant afternoon" he planned to revisit one last time before the "Executioner."

"...You're doing something pointless again."

"Did you take your medicine? You're so sickly, yet you spend all day in that workshop that's dirtier than a basement..."

"Hey, don't pretend you can't hear me!"

"Glue, sawdust, dust, all of these will worsen your condition."

"Stop doing useless things, okay? You're so sickly, it's great that you can even live..."

"Airplane... my airplane..."

Young Otto cried his heart out. His airplane had crashed and he couldn't get it back. It flew into the wall.

It was the result of his hard work for a long time...

"Yours?"

"Wow! It flew so high!!"

A young girl suddenly appeared on the wall in a way no one could have imagined.

She had white hair and blue eyes, her face was pretty, and the warmth of the sun on her was something he would never forget.

"Y-yes, I made it."

"Wow... you're so amazing! You'll definitely become a great inventor someday!"

Her expression of amazement, and the light from the sun behind her, was like a saint casting down pure white light.

"Unfortunately, it's broken..."

"If you need it..."

"I can... make another one for you!"

"Really? Thank you!"

He, who felt abandoned by everyone, heard such positive encouragement for the first time.

This was the first time he knew

that someone had such expectations for him.

That someone truly needed him.

"My name is Kallen! 'Kallen Kaslana'!"

"Otto... Otto Apocalypse!"

"Um... great inventor, I have a request. Would you agree to it?"

"Eh? A request?"

"Yes! When we grow up... come save the world with me!"

"But before that, you have to make yourself healthy and strong, okay?"

The girl smiled brightly and gently, her confidence and carefree spirit shone upon him for a lifetime, making him forever remember that smile.

From that spring, that afternoon, his life began to change. The girl who jumped over the wall was deeply engraved in Otto's heart.

And for five hundred years, it never faded.

[Otto persevered, throughout the long five hundred years, he remained the same]

[At that time, the young boy received the salvation of his life]

[So in some ways, Otto is truly admirable]

[After all, who could refuse a beautiful white-haired girl? And the girl's appearance stunned the boy for a lifetime]

[She supported the Bishop through the five hundred years of torment]

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