Chapter 90: Shenzou's Missing Guardian

Kallen and Sakura practiced diligently every waking hour of the day. Especially because Ein activated their stigmata and in Kallen's case, her dormant honkai genes.

Kallen now has good proficiency with the swordmaster style while using a double edged sword. Though she still can't do the round trip as that needed tons of control that she simply lacks. She did succeed in performing million stab and Ein thought that was good enough.

Meanwhile, Yae can now do a full judgement cut. Though she can't spam it like how the dark slayer style's supposed to. She is now comparable to SAKURA's blade of Setsuna, but is still lacking the necessary motivation. Though she made up by using a gauntlet and greaves. Learning starfall, lunar phase, and rising dragon. With her speed, hyper fist as well. A flurry of punches that are super heavy.

"Yoshhh! You girls are pretty good, though of course there are still tons of improvement to be made. But that's not relevant right now, because you need to defeat Mobius or you'll run around naked in the village, if you lose. You better run fast enough to not be noticed or be ashamed for the rest of your life! Winner takes all." He slapped them on the back and they winced. Leaving a handprint there.

"Umu. We will win, I have a good feeling." Sakura grasped her blade and thought that she has improved leaps and bounds. She cannot even imagine herself winning against her current self back then.

"Un! We'll beat up that mean woman Ein! We've been practicing a lot after all. Though I still can't control my ice powers well, hehe~" She scratched her cheek and almost made an ice cube out of Sakura when she accidentally activated her honkai cascade form while they were sparring.

"Hmph, can't control is an understatement Kallen. Not being able to wield your innate power is simply foolishness." She shook her head and clicked her tongue.

"Oh yeah? You're just jealous because I'm naturally stronger. Wanna bet?" She fired back and they both stared at each other. Ein chuckled and patted their heads. "Okay girls, you can bicker later on who's better. Let's start the match 1st." They went to the underground base and the 2 girls from the middle ages were simply awed.

"Wow... Are you guys perhaps gods? This place is inconceivable to make. And oh my goodness, everything is made out of metal." Sakura observed the surroundings and thought of how many weapons that much metal could make.

"Yeah... Even Tilie can't make something like this. And you made it in probably a few weeks? You're even smarter than her." She then had a glint in her eyes, remembering her friend that lied to her and experimented on the children.

"Enough sight seeing girls. Let's go to the battle field 1st and then sight see." They entered a training room and everyone were waiting for them there. Watching the 3's standoff and waited excitedly.

"How will Ein's disciples fair? He did train us but didn't really teach us special moves like those 2. I still can't fathom how they could learn from him, he's a slave driver." Phyllis spoke and her laziness was expected as a cat.

"You're just a bum Phyllis, and remember that this is the middle ages. People barely have anything that can entertain them. So they kill other people or watch them hang them instead. I think them liking training is a solid upgrade." Vill replied and Aponia nodded.

"It seems you follow my 3rd warm reminder well Phyllis, but you clearly indulge in it too much." They remembered her little video of warm reminders. (Pic here)

Phyllis laughed nervously and decided to shut up. Mobius then snickered. "Ara? You 2 still decided to show up huh? I guess women at this age are already perverted, being okay with exhibitionism and all." Sakura and Kallen fumed.

"I'll show you snake lady! As a Kaslana, I'll beat you up and make my ancestors proud, Believe it!" MEI then cringed when she heard that. "You don't need to really. Ugh, her behavior reminds me of when Kevin used to hassle me for dates."

Ein then whistled and raised his hand. "Okay, no lethal attacks. But broken limbs are always welcome, we'll fix it in a jiffy anyways hehe~ 1st one who surrenders or incapacitated loses. 1. Start!" He jumped up and the 3 were dumbfounded that he skipped the numbers to start.

"What? Don't just stand there, in battle. There are no countdowns, foolishness. You guys need more training and motivation!" The trio then gained their wits and Mobius bombarded their position with black shadowy constructs that crackled lightning.

"Move!" Sakura and Kallen side stepped at opposite directions and drew their weapons. "Hiyaaa!" The Kaslana immediately went in with a stinger and pierced the air in front of her. Mobius erected a barrier and the blade stopped, not able to go through.

"Paltry tricks don't work on me girl. Ein may have taught you that, but you sure cannot use it like him." She huffed and was a bit jealous that he taught them for a week instead of focusing on his lovers. So she was a bit frustrated and angry.

"Okay, guys place your bets. Who'll win between the 2 groups? Winners will get the Ein special tonight and a full 3 course meal." Everybody started to place their bets and they all voted on Kallen and Sakura, as Mobius is very unlucky. She just might stumble or something and lose.

Sakura released judgement cuts on Mobius' attacks, cancelling them before they could even make impact. While Kallen whipped out her hand guns and started blasting, except it was ineffective.

"Ha! Weak, Su's lanky ass can still beat you even with your training. And I haven't even used my cascade form." She focused energy and lightning started to fall from above.

Kallen frowned and activated her ICHOR, creating a dome of ice to block the green energy. "Sakura! Use beat her up!" Sakura nodded and equipped her gauntlets and greaves, Ein made them himself and they are stored inside a dimensional space that can be equipped immediately.

Sakura jumped and when she reached her peak. Her greaves released a burst of energy and like a falling star, her foot impacted against Mobius' shield with immense force, cracking it.

"Nice one Sakura! Leave it to me!" Kallen then created a gigantic hammer of ice. "Orya!" She smashed it at Mobius but a huge black hand blocked the blow.

"Ooohhh, she's using it. Are you guys sure she'd lose?" Everybody nodded and continued observing. "She'll certainly lose, she's that unlucky." Aponia added which cemented the outcome.

"Fufufu~ this ends now." She transformed to her honkai cascade form and raised her hand. About to rain lightning on her 2 enemies.

"Kallen! Raise a dome!" Kallen transformed as well, but was only partially or risk losing control. The battle field turned icy cold and a thick sphere of ice encased both Sakura and Kallen. While a strong blizzard raged, decreasing the temperature rapidly.

"Hehe~ you can't hide inside of there forever little rats." Mobius bombarded the sphere and it regenerated. She was too sure of her win that she didn't bother protecting herself from the frost.

Kallen struggled to repair their shield against the attacks. And the 2 were getting desperate. "We're gonna lose! If you didn't try to pick a fight we won't be running naked in the village Kallen!"

"Huh!? Why is it my fault? You just have to beat her up! I don't want to run naked too! So when we get out of here, give it your all damn it!" She prepares to make an opening, but the battering against their sphere of ice suddenly slowed down. Then it stopped completely.

"Ahhh, I forgot about that. Mobius can get too straight forward and narrow sighted." Ein observed Mobius' body that slowly stiffened.

"She forgot she's basically a snake. And they're pokilotherms, tsk. Such a beginner mistake, even if I'm not a fighter I would still remember that." MEI commented and Ein shook his head.

"I'll definitely have to beat that out of her one of these days. It's fine when researching, but she can still be counted as a combatant." He decided to add the chasers to the combat training and even MEI wasn't spared. Giving her chills.

"Now Sakura!" The pinkette tensed and crouched. Her arm shaking from the strength she was concentrating. She then released it all like a spring, giving an uppercut on Mobius' body that took her out of her honkai cascade form. She then fell to the ground and Kallen noticed that she was shivering, so she blew cold air on her and Ein called the match.

"Hah, it's Kallen and Sakura's win. Prepare yourself Mobius, I have my camera ready." She was warming herself up by going close to him and snuggling on his relatively warmer body.

"Hngh~ I feel cold..." She then rationalized the situation. "Wait a minute... Fuck! I'm gonna have to run... Naked in the village?" She couldn't believe it and her brain short circuited.

"If you're fast enough, then they won't see you anyways." He shrugged and he knew she could run or fly fast enough.

"Hehehe~ Well, well, well, how the turntables." Ein was surprised that Kallen was memeing Mobius. "That's my girl!" He patted her head and gave her a cookie, tearing up a bit and proud.

"You too Sakura, you're not useless like some other pinky so cheer up, it was a lucky win. Have a cookie." He gave her a cookie and stroked her hair. "Hnn. Thank you, I guess." She fidgeted and SAKURA saw it, thinking about how awkward it would be when he accepts her as a lover. And worse, if he decides to take them both at the same time.

"Okay, let's get it on!" He took out his camera and MEI had a smug smile on her face while fixing her glasses. "Ara~ Be sure to entertain us well Mobius." She was elated that she would get payback pretty quickly.

"Chop chop Moby. We don't have all day." His camera was a top quality one that can film in millions of frames per second, ensuring that Mobius would be filmed in her full naked glory, running around the village.

Mobius stripped and sighed, not really bothered by her nudity, though she narrowed her eyes at MEI. "Don't be too cocky MEI, it's only a matter of time before I can get my victory, mark my words. Vengeance will be mine."

She then tensed up after stretching. Releasing all the energy into a swift sprint, she was still a MANTIS. And the villagers only saw a green blur, thinking it was the wind.

"Too quick! Another!" Ein shouted and Mobius sighed. "Yes, yes." Everyone then watched it at Mobius' displeasure. She now felt embarrassed that people were watching her running nude in slow motion.

"Look at your puppies jiggle Mobius, hehe~ I really missed those huge milkers of yours, why do you have to shrink whenever you revive? I mean, it's not that I'm complaining. But you grow too slow." She then went close and clinged to him.

"Hmm~ You missed these? How about me? I missed you too." Her long tongue licked his cheek and he raised a brow. "Oho?~ You're approaching me?"

"I can't get close and steamy otherwise~" MEI then got in between them and pushed Mobius aside. "Wait! Stop egging him on! Or you'll be fucking like rabbits until the next day! I need him with Vill and I to gather data about Elysia and Eden's whereabouts!" She protested and Vill nodded. But she gave Mobius a look along with Phyllis and Aponia, then they all nodded.

"Hmm, you're right. Let's finish this 1st and analyze the data, Eden and Elysia are still missing though probably around Shenzou where the main base was located. While Kalpas and Kosma's whereabouts are unknown."

Mobius pouted and decided to wait. It was only a matter of time after all. "Fine. Vill-v, this shouldn't take much right? Klein will also help." The little ELF nodded and raised her hand. "Yes doctor. This is my specialty after all, organizing data."

They then started to see the results. They had 2 positive leads, and it was in Shenzou. Not that far from the base, but what's weird is that the other one was far away, and when they looked at the location in the satellite. It was at a mountain.

"Anybody knows the name of the coordinates in the mountains?" Ein asked and was suspicious of the location. "Wait, let me look it up. It's the place of the immortal phoenix Jingwei, Mt. Taixuan." Vill quickly gave the name and Ein frowned.

"Isn't that Hua? I also heard that she fought the holy maiden of Schicksal not that long ago. Then she suddenly disappeared according to my men and spies." Phyllis said.

"That means she died not too long ago... But how could she? She's probably the strongest MANTIS now with SWARA, you did apply it to her right? Aponia?" It was the combination of Aponia's discipline to push their mental capacity and body to the limit, while copying Ein's neural network.

"Hey, Ein. That Hua you're talking about is the immortal celestial, the guardian of Shenzou right?" Kallen asked and he looked to Vill and Phyllis for confirmation in which they nodded.

"I actually went to her home before I went here. And the place was burning to the ground, I don't know what happened. But surely it wasn't good." Ein controlled the satellite and looked at the burnt down place. He thought it was just a wildfire or something, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

"We need to go there now." His voice was urgent after reading the data the bots got. There were only traces in the area and it suddenly disappeared.

"Let's go, I'll prepare the VTOL." Vill went out to get their vehicle and everybody prepared. They then travelled to the place, they dropped down to the top of the mountain. And started investigating the area.

"Hmmm, the trace ends here. I'll scan it more carefully then." She investigated further and came to a surprising discovery. "No way, I did try it on her because she agreed. But it didn't work back then." She found out that Hua disintegrated to microscopic parts like the 12th herrscher. In stasis indefinitely and basically undetectable, now that she's transformed fully.

She called the gang. "Ein, we might not be able to find her. We can gain clues yes, but Hua's like trillions of parts right now and will be that way until she gathers enough energy to reform. Probably preserving her psyche and mind with fenghuang down. As for the cause of her death, I do not know." They then gathered and tried to look for more clues.

Then suddenly, 7 people circled around them. "Who are you people? This is a sacred ground and you are not welcome here." The only man in the group was already hostile, but Ein ignored him.

"Heya there, I felt my little bird here. She was here and I know it. Do you perhaps know this person?" He took out a photo of Hua and gave it to the most sensible looking one.

She gasped when she saw the ridiculously accurate portrait of their master Jingwei, and she saw that he really knew her as they were both in the picture and she never saw her master smile brightly like that.

"Who are you good sir? It seems you know our master Jingwei. My name is Lin Zhaoyu." She bowed pretty deep which surprised the other 6, and they kept quiet. Deciding to observe for now, every single one of them can feel the Qi that flows in Ein's group. And they are simply monsters in human form, even stronger than their master with just energy alone except Sakura and Phyllis.

"Ohh? You girl, you're corrupted by honkai. Come here, it seems you guys are Hua's disciples. Let me take care of that in a jiffy." He raised his hand and the girl with black and white hair flew to him.

"Hyah! Please forgive me sir! I'm not consumed by the corruption! Please!" She begged and the other 6 got tense which weirded him out. "Calm down girl. What's your name?" He smiled which shocked the girl.

"I... I'm Jiang Wanru." She tried to hide her honkai corruption and was deathly scared of what he would do. Based on Zhaoyu's reaction, he knows their master and even her true name.

"Okay, stay still." He stabbed a finger inside her chest that made her twin sister gasp in horror. All of Hua's disciples froze and they simply believed that he killed her instantly.

The girl's honkai corruption then started to recede, with Ein's core of Mahesvara and Vishnu now back online. He could do this in his sleep.

She looked at her neck and face using water. Tearing up, the twin with jet black hair then hugged her tight and started to tear up as well.

"By the way Zhaoyu? I am Hua's master, I taught her most of the things she should do from a young age. Do you know what happened here now that's out of the way?" He started questioning again which made the others sweat nervously.

"May Ein-sama forgive your souls." Aponia prayed silently as she already read their memories and minds. And what they did wasn't going to end well when Ein starts to pressure them for answers.

"Uhhh, she went away for a mission master Ein! She is on a pilgrimage to rid Shenzou of the corruption and monsters that plague the lands." Zhaoyu was getting really antsy and all of them too.

"Hmmm, you know Zhaoyu. I'm quite different from your master, Jingwei was it? That's her name now? She's quite soft hearted, and she'll probably forgive you for transgressions against her. But me? Nobody's ever even tried, do you know why?" Zhaoyu shook her head slowly and was starting to tear up.

"Because they're already looong~ gone before they even could. So don't lie and tell me something I want to hear." He went behind her and touched her nape. She instantly froze like a frog being preyed on by a snake.

"Attack him!" The only guy couldn't take it and drew his sword, imbuing it honkai energy. "Silence mongrel. I didn't give you permission to move and speak." He raised his hand and the man's honkai energy depleted to zero in an instant. He felt powerless and then he immediately kissed the dirt, it was like the weight of the world was on top of him, he groveled on the ground like a serf.

"Now, I can consider myself quite kind. Especially if you're Hua's subordinates or whatever. But you aren't telling me something here." He rhythmically tapped his shoe on the ground, wracking the nerves of the other 6 disciples.

"You choose silence? So be it. Aponia." He pointed at the man and she slowly walked up to him, her heels tapping on the floor like a death sentence. "It seems you have made great transgressions against Ein-sama. Unlucky for you, lost lamb. This will not be painless."

She stepped on his head and he started convulsing and screaming. "Hey! Isn't that a bit much Ein?" Kallen started to protest but he only laughed.

"Hahhh, you're quite funny aren't you Kallen? It seems the church has sheltered you quite a bit. Aponia, show her how cruel this world is. Why the strong feed on the weak, and the kind are being taken advantage of. Maybe you'll understand something?" Aponia nodded and transferred the memories of the man 1st to Ein and then showed Kallen the deepest and darkest secrets of the world to show her the day to day life of an unfortunate person.

He saw that the infected girl he just cured was the tipping point. Hua dispatched people who were irradiated with honkai to contain the corruption as much as possible. And her disciples planned an assassination except for one.

Mobius licked her lips. "Hey, can I use that lab rat? He seems to be able to control honkai energy, maybe Hua taught them something useful?" MEI then sighed but ultimately agreed, it was quite interesting especially because he was a male.

"Hmm, we don't have time to waste here. Maybe cut off his limb or something to have a sample." The other disciples stared in horror as they simply watch and wait for their fates.

"Hmmm, I see. So that's what happened... Hah, we've arrived at least 50k years in the future and this shit still happens. I'm getting tired of this bullshit." Kallen then spent hours inside her mind, being shown the horrors of the world that she simply doesn't know much of.

A mother that sacrifices everything for her children, even selling herself to put meager amounts of food on the table while tolerating abuse. Men and women indulging in debauchery while the poor and weak suffer. The ones with influence and power torture normal people for amusement. Sick people that have unspeakable hobbies. Kallen vomited from the vision and trembled at what humans can do to their own kind.

Ein then looked at the red haired girl. "How does it feel girl. To betray the one who took you in, fed you, clothed you, raised you, treated you like their own, trained you painstakingly to the person who you are today?"

Hua took them as disciples since they were young, trained them in the arts of combat to be the next protectors of Shenzou. But it all came crashing down because they cannot strike down their fellow disciple for having honkai corruption. A rule that Hua made, no mercy for the corrupted. And without the immortal celestial, the lands are ripe for picking.

"Do you even know why she even made that rule in the 1st place girl? Have you thought about it? It's because they'll inevitably turn to mindless beasts and would kill every living thing on sight. You can't cure them or stop them, so why prolong their pain and suffering? I killed my own parents so they won't succumb to it. And your skewed beliefs of morality just doomed this land to anarchy and more crimes." He sighed heavily while Phyllis, MEI, SAKURA, Yae, and RIN were surprised at the revelation.

"If she didn't get killed or cured. She will use her superior body to wreak havoc on the weak and normal civilians. Spreading even more corruption and death until it all spirals out of control. Foolishness, you wear the mantle of a protector with pride and honor. But you cannot even perform your duty, instead spitting on the kindness of the one who put you to greatness." He spitted on the ground in disgust.

"You would all be a beggar or a harlot on the streets without your master. Being used for pleasure and be tossed away like garbage after a few years, as expendable goods should be. Shamelessness that is expected from the people of Shenzou that talks about honor and wisdom, but no substance. disgusting filth."

They all kneeled and the red haired girl protested. "The master kills anyone afflicted by corruption! She would lead us to ruin and her tyranny will be left unchecked!" He narrowed his eyes at her and sliced her arms and legs off then cauterized the wounds.

"Argh! We did the right thing!" He then stepped up to her and stepped on her face. "Let me show you what will happen to this land. Your meagre brain cannot comprehend the consequences of your actions worm." He showed her that invaders would conquer Shenzou while bandits, rogues, vagabonds, criminals ravage the villages. And it isn't even the humans that were the biggest problem, it was the honkai killing anything it can put its paws on.

"Hah, idiots without vision always causes problems in the end." He then took their dominant arm and leg from everyone along with their tongues, while the red head and the man were deprived of all of them and he made them able to live off of just air, changing their physique to be like bacteria and be unable to stomach any food or drink. Being sustained by the ambient honkai energy in the atmosphere, except the last disciple who tried to warn Hua of the assassination.

"Thank your fake gods and lucky stars that Hua didn't want to kill you all. This is my mercy and punishment, live your lives like the worms you are and wiggle until you breathe your last." He then changed the nerves on their amputated limbs so whenever prosthetics were put there. They'll feel intense pain that would kill a normal person from shock.

"Let's go." He then shattered their 10th divine keys that was given by Hua to them. Everyone then followed and Kallen seriously thought about what she saw today. Quickly, she decided to talk to Sakura when they return.

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Sakura went back to her house but she was followed by Kallen. "Hey, Sakura. Can I talk to you about what happened today and what I saw?" She was uncomfortable but she needed to get it out of her chest.

"Umu, I expected as much. And you cannot talk to any of the others as they're obviously on his side." Kallen nodded and thought that things would be easier with Sakura knowing what she came for.

After they sat down, Sakura brewed tea and put out snacks. "So? What is it do you need to talk about Kallen."

"Ein... He is much more scary than I thought. He doesn't look the type to do something drastic like that. And the things I saw from that Aponia person... It was haunting. Can humans really do things like that?" She then described it and almost vomited just from stating and remembering it.

Sakura winced but nodded and understood what Ein wanted Kallen to see. "He's right Kallen. Was it too much? Yes, but no matter how much you argue, it was well deserved. This Hua person had the best interests of the nation at heart. And you already know what happens to those infected with corruption... It's considered kindness and mercy to kill them."

Kallen cringed, remembering the victims of the plague that she now knows came from the honkai. And Eleanor that turned into an abomination that would surely cause chaos in the world. "Yes... But that's murder! And killing innocent people is..." She tried to think about it but she discovered what those people feel. Overwhelming pain like they were burning in the pits of hell, while their sanity degrades and then they turn to walking corpses or monsters.

"You doubt your beliefs. That means you already agree sub consciously or partially, that is a sign of maturity, to seriously think about your principles. We do not know each other for long Kallen, but this world is not kind. This village even sacrificed virgin girls not too long ago before he came here for rain and supposed protection. And I believe Rin would be the next one..." She overheard the talks in the village meetings and it makes her blood boil whenever she remembers it.

Kallen was surprised and shocked. "Is... Is the world such a place?" Sakura then smiled and shook her head. "It is also beautiful, the clear azure sky in a sunny day, the flowers and nature that evokes calm and serenity. The people we meet that becomes the shining light in our lives... There are 2 sides to a coin Kallen. And you cannot truly live by accepting only the good and not acknowledging the bad. The world doesn't work like that." She patted her shoulder.

"Go and talk to Ein, he must have more insight on this as one who protected the world with all his might. A person you aspire to be, but you clearly only see the light of his endeavors." Kallen then stood up and decided to talk to him about it. If her oath was right or wrong and if she needed to change her views.

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Thanks for reading, Kallen's views on the world is starting to crumble. After all, the Kaslana way is just too suicidal and stupid. So she'll have to change a bit to make the Kaslana's great again. Anyways, ciao.