Crossing the Dust

"Mission... huh?" Fu Hua didn't notice it herself, but her hands were trembling slightly.

Mission—this was definitely not a word unfamiliar to her. Ever since she had come to this civilization, people had always been telling her what she should do, what she should want, and what she should fight for.

What you should do, what you should strive for, what you should desperately save...

Her whole life had been about these things.

Always.

"Kiana, you get it now, don't you?" Mei tugged playfully at Kiana's cheek. "When someone says the same things you used to say, you understand how it felt to do those things back then."

Mei was thinking about the Sinner's Elegy, which had saddened her for a long time. There had been an opportunity to fix things, but they had both been too stubborn, and now there was only regret.

"Okay, okay, Mei, I know! I didn't mean those things..." Kiana mumbled, her face squished in Mei's hands.

"Could you give me a little break in front of everyone?" Kiana thought, even though she knew she was in the wrong.

When she saw Mei saving that city in ARC city, she realized how hard it was for someone to carry such a burden alone... It made her feel bad for the people who cared about her, and there was a strange feeling in her heart that she couldn't quite explain.

Elysia looked at the two of them enviously. Oh, it wasn't the right time to join yet, was it? ♪

She really wanted to touch Mei's face, and it would be even better if she could secretly touch her horns. She was so curious~ ♪ ~

"Besides," Kiana started to say, then paused. "The Squad Leader is also... a Squad Leader?"

She looked at Fu Hua, confused.

Fu Hua, who was usually so calm and collected, was looking down, deep in thought.

Kiana wanted to say that their Squad Leader would never do anything like that, but Fu Hua didn't seem completely unaffected.

"...It's okay, Kiana," Fu Hua said, pressing her lips together. "At least the Herrscher of Sentience is taken care of..."

"You think... my appearance here means the Herrscher is resolved?"

The Herrscher of Sentience sighed, she patted Fu Hua on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry, this isn't the end... Kiana did a good job later. She unsealed you, and me along with you... But I still don't understand, why did you have to seal me away in the first place?"

"Can't you see I'm a good person?" The Herrscher of Sentience said, sounding a little down. She was trying to lighten the mood and cheer Fu Hua up.

"...You're right, little Senti," Fu Hua replied. "Thank you."

"What are you thanking me for? Thank her," The Herrscher of Sentience said, gesturing towards Kiana. "She's the one who saved you."

"No, there's something you said that's right. Given my state in the video... if you hadn't actively helped, you wouldn't have used the term 'old antique'..." Fu Hua shook her head and looked at the Herrscher of Sentience.

After shaking off the emotional influence, she quickly deduced that since the Herrscher was always angry at that "old antique," it meant the other person also survived and must have relied on her help.

"Uh... why are you suddenly getting so sentimental? Fine, okay, if you insist, you should thank me properly and promise not to lie to me." The Herrscher of Sentience was a little embarrassed, her fingers unconsciously touching her face, her eyes avoiding Fu Hua's gaze..

"I won't lie." Fu Hua said seriously.

Lying was something she might consider, but not lying... If she had known how to lie, she wouldn't have been betrayed so many times.

"... I hope so."

---

The Herrscher of the Void watched as the crimson feathers slowly fade into nothingness. Her long robe fluttered around her, even though there was no wind.

Her blue eyes were full of sadness—she was still grieving a recent loss. Suddenly, she clenched her fists, her voice shaking.

"Enough... This again..."

"Using sacrifice to exchange for so-called victory, I cannot accept it."

She looked down, hiding the deep sorrow in her eyes. This sorrow came from both memories of the past and the pain of the present.

♪ ♪ ♪ ~

Sad music started playing, like a song mourning those who protected beauty, yet also celebrating the arrival of beauty.

The mournful melody lingered in the air. 

[ Life blooms like a flower ]

[ faraway or by the road ]

[ To find the way back home ]

Once, under a sky filled with burning black clouds, she made a promise. She promised to change this imperfect world what you want it to be!

But now, is this really the ending she want it to be!?

The Herrscher of the Void unleashed her powers, the feather in her hand transforming into a brilliant ribbon of light.

She wanted to tear open the seal that Fu Hua spoke of, she wanted to fulfill the promise to bring her home, she couldn't bear the sacrifice of her companions.

Distant memories spanning fifty thousand years surfaced, all of them belonging to the person named Fu Hua. In those fleeting images,

The rainy night the Squad Leader first arrived in the city.

The Red haired captain who tried to help Fu Hua, but ended up becoming a Herrscher.

The desperate fight against Ganesha, followed by a narrow escape.

The mesmerizing green light in the MANTIS laboratory.

Hua, wandering alone in the Previous Era.

The MANTIS calmly facing a certain defeat.

The Red Kite Immortal, who protected the people of China for ages.

Kiana pulled back the curtain of memories, still stained with a colorful darkness, reaching out to touch the single point of light in front of her.

After breaking through that constraint, there was a radiant, iridescent white, much like the brilliance of hope.

Kiana raised her arm to shield some of the light, continuing to move forward...

[Here it is, the colorful black and the radiant white, praise the art! Quickly ride the screenwriter to work!]

[come on! Kiana, make this imperfect world what you want it to be!]

[The music starts, tears flow... MiHoYo is back with its soundtrack, Fu Hua, Red Kite Immortal... you must survive!]

---

" Well..."

Griseo glanced at the video And Live chat that Pardo was watching next to her, and fell into deep thought. Then she looked up at Luo Mo.

So, is she going to ride Brother Luo Mo to work?

She doesn't quite understand...

But riding on someone else must be impolite... Aponia seemed to have mentioned this before.

"Go! Kiana, save Sister Hua, she's so pitiful~"

Pardofelis watched intently, wiping away tears with a tissue, while raising a hand as if cheering.

The cat girl couldn't stand such touching scenes, especially when it happened to one of her rare harmless companions.

---

"Red Kite Immortal, I didn't lie. "

Blood blossomed like a fiery flower as the lone warrior fell.

It was a cruel trick. A Schicksal Overseer who spoke the truth, and a Red Kite Immortal who was deceived to the very end.

How ironic.

The sound of the gunshot echoed, piercing Fu Hua's brain. Kiana felt a sharp pain in her own head and collapsed.

"I have experienced too much betrayal and deceit."

"Squad Leader, I will never, ever deceive you."

Tears streamed down Kiana's face as she struggled to stand up. She gritted her teeth and made her promise.

Kiana made her promise, and the echoes of the past faded away. A vast snowy plain replaced them.

The wind howled, and the snow felt like sharp knives piercing her heart. Even the mighty Red Kite Immortal couldn't save everyone, especially not someone so close to her.

"Master, I can only accompany you here."

The Archon Spear pierced through her thin chest, staining the snow with her blood. In her final moments, she whispered about her master, the person she could never forget.

She had devoted her life to protecting others, standing alongside countless Valkyries to guard the person most important to her.

She now rests eternally on the windswept Siberian plains, between the and second Honkai Eruptions and now.

"Those who trusted me were also hurt by me," Fu Hua's voice was filled with bitterness, her simple words hiding a deep sorrow.

"I'm strong," Kiana said, her eyes filled with determination. "Don't worry about hurting me." A confident smile spread across her face.

The girl who had once despaired at not being able to hold the hand of someone important was long gone.

She would never let go again, no matter what.

She would never give up on anyone again! Never!

[I didn't expect that gunshot to still be fresh in Fu Hua's memory. Damn you, golden-haired Overseer, show your health bar!]

[It's really tough. Imagine living that long, filled with betrayal and hurt. She's great at fighting Honkai, but not so good at dealing with human emotions.]

[Cheng Lixue's fate is so sad. She hated that story, hated waiting, but only at the end of her life did she get her master's attention.]

---

"Cheng Lixue..." Fu Hua's hand subconsciously clenched, then relaxed.

The Cheng Lixue in this world was still alive and well, a bit weak now maybe, but quickly getting better at using Taixu Sword Qi.

"Yes," the Herrscher of Sentience said. "Cheng Lixue is a good student, but she also became a lasting regret in your heart. Cherish her, you still have a lot of time together..."

She glanced at Fu Hua, then thought about the Fu Hua from her own world. She wondered if Kiana had used these same words to 'capture' her heart.

To be honest, even she was a bit touched.

Why didn't Kiana say those words to her?

"Oh, right!" she said, snapping out of her thoughts. "I just remembered, the others should be waking up one after another in the next few days."

"...Hmm." Fu Hua's mood was a bit down, her eyes filled with conflict and contemplation.

Even Hua, the Flame-Chaser who had been watching Fu Hua's experiences from the corner, quietly approached her. She was ready to offer guidance if needed.

Fu Hua's experiences in this new civilization were far more numerous than those in the final moments of the previous civilization, and also... much sadder.

Time was a good way to forget, it could heal pain, but for her, it would only accumulate deeper.

...

As the snowy plain crumbled, Kiana fell into a deeper place.

In the illusory space, surrounded by smooth surfaces like mirrors, scenes from Fu Hua's memories were reflected.

With the torrent of memories, she experienced a thousand sails, washed away the superficial, tempered in the mortal world, and drifted through the years.

"No matter how hard I try, I can't stop the passage of time. In the end, I'm still alone."

The faces of many old friends emerged, but ultimately, now, they have all vanished like smoke.

Someone had brought her warmth and hope when she first started out.

Someone had guided her towards hope amidst the chaos of war.

Someone had fought alongside her on the battlefield.

Someone had rebelled against the heavens with her, sword in hand.

Someone had been her companion for thousands of years, protecting China together.

Someone had dedicated their whole life to martial arts, learning the special skills she had created...

But as time went on, the music stopped, and people moved on.

The precious bonds they shared scattered and faded.

In the end, only Fu Hua remained, drifting alone through the endless passage of time.

...

..

.

"I won't let you... be alone!" Kiana practically roared, her hand reaching out to grasp the light that illuminated her life, blooming like a flower.

With a powerful punch, she shattered the barrier before her, breaking the seal Fu Hua had placed on herself.

The dreamlike space reflected the worlds of both Kiana and Fu Hua. Kiana stretched out her hand with all her strength, desperate to hold onto her Squad Leader.

"Kiana, why are you here?" Fu Hua reached out her hand in surprise, but quickly withdrew it as if in fear. Her eyes flashed with disbelief, with a hint of hope and joy hidden deep within.

It seemed she had found a companion to walk with her, but it was at a crucial moment in the her Sealing.

Mission? Herself? Selfishness...

What should she do?

Even though Fu Hua believed no one in this world cared much for her, she couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth.

Suddenly, she remembered Fuxi words, would she always meet such... people?

"If the seal is broken..." Fu Hua began, hesitantly.

"Nonsense!" Kiana interrupted, looking directly into Fu Hua's eyes. She firmly grasped Fu Hua's wrist and declared, "Then I'll defeat her again."

"If you want to escape from me, there is no way! "

The blue eyes were extremely determined, and the eyes that looked directly at Fu Hua had an unmistakable taste.

Fighting against Honkai wasn't just Fu Hua's burden; it was everyone's mission. Fu Hua had already sacrificed enough, and Kiana wouldn't let her shoulder all the responsibility alone.

The seals of Fenghuang Down shattered and broke apart, revealing the clear, blue sky outside.

"The world is ever-changing."

"I have grown accustomed to parting and despair."

"Unaware of the concept of time, trapped in an endless cycle of reincarnation, only for in hope of achieving..."

"My mission."

♪ ~

Ladies and gentlemen, let's sing together!

[ Life blooms like a flower ]

She is a detective who knows every detail in the foggy city and is a powerful assistant to Watson when solving crimes.

[ Far away or by the road ]

She was the guardian of China throughout the ages, the founder of the Taixu Sect, the Red Kite Immortal;

[ Waiting for the one ]

She was a loyal warrior of Schicksal, a spy planted in St. Freya;

[ To find the way back home ]

She was once a Mantis of the Previous Era, one of the remaining thirteen MANTISes who form thirteen Flame Chaser;

[ Time flows across the world ]

She was the pillar of support for her companions in St. Freya, their Squad Leader.

[ There is always a longer way to go ]

But here, for the first time, she became the girl named Fu Hua.

[ Till I reach your arms ]

On the surface of the void-like water, a girl slowly walked forward, ripples spreading across the water, her clothes changing accordingly.

[ A madder there for you ]

Her identity fluctuated with the tides of history, each change of attire representing a shift in her status and circumstances,

♪ ~

As she walked closer and closer, she returned to her true self.

[It's sweet, it's sweet, not a knife, not a knife - hahahaha]

[A thousand years of perseverance, just to save the world. After thousands of years, she finally returned to her original self.]

[The powerful Herrscher fell in love with me. Mei: ...Kiana, what about me?]

[Welcome home, Squad Leader, we've always been here for you.]

[Kiana can finally change the ending of something. She's not the girl who couldn't change anything anymore. She's growing up.]

[World-famous painting: Mei is at World Serpent, duck is sleeping.]

[At this time, the duck is still sleeping. How can you sleep at your age?! (heartbroken)]

---

Everything changed here and now

a line of large text appeared on the white screen.

"Hua, you've grown so much... You've slowly discovered who you really are, and you're no longer living for other people's goals. Luo Mo, this story really touched my heart," Elysia said, her eyes shimmering with tears and a beautiful smile on her face.

She smiled genuinely, happy for her friend who had found her way home.

"Yes, that scene... Hua, she really did well," Eden said with a smile.

"Yes, sniff, Sister Hua, you really... I'm crying so much, it wasn't easy for you to make it through all that..." Pardofelis sobbed, wanting to throw herself into Hua's arms and cry.

Griseo looked a little disappointed. It seemed like she wouldn't get to ride on Luo Mo's back to work after all. What a shame!

Next to her, Luo Mo's eyes sparkled. She glanced back and forth between Fu Hua and the Herrscher of Sentience, deep in thought.

Luo Mo felt a chill run down his spine. He didn't understand why someone was still mentioning him even though it was such a sweet moment.

He forced a smile and said, "Well, it looks like Fu Hua's main story is over, but the Herrscher of Sentience's story isn't done yet. Everyone's happy, right? Everyone's happy!"

"Exactly," the Herrscher of Sentience chimed in, nodding in agreement. "My story is just beginning. How could I leave the stage so soon?"

The past couldn't be changed, and the future was full of possibilities.

Kiana was the protagonist, but did that affect her own performance? Not at all. She and the "old antique" were bound together, unless she didn't want the "old antique" to live.

"Found... myself?" Fu Hua repeated, taking a deep breath. Her eyes shone with newfound determination. She... wouldn't be alone anymore.

"That's right, that was me!" Kiana said earnestly to Fu Hua, the same smile from the video on her face. "You want to run away from me? No way!"

"Pfft, hahaha—" Everyone burst into laughter.

Mei poked Kiana's back from behind. Kiana turned around and saw Mei's cold face, her smile immediately turning bitter. "Mei, I was just..."

"Hey, I would step forward, no need for you, Kiana." The Herrscher of Sentience chimed in from the side.

She could save the old antique too!

---

edit: change "The sun and moon rise and fall, the seas change into mulberry fields." (This is a Chinese idiom meaning the passage of time and changes in the world.) to "The World is ever-changing"