In the early morning, on the Siberian ice fields.
Fu Li watched the missiles arcing through the sky, his mind racing to find a way to break the deadlock.
If this were him at his peak during the last simulation, these few Honkai Fission Missiles would be like Godzilla eating a nuke—a great supplement.
But now... the energy levels of these missiles were not something he could just swallow.
Thump... thump...
His deerskin boots left a line of footprints in the snow. Fu Li walked to a position ten steps in front of Cecilia and extended his hand.
"Miss Cecilia, for the sake of your survival, let's cooperate."
"What are you talking about?" Cecilia's gaze was wary. The young man before her exuded a subtle sense of danger. "Who are you?"
"I am but a lonely soul, a single matchstick meant to ignite a spark of hope."
A smile played on Fu Li's lips. He took off his gloves and looked up at the sky. "Miss Cecilia, surely you don't want to be unable to see your daughter ever again, do you?"
"She is still so young, yet she carries such a heavy bloodline. Do you think that bastard bishop, Otto, will truly let her go?"
"If there is no one to protect her..."
His deep voice was like a demon's whisper, making no attempt to hide its provocative intent, yet it struck a chord deep within Cecilia.
As Schicksal's strongest Valkyrie, she was naturally aware of many of the things Otto had done.
After a moment of silence, as if having made a decision, Cecilia spoke in a low voice, "Then, what is the price?"
She didn't question Fu Li's strength. For someone to appear here at a time like this with such composure, they could not possibly be an ordinary person.
Fu Li revealed a demonic smile. He bent down and gently stroked Sirin's head.
Although Sirin could no longer speak, the sense of familiarity and shock in her eyes had not faded.
"Leave Schicksal. Take these children and flee to Anti-Entropy. Remember, find Dr. Tesla and Dr. Einstein. Trust no one else. As for the Herrscher Cores, leave them for Otto."
An innocent man gets into trouble because of his wealth.
Fu Li understood this principle all too well.
"No... I am a Valkyrie of Schicksal." Cecilia shook her head, but then added, "But I will do my best to find a way to extract their cores and send them to Anti-Entropy."
"...Alright." Although he didn't get the answer he wanted, Fu Li sighed and placed a hand on Cecilia's shoulder.
This was the best answer he could get under the circumstances.
"What are you doing?" Cecilia was about to move when she felt a gentle stream of Honkai energy flow into her.
Though it wasn't as potent as the healing from the Abyss Flower, it miraculously stabilized her body.
"I will save you all. You go save the others."
After leaving her with those words, a pair of wings belonging to an Assault-class Honkai Beast materialized on Fu Li's back.
Then, before Cecilia's shocked eyes, Fu Li flapped his wings and vanished from the spot in an instant.
[Your speed breaks the sound barrier. Your resolve is like a sharpened sword.]
[You feel Sirin's attachment. You feel the pain of the children who were once used as test subjects.]
[And Natasha... the Raven of World Serpent... that child with a tragic fate.]
[Death is indeed the end of consciousness, but not for you.]
[Even if you must die for them once again, there is not a shred of hesitation in your heart.]
[My heart and my actions are utterly unclouded. All that I do is for justice.]
Three...
Looking at the missiles converging in the sky, Fu Li took one last glance at the ground below, then charged straight at the fission warheads.
He believed that the gentle Cecilia would not go back on her word.
Or perhaps, at this moment, she had no choice but to believe.
"Goodbye, Sirin... Nata... and all the children..."
In the dark of night, Fu Li collided with the fission warheads. A brilliant starlight illuminated the heavens, and the Siberian atmosphere burned because of him.
[Following your death, Cecilia below unleashed her Saintly Blood.]
As the light gradually faded, flower petals representing life drifted down from the sky.
Perhaps due to the favor of fate, or perhaps because of Fu Li's healing, the current Cecilia, though weakened, was still alive.
The rampaging Honkai energy of the Second Herrscher, Sirin, had once spread beyond the Siberian plains.
Over a hundred thousand civilians had been irradiated by Honkai energy, left to helplessly await their deaths.
But then, a single blood-red petal fell from the sky and saved them. For all who came into contact with the petals, the Honkai energy within their bodies vanished.
And in that ordinary small town, Natasha and Nils also awoke from their coma.
Unlike Nils's confusion, Natasha's mind was filled with the image of the figure who had walked away from her as her consciousness faded.
She couldn't understand why Brother William would leave her...
[This simulation has ended.]
[Congratulations, player, on obtaining the rewards: Honkai Crystal x1, Lifespan Extension: 20 Days, Crystals x500.]
---o---
Fu Li slowly opened his eyes, sucking in a sharp breath of cold air.
He hadn't been killed by the blast. Instead, his body had subconsciously absorbed the Honkai energy until he was literally stuffed to death.
If he had been at his strongest, consuming those missiles would have been a piece of cake. It seemed he needed to find some digestible Honkai energy as soon as possible.
"Whatever. Let's see what this Honkai Crystal does."
He remembered that in the game, it was just an item for upgrading weapons.
[Honkai Crystal]
[Can be used to upgrade 4-star weapons. Alternatively, can be devoured by the host to strengthen the self.]
Well, well. A Honkai Crystal?
I can actually eat this thing?
Although he really wanted to take it out and eat it right now, the thought of Raven being just outside made Fu Li temporarily suppress the idea.
If he were discovered, it would be truly impossible to explain.
He glanced at the time. It was already 3 AM. There was no point in staying any longer. It would be much more comfortable back at his own place.
Pushing open the door to the private room, Fu Li saw that business at the bar was surprisingly slow.
Normally, a bar at this hour would be packed, but now there were only two or three scattered tables of customers.
Raven wasn't scrolling through her phone anymore. In front of her sat a glass of liquor, and she herself seemed to be lost in memories.
Fu Li felt a bit awkward.
Although they hadn't spent much time together in the simulation, he had seen Raven as a child. Looking at her now gave him a very strange feeling.
The kind of feeling a father has when seeing his daughter all grown up?
But that was impossible. If it were the Raven he had saved, she would never have joined World Serpent, no matter what.
So, the system hadn't lied to him. The simulation would not affect the normal plot.
"Um, miss, thank you for letting me stay, but I think I'll be heading back now."
The clear voice pulled Raven back to the present. Perhaps due to the alcohol, a faint blush had crept onto her fair cheeks, and her eyes held a nostalgic glint.
"Is that so? It's pretty late. Do you want me to see you off?"
"No need, thank you. My home is very close."
Raven watched Fu Li's retreating back. For some reason, it seemed to merge with another figure from her memories.
Although the truth of the Second Honkai Eruption had been sealed away by Schicksal, as someone who had experienced it firsthand, she could never forget that figure.
In her childhood ignorance, she had once resented John. But after joining World Serpent, becoming an officer, and learning the truth, her heart was filled with nothing but regret.
It turned out that the gentle Brother William from her memories had not been trying to run away...
It was just a pity that this young man, though he looked identical, was too young.
The cold liquor slid down her throat, and regret wrapped around her heart like thorns.
Raven put down her glass, took out her phone, and found a contact named Nils.
Nils: Sister, come home and visit when you have time.
In the chat window, a recently taken photo sat quietly.
In the picture, a grown-up Sirin sat in the middle, her hands clasped together, making a wish over a birthday candle.
Around her, Bella and the others were gathered closely, their faces beaming with happy smiles.
Though reluctant, Raven turned off her phone, her gaze deep and profound.
It was time to return to World Serpent, to offer her heart for the awakening of the Lords.
No matter the cost, humanity will defeat the Honkai!
---o---
Author's note:
PS: Tragedy first, then sweetness. As expected of me!