The intelligence Yae Sakura had gathered during this time indicated that the 3rd Herrscher born in Nagazora was female. Therefore, the male presence among the three Herrscher signatures could be ruled out.
The remaining two were both female and appeared to be staying together, which spared Yae Sakura from having to make a choice.
Five hundred years of time had not only allowed Yae Sakura, as a Pseudo-Herrscher, to reach the heights of a true Herrscher, but had also granted her near-perfect mastery over Honkai Energy. As she moved through St. Freya Academy as an intruder, she remained entirely undetected.
Yae Sakura arrived outside a residence. As she drew closer, she could hear the faint sounds of talking and laughter coming from within.
The people living here were very happy.
Shortly after making this judgment, Yae Sakura froze as a figure passed by the window.
White hair, blue eyes. Compared to the young girl she had seen previously named Theresa, this figure was that of a young woman. If not for the discrepancy in time and location, and if not for the hairstyle, mannerisms, and subtle differences in appearance, Yae Sakura would have believed she was looking at Kallen.
Who was she? A descendant of Kallen?
Furthermore, one of the Herrscher signatures she sensed was emanating from that girl's body.
Compared to the other two, this girl's Herrscher aura was extremely subtle, as if the Herrscher Core was in a strange state of being sealed or dormant. If Yae Sakura were not exceptionally powerful, she might not have noticed it at all.
Five hundred years later, a descendant of Kallenor perhaps a descendant of her clanhad actually become a Herrscher...
Yae Sakura fell silent for a moment at the irony of fate. She wanted to show herself and meet the girl who looked so much like Kallen to ask what had happened after Kallen sealed her all those years ago, but a voice called out from nearby.
"It isn't very polite to eavesdrop on girls' conversations in the middle of the night, you know?"
Hua Yi stepped out of the darkness and walked right up to Yae Sakura.
"You are one of the two people who went to Nagazora to eliminate the Pseudo-Herrscher. Your name is... Hua Yi, right? I am Yae Sakura. Hello."
Perhaps she had detected Hua Yi long ago, or perhaps she had simply developed a personality that remained unruffled by surprises, for Yae Sakura's tone was incredibly calm.
Setting aside their opposing positions, her voice carried a sense of tranquility.
"So, you were already observing me back in Nagazora? No wonder I had the faint sensation of being watched. I thought it was just my imagination. I'll have to be more careful in the future."
Seeing that the other party had not attacked immediately but was engaging in normal conversation, Yae Sakura didn't stop to consider what his attitude implied. She spoke with a hint of urgency.
"Have you... ever heard of the name Kallen? Kallen Kaslana."
The man before her had traveled with the girl named Theresa and was now here, which meant he must also know the young woman inside who bore such a striking resemblance to Kallen. If she asked him, she might get the answer she longed for.
What happened to Kallen afterward? Surely... surely she didn't die from the heavy wounds sustained during their battle...
Just as Yae Sakura waited with a mix of tension and anticipation for Hua Yi's reply, Higokumaru, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly manifested. The giant fox, having waited for this moment, opened its massive maw and swallowed the distracted and defenseless Yae Sakura whole.
"You might have a death wish, but I want to live! Just hand over control of the body, Yae Sakura."
The fox, which had been semi-transparent, became even more illusory after swallowing Sakura. It then turned toward the frowning Hua Yi and bared its teeth in a grin.
"There's one more witness. Might as well wipe him out too."
Hua Yi knew of Yae Sakura and Higokumaru's existence and their relationship, but he hadn't expected them to appear at St. Freya Academy, much less for Higokumaru to swallow Sakura.
From the fox's words, he could infer that this wasn't "devouring" in the literal sense, but rather a struggle for control over the body. This meant Yae Sakura was likely still alive.
Hua Yi hadn't initially sensed Yae Sakura's presence. It was only when it was time for dinner and he prepared to join Raiden Mei and the others that he saw her figure the moment he stepped out.
Though he knew Yae Sakura was not a bloodthirsty person, Hua Yi maintained a basic level of vigilance and had brought along his repaired Nitrogen Crystal Sword. Now, witnessing this unexpected turn of events, he remained composed, taking a defensive stance and staring intently at Higokumaru.
Seeing Hua Yi's posture, the giant fox let out a sneer. Its already illusory form suddenly dissipated, turning into a dark red wind that swept over Hua Yi.
When the dark red wind vanished, both Higokumaru and Hua Yi were gone. The night returned to its usual stillness, and the sounds of laughter continued to drift from the nearby house.
Higokumaru had not unleashed a lethal attack. Even when she struck Yae Sakura, her goal wasn't to kill, but to trap her within a space of her own making.
To gain complete control over Yae Sakura's body, she had to thoroughly dominate her mind, and the most vulnerable period of Sakura's life was undoubtedly that era.
Higokumaru wanted to force Yae Sakura to remember the past, to turn her back into a fragile shrine maiden, and then crush her completely!
As for Hua Yi, Higokumaru had dragged him along as well. It would be much easier to destroy the evidence and dispose of the body within her own domain. It would be a hassle if she finally gained control of Sakura's body only to be discovered and hunted down by St. Freya Academy because of a fight with Hua Yi.
In the other dimension, Hua Yi calmed the disorienting sensation of the world spinning around him. Gripping his Nitrogen Crystal Sword, he began to survey his surroundings.
He saw rare green mountains and clear waters, a peaceful and quiet village not far away, and a girl sitting beside him, rubbing her eyes as if she had just woken from a long slumber.
"Kallen?"
🚨 Note: Consider supporting this story on Patreon.com/Flokixy to access 400+ advance chapters and 2 new chapters daily! (Full story bundles also available without a subscription).