Xia Yu looked at the world of black and white before her and sighed.
The power of an Emanator was wonderful, but the price was not easy to bear. However, she didn't complain; after all, it was a free power-up.
"Are you all right?" Just then, Himeko, seeing the pale and crimson colors fade from Xia Yu's body as her frame swayed slightly, instinctively stepped forward to support her.
"I..." Xia Yu felt it was a bit strange; she was merely slightly unadjusted. But since Himeko had proactively come to help, she was happy to let it continue.
It was only after Himeko had taken her into her arms that she realized this was a Herrscher...
Her hands had moved so quickly purely because of the way this person had shown such deep concern for her earlier; she had subconsciously treated her as one of her own.
Now she was stuck... if she let go, the girl seemed to actually have some physical issues; if she didn't, this was, after all, a Herrscher...
The current Himeko wasn't as open-minded as she would become after spending a long time with Kiana and the others. To her, the word Herrscher had always referred to an enemy.
"Aunt!" At that moment, the Herrscher of Thunder, who had been lingering in Kiana's embrace, couldn't take it anymore. She stood up abruptly and appeared beside Himeko in a flash. "Are you okay, Aunt?"
"I'm fine," Xia Yu shook her head gently. "Just a few side effects."
This was the truth. Although the backlash of the Power of Nihility was intense, it hadn't reached the point where she couldn't handle it. Xia Yu knew that her mysterious ability must have intervened; otherwise, given the magnitude of the Nihility erosion that Acheron herself endured, she truly didn't think she could have withstood it.
"Hmph, I'll remember those warships," seeing her Aunt lying weakly in the arms of the Valkyrie, the simple-minded Herrscher of Thunder began to talk tough. "One day, I will..."
"Don't go causing trouble," Xia Yu hurriedly grabbed her hand. "Mei, your safety is more important than anything."
At this point, the real Mei finally couldn't hold back and forcibly pushed the Herrscher of Thunder offline.
"Aunt," her gaze carried a hint of resentment. "Are you really okay?"
The Herrscher of Thunder couldn't see through it, but could she?
The authorities are clouded while the bystanders see clear; the way Aunt was slumped in this older sister's arms was exactly the same way the Herrscher of Thunder had been shrinking into Kiana's embrace!
This other self... though powerful, was unexpectedly simple in some aspects.
Like the way she faked weakness to hide in Kiana's arms... almost everyone had seen through it, yet she alone was feeling smug.
Kiana was enjoying it, Bronya looked like she couldn't bear to watch, and Aunt wasn't even looking.
However...
"Don't worry, I'm really fine," Xia Yu felt embarrassed to continue lying there and stood up, leaning on her blade.
"But Sister Acheron, your eyes..." Kiana leaned in worriedly, looking at the blood-tears streaming from the corners of her eyes.
"The price for that strike must have been huge," Bronya also expressed concern. "Sister Acheron, if you truly can't hold on, don't force yourself."
The group didn't yet know the magnitude of what Xia Yu had done; they thought she had simply annihilated five warships.
But how could Mei, who shared senses with the Herrscher of Thunder, not know how strong her Aunt was? The Herrscher of Thunder could have handled five mere warships herself, let alone her Aunt who had suppressed her with one hand.
But since Aunt was putting on a weak front, she couldn't blow her cover. Mei silently took her Aunt over from Himeko's arms.
"Rest for a bit, Aunt," she placed Xia Yu's head on her lap and gently massaged her temples.
In reality, the seemingly unwell Aunt could still suppress the arrogant Herrscher of Thunder with one hand; Mei knew this better than anyone.
"Sister Acheron," Kiana sat to Xia Yu's right, worriedly reaching out to hold her right hand. "Rest at ease, leave everything here to us."
"Idiot Kiana is right," Bronya followed suit, sitting opposite Kiana and holding Xia Yu's left hand. "Sister Acheron, do not overexert yourself."
Beside them, Himeko opened her mouth, then hesitated.
How should she put it? Although it was touching, didn't this scene look a bit strange?
It looked like a final farewell to a body... this image was the spitting image of a hero who had completely burned herself out to forge a future for her companions, her remaining remains being held by her friends after defeating a powerful enemy...
But as a veteran A-rank Valkyrie with rich combat experience, looking at her... she seemed merely slightly uncomfortable, not that... tragic?
Xia Yu also felt awkward all over.
"You guys..." Seeing this, she could only sigh. The atmosphere was already set, so...
"Himeko..." She reached out toward Himeko with a forced expression.
"I'm here," Himeko cooperatively held her hand. At this moment, she truly couldn't afford to offend this powerhouse who had sliced five warships (Himeko hadn't synced the full intel yet), not to mention the girl held the lives of hundreds of millions in the Far East in her hands.
She might as well play along.
"I'll leave them... to you and Theresa," Xia Yu forced a smile. "St. Freya Academy is a good place."
"...Huh?" Himeko was a bit lost. "But, aren't they your..."
"I believe in you, and Theresa," Xia Yu nodded. "At least, they can live carefree at St. Freya until they are adults."
Actually, they couldn't... it's all Otto's fault!
"I..." Himeko was momentarily speechless, wanting to say such things weren't for her to decide, but looking at the blood-tears at the corners of the girl's eyes, she finally agreed.
"I will take good care of them."
"Aunt, what does this mean?" Mei was stunned, then looked down to ask. "What kind of place is St. Freya Academy?"
"It's a good place, at least cleaner than Schicksal headquarters or Anti-Entropy," Xia Yu reached up to stroke Mei's cheek. "Theresa is quite a decent person."
"Can't I go with you?" Mei's eyes dimmed.
"Sorry, Mei, I can't take anyone with me, and I can't stay," Xia Yu shook her head helplessly. "That's why I chose to do this. You must learn to protect yourself."
"But, Sister Acheron," Kiana felt a pang of sadness. "How am I supposed to live without you!"
"Go find your Aunt," Xia Yu lightly pinched her nose. "She knows where your father is."
"Huh? I have an Aunt?" Kiana was bewildered.
"She's called Theresa Apocalypse," Xia Yu nodded. "She was the dearest friend of Ms. Cecilia; calling her Aunt is perfectly fine."
"It's because of this relationship that I feel safe leaving you to her. But remember, Theresa is fine, but her grandfather, Otto Apocalypse, is a pure villain."
"The kind that Siegfried would risk his life to fight on sight. You must never be deceived by that man."
"Mm, I understand, Sister Acheron," Kiana sniffled, her eyes moistening.
"And you, Bronya," Xia Yu looked at the last person. "Do you remember what I told you?"
"Mm, it takes three people, Bronya remembers clearly," the latter nodded.
"I've already found two for you," Xia Yu reached out to stroke her head. "Bronya, the last one, go find her at St. Freya. There, you will find the answers you seek."
"Don't forget, Seele is still waiting for you."
"Bronya knows, Sister Acheron," Bronya looked down, her mood low.
"Himeko," Xia Yu held Himeko's hand again. "Drink a bit less. Your body can't take the abuse anymore. If you can't help it, try brewing coffee instead?"
"I don't like coffee," Himeko's lip twitched. There was a part for her too?
"Try it," Xia Yu simply smiled. "It might suit you well."
"Fine, I'll look into it when I get back," Himeko could only say that. Looking at the concerned gaze, her heart was inexplicably touched.
But she really hadn't taught such a student! How could a Valkyrie teach a Herrscher?
"Ah, this sunset is truly beautiful," Xia Yu nodded with satisfaction, looking at the distant evening glow painted golden by the setting sun. She lamented, "Truly, it's been a long time since I've seen such a beautiful sun..."
After all, in that ghost of a place Ursus, it was either wind or snow every day; it was hard to see sunlight. After coming to Nagazora City, she had been too busy to appreciate the scenery.
"Aunt..." Hearing this, the Herrscher of Thunder instantly took over, grabbing Xia Yu's shoulder. "I... I don't want you to go!"
The Honkai Energy nearby began to surge again. Previously, she had been weakened because Xia Yu absorbed it, causing her to stop drawing Honkai Energy from Imaginary Space, but now, she began her actions again.
Beside them, Himeko looked at Mei, then at Xia Yu, and fell silent.
"I just want to close my eyes and rest for a bit," Xia Yu helplessly pressed her hand down. "I haven't left yet..."
"But... but..." the Herrscher of Thunder lost her composure. Her eyes were stained with purple lightning, and her voice began to carry an electronic distortion. "I don't want to lose anyone... Ow!"
Xia Yu lowered her hand-chop and looked at her clutching her head, shaking her head. "I'm only leaving temporarily, it's not like I won't come back. What's the rush..."
"Though the Power of Nihility is strong, it comes with a price," she said calmly. "Right now, in my eyes, all of you are in black and white. That is the price."
"From senses, to memories, and finally to one's own existence, everything returns to Nihility. That is why I must leave, Mei."
"To find a treasure that can pay the price for me."
Actually, she was just switching characters. As everyone knows, what does the Power of Nihility on Acheron have to do with being Tarnished or Furina?
When she needed combat power, she could just switch back and slash once; it was that simple.
She didn't need to endure the erosion of the price every moment like Acheron.
"Rest assured, I'll come back to see you," Xia Yu said, her eyes scanning everyone's faces one by one, from Mei to Kiana, to Bronya, and finally Himeko. "With you guys like this... how can I be at ease?"
Why am I included too? Himeko wanted to ask, but after weighing it, she kept her mouth shut.
"And Theresa, remember to say hello to her for me," Xia Yu smiled. "The Academy Principal... small and cute, the way she secretly watches Homu Manga in her office is truly..."
"Sigh, but later she had to shoulder the entire... forget it, it's all Otto's fault."
Hearing this, Himeko suddenly remembered something: the song she had heard before her drop.
"Ahem, I have a question," she looked down, her tone uncertain. "That song you played earlier... where did it come from?"
"That song of Academy Principal Theresa acting spoiled," Xia Yu's lips curled up slightly. "What do you think, Major Himeko?"
"Could it be I really..." Himeko took a sharp breath.
That voice constantly calling Captain... eww...
Heh, keep guessing.
Xia Yu looked at her conflicted expression, laughed inwardly, and then peacefully closed her eyes.
Just like that, surrounded by everyone, she grandly... wait, she wasn't dead yet!
"Where are the Schicksal people?" She suddenly snapped her eyes open. "I've waited so long, why haven't they come over?"
"I'm right..." Himeko started to say she was right there, but was interrupted by Xia Yu.
"You don't count," Xia Yu frowned. "Where are Durandal and the others?"
At this moment, the Schicksal and Anti-Entropy members Xia Yu was waiting for were gathered neatly outside an open-air restaurant not far from ME Corp.
"Siegfried, what exactly do you want to say?" Theresa looked suspiciously at Siegfried, who had been circling around her. "Just say it! Why do you keep circling me?"
"Theresa," Siegfried grit his teeth. "Let's talk in private?"
"I feel like you're up to no good," Theresa was a bit hesitant.
"It's about Cecilia!" Siegfried played his trump card.
"Let's talk aside!" Theresa was hit in her weak spot and couldn't refuse.
The two moved away from Durandal and the others, entering an alley.
"First, take off all your Schicksal equipment," Siegfried took the initiative. "I don't trust Otto!"
"...Fine," Theresa nodded briskly. "I don't quite trust Grandpa either."
Only after she had dealt with any equipment that might have issues did Siegfried pull a crumpled slip of paper from his pocket.
"Look."
Theresa didn't doubt him and took it, her eyes instantly widening.
"Wait, Durandal is Kiana?!" she said in disbelief. "But... but... why didn't I notice at all?"
Indeed, why didn't you notice at all?
Siegfried looked at Theresa silently.
It's like... even though you and Welt fought side by side in the Second Great Honkai, he was openly a teacher at your academy, yet you didn't recognize him either.
Theresa, what exactly did Otto do to you?