Boom!
A scarlet glow sliced through the sea, leaving behind trails of billowing white steam, charging majestically towards the visible golden barrier spanning from the depths to the heavens.
The immense heat and force mirrored Himeko's unwavering determination.
Fear of death vanished for Himeko countless years ago. To save her dear friend's soul and secure this world's future, she willingly embraced such a fate.
"Hm? What's that?"
Himeko halted before the golden barrier, noticing a figure with flowing blonde hair quietly hovering ahead of it—graceful as a painting, almost as if waiting for her arrival.
She recognized this person and, more so, the massive cross they held.
"Lady Hera, did you bring Theresa's Judah?"
Himeko flew closer, her burgundy eyes fixed on the intricately engraved golden cross. The image of Theresa's endearing yet crafty demeanor instantly surfaced in Himeko's mind, eliciting a smile despite herself.
Hera turned around and smiled warmly at Himeko.
"I'm not sure if my dear granddaughter has mentioned this to you, but you can call me Otto or even the former Archbishop."
"Huh?"
"Alright, let's set aside such trivial matters for now. In any case, I too wish to check on Little Theresa's condition. As for Judah, carry it on your back. While it won't completely negate the effects, it will help preserve some of your Honkai Energy within the Confinement Force Field, preventing you from losing it entirely. This way, your chances of reaching Little Theresa aren't zero."
"Otto... Lady Hera, you certainly know how to keep us guessing. If I may ask boldly, after ruling Schicksal for over five centuries, is the esteemed Lord Bishop truly male or female?" Himeko queried incredulously while accepting Judah from Hera, strapping it securely across her back.
Himeko's understanding of Hera was still rooted in her perception as an ordinary human—namely, one of those enigmatic and ancient Schariac people. The sudden revelation momentarily made Himeko forget her current anxiety, leaving her momentarily stunned.
Hera glanced sidelong at Himeko with a smile. "Does it really matter whether I'm male or female?"
"You're right; it doesn't. Regardless, you're terrifying either way, so knowing that is enough." Himeko swiftly accepted reality, letting out a long sigh.
As an adversary, Otto was bone-chillingly frightening, but standing alongside him felt genuinely reassuring—at least, that was Himeko's perspective.
She then gazed up at the golden barrier seemingly reaching to the heavens. Within its confines, countless massive, spinning gears shimmered against the sky.
"Can we enter now? The longer we delay, the more dangerous it becomes for Theresa."
"You think I've been standing guard outside waiting for someone else? Be prepared; considering Little Theresa and Kiana's sake, I'll try to look out for you as much as possible. However, the Confinement Force Field exerts immense pressure on us. Countless Fusion warriors perished within during the previous era... I cannot guarantee your survival if you choose to proceed."
"Don't worry about me. If you have a well-thought-out plan, please go ahead with it. It would be truly regrettable if my presence hindered Theresa's mission."
"Wise suggestion, noted. Let's move forward, School Commander Himeko."
With a soft chuckle, Hera touched the boundary of the Confinement Force Field, gradually stepping inside.
"Hmm..."
Himeko took a deep breath, her gaze resolute yet carrying a faint smile, and likewise entered the golden barrier.
The seascape vanished, and the shock of transitioning through space-time momentarily disoriented Himeko before her eyes widened.
"This is...a plain?"
Instead of the ocean, they now faced an endless expanse of grassland just tall enough to brush against horse hooves. The only familiar sight was the golden gears still spinning in the sky, along with the sudden depletion of most of their internal energy—proof that they were indeed within the Confinement Force Field's realm.
"By overlapping Virtual and Real Spaces, the Herrscher's inherent Honkai Energy allows the virtual domain to overlay reality, creating this world nearly indistinguishable from the true one—it's merely the unique ability of the Herrscher of Binding, nothing extraordinary."
As Hera casually explained, she waved her pale hand before her face, feeling the drastic loss of power within her body. She shook her head and continued,
"As expected from an ability that severely weakened even the pinnacle of the previous epoch. Despite using my strongest physical form, the weakening effect remains astonishing. Zeke's concerns were justified; if such a Herrscher suddenly appeared, our primary combat forces would be at their mercy. Even those designated as strategic units might not fare much better. Fortunately, we've brought her here, ensuring everything is under control!"
Hera clenched her fist, exuding confidence and composure without any hint of fear or concern for Theresa.
Himeko had no issue with Hera's rationality and self-assurance. Instead, she pointed towards the golden pillar of light piercing through the sky at the center of the plain, asking:
"That must be our destination, right?"
"Yes, but prepare yourself. Your primary goal is to survive, and the most challenging part will be facing Little Theresa with the determination to kill her. Can you handle that? It's not too late to back out now."
"Don't underestimate me. Unlike those young girls, I'm a seasoned Valkyrie who has faced countless battles. I won't hold us back."
"Good. Let's proceed," Hera said calmly, transforming into a streak of golden wind as she swiftly raced across the plain. Having provided all necessary warnings and advice, since Himeko remained resolute in her choice, Hera saw no point in dwelling on it further. From this point onward, their fate lay in destiny's hands, blameless by anyone else.
"If luck is on our side, we'll have about an hour. Within sixty minutes, awaken Little Theresa, disable the Confinement Force Field, and everything should conclude smoothly. If we fail within that time, the 103 base-mounted Selene installations along the coast will simultaneously fire, combined with the sky-based weapons, turning all three of us to ashes. Similarly, if the force field expands beyond the danger threshold within sixty minutes, the outcome would be the same."
"I understand. Let's make haste."
"There's one more thing. You're aware of Valhalla's capabilities, but the cost and difficulty of resurrection depend on the time since death and the deceased's condition. In other words, if we fail here, resurrecting you won't be too challenging, and I'm sure many would willingly contribute merits to help. However, Little Theresa, being a Herrscher...you grasp my implication, right? We must succeed at all costs, using every means available."
"...Alright!"
During their swift journey, Hera provided some basic updates, her usually impeccable emotional control momentarily betraying a hint of gravity.
Himeko ultimately nodded firmly, expressing her unwavering determination.
Perhaps due to ample space and sufficient distance, they encountered no attacks from Theresa along the way. Taking advantage of this lull, Hera offered additional guidance, which Himeko listened to attentively. Acknowledging her own inferiority in both ability and knowledge compared to Hera, she eagerly welcomed her advice.
"Watch out, she's coming!"
In an instant, before Himeko could sense it, Hera's ears twitched, swiftly interrupting her guidance with a warning cry.
"Whoosh!"
"Boom!!"
A golden chain shot through the air like a high-altitude missile, shattering the ground and leaving behind a massive crater as its tip embedded deep within the earth—its destructive power capable of tearing apart even a Valkyrie's body.
Himeko and Hera evaded the attack from different directions. As they retreated, their eyes met briefly with a nod before splitting up to circle around the distant pillar of light from opposite sides.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
This was the domain of the Herrscher of Binding. Once alerted, her attacks naturally intensified both in frequency and strength. Countless golden chains emerged from the sky, pursuing the swiftly fleeing pair relentlessly. They continuously pierced the earth, creating a dense web of intertwining golden chains—a breathtaking spectacle.
As Himeko and Hera approached closer to the true form, or perhaps due to frustration from repeated futile attempts, the Herrscher of Binding escalated her onslaught further. Alongside the golden chains, numerous colossal gears descended, amplifying both the pace and intensity of her assaults.
"Crash!"
With a resounding impact, after narrowly dodging a massive gear, Himeko raised Judah to block several incoming chains. This marked her first direct confrontation with the Herrscher of Binding's attacks. Despite being significantly weakened physically and energetically, the Herrscher's assault showed no signs of diminishing in potency.
In their clash, Himeko was instantly sent flying backward. She dragged Judah along the ground to absorb some impact but still staggered hundreds of steps back. Amidst her panic, she stole a glance at Hera's situation out of the corner of her eye. Seeing the graceful figure with golden hair and red dress weaving effortlessly through the barrage like a butterfly, steadily advancing without faltering, Himeko inwardly sighed in relief.
Chains pierced and whipped, gears collided and rolled, as various attacks surrounded Himeko from all directions.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
After deafening explosions, a gust scattered the smoke, revealing Himeko holding up the massive Cross for defense.
"Cough! Well, well, turns out I'm still pretty strong—didn't even feel that!" Himeko laughed, blood foaming at the corners of her mouth. Crimson Honkai Energy corruption patterns crawled across her limbs and face. With a swing, she severed the golden chains blocking her path using Judah.
"Theresa! Wait, I'm coming for you!"
Wiping away the blood from her lips, Himeko raised Theresa's usual weapon and sprinted forward.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The Herrscher of Binding relentlessly unleashed attack after attack. Despite being knocked down numerous times, Himeko fearlessly rose each time, pushing onward. Even Hera, who was faring much better, faced multiple hindrances on her approach.
After navigating through winding paths and dense chains, they finally met beneath the pillar of light.
Ahead of them, Theresa descended gracefully from above, clad in her flowing white gown. With cold, emotionless golden eyes, she stared at the two intruders.
"Die!"
Unlike other Herrschers' frenzied struggles or hysterical outbursts, Theresa appeared utterly calm—almost robotic in her detachment. She extended her small hands, summoning countless golden chains that shot towards Himeko and Hera like bolts of lightning.
Hera swung her fists, retreating while countering the onslaught. "Charge! I must get close to her!" she shouted. "Prepare the anti-Honkai energy inhibitor!"
Himeko nodded, wielding Judah. "Understood! Theresa, snap out of it! It's me, Himeko! If you don't wake up soon, I'll toss all those bitter melons hidden in the cafeteria fridge and your precious Homu collection under the bed!"
Withstanding the initial barrage akin to a storm, they split in different directions, defying Theresa's relentless second wave and relentlessly closing in on their target.