Kiana lunged—teleporting via Herrscher power—
Only for Senti to spin-kick her mid-appearance.
CRACK!
Kiana blocked with her arms, skidding backward.
"Pathetic. You think Herrscher powers scare me?"
Senti thumbs-downed with a manic grin.
Realizing Senti mirrored her weapon use, Kiana discarded her guns.
Hand-to-hand it was.
CLANG!
Their fists collided—
The shockwave parted clouds.
"You're. Too. WEAK!"
Senti unleashed her full strength—
BOOM!
Kiana flew a kilometer, barely slowing her flight with spatial manipulation.
She dug her heels into a chain, screeching to a stop—
Just as Senti's voice echoed:
"Class is in session, Kiana. This is a real sword technique!"
A crimson slash tore toward her—
Kiana dodged, only for dozens of energy daggers to follow.
She deflected them with Subspace Lances, weaving through the barrage—
Until she leaped, striking downward with gravity's aid.
Senti caught the punch effortlessly.
"You're pathetic!"
CRASH!
Kiana plummeted off the stone sword-peak—
Catching herself last-second with a portal.
As Senti landed, Fu Hua's voice whispered in her ear:
"Little Senti. Remember—your task isn't to win. It's to push her beyond her limits."
(Translation: Stop beating her up for fun.)
"Huh? O-Oh! Duh! I totally knew that!"
Senti's cheeks flushed.
(She'd absolutely forgotten.)
Fu Hua played along. "I believe in you, Little Senti."
"Gah! Quit babying me, old fossil! I never screw up!"
Elysia gaped at Fu Hua.
"Hua... Are you sick? Since when are you this smooth?"
"MANTIS warriors don't get sick. Except Pardofelis."
"...Fair."
(Conclusion: Fu Hua's Senti-whispering skills were unnatural.)
"So. Wholesome."
Elysia vibrated, already shipping them.
Chang Yuan watched silently—
Witnessing Fu Hua's growth, Kiana's resilience...
"How beautiful... No goodbyes. Just... moving forward."
His vision blurred.
Elysia hugged him from behind.
"I'm here. She's here too."
"...Thanks. But I'm not sad. I want to see it—her perfect world. Her Elysium. Her... Elysian Realm."
He smiled, unaware—
Elysia's words weren't comfort.
They were a clue.