When the crimson feathers dancing in the air appeared in Leo Ash's vision, he immediately stopped moving.
In terms of theoretical effect, Fu Hua's genuine Fenghuang Down should completely outperform Otto's Mimic Fenghuang Down.
However, because Fu Hua was in a severely injured state, her strength had declined drastically.
And with her strength greatly diminished, even if Fenghuang Down's power was much greater than the mimic version, the final effect was only marginally stronger.
Leo Ash didn't know if a peak-condition Fu Hua could use Fenghuang Down to break through the special defense of the Void Demon Stone Fragment.
But at the very least, the current Fu Hua was not yet able to use Fenghuang Down to completely affect his body.
Seeing a trickle of blood seep from the corner of Fu Hua's mouth, Leo Ash felt a sense of helplessness.
It wasn't as if he couldn't sense that Fu Hua bore him no malice.
In other words, Fu Hua was using Fenghuang Down on him simply because she wanted him to forget something.
As for what could possibly be so important that Fu Hua would need to use her 'already scarce feathers,' Leo Ash felt he could figure it out with a little thought.
No need to overthink it; it was one hundred percent related to Otto.
If it wasn't something related to Otto, Fu Hua would have no need to be so cautious.
Everyone could have just gotten along fine, but because of Otto...
Sigh, Otto.
Meanwhile, looking at the 'dazed' Leo Ash, Fu Hua wiped the blood from her lips with the back of her hand and immediately led him away.
After they had walked about a hundred steps, Fu Hua spotted a hotel on the side of the street.
To be honest, if this were a normal, non-mission time, she would not usually walk into such a place with a male of 'her age.'
But now... the situation was urgent.
Leo Ash trusted her, so he had no defenses up against her. Thus, Fu Hua easily hit him with Fenghuang Down, and for the moment, didn't have to worry about him breaking free.
In fact, with Leo Ash under the control of Fenghuang Down, as long as Fu Hua didn't release its power, he would remain under her control for a long time.
But the problem was, Fu Hua was in a very poor physical state right now.
Soon, she would have to impart the training methods for Edge of Taixu to Leo Ash, and under these circumstances, the duration of Fenghuang Down, which she already couldn't maintain for long, would only become shorter.
So, she had no choice. It had to be the closest place.
Fu Hua walked into the hotel, immediately booked a twin room, and brought Leo Ash inside.
And the moment she stepped into the room...
"Cough... cough cough..."
Fu Hua immediately coughed up another mouthful of blood.
Then, she turned back to look at Leo Ash and shook her head bitterly.
Because of her promise to Otto, even if she were to teach Leo Ash Edge of Taixu, she couldn't reveal too much information.
Under this premise, she could only use this method to teach Edge of Taixu to him.
Of course, if Leo Ash was also aware of Otto's plan, Fu Hua wouldn't need to hide anything from him.
But, if Leo Ash knew about Otto's plan...
—he would probably not be able to stop himself from confronting Otto.
A man who had everything destroyed by the Honkai, who became an avenger to fight against the Honkai.
And now, you tell him that the current leader of the world's strongest anti-Honkai organization is planning to resurrect the Herrscher of the Void, who caused a large-scale Honkai Eruption and the deaths of tens of millions.
This kind of act, akin to a betrayal of all humanity, if known by others—how many could restrain their emotions and choose to obediently submit to him and continue to do his bidding?
Rita's parents were under Otto's control, and Durandal believed that Otto's plan could revive the Herrscher while preventing those sacrifices from happening.
It was for these reasons that the two active S-rank Valkyries continued to work for Otto even after learning the truth of the sirin project.
But Fu Hua was different from those two.
Even with her memory loss, she instinctively felt that Otto was absolutely unreliable when it mattered most.
Fu Hua participated in this plan, partly because she had made a promise to Otto and had to honor it by helping him.
But on the other hand, Fu Hua felt that since she couldn't stop this dangerous plan, she had to at least become a failsafe within it.
Even if her body was now broken, with the help of Moon Wheel and her Divine Key, she could still achieve some results in a battle against a Herrscher.
Bringing the topic back to Leo Ash, Fu Hua naturally wouldn't delude herself into thinking that it would be a good thing for him to know about this plan.
Even for Leo Ash's sake, Fu Hua absolutely could not let him notice any 'abnormalities'.
Being too smart sometimes really isn't a good thing—especially in front of the even smarter Otto. Sometimes, the more you know, the faster you die.
"Leo Ash."
Looking at the dazed Leo Ash standing before her, Fu Hua sat on the bed, collected herself, and began to impart the training method she had organized.
"During our past spars, you were able to enter a peculiar state in a short amount of time."
"Now, can you enter that state in front of me?"
"I can."
Leo Ash nodded slightly at Fu Hua and actively initiated Mind Like Still Water.
And in Fu Hua's eyes, although Leo Ash was still in a controlled state, he indeed gave her an indescribably wondrous feeling.
There was no mistake.
Although this state was fundamentally different from the Heart Skandha in terms of cultivation method, Leo Ash, having mastered this state, had already maintained his 'realm' between the Stainless and Clear Mirror realms after entering it.
And in Edge of Taixu, the Heart Skandha is the introductory skandha, and also the most difficult one besides Sword God.
Adolescence is the best time to temper one's Sword Heart; the earlier, the purer. For an adult to cultivate the Sword Heart is like trying to catch the wind with one's palm—a futile effort.
Moreover, for male martial artists, the limit of Heart Skandha cultivation is the Stainless realm.
Leo Ash, who had in a sense already mastered the Heart Skandha, would surely be able to advance by leaps and bounds in his practice of it as long as he could remember the incantation she was about to impart, given his similar experience with realm cultivation.
And because his realm had actually already reached a level between the Stainless and Clear Mirror states, Leo Ash might even be able to break through the limit that 'males can only cultivate the Heart Skandha to the Stainless realm' with his own inherent quality.
However, it seems Leo Ash can't maintain this state for too long.
Staring at Leo Ash, Fu Hua noticed that after he entered this state, beads of sweat faintly appeared on his temples.
And this observation evidently proved her guess.
"Alright, you don't need to maintain this state any longer."
"Next, please commit this Sword Heart Mantra to memory."
After seeing Leo Ash suddenly breathe a sigh of relief, Fu Hua began to recite the incantation in front of him.
The "Sword Heart Mantra" was a series of strange and inexplicable syllables, totaling four hundred and sixty-two sounds, with no written record.
Although the syllables themselves were meaningless, they possessed a certain mystique.
When reciting, chanting silently, or listening to it, a true qi martial artist could use this method to refine their heart, thereby elevating their Heart Skandha realm.
After reciting the mantra three times in a row, Fu Hua stopped and had Leo Ash recite it in front of her.
To her surprise, Leo Ash effortlessly and accurately recited the obscure and difficult mantra back to her.
Less than ten minutes had passed since Fu Hua had activated Fenghuang Down.
Fu Hua had thought she would need to expend more feathers multiple times to impart Edge of Taixu to Leo Ash.
But judging from his current learning progress, Fu Hua might only need to omit some of the sword moves from the Form Skandha, and perhaps she would spend far less time than she had estimated.
*It's unlikely I can complete the teaching of the sword qi cultivation method in one go, but if I can limit it to three sessions, even if those three are concentrated in a short period, my body shouldn't collapse.*
*Besides, I don't have a spare Key of Domination on hand right now.*
*So Leo Ash naturally cannot practice the Ideation Skandha, which requires the Key of Domination.*
*No, if my guess is correct, perhaps we'll be able to obtain the Key of Domination soon.*
*Major Himeko gave me a heads-up this time, and Otto also told me that I will be leading the Jiuyou exploration mission in Shenzhou.*
*Although I've lost some of my memories, Schicksal's database has recorded the legends of Shenzhou.*
*Additionally, Otto once used an instrument to probe the hidden memory fragments in my mind, so I also know that there should be a Key of Domination that I left for someone in Shenzhou back then.*
*If I can retrieve that Key of Domination and give it to Leo Ash, then he can naturally practice the Ideation Skandha as well.*
*First, I'll select the Form Skandha moves that are most suitable for Leo Ash, teach them to him, and then think about what comes next.*
In the time that followed, Fu Hua chose to teach Leo Ash the moves from the Initiate and Open Forms within the Form Skandha.
The Form Skandha of the Five Skandhas of Taixu consists of four sword forms: Guard, Transform, Initiate, and Open.
And these four sword forms naturally have different functions in the hands of a true qi martial artist.
Initiate Form: Often used as an opening move, the beginning and origin of all techniques.
Transform Form: Often used to neutralize an opponent's powerful moves, deflecting force, redirecting a thousand pounds with four ounces.
Guard Form: Often used for defense and blocking others' moves, typically used before figuring out the opponent's patterns, after which one would swiftly switch to Transform or Open Form.
Open Form: Grand and sweeping, moves with extremely strong destructive power.
These four forms are mainly divided into two categories: Initiate and Open are more offensive, while Transform and Guard are more defensive.
The reason why Fu Hua chose to teach the offensive Initiate and Open Forms to Leo Ash in the limited time she had left was also very simple.
In their weeks of sparring, Fu Hua had already experienced Leo Ash's terrifying defensive capabilities.
When facing him, even when she got serious, Fu Hua found it difficult to break through his defense after he entered that state.
It might sound a bit arrogant, but Fu Hua believed that there weren't many people in the world whose techniques were more exquisite than hers.
If even she had a hard time breaking through Leo Ash's defense with her techniques, then it would be even harder for others to suppress him in terms of skill.
Instead of worrying about Leo Ash losing to others in a battle of techniques, it was better to worry about him being stalled by an opponent due to insufficient offensive power, eventually being forced out of that profound mental state and worn down.
To put it bluntly, what Leo Ash needed was not a [Shield] to enhance his defense, but a [Sword] to enhance his offense.
Under this premise, Fu Hua would naturally choose to teach him the offensive sword forms.
And in the process of teaching him the sword moves, Fu Hua truly felt that this young man's talent was indeed too powerful.
Even with his mind taken by Fenghuang Down, Leo Ash could still think and extrapolate. It was almost as if...
—he hadn't been hypnotized from the very beginning?
But the moment that thought appeared in her mind, Fu Hua began to mock herself internally.
Although she was weaker than before, it didn't mean that the ability she activated with Fenghuang Down could be so easily broken by others.
However, just to be safe...
"The move Open Form: Mountain Collapse, can, after the sword is drawn, cause a shock like a sudden clap of thunder—Leo Ash, what is the thing you want to do most?"
Upon hearing her abrupt question, Leo Ash answered without a second thought.
"Kill the Honkai!"
Seeing the slightly ferocious expression on Leo Ash's face and the aura faintly emanating from him, Fu Hua sighed softly.
*See, why did I have such a strange thought just now?*
*If it were the usual Leo Ash, how could he reveal his true feelings so directly?*
On the other side, Leo Ash, who had been listening attentively, felt that he truly couldn't underestimate the heroes of the world.
Even Fu Hua, who he considered not too difficult to deceive, would suddenly test him like that.
If he hadn't known about Fu Hua's methods beforehand and been prepared, he estimated that his subconscious reaction would have caused his entire performance to fall apart in front of her.
Even if Fu Hua found out that 'Leo Ash can block Fenghuang Down's attack,' she might not necessarily tell Otto about it.
But the problem was, Leo Ash couldn't just assume Fu Hua would help him—this concerned his life, he couldn't afford to gamble.
Deceiving Fu Hua was certainly safer than hoping she would be on his side.
But then again, who wants to be a liar all the time if it's not absolutely necessary?
"Cough cough..."
Completely unaware of what was going through Leo Ash's mind, Fu Hua suddenly felt a sweetness in her throat and spat out a mouthful of blood.
Then, with a bitter smile, Fu Hua shook her head and spoke as if to herself.
"Forget it. Missing one or two moves from the Open Form doesn't matter."
"There's no more time. Leo Ash, I will impart the knowledge related to the Spirit Skandha to you."
"Yes."
After wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief, Fu Hua said to Leo Ash with a serious expression.
"The essence of the Spirit Skandha is to shape and extend Honkai Energy. While the Heart and Form Skandhas have their own roles, their essence is to enable the human body to control more Honkai Energy, ultimately meeting the basic requirement to command 'spirit'."
"I will also teach you the cultivation method for the Spirit Skandha, but you must remember, you absolutely must not actively cultivate the Spirit Skandha until you have completed the most basic training of the Heart and Form Skandhas."
"I understand."
Seeing the murderous aura on the young man's face completely vanish, Fu Hua continued.
"'Spirit' is the pinnacle of transformation. With or without a sword, one can form a sword with spirit; the sword qi forms itself, thus one masters the Spirit Skandha."
"'Spirit' is the pinnacle of transformation, the marvel in all things expressed through words, something that cannot be questioned by form."
"It has no form, nor does it need one. This sword fills space; this sword is space. Therefore, it is everywhere and ever-victorious."
"These incantations, do you understand what they mean?"
*This is content from the Taoist Canon and the Taiping Yulan's section on gods and ghosts. I've looked it up before, so of course I know what it means.*
*But I can't just translate it perfectly right away. A rough idea should be enough.*
*If I gave the complete meaning immediately, she would get suspicious again.*
"Roughly, it's saying that when using the Spirit Skandha, you don't need a weapon, you shouldn't be constrained by the shape of the attack, and the attack itself is formless and invisible?"
"Mm, that understanding is fine. For now, just remember that idea—and remember, until you have completed the most basic training of the Heart and Form Skandhas, you absolutely must not actively cultivate the Spirit Skandha!"
"I understand."
Taking out her phone, Fu Hua checked the time and immediately felt she should leave.
But, before that...
"Leo Ash, it was not I who taught you these incantations, but rather you dreamed of them."
"After we finished our meal, we went for a walk. During this past hour or so, we were just strolling outside—do you understand?"
Seeing Leo Ash nod slightly, Fu Hua knew her wrap-up was complete.
A person like Leo Ash, who actively conceals his own emotions, was typically meticulous to a fault.
It was precisely because of this that Fu Hua had to address the issues of [the origin of the Edge of Taixu cultivation method] and [the one-hour gap] before leaving.
As for Leo Ash, who was leaving with Fu Hua, watching her walk ahead, he had to admit he owed her one.
Every time the current Fu Hua used Fenghuang Down, it was tantamount to injuring her own body, yet under these circumstances, she still chose to use such a method to teach him a divine art.
She chose this method, certainly, for the reason that 'Fu Hua must help Otto and therefore conceal her own information.'
But that didn't mean Leo Ash could just ignore her kindness.
Someone was willing to risk injury to themselves just to allow him to increase his chances of survival by strengthening himself. Knowing her intentions, it would be a lie for Leo Ash to say he wasn't moved.
Moreover, it was true that Fu Hua had deceived everyone in the dorm.
But in this respect, Leo Ash was the same.
Leo Ash, who had also deceived his comrades, had no right whatsoever to criticize Fu Hua.
*Seriously, we were just strangers who met by chance. You going this far has put me in your debt... this is very difficult for me.*
With such thoughts, the two left the hotel for good.
And in the room where they had stayed, only a blood-stained bedsheet remained, a testament to their time there.
......
At almost the same time, Kiana Kaslana finally made it to a small alley near the hotel.
Bronya had said so much, but in the end, Kiana listened to her heart and made a decision.
She shamelessly hugged Bronya's leg and unleashed a barrage of cute pleas on the girl who was younger than her.
As for why Kiana could be so shameless—after Yuno and Mei had witnessed everything, her already precarious status in the dorm had plummeted to an irretrievable low.
Since she had already lost all her face, there was no point in thinking about it. It was better to just abandon her pride and get Bronya to help her one more time.
To put it bluntly—she was just curious!
No matter how reasonable Bronya's words were, she was just curious about what Senior Leo and the Class Rep were doing. What could she do about it!
Under these circumstances, Bronya could only make Kiana sign various unequal treaties before finally giving her the hotel address and room number where Leo and Fu Hua were.
As for how Bronya even knew their room number, no one cared about such trivial details anymore.
And so, Kiana, sprinting all the way, arrived at the scene in the shortest possible time.
And then, she saw Fu Hua and Leo Ash slowly walking out of the hotel entrance not far away.
Fu Hua's face was pale, and she looked a bit weak from having forcefully used Fenghuang Down.
Behind her, Leo Ash was as usual, his face calm, showing no other emotion.
To avoid being discovered by the two, Kiana quickly found a place to hide in the alley.
Meanwhile, after helping Leo Ash complete his preliminary training, Fu Hua felt that her body could no longer hold up.
*Damn it, if it wasn't for...*
*If it wasn't for what?*
Though she couldn't recall the memory, Otto's smiling face suddenly appeared in her mind.
And for some reason, the current Fu Hua felt incredibly annoyed, with an even stronger urge to smash Otto's damn head in.
However, she really had no time to be distracted now.
Feeling her body getting progressively worse, Fu Hua could only lead Leo Ash away quickly.
Only after leaving the hotel could Fu Hua release the power of Fenghuang Down, allowing Leo Ash to regain consciousness and preventing herself from being pushed further into a desperate situation by its power.
But, she had still misjudged her own limits.
For various reasons, using Fenghuang Down would only worsen Fu Hua's already battered body.
And now, she had used it for an extended period to control a Honkai Energy warrior who had awakened a natural Stigmata.
Even if he had strangely not put up any resistance, it didn't mean Fu Hua didn't have to pay the price for using her feathers.
"Mm, wait..."
The moment he felt the power Fu Hua had exerted on him release, Leo Ash, who had been feeling a heavy pressure on his mind, immediately chose to 'wake up.'
Then, as the mental pressure vanished, Leo Ash suddenly looked towards a small alley not far away.
*I felt a gaze on me just now. Was it my imagination?*
*Or perhaps...*
Glancing at the white hair near a discarded cardboard box, Leo Ash instantly understood what was happening.
[Haha, caught in the act, caught in the act—oh wait, you haven't made a vow of love with any girl yet, so even if she shows up, she has no reason to condemn you!]
[Looking at it this way, your choice to maintain a balance was a pretty good one, my dear Host.]
Oh, so you don't show up when I'm being hypnotized, but you're right on the scene for the drama, is that it?
[What are you talking about? You walked into a hotel with a beautiful girl. Popping up at a time like that would be so tasteless of the System.]
[Also, by the way, when you are engaged in intimate activities with others, the System will automatically go offline due to its core logic.]
[So regarding this matter, there's good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear?]
Can't you just tell me both?
[The good news is, after the System is completely offline, you don't have to worry about the System spying on you no matter what you do.]
[This is not only the System's core logic, but also the System's own belief—cooperation is one thing, but there have to be bottom lines. At the very least, the System will have no intention of infringing on your privacy in that regard.]
Wow, you really have principles, but...
[Yes, just as you imagined. The bad news is, after the System is completely offline, if someone really comes knocking and threatens your safety, a very awkward situation will arise.]
[Because the System is offline, the warning function is also off. Any rewards will be delayed. If you enter a combat threat, the System can't talk and can't give you the rewards in time.]
*The probability of that should be low, but...*
[See, you're always so smart. In fact, just as you imagined, an unlucky bastard in the past was really ambushed at such a time.]
So what happened to my predecessor?
[Why do you think—the System is with you now.]
As expected.
[Also, back to our original topic, you were with a beautiful young woman, she took you to a hotel, got all flustered, emotional, sweaty, and even bled, and now she's pale and has fainted—tell me, wouldn't the System popping up at a time like that just ruin the mood?]
If you could, I'd prefer you not use such seemingly correct but utterly wrong statements—who did you say fainted???
Upon hearing the System's hint, Leo Ash looked at Fu Hua in utter shock.
And at that moment, Fu Hua, having overexerted her strength, slowly slumped forward in front of him and completely passed out.
And her left hand, which she had extended to wipe the blood from her mouth, was left outstretched, causing her to fall in a strange position.
Because her left hand was out and she couldn't pull it back, the falling Fu Hua could only stretch her left hand forward before she fainted.
"Fu Hua?!"
Helping Fu Hua up from the ground, Leo Ash looked at the woman before him, a flash of pain in his eyes.
On the other side, Kiana, who had peeked her head out, happened to see this scene.
*Eh, the Class Rep collapsed?*
*That look in Senior's eyes... it's full of guilt and heartache...*
*What on earth happened between them???*
But Kiana still didn't dare to walk out in front of them.
In fact, just as Bronya had said, their spying on Leo Ash and Fu Hua was already a very bad thing.
If she ran out now, Kiana felt that without a good explanation, Leo Ash's impression of her would only worsen.
*Damn it, but I'm just so curious!*
"No choice, then."
Leo Ash took out his phone, searched the map, and immediately started carrying Fu Hua towards the nearest hospital.
*Seriously, if you're not well, don't use Fenghuang Down.*
*Doing this just makes me owe you an even bigger favor.*
Witnessing Leo Ash carry Fu Hua away in a princess carry, Kiana immediately stepped out of the alley.
Honestly, she was a little confused about what she was even doing today.
But since she was already here, and she had the room number...
"Um, miss."
The front desk clerk at the hotel smiled at Kiana as the white-haired girl walked up to her in a daze.
"May I help you with something?"
"Um—I want to get a room on the second floor!"
*Senior and the Class Rep's room number is 233, that should be on the second floor.*
*Once I get to the second floor, as long as I find their room, if it hasn't been cleaned yet, I can see what's inside...*
*But what good would that do?*
"Ah, a room on the second floor, is that right?"
The hotel staff checked the computer and said to Kiana with a smile.
"Then please take your room key."
Taking the key card, Kiana glanced at the room number and felt a bit dazed.
*234... this is right next to Class Rep Fu Hua and Senior Leo's room.*
In a daze, Kiana arrived near room 234, shook her head, and walked over to room 233 next door.
Then, wrapping her feet in Honkai Energy, she kicked open the door to room 233 and looked inside.
Inside the room, nothing else was particularly noteworthy.
But on the twin bed, Kiana saw something that made her pupils quake.
"Is this... blood?"
With a look of disbelief, Kiana walked over to the bedsheet, saw the crimson spots on the bed, and confirmed her thoughts.
This was indeed blood.
And the amount was very small.
Plus, there was a faint smell of sweat in the air...
Ah, ah.
So that's how it is...
So, that's how it is.
.......
Commercial Street, Hospital.
In the hospital, Leo Ash looked at Fu Hua on the bed and sighed softly.
Although the hospital said that Fu Hua should wake up soon, considering her responsible nature, she would definitely use Fenghuang Down on him again in the future to teach him Edge of Taixu.
Using Fenghuang Down was harming Fu Hua herself, but Leo Ash couldn't persuade her to stop.
In Fu Hua's eyes, there was no way he could know about Fenghuang Down and her physical problems. Directly telling her to stop using it, while not suicidal, was something he absolutely could not do.
*What a pain. I'll just have to find a way to avoid being alone with her in the future.*
"Ugh... where am I..."
After being asleep for some time, the awakened Fu Hua supported herself with her arms and slowly sat up in bed.
Then, looking at Leo Ash beside her, she finally recalled what had happened.
Looking at the helplessness and worry in Leo Ash's eyes, Fu Hua, feeling a bit better, said softly to him.
"Sorry, Leo Ash. You had to see me like that."
"...If I had known your health was this bad, I shouldn't have sparred with you, nor should I have asked you out."
Having a rough idea of what to do, Leo Ash said to Fu Hua in an annoyed tone.
"If you're not well, you should say so! Do you know how panicked I was when I saw you faint!"
"...I'm sorry."
*But I have no choice. If I am to teach you Edge of Taixu while maintaining secrecy, this is the only way.*
"No, the one who should be apologizing is me."
*After all, if I wasn't deceiving others for my own sake, you all wouldn't think I was some sort of avenger.*
*And you wouldn't have to worry about my safety and rush to teach me Edge of Taixu in a way that harms yourself.*
"It was I who asked you to come out. If I had known things would turn out like this..."
*I shouldn't have asked you to come out just to be deceived by me for the sake of 'deceiving Fu Hua means deceiving Otto.'*
"It's not your fault."
Seeing the guilt in Leo Ash's eyes, Fu Hua suddenly said to him, a bit nervously.
"You didn't notify anyone else, did you?"
"Not yet."
"That's good—hey, what are you doing!"
Seeing Leo Ash take out his phone, Fu Hua suddenly panicked.
"But I think it's a good proposal."
Seeing the name [Himeko] on the number Leo Ash was dialing, Fu Hua snatched his phone in a huff and ended the call.
"I'm fine, why are you notifying Major Himeko?"
"To make you rest properly."
Grabbing a random chair, Leo Ash looked at Fu Hua and said softly.
"Your health is so poor, you should skip the Jiuyou mission this time."
*After all, if you don't go, you can rest and recover, and without a 'monitor' around, I can use my trump cards more freely. It's a good thing for both of us.*
"That's not happening."
Directly turning off Leo Ash's phone, Fu Hua said to him, annoyed.
"This is your first time in actual combat..."
"I was the one who handled the Nagazora City Honkai Eruption."
"Then Kiana and the others..."
"Kiana and her dad were killing Honkai Beasts years ago. Bronya with her mech is at least a B-rank Valkyrie, and she used to be an elite soldier trained by the Russian army."
"And Yuno and Mei are both Herrschers. Their abilities are already high; what they lack is combat experience."
"In short, I just can't agree!"
After saying this angrily, Fu Hua suddenly added with a touch of sadness.
"Leo Ash, Shenzhou is my hometown. I joined Schicksal to fight the Honkai. Now that something has happened to my hometown, do you think I can just lie peacefully in a hospital bed?"
*Hometown... that's not the truth.*
*But to protect my promise to them, I have to... no matter what...*
*Wait, who are 'they'?*
Seeing Fu Hua suddenly clutch her head, a character profile template popped up in front of Leo Ash.
[Name: Fu Hua (Hua)]
[Status: One of the Thirteen Flame-Chasers of the Previous Era, the Immortal Red Kite of Shenzhou, an A-rank Valkyrie of Schicksal, your classmate.]
[Current Affection: 25]
[Note: She sees a shadow of her past self in you, and she is very worried about you right now.]
Ah, the affection level has gone up again.
[Yes, the affection level has gone up again, and you know what this means—]
It means that once again, by playing the role of a boring avenger, I have gained someone's sympathy and deceived their feelings.
Gaining affection through deception... ha, what an unhappy result.
[However, knowing this result, what do you plan to do?]
[In the end, you are well aware that this world is full of lies.]
[Mei lies to her lover, Su lies to his friend, Otto lies to his family, Cecilia lies to Siegfried, Siegfried lies to his daughter, and even the Fu Hua before you is actually lying to you.]
[This is a world full of lies. You've just become one of the liars—why carry such a heavy burden?]
*Yes, this world is full of lies.*
*But that is not an excuse for me to deceive others with a clear conscience.*
*Even if people call me a hypocrite, or accuse me of being overly troubled and melodramatic, there is one thing I cannot forget.*
*Deceiving others is in itself a betrayal of their trust.*
*Even if I do something wrong, I cannot make excuses to feel at ease about it.*
*Otherwise, sooner or later...*
*—I will definitely become the kind of person I hate the most.*
...