20. Kiana's Journey! Hugs for Bianka!
By the time Siegfried and the Anti-Entropy team arrived at Gao qi's secluded home, it was already the morning of the next day.
Both Anti-Entropy and Gao qi had calculated extensively, confirming that Kiana's Honkai energy would erupt after one week.
But Honkai is Honkai. Even the most precise calculations can still be wrong. The Herrscher resolved earlier, and they were unable to help.
"When I fought the Herrscher of the Void, it wasn't even this chaotic."
Holding the Judgement of Shamash, Siegfried looked at the environment destroyed in the Herrscher battle and couldn't help but suck in a cold breath.
"We detected a Honkai energy waveform similar to that of the Black Abyss and White Flower. Although the destruction was significant, another force restored the surrounding environment before dissipating, neutralizing most of the pollution—just like Cecilia."
Beside him, Einstein let out a white breath in the chilly air.
"This scene reminds me of 1955. Hah, aside from his unpleasant way of speaking, he's no different from Joyce."
Einstein stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Siegfried. They didn't have much in common, but the fact that their loved ones both sacrificed themselves for the world was surprisingly similar.
Neither of them even considered the possibility of Gao qi surviving. Gao qi's Honkai energy adaptability wasn't high. Forcing a connection with the Serenity Gem and not dying instantly was already the result of his meticulous preparations over the past three years.
During the brief period of becoming a Herrscher, he also subdued the awakened Herrscher of the Void. If he could survive that, then Honkai would be utterly useless.
Gao qi vwas a pretty good guy, except for his sharp tongue. When Einstein and Siegfried recalled their memories with him, they could only think about how infuriating he was.
But even so, both of their moods were heavy and sorrowful. Siegfried had lost a friend, and Einstein, having witnessed such things throughout her decades of life, no longer had the energy for sighs.
"Let's go, we need to take Kiana away."
The two sighed and walked together towards Gao qi's intact small house.
Opening the door, they found a person standing in the room, but it wasn't Kiana.
"Ragna? Where's the child!"
Recognizing the Valkyrie from Schicksal, Siegfried immediately became tense. His daughter had already been taken by Schicksal. If they failed the handover and Kouch's daughter was also taken—
"Don't worry, I had an agreement with Mr. Gao qi. If it weren't for him, our Charge Team might have been wiped out facing the Herrscher of the Void—The Grand Bishop saved us Honkai orphans, and Mr. Gao qi saved us once more. We owe him."
With a casual flick, Ragna tossed a small box to Siegfried and turned to leave.
"We fell into an Anti-Entropy ambush and had to retreat. I'll write that in the report—As for Kiana, the child left on her own after waking up, saying she wanted to find her dad... She'll make a fine warrior."
Inside the box, the Serenity Gem was utterly tranquil, as if it had never erupted.
"...Hah, she's truly his daughter. Fine, let her go then—Ragna, if you ever feel tired, you can go to the Far East. St. Freya Academy is short on teachers!"
Shaking his head with a light laugh, Siegfried tossed the Serenity Gem to Einstein. The Judgement of Shamash transformed into its gun form and was holstered at his waist as he strode quickly into the distance—The dead are gone, but the living must look forward.
Einstein, meanwhile, looked around this warm little home and began gathering Kouch's belongings.
"Let's keep these to return to Kiana in the future."
And at the same time, on a high mountain to the south, Kiana was step by step climbing up a rugged path to the ridge.
"Ah, the weather's great, whew—"
Patting the backpack behind her, filled with food and water, the travel expenses left by her dad, and a few photos of father and daughter, Kiana looked up at the rising morning sun and the magnificent, beautiful distance.
Turning back, she took one last look at her small house, grasped the crescent moon necklace around her neck, took a deep breath, and walked towards the east.
"Dad, you wait for me! Your daughter is going to get stronger, bit by bit! Become the strongest, and then find both big sister and you—This young lady is the strongest!"
Kiana's journey had thus begun.
——————
[Simulation Instance: Twin Crossroads - Completed.]
[Evaluation Level: S]
[Bianka and Kiana still embarked on their respective destinies, but not on the predetermined paths.]
[Bianka's memories were only temporarily sealed by the pseudo-Fenghuang Down. In her dreams, she sometimes remembers her teacher and father, which makes her walk the path of the Valkyrie with increasing determination.]
[Kiana knows her father's whereabouts. Inspired by you, she has more motivation to become stronger. Relying on her own strength, she resolved Honkai incidents along the way and finally successfully reached the Far East, entering Chiba Academy.]
[Siegfried did not lose an arm but remained in his prime state. He is still trying to find a way to rescue Bianka while secretly protecting Kiana.]
[Anti-Entropy obtained the Serenity Gem, halting many of Schicksal's experiments. Einstein heeded your advice, sealed it away completely, and simultaneously became more wary of the radical faction.]
[Ragna and the Valkyrie Charge Team survived. They retired from the front lines a few years later and took up posts at St. Freya Academy. Several Valkyries followed her to the Far East Branch—including a Valkyrie named Murata Himeko.]
[Thus, the wheel of fate turned in a different direction————]
[Rewards Obtained: Honkai Energy Adaptability (Intermediate)]
[The full-power eruption of the Serenity Gem pushed your body to its unbearable limit. However, throughout the process, your capacity to bear Honkai energy was amplified to a level unimaginable for ordinary humans.]
[Honkai Energy Adaptability (Intermediate): You can skillfully use Honkai energy to enhance yourself, enduring up to the Honkai energy output of a B-rank Valkyrie.]
[S-Rank Evaluation Additional Reward: Herrscher Authority (Death)]
[The effects of the Serenity Gem on you go far beyond that. Even if it was only for ten minutes, your mind has recorded the Herrscher of Death's control over the laws of the world.]
[Authority of the Herrscher (Death): You can wield the authority of the Herrscher of Death, controlling the powers of life and death, promoting cell apoptosis and regeneration, even instantly killing living beings or creating new life.]
[Note: The Authority of the Herrscher consumes an immense amount of energy. Without the support of a Herrscher Gem or other Honkai energy source, healing even minor injuries or causing damage beyond minor injuries will trigger Honkai energy pollution.]
[Story Additional Reward: Favor of the Herrschers (Void/Death)]
[You fought the Herrscher of the Void and earned her favor. She acknowledges your strength and is quite interested in you—feel both honored and afraid! When you meet the Herrscher of the Void again, she will not hesitate to target you first!]
[You utilized the power of the Serenity Gem to defeat the Herrscher of the Void as a mere human. This achievement has earned the recognition of the Honkai Will of Death. When the Honkai erupts, your probability of being chosen as the Herrscher of Death is greatly increased. Furthermore, when you come into contact with bearers of the Stigma of Death, you will also attract their attention.]
This time, Gao qi's alterations to the simulated world were significant, and he received a very high evaluation rating.
After waking up, Gao qi finished washing up and headed towards the cafeteria while reviewing the reward summary from this simulation.
The Intermediate Honkai Energy Adaptability finally allowed Gao qi to possess combat prowess on par with an ordinary Valkyrie.
It's important to remember that without the assistance of a Gem, Gao qi's combat ability was truly lacking. Even with rich combat experience, he struggled greatly against Honkai Beasts. Even the 12-year-old Kiana was nearly surpassing him.
Now, Gao qi finally had a certain level of consistent combat capability and didn't need to burn through his lifespan every time.
However, while the Authority of the Herrscher of Death sounds impressive, Gao qi, with his experience of having been a Herrscher, understood just how difficult this power is to bear.
With his current Intermediate Honkai Energy Resistance and Adaptability, forget reviving the dead, regenerating flesh on bones, or reattaching severed limbs—even just reattaching a cut-off pinky finger would lead to immediate pollution for him.
All Gao qi could manage was accelerating healing and repairing minor wounds that wouldn't leave sequelae even if treated by conventional medical means. The same applied inversely for causing damage—compared to Cecilia, who could use the Divine Key "Black Abyss White Flower," it was literally the difference between heaven and earth.
Unless... he obtained another powerful energy source. Of course, in reality, he wouldn't dare to easily burn through his lifespan.
As for the favor of the two Herrschers in the end, Gao qi didn't pay it much mind. The Herrscher of Death of the current era simply wouldn't appear. As for the Herrscher of the Void, she had already been thoroughly beaten not long ago at the Schicksal Headquarters and suppressed by the effects of the "Abyss Flower."
Although the Herrscher of the Void seemed rather familiar with Gao qi, he didn't overthink it, simply assuming that the "last time" she mentioned referred to the time she escaped from Schicksal.
Compared to the Herrscher of the Void, Gao Ki was more concerned about—how Kiana was doing!
"No, I have to find her. I have to go now."
Even though only one night had passed in the real world, Gao qi had experienced nearly forty years in the simulation. And for three of those years, Gao qi had genuinely accompanied Kiana as a father.
Before this, Gao qi knew that the Kiana in the real world had already drifted to Shenzhou City (St. Fountain City), constantly battling the Herrscher of the Void within her heart.
But because he knew that Kiana would ultimately be safe, without becoming a Herrscher, Gao Ki didn't plan to intervene. After all, he was just a weakling, and rashly getting involved could easily cost him his life.
But now it was different. Even though he knew it wasn't the same person, the love he felt for Kiana made it completely impossible for him to leave her be!
The thought of Kiana, alone and helpless in Shenzhou City, struggling in agony, and constantly having to deal with the Honkai threats she herself brought forth, made Gao qi's heart ache unbearably.
Three years wasn't long, but it wasn't short either. Gao qi had developed deep feelings for Kiana during that time.
Even if it was just for being called "Dad" for three years, even if Kiana didn't recognize him as a stranger at all, Gao qi had to go.
Moreover, now he had some power! And he could keep simulating to become stronger as soon as possible!
"Alvitr invited me to join the Immortal Blades before. I'll just agree and request to be assigned to follow Rita's team to Shenzhou City."
Thinking this, Gao Ki looked around on his way to the cafeteria and, sure enough, soon spotted Alvitr's figure.
At that moment, the "tool person" was standing with a group of Valkyries, seemingly waiting for someone's arrival.
"Lady Durandal, over here!"
Soon, they waved towards behind Gao qi, apparently waiting to have a meal together.
Gao qi turned around and then saw someone walking towards him with elegant steps—Kiana!
The bright blue eyes, a face that hadn't changed too much, and a smile that, while not as radiant as before, held a bit more elegance... For a moment, Gao qi felt as if Kiana was standing right before him.
His mind, still somewhat foggy from the simulation, hadn't yet fully recognized the person, but his body had already reacted. He spread his arms, stepped forward, and hugged her tightly!
"Good morning, what a coincidence, Mr. Gao qi— Mph!"
Durandal was just about to greet him when she suddenly found Gao Ki moving to hug her. Faced with this sudden "assault," she, as an S-Rank Valkyrie, could have easily dodged. But a feeling of familiarity arising from deep within instinctively kept her rooted in place. Instead, she also opened her arms.
In the next second, from within that sturdy embrace, Durandal felt a long-lost warmth and intimacy that was hard to resist.
"Good morning, Ki—"
And just as Gao qi habitually reached up to affectionately ruffle the head of the girl in his arms, planning to give it a good rub, the brilliant golden hair color made him realize—wait, that's not right!
He hurriedly let go, wanting to step back immediately, but a pair of strong little hands had already wrapped around his back, preventing his escape. Bianka even nuzzled her cheek against Gao qi's chest a couple of times.
In an instant, countless gazes filled with shock, surprise, and even jealousy and murderous intent shot towards Gao qi. He knew he was in trouble.
Then, Gao qi saw Ms. Rita, with her tea-colored short hair and maid attire, standing behind Durandal, giving him a kindly smile.
"Mr. Gao qi, I think we need to have a good talk—"
Note: I'm new to translating so please be kind and tell me any mistakes you all find, I will try to release a chapter a day but don't expect much
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Raw: 崩坏模拟器,你找的人是我么?