Let Me Handle It

What's going on? But it's actually a good thing that the two of them pounced on me; it makes things easier for me too.

As soon as they arrived, they were almost crushed by the powerful gravity. Fortunately, Shen Gonglin immediately switched to her angel form. Her huge pink and white wings spread out on both sides of her clothes, and these seemingly soft wings transformed into a protective shield, enveloping her and the two girls who rushed towards her. The light circle opened again, and the three of them fell into it and reappeared in the distance. The gravity here was not as strong as before, and at least they could stand up without any problem.

"Shen Gonglin, how did you get here? Your injuries..."

With her wings spread, Mei Shen Gonglin's appearance in the light. She already had some complaints about his sudden entry into Shen Gonglin Mei and wanted to teach him a lesson, but when she saw his shoulder, which was stained red again, the girl immediately lost that thought. Even Durandal looked at Shen Gonglin with great concern. Undoubtedly, it was because of the gravity just now that Shen Gonglin's wound had reopened.

"Hiss... It's all because you two are too slow. Dodo and I were freezing to death over there and you still hadn't solved it. Looks like I'll have to step in. It's just a Herrscher, a dual-core Herrscher. I used to beat Kiana with multiple cores like it was nothing. How come you two are so bad? Go pick your toes."

Shen Gonglin completely disregarded her injuries, despite the pain. Today, Shen Gonglin was the tough Shen Gonglin she was, and seeing that the two of them hadn't been able to defeat the Shen Gonglin Herrscher so long made her feel very proud. Indeed, she was the strongest in the world, no bragging.

"It's just because we can't kill the Herrscher directly, otherwise the core would also be damaged. Schicksal is undertaking an assistance mission this time... However, the current situation is indeed difficult. We can't get close to the Herrscher. As long as we get within 100 meters of the Herrscher, the gravity will suddenly increase, and this range is still expanding."

"Still picking your toes?" Durandal couldn't stand it anymore. Shen Gonglin was being arrogant, saying he could take down several Kiana cores like it was nothing? Durandal scoffed. He was probably talking about the War of Schicksal, when the Herrscher of the Void showed him mercy and never even tried to kill him. And now he was spouting nonsense. Durandal didn't have time to argue with Shen Gonglin. She frowned slightly. She was a melee fighter, as was Raiden Mei. It wasn't that they lacked ranged attacks, but to unleash their full power, they needed to get close.

But in the current situation, as long as they get close, the gravity makes even simple movements impossible, let alone an attack.

"It's okay, just leave it to me."

Shen Gonglin's expression turned serious. He hadn't come here just to deal with this monster. He still remembered the Shen Gonglin's confession to him. Although he had an instinctive resistance to confessions, he had never forgotten the girl's face, which looked like she was about to die. Besides, Shen Gonglin also needed to take revenge.

As everyone knows, Shen Gonglin is a very petty person. Night Owl shot her in the shoulder before, and the wound is still hurting. If she doesn't get revenge, she won't be Shen Gonglin!

"What do you plan to do? You'll be affected by the gravitational field as soon as you get close, and you're still injured. Don't push yourself."

Upon hearing that Shen Gonglin was going to personally take charge, Durandal and Mei instinctively wanted to refuse, but seeing Shen Gonglin's serious expression, they both kept their objections to themselves. They would never stop Shen Gonglin from doing anything she really wanted to do; instead, they would provide the most support. Although Shen Gonglin always had the air of being the darling of the group, this darling was truly someone of high status and importance.

"If that's the case, then why not just stay away?"

Shen Gonglin gently flapped her wings, her sharp red eyes, unlike her usual self, flashing with analytical data. It had been a long time since she had made a proper move. After awakening that flame, Shen Gonglin no longer cared about the severe cold. This temperature was not enough to affect the Phoenix's flame. When it came to long-range combat, who could compare to the strategic Universal Angel?

"Permanent Air-to-Air Missile!"

With her wings spread wide, Shen Gonglin, who had already decided to join the battle, no longer held back. Mei and Durandal were not suited for this kind of battle, but Shen Gonglin was. From her outstretched wings, countless missiles trailing flames attacked the monster formed by the two Herrscher. However, after entering the gravity field, the propulsion of the gunpowder seemed to be restricted, and countless missiles fell from the sky. Shen Gonglin was prepared for this situation.

Knowing full well that the opponent could manipulate gravity, and that such an attack method was easily affected by gravity, Shen Gonglin was of course aware of this long ago, and he also had a solution.

One eye turned gold, and star rings shone in those golden pupils. As the missile was about to hit the ground, countless golden halos appeared on the ground. The powers of the Herrscher of the Void and the Universal Angel were used simultaneously. Although Shen Gonglin had not yet achieved synergy between the two powers, such a simple application was still possible. The Universal Angel was as obedient as a puppy, and the core of the Herrscher of the Void wanted to be her dog. Since it was her power, it should behave itself!

The light circle expanded again, its destination being the top of the giant monster's head. The missiles that should have fallen to the ground also flew out from the light circle. Shen Gonglin was adept at this type of attack, as if she had personally experienced it before. The power of the Herrscher of the Void is sometimes similar to the gap... Wait, what is the gap again?

Gravity adjusted again, this time upwards. After all, the Ninth Herrscher can manipulate spatial gravity. However, Shen Gonglin opened a spatial channel again. No matter how she adjusted the gravity, the missiles still exploded around her. After the explosions, the smoke and dust dissipated, and the blue-black ice covering the Herrscher formed the most solid defense. Tsk, it's really tough.

Shen Gonglin frowned and spat inwardly, but he wasn't disappointed. If Herrscher were so easy to deal with, it wouldn't be Herrscher. Defense, huh? Can it withstand this attack?

A black longbow appeared in Shen Gonglin's hand. This move was the most effective against enemies trapped in tortoise shells!

Chapter 122 Defeating

It's that same move again... no, it's even stronger than before!

When they saw Shen Gonglin take out that jet-black longbow, both Mei and Durandal instinctively felt uncomfortable. This was an instinctive reaction to the weapon; it was a weapon that could threaten them. This wasn't the first time they had seen Shen Gonglin use this move, and Durandal was the first to experience the attack of this weapon. Now, the threat posed to her by the longbow in Shen Gonglin's hand was as strong as ever.

Tsk... She wanted to draw the bowstring, but Shen Gonglin's arm was still injured. Even if he were completely healed, he couldn't draw the longbow. His arm strength was simply insufficient. Fortunately, Durandal had taught her a way to draw the bowstring even if she lacked arm strength. This strike pierced through the stars!

With his foot planted firmly against the bow handle, Shen Gonglin drew back the bowstring. Standing on one leg, he aimed at the Herrscher. The monster sensed the life-threatening power emanating from Shen Gonglin, altering the direction of gravity. Frost shot towards Shen Gonglin under the influence of gravity, but Shen Gonglin's attack was already prepared. A jet-black arrow appeared on the bowstring, and as Shen Gonglin released it, it streaked across the sky like a black meteor. This attack was unstoppable!

"Isn't it cool? I taught you how."

Seeing Shen Gonglin's attack, Mei's eyes trembled slightly and she was completely lost in thought. So Shen Gonglin was this strong. Even she herself would have difficulty doing such a strike. Just then, a slightly boastful voice rang in her ears. The girl turned her head in confusion. Durandal was very proud for some reason. What was she so proud of?

Durandal was naturally proud. The way Shen Gonglin drew his bow was exactly as she had taught him. Seeing Shen Gonglin's strength, Durandal was even more excited than if she had defeated a powerful enemy herself. As expected of him, as expected of the person she had taught him. Such a strike was truly enough to pierce through the stars!

The arrows hurtled towards the monster formed from the combined Herrscher, their force overwhelming. The ice crystals blocking its path were rendered useless, instantly reduced to dust by the high-speed arrows. Ultimate Weapon Apollon struck the monster with unerring accuracy, causing a powerful explosion. Despite its attempts to change the direction of gravity, the attack was unaffected, and a monstrous wail escaped from the smoke and dust. However, Shen Gonglin's attack was not yet over.

What he was going to do was not to destroy the Herrscher. With the damage the attack had done to its body, weakening it enough, it was time to do what he really needed to do: defeat the Herrscher's consciousness, pull Anna's consciousness back, and then, strip away its core!

"Mei, get ready!"

Shen Gonglin raised her sword finger in front of her with one hand, her Mindful Essence flowing to adjust her body to the most suitable state. The strongest attack against consciousness is undoubtedly the Great Void Sword Qi, the Sword God!

"The divine is the ultimate transformation, the wondrous manifestation of all things, beyond the reach of form; the Great Void Sword Qi... the God Resonance!"

Golden light gathered in Shen Gonglin's hand. Apart from Fu Hua, Shen Gonglin is undoubtedly the second person in history to have mastered the Great Void Sword Qi to this extent. Such an attack cannot be avoided and can only be withstood. Aim at your consciousness and then fire!

Golden light formed a dazzling sword in Shen Gonglin's hand. Even amidst this brilliance, Shen Gonglin's figure remained captivating. Neither Durandal nor Mei could take their eyes off him at this moment. The golden octagonal diagram beside him slowly rotated. Shen Gonglin had unleashed this unavoidable attack. If the Herrscher's consciousness was shattered, this would be the best opportunity to simulate an electromagnetic field.

Struck head-on by Apollon, giving the Herrscher no chance to catch its breath, Shen Gonglin's God Resonance struck its body with unerring accuracy. The physical damage was secondary; what truly harmed it was its spirit. Now that the Herrscher's consciousness has been shattered, the spirits of Anna or Chen Tianwu should be the ones to resurface, which is when they are at their weakest.

While maintaining her attack, Shen Gonglin freed one hand and pointed it in front of Mei. The Herrscher of Thunder immediately understood Shen Gonglin's meaning. The girl jumped into the golden circle of light that unfolded in front of her. When she reappeared, she could feel the gravity descending upon her, but without a doubt, the effect of gravity was now negligible compared to before. This was all thanks to Shen Gonglin Shingu. The girl closed her eyes, and a specially simulated electromagnetic field expanded outwards from her, temporarily severing the connection between the Herrscher and the Imaginary Tree. Mei could do this!

"Aaaaaaahh..."

Having severed the connection between the Imaginary Tree and the Herrscher, Mei could clearly hear the agonizing scream. Without a doubt, it was Chen Tianwu's voice. With the Herrscher's consciousness gone, he was now the one suffering the pain. The sphere, imbued with gravity, annihilated the moment it touched the ground, its power seemingly tearing the entire world apart. If nothing unexpected happened, both Chen Tianwu and Anna had reached the end of their lives.

Mei looked disappointed. Anna's experience seemed very similar to Kiana's, but Anna met such an end. Did this mean that Kiana would also... become like that in the future?

"Don't make that face. I'm still here. No matter what happens, I'm here for you."

A golden light flashed, and a pale-faced Shen Gonglin appeared beside Mei. It was clear from his complexion that something was wrong with him; his wounds, which hadn't healed yet, were bleeding again. However, Shen Gonglin still tried his best to put on a smile for Mei. He knew what Mei was worried about, but with him there, how could such a problem arise? He didn't want Mei to be sad.

Rushing into the center of the explosion, Shen Gonglin accurately located the two people inside the ice crystals, and Mei followed closely behind. When she saw Shen Gonglin, her eyes lit up again. Yes, that's right, Shen Gonglin was here, so there was nothing to worry about!

The Herrscher Core, here you go.

Upon entering, they saw two Herrscher Core floating in the air. Shen Gonglin grabbed them immediately. Next to the Herrscher Core lay two people. Anna regained consciousness and slowly opened her eyes, while Chen Tianwu seemed to be on his deathbed. However, at that moment, a white light enveloped the four of them. Night Owl struggled to get up. In the end, he still failed.

Chapter 123 I like you, whether you like me or not

"Shen Gonglin, Raiden Mei... you've won."

In the white light, Night Owl slowly stood up. He looked to be in good condition, as if he had not been affected by the Honkai or undergone human modification. Shen Gonglin and Mei both knew that this was his last gasp before death. Anna, who was lying on the other side, slowly sat up. Her eyes were blank, like a child who had just woken up.

Anna's consciousness was still stuck on the scene of saying goodbye to Shen Gonglin and seeing him being shot. Now, seeing Shen Gonglin standing in front of her, the girl ran towards him in surprise. Then, she looked at her hands in disbelief. What was going on?

"It's over... I never thought you could do something like this, Shen Gonglin, you really are... a male protagonist born with a silver spoon in your mouth."

Watching Anna run towards Shen Gonglin, Night Owl showed a relieved expression. If he had harbored feelings for Anna before, those feelings had changed after he learned about his sister's situation. He himself didn't know what kind of feelings he should have for Anna now—hatred, love? He didn't understand. Everything was over, and being able to see her again at this time and tell her his feelings was enough.

"Even if you praise me, I will not forgive you. We are enemies. That was decided the moment you shot me. I will not forgive you."

Reaching out, he caught the girl who ran happily towards him. As Mei glared at him, Shen Gonglin released her and set her aside. He then spoke earnestly, though a hint of admiration lingered in his eyes as he looked at Night Owl. He had originally intended to extract the Herrscher's core and use the power of time to save Anna, but he hadn't expected this guy to make such a choice at the last moment...

When the two Herrscher merged, Anna was unconscious. So Chen Tianwu placed both cores on his own side. Therefore, when the Herrscher was defeated and its core was stripped away, only he would die. This man's resolve is extraordinary.

However, this is not a reason for Shen Gonglin to forgive Night Owl. This guy is very petty, and besides, Night Owl has always been hostile to him and even shot him. Shen Gonglin is not that magnanimous.

"Heh, it's alright... Anyway, I'm leaving soon, and I didn't want you to save me. The feeling of owing someone is just too painful. And now, I've finally returned my life to you, Anna... Perhaps I lost my emotions when I became Herrscher, and now I don't even feel a bit of sadness. But, Anna..."

Night Owl's face showed relief. For him, this result might not be so bad. Even if he survived by clinging to life, his body, Honkai by Honkai and mechanically modified, had already reached its end. Dying like this was the best outcome for him. In these final moments, Night Owl looked at Anna and poured out his feelings to her.

Or rather, the feelings from before.

"Anna, I remember clearly that before today... or just a few hours ago, I loved you so much. I wanted to be with you, I wanted to give my life for you... I remember my feelings at that time so clearly. To be able to say what I had always wanted to say to you at the last moment of my life, that's really... lucky."

The Night Owl's figure grew increasingly ethereal. He dedicated the last moments of his life to Anna, hoping to see his sister soon. He hadn't seen her in so long and really missed her.

"I like you... Thank you for liking me. I vaguely remember that you stayed by my side after I became Herrscher. I am really grateful to you... But, I'm sorry, I don't like you. I have never liked you from the beginning."

Noticing Night Owl's gaze, Anna slowly stepped forward. The girl's face remained gentle, but her words were resolute. Liking someone is a very important thing. Just because someone likes you doesn't mean you have to like them back. Rather than being ambiguous, it's better to be clear. It seemed that Night Owl's life was gradually coming to an end, but Anna didn't want to lie to him. The Schariac family's motto had never mentioned this point: liking is liking, and disliking is disliking. Anna understood this very clearly.

"I see... I think this ending isn't bad. Come on, send me away."

Hearing Anna's answer, Night Owl's expression didn't change at all. Perhaps it was just as he said, that he lost his emotions after becoming Herrscher. Although he still remembered his thoughts back then, now it was as if he was watching an outsider's story. His face was full of relief. Then Night Owl looked at Mei.

As a traitor to the World Serpent, he should rightfully be judged by her.

Mei took a deep breath. This man's life was coming to an end, so she would see him off on his final journey. The blade fell, and everything returned to calm. Shen Gonglin tossed two gems to Mei. These must be what World Serpent was after. Shen Gonglin had no interest in such things. What was giving him a headache now was something else entirely.

For example, this Anna.

Looking at Anna standing beside her, Shen Gonglin felt the atmosphere was a bit strange. The girl was no longer the Herrscher she used to be. Beneath her chestnut hair were a pair of pink eyes, and the pendant on her right ear shone brightly. The girl blinked and stared at Shen Gonglin, and the unwavering gaze made Shen Gonglin very uncomfortable.

The key issue is that Mei's gaze over there is really too piercing. It feels like she's been glancing at us sideways the whole time, so Shen Gonglin doesn't dare to make any sudden movements. Miss, why are you looking at me like that?

"Ahem... Anna, you just said it yourself, just because someone likes you doesn't mean you have to like them back, so..."

Shen Gonglin coughed twice, preparing to use the girl's words to refuse her, but Anna didn't care at all. Having already died once, she felt that she had completely won back her life now, and she didn't want to have any regrets.

"Yes, I understand, but just because you don't like me doesn't mean I can't like you, right?"

The girl's words were straightforward, which left Shen Gonglin bewildered. What should she do?

End of Chapter 124

The storm subsided, and the setting sun bathed the earth. What was supposed to be Honkai lasting less than a day felt like an eternity to everyone who experienced it. But it was finally over. In the sea breeze, the rescue forces of Schicksal were gathering. Mei stood on the broken seawall, gazing into the distance. The once-prosperous Coral Island was now nothing but a desolate ruin. The rolling waves carried the souls of the departed to distant lands and brought the remnants of civilization back to their homeland.

All that they experienced will become words that exist only in history, words that future generations will not want to revisit.

Mei sighed silently. She looked at the Valkyrie defense line in the distance. Shen Gonglin and Anna were there. Shen Gonglin's wounds had reopened during the previous battle, and she was currently receiving treatment from the Valkyrie. Anna was in the same situation. As a member of World Serpent, although they were now allies, Mei didn't want to go over. However, she was worried about Shen Gonglin if she didn't go.

After all, in her eyes, Shen Gonglin was now in a den of wolves and tigers. Anna, Durandal, Rita ... Mei shook her head and looked down at her palm. Two Herrscher Core floated in her palm with the support of lightning. This was her harvest this time. Shen Gonglin had no interest in this thing at all. It was strange that Kevin and Otto had reached some kind of agreement, and he had ordered the Valkyrie Herrscher Core directly to them.

"These two cores are still alive. You've succeeded. Now, you're one step closer to your goal."

Behind Mei, the mercenary girl strolled over, a dodo bird carrying a bag of juice in its beak. It had been taken from the Valkyrie outpost and could use it to replenish its lost water. Seeing Mei's silent demeanor, the Raven blinked curiously.

"What's wrong? Why are you so quiet? Are you waiting for me to applaud you? Cheer up, this is your victory."

It's easy to guess why Mei is acting this way, but Raven just likes to say things like that. After finishing her drink, Raven casually threw the bag on the ground. After all, she's a fierce mercenary, and it would be too out of character for her to obediently throw the trash in the bin. Of course, if the children were here, that would be a different story.

"I don't think... this can be called a victory."

Mei glanced towards the Valkyrie camp, where she could see the bewildered girl. Although she had returned to the Valkyrie, it seemed no one wanted to pay her any attention; everyone looked at her with suspicion... Kiana was probably experiencing the same treatment. After all, in the eyes of others, she was Herrscher, someone who could threaten their lives at any moment. It was foreseeable that this girl named Anna's life wouldn't be easy from now on.

Raven didn't respond. She lowered her head, fiddling with the Third Divine Key she had salvaged from the battlefield. In the Honkai of Honkai, there were no victors, and the atmosphere fell silent for a moment. After a long while, Raven finally raised her head. "Perhaps you can't accept this ending, and neither can I, no one can accept it... But that's how the world is, it always has been..."

Raven looked up and patted Mei on the shoulder. This girl, who was incredibly reliable on the battlefield, was now unusually confused.

"Cheer up. Don't you still have someone to protect? Even the slightest weakness could make you lose her completely. Relax. Having him by your side is the greatest gift the world has given you. You are luckier than anyone else."

Raven comforted Mei, and this was also what Raven truly thought. Having Shen Gonglin by their side was their greatest fortune, and even she herself felt the same way. Although she had an unreliable face, the sense of security she gave was undeniable. Mei Shen Gonglin, just by mentioning that name, Raven could see that the deepness in Mei's eyes dissipated slightly.

Indeed, having Shen Gonglin around is the best gift God has given them. Seeing Shen Gonglin emerge from the tent, Anna, who had been standing there at a loss, seemed to have found her anchor and ran to his side. Although she was a little jealous, she thought that with him by her side, the girl probably wouldn't encounter anything too outrageous.

"Have you always felt this way when facing the children?"

Feeling a little more relaxed, Mei looked at Raven gratefully. After this mission together, Mei had a deeper understanding of Raven. In the World Serpent of lunatics and paranoia, Mei felt that Raven was a rare normal person, and it was quite nice to talk to her.

"Heh, I won't tell you."

Without directly responding to Mei's words, the mercenary's attitude made it clear to Mei. The mercenary turned his head and wondered if this was how he always treated children. If he was treating Mei the same way now, did that mean he considered her a child?

That's quite a threatening big kid.

"Hmph... Let's go, we should go back."

"Before you leave, go and visit Night Owl one last time. It's on that coast over there. Miss Anna, who used to be Herrscher, erected a grave for him. I just came back from there. He was a bad guy, and World Serpent will never forgive a traitor. So, apart from you and me, no one else will remember him."

Raven pointed to the coast where there was a small tombstone. Mei thought for a moment and decided to go there as well. It wasn't for any other reason than that it seemed that Shen Gonglin and the others were also planning to go there. Even if they were leaving, she had to say goodbye to Shen Gonglin.

"Hmm, let's go... Haven't you had enough to drink yet?"

Mei nodded and put away the two Herrscher Core. At that moment, she noticed that Raven had taken out another bag of drinks and put it in her mouth. Just how many bags did this guy smuggle from the Valkyrie? Is she really that thirsty? How pathetic.

"What do you think? I feel like I could drink a whole bathtub full of water right now. If I don't replenish my fluids, I feel like I'll really get dehydrated. I really don't know how you guys get used to this, especially that Durandal, eight times a night... I can't even imagine something like that. How can she be so strong?"

Raven slowly replenished its water supply, feeling helpless. It had lost far too much water. It was only bitten by Shen Gonglin and it was already like this. It was hard to imagine how Durandal had survived. So this was the power of the strongest Valkyrie? What a terrifying woman.

Chapter 125 Anna's Future Arrangements

"Hey, Shen Gonglin, are you sure you don't need stitches? Bandaging won't be enough for a wound like that. The vice-captain told me to take good care of you. How about we stitch it up? Just once?"

Inside the Valkyrie medical camp, Alvit chased after Shen Gonglin, earnestly trying to persuade him. After all, this was a mission given to her by the vice-captain, who was still seriously injured and lying in bed. Alvit dared not disobey her orders, but Shen Gonglin was completely uncooperative. What could she do?

"Don't even think about it! Just hearing about stitches makes me feel pain. It's okay, it'll be fine once it's bandaged. Also, don't follow me. The Immortal Blade is already preparing to return, right? You must have things to do too."

Shen Gonglin continued to resist treatment as always. The key point was that he felt he didn't need treatment at all. Due to his physical condition, his injuries were actually healing and didn't need stitches. So after being bandaged, he ran away. With Durandal busy and Rita seriously injured, how could Alvit possibly stop him?

"My task is to keep an eye on you, and you also need to come back with us. Both the captain and the vice-captain have given instructions. You were seriously injured this time, and they are not comfortable letting you go back alone. You need to go to headquarters to receive the best treatment. Now my task is to stay with you."

"Alvit said with a strange look in her eyes. If she hadn't forgotten, Shen Gonglin should still be a registered S-class traitor on the run by Schicksal. How could they so brazenly bring him back to headquarters for treatment? It seems like neither Lady Durandal nor Lady Rita takes the headquarters' wanted poster seriously. This bishop really has no face."

"This is so troublesome... Hey, Anna, what are you doing here?"

Shen Gonglin muttered to himself, but he knew he couldn't refuse. Durandal had already told him about this, and if he refused, that girl might just force him to come and take him away. It seemed he would have to make a trip to the Schicksal Headquarters before returning to the Hyperion. Just then, Shen Gonglin saw the girl standing in a secluded corner, looking somewhat lost. It seemed... no one wanted to talk to her.

"Shen Gonglin, I'm here... I've been waiting for you to come out. They won't let me go in to see you or walk around, so I can only wait for you here."