25. The Gaps Are Gradually Being Filled

The more this happened, the more pain she felt.

Why her?

Why is she the Second Herrscher?

Why... was it just a dream?

Sirin curled up tightly in the core, cutting off all contact with the outside world.

She let out a low sob.

"Xia Ling... Is Sirin really alright? Kiana's Herrscher of the Void Core seems to be acting abnormally."

Elysia gripped Xia Ling's hand tightly, watching the situation transmitted back from Kiana's body by the Corrosion Power.

"She sealed off the core, making it difficult to observe from the outside... This is in line with expectations. At least there's good news: Sirin is indeed a good girl, and we succeeded."

"However, this might be even more cruel to her..."

"She could have remained steadfast in the memories she inherited from the core, forever carrying her hatred until her final destruction."

"But now that she has truly come to know her own heart and has come into contact with the beauty she has longed for but never experienced... then those memories that supported her before will become sharp blades piercing her heart."

"..."

"No..." Xia Ling began to worry, "Even in her past life, Sirin had never experienced such pain. This isn't just sadness or pain; it's a complete collapse of her beliefs..."

"I need to find a way to get into the core... I can't let her stay so withdrawn, otherwise things might get problematic..."

"Really... You devised the plan yourself, and kept saying it was a necessary sacrifice during execution, but in the end, you're the first one to feel the pain and want to get involved..."

"I never realized Little Xia Ling was such a tsundere!"

Seeing Xia Ling keep saying "it's nothing, it's nothing" but then getting more and more anxious, Elysia couldn't help but laugh.

"So, how does Xia Ling plan to get deep into the core? Don't forget, it's not just about touching the core, but about going deep inside. Basically, apart from the Herrscher herself, it's almost impossible for anyone else to get in."

"Kiana has not yet completed her ascension, and she is even subconsciously rejecting the core, completely lacking the ability to enter its interior."

Elysia's voice was still sweet, but it clearly and simply pointed out the current situation.

"... That's a problem."

Xia Ling pondered for a moment, trying to select a usable item from her collection.

Strictly speaking, many of the collections could potentially help her delve deeper into the core, but this is only a possibility, and it all comes with certain risks.

Even in the most critical situation, she couldn't use Kiana's body for experiments under uncertain circumstances.

"If it's the amplified ability... the enhanced connection authority should be enough to allow my consciousness to enter the core."

"But the side effects of the Ritual Bell haven't completely worn off... so we can't continue using it now."

"So, we can only use the Duke Duck Gold Brick... Ouch, ouch, ouch Elysia, what are you doing...?"

Before Xia Ling could finish her muttering, Elysia grabbed her cheek.

This time, Elysia didn't hold back at all. Only when Xia Ling looked at Elysia with teary eyes did Elysia let go of her hand.

"Waaah... I had no choice..."

As soon as she finished speaking, Xia Ling felt that the smile on Elysia's face had become somewhat dangerous.

"How could Little Xia Ling be so stupid? What if she gets tricked by a bad woman she doesn't even know one day...?"

"The Origin and Imprint I gave you are so insignificant... even Little Xia Ling wouldn't try them out even if she had to harm herself..."

A wronged expression appeared on Elysia's face.

"Ah, this..." Xia Ling immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

Because this power was so precious, she subconsciously ignored this option.

Even after learning about this from Kevin, she never considered developing this ability.

She then realized that she had made the same mistake as Kiana subconsciously rejected the Herrscher Core and the fact that she was Sirin.

And what about herself? She wasn't much better off. Due to her lack of self-confidence, she subconsciously rejected the possibility of becoming the Origin, and rejected using this power.

"I'm sorry... Elysia, even though you've already comforted me, I still..."

Xia Ling lowered her head in shame.

"Alright~ After all, it's the first time. It's normal that Xia Ling couldn't think of using this power."

Seeing that Xia Ling finally realized what was going on, Elysia smiled knowingly.

"You haven't used my real-world time yet this month, have you? Well then, how about using it here?"

"Although you've never experienced this feeling before, Miss Fairy my help, getting close to the core shouldn't be a problem, right?"

"Okay, okay, then I'll leave it to Elysia..."

Xia Ling approved Elysia's request almost immediately, then opened her eyes and sat up in bed.

Beside them, Kiana and Bella were still sleeping soundly. Even after leaving the dream, Kiana did not wake up immediately, which was something Xia Ling had specifically instructed Hiyomaru to do.

After all, if Kiana were to wake up at this time, it might cause more distress to Sirin.

Rubbing her slightly blurry eyes, Xia Ling noticed that Elysia was already kneeling opposite her.

Although this bed is not small, it might still be a bit crowded for four people.

Feeling almost face-to-face with Elysia, Xia Ling couldn't help but blush inappropriately.

However, the most exciting part was yet to come.

All I saw Elysia gently put her finger to her lips, signaling Xia Ling to be quiet.

Then, with a hint of sweetness in her breath, Xia Ling's eyes suddenly widened, and a blush spread down her neck.

As their lips met, Xia Ling felt as if a gentle force had entered her body, nourishing the seed hidden deep within her.

Under Elysia's constant catalysis, the seed began to develop gradually, growing branches and tendrils, and then began to wander and spread through Xia Ling's body like silk threads.

A familiar feeling gradually welled up from Xia Ling's body.

She felt her enhanced power once again.

However, just as their powers were mingling in a deep kiss, no one noticed that a faint blush was beginning to appear on Bella's face, who was "asleep" beside them.

Chapter Twenty-Five: Gradually Filling the Gap

"A moment later, accompanied by slightly disordered breathing and a strand of silver, the 'connection' between the two separated."

Because too much power for power resonance was poured into Xia Ling's body, Elysia's body has become somewhat transparent.

After all, the system's body can only sustain her normal existence for three days, and using some of the original abilities, even just to help Xia Ling resonate, consumes a terrifying amount of energy.

"Oh dear, the power... is almost gone, but the amount I just injected into Little Xia Ling should be enough?"

Seeing that Xia Ling's slightly dazed eyes had turned pink due to the resonance of the power, and that the unique diamond-shaped mark of the Origin had appeared in her pupils, Elysia nodded in satisfaction.

"Okay, I've done everything I could?"

Next... it's Xia Ling's turn to perform well, okay? (Seven) (Five) (Eight)

Elysia gently pinched Xia Ling's soft cheek, then transformed into a wisp of pink light and returned to the system space.

"Is this... the power of the origin?"

Feeling the abundant power within her body, Xia Ling murmured to herself.

In the Elysian Realm of the game, Elysia's True Self Sigil is a further development of her original abilities. With the high compatibility between Xia Ling and the Origin Authority, this amplification is applied to Xia Ling's abilities.

While it doesn't have the straightforward and powerful effect of Ritual Bell that directly boosts talent to its limit, this gradual improvement is more than enough, at least when it comes to communicating with Sirin.

So what's next...?

As the power was activated, Xia Ling's abilities began to slowly enter Kiana's body.

Fortunately, this time there won't be such intimate physical contact as with Elysia. However, thinking about it from another perspective, I just completed the resonance of my powers with Elysia, and now I have to enter Kiana's body, which feels a bit strange.

With a few random thoughts running through her mind, Xia Ling easily located the Herrscher of the Void Core within Kiana's body.

Compared to the flamboyant nature of the other two cores, this core at this moment resembled a decayed ore, exuding a lifeless and stagnant aura.

Recalling the feeling of using her ability last time, Xia Ling slowly enveloped the core with her own ability and began to slowly penetrate it.

Without waking Kiana, damaging the core, or stimulating the other two cores, such infiltration was extremely difficult. It took Xia Ling quite a while to gather the power that had seeped into the core and shape it into a form that was indistinguishable from herself.

Judging from the original work, the Herrscher Core cores have the ability to preserve consciousness. For example, the core of the Herrscher of Flamescion preserves the remnants of Himeko's consciousness, not to mention the cores of the Herrscher of Reason Core and the Herrscher of the Void Core.

These remnants of consciousness within the core can, to some extent, alter the scene within the Herrscher Core, a scene similar to the mental imagery space, a reflection of their inner selves.

For example, St. Freya Academy and the Chocolate Gate within the core of the Flame-Chaser Flame Herrscher Core Eternal Flame.

Xia Ling originally thought that the scene in the Herrscher of the Void Core would be the Babylon Tower or the village where Sirin was young.

But the reality is, there's only a blank space here.

"Is it because Sirin's heart is inherently empty...? That makes sense. Her hatred and emotions are inherited; how could they possibly take root deep within her? She hasn't even personally experienced the generation of these hatreds..."

Continuing to control her temporary body and explore forward, Xia Ling encountered a strange scene.

Inside the pure white space, a splash of color seems to be spreading outwards.

"This is..."

As she got closer, she realized the scene seemed somewhat familiar.

"Isn't this Sirin's house from my dream...?"

This fake "home" wasn't big; it only included Sirin's house, as well as the houses of Xia Ling and Elysia next door, and a small garden in front of their houses.

However, within this space, these few small rooms still firmly occupy a place, and there is a tendency for them to continue to expand outwards.

That's right. After experiencing that dream, Sirin's heart is no longer empty...

"As expected, I don't think I can just leave her alone."

Xia Ling smiled slightly. She couldn't quite describe the emotions surging within her—whether it was heartache, relief, or emotion. But she knew that Sirin probably longed to see her again.

She gently opened the door, Sirin the house empty. However, all the room doors were open, and the furnishings inside were somewhat messy, as if someone had been frantically searching for something.

Xia Ling slowly walked up to the second floor, and sure enough, the only locked room in the entire house was Sirin's own room.

"Is it locked...? But that's no problem for me."

Xia Ling stopped trying to turn the doorknob and instead placed her hand on the door and gently pushed it.

With the activation of the ability, the door was easily opened.

In the room, Xia Ling indeed saw Sirin's figure. She was curled up by the bed, like a frightened little animal, trying to use the solid wall to give her a sense of security.

The girl's face still bore traces of wet tears, and her eyes were tightly closed, as if she had fallen asleep.

However, judging from the pain on her face, this dream was clearly not pleasant.

It's not hard to see from the current situation that Sirin must have gone through a considerable internal struggle, but the appearance of this family clearly indicates that her desire for happiness has taken the lead.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have tried to find that elusive dream through this self-destructive slumber.

"So..."

Xia Ling stepped forward, reached out and smoothed the girl's disheveled hair, and then, just as she did every day when she woke her up, she called out softly.

"Sirin, Sirin? My little pufferfish ~"

"If you keep sleeping, you'll be late!"

"Open your eyes quickly..."

"It's time to wake up from this dream."

As Xia Ling gently called out to her, Sirin slowly awoke.

Then, in the instant she regained consciousness, Sirin suddenly opened her eyes.

She immediately looked around at the surrounding scene, and... Xia Ling, who was standing beside her with a gentle expression. In a daze, she felt as if she had returned to a dream.

After a few seconds of stunned silence, she suddenly lunged forward, hugged Xia Ling tightly, buried her face in her chest, and burst into tears.

Xia Ling didn't say anything, but just kept stroking the girl's hair, letting her vent her emotions.