Imaginary Space.
"Um, Captain, can we really leave the Quantum Sea?"
Seele looked at the wreckage around her, corroded by Honkai, and asked uncertainly.
You idiot, Seele! How can you just trust a stranger? Ritscher, inside Seele, was furious.
He says he can take you back to reality, and you believe him just like that.
Don't you know how dangerous people can be?
"Don't worry. I'd never lie to someone as adorable as you, Seele." Ling Yuan smiled and gently patted her head.
"C-Captain, please don't tease me." Seele blushed under his touch.
She was clearly a little shy.
"Master..."
Ophis suddenly stopped walking.
"What's wrong?" Ling Yuan asked.
"That..." Ophis raised a hand and pointed.
Puzzled, Ling Yuan looked where she was pointing.
Then he froze.
A gray-white figure lay in the ruins not far away.
The crimson lines covering her body showed how badly Honkai energy had corroded her.
But that wasn't the most important thing.
The most important thing was...
"Himeko?!" Ling Yuan cried in shock.
Is she someone the captain knows? Seele wondered.
"Well, whoever she is, she's too far gone after that much Honkai corrosion. My condolences," Ritscher said without much sympathy.
"Don't say that!" Seele protested.
After all, Ling Yuan was the one who had brought her out of the Quantum Sea.
"Yes, yes. You're right about everything," Ritscher said dismissively.
Ling Yuan hurried over.
Murata Himeko lay there with her eyes closed, unconscious.
He crouched and gently held a hand beneath her nose.
"She's still breathing!"
"Looks like the Honkai energy only started corroding her recently. Does that mean the Queen's Battle just ended?" Ling Yuan murmured.
As he spoke, he carefully removed the Plague Gem from her chest.
It was still releasing Honkai energy. If it stayed there, Himeko would die.
Sure