At first, Amber had thought it was because of the Three Goddess Alliance's contract that she could not make a move. But that was not the case. The reason Quetzalcoatl had not fought Gorgon was because Gorgon was not actually humanity's threat. Humanity's true threat was Tiamat, hidden somewhere unknown.
Moreover, in Quetzalcoatl's eyes, Gorgon's existence held nothing but sorrow and pain. She sympathized with Gorgon as well.
The reason she had not said any of this was simple, though different from Merlin's.
Merlin felt that they might be able to skip this Singularity's lesson, while Quetzalcoatl simply felt that there was no need to say it before Tiamat appeared...
It was not only because her sympathy for Gorgon made her unwilling to expose the truth, since that would make Gorgon even more pitiful. Quetzalcoatl knew the Crimson Kite Immortal who had instantly knocked Gorgon out was immensely powerful, and after fighting Amber herself, she trusted that strength even more. But Amber was only one person.
She had never dealt with the others from Chaldea, especially that Master. She had yet to fully confirm the Master's true nature.
Thus, there was this test.
Would they survive beneath the gods' protection, or forge a path for humanity?
Would they submit before an enemy they could not defeat?
Did Chaldea truly have what it took to restore Human Order?
If they could not even pass her test, what was the point of fighting Tiamat? They might as well stop being recklessly stubborn and live properly under the gods' protection. At least beneath the protection of her, the supreme god of South America, humanity still had a chance to live so long as they did not confront Tiamat head-on.
Having understood all of that in just 0.01 seconds, Amber's movements could not help slowing down.
Quetzalcoatl also sensed that something seemed to have happened just now. Yet knowing little about matters of consciousness, she could only tell that Amber had done something, not what exactly it was.
Still, she could clearly sense that Amber's fighting spirit had weakened for an instant.
"What's wrong? Getting sleepy again?" Unable to figure out what had happened, Quetzalcoatl could only ask.
"...I know now."
Amber had no habit of speaking in riddles. "I used Feathered Dust just now and glimpsed your thoughts. I'm sorry."
It needed to be emphasized again: peering into another person's memories and thoughts was never an honorable method. No matter how it was dressed up, it was still a despicable act. Amber did not want herself to become accustomed to it, so she had to apologize.
"A power... that lets you see other people's thoughts?"
Quetzalcoatl narrowed her eyes. Only then did she understand why Amber's offensive had suddenly weakened. Clearly, Amber now felt guilty toward her.
Thinking that, she instead laughed. "Peeking into a goddess's thoughts is usually a sin worthy of death. But if it's you... just this once, big sis can forgive you."
"I'm sorry..."
The other woman was kind, which made Amber's actions feel all the filthier. She could only feel ashamed.
Fu Hua understood that mindset very well. After all, she had used Feathered Dust the longest. At the beginning, she too had questioned herself after peering into others' thoughts. Later, whether she had grown used to it or simply become numb, she no longer cared as much.
Even so, she still disliked that method. Therefore, she mostly used Feathered Dust to create illusions and rarely interfered with memories.
Amber's mindset pleased her greatly.
As the two women's attacks suddenly weakened, the others finally had room to intervene. But compared to this battlefield, the person drawing more attention now was Fujimaru Ritsuka, who had already reached the altar.
Amber and Quetzalcoatl also stopped moving in unspoken agreement.
Watching the slightly breathless Ritsuka stand before the Piedra del Sol, which he could destroy at any moment, Quetzalcoatl's gaze turned serious, filled with obvious appraisal.
So... Fujimaru Ritsuka, what choice would you make?
As I said before, it does not necessarily have to be Honkai: Star Rail characters. Other characters are fine too, though it would be best if they suited cursed techniques. I cannot think of the most suitable one right now. Acheron is indeed one of my highest-priority candidates... but she is not easy to write, and she does not seem especially suited to cursed techniques. 42
As for Code Geass, I will go there too, but it will be later down the line. 5
Crowdfunding the story! Give me more ideas, and I'll pick carefully! 2
Amber: I Really Want to Pull Cards!
"Hurry! Ritsuka! Now's the chance! All that's left is to destroy the altar, and it'll be over!"
Watching Ritsuka climb to the top of the altar, Roman clenched his fist fiercely. If they did this, they would pass the test and gain another powerful, reliable companion.
Yet Ritsuka did not act.
"Ritsuka? What's wrong? Why did you stop?" Roman asked in confusion when he saw Ritsuka cancel the magecraft that was about to destroy the altar.
"...This isn't what Quetzalcoatl wants to see."
The black-haired boy turned back toward the Servants who had stopped fighting, especially Quetzalcoatl, who wore a smile on her face.
"Not attacking? How unfortunate. I'm about to rush up there in one go." Quetzalcoatl spoke as though she had not noticed anything, then slowly walked toward the altar, seeming ready to leap to its summit at any moment.
At once, Jaguar Man jumped onto the altar. "So, Master, have you figured out what Kukul wants to see?"
Ishtar flew up after her. Their movements seemed protective, but both knew that this test had reached its most critical stage—the only stage that truly mattered. "You still have a chance to destroy the altar if you do it now. What are you going to do?"
"This is humanity's battle."
Ritsuka had already realized what Quetzalcoatl truly wanted to see.
If he chose to destroy the altar beneath the Servants' protection, it would be no different from choosing to endure the disaster under the gods' protection. Such an action would affirm Quetzalcoatl's approach.
They were not meant to survive beneath the gods' protection, but fight alongside the gods. If he could not prove his resolve and courage, then even destroying the altar would not earn Quetzalcoatl's recognition. In other words, once he gained Quetzalcoatl's recognition, it no longer mattered whether the altar was destroyed.
"You're really stubborn about your pride." Although Ishtar did not agree with Quetzalcoatl's approach, she too believed humanity needed the protection of gods like herself. Her expression flashed with dissatisfaction, but quickly became one of admiration again.
I can choose to help you, but you cannot demand that I help you. This mindset was something gods possessed as well when it came to humanity.
They were not stingy with helping humans. But if a human displayed the courage not to need that help, then even if that courage denied their goodwill and annoyed them, once they realized they had helped a noble human, they would only become happier and more appreciative.
"Still, that is exactly what you would say. And as a decision made in response to this test, I suppose I approve." Ishtar smiled. "So what exactly are you going to do? Attack Quetzalcoatl with magecraft?"
"Show... courage! From this height—"
Remembering how much the Feathered Serpent God loved Mexican wrestling, then looking at their current height, an idea arose in Ritsuka's mind.
"Height? Courage?" Roman froze, then realized what Ritsuka meant. "Huh? Ritsuka! Don't tell me you!? That's suicide! What if Quetzalcoatl dodges!?"
"Oh! Not bad! A diving attack needs this kind of height! No, the higher, the better!" Jaguar Man thought the idea was completely workable.
"If that's the case, leave it to me!"
With things already set up this perfectly, Ishtar smiled and grabbed Ritsuka by the arm.
"...Huh?" Ritsuka looked at Ishtar in confusion.
"Launch an ultimate attack on Quetzalcoatl!" Ishtar tilted her head playfully and pulled Ritsuka into the air at tremendous speed.
"...Huh?"
Standing three to four hundred meters above the ground, Ritsuka felt the wind blow his entire face stiff.
"Leave the rest to luck. I'll try to throw you toward Quetzalcoatl, but if you think you won't hit her, feel free to wave your limbs around and use them as stabilizing wings." Without waiting for Ritsuka to react, Ishtar threw him straight off the Heavenly Boat.
"Y-You... R-Remember... This...!!"
On the ground, Quetzalcoatl, who had been watching the show, saw her smile widen wildly, the corners of her mouth nearly reaching her cheeks. Her mood had clearly reached its peak, though she did not forget to frighten him. "Falling from that height, even I can't guarantee your life."
"C-Catch... Me...!"
In truth, Ritsuka had only wanted to try facing Quetzalcoatl with his own strength. Even a simple diving attack would have been enough to show her his determination.
But he had not expected Ishtar and Jaguar Man to play along and drag him hundreds of meters into the air without explanation, turning a dive meant to prove his determination into a dive that gambled his life.
As though she had finally decided it was enough, Quetzalcoatl leaped into the air, caught Ritsuka in her arms, and landed steadily on the ground.
"Hah—! Hah—!"
Ritsuka could not help gasping for breath. "I'm alive?"
"You should thank me for being a legendary wrestler. With diving moves, if even one side lacks first-rate skill, someone can easily die. I was super nervous," Quetzalcoatl said with a smile.
"No way. Even if Master died, Kukul would revive Master immediately." Seeing that it was over, Jaguar Man came over with a grin and immediately spoiled the moment.
"Come to think of it, I still haven't properly punished you for betraying me."
However, Quetzalcoatl was not nearly as good-tempered with Jaguar Man. The instant she saw her approach, her expression darkened.
Only then did Jaguar Man remember Quetzalcoatl's terror and once again hid behind Amber.
"C-Crimson Kite Immortal won't just stand by and watch you bully a companion!" Having seemingly found her backbone, Jaguar Man started shouting threats again.
But this time, Amber stepped aside. Then, beneath Jaguar Man's pitiful and disbelieving gaze, she explained, "Quetzalcoatl is our companion now too..."
"W-Wait! That's a thing!?" Jaguar Man immediately broke out in cold sweat.
"Looks like we can settle our accounts properly later. Don't think simply dying will be that easy." Seeing this, Quetzalcoatl could not be bothered to trouble Jaguar Man now. Instead, she looked at Ritsuka in her arms. "Still, that was quite surprising. Didn't you consider that I might dodge?"
"I believed you would catch me, because you love humanity."
Besides, even if she did not catch me, there was still the invincible Crimson Kite Immortal. Crimson Kite would never watch me smash my head into the ground, right?
Ritsuka thought that to himself.
Things had gone smoothly here, and Amber was delighted. She could not help poking Fu Hua. Immortal, our recognition is already over 7,700. Do you think we should pull some cards?
You can decide that yourself. Fu Hua did not care much about it, but after thinking for a moment, she added, Still, you should ask the Navigator carefully about the mechanics of your world-hopping, and whether everything you pull is only useful in this world or can also be used in other worlds.
Earlier, Fu Hua had carefully studied how to break the Feathered Serpent God's resistance, only to reach one conclusion: Honkai Energy.
After coming to this world, the system had converted the power they used into mana. If they wanted to harm the Feathered Serpent God, they likely needed power from outside this world. And the only power from outside this world that Fu Hua knew of was Honkai Energy.
Unfortunately, they had neither a Herrscher Core nor any other means of opening the Imaginary Space, so there was basically no hope of obtaining Honkai Energy.
That thought also made Fu Hua wonder. Amber could use mana in this world because of the system, while her possible ability to use Honkai Energy was because she could use it originally. But what about other worlds?
Her Character Cards would not turn into blank cards once they reached another world, would they?
Hearing Fu Hua say that, Amber considered it as well. If she became a blank slate in other worlds, then she really needed to save her recognition. Unless absolutely necessary, she should pull from the next world's card pool instead.
But... this world's Fu Hua pool would greatly increase the chances of pulling things related to Fu Hua, and there was one thing Amber desperately wanted.
—the Core of the Herrscher of Reason.
As for the characters and world for the next arc, I'll put up a poll when the time comes. It's really hard to decide, so I'll just list all my ideas and everyone can help expand the author's imagination.
I had actually wanted to write Irena going to Harry Potter before... 2
Amber: Come Out and Do Something Fun for Fu Hua!
Watching everyone in the distance discuss transporting Marduk's Axe, Amber simply entered Feathered Dust and told the Navigator about Fu Hua's concerns.
Please rest assured, Host.
The Navigator's voice carried no fluctuation, but Amber could hear the reassurance in it.
No matter what world the Host reaches, the system will convert energy to allow the Host to use it. If the world possesses no special energy, recognition may be used as fuel to perform energy conversion. Unless recognition is used, most energy conversions cannot achieve a perfect 1:1 conversion ratio.
Amber understood now.
Then the mana I'm using now, compared to True Qi... no, Honkai Energy, what is the conversion rate?
One unit of mana is equivalent to 0.7 units of Honkai Energy.
In other words, I'm actually one-third weaker than the original version?
That is not the case.
Huh? Amber scratched her head inwardly, then suddenly understood. Energy is only one part of strength. Physical ability is another, so I'm not actually that much weaker.
No. Based on the Host's current performance, the Host is more than fifty percent weaker than the original version.
*...*
Amber did not want to hear that, so she immediately changed the subject. If I pull Shi Bao's Core and connect to the Imaginary Space, can I directly use Imaginary Energy? If I can, what is the ratio between Imaginary Energy and Honkai Energy in this world?
1:1.1
Honkai Energy is that amazing? Isn't it a variant of Imaginary Energy?
The Host's body has a higher utilization rate for Honkai Energy. It is not that Imaginary Energy is inferior to Honkai Energy.
So that was it.
Amber nodded. Remembering what Fu Hua had told her to ask, she continued, Then can I still use cards pulled in this world after going to the next one?
She had a habit of relying on others. She relied on whoever she could—first the Main Control Consciousness, then the Navigator, and now Fu Hua. She could still rely on the Navigator if Fu Hua was gone, but Fu Hua was also like an unofficial master to her. If changing worlds meant Fu Hua would no longer be there, she would feel rather lonely.
Traveling between worlds will not affect the Host's inventory unless the Host voluntarily leaves items from the inventory in that world.
That was good!
Before you continue