Griseo Boards the Ship

Griseo's mouth fell open, her expression adorably blank. Even though she hadn't gone to the moon to take part in the battle against Finality, she knew what the Herrscher of Finality represented. She truly hadn't expected Kiana to be the Herrscher of Finality. In that form, she seemed like a god.

"How could this be?!"

"Such powerful Honkai Energy!"

The moment Kiana transformed into the Herrscher of Finality, the resulting Honkai Energy fluctuations reached Kevin, who was eating noodles in the Sea of Quantum. He set down his instant noodles and sprang to his feet. A fierce chill erupted from him, and the ground around him instantly froze into a thick layer of ice as he stared gravely in Kiana's direction.

He had never felt Honkai Energy on this level before. Even the Herrscher of Finality that the Previous Civilization had faced on the moon seemed weak by comparison.

"What happened? Could the Herrscher of Finality have descended?" Kevin's expression was grim. He had yet to leave, and the Stigmata Project had not even been carried out. If Finality descended upon Earth now, then Earth would be unable to escape being subjected to another cycle by the Herrscher of Finality.

"Su, I know you're still watching me. Let me out!"

Kevin raised his head and shouted. Only Su could provide him with precise coordinates and allow him to return quickly. Otherwise, by the time he found Earth, everything would be too late.

"Kevin, I'm sorry, but I can't let you leave the Sea of Quantum right now. The Second Honkai Outbreak has only just appeared on Earth, so you don't need to worry about the Herrscher of Finality descending," Su's voice echoed through this World Bubble.

"Is that so?"

Kevin visibly relaxed. He trusted his close friend, then sat back down beneath the cherry blossom tree and continued eating his instant noodles. As for where the noodles came from, he had Gray Serpent's quantum teleportation to thank. Small items like those could still be transported.

"Kevin, have you never hated me over the past thousand years?"

This was the first time in many years that Su had spoken with Kevin. He still deeply regretted what had happened back then. The guilt in his heart had kept him from being able to speak with Kevin, especially since Kevin had thrown him out of the World Bubble at the final moment. Seeing that Kevin still trusted him so much made him feel even worse.

"Su, that's childish logic. I've never hated you. That was merely giving you, and this world, a chance."

"No matter the cost, humanity will defeat the Honkai!"

Kevin's resolve had not wavered in the slightest. He was a warrior bearing the inscription of salvation. As long as the Honkai could be defeated, he would not hesitate even if it meant dying in battle.

"Su, what exactly was that Honkai Energy fluctuation?" Kevin's gaze was incomparably sharp. For it to reach the Sea of Quantum was enough to draw his attention, even though only the Second Herrscher had appeared so far.

"I don't know."

Su spoke truthfully. The Hyperion had already exceeded the range he could observe, and his body was nearing its limit. He did not have much time left. If he forced himself to observe it, he might ascend to heaven ahead of schedule.

"I understand."

"..."

"..."

Kevin fell silent, and Su fell silent as well. They were no longer the students from their school days who could speak freely about anything.

Kevin was not the only one who sensed it. Even Otto and the others on Earth felt that oppressive Honkai Energy reaction in that instant. All of them were alarmed and uncertain as they searched for its source. The Second Herrscher was already strong enough, yet before this Honkai Energy, she was like an ant.

"Is Sister Kiana the Herrscher of Finality? Will she destroy the world?" Griseo asked curiously. Since she had not participated in the battle against Finality, she did not know much about the Herrscher of Finality.

"No. I have subdued the power of Finality. I am Finality, and I am also Kiana Kaslana!" Kiana's clear, cool golden eyes were utterly unwavering.

"All right, I'll leave with you. But what about the Ark?" Griseo asked. If possible, she did not want to be alone either.

"Leave the Ark here. Nothing will happen to it!"

Zhang Wei said meaningfully. Perhaps Suo had been frightened by Kiana's Power of Finality and would not pay attention to this world for the time being. He would not make a move against Suo for now either. He was merely a Captain passing by.

"Kiana, let's go!"

"Open sesame!"

"Yes, yes, you only ever know how to trouble me. Captain, can't you do it too?" Kiana rolled her eyes, but her body was honest as she opened a door through the void.

"Aunt Himiko?"

After arriving on the Hyperion, Griseo saw Himeko pouring herself drinks and thought of the valiant female warrior she had once seen in photographs. She called out instinctively, but then immediately shook her head. This was only someone who looked very much like Himiko. A similar flower. Himiko had already been slain as the Herrscher of Flames.

"Yo, a newcomer. Want to have a drink?" Himeko raised her glass, wanting to invite Griseo.

Thud!

"Himeko, it's one thing for you to drink by yourself, but Griseo is still a child." Zhang Wei rewarded Himeko with a knock on the head.

"Hiss!"

That knock sobered Himeko up a little. She sucked in a breath, then immediately rose and hooked an arm around Zhang Wei's neck, teasing, "Captain, you've gotten bold, huh? You dare lay your hands on me now!"

"Let go of me. You reek of alcohol!"

Zhang Wei struggled free. Although it felt nice when Himeko's chest pressed against his face—soft and springy—the heavy smell of alcohol left him with no desire to enjoy it. The scent made his head spin.

A child?

Griseo frowned. She did not like that form of address. She was already tens of thousands of years old. She was an adult.

"If you don't have anyone to drink with, I'll find you a drinking buddy when I get the chance!" The person Zhang Wei meant was naturally the wealthy Eden. The Elysian Realm was full of excellent Valkyrie resources. Aside from the men, all of them counted.

"You said it, Captain!"

Himeko continued sitting on the sofa without any regard for her image, drinking the fine wine in her hand. It was her hobby.

"Mei, take Griseo and find her a room. Make some extra tasty food tonight to celebrate our new member, Griseo!" Zhang Wei said.

"Understood, Captain. Please look forward to it!"

Mei was brimming with fighting spirit. Zhang Wei could vaguely see flames burning behind her. As expected of the Cooking Wife.

"Ai Yi, where did those two otaku girls go?"

Zhang Wei asked about Jiu Xiao and Jana. They were genuinely hard to spot most of the time. He was really worried that Jiu Xiao might one day die suddenly in her room from playing too many games.

"Little Captain, Jiu Xiao is in her room, while Jana is currently on the deck. Would you like me to call her back?" Ai Yi's voice rang out.

"No need. We'll talk once dinner is ready!"

Slurp~

Slurp~

Zhang Wei shook his head, opened two bowls of instant noodles, and slurped noodles with Kiana as a pre-dinner "dessert." Mei was usually extremely strict about instant noodles. He really could not understand why she would not let the two of them eat something so delicious.

"Ah, so delicious! Instant noodles are forever supreme!" Kiana wolfed them down, even draining every last drop of the broth.

Although Mei's cooking tasted wonderful, she never grew tired of the deliciousness of instant noodles.

"Mm-hmm, especially these instant noodles with beautiful-girl flavor. They really are good. I wonder how they're made!" Zhang Wei agreed. As for where the instant noodles came from, quantum mechanics could explain it.

"Captain... Kiana..."

When Mei returned and saw the two of them eating instant noodles—unhealthy food—her head began to ache. She had told them countless times that instant noodles were harmful to the body and bad in excess, yet whenever they found an opportunity, they started eating them again.