New Dungeon Approaching - Sakura Samsara, Clear Pre-Boss First

"Hey, Xing, you won't believe this, but I drew over the Principal's face on my answer sheet and still got a perfect score," Kiana said, pulling Xing aside and whispering.

"You didn't even get caught?" Xing asked, surprised.

"?"

"As expected of the first place!" Everyone's gaze turned to Xing, who was in the corner.

"Uh, this test was actually very easy. Ms. Himeko, could you please give me my answer sheet?"

Everyone stared at it for a long time, unable to figure out what was going on, until Kiana cheerfully said, "Xing, why did you also draw the Principal's face?"

The speaker was unintentional, but the listener took heed, a sudden realization dawning upon them.

"The correct answers' combinations coincidentally formed the Principal's image!"

"So, you just fill in what you know first, then fill in the remaining gaps. Indeed… very simple."

"Alright, the written test is over. The highest scorer for this round is the Fire Moth group!" Himeko announced the results.

I forgot to mention in the previous chapter, the entrance exam is divided into two rounds: theoretical and practical. Students are divided into groups for combat, and the highest scorer from both rounds reportedly receives a special reward.

In previous years, it was held in the combat simulation room, but this year was different.

"Everyone, go back and rest today. Tomorrow, you will be deployed to different areas. Each of you will be given a recorder. It will calculate points based on the number and strength of Honkai Beasts and Maniacs you eliminate. This will last for three days. Your combat supplies will be given to you when you depart. Just bring yourselves, your weapons, and some essentials," Himeko added at the end.

Let me clarify the internal structure of Fire Moth. Kiana is the captain, Mei is responsible for logistics, Bronya handles financial expenditures, and as for Xing, he's a brick, used wherever needed. Oh, and there's Crimson Kite, the team's mascot.

Soon, the Fire Moth group learned their destination. Xing habitually asked Bronya to hack into the Schicksal database for information.

"Five hundred years ago, there was a village here that was destroyed due to a [????] incident. Strange, why is the security level of this file so high?" Bronya typed on the keyboard, small beads of sweat forming on her forehead. "Bronya cannot hack it."

"I suddenly really want to know what happened there in the past," Kiana's curiosity surged.

"Is there any useful information currently?" Xing asked the dejected Bronya. "The only thing deciphered is the name of that village: Yae Village."

Upon hearing these three words, Xing trembled. Several fragmented images flashed in his mind: a shrine maiden under a cherry blossom tree, a black box, a sealed fox demon, a blooming Judas, a bitter farewell, and words left unspoken.

"My head hurts!" The young man clutched his head in pain.

"What's wrong, Xing?!" Kiana asked with concern, stepping forward. She happened to see the red Stigmata on his right hand, which he was using to cover his head, glowing exceptionally brightly.

—Separator—

Raven was also getting a headache. Although she was happy that this little guy was going out for an internship so soon, why was the internship location near Yae Village?

According to Jackal's intel, a Pseudo-Herrscher from five hundred years ago was sealed there. What Jackal wanted her to investigate before was also related to this. She had refused countless times, but couldn't escape the twists of fate.

"Perfect timing, let's get it done together," Jackal said coldly, looking at her. "If you do it well, I'll give you all your withheld wages and bonuses. If you don't, I heard that Dr. Mobius from the Imaginary Tree misses you very much."

As she spoke, Jackal threw her a vial. "The latest version of Honkai Energy deactivator. A tiny drop is enough to incapacitate an A-rank Valkyrie. Even Durandal would have to kneel!"

The more proud Jackal sounded, the more unreliable Raven felt. She absolutely couldn't trust this guy's bragging!

—Separator—

Xing opened his eyes and saw a ball of white fur.

"You're awake! Good morning!" Kiana greeted him energetically.

"Why are you in my dorm?"

"Hehe, I was afraid you'd be late, so I came to wake you up."

"I remember locking the door. How did you get in?"

"Your dorm is on the second floor. I easily climbed up. It's much easier than the school wall."

Theresa must also be having a headache. Why did she say "also"?

"Okay, let's go, the transport ship is about to depart," Kiana said, pulling him out of bed.

"The transport ship leaves at seven in the morning, and it's only five now!"

"Just consider it exercise! Show some of that Kaslana warrior spirit!"

"If you could put that much enthusiasm into your theory classes, I guarantee your grades wouldn't be worse than Bronya's."

"Wuwu, but I get a headache just looking at textbooks." Carrying a young boy in one arm and a greatsword in the other, Kiana ran quickly.

"Oh, right, what about the chicken you're raising?"

"Oh, I asked Teacher Welt about it last night. Don't worry."

After running three laps around St. Freya Academy, Xing realized that she had only come for him because she couldn't bear to disturb Mei's sleep, and going to Bronya risked being crushed by the heavy bunny. So, she picked the easiest person to bully.

"By the way, there's something I've wanted to ask you for a long time. Why are your eyes red?"

"The other half of the genes in my body come from Shenzhou. My red pupils are a manifestation of that."

"Didn't you have amnesia?"

"Some basic common knowledge is not forgotten."

"I see." Kiana was successfully fooled.

—Ship Departure Separator—

"I'm so hungry," the two white-haired dumplings on the transport ship couldn't help but complain, having exercised a lot that morning.

"Didn't you eat so much this morning?" Bronya felt this preset squad was doomed sooner or later, the food expenses were too high!

"I made some curry, want some?" Mei had already anticipated this situation.

"Yes!" both replied in unison.

In a harmonious atmosphere, the transport ship reached its destination. The heavy rabbit carried the equipment, Kiana carried the food supplies, and Mei pulled the two little ones holding their luggage off the transport ship.

The parachute opened in mid-air. Fortunately, it didn't malfunction, otherwise, it might have taken away four future Herrschers at once. (PS: They probably wouldn't have died from the fall.)

As soon as they landed, Kiana excitedly wanted to go fight some maniacs and Honkai Beasts, but Mei pulled her back. "Kiana, Teacher Himeko said in class that in situations like this, we need to prioritize building a temporary base."

Xing's pupils turned black and white. "Follow me."

Passing through tall trees and dense weeds, Xing found a place with extremely sparse Honkai Energy. He swung his sword to chop down trees, and the four of them set up tents there.

Kiana took out the Prototype Pulse Pistol. "Is this okay now?"

"Kiana and I will go scout the surroundings. Bronya, could you please set up the temporary base here with Mei?" Xing pulled Kiana along as they left.

"Hey, I'm the captain, aren't I?"

Regardless, the white-haired dumplings finally had a reason to go fight monsters.

Activating Honkai Vision again, the two headed in the direction of high Honkai Energy concentration.

"Why does it feel like you're very familiar with this place?" Kiana asked, watching Xing walk through the forest as if he were strolling through his own garden, looking a bit confused.

"Maybe I've been here in a past life," Xing replied casually.

"Wait a minute, your eyes!" Kiana suddenly stopped, pointing at his eyes and exclaiming.

"They turned black and white? That's Honkai Vision, I told you about it before. Besides, wasn't it closed just now?"

"No, sorry, maybe I saw it wrong."

"?" Xing didn't think much of it. The two continued to advance, and Kiana recalled the scene just now. Did Xing's eyes turn blue for a moment?

Splitting apart trees and weeds, a dilapidated village appeared before them. After five hundred years of wind and rain, the once lively village was left with only a few rotten wooden planks.

"This is... Yae Village?" Kiana said softly. Xing didn't answer and walked into the Yae Village ruins alone.

Scattered images kept flashing through his mind. The incomplete wooden planks turned back into their appearance from five hundred years ago in his eyes. The former Yae Village seemed to reappear before him, transcending time and space.

"Where are you going?" Kiana quickly followed.

Xing's steps finally stopped under a large tree. The trunk was bare and lifeless.

"What a huge tree, it must be hundreds of years old," Kiana exclaimed, looking at the massive tree. The trunk was thicker than three of her combined.

"This is a cherry blossom tree, but Sakura left long ago." Xing placed his right hand on the dead cherry blossom tree, his voice very low.

"What's wrong? You look so sad." Kiana sensed his sadness.

"Kallen." It seemed someone was calling her. "Wow, what a big onigiri!" Kallen happily ate the onigiri specially made for her by Yae Sakura, which was bigger than her head.

"Wow, it's so salty!" Kallen, who had just eaten a salted cherry blossom, was choked quite badly. Yae Sakura covered her mouth and chuckled beside her.

In the black and white world, a distinct pink flowed towards the depths of the village, pointing directly to the back mountain.

It seems she's still here. Should I wake her up? But in what capacity should I face her?

He is just an outsider, someone who possesses the Stigmata of Kallen Kaslana.

He'll deal with the Jizo Mitama later when he gets stronger. For now, it's best not to disturb the slumber of this shrine maiden.

"Hey, are you okay? Xing, Xing!" Kiana shook him vigorously. Xing woke up from his contemplation. "I'm fine."

"What's going on? You went silent after touching this tree, you scared me. Is there something wrong with this tree? Let me chop it down!" As she spoke, Kiana snatched his greatsword again.

"No, no, no! There's nothing wrong with this tree. Let's hurry up and clear out the maniacs and Honkai Beasts. Don't waste time here." Xing quickly stopped her.

Activating Honkai Vision, he was about to go grind for points, but he saw a trace of ominous dark red.

"You've recovered quite well, little one." A familiar voice sounded from above. The black and red mercenary leaned lazily against the tree trunk. "You seem to be getting along well with your fellow sister."

"It's you!" Kiana recognized her at a glance.

"Sister Natasha..." Xing looked at her with a complex expression.

"You still remember me, little one, that makes me very happy." Raven jumped down from the tree. "This time, I won't let you go again~" Raven said excitedly.

Xing's face turned serious as he gripped the hilt of the sword behind him. "Kiana, use that, the secret technique passed down in the Kaslana family."

"Ah, what secret technique? How come I don't know about it?"

"It's that one—" Xing threw the flashbang he had gotten from Bronya earlier, then grabbed Kiana and ran.

"Strategic retreat!"

The dilapidated village was engulfed in white light. Raven's mouth twitched wildly. "You're quite clever, little one. You understand that you and she are no match for me, but do you think you can escape?"

Author's Notes—

Bonded Weaponry appears in the next chapter! Fusion, Synchronization, and Over-Quantum triple relay!

PS: The Yu-Gi-Oh! terms in this book are based on the simplified Chinese rules of Yu-Gi-Oh!.