The Temporarily Receding Shadow

King OOO looked at the collapsed building and snorted. "Fool. He was so focused on getting the Core Medals that he completely ignored his own situation."

Otto's mind went blank. By the time he came to his senses, he was already desperately digging through the rubble. "No, hold on! Even if you're not Kallen, you're not allowed to die!" A mimicry Star of Eden appeared in his hand. Reversed gravity lifted every fragment of the building, and Otto used trembling hands to pick up the girl whose left side had nearly been severed. An unprecedented fury rose within him.

Far away, Yae Sakura suddenly felt a stab of pain in her heart. She immediately wondered whether something had happened to Xing. Through the Core Medals' resonance, she roughly pinpointed Xing's location. "I'm going to find Xing. You all stay here and don't go anywhere."

After she had gone some distance, Kiana gave the order. "Fire Moth, prepare to move out!" Mei and Bronya immediately readied themselves for battle.

Wendy tried to stop them. "Um, didn't Brother Xing and Sister Sakura tell us to stay here and not go anywhere?"

Kiana dismissively waved a hand. "That was what he said. I'm the captain, and I decide what we do! Hey, Wendy, want to come with us to find your Brother Xing?"

Wendy really wanted to find Xing, and she was deeply worried about him too. "But I have trouble moving around. I'll only hold you back."

Kiana patted Bronya's shoulder. "Bronya, show her the power of Fire Moth's development division!"

After Bronya took a screwdriver and welding torch aside and worked with a series of clatters for ten minutes, she returned carrying a freshly made pair of leg exoskeleton armor. "Bronya made these temporarily. The quality may be a little poor. Please excuse it."

Wendy put on the armor and shakily rose to her feet. "I-I'm standing!" Tears of excitement filled her eyes.

Fire Moth, move out!

Durandal planted Black Abyss White Flower into the ground and drew upon the power of "life" within the Key of Creation. On the lifeless earth, countless tender shoots broke through the soil, radiating the breath of life.

I am the black from the abyss. I am the white descending from the heavens. Born before creation, existing after annihilation; I shall freely grant the water of the fountain of life to the thirsty. Black Abyss White Flower, Zeroth Power, release! Holy Spear: Hundred Years' Orchid!

As though by a miracle, Xing's missing body regrew in an instant. He widened his eyes in shock at the surging vitality within him, then remembered something and immediately covered his left chest with his right hand. He activated the power of his stigmata, replacing the damaged White Knight: Moonlight on his body with God's Blessing Anthem. The reason was simple: the left half of his clothes had been cut away as well.

Otto was still holding him. This was Kallen's body—how could he let Otto see it... Though perhaps it did not matter if Otto saw? After all, he was Kallen's fiancé.

After healing Xing, Durandal set down Black Abyss White Flower. Blazing golden light erupted from her body alongside her overwhelming fury. She fully drew upon the power from that World Bubble, forming armor around herself.

Durandal: Immortal Star Anchor, has arrived!

A lance condensed into shape. "Stars, gather here!" Filled with boundless rage, Durandal raised her leg and kicked the lance forward. Like a shooting star, it hurtled toward King OOO.

"This strike will pierce the stars!"

King OOO removed the disk from the right side of his belt and swept it across the three Core Medals on it in sequence. Along with the belt's announcement—"Scanning Charge!"—he leaped high into the air, passed through three giant red, yellow, and green rings, and met the lance carrying the weight of an entire world with a Rider Kick finisher.

The two immense forces collided, and the shock shook the world itself—literally. A gigantic mushroom cloud rose from the center of the battlefield, its might sweeping across every human and nonhuman present.

The five Greeeds caught in the crossfire: "?"

Otto, Rita, and Xing: "?"

Sakura's Redemption unfolded at both sides. Xing controlled it to spread a barrier around the three of them. It was a derivative version of the Divine Blessing Barrier created after being infused with Sakura's power. Though it lacked the ability to suppress Honkai Energy, it could provide genuine protection.

The sparks caused by the explosion gradually scattered. The knight, reverted to his original form, knelt on one knee and panted without stop. Meanwhile, where King OOO and the Greeeds had been, only a deep crater remained.

Rita hurried forward to help her up and congratulated her. "Congratulations on your victory, Lady Durandal."

Durandal shook her head, her face pale. "No, I didn't win. But I didn't lose either."

Rita did not understand, but she quickly grasped what Durandal meant.

Elsewhere, Xing clutched his chest as his heart pounded wildly. He had not yet recovered from his near-death state, and fear still filled his heart. "I almost died just now. Th-that was close."

Otto held him and felt that the golden hair atop his head was incomparably pure. In high spirits, he stroked Xing's head, trying to calm him down.

Yae Sakura, who was hurrying along, suddenly felt a weight settle on top of her head.

Xing had intended to push him away immediately, but for some reason, a sense of security filled his heart with Otto's touch. It was as if, so long as Otto was there, he would not need to worry about anything...

What am I thinking?! The blond man with Rita and Durandal is probably Otto, right? If I stay with that scheming old bastard, he could set me up without me ever realizing it! But what is this feeling?

Xing did not know that while inheriting Kallen's power, he had also been affected by fragments of Kallen's personality. The personality fragments she had left behind in the Kaslana Family's Stigmata Space were gradually merging with him through the stigmata. While this allowed him to gain Kallen's combat techniques and memories, it was also subtly shifting his personality and mindset toward Kallen's.

Feeling sad after defeating Yae Sakura in the game, suddenly receiving those memories in Yae Village, and now this sense of security around Otto—all of it was because of "Kallen." There was no free lunch in this world. To gain power, one had to pay a price.

Nothing Xing possessed was free, including his transmigration. It was simply that payment had begun the moment he crossed into this world.

Xing forcibly suppressed the strange feelings in his heart and tried to break free from Otto's embrace. "Um, sir, could you please let me go?"

Otto answered with a smile. "Miss, you were seriously injured just now. What if you suffer lasting effects without a proper examination? Come back with me and let me give you a thorough checkup."

Xing struggled with all his might. "Let go of me!" Damn it, I should be able to break free from this level of strength easily. Why can't I use any force?

Durandal slowly walked over to the two of them. "Lord Bishop, he is resisting so fiercely. It seems he is fine now. Though I temporarily drove those monsters back, they may return at any time. We need a high-level combatant. Also, Lord Bishop, forgive my bluntness, but you look very much like a pervert right now."

Behind her, Rita's eyes were filled with admiration. As expected of Lady Durandal. She easily did what I wanted to do but did not dare to do! Though the Immortal Blades' budget next month may get cut, and your fourteenth account is probably gone too.

Otto noticed his lapse in composure. He coughed a few times and reluctantly released the girl. Don't worry. Now that you've fallen into my hands, I absolutely won't let you leave. Even the gods won't be able to stop me!

Noticing Otto's seemingly kind gaze, Xing was so frightened that he hid behind Durandal and trembled. "Um, thank you for saving me just now. If there's anything you need help with, just ask!" (Though even if she had not saved you, you could have slowly regenerated on your own.)

"Good." The knight liked his admirable quality of repaying kindness. "Earlier, I arranged for my subordinates to gather displaced citizens in this city's stadium for protection. However, the strongest among them is only A-rank. Please reinforce that shelter's defenses."

Xing confidently ran off. "Leave it to me!" Then he quickly ran back. "Um, which way is the stadium?"

Durandal fell silent for a second, then turned to her adjutant. "Rita, which way is the stadium?"

Otto covered his face. Was this what it meant to be a Kaslana? That foolishness truly was hereditary.

After thinking carefully, Durandal separated Black Abyss White Flower and handed White Flower to Xing. "Most of the citizens there are injured and need treatment. I'll lend this to you for now, and consider it my signature as well. Though it is your first time using it, it should be enough to treat minor injuries. For the upcoming battle, Black Abyss alone will suffice for me."

Rita hurriedly tried to stop her. "Lady Durandal, you cannot hand a Divine Key to someone you have known for less than half an hour!"

Durandal looked at her calmly. "I saw his records in the files. Aren't you the one who knows best what he did in Changkong City last time? I trust him."

The knight turned to Xing, who was at a loss. "By the way, I still don't know what to call you, young lady of the Kaslana Family."

Xing hesitated for a moment, accepted White Flower, and answered, "Forgive me, but I cannot reveal my real name. You may call me K.K."

When handing White Flower over, Durandal noticed a faint trace of red on the back of Xing's left hand, which was covered by a sleeve glove.

K.K → Kallen Kaslana

Watching Xing leave, Otto's lips curled into a strange smile. "I'll go give the citizens and Valkyries there a motivational speech. I'll take my leave first."

The knight's hand firmly grabbed the man's arm. "No, Lord Bishop. There are still many wandering remnants nearby. The Immortal Blades are not here right now, so please contribute more of your strength."

Durandal, don't even think about playing Kallen Fantasy again for the rest of your life!

The Valkyrie standing guard at the entrance looked at the White Flower lance in Xing's hands, and a whole herd of alpacas stampeded through her mind. "So, Captain Durandal sent you here to support us?"

Xing was helpless. "Yes. I've told you several times already. Now I've even taken it out—this is your captain's weapon. You believe me now, right?"

The guard Valkyrie sized him up several times. "It isn't that I don't believe you. I just doubt your strength. You don't really look like a warrior."

She grumbled inwardly, That skirt is too short, the sides are all puffy, the veil is thin as cicada wings, and then there are those platform heels and white thigh-high stockings. You're dressed entirely for a formal event. I'd believe you if you said you were going to a ball.

Xing's temper flared. "Call out whoever's strongest among you!"

A tall, muscular woman stepped forward. "Her?" The muscular Valkyrie disdainfully looked at Xing, who was so much shorter than her. Hah, such a petite body, such thin arms, and that outfit insulting to Valkyries—she was afraid she might accidentally break the other person's bones with a single blow.

Her thunderous voice crashed into Xing's ears. "Are you sure you want to compete with me in strength, little sister?"

Xing nodded seriously.

The muscular Valkyrie sighed. She would hold back a little later.

Their arms rested on the prepared table, one large hand and one small hand tightly clasped. The Valkyries watching from the side slowly began the count.

Three, two, one, start!

Smack!

Xing firmly pinned her hand to the table.

"I haven't even used my strength yet. That doesn't count. Again!"

Smack!

"I-I wasn't in the right state. Again!"

Smack!

"Again!"

Smack!

"If you've got the guts, let me use both hands!"

Smack!

The muscular Valkyrie fell into despair. Why did he look like he did not have any muscles at all, yet possess such incredible strength?

Xing straightened the hem of his clothes, which had not been rumpled in the slightest, and calmly looked at the Valkyries whose faces were filled with utter confusion. "Do you believe me now?"

The members of the Immortal Blades consciously made way for him.

As expected of the person Captain Durandal had asked for!

Author's Note—

Please rest assured, this book is mainly about sweet moments. Before reading, just forget everything about the plot of the OOO tenth-anniversary movie.

The following only represents my personal views. If you think I misunderstood anything, feel free to correct me.

Hino Eiji was a very typical tragic character. Born into a family of politicians, he had originally lived a carefree life, but an accident caused him to lose the pursuit of his own desires. He began drifting through life without a fixed home, a fixed job, or any savings.

Can you believe it? This man only needed underwear to wear the next day and a little loose change to survive.

His own desires had been emptied away, turning him into an absolute altruist. He was very much like Emiya Shirou, that ally of justice. Both regarded helping others as instinctive, but when helping people, they never considered their own interests first.

This foreshadowed Eiji's death in the Movie Version—he was destined to lose his life while helping others.

Eiji had no desires. Conversely, he possessed infinite desires.

His wish was simple: to make his hands reach farther, so he could help more people. It was actually a very small desire, but how could one person possibly help everyone? No one could satisfy such an immense desire.

Goda, this man's desire was so vast that even the Yummy, creatures dedicated to crushing dreams, did not dare destroy it. Where did you get the confidence to think you could fill a black hole capable of swallowing even Dinosaur Medals?

Perhaps it was precisely this immense desire, along with his bond with Ankh, that gave birth to the Eternity Tajadol Combo.