Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Shadow That Temporarily Receded

King OOO looked at the collapsed building and snorted, "Foolish fellow. To get the Core Medal, you didn't pay attention to your own situation at all."

Otto's mind went blank. By the time he reacted, he was already desperately digging through the ruins. "No, you have to hold on! Even if you're not Kallen, you're not allowed to die!" The simulated Star of Eden appeared in his hand, and the reversed gravity lifted all the debris. Otto, with trembling hands, picked up the girl whose left side was almost cut off. An unprecedented rage ignited within him.

Yae Sakura, far away, suddenly felt a pang in her heart. She immediately wondered if Xing was in trouble. Using the resonance of the core, she roughly pinpointed Xing's location. "I'm going to find Xing. You all stay here and don't move."

After Yae Sakura left, Kiana issued a command: "Fire Moth, prepare to sortie!" Mei and Bronya immediately got ready for battle.

Wendy tried to stop them. "Um, didn't Xing-gege and Sakura-jiejie tell us to stay here?"

Kiana waved her hand dismissively. "He said that. I'm the captain, and I decide what to do! Yo, Wendy, want to come with us to find your Xing-gege?"

Wendy really wanted to find Xing and was worried about him. "But I can't move easily, and I'll slow you all down."

Kiana patted her shoulder. "Bronya, let her experience the power of the Fire Moth development team!"

Bronya picked up a screwdriver and a welding torch and went to the side. After ten minutes of "crackling," she returned with a pair of brand-new leg exoskeleton armors. "Bronya made these on the fly. The quality might be a bit poor, please forgive me."

Wendy put on the armor and stood up unsteadily. "I... I'm standing!" She was so excited that tears welled up in her eyes.

Fire Moth, sortie!

Durandal stuck the Black Abyss White Flower into the ground and channeled the "life" power within the Key of Creation. On the lifeless ground, numerous tender sprouts broke through the soil, exuding the aura of life.

"I am the Black from the abyss, the White from the heavens, born before creation, existing after annihilation; I will freely give the water of the spring of life to the thirsty. Black Abyss White Flower, Zero Rated Power, Unleash! Holy Spear: Lily!"

As if by a miracle, Xing's missing body regrew in an instant. She widened her eyes in surprise, feeling the vigorous life force within her. Then, she remembered something and immediately covered her left chest with her right hand. She activated the power of the Stigmata, replacing her tattered White Knight: Moonlight with God's Blessing Anthem. The reason was simple: the left half of her clothes had also been destroyed.

Otto was still holding her. This was Kallen's body; how could he see it... Actually, it didn't seem like a big deal for him to see it? He was Kallen's fiancé, after all.

After healing Xing, Durandal put down the Black Abyss White Flower. Her heart was filled with rage, which erupted from her body along with a dazzling golden light. She fully mobilized the power from that world bubble, forming armor around herself.

"Durandal: Immortal Star Anchor, present!"

A long spear condensed into existence. "Stars, gather here!" With endless anger, Durandal kicked her spear, and the spear shot towards King OOO like a meteor.

"This strike will pierce the stars!"

King OOO removed the disc on the right side of his belt and scanned the three Core Medals on it. Accompanied by the belt's prompt sound: "Scan charging!" He leaped forward, passing through three giant rings of red, yellow, and green, and met the spear, which carried the weight of an entire world, with a Rider Kick.

The collision of the two powerful forces shook the world (in a literal sense). A massive mushroom cloud rose from the center of the battlefield, and its force swept over everyone present, both human and non-human.

The five Greeds caught in the crossfire nearby: "?"

Otto, Rita, and Xing: "?"

Sakura's Redemption unfolded on both sides. Xing manipulated it to create a barrier around the three of them. This was a derivative version of the Divine Blessing Barrier, infused with Sakura's power. Although it couldn't suppress Honkai Energy, it could provide genuine protection.

As the explosion's afterglow gradually dissipated, the rider, knocked back into his original form, knelt on the ground, panting heavily. Where King OOO and the Greeds 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 was confused but quickly understood what she meant.

On the other side, Xing clutched her chest, her heart pounding. She hadn't recovered from her near-death state yet, her mind filled with fear and terror. "I almost died just now. That was... that was close."

Otto held her, feeling the immense purity of her golden hair. In a good mood, he patted Xing's head, trying to comfort her.

Yae Sakura, who was on her way, suddenly felt a heaviness on her head.

Xing initially wanted to push him away, but for some reason, a sense of peace filled her heart with his touch, as if she didn't have to worry about anything as long as he was there...

What am I thinking?! The blonde man with Rita and Durandal is most likely Otto, right? If I stay with this old schemer, I won't even know if he's tricking me! But what is this feeling?

Xing didn't know that while inheriting Kallen's power, he was also being influenced by fragments of Kallen's personality. The personality fragments she left in the Kaslana Family's Stigmata Space were gradually merging with him through the Stigmata. Although this would allow him to gain Kallen's combat skills and memories, it was also subtly shifting his personality and psychology towards Kallen's.

Feeling sad after defeating Yae Sakura in the game before, suddenly gaining those memories in Yae Village, and now feeling a sense of peace with Otto – it was all because of "Kallen." There was no free lunch in this world; power came at a price.

Nothing Xing had was free, including his transmigration. It was just that the payment for the price had already begun from the moment he transmigrated.

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

Otto smiled and replied, "Miss, you were so seriously injured just now. If I don't examine you properly, what if there are lingering effects? Come back with me and get a thorough check-up."

Xing struggled hard. "Let go of me!" Damn it, with this level of strength, I should be able to break free easily. Why can't I muster any strength?

Durandal slowly walked towards them. "Bishop, she's resisting so fiercely. It seems she's fine now. Although I've temporarily repelled those monsters, they could return at any time. We really need a high-level combatant. Also, Bishop, if you don't mind me saying, you look like a pervert right now."

Rita stood behind her, her eyes filled with admiration. As expected of Lady Durandal, she did what I wanted to do but didn't dare to! It's just that next month's budget for the Immortal Blades might be cut, and your fourteenth account will probably be gone too.

Otto noticed his own lapse in composure and coughed a few times, reluctantly letting the girl go. Don't worry, once you're in my hands, I will absolutely not let you go. Not even God can stop me!

Noticing Otto's seemingly kind gaze, Xing was so scared that she hid behind Durandal, trembling. "Um, thank you for saving me just now. Please tell me if you need any help!" (Though if you hadn't saved her, she could have regenerated slowly on her own.)

"Okay." The knight greatly appreciated her good quality of knowing how to repay kindness. "I've arranged for my subordinates to gather the stranded citizens at the city's gymnasium for protection, but the strongest among them is only A-class. I'll need you to reinforce the protection for that shelter."

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

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

Otto covered his face. As expected of a Kaslana. This foolishness is truly hereditary.

Durandal thought for a moment, disassembled the Black Abyss White Flower, and handed the white flower to Xing. "Most of the citizens there are injured and need treatment. I'll lend it to you temporarily as my signature. Although it's your first time using it, it's sufficient for treating minor injuries. For the upcoming battle, I only need the Black Abyss."

Rita quickly stopped her. "Lady Durandal, you can't hand over a Divine Key to someone you've known for less than half an hour!"

Durandal looked at her faintly. "I saw her records in the archives. Don't you know best what she did in Changkong City last time? I trust her."

The knight turned to look at the flustered Xing. "Right, I still don't know how to address you, young lady of the Kaslana family."

Xing hesitated for a moment, took the white flower, and replied, "Forgive me for not revealing my true name. You can call me K.K."

As she handed the white flower to her, Durandal noticed a faint red mark on the back of the woman's left hand, which was covered by a sleeve.

K.K → Kallen Kaslana

Watching Xing leave, Otto's lips curled into a sinister smile. "I'll go give a mobilization speech to the citizens and Valkyries there. I'll take my leave now."

The knight's hand firmly gripped the man's arm. "No, Bishop. There are still many remnants of the army wandering nearby. The Immortal Blades are not here right now. Please contribute your strength."

Durandal, you'll never play Kallen Fantasy again in this lifetime!

The Valkyrie on duty at the door looked at the spear and white flower in Xing's hand, and a herd of mythical creatures stampeded through her mind. "So, Captain Durandal sent you to support us?"

Xing was very helpless. "Yeah, I've said it so many times. Now that I've even taken it out, this is your captain's weapon. You should believe me now, right?"

The Valkyrie on duty sized her up a few times. "It's not that I don't believe you, it's just that I doubt your strength. You don't look like a warrior, Your Excellency."

She inwardly complained, your skirt is too short, the hem is fluffy on both sides, the veil is as thin as a cicada's wing, and with those thick high heels and white stockings, your entire outfit is formal wear. I'd believe you more if you said you were going to a ball.

Xing's temper flared. "Call out the strongest person you have!"

A muscular, tall, and burly girl walked out. "Is it her?" The muscular Valkyrie looked disdainfully at Xing, who was much shorter than her. Heh, such a petite figure, thin arms, and that insulting Valkyrie attire. She was afraid she'd accidentally break the other party's bones.

The thunderous voice of the other party entered Xing's ears: "Are you sure you want to compete with me in strength? Little sister?"

Xing nodded seriously.

The muscular Valkyrie sighed. I'll go easy on her later.

The two of them placed their arms on the prepared table, their large and small hands gripping tightly. The Valkyries watching from the side slowly counted down.

Three, two, one, begin!

"Bang!"

Xing firmly pressed her arm onto the table.

"I haven't even used my strength yet, so that doesn't count. Again!"

"Bang!"

"I'm not in the right state, again!"

"Bang!"

"Again!"

"Bang!"

"If you have the guts, let me use both hands!"

"Bang!"

The muscular Valkyrie was dejected. Why did she look like she had no muscles at all, yet possess such great strength?

Xing tidied her unruffled clothes and calmly looked at the group of Valkyries with bewildered expressions. "Do you believe me now?"

The members of the Immortal Blades consciously made way.

As expected of someone Captain asked for!

Author's Note:

Please rest assured, this book mainly focuses on sweet moments. Please forget the plot of the OOO 10th Anniversary movie before reading.

The following are purely personal opinions. If you feel my understanding is incorrect, please feel free to point it out.

Eiji Hino is a very typical tragic character. Born into a family of politicians, he originally lived a life of ease and comfort. However, an accident caused him to lose his pursuit of his own desires, and he began a life of wandering without a fixed residence, job, or savings.

Can you believe that this man could survive with just the underwear he could wear tomorrow and a little change?

His own desires were cleared, and he transformed into an absolute altruist, much like that righteous companion, Shirou Emiya. They both help others as an instinct, but they never consider their own interests first when helping others.

This is equivalent to laying the groundwork for Eiji's death in the movie – he was destined to lose his life while helping others.

Eiji has no desires, or rather, he possesses infinite desires.

His wish is simple: to extend his reach further and help more people. This is actually a very small desire, but how can one person help everyone? This immense desire, no one can satisfy.

Goda, this man's desires are so vast that even the Yummy, who specializes in crushing dreams, dare not destroy them. What confidence do you have that you can fill a black hole that can swallow even a dinosaur medal?

Perhaps, it is precisely this immense desire, and his bond with Ankh, that gave birth to the Eternal Wedding Bird combo.