Otto: "Don't Forget the People by Your Side!"

"It's me. Even if I'm fake, how could the Heavenly Fire Judgment in my hand be fake?"

Seeing Li Sushang's reaction, Gwen, who was in a hurry to check on Kiana and Mei, shook the Heavenly Fire Judgment in his hand and was about to approach the two.

Unexpectedly, Li Sushang ignored this and instead pointed her sword at Gwen—

"Since it's an illusion, it's not impossible to simulate the Heavenly Fire Judgment."

Anna had just suddenly become possessed by a demon, and a demonic aura emanated from her body that made even her heart tremble. Li Sushang's vigilance towards the Nine Netherworlds had been raised to its highest level.

Seeing this, Gwen couldn't wait to explain to Li Sushang in detail. He suddenly lunged forward, deflecting the sword from Li Sushang's hand before she could react, and quickly said as she prepared to retaliate—

"Then I'll tell you something that only you and I know—"

The day you moved in, we took the wrong suitcases; the one I took contained your clothes.

Is that alright?

"!?"

Upon hearing this, Li Sushang was stunned for a moment.

The next moment, Li Sushang, who had come to her senses, blushed slightly, and the sword in her hand fell down without pointing at Gwen.

But Li Sushang had no time to be shy and quickly began to explain—

"Gwen, it's so good to see you back—"

When we were exploring this place, we found some traces left by ancient people. Then Anna's true energy... Honkai Energy suddenly went berserk and told us to leave quickly.

Before we could understand what was happening, she suddenly unleashed terrifying Honkai Energy and chilling aura, freezing Kiana and Mei in an instant.

Moreover, Anna has become very strange, as if... she's possessed by a demon..."

Finally, Li Sushang hesitated before uttering the term that belonged exclusively to her era.

"I see."

After listening to Li Sushang's description, Gwen nodded, confirming his guess.

Or rather, Gwen had already confirmed it when he arrived here—

In the direction Kiana reached out, there was also a block of solid ice, and the figure inside was wearing a dress that shouldn't be there, with a mask made of ice crystals covering her face.

Of the people Rita mentioned, the other three were present, and the one undergoing Herrscherization was clearly Anna.

While Li Sushang was explaining the situation, Gwen had already unleashed the intense heat of his Heavenly Fire Judgment, melting the ice on Kiana and Mei's bodies—

Gwen, you're back?

The moment the ice broke, Mei looked at Gwen with a face full of surprise.

Although she knew that Li Sushang was very strong, Gwen was stronger and more reliable in her heart.

However, Kiana, who had also been thawed, did not wake up immediately next to Raiden Mei. She swayed and was about to fall when Gwen caught her in time.

"Okay, I'm here. Leave it to me."

While giving Raiden Mei a warm smile, Gwen subconsciously used his mental powers to briefly check Kiana's physical condition.

To Gwen, although the Honkai Energy in Kiana's body was somewhat agitated and excessive, it was still within a controllable range, and the Herrscher consciousness was unlikely to suddenly awaken.

What happened to Kiana?

Mei noticed her friend's unconsciousness, and her surprise quickly turned into worry.

"It might be due to excessive emotional fluctuations..."

Gwen spoke, he swept Kiana up in his arms, turned her around so Mei couldn't touch Kiana, and handed her to Li Sushang.

"Su Shang, take Kiana and Mei and go out along the path I opened. Rita is leading Hui Huo and Bronya to retreat. You two leave here first."

I'll stay and rescue Anna!

"No problem."

Upon hearing this, Li Sushang immediately took Kiana, but her gaze fell on the figure in the solid ice behind Gwen—

"But are you really okay on your own?"

"Leave it to me, I will bring Anna back safe and sound."

Gwen, then turned to look at Mei beside him—

"Mei, Kiana is fine, but don't go near her. Don't ask why. We'll talk about it when I get back, okay?"

"...good!"

Mei was taken aback when she heard Gwen's voice ring out in her mind.

Gwen's words only added to the girl's confusion.

However, trusting Gwen, Mei ultimately agreed without hesitation.

Soon, Li Sushang, carrying Kiana on her back, left with Mei, leaving only Gwen and Anna trapped in the ice in this icy blue cave.

"Anna, don't worry, I'm here."

Looking at the girl in the solid ice, dressed in Herrscher attire but with an exceptionally thin figure and her body curled up, Gwen took a deep breath, spoke in a deep voice, and stepped towards her.

Gwen noticed this as soon as he thawed Kiana and Mei. The ice on their bodies didn't actually harm them, as evidenced by Mei's ability to regain her mobility and her awareness of Gwen's arrival.

Based on the original work, Anna retained traces of consciousness even after Herrscherization, Gwen has reason to believe that this was Anna's way of protecting Kiana from getting close to her.

As he drew closer, Gwen heard Anna's trembling voice—

"Don't want!

Don't come near me!

Gwen, get out of here!

402

Chapter 402 Otto: Don't forget the people around you!

"Anna, don't be afraid, don't panic, I will help you."

Hearing Anna's faint but real voice, Gwen felt reassured and quickened his pace to approach Anna.

As Gwen approached, the intense heat released by the Gwen Greatsword of Heavenly Fire under his control rapidly melted the solid ice that had frozen Anna.

Amidst Anna's almost pleading voice, Gwen melted the ice on Anna's body, and the girl's body fell, embraced by Gwen.

Cold!

Holding that familiar body, even with Gwen's constitution, he felt a bone-chilling cold, as if it were freezing his consciousness.

However, Gwen did not continue to control the Greatsword of Heavenly Fire to release high temperatures to alleviate the cold. Instead, he directly planted it in the ground and held the girl in his arms.

"Gwen, you!"

Gwen could hear the disbelief mixed with a hint of relief in Anna's trembling voice.

"I told you, I would help you, Anna."

As he spoke, the energy within Gwen's body, which had seemed to be freezing, suddenly began to circulate.

A dazzling golden light shone forth, instantly evaporating the chill within Gwen's body. The warmth even began to counteract the chill in Anna's body, allowing the girl, whose consciousness was almost frozen, to feel a wisp of warmth.

"Gwen, I..."

Although she didn't know how Gwen did it, Anna was aware of her current situation—

She's probably going to become... Herrscher. Gwen should be raising his Greatsword of Heavenly Fire and piercing her chest, instead of foolishly trying to warm himself with his own body heat.

Although Anna was terrified when Gwen approached with the Greatsword of Heavenly Fire, Anna felt an indescribable sense of relief when Gwen put the Greatsword of Heavenly Fire down.

But reason and emotion both told Anna that she couldn't let Gwen continue like this; she should make Gwen kill her, kill the Herrscher was about to awaken within her body.

Anna felt it was worth it to trade herself for a Herrscher... really... worth it...

However, before Anna could utter these words with tears in her eyes, before she could even begin, Gwen cut her off—

"Don't be afraid, I will save my little Anna..."

"Gwen!"

In an instant, Anna's newly built psychological defenses, which she had been trying to comfort herself, crumbled, and she called out Gwen's name.

Along with Anna's carefully prepared mental state, the icy mask that covered her face also shattered.

"Look, haven't you already broken this mask on your own?"

Meeting Anna's reddened eyes, Gwen smiled and gently pinched the girl's delicate nose.

"But I..."

Upon hearing this, Anna was also taken aback, but feeling the cold consciousness awakening in her body, the warmth that had just begun to rise in her heart was plunged back into a chill.

"Good..."

Before Anna could utter a word of rebuttal, Gwen forcefully pressed his lips to her almost bloodless, thin lips.

Anna felt a burning sensation on her lips, bringing her a rare warmth that seemed to pause even the chill spreading through her body.

"I won't let this guy take my little Anna away."

As their lips parted, Gwen lowered his head and touched foreheads with Anna's, completely silencing the girl.

"Hmm... I believe Gwen!"

Although she was still unsure, Anna nodded vigorously when she saw the frostbite on Gwen's lips and stopped arguing with Gwen.

"That's right."

Upon hearing this, Gwen also revealed a bright smile, took one hand and pulled out the Greatsword of Heavenly Fire stuck in the ground, and casually swung it, instantly tearing open a huge hole in the "cave" above their heads, leading directly to the outside world.

Sunlight filtered through the thick ice and shone into the deep cavern. Although there was little sunlight left, it still gave the icy blue cave a touch of luster.

"Let's go."

With that, Gwen scooped Anna up in his arms and charged upwards.

"Um..."

A sudden feeling of weightlessness washed over her, and Anna instinctively wrapped her arms around Gwen's neck, snuggling tightly into his Gwen. For a moment, even the chill surging through her body seemed less terrifying.

In the blink of an eye, the two, moving in a straight line, burst out of the Netherworld, passed through the thick ice layer, and returned to the frigid sea.

On the sea surface, which had been frozen by the chilling energy that erupted when Anna was chosen as the Herrscher, ice Honkai Beast were galloping about, spreading in all directions.

In response, Gwen merely swung his Greatsword of Heavenly Fire a few times, the Demon Seal Slash Blade's energy melting the largest clusters as it crisscrossed the area, then paid no further attention to them, instead summoning Apollo directly—

With the Herrscher herself right beside him in the heart of the Great Honkai, and conventional communication completely ineffective, Gwen could only try to establish contact using the frequency band carried by Apollo's mobile suit.

And Apollo did not disappoint Gwen this time, successfully establishing direct contact with headquarters.

"This is Gwen. I am currently in the waters above the Nine Netherworlds. The mission team is basically intact, with no casualties."

The Herrscher's host body has been located. The host body still retains a clear human consciousness. My next focus will be on suppressing the Herrscher's consciousness and saving the host body. Headquarters, please mobilize troops as soon as possible.

Even after I cleared it, there are still a large number of special Honkai Beast on the ice, emitting extremely low temperatures, and they are spreading in all directions. Please try to eliminate them before they reach human settlements!

Are you sure you can do it?

This is too dangerous!

No one has ever been able to do it before, throughout history!

Upon hearing Gwen's rapid-fire words, Otto immediately frowned and spoke in a stern voice.

In order to resurrect Kallen, Otto has chosen to go against his mother's wish for him to live a good life and has tacitly approved of some of Gwen's risky actions.

But now Gwen is going to personally save the Herrscher body, Otto instinctively wants to object.

"I am confident."

Gwen was not surprised by this, and continued in a deep voice—

"Don't forget, I still have the Twelfth Divine Key."

Moreover, I will be setting up my next operation in space.

There, even if something unexpected happens, it won't cause any bigger trouble. That's all.

"You!"