While Higu Maru was holding Kallen back, Kiana had nearly reached the top of the altar.
Yet Higu Maru showed no intention whatsoever of turning back to stop her.
Because Higu Maru knew that even if Kiana made it onto the altar, she would not be able to stop that crystal from erupting.
Higu Maru wanted to watch Kallen and Kiana struggle in vain, unable to save the little girl on the altar no matter how hard they tried.
By the time Kiana reached the top of the altar, the crystal's flickering had begun to accelerate. The aura of Honkai Energy was growing denser and denser, as though it were about to explode at any moment.
On the altar, the little girl offered as a sacrifice was still tied to the pillar, unable to escape.
Looking at the crystal, Kiana understood that she could not stop the Honkai Energy Crystal from exploding on her own. So she ran straight to the sacrificial little girl, untied her from the pillar, and tried to carry her away.
But before Kiana could take more than two steps while holding the little girl, she felt the Honkai Energy behind her... erupt.
Seeing Kallen still far away and sensing the Honkai Energy behind her, Kiana instinctively made a decision.
She wrapped her arms around the little girl in her embrace, crouched down, and used her back to take the impact of the Honkai Energy.
The Honkai Energy shot from the very top of the altar into the sky as a pillar of light.
The invisible shockwave formed by the Honkai Energy spread outward from the altar in every direction, turning the surrounding area into land engulfed by an Honkai Energy eruption.
Using Yae Sakura's body, Higu Maru spread her arms and looked up at the