Immortal, Su Qing'an.

This underground shelter is actually quite like a fortress with a sense of life.

These facilities are not public or civilian areas, but rather large private refuges that wealthy individuals spend huge sums of money to renovate in order to satisfy their sense of security.

The shelter that Su Qing'an chose was located on the outskirts of the city, close to the suburbs. Due to the influence of his powers, the elevator system of such facilities was almost completely paralyzed.

Therefore, shelters with too many underground levels were prioritized for elimination during the initial selection process.

Even the most well-constructed shelters are merely venues set up by wealthy individuals, and the experts they invite are at most involved in the bombing of large weapons.

It offers little protection against Honkai Beast, which are uncommon Honkai Phenomenon.

Even the remaining plots, which were converted from nuclear missile silos into 17-story bunkers, would be no different from ordinary underground shelters in the event of such an incident.

At the same time, in order to create a certain sense of crisis, Su Qing'an chose a location that was not particularly luxurious. An overly low-level bunker would only make people lower their guard, since the Honkai Beast's perception and human perception are completely based on two different systems.

If it were the 17th floor underground, the very bottom, then for Fu Hua's swordsmanship, at its State of Still Water, to fully sense the danger from the outside world would undoubtedly be a pipe dream.

Once the Honkai Beast truly discover them, Fu Hua will only face a skirmish where she has the initiative.

But now things are different. This shelter is completely isolated from the comfortable environments with cinemas, swimming pools, armories, granaries, and farmland.

It only guaranteed basic survival space, living supplies, and basic shelter facilities worth tens of millions.

Even firearms do not exist because the social status of the shelter owners is not high enough to disregard the rules and obtain the necessary channels.

This is certainly a consideration for the young man as well.

For the frail girls who had no experience operating firearms, having these weapons meant that, in addition to the uncertainty of whether they could harm the Honkai Beast, they also had to consider the risks of stray bullets and accidental discharge. This was undoubtedly an unwise move.

In conclusion, this is the real reason why the sound of the Honkai Beast's footsteps shattering the ground could be clearly heard.

The arrival of Honkai Beast is an extremely rare event, and this crisis just happened to coincide with the moment when Udu-dust disappeared.

How lucky!

She heard the unusual activity outside and Kenshin sensed the Fierce Wave in Honkai Energy, and thought to herself.

Because it was only at this moment that I didn't feel much fear.

The anxieties before battle, the lack of confidence in one's own strength, the sense of responsibility to protect others, the consequences of defeat, the potential pain during combat...

These trivial yet undeniably present thoughts vanished completely upon learning that the boy on the other side was embroiled in battle.

If something were to happen to him after Yu Mao left, given Master Su's personality, he would surely feel very guilty, and it wouldn't be surprising if he took all the blame upon himself.

I don't want to make that person sad.

I want to prove it to that person.

And... she also wanted to protect everyone.

Fu Hua took a deep breath and looked around at everyone's reactions.

At this Shiyu Qiluo and Carole were curled up on the sofa. They had already sensed the impending danger. Their pupils involuntarily contracted, and they were covering their mouths with their hands, trying their best not to make any unnecessary noise.

Seele nestled beside her, her brows furrowed as she looked up, nervously twisting her sleeve slightly.

With no means of self-defense, it's only natural and instinctive for the three to feel fear in a situation where they can only rely on luck and Fu Hua.

Even Seele, who spends every day with Fu Hua, doesn't understand just how strong she is.

Seele was so calm because she trusted Su Qing'an, who also trusted Sister Hua.

Carole, whom Fu Hua rescued from the Zombie's scythes, couldn't comprehend what kind of martial arts and power it would take to fight against such an monstrous creature that defied common sense.

She and Shiyu Qiluo witnessed Su Qing'an wielding that sword technique firsthand, so they couldn't deny it and had no reason not to trust him.

The already mysterious background of this young teacher inadvertently added to the persuasiveness of the argument.

But Fu Hua is completely different.

She was her closest friend, a classmate she thought she knew well enough.

Given these inherent mental frameworks constrained by their identities, it's incredibly difficult to get Carole and Shiyu Qiluo to wholeheartedly trust Fu Hua without witnessing anything firsthand.

Trying to believe, yet unconsciously feeling fear.

This is what the girls are like.

The only way to resolve this issue and give them a sense of security that they will be safe is to let them prove it with the sword in their hands.

Yes, with a sword.

She held a finely crafted sword in her arms, which looked very similar to the [Calming the Tempest] sword that Su Qing'an had once used, and had an ancient yet chilling aura.

Although she didn't know where Master Su had gotten it from, the sword that he had entrusted to her before leaving gave Fu Hua a sense of strength and courage at this moment.

Perhaps the key to its existence lies in this comfort, rather than in the function of the blade itself.

Think calmly.

Kenshin had never stopped searching for the outside world, but this Honkai Beast just appeared out of nowhere, without any logic whatsoever.

This only means that it happened to be born near the top of the shelter, not that the other side has already discovered us.

In this situation, avoiding attracting the opponent's attention and escaping a battle with an uncertain chance of victory seems to be the best option.

If Fu Hua simply stays curled up inside her shell waiting for the Honkai Beast to discover her location, it will be difficult for her to reach the outside world in time to fight them.

Using the Void Sword Qi indoors, locking onto the area with the sword heart to directly and domineeringly kill the opponent, is something only Master Su could do.

Being prepared to confront the other party at any time—that's the awareness you should have.

This is also the real reason why Su Qing'an put a fragile shell on her.

Without constraints, there are no barriers to overcome.

Without an outer shell, there is no opportunity for transformation.

Fu Hua gestured for everyone to be quiet, and slowly closed her eyes under the three people's gazes, which were filled with either doubt or worry.

Then, the girl, carrying the sword, walked silently toward the exit.

The pitch-black vision made Kenshin even calmer, and his keen senses, like those of someone listening to all things, saw the world more clearly than his eyes.

She stood in front of the exit, and based on the fluctuations of Honkai Energy and her memories, she roughly constructed a map in her mind of the lone Honkai Beast and the surrounding area.

One second later.

Distance, upper left, 85 meters.

Two seconds later.

Distance, upper right, 75 meters.

Three seconds later, the girl attached Honkai Energy to her five fingers, twisted them, and opened the hatch.

At the same time, the distance is 68 meters to the upper right.

Five seconds later, Fu Hua silently stepped out of the cabin.

The distance at this moment is 41 meters directly in front of you.

She opened her eyes, gazing at the Chariot-class Honkai Beast in front of her, her gaze calm and unwavering.

The sound of the ancient sword being drawn was as clear as a spring.

Void Sword Qi, Opening Sword Style: Instant Dust.

The Honkai Energy bow down to it, and in a fleeting moment, it gathers and sculpts a perfect sword shape.

A chilling wind surged forth with the sound of the sword slicing through the air.

The sword shape was smoothly unleashed, just like the sword shape that had once vanished from the boy's fingertips; the process of gathering the sword and the effort required were simple and effortless.

Master Su said that simply repeating the previous practice would be enough to handle everything.

And so the scene before them unfolded perfectly, just as if words had come true.

The awe-inspiring roar ceased forty meters away, the massive beast's body cracking and wrinkling before the wind swept past.

The Chariot-class Honkai Beast silently transformed into falling specks of light and countless wisps of light.

Her eyes were fixed on the scene, the boy's words still seeming to echo in her ears.

[Don't be overly afraid of those seemingly ferocious and terrifying monsters; you only need to use the Qi of heaven and earth to shape the sword.]

[At that time, you will find that those things that once bound your heart were not nearly as powerful as you imagined.]

So, you weren't lying to me after all.

She pursed her lips, revealing a serene smile.

The invisible barrier between swords and hearts vanished.

February 21st, 2:43 PM, late winter/early spring.

Fu Hua's first battle ended perfectly, and she stepped into the State of Dustless.

At that moment, she suddenly turned around and slashed out with her sword.

In a mere fraction of a second, Honkai Energy spread and amplified physical attributes, causing the corresponding sword shape to attach to the steel and twist with a force as ruthless as a Tyrannosaurus Rex.

"----!"

The slender ancient sword clashed head-on with the crimson greatsword, producing a thunderous, grinding sound that echoed in everyone's ears.

Fu Hua stared at the woman with red hair falling over her shoulders, her icy gaze shifting from hostility and wariness to sudden bewilderment.

Kenshin's feedback revealed that the Honkai Energy fluctuations emanating from behind him were actually from humans, not Honkai Beast.

Himeko stepped back a few paces, sheathed her greatsword behind her back, and gestured in goodwill.

She didn't seem bothered by Fu Hua's stress response, and simply said in a gentle tone:

"In such an environment, being vigilant is a good thing."

"Let me introduce myself. I am Himeko, the captain of the Fifth Squad of the Moth to Fire."

"Young lady, you should know Su Qing'an, right?"

[Udu-dust • Critical Point]

After discovering the existence of Udu-dust, Su Qing'an had been thinking about whether it could play a role.

The limitations of the Divine Key's adaptability meant that even though the feather possessed some of the power of the Herrscher of Consciousness, the boy was unable to utilize it in the slightest.

From a purely rational perspective, Udu-dust is currently just a mascot.

They might be cute and clever, but that only makes them suitable as odd or unusual pets.

It wasn't until Su Qing'an discovered the characteristics of the two Udu-dust that he realized perhaps it wasn't entirely useless.

First, Udu-dust can store a large amount of Honkai Energy, and its limits are almost unfathomable.

This is easy to understand. Essentially, the material of the Divine Key must have such basic functions, otherwise it simply cannot withstand the output power generated when the Herrscher Core surges.

Secondly, while Udu-dust is capable of absorbing Honkai Energy, he can also accept the Honkai Energy within Su Qing'an's body without any time lag.

The former reason is that the boy's Divine Key adaptability is zero, while the latter reason is that there is a spiritual connection between the two.

This created a wonderful coincidence.

If we use the [Stigmata] that can absorb Honkai Energy and store and release it as a bridge, we can take advantage of the fact that Udu-dust can almost infinitely contain Honkai Energy and consume it at all times.

With the aid of a seamless Honkai Energy transmission path between it and the boy, it can be stacked like building blocks to reach the corresponding height and lead to different endings.

The essence of the [Stigmata]'s ability is to completely devour Honkai Energy itself or the phenomena created by Honkai Energy, as can be seen from Su Qing'an's arm, which remained unscathed during the thunderstorm.

The erosion of the body by the Artificial Stigmata within the body is essentially a phenomenon shaped by Honkai Energy. Theoretically, as long as the [Stigmata] is used to absorb all the Honkai Energy reactions within the body into Udu-dust, the adaptability enhanced by the Artificial Stigmata can still be retained.

The third level of the Void Sword Qi, the Clear Mirror Realm, can be freely unleashed, the limit of [Thousand Stars] will be raised again, and the combat time will be extended from a short burst of full power to a much longer horizon.

Su Qing'an was able to completely shatter her own cage through the Udu-dust.

That is, to completely and harmlessly liberate the body Artificial Stigmata Erosion, while at the same time ruthlessly squeezing out the limits of Artificial Stigmata.

For the first time in his life, he was able to fully utilize all the power he possessed.

This is the trump card that the boy has kept hidden until now.

A trump card that I've conceived of a million times in my mind, but have never used even once.

Success rate? Specific effects? What are the costs?

I don't know, but it's necessary.

The flame in the boy's heart will never be extinguished unless he drags that lofty god off his throne.

The crimson feathers, disregarding the distance of time and space, gently landed beside me.

In a fraction of a second, the boy grasped the Udu-dust amidst the flashing lightning of the ocean.

The half-dead [Stigmata] was forced to revert to its passive state under Su Qing'an's relentless pressure, and all the rivers of Honkai Energy surged into Udu-dust.

Then, a magnificent crimson overwhelmed the field of vision, and in the fleeting moment of trembling consciousness, everything between Udu-dust and his soul was completely intertwined.

Countless illusions flashed by, and countless eddies of emotion seemed to be recalling the past. Amidst the chaotic and endless stream of trivialities, a faint yet resolute voice gently pierced through the soul.

Don't be afraid, I will help you.

Time seemed to stand still in the outside world. The Feather of Udu-dust in his palm had merged into his soul, but the thousands of crimson feathers seemed to have become derivatives of the Udu-dust and the [Stigmata], thus swaying and falling to contend with the thunderstorm.

Su Qing'an's dark eyes turned a fiery red like a lotus, and his long, pure white hair fell over his shoulders. He had changed his tattered coat into an ancient garment woven from Honkai Energy threads.

This completely unexpected change seemed to be the work of the highly spiritual Udu-dust.

Combined with the boy's already handsome face and aloof expression, this scene resembled a hermit living alone in the mountains.