Fu Hua and the Link with Udu-dust

That was an insurmountable distance, like an insurmountable chasm.

The girl, who has only reached the realm of Clear Mirror Sword Heart and has not yet become Fusion Warrior, has only taken a crucial step on the path of combining Honkai and martial arts, even though she has comprehended her own inspiration Meme. Her desire to fight against the Herrscher wields power with human strength is still a long way off.

If one can advance to the Void Realm, find one's own inspiration Meme, learn immortal techniques, and even comprehend the [Sword God], perhaps then one will have the possibility of truly standing on equal footing with the Herrscher of Flames.

Currently, Fu Hua only meets the prerequisites for both, and it still seems extremely hopeless to truly take that step.

Not to mention that the opponent is the strongest Herrscher that civilization has ever faced.

If she hadn't been on the verge of death and her strength hadn't been less than half of what it used to be, her sword strike wouldn't have been able to pierce the Honkai Energy Domain covering her.

Fu Hua herself probably doesn't understand that the reason she was able to control the Honkai Energy emanating from the other party and shape it into that sword energy is that the connection between the Herrscher of Flames and the Herrscher Core is gradually breaking.

This not only makes the control of power less precise than before, but also weakens the control over Honkai Energy. Therefore, the Herrscher of Flames's current offensive can find many flaws that should not exist, as well as gaps to use against Fu Hua, whose Void Sword Qi realm is not low.

The Herrscher of Flames shattered the seemingly imposing sword energy; in reality, such an attack could not even budge the weakened Honkai Energy shield on the surface of the skin.

Her eyes were slightly closed, but she glanced at the bewildered girl with a questioning look, as if she were watching something that could truly enter her field of vision, while her expression remained indifferent.

Fu Hua's general-purpose anti- Honkai armor was able to maintain its basic functions and was not completely damaged because the sword quickly destroyed the surrounding field.

In order to prevent the vacuum field from continuing to exhaust physical strength and keep the brain blank to the point of near coma, the armor that judges the surrounding environment has been extended to a semi-full coverage, allowing it to breathe the built-in oxygen and pulling the consciousness that is infinitely close to coma back to reality.

The girl was somewhat dazed, her mind echoing with the man's words about the Inch Heart Fist and its key points.

Things that are clearly so mysterious and unpredictable, impossible to learn systematically, have now naturally come to mind, as ordinary and unpredictable as the day they first entered my Mind's Eye.

Fu Hua should have been happy and delighted by this, as it proved that she was getting closer to that person. However, when she glanced at the Soul Steel blade in her hand, which was undergoing a melting and wriggling repair process, she could only feel a sense of heaviness.

Even the most active Soul Steel material currently available has its self-repairing ability greatly slowed down under the interference of molecular acceleration and the burning of high temperature.

He only had one more chance to strike.

The girl gazed at the shattered sword energy, deeply understanding the vast chasm between them. At the same time, the Herrscher in the distance silently looked at her, the oppressive feeling of being truly gazed upon almost overwhelming her will.

However, through her daily interactions with Seele, Fu Hua has become accustomed to the oppressive power of the Herrscher, and the filtering effect of Kenshin means that there are no major problems on a purely spiritual level.

But the moment that gaze descended, she could sense the Honkai Energy surging in from the vicinity and beyond, accumulating into a terrifying pressure that surrounded her, forcibly crushing and shattering every inch of the ground beneath her feet.

Clear Mirror Sword Heart's priority in controlling Honkai Energy is far lower than that of the Herrscher, so this method is enough to cause her great trouble.

Himeko clearly had no intention of wasting any more time on the other person; a question of priorities existed within her chaotic consciousness.

Before dying, eliminating the possibility of the white-haired warrior surviving was far more important than the present existence.

Therefore, after a series of "failures," the few seconds wasted became intolerable compared to the limited amount of time available.

Even with little time left, the Herrscher of Flames still didn't know how to weigh the pros and cons. When faced with the same situation, a normal human would choose to leave and find their target, which would save the most time. But she would only eliminate the life in front of her before moving on to other areas.

It's like a broken robot vacuum cleaner, stubbornly moving forward without stopping.

Himeko lowered her eyes, gazing at the tiny sparks slowly dripping from her palm. She began to replicate her previous terrifying operation, accelerating the molecular speed of the spark to the point of breaking chemical bonds and even reaching deeper levels within a mere instant.

The burst of energy gathered into a bundle between the five fingers, barely maintaining a state of tranquility and peace in the form of a spear.

In the next instant, it will pierce through the enemy's body like a meteor, clearing a path through the city behind it, leaving no trace of ruins.

Fu Hua had already drawn her sword before she could make a move; such a weak resistance was probably meaningless, and the sword strike itself could not change any reality.

But just like that day when the frail Su Qing'an faced Ganesha, ignoring the shattered Calming the Tempest, he threw a punch with his still-intact arm.

That will and decisiveness once made even the immortals of that time take notice.

And that moment is just like the present.

The spear, which should have pierced through flesh and blood, and inflicted secondary destruction on the scorched earth, was extinguished silently on the pure white blade. Scattered flames hung limply, like withered banyan leaves, drifting away in the wind...

Su Qing'an lowered his eyes, deliberately staring at the dazed little girl behind him, but unwilling to see the enemy's true face.

This battle may be unavoidable no matter what, but in order to deal with a psychological illness that is similar to post-traumatic stress disorder but even more serious, he must carefully consider anything that might trigger his own taboos.

At least for now, Su Qing'an doesn't even have the courage to look the other person in the eye.

The boy feared the sensation and sorrow of killing the other person with his own hands, but he was even more afraid that his cowardice would lead to the sacrifice of more innocent people, and even the death of the only person he cared about.

Su Qing'an understood that no matter what kind of predicament he was in, fighting or even killing his opponent was an unavoidable choice, so he had no choice but to face it.

From the very beginning until now, the boy has always lived this way.

He overcame one ordeal after another that he thought he could not bear, tempering his will and inner fire to an indestructible state.

Even now, though Su Qing'an truly understands that he cannot overcome this hurdle, he can only take a step forward.

So when the calamity that engulfed the entire city of Sydney occurred, Su Qing'an, who could feel the Fierce Wave even in Brisbane, could no longer heed Mei's previous advice and stay put.

In fact, at the moment of losing contact with Kevin, the emergence of such terrifying fluctuations led Mei to believe that the battle between the two was about to come to an end.

If that's the case, then Su Qing'an's trip becomes profoundly necessary.

Based on the data collected previously, the possibility of Kevin actually defeating the Herrscher of Flames is extremely low.

Even if the battle ends, the best outcome would be to save one's own life while severely injuring the Herrscher of Flames.

If no one goes to scout the situation, the Herrscher of Flames could easily leave Sydney, rendering Kevin's gains futile.

As for the fact that the Herrscher of Flames was unharmed, it was not within Mei's calculations. After Kevin merged with Parvati's genes, he had already mutated his original freezing power to the point that it was enough to stop molecular movement.

No matter how powerful the Herrscher of Flames is, the user who controls this power can seize the opportunity to gain victory as long as they exploit the corresponding weaknesses.

She believed that Kevin Kaslana, a warrior, would not let her down.

If the battle is not yet completely decided, even if it is just about letting Su Qing'an take away the people he values and not participate in the battle, it would be a good option.

In fact, Kevin has indeed done the best he could.

Su Qing'an could sense that the current Herrscher of Flames was far less powerful and superior to all previous Herrscher as Mei had indicated in the data.

Although it's unclear to what extent Kevin has achieved this, she is indeed injured to the point that her strength has significantly decreased.

This only made the boy feel more guilty. He hated that his own cowardice had forced Kevin to fight alone, resulting in his current unknown fate, and he also felt sad and distressed for the trauma Himeko had suffered.

"Hua, you've already tried your best."

"Leave the rest to me."

Su Qing'an raised the back of his hand, absorbing all the attacks launched by the Herrscher of Flames. The Honkai Energy obtained from this flowed into the Black Abyss White Flower in his hand, transforming it into a source of power.

A warm glow shone down, and a mysterious power enveloped the two people on the verge of death inside the medical pod, allowing them to emerge from the danger zone at an incredible speed.

Since the essence of [creation] is to create something from nothing in biological cells to make up for everything that is missing, rather than to go back in time, if it is squandered without any limits, it is very likely that internal organs and bones will be misaligned and glued together, allowing it to live in the world in a deformed way.

Su Qing'an didn't have the luxury of resolving the chaotic internal situation perfectly in one go, so he chose to temporarily stop and hand it over to specialized medical personnel to perform a large-scale surgery using nanotechnology.

Fu Hua sensed the recovery of her physical strength and the removal of the large burns from her skin, her mental fatigue seemed to lessen. She glanced at the broken sword in her hand and the boy in front of her, her mind heavy.

Even though she understood that the other person's arrival would play a decisive role in her own life, her friends' lives, and even in preventing further turmoil in civilization, she was still unwilling to let the other person bear such a price in a battle so cruelly inflicted upon themselves.

But ultimately, this is all I can do.

There is always a subtle distance between the expected future and reality. So-called enlightenment and prayers cannot overcome the elements of reality. So in the end, her pale pink lips moved, and in the midst of hesitant consideration, she still ended up speechless.

The dazzling light turned her eyelashes white, and the magnificent scene rising behind the boy was reflected in her holy blue eyes, as if a great sun was being born from nothing into the world in his palm.

Clearly, the [Stigmata]'s ability to nullify attacks allowed the Herrscher of Flames to understand that the being before her posed an extraordinary threat, and with her time already limited, she naturally needed to unleash her full power at this moment.

Under such an offensive, if they did not enter the [Udu-dust • Critical] state and extend the effect of [Stigmata] to form an absolute defense, Su Qing'an would not have been able to maintain the confidence of the group.

Come back.

The boy touched the little girl's Little Feather, and she happily rubbed against his fingers, but hesitated and secretly glanced at Fu Hua.

But in that critical moment, this small action went unnoticed by anyone.

Su Qing'an glanced at the Little Feather that obediently jumped into her palm, her expression complicated.

He slowly turned around, raised his head, and gazed intently at Himeko's face.

[Himeko, I will protect you.]

In a daze, past memories became clearer, like a large ship filled with laughter that struck a reef on solid ice and plunged into a desolate sea, never to be seen again.

The boy pondered these words he had once spoken, his eyes lowered.

Liars are annoying.

Therefore... you must accept the punishment.

Fu Hua stared blankly at his retreating figure.

In the near-standing stillness of time, a familiar murmur seemed to reach my ears:

Do you want to help him?

How should I describe this subtle tactile sensation?

It was as if I were wrapped in blue velvet, or as if I were looking at a sky full of stars amidst the bizarre and fantastical world of day and night.

It feels ethereal and distant, a sense of bewilderment yet also an involuntary feeling of peace.

She sensed that inexplicable, rapidly ascending connection and distance towards the highest point, and following her heart, she responded softly:

"Yes, I want to help him."

Someone was murmuring:

Then... do what you are capable of doing.

Su Qing'an's appearance when he entered [Udu-dust • Critical Point] was still impressive. His white hair fell to his shoulders, his lowered eyes were tinged with crimson, and thousands of drifting feathers of light fell like rain.

Fu Hua gazed at his departing figure in a daze, and understood the answer in those words.

She grabbed his hand.

The girl's slender fingers intertwined with his, locking together without any gap.

While Su Qing'an was in a daze, she found Fu Hua's thoughts and emotions in the connection with Udu-dust's soul resonance.

I don't want you to get hurt, I don't want you to be sad.

It doesn't matter if you can't do anything.

I don't want you to be unhappy, and I don't want you to have to bear so much responsibility.

[Even if you choose to run away, it doesn't matter. I like you no matter what you are like.]

[So...]

She looked up at those eyes that were gradually turning dark again, and murmured softly:

"I want to fight for you."

Su Qing'an gazed at the immortal whose black hair had melted into pure white like snow and whose eyes burned with crimson light. In a daze, he sensed that the resonance between Udu-dust and his own soul had spontaneously dissipated, and at the same time, the Little Feather... seamlessly resonated with Fu Hua, who was right next to him.

The current phenomenon can only be explained by one reason: during the time that Udu-dust entrusted the Little Feather to her, she not only maintained her connection with it but also established a brand new connection with it.

The strangest thing is that Fu Hua clearly entered [Udu-dust • Critical], but the boy could still sense that Udu-dust could still serve as an extension of [Stigmata].

The support plan that Mei had originally devised has been perfectly and definitively implemented in the person in front of her.

[Stigmata], Power, Udu-dust.

All of Su Qing'an's core abilities were easily and perfectly reproduced in Fu Hua, almost as if they were inherited.

Will you fight for me?

In a daze, the boy gazed at the figure walking in front of him, and his withered heart seemed to find a spring in a parched desert.

Su Qing'an couldn't possibly be unaware of Fu Hua's high regard for him, but when this emotion and longing were transmitted through the medium of Udu-dust and the connection of their souls, it fermented into a tremendous impact, making it impossible for him to refuse the other's will.

Fu Hua's slender body clearly faced the scorching sun that was about to crush her, yet the steps she took forward seemed to land on the clouds. Surrounded by raging flames, she was gradually shedding her mortal dust and ascending to immortality.

As the pure white light covered the colors down to just the lines, the immortal's white hair was tinged with a few strands of crimson, and his jet-black armor and the casual clothes underneath were shaped into extremely familiar garments by the Honkai Energy threads binding them.

The exquisite clothing that clung to the body and outlined its graceful lines was exactly the same as the posture I had seen in the Heart Seal at the Mount Taixu.

Su Qing'an stared blankly at the sun, which was being swallowed up in her palm.

What kind of karmic conditions led to this situation?

The boy closed his eyes. He thought for a moment, then decided it didn't matter anymore.

Simply entrust everything to her.

Perhaps even Fu Hua herself couldn't figure out her current situation. She never understood what it was like to have her soul linked with Udu-dust.

Countless memories, though not mine, yet deeply resonating with me, swirl and churn in my mind, like dust motes rising and falling in the sunlight.

The girl gazed at the red-haired woman walking towards her from the sea of fire, and in a daze, her jumbled memories seemed to have a keyword that allowed her to search for them.

She thus glimpsed the future and past of another timeline, a world entirely different from the present, offering a unique diversity of memories.

Himeko is still Himeko, Fu Hua is still Fu Hua.

However, the former has a vastly different meaning for the latter.

As the immortal gazed at the increasingly weakened Herrscher of Flames in the distance, it was as if he could see through her the ending that the soul behind her yearned for and hoped for.

Fu Hua sensed that profound sorrow, yet for some reason felt a sense of relief as well. She murmured:

"Let me escort you to your grave, Captain."