Soul-Dust Falls into a Deep Sleep.

The Herrscher of Flames needed no funeral; her life had long since entered an irreversible decline.

All it takes is to drag time to the other party's limit, and the soul before you will be annihilated.

Therefore, from beginning to end, the outcome of this battle was never in doubt.

But when the true end came, Himeko finally received a small measure of solace. She could not change her destined fate, but compared to her previous achievement of burning down the entire country of Australia, the result of only managing to control one city was tantamount to saving too many lives in a roundabout way.

Even if the woman herself is unaware of the magnitude of the crimes she has committed, there is no doubt that if things continue, the consequences will be far greater than they initially thought.

In that vast, ocean-like world, Himeko could vaguely see everything happening outside, but no matter how hard she struggled with her own will, she could not break free from the shackles imposed upon her.

The Herrscher of Flames is a special existence. With the emergence of the Fusion Warrior, her power was increased by the Honkai mechanism, and she was also given a deeper meaning and a more profound cage than the normal Herrscher.

The apostles, born from this situation, are souls that originally belonged to this body. For them to truly Awakened and regain their autonomy, in addition to the dual challenges of intense emotions and willpower, they also need to fulfill a portion of the targets for destroying civilization, which would indirectly lighten the shackles.

Even if Su Qing'an wanted to Soul Scale, exchanging power for a temporary loss of emotion as in the past, he couldn't break the connection.

Even exchanging one life for another, the price is the same.

The fundamental reason is that the strength of the Herrscher of Flames is based on the premise that the soul, the Herrscher Core, and even the power itself are extremely closely related. This closeness is completely different from that of previous Herrscher, and the will of Honkai is confused between these two, mixed together.

The amount of resources and costs only affects the quality and intensity of the soul flame; its precision is still controlled by Su Qing'an himself.

However, when it involves a situation almost akin to soul entanglement, performing this level of precision surgery on a rapidly changing battlefield can only be described as wishful thinking.

Therefore, when the boy sensed Himeko's condition, he already understood that there was no room for luck in this battle.

Fu Hua's actions could not overcome the sadness and emptiness in her heart, but they still gave Su Qing'an a kind of redemption that allowed him to continue.

Even now, Su Qing'an can still sense the girl's feelings through the shared Soul Link between the two of them and Udu-dust.

Pure, innocent, and warm.

Young and inexperienced, yet earnest.

That unwavering and precious emotion is a powerful remedy that can pull a person out of hell, just like the power that suppressed Kenshin's cracks back then. For him, it holds incredible significance.

The girl gazed at the fallen Herrscher of Flames, her expression a mixture of melancholy and complexity.

Her vibrant red hair, like withered flower petals, turned to ash in an instant. In a mere daze, her corpse disintegrated and scattered into the world the moment she fell.

Fu Hua's gaze followed the movement, and the fine dust drifted into the distance with a sigh, returning to the thick clouds caused by the Honkai Energy phenomenon, eventually becoming indistinguishable from one another...

The emotions that surged in my chest along with the chaotic memories seemed to gradually fade away, as if the knot in my heart had been untied, and I had finally broken free from my previous constraints. All my emotions were able to be expressed, and I finally found comfort and relief.

She wasn't sure where these fading memories and rapidly disappearing emotions came from, but she couldn't help feeling joy and pleasure from them.

It felt like we had accomplished something very, very important.

Fu Hua couldn't help but connect this strange and inexplicable feeling to the time when she had just met Su Qing'an.

At that time, all sorts of strange yet real emotions swept over me like snowflakes, creating chaos and disrupting my previously orderly life, turning it into something completely different.

This feeling came from the Little Feather on Master Su's body, which made her feel that perhaps there was a connection between the two that she herself did not know.

This also explains why, even before meeting the other person, one would feel panicked about a silent brush past them, and even subsequently follow them.

Secrets are the most powerful tool for influencing emotions.

But if the mystery's mastermind is Su Qing'an, then for Fu Hua, the answer itself seems to become less important.

Compared to these, the little girl cared more about something else.

She nervously twisted the red rope on the side of her thigh with her fingers. The amount of exposure and design of the dress was slightly beyond her acceptable range. The details that completely outlined her body curves and the coolness of her skin, which was faintly visible, gave her a very subtle sensory experience in various ways.

The exposure of the chest, back, and thighs, accentuated by accessories and the defined lines, becomes somewhat alluring.

Looking at her somewhat uncomfortable appearance, Su Qing'an subconsciously compared her to the Immortal Chi Yuan he had seen in the Heart Seal before.

Although the young girl's inexperienced demeanor lacked a certain ethereal and natural charm, it was precisely this that made her all the more intriguing and endearingly contrasting.

The most crucial point is that, lacking the temperament of the Immortal Chi Yuan from that period, the austere nature of this outfit cannot be neutralized by the natural and otherworldly atmosphere of the past, making the presence of the clothing elements even more prominent.

If it weren't for the oppressive feeling of Himeko's death, he might have even considered taking a photo as a memento.

But now, the boy gazed at the corpses in the sky, connected to the thick, dark clouds that filled the atmosphere. In the blink of an eye, amidst countless Honkai Energy, even the last remnant that could prove her existence had vanished into the vast, ocean-like sky, never to be seen again.

He thought that no matter how many times he did it, he probably wouldn't be able to get used to it.

Those who cannot adapt to reality but can only accept it are destined to feel sorrow for it forever.

It's good that you can still feel sad; at least it proves that you haven't completely broken down and become a heartless puppet.

Fu Hua gazed at the boy's slightly stunned and somber expression. Udu-dust seemed to clearly convey his thoughts and emotions at that moment. She thought for a moment, then followed his gaze to the same sky and softly said:

"For Captain Himeko, this is the best possible outcome after becoming the Seventh Herrscher."

"The Seventh Herrscher destroyed Sydney, even if she regains her self-awareness, will not be accepted by humanity."

"Given the captain's personality, she probably wouldn't forgive herself for committing such a crime. Living in that form might be a more agonizing end for her than death."

"Because she is such a strong person, strong enough to bear the sins that are not hers alone, strong enough to not resist no matter how she is treated, strong enough to struggle and swim in the most painful vortex until the end."

Su Qing'an gazed at her snow-white hair fluttering in the wind and asked softly:

"Does Hua think death is the best ending?"

Without waiting for a reply, he smiled and said:

"I sometimes think that way too, and maybe I still do now."

"But perhaps it's better to live, because as long as we're alive, we'll have the chance to witness the rest of the possibilities."

Fu Hua pursed her lips and said:

"As for the captain, if she could choose the outcome according to her own will, she would not hesitate to help civilization as Herrscher, fight against the Honkai with her own will, and pray that she can atone for her sins in the process."

"But that's also the most beautiful yet impossible ending. The captain is a very rational person. Having already lost control once, if he couldn't be sure he wouldn't lose control again, it wouldn't be surprising if he chose to commit suicide while he still had his senses."

"The warriors of the Moth to Fire have a rule of immediately executing any teammates who become Zombie."

"The captain had carried out countless attacks on her teammates who had become Zombie. It must have been an extremely painful experience for her, but in order not to burden her comrades with more responsibility, she believed that she could bear it all alone."

"Captain Himeko wouldn't allow herself to continue living in such an uncontrollable state."

Su Qing'an remained silent. He had learned of similar things from Himeko, and in the even more desperate Previous Civilization, such events were probably countless.

Himeko's beliefs on this matter are probably even more steadfast and unwavering than Himeko's, so it's not surprising that the situation Hua described would occur; in fact, that would be the most likely outcome.

From the moment Himeko became the Seventh Herrscher, some things were destined to be irreversible.

Fu Hua thought about what Himeko had said back then, and continued:

"We will see the future for the captain. As long as we live, we can witness the future of this world for those who cannot see it."

Su Qing'an stretched out his hand, gazing at the black dust slowly lingering on his fingertips. Thinking of the despair he was destined to face, he responded softly:

Even if it might not end well?

The girl did not answer the question directly. She looked at the sunless area that blocked out the sunlight and stepped towards the clouds in the distance.

The surrounding crimson feathers drifted down like rain, piling up and extending infinitely at an extremely fast speed, draping the sky in a beautiful red glow. These illusions served as the medium for the [Stigmata], thereby drawing upon the chaotic Honkai Energy phenomena in the world.

As her fingertips fell, a pure radiance emanated from them. With the continuous twisting and injection of Honkai Energy, the power of [Creation] was born from this, and endless starlight, like a gift from God, was scattered across the world.

In the short span of time, the chaos in the world was quelled through the cycle of absorbing [Stigmata] and squandering power.

Fu Hua didn't respond, but the boy still found her answer.

And perhaps, just like many things in the past.

No answer is needed.

Whatever the future holds, as long as we explore it together, we can be fearless.

Looking up at the cloudless blue sky, Su Qing'an asked softly:

"After such a disaster, are there any survivors in Sydney?"

The girl's eyes closed slightly as she walked to the other person's side, inexplicably feeling a strange weakness in her spirit and will.

Fu Hua unconsciously leaned into the boy's arms, placing the cross she was holding into his palm, and whispered:

"The captain once said that humans are both fragile and resilient beings. If the power of creation can play a role for those who are still alive, then it is meaningful."

"Furthermore, Kevin should still be somewhere in the city. Until the search team officially finds him, the existence of Creation is necessary."

Su Qing'an gazed at her eyes and hair, which were gradually regaining their original color, and... the Honkai Energy fabric that was slowly losing its hold as her consciousness faded. He took off his coat and draped it over the girl's shoulders, covering her delicate skin that was about to be exposed to the air, and asked softly:

"These are... their remains?"

The little girl's consciousness grew increasingly hazy; she felt incredibly tired and sleepy. The connection she had formally established with Little Feather seemed to have drawn some substance from her soul, causing her long-accumulated fatigue to erupt, leaving her mind in a daze.

She muttered:

"Whether it's the captain or those who died."

"If there's not even a tombstone, don't you think... it's very pitiful?"

The boy was stunned. He gazed at her peaceful sleeping face and softly replied:

"Yes, it's pitiful."

Su Qing'an felt the coldness in her palms. The remains of most of the victims in Sydney were gathered and condensed in this small cross, just as Fu Hua had said... This was a tombstone.

To prevent it from being forgotten.

At the same time as the Herrscher of Flames died, in order to immediately send troops to find Kevin's whereabouts, he had already informed Mei of the news and specific situation here.

It is expected that a steady stream of mechanical soldiers will arrive soon and turn the entire city of Sydney upside down. Regardless of personal feelings, Kevin Kaslana is invaluable as the only successful sample of the Fusion Warrior experiment so far.

Even if Mei herself remained indifferent, the higher-ups could not allow the first Fusion Warrior to die so easily in Sydney.

Because Su Qing'an's origins are unknown, they are displeased with his current dominant reputation and fame.

Although the person involved didn't care, the higher-ups preferred to see other heroes emerge who could be publicized.

The events in Australia have dealt a severe blow to the situation.

The appearance of the Herrscher is accompanied by the abandonment of an entire continent, and upon deeper reflection, one inevitably perceives despair and fear.

Kevin Kaslana's presence is undoubtedly necessary to reverse the decline and low morale.

Aside from the instinctive sense of weighing options, the upper echelons made this choice primarily to distinguish Su Qing'an's combat strength from being abnormal and unreasonable. The power of the Fusion Warrior could be replicated, explained, and publicized.

The two methods have a completely different impact on morale, on the same level.

The former is incomprehensible to you, while the latter is completely different.

As long as Kevin's strength is publicized, people will perceive it as a sign that such warriors will continue to emerge, giving rise to a sense of security and hope for the future.

As a figurehead, no one is more suitable than Kevin Kaslana right now.

The death of the Seventh Herrscher is also a fitting result of the first battle, dispelling some of the gloom created by the Australian incident.

Currently, after the birth of the Seventh Herrscher, a portion of the Honkai Energy worldwide has converged on Australia, while Honkai events in other regions have relatively decreased. This has allowed various regions to free up some resources and troops to provide assistance.

However, because the atmosphere over the Australian region was almost entirely engulfed by an endless Honkai Energy phenomenon, the advance team that came to help could only consist of large quantities of resources transported by warships from the Mu Continent.

This can be seen as a test from above, and also as the price to send a signal and set an attitude for the public.

However, if the situation in Australia cannot be resolved in the short term, then the advance team is the only assistance that can be provided.

Our current civilization does not have the time, resources, or energy to waste in a region that is destined to be uninhabitable.

Australia can now be considered a giant dumping ground for Honkai Energy, and while it has shared the burden of the global conflict, a huge part of the continent has been completely lost as a result.

The situation is deteriorating both in the long term and in the short term.

It is likely that the Fusion Warrior Project and the Divine Key Project will receive genuine and substantial support and be fully implemented through this initiative.

The Previous Civilization era is about to usher in a period of explosive growth in power, and the Herrscher that emerge with it will become increasingly terrifying and difficult to contend with.

But those were all things of the future, and even if they weren't far off, the boy at that time had no interest in them. Right now, he only cared about one important question.

Since Kevin's whereabouts were unknown, Su Qing'an believed he bore most of the responsibility. Therefore, he had planned to enter [Udu-dust • Critical Point] himself and use the myriad illusions of Udu-dust as a medium to gradually cover the entire city, lock onto the soul aura, and directly find out where Kevin was.

But as the boy gazed at the little girl's adorable sleeping face, he was somewhat speechless to find that Little Feather was still in her Sea of consciousness, seemingly asleep as well, and unresponsive to his summons. This prevented [Udu-dust • Critical Point] from being activated, making it impossible to find her efficiently.

This strange turn of events gave him a vague, unsettling feeling.

The fact that Fu Hua was able to establish a link with Udu-dust was unexpected yet reasonable. According to Su Qing'an's own understanding, he could attribute it to the fact that after Udu-dust had been in contact with Fu Hua for a period of time, he naturally logged into the old server.

After all, Udu-dust was a product of Fu Hua herself. Theoretically, if they hadn't gone through the process of death and reboot together and formed a deep Soul Link, it would be normal for the Little Feather to happily jump back into Fu Hua's head upon seeing her.

But all the current changes seem to involve the soul.