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In battle after battle, Zeke relentlessly unleashed his energy. As Otto had surmised, this approach came at a cost.
"Whew..."
Despite maintaining a powerful aura and overflowing energy beyond normal limits, Zeke couldn't help but clutch his chest, feeling the strain on both his physical body and spirit.
Simultaneously, whether due to his deteriorating condition or some hidden contingency left by Otto, Zeke sensed an intensifying turmoil within the Herrscher of the Void's core, forcing him to expend more effort to suppress it.
Truthfully, expelling the gemstone would instantly restore much of his strength.
However, Zeke aimed to overwhelm everything, proving he could defeat the terrifying adversaries looming in the future.
If he compromised here, even if he gained complete control over the present era, would it truly secure the future he desired?
"It's not enough... My limit is far beyond this!"
Zeke knew his own calculations well; achieving invincibility was paramount. Without it, any subsequent plans would be mere empty talk, devoid of meaning.
"Zeke!!!"
"Roar!!!"
Zeke heard familiar shouts and dragon roars.
Among them, the assertive voice of a young girl stood out—so familiar that Zeke instantly envisioned Kiana's defiant and unyielding face.
"Utterly predictable," Zeke muttered, unsurprised.
Otto's series of strategies unfolded: first, three intense assaults with Cosmic Juggernaut, Welt Combo, and Mimicry of the Will of Honkai; then, draining his strength using the Four Heroic Spirits in their Fallen states; followed by further attrition from the elder group. After enduring layer upon layer of attacks, Zeke now faced another relentless duo he couldn't afford to underestimate—Kiana and Fu Hua.
While entirely predictable, their tactics were undeniably effective.
With a casual swipe, Zeke shattered the roaring flames resulting from Kiana's fusion with Benares. His consciousness momentarily cleared as he braced for a colossal sword energy descending from the heavens.
"Taixuan Sword God!"
"Bella, let's go!"
"Roar!!!"
Following Kiana's signal, Fu Hua unleashed her Sword Goddess powers to disrupt Zeke's mental focus while Kiana continued exerting pressure externally, combining forces on both physical and spiritual fronts.
'Boom!!!'
After an extreme burst of Honkai Energy, a golden dial appeared behind Zeke, restoring him once more.
Zeke raised his hand, sending flames and lightning surging towards the starry sky.
He must overcome this challenge, and once past it, no one in the human world could hinder his progress!
Zeke's expression remained cold as he unleashed his fully charged attack on Kiana and Fu Hua, engulfing everything in a torrent of flames and lightning.
What followed was another one-sided onslaught, yet again met with relentless resistance.
With the power of six cores, Kiana continuously absorbed Zeke's strikes from the front while Fu Hua, wielding the nearly divine technique of Otto—Sword Goddess—in the rear, relentlessly shook Zeke's repeatedly fortified mental domain.
But it proved futile; to Zeke, the energy level of six cores was akin to the feeble glow of fireflies, and even Fu Hua's Void Sword Goddess could be largely negated by Zeke's simplified simulation.
Under Zeke's cautious control, this battle resembled child's play.
After approximately half an hour, Benares plummeted lifelessly into the abyss below. Kiana and Fu Hua swiftly followed suit, gently descending under Zeke's watchful care.
"It's over..." Rubbing his temples, Zeke eased the discomfort caused by sustained psychic attacks.
Everything unfolded just as he anticipated. Despite appearances of unprecedented glory, this era couldn't withstand even him, the Thirteenth Herrscher. How could it possibly hope against Finality? It would be more prudent to spare no cost, using his own hands to shape a world closer to victory!
Shaking his head, Zeke decided to stop pushing himself and activated the golden watch face once more, restoring his condition fully. His mind, previously hazy, now regained complete clarity.
As he pondered whether to commence conquest from the Lunar Base or first find a place to pacify the unruly Herrscher of the Void's core within him, a pair of hands clung tightly to his legs.
"Don't leave! I won't let you destroy everything!"
Zeke remained silent, looking down at Kiana, her face pale as she gripped onto his thighs. Despite her evident exhaustion, her defiant gaze refused to waver.
Gradually, those sky-blue eyes began to glisten with tears, conveying profound feelings of hurt and injustice.
"I may not understand it all, nor do I want to... But you can't just ruin everything like this! Zeke, this is...this is the world we've protected together!"
"I don't care," Zeke replied calmly. Yet, he leaned forward and gently wiped away the tears from Kiana's eyes. Realizing he couldn't stem her tears, he softly caressed the top of her head instead.
His words were cold, but his actions truthfully reflected Zeke's sentiments, unashamedly revealing his emotions.
But his actions honestly reflected Zeke's feelings, and he had no interest in concealing them.
Kiana momentarily faltered before summoning her last reserves of strength to cling tighter to Zeke's thigh, shouting,
"How can you not care?! We met, bonded, and fell in love within this world! Have you forgotten our first night together in Mondstadt? The countless places we've been, people we've encountered, and experiences we shared—have you forgotten all that?"
"But none of it was my responsibility," Zeke replied.
When he first arrived in this world, his sole aim was simply to survive.
Then, he wanted to protect Kiana.
Even now, the only ones Zeke truly wished to safeguard were these few girls. As for the so-called "world," they were merely incidental concerns.
At its core, Zeke wasn't native to this realm. While he couldn't claim complete indifference, neither was he deeply invested. He would protect what he could; if unable or if it conflicted with his true responsibilities, letting go wouldn't be an unacceptable choice.
As for Zeke's sense of responsibility—though he didn't explicitly state it, his gentle gaze upon Kiana revealed his answer.
Kiana, tears welling up, gritted her teeth and said, "I've never... I've never asked you to ignore the entire world just for me!"
"You're too naive to make such unreasonable demands on me, my foolish girl. But, I have my own choices to make."
"Zeke...you can't...can't do something reckless...I won't let you..."
"Let go now, rest well," Zeke whispered softly, touching his index finger gently to Kiana's forehead, lulling her into unconsciousness. He then cradled her sleeping form in his arms.
"I'm not wrong; without striving for perfection, there's nothing one can truly protect," Zeke murmured, as if explaining himself to the slumbering Kiana.
As they descended slowly, the vast and familiar blue planet overhead seemed to dim.
Exhausted both mentally and energetically, Fu Hua strained her gaze at Zeke's retreating back. As he grew more distant and blurry in her eyes, she silently sighed within herself:
Senti, I'm counting on you for what comes next.
"Old Antique! Old Antique, what are you doing? Something's not right with your consciousness! And even the Memory Fragment I worked so hard to restore is fluctuating... Just what are you attempting?"
"I can't let Zeke follow this path... Back then, we had no choice, but it's different for Zeke. He...should walk a better road, one leading to a brighter future."
"Old Antique! Let me out first; I can fight him too! Whatever you're planning, stop immediately—you're risking everything!" Senti's frantic voice echoed in Fu Hua's soul.
Touched by his concern, Fu Hua felt warmth in her heart. Despite the darkness encroaching on her vision, a faint smile graced her lips.
'Sorry, Senti, but I might need to borrow more of your power...'
"Take it! Take all you want! Whatever amount you desire is yours! But first, stop! Don't do anything reckless! Old Antique, did you hear me? Something's seriously off with you right now; don't make any foolish decisions!"
Within the consciousness domain, Senti watched as the once serene landscape of blue skies and white clouds became tainted by an eerie crimson hue. The stable space started developing increasing numbers of dark fissures, leaving her frantic and overwhelmed.
Suddenly, her wide scarlet eyes froze in shock.
"Old Antique, you..."
"I was once deeply entrenched in the Commandment 'Thou shalt not succumb to evil,' thus despising this power that inherently belongs to me. I saw it as corruption, wickedness, something utterly vile... But now, I realize it's merely strength within my grasp."
"Old Antique! Stop immediately! You're aiming for far more than just triggering the Artificial Collapse!"
"Spirit, flesh, energy - their unity forms the Trinity. This was prepared for the Final Herrscher... Much like Otto, yet unexpectedly liberated first for Zeke..."
Fu Hua's voice gradually weakened until it nearly faded away.
Senti knew Fu Hua had already begun her plan, but with no understanding of her intentions, she couldn't intervene at all.
"Old Antique!"