The authority of the Herrscher of the Void wasn't limited to manipulating physical space; it could also communicate with places beyond the secular world.
In comparison, aside from having high combat power, the Herrscher of Thunder's functionality was far inferior to the Herrscher of the Void. Coincidentally, in this current era, the one thing not lacking was powerhouses with off-the-charts combat capabilities.
Only a third-rate organization like Raven's Nest would care about the Herrscher of Thunder.
A mere Herrscher of Thunder... World Serpent really didn't have many people who cared...
Sigh, how pitiful.
But she is a Herrscher after all. Getting caught in the rain shouldn't be a big deal.
Raven thought to herself.
Time slipped away quietly amidst the anxious patter of raindrops.
Raven paced back and forth by the bedside. Sometimes she stood by the bed observing the condition of the two patients; other times she opened the window, gazing out at the dwindling drizzle... drip, drop, drip, drop...
Every so often, Raven would turn back to observe Gray Serpent. But ever since he injected Li Wu with the "Holy Blood" and popped his eyeball back in, Gray Serpent hadn't moved a muscle.
Like a weathered statue, he stood motionless in place, devoid of any vitality.
Raven even suspected his consciousness had returned to the "Gray Serpent Hive Mind," but the glowing red mechanical eye dispelled that possibility.
Gray Serpent's main consciousness was still inside this bo—no, inside this main body.
"It's really strange. Usually, it doesn't take long to wake up after a Holy Blood injection. One minute, two minutes, ten minutes tops... It's been over half an hour, and this guy still hasn't woken up. Did you buy fake Holy Blood or something?" Raven teased out of boredom.
But Gray Serpent remained unmoved.
A moment later, seeing that Li Wu's neural activity was trending toward normal, Gray Serpent finally turned to look at Raven, his tone icy. "Do not use human common sense to measure the 'First Flame-Chaser.' The fact that the Holy Blood exerted over 100% efficacy is the best proof. Followers like you and I need only wait quietly for his awakening..."
"Yes, yes, yes. 'First Flame-Chaser,' 'Commander of the Fire Moth 7th Squad,' 'The Endless Gift to Humanity,' 'The Apex of Earth, The Answer of Earth'... My ears are getting calluses from hearing all these nicknames. I just hope you haven't identified the wrong person, otherwise it's a huge loss. Our World Serpent isn't as rich as Schicksal..."
Raven was almost certain Li Wu wasn't the "legendary figure" from World Serpent's lore.
A genetic clone, a double created by other Flame-Chasers... all these were possible. The only impossibility was that he was the original.
If he were the original, he wouldn't have been so strapped for resources when facing her, even having to sacrifice his personality to purge the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group.
Sigh, maybe some big shot missed the 'First Flame-Chaser' and deliberately created him, even inputting the identity and memories.
Meanwhile, Li Wu was dreaming.
...
In a golden, brilliant wheat field, a breeze swept through, creating golden ripples that gently brushed against three figures walking leisurely through the field.
A shy blond boy holding a book;
A lively white-haired girl making a funny face to scare the boy, pulling her mouth and eyelids open with her pinkies and index fingers;
And him, noticeably taller than both the blond boy and the white-haired girl.
"Teacher, Teacher! If I become Schicksal's strongest S-Rank Valkyrie, will I be able to let more people live?"
"Yes. You will eventually become the strongest S-Rank Valkyrie of this era."
"Hehe, I knew it! Then let's save the world together! It's a promise—no quitting halfway!"
"Ah... but, Teacher... I... I'll just drag you down. I can't do it... Saving the world and all that... Besides, I get out of breath just running. I... I'm no good..."
A conversation with unclear meaning.
Li Wu watched the blond boy squatting on the ground with his head down, looking dejected, while the white-haired girl next to him cheered him on.
He couldn't see their faces clearly.
But they felt a bit familiar...
"Teacher! That 'coming-of-age gift' we agreed on... I don't want a beautiful kite anymore. I want the power to save the world! Whether it's Teacher, or my family and friends, or the neighbors! I want to protect the people properly and drive the Honkai out of everyone's lives, out of our world!"
The afterglow of the setting sun spilled from the canvas-like brilliant sky onto the girl's tender face. The twilight added the same brilliance to her, but the shadow behind her grew fainter and fainter, until it blended into the wheat field and could no longer be found.
Warm summer breezes brushed past one after another. Looking at the girl with determined eyes, Li Wu nodded and said—
"Okay."
This was a decision he had never made.
At least, in all his past memories, never.
A strange thought surged in his mind, yet his heart remained dead silent, without a single ripple of emotion.
Whether before, or now.
Perhaps this change could bring about a different ending...
...
"Why... Why don't you love me?!"
"Why can't you love me!!!"
"Why... do you have to leave..."
Suddenly, the sunny white-haired girl in the dream turned into another adult woman. Her mouth full of blood, she strangled his neck tightly, screaming herself hoarse.
Li Wu bolted upright in a dying panic. His back was sticky with cold sweat, and he clutched his forehead, still in shock.
Was that...
A nightmare?
The first half of the dream was so warm and beautiful, but in the second half, a female ghost suddenly jumped out and strangled him.
It felt like his neck had been snapped back then? There was a crack sound...
Was she really that strong?
Damn, I can't remember the details...
When Li Wu came to his senses, he found three pairs of eyes staring straight at him.
Raven leaned against the wall, full of curiosity.
Raiden Mei sat by the bed, holding his hands tightly. Seeing him wake up, her beautifully worried face instantly blossomed into a bright smile.
And the most mysterious hooded cyborg—Gray Serpent—was holding a strange black umbrella indoors, his left eye flashing with crimson light.
And...
Why does my whole body feel so much lighter?
He could lift his left arm, the dizziness was gone, and he was full of energy.
Li Wu felt like he had inexhaustible strength; he could stand in the rain for another day and night without issue!
Of course, he wasn't an idiot. He wouldn't run out into the rain just because he felt healthy.
Soon, the recovered Li Wu got out of bed, and his first sentence was: "Gray Serpent, I want to make a deal with you."
Gray Serpent definitely wouldn't agree to just this sentence; Li Wu knew this very well.
As Kevin's extremely loyal follower, he had to persuade him from the standpoint of Kevin's needs.
Just as Li Wu prepared to list key points like "Raiden Mei is a Herrscher with her own will" and "She can be thrown into the Elysian Realm to fulfill Elysia's wish"...
"Agreed."
Gray Serpent suddenly agreed.
"I haven't even said what the deal is..."
"You may elaborate now."