"Do you really think I care about something like that, Furina?" Akio smiled gently.
"..." Furina stayed silent for a moment, then nodded softly. With Akio's reassurance, she felt much calmer.
She was just a mortal pretending to be a god. She'd always been terrified that Akio would reject her once he learned the truth.
"Furina, tell me your story," Akio gently caressed Furina's cheek, comforting her restless heart.
"Alright..." Furina nodded slowly, her eyes distant as she drifted into memories.
"I... I was born five hundred years ago. Actually, I don't even know how I came to be. All I know is that from the very moment I was born, I seemed to have heard that prophecy," Furina began.
"Until one day, I met another version of myself in the mirror. She was dressed elegantly and looked exactly like me."
"She told me that if I wanted to save Fontaine, I had to play the role of the Hydro Archon," Furina took a deep breath.
"I didn't understand why, but my reflection said as long as I could convincingly play the role of the Hydro Archon without anyone discovering my true identity, I could save all of Fontaine..."
"I chose to believe her... I thought it would just be a brief performance, a few short acts at most—but it stretched on for centuries..."
"I thought about giving up. Sometimes I even wondered if what I was doing was meaningless... but I couldn't abandon Fontaine's only hope."
"'She' worked so hard for Fontaine. How could I possibly give up?"
"Eighteen thousand two hundred and seventy-five days, I've..." Furina lowered her head, inhaled deeply, and shook her head, falling silent once more.
"The reflection in the mirror... Is that your other self? She looked exactly like you and had divinity. It seems that's your divine aspect—the true Focalors," Akio quickly realized.
"You, a mortal spirit, occupied the seat of a god for five hundred years?" Raiden Shogun's eyes widened slightly, astonishment in her voice, yet her gaze now held a newfound respect for Furina.
"The Shogun and I once battled for centuries in my husband's Imaginary Space to confirm my resolve," Raiden Ei spoke seriously. "Yet you, Furina, managed to endure five hundred years with a mortal mind alone. I acknowledge you. Though you are human, your spirit has reached the pinnacle of divinity. You are truly worthy of being called a god."
"But I... I'm just an ordinary human," Furina shook her head weakly. "I don't want to be the Hydro Archon anymore... It's too exhausting... too lonely..."
"Furina..." Akio felt his heart ache deeply for the girl in front of him.
Five hundred years—how unbearably long was that for a mortal?
The human will was fragile and easily worn down by the passage of time.
Even immortals risked madness and ruin under the endless erosion of memories.
Even the hardest rocks would crumble under time's relentless torrent. Without the Heart of Ultimate Resilience, neither Akio nor the other goddesses could guarantee they'd remain sane after thousands of years.
Yet, Furina, a mere mortal, had stubbornly persisted through five centuries. Such unyielding willpower inspired even the gods to admiration.
"You won't ever have to fear loneliness again. You have me now," Akio gently pinched Furina's cheek. The Heart of Ultimate Resilience activated within her body, enveloping her soul.
No matter how strong Furina's willpower was, she was still mortal. Her soul had long been scarred and battered. The Heart of Ultimate Resilience would restore her to perfect condition permanently.
As the Heart awakened, its immense spiritual power instantly dispersed the curse from Focalors—the curse that had kept Furina from aging or dying. From this moment onward, Furina would age and eventually die naturally. But how could Akio allow that?
Without the curse, Furina was now just like an ordinary girl—powerless and mortal.
Imaginary energy surged within Akio's body, capturing and analyzing the power of Hydro, transforming it into the fundamental Law of Water.
Countless elemental forces converted by Honkai energy coalesced in Akio's hands.
Soon, a beautiful azure gemstone—a Herrscher Core—appeared, slowly spinning in his palm.
"Success!" Akio felt pleasantly surprised, though he sighed slightly upon sensing the greatly depleted Imaginary energy within himself.
Creating powers related to fundamental laws was still far too taxing!
What Akio had directly created wasn't just an imitation; it was a genuine Herrscher Core representing the absolute Law of Water.
An SS-rank Herrscher Core of Water—once given to Furina, it would instantly elevate her to true divinity. She would become the true Hydro Archon, her strength on par with Raiden Ei.
"What is this?" Furina stared curiously at the azure Herrscher Core.
"This is a Herrscher Core, condensed purely from my own power. It grants absolute control over the Law of Water," Akio explained gently. "If you fuse with this, you will become the true Hydro Archon, wielding absolute mastery over all water."
Without hesitation, Akio pressed the Herrscher Core into Furina's chest. Instantly, a vast surge of water elemental energy wrapped around her.
Moments later, as the elemental energy dispersed, Furina appeared unchanged at first glance—but the aura she now radiated was extraordinarily powerful.
"Now, Furina's strength rivals even mine, as I wield the supreme authority of lightning," Raiden Ei praised warmly. "A Herrscher of Water? That's perfect. To me, Furina has always been Fontaine's rightful Hydro Archon."
"Exactly. If Furina had no powers at all, wouldn't it be embarrassing if some foolish person asked her to demonstrate her divine strength someday?" Yae Miko nodded in agreement.
"Fontaine is the nation of justice and judgment. The people there can even put their Archon on trial," Raiden Makoto reminded gently. "Furina, after all, you were only playing the role of a god. Should anyone maliciously doubt you, having real power will serve as the strongest proof of your legitimacy."
"Uh..." Furina hesitated briefly. "But my acting is so perfect... surely no one would put me on trial, right?"
"You never know. There are always busybodies who like pointing fingers," Akio rolled his eyes slightly. "With this power, you can now freely act without worries. Whatever problems Fontaine faces, you'll be able to easily resolve them."
"You don't need to fear Celestia anymore either. I'll handle them myself," Akio assured her.
"Darling! Thank you so much!" Furina gazed at Akio gratefully. As expected, with her husband by her side, she was no longer alone!
"BUT! Darling, you meanie! My butt still hurts from your spanking earlier!" Furina's serious expression lasted mere seconds before she suddenly tackled Akio onto the bed like an angry little kitten, glaring at him with mock fury.
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