She didn't dare move, not at all.
The Herrscher of Ice felt that her very birth was a mistake.
This era simply wasn't a place for a Herrscher!
She could crush that guy who had only consciousness left with one hand, but the two standing next to him were completely not human.
Especially the white-haired one, seriously, am I the Herrscher of Ice or are you!?
"Sigh, " Life was hard, and the Herrscher of Ice let out a breath.
Her awareness returned to the consciousness space. Looking at Anna, who had sealed herself in ice from the inside out, the Herrscher of Ice felt a wave of irritation.
But she had no way to deal with her. This timid, cowardly little hamster was unshakably determined to hide herself.
No matter how she tried to entice… persuade her, she refused to lower her guard even a bit.
Honestly, she had already sealed off the true core anyway.
The Herrscher of Ice's expression dropped, her face dark.
If she wandered around Earth in its current state, she really would die.
If she could leave an irreparable wound on civilization before dying, she actually wouldn't mind falling.
But she couldn't!
An S-rank Valkyrie of Schicksal, a Herrscher belonging to Saint Freya, and two other monsters standing around…
This world was far more dangerous than she had imagined.
She truly couldn't handle it alone.
"Hey! You're the real owner of this body, hurry up and take responsibility!"
Silently staring at Anna, who kept her eyes tightly shut and curled up inside her own hardened ice, the Herrscher of Ice grew angrier the more she thought about it.
'I can't keep living like this!'
Just as the Herrscher of Ice was going crazy trying to think of a way to drag this little thing out, several people were staring blankly at the newly extracted Herrscher of Rock core.
"...Lord, you know me, I'm not good with things related to consciousness." Despite his obvious desire, Jackal sensibly backed away.
Kevin glanced at Jackal without disappointment.
He came with the idea of "might as well try if possible," and Jackal truly wasn't suited for this. But someone present was.
Kevin looked at Su. They met each other's gaze, both understood.
Su slightly closed his eyes… extended his right hand, hovering it above the Herrscher core.
A moment later, Su withdrew his hand and lightly shook his head.
"No. His consciousness is completely spread out. Waking him is not possible unless a miracle happens."
Hearing the two most skilled in consciousness say this, Kevin fell silent.
Night Owl's situation was easy to understand, his heart had died.
"Then the Herrscher of Ice…?"
Fu Hua gave a slight shake of her head. "Very difficult. Anna's condition is somewhat similar to his. Unless the Herrscher of Ice cooperates with us, even if Su and I work together, we can't do anything."
"We should at least try. It's worth the attempt." Seeing Kevin thinking, Su spoke.
"...Then let's try." Fu Hua nodded, while Su quietly sighed in relief.
With Kevin's personality, any Herrscher who couldn't stand on humanity's side would normally be dealt with with a single strike.
But Su believed Anna still had a chance.
If nothing worked, they could still let Kevin handle it afterward.
The room imprisoning the Herrscher of Ice was right next door. They arrived after just a few steps.
At that moment, the Herrscher of Ice was still trying to drag Anna out.
She suddenly sensed new presences in the room.
"What do you want now?" She glared at the three with open hostility, though it came off more like a frightened animal trying to act fierce.
They paid it no mind. In their eyes, the Herrscher of Ice looked like a small cat baring its fangs to protect itself.
Her claws and teeth had been removed, she posed no threat.
"Let's make a deal, Herrscher, one that lets you live." Su spoke slowly.
Her eyes narrowed. She watched them with suspicion.
"You people being this kind? I'm a Herrscher, you know."
"But right now, you're a Herrscher who's been captured," Fu Hua said seriously.
"…" The Herrscher of Ice suddenly felt that fighting to the death might make a beautiful story.
Fu Hua tilted her head, confused.
She had only spoken the truth, why did the Herrscher look like that?
"Decide, Herrscher. If she lives, you live. If she dies, you die."
Kevin looked at her calmly, his gaze without a single ripple.
After staring warily at Kevin for several seconds, the Herrscher of Ice nodded reluctantly. "Fine. Begin, human."
One has to make do when the other person is stronger.
This is merely storing up strength for the future.
.....
Inside the consciousness space.
"Wake up. Those people came to see you."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Her palms slapped the thick, heavy ice, producing a dull thudding sound.
No matter how fiercely the Herrscher of Ice struck, Anna inside the ice didn't move at all.
"Enough." At that moment, Fu Hua's voice came from behind.
The Herrscher of Ice turned her head but said nothing.
Entering the consciousness space through Fenghuang Down wasn't difficult when permitted.
Passing the Herrscher of Ice, Fu Hua looked up quietly at the curled-up girl sealed inside the ice, as if that posture alone could protect her.
"Anna Shariac, do you truly want to sink like this? The Shariac family motto wouldn't allow such laziness."
"Cecilia Shariac, in the Second Eruption she saved over one hundred thousand lives, fought the Second Herrscher head-on, and prevented a scar from falling upon the world. You bear the same family name as her."
The power of a family name was great. History had many examples where a name awakened extraordinary courage in people.
Especially young, passionate people. Anna Shariac was such a young person.
"Night Owl. Chen Tianwu. You still remember that name, don't you?"
The ice lightly trembled. Fu Hua clearly saw Anna curling even tighter.
But she didn't stop. She continued:
"To save you, he went alone to Coral Island. And when he heard news of you, he left World Serpent and set out to bring you home."
"Coral Island Valkyrie Snow Lotus Squad, this is the honor you defended with your life. With your achievements alone, you preserved the squad's lives. The Snow Lotus Squad that died on Coral Island was your blood and effort. Are you going to let all of that go to waste?!"
Fu Hua's voice suddenly rose, her tone powerful.
"You are not alone, Anna. What you carry is not only your own life. It is the countless people of Coral Island, the teammates of Snow Lotus who lived and fought beside you, and everyone who believes you can break free from the control of Honkai!"
"Anna Shariac, answer me. Do you choose to become the saviour carrying everyone's hopes, or to become a coward who abandons them all!?"
Her voice, not harsh, still fell like thunder in Anna's ears.
Even through layers of ice, the sound struck like bells, heavy to the point she could barely breathe.
She could no longer run. Reality would not let her run. She herself could not allow herself to be this weak!
Under Fu Hua and the Herrscher of Ice's watch, the girl slowly opened those lost, timid eyes.
Seeing Anna finally awaken, both Herrscher and Fu Hua let out a long sigh of relief.
'Thank goodness. Anna hasn't completely abandoned herself.'
'Great. I won't have to face those inhuman monsters anymore.'
...
"Miss Fu Hua, Mr. Kevin, Mr. Su… thank you."
Biting her lip, Anna bowed respectfully to the three to express her gratitude.
"There's no need for that. This is merely the result of you not giving up on yourself," Fu Hua said with a gentle smile and a firm tone.
Anna nodded timidly, her index fingers twisting together in silence.
Seeing this, Fu Hua's expression gradually turned serious. "Miss Anna, by now you should understand what you're carrying on your shoulders, right?"
Anna nodded lightly, shame filling her face. "Because of me, the whole island…"
Anna's aura visibly collapsed.
Until now, what had tormented her heart was the girl who had lost her smile forever because of Anna's cowardice.
Now, that girl was only one part of it. On Anna's back were the people of Coral Island, and the entire Snow Lotus Squad she had personally led.
She was no longer alone.
"I will atone." Her voice was light, but filled with strength.
"My sins can never truly be redeemed. But as long as I can still move, I will shoulder the responsibility I must bear, without allowing myself even a second of slack."
Fu Hua, Su, and Kevin exchanged glances and nodded slightly.
They could not sit by and watch a young girl fall into ruin. But they had not saved Anna so she could then return to enjoying life without a care.
They would not force Anna, nor give her any shelter. If she had the resolve, she would carry lives on her back.
From any perspective, she had to take responsibility for the consequences of her actions.
This was everything she must pay.
"Miss Anna, this…" Su lowered his head slightly, looking toward the quietly floating Herrscher of Rock's core.
After giving the core one last glance, Anna looked away, her gaze firm.
"I will atone with my actions, at least until those I've hurt acknowledge that I deserve it."
The others fell silent.
....
Anna left. There were still places she needed to visit.
She brought along the now-docile Herrscher of Ice.
"Kevin, what do you think of Anna?"
Standing on the wide platform, letting an unfelt breeze pass her, Fu Hua spoke softly.
"She will become someone who steadfastly seeks her own redemption… until her life ends," Kevin answered calmly.
They had no right to forgive Anna on behalf of the residents who perished in that Honkai Eruption.
Even if none of it had been her true intention.
People died because of Anna. No matter what, she carried a portion of that sin.
After all, the Herrscher of Ice was able to be so rampant in the beginning partly because Anna had shut herself away.
Anna's heart… was not impenetrable. She never intended to harm anyone, but the result was still the result.
Fu Hua leaned toward the belief that Anna was not guilty.
But she needed an anchor, something to hold herself to this world.
Something to prevent her from sinking again.
And so…
"She has already found her path."
Fu Hua looked toward the direction Anna departed, emotions stirring in her eyes.
Following Kevin's gaze, the last light of the sunset was fading, and the silent night was about to arrive.
Sunset and sunrise are no different… only the sentimental heart makes them so.
....
As expected, it's all the Will of Honkai's fault!!!
....
That night, at St. Freya Academy.
Dressed early in her cute pink bunny pajamas, Theresa padded toward the door in slippers, confused.
"How strange… isn't everyone already here? Who's knocking at this hour""
"Anna!!" Her voice cracked instinctively, Theresa's way of respecting the absurdity of the moment.
That shout made the three who were dozing off instantly straighten up.
Seele poked her head out. Before she could speak, her gaze locked onto the familiar figure.
"The Herrscher of Ice!!"
"What? What? The Herrscher is here?!"
"Seele, hide behind me! I'll protect you!"
"Mm! Bronya-sister, be careful!"
....
A total misunderstanding.
Himeko slumped onto the soft sofa with a dramatic sigh of relief.
"Honestly, Theresa, could you please stop being so jumpy? I thought St. Freya had been invaded."
Anna scratched her hair awkwardly, head lowered.
"Sorry."
Mei carried a tray of juice, gently distributing drinks to everyone before sitting down, puzzled.
"What on earth is going on? How did you even make it back? And what's with the Herrscher of Ice?"
"Yeah! You came back without even telling me! And it's so late! Also, what happened between you and the Herrscher of Ice?"
Theresa chugged a large gulp of bitter melon juice to steady her nerves, then continued questioning.
"I can't really explain it clearly, but… it went like this…"
Anna tried to recount everything in the most understandable way she could.
When they heard Godzilla had thrown the Herrscher of Ice back and she'd just happened to land on World Serpent's doorstep, everyone's expression froze.
"???"
"If it weren't for Miss Fu Hua scolding me awake, I'd probably still be drifting in a daze right now."
"It's okay, Anna."
After listening, Himeko slowly stood, walked to Anna's side, and gently held her trembling shoulders. Clearly, Fu Hua's words had left a deep aftereffect.
"This isn't your fault, Anna. You're human first. As a human, emotional changes are unavoidable. I know you're scared right now, but don't worry. Everything was caused by the Honkai. You… were also a victim."
Himeko didn't try to excuse her.
It was true that, because of Anna, the Herrscher of Ice was able to rampage.
But it was also true that Anna had restrained the Herrscher's actions for a time through her own will.
She had run away out of fear, that was true.
She had returned out of guilt, risking her life to save others, that was also true.
She was human, prone to fear and courage alike.
As a Valkyrie, Himeko was dissatisfied with Anna's previous choice to let others die.
But as a person, Himeko felt pity for a girl so young being forced to face such a cruel battlefield.
In the end… Valkyries were just children too.
Kiana had been strong since young, able to beat ten people before even warming up.
But even she… had always lived under immense pressure.
'As expected, Siegfried, damn you!!!'