Like a flash-step technique, the crimson flames erupted with searing brilliance.
In an instant, the distance of several dozen meters vanished, and the Red Kite Immortal drove her fist straight toward the Herrscher of the Void's chest.
In response, multiple layers of diamond-shaped imaginary-space barriers formed in front of C.C. The crisp sound of impact echoed, ripples spread violently across the surface—yet the targeted point of the barrier remained perfectly intact.
C.C. hadn't used power beyond what Sirin should rightfully possess, but the outcome against the Red Kite Immortal was entirely different from the comics.
The shield wasn't breaking under repeated strikes because C.C. had fine-tuned its structural mechanics and even manually intervened when needed, dispersing Fu Hua's concentrated blows across its entirety.
'See? This is why being uneducated is terrifying.'
The "queen of space," armed with five Herrscher cores and their corresponding authorities—on paper, not even the Red Kite Immortal at her prime could surpass the peak Herrscher of the Void.
The problem? Miss Sirin was a complete illiterate who hadn't even been through elementary school.
Sure, the Herrscher of Reason's core contained knowledge.
But knowledge in itself is useless if you don't know how to apply it.
Every exam's answers are in the textbook, but if you never learned how to study, you're still going to fail.
It's like comparing a king with five divine gears to a noob with six—skill always trumps brute force.
And when there's a degree of natural advantage in play? The outcome is obvious.
But if C.C. were the one piloting that six-gear account… honestly, unless she deliberately threw the match, she had no idea how she'd lose.
Even against the Red Kite Immortal at her peak.
Since Otto was observing from behind, Fu Hua didn't hold back her strength.
After all, that five-hundred-year-old fox was the world's greatest actor—no one else even came close.
In contrast, Fu Hua's acting was… let's just say, as unyielding and flat as her chest.
Fifty thousand years, and not even a millimeter of growth.
"Taixuan—Heaven Splitter!"
Flames danced over her pale fist, carrying the force to shatter space itself.
With explosive speed, it descended, landing just ahead of the Herrscher's liquid barrier—and struck the Herrscher's head.
Well, that fit the saying perfectly:
'The Immortal pats my head, and an inch-force splits the heavens.'
C.C. groaned inwardly.
Taking that Heaven-Splitting strike head-on was not pleasant.
But she couldn't afford to waste the chance she had painstakingly created.
She reached out to Fu Hua through mental communication.
————————————————————————
[That's enough. Prepare Fenghuang Down's first output.]
————————————————————————
The memories burned away would all return once the Herrscher of Sentience appeared in the future.
No risks, no regrets.
Fu Hua didn't respond.
She only closed her eyes, scarlet feathers falling around her.
From her slender frame burst a blazing red light.
Scorching particles flowed like a tidal wave, coalescing into a spirit phoenix frozen in the light.
A massive crimson sword shadow split apart the heavens, its power overwhelming.
Looking up at the terrifying sword aura, C.C. couldn't help but admire it.
'As expected of the Red Kite in her prime.'
The Taixuan Sword God technique was hopelessly unfair for Sirin.
It had no form, yet was form itself. It filled all of space, was space.
Ubiquitous and unstoppable.
No spatial movement could evade it.
No physical shield could block it.
Formless and boundless, the Taixuan Sword God pierced through every tangible barrier, striking directly at the unseen depths of consciousness.
'No wonder Pufferfish lost so miserably!'
'As expected, from the move that she made to kill Kevin!'
Among the six Herrscher cores, there were indeed abilities that could withstand this strike.
Electromagnetic authority, for instance, could in theory be used to unify the four fundamental forces—but that required an absurd level of technical control.
Even C.C. wasn't at that point yet, let alone Pufferfish.
Space authority could work too, by using the special causal properties of the imaginary realm to build a layered barrier.
Easier for a Herrscher of the Void than the previous method—but still impossible for poor little Sirin.
For C.C., though? Simple.
So why take the long way around?
She'd block it with the Herrscher of Sentience's authority.
Inside her mental realm—where Otto couldn't see she could freely use both Sentience and the Void's power.
Stopping the Taixuan Sword God born of burned memories wasn't easy, but it wasn't impossible either.
"Archbishop! Quickly, take Master away!"
'Cheng Lixue' rushed forward, catching the falling Fu Hua and pulling her back to Otto's position. "I'll hold them off!"
Her eyes gleamed with determination, her words ringing with righteous sacrifice—the very picture of a loyal, selfless disciple.
Otto hesitated.
He had already suffered twice at the hands of the Herrscher of the Void.
With the strongest frontline fighter, the Red Kite Immortal, already down…
Otto had no intention of throwing his own life away.
Otto had plenty of soulium bodies in reserve, but only a handful capable of real combat.
And the sensation of death? That part was far too real.
Unless you were a masochist, no one wanted to go through that twice.
He gave "Cheng Lixue" a curt nod, then took the exhausted, mentally drained Fu Hua into his arms and turned away without hesitation.
————————————————————————
Meanwhile, "Cheng Lixue" raised the watery-blue spear Ruoshui, pointing it toward "Sirin."
The aura of resolve climbed steadily higher until, at its peak, it burst forth like an arrow loosed from the string.
As the battlefield slipped out of Otto's sight, he turned his head for one last look—just in time to see that same figure lunging forward, hand outstretched, aiming straight for "Sirin's" head.
He didn't stay long enough to witness what happened next.
He simply leapt from the top of the Babel Tower, already imagining the rest: Cheng Lixue swatted away like a ragdoll, crushed under the overwhelming might of the Herrscher of the Void.
"Old friend, you really do have a good disciple."
Otto's voice carried a faint note of regret—but not for Cheng Lixue's life.
No, he was only lamenting that he had one fewer card to use in keeping Fu Hua under control.
But the moment Otto's gaze vanished, "Cheng Lixue's" hand did land on Sirin's head…
And gently rubbed it.
Nagami kneaded the slightly swollen spot on her forehead, while C.C. bared her teeth in pain.
"Does that 'Heaven-Splitting Fist' really hit that hard? I should've known better than to tank it with my body…"
She shook it off, her golden eyes turning southward.
"Next up: the mother-daughter drama."
C.C. slowly extended her right hand.
————————————————————————
Agile movements, flowing steps—like a white shadow, Cecilia danced through the battlefield.
Each thrust of her lance claimed a swath of Honkai beasts, like she was starring in a live-action Dynasty Warriors.
[Mother-in-law, please don't resist the next part.]
A slim, green-haired figure shimmered into view, her clear voice echoing directly in Cecilia's mind.
"Alright. Is there anything you need me to do?"
She agreed instantly, lowering the Honkai energy coursing through her body without a trace of doubt.
[Yes. There is one thing.]
Ripples spread across the void like water disturbed by a stone.
A massive hand of imaginary space reached out gently, taking hold of Cecilia and drawing her in.
"Because of my interference, the Will of Honkai never fully consumed Sirin. But after so long under its influence, her Herrscher persona… still holds hatred for humanity—and the unbearable grief of losing her mother."
Cheng Lixue's form faded away.
In her place stood Nagami, now shaped as "Sirin," standing side by side with C.C.
The green-haired girl extended her hand, revealing an orange-gold gem resting quietly in her palm.
It wasn't just Sirin's mind—even her body had been perfectly preserved within the Herrscher Core of the Void, sealed there by Nagami's mastery of the Imaginary.
"I'll be using the power of the Key of Sentience to create a dream world. I'll leave her in your care, mother-in-law. Please, spend some time with her there."
There was no need to tamper with Cecilia's memory.
Sirin's own would be sealed for now, only to be fully restored in the future when she encountered one of the Fenghuang Down Feathers Nagami had prepared.
When that time came, it would be up to Nagami to provide the chance for mother and daughter to reunite.
"I understand."
Cecilia's expression turned firm.
She spread her slender arms and drew "Sirin" into a warm embrace, her ocean-blue eyes overflowing with tenderness.
"I'll make sure to love little Sirin with all my heart!"
…
Nagami froze on the spot, her body and expression stiff as stone.
Clearly, Cecilia had misunderstood—thinking this "Sirin" was being controlled by C.C.'s power.
Still, wrapped in that gentle warmth, staring into those eyes brimming with affection, Nagami didn't say anything to break the mood.
"Then… I'll begin now."
With that declaration, the power of the Herrscher of Sentience surged to its fullest, enveloping both Cecilia and the Core of the Void.