As cherry blossoms drifted through the air, Yae Sakura appeared before Chen Tiannuo and Theresa.
Looking at Theresa, Yae Sakura murmured, "Kallen..."
"You're Yae Sakura?" Chen Tiannuo relaxed when he recognized her. From what he remembered, she seemed like a decent person.
"What are you here for?" he asked.
"I just sensed Kallen's presence... I wanted to see for myself," Yae Sakura replied.
"Kallen's presence? Didn't she die in battle 500 years ago?" Theresa chimed in.
"Uh... how should I explain this?" Chen Tiannuo asked directly, "You know how you came to be, right?"
"My grandfather told me—I was born in a lab, a hybrid of an ancient Valkyrie warrior's cells and Honkai beast cells," Theresa answered without hesitation.
"Don't tell me! Those cells... they're Kallen's!" Theresa suddenly realized.
"Yeah, they probably are."
"So, what do you intend to do?" Chen Tiannuo still didn't get it. Theresa wasn't poisoned or anything this time—there was no need for Yae Sakura to save her again, so what was she here for?
'So... Kallen really isn't here anymore…' Yae Sakura, once full of hope, felt her heart sink.
"I told you already! That person died centuries ago. Humans don't live as long as we do!" the fox spirit Hiyoku snapped at Yae Sakura. "The only one who will always stay with you is me!"
Yae Sakura didn't reply. She simply waved her hand, dispersing the fox spirit, and slowly approached Theresa.
'What's she up to?' Chen Tiannuo thought, but still stepped aside.
Yae Sakura walked up to Theresa and hugged her. "Even if I can't see Kallen anymore, getting to meet her descendant... that's enough."
'So, it's just a hug?' Chen Tiannuo watched her bare her heart and thought silently to himself.
"Mm!" Theresa felt a little awkward, but didn't push Yae Sakura away.
"You're trying to give your core to Theresa, aren't you?" Chen Tiannuo asked from the side.
"I really was thinking about it," Yae Sakura admitted. She had no will left to live. Kallen—the one she longed for—was truly gone.
"But you know what that means, don't you?"
"I do."
"You've made up your mind. It's not my place to say anything," Chen Tiannuo shrugged. They'd only just met. He didn't have much attachment either way.
"Huh? Give me your core?" Theresa shook her head vigorously. "If you give it to me, you'll disappear! You've got a complete human consciousness—why not join us and fight against the Honkai together?"
"Eh? I can join you?" Yae Sakura was surprised. After all, she had once been a demon who'd taken countless lives.
"Relax! Our academy even has other Herrschers—we've got experience with this kind of thing!" Theresa said confidently, arms crossed.
"Really?" Yae Sakura thought for a moment, then smiled. "Alright. I'll join you."
So, she's recruited just like that? Chen Tiannuo found it a little ridiculous. Theresa really had a talent for this—she'd brought in Kiana, somehow wrangled him in too, and now Yae Sakura?
"So, she's officially part of the academy now?" he asked.
"Of course! Weren't you also recruited just like that?" Theresa said matter-of-factly.
"Uh… fair point."
...
"Sigh~" Chen Tiannuo let out a heavy sigh. He felt like he'd lost out—his Warframe hadn't leveled up much at all. Too many kills had been stolen.
Gotta build one of those AoE-type Warframes… he thought. Right—he still needed to craft more weapons too. He'd have to ask Theresa for more materials.
"Chen Tiannuo! Why does every weapon you build consume so many materials? Don't you have anything more economical?" Theresa complained.
"Ahem, can't be helped. They're meant to function in any environment," Chen Tiannuo replied awkwardly. It really did take a lot of resources to synthesize the materials he needed.
His primary weapon, the Latron, was good enough. For secondary, kunai would do. And for melee—a single Skana blade. Chen Tiannuo figured that loadout was pretty solid.
"By the way, when are you going to another world?" Theresa suddenly asked. She was curious about otherworldly resources.
"Ah, still a long way off," Chen Tiannuo spread his hands. "I want to finish building the Orbiter first."
"Ugh, dream on. That thing needs an insane amount of materials and such strange tech—it's way beyond what we can build." Theresa sighed, holding her forehead.
"Has anything major happened at the academy lately?" Chen Tiannuo asked. He'd been running around everywhere wiping out Honkai beasts to level up his Warframe.
"Not really. We just held another Valkyrie qualification test."
"How'd that go?" Thinking about Kiana's not-so-bright mind, he figured passing must've been rough.
"Surprisingly well. Kiana passed. Her academic scores are still low, but at least she's not scoring zero anymore."
"Tsk tsk tsk. By the way, how's Yae Sakura fitting in at the academy?"
"She almost got into a fight with Kiana and the others at first, but they get along pretty well now. She's working as a combat instructor."
"Alright, then. Principal, can you check for any high Honkai concentration zones? I want to go hunt some more Honkai beasts." Chen Tiannuo's Warframe was nearly level 30.
"You just got back, and now you're going out again? Can't you stay on campus for a few days?" Theresa tried to persuade him.
"My Warframe's almost maxed out—just a few more runs should do it."
"What's the point of maxing out your Warframe anyway?" Theresa didn't quite get it.
"Uh... It boosts armor, shield, and vitality."
"Fine. How about Changkong City? There are Honkai beasts in the urban areas that need clearing." Theresa pointed to a spot on the map.
"Cool. I'll head out now. I'll try to be back early." Chen Tiannuo waved goodbye and made his way to the armory.
After changing his gear at the Arsenal, he headed to the academy's helipad.
Boarding a helicopter, he flew off toward Changkong City.