142. The Changes in the World
In a pure white, indistinct space, a figure strode forward—it was Kevin.
This was not the time he had planned to appear, but unforeseen events forced him to come. He had arrived at this place, one of the core nodes of humanity's most crucial plan against the Honkai, the backdoor that only he could open.
Standing at his destination, Kevin looked up. In the pure white void, a space seemed to be torn apart by an invisible force, with galaxies swaying and flickering silently within.
"What happened, Number 17?" Kevin's voice was low, echoing in the silence.
Only the silence of space answered him…
Kevin's brow furrowed. Number 17 was the most crucial cog in the entire plan; if it malfunctioned, all their hard work and struggle would likely vanish into nothingness.
Just as he was about to speak again, the space trembled, and a voice rang out—cold, mechanical, as if countless voices had been forcibly superimposed into it:
"The plan… may have changed."
She could communicate. Kevin breathed a barely perceptible sigh of relief.
"What exactly happened, Number 17?" He pressed.
"...We may have already defeated the Honkai."
Kevin's pupils contracted sharply.
Number 17's voice continued:
"That man… reached the location of the Cocoon of the Finality. He… used his sword to sever the Cocoon of the Finality's ability to 'weave destiny'…"
"It…all its mechanisms have failed. Now it's like a computer without a password, manipulated at will."
"You can go directly to the Cocoon of the Finality…complete our predetermined plan, and obtain…the power of the Finality…"
In the pure white space, Kevin looked up, his signature cold face devoid of any emotion.
Time flowed silently. After a long while, Kevin slowly nodded. "I understand."
He paused, his tone softening almost imperceptibly.
"How is your situation now…?"
Silence fell again. This silence was longer than before.
Finally, Number 17's strange, overlapping voice struggled to emerge:
"…I…don't know."
She should have perished along with the Reorganization Group upon being awakened. However, the light that cleaved fate had also "driven" her out.
A will destined for death had unexpectedly…survived. Kevin, upon learning all this, fell into an even deeper silence. Time seemed to freeze.
After a long while, Kevin's voice rang out again:
"I will prepare a body for you."
"Come back, Number 17."
"Thank you for everything…"
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Stepping out of this strange space, Kevin himself didn't understand why he had come here—the entrance to the Elysian Realm.
He stood silently, his gaze fixed on the device that could transport him to the deepest halls of memory. The mission he and they—those who had fallen, comrades-in-arms heroes—shared and yearned for seemed…to have ended.
The Cocoon of the Finality lay dormant, the mechanisms of the Honkai were paralyzed, and the threat of the Herrschers vanished.
Even if he so desired, the power of the Finality would be within his grasp.
But…that was not what he wanted.
What he desired was never power itself, nor such an easily attainable victory.
What he craved was for someone to truly defeat him, to prove that his path was not the only one, not even the right one…
Only then could he peacefully lay down the burden he had carried for fifty thousand years, loosen his grip on everything, and plunge into that icy ocean, sinking completely.
However, the premise of all these hopes had collapsed with the silence of the Cocoon of the Finality.
Kevin…was plunged into unprecedented confusion.
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Otto…was plunged into confusion.
He had obtained everything he had ever dreamed of. The ideal path he had sketched countless times in his mind, for which he had sacrificed, deceived, and schemed countless times, now unfolded so realistically beneath his feet.
This feeling… was as unreal as a dream. However, the sound from not far away clearly proclaimed reality.
"Carry me." Xiling, sprawled on the ground, made a labored request to the Tarnished.
"I'm just an ordinary magician; carrying you all the way is too difficult." The Tarnished answered unconcernedly.
"Where's your magic?!" Xiling practically forced out the words.
At this moment, he was completely consumed.
The fatal sword strike he had unleashed against the Cocoon of the Finalty, imbued with all his anger and will, was remarkably effective—he severed the opponent's "Fate Weaving" power.
However, the glory lasted only for three seconds. After accomplishing this feat, the miserable Xiling still had to drag two unconscious people back to reality from the Imaginary Space. Now, he was truly completely drained, not even wanting to move a finger.
"Don't let my ability to stand and talk to you fool you; I'm completely exhausted." The Tarnished nodded earnestly at Xiling, who lay sprawled on the ground.
"Oh, you think I'd believe you?"
Just as Xiling struggled to sit up, ready to pounce on the Tarnished, a pair of strong hands gently lifted him—in a classic princess carry.
Lemuen looked down at him, a gentle smile on her lips:
"Alright, enough with the teasing of the injured one. Leave it to me."
"Can…can we change positions?" Xiling tried to struggle, expressing his last bit of stubbornness.
"Hmm?" Lemuen tilted her head, her smile unchanged.
"Do you want me, a girl, to carry you on my back?"
"Not impossible, I don't mind if you want to."
[Xiling's inner monologue: A princess carry is definitely more tiring than being carried on the back! And…this position is so weird!]
"…Fine."
Recognizing reality, Xiling gave up resisting and obediently lay in Lemuen's arms. He turned his head with difficulty, looking at the silent blond man not far away:
"Hey, Otto. I did what I promised."
Otto seemed to snap out of some thought, his signature smile instantly returning to his face, though now it seemed somewhat...stiff.
"Yes, my friend, you've created a miracle. Is there anything else you need?"
"Do you remember what you said?" Xiling's voice was still weak, but his eyes were calm and sharp.
"You said you would only die peacefully after fulfilling your ideal. Until you fulfill your ideal, I hope you don't have any ulterior motives. Otherwise...you know."
Otto stared into those tired yet seemingly all-seeing eyes. The habitual smile on his perpetually masked face finally faded, replaced by an almost transparent calm. He responded with unprecedented seriousness:
"In the name of...the Saintess, I assure you that what you fear is absolutely impossible to happen."
Hearing the promise, Xiling's eyes calmed. The Saintess's name proved the other's seriousness; of course, if he wasn't serious, he could make him be.
"That's for the best. The other two will stay with your Schicksal. Don't lay a hand on them. Inform me when they wake up."
"Friend, how much do you worry about me?" Otto spread his hands helplessly.
At this moment, Durandal stepped forward, her expression solemn:
"Schicksal will take care of them with the highest standards. Once they awaken, I will personally inform you immediately."
"Okay," Xiling replied succinctly.
Lemuen and the Tarnished didn't linger, taking Xiling directly into the air, soaring into the sky.
Above the clouds, the air currents were calm. Lemuen looked down at the wounded person in her arms:
"Xiling, if I'm not mistaken, that red-haired lady... looks like Sirin's teacher?"
The Tarnished also chimed in, "Yeah, isn't that Sirin's teacher? Why not take her back? Sirin will be so happy to see her."
A mysterious smile appeared on Xiling's face, as if saying, 'You guys are so naive.'
"Keep it from her for now."
Xiling lowered his voice, "We'll reveal this 'gift' when we're about to leave. Imagine it—she's immersed in the sadness of parting, and suddenly she sees the person she's been longing for... her expression at that time will be absolutely priceless! Just thinking about it is worth the price of admission to see it!"
Lemuen and the Tarnished rolled their eyes simultaneously.
Sigh, whatever. This guy... he's always like this.
If he keeps playing around like this, he'll eventually mess things up...