It took several days to finally reach the Siberia snowfield by water. She should have just flown.
Although weapons might need to be air-transported, the speed would be much faster than by water, wouldn't it? Of course, it was also possible that the weapons would be confiscated directly, in which case Inaba Tsukiyo might have to use her peerless strength.
Fortunately, Seele quite liked the sea, and nothing bad happened, which was a cause for celebration.
Despite the Second Honkai Eruption occurring in Siberia, Schicksal had already declared that the Honkai Energy in Siberia had been completely eradicated.
Of course, this was just the official statement; who knew if Schicksal would secretly establish some secret experimental base in Siberia, just like the Babylon Laboratory back then.
Even though she was only wearing a miko outfit, the temperature of the snowfield didn't affect Inaba Tsukiyo much.
No target destination? No problem. She just needed to follow her inner feeling, as the paths in this world were, after all, forged by humans.
Long journey? No problem. As long as she used Shukuchi, even someone driving a sports car wouldn't be able to keep up with her. Inaba Tsukiyo's figure continuously teleported across the Siberia academy.
Her teleporting figure was even captured by some people who happened to be traveling there, but they could only photograph blurry shadows and couldn't make out who the shadow was.
They thought they had encountered some supernatural event and scurried away in fear.
In fact, if someone involved with the Second Honkai Eruption had seen Inaba Tsukiyo's direction of travel, they would have realized that Inaba Tsukiyo was heading towards the former Babylon Laboratory.
The Second Herrscher, Sirin, was once a victim there, and the Babylon Laboratory also brought about many disasters.
She hadn't spoken the entire way, but the closer she got to the Babylon Laboratory, the clearer the premonition in Inaba Tsukiyo's heart became.
Soon, as Inaba Tsukiyo advanced, she found that she couldn't go any further, or rather, she had found her destination.
Blocking her way was a space composed of hexagons, which looked extremely suspicious no matter how she viewed it.
These hexagonal barriers appeared as if to protect something, but when Inaba Tsukiyo touched them, there was no obstruction.
Instead, a powerful suction force pulled Inaba Tsukiyo directly into this mysterious space.
The moment she was sucked in, a vast amount of Honkai Energy invaded her body, attempting to transform Inaba Tsukiyo. This unconscious Honkai Energy wanted to make Inaba Tsukiyo an emissary guarding this space.
However, the entry of the Honkai Energy did not transform a person's form as it usually did; instead, it gradually converted into magic power, becoming Inaba Tsukiyo's strength.
The massive Honkai Energy gradually increased the magic power within Inaba Tsukiyo, and at the same time, Herrscher Tsukiyo, who had always been within her, instantly disappeared from Victorica's library upon sensing this power.
Herrscher Tsukiyo's disappearance startled Seele and Victorica.
Herrscher Tsukiyo's usual way of disappearing was through the elevator in the botanical garden; this was the first time they had seen Herrscher Tsukiyo leave in such a manner.
Feeling something amiss, Seele wanted to go out and check the situation, but found herself firmly trapped in this space. Even the television in the room, used to view the outside world, couldn't be used.
"Sister Victorica... what, what exactly is going on? Why?"
"Something might have happened that made her and Tsukiyo meet. Never mind, they were bound to meet sooner or later; it's just that the meeting happened sooner than I expected."
Victorica, holding her pipe, thought about the changes in Herrscher Tsukiyo and the strange interference. It wasn't hard to imagine that something was hindering them.
Herrscher Tsukiyo's disappearance made Victorica realize that Inaba Tsukiyo and Herrscher Tsukiyo were definitely going to meet.
'I hope nothing bad happens.'
Just as Inaba Tsukiyo was sucked into the space, Inaba Tsukiyo found herself in a world of complete darkness.
There was nothing here, somewhat similar to the place where she met the Heroic Spirits before, but this feeling was completely different from that time.
As Inaba Tsukiyo, disoriented, observed her surroundings, the scene before her eyes changed, and she found herself in an infirmary.
Another version of herself was sitting by the bed, and a person lay on the bed, but the quilt covered the person's face, making it impossible to see their appearance.
Inaba Tsukiyo also noticed that the cardiac monitor placed by the bed was completely unresponsive, and the Inaba Tsukiyo sitting by the bed was silently weeping.
'This is... Little Vi.'
"That's her. Victorica, your beloved, and your wife."
She had asked the question in her mind, but someone answered it. This voice was her own, but the tone was completely different.
Inaba Tsukiyo wanted to turn around, but she found that she couldn't turn to see who was standing behind her.
Just then, someone hugged her from behind and whispered something in her ear.
As the person spoke, Inaba Tsukiyo could feel her consciousness gradually drifting away, as if someone was trying to control her.
"Don't be too arrogant!!!"
Without needing to think too much, she knew that someone was trying to control her consciousness. She had seen this method many times and wasn't fooled at all.
Her restrained body suddenly regained its ability to move, and Inaba Tsukiyo grabbed the hand caressing her, smoothly performing an over-the-shoulder throw on the other party.
Perhaps the other party hadn't expected Inaba Tsukiyo to make such a move; she didn't resist and was directly thrown by Inaba Tsukiyo onto the ground in front of her.
"Hmm? You are..."
"You're really impolite. You're a swordsman, so why are you so good at martial arts too?"
Rubbing her sore waist, Herrscher Tsukiyo stood up from the ground.
Although this scene was something she intentionally showed Inaba Tsukiyo, she hadn't expected Inaba Tsukiyo to respond in such a way.
"We finally meet, and this is your way of communicating?"
"And is that what you show to someone you meet for the first time? A scene of an important person leaving? Are you a demon?"
Inaba Tsukiyo said angrily. Although she didn't know the identity of this person who looked just like her but had golden eyes, was her way of communicating correct?
"Also, even if you want to be a demon, at least do something worse, okay? Don't you know that Little Vi died of natural causes? We've been together for decades; do you think I'd feel too much when I saw Little Vi die?"
"But among the people you cared about most, this is all I could find. Yet... yet I was so sad, why didn't you react at all..."
Herrscher Tsukiyo absorbed the dormant personality within Inaba Tsukiyo, naturally inheriting Inaba Tsukiyo's memories and feelings for Victorica.
That's why Herrscher Tsukiyo took such good care of Victorica while she was inside; otherwise, as a Herrscher, how could she do something so lacking in authority?
"It's not that there's no reaction; it's just that I know very well it's an illusion. Besides, as the heart of a beautiful fairy, Little Vi has always lived in my heart."
Saying this, Inaba Tsukiyo showed Herrscher Tsukiyo the ring on her ring finger and smiled.
"If you are truly me, you should understand this feeling. If you don't feel anything at all, then I apologize; I didn't mean to upset you."
"Don't treat me like Himeko, who no one wants! Even if I am the Honkai's consciousness, I am still you. What's yours is mine, so Little Vi is naturally mine too!"
Saying this, Herrscher Tsukiyo also showed the ring on her ring finger. What Inaba Tsukiyo had, she also had; it was just that their personalities were a little different.
On the issue of Victorica, Inaba Tsukiyo and Herrscher Tsukiyo had an argument, and in the end, realizing they couldn't out-argue each other, they gave up the idea of continuing to talk.
Now, the most important thing was, what exactly was this space? Why had she come here? Who had guided her here?
"Hmm? Oh~ I was wondering why there was such dense Honkai Energy; it turns out it's her."
Inaba Tsukiyo wasn't sure, but Herrscher Tsukiyo knew very well what this feeling was about. It was that girl who had accepted a part of her power.
Speaking of which, a part of her power was sealed in a giant structure on the far side of the Moon. If she could retrieve that power, she would be at 100% of her state.
"Her? Who is she? Why do I feel like you're hiding something from me?"
"Of course, I'm hiding something from you. Speaking of which, I have your memories, but you don't have mine. This is also where we are unfair to each other, isn't it?"
Herrscher Tsukiyo couldn't help but smile. She knew a lot about Inaba Tsukiyo, but Inaba Tsukiyo knew nothing about her.
However, compared to that price, this matter wasn't so worth being proud of.
Facing Herrscher Tsukiyo's smile, Inaba Tsukiyo suppressed the urge to rush up and punch her. She had a face exactly like her own, so why was her personality like this?
The Honkai's consciousness? Why does she feel like a child? Was she influenced by her own personality? Who are you calling a child!
"So, what exactly is your purpose in coming out? To cause trouble?"
"I just came out to meet you. I can only come out when the energy is this dense. But I believe it will be different once our compatibility reaches a certain level."
After speaking, Herrscher Tsukiyo returned to Inaba Tsukiyo's body, leaving a message as she went back.
"A friendly reminder: besides that child, there's also another person here in this space. I hope you can have a 'friendly' exchange."
"This guy… what is she up to? Besides that child, there's someone else? What exactly is going on?"
Not understanding, Inaba Tsukiyo tilted her head, but the ensuing chaotic scene told her who else had appeared here.
[Boom! Boom! Boom!]
The pitch-black world disappeared, and the world became a place like the Siberia snowfield.
But unlike the calm Siberia snowfield, a large number of explosions continuously struck, making the space extraordinarily lively.
'Are those two fighting here? Do they have a grudge?'
Inaba Tsukiyo couldn't help but think this. Suddenly, an explosion above her head made her look up, and she widened her eyes at the sounds of combat.
"This is…"
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