"This is getting incredible." Irene looked at the crystal shard in her hand, then released it. The Honkai energy contained within instantly dissipated, returning to the air.
Suppressing the shock in her heart, she sat cross-legged and decided to officially circulate the Taixuan Sword Qi to test the effects. As soon as she entered the cultivation state, Irene felt an earth-shattering change.
If her previous cultivation was like using a funnel to guide the surrounding Honkai energy into her body to strengthen it, then now, Irene felt as if her body had become a sponge.
The surrounding Honkai energy surged into her body like water, beginning to strengthen her physique. The efficiency was more than just a few times faster!
The Honkai energy in the surrounding air rushed into Irene's body like madness, circulating according to the route of the Taixuan Sword Qi and converting into Irene's Honkai energy reserves. She felt almost no stagnation or resistance.
At the same time, Irene could clearly feel her physical constitution beginning to strengthen under the nourishment of the massive amount of Honkai energy. But soon after, a wave of pain hit her, forcing Irene out of the cultivation state.
Irene opened her eyes and looked at the traces of Honkai corruption that had appeared on the back of her hand. Well, it seemed her currently good Honkai Resistance couldn't even support her full-power cultivation. That was... something.
"Didn't I just become Adam?" Irene looked at the Honkai corruption marks on the back of her hand and shook it. It was just minor corruption; this level would heal after a while.
Her current state felt like she was back in Nagazora City: excellent Honkai Adaptability paired with relatively poor Honkai Resistance. This meant that Irene would be corrupted upon contacting Honkai energy, yet the surrounding Honkai energy insisted on crowding around her.
However, it wasn't without its benefits. Irene raised her hand and clenched her fist. Now, having broken through the limit, she could start actively accepting Honkai energy. The energy wouldn't resist her control; it was just that she herself couldn't withstand it.
"Eh, wait, it doesn't feel like Adam?" Irene looked at her hands and clenched her fists. "Could this feeling be closer to..."
[Herrscher?] Lixue's voice came from Irene's mind. [I remember that the Herrscher of the Void could also construct massive Honkai energy crystals with a mere gesture.]
[Ha, then I've really hit the jackpot.] Irene raised her hand. [Mn, in terms of adaptability, this is no different from a Herrscher. So, if I just grab a Core, do I become a Herrscher?]
[Umm, Sister Irene, your thoughts seem a bit dangerous.] Pardo seemed to sense something. [You must think thrice, think thrice, and think thrice again.]
[I haven't said anything yet.] Irene shrugged. This kind of thing couldn't be rushed anyway. But Irene really did have an idea in her heart. She rolled over and lay on the bed.
The cool night breeze poured into the room from the window that had been smashed nearby, blowing onto Irene's body. Although she had improved Himeko's Honkai Resistance through the potion...
It was far from enough. Irene knew very well that if things followed the original development, Himeko would still choose to wear the Blank Key that had been inlaid with the Core of the Herrscher of Flame.
She would use her own life to ignite the flame in Kiana's heart. But a Herrscher Core was not so easy to bear. Clearly, even for the current Himeko, her Honkai Resistance was the same.
If Himeko really went to wear that armor, she would still deliver her 'Final Lesson' just like in the original story. At most, she might be able to hold on for a slightly longer time. And this was not what Irene wanted.
Then, changing the perspective, wouldn't it be fine if she just didn't let Himeko wear that armor? Right now, her body could practically be said to be adapted to the Honkai; it could even be said to crave the modification brought by Honkai energy.
Undoubtedly, Irene could basically be considered half a Herrscher now. Although she didn't have a Herrscher Core, and her Honkai Resistance couldn't compare to a Herrscher.
But she had already stepped in with half a foot. Speaking of Herrschers, where did the title 'Devil's Den of the Far East' come from? Didn't she have a clue in her heart? If she could really do it...
The more Irene thought about it, the more she felt she could indeed do it, and she even became increasingly excited. If she could really pull it off, she would definitely be able to save Himeko.
She didn't want any 'Final Lesson.' Moreover, if she could obtain the power of the Herrscher of Flame, that power would be one of the most important cornerstones for her to shake the storm of established fate.
The night wind blew through the hole in the wall, bringing coolness, yet it could no longer make her feel cold. Irene looked out the window at the pitch-black night sky, the light in her eyes growing brighter and brighter.
[Irene, you seem a bit anxious.] Kallen's voice sounded in her ear at this moment. [You are much more anxious than before. Did something make you anxious?]
[Is it because your current ability makes you unable to remain calm?]
[My time is running short.] Irene shook her head. [Since I already have the ability now, I should do more...]
Irene's words were cut short by Kallen abruptly interrupting: [Irene, I am saying you need to be calm right now. You are thinking too far ahead. You still have a lot of time.]
[What you need to think about is not what you will do in the future. What you need to do is to do every single thing right now well. You cannot be this anxious.]
[...I know.] Irene nodded after a long silence, slowly retracting her soaring heart. Just as Kallen said, looking too far into the future had no benefits.
What she needed to do now was still to handle every single matter she would encounter presently. The more one excelled at calculation, the more one might be trapped by their own thoughts.
[That's right. What you need to do now is not to think about things.] Kallen patted Irene's head. She could feel that Irene was currently in a special psychological state.
Or rather, Kallen had experienced it too. It was when she was just preparing to step onto the path of atonement; she always felt like she wanted to do everything, and that she could do everything.
Exaggerating oneself excessively to look forward to the future, hoping to achieve this and that, even becoming increasingly convinced that one could achieve certain things.
This mentality was not healthy. Kallen herself had suffered losses several times because of this mentality. Many times, things would not develop as one imagined.
The more one firmly believed things would develop in that direction, the more likely one would suffer a loss. Perhaps this was just God wanting to make a fool of you.
She had already suffered this loss several times; she couldn't let Irene suffer because of this matter too. Imagination could be bold, but reality still had to be taken step by step from beneath one's feet.
[Sorry, yes, it is indeed true that I was too anxious.] Irene nodded. As Kallen said, she was thinking too far, far too far ahead. She hadn't even truly confirmed if she possessed the capacity to bear a Herrscher Core.
Yet she began calculating how to bear a Herrscher Core. This wasn't her usual style. She still had to take it one step at a time, first doing well the things she could do.
[Thank you, Kallen.]
[Mmhmm, it's fine.] Kallen stroked Irene's mental entity. [Regarding the things you want to do, believe in the things you go and do yourself. Of every single thing you can achieve, you have already started doing many.]
[Since that is the case, do not be anxious. Follow your original pace and do it step by step.]
[Mn, I know.] Irene nodded, lying on the bed preparing to continue cultivating the Taixuan Sword Qi. But just as she returned to the Palace of Consciousness, Irene ran headfirst into Kallen's strange gaze.
"Mn?" Irene looked down at her body, then looked up at Kallen. "What's wrong? Do I look strange?"
"No, looking at you isn't strange." Kallen shook her head, then reached out and knocked Irene on the head. "What you need to do now is not to come here and cultivate, but to go rest and sleep. How long has it been since you slept properly?"
"Huh?"
"I mean, no cultivation allowed today. Go back and sleep for me."
The morning sunlight spilled onto Irene's face through the broken window. She had rarely slept such a good sleep.
This time, she didn't enter the Palace of Consciousness, nor did she let her body remain in a cultivation state. Instead, she truly let both her body and spirit get some rest.
Irene sat up and stretched, feeling refreshed. It indeed felt much more comfortable.
When she walked down the stairs, she found the living room unusually quiet. Himeko wasn't there; usually, at this time, she should already be drinking breakfast beer. Theresa wasn't there either.
Walking into the dining room, Irene saw a shocking scene. Because she actually saw that at this moment, Kiana, who should have still been in bed, was actually sitting at the dining table.
If it were just waking up early, Irene wouldn't be this surprised. The more critical thing was that Kiana was actually holding a book in her hand!
Mei was preparing breakfast on the side, a gratified smile on her face. Bronya was holding a Homu doll, reading a Homu comic in her hand, occasionally looking up at Kiana.
Clearly, even Bronya couldn't ignore this scene that could be called an anomaly.
"Did the sun rise from the west?" Wearing a surprised expression, Irene walked to the dining table. "Our Miss Kiana is actively studying?"
Kiana looked up, seeing the surprise on Irene's face. She didn't buy it, slamming the book in her hand onto the table. "Teacher Irene! I want to study, is there a problem? Why does everyone have to ask that?"
"The problem is that you are Kiana." Irene sat down at the table. "The fact that you could wake up early already surprised me, but holding a book in your hands surprises me ten thousand times more."
Mei placed a breakfast portion in front of Irene, gently adding, "But making a change is a good thing. Teacher Irene, we should encourage it."
Bronya spoke without lifting her head, "If only she could keep her attention on the book instead of on the comic in Bronya's hands."
"Idiot Kiana, you don't have X-ray vision. There is no way to know the content just by looking at the cover."
"Hey! Bronya!" Kiana blushed, somewhat flying into a rage out of humiliation. "Clearly, you sitting there is tempting me, okay? It-It's not my fault."
Irene raised her hand and patted Kiana's head. "Alright, I believe you. Bronya, once you finish breakfast, head down. Let's give Kiana a little space to study."
Bronya nodded obediently. She closed the comic in her hand, quickly ate her breakfast, and left the dining table.
Well, Idiot Kiana being willing to study was a good thing. It certainly wasn't because of Teacher Irene's request.
Besides, watching Bronya leave, she whispered something in a low voice, finally casting her attention back to the book in front of her. However, while she could understand every character when taken apart, once they were put together, she understood absolutely nothing.
"Alright, Kiana, stop trying so hard for now. Eat breakfast." Mei also placed breakfast in front of Kiana. "Wait until I'm in class to research these; it will be easier to understand."
"Yes~ Mei~" Kiana was just waiting for Mei to give her an out. The moment she picked up the book, she actually already regretted it a little bit, because she really couldn't understand it.
Irene watched from the side as Kiana almost immediately abandoned the book. She smiled but didn't say much more.
After all, Kiana was still Kiana. Even if she wanted to change now, it wasn't something that could be changed so easily. But having the heart to change was a good thing. If she went with the flow and put in some effort, maybe she could even pass for once.
In history class, the elderly professor was narrating the battles against the Honkai in the Previous Era with a monotone voice. Usually, this was absolutely Kiana's highest quality "lullaby."
She could always fall asleep quickly in various awkward postures until awakened by the bell or Mei's gentle call.
But today was a bit different.
Kiana still propped her chin up with one hand, her eyes occasionally drifting out the window to chase the frolicking birds, or staring at the hair tips of the student in the front row while spacing out.
Her fingers traced unconsciously on the desk. Clearly, her attention was not fully focused on the obscure historical events.
However, Kiana was not sleeping. Although she was spacing out a bit and couldn't concentrate, at least Kiana was indeed not sleeping.
The anomaly at this moment even attracted the attention of other students. After all, Kiana's title as the 'Sleeping King' was publicly recognized by them in private. Yet today, she unexpectedly wasn't sleeping.
To the side, several Valkyries who were on better terms whispered via small paper notes.
[Was Kiana punished by the Principal again? She's actually so serious today?]
[Why not Teacher Himeko?]
[How many times has Teacher Himeko said it? Isn't it just in one ear and out the other every time?]
[Anyway, no matter what, this counts as an abnormality, right?]
[Mn, that's right, it counts as an abnormality!]
The Valkyries passing notes back and forth relied on their agility and the stealth techniques learned in their studies, attracting neither the attention of the teacher on the podium nor the attention of Kiana, who was the center of their discussion.
Between her next bout of spacing out, Kiana slumped onto the table again, then suddenly shot up. After shaking her head, she looked up at the teacher on the podium.
Right now, she was starting to want to sleep a little again. After all, not understanding was truly uncomfortable, and she was drowsy. She had to find something to think about.
For example, the teacher on the podium. In the past, their history class was taught by Teacher Welt. This teacher seemed to be... forget it, she didn't know which class's teacher he was. Anyway, he was definitely here to substitute.
"Where did Teacher Welt go?"
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