novelhk Page 29
Page 29
“I’m different from this nun. As long as I’m given satisfactory benefits, I don’t mind betraying anyone, including you.”
If we interpret it the other way around, without sufficient benefits, he will do his duty to the best of his ability.
"So, would you like to have your fortune told? I can give you a 5% discount."
Actually, something had always been weighing on Bai Zhi's mind: the plot of Changkong City deviated slightly from the game's script. At the very least, Yae Sakura, who was controlled by the Herrscher, shouldn't have appeared in front of the three starter families. The subsequent main storyline went awry, and without Rin, Bai Zhi's planned Jizo Mitama was gone.
To be honest, choosing Changkong City as the location for the Third Honkai Impact was a brilliant move; Cocolia almost ushered in the end of the world.
"Time is limited. Before the curtain rises, the snake will await your pledge of allegiance."
Gray Serpent didn't press the matter further. The issue of the superpowered individual who could see into the future was considered settled. Based on the data database, the pledge of loyalty had been submitted to World Serpent, and Bai Zhi would never have a chance to start over.
Bai Zhi remained noncommittal. Or perhaps, the artificial human experimental subject was a mistake from the very beginning, and he could not turn back. Unlike Aponia, who did good deeds but made things worse, as long as the Honkai did not involve him, nothing else mattered.
"By the way, there's one more thing."
As the gray snake was about to burrow into the base behind the bar to await its later activation, Bai Zhi spoke frankly, shifting her gaze to Miss Bronya, who was blindfolded and covering her ears, pretending not to hear.
"Bronya, you don't want Seele to be trapped in the quantum realm forever, do you?"
...... ......
Location: Ruins of the school district in Changkong City.
Time: 8:17 PM.
"Unbelievable, Bronya has become a triple agent?" The ethereal, silver-haired double-helix loli floating in mid-air twitched at the corner of her eye.
Damn, she is the adopted daughter of Cocolia, a radical cadre of Anti-Entropy, a student at St. Freya Academy of the Destiny Branch, and a direct subordinate of White Dove, a cadre of World Serpent (pseudo).
In less than a week, the girl's identity changed so suddenly that she was stunned. The amount of information was so overwhelming that her thinking almost crashed.
"Don't be ungrateful, Spain. People outside the city want to get in, and people inside want to get out. I have my own long-cherished wish to fulfill, and you have your regrets to undo. We are natural allies."
He said casually, not worried about Bronya telling on him. Seele was Spain's weakness, and if he manipulated her carefully, he could order her to do almost anything.
"After you rescue Seele, your threats will be ineffective against Bronya. At that time, Lord Paimon, what will you use to stop me?"
Secrets and intelligence have a time limit. Bai Zhi has the ability to share space, and Bai Zhi needs time to grow, which is also what he lacks most right now.
"You should know that there's a way to die called knowing too much, Spain. The essence of a secret is like a knife piercing your heart. How can I trust you if you don't offer your pledge of loyalty? How can the World Serpent trust you?"
“Bronya doesn’t want Seele to be threatened.” Bronya tried to salvage the situation by pressing her head down, while Bai Zhi scoffed, “You should be glad I’m kind-hearted and think you’re worth threatening.”
"The premise of being threatened is that she has the aftereffects of being threatened. Think about it carefully. In today's world, what forces are involved in the quantum field? Destiny may be able to, but your level is not high enough. Trying to win over Theresa's favor seems like a clear path, but in reality, it will all be in vain. Otto doesn't care about St. Freya, he cares about Theresa personally."
Anti-Entropy? A federation that split from the Berlin branch of Destiny? In the Honkai apocalypse, only the absolute *** can steer the 'ferry' through the disaster. You continue to hide in Anti-Entropy, relying on Cocolia, a woman with a narrow-minded view? Relying on this 'Cocolia Mom' who personally sank your beloved Seele into the quantum realm.
Among the three starting characters in Honkai Impact 3rd, Bronya is undoubtedly the strongest. Her portable quantum robot is not to be underestimated, but in terms of growth potential, she is far inferior to Kiana and Raiden Mei. She is inherently weak and has been persecuted since then. If she does not inherit the Core of Reason in the future, being an A-rank Valkyrie will be the limit for this young girl.
Admit it, young girl, at this moment you have neither the strength nor the right to resist. You can only obey me, follow all my demands, and become a nail I plant next to 'Kiana'.
To be used by me.
Honkai Impact 3rd Serpent Soloist: Chapter 59 - Never Go Back to the Past
The charred steel wreckage, the twisted vehicle skeletons, and the air thick with the stench of burning, dust, and death.
Changkong City, once a city that never sleeps, is now pitch black, without a trace of light.
The roars, gunfire, and shouts of battle on the beach were the lamentations of a city on its deathbed.
The landmark building of Changkong City, Qianyu Academy, which has produced countless students with extraordinary achievements, is now silent.
At the school gate, a woman holding a dark green long-handled sickle stood quietly, her gaze fixed straight ahead, like a sorrowful wife waiting for her philandering husband.
"The west campus isn't our responsibility to clean up. Now I understand why you wandered around the east campus and then immediately came to the west campus to clean up the assassins." Memories of being abandoned by Siegfried echoed in her mind. Kiana's face was pale. She tasted betrayal once again—it was so painful, so agonizing. "Rita, will my cousin and Bronya ever come back?"
"Perhaps," the maid chuckled.
"Perhaps you don't know if they will come back. Well, they have their own lives. They left without saying goodbye just so that it wouldn't be too ugly when they parted... I thought they were my family, my friends."
The tragic ruins of Changkong City, the trauma of being abandoned in childhood, and a day filled with disappointment and despair—under these triple torments, the carefree Kiana endured pain she shouldn't have had to bear.
Her fingers lightly touched the school gate sign, where scorch marks from a lightning strike were deeply etched. The young lady with long purple hair lowered her head, her eyes dull and lifeless beneath her bangs. The murderer returned to the crime scene, but instead of feeling satisfaction, he felt even greater sorrow.
I wouldn't say I love Qianyu Academy, but I wouldn't say I hate it either.
Mei stayed for two years. In the first year, she was elevated to the altar of the Thunder Queen and was admired and flattered by the students. In the second year, she was overwhelmed and bullied to the lowest level, suffering psychological and physical violence.
It was all his own fault, but...
"Miss Rita, if I'm gone, could I at least make amends for the sins I've committed?"
Every time Raiden Mei kills a zombie or Honkai Beast that roams Changkong City, her heart bleeds. All the tragedies started because of her, and all the pain is intensified because of her.
I don't deserve forgiveness.
"Miss Mei, running away won't solve anything."
Rita, her expression unchanged, comforted the two fragile young ladies who were emotionally wounded, while sighing inwardly.
I, a double agent who was spying on Kiana's whereabouts, have become her confidante. A childhood trauma, a self-torturer—it's been so tough for me. Paimon, come back soon, your sister misses you.
Speaking of Cao Cao, Cao Cao will arrive.
"Hey, Rita, we're back."
As they turned the corner at the intersection of the school district street, Bai Zhi caught a glimpse of the three figures in the distance and waved cheerfully in greeting.
"Welcome back, Master Paimon. While you and Miss Bronya are enjoying your elopement and revelry, don't forget about Rita and Lady Durandal!"
"Of course, I've never forgotten how kindly Miss Rita took care of me when I was exhausted." Bai Zhi shamelessly reached out and took Rita's small hand, pulling it to her chest and grinning, "In the future, I will be a fourteen-winged archangel with seven pairs of wings. Rita, I will always remember your and Durandal's place in my heart."
The fourteen Herrscher cores designated by the original civilization, and fourteen wings that obey my commands.
His long-held goal was to acquire the strength he needed, which would also serve as the best proof of his future team.
The existence of the Angelica dahurica space is definitely not wishful thinking.
Although the core of the Herrscher is still far from being achieved.
After a brief chat, Rita didn't mention where he and Banya had gone in the past three hours, and Bai Zhi didn't ask how much she knew or how much trust she still had in her.
In a flash, Rita seemed to see the socially awkward boy who had first left the laboratory, wary of everyone. Bai Zhi seemed to glimpse the maid who was far from the nightmare of hell, with dignified manners and eyes that naturally revealed curiosity and kindness.
The two looked into each other's eyes and smiled.
They can never go back to the way things were.
The indoor gymnasium is where the group will rest tonight. It's spacious and offers a clear view, allowing them to quickly assess the situation. The school cafeteria is right next to the gymnasium. The third Honkai outbreak occurred in the afternoon, and the food stored in the cafeteria that day was more than enough for the group.
Rita volunteered to prepare dinner, and Raiden Mei followed. Having rarely cooked since childhood, she wanted to use cooking to numb herself and stop overthinking. Bronya, on the other hand, dared not stay by Bai Zhi's side any longer.
Bronya was previously sold directly to World Serpent, and she absolutely refused to go to Schicksal headquarters, thus becoming a quadruple spy instead of a triple agent.
Bronya, fearing she wouldn't live to see Seele again, offered up the Heavy Bunny.
The two people were left alone at the school gate.
“Cousin, I think I have the answers to the two questions you asked me: why did Dad leave home in the first place, and whether Kaslana’s responsibility is to ‘protect the world’.”
Gazing at the slowly rising full moon in the sky,
"I never went to school. My dad taught me how to be a good person, how to read and write, and how to survive in the wild. He even taught me how to woo a girlfriend. So I understand my dad's thoughts very well."
In my view, these two questions are no different. Dad was a human being, a person with emotions and desires. His departure wasn't an escape; he wasn't a deserter. He simply had doubts—doubts about whether he could truly shoulder the 'responsibility' accumulated over generations of Kaslana.
Saving the world—who hasn't dreamt of that? But only when you truly shoulder the burden of saving the world do you realize how ridiculous and presumptuous you were. That's why Dad exiled himself, letting someone with real power lead Kaslana, like...Bishop Otto.
Kaslana have a common problem: they care more about their own loved ones than the world itself, and are willing to save the world for that.
Siegfried was not strong; his love and protection were only for his family. For this reason, he truly made up his mind to return to the Kaslana family to atone for his sins.
He thought that with a loving wife and a daughter who inherited all the good qualities of her mother, the family could live happily ever after.
"Later, my father failed. He lost his loved ones, the honor of his family, and the expectations of his people. He ran away once again."
And I won't run away. I will inherit Cecilia's spirit, atone for my stinky father's sins, and also for Mei, Bronya, my cousin, and many, many more—
For the people I love, and for all the people I love. For all those who can be called 'human'—who should not have to suffer the same pain as me—I am willing to give my life to protect them.
This is my Kaslana.
A girl whose name means "Goddess of Moonlight" smiled gently under the moonlight.
Bai Zhi seemed slightly lost in thought, a soft spot in her heart being touched.
'Hehe, Yulandal, you and she really do look alike, no wonder you're 'mother and daughter'.'
Honkai World Serpent Soloist: Chapter Sixty - Killing the Honkai
Once upon a time, the girl thought she understood the coldness and warmth of the world, until she opened her eyes and saw only the hell of death.
She cried, felt pain, was hurt, and despaired. So she set her initial goal, which was gentle and simple.
Unfortunately, the world is neither gentle nor simple.
"Kiana, you gave the wrong answer. Protecting the world, fighting for the good in the world—Kallen Kaslana once said something similar, becoming the guardian of destiny. How beautiful, so beautiful that it's unreal. To put it bluntly, your answer is nothing but empty rhetoric. I see no reason or possibility for it to come true."
Bai Zhi dismissed the girl's will entirely, showing no disdain. He was no longer the socially awkward person he was when he first left the lab.
In the shared memories of many Bai Zhi, they witnessed different civilizations, but the evil rooted in human nature remained unchanged.
"The world is very cruel. If you choose to back down, your kindness will be met with even greater evil. People who are kind are often bullied, and good horses are often ridden."
Even in the late stages of the pre-civilization apocalypse, there were still some clueless individuals who did all sorts of despicable things in their quest for power. The Herrscher of Corruption was born out of the revenge of several soldiers whose families were destroyed by the Honkai, but the number of people who secretly guided and pressured them is countless.
"Was I wrong...? I don't understand, cousin. Protecting more people is right, yes! I'm not wrong." When it comes to ideals, Kiana wouldn't budge an inch. The latter shook his head, scoffed, and pointed to the dark and terrifying city ruins outside: "You're wrong. Isn't this dead city a true reflection of the failure of your ideals?"
You've been in Changkong City for a few months now, haven't you? Have you found out anything about Siegfried? No, because you were attracted to Raiden Mei and ended up joining Chiba Academy, spending your days doing meaningless things.
Did you try to find more survivors in the early stages of the Honkai outbreak? No, with only a superficial understanding, you recklessly rushed in to fight the horde of Honkai beasts under fire, wasting your last chance to save the city.
In this city, besides attending classes and sleeping, you spend all your time sticking to Raiden Mei.
Have you heard the children's cries of despair? Have you felt the city crumbling? Have you not noticed the sneers of those who have succeeded in their schemes? Have you ever thought... that friends are no longer friends, and homes are no longer homes?
You can't do anything.
Kiana's newly erected psychological defenses crumbled, and she gritted her teeth, about to continue her sophistry...
jiu齐镏鸠亿三拔瘤“杀崩坏”.
"what?"
"To kill the Honkai, Kaslana has only one belief in her bloodline."
The first opening ripped away the gloom, the second opening sealed the fate, and the secret hidden deep in the bloodline was shattered in the most cruel and straightforward way.
"You lied to me..." Kiana tried to continue her sophistry, but as soon as she spoke, she couldn't make a sound. No one stopped her. It was blood, it was Kaslana, it was deep within her bloodline genes. It was a blurry shadow. The hero with the [Salvation] inscription gave up saving the world and returned to his original homeland, longing for his lover's comfort, to eke out a living together into the next era and start anew.
Then, instead of his lover's company, the hero was met with a child left behind by her—the child of Kevin and May.
The hero's eyes had lost their light; what remained was a walking corpse with 'killing the Honkai' etched into its very bones.
"So, I'm going to do nothing and just wait for the end of the world to come? Don't be ridiculous!" Kiana slammed her fist on the wall, the dense spiderweb cracks revealing the girl's unease. "My wish and initial intention were not wrong, but why did I end up wrong?" she wondered, confused.
“I don’t mean to restrict you, I’m just reminding you that your biggest problem is that your ideals for the future and Kaslana’s will do not conflict. Killing the Honkai is saving the world. For this, you need the power to deal with everything perfectly, a power that can say no to everyone.”
Being weak is not shameful; what is shameful is someone who remains weak and stagnant.
"Kiana, you have that potential."
"...Cousin, I've always had a slight doubt about whether you're really stronger than me."
"you sure?"
"I am sure."
Bai Zhi looked up at Yan Yue Liang and fell silent.
With the blessing of the sun god's authority, its power gradually increases as the sun rises, reaching its peak at noon, and gradually decreases as the sun sets, dropping to zero by dusk.
In comparison, the blessing of the Moon God's authority is similar yet completely different. The Moon God's blessing requires bathing in moonlight to receive a boost to overall strength. The magnitude of the strength boost is independent of time but is linked to the moon's shape, with the waning moon being the weakest and the full moon the strongest.
Coincidentally, the night sky tonight is vast and cloudless, and the moon is a full moon.
Bai Zhi shook her head: "I agree."
Bai Zhi stood still and let Kiana attack. The latter's current strength might not even match the recovery power granted by the Moon Goddess's authority. (IV) The strength of the Ruzaki Dam Woba Group/Liao.
Why refuse when someone is actively seeking to be humiliated? Besides, experiencing failure more often will prepare you mentally, so that you won't nearly fail when facing a thousand Herrschers in the future. If Sirin hadn't fallen into her arrogance again, let alone the Herrscher of Flame, they would have changed the setting and staged the return of the Queen of the Sky.