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Elysia enjoyed her meal heartily.
As a Fusion Warrior, she didn't need to worry about maintaining her figure; her perfect physique remained unchanged regardless of consumption, her skin only growing healthier, and her long pink hair stayed beautifully voluminous without any care—the words "cute" and "beautiful" seemed tailor-made for this fairy maiden.
Naturally, during this rare lively feast, she fully embraced the opportunity to indulge herself.
After devouring several large bowls of rice, Elysia put down her bowl and chopsticks while Senti continued to wolf down food hungrily. With grace, she dabbed at the corner of her mouth and said:
"By the way, aren't those little darlings coming back for dinner? They must be working incredibly hard."
As Senti watched with wide-eyed astonishment, Zeke swiftly snatched up the last piece of cured meat and popped it into his mouth before nonchalantly responding:
"They've all messaged me—they're busy with their respective tasks... Honestly, if this keeps up, your engravings will truly become just incidental gains." A slight smile played on Zeke's lips.
Indeed, they were all diligently striving: Kiana was sparring with Kevin to level up, Bronya was learning about the previous civilization's combat systems from Eden, Wendy was discussing advanced Honkai Energy techniques with Fu Hua's memory fragment, Seele was seeking diverse knowledge and experiences from Su's memory fragment, and Raiden Mei was shuttling between Kalpas' and Sakura's realms, relentlessly pursuing every opportunity for improvement.
The memory fragments of the Thirteen Heroes themselves constitute an immense treasure trove, and these warriors, each in their unique ways, were excavating this wealth. Compared to the straightforward amplification provided by mere engravings, the benefits gained through such cultivation practice were immeasurably greater.
Elysia pursed her lips and stretched her slender yet captivating figure lazily, saying with a languid tone:
"Don't get too comfortable; learning from any of us here is bound to bring immense benefits. But do you really not need me to keep an eye on Mobius? Her experiments aren't as straightforward!"
"...No, don't interfere with Dr. Mobius's thought process. She thrives best when allowed freedom to explore her talents."
Zeke lowered his gaze, the smile fading from his lips.
Such mixed signals—stubbornly proud, just like always, Elysia thought but refrained from voicing it for her own safety.
Fu Hua handed Zeke a cup of warm water, gently patting him on the shoulder in silent support and comfort.
Watching this exchange, Elysia opened her mouth to speak but remained quiet upon seeing Fu Hua's gentle shake of the head and reassuring smile.
A selfless love indeed—you never cease to amaze me! Just make sure this kindness stems from genuine understanding, or else you'll surely get hurt, Hua.
Sighing inwardly, Elysia ultimately chose not to say anything aloud.
Deep within the Elysian Realm stood a frigid world with towering icebergs.
Kevin perched atop the highest frozen peak, enduring the bone-chilling winds that could freeze one's lungs upon inhalation. Suddenly, he glanced sidelong behind him.
"Boom!"
An anomalous blaze pierced through the perennially icy chill, melting the frozen summit beneath Kevin's feet into flowing streams of meltwater.
Kevin turned to face a pair of golden eyes ablaze with flames.
"You rested for only two hours this time, even shorter than before."
"Heh-heh! My body is professionally conditioned, and with some special meds, I can make it even quicker—no problem!"
Bathed in fiery light, Kiana wore her white armored dress, shouldering the Bright-Dazzling Blade, its blade blazing fiercely. With one hand raised in a thumbs-up gesture, she beamed radiantly, revealing perfectly aligned, pearly-white teeth.
Kevin observed Kiana's longsword momentarily before remarking, "This weapon bears some resemblance to my Judgment of Shamash."
"Indeed, it's similar. Zeke crafted this using the Gem of Haste as a Divine Key for our era. Unfortunately, creating such a weapon required compromises; instead of retaining full control over molecular movement, we had to settle for combustion alone, sacrificing the ultimate destructive power capable of cutting through anything."
"No, combustion has the highest potential. Controlling molecular movement with precision requires immense mental focus and energy. In terms of burst power, ease of manipulation, and versatility, it actually falls short compared to simple combustion. With burning, you just need to maximize your output as much as possible. Often, sufficient raw power can solve all problems."
"Hmm... That makes sense. Let's continue then! You're truly monstrous, patriarch. Despite not having a Divine Key, being merely a memory backup from fifty thousand years ago, you still dominate me. I'm starting to wonder if even Sirin with her six cores would've ranked highly in the previous civilization?"
Kiana casually scratched her head but suddenly felt a sharp pain in her consciousness.
"What did you say?"
"No offense meant, just venting my frustration."
"Hmph! Hand over control of your body; I'll show you what true strength looks like!"
"Bullshit! Putting aside whether you can handle it, how would I learn anything if I let you fight? Just wait—you know what, I have a hunch that once I can defeat this patriarch here, I'll undergo a complete transformation!"
Kiana cut off communication in the consciousness world, forcefully suppressing Sirin deep within her mind. Facing Kevin, she flashed an excited grin, revealing her small canine teeth.
Of course, defeating Kevin without relying on the Taixuan Sword Divinity was her goal; otherwise, there wouldn't be any meaningful training effect.
Moments later, flames soared high into the sky, melting vast stretches of glaciers amidst the intense heat. The extreme clash between ice and fire had begun.
At the same time, Raiden Mei, battered and exhausted, collapsed onto a chair opposite Sakura.
"Kalpas-san is truly terrifying! Even more so than any Herrscher I've fought before," Raiden Mei lamented as she held up her shattered sword, emitting a cold blue glow composed of countless fragments.
With a resigned sigh, she gazed at the Plasma Kagehide—a formidable weapon designed by her father, Raiden Ryoma. It could convert Honkai Energy into absolute zero temperature and had exceptional conductivity for electrical energy, accompanying Raiden Mei throughout her journey to becoming a Herrscher.
Now, it lay broken.
To be precise, this sword reached its limit during Raiden Mei's first encounter with Kalpas. Since then, she had been using electromagnetic forces to hold the blade together, allowing her to continue wielding it—though not without adaptation. By manipulating the fragments with electromagnetism, Raiden Mei transformed the katana into a chain blade. While sacrificing direct destructive power, this increased its flexibility, offering more tactical options.
However, now it truly had surpassed its breaking point. The continuously fragmenting blade was beyond repair, unable to form a functional edge despite her efforts.
"Ahh..." Raiden Mei sighed, filled with both sorrow and helplessness.
Sakura, dressed elegantly in light purple kimono attire, finished brewing hot tea and brought it to Raiden Mei.
"Thank you, Miss Sakura." As she accepted the cup, Raiden Mei's gaze softened, taking note of the faintly quivering pink fox ears atop Sakura's head.
Kalpas and Sakura represented two extremes: the former was brutally fierce, while the latter exuded serene grace. Yet both were among the Thirteen Heroes, each possessing their unique strengths. Whether through Kalpas's frenzied combat style or Sakura's swordsmanship insights, Raiden Mei had greatly benefited from them both.
Sakura smiled serenely and, with a swift motion, placed a katana on the table before her. Its hilt adorned with cherry blossom petals and its blade thin as ice emitted a mesmerizing blue glow, resembling a precious work of art.
"This is..." Taken aback, Raiden Mei looked at Sakura uncertainly.
With a gentle voice, Sakura replied, "Magisterial Sword: Cold Prison Icebound, my personal weapon. Not long after my final memory transfer, Kevin brought this to me, indicating that I had already fallen in battle. Now, I am merely a ghost, unable to restore its former glory. Keeping it has been solely for the purpose of entrusting it to the right person at the right time—Miss Mei, we haven't known each other for long, so I'm not sure if I can yet pass it on to you fully. Therefore, consider this a trial period."
Sakura's smile was serene, her voice calm, yet she spoke of her own demise.
Raiden Mei fell silent for a moment before exhaling deeply. She picked up the damp towel prepared by Sakura, wiped her face and hands, then knelt respectfully across from Sakura. With slow precision, she extended both hands—one grasping the hilt, the other supporting the blade—to lift the spiritual sword reverently.
The instant her fingers touched the blade, Raiden Mei felt as if she heard the whispers of wind and snow. A chill traveled from her hand deep into her soul, instantly awakening her senses.
"A sharp and composed blade, reflecting a fearless spirit... Miss Sakura, this is truly an exceptional weapon, rare to behold."
Holding the blade with both hands, Raiden Mei raised it high, its icy edge mirroring her clear and devout eyes.
Sakura smiled faintly without speaking, but inwardly, she sighed contentedly.
'It seems I chose wisely.'