Four hours remaining—
In the center of the training ground, the dust outlined a beam of light against the setting sun of Sapphire City.
Yae Sakura lay flat on the bluestone floor, which was already covered in knife marks, staring blankly at the setting sun.
The dusty Sakura Fubuki was stabbed into the ground beside her, reflecting the silent expressions of the Seven Swords.
She lay flat, her whole body decadent, her arms spread wide, completely exposing her vulnerability. Her long sakura-colored hair was scattered on the floor. If it weren't for the slight rise and fall of her chest, perhaps anyone who came here would think she was a corpse.
In front of her, Fu Hua stood quietly. The sharp aura surrounding her had already converged, leaving only those calm eyes that could still penetrate the human heart.
Perhaps it was because of the struggle, or perhaps because the scene was too quiet, the people surrounding Yae Sakura clearly saw her dry, cracked lips tremble slightly.
But in the end, she couldn't even utter a sound from her heart.
What could she say?
"Give me back Rin?"
What did she have left to support her in saying such a thing?
The swordsmanship she had been proud of since she was a child was her last asset, but her sword couldn't break Arahato's armor, nor could it defeat Fu Hua's seemingly casual attacks... The opponent didn't even have a weapon, just using her bare hands to completely crush her pride.
Hahaha... She didn't know if her heart was bitterly laughing or breaking down.
She... what has her life been?
A failure... a failure... what success has she had in her life?
She failed to get into Nagazora University with the absolute top score, failed to be invited by the City of the Future with the most outstanding posture, failed to make early achievements in medicine, failed to master the initiative in her sister's treatment...
She... she couldn't even protect her sister, Rin!
What success has she had!
Fu Hua did not show the posture of a victor, but calmly stated, "Your sword originates from the obsession of protection, but its direction has been blinded by despair and anger."
The finger of the corpse-like Yae Sakura trembled slightly. The next moment, unable to bear her own unwillingness, she bit her lower lip fiercely.
Despair, anger, don't I know all this?!
"Taking your sister away was not out of malice." Fu Hua walked a few steps closer, her voice low and clear. "But right now, Yae Sakura, you do not have the ability to protect your sister.
"This world is facing a disaster called 'Honkai.' It might be an earthquake, or a war. It will appear before us in all possible and impossible forms, just to hinder us, destroy us, or even... help us.
"And now, the form it is about to take is the end of the world, monsters, natural disasters, turning living people into walking corpses, and then... allowing the envoys who hold the authority of gods to descend."
Yae Sakura's eyelids lifted slightly. The words Fu Hua spoke were quite unfamiliar to her.
"And in this disaster, your sister, Yae Rin, likely possesses extremely high 'Honkai adaptability.'
"When the Honkai erupts, people like her will either become the primary targets of monsters, or... they themselves might be eroded and transformed into new sources of disaster."
Fu Hua was not lying. In the battle just now, Yae Sakura clearly showed a sensitivity to Honkai energy. Coupled with the [Original Work] played by Shu, the Yae sisters were a very important node in the plot.
Just as Shu suspected Sirin when they first met, Fu Hua held the same view of the Yae sisters.
They were special.
"The organization that took her away, whatever their purpose, objectively isolated her from the impending Honkai environment for the time being. Perhaps... delaying the worst-case scenario."
Fu Hua's words confused Yae Sakura, who had been forced to calm down.
She had indeed been blinded by Rin's disappearance, but she had never thought that such a terrifying, world-scale disaster could be involved behind the scenes.
"Honkai...?" Yae Sakura finally spoke. Although she was only murmuring to herself, it at least showed that she had regained some clarity.
Rin... could turn into a monster in this disaster?
Okay, maybe not that clear.
"We are setting up defenses here to deal with the impending Honkai outbreak." Fu Hua looked at the emotions resurfacing in her eyes and gave a promise.
"If you are willing to trust us, once the Honkai erupts and the main situation is stabilized, I will take you to find your sister. Let you confirm her safety with your own eyes."
Yae Sakura's gaze suddenly locked onto Fu Hua, but there was no longer any sharpness.
She stared at Fu Hua, who had made a promise to her. After a long time, Yae Sakura closed her eyes.
I'm sorry... Rin.
It's your sister who is useless... it's your sister who can't protect you, but your sister will definitely protect you...
"I understand." She looked at Fu Hua, her eyes returning to a deathly silence, like quenched cold steel. "Whatever you want me to do, I will do it.
"But after that, no matter what state Rin is in, I must see her with my own eyes. This is my only..."
Her dry lips trembled a few times, and finally, she spat out the trembling word.
"...request."
Rin, wait for me.
No matter what you become, your sister will definitely find you.
This time, I won't let anything separate us again, even the so-called... [Honkai].
Three hours remaining—
Backstage dressing room of the Pearl of the Sea. It was brightly lit and noisy, but filled with an invisible pressure.
Yun Feng passed by the greetings and gestures of a group of employees and finally stopped in front of a dressing room door.
He had just used his influence and ability to find everyone on the list he could find, and used excuses or resources to bring them to the safe location given by Joachim. He had made emergency deployments there and mobilized a large amount of resources.
At least this time, he could guarantee that the shelter he chose would not experience the shortage of supplies Joachim had mentioned in the short term.
Besides this, he also temporarily modified the admission mode for the fans and audience who were about to enter, trying to give the potential survivors among them a sliver of reaction time.
But the more prepared he was, the heavier the stone in his heart became.
This was all he could do. If he went any further, it would be an open challenge to the existing order, pushing the Yun family to the forefront instantly, and might even cause the officials who were paying attention to this concert to intervene directly.
Ah... although there isn't enough time, this is already the limit of what I can do.