When Ming Yu opened his eyes again, all he could see were ruins and a sea of fire.
The raging flames lit up the originally dark night as if it were daytime. In the ruins, some villagers' bodies could still be vaguely seen, but the most conspicuous was a pool of blood remaining on the central altar.
Ming Yu knew that it was the trace left by the ritual sacrifice, a tradition of Yae Village to pray for rain and peace. But in the end, the one who destroyed this village was the shrine maiden responsible for the ritual. It had to be said that this was a great irony.
Amidst these ruins, the only other possible sign of life besides Ming Yu was the white-haired nun lying on the ground.
Without any hesitation, Ming Yu quickly walked towards Kallen.
Sensing someone approaching, Kallen opened her eyes. Seeing the strange man before her, Kallen knew she had no other choice.
"Stranger, if you see a pink-haired shrine maiden nearby, please give this to her." Saying these words seemed to have exhausted all of Kallen's strength. The hand holding the golden cross necklace was trembling constantly.
Looking at the battered Kallen, Ming Yu knelt on one knee, solemnly took the necklace, and said in the most solemn tone, "Rest assured, Miss Kallen. I swear on my name that I will definitely deliver this to that shrine maiden!"
Hearing Ming Yu's promise, Kallen seemed to be at ease and peacefully closed her eyes.
As Kallen lost her breath, this space quickly collapsed, turning into purple blocks from the edges and rapidly eroding towards the center.
"There is no trace of Theresa here. Please proceed to the next space immediately!" Bronya on the screen also urged.
Ming Yu nodded, wrapped the necklace around his left hand, and ran towards the exit of this space.
...
Where is this?
Theresa looked at the surrounding forest, then at the shrine maiden-style clothes she was wearing, her heart filled with doubt.
Sunlight cast scattered shadows through the dense trees, making the forest not seem dark, but rather adding a sense of tranquility and peace.
Suddenly, the roar of a wild beast broke the peace. A villager holding a stone spear ran out from the bushes in a panic.
"Help!" the villager shouted in panic upon seeing Theresa. While shouting, he ran towards Theresa, completely disregarding that she looked like just a small child, like a drowning person clutching at a straw.
And behind the villager, a giant bear stood on its hind legs, three meters tall. Under its brown fur, veins bulged ferociously. Its eyes glowed with a dangerous red light, and two red tentacles grew from its back.
Under the threat of the giant bear behind him, the villager stumbled and fell in a panic, his stone spear slipping from his grasp. But he couldn't care less about anything else. He scrambled to his feet and fled, leaving Theresa to face the giant bear alone.
Seeing this scene, Theresa was unconcerned. As a Valkyrie, she had been taught since childhood that it was her duty to protect civilians. From this perspective, keeping non-combat personnel away from a high-energy battlefield was actually in line with her wishes.
Looking at the ferocious giant bear, Theresa was slightly surprised. This kind of Honkai Beast was rare in modern times and was only recorded in history.
Theresa unhurriedly bent down to pick up the stone spear and said with a sneer, "If you underestimate me, you'll be in for a big surprise~"
"Let me show you the power of an S-rank Valkyrie!" Theresa shouted, brandishing the stone spear and charging at the giant bear.
However, with a swing of its tentacles, the giant bear broke the stone spear in two.
Theresa stared dumbfounded at the stone spear, broken in two, an urge to drag out its maker and beat them up welling in her heart.
But the giant bear didn't care about Theresa's thoughts. Its two tentacles continued unabated, wrapping tightly around Theresa.
Theresa's heart sank, but the powerful strength that used to be in her body had vanished without a trace. If she still had her S-rank power, she could teach the giant bear a lesson even with her bare hands, but now, even breaking free from the tentacles was a fantasy.
The tentacles wrapped tightly around Theresa's body and neck, getting tighter and tighter. Theresa's consciousness gradually blurred.
On the verge of death, she seemed to hear the sound of a blade being drawn. A crimson flash of light streaked by, and the tough tentacles were easily severed. Before she passed out, she only saw a pink-haired figure catching her.
Yae Sakura glanced at the white-haired girl in her arms, but the tachi in her right hand did not stop. With a flash of the blade, the giant bear's head suddenly fell to the ground, a hint of unwillingness still on its face. A few seconds later, the giant bear's body also crashed to the ground.
Although she had killed the giant bear, Yae Sakura did not let her guard down. Instead, she shouted in one direction, "Who's there!"
The shadows of the trees swayed, and a man in white traveler's clothes pushed aside the low-hanging branches and walked out. He wore no sword, and his short hair was half-white. It was Ming Yu.
"I am a passing traveler, I got separated from my companion," Ming Yu said calmly, pointing to Theresa in Yae Sakura's arms.
Yae Sakura looked at Ming Yu suspiciously. His white robe was not stained with much dust, and the expression on his face was very calm. She looked again at the white-haired girl in her arms, who also seemed to have appeared suddenly, and her shrine maiden-style clothes were also spotless.
Although she was suspicious, she didn't show it, only nodding to acknowledge his answer.
Ming Yu looked at the cautious Yae Sakura, his expression unchanging, but his heart was filled with excitement.
Long time no see, Sakura!
"Yae Village is not far ahead. I am the shrine maiden of the Yae Shrine, Yae Sakura. Since you two have come from afar, I wonder if you would allow me to show you some hospitality?" Yae Sakura sheathed her sword, pointed towards the village, and asked enthusiastically.
"In that case, we will impose on you," Ming Yu said gratefully. Although he was going to Yae Village no matter what, receiving an invitation from the shrine maiden was much better than sneaking in.
Having an official identity would also facilitate his next actions. Although he didn't think those ordinary villagers could pose an obstacle to him, if he could reduce trouble, Ming Yu would not refuse.
Naturally taking Theresa from Yae Sakura's hands, Ming Yu introduced himself again, "I am Ming Yu, and this is Theresa."
Yae Sakura smiled and nodded, her left hand resting on the hilt of her sword, acting as a guard and guide in front.
Following behind Yae Sakura, Ming Yu couldn't help but feel excited. He was finally going to the Yae Village he had visited countless times in his mind. Thinking of himself picking up items in Yae Village every week, Ming Yu silently shed tears of sorrow.
However, what would Yae Village look like in Yae Sakura's memories? Ming Yu was full of anticipation.
Ming Yu gently carried Theresa on his back. Perhaps due to her petite figure, the Principal's body was very light, and it was not strenuous to carry her. And Ming Yu did not notice that the cross necklace on his wrist flashed with a faint golden light upon contact with Theresa.