Okhema, a grand triumphal return.
People stood on their tiptoes, craning their necks.
Cheers rose like waves, one after another.
Cerydra had subjugated Lykaia and Olenos, returning in victorious triumph.
The victory belonged to every citizen, but more reassuring than the towering Dromas was the figure of Cerydra.
"Lord Cerydra!"
"Lord Cerydra!"
The elderly pressed their hands together in prayer with tears in their eyes, and the soldiers straightened their chests.
Amidst the boiling cheers, a childish, high-pitched question rang out abruptly.
"Mama, why is Lord Cerydra sitting on books?"
The young mother quickly covered the child's mouth: "Shh—Her Majesty the Empress calls this 'sitting atop the pinnacle of knowledge'!"
On the back of the Dromas, Cerydra's slightly raised chin stiffened. She whipped her head around, her gaze meeting a pair of innocent, clear child's eyes.
She then let out a "tch," turned her gaze back with an air of tsundere pride, and maintained her inviolable posture as a King.
"You're attacking the Black Tide alone on three fronts."
"Eh!?"
Ryuga, riding together with Hysilens, was instantly amused and winked at the child.
"Because books are the ladder of human progress."
"Also, although Her Majesty's height is lacking, her ability is top-tier. Remember, do not mention her height."
Soon, word spread through the streets and alleys: the newspaper headline read, "The Empress Who Needs to Sit on Books Even While Riding a Towering Dromas" (doge).
...
After the triumphal ceremony, Cerydra spent some time reorganizing internal affairs.
It was several days before she had time to see Ryuga.
Inside the small courtyard.
The three little ones—Tribbie, Trianne, and Trinnon—were there, along with Aglaea and Castorice. Trissha, who had mostly recovered, had also come.
She could no longer use the Hundred-World Gates and was now only responsible for communications within the Holy City.
"Lord Demon God, do you have any arrangements for Okhema?"
In formal settings, Cerydra usually addressed him by his title.
She gave Ryuga plenty of face.
"Okhema?"
"I only care about you all. As long as you are well, that's enough."
Ryuga's words made the girls' faces flush and their hearts skip a beat.
"Ahem~ My meaning is, after production has resumed and we've rested, Hysilens and I will continue to recruit troops and launch attacks on the remaining city-states until the Golden War is completely ended."
"After the situation is cleared, I will join forces with the Fate Lord and announce the start of the first Journey of Flame-Chase."
"We will formally crusade against the Titans and return the Embers."
Cerydra glanced at Tribbie and spoke solemnly.
"Agreed!"
"I will have Phainon follow along."
As he spoke, Ryuga turned his head to look at Castorice, who had been standing silently since entering the room.
"Regarding the Titan of Death, wait until I've created a few more 'Curios.' Once preparations are complete, I'll head to Aidonia with you."
"Thank you, Lord Demon God."
"I have been on the journey to have an audience with Thanatos for hundreds of years. Waiting another few hundred years won't matter."
Castorice's beautiful eyes lowered, her eyelashes trembling slightly, and she gave a quiet, gentle smile.
Ryuga smiled; you've actually been waiting for a thousand years.
He naturally wouldn't let the two of them be trapped in the Underworld forever.
If they were to live, they would live together.
...
Castorice had her own little wooden cabin, with light purple wisteria climbing the window frames. The sunlight shining in was particularly beautiful.
Ryuga spent a week accompanying her, from arranging furniture to hanging curtains.
The once-empty room was gradually filled.
A wool felt doll was placed in a corner of the sofa, and a Chimera pillow was curled up on the bed. There were also collections of poetry gifted by Tribbie, Aglaea, and the others.
With Ryuga by her side, Castorice felt warmth in her heart for the first time.
She really wanted to lean on Ryuga's shoulder like this, listen to his breathing, and then fall asleep holding him. Her face grew slightly hot at the thought.
(Pah, Castorice, you're being too forward.)
But in the end, her wish didn't come true.
A little cat-eared thief beat her to it.
One day, Ryuga fell asleep after finishing a Curio experiment, only to find Cipher curled up on his chest the next morning.
Her cat tail would occasionally twitch to a beat, and her small mouth hummed with a satisfied purr.
From then on, it stayed that way.
Cipher occupied his chest with unshakable persistence.
This little cat...
But having a cat to hold while sleeping was also quite comfortable.
The days flowed by quietly. Ryuga's research into Curios was also progressing steadily.
After all, it was Thanatos.
While resurrecting Polyxia, he also had to ensure Castorice's safety, which was a bit troublesome.
Unless everything was perfect, he wouldn't easily set off for the Underworld.
...
Meanwhile, in the Pre-Era of Honkai Impact 3rd, in Shenzhou City.
(Another self-inserted city. It is not Soukai City btw)
The moment the bell rang, students poured out like a tide, heading toward the cafeteria and the plaza.
"I want to eat noodles."
Hua was slowly packing her schoolbag.
She suddenly remembered that tomorrow was a rare day off-campus; for the entire day, students could freely enter and leave the school.
Her heart stirred, and a craving crept up.
"Noodles are so delicious."
"Once a... no, once every half month should be fine. As long as I'm a bit moderate, it should be okay."
After enjoying a "sumptuous feast," the sky gradually darkened, and the city lights flickered on one by one.
Hua prepared to return to school along a familiar path, a satisfied smile from the noodles still lingering on her lips.
Suddenly, a girl's scream rang out from a corner.
Hua's heart tightened, and her body instinctively dashed forward.
"Waaaah—don't, don't come over!!"
At the end of the alley, a girl with wheat-colored skin, a hot figure, a short skirt hugging her legs, and a sweet, "energetic and spicy" look had her arms wrapped tightly around her chest, tears welling in her eyes.
In front of her, two hunched-over assailants surrounded her.
Hua hurried over.
But as she got closer, she realized they weren't assailants, but—zombies!!
Hua's pupils constricted, but she didn't hesitate.
She took a deep breath, her feet planting firmly into the ground like stakes, her fists clenched tight.
The energy within her rose from her dantian, passing through her spine to her shoulders and elbows, erupting in stages.
"Inch Power!!"
With her waist and legs as one, her waist drove her shoulders, her shoulders drove her elbows, and her elbows drove her fists. Her fist wind was like a cannon, "booming" as it hammered toward the head of the nearest zombie!
She had read in novels that you have to go for the head with zombies.
Bang!
A dull thud rang out, as if her knuckles had hit a rock.
The counter-force surged up her arm from her knuckles. Hua gritted her teeth, feeling a faint pain in her joints, nearly unable to hold her fist.
"Go, quickly—run!!"
From the first exchange, Hua knew she was no match for the zombies.
She delivered several whip-kicks in a spinning motion, the whistling wind knocking the two zombies back as they stumbled.
Taking advantage of the opening, she grabbed the "spicy girl's" wrist, turned, and dashed away.
They ran for an unknown distance until their lungs burned like fire and their legs felt weak. The girl finally couldn't take it anymore, leaning on her knees and gasping for breath.
Her large chest heaved violently, quite eye-catching.
"Stop... stop for a second, I can't run anymore..."
"They... they shouldn't be able to catch up now."
Hua also spoke while panting, feeling a sense of exhaustion.
The girl held her chest, let out a long breath, and said gratefully while still in shock: "Thank you for saving me. What were those things? Scared me to death... are there really zombies?"
"By the way, my name is Carole. And you?"
"Hua."
As the night grew darker, Carole proactively took Hua's arm, feeling a sense of security.
The two walked and talked as they headed toward the academy.
At this time, Hua didn't yet know that they were experiencing the leading edge of the Third Honkai Eruption.
A catastrophe that would sweep through civilization had already begun.
...
Days passed.
Ryuga had finished creating the Curios.
And Cerydra had already conquered half of the city-states.
[Customer Service Miss Pink Elf]: "@Desert Reaper, Ryuga, Dr. Einstein's research has found that the Honkai energy concentration in Nagazora is gradually rising."
"Dr. Einstein estimates that within forty-eight hours, the Third Honkai Eruption will break out in Nagazora."
"Ryu, are you coming?"
[Director Furina]: "Elysia's side is truly full of disasters. It's only been half a year."
[Snowy Mountain Qingxin Melon]: "I'm going. Count me in."
[Desert Reaper]: "Of course. Elysia, wait for me to make some arrangements. Also, Skirk, if you go over, you must follow orders @Snowy Mountain Qingxin Melon."
[Snowy Mountain Qingxin Melon]: "Understood."
[Customer Service Miss Pink Elf]: "Also, Ryu, I'm not in Nagazora right now; I'm in Shenzhou City. I've finally got Vill-V cornered! After four months of cat-and-mouse, I'm finally going to catch her today."
"Hurry and come over."
Ryuga was amused; Elysia and Vill-V had been playing a game of wits for four months?
Wait, Shenzhou City?
Sounds familiar.
Shenzhou Flat Board? Thigh-high socks, Mama Fu?
[Desert Reaper]: "Don't worry, leave it to me."
After Ryuga finished speaking, he stood up and kissed March 7th beside him: "I have to go out again. This time might be a bit longer, so... be prepared."
March 7th nodded: "Mm, same arrangements as before?"
"As expected of my little smarty-pants."
With that, Ryuga applied to enter.
The stone archway reappeared, and after a flash of white light, Ryuga vanished from the spot.
"Hi~ Elysia, did you miss me?"
Ryuga got the first word in, waving his hand.
Elysia blinked, puffed out her cheeks, and pretended to be angry: "You stole my line! I was supposed to say that."
"Ha, whoever gets it first wins."
To be continued…
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