"The Herrscher of Death's powers are creation and decay. To some extent, they can be divided, allowing the two of you to share the burden, which would significantly reduce the risk and strain. That's my recommendation. You both can discuss it."
"I don't need—"
"I can! I can handle it!" Seele interrupted, leaning forward over the table, her expression firm in the dimly lit room.
She declared her intention before Veliona, who had only just begun to express her resistance.
Bronya glanced between Seele and the gritting Veliona, unsure whether to offer advice or hold back.
Although she'd never met Veliona before, they were still the same Seele, and Bronya found it hard to make a decision on their behalf.
"I don't need a useless, weak crybaby like you!" Veliona jabbed her finger at Seele's forehead repeatedly, forcing her to tilt sideways each time.
After a while, Seele reached out, grasped Veliona's finger, and, with teary eyes, said, "But you haven't shown yourself to me in over a month. If Sigurd hadn't brought us here, I wouldn't have known what you were going through. This is a problem we share. We should face it together. I'm not letting you bear it alone!"
"Will you… stop crying in front of me!" Veliona's fierce expression softened slightly as she looked at Seele's tear-filled eyes, though her frustration only made her seem harsher.
Then, Seele threw her arms around her in a hug.
"You… I…"
Veliona stood there, frozen and unable to respond.
After a long pause, her expression softened even more, and she returned the embrace, sighing in resignation. "Alright, that's enough. Let go. It's getting warm."
In a place like this, warmth and cold weren't actually present; Veliona's "warmth" was her awareness of the heat on her own face.
"Sorry. I missed you a lot since it's been so long," Seele smiled, wiping away the tears from her eyes.
Veliona hesitated, then crossed her arms and turned her face away.
After a moment, she resumed her sharp, cold demeanor and said, "Anyway, I don't need you here. You can leave."
"I won't."
"Are you defying me?"
"I-I… I just won't!" Seele insisted, her newfound resolve surprising even herself, not to mention Sigurd, Bronya, and Veliona.
In response, Veliona pulled at Seele's cheeks, causing her to flee, holding her face in a timid display.
Veliona chased after her with a fierce expression, and the once-serious discussion dissolved into playful antics.
Just then, Sigurd knocked on the table to get their attention.
"Let's get back to the main issue. While the time in this conscious space flows differently, the Herrscher of Death's power is entirely restrained here. Every second we spend, that volatile power grows restless, too. We don't have time to waste."
Seele stopped.
Veliona, catching up, gave her cheeks a final pinch before letting out a huff and returning to her seat beside Seele.
"Honestly, I hope you'll accept my proposal. It's the safest route and will maximize security for both of you," Sigurd stated firmly.
"Seele can do it! Don't let my looks fool you; I've done combat training… and learned martial arts from Master Fu Hua. I can handle this!" Seele spoke with determination, facing Veliona so she could see her resolve and courage.
"Tch!" Veliona muttered, giving Seele a playful chop on the head.
Knowing Seele would react like this was exactly why Veliona had kept quiet, bearing everything on her own.
Seele might be a crybaby—timid, scared of strangers, even frightened by bugs—but she also had a brave, stubborn side, especially at moments like this.
"It's dangerous!"
"That's exactly why I can't let you face it alone!"
"Don't equate me with you—I'm strong!"
"It's not about that! We have to face it together!"
"So, you're just not going to listen to me, huh?"
"In this matter, there's no way I can agree to let you bear it alone!" Seele gripped Veliona's hands, showing an uncharacteristic resolve.
Veliona was at a loss, both frustrated and annoyed, but powerless against her.
Sigurd stepped in decisively. "Then it's settled."
Veliona immediately turned, shouting, "Hold on—I haven't agreed to this!"
"This is Seele's choice, not yours. I have no reason to prevent her from taking on her own responsibilities, or from helping a friend."
"Are you all deaf?"
"I'll manage the energy output. You two bear the Stigmata of Death—your combined existence is miraculous, and your adaptation to these powers is beyond any known Herrscher. You can accomplish this transformation safely. Bronya, I'll need you to leave for your own safety."
Sigurd ignored Veliona's objections, he knew that once they started, she'd do everything to protect Seele.
With a wave, he sent Bronya's consciousness back to the outside.
Then Sigurd raised his hand, grabbing a black chain, and with a powerful squeeze, it shattered.
Endless Honkai energy flooded the space, turning it into a sea of crimson mist.
<+>
In the real world, Kiana had just taken her third bite of an apple when her ahoge stood straight up.
Next to her, Sin Mal took on a battle stance, and the two exchanged glances.
"Kiana, you feel it too?"
"A dark, ominous pressure… Herrscher energy, coming from that crybaby!"
"Nothing bad is going to happen, right? The three of them are still in there!"
"Don't jinx it! Sigurd and Bronya will be fine!" Sin Mal snapped, donning her black armor, a dark spear forming in her hand as she considered where to strike first if Seele lost control.
Her plan: take down the Herrscher if necessary to secure Sigurd and Bronya.
Then Bronya opened her eyes.
"Activate the anti-Honkai containment field in the room, cut physical communications, and suit up. Notify Master Fu Hua immediately!"
"Yes, ma'am!" Both Kiana and Sin Mal sprang into action, each heading off in different directions.
Bronya herself donned her black armor, moving to the bedside.
After a series of keystrokes on a display, a deep blue pyramid-shaped field surrounded Sigurd and Seele, sealing in the massive influx of Honkai energy.
Almost instantly, ripples and disturbances appeared across the containment field.
Bronya frowned. "Engage the 'Moonlight Throne' system to absorb the energy. Activate individual defenses and evacuate any civilians in the area; prepare for impact."
Following her orders, Sin Mal and Kiana rushed out of the room, flying in opposite directions to clear the zone.
Meanwhile, Bronya stood in place, watching the two inside the containment field with an unreadable expression.
"Please, stay safe," she whispered.
While time in the consciousness space was unpredictable, in the real world, 87 seconds passed.
Before the 'Moonlight Throne' system could connect, the containment field shattered.
BOOM!!!
The ensuing shockwave erupted with such force that it shook the entire headquarters.
<+>
Tn: If you want to see more chapter of this story, please go to my Patreon[1], just for $5 each month, you can read till the latest chapter.
Latest Chapter in Patreon: Chapter 284: The Herrscher… is Me!?[2]
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