I've already said this isn't a life simulator!

"Thank you... Skadi, my friend... no, my 'blood relative'."

"嘤——"

It chirped merrily, filled with boundless joy.

At least in the end, it did find its "blood relative"... even if he was a "two-legged beast".

The water flowed silently by, swiftly taking away its life and tearing its body into pieces.

"........."

Xi Wang remained silent, then opened his mouth and "ate" the remains.

A drop of azure water silently seeped from the corner of his eye, then quickly lost its color and disappeared without a trace... The ocean is all-encompassing; it will accept even tears.

He wolfed down his food, as if trying to suppress the tears that welled up and the sorrow that surged within him.

He will return to them, as a human being, as a "two-legged beast," to their side. This is what he must do... and it is the choice he has made.

Everything else can be given up...

Yes, that's right, that must be it...

To survive, to return to them, that's all...

Xi Wang... remained steadfast in her resolve.

after awhile……

wow-

On the sea, a figure leaped out, and a blue "current" formed on the surface, enveloping his figure before quickly flowing away in one direction.

Upon reaching a certain boundary, the seawater that formed the "ocean current" quickly lost control and dissolved back into the seawater, while Xiwang fell back into the sea, and the feeling of being dragged by the seawater continued to emanate from all around.

Xi Wang, however, violently seized control of the surrounding seawater, forcibly manipulating it to drag his body forward.

Keep going, this time we must... go back!

Xi Wang pursed his lips, looking at the increasingly clear land in the distance—it was an island. Xi Wang couldn't see where it was, but he knew he had to get there.

The dragging sensation from the seawater grew stronger, and it felt the care from the "ocean" all around it—it didn't want to return to land, it didn't want to endure the dryness and scorching heat again... It worried that it would suffer the same harm it had when it first returned to the "ocean".

It loves itself, it cherishes itself, and it cares about itself.

But... that's not necessary.

Xi Wang swam forward resolutely, the surrounding seawater becoming strange, even becoming viscous and heavy at times... It was still trying to hold on to itself, like a mother holding her child and falling to the ground, trying to hold on to her child with her own weight.

But... that's not necessary!

Xi Wang pushed aside the viscous seawater in front of him, which was as sticky as gel, and stepped onto the shallow land, feeling the wet sand beneath his feet.

All he needs to do is go back to them, that's all he needs to do.

We cannot be destroyed... We cannot be destroyed by this living "ocean"... We must not be defeated by them!

clatter--

A wet hand reached out from the shallow water and grasped the fine sand.

"Pfft-"

Its head emerged from the seawater, and with its hands exerting force, it moved forward little by little, pulling its body out of the water.

The seawater still cherishes him, still worries about him, and does not want him to leave the embrace of the "ocean".

They dragged his body, trying to bring him back to the safe "home" of the "ocean".

It tried to peel away what was on him, to make him feel the pain on the shore... but in the end, it couldn't bear to do it.

The ocean is the child that loves it.

It seemed to sigh, reluctantly accepting the choice of Xiwang, this willful child.

In turn, it gave Xiwang strength, bestowing upon him all that the "ocean" possessed, only hoping that he would not suffer again on land.

It gently pushed the waves on the shore, bringing a strange greatsword to Xiwang's side. The sword was dark and slender, and Xiwang even felt a familiar aura... a scent similar to Skadi's.

This was created by imitating the flames that had harmed Xiwang, so that at least Xiwang could fight back when facing those flames again. It also contained some of Skadi's remains, just so that Xiwang and Skadi, these two "children," could still rely on each other on land.

The sea breeze gently brushed against Xi Wang's hair, taking away its color and leaving only snow-white hair like waves—his dark hair looked like ashes after being burned, which he disliked.

The darkness in its pupils was washed away, turning into a predator-like red. Dark pupils have no deterrent power; you need to become stronger, like a predator, to instill fear in those who would try to harm you—that's what it said.

However, the pupils were mostly filled with gold, and the blood-red color could only occupy a small portion of the outer contour of the pupils.

It gives Xi Wang love without reservation, a love that belongs to the "ocean".

Finally, the waves gently came to Xiwang's side, washing away the fine sand that clung to his body, before reluctantly departing.

"........."

Xi Wang remained silent, indifferently picking up the strange, slender greatsword—it was unexpectedly heavy, so much so that Xi Wang felt somewhat uncomfortable for a moment, as if she were dragging Skadi's enormous body.

But he didn't care. He simply got up indifferently and took a long-awaited breath of the air on the shore.

Perhaps it was because she had been in the sea for too long, but Xiwang actually felt that... the air was a bit dry.

"........."

I looked up slightly and gazed into the interior of the island, where a familiar aura emanated—the aura of a [Herrscher].

A gentle sea breeze drifts by, guiding Xiwang in the right direction.

The heavy greatsword was dragged along, leaving a shallow trench in the sand.

The seawater flowed upstream along this narrow gully, quietly following in Xiwang's footsteps.

The sky was gradually filled with rain clouds, becoming dark and gloomy, and the air began to become... damp.

“…It’s raining.”

Xi Wang murmured softly as she walked along the road.

tick-

A faint sound appeared; it was the sound of raindrops falling.

The "Gabriel" gene in my body is still active, and the familiar fragrance of lilies quietly fills the air.

I looked up and gazed into the distance... There were familiar buildings there.

Xi Wang knew where he was: [P21 Island], which was also the location of [The Deepest Place].

Chapter 46 Let's begin the hunt!

"Mei, that's enough. We don't need to do that."

Kevin regulated his breathing while shielding his weakened lover behind him.

"Stand behind me, and... none of them will be left."

Snap, snap, snap——

However, the first response to him was not Mei's voice, but rather applause from the front.

"I really didn't expect you to be able to come back from there... Even with 200 of us, we couldn't stop you. You truly deserve to be called the strongest, Kevin?"

"……Who are you?"

"Ah, I'm sorry, you probably haven't met me yet, since you weren't there to observe that transaction. But your lover... Dr. Mei should know me quite well."

It... took a few steps forward, emerged from the shadows, and came to stand before the two.

Can you recognize me now, Captain Kevin?

"........."

However, Kevin still looked confused, as if he really didn't remember.

【"…………" x3

The entire battlefield fell into an enigmatic silence.

"Somewhat unexpected."

In the end, it was Mei who spoke up and took over the conversation.

"The traitor hidden among the higher-ups of the Firemoth is actually you... Al, the commander of the Poison Chrysalis."

[No, no, no... please don't say that. Right now, I'm just an insignificant one among "us."]

It shook its head in denial.

[Including my identity, my name, those things became unimportant after I became "we"]

As the most deeply hidden and highest-ranking individual within "us" of the Moth of Fire, my exposure should have been used for the most crucial purpose... Of course, not something as lowly as assassination; my "knife" could easily do that. What I need is... something far more effective in striking you down.

[For example... labeling you, an ally of the "Poison Chrysalis," as "colluding with the Herrscher," leading to public doubt and distrust, and ultimately, execution by humanity itself... and so on.]

It spoke leisurely, explaining its original plans with a touch of wicked humor, as if it, and others, already held victory in their hands.

It's just a pity... you proposed this plan to attack "us," and because it's an open conspiracy, "we" had no choice but to accept it, and were willing to accept it. But unfortunately, your predictions were somewhat wrong... weren't they?

It surveyed the weakened Mei, quietly admiring the cold sweat that kept seeping out of Mei due to the erosion of Honkai energy.

The "Key of Blank" is incredibly powerful, but as expected, the human body is incapable of wielding power like "us" do...

"........."

It is true that the "Key of Blank" did grant Mei the ability to connect to the Herrscher Core and wield the power of the Herrscher, but the burden was too great, making it impossible to use for a long time. Moreover, the excessive Honkai energy began to erode Mei, who was still just a human at the time.

It could be said that even without them, Mei's life was already on a countdown because of her own works... Their greatest purpose had been achieved, which is why it was here chatting leisurely with the two of them.

As expected, even Dr. Mei... is nothing special~

boom!

The crimson flames flashed by, but it deftly dodged them... though it still managed to burn off an arm.

[Thank goodness, that was close! I almost died!]

It seemed completely unconcerned, simply smiling, leisurely, with a hint of mockery.

But what if you kill me? After all, you'll have to face...