Arknights' Lock of Heaven

It's good for both of them.

The sunset is infinitely good, just near dusk.

The sunset over the desert is truly beautiful.

If you ignore the city riddled with holes in the background.

"..."

The sun has set; the final moments have arrived.

Talulah watched silently as the golden chains slowly untied from her body.

Xia Yu wanted to turn around and leave.

But a hand blocked his way.

An old ring rested in his palm.

Xia Yu didn't understand and looked at her in confusion.

“I really like the look in the eyes of that Carter’s girl who’s blocking your way.”

"Please give this to her..."

"Is it alright?" Xia Yu asked doubtfully. "This must be something very important to you, right?"

The importance of something that can be recalled at this time is self-evident.

“It’s alright,” Talulah gave Xia Yu a deep look, “We won’t need it anymore.”

Since she had said so, Xia Yu reached out and took it.

As for that look in her eyes, perhaps she had already realized something...

Xia Yu put the ring in her pocket, turned around and got into the car.

With the roar of the Originium engine, the off-road vehicle slowly drove towards Rhodes Island.

In the rearview mirror, Talulah's right hand was burning brightly.

Xia Yun could clearly see that her expression was constantly changing.

Once freed from the Lock of Heaven, that sliver of awakened will inevitably dissipate.

That girl, who was filled with loneliness, is dead.

Perhaps she died long ago on the boundless snowfields of Ursus.

What was awakened was merely a dead soul.

Next, only the tyrants of the Reunion Movement remained in the world.

That's fine too, Xia Yu said with a self-deprecating smile.

He also found it difficult to make a move on the lonely and pitiful girl he had just been with.

This problem doesn't apply to tyrants and evil gods.

Talulah's expression kept changing, but finally settled on a cold look.

The tyrant is back.

But she still didn't dare to attack Xia Yu directly.

It seems the Lock of Heaven left a deep impression on her.

Hopefully, Kosic won't back down...

Behind the speeding SUV, the boiling flames dyed the sky red.

The tyrant is asserting his existence.

Then he slowly walked toward the ruins of Chernobog.

The two of them went in opposite directions right there.

The next time we meet, it will probably be with swords drawn.

-

5:47 AM.

Rhodes Island forward deck.

Xia Yu drove the SUV slowly into Rhodes Island.

As soon as he got out of the car, Amiya hugged him.

"You're really back..."

Xia Yu touched her head with mixed feelings.

This child seems a bit clingy... We've only known each other for a few days, and all I did was tell her a few stories and take her on a trip around the world.

Just how strict are Kal'tsit's studies? How can such a slight relaxation raise her affection level so high?

"Staying up late isn't something a good kid should do," Xia Yu teased, rubbing her ear.

“I was just worried about you,” Amiya said, looking down. “You haven’t come back…”

"Okay, okay, I'm fine now," Xia Yu said, squatting down to comfort her. "I'm super strong, this is just a small matter."

“Yes,” Amiya looked up, “I know, Mr. Xia Yu is super strong.”

"But let's go to the infirmary first."

After saying that, he was about to pull Xia Yu toward the medical department.

“I’m not injured,” Xia Yu said with a helpless smile. “Amiya should go and rest first. Look, my clothes aren’t even torn, how could I be injured?”

"How could there be no tears in the clothes...?"

Amiya muttered to herself, "In a scene like that, no matter how strong you are, it's impossible to escape without getting hurt."

When they left, the hordes of Reunion Movement thugs covering the mountains and fields still left all the team members with lingering fear.

Looking at Xia Yu's brand-new Rhodes Island uniform, it was obvious that she had just changed into it.

Amiya wasn't the only one waiting here.

But from their eyes, Xia Yu knew that they thought about the same thing as Amiya.

He looked down at his uniform.

It's brand new, like it was just received.

This was cleaned with magic on the way back; after all, she had traveled a long and dusty journey, and Xia Yu preferred to be a little fresher.

I never expected to be misunderstood because of this.

But if they still look travel-worn, the outcome will probably be pretty much the same.

After all, for ordinary Terrans, it's already a miracle to have escaped alive after so many Reunion Movement members stayed behind to cover their retreat.

They did not witness Xia Yu subdue Talulah in one move.

After all, they are not from the same system, so it is normal to make mistakes in judgment, especially since this is the first time they have cooperated.

After a few more times, the Rhodes Island crew will probably get used to it.

"Oh, right, this is for you," Xia Yu suddenly remembered something, took out the ring from her bosom, and solemnly placed it in Amiya's hand.

"This is something someone asked me to give to you."

"She said she really liked the look in your eyes when you stood in front of me."

38 of the same kind?

Amiya had barely entered Kal'tsit's office when she was sent back to sleep by the latter.

She was an obedient child, and although she was worried, she obediently went back after receiving Kal'tsit's assurance.

"This is what you want."

Xia Yu took out an ordinary-looking iron box from behind her and handed it to her.

Kal'tsit glanced at it briefly, then casually took it and placed it on her desk.

"Are you injured?" She looked Xia Yu up and down and said slowly, "I heard from Amiya about what you did. This time, we are really grateful to you."

As he spoke, he pulled back the curtain beside him, revealing a fully equipped medical room inside.

Then he gestured with his eyes for Xia Yu to lie down on the hospital bed.

"No need," Xia Yu shook her head. "I'm not injured."

"Is that so?" Kal'tsit froze in place. "It seems I underestimated you..."

It's more than just an underestimation.

She probably couldn't have imagined how much confidence the map she provided to Xia Yu gave him.

With these magical powers at his disposal, he finally had the ability to face this unknown world.

Kal'tsit returned from beside the hospital bed to her desk and sat down, looking at Xia Yu across from her.