Chapter 29: Ich Liebe Dich
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The pink crystal curtain that covered the sky blocked the bitter wind and snow from the outside, and the domain advantage belonging to the Herrscher of the Void had already been shattered and occupied by the power of Origin.
The 2nd Herrscher Sirin’s body was also covered in wounds, with even one arm already severed and a large hole torn through her abdomen.
Under normal circumstances, such extremely serious injuries for ordinary people would only require consuming enough Honkai Energy for a Herrscher to recover.
But now, she obviously no longer had such redundancy.
“Finally reached the limit, eh? My waiting for quite some time wasn’t in vain.”
Jiang Qiao revealed a knowing smile. With Elysia’s appearance showing such an expression, he was undoubtedly very cute.
For a Herrscher, as long as there was sufficient Honkai Energy, even the most severe non-fatal injuries could be easily healed.
The Herrscher of the Void, who controlled imaginary space, undoubtedly elevated this bug-like survival ability to another level.
After all, when it came to preserving one’s life, even among all the Herrschers, the girl before him would definitely rank among the top.
He couldn’t achieve what Murata Himeko would later do, defeat the Herrscher of the Void head-on.
First, Jiang Qiao didn’t possess the rich combat experience that Himeko had.
Second, the Herrscher of Origin didn’t possess the destructive power like the Herrscher of Flame that could forcibly break through spatial limits.
But—
Why did he need to be like Murata Himeko anyway?
Different people had different fighting methods. Knowing this well, Jiang Qiao naturally chose a combat style that was highly characteristic of the Herrscher of Origin.
“This sky-covering crystal curtain has separated the Honkai Energy of the entire Siberian snowfield.”
“Without external Honkai Energy support, relying only on the Honkai Energy stored during awakening, which is rapidly draining due to the Origin’s authority, how could you possibly outlast me when I have the support of all of Siberia’s Honkai Energy?”
Standing on the Spirit of Origin and looking down at his opponent, Jiang Qiao held a pink crystal flower that was highly characteristic of Elysia floating in his hand. With a girl’s countenance, his divine pink eyes were filled with playfulness and mockery.
“Still want to continue struggling?”
Watching the Subspace Lances flying toward him at the wave of the Herrscher of the Void’s hand, the girl sighed and waved the staff in his hand.
The crystal curtain that quietly appeared deflected all those Subspace Lances.
Due to the massive consumption of Honkai Energy, not only was the force greatly reduced, but even the special properties of the Subspace Lances couldn’t be maintained.
Such things were merely powerless throwing spears.
“The battle has continued for so long, I’m getting a bit tired of it.”
“No matter how beautiful the appearance, without the inner essence, it’s merely a doll.”
Jiang Qiao leaned against the Spirit of Origin, looking at Sirin who was imprisoned by crystal chains extending from all directions and still struggling, and said softly:
“Although you are indeed very entertaining, unfortunately I personally don’t have a hobby of playing with dolls.”
“There’s still someone waiting for me in the distant future, so let’s end this playful farce here, shall we?”
“Beginning with me… ending with me!”
With Jiang Qiao slowly raising his staff, the girl’s low murmur brought this battle to its conclusion.
The crystal curtain covering the sky gradually dispersed, leaving only the traces of battle in the surroundings.
Slowly descending from the Spirit of Origin, the staff in his hand gradually crumbled and dissipated.
Stepping on the melting snow, the pink girl came to the side of the 2nd Herrscher whose life was coming to an end.
He raised his hand to touch the girl’s face, which still retained the warmth of life.
“Although I don’t know if you can hear this.”
“But perhaps, at the end of life, you would want to hear such words.”
“Ich liebe dich, Sirin.”
The voice was very soft, very gentle.
Whether it was an illusion or not, a tear seemed to flow from the corner of the girl’s eyes.
Jiang Qiao didn’t know everything about the girl before him, and even the name was merely based on speculation about the Previous Era’s naming style.
But at this final moment, he was still somehow compelled to say these words to his opponent, just like Cecilia would in later generations.
How contradictory. He had personally killed his opponent, yet said such words.
“Am I being somewhat shameless?”
Jiang Qiao lightly touched his somewhat cold cheek, with a bit of self-mockery.
How regrettable.
If he could have come earlier, perhaps he could have saved this child.
Unfortunately, the authority of the Herrscher of Origin wasn’t omnipotent either. For someone like this who had been a Herrscher for too long and had even lost the things she cherished, it was ultimately impossible to save her.
However, perhaps the power of Finality could do it?
Looking at the crystal flower in his hand, Jiang Qiao couldn’t help but have such thoughts.
He placed the crystal flower that had turned deep purple in his hand on Sirin’s gradually cooling body.
Under the actively driven Honkai Energy, his opponent’s wounded body had already been restored to its original state.
Although such a thing was actually completely meaningless.
But if it were Elysia, she would definitely say:
The more it’s time for the story to end, the more one should dress up beautifully.
Like the night-blooming cereus, the moment life ends is also the most beautiful moment of this life.
Beautiful girls are the same, right?
So.
“I just did what the owner of this body would do.”
The battle was over, but this Second Eruption wouldn’t end so simply.
After all, the other people at Fire Moth probably never dreamed that while they were still gradually setting up defenses, thinking about how to subjugate the troublesome spatial-type Herrscher.
Their major concern had already been unknowingly defeated head-on by a girl from the advance team.
“Ah, someone’s coming.”
As a Herrscher who had taken control of all the Honkai Energy in Siberia, the very sensitive Jiang Qiao looked in a certain direction.
According to the original records, it was precisely because of this great victory that Elysia’s status in Fire Moth rose dramatically, even becoming invaluable in the eyes of the higher-ups.
So, even after subjugating the Herrscher of the Void, he had to digest this achievement properly.
Otherwise, without this status, not to mention the more distant future, even Vill-V who might soon be caught and killed by Mobius, Elysia wouldn’t be able to interfere.
Not to mention that Fire Moth’s higher-ups seemed to be somewhat heavyweight later on. Without status, a beautiful girl like him could easily be devoured completely, bones and all.
“Mm, can’t let them find out that I’m a Herrscher~”
The Herrscher part gradually disappeared with Jiang Qiao’s casual snap of his fingers, returning to the original anti-Honkai Energy clothing.
He looked at the Spirit of Origin beside him and smiled, saying:
“There’s no need for you for the time being, so please go back for now, okay?”
The Spirit of Origin naturally had its proper place to be, which was Elysia’s hometown, the Origin Space.
After doing all this, the pink girl waited in place for Fire Moth personnel to arrive, his azure eyes seeming to see into the distant future.
…He wondered how things were going on Elysia’s side.