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After taunting Welt, Fu Hua planned to withdraw immediately.
She didn't need to engage with him; as a student at Saint Freya Academy and an A-rank Valkyrie, she knew that Welt was clearly beyond her capabilities to handle alone.
Her duty should have been to take Raiden Mei to Theresa, seeking assistance from such a formidable Valkyrie. However, it indeed wasn't wise to mock Welt, not because there's anything inherently wrong with sarcasm, but because someone like Welt, with his ego soaring higher than the heavens, cannot tolerate ridicule. Moreover, his power must never be underestimated, despite being merely a downsized version of the Herrscher of Stars.
Just as Fu Hua prepared to leave with Raiden Mei, a furious roar erupted behind them. The voice sounded hysterical, akin to an injured wild beast or perhaps a child deeply immersed in a lie, suddenly confronted with reality yet unwilling to accept it.
"Get on your knees!"
Fu Hua ignored it, but in the next instant, an overwhelming force pressed down on her, forcing her to kneel.
Such is the sin of pride. Fu Hua's attitude towards Welt was indeed arrogant. Although his abilities were admittedly lacking, underestimating him without fully preparing for his gravity manipulation power proved unwise.
It should be said: never underestimate any Herrscher. Even if their displayed strength may not seem formidable, theoretically, every Herrscher possesses immense potential—including pseudo-Herrschers like Welt.
On the other side, Welt floated effortlessly through the air, with the bright moon behind him, making him appear as a divine being descending from heaven. Under his control, chunks of debris slowly rose and hovered mid-air.
Welt stood proudly aloft, his cold gaze fixed upon Fu Hua kneeling below, treating her like mere insects.
"I initially planned to spare Raiden Ryoma's daughter, but I've changed my mind. Time to seize that Herrscher Core!"
With a sinister and deranged grin, Welt spread his arms wide as thousands of times Earth's gravity bore down on Fu Hua. Even she couldn't move under such immense force, struggling merely to withstand it.
Welt had no intention of stopping there; all he wanted now was for this woman who deceived him to die.
"For deceiving me, you shall pay with your lives!" Welt cackled maniacally, directing the debris to crush both Fu Hua and Raiden Mei mercilessly.
"Danger!"
Without hesitation, Fu Hua unleashed power beyond her current level, flipping over to shield Raiden Mei beneath her body.
As a MANTIS fusion warrior, despite any unforeseen complications, her strength and resilience far surpassed that of an inexperienced Herrscher like Raiden Mei or even a Valkyrie.
Even if I might get hurt, at least you won't perish.
However, the anticipated pain never arrived, though Fu Hua had long grown numb to it anyway.
Just as confusion set in, a voice, both familiar yet distant, echoed by her ear:
"Red Kite, without us around, have you become so careless?"
The sudden voice momentarily stunned Fu Hua, as deeply buried memories gradually surfaced from her mind's recesses. Memories can indeed fade and be forgotten, but bonds forged over centuries do not dissipate so easily.
Slowly lifting her head, Fu Hua found herself looking at a figure that wasn't quite the one she remembered—though it couldn't be entirely different either, just scaled down in size.
Yet, this individual's appearance matched perfectly with Fu Hua's recollection: brown hair, red eyes, long-sleeved attire revealing her back, adorned with a coiled braid held by a hairpin.
It was Nuwa, known in Shenzhou mythology as Dan Zhu.
In reality, like Fu Hua, she was a Harbinger from the previous civilization—a MANTIS fusion warrior of sorts. However, her abilities were not focused on combat and considered relatively weaker, thus she did not qualify as a Heroic Spirit.
"..."
Staring at this miniature version of Nuwa, Fu Hua was momentarily speechless.
"What's wrong? Don't tell me burning your memories made you forget me?" A hint of concern flickered across Nuwa's initially cheerful face. As Red Kite's old friend, she was well aware of the cost of Yu Duo and some aspects of Fu Hua's situation.
Fu Hua shook her head.
"Nuwa," she softly uttered a name unspoken for thousands of years.
Hearing Fu Hua's response, Nuwa beamed with delight.
"Yes, that's more like it!"
"Alright, Scroll of Nuwa, now isn't the time for reminiscing."
Just as Fu Hua and Nuwa were about to continue their conversation, another voice interrupted, carrying a hint of exasperation.
Fu Hua looked up to see Ana standing beside her, green vines soaring skyward, intertwining to block Welt's controlled debris. White light emanating from the vines bathed Fu Hua, swiftly healing her injuries.
Undoubtedly, both this healing power and the towering vines originated from the Abyss Flower's Power of Creation.
With one hand on her rifle, Ana stood firm, her hair gently swaying in the breeze under the moonlit glow. Indeed, she had arrived just in time to prevent Welt from inflicting serious harm on Fu Hua, deploying the martial idol, Scroll of Nuwa. Moreover, when Welt's attack was about to strike Fu Hua, Ana used the white flower's Power of Creation to erect a barrier, deflecting his assault.
"Who are you?"
In the night sky above, Welt observed the girl who suddenly appeared, apprehensively scrutinizing her mysterious abilities that effortlessly intercepted his attacks.
Strangely, upon seeing her, Welt felt a sudden sense of fear, and the gun in the girl's hand exerted immense pressure on him. He even had the chilling sensation that if touched by that weapon, he might instantly meet his demise.
But how could this be?! After all, he was the First Herrscher, the Alliance Master of Anti-Entropy! Unless Otto from Schicksal appeared, who could possibly stand against him?!
Ana lifted her head, gazing at Welt above with a courteous smile.
"Schicksal S-Class Valkyrie, Ana Schariac."
"Please remember my name well because..."
The corners of Ana's lips curved upwards as she propelled herself upward with incredible force, Abyss Flower in hand, soaring towards Welt with the spear tip directly aimed at him.
"...from the moment you laid eyes on me, your life has begun its countdown."
"As a ruthless invader, I believe it's time for you to face judgment."
As Ana finished speaking, she swiftly closed the distance to Welt, showcasing the speed of an S-Class Valkyrie.