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Rita's Gnius successfully captured Durandal's signal. This device, akin to a miniature World Anchor, possessed the power to prevent one from becoming lost.
Entering the stigma space was straightforward, but returning from it was uncertain. Beyond real space lay countless dimensions, significantly increasing the risk of getting disoriented.
Even without the Gnius, Durandal might have found her way back eventually. However, for added assurance, this apparatus was deemed necessary.
As precisely calculated, she sensed the message transmitted by the Gnius.
Rita instinctively gazed up at the sky.
At that moment, Xia Chen was suspended mid-air, battling against the forces of Virtual Being.
After the Barrier of Restraint was shattered, the Will of Honkai unleashed the Virtual Gear.
Virtual Being represented 'non-existence power,' while the gear symbolized 'time.' Combined, they formed 'non-existent time.' This was also part of Otto's deal with God: as the gear continuously turns, the city's timeline would gradually vanish.
It resembled reloading a game save.
If the Virtual Gear successfully descended upon Klostern, the entire city's time would reverse, placing its inhabitants in a quantum superposition state.
To correct the quantum superposition of an entire city, it would require the collapse of Honkai worldwide.
Otto's role in this transaction was to use all his might and delay the descent of the Virtual Gear.
After all, if time truly reverted five hundred years, humanity might not fare better than the present; paradoxically, advanced technology beyond their norm could trigger even more severe Honkai outbreaks.
There would never be another Otto, even if time flowed backward.
His fate had been sealed since he made the deal with God.
Perhaps he could transfer his consciousness and reappear in another world, but within this civilization's timeline, his disappearance was inevitable.
This was the price to be paid.
However, at that moment, Xia Chen's thoughts were not focused on matters related to Otto.
The power of the Virtual Gear seemed relatively weak yet profoundly peculiar. This strangeness wasn't easily explainable in just a few words.
He felt his surging Honkai energy, upon touching the core, seemingly reverse its flow.
If Honkai represented creation from nothingness, then the Virtual Gear aimed for dissolution back into emptiness.
By tampering with time's rules, it paradoxically generated more chaos and destruction.
Fortunately, as the Herrscher Core connected to Virtual Space, it continuously supplied Honkai energy to counteract the effects. The Virtual Gear's attempt to reverse time was being corrected by the influx of Honkai.
When a civilization reaches entropy and disorder, Honkai emerges, exacerbating this chaos. However, an excessive concentration of Honkai can also dissipate such disorder.
Xia Chen couldn't tell how much Honkai Energy he had poured in before the gear gradually slowed and finally stopped.
Exhausted, he involuntarily plummeted from the sky.
Just then, Durandal emerged through space, returning perfectly timed.
"Lady Durandal is back."
From a distance, Rita couldn't help but sigh in relief.
However, as Durandal caught Xia Chen's falling figure, her brows furrowed slightly.
"Hmm, after this incident concludes, let's give Xia Chen and Ana a few days off."
At that moment, Xia Chen wasn't focused on any romantic ambiance; his mind was elsewhere.
"Many thanks, Captain Durandal..."
"Take care of yourself, I'm leaving now."
The powerful Valkyrie placed Xia Chen outside the church, noticing the Abyss Flower in Seele's hand.
"I leave the White Flower here, and their well-being is entrusted to you."
It was not a request but a command.
With a swift motion, she split the Abyss Flower in two, leaving Seele astonished by this unconventional method of handling a Divine Key.
Is this truly technology?
Seele nodded, "Don't worry, Captain Durandal."
Having spent considerable time at Schicksal Headquarters, she unconsciously adopted the habit of addressing her as 'Captain'.
Durandal entered the church with the Abyss fragment.
After watching her depart, Seele inadvertently remarked, "Seems like she changed outfits again."
Meanwhile, Xia Chen sat at the edge of the church, absentmindedly gazing inside.
"We should have some peace for a while now."
Feeling drowsy, he drifted off to sleep shortly thereafter.
"If God could determine human fate, what would be the purpose of their existence?" These were Otto's words to Durandal when she was not yet known by that name.
Schicksal once created religions, yet they themselves did not believe in any deity.
Including Durandal, none of the Valkyries believed in the existence of gods. Instead, the majority worshipped Otto, instilled with the will to fight.
Even now, Otto still influences Durandal despite being adversaries.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped into the church.
At that moment, someone stood nearby.
"Kiana?" A hint of surprise flickered in Durandal's eyes. "You're here too."
"What's going on ahead?" she asked the girl before her.
Kiana frowned and replied, "Look at the space up front; the church shouldn't be this vast."
She didn't question why Durandal had come here, as it wasn't the right time for such inquiries.
Before them lay an almost boundless corridor leading to a deeper, expansive area.
This was not part of the intrinsic world but connected to something beyond it.
Otto had meticulously prepared everything.
Durandal's gaze sharpened slightly, and without hesitation, she ventured forward.
"There's no room for hesitation, Kiana."
"The concentration of Honkai Energy outside is steadily increasing."
"Understood."
Kiana gritted her teeth and stepped forward alongside Durandal.
Navigating through a lengthy path filled with tangled vines and raging flames, they encountered the winged pseudo-god hovering mid-air before them.
"You've finally arrived here, but alas, it serves no purpose." Otto's lips curled slightly as he declared, "Now, you shall witness the power of what this world deems divine."
"Do not despair; behold the grandeur of a deity."
An overwhelming surge of Honkai Energy erupted from him instantly.
Durandal's eyes narrowed slightly. "Not good. His life essence is evolving rapidly; conventional strength will be utterly ineffective against him now."
"What about unconventional means?" Kiana frowned, recalling her encounter with Li Sushang when she had said:
"Your power is strong, but to face that Raksha, it simply won't suffice. However, I've heard you possess authority over space. Perhaps exiling him using spatial manipulation could be a viable strategy."
"I can utilize my authority over space," Kiana told Durandal. "But first, we need to defeat him."
"That's quite simple."
Durandal raised her spear, and suddenly, a horse materialized beneath her.
This creation was endowed by the Stigmata space, essentially another form of Virtual Being.
"The path to Heaven's Origin begins here!"