"The Wolf King... went back?" Razor scratched his head, his wine-red eyes filled with confusion. He didn't seem to be overly exhausted.
"Hmm, perhaps he can no longer maintain his physical form," Yun Fan said with a faint smile. It seemed Alice had indeed left quite an impression in Mondstadt. Not only had she blown up Dvalin's lair, but she had also caused trouble for the Wolf of the North.
"Razor, would you like to come to Mondstadt with us? You might live a better life there," Yun Fan suggested. As someone who had just met Razor, this invitation might have been a bit presumptuous, but having seen the events of the Windblume Festival, he couldn't help but ask.
"No, Razor belongs... to the wolf pack, not... to humans," the wolf boy shook his head, his eyes filled with determination. He had been raised by the wolves, and they had chosen him, just as he had chosen them. They were his "Lupical."
Yun Fan didn't press further. After saying goodbye to Razor, he took Klee's hand and headed back toward Mondstadt. His purpose here was fulfilled, and there was no reason to stay any longer.
"Klee, I'll be leaving Mondstadt soon. I won't be able to play with you for a long time," Yun Fan said regretfully. Over the past six months, he had grown accustomed to seeing the little angel Klee from time to time. Without her, he would surely feel a bit lost.
"Big Brother Yun Fan, why are you leaving? Do you hate Klee?" Yun Fan's words struck Klee like a thunderclap. Her eyes welled up with tears, and her voice trembled.
"Klee, don't cry. Big Brother loves you very much, but I have reasons I must leave," Yun Fan gently patted Klee's head. He had anticipated this moment, but when it actually happened, he still felt a pang of guilt.
But this was better than leaving without a word. If he suddenly disappeared, Klee would be even more heartbroken.
"Is it like Mommy? Does Big Brother have to leave too?"
"..." Yun Fan fell silent, unsure how to answer. A wrong response could leave a lasting scar on Klee.
"Klee believes in Big Brother Yun Fan. Will you come back to see Klee?" Before Yun Fan could think of an answer, Klee spoke first, her young face filled with hope.
"Yes," Yun Fan smiled and crouched down. "Big Brother promises to come back and see you."
"Then let's pinky promise!" Klee extended her little finger, and Yun Fan, after a moment of surprise, hooked his finger with hers.
"Pinky promise, no changing..."
After returning Klee to the Knights of Favonius, Yun Fan informed Acting Grand Master Jean of his impending departure.
Jean pondered for a moment. In truth, the moment Lumine left Mondstadt, she had anticipated that Yun Fan might leave as well. But what about her sister Barbara, the girl who had fallen in love with him?
"I will give her a satisfactory explanation," Yun Fan said before leaving the Knights of Favonius headquarters, leaving Jean with only his retreating figure.
Watching Yun Fan leave, Jean felt a mix of emotions. After a long while, she sighed deeply. "I hope you won't let her down..."
"Void Archives, please proceed with the draw."
Back at the Good Hunter, Yun Fan lay on his soft bed and summoned the Void Archives in his mind.
Command executed... Drawing in progress... Rules manifesting...
The voice of the Void Archives echoed in Yun Fan's mind, responding to his expectations.
Congratulations, holder. You have obtained: Trial Card - Authority of the Finality.
Yun Fan: "???"
He shot up from his bed in excitement!
Yun Fan eagerly checked the newly obtained item, but soon, the excitement on his face faded. The card floating in his consciousness space read:
Trial Card - Authority of the Finality: Upon use, temporarily gain the Authority of the Finality, transforming into the Herrscher of the End. Remaining usage time: 60 minutes.
"So it's just a trial card. Still, it's not bad. At least it gives me another means of survival."
Yun Fan felt a bit disappointed.
Tsk tsk tsk, you're really hard to please, the mechanical voice of the Void Archives rang out in his mind, though it now carried a hint of human-like sarcasm. Yun Fan was speechless. When did you learn to sass me?
After examining the Trial Card, Yun Fan waved his hand in his consciousness space, summoning the character cards of Jing Yuan, the Cloud Knight General, and Gepard, the Silvermane Captain.
The two character cards floated in the air, but there was a noticeable difference. Jing Yuan's card was bound by several chains—seven, to be exact.
"Void Archives, what's going on here?" Yun Fan was puzzled. After merging with Jing Yuan's power three years ago, he hadn't checked the character card's status. Seeing this now, he was thoroughly confused.
Holder, these seven chains were formed by the power of laws. They seal away the majority of the character card's power.
"So that's it!" Yun Fan suddenly understood. No wonder Jing Yuan's power felt so weak! In Honkai: Star Rail, Jing Yuan's Divine Favor could slice through stars, but in his hands, it could barely match Zhongli's "Planet Befall." So it was the Void Archives' doing!
"Why did you do this?" Yun Fan continued to ask.
When the holder first arrived in this world, you were too weak. The Void Archives detected signs that you were being assimilated by Jing Yuan's character card. To prevent you from losing your original will and becoming another Jing Yuan, this measure was taken.
"Assimilation? You mean the changes in my appearance and some of my personality?" Yun Fan looked at his silver hair, deep in thought.
Yes, the Void Archives confirmed.
"Then how can I fully unlock Jing Yuan's power?"
It's quite simple. The seven chains represent seven seals. Each time you break a seal, you unlock a portion of the power. To break the seals, you must undergo trial challenges. These trials are extremely difficult, but if you can pass them, it proves you are worthy of wielding this power without fear of assimilation.