In the depths of Enkanomiya, a golden light descended rapidly from the sky. Akio, holding Lumine and Paimon, gently landed on the ground.
Looking around, the entire Enkanomiya was eerily silent, not even a trace of monsters could be seen.
"It's so hot…" Lumine and Paimon frowned. The air in Enkanomiya was now filled with a scorching heat.
"It's definitely the presence of Honkai energy," Akio murmured softly, sensing the Honkai energy lingering in the air.
He then turned to Lumine and Paimon and asked, "Are you two alright?"
"We're fine, it's just really hot," Lumine and Paimon shook their heads. There were no signs of Honkai energy corruption on them.
"That's good," Akio nodded. It seemed that low concentrations of Honkai energy wouldn't affect Lumine and Paimon.
"Akio, I'm planning to look for the Bloodbranch Coral," Lumine said, holding the map Sangonomiya Kokomi had given her. "I'll also investigate the surrounding area while I'm at it."
"Alright, be careful," Akio nodded. "If you feel any discomfort, immediately hold onto the crystal I gave you earlier."
"Also, make sure to avoid those purple energy clusters. That's concentrated Honkai energy, and I'm worried you might not be able to handle it," Akio warned.
"Got it," Lumine nodded and left with Paimon.
Akio wasn't too worried. After all, he was still in Enkanomiya, and if anything happened, he could rush over immediately. Besides, with the crystal he had given Lumine, he was confident she wouldn't be affected.
Akio slowly rose into the air and began surveying the entire Enkanomiya.
Not long after, Akio sensed an area with an extremely high concentration of Honkai energy—it was at the top of the Dainichi Mikoshi.
A blazing fireball appeared at the highest point of the Dainichi Mikoshi, resembling a small burning sun.
As the fireball emerged, the entire Enkanomiya trembled. In an instant, a massive surge of Honkai energy enveloped the area, and a sinister purple-red aura filled the air.
"Such a high Honkai energy level!" Akio's expression changed. If this level of Honkai energy were in the Honkai world, it could probably give birth to a Herrscher!
Akio, of course, was unaffected by this level of Honkai energy, but Lumine, who was right below the Dainichi Mikoshi, wouldn't be so lucky.
However, Lumine reacted quickly. Seeing the purple energy spreading towards them, she shouted, "Paimon! Quickly take out the crystal Akio gave us!"
As they held the golden crystal, a golden energy enveloped the two of them. The Honkai energy washed over them, leaving them completely unharmed.
Akio appeared beside Lumine and, seeing that they were fine, nodded. "Stay here and don't move. The Honkai energy concentration is even higher ahead. For safety, stay back. I'll go check it out."
"Alright, be careful," Lumine nodded, knowing this was beyond her ability to handle.
Akio nodded and soared into the air, flying straight towards the Dainichi Mikoshi.
As Akio approached, the Honkai energy grew denser, and in the scorching air, he also sensed the energy of the Herrscher of the Void, which was of the same origin as his own.
Akio thought of something and increased his speed, instantly arriving beside the fireball.
Sure enough, Akio's eyes widened in shock. It was a figure he was all too familiar with—a woman with fiery red hair, disheveled and scattered, her tall and curvaceous body clad in tattered armor that didn't belong to Teyvat, exuding a tragic beauty of battle-worn elegance.
"Himeko? Murata Himeko!"
Akio's breathing quickened! He had actually encountered Murata Himeko in this place!
Akio didn't know how to describe his feelings at this moment.
It was probably like seeing a character he deeply loved, knowing she had died, her soul and body completely gone, with no chance of resurrection, suddenly appearing before him, whole and intact. The joy of that moment was indescribable.
Akio examined Himeko, who lay quietly in the flames.
Himeko slept amidst the fire and Honkai energy, her entire body eroded by the Honkai, covered in purple cracks that looked terrifying yet heartbreaking. Her Vermillion Knight armor was in tatters, and the Haste Gem in the center of her armor was nowhere to be seen.
The flames continuously scorched her broken body, yet even in the fire, her pained face still bore a faint, resolute smile—as if she was relieved to have saved Kiana, or perhaps mocking the Honkai's powerlessness.
Akio entered his Herrscher form and slowly stepped into the flames. The power of the Herrscher of the Void continuously neutralized the fire's energy, absorbing the Honkai energy around her.
As the Honkai energy was absorbed by Akio, Himeko's pained expression seemed to ease slightly.
"Ding~ Detected that the host has absorbed a large amount of Honkai energy and encountered Murata Himeko. Unlocked SSS-level Herrscher of the Void template. Unlocked Pseudo-Herrscher Core of Fire (A-rank). Unlocked Divine Key: Godslayer Surtr."
The system's voice echoed in Akio's mind.
The complete Herrscher of the Void! From this moment on, Akio was the full-fledged Herrscher of the Void, capable of standing above the entire world of Teyvat.
Akio slowly reached out and touched Himeko's face. Her skin, eroded by the Honkai energy, still retained a lingering warmth.
"Thank goodness! There's still a trace of life in her," Akio sighed in relief, sensing the faint life force within Himeko.
A powerful surge of life energy instantly enveloped Himeko, driving out the Honkai energy, which Akio then absorbed into his Imaginary Space.
As the Honkai energy was purged from Himeko's body, her skin returned to its former fairness, and the power of life and death continuously restored her broken form.
"So, Himeko, be reborn from the flames. Your journey isn't over yet. Let our journey begin anew from this moment," Akio murmured. He wanted to keep Murata Himeko by his side. After all, she was his favorite character in Honkai Impact 3rd.
In the "Final Lesson," Murata Himeko, with only her Vermillion Knight armor, had fought against the god-like Herrscher of the Void as a mere mortal.
"Could it be that after Himeko saved Kiana, she fell into the Imaginary Space and, by chance, ended up in Teyvat?" Akio pondered.
"Host, it's also highly possible that your power connected to the Imaginary Space, guiding Murata Himeko to Teyvat," the system explained. "Coincidentally, Enkanomiya is a weak point in Teyvat."
"So that's how it is," Akio nodded. It seemed his arrival had changed many things.
Akio glanced around, and countless spatial rifts appeared in every corner of Enkanomiya, absorbing all the Honkai energy in the area.
Teyvat wasn't ready for the arrival of Honkai. If Honkai energy continued to exist in this world, attracting the attention of the "Tree," then Teyvat would likely be destroyed.
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