"Indeed, when one gets older, seeing a familiar face can't help but bring back memories. She really does resemble her. If she were a bit more mature, she'd be almost identical to Kallen."
Xin Yu looked at the unconscious Theresa lying on the ground. After deleting all the spores and toxins within her body through a method of twisting reality, he turned to face the corpse controlled by plants.
Its physical body had indeed perished, but the substantial remnant Honkai energy, though unable to form a complete Herrscher core, had still brought about certain fundamental changes.
Moreover, the authority it wielded was related to life. Even though it had been killed by a piercing blow to a vital spot, precisely because there was no complete core, thoroughly eliminating it required destroying most of its physical body. Otherwise, the life-related authority, operating on instinct, would forcibly control this body to continue "living."
It was merely a purely living body; its spirit and will had already died. It could be called a true walking corpse in every sense of the word.
"Rest in peace."
The surging tide of plants rushing towards Xin Yu instantly halted. Then, those plants transformed into green grass, into leaves, into a sky full of dancing flower petals.
The walking corpse showed no astonishment at this bizarre yet splendid scene. It was merely a corpse acting on instinct, devoid of any emotion.
But when this corpse tried to continue manipulating its abilities to create new plants for an attack, it discovered that all the surrounding Honkai energy had vanished, and the Honkai energy within its own body had fallen into a dead silence.
Because of this, the corpse fell directly from mid-air. The vine-like tendrils growing from its body also stopped waving and became slender. They formed a bed, catching the falling girl.
Xin Yu walked to the edge of the bed formed by the vines, looking at the girl lying upon it, as if in a deep sleep.
"May you have sweet dreams."
The girl's corpse suddenly transformed, one after another, into white butterflies flapping their wings. These butterflies flew towards the distance, eventually vanishing into the sky.
Xin Yu returned to Theresa's side, picked up the still-sleeping Theresa in a princess carry, and left the area with her.
Onboard the Hyperion, everyone was initially not too concerned, watching the changes within Senba Academy through the battleship's long-range cameras.
They hadn't seen what happened inside, but through the aerial surveillance, they had witnessed the earlier scene where Theresa unleashed the Oath of Judah, killing the Pseudo-Herrscher with a single spear of light.
"As expected of the Principal. Even after so many years without taking action, she can still easily defeat a Pseudo-Herrscher."
Hearing these remarks, Kiana let out a sigh of relief. It seemed she had indeed been a bit too sensitive; no accidents would occur. Right, after all, no matter what, her great-aunt was once Schicksal's S-rank Valkyrie. How could she possibly stumble here?
But just as everyone had completely relaxed, they suddenly saw the corpse on the screen stand up, and a large number of plant tendrils surged from its body.
In the end, everyone witnessed firsthand how Theresa stumbled.
The situation had taken a sharp downturn.
"Theresa!"
Watching Theresa on the screen about to be engulfed by the swarming thorns, Murata Himeko, who had been somewhat drowsy and tipsy, suddenly cried out in alarm. Her face was pale, all traces of her previous lethargy gone.
And at this moment, everyone also witnessed the appearance of a mysterious young man.
"Xin Yu!" Kiana, Raiden Mei, and Bronya exclaimed in disbelief, looking at the suddenly appearing young man. This person, who should have been dead, had appeared once more.
"This... this is the mysterious young man who defeated the Herrscher of Thunder?"
Looking at Xin Yu on the screen defeating the Pseudo-Herrscher in an exceedingly beautiful manner, Murata Himeko turned her head to look at the three girls who were just as dumbfounded as she was.
"It should... be him, right?"
Kiana was a little unsure now. After all, his hair color was completely different, and he felt very different too.
"Whether it is or not, the priority is to find him and the Principal immediately! Prepare my Valkyrie battlesuit and landing craft at once!"
"Yes, Captain!"
Hearing Murata Himeko's command, the previously relaxed crew immediately tensed up, and everyone began to bustle about.
"Major Himeko! Let us go with you. We are familiar with the terrain of Longkong City, and if that young man really is Xin Yu, we'll be better able to communicate with him."
Raiden Mei made the suggestion. After a moment of contemplation with her head lowered, Murata Himeko agreed to Raiden Mei's request. After all, these three couldn't be considered complete rookies; they had all faced Honkai directly and experienced combat before.
...
Xin Yu carried Theresa to a residential building near the school. After finding a relatively clean apartment, he settled in.
Theresa lay flat on the bed. Whether it was the effect of the toxin or some other reason, Theresa was currently still asleep, and sleeping very soundly at that.
Xin Yu sat silently to the side, placing the long sword upon his knees. He closed his eyes and engaged in a spiritual communion with the blade. This was a method of meditation and cultivation that Xin Yu had figured out for himself over the past two hundred years.
"Mmm~ That was a good sleep!"
Theresa woke from her slumber, sat up, stretched lazily, and yawned. Only then did she begin to survey her surroundings. Realizing she was in a completely unfamiliar room, her initially dazed eyes instantly cleared, and memories of the past surged forth, reminding her of what had happened earlier.
"You saved me?"
Theresa turned her head and saw the young man sitting to the side, a long sword resting on his knees.
"I happened to be nearby and heard the commotion at Senba Academy. When I rushed over, I stumbled upon the scene. It was just a matter of acting as the situation dictated."
Xin Yu opened his eyes, a gentle smile on his face as he spoke.
"Thank you. Wait! You dealt with that Pseudo-Herrscher by yourself?"
"To be precise, the Pseudo-Herrscher you mentioned had already been killed by you. What I dealt with was merely the struggling instinct remaining in that corpse."
"...In any case, you saved my life, that much is true. My name is Theresa Apocalypse, Principal of St. Freya Academy, Schicksal's Far East Branch."
"My name is Xin Yu... a traveler currently wandering around."
"Xin Yu! Do you know Kiana and the others?"
"Hmm? Yes, you could say we're friends. Why do you ask?"
Theresa looked at the somewhat perplexed young man. Didn't her niece say he was already dead? How was he alive again now?