Watching the next scene.
The onlookers outside could not believe their eyes. It was like a bolt from the blue, or like having a bucket of cold water poured over them from head to toe, leaving their entire bodies numb.
Why would something like this happen?
Why would they treat Rin like this?
The smell of blood permeated the air, like the filth under a collapsing, decaying world.
The sight before them shocked their brains, leaving a deep imprint in the depths of their consciousness.
Hope turned to despair, and the world before them went dark.
Sakura knelt on the ground, the light gone from her eyes, filled with complete despair.
Seele also rushed in at this time. Looking at the scene before her, she was instantly shocked.
"She, she..."
Seele covered her mouth, trying hard not to let the second half of her sentence out.
But her trembling voice still leaked through her fingers.
Rin lay lifeless on the ground, blood seeping from her broken body.
On the cold floor, the faint light of the lamps reflected off Rin's corpse.
Her eyes held no hope, nor the purity and beauty from that photograph.
A dead silence. One could vaguely see from the traces of struggling and blood spray how unwilling she was to die.
Eyes full of despair, just like Sakura's eyes at this moment, seemed to be questioning Sakura over and over again.
Why didn't you come sooner?
She was clearly only a little bit away.
Just a little bit more, and she could have been saved.
Then, they could have gone out together to see the cherry blossoms falling all over the sky, to see that pink sea of flowers.
Seele trembled: "How could this happen... who did this?"
The shocking scars seemed to tell of the girl's despair in her final moments.
It was impossible to imagine what kind of person would commit such a demonic act.
But even if they knew who it was, it was already meaningless.
In the space, only bottomless malice remained, making one feel cold from the depths of their heart... Outside.
Yae Sakura's ears roared, her cheeks turned as pale as paper, and the twitching of her heart made her spirit unstable.
Reliving it over and over again, in these five hundred years, within the Stigmata Space, Yae Sakura had repeated that painful memory time and again.
Rin's death, her own weakness, the God's curse... every existence she once hated turned into thorns, stabbing deeply into her heart.
She had finally waited for Rin to be reborn and had temporarily forgotten that bottomless memory.
But Rin's death and the hollow-eyed Sakura once again reminded Yae Sakura of that memory.
That village without light, those ignorant and stubborn villagers.
From the moment she was born, her bloodline destined her to become the Shrine Maiden who protected this village.
Under the earnest gazes of her clansmen and the reverent eyes of the villagers, the Shrine Maiden grew up complying with everyone's expectations.
And her sense of self was gradually eroded away by the "responsibility of a Shrine Maiden."
And what about Sakura?
As a member of the Flame-Chasers, she also bore many responsibilities she didn't want to carry.
Until the very end—she lost her beloved.
Just like Yae Sakura!
She clearly said she would protect that person, yet she broke her promise repeatedly!
At this moment, Yae Sakura suddenly heard a weak voice in her ear.
"Sister, Sister, is Rin just... dead like that?" Rin asked uneasily.
"..."
Yae Sakura wanted so much to deny it, but looking at Rin's corpse, she could only nod with difficulty.
"She is dead..."
Without asking again, Rin seemed to understand how heavy the atmosphere was at this moment.
Her sister was struggling in the center of a whirlpool.
Thinking of this, Rin reached out and held Yae Sakura's finger.
Sensing the warmth in her palm, Yae Sakura leaned down to comfort her: "Rin... Sister is fine, just a little... disappointed."
Besides these two, the rest of the group also found it hard to believe.
Why kill Rin? Just because she was a Herrscher?
Such a young girl, still in the budding stage of life. She clearly could have had a better life, could have seen the rising sun, bearing hope and tomorrow.
And Sakura was also caring for her every moment; the two sisters were as close as hands and feet.
But just like that, Rin was cruelly killed.
Malice flowed from her heart. Kiana's anger was already uncontrollable, her body trembling with rage: "Who exactly was it? Why be so cruel to a child? She just wanted to see the cherry blossoms with her sister!"
"She just wanted to live!"
"What did she do wrong?!!!"
Her roaring voice created a deep echo in the silent space.
Among those present, many were Herrschers.
And some might become Herrschers in the future.
Although Herrschers were called the Apostles of Honkai, it wasn't necessarily so.
For example, the Herrscher of Reason, Welt, was wholeheartedly on the side of humanity, fighting against Honkai and doing many good things for mankind.
Does it necessarily mean that Herrschers must destroy humanity?
Isn't it the repeated malice in the hearts of humans that caused these tragedies to happen?
A golden light flashed in Kiana's eyes; the Herrscher of the Void was also watching all of this.
Her past was the same; it was because of human malice that Sirin was killed, which gave birth to her.
It could be said that, more than anyone present, the Herrscher of the Void could understand Rin's feelings. "She just wanted to live, yet it was so difficult…"
"This rotten world, this ugly world, why save it?!"
"Might as well just destroy it!!!"
Kiana's furious words resonated with many of those present, who nodded in agreement.
Seeing the situation deviate in an unpredictable direction, Theresa quickly stopped Kiana: "Kiana, calm down first. Maybe there'll be another reason later. Let's watch and see."
"Perhaps the Flame-Chasers were forced… Although, although such a thing is something no one wants to see, as long as we find the mastermind, we can definitely get revenge for Rin. Kiana, calm down first."
Theresa tried to persuade her with dry, halting words, cold sweat dripping down her forehead.
Right now, she could be said to be standing right in the middle of the scales between humanity and Honkai.
If this matter wasn't handled well, the Herrschers on humanity's side might lean towards the embrace of Honkai.
At that point, it wouldn't be as simple as comforting a few injured girls.
It would be the destruction of all humanity!
With so many Herrschers, if they got angry, let alone the Far East Branch, even Schicksal would be finished!
When they invaded that day, Durandal was dumbfounded to see a few Herrschers.
Forget resisting, it would be good enough to get hit a few times less.
Seeing this scene, Tesla also instantly broke out in a cold sweat.
Dr. Tesla, who had always prided herself as the world's number one genius, was usually full of arrogance.
But suddenly looking back, she realized that the people she usually chatted and joked with, who were always messing around, were actually all Herrschers?
If it wasn't handled well, it would be a crisis for all humanity!
What was Anti-Entropy? This generation was going to be annihilated!
If these young ladies threw a tantrum, everyone would be finished!
In an instant, she put down her pride as a genius doctor and humbly pleaded, "Kiana, and Mei, Bronya… and Yae Sakura, Rozaliya, please calm down. How about, how about—"
After talking for a long time, Tesla didn't know how to continue.
How about what?
What could she say to satisfy these grandmas?
Suddenly catching sight of Fu Hua's calm eyes, Tesla had a flash of inspiration and shouted, "How about we let Class Monitor Fu Hua comment on it!"
What a great idea! Fu Hua was their strategist!
She was the most stable and calm, and would definitely not be consumed by anger!
Hearing Tesla's words, everyone's gazes turned to Fu Hua.
Since she was a Flame-Chaser warrior, they would listen to what she had to say.
However, Fu Hua's words were beyond Tesla's expectation.
She first shook her head, looked up at everyone, then glanced at the screen again. Lin's tragic image floated in Fu Hua's eyes, and finally, she nodded, as if she had made up her mind about something.
"Since that's the case, you're right. This world, it might as well not exist."
Tesla: "???"
Are you kidding me?
This was the Flame-Chasers' strategist, the strategist herself?
Kiana agreed, saying, "As expected, Class Monitor understands me. If I were in there right now, I'd wish I could directly transform into the Final Herrscher and blow this ugly world to smithereens!"
"Kiana, while that's true, there are still many good people, like Sakura… You can blow up most of it, but leave some people."
Mei added.
"Eh~ Mei is right, then I'll just blow up half of it!"
Seeing them make such a strange vow, Tesla shouted, "Don't decide the fate of humanity so childishly!"
"Actually… that world, it was already beyond saving."
At this moment, Fu Hua sighed and said seriously.
"It was the Flame-Chasers who dragged the shattered world forward, step by step, even though it was already riddled with holes."
"Kiana's words enlightened me. The previous generation is beyond saving. Perhaps death by Herrscher destruction is a kind of blessing."
She was lost in thought, as if her soul had drifted to that war-torn era.
Everyone else also felt a moment of trance, watching the scene change.
Tap, tap… footsteps grew closer and closer, and the monster lurking in the shadows slowly walked towards the two of them.
"Rin…"
"If."
"If I could have been faster."
Sakura stared blankly at the blood on the ground, repeating these few sentences.
Even though Seele was shouting in her ear about the approaching Death Soldiers, Sakura heard nothing.
But suddenly, crimson flames swept over, turning the Death Soldiers to ashes, scattering them in the air.
In the center of the flames, a white-haired man stood tall.
Kevin's gaze swept over Seele, making her feel afraid.
He softly called out to Sakura, but received no reply.
The girl, as if with her deceased sister, had fallen into some unseen abyss.
He had expected her to be surprised, confused, angry, or wailing, imagining countless possibilities.
But now, Sakura just sat there silently, unwilling to awaken no matter how others called out to her.
It seemed the volcano dormant beneath the abyss had extinguished.
But those outside knew.
With just a slight touch, this volcano, pushed to the brink of despair, would erupt with a terrifying red glow!
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