Regarding the question of whether one thousand lives are enough to beat Honkai Impact 3rd.

This was undoubtedly a crazy act that risked her life, but this girl, who used to gently pet stray cats in front of coffee shops and show a simple smile, did it without hesitation at this moment.

Sato Yuno is different from before; she still fears death.

But compared to death, Yuno Sato had something even more frightening.

"Cough cough cough... If I had to kill him, I'd rather die."

Sato Yuno gasped for breath, her throat scratched by the overflowing Honkai energy. She coughed up a lot of blood clots, but her grip on the spear remained unwavering.

She stood tall, as if unwilling to appear weak, the spear in her hand pointing at the priestess. Her indifferent stance, covered in blood, was both resilient and tragically beautiful.

"Tsk, human consciousness has returned? Then haven't I just made things worse?" the priestess said with a troubled expression. Suddenly, as if she had thought of something, a happy smile appeared on her face, just like a child seeing a fun toy.

"Yuno Sato, I learned something interesting from that human's memories. I don't know the specifics, but I do know who's most important to him." The shrine maiden spoke with a seductive tone, like a devil leading humanity into hell:

"Ah, fine, let me show you."

A wisp of black mist shot out from Su Qing'an's forehead and entered Sato Yuno's body.

The priestess used the power of corruption very well, and through corruption of Sato Yuno, she showed her a scene.

It was a girl sleeping peacefully under the moonlight amidst the heavy rain.

During that time, the boy seemed to stare at her for a very long time, his eyes never leaving the girl's face.

"It's so beautiful," Yuno Sato sighed.

She was a stranger to him; Sato Yuno knew nothing about Su Qing'an's past.

Is this the person he likes?

The image disappeared, and Sato Yuno was briefly dazed.

The shrine maiden seemed to be anticipating the girl's reaction. She carefully observed the girl's expression, only to see a dazed look followed by a calm indifference.

Sato Yuno did waver; the erosion of her broken consciousness retaliated again at that moment, but that was all.

Who Su Qing'an likes has nothing to do with how I consider him important.

The consciousness of the collapse was severed.

Sato Yuno's resolve will not waver this time.

Did Sato Yuno harbor any feelings of affection for that boy?

She herself didn't understand this.

She did feel lost and wavered because she realized that she was not the most important person to Su Qing'an.

That's all. She hated thinking about such complicated things. For her, it was enough that the boy was here. All she could think about was drinking coffee made by Su Qing'an and chatting with him.

The shrine maiden views human emotions as far too complicated; both Sato Yuno and Su Qing'an are essentially pure human beings.

After this failed counterattack, the Honkai consciousness and her connection were completely severed.

A pseudo-Herrscher possessing human consciousness was born here.

At this moment, Sato Yuno, who was posing as a Herrscher, looked at the shrine maiden who seemed to be a Herrscher with murderous intent, and the power of her authority was accumulating and brewing within her body.

The priestess's interested expression seemed to turn into a dull indifference due to the girl's unexpected reaction, and she said:

"What a nuisance. If it's a toy that's not fun, we might as well just kill it."

She drew the sword from her waist. During the five hundred years she had been entangled with that nemesis, she had also learned most of his swordsmanship.

Killing Sato Yuno was not difficult for her; she didn't even need to use her powers. Her swordsmanship and overwhelming Honkai energy were enough.

62. The Final Death

Theresa regained consciousness and her will returned. The poison from the white flower finally disappeared when Sato Yuno fell into a near-death state after pulling the chains a second time, and stopped being released.

The toxins remained in her bloodstream, but after the situation worsened, the powerful natural healing abilities granted by the Emperor-level Honkai Beast Vishnu began to halt her descent into death, and she regained the strength to move, albeit barely.

Sato Yuno? Theresa sighed as she barely opened her eyes and looked at the unexpected scene before her.

Compared to the existence of the second suspected Herrscher, the scene of the girl breaking free from the Honkai will surprised her even more.

Today's experience was truly absurd and fantastical. Is the power of so-called emotions really enough to reach such a level?

However, I'm not qualified to say that.

In Theresa's view, Sato Yuno's expressed will was worthy of Su Qing'an's insistence on returning to Chiba Academy.

A pseudo-Herrscher with human consciousness, huh? That's quite unexpected. I'm actually starting to feel lucky that I didn't manage to kill her.

In Hunt mode, Judas had already returned to his original size when Theresa was poisoned, and now she struggles to stand up, leaning against the cross.

The shrine maiden drew her sword, her body empowered by Honkai energy. In that instant, she unleashed countless sword strikes with a speed and force beyond the reach of human retinas.

Fine, rain-like blade energy attacked Sato Yuno from all directions, the suppressed and condensed Honkai energy within the blade energy unstablely cutting through the air, like the sound of tearing paper suddenly exploding.

Based on Theresa's understanding of her powers from previous battles, she judged that Sato Yuno would not be able to withstand this attack.

Moreover, Su Qing'an, along with those she needed to protect, was also within the hunting range of the sword energy.

Theresa took action to address this.

The chains from the outside world returned and the soul steel within the Key of Binding reunited. Under her will, Judah unfolded once more, and several new chains and spears of light shot out.

The blade energy was shattered by the light spear and chains.

The excess, scattered blade energy severed the large pile of ruins, clearing the surrounding view and creating an eerie emptiness when viewed from above.

Amidst the deafening roar, smoke and dust scattered in all directions.

Both looked at the little girl who had been ignored all along; her pristine nun's habit was stained with blood and dust, and the lace on her skirt was torn.

Theresa could barely stand by leaning on the cross, and the hollow in her shoulder almost revealed her bare bones.

She looked utterly disheveled, yet the girl's azure eyes gazed firmly at the priestess, as gentle and powerful as the ocean.

To Theresa, Sato Yuno, who has regained her human consciousness and has not yet committed any evil deeds, is just a somewhat special victim of the collapse of Changkong City.

She would stake the name of Theresa Apocalypse on the fact that she would not allow Sato Yuno to be harmed by the Honkai.

Even though her body had only just escaped a near-death state due to her battle with Sato Yuno, Theresa was willing to fight.

"...Cough cough...Herrscher...Fight me first." Breathing was still difficult; it felt as if a bottle of life-giving water had been poured into his lungs and chest cavity, excessively hot and piercing his nerves.

She coughed, wiping the blood from the corner of her lips with her sleeve, her hoarse voice soft yet resolute.

That scene was exactly the same as that of the noble nun who was like a knight five hundred years ago.

Pure white hair, azure eyes, a similar face, and that familiar, enormous cross.

Finally, there was that unwavering will that, even in its severe injuries, would not allow the Honkai to harm humanity.

[It looks like Karen.]

A confused murmur gently echoed in my mind.

The priestess screamed in agony, clutching her head. The fox shadow behind her howled in agony, its black form shifting erratically. Red Honkai energy uncontrollably pressed into the ground as she roared in defiance:

"Yae Sakura! Five hundred years! Five hundred years have passed! You still can't forget her?"

"Don't be ridiculous, that person definitely betrayed you a long time ago. This nun in front of you might be her offspring!"

No, that's Karen.

"Even if Kallen Kaslana didn't betray you, so what! With a human lifespan, she would have died long ago! In this world, the only one who can accompany you through the long years is me! Only me! Do you understand, Yae Sakura!"

Higokumaru growled through gritted teeth.

Why? Why is it that even after five hundred years of torment, the priestess's will remains so steadfast?

It's hard to understand the Herrscher's personality and consciousness, but why has the source of the emotions and will that have supported Yae Sakura until now never dried up?

Hishimaru's will was easily suppressed by the awakened Yae Sakura. This priestess, who once devoutly served the gods but met a tragic end, finally set foot on the earth after five hundred years.

"I miss it so much." Yae Sakura breathed in the air and suddenly laughed as she looked at the white-haired girl who was struggling to stand under the azure sky.

It was a gentle smile that stunned Theresa. Although the witch's appearance had not changed at all, and even the fox ears on her head were still there, her temperament had undergone a complete transformation.

Just like the cool mountain spring water has a warm temperature under the sun, Yae Sakura walked up to Theresa and stroked her face.

"It really looks like her." Yae Sakura smiled, as if she were seeing someone she missed the most.

If only I could see that person again.

It will only take one time.

"I'm sorry, did I scare you?" The witch stroked Theresa's head, a hint of apology in her expression.

“No…no…” Theresa replied blankly.

Why? When the shrine maiden smiled, her mind went blank, but the warm hand on her head brought back memories.

An old friend.

Cecilia. In the priestess's smile, she felt the same gentleness as Cecilia.

"May I ask you something? Do you know Kallen Kaslana?" Yae Sakura asked.

“Kallen Kaslana? That’s the strongest Valkyrie from Schicksal five hundred years ago.” Theresa certainly knew that name; Kallen’s history was an indelible page in Schicksal’s textbooks.

"How is she?" the shrine maiden in front of him asked cautiously.

Theresa understood. Kallen Kaslana must be an extremely important person to the priestess. She couldn't lie to her. The priestess herself didn't need to answer with lies. She had a strong will that could suppress beings like demons. Theresa's pity was a form of disrespect.

Then she began to recount: "In 1477, the severely injured Kallen Kaslana was taken back by Schicksal. When questioned by the council, Kallen claimed that Yae Sakura was innocent and said that she had fallen in love with her."

"This statement made everyone on the council think she was crazy, and they ultimately sentenced Karen to death by hanging for violating taboos."

"On the day of the execution, the Honkai Beasts that escaped from the prison for some unknown reason caused chaos at the execution ground and destroyed the gallows that had been prepared in advance."

"When everyone thought Kallen would take the opportunity to escape, she dragged her weakened body and stood in front of the raging Honkai Beast. In the end, while rescuing civilians, the weakened Kallen Kaslana was killed by the Honkai Beast." The ending was one she had long anticipated.

"Did she fall in love with Yae Sakura and get killed by a Honkai Beast on her way to save the people?" The shrine maiden smiled, a smile so beautiful it was heartbreaking, yet she seemed both happy and relieved.

"What an idiot, Karen," she muttered, seemingly in dissatisfaction.

For the knightly, noble, and powerful Kallen Kaslana, this death was by no means a peaceful one.

But it doesn't seem too bad.

Even if you kept your promise.