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

"You probably understand what happened next."

Su Qing'an understood, of course, that an unexpected incident had occurred that surprised everyone.

His parents are dead.

Himeko remained silent, looking at the boy's face with sorrow and anger in her eyes, like a volcano accumulating pressure, ready to erupt at any moment.

"Do you know how dangerous this is?" she demanded.

"The enemy on the other side is a pseudo-Herrscher, a far more dangerous enemy than the Emperor-class Honkai Beast Ganesha. As you know, it is an enemy that you cannot deal with yourself."

Himeko's words grew increasingly heavy and agitated; with just one accident, she would never see this boy again.

"Run away! Why don't you run away! Just like you did when you faced Ganesha last time!" The woman's anger was uncontrollable, and her tone began to become increasingly fierce.

When I saw the boy's pale face.

When I saw that his body was covered with indelible scars.

Imagine him covered in blood after the battle.

No one could understand Himeko Murata's feelings.

"Why! Why did you rush up there!?"

"Do you know what? You might end up like your parents this time! Suddenly, without my knowledge..." The woman didn't finish her sentence. She suddenly hugged the thin boy, her voice already choked with sobs.

Himeko Murata is very strong.

She was the kind of woman who could maintain composure even when facing imminent defeat on the battlefield.

She spoke those words in her own ear, as if she were about to cry.

It's like they're terrified of losing me.

Am I important to Himeko?

He felt bewildered, like when you first play a game and control the protagonist to fight monsters until your health bar is empty, only to realize how outrageously difficult the game is.

Su Qing'an knew that he was like family to Ji Zi.

But it wasn't until the woman embraced him that he felt a real sense of her presence.

Red strands of hair fell over her shoulders, and the woman's soft body and the faint scent of perfume mixed with tobacco pierced her heart, leaving Su Qing'an momentarily at a loss.

His heart was overwhelmed by something irresistible. After a moment of stunned silence, he carefully placed his hand on the woman's back.

Those hands, which had gripped the sword tightly even in the final moments of battle, were now being handled with the care of someone touching a piece of porcelain that was about to shatter.

Compared to his determination when he cut through obstacles, Su Qing'an was so indecisive at this moment.

"I'm sorry." He didn't dare look at the woman's expression, stiffly holding Ji Zi, Su Qing'an said softly.

It was like a child who had made a mistake obediently asking for forgiveness from their family, with a serious and sincere attitude.

After a while, Himeko loosened her embrace, took a few deep breaths, and composed herself.

The brief but warm embrace came to an end.

"Smack." She reached out and flicked the boy's forehead hard, ignoring his bewildered expression, and said:

"You can't do that again next time. There are still many people in this world who care about you," she said, gently stroking the boy's hair, which was inexplicably dry.

The woman's words of advice made him feel a long-lost sense of warmth and comfort.

"Kiana came to see you before you woke up." Himeko stood up, walked to the window, and pulled back the curtain that blocked out the outside world. Sunlight streamed in, its golden hue shining on the white sheets.

She turned her head and smiled. Bathed in the sunlight streaming through the window and the clear sky, the red-haired woman exuded a unique charm. She said earnestly:

"But you did a great job."

"Your persistence and hard work have not been in vain."

"Congratulations, little guy, you have successfully awakened her human consciousness, which has now become a pseudo-Herrscher."

“Yuno Sato, that child will be attending St. Freya Academy with you.”

"Although it's reckless, given my position, I can only applaud you."

"Su Qing'an, you have created a miracle."

Ji Zi hugged the stunned Su Qing'an again, and whispered in his ear, "I was worried about you, but I was also proud of you. You are excellent."

What kind of feeling is that, a boy who has crossed several life-threatening situations and experienced death twice without ever giving up?

At this moment, I couldn't help but want to cry.

He silently hugged Himeko tightly, but dared not speak.

He always thought he was strong and mature enough to do what he wanted to do and to keep his promises even in death. Even when he died for the first time, he planned to play a piano piece as funeral music with a blank expression. He thought, how could he possibly shed tears?

He wouldn't do that kind of thing since he was in elementary school.

Even when he was pinned to the ground and beaten by a few thugs from junior high, he would come back one by one and break their legs without batting an eye.

He's just that kind of stubborn person.

Even with the excruciating pain of transplanting the Holy Mark, which was like being in purgatory, he never felt the urge to shed a tear.

But now he realizes that even the most stubborn people can shed tears, like right now.

Finally, things are back to normal.

This is quite a rare sight.

Himeko stroked the boy's head with a gentle smile.

Your future is long, and I will try my best not to fall down until then, little one.

Even a seemingly endless calamity like Honkai will one day be broken by humanity.

To protect this beautiful world, and to keep the danger of collapse away from this boy, she will not stop fighting.

Himeko Murata thought to herself.

2. Sato Yuno's personal opinion

The principal's office.

Sato Yuno sat upright. Her original school uniform from Chiba Academy had been torn to shreds in the battle, and she was now wearing the St. Freya Academy uniform given to her by Theresa.

"Could you... plant a bomb in my heart?" After a brief moment of looking at each other in bewilderment, Sato Yuno began with this question.

"It's true that I've taken control of the pseudo-Herrscher's power, and I can also feel that my connection with a certain being has indeed been severed." She said this calmly and steadily.

"However, neither you nor I can guarantee that I will not turn into that kind of monster again, or that I can retain some humanity like this time and eventually recover."

Sato Yuno's words were clear and indifferent, as if she were talking about something unrelated to herself, creating a strange sense of disconnect.

"So if you want to enroll in St. Freya Academy, this guarantee should be basic."

"...Besides that, what is your reason?" Theresa was almost speechless. This was indeed a necessary measure. As the headmistress, she was responsible for the safety of the students, so she could only ask such a question.

She didn't say anything childish like "you don't have to join St. Freya Academy." As a pseudo-Herrscher, even though her body was controlled by a human consciousness, it was impossible for Sato Yuno to live a peaceful life.

Rather, in such a situation, a fate worse than death is possible.

St. Freya Academy was the only choice she could make, and also the best choice.

"I want revenge. This Honkai was not caused by nature. Even if the Honkai itself contributed to it, the artificial Honkai was the cause of the destruction of Changkong City. This is the real reason why my parents died."

She stared at Theresa, her composure shattered, replaced by a restrained yet raging fury in the girl's eyes. She spoke each word with unwavering resolve:

"If this artificial collapse really exists, then there must be an organization or an individual behind it."

"I will kill her with my own hands."

The shackles of hatred cannot be broken. They can be suppressed and hidden, but they will never disappear. The flames of hatred draw everything from Sato Yuno herself, as long as the beauty of the memories remains, as long as the sadness and pain have not been extinguished, and as long as the gentle smiles of her parents have not been forgotten.

Sato Yuno's murderous intent will not cease.

She must become powerful, far more powerful than the power bestowed upon her by the Honkai.

Only in this way will she not lose it again.

The so-called gods are nothing but liars. Even after using His power, Sato Yuno almost lost Su Qing'an.

Too weak, too weak, too weak.

Even with the power of a pseudo-Herrscher, she was still too weak.

Only at St. Freya Academy could she learn about the Honkai, find a special haven to escape her own fate, and have the possibility of becoming stronger.

Sorrow and hatred drove the girl to the brink of despair, as if countless dead souls were pushing her forward.

The illusions of friends and parents whisper in my ear: revenge.

So Sato Yuno sought revenge.

The girl cannot stop until she has completed her revenge, because once she stops, she will be overwhelmed by grief.

Determined to become stronger, Sato Yuno refused to shed tears again.

"Before you officially enroll, I will plant a bomb in your heart. As long as the concentration of Honkai energy in your heart exceeds the limit, I will have the authority to detonate this bomb."

"This is also to prevent you from using your powers too often. Your identity is still quite sensitive. First, learn how to fight like a Valkyrie."

Theresa walked over to the girl, patted her head, breaking the serious atmosphere in the office. The girl's petite frame made her seem like a child whining to her older sister, but Theresa said seriously:

"After graduation, you can do whatever you want, but until then, just be my dear student."

"I've already spoken to Major Himeko about your situation. She's like an older sister to Su Qing'an. Given that relationship, you shouldn't reject her, right?"

"Like you, Raiden Mei and Kiana were originally two girls from Chiba Academy. They are currently living at Major Himeko's house. Living with them wouldn't be a bad thing for you, would it?"

Nodding silently, Sato Yuno felt somewhat bewildered by Theresa's gentleness.

Shouldn't he be even more sarcastic and fierce?

When I was fully in my pseudo-Herrscher form, I almost killed her.

Such a broad mind and kind tolerance, isn't that just like being an idiot, Headmaster?

But that's also a kind of power.

Yuno Sato understood Theresa's strength and felt a strong sense of identification with her.