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

Theresa's fair face turned pink.

"I was caught after all. I shouldn't be lazy next time," the headmaster thought to herself for a while.

Those heavy topics were broken by the woman's last, casual remark; Nishikujo Sara had always been like that.

She is not easily saddened, and she hates seeing others sad.

The wind lifted the hem of her white coat, and Nishikujo Sara smiled as she looked at the handsome young man walking towards her.

55. The only thing you can step over is my dead body.

Sato Yuno went on a mission three days ago; she applied for it herself and the headmaster.

In this mission, she requested that the constraints on her powers not be lifted.

If she continued to rely on the innate power of the pseudo-Herrscher, she would find it difficult to comprehend the Valkyrie combat methods she learned later in life, which is why she made this choice.

If she could possess the combat power of an A-rank Valkyrie without using her powers, Sato Yuno would definitely be stronger than she is now.

With a determination to hone herself and accelerate her path to becoming stronger, Sato Yuno convinced Theresa with this resolve.

Just yesterday, Fu Hua also received a mission.

As Su Qing'an stepped out of the virtual pod, she saw the girl's slightly furrowed brows after finishing the call; she seemed somewhat displeased.

"Is something the matter?" Su Qing'an asked with concern.

“Yes, on a mission,” she said.

"When will you be back?" he asked.

Fu Hua considered it for a moment and gave her answer:

"This isn't a very long mission, but it will still take two or three days."

"I'll be leaving in an hour. Su Qing'an, you should rest for a while."

“…I will.” The boy’s gaze was somewhat unfocused as he said this.

As expected, he is still the same as before, hating and not good at lying.

"Su Qing'an, bend down a little," she said with a smile.

The boy looked confused but obediently did as he was told.

Then, a gentle chop to the head struck him.

The girl smiled lightly and cheerfully, a rare expression of joy on her face.

She smiled, playfully ruffling the boy's soft hair with her hand, and said:

"You'll do whatever I say? You're such an idiot."

"And if you're not good at lying, just nod honestly from now on."

"Just rest when I tell you to. I've told you many times to balance work and rest. There's no use in being anxious. Martial arts requires diligent practice, but also a balance between work and rest."

Then the girl handed Su Qing'an a card and said:

"This is the device's access card. Return it to Principal Theresa tomorrow. Don't ask her for access yourself. We'll talk about training when I get back. In the meantime, you should get some rest."

The girl's expression softened abruptly, and Su Qing'an couldn't describe the feeling he had at that moment. Even the warmth of her fingertips lingering in his hair was unforgettable.

Such a change is not an overly stunning phenomenon like glaciers melting and spring flowers blooming.

It was natural, just her true self.

Fu Hua said:

"You've already tried your best."

So, get some rest.

"You've surprised me a lot during this time, and it's made me start to have some expectations for you."

"So from this moment on, Su Qing'an, I can assure you that your efforts will not be in vain."

"You might actually be able to learn Thousand Stars."

After speaking.

The girl couldn't help but touch the boy's smooth hair again.

It feels really good.

She seemed to understand why Himeko always liked to pat his head.

Fu Hua then waved and turned to leave.

Su Qing'an stood there, clutching the card in her hand.

He stared blankly at her slender figure gradually disappearing from his sight, his earlobes turning slightly red.

Let's move on to the present.

Su Qing'an greeted the woman walking towards him politely.

Good morning, Nishikujo-sensei.

Nishikujo Sara said with a smile:

"You're here to see the headmistress, right? She seems to be free right now, so you can just go in."

"I have to go now, see you later."

She patted Su Qing'an's head under his speechless gaze, said nothing more, and left.

Although Nishikujo Sara said to just go in, Su Qing'an still politely knocked on the door.

"Dong dong dong."

-----------------

Theresa was forced to understand a little.

An unusual condition has developed in the body.

An unprecedented heat and pain erupted in a moment, twisting and mixing with the girl's will and mind.

Numerous hallucinations appeared before my eyes, obscuring the reality.

"Ah ah ah ah ah!"

She gritted her teeth, and an uncontrollable roar escaped from her throat.

The girl was holding firm to her will; her brief loss of control had caused her to easily smash the desk with superhuman strength, sending documents and other items flying everywhere.

Now she had regained her composure, clasped her hands together, and held her head in her arms.

The fingernails left bloody scratches on the skin.

That day, Theresa's unease was finally answered.

She realized something.

That means the witch didn't die, and the monster on her body didn't exist either.

Yae Sakura wanted to save her, so she paid a price by transferring herself into Theresa's body to achieve this goal.

In the form of stigmata.

But at that moment, that gentleness was taken advantage of by that monster.

That fragment was one of the crystallizations of the monster's past power, which is why the research institute rioted that day. The black and red mist that came into contact with her body also became the reason for the complete awakening of the Holy Mark.

"Knock, knock, knock." That was the sound of Su Qing'an knocking on the door.

The girl struggled to lift her eyes and look towards the door.

Is it Shaluo? Or Su Qing'an?

No matter who it is, they must not allow this situation to continue.

That monster is trying to take over my body. If she succeeds, St. Freya Academy, which has lost its greatest fighting force, will be turned into a hell.

Currently, only two people in the academy possess A-rank combat power. Fu Hua and Sato Yuno are both on missions. Under these circumstances, Theresa's idea is not wishful thinking, but a very likely reality.

The girl's snow-white hair had been tinged with cherry blossom pink, a sign that her body was being eroded, yet she murmured earnestly, word by word:

"...I won't... let you hurt my lovely students..."

"Judas! Unfurl!"

Theresa gave the command, and the oath of Judah naturally had to be fulfilled in response to her expectations.

Countless golden chains completely bound the girl's petite body.

The Key of Restraint sealed off the flow of Honkai energy, and the intense heat within the body dissipated somewhat, but the torment and torture endured by the brain and will became even more severe.

If things continue like this, there is no doubt that I will be defeated.

Once one's consciousness is successfully eroded, Judas's bondage will be easily broken.

I've always been a half-baked person, both in terms of naiveté in my beliefs and my attitude towards students.

but……

But in such a situation, a half-baked decision won't do.

The monster is now so vulnerable that it has to possess her body in order to influence reality and survive.

In other words, they are equal only in this respect.

I'm not always that kind of half-baked person.

At this moment, Theresa abruptly disregarded her physical and mental suffering, and said with a smile and earnestness:

"In the name of Theresa Apocalypse, the only thing you can step over is my dead body."

His words were clear and unambiguous, spoken with absolute certainty.

At last.

The girl's eyes, now stained crimson, remained resolute, containing an unwavering determination.

She opened her mouth and said: