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Chapter 239 – Shattering Time and Space
🕑 Added 2025-08-09 15:00:13 +0000 UTC“You… what do you mean by that!?”
In a sudden burst of motion, Himeko darted right up to the white-haired boy, her words tinged with urgency and barely restrained excitement.
Her shoulders trembled, betraying the emotions roiling inside her.
Everyone else’s gaze snapped toward Kanami as well.
“If I couldn’t do anything, do you really think I’d just let everyone watch this? I would’ve smashed this singularity apart a long time ago!”
His tone carried that same smugness that usually made people want to punch him.
“This time-space projection is showing us events that are happening in another world.”
Turning toward the direction where Murata Himeko had disappeared, Kanami began to walk.
The others followed close behind.
“In other words, the worst hasn’t happened yet. If we can make a miracle happen before that point… we can change everything!”
As his words fell, the scenery before them shifted again, and the crimson figure reappeared.
With a single step, she crossed the boundary of worlds.
“Next, I’m going to completely shatter this already broken space-time down to its lowest layer.
Using the phenomenon of time-space projection, I’ll open a temporary passage between two worlds.”
He lifted a hand to halt their rising excitement, his expression turning grave.
“But even for me, using the berserk Herrscher of Domination’s Core to violently force two separate ‘leaves’ of the Imaginary Tree together can’t be sustained against the crushing force of time-space pressure.
That means… only one person can cross into that world.”
The boy extended a slender finger—pointing straight at Himeko.
Fortunately, this time Kanami’s fusion body included Sirin, the Herrscher of the Void, whose command over space made this possible at all.
If Nagami had fused with anyone else, their strength might still rival Kanami’s—but they would never be able to pull off this operation.
The Herrscher of the Void’s control over space in Kanami’s hands, compared to Sirin’s, was like the difference between a C4 explosive and a pistol round.
“And remember this,” he continued. “When my strength is about to run out—no matter the situation, and no matter whether you agree or not, I’ll pull you back from that world. Of course… if we’re lucky, it won’t come to that~”
That slash that killed the Herrscher of Domination hadn’t cost much—but reproducing a complete Herrscher Core’s full authority and forging that out-of-spec feather had drained him heavily.
Even Kanami didn’t know how much longer he could maintain his existence.
If he didn’t act now, when his power finally ran out, Himeko would be trapped in that world forever.
And even if by some miracle he appeared again, without the phenomenon of time-space projection, finding this exact ‘leaf’ in the endless sea of the Imaginary Tree’s multiversal branches would be impossible.
“…Got it.”
Himeko nodded solemnly, then clasped Fu Hua’s shoulder and gave her a playful wink.
“You’re not the only lucky one. If anything, I’d say I’m way luckier than you~”
Inwardly, she was already wondering if she should ambush Nagami when he returned—after all, missing a man like that might be something she’d regret for two lifetimes.
But the thought froze mid-form as Kanami shot her a glare cold enough to sink into her bones, like she’d been plunged into an eternal permafrost.
She had almost forgotten—Kanami could read mental waves, and he wasn’t just Nagami.
He also had Kiana’s and Sirin’s personalities inside him.
And judging by that glare, Kiana’s side had definitely taken the wheel.
With her mind quickly catching up, Himeko’s body stiffened like a rusted machine as she slowly turned her head away from him, whistling innocently while banishing all those dangerous thoughts from her mind.
Kanami didn’t press the matter further—but the “LSP side” of Nagami was nothing to underestimate, either.
Himeko’s crimson-armored figure flew toward the Hyperion.
Taking a deep breath, Kanami raised both hands.
His pale, slender palms looked fragile, but when his left hand curled into a loose grip, the Herrscher of Domination’s Core embedded deep in the foundation of space-time—trembled as though seized by an unseen force, emitting a harsh, piercing hum.
From the lowest layer of both worlds, two small orbs of faintly glowing light emerged—known by a familiar name: Dea Anchors.
…Or rather, very convincing counterfeits~
Linking the two anchors together pinned the two spaces to each other, if only temporarily.
Then, with his right hand forming a similar grip, Kanami reached into the imperceptible Imaginary Space.
An endless storm of energy gathered like a tidal wave, its explosive brilliance unfurling into a cosmic vista, as if entire constellations were burning before their eyes.
It was the majesty of a living galaxy.
That same force—capable of shattering a planet condensed into the boy’s outstretched palm, manifesting in reality as nothing more than a single spark of starlight.
The next instant, the star exploded.
In the real world, it was only a single beam of light striking the projection—but the space around it splashed together like ink in water, colors bleeding and swirling into chaos.
Then, like a mirror shattering, the space collapsed, cracks spiderwebbing outward until they formed a narrow, lightless tunnel—only wide enough for one person to pass.
Inside was nothing but darkness, as if it led straight into an endless abyss.
"And… one more thing."
With a solemn, almost grave expression, starlight flickered within Kanami’s emerald eyes as he gazed toward a point in space.
His voice carried a distinct note of exhaustion.
"The warrior we saw just now… Ji Lin, I wonder—would you be willing to lend her your strength?"
"What?!" x4
The moment the name Herrscher of Dominance was mentioned again, the surrounding Herrschers instinctively tensed, ready for battle.
But after a heartbeat, they relaxed.
Hadn’t Kanami himself just confirmed moments ago that the Herrscher of Dominance had already vanished?
Then… who exactly was speaking to him now?
Under Kanami’s power, golden motes of light began condensing from the void.
Slowly, a petite yet familiar—and at the same time unfamiliar figure appeared before them.
"Young warrior, thank you… for freeing me from a long, painful existence."
Floating in midair, Ji Lin bowed her head slightly, her voice sincere and full of gratitude.
"If this meager power of mine can help keep that blazing flame alive, it would be my honor."
"No need to thank me," Kanami replied with a faint smile. "I simply did what needed to be done."
Turning to the others, he explained, "When Honkai was enhancing the Herrscher of Dominance, Ji Lin’s Stigmata were strengthened as well. I deliberately held back my strike so her will could persist within the Stigmata’s power."
He paused before adding, "In that other world, even if we save Himeko, it won’t change much. Without Nagami’s adjustments, her body… even without wearing the Godslayer Armor, she wouldn’t have long to live."
Hearing this, Mei glanced at Himeko, worry in her eyes—only to find the woman chuckling softly and shaking her head.
Her body had indeed been at its limit before, but with Nagami around, she was completely fine now.
The other world’s Himeko, however… wasn’t so lucky.
"So if we give her a Stigmata strengthened by Honkai, not only will it fix her body’s condition, it will also grant her at least S-rank Valkyrie power. With that armor on top, she’d basically be another Durandal-tier S-rank."
Everyone knew there were two kinds of S-rank in Schicksal—regular S-rank, and Durandal-tier S-rank.
Add a World Bubble and a Divine Key into the mix, and the result would be… monstrous.
"Ji Lin…" Fu Hua looked at her old friend’s familiar face, countless words in her heart, but what came out was only— "Are you… doing well?"
Fu Hua had never been one for flowery speeches.
"Mm. It’s been a long time, Jingwei." Ji Lin’s smile was gentle. "It seems you’ve found yourself some truly reliable companions."
"Reliable companions, huh…"
Fu Hua’s mind, now free of its seal, flashed with memories— Ji Xuanyuan, Fuxi, Nunwa… and of course, Nagami, who had inexplicably saddled her with a “mini Herrscher of Sentience.”
The thought made her chuckle and shake her head—perhaps from mild exasperation.
"Yes… they are indeed very reliable people."
At the very least, thanks to Nagami’s string of schemes, Shenzhou had been saved this time.
The only major losses were some coastal cities.
From a civilian perspective, it was still a natural disaster—but compared to the results of pre-Collapse battles, it was a vast improvement.
"Jingwei, I think the you of now might be ready to try something… special."
A subtle, knowing smile played across Ji Lin’s pale face as she leaned close and whispered something into Fu Hua’s ear—words the latter did not understand.
"What do you mean?"
Fu Hua’s expression went blank with confusion, but before she could press further, Ji Lin dissolved into golden motes that gathered into Kanami’s palm—forming the image of a golden sword.
With casual ease, he tossed it toward Himeko.
The crimson emblem glowed faintly as his power temporarily anchored it to her body.
"Alright…", Kanami said wearily, forcing a tired smile. "Himeko-sensei, go. Ji Lin’s Stigmata will reach your other self at the right moment."
"Got it."
Molten gold flames roared skyward, swirling around Himeko’s figure as her Herrscher Armament bloomed like a fiery rose.
She glanced one last time at the white-haired boy, hefted the massive Greatsword onto her shoulder…
And, with the same determined stride as the Crimson Knight before her, the Herrscher of Flames stepped into the dark passage.
