LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 93: The Phoenix
After successfully rescuing Jackal from the underground, the two quickly began gathering the last of World Serpent's forces in ARC City. Although most of their troops had been wiped out, the remaining forces—after years of operations in the area—were still sufficient to proceed with the next step of their plan.
"Jackal, it was a Schicksal Valkyrie that escaped from your grasp. You understand what I mean, right?" Raven tossed a cane to Jackal, her tone sharp.
At this moment, Jackal's body was covered in cuts and bruises from debris. To make matters worse, her recently healed lower leg had been broken again.
Hearing Raven's pointed words, Jackal's expression darkened. She bit back her frustration and stayed silent. After all, Raven had saved her—it was only natural to share the blame. Finally, she muttered, "World Serpent isn't so weak that it can't afford this loss. What's important now is whether the Stigmata Project can continue."
"The entire industrial district is practically destroyed," Raven replied coldly. "The agents I spent so much effort developing are gone. If we can't find an alternative to continue the plan, neither of us will have a good ending."
Raven stepped to the edge of the industrial district. Her lips curved into a small smile as she took in the scene before her—the massive wreckage of the Eos transport ship engulfed in flames. The scorching air hit her face, carrying the bitter stench of burning metal.
"It seems those Schicksal fools never thought that after destroying so many of our materials, they would still end up leaving something I wanted," Raven said with a smirk.
Her gaze passed through the flames, locking onto a faintly glowing, light blue Honkai energy engine that had been revealed amidst the wreckage. Though most of the debris was destroyed, this piece had somehow survived.
The remaining functional robots moved quickly, bringing fire extinguishing equipment to douse the flames. As the smoke cleared, Raven approached the engine and began her inspection. It was a specialized Honkai energy converter, designed by Schicksal for their flying battleships.
"As long as I modify it," Raven mused, "it will become a high-powered Honkai energy amplification device. Its stability might not match the agents, but it's enough to carry out the Stigmata Project."
By now, the crash of such a massive transport ship had already drawn the attention of the local authorities. If World Serpent wanted to continue operating in secret, they would need to expend considerable effort to remain hidden.
However, Jackal and Gray Serpent had already decided to abandon any pretense of subtlety. The escalating chaos in ARC City played to their advantage. The authorities would be forced to manage the situation by relocating the population.
Millions of people, crammed into the narrow confines of the city center, would become perfect test subjects. Raven's lips curled into a sinister smile as she considered the possibilities. Once the engine was successfully activated, it would be the catalyst for the Stigmata Project's next phase.
"Victory will ultimately belong to the Serpent." They exchanged glances, and in each other's eyes, a trace of a smile could be seen.
…
Inside the abandoned garage, Kiana had fallen asleep after setting Rita down. Exhaustion had overtaken her, pulling her into a deep, dreamless slumber.
Her state, however, was slightly better than Rita's—she had only fallen into a deep sleep, not unconsciousness.
Yet, within this deep sleep, Kiana realized that her consciousness remained awake. Her mind found itself in a space cloaked in darkness.
"Kiana, is that you?" Fu Hua's voice suddenly echoed in the dim void. Kiana froze for a moment, surprised, before noticing a pale red feather floating before her. The voice emanated from the feather itself.
"Class Monitor?" Kiana called out instinctively.
"Grab this feather," Fu Hua's voice instructed calmly. "This is the Eighth Divine Key—the Fenghuang Down. It contains my consciousness and will lead you to me."
Kiana hesitated. She was no longer the girl who trusted without question. Slowly, she separated a portion of her consciousness to inspect the feather carefully.
She cautiously dispersed her attention, probing the feather's aura. At a certain point, meaningless fragments of consciousness began to surface. Kiana used these fragments as bait, testing the waters before proceeding. This cautious approach was a technique she had mastered after surviving despairing trials in the past.
She was no longer that naive child but a warrior who had learned independence and caution. Though still somewhat immature, she had undeniably grown.
And that was what Ren had been expecting all along.
After confirming there were no issues with the feather, Kiana reached out and made contact. In an instant, the pitch-black consciousness space became awash with light. When she regained her senses, she found herself in a lush mountain forest.
"Where is this place?" she muttered, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings.
"A mindscape created from your consciousness and the Feather of the Past," came a familiar voice.
Kiana turned to see Fu Hua pushing open the wooden door of a small house in the courtyard. She stepped out, dressed in a green robe, her gray hair neatly tied back. The transcendent aura she exuded was unmistakable—the Vermilion Knight of Shenzhou, whose legends had been passed down for thousands of years.
Kiana froze in shock. Fu Hua had always sported short hair, and this new elegant, immortal appearance combined with the serene scenery felt surreal, like stepping into a dream-like wuxia world.
"What a strange dream…" she murmured, half to herself.
Fu Hua, noticing her confusion, offered a gentle explanation. "You're not wrong to think of it as a dream. This space has been built from the intersection of our two memories."
"Is it really you, Class Monitor? Why are you dressed like this? You look so cool. But since it's the intersection of our memories, shouldn't it also have a part of me?" Kiana asked, still in awe.
Fu Hua's expression remained calm. "That's because I have too many memories, which is why it looks like this."
"Too many? Aren't you the same age as us, Fu Hua?" Kiana's eyes widened in confusion.
"According to our agreement, there are things I need to tell you." Fu Hua paused for a moment before continuing, her voice serious. "The way I look now is how I appeared several millennia ago. I'm a fusion warrior from the previous era... it's been... 50,000 years, I think?"
"!" The sudden revelation left Kiana in stunned silence. When she regained her composure, Fu Hua had already walked to the center of the Eight Trigrams formation.
"Don't try to trick me, Class Monitor. I won't believe it," Kiana protested, though her voice held a trace of uncertainty.
However, Fu Hua made no effort to clarify. Instead, she waved her hand dismissively. "You can discover my secrets for yourself. What's important now is improving your combat abilities. Everything you've learned so far won't be enough for the battles ahead."
"But..." Kiana hesitated, still struggling with the weight of the information she had just received. The mention of cultivation techniques and Fu Hua's 50,000 years of life were hard to process.
"If you have things you want to protect, then strength is essential. The help St. Freya can provide is limited. If you want to fully master the Herrscher of the Void's powers, you need to first understand the Honkai," Fu Hua explained.
Standing in the courtyard, she moved into a strange, fluid posture. Her movements were slow and deliberate, but to Kiana's eyes, they carried a rhythm unlike anything she had seen before.
Even though they were gentle movements, Kiana could vaguely feel the wind, thunder, and rain.
"So amazing…"
"Kiana, come on. Let's spar. Although your mastery over Honkai energy is gradually improving, you're still lacking in how to prevent Honkai from damaging your body."
In between sentences, the two quickly began to fight. After just a few rounds, Kiana was clearly at a disadvantage. But that only ignited Kiana's fighting spirit. Wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth, her eyes were filled with determination.
Only by possessing enough power could she protect the people she cared about. She wouldn't let this tragedy happen again.