"…"
Faced with Himeko's unwavering resolve,
Fu Hua fell silent for a second.
Then, she chose to respect Himeko's decision.
"If you intend to save your companions, then pass through the watchtower and continue forward. I'll be waiting for you in the laboratory on the other side."
As her words fell,
Fu Hua's figure had already vanished.
After that—
Under the watchful attention of everyone in the group chat,
Himeko did not hesitate in the slightest.
Even though what lay ahead might be a terrifying Herrscher,
she still chose, without wavering, to rescue her students and friends!
To face the powerful enemy together with Theresa and Kiana!
Before long,
as Himeko advanced, she rescued the trapped Tesla,
and the two of them arrived at Otto's laboratory together.
There, Tesla discovered the god-slaying spear serum Otto had been researching.
Meanwhile—
"Fu Hua, I'm here."
Light slowly poured in.
The place looked like a solemn cathedral.
Himeko walked toward the deepest part.
At the end of the corridor,
a single suit of armor stood on display.
"Is this… the end of the line?"
"Is this what you wanted me to find, Fu Hua?!"
Fu Hua's figure appeared once more.
"You've finally… arrived here."
"This is what you need—the secret Otto hid away."
"His other trump card, a weapon meant to confront a Herrscher head-on."
"The prototype god-slaying armor—Vermilion Knight: Eclipse."
Fu Hua gazed at the armor.
"The Herrscher has awakened. This suit is our only means of fighting her."
"It does not belong to this era, but is a legacy left behind by the Previous Civilization."
"After Schicksal obtained it, they used it as the foundation to develop the Valkyrie armors of today."
"But Otto was not satisfied with that. He initiated an even more insane plan—linking the Gem of Haste to this armor, creating a weapon capable of fully reproducing the power of the Herrscher of Flame."
"Before the experiment even began, that man ordered all S-rank Valkyries: if the experiment failed, this armor was to be used as the final means to oppose a Herrscher."
"But I cannot use it now. You are the only one I can ask for help."
Originally, whether by Otto's plan or by Fu Hua's own,
this armor was meant to be worn by an S-rank Valkyrie.
But now—
It seemed only Himeko could take on this burden.
"Still, the choice is yours."
"Don't say things like that. I made my choice a long time ago."
Fu Hua took a long look at Himeko,
then walked straight toward the armor.
[Access request confirmed]
[Authentication complete: Category—Level Zero Authority]
[Request approved]
"Go. From the moment you put on this armor, the Herrscher's gem will begin to corrode your mind. I'll do my best to suppress its erosion—but what matters most is you."
Himeko stared deeply at Fu Hua.
"Fu Hua… who exactly are you?"
"I'm just like you—someone who wants to change the current state of things."
As Fu Hua spoke,
Himeko nodded, stepped forward without hesitation, and entered the armor bay.
Light poured down over her body.
The world before her eyes gradually turned into a sea of white.
On the other side,
Fu Hua's consciousness also slowly faded.
"Himeko, Major… thank you for all your guidance."
"If fate allows it…"
"Perhaps… we'll meet again in the future…"
[Honkai · Bronya: Wearing the armor means being corroded by the Herrscher's gem?]
[Kiana: Himeko, don't!! QAQ]
[Raiden Mei: We absolutely can't let the same tragedy happen again!!]
[Honkai · Himeko: ]
[Theresa: I will absolutely—absolutely stop Grandpa!]
[Tesla: I won't let a monster like Otto have another chance to commit evil!]
[Ningguang: Sigh… has Himeko already resolved herself to sacrifice?!]
[Keqing: Even if she withstands the Herrscher's corrosion, what she must face is the unprecedentedly powerful Second Herrscher!]
[Star Rail · Welt: This truly is humanity's most brilliant arc of light.]
[March 7th: Wuwuwu… Himeko…]
[Star Rail · Himeko: Don't shout my name like that…]
[Ruan Mei: But even with this armor, can Sirin really be defeated?]
Everyone in the group chat watched as Himeko stepped into the armor bay without the slightest hesitation,
donning the Vermilion Knight—a suit that threatened her very life.
Tension gripped the entire chat.
That ominous premonition born at the time of the rating—
Now, it seemed, was about to be proven true.
The Final Lesson…
Those last two words sent panic surging through Kiana and the others.
Himeko had clearly prepared herself to die—without any hesitation!
Even with this relic of the Previous Era,
could Himeko's strength truly stand against Sirin, the Second Herrscher?!
That was an existence that once stood against the entirety of Schicksal during the Second Honkai Eruption!
So the final outcome…
Would it still unfold exactly as Otto had planned…?
"Thank you, Fu Hua."
Empowered by the new armor,
Himeko stepped out of the laboratory.
She drove her greatsword heavily into the ground and let out a long breath.
Her heart was boiling!
Her body felt lighter than ever before!
Her wounds no longer hurt!
Power felt as though it were about to burst forth from within!
"Hah…"
"Everyone—wait for me!"
"I'm back!"