Chapter 1092: Opherus 3.1 (138)

For a moment, the training room fell silent, with only Ai Yin's soft sobs remaining.

It's all because of that Fire Thief...

Li Xi sat in the chair beside her, their face grim and terrifying.

Ti'an used the Hundred Worlds Gate twice because of it; if not for it, Ti'an could have lived a little longer… Everything is its fault. Li Xi's fingers gripped the drumstick tightly, their joints whitening from excessive force: "If we continue to let it be, Ti bao, who will inherit the gatekeeper's duties, will eventually end up in the same situation."

Le Na silently crouched in another corner of the room, a lollipop in her mouth. Her cat-like heterochromatic eyes were downcast, making her emotions unreadable.

"Le Na… do you also feel sad?" Su Shi asked softly.

Le Na didn't answer, simply pulling the lollipop silently from her mouth and looking down at the plastic stick, now bitten into a crooked mess.

"…The sweetness is gone." She muttered softly, "Opherus… only bitterness remains."

——

Honkai 3.

"Ti'an… is she dead?"

Imagining the scene of the Fire Thief's sword piercing Ti'an's chest, Pa Duo clung to herself in fear, as if she could smell the bloody scent that a heavy sword gives off when cutting flesh.

Her teeth chattered, and even her voice became broken and intermittent.

"No… she's a demigod, she'll be fine… Hah… how could a demigod die so easily……?"

"The Fire Thief came for the spark, but Ti'an has no spark inside her—the spark is in the Genesis Vortex core; he… he has no reason to kill Ti'an, right? She must… she must still…… be alive……"

As her body shook violently, the girl's tears began to roll down her cheeks one by one.

"Ailixiya sis, she… she will definitely be alive, right?"

Ailixiya didn't speak; she closed her eyes and simply reached out to gently embrace Pa Duo, who trembled like a frightened little cat.

"Believe in Ti'an… Pa Duo." Ailixiya whispered in her ear, "She's already made a prophecy—see you tomorrow…… This is both the prophecy she left behind and a blessing."

""

Kevin beside him fell silent, pressing his hand to his forehead, feeling for a moment as if needles were pricking his brain.

Is it another companion's departure?

By now, he had endured countless losses, each like a dull blade repeatedly cutting his already scarred soul, until sensation grew dull and numb.

But… just thinking of how Bai E would react to this news, that all-too-familiar chill crept up his spine.

Although he knew partings were inevitable, Bai E, who bore the title of 'Savior,' would someday walk a long and lonely road, yet this all came far too suddenly… it was simply too fast.

——

"After a period of time, the abyss of fate."

"Mm… where is this?"

"Ti bao slowly opened her eyes to find everyone gathered around her with worried faces."

"Little Grey, Little White…?" Ti bao held her forehead, thoughts surging in an instant, "Wait… Ti'an? Has she come back?"

"Bai E shook his head with a grave expression: 'When we arrived, we only saw two people collapsed by the roadside…'

"Feng Jin: 'I and Dan bao also searched nearby… but we couldn't find any trace of Lady Ti'an.'

"What about that black-robed swordsman?"

"Anger flashed across Bai E's face as he clenched his fists, gnashing his teeth: '…Damn! It's indeed that guy.'

"We're still a step late; the spark of Oluonisi… may have met with misfortune."

"Her divine power is nearly gone. Now… the sensation is almost imperceptible."

"Xing proposed: 'We must pursue that black-robed swordsman.'

"Both teachers are safe, which is a stroke of luck amid misfortune. Everyone, we must set out immediately, splitting into two forces: one team will hold the Abyss and rendezvous with Aglaea's reinforcements to search for Teacher Ti'an's whereabouts; the other will follow me to pursue the black-clad swordsman and reclaim the spark."

"Dan Heng asked: 'Do you know its movements?'

"I hadn't had a chance to explain earlier, but in fact I and Teacher Kesha have long been wary of the Heichi and made preparations. We can discuss the details on the way; the window of opportunity is fleeting, so we must seize the time."

"Just as Bai E finished his preparations to set out, a scout from Aohema arrived in time."

"Report! Lord Bai E… ah, and Lady Ti bao, Lady Ti ning! Glad you're unharmed!"

"Bai E: 'Are these people sent by Aglaea?'

"Exactly! Lady Aglaea already knows the situation and has sent a message—'Bai E, I understand that swordsman means a great deal to you. But if you rush in without a long-term plan, the one who will die pointlessly… may well be far more than just you.'

"Bai E could not deny: '…Of course. "Hatred is the poison that kills heroes"—I have no intention of fighting alone. If that swordsman truly is linked to the Heichi, he is certainly no opponent the Golden Descendants can take lightly.'

——

Slaying the Crimson Pupil

"Aglaea's words are correct; the urgent priority is not to keep chasing the Fire Thief, but to first plan defenses against possible future attacks." Najeta said solemnly, "…The most important thing right now is still to complete the Fire Pursuit Journey."

"But a spark has already fallen into the Fire Thief's hands, hasn't it?" Main said, seated in her chair holding a cup of freshly brewed hot tea; after Ti'an's departure just now, her face looked noticeably wan.

Najeta nodded noncommittally: "That's right, but if the Fire Thief's ultimate goal is also the spark, then it will surely come to Aohema one day and clash head‑on with Bai E and the others; in other words, our current strategy is… to wait by the stump for the rabbit."

"But what if it doesn't attack Aohema, instead ambushing those who go out on the Fire Pursuit Journey?"

"Aglaea guards the Holy City; with her demigod strength, even if she isn't a match for the Fire Thief, she can still buy a moment using her golden threads." Najeta analyzed, "If it were me, I'd likely form a team of Xie Die, Xing, Dan Heng, and Bai E to go out and hunt for sparks, paired with a Ti bao for real‑time communication. Ti bao could relay messages at any time to the Ti ning guarding the Holy City, and if she ever encountered the Fire Thief and was outmatched, she could also flee at a moment's notice."

"The key also lies in Aigle; it's time to open the passage between the outer realms and Opherus. If the Fire Thief doesn't appear, the Fire Pursuit Journey could still proceed steadily, but now…… we must establish contact with the train crew."