Chapter 113: What a Pity

Ying's brain buzzed, a blank.

Why! There was clearly no contact!

Rage, regret, and the helplessness of being unable to protect the important one when facing the Herrscher, surged over her like a tide.

No hesitation.

"Shana—"

The world, in Ying's perception, solidified.

Sound vanished, light stalled, even the floating specks in the air froze in place.

This is a realm exclusive to Shana, where extreme speed defied reason and became absolute temporal freeze.

In this still world, only Ying and the blade in her hand could act.

She had used this technique to fell countless foes, be they Collapse Beast, Herrscher, or other threats.

It is her strongest ultimate skill, the crystallization of protective will and supreme martial art.

Yet now, in this frozen spacetime, Ying watches the Black Shadow ahead still bearing a composed demeanor, and looks behind to Pa, whose form has been largely Corroded, as if a pause button had been pressed…

A chill colder than Letu's frost clenched her heart.

Even if time is frozen… what then?

That Corrosion seemed to occur in another dimension, predestined before Shana was triggered.

She cannot save Pa; at least now, here, she is powerless to turn the tide.

Ying's hand gripping the blade whitened at the knuckles from overexertion.

But it is now!

No hesitation, no retreat.

Even if her body moans from the limit‑defying Shana, even if her soul trembles, Ying still swings the blade that gathers all her power and will—no, countless blades!

Cold air wrapped the blade light, like a blooming ice lotus, like a breached galaxy, instantly engulfing the figure ahead wearing a wide‑brimmed hat.

This strike poured out everything.

Carrying a resolve she herself could not comprehend, as if in some forgotten spacetime she once swung likewise, for someone, for an irretrievable ending.

The blade's aim was not merely to slay the enemy, but to forcibly inscribe an indelible "trace" in this frozen spacetime—evidence of the enemy's existence, precise data on Corrosion!

She knows her odds are slim, but at least she must tell Kaiwen, tell Su, tell all comrades still fighting…

The enemy is right here!

However—

The sky‑filled blade light, as if striking an invisible wall, abruptly halted, solidifying midair.

Along with Ying's swing, her resolute expression, the power surging within her…

Everything froze completely.

Time remains frozen, but what is frozen seems only her and the blades she wielded.

She can even "see" her crystal‑clear blade streaks hovering less than an inch from the Black Shadow, unable to advance a hair.

(How could… within my Shana…)

Ying's mind still runs, yet cannot command even a single finger.

An unprecedented chill, not from her ice blade, but raging from deep within her heart.

The Black Shadow moved in the absolutely still spacetime.

She seemed to brush dust off her shoulder and raised her hand.

Then, she lifted her head.

Under the wide brim, a delicate yet lifeless face was revealed, gray‑white hair hanging down.

Most unsettling were the eyes—purple‑black irises, like the deepest night sky, without a glint.

And deep in the pupils, a Corrosion‑symbolic pattern flickered ominously.

(Invasive Lawgiver…!)

Even though the Data Body in Letu hadn't personally experienced that battle, the instinct of Yingjie and the memory base of opposing Honkai still let Ying instantly recognize that sign.

Her heart seemed gripped tightly by an icy hand.

Heimu's mouth corner lifted a faint curve.

She ignored the blade inches away, strolling as if in her own garden, lightly weaving past all frozen blade lights, moving behind Ying, arriving before Pa, whose half‑body was still covered by violet‑red data and wore a terrified expression.

Ying cannot see behind her, but her perception can "feel" Heimu's movement.

Anxiety, Rage, and that bottomless helplessness nearly devoured her consciousness.

Heimu stood before Pa, tilting her head slightly, scrutinizing the kitten frozen in a moment of terror.

She extended a finger, gently brushing Pa's still‑warm, not yet Corroded cheek, the motion bearing an almost cruel pity.

"What a pitiful little kitten…"

Heimu's voice rang clearly in the still spacetime, directly entering Ying's consciousness, "Can feel it… her soul's deep yearning for 'life' is so strong, it almost overflows."

Her tone was calm, indistinguishable as mockery or sentiment, yet the plain words pierced Ying's heart like the sharpest needle.

(Pa…)

Ying's fury burned wildly in her chest, nearly breaking this absolute shackles!

She felt Heimu raise a hand, the gloved fingertip gently touching Pado Felice's half‑face already covered by violet‑red data.

In Pa's sole remaining eye, still retaining its original color, fear and dread were frozen, like a small creature caught in a trap awaiting fate's judgment.

Even though time stopped, the instinct‑born shiver still pierced everything, deeply stabbing Ying's perception.

"What a pity…"

Heimu's voice carried a faint insincere sigh.

Immediately after, Ying heard a clear, crisp sound behind her, like glass shattering—"Ka cha—"

It's Pa Duo…!

No—!!!

A massive panic and Rage erupted like a volcano, instantly breaching the Reason String dam!

Ying only felt an unprecedented force burst from deep within her soul, and the freezing chill that had frozen time was driven away by her even colder murderous intent!

The Shana seal was forcibly broken by her own will!

The instant time resumed its flow, Ying's figure turned into a flash of lightning invisible to the naked eye, and she spun sharply!

Imperial Spirit Blade·Cold Prison Ice Sky tore the air, unleashing blade light denser than ever before, pouring toward the hateful figure behind her like a blizzard!

She didn't even see the target, swinging the blade solely on the thought of shredding the enemy to pieces!

"Poo chi—"

A dull yet tangible sensation of a sharp blade cutting flesh resonated through the hilt and clearly returned to Ying's hand.

Did it work…?

The moment that thought arose, the resolve on Ying's face instantly froze, turning into complete stupefaction.

The time‑freezing effect completely dissipated.

She saw clearly the scene before her—

No Heimu's mocking smile.

Only Pa Duo.

Her greatsword precisely plunged deep into Pa Duo's chest.

There, the portion previously Corroded by violet‑red data flickered violently, while the intact part was quickly soaked with deep crimson blood.

That cracking sound…

It was a misleading sound this person had somehow simulated!

Pa Duo's body trembled slightly from the intense pain.

She lowered her head, looking in disbelief at the blade that pierced her body, then slowly raised it again; the unCorroded eye gazed at Ying, filled with bewilderment and a hint… of finally liberated fatigue.

"Ying… sister…?"

The voice was soft, yet like a heavy hammer, crushing the last support in Ying's heart.

"No… Pa Duo… I…"

Ying tried to explain, tried to release her grip, but her body felt drained of all strength, even her fingertips could not move.

She could only watch helplessly as Pa Duo's body, starting from where the blade pierced, sprouted countless fine cracks, like shattered crystal.

"Ka cha… Ka cha…"

The cracks spread rapidly, instantly covering Pa Duo's entire body.

Then, under Ying's Despairing gaze, Pa Duo's body, together with the frozen surprise on her face, shattered, turning into countless faintly glowing fragments, like fireflies drifting in the wind, and finally vanished completely into the air.

Not even a trace was left.

"Clang—"