The Imaginary Space was filled with twisted laws of physics and surging Imaginary energy. No living creature could normally survive there.
Amid drifting red energy, a faint will still flickered—proof that the body it once belonged to had not yet fully faded.
Fragnts of shattered armor clung to her, and her bare skin was covered in traces of corrosion—clear signs of the battle she had just endured.
Hiko held the body tightly. There was no breath left in it, only slow descent toward nothingness. Eventually, even that would be erased by the Imaginary Space.
Koji didn't linger. Holding Hiko in his arms, he tore open the void and descended back to Earth.
[Blessing of Soul: Grants the user mastery of soul energy. Soul-based attacks are ineffective against oneself, and the user can perceive the presence of soul]
Through the blessing, Koji could see that within Hiko's body, a trace of consciousness still remained, clinging to existence.
Celestial City of Shenzhou – A hotel room.
After removing her broken armor, Hiko lay quietly on the bed. Koji had to admit—Lumine's figure couldn't compare. Hiko was fuller, mature in all the right ways.
"Mmm…"
A faint moan escaped her lips as she stirred. When her eyes slowly opened, the unfamiliar room made her blink in confusion.
"The surgery went well," said a teasing voice nearby. "You're a boy now."
Startled, Hiko instinctively reached for her chest—only to feel smooth skin. The motion made the white bedsheet slip away, revealing her bare, delicate body.
Though she wasn't easily flustered, the sudden sensation of cool air brushing her skin made her hastily pull the sheet up again, covering herself.
"Thanks for the treat," Koji said lightly, grinning.
Hiko shot him a glare, half embarrassed, half scolding.
"My clothes—did you take them off?" she asked, her cheeks burning.
Koji pointed toward the floor. "What's left of them. The fight and the Imaginary erosion didn't leave much intact."
One look told her he was right. The remains of her outfit were tattered beyond decency—wearing them would be worse than not wearing anything at all.
"I should be dead, shouldn't I?"
Hiko frowned. She rembered how badly she'd been wounded. Without Kiana's support, she wouldn't have lasted long enough to drive the God-Slaying Spear into her.
Falling into the Imaginary Space had been her final act. She should have been gone.
"I found you while wandering this world," Koji said with a shrug. "So, you've got a second life now."
"…A second life, huh." Hiko murmured.
"Shouldn't you say, 'I have nothing to repay you with, so I'll give you my body instead'?" she joked, throwing him a playful wink.
"Miss Hiko, you're thirty. I'm nineteen," Koji replied flatly.
Her expression froze. The air went quiet. Then—her fist clenched tight.
Still, she couldn't deny it—this young man had the strength to move freely through Imaginary Space. That alone was astounding.
"How long… has it been?" she asked softly.
"See for yourself." Koji handed her the calendar from the bedside table.
"Four months…"
A sigh escaped her lips. She wondered how Kiana was doing now. Her own "death" must have left a scar on that girl's heart.
"Could you… get so clothes?" she said awkwardly.
She couldn't stay wrapped in a sheet forever. Koji nodded and handed over the set he had bought earlier—asured perfectly to fit her.
It was a red outfit: casual pants, a hooded jacket, matching undergarnts. Thoughtful—too thoughtful.
She didn't know what to say. He'd even gotten the underwear right.
Blushing, she carefully dressed beneath the blanket. Koji, expression calm, didn't so much as blink. That surprised her more than anything. Has he really seen so much that he's immune? Or am I just getting old?
She didn't know that Koji had long since developed resistance—after seeing countless beauties across Teyvat, few sights could faze him.
"Right. I should introduce myself properly. I'm Koji."
Hiko smiled faintly and shook her head. To everyone back ho, she was already dead. The title of "Valkyrie" ant nothing now.
At her age, she was already near the retirent line.
Even with artificial stigmata, Valkyries lived short lives—that was the price for fighting against Honkai.
"Where are we?" she asked, glancing out the window. The city skyline shimred with advanced technology.
"Celestial City, in Shenzhou," Koji answered.
She nodded. She had been here before—for blind dates, ironically—but missions always got in the way.
"Oh, right. Kiana's here too," Koji said with a faint smile.
"What?"
Hiko's eyes widened. "She didn't return to Headquarters?"
Koji's expression turned knowing. "Do you really think she would? After what happened to you, do you think she'd go back—afraid she might hurt soone else?"
Hiko fell silent. He was right. Kiana would never return, not after that. She'd carry that guilt alone, hiding from Theresa and the others for life.
"That idiot…" Hiko sighed, pressing a hand to her forehead.
"Theresa and the others don't bla you," Koji said gently. "Don't take everything onto yourself. It's okay to rely on others sotis—it'll make life easier."
"The Kaslana family," he added with a wry grin, "never thinks before acting. That's just standard procedure."
Hiko chuckled, nodding in agreent. "Yeah… that's them. A head full of passion, not logic."
"'External brain'—I like that term," she said with a smirk. "Alright, let's go see her. Let's see if that foolish student of mine has grown at all."
She stretched lazily, the red outfit outlining her mature figure perfectly.
"Want to touch?" she teased.
Koji nodded seriously. "Of course. May I?"
"Of course not! We just t—don't skip steps." Hiko laughed, shaking her head. Still, she didn't find him unpleasant. Maybe being saved by him softened her view.
Though, she couldn't help but wonder—had he touched her while she was unconscious? After all, she had woken up completely naked…
(End of Chapter)
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