"Doesn't that voice sound like the ghost who gave us power earlier?" Ryn said.
"I think so too. This figure might also be Ji Lin," Kiana nodded in agreement. "But if she is Ji Lin, why is she trying to stop us?"
"I don't know. But I've detected that the Honkai energy in the heart region is gradually rising. She's waiting for us," Mei replied, looking at the Honkai energy detector in her hand.
"Let's go. We'll find out what's going on when we see it for ourselves."
Ryn's group met up with Bronya and the others, and together they advanced towards the heart.
The location of the heart was not like the energy crystals from before, but a small floating island...
The island was surrounded by massive stone pillars covered in inscriptions. These were the seals once set by Ji Lin, Danzhu, and the others.
As Ryn and the others were looking around, the voice appeared again.
"Come. I am waiting for you in the center of the heart."
This time it was not a telepathic message; Fu Hua and the others heard it as well.
They exchanged glances, and after a final nod, Ryn flew with everyone directly to the center of the heart.
There, Ji Lin, clad in black armor, awaited them with a black steed.
Seeing Ryn and the others arrive, Ji Lin walked towards them, speaking as she went.
"When I was human, people called me Ji Lin... but Ji Lin is no more. For thousands of years, she fought against the Honkai in endless darkness.
To persevere, she had to abandon the love and hope in her heart, merging all her loneliness, fear, and regret into the darkness...
In the end, she disappeared... She became me, leaving me in this boundless darkness...
Why did I have to suffer all this?
After these millennia of solitude, all that remains in my heart is endless hatred. I will have my revenge... on those I once sought to protect.
Ji Lin is gone. I am now a new entity, one with Chiyou. You can call me... Ji Lin·Black."
Faced with Ji Lin drawing her blade and approaching, Ryn and the others had different reactions.
"A thousand years of solitude... just thinking about it is terrifying. I'd probably go mad in a day." Ryn shrugged. For someone who has experienced light to suffer boundless darkness and the loss of all five senses, probably no one could endure it for more than a few days.
"But, why not call her Black Ji Lin?" Ryn asked curiously.
Hearing Ji Lin·Black's story, however, Kiana's face darkened.
Kaslanas are the protectors of the people. Kiana could not stand by and let Ji Lin·Black harm the people.
The Xuanyuan Sword clenched in Kiana's hand began to glow. The Tenth Divine Key, the Keys of Domination, responded to Kiana's will. The Soulium that composed the Divine Key began to change shape according to Kiana's will, transforming into a pair of pistols.
"You want revenge on the people you once protected... No matter what great hero you once were, whatever your reasons, as the heir of the Kaslana name, I will absolutely not allow you to do such a thing!" Kiana rebuked Ji Lin·Black.
"Heh, quite spirited. Did the azure empyrea give you that sword?" Ji Lin·Black raised her own corrupted Xuanyuan Sword, pointing it at Kiana, then slowly moved it towards Fu Hua. "The Honkai, Honkai Beasts, even Chiyou... they were all your doing!"
"Ji Lin... that was not our intention..."
Fu Hua tried to explain to Ji Lin·Black, but Ji Lin·Black charged at her on horseback. Faced with Ji Lin·Black's assault, Fu Hua could only continuously dodge.
Ryn wanted to step in and help, but Fu Hua stopped him.
"Stay back. This is a fight between me and Ji Lin."
As Fu Hua fought with Ji Lin·Black, she tried to say various things to awaken the former Ji Lin.
The wounds of several millennia had been accumulating on Fu Hua's body. Her tormented body, coupled with the constant loss and burning of memories, meant that without the aid of Fenghuang Down, the bare-handed Fu Hua now only had the strength of an A-rank Valkyrie.
Ji Lin·Black's own strength, combined with the power of Chiyou and the enhancement of a Divine Key, was truly formidable, far surpassing that of a normal A-rank Valkyrie.
"Class Monitor, catch!"
Seeing Fu Hua only able to dodge continuously, Kiana tossed the Xuanyuan Sword, which had transformed into dual pistols, over to her. Fu Hua gave Kiana a grateful look, then tossed them back.
"Thank you, Kiana. But it has already chosen you. It won't unleash its power in my hands."
The Keys of Domination had already chosen Kiana. Unless Kiana died, it would not respond to anyone else's will. Fu Hua felt that fighting with dual pistols would be less convenient than fighting bare-handed.
"Then... then be careful! Are you sure you don't want us to interfere?"
Seeing Fu Hua nearly get struck by Ji Lin·Black's Xuanyuan Sword each time, even though Kiana usually disliked her class monitor, she didn't want to see her get hurt.
"No need, I can handle it..."
Ryn silently thought to himself (No, you can't. If I hadn't secretly used my authority to alter the sword's attack trajectory, you would have been hit at least twice.)
"Azure Empyrea! Still trying to be tough at a time like this! You are too arrogant!" Ji Lin·Black, seeing how the group was completely disregarding her, stopped her slashes and shouted in anger.
Ji Lin·Black raised her Xuanyuan Sword high, and the warhorse beneath her neighed. Then, bolts of lightning shot out from the sword, striking at the group.
Ryn simply created a pseudo black hole and swallowed all the lightning, then said to Fu Hua, who had dodged to the side, "Stop trying to be a hero. Let's finish her quickly! We don't have much time."
"This... alright..." Fu Hua finally relented.
"In that case, the Bronya will not be polite." Bronya summoned Project Bunny 19C and charged towards Ji Lin·Black.
"Heh, another shorty just like me! How courageous. Then I'll start with you!" Ji Lin·Black also charged towards Bronya, swinging her Xuanyuan Sword.
Swish—
A red beam shot across the sky, and Ji Lin·Black fell to the ground.
Ji Lin's lower body, along with her warhorse, was directly annihilated by the red beam.
"Pff—" Ji Lin·Black spat out a mouthful of black blood, touching the wound at her waist in disbelief. "What... what is this."
"Times have changed, Senior Ji Lin."
Bronya directed Project Bunny to press its cannon against Ji Lin·Black's head.
"The Bronya deliberately lured you into attacking me. You stepped into the coordinates I sent to Kika in advance. As soon as the Bronya gives the command, Kika will attack immediately. It's clear you have no experience or ability to deal with such an attack..."