The Vixen's Gambit: Tonight We Hunt

"Honkai 3rd… a game?" Fu Hua rubbed her temples, frowning slightly. A faint, prickly sensation danced within her mind. "Strange, I feel like I have some impression of it, but also not…"

After pondering for a moment, unable to recall anything concrete, Fu Hua gave up and shook her head casually. "It's nothing. Probably just my old problem acting up again. I sometimes forget things… But since nothing's gone wrong so far, whatever I forgot probably wasn't important."

"It's just a game after all. Even if it contains stories about us, it's just a different perspective on things we've already experienced. I can check it out in my free time."

Fu Hua spoke with an air of indifference, as if completely uninterested in the so-called world-connecting game, drawing a clear line between virtual and reality.

Lihua simply sighed inwardly. Easy for you to say. I just hope you remember to have someone supervise you next time you play, or I fear you'll fall into an endless loop: seeing the truth, playing the game, getting your memory wiped, then starting all over again…

…Though the memory protection from Unit-3 shouldn't normally cause headaches. If Fu Hua has a headache, could it be because she's already been wiped once last night? This is some next-level patience…

"Let's put that aside for now. I have some things I want to ask Mei and Miss Lihua… about Elysia, and that [Lee]."

Hearing this, Kiana thoughtfully grabbed her aunt, who was still staring blankly at Lihua from the sofa, and left with Durandal to find Bronya and discuss the situation of this world. I'm also interested in all this, but it's better to give them some space to talk.

"Kiana's become much more mature, and she's not as gloomy as before," Raiden Mei said, watching Kiana's retreating figure, her eyes soft.

"Yes, after all, although Himeko was injured and captured by Schicksal, she's still alive…" Fu Hua's tone was complex. "As long as we haven't truly lost someone important, there's still a chance to turn things around with effort."

"Your story is one of hope."

"Your story has hope too," Raiden Mei said, looking at Fu Hua. She was already familiar with the story of the Previous Era from the Elysian Realm within the game. She even knew more about the Previous Era's truths than Fu Hua herself. "You just didn't seize the opportunity."

"Indeed… But the way you're talking, Mei, reminds me a bit of Mobius," Fu Hua chuckled wryly. "Seems like you learned a lot in the Elysian Realm."

Recalling her time in the Elysian Realm, Mei sadly realized that her most vivid memories were of fighting… The extreme combat training was certainly effective in increasing her strength, but if given a choice, she would have preferred a more normal teaching method. Like how I taught Kiana back then with gentle methods? And her combat strength isn't any weaker than those warriors in the Elysian Realm!

It must be the teacher's skill level…

"If you want to ask about Elysia's whereabouts, it's better to ask Lihua directly. I had already left by then."

Fu Hua's gaze shifted to Lihua. Elysia had been her comrade-in-arms for millennia, and their bond was deep. Now, learning that Elysia had come to Blue Earth, that her Divine Key had been taken, and that she herself was missing, Fu Hua couldn't help but worry.

"It's a long story…"

Since the main issue had nothing to do with her, and she didn't need to take any blame, Lihua explained the situation to Fu Hua without reservation. Anyway, whether Fu Hua wanted to save Elysia or retrieve the 8th Divine Key, she would have to go after [Lee]… I wonder what Fu Hua thinks of this individual who's practically identical to Unit-3?

Since she beat up me, Unit-3's predecessor, so hard she almost choked me to death, and now this [Lee] shows up, impersonating Unit-2 and acting suspiciously like a Herrscher…

I wonder if she'll just rip her head off? Probably not. After all, [Lee] is much stronger than I was…

Regardless, Lihua felt that [Lee] wouldn't escape Fu Hua's wrath. Even if their first encounter ended with Fu Hua short-circuiting due to the urgent situation and verbal onslaught, after so long, Fu Hua should have figured things out.

Probably.

"She… she woke up inside the 8th Divine Key, which contained Lee's consciousness…?"

"Yes, even back then she had the idea of controlling all of humanity to protect them… I thought she had forgotten about it, but…"

"She thinks… believes I betrayed her? But I… I only…"

Hearing Fu Hua's panicked and dazed voice, Lihua felt that the situation wasn't quite what she had imagined. Seriously? The situation is already like this, and you're still hesitating?

Even if [Lee] crawled out of Unit-3's consciousness grave, it doesn't mean she is Unit-3. Besides, with the way things are, whether she's the original or not, we have to fight her. Her backstory is irrelevant. Even if you kneel and kowtow to her now, [Lee] won't stop.

Besides, you've already beaten up the real one. What's there to hesitate about with a fake?

Seeing that Fu Hua might have another on-the-spot amnesia episode, Lihua quickly shifted her attention. If her memory gets wiped too many times in a short period, things will get troublesome. We need her to fight [Lee] and her new assistant in a couple of days…

"She mentioned something about carrying out a Stigma Project, to modify humans… You're from the Previous Era. Do you know anything about this project?" Lihua asked, feigning ignorance.

Although she knew, within the game's current context, the Stigma Project was just a background setting, so theoretically, Fu Hua shouldn't know what it was.

"Stigmata Project?!" The words were like a bucket of cold water, jolting Fu Hua awake. She instinctively looked up at the sky.

The Stigma Project made her think of Kevin, and Kevin made her think of the Stigma Project… After Kevin's insane actions back then, the two phrases were practically synonymous in her mind.

But since we're on Blue Earth, at least we don't need to worry about that madman.