"All right, back to business—how is your body holding up?" Hera looked at Zeke and once again reached out to assess his vital signs.
"Slap!"
The same reaction, the same gesture, resulting in Hera's hand recoiling with another red mark.
An exasperated tic appeared on Hera's forehead.
"Don't mess around! This level of Honkai Energy output is unprecedented; the potential risks are too high!"
"I'm not some hot-blooded idiot who disregards their own life recklessly."
"Oh? Really? Considering someone just descended from outer space, leveled an entire continent with a single strike, and has even transformed Judgment of Shamash back into dual pistols, do you expect me to believe that?"
"Should I demonstrate the Liberation of Heaven's Fire Cleaver again?"
"You still have energy left?"
"Who knows..." Zeke flashed a cryptic smile.
Taken aback momentarily, Hera soon responded with a bright and innocent grin, her lips curving elegantly.
Fu Hua glanced from one to the other.
Hmm, both smiles were undeniably charming, but why did they make her feel uneasy?
"You're still on guard against me even at this moment. Should I say it's unsurprising, Zeke?"
"Only you could inspire such caution in me; perhaps you should admire yourself, Hera."
Standing between them, Fu Hua scratched her nose, feeling somewhat out of place.
Finally, accompanied by gusts of wind and roaring engines, the Hyperion arrived late on the scene.
A shadow loomed over the trio as Welt descended from the sky.
"Well done, Zeke! Both that sword strike and your declaration just now—impressive stuff! By the way, how are you holding up?"
Welt approached the trio and scrutinized Zeke's appearance closely. Seeing no visible injuries and that his demeanor seemed normal, he finally let out a sigh of relief.
Zeke glanced at Welt, feeling slightly reassured.
With this formidable ally firmly on his side, unlike Fu Hua whose stance remained uncertain, Hera would now have no chance to coerce him—though initially, Zeke didn't think she would go that far either. Still, it was better to be prepared than not.
Then, Zeke looked up towards the battleship obscuring the sun, squinting slightly.
"The Hyperion, huh..."
Its size was adequate, with excellent stability in flight, but its structural layout could use improvement. It managed to strike a balance between aesthetics and functionality—nothing exceptional, though. Not like he'd ever return as a deck cleaner again.
"Let's move along; we should leave. This isn't the place for conversation."
Zeke stood up, and beneath him, the black seat transformed back into countless worker bees amidst a soft hum, dispersing across the sky.
On the pristine metal deck of the Hyperion, four figures walked side by side towards the interior spaces, undeterred by the fierce winds generated by their swift flight. They even engaged in casual conversation as if unaffected.
"Once we're back, I'll package up the consciousness network technology and Soulium body adjustment techniques for you. Remember to prepare the resurrection measures accordingly. By the way, make sure Fu Hua and you carry some blank feathers with you at all times; it's always better to be safe."
"Oh? Not worried that I might advance too rapidly?"
"I'd rather see you surpass me than lose you unexpectedly." Hera rolled her eyes but spoke genuinely.
She had conducted numerous personality assessments on Zeke before.
Firstly, Zeke was not a saintly figure by any means. He would kill when necessary, showing no mercy if there was enmity involved.
At the same time, his moral compass remained steadfast. He would assist the weak and almost never harm innocents. Even during the early development of the Hive System, the factories he robbed were exclusively owned by dark forces or unscrupulous capitalists.
Furthermore, Zeke highly valued reciprocal fairness. In their interactions, whenever he received assistance, he would invariably return some form of favor without taking undue advantage. For instance, Cocolia, who diligently carried out her duties for him, now enjoyed smooth progress and success.
Other notable traits included his extreme rationality, assertiveness bordering on dominance, preference for maintaining control, relative leniency towards children, occasional dark humor, and a bold yet cautious approach to actions.
Hera couldn't fully describe Zeke's character with absolute certainty, but she was confident that even if one day Zeke truly gained the power to eliminate her, as long as her contributions and favors remained significant, resurrecting Kallen would be an inevitable choice for him.
As for Hera's own fate...she didn't care; as long as Kallen could be revived, she wouldn't mind standing still for Zeke to kill her.
Zeke gave her a deep look, seemingly discerning something from her smiling face, and responded mildly:
"Alright. I'll also share Jackal's technology with you."
"Much appreciated."
"It's only proper to reciprocate favors."
"What about Chiyou? How do you plan to handle it next?"
"Let's discuss details inside. However, before that, let's deplete some stock of your Honkai Fission Bombs and Dr. Ein's Silver Bullets first. Worker bees are simply too small; their yield isn't sufficient enough."
"Understood, we'll proceed as you suggest."
While Hera and Zeke conversed, Welt engaged Fu Hua in a friendly chat. One possessed pure nobility, while the other had inherent kindness and gentleness. Despite meeting for the first time, they felt an instant connection, almost regretting not having met earlier.
As they continued talking, they entered through the inner cabin door.
The female student guarding the entrance watched them pass by, momentarily experiencing a surreal sensation—as if witnessing an unstoppable force surging forth from the very edge of destiny.
She shook her head, dismissing the peculiar feeling, and closed the cabin door behind them.
In the reception hall, they settled onto plush sofas amidst the fragrant aroma of tea.
Hera picked up her teacup and raised it high.
"To Zeke's decisive strike! To courage and miracles!"
It was impossible not to toast those sentiments.
The other three participants followed suit, lifting their cups as well, inspired by Zeke's lead. After clinking glasses together, each took a sip.
Casually, Zeke asked, "What are your thoughts on Chiyou?"
Savoring her tea, Hera narrowed her eyes but did not immediately respond.
Fu Hua pondered for a moment before responding, "It's immense—so vast that 'strength' alone can't describe it; it's utterly unstoppable."
Welt nodded in agreement and sighed deeply, stating, "The Arbiter Rank assessment is indisputably accurate. Although different from Demon Dragon Benares with its four cores years ago, both instill the same sense of despair. Without your strike, I fear we would have had no choice but to gradually wear it down through sustained firepower. In such a scenario, by the time Chiyou ceased movement, much of Asia might have been shattered and submerged, leading to countless lives lost."
Welt's words carried both relief and lingering fear, resonating strongly with Fu Hua.
Had it not been for Zeke, even her Void Sword Goddess form might not have achieved the same effect. After all, with such a colossal body, could it truly be driven solely by consciousness? Where exactly was its consciousness located? How powerful was it? These questions remained unanswered.