Chapter 157: Mei's Determination

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"Oh, is Mei really that curious?" Elysia asked with a light chuckle.

"Yes," Raiden Mei nodded affirmatively. "Indeed."

"Hmm, curiosity can be a good thing, but this is a secret among girls, unless..." Elysia's eyes sparkled, and her smile grew wider.

"Unless?"

"Unless Mei joins us or..."

Raiden Mei fell silent, contemplating whether to continue this conversation. It seemed as though Elysia was being overly enthusiastic; continuing might lead to even more outrageous remarks.

"...or let me touch your horns."

As expected, her intuition was spot on.

"Well, will you allow it?"

Elysia gazed at Raiden Mei with a gleeful expression, conveying anticipation through her eyes. Yes, Ellie was completely serious.

Raiden Mei made her decision—but how could she possibly agree?!

Elysia picked up on Raiden Mei's thoughts and smiled.

"Alright, alright, just kidding to lighten the mood a bit. You seemed rather tense. No need to worry."

"As a Herrscher like yourself, you'll adapt quickly enough."

"Yes, okay," Raiden Mei nodded, secretly feeling relieved inside.

"Now, back to business. You're looking quite well, so we can proceed straight to the next step."

"Keep this in mind—it's your first attempt, so don't burden yourself with any expectations.

"There will be no punishment for failure, nor blame for poor performance. Don't fret; I'll always be by your side."

"..."

"And if you prefer having your teacher nearby, she can join us too!"

"Huh?"

With a soft laugh, Elysia winked and pointed towards something. Just beyond, near one of the buildings, Ana had appeared without notice, leaning against the wall with her eyes gently closed.

As if sensing Raiden Mei's gaze, Ana opened her eyes and nodded at her. Compared to their encounter in the Boule Chamber earlier, Ana now appeared much more composed. Her attire had also changed—similar to Elysia's, it seemed to be the combat uniform of Fire Moth.

Ana's presence gave Raiden Mei further reason to ponder.

"However, surrendering outright isn't something I'd encourage."

"Of course, you wouldn't do that, right? After all, your teacher is watching over you constantly."

These words resonated deeply with Raiden Mei. Even without her teacher present, she would still give her all, but knowing Ana was there did indeed feel different.

Her mentor had already made countless contributions and invested immense effort. As her student, Raiden Mei couldn't afford to let her down; at the very least, she mustn't disappoint her.

"What's my objective here? Defeating someone or finding something specific?"

"Goals? Not really, this is just an experiment—or perhaps...a lesson?"

"Just follow your heart and explore freely. I'm eager to see how far you can delve...without assistance from any other Heroic Spirits."

"And where did you reach on your first attempt?" Raiden Mei asked.

Clearly, her question wasn't directed at Elysia.

"My progress holds no significance for you; there were never any secrets here for me," Ana replied mildly from afar. Her words made Raiden Mei frown slightly.

"You're right. Among all visitors, she stands uniquely apart. She didn't come here seeking answers but driven by a specific purpose." Ellie chimed in beside them, her voice tinged with a hint of melancholy.

"Don't worry, once you find your own answers, it will become clear. After all, deciphering a girl's intentions isn't as straightforward as one might think."

Raiden Mei blinked, remaining silent. She realized that obtaining direct answers within the Garden of Eden seemed impossible—even for Teacher Ana. The answers she sought could only be found through her own exploration. Despite this, Raiden Mei remained confident.

Raiden Mei blinked but ultimately held her tongue. She realized that obtaining direct answers within this Elysian Realm was indeed impossible, even for Ana-sensei.

The answers she sought could only come from herself. Nevertheless, Raiden Mei remained confident in finding them.

"You mentioned failure earlier; what would count as failing?"

"It might be facing an insurmountable obstacle and being unable to overcome it, or perhaps losing your way amidst the unpredictable cycles—it depends on you."

"Maintaining focus is no easy task. As your mind grows weary, the recollection of memories will naturally interrupt."

"...I understand."

"Don't worry, when that time comes, we'll safeguard your brilliant mind."

"I have no further questions."

"Great, then without delay, shall we begin now?"

"Yes."

"As I bestow my blessings upon you, may your soul radiate with even greater brilliance." With these words, Elysia extended her hand, and a pink crystal flower blossomed in her palm. Simultaneously, Raiden Mei felt a unique surge of power.

"I will grant you my experiences, hoping they make your journey fruitful," added Ana.

On the other side, Ana spoke as well, emitting three distinct glows from her hands that infused Raiden Mei's body. These represented the powers of additional Heroic Spirit Engravings. However, since this was their first encounter, it manifested in-game by providing more initial silver coins.

If subsequent encounters were unlocked, it would either grant random blessings from three engravings at the start or a fixed amount of silver coins.

"Alright then, let the grand adventure of Raiden Mei in the Elysian Realm commence!"

As Elysia's words echoed, a spatial anchor appeared before Raiden Mei. Meanwhile, Ana ceased leaning against the wall and concealed herself within the shadows.

In truth, the close relationship between Ana and Elysia in the Elysian Realm had another reason: Ana's memory fragment is tethered to Elysia's memories. Essentially, Ana only appears when Elysia is present.

To put it differently, Ana faces numerous limitations within the Elysian Realm; however, the collective memories of the Heroic Spirits can reconstruct Elysia, making it seem like Ana has fewer restrictions.

However, under normal circumstances, Ana's presence typically indicates that Elysia is closely observing the area, creating a subtle dynamic between them.

Perhaps only memory fragments could achieve this delicate balance!

As Raiden Mei continued her exploration within the Garden of Eden, Elysia concealed herself nearby—well, hidden yet still close to Ana.

And without hesitation, she performed a wall slam against Ana.

However, Ana was accustomed to Elysia's bold actions. Before Elysia could make another move, Ana leaned in for a kiss, filling the air with the scent of citrus.

After some time, Elysia rested in Ana's embrace as they stood high above, silently observing Raiden Mei below. Honestly, their closeness appeared somewhat peculiar.

Ana was slightly taller than Elysia but had a less curvaceous figure, lacking the fuller look that Elysia possessed. It seemed more fitting for Ana to be nestled in Elysia's arms instead.

"This Herrscher of Thunder seems even more exceptional than we anticipated."

"Hmm, barring any surprises, she is indeed the most likely candidate to obtain the seed."

"Yes, though she appears burdened by many responsibilities."

"Didn't I already tell you?" Ana gently nibbled on Elysia's ear, sounding somewhat exasperated.

"Eh, I forgot. After all, your stories are always so captivating; how could I possibly remember them all?" Elysia whined slightly, sounding somewhat crestfallen.

"Nevertheless, she's reaching her limit now. Mentally, she still falls short."

Instead of responding directly, Ana shifted her gaze back to Raiden Mei on the training field, furrowing her brow further.

"This is truly reckless. She's already at her peak yet insists on pushing herself further."

Indeed, this was where the current scenario diverged from the original plot. In the past, Raiden Mei had been cautious and knew when to stop. However, this time, she gritted her teeth and continued relentlessly, as if testing her own limits. To Ana, it seemed clear that Mei was trying to prove something specifically to her.

"Well, there's not much we can do about it. It just shows how important you are to her, dear. You're quite the charmer, aren't you?"

"...," Ana managed a wry smile but didn't reply. Honestly speaking, though inexplicable, it appeared she wasn't merely the unattainable ideal in the hearts of a few individuals; even many other Valkyries within Schicksal felt similarly...

One could only say, fortunately, she hadn't spent too much time at Schicksal Headquarters, otherwise...

At this thought, Ana couldn't help feeling slightly troubled. She was just an ordinary Valkyrie, not some succubus or anything, okay?

However, Raiden Mei's current situation indeed needed attention; pushing too hard on her first attempt wouldn't be beneficial.

"Fine, since it started because of me, I'll handle it."

With these words, Ana gently released Ellie and leaped down from the towering building.

Indeed, Raiden Mei harbored such thoughts. Being not the first Herrscher to enter the Elysian Realm, upon learning about Ana's strength and uniqueness, she naturally began comparing herself to Ana-sensei.

Although Ana-sensei was technically her teacher, they were close in age. If Ana-sensei could achieve such feats, why couldn't she?

Driven by this determination, Raiden Mei fought relentlessly within the Garden of Eden. However, it must be remembered that when Ana initially entered the realm, her mental fortitude was already exceptionally high, and she had intimate knowledge of the Elysian Realm - advantages Raiden Mei did not possess.

Unfortunately, Raiden Mei remained unaware of these disparities, completely oblivious to their significance.

Below, Raiden Mei battled against monstrous creatures within the Garden. These were quantum beasts known as Tonatiuh, considered relatively powerful among Honkai Beasts.

Currently, she faced the relentless onslaught of four Honkai Beasts. As time passed, her struggle grew increasingly arduous, reminiscent to Ana of grinding for low-level scores in her previous life's games.

Sometimes, it just takes that one small margin - believing you can handle it, yet falling short in reality. Raiden Mei had reached her limit and was now essentially fighting beyond her capacity.

"You've performed admirably, but it ends here," Ana observed calmly, watching Raiden Mei.

Despite her hazy gaze, Raiden Mei gritted her teeth, persevering through sheer determination. Her blade continuously struck at the surrounding Honkai Beasts, but its effectiveness waned significantly.

Such is the nature of the Elysian Realm; Authorities alone do not guarantee supremacy. Even seemingly weaker Honkai Beasts from outside could unleash unimaginable power and strength within this realm.

"I...can still keep going!" Raiden Mei strained, her voice barely audible, feeling caught in her throat.

"I understand, but persisting further holds no meaning. It won't bring you closer to the answers you seek, nor prove your potential. Let's call it a day!"

With that, Ana raised her hand, and in a swift motion, beams of light flashed, effortlessly slaying all the Honkai Beasts surrounding Raiden Mei. Even Mei herself, bewildered, couldn't comprehend how Ana had executed such a move.

In terms of fencing prowess, the Ana within the Garden of Eden was even more formidable than her True Self outside. The strength of True Self Ana lay primarily in laws and energy manipulation, while fencing required skill and practice honed over time.

As the last Honkai Beast vanished, Raiden Mei seemed to have exhausted all her energy. Her body trembled, swayed, and finally collapsed gently onto the ground. Just before losing consciousness, she glimpsed Ana approaching her...

"What a stubborn girl."

Elysia also leaped down from above, joining Ana by Raiden Mei's side, and sighed as she observed the fallen figure.

"She once showed weakness," Ana remarked softly, "and because of it, she lost something precious. Now, she refuses to give up, which likely fuels her stubbornness." Despite her calm tone, there was a hint of empathy in her words.

"Her determination reminds me of a World Serpent operative who underwent trials here before. Hmm, come to think of it, dear, he seems to have some connection with you," Elysia said, her eyes narrowing with a smile.

"Oh? Are you feeling jealous?"

"Of course not."

"But..."

A nostalgic expression crossed Elysia's face, as if she could once again see that young man standing before her. However, at that time, she had shown him no sympathy.

It never occurred to her that such a youth would be linked to her current beloved. Indeed, it was truly unfortunate.

Let's consider this just another tale of chasing dreams; not every story deserves a happy ending, and not everyone can become the protagonist.