Traversing the starry sky has been a long-standing dream of humanity.
Thanks to technological advances, modern humans have achieved this feat.
However, this is often done within the confines of layered steel machines or at the very least, clad in thick, sealed protective armor to barely stay briefly in the dark void of space.
Now, aboard a simple silver shuttle, two figures sat facing each other.
One in silver-white, the other in light gray.
Their hair floated slightly due to inertia, with nothing but the vast blue planet and the boundless darkness as their backdrop.
This was outer space, a feat that defied the very concept of life.
Fu Hua's eyebrows were slightly furrowed, her face somewhat pale.
"Feeling uncomfortable?" Sigurd asked indifferently as he placed a black metal chess piece on the strong magnetic chessboard between them.
Playing chess in space might be pretentious or even absurd, but Sigurd thought it was fitting while traveling with Fu Hua.
It is well known that sound cannot travel in a vacuum.
Sound is a form of vibration that needs a medium to reach the eardrum, allowing people to hear it.
In the vacuum of space, there is no such medium, but Honkai energy can be used to transmit the energy of vibrations.
So Sigurd could speak.
As for why such an implausible operation could be performed—the superiority of Honkai knowledge, of course!
"Yes, a little," Fu Hua replied. Her voice was transmitted directly into Sigurd's mind.
She couldn't perform the intricate operations Sigurd could, but telepathic communication was not difficult for the wielder of Fenghuang Down.
She then placed a white piece on the board.
Sigurd glanced at the board, countless possibilities flashing through his mind before he placed another piece.
He said, "Don't resist the changes in your body. You can adapt to this environment. Perhaps, in the fierce civilizational conflicts of the previous era, you already experienced this but forgot."
"I will adapt. Future wars indeed have the potential to extend beyond the planet. Not adapting to this environment is a weakness," Fu Hua responded.
The sound from her consciousness allowed Sigurd to clearly sense the helplessness within but also the resolve.
Sigurd nodded and continued, "Don't be confined by the so-called human body. Whether you are human is determined by your heart and attitude, not your physical capabilities. You must acknowledge that from the day we became fusion warriors, we became different. Immortal, ageless, unconstrained by eating, drinking, or breathing. What ordinary people see as fatal weaknesses are not much more than a cut on the back of the hand for us."
Sigurd placed another piece, causing Fu Hua to furrow her brows deeply.
No matter how many strategies she tried, it seemed Sigurd could block her path within a few moves.
Was the difference in their chess skills really this vast?
Sigurd continued, "You have a heartbeat, breathing, body temperature, and blood flowing. When you're injured, your blood is red just like anyone else's. But these are only superficial similarities. In fact, your genetic composition and structure, the operation mechanism and strength of each cell, are completely different from ordinary people."
Fu Hua looked up at Sigurd, realizing that he seemed to be giving a lesson.
"The moment you stepped into deep space, a different mechanism started working in your bloodstream. It's no longer oxygen or your heart pushing the blood flow, but rather, it's the Honkai energy. Your internal environment is automatically adjusting to adapt to the external vacuum. Your skin cells are active, rejoicing as they are no longer useless like they were on the planet's surface. They've armored themselves, making your skin, although still fair and smooth, perfectly resistant to the cold and deadly radiation of deep space, even absorbing the sparse materials in space to maintain your body's functioning."
As Sigurd spoke, he gently lifted Fu Hua's hand and brushed her smooth, jade-like arm, causing a slight tingling sensation.
This was purely instructional, with no hint of intimacy, but Fu Hua's cheeks still flushed.
In her fragmented memories, she had never experienced such close contact with the opposite sex.
Even during the long years she couldn't remember, Fu Hua instinctively felt that such experiences were nonexistent.
She quickly adjusted her mindset, calmly listening to Sigurd.
Unlike some naive girls who might get angry or flustered by Sigurd's blank face, Fu Hua maintained her composure.
Sigurd released her hand and then lifted a strand of her silky, light-gray hair, continuing, "Your body is adapting to this environment, from your organs and limbs down to each blood cell and even every strand of hair. They are all adjusting to enable you to stand in deep space. Don't resist this change... Hmm? Why is your face so red? Are you feeling unwell?"
"...No, please continue."
Fu Hua's voice echoed in Sigurd's mind.
The emotional transmission of telepathy was strong, making Sigurd sense an unusual, almost panicky emotion.
"Is it because you left the planet? Don't worry, I have the flight path in my mind. Even if the spaceship malfunctions, I can use the propulsion of 'Judgement of Shamash' to take you back."
"Mm..."
"Are you really okay? Is it that time of the month? Hmm, I haven't really researched the menstrual cycles of female fusion warriors... Is it inconvenient for you?"
"I'm fine. Let's continue playing chess."
Fu Hua decisively replied in Sigurd's mind.
Sigurd paused, slightly regretful, and nodded.
He genuinely felt regretful since it was an unresearched topic.
His curiosity was aroused, and not satisfying it was torturous for a science enthusiast like him.
So, Sigurd proceeded to defeat Fu Hua thoroughly on the chessboard.
Three minutes later, Fu Hua held a white piece, looking at the chessboard with no room for maneuver, her eye twitching slightly as she crushed the metal piece in her hand.
"Do you want to continue?"
"No, I admit defeat. My skills are inferior."
"Don't take you lost to the heart. You're playing with strategies and patterns, while I'm simply calculating what's the best move to win. Only Otto might be able to defeat me."
"I feel like you have a high opinion of Otto."
Fu Hua sat cross-legged, her hands on her knees, tilting her head with a curious look in her clear eyes.
Sigurd smiled slightly, "I am, he's a madman for sure, but you can't deny he's a genius."
"I never deny his abilities and contributions. Otherwise, I wouldn't have sought his protection for Shenzhou when my strength faded. But, dealing with a tiger rarely ends well. Otto is far more than a fierce tiger. Be careful."
"I grasp his deepest weakness and never underestimate his danger. Rest assured, I'm much safer than you. I'm curious, though—what gave you the confidence to deliver goods to Otto? Frankly, with your straightforward and honest nature, Book of Fuxi might have sold you out several times, and you'd still help her count the money."
"Book of Fuxi... Maybe she did sell me out during the years I can't remember."
Fu Hua smiled.
Since Book of Fuxi Shu's resurrection, she often seemed more like a lively but gentle girl than a lifeless, exquisite puppet.
Sigurd raised an eyebrow, "You're not angry about being sold out?"
"Why should I be? For someone like me who often forgets the people around her, if Book of Fuxi can be happy, it's fine if she sells me a few times. As long as... she doesn't abandon me."
"You are too humble."
Sigurd shook his head and continued, "Book of Fuxi said you are her reason for existing. Don't be so humble and cautious. It worries her."
Fu Hua was silent for a moment, then sighed, "Maybe. But I can't help it. When Book of Fuxi first woke up, I had no memory of her. Memory fades, but some things don't. The feeling of regaining something lost is hard to explain for someone who often loses their past. You helped me recover a treasure I had forgotten, and I can never repay that kindness. Thank you."
"Don't mention it. It was just a way to win you over, and it worked better than I expected."
"...You are very straightforward."
"Lying for no reason wastes time and mental energy. Speaking of which, I have something I need your help with now."
"Go ahead."
"Can I study your psychological issues?"
"Eh?"
Fu Hua blinked in confusion, looking particularly adorable.
Sigurd rubbed his chin, his expression serious, "I am already a fusion warrior. Although the perfect experimental design allowed me to grow to this extent, I've nearly reached my limit. From now on, like you, I will have a long life and youth. A few hundred years should be fine, but for thousands or tens of thousands of years, if nothing happens to my body, I have to consider psychological issues. I don't think you're a good reference since you often lose your memory... I feel Otto's psyche might be more instructive."
Sigurd spoke earnestly, while Fu Hua shook her head with a smile.
"Your considerations are thorough and far-sighted. Sure, come to me anytime you need. As for Otto, be careful and good luck."
"Thank you. We have thirteen more hours to the moon, and Kiana and the others will take two more days. Do you need a movie or game? Don't worry, my equipment is space-proof. Or, you could take a nap?"
"No, I'll just look at the stars. They're quite beautiful."
Fu Hua said leisurely.
Sigurd nodded in agreement.
Yes, the starry sky is beautiful.
If it weren't for Kiana's problem, it would be even more beautiful.
Sigurd looked up at the increasingly massive moon and sighed inwardly.
He decided, once the problem was solved, he'd give Fu Hua 120 sets of test papers.
Keeping her mentally active would prevent her from overthinking.
<+>
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Latest Chapter in Ko-Fi: Chapter 251: Transformation[2]
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