Equipment and external factors had actually accounted for the greater part.
The Pulse Katana Type 19 forged by Raiden Ryoma was a Honkai Energy weapon, but more importantly, it was a Honkai Energy weapon that even ordinary people could use.
That gave Bai Ge the means to attack.
At the same time, the electromagnetic field that came with Herrscher of Thunder Mei's awakening disrupted the Titan Mechas the instant they materialized. A momentary internal short circuit caused their movements to slow.
Bai Ge seized that opportunity and shut one down with a single slash.
As for the final factor... that was entirely thanks to his courage.
The courage to challenge that mechanical giant without even a moment of hesitation, throwing himself forward without regard for his own safety.
"Bai Ge, are you okay?!"
After dealing with the remaining two Titans, Kiana looked over at him worriedly.
"Cough, cough. Kiana, I'm fine. Um... Mei, could you give me a hand?"
"..." The disappointment in Herrscher of Thunder Mei's eyes faded, but her cold, domineering demeanor remained.
She stared straight at Bai Ge, who had saved her. Those unreadable eyes seemed as though they wanted to imprint every part of the boy into her memory.
First update. Good morning.
Please send flowers and recommendation votes, and everyone, leave more comments.
And... happy birthday, Elysia!!
Compared to the World, I Choose You
"Mei, could you give me a hand?"
The Herrscher of Thunder stared straight at Bai Ge, as if she wanted to completely engrave his appearance into her eyes. At the same time, the thunder in the sky temporarily fell silent.
"Hmph!"
The Queen raised a hand and pulled Bai Ge up from the ground. Her movement looked casual, yet it was surprisingly considerate.
Only then did Herrscher of Thunder Mei notice that Bai Ge's hands were still trembling slightly. It was hard to imagine that those hands had shut down a Titan with a single slash.
But he must have forced out a great deal of his own potential in that critical moment.
"Watch your surroundings. It's not over yet."
Bai Ge glanced around. More Titan Mechas had appeared, though their movements were somewhat stiff under the electromagnetic interference from the Herrscher of Thunder's authority.
"Damn it, more of them! Watch this young lady tear them all apart!"
"Tch, looks like that vixen still hasn't given up. Kiana, don't take them head-on. Let's retreat first."
Although the mechas' movements were stiff from the interference, they still charged at them aggressively, their iron fists raised high and ready to smash down.
Bai Ge's eye twitched. He had no desire to become Valkyrie fragments, so he immediately stopped the idiot who was about to rush in and fight, intending to make a tactical retreat first.
However...
"They're nothing more than a pile of scrap metal."
Herrscher of Thunder Mei, who had nearly been successfully ambushed by that pile of scrap metal moments ago, stepped forward disdainfully.
The thunder that had just subsided immediately roared again.
In an instant, purple lightning flooded the abandoned building, striking everywhere except where Bai Ge and Kiana stood and instantly frying the Titans.
"..."
"..."
Bai Ge and Kiana were both stunned speechless. They could only give a thumbs-up to show that Mei was amazing. So cool~!
"Why did you save me?"
As though she had merely done something trivial, the Queen did not spare that pile of "scrap metal" another glance. Instead, she turned around, raised a hand, and pinned Bai Ge against the wall.
It was a domineering CEO-style kabedon.
"What do you mean, why? Mei, you were in danger. How could I possibly ignore that? Uh, you're so close..."
Bai Ge awkwardly looked away.
It was his first time being pinned against a wall by a girl.
And Mei, who was usually so gentle and virtuous, the innocent Mei who blushed whenever he teased her, was now cornering him with the cold arrogance of a domineering Queen.
His heart could not help racing.
And they were ridiculously close. Their breathing was audible between them, and Bai Ge could even feel two soft slimes pressed against his chest.
If Mei closed her eyes and stayed still for a few seconds right now, Bai Ge felt like he could kiss her.
"You really know nothing. Don't confuse me with that crybaby. I am the Queen of Thunder, the Herrscher of Thunder, an apostle created by the Honkai to destroy humanity. So? Do you regret saving me now?"
Herrscher of Thunder Mei looked down at the boy from above.
Yet Bai Ge only smiled and shook his head.
"I don't think so. Your personality really is different from Mei's usual self, and you're incredibly strong, but even so, you're still Raiden Mei, my girlfriend, aren't you? Then there's no problem."
He did not care about Mei's identity.
He merely made it clear to the Herrscher before him that no matter what she truly was, he would be her companion.
And the Herrscher of Thunder? On the surface, that was indeed the case. But this domineering Queen version of Mei was not, in essence, a Herrscher personality created by the Honkai.
That was why she had the possibility of reversing the Great Honkai.
"What are you trying to say?"
Herrscher of Thunder Mei's surprised eyes widened slightly as she narrowed the already negligible distance between them even further.
Bai Ge could even hear the hand she had used to pin him down crushing the wall inward.
"Didn't I already say it? I want to save all of you. I don't want to think about those complicated things."
"As for destroying humanity, Mei, please let it go for my sake~ It's such a boring thing. Having dinner together would be far more meaningful."
"..."
The Queen's majesty had no effect whatsoever.
Let alone showing reverence, Herrscher Mei could clearly feel that Bai Ge's attitude toward her was no different from how he treated the coward in her memories.
The same gentleness.
The same concern.
That feeling was so warm that it left her completely baffled. She was clearly a Herrscher about to turn all of Changkong City into a living hell, an enemy of humanity.
Then, at that very moment.
Herrscher Mei suddenly felt a warmth against her chest.
"What are you doing?"
"Uh, hmm? Maybe I tried a little too hard just now. I'm going to pass out for a bit. I hope that when I wake up, I'll get to eat dinner made by Mei herself."
Bai Ge suddenly collapsed against Herrscher of Thunder Mei as though he were about to fall asleep, his eyes narrowing shut. His face buried itself in the girl's chest.
Even Raiden Ryoma, her father, had never done anything so intimate.
"But I've already made my choice, so next... it's your turn to make yours, Mei. Don't disappoint me." Before his consciousness sank into sleep, he murmured as if in a dream.
"Hmph, don't think pretending to faint will make me feel indebted to you and listen to what you say. Open your eyes and explain yourself, you—what?!"
Suddenly, Herrscher Mei seemed to sense something. Disbelief appeared in her purple eyes filled with lightning.
Then her movements stiffened as she carefully checked Bai Ge's body.
"Don't joke with me!" she shouted.
Rumble—!!
In an instant, the roar of lightning echoed throughout the entire city.
Herrscher Mei remembered what Bai Ge had just said, as well as the choice she had witnessed not long ago.
She had placed the choices of saving the world and saving Raiden Mei before Bai Ge, asking him to choose. Without hesitation, the boy had chosen the latter.
Now, Bai Ge had placed a choice before Herrscher of Thunder Mei as well—would she continue carrying out the Honkai's mission and destroy civilization, or choose me, Bai Ge?
"...I won't allow you to end like this. From now on, I'm the only one in this world allowed to take your life. Bai Ge, you must live."
Herrscher Mei looked at the boy in her arms and said.
The Great Honkai was supposedly irreversible.
When a Herrscher descended upon the world, aside from a few unusual individuals, a massive Honkai disaster would occur and devastate the world.
Because the Great Honkai created Herrschers, Herrschers themselves should not have been able to stop the Great Honkai's arrival... under normal circumstances, that was true.
"Kiana over there, I'm leaving him to you. Take good care of him."
"Mei, no, that's not right. You aren't Mei. What exactly are you planning to do?"
"Hmph! I have no obligation to explain myself to you... Fine. I'm merely telling him my choice."
She looked deeply at the sleeping boy once more.
Before you continue