Chapter 242

After saying all this, Raven left on her own. She still had some preparations to make, as that Dragon-Type Honkai Beast probably wouldn't let them pass easily.

Recalling the feeling of fighting Belenaus, Raven felt a mix of emotions. Raven sensed a special signal from it, something like human sadness, pain, and self-blame. Other Honkai Beast gathered around the Herrscher of the Void based on instinct, but it was different. It wanted to protect the Herrscher of the Void. Honkai Beast can have feelings too? Wanting to protect the Herrscher of the Void, it's quite similar to Raiden Mei.

"Aaaaaah! You don't know, I was helping the kids in the nest when that woman suddenly appeared, and then she... Ah, I'm so angry! She not only tied me up with rope, but she also knocked me unconscious! Shen Gonglin, avenge me! The last time I suffered such humiliation was back... back in Schicksal, with that maid. This Raven is just as despicable as that maid!"

Shortly after Tesla was moved back to Helios, Dr. Zaun woke up, transformed into a lobster ready to devour anyone she could find. Like a donkey with nowhere to vent its energy, Tesla paced around the room, complaining about the Raven's atrocities. One by one, they treated her like this, did they really think she was easy to bully?

"Hey! Are you even listening to me? That woman bullied me like that, aren't you going to say anything?"

Tesla, frustrated and furious for a long time without being heard from anyone, put his hands on the table and questioned Shen Gonglin. He wondered why Jingu Rin hadn't reacted at all after he had been talking for so long. Didn't Jingu Rin care about him at all? Tesla knew that Shen Gonglin had also had a similar experience. During the War of Schicksal, the maid had also tied him up, so Shen Gonglin should be able to understand his feelings.

"You poor thing, here, have a bite of this, don't be angry."

With a blissful expression, Shen Gonglin ate Mei's special potato stew. He hadn't had such a proper meal in a long time, so he didn't have time to pay attention to Tesla. This girl was a top science student from Zaun, and Shen Gonglin could imagine how outspoken she must have been. So he didn't want to get involved. For Tesla's sake, Shen Gonglin stuffed a spoonful of food into Tesla's mouth. If this girl kept quiet, she was indeed a rare beauty.

"Ugh... I feel like you're just brushing me off... Mei, are you really going to go with that woman to find Kiana? I don't think you can completely trust that woman."

Tesla was completely fooled by Shen Gonglin. She ate the potato and beef that Shen Gonglin fed her and quieted down. Then she looked at Mei, who was currently organizing her equipment and going to find Kiana with Raven... Sigh, if only Shen Gonglin were more reliable, then we wouldn't have to rely on Raven. But this girl doesn't remember the way at all. How could she possibly find Kiana under the clouds?

"Yes, she's serious, so I have to stop her. If I don't work with her, I'm afraid she'll attack Kiana the moment she finds her."

Having finished preparing, Mei took a deep breath and sheathed the sword back into its scabbard at her waist. She had to stop Raven from harming Kiana; no matter what Raven did or said, Kiana was safe.

"I understand. Things have gotten out of control. I'll contact others for backup immediately. Be careful, that woman is dangerous!"

Knowing this wasn't the time to throw a tantrum, and perhaps because Shen Gonglin's potato and beef stew had soothed Tesla, the girl surprisingly stopped swearing quite quickly this time. Her expression was somewhat serious, though the mashed potatoes at the corner of her mouth were a bit of a mood killer. It was really worrying to see the two of them traveling with Raven.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Support... Is it the headmistress and Bronya? Speaking of which, they should be here by now. It's been a long time since I've seen them, and I really miss them, especially Bronya. That girl can ride a motorcycle now; just thinking about it makes me feel pretty cool.

Silently carrying out his duties as a helper, Shen Gonglin wasn't too worried. He felt that Raven wouldn't do that. Did she really think he was just a decoration? How could he let Kiana, whom he had protected for so long, get into trouble? Shen Gonglin wasn't worried at all.

"I know she's dangerous. Her hatred for the Herrscher of the Void isn't just about her stance... She really will kill Kiana. If anyone gets in her way, she won't hold back either. But even so, we need her to help us find Kiana ... The moment we find Kiana, our fragile partnership will probably turn into an adversarial one. I understand."

Mei was equally prepared. Raven was dangerous, but so what? Only she could find Kiana now, and she had to keep an eye on Raven. Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to rest easy knowing that someone like Raven was constantly plotting against Kiana.

"Shen Gonglin, let's head out after we finish eating. I'll wait for you outside."

Taking a deep breath, Mei turned and left. She looked at the coat lying to the side, her eyes swirling with emotion. It was Kiana's coat she'd found in Sky City. How many times had she brushed past Kiana? During the War of Schicksal, when confronting Rita, when Durandal took her away... time and again, she could only watch helplessly as Kiana left her, always powerless to stop it...

Tesla had said it wasn't her fault, and she kept trying to comfort herself. But Mei couldn't keep feeling at ease anymore. She didn't want to deceive herself any longer. When everyone was together, she gradually forgot the pain, loneliness, and confusion of the past. But as everyone left, Mei realized that nothing had actually changed. It was she... who hadn't changed at all. She was still as weak as before, curled up in a safe corner, only to find everyone gone when she looked up. It was precisely because she hadn't changed that they had drifted apart, that things had turned out this way...

They have always been protecting her, but she has never really done anything for them. Mei must accept this fact. She no longer has the power to protect Kiana, but that doesn't mean Mei should give up. On the contrary, acknowledging this will allow Mei to see things more clearly. In order to bring the people she cares about back to her side, she must make some sacrifices. Even if it's a trap, even if it's an invincible opponent, Mei is determined to face it head-on, because this is the only way she can protect the people around her.

"That child seems to be under a lot of psychological pressure lately. You all... Anyway, you must be careful and come back safely."

Watching Mei's retreating figure, Tesla's eyes were filled with complex emotions. She knew how much psychological pressure Mei had been under lately, almost always shutting herself into the training room whenever she had a spare moment. Tesla could only offer comfort but couldn't do anything effective. She was very worried about Mei's current state. But thankfully, this guy was by her side, which put Tesla at ease a little. With him there, there shouldn't be any problems.

"I know, Tesla, don't worry, I'm Shen Gonglin... Remember to wash the dishes."

Having eaten and drunk his fill, Shen Gonglin stood up with an air of confidence. He ruffled Tesla's hair haphazardly, and before she could explode, Shen Gonglin had already run out. Looking at the bowls on the table, Tesla was filled with impotent rage. She hated washing dishes... especially someone else's! This guy was so audacious and arrogant, but...

That's just his personality, isn't it? I already knew that, but there's nothing I can do. Since it's his bowl, I should wash it myself. It's my duty, after all, I've eaten quite a few bites myself. Tesla felt a little proud and arrogant to be able to eat from Shen Gonglin, who likes to eat alone. Who else gets such treatment besides me?

There's clearly no right or wrong answer, so I guess I really am special.

And so, Tesla, holding a bowl and humming a little tune, ran to the kitchen to start washing. Dr. Lobster Head was in a pretty good mood today.

Beneath the Changkong Wall, the Raven waited silently. The oppressive atmosphere was depressing, but the scent mingling in the air made her even more uncomfortable. That familiar yet repulsive scent wafted continuously from the other side of the wall. The source of the scent hadn't moved for a long time. Perhaps the girl had already lost consciousness. From now on, she had to be extremely cautious, every step extremely careful, for even the smallest mistake could be fatal.

Raven took a deep breath and clenched her fist. Countless nights and countless cold dreams had seen her hunt for the demon's figure. She had been waiting for this moment to come, but why did she hesitate again on the eve of her wish coming true?

Raven recalled the time in Sky City when she clashed with Kiana. In that life-or-death battle, she fell to the ground, but Kiana didn't fire her gun. Those blue eyes still appear in Raven's mind whenever she closes her eyes. That night, the Herrscher of the Void protected Sky City.

As dawn broke, Raven watched as Shen Gonglin and the girl fell helplessly from the sky. When the moment she had been hoping for finally arrived, she found that she felt nothing at all. The emptiness that had accompanied her for more than a decade was still nothing but void, an unfathomable void...

What's wrong with me? This has always been my goal, and now my wish is about to come true. The Herrscher of the Void has no power to resist, and that samurai girl is not to be feared. The only obstacle is Shen Gonglin, but why am I so hesitant? I can't understand it, I really can't understand it.

Beneath the Changkong Wall, Raven remained silent. After a short while, the sound of footsteps broke her reverie. Raven turned around and saw Shen Gonglin and Mei approaching gracefully from afar. The approaching footsteps pulled her back to reality. They've come.

I'll put other things aside for now. Once I meet the Herrscher of the Void, I'll probably have my answer.

Chapter Thirty-Three: Choice

Clearly, Raven wasn't in the mood to speak this time. This cold-blooded mercenary wasn't as indifferent as she appeared. She could waver because of certain things, partly because of Raiden Mei's resolve, and partly because of Shen Gonglin Rin. Raven couldn't treat him the same way she treated others, after all, he was her only companion, although this companion was still unaware of that matter.

Shen Gonglin glanced at Mei walking with Mei. Although he hadn't explicitly stated his stance, if she were to actually attack the Herrscher of the Void... or Kiana, he would definitely stop her. She didn't know how much he had recovered, but if it were him, she probably wouldn't be able to go all out. Reason and emotion intertwined in Raven's heart. What should she do...?

The Raven was also puzzled.

They walked in silence. Raven led the two through layers of traps, and an eerie silence fell between the three. Mei and Raven were preoccupied with their own thoughts, while Shen Gonglin was simply lost in thought. What to eat back home... ah, no, it was because of Kiana's current condition. The girl was in terrible shape. Although she had been trying to escape, she couldn't do without treatment now. That was why Shen Gonglin hadn't stopped Mei from bringing her back. She was probably still where she was, given her current state...

There's nowhere to go.

"Alright, if we go this way we can find the Herrscher girl, but... Raiden Mei, tell me your answer."

Even the longest road has an end. Raven stopped and looked up at the ruins not far away, where she had located the Herrscher of the Void. She hadn't moved for a long time and must have lost consciousness. The three who had been traveling together until now should also make a decision. After a long period of experience, Raven made the same decision as before: to take this opportunity to keep the Herrscher.

"Right now, the Herrscher is only a stone's throw away from us. She is in danger and could lose control at any moment. Even if we send her somewhere else, we can't stop the symptoms from getting worse. I'm looking forward to seeing what you will do."

Mei everything. If possible, Raven didn't want to fight Shen Gonglin and Mei, but since their ideologies differed, they had no choice but to settle things with their hands. Raven was never lacking in resolve.

"I will take her away."

Mei said firmly that no matter what Raven said, her decision would not change. She had always lived under the protection of others, and now it was her turn to protect others.

"I'm afraid you can only take a corpse with you."

As soon as Raven finished speaking, the atmosphere in the room instantly became tense. The two women could start fighting at any moment. Shen Gonglin sighed and drew his Spear of the Void. Without a doubt, he stood on Mei's side. He was on Mei's side both morally and logically. Although this Miss Raven had been quite nice to him, Shen Gonglin would not back down on this kind of choice.

She even said she wanted to kill Kiana, how can you tolerate something like that?

How could Shen Gonglin possibly abandon the girl she had painstakingly protected all this time? It was simply a joke.

"Shen Gonglin ... Although it's stubborn, I'll take care of this battle. I can no longer... can no longer advance under your protection."

Lowering her head, Mei whispered these words. Admittedly, there was no problem with Shen Gonglin by her side. As long as he was by her side, she felt a great sense of security. But she could not continue like this. She was always being protected by others. How could she move forward if she was always like this? There must be something that only she could do. She would start from now on.

"...I understand. Mei, you must do your best. I believe you can do it!"

She's usually quite willful, but sometimes Shen Gonglin can be very understanding. After hearing what Mei said, she put away her Spear of the Void, found a flat spot, Shen Gonglin quite enjoys watching girls fight, and being at this distance means she can stop anything that happens in time.

The battle was left to Mei, but Shen Gonglin couldn't just stand by and watch. She took out the Sky Rice Candy that Raven had given her from her bag and said, "Come on, let me see how girls fight."

Will Shen Gonglin join the battle? What a stroke of luck! If he were to fight too, I don't know if I could bring myself to do it. But if only Raiden Mei is left, things will be much better. The Soul Steel Gauntlets on Raven's hands shimmered with red light, and the battle between the two was about to break out. However, at this moment, a dragon's roar that resounded through the sky suddenly appeared. Sensing that someone was approaching the girl, and with the desire to protect the Herrscher, Belenaus stepped forward.

No matter who it is, don't even think about hurting her!

"It seems our battle will have to come to a temporary halt."

Standing alongside Mei, the two, who were originally enemies, temporarily joined forces to fight together. After all, the Honkai Beast in front of them was their common enemy. Neither Raven nor Mei intended to let Shen Gonglin join the battle, since he was still injured and had not yet recovered from the backlash from his previous battle with Kevin. It would be a good opportunity to show him off.

The former enemies now stood together. Although they didn't communicate, Raven and Mei had a basic understanding of each other. They rushed forward without saying a word. The Judgment-class Honkai Beast Belenaus... This guy is clearly Judgment-class, but why does Shen Gonglin feel like it keeps getting the short end of the stick?

Shen Gonglin tilted her head and looked at the Honkai Beast over there. She couldn't see the imposing presence that Judgment-class Honkai Beast Shen Gonglin have on it. It seemed as if it had never intended to fight. Even now, it appeared in front of everyone... It felt like a little dog barking fiercely in front of its master. Despite trembling all over, it still resolutely stood in front of its master.

Hmm, if that's the case, why do I feel like Raven and Mei are the villains? It seems the line between good and evil is really too blurry. Even though Shen Gonglin believes what they're doing is righteous, in Belenaus's eyes, maybe they're the bad guys.

Chapter Thirty-Four: The Raven's Decision

As things unfolded as Shen Gonglin had predicted, despite the terrifying reputation of the Judgment-class Honkai Beast, Belenaus was not an invincible enemy. This Honkai Beast had appeared far too many times, and both Schicksal, Anti-Entropy, and World Serpent had developed methods to deal with it. Mei had also made great progress during this period. Although it was difficult, she gradually gained control of the battlefield.

This girl is something else.

Raven, who fought alongside Mei, was the one who could feel Mei's power the most. Due to the limitations of the battle at the time, Mei's task was to fight head-on, while Raven provided support from the sidelines. Mei faced the Mei Honkai Beast directly. Watching the girl's active figure, Raven's judgment of her rose another level. This girl was not as simple as she had thought before. Looking at the lightning leaping on her body, Raven's doubts deepened.

Wasn't the Conquest Gem within her already taken away?

But the power she's displaying now has exceeded her limits. Is this her belief? It's truly astonishing. Even from this distance, I can feel Mei's unwavering determination.

Lightning-like as I am, I will cut down everything!

Amidst the flashing blades and crackling lightning, Mei fiercely slashed at Belenaus. Despite the Honkai Beast's constant transformations, Mei was already familiar with its attack patterns, relentlessly pushing her limits. The familiar pain once again assaulted Mei's head; it ached terribly. Mei had developed this problem after the Herrscher took her Conquest Gem, but the girl gritted her teeth and endured it. To them, Belenaus was an enemy, but to Belenaus, they were probably the same.

Watching Belenaus rise again, Mei took a deep breath, and her already wounded body once again unleashed unparalleled power. After a mournful cry, Belenaus fell off the platform and was submerged in the sea. Finally, it was dealt with. Now, there's only one thing left.

Sensing the wind behind her, Mei turned around and raised her sword to parry. Sure enough, the red Soul Steel claws were on Mei's sword. After their common enemy was defeated, their fragile alliance was broken. Next was the battle with the Raven.

"I will take her away."

Mei said in a deep voice, but the force from the claws did not ease in the slightest. Raven did not want to make any other decisions before seeing any possibility, because the price she would pay was unbearable.

"I'm afraid you can only take one body with you. Before that, I will kill her."

Raven's attitude was very cold, and such words angered Mei. The girl pushed Raven away and launched an attack on her instead. The two began to fight, but it seemed that Mei was at a disadvantage. Raven was very smart. In the battle with Belenaus just now, Mei had been the one putting in the effort. Now the girl was covered in wounds, while Mei was in much better condition.

"Give up. The World Serpent knows everything about your past. You've lost the Conquest Gem. You're just an ordinary girl now. You can't even protect her in the past, so how could you possibly do it now?"

Trying to achieve her goal with such words, the Soul Steel Claws clashed with the blade once more. The strength Mei was now displaying had already surprised Raven. This power of lightning... was it a remnant of the previous Herrscher power? According to the information she knew, Raiden Mei should no longer possess such power, but whether in the battle with Belenaus just now or now, this girl was very surprising.

"I don't understand... why fate is so unfair to her... because of her identity? Because of her past? Or simply because she was born a Herrscher, even though she never wanted to hurt anyone?"

As if power was rising from the bottom of her heart, lightning flashed in Mei's purple eyes. She slowly pried open the Raven's claws. A power was slowly emerging in her heart. Mei gritted her teeth. Why was it so unfair to Kiana!

"She was such a kind... such a gentle person, yet the world was so cruel to her... Raven, I hope you won't interfere with my decision, because if sacrificing my life can bring her back, I would be more than willing!"

The Honkai energy was gathering, a fact Raven keenly observed. At the same time, Shen Gonglin also sensed something amiss; a familiar feeling seemed to be forming within Mei, something that was changing within her...

"Honkai energy is gathering... You're insane!"

As the person who fought Mei, Raven was the one who could sense her changes most closely. Was this girl insane? To solidify such Honkai energy in a human body, did she want to die?

"I know I've been hiding behind her all along, running away, but now I have nowhere to run. As long as I have a breath left, I will never let you hurt her!"

Mei didn't know what state she was in. She just felt power surging up. She was probably in a dangerous state, but only in this way could she do what she wanted to do... And Shen Gonglin was here. As long as he was here, nothing would happen. So she decided to be a little willful. This power, this familiar power!

Her purple eyes quietly turned red, Honkai energy gathered and then burst into dazzling lightning. Unable to withstand the interference of this lightning, Raven could only retreat. Her red Soul Steel claws were emitting light smoke and were obviously no longer usable. It seems that this was Mei's choice.

Looking at the girl struggling to stand and panting in the arena, Raven made a decision. The crackling lightning gradually subsided, and the girl's eyes had unknowingly faded back to purple, as if everything before had been an illusion. But Raven knew it was real; otherwise, with her current power, she wouldn't have been able to damage her Soul Steel weapon like this. In this state, she probably couldn't continue fighting.

Although it has disappeared now, that power was real.

"Nice eyes, I like them. Okay, I've changed my mind. Anyway, I can only hold you off. If we keep fighting, that guy might join the battle, and I don't want to fight him... Take her away, until I change my mind."

Seeing another possibility, Raven suddenly changed her mind under Mei's puzzled gaze. What did she mean by that?

Chapter Thirty-Five: The Final Encounter

"What? Don't you understand? Take her away, the farther the better. Don't let her hurt anyone. That's what you promised. You should thank yourself. In the very end, you did provide some evidence. Go now, before I change my mind."

Meeting Mei's puzzled gaze, Raven gave this answer. Although she didn't know why Mei had made this decision, as long as Mei didn't stop her... Mei sheathed her sword and dragged her tired body past Raven's figure. Kiana was there, waiting for her over there.

"Are you satisfied now? I hope you're not wrong, otherwise no one can bear the consequences."

Mei went to find Kiana, while Raven turned back to look at Shen Gonglin with a hint of helplessness. In that glance, she also saw the disappearing halo between Shen Gonglin's fingers. If she hadn't let Kiana go earlier, he probably would have made a move. Raven didn't have the confidence to stop two people, especially one of them being Rin Shen Gonglin. In addition, Mei had indeed shown her another possibility, so doing her a favor was acceptable.

"Don't worry, I'm here. With me here, there will be no problem. Kiana is a very well-behaved girl, she's a good girl."

Reaching Raven's side, Shen Gonglin reached out and patted her shoulder. He had expected the mercenary to dodge his hand, but she stood there unabashedly. Kiana was right; this girl was indeed quite friendly to him. Not only had she brought him and Kiana medicine and supplies in the desert before, but even now, Shen Gonglin felt that she didn't harbor any ill will towards him. Why was that?

"Yes, yes, she's a good girl, but the other one lurking in her heart isn't a good girl at all. I hope you can resolve that. If you can't, I don't mind doing the cleaning."

Watching Mei's retreating figure as she ran off with Mei Shen Gonglin, Raven sighed softly. In the end, she still couldn't be completely at ease. If that girl and Shen Gonglin failed, then she would have to make up her mind completely.

"You talk as if you can beat Kiana. Don't forget, you two fought, and Kiana won. As for the other bad girl you mentioned... well, she's not really that bad. How should I put it, she's half bad. She's definitely bad, but not quite... Hey, where is she? When did she leave?"

Shen Gonglin hesitated, unsure how to describe the Herrscher. If she was bad, then she had indeed done a lot of bad things, that much was undeniable. But if she had to be honest, she hadn't actually done anything bad to him. Without fully understanding her, Shen Gonglin couldn't say anything. Just as he was about to chatter on and on with Raven, a gust of wind swept by, Raven vanished without a trace. Why did she run away? Was it because he said she couldn't beat Kiana?

Finally... I finally found her.

Passing through the ruins, Mei struggled to approach her goal. At that moment, the sun pierced through the clouds and shone down. It was dawn. Mei looked at the girl who appeared in her line of sight, and her face, which had been deliberately strong, finally relaxed. She had finally found Kiana. She was right there within her reach.

In Mei's eyes, the white-haired girl lay quietly asleep on the ground, a black cloak draped over her body. Mei could see traces of Honkai energy erosion on her face and body. The girl was as silent as a broken porcelain doll, and only her relatively steady breathing reassured Mei. These days must have been very difficult for her.

Mei slowly approached Kiana without making a sound, afraid of waking the girl and disturbing her hard-won peace. She gently sat down next to Kiana Mei carefully moved Kiana's head so that she could rest it on her lap. This scene was just like before. Back in the St. Freya Academy, Kiana liked to do this after training. But this simple and easy action now required a lot of hard work to achieve.

Fortunately, I managed to do it in the end. It's true what they say, you only realize how precious something is when you lose it.

Mei gently stroked Kiana's hair. The girl didn't move at all, but her sleeping face seemed to have truly relaxed. Mei cherished this opportunity and decided to stay like this a little longer. Now that she was by Kiana's side, they could solve all the problems together.

"Mei, Mei... Where did you go? Raven ran away too. She said you could come to her if you needed anything... Hey, this girl is still sleeping. She was sleeping when I left, she should be done sleeping by now. Kiana, wake up, get up and party..."

However, Mei had no intention of granting Shen Gonglin's small wish. The girl just wanted to spend some quiet time with Kiana, and then this guy came running over, shouting loudly. Seeing Kiana and Mei like this, Shen Gonglin felt a strange unease. It was that feeling of being doubly cheated on again. Seeing the two of them like this, Shen Gonglin's first thought was that if they didn't get married, things would probably get very complicated...