Chapter 262

Although they do carry hope, these children... are they out of their minds?

Inside the tent, the Valkyrie who had been resting on their beds sat up. They stared at Durandal, and the bright light in her eyes made the Valkyrie feel increasingly pressured. Most of these people probably had something wrong with them.

"Durandal... cough cough... this time, we can only rely on you."

Even Rita, who was severely injured and not allowed to speak, struggled to reach out her hand to Durandal. She was unable to fight now, and everything depended on her.

"...oh."

Durandal reached out and took Rita's hand, completely bewildered. What was going on?

Chapter 117 A Surprisingly Good Head Talk

Phew... This place should be safe now, right? But how did things turn out like this?

After running for an unknown amount of time, Shen Gonglin. Honkai Mei Shen Gonglin Mei n't want her to burn his wounds. If he continued to lose blood like this... and given the current situation, things couldn't get any worse.

Shifting her attention away from Shen Gonglin, Mei looked up at the sky, which was now unrecognizable. A mixture of steel bars and concrete had been stripped from the ground and floated around the ruins of the "Stairway to Heaven," forming a spiral staircase leading to heaven. And the monster formed by the fusion of two Herrscher was in the center of that staircase. What a nuisance.

"I was only gone for a short while, how did this place become like this... And Shen Gonglin, how did you get so badly injured!"

A gentle breeze swept by, Raven appeared beside the two. Raven had been busy collecting the Staff of the Underworld, and as soon as she met Raven with them, she saw Shen Gonglin lying on the ground, Shen Gonglin clothes soaked in blood. Before she could say anything to Mei, the mercenary quickly knelt down to check on Shen Gonglin's condition. This wound... it must have been caused by the Divine Key, so was it the work of Midnight Snack?

A sharp glint flashed in Raven's eyes. Not only had he betrayed World Serpent, but he had also done such a thing to Shen Gonglin. This guy had really gone down the wrong path. Without time to think, Raven tore off the bandage that Mei had applied earlier. Then she took out a bottle of hemostatic gel from her inner pocket. As a mercenary, she always carried this kind of thing with her, and it was very effective against penetrating wounds like this.

"This is a little irritating and might hurt a bit, so please bear with it... Don't bite me! I've finally regained my mobility, and if you bite me again, I can't take it!"

Seeing that Shen Gonglin was in pain and wanted to bite, Raven quickly dodged his mouth. She couldn't withstand eight Durandal- level forces in one night. If Shen Gonglin bit her again, she might not only be able to stay put, but she might even capsize. Raven took out a handkerchief and stuffed it into Shen Gonglin's mouth. After treating his wound, Raven breathed a sigh of relief. After finishing with Shen Gonglin, the next thing to deal with was even more troublesome.

"Phew... Mei, I've already learned the conclusion from Schicksal's communications. As for the cause... I can roughly guess. Here, this is what you wanted."

Raven shook the small box in her hand. Its black and gold surface was covered with frost and looked somewhat dull. Mei felt an instinctive unease upon seeing the box. Yes, this was it, the Staff of the Underworld.

"Plans can't keep up with changes. We've obtained the Staff of the Underworld, but it's in such a broken state that we don't know if it'll still be of any use in the current situation... So, what's your plan?"

Mei remained silent, her mind preoccupied with the new Herrscher, from the addition of Midnight Snack to his betrayal, to the escape and pursuit, and everything that followed... The entire sequence of events reconnected in Mei's mind; it must be like this, that's right.

The mercenary helped Shen Gonglin up from the ground and thoughtfully spread his cloak on the ground so that Shen Gonglin could lean against it more comfortably. Shen Gonglin then reached for the box, his eyes flashing with electricity. This was Shen Gonglin's way of using Electromagnetic Force. He was an expert in playing with electricity before, and now that he had the power of the Shen Gonglin of Herrscher of Thunder, he easily figured out Mei's plan.

"Electromagnetic field... The principle behind this thing is to use a special electromagnetic field to interfere with the connection between the Herrscher Core and the Imaginary Space. Mei told me about her being affected before, so it seems that this thing does have some effect on Herrscher. As long as we remember its electromagnetic wavelength, we should be able to simulate its working state and thus suppress the Herrscher... Why are you all looking at me like that? Am I wrong?"

Stimulated by the electric current in Shen Gonglin's hand, the Staff of the Underworld slowly began to glow red. This red light flowed through the skin of her palm like blood in her veins, coursing through Shen Gonglin's entire body. Unfortunately, this thing had no effect on her. Shen Gonglin's Herrscher energy was independent of that Imaginary Space. However, it should be very useful against other Herrscher. But why were the two of them looking at her with such surprise? Had she said something wrong?

"... I was just a little surprised. I didn't expect Shen Gonglin to be so clever... So Mei, are you planning to use the power of the Herrscher of Thunder to do the same thing?"

Raven was really surprised, because in her impression, Shen Gonglin was the kind of person who was rather impulsive, and it was hard to imagine that he could come up with such a precise analysis. If Mei had said this, she wouldn't have been too surprised, after all, Mei was a top student, but Shen Gonglin... could it be said that appearances can be deceiving? This guy is really not simple.

"That's right, just like Shen Gonglin said, we still have a chance. Staff of the Underworld can do, I can do too, and I'll be even stronger. Raven, I'm entrusting Shen Gonglin to you. This time must be over quickly."

Mei clenched her fist. It had dragged on for too long. If the Hyperion took action as well, it would be terrible. That would go against her original intention. She couldn't let Kiana get involved. She had to resolve this matter immediately. Raven's arrival was the best-case scenario. She could let Shen Gonglin take care of Rin, so she wouldn't have any worries.

"I understand... but this time you're facing a monster formed by the fusion of two Herrscher. You have to defeat it in its domain and seize its core with your power. You only have one chance. If you fail, no one can save you."

Raven understood Mei's plan, but still felt it was too risky. It was like breaking into someone's house, beating up their people, and then trying to steal their property certificate. Although she knew Mei was very capable, this situation was not simple. If something went wrong, Mei would probably be finished. In this situation, without the Divine Key, she couldn't even play a supporting role. Raven was really worried about leaving everything to Mei.

Chapter 118 What's wrong with using it?

"It's okay, I can do it, don't worry."

Faced with the mercenary's unusual concern, Mei gently shook her head. Mastering math, physics, and chemistry would make her fearless against any Herrscher. This was something only she could do. Using the Herrscher of Thunder of Staff of the Underworld would temporarily weaken the connection between the Herrscher and the Imaginary Space. Whether it was the Herrscher of Ice or a newly born Herrscher, they all needed the Imaginary Tree to provide them with energy. Only she could do this.

After all, besides himself, only Shen Gonglin had such an ability, but he was injured and had not personally experienced the frequency and waveform of the Staff of the Underworld. No matter how you look at it, he was the most suitable.

"In that case, let me help you."

Raven wanted to say something more, but just then a shooting star streaked across the sky. The newcomer was none other than Durandal, who had come to provide support. Durandal's arrival on the battlefield, leaving both Herrscher to Raiden Mei, wasn't her style. Besides, Shen Gonglin's behavior...

Durandal looked at Shen Gonglin, who was sitting on the ground. A certain emotion flickered in the Valkyrie's eyes. He had been beaten so badly. If she didn't help him get revenge, Durandal herself would never forgive herself.

Does he really think there are no adults at home? Even Kevin Durandal, the leader of the World Serpent, dared to punch him, let alone a mere Herrscher. In other people's eyes, Herrscher are moving natural disasters, but in Durandal's eyes, they are also beings who can be punched in the face!

"Currently, the Honkai energy level of Coral Island is more than twice that of a normal Honkai, and it is still rising. The monster's power is also continuing to increase, so we must hurry."

Before she could say much, Durandal knelt beside Shen Gonglin to check on his condition. The mercenaries' first aid for the wound was quite thorough; it was already very good that things were in this state. After this battle, she would take him back to Schicksal for proper treatment. After all, Schicksal's capabilities were top-notch. As for Shen Gonglin's status as a wanted criminal... with Durandal protecting him, she wanted to see which law enforcement team would dare to arrest him!

Shen Gonglin a reassuring smile, Durandal stood up and spoke seriously with Mei. Now was not the time to hesitate. Raiden Mei was a very good fighting force, and at this moment, only the two of them could take action.

Mei was obviously aware of this as well. She had originally planned to fight alone, but now that Durandal had joined the fray, it was perfect. After all, even Mei herself couldn't fathom Durandal's fighting prowess. With Durandal's help, she would be more confident.

"Durandal, help me reach the core. I have a way to defeat it. Raven, you protect Shen Gonglin and get her to safety first."

Seeing the flames gradually burning in Durandal's eyes, Mei and Durandal reached a consensus at this moment. They both wanted to avenge Shen Gonglin. So there was no need to say more. The Herrscher and the Valkyrie had reached a cooperation at this moment. They had to help Shen Gonglin get revenge.

"Sigh, although I'm very unwilling, there's really nothing I can do to help right now. Anyway, I wish you good luck. I'll leave him to you. You two can go without worry."

The mercenary girl spread her hands and shook her head helplessly. She was definitely not qualified to be compared with these two extraordinary beings. All she could do now was take care of the wounded. She helped Shen Gonglin Rin up and Raven waved to the two of them. But why did her words sound so strange to them? What did she mean by telling them to go in peace? It felt like this guy didn't really want them to come back safely.

"... Remember, it's just that you need to take care of it a little, not that it's for you to have, it's just that you need to look after it a little."

The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she became. Durandal added that she didn't know much about this mercenary, the Dodo, but the charm that was inadvertently revealed from under the hood made Durandal realize that this Raven was also a rare beauty. This was enough to make Durandal wary. It was dangerous, wasn't it? Putting Shen Gonglin with a woman like this, she knew how strong Shen Gonglin's social skills were.

That kind of social skills limited to women is terrifying.

"I understand, I understand. Don't worry, I'll return it to you when you come back. I'll just use it now."

Raven quietly rolled her eyes. This strongest Valkyrie didn't seem so difficult to approach. When faced with questions from Shen Gonglin, she acted like a little girl. Was she afraid that if she stole Shen Gonglin, she wouldn't return her? Did she really look like someone who would steal things?

Don't be surprised, Raven... these animals might actually have that kind of habit.

"Even using it won't work!"

Durandal's eyes narrowed, but Mei any longer, set off first. She didn't care about such things. If Raven really stole Shen Gonglin, she would take her back to World Serpent. In a way, Mei actually hoped that would happen. But for now, dealing with the Herrscher's situation should come first.

"It's time to go, Durandal, let's go."

The girl transformed into a streak of red lightning and sped away, while Durandal glared fiercely at Raven before following her. Raven then helped Shen Gonglin to a safe spot, from where she looked out over the battlefield, hoping that the two of them could succeed.

Beneath the Stairway to the Stars, snowflakes floated in the weightless space, like blooming bellflowers or murky, dark stars. The Herrscher floated silently, like a doll imprisoned in a flower bud. This was the scene Durandal and Mei witnessed upon arriving on the battlefield. As a monster formed from two Herrscher merged into one, this Herrscher no longer resembled Anna. Who controlled its will?

The answer is unknown.

Anna had lost consciousness, and the newly born Herrscher chose to entrust all his power to her. The man, who had lost all hope, did not understand the meaning of his existence. All along, he had regarded Anna as his light and the goal he pursued. However, the scene he had just witnessed shattered that light. Under the conscious guidance of some will, Chen Tianwu had completely collapsed. Although he had decided to return all his power and his life to Anna, there was still something he wanted to do.

These are the two women in front of me. If they were to die, Shen Gonglin would be heartbroken. So, let's do it this way!

Chapter 119

How tragic, how desperate. Mei felt these emotions inexplicably as soon as she arrived here. The union of the two Herrscher was right before her eyes, but Mei could only sense despair. Not just Anna's despair, but also Night Owl's despair. What had this man gone through? What had he seen in such a short time?

"Raiden Mei, focus on preparing for battle. I will create enough opportunities for you. Don't let me down this time."

Powerful and beautiful, nothing can stop this strongest, Immortal Blade Schicksal. Durandal stepped forward, the brilliance of her knight's lance bringing Mei back to the battlefield after a slight distraction. The Herrscher exhaled softly, the sharp Mei on her forehead gleaming. She couldn't be outdone by Durandal. In terms of battle awareness, Raiden Mei felt she wouldn't lose to anyone now!

"You don't need to tell me."

The attack was launched directly. The Herrscher of Thunder's control over lightning allowed Mei to reach her maximum speed. The Key of Punishment slashed with precise marks, striking the monster composed of the Herrscher of Ice and the newly Herrscher. The blade pierced through the ice, but just as Mei was about to take another step, the sudden increase in gravity caused the sharp blade to lose its aim. Then, a block of solid ice, under the influence of gravity, slammed into Mei. Gravity and low-temperature ice—this was the power that this monster possessed.

Ignoring the threat above her head, Mei focused on her attack, knowing she wasn't alone on the battlefield. Sure enough, with a meteor-like strike, Durandal cleared away all the ice blocks in the sky. Now she only needed to concentrate on attacking, and Durandal would create enough opportunities for her.

At this moment, the two finally began to cooperate. Mei pierced straight towards the Herrscher like a sharp sword, while Durandal supported her from the side, creating the best opportunities for her to attack. However, the two Herrschers were merely a combination of two Herrscher, and were indeed no match for Durandal and Mei, who had complete control over the Mei of Herrscher of Thunder. If the attack continued at this pace, the outcome would likely be the same.

The Key of Punishment pierced the ice, resisting the effects of gravity. Mei struggled to get in front of the Herrscher, first weakening Herrscher with all her might, then using an electromagnetic field to simulate the effects of the Staff of the Underworld to seal and eliminate the Herrscher. This was Mei's current plan. It was clear that she was using the power of gravity most of the time in the fight against this monster, meaning that the Herrscher's two powers had not yet been fully fused.

However, things were not going to go so smoothly. As Mei's slash went deeper, the Herrscher of Ice, who had lost consciousness, awoke again. The two powers finally reached a balance, and Night Owl's consciousness was instantly broken. The one who controlled this power next was the true Herrscher, a powerful enemy who controlled two Herrscher energies.

"Raiden Mei, back off!"

The knight's lance pressed against Mei's lower abdomen. Durandal, who had fought countless battles, reacted in time and forcefully threw Mei away. In the blizzard that was as sharp as a knife, the lone knight, left behind, gritted her teeth and shouted out a code name.

"King!"

A gigantic knight phantom stood in front of Durandal, shielding her from the blizzard's onslaught. Durandal used this opportunity to leap backward, dodging the remaining attacks. What's going on? Why has the Herrscher's power suddenly increased?

"Cheer up. It seems that their consciousness has completely disappeared. Next, we will face the real Herrscher. The longer it drags on, the more dangerous it will be. We need to step up our efforts."

Staring intently at the monster before her, Durandal whispered instructions. Gravity was intensifying constantly, making their once light bodies incredibly heavy. Coupled with the sudden drop in temperature, Durandal nor Mei could unleash their full power. Even the Herrscher and Valkyrie's physiques were starting to falter, their bodies feeling as heavy as lead. The low temperature had also robbed their honed techniques of their former precision. What lay ahead was likely to be a fierce battle.

"Yes, I understand."

Mei's eyes remained sharp. She had anticipated this situation, but fighting in person still made her feel the pressure. The gravity and the severe low temperature made things difficult for both her and Durandal.

"Continue the attack; we cannot give the Herrscher a chance to rest."

At Durandal's command, the Valkyrie charged forward, with Mei close behind. The closer they got to the Herrscher, the more pronounced the effects of gravity and low temperatures became. Although Durandal and Mei wanted to end the battle as quickly as possible, it inevitably dragged on to a stalemate. And it wasn't just here; as the Herrscher's energy increased, the entire Coral Island was spreading towards a dead zone.

—

"It's freezing! Looks like the battle over there... isn't going too well... Shen Gonglin, aren't you cold?"

Having tried her best to get away from the battle, Raven led Shen Gonglin to a dilapidated house with a fire burning in the center. However, Raven couldn't help but breathe on her hands to keep warm. She tightened Shen Gonglin's cloak, and the two hugged each other for warmth. Now was not the time to worry about such things, and besides, Raven didn't care anyway.

"Good."

The cold doesn't affect Shen Gonglin much right now. After awakening the power of that flame, Shen Gonglin is no longer cold. He's basically warming up the Raven now. The only thing bothering him is the injury on his shoulder, which he needs to heal as soon as possible. It seems that Mei and Durandal are in bad shape.

Fortunately, Shen Gonglin's miraculous constitution was also playing a role at this time. Originating from the goddess of water, he had a unique ability to heal. Although he was not clearly visible due to the bandages, the damage caused by the sniper rifle was gradually recovering. However, it seemed impossible for him to fully recover. Shen Gonglin was very uneasy. Putting aside the situation of Mei and Durandal, the rapidly dropping temperature... I'm afraid that there won't be any life left on Coral Island in a little while.

Those residents who didn't have time to evacuate, the Valkyrie troops building a defensive line around the Coral Island, and this dodo bird beside me... tsk, I can't wait any longer.

Seeing the mercenary's lips, which were already turning purple from the cold, Shen Gonglin struggled to her feet. Even if she hadn't recovered, she couldn't stay there any longer.

Chapter 120 I'll Be Back Soon

"Hey, what are you doing?"

Shen Gonglin noticed Raven's movement. The cloak enveloped the two of them, and Shen Gonglin's posture just now made it seem as if he was sitting in Raven's lap. The two of them were sitting together around the fire, and his movement allowed a cool breeze to sneak in through the gaps. Raven immediately felt cold and shivered. Shen Gonglin was still injured, so why was he moving around so carelessly?

"No way... Mei and Durandal haven't sent any news yet. Judging from the current situation, something must have happened to them. I can't rest easy until I go and check on them... You stay here and I'll go check on them."

She draped the Shen Gonglin over Raven again, and then moved her arms slightly. Her left hand was basically immobile, but there was no time for her to recover. Looking at the black hole of the battlefield in the distance, Shen Gonglin made up her mind. It was time for her to take action herself.

"What are you meddling in? Don't you even realize you're still injured? Trust Durandal and Mei, they'll both be fine... Come in here, you better behave yourself."

Raven lifted her Shen Gonglin to hurry inside. In this situation, they, who should have been on opposing sides, could only stick together for warmth. What could she do if she went over there like this? She would only cause trouble for those two, just like herself now. After losing the Divine Key, Raven had no ability to participate in the battle. So, keeping an eye on Shen Gonglin was her only task right now.

"...Don't tempt me, they all know I'm easy to seduce. Just stay here, I'll be right back."

Raven lifted Shen Gonglin cloak, revealing once again the alluring figure hidden beneath the cloak and encased in her combat suit. Mercenaries wear tight-fitting suits for ease of movement, and Shen Gonglin had already experienced her well-trained suppleness and elasticity when he sat in her lap earlier. He secretly swallowed; if he could, he would actually quite like to stay here with Raven, but that wasn't an option now.

Shen Gonglin has things she has to do.

Thinking of this, Shen Gonglin resolutely turned around, added a piece of dry firewood to the fire, and then turned around. He activated the power of the Shen Gonglin of Herrscher of Reason and conjured a coat out of thin air, which he then covered the Raven with. This warming measure should be able to protect the dodo bird.

After doing all this, a golden halo unfolded in front of him. He had left a one-time spatial coordinate on Mei earlier. The power of the Herrscher of the Void was the Herrscher ability he was most proficient in using. For someone as directionally challenged as him, setting the spatial coordinates and then teleporting was the simplest and most practical method.

Tsk, this guy... Looking at the coat on her body, Raven sat down in complete dejection. Everyone had special abilities, and only an "ordinary person" like herself would be powerless on this kind of battlefield. Actually, she was also worried about Mei, but since Shen Gonglin was going there now, there should be no problem, right?

Raven also had a strange trust in Shen Gonglin; since he was involved, there must be no problem.

"Raiden Mei, are you alright?"

In the center of the snow-covered battlefield, the kneeling knight gritted her teeth, enduring the immense weight from all parts of her body as she struggled to stand. Beside her, the Herrscher of Thunder maintained the same posture. The girl's gaze was fixed on the enormous monster before her. On the monster's body was a long wound, the result of their coordinated attack earlier. But now, the situation... it seemed they were at a disadvantage.

"I'm fine... but I didn't expect the gravity field near the Herrscher to be so strong. It's deliberately attracting us closer. With this kind of gravity, Durandal, can you still fight?"

Mei shook her head. So this chaotic Herrscher had also resorted to trickery? At first, she and Durandal could withstand the gravity, but after they thought they had gotten used to it, it launched a close-range attack. That attack was clearly the Herrscher's doing; what it wanted to do was drag her and Durandal into its gravity field. Here, it was difficult for the two of them to even stand up, let alone launch a useful attack.

"... Don't speak, conserve your energy. The attack is coming, we must find a way to create distance. Under this gravity, our attacks will be ineffective."

Durandal's refusal to directly answer Mei's question reveals her own predicament. Frankly, even lifting Durandal lance is now a difficult task for her. But disaster always seems to follow one after another. The gravity-controlled ice is condensing in the air, poised to strike. Those sharp ice crystals were already a significant threat, and now, with gravity amplifying their effect...

In this situation, Mei and I are slowing down, while the enemy is speeding up.

"I know."

Mei struggled to straighten her legs, leaning on her sword for a long time without success. It felt as if a thousand-pound boulder was pressing down on them. It seemed difficult to escape the gravity field before the ice crystals fell. She didn't know if she could block them all. She could only try her best to avoid fatal attacks. Close combat was the worst thing to do when fighting this monster.

Before Mei and Orlandel could think any further, the ice crystals, mixed with a blizzard, fell towards them. Not only the ice crystals, but also the steel bars and broken tiles that were suspended in the air due to gravity fell at the same time. Mei desperately drew a sword light, but under the influence of gravity, the sword light seemed to freeze. She had tried her best to eliminate the attack, but the ice crystals and broken stones still broke through her defense.

Durandal witnessed everything. The knight gritted her teeth and prepared to endure. After receiving this attack, the gravity should weaken slightly, which would be the best opportunity to attack. She used her jet dash to get as close to the monster as possible, and then... and then that was it.

A golden halo suddenly appeared around the two of them. As soon as Shen Gonglin appeared, she saw the ice crystal fragments falling from the sky. Without time to think, she knew that it was better to catch the falling ice crystals than to attack well. She never expected to have such an opportunity. Shen Gonglin's eyes suddenly turned red, and data flashed in her eyes. Mei and Durandal stared in astonishment at the suddenly appearing Shen Gonglin.

How did this guy end up here? Without thinking, the two of them lunged at Shen Gonglin. They could survive this kind of attack, but if Shen Gonglin hit him on the head with a brick, he would die.