Chapter 284

Phew... You've really worked hard, Kiana.

The consciousness hidden within the feathers seemed to have weakened further. Kiana was interfering with the Herrscher's will from the outside, while she could only offer this insignificant support. Her power was so fragile now; even a simple movement almost exhausted her entire existence. If it weren't for this still tenacious consciousness supporting her, she would probably have already dissipated into the world.

No, I can't just give up like this. Shen Gonglin is waiting for me to go back. It would be such a waste if I just disappeared like this.

With a focused mind, she now relied on the Herrscher like a newborn baby. It was the Herrscher's generous sharing that allowed this weathered feather to survive. However, the Herrscher did not expect that this insignificant feather was now pondering a way to defeat her.

She truly hadn't expected it, because in her mind it was impossible. If she died, wouldn't the Feather Dust attached to her also disappear? The Herrscher didn't believe in such a possibility; she had never considered it from the very beginning. Yet, this was precisely the difference between her and the real Fu Hua.

She never expected that this seemingly elegant and serene fairy lady didn't actually care about her own life at all, or rather... she had someone to rely on without fear.

This time, it should be the last one, right?

Facing imminent death, at the very end of her life, Fu Hua felt a pang of guilt. Everyone... would she never see them again? And this Herrscher... she was innocent too. She wasn't inherently bad; she just lacked proper guidance.

"Phew... That guy's head is still so hard in the illusion, my hands are starting to hurt from hitting him... How about that, Kiana, is that enough? Do you know what choice I'll make in this situation?"

The illusion changed again. Hi Fu waved her hands and shouted loudly. Her tone was obviously impatient. The little setback in the illusion earlier had made her very unhappy. This time, the illusion had turned into an industrial area with high-rise buildings. Kiana took a while to adjust to the sudden change of the illusion. She was also familiar with this place.

"Yes, I've fully understood your tough side... But that's you as an enemy, as a warrior. What about you in your daily life? Back in Sky City, I lived with my Class President... I saw her gentle side. At that time, she had lost her body and had very little strength left, but she still tried her best to help me. If you were in her shoes, what would you do?"

Kiana rubbed her head. She was still not good at thinking. But now that Shen Gonglin was not around, she had to think. She had to cooperate with the Class President to make the Herrscher doubt herself more and make her question herself.

Kan Kan said such a thing, and Hi Fu's response seemed quite natural. She put her hands on her hips and looked at Kiana curiously. Did she even need to ask such a question? Of course she would make the same decision. Kiana was her friend. If she were in this situation, wouldn't it be obvious what decision she would make?

"Of course I'll do my best to help you. Is there any need to think about this? But I find it hard to imagine myself without a body. I'm so strong now, that kind of thing will never happen again, hahaha!"

He gave his answer, and at the same time Hi Fu tilted his head and seriously imagined that scene. No, no matter how he imagined it, he couldn't come up with it. After all, he was so powerful now, how could he possibly be reduced to a situation without a body? It was completely impossible.

"I can recreate that scene for you; it's a memory you don't have."

Fu Hua, who had been silent all along, finally spoke. The illusion around them was created by her, and as soon as she spoke, Hi Fu became unhappy again. This was clearly her chance to let Kiana understand her, so why did Kiana have to interfere again?

"Here you go again. The moment I ignore you, you suddenly appear... But, alright, let's see. I'll lend you my power. Look at what you've become. Don't use your power recklessly, okay? Otherwise, what if you disappear? I don't want to win unfairly."

With her eyebrows raised, Hi Fu glared at Fu Hua, but then quickly dismissed the look. Watching Fu Hua's figure become even more ethereal, Hi Fu sighed helplessly. Then, she grabbed Fu Hua's arm and transferred her power to her. How could she possibly win in this situation? Without her own power, she would probably disappear if left here for even a short while.

"Thanks."

With abundant energy, Fu Hua calmed her mind and began to alter the surrounding illusion. What was originally just a rough outline was now, supported by the Herrscher energy, allowing her to do much more, and more details were materialized. This was the very place where she and Kiana had once fought fiercely.

"Where is this place?"

Hi Fu looked around at the somewhat eerie environment with curiosity. This was not in his memory. He did not have any recollection of this place. It must be a place that the feather had been after he died. It looked like some kind of evil stronghold.

"Shencheng Medicine is a medical institution where the World Serpent hides. Kiana and I once tried to infiltrate it in order to intercept important intelligence."

Looking at everything familiar around her, Fu Hua's thoughts seemed to drift back to that time when she was very weak and Kiana had to do everything on her own. From that time on, the girl has been growing and growing until she is who she is now.

Kiana is already a battle-hardened and reliable warrior.

Chapter Seventy-Seven: I Am Not Her

"Ha! Infiltration, that's good, that's my specialty! Feather Dust's ability allows us to come and go freely, without anyone noticing. Kiana, follow me, and I'll show you what it means to infiltrate openly and confidently. Let's try it on any enemy!"

Speaking of this, Hi Fu was no longer sleepy. For Feather Dust, who could influence people's consciousness, infiltrating was as easy as eating and drinking. Hi Fu came out of her hiding place and immediately saw the patrolling guards. Kiana followed behind her without comment, while Hi Fu put her hands behind her back like an innocent little girl preparing for a picnic.

However, once he got closer to the guard, things took a completely different turn than Hi Fu had imagined.

[Alert! Intruder detected.]

A piercing alarm sounded, Hi Fu stared in astonishment at the approaching guards. What was going on? There were clearly signs of life, so how could this be? In an instant, all the guards around him gathered. Kiana silently watched Hi Fu, and although she didn't say anything, her gaze still made Hi Fu very uncomfortable. How embarrassing!

"How was I supposed to know these were all modified bio-weapons... like the bio-weapons that dog-headed woman created? My abilities are ineffective against these things, Kiana, it's not my fault."

Blinking, Hi Fu tried to explain to Kiana, but Kiana had already drawn her dual pistols and was ready for battle. She didn't even glance at Hi Fu. Even though it was an illusion, being hit here would still cause injury, because the mind would perceive that the body was being hurt. Therefore, the battle here was real.

"You exposed us. Is this what you call being good at infiltration?"

"... What does it matter! Just eliminate them, right? Everyone knows that the essence of infiltration is that no one will discover you've been there. Killing them all is one way to do it! Just watch me, Shen Gonglin must know about this kind of infiltration too!"

"So what if they found it?" Hi Fu waved her hand dismissively. Then, like a tiger charging into a flock of sheep, her slender, fair arms unleashed boundless power. The World Serpent's defensive strength was utterly insignificant in front of her.

...That's right, this kind of infiltration method might really suit Shen Gonglin's taste, and the two of them might get along very well.

Seeing the rampaging battle, Kiana put away her dual Hi Fu. With her there, she didn't need to lift a finger. Judging from her skillful movements, had she fought this kind of enemy before?

"This isn't the first time I've dealt with World Serpent's minions—I'm quite experienced. I think there was that Jackal from this series? Should I conjure her up and play with her too? I've seen her before... Haha, this kind of trash is no match for me. Kiana, look, I did a great job."

With a few casual moves, Hi Fu quickly eliminated all the guards. Standing atop the enemy's wreckage, she proudly showed off to Kiana, thinking, "I did a great job, didn't I? Compared to that old relic, I'm especially amazing, aren't I?"

"The Class President was very weak at that time, and she was unable to fight the enemy head-on like that."

Kiana shook her head, and Hi Fu was also taken aback, but she quickly smiled again, showing no sign of embarrassment. She scratched her cheek and stuck out her tongue.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, but I'm really not used to pretending to be weak. I've always been this strong."

Hi Fu clenched his fists. Who told him to be so strong? He would never be weak, so he would never experience such a situation. He would always be the strong one.

"You can't understand the feelings of the weak?"

Having grasped the key point, Kiana stopped and questioned Hi Fu, a question that successfully troubled Hi Fu. Was she truly incapable of understanding the feelings of the weak? That shouldn't be the case...

"No, well... I should say I don't want to be a weakling at all."

Yes, that's right. I don't want to be a weakling. I want to do everything I want to do, and I can do it!

"... This is perhaps the biggest difference between you and her."

Kiana sighed slightly, and Hi Fu agreed wholeheartedly. She crossed her arms and nodded seriously. "Yes, Kiana, you're right. In the past, I was very strong, but I was weak. But I'm not like that anymore. No matter who stands in my way, I will defeat them. I will get what I want. If things don't go as I wish, I will make them the way I want them."

Is this what the Herrscher is thinking? As expected, she and the Class President are fundamentally different.

"Just because you possess power, does that mean you should use it?"

Kiana said in a deep voice, and Hi Fu was slightly taken aback. Her expression slowly calmed down. She sensed what Kiana wanted to say, and without a doubt, it was something she didn't want to hear. The smile on her face also faded. Kiana... what did she want to do?

"The Class President I know— Fu Hua —is a strong person who can understand the weak..."

"I've already told you I'm not her. You should be considering who's better, me or her."

Unable to resist interrupting Kiana, Hi Fu became somewhat agitated. What was wrong with Kiana? She had originally thought Kiana would make the right choice, but now, what was going on with her?

"Are you trying to say that you're not Fu Hua?"

This was exactly the direction Kiana hoped for. The girl quietly looked at the girl in front of her who wanted to prove herself, and felt that the girl in front of her seemed to be a bit like her former self.

"I... of course I am! But... but I've changed. Why are you all clinging to the past? Aren't I better than her? What has she ever accomplished? Nothing! Everything she does is a failure, a failure! A failure!"

Somewhat exasperated, Hi Fu paced back and forth irritably. Why couldn't they all do things the way she wanted? None of them could make things easy for her!

"And me! I can succeed at anything! I can kill Otto! I can defeat Kevin! Why not welcome this new me?!"

Kiana grew increasingly impatient. She wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but she even felt she could hear a hint of a sob in Hi Fu's voice. Kiana felt a pang of sympathy, but she remained steadfast in her conviction.

She's not the Class President, and I need to make her realize that. It may be cruel, but it's the truth. She's not the person she thinks she is; she's a Herrscher.

Chapter Seventy-Eight: Back to You

Looking at the Herrscher in front of her, Kiana felt a pang of pity. Even though the Herrscher seemed about to cry, Kiana still had to continue with the words that made her unhappy. There was no other way; otherwise, the Class President they were hoping for would never come back.

"Perhaps, perhaps you are better, stronger than the Class President, and able to defeat even more formidable enemies. You might be an even better Class President..."

Kiana stated in a deep voice, and these words finally made Hi Fu feel a little better. Yes, she was better, stronger, and more outstanding. It seemed that Kiana also acknowledged this. The girl put her hands behind her back like a little girl standing on a stage waiting for praise. Yes, that's right, she was better than before.

"But you're not our Class President."

However, Kiana's next words made her expression turn sour again. This girl didn't seem to understand why she was so fixated on the past. Didn't she admit that she was the best version of herself now?

"You've asked the wrong person... The Bronya and I in front of you, and the Fu Hua you despise, were once inseparable. We were her friends, as was Shen Gonglin. The Class President's relationship with her was even deeper than ours. We don't care what kind of person Fu Hua should be or what kind of person she can become... What we like is just Fu Hua, only Fu Hua."

Kiana's persuasive skills have improved, and she has spoken her mind. These words pierced Hi Fu's heart like sharp swords. The girl bit her lip, her red eyes glaring at Kiana with resentment. This guy has betrayed her trust. She never expected Kiana to make such a choice, and even bring Shen Gonglin. She should have been closer to him. This guy is such a big idiot!

Meanwhile, Fu Hua, who was hiding in the Feather Dust, was overjoyed. Being so firmly acknowledged was indeed a good experience. No matter how good others were, all I wanted was her. This feeling of being needed... If it weren't for Shen Gonglin, she might have been turned gay by her.

Kiana really has an incredible power; no wonder Mei and she are so close.

"You can't replace our Class President."

With that final word, Kiana stopped speaking. This was her final choice, or rather, this choice was destined. No matter how much the Herrscher showed her to prove how powerful she was, this Class President was not the real Class President. She was the Herrscher, and the Class President was Fu Hua.

"... Is this the answer? Is this your answer?"

His face darkened completely. After a long silence, Hi Fu spoke. The surrounding illusion began to blur due to the fluctuation of power. This was a reaction to the Herrscher's mental state being disturbed. His lips were bitten until they bled. The unique taste made Hi Fu realize that this was reality. Kiana had made a choice, and it was a choice that he could not accept.

"You choose... her? You choose her? I'm not Fu Hua, she is... is that your answer?"

Repeating these words, Hi Fu's body trembled slightly. She raised her head, her brows furrowed, and the blood on her lips made Kiana feel sad. She could almost see a misty fog in her eyes. In that instant, the Herrscher looked like a child who was not accepted by anyone. Although she was sorry, there was nothing she could do about it. Kiana did not want to deceive her, nor did she want to deceive her own heart.

"You... idiot!"

With a roar from the Herrscher, everything around them changed. The dark Shencheng Medicine Industrial Zone disappeared, and the two reappeared in Mount Tai Xu. Shen Gonglin, who was taking care of Bronya, looked at the two people in front of her in surprise. Were they finished? Judging from the current situation, it seems that Kiana won.

"Idiot! Fool! Fool! You—you—"

The Herrscher paced back and forth in a rage, unable to contain her fury, cursing aloud as if only such words could bring her any relief. Her anger was palpable, a burning rage that suddenly subsided before erupting. Hi Fu eyes widened; she seemed to have grasped something. After calming down, she could sense a connection between a feather on her body and Kiana, which meant...

Damn it!

"You made up your mind a long time ago, didn't you? You never took me seriously at all, it was never a choice... And her, she's always been helping you, you all... you all schemed against me!"

Having figured everything out, the feeling of being targeted was utterly disgusting. Hi Fu closed her eyes, clenched her fists tightly, and trembled uncontrollably. It turned out that she was the only one who wanted to do her best to gain recognition, while she... could achieve victory without doing anything.

"So it turns out I'm the only one still thinking about this... That's so unfair! Fine, you want Fu Hua? I'll give her back to you—I'll give her back to you!"

Nothing else mattered anymore. It felt like an unfair exam; she had worked hard and answered the questions diligently, but the other person had gotten first place without even handing in their paper. This feeling made the Herrscher feel nauseous. She remained motionless, and a feather appeared out of thin air, then shot out like an arrow, landing in front of Kiana. A dim light flickered on the feather. Was this the feather that the Class President possessed?

"You want her? You all want her—I'm giving her back to you!"

His gaze swept over everyone in front of him: Kiana, the unconscious Bronya, and Shen Gonglin... When he saw Shen Gonglin, Hi Fu couldn't help but look away. He wasn't the real Fu Hua, so he probably wouldn't like him anymore. He wasn't the Class President he spent every day with; he was just an imposter who had stolen someone else's body and memories. How would Shen Gonglin look at him?

The Herrscher didn't want to know, and she dared not know.

Class President ... Kiana crouched down and gently picked up the feather. It was so light, as if it were nothing. A familiar feeling came over her, and in the white light, Fu Hua's figure appeared before her eyes. This time, she was free.

"It's off, Kiana... The Herrscher's bonds are gone... You did a good job."

Kiana could feel the restrictions that had been binding her disappearing. Now, the Herrscher could no longer restrain her actions with a single thought. Well done, Kiana.

Chapter Seventy-Nine: A Person Who Was Not fond of fighting

"That's right, our connection is severed, and you're going to die! I won't give you even a sliver of strength anymore. No one but me can save you! Die! Die! All of you, die!"

What a touching reunion scene! Hi Fu was so moved she felt like throwing up. She glared fiercely at Fu Hua and Kiana over there. Did they think they had succeeded? Did they think they could win a happy ending like this?

Dream on! She's about to die!

"Don't be like this... Calm down, they mean no harm."

Seeing the somewhat hysterical Hi Fu, Shen Gonglin gently laid down the unconscious Bronya. The emotionless girl was still unconscious due to the effects of the previous illusion. Shen Gonglin slowly walked to Hi Fu's side and placed his hand on her head. He didn't know what had happened between them in the illusion, but given her current emotional state, it probably wasn't because Kiana had said anything offensive.

Regardless, seeing Hi Fu so excited she was almost in tears, Shen Gonglin still felt a little sad. Before, she had always been cheerful and happy, but now, she felt like a little girl who wasn't being acknowledged by anyone.

"... Shen Gonglin, you noticed it a long time ago, didn't you?"

With Shen Gonglin pressing her head down, Hi Fu's somewhat irritable emotions came to an abrupt halt. She lowered her head slightly, and her muffled voice sounded so fragile. Since Kiana had made this decision, Shen Gonglin must have already known what she was going to say.

"... Yeah, I knew it all along. How could the Class President possibly have the guts to do something like that to me? She's as cowardly as a sparrow. How could someone like you be her?"

He lied without batting an eye, putting on a Shen Gonglin of wisdom. Little did he know, at first he thought the Class President had slept too long and that's why she had a drastic personality change upon waking. Then he thought she had a split personality. It wasn't until recently that he realized she might be Herrscher... But if he just admitted it, wouldn't he seem a bit too wise?

If I did that, wouldn't my image as someone who's almost superhumanly intelligent be ruined? I'd just look like a naive and innocent fool. So it's better to admit it now. Yes, I figured it out from the very beginning, and I'm not kidding.

"... You're right, she's as timid as a quail, not like me at all. I'm very brave."

Her previously broken and fragile heart recovered a little. Although the meaning was unclear, it was clear that Shen Gonglin was praising her. In this respect, she was better than Fu Hua.

"Class President... what's going on?"

Kiana had no time to deal with what was going on there. She'd teach that idiot Shen Gonglin a lesson when she had some free time. The main heroine was right there, but he was busy flirting with another girl. What an idiot... At this moment, Kiana was trying to use the Great Void Sword Qi to Honkai energy into the feather, but the energy only swirled around it and couldn't be replenished. Why was that?

"Kiana, don't waste your power on me, Kiana, there's a more important threat..."

Fu Hua shook her head. She looked at Hi Fu, who had calmed down a bit under the comforting words of Shen Gonglin. If Shen Gonglin hadn't been there, things would probably have collapsed the moment Hai Fu was freed from her restraints... However, this was not the reason for Shen Gonglin's intimacy with her. Fu Hua silently watched Shen Gonglin. Under the threat of such a gaze, Shen Gonglin awkwardly lowered her hand from stroking Hi Fu's hair.

This Class President is really jealous; even Kiana didn't show any reaction.

"That's right! Don't waste your time, Feather Dust is not that simple!"

Why did Shen Gonglin's hand stop? It must be because of those two again. The girl, who had just been calmed down, became agitated again. She glared fiercely at Fu Hua and Kiana over there. Those two idiots, absolute idiots!

"Phew... No, there's another way."