Chapter 340
However, even now, Mei has something she can do. Although this place has been separated, it was ultimately constructed by the power of the Herrscher of Herrscher of Domination. Presumably, causing some damage herself will have an effect. In that case, let's make a big scene!
Taking a deep breath, Mei pictured a black and white dog's head in her mind. Today, she would be a husky that would destroy the house!
Chapter 179 The Beauty of Longing
"After seeing so many possibilities, do you still think you are Sirin? My choice of gem is... the Plague Gem, it feels so familiar. Sirin originally had six gems, but now she only has half left. But it doesn't matter, I will take them all back."
The Herrscher of the Void's voice quickly brought Kiana back to her senses. Just now, the Herrscher of the Void had led her through many experiences, vividly recalling her childhood memories. To save her, her stinky old man had lost his real daughter, and she herself had gone berserk. The Herrscher of the Void, dormant within her, nourished by her loneliness and fear, had seized her body at her most vulnerable moment, turning everything around her into scorched earth, and then... many people died.
"I will stop you."
Those memories that Kiana had deliberately forgotten suddenly resurfaced. The girl adjusted her mood and stared straight at the Herrscher in front of her. No matter how much the Herrscher influenced her heart, her resolve would not change.
"You can't do it. Do you remember the storm captain I killed earlier because of her hesitation? Her name was Ragna, the Valkyrie instructor of Schicksal, and also Murata Himeko's teacher. You killed her and destroyed the entire storm squad. Only Himeko, who was absent by chance, survived, but she also lost her home, her teacher and her comrades, and became homeless. In the end, she had no choice but to leave headquarters and go to the far east. But there, she met you again."
The Herrscher of the Void sat upright in the air, as if chatting idly out of boredom. The Queen rested her chin on her hand and said these words, which made Kiana frown. No, she didn't know about this. This was not her memory.
"We don't have that memory, so you couldn't possibly know that."
Himeko had never told her anything like this, so how did the Herrscher of the Void know?
"But it knows."
The Herrscher of the Void extended her hand, a pink light shimmering within it, and the Plague Gem materialized in her palm. These were all things the Plague Gem had told her.
"Murata Himeko... Her confusion, pain, and struggle flashed through her life like a revolving lantern at the end, meticulously recorded by the Plague Gem... Hahaha, look, you've completely toyed with her fate! You changed her life, yet brought her death. What a farce."
Unable to suppress a laugh, the Herrscher of the Void toyed with the Plague Gem between her fingers. This was truly dramatic. Murata Himeko, had her entire life been ruined by this guy?
"Murata Himeko, isn't she the best proof? Your hero, your ideal martyr, she burned herself out, placing her so-called hope on you, but turned you into a walking corpse born to atone for your sins. Don't think I hate her because she gave me that injection, Kiana. For the past six months, I've watched your every move through your eyes, everything you've experienced—loss, separation, failure after failure. You risked your life to save complete strangers, alienated your friends, and in the end, you're still feared, estranged, and pointed at by those same people..."
She spoke of everything she had seen. Despite being sealed inside Kiana's body, the Herrscher of the Void never gave up the desire to escape. She continued to look at this world through Kiana, this ugly world.
"Wake up! They never accepted you; they were just afraid of your power. So these people banded together to ostracize you, making you feel guilty and remorseful. Then they can accept your protection with a clear conscience. Those you saved will still be crushed by a series of malicious attacks, and may even blame you for their misfortunes. And those who idolize you are just using you, getting close to you, and destroying you under their hypocritical facade."
Having seen through everything, the Herrscher of the Void had also experienced what Kiana went through, so she knew that these people had always harbored malice towards Kiana.
"Do you remember that stranger who showed you kindness? The staff member at the Salt Lake Base? She was also a puppet. She was the one who leaked Anti-Entropy's information, allowing the Herrscher to easily infiltrate the Anti-Entropy base twice. This is the result that Murata Himeko paid with her life. You can never save them because they don't want to be saved. Everyone in this theater is like that, and so is the world outside this theater. It has never changed."
Kiana remained silent. She knew who the Herrscher of the Void was referring to— the Anti-Entropy Inspection Department staff member she and Seele had encountered. Were all those words she said back then—those words of gratitude—just lies? It was truly a blow. Back then, Shen Gonglin had said that ordinary people probably didn't know the inside story of Sky City. Sure enough, his intuition was right.
"Their kindness was trampled by another evil thought, their life's efforts were destroyed overnight, and their cherished ideals were worthless in the eyes of others. Faced with such a world, can you still shamelessly say that you fight for all the good things in the world?"
The Herrscher of the Void questioned her casually, knowing that these words would not change the mind of the girl before her. She did not expect to be able to break her heart so easily. These were just the words she wanted to say, so she said them.
"I want to believe that this world will eventually become a better place."
Just as the Herrscher of the Void had predicted, Kiana did not hesitate for a moment. Despite knowing this, she still chose to move forward on the path she had chosen, the path that she, and they, hoped she would take.
"Ha, hypocrites in all their glory."
It was always the Herrscher who was talking, and Kiana wanted her to hear her thoughts as well. Kiana also wanted her to understand why she had chosen to do what she did.
"I've been dreaming about all sorts of people, those lingering echoes of consciousness and fragments of memory left in the Herrscher Core. I can feel their lives, their joys and sorrows. Everyone has painful memories, and they've experienced despair in difficult circumstances. But after that, they grit their teeth, stand up, and live on, covered in wounds. Good and evil, like you and me, exist in everyone's heart, two sides of the same coin, inseparable light and shadow. You're right, this world isn't perfect, but..."
Kiana took a deep breath, her heterochromatic eyes gleaming with a light that even the Herrscher of the Void couldn't help but notice.
"That's why beauty is what people yearn for. That's my reason. Because good and evil coexist, I must work even harder to create a tomorrow that can transcend tragedy."
Chapter 180 The Choice of Gems
The doll's words couldn't sway Kiana, nor could the Herrscher of the Void. If she were to be persuaded or misled by them now, Kiana herself would despise herself. She wasn't standing here by her own strength alone. Although she couldn't see it, Kiana's shoulders carried a lot. An unseen connection linked everyone together, so Kiana knew the path she had to take.
"I believe that everyone has their own opportunity to make this world a better place. Kind-hearted people keep appearing and passing on their knowledge from generation to generation. Even if their own ending is not beautiful, they can still live a life without regrets and with a clear conscience. Many people around me have done this. It is because of her and the choices they made that I am able to stand here. So I am willing to believe in her ideals and believe in what they are protecting."
Kiana said a lot in one breath, then placed her hand on her chest. This was not an illusion; there was indeed a flame of inheritance burning here. As long as she stood here, her burning, their burning, would continue forever.
"Ah, good is something that needs to be believed in, while evil does not, so..."
The Herrscher of the Void wanted to refute Kiana. When did this girl become so eloquent? When did that girl, who was always overwhelmed by memories, become so resilient, so resilient that she gave people the illusion that she was no match for her.
Yes, it's definitely an illusion.
"Yes, but that's precisely why people like you and the Herrscher of Domination have underestimated the power of belief."
Kiana raised her head and looked directly at the Herrscher of the Void. At that moment, both of them understood a question that had always existed in their hearts, and they spoke in unison.
"It's very clear... there is no room for compatibility between us, and no possibility of mutual understanding."
The two spoke at the same time. The Herrscher of the Void shook her head with amusement. It was truly rare. This was perhaps the only topic they could agree on. There was no need to continue the conversation. Only one of the Herrscher of the Void and Kiana could remain. Kiana took a deep breath. The conversation was over. The girl assumed a fighting stance.
"Come on, I'm not afraid of you."
"Hmph, struggle with all your might in vain! Now is the time of judgment!"
The battle between the two resumed, but a mournful dragon roar suddenly rang out. In this space that belonged only to the two of them, Belenaus was also able to exist. Watching the two fight, the Dragon-Type Honkai Beast wanted to stop them but to no avail. If it were in human form, she would have rushed up and told them to stop fighting.
"Heh, if you had attacked earlier, we'd have one less enemy now. Belenaus, attack... Hmm? What's going on? Belenaus, attack!"
The Herrscher of the Void wanted to order the Honkai Beast to attack, but Belenaus kept wailing and refused to make a move. The Herrscher of the Void was very puzzled by this. She was her familiar, so why was she not obeying her orders?
"Don't you understand, Belenaus... Bella is Sirin's friend. She has unconditional goodwill towards Sirin and always hopes that Sirin can be happy. We are all Sirin, consciousnesses born from her wishes, the possibilities of Sirin. But we have chosen different paths. You only have the desire to destroy this world, while I want to protect what I believe in. In Bella's eyes, between you and me, who is closer to the person Sirin wanted to become?"
Seeing Belenaus's appearance, Kiana became even more certain that her guess was true. She and the Herrscher of the Void were both continuations of Sirin, so there was no reason why she could do what Kiana couldn't. For a long time, it was she who was rejecting power, not power that was rejecting her.
"Are you saying that Belenaus chose you?"
The Herrscher of the Void's face was incredibly gloomy, a feeling of betrayal rising from the depths of her heart. Even Belenaus had started to turn against her; this world was indeed terrible.
"She doesn't want us to fight, she wants to save you, she wants you to let go of hatred and find happiness. The one she chose is the Sirin she wanted to see."
Correcting the Herrscher of the Void's errors, the Herrscher continued her attack without uttering a word. Even without Belenaus's intervention, she could defeat Kiana. Wasn't it only natural that she was stronger and Kiana was weaker in the long run? However, when she actually made her move, she discovered that Kiana was not so easy to deal with. The Spear of the Void danced around the Queen, but Kiana dodged with the agility of a fish. This was something she had learned from Fu Hua. This girl was really troublesome!
"What a joke... This is my stage! Anything that doesn't suit my will shouldn't exist! Disappear, you traitor... You don't think you can win by recruiting a traitor, do you? It seems you've forgotten where the power you're using comes from. Don't get too cocky, you ant!"
Belenaus and Kiana's reactions clearly enraged the Herrscher of the Void. Looking at the heterochromatic eyes of the girl in front of her, she realized that the girl had stolen a portion of her power to be qualified to stand before her, yet she dared to speak so arrogantly. The Herrscher of the Void reached out and communicated with the Herrscher energy within Kiana's body. She had only lent her a little power out of kindness, and since Kiana was so disobedient, it was time to take it back.
The golden Honkai energy detached from Kiana, and the girl's golden pupil slowly turned azure blue. Looking at Kiana before her, the Herrscher of the Void nodded in satisfaction. That's more like it. The Herrscher of the Void's energy was originally her own power; she was merely borrowing it. Just because she was used to it doesn't mean she would consider it her own power.
"Alright, let's have a fair and just duel now."
The Herrscher revealed a sinister smile, having regained her power. Now she looked like a villain about to bully a little girl; it was time to show her the difference in power between them.
Kiana remained silent, but her subconscious posture revealed her intentions. The Herrscher of the Void was displeased with this reaction; she should have been more panicked!
That's all... I will never give in to her!
After being unable to use her Herrscher abilities, Kiana was caught in a fierce battle. The Herrscher of the Void, watching Kiana being toyed with, shook her head in boredom. It was truly pathetic. Even if you're going to keep at it, there's a limit. Rather than being tragically crushed into dust, it's better to just accept your defeat.
Chapter 181 The End of the War
"Give up, you are no match for me. Now, just admit defeat honestly, and maybe I will take pity on you and grant you a painless death."
The scales of victory have tipped, which is only natural. Shen Gonglin has already been teleported away, and Kiana has no outside help. The outcome is already decided, so what can she do in this state? She should just admit defeat. If she's unwilling to show some dignity, I'll do it for her.
"No, no, I won't... I will never lose to you!"
Wiping the sweat from her cheeks, Kiana felt as if the twin pistols in her hands weighed a ton. She stood up again. Bronya could still fight even without the Herrscher of Reason's powers, so there was no reason why she couldn't. Moreover, these powers... if Kiana wasn't mistaken, there was still a chance!
"You won't lose to me? How ridiculous. Where do you get the courage to say such a thing to me? Your companions are still busy playing house with the puppets. No one will come to save you. The core power is in my hands. The range of influence you can have in the consciousness space is getting smaller and smaller. Before long, everything will completely submit to me. Open your eyes and look. You have nothing left. What's the point of struggling?"
He kindly explained Kiana's current situation, saying that the girl's mind had never been very sharp, so he would help her understand the situation.
"Perhaps... it is true, as you said. I am powerless now and am just wasting my energy. Let alone fighting you, even maintaining this standing posture is difficult for me. However, whenever I fall to the ground and want to give up in pain, I inexplicably remember many things."
Kiana closed her eyes. Burnt toast pizza, non-spicy sweet pepper curry, a parfait for three, feathers shimmering with light, the gates of St. Freya, and her the Last Lesson... Everyone who had helped her, guided her forward, and shown her kindness—their smiles, gratitude, and expectations for the future, the hands they reached out to her, the light they shone on her... Just thinking about these things made it impossible for her to utter the word "give up."
Moreover, if she loses here, the Herrscher of the Void the Shen Gonglin. She knows very well what Shen Gonglin is after Rin. So, whether as Valkyrie, a student, a friend, or a woman, she cannot admit defeat in a place like this!
Along this journey, I have gained so much: courage, blessings, hope, happiness... All those beautiful memories are still here, heavy and warming me every moment. So, I am not without anything!
As if a flame had been rekindled, the power of the Herrscher of the Void flowed back from the core to Kiana. The girl opened her eyes, and her heterochromatic eyes, one blue and one gold, shocked the Herrscher of the Void opposite her. What was going on? Hadn't she already cut off the power leaking from the core to her? How could this have happened!
"I will pass on what I have gained so far. Come on, let's fight to the death! I want to bring it to more people. I will not fall here!"
A golden halo unfolded around Kiana, but this time the girl didn't draw the Spear of the Void. Instead, she grasped a broken red sword. Seeing this sword, a hint of nostalgia appeared in Kiana's eyes. The Godfall Sword —this was a weapon she had once used. Perhaps this was a kind of inheritance...
"No, wait, this is... the power of the Plague Gem?"
Upon seeing that sword, the Herrscher of the Void showed a look of panic. This sword was indeed quite emo to her. If that woman hadn't shown mercy back then, she probably would have been killed by that crazy woman during Schicksal. And now, the sword that Kiana was holding, along with the flames burning with fighting spirit, yes, this was the power of the Plague Gem!
"I will carry her ideals, their ideals, and continue on this path!"
Kiana no longer hesitated. As if warm flames were scorching her body, power surged forth. The girl gripped the broken sword and slashed at the Herrscher of the Void. The Herrscher of the Void gritted her teeth and dodged and resisted. How could this be? Why did the Plague Gem recognize Kiana? Could it be because that woman had used it?
"You're puzzled, aren't you? Why doesn't the Plague Gem obey your commands? That's because it never belonged to you!"
Each slash was faster than the last, as if every cell in her body was leaping with joy. Kiana was like a child eager to show off her knowledge to her teacher. Her choice was right; she would continue on her own path. Just watch.
"It's just a fragment of consciousness remaining in the gem, why resist? It's already dead, why resist me!"
Feeling the power within the gem constantly flowing towards Kiana, and no matter how she tried to stop it, it was to no avail. The girl in front of her was becoming more and more courageous in the battle. The Herrscher of the Void was very irritable. These people, even though they are dead, still come out to bother people. How annoying!
"She never stopped fighting throughout her life; that was her flame, her color!"
The red broken blade was wreathed in scorching flames. Under Kiana's relentless attacks, the defense constructed by the Spear of the Void the Herrscher of the Void was finally broken. Cracks spread across the Spear of the Void, and it shattered into pieces before the Herrscher of the Void's astonished gaze. Why, why?
"Why? Why do you think you can defeat me? Just because you are the good Sirin and I am the evil Sirin? Goodness is destined to defeat evil? Don't make me laugh!"
In her rage Herrscher of the Void gathered all her power. This world has never been beautiful, and the power she believed in was fragile and vulnerable!
"That kind of thing never existed because I chose good, and you chose evil!"
Kiana swung her sword with all her might, imbued with intense conviction. With this strike, the Herrscher of the Void had no chance of resistance. It was over.
Kiana sheathed her broken sword and looked at the Herrscher of the Void before her. Both of them understood that this long struggle had finally come to an end with this attack.
"It's over... The power of the gems is flowing to you. They abandoned me and chose you. It seems that your belief was stronger."
The Herrscher of the Void watched her body dissipate, the power of the gem flowing to Kiana, and she, too, was destined to face defeat and exit the stage.
Chapter 182 Get out here!
"...I will make good use of this power."
Watching the Herrscher of the Void gradually disappear, Kiana remained silent. At this moment, she felt a pang of sadness. She was also Sirin's other side, and although they had always been enemies, watching her disappear now... Kiana clenched her fists, feeling a sensation she had never experienced before. The previously volatile and uncontrollable power was now flowing quietly within her body. This was the complete power of the Herrscher of the Void.
"Whatever. You'll be much more relaxed without me anyway. Use it however you like; it's none of my business."
The Herrscher of the Void looked up and sighed softly. The victor lives and the loser leaves the stage; this is an eternal truth. If she had won, Kiana would have been the one to disappear. But unfortunately, there are no "ifs" in this world. She lost. As a proud queen, even in defeat, she must lose with dignity.
"I know... I will take responsibility for the crimes you committed; it is my duty."
As if bidding farewell to the Herrscher of the Void, Kiana hoped she could leave in peace. The Herrscher of the Void had done many things that hurt others, Kiana would try her best to make amends. Although the Herrscher of the Void might not care, Kiana believed it was her responsibility. In some ways, she and the Herrscher of the Void were inseparable.
"That's your own business, there's no need to tell me. You could have lived without knowing anything, or simply died as an innocent test subject, but you chose this path. The blood that Sirin stained, her sorrow and despair, all the contradictions of good and evil that humanity must face, you have to bear these burdens for the rest of your life."
Kiana wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but she actually heard a hint of a sob in the Herrscher of the Void's voice. It must have been her imagination. Even after being defeated, the Herrscher of the Void maintained her composure. Kiana shook her head and didn't dwell on it. The path ahead was incredibly difficult, but Kiana was already prepared for it.
"... I will try my best to make sure there is no more Sirin in the world."
"Is that so... Alright, stop there. I don't need your sympathy. The winner stays, the loser disappears. That's the rule. I have no objection. I'm leaving."
The Herrscher of the Void was unwilling to say more. The Queen turned around gracefully, and as Kiana watched her figure gradually disappear, her feelings became incredibly complicated. At this moment, perhaps all she needed to do was say goodbye to her properly.
"Goodbye, Herrscher of the Void, goodbye... another one, Sirin."
As the girl finished speaking, the Herrscher of the Void's figure became transparent. The Queen glanced back at Kiana. Although she didn't agree with Kiana's idea, she had indeed lost this time. Since she had lost, she should leave with dignity.
"I won't agree with your ideas, but since you've won, go down your path and fight to the very end, Kiana."
After leaving those words, the Herrscher of the Void transformed into a golden streak of light and vanished into the world. Kiana felt a deep sense of peace. A soul had quietly disappeared, like a light feather falling on a windless, clear day, leaving no trace in the azure sky. But Kiana knew that the feather had truly, undeniably, existed in the world.
Her despair, her longing, her sins—all had truly existed. Kiana gently closed her eyes, listening to this silent final chapter. The past pressure, resistance, and murderous intent were all gone. All the core gems had now easily returned to her hands. However, the moment she touched the core gems, countless fragments of consciousness flooded into her mind, instantly engulfing her entire consciousness. Countless chaos filled Kiana's mind.
Words failed to form sentences, and thoughts could not connect. Kiana gritted her teeth, using her last bit of strength to force herself to stay awake. Just then, the Plague Gem emitted a warm light, and Kiana, who had been enduring the pain, suddenly felt a sense of relief.
It was as if she had become Kiana again, without having to think or worry, leaving everything to the person in front of her. It was such a familiar sense of security. Kiana opened her eyes, and all she saw was a vast expanse of white. Where was she...?
Kiana blinked, and everything around her gradually became clear. This was the destination she had been searching for. Before Kiana's eyes, a familiar building stood. When she saw this scene, Kiana's nose tingled and she felt like crying. What used to be her familiar daily life had now become an unattainable dream.
Despite knowing it was an illusion, Kiana still greedily wanted to memorize everything before her eyes, until she saw the flame-like crimson in the very center of the academy gate, at which point Kiana froze.
Amidst the pristine white snow of St. Freya, a familiar figure appeared before Kiana. The white world enveloped Kiana, the surrounding scenery seemingly both unfamiliar and somewhat familiar. Kiana knew why she was there; the moment that figure appeared, Kiana's gaze was fixed upon it.
Reason reminded Kiana that this was a world created by the core memories, but even so, she still longed for another chance to see her, even if... it was just to say goodbye.
Kiana took a step forward; her silhouette, everything about her, is worth pursuing.