Chapter 346

"Don't worry, I'll be right back."

A golden light flashed and disappeared in an instant, Shen Gonglin appeared beside Kiana. The girl gritted her teeth and endured the power of the Herrscher of Domination. Looking at Shen Gonglin's figure beside her, a sense of relief flashed in Kiana's eyes. As expected, she still needed him by her side. With him by her side, she could do anything!

"This is the power she gave you. The flame will not go out because the fire will burn forever... I'm really not suited to say such things. But, a hero really does need a cape."

Together with Kiana, Shen Gonglin Himeko gave her what Kiana wanted to pass on. The last empty spot on the greatsword lit up, and the Plague Gem, carrying Himeko's will, transferred its power to Kiana. The two of them exerted their strength together, and the flames carrying everyone's will burned away all the arms that surrounded them. Shen Gonglin hung on Kiana's body, and only after losing the cover of her arms did he realize how high they were.

For those with acrophobia, it's truly an unbearable burden.

Kiana, who had embraced Shen Gonglin and the two of them gripping the greatsword together, descended from the sky like a female knight. This world was certainly not perfect, but there were people who told her not to give up. They guided her, telling her that the world wasn't so bad. She loved them and everything they loved. This sword connected them; it would burn away the darkness of the sky and let the light shine further.

This is the way home for me and everyone else!

The mob's resistance didn't cease, but no amount of resistance could sway Kiana in her presence. Engulfed in intense flames, the two wielding swords were like lights that could illuminate the entire sky. The warmth of the flames warmed Kiana's heart; the emptiness she once felt was now filled, and what filled those voids...

Kiana turned to look at Shen Gonglin beside her. Not only him, but also Mei, Bronya, the Class President, the headmaster... and most importantly, her!

Kiana, I will always guide you.

As if she were hallucinating, Kiana felt as if she really heard Himeko's words. The girl looked to the other side and saw a figure flashing in the burning flames. These things filled her heart. It was time to go home. Everyone, all of us, should go home together!

"Ah!"

Kiana let out a roar and Shen Gonglin the sword she was holding with Rin with the force of splitting mountains and shattering rocks. In that daze, Kiana seemed to hear that person's voice again.

Kiana, you are my pride.

The flames burned away the darkness in the sky. With this attack, the Domination Theater shattered, and light shone down on the earth once more. Bronya and Fu Hua, supporting each other, looked up at Kiana in the sky. This girl had unknowingly grown to the point where she could bear everyone's expectations.

"Shen Gonglin, it's all over..."

The light shone on her face, Kiana felt incredibly relaxed. She looked at the greatsword in her hand; it was no longer the broken sword it once was. Four gems on the blade shone brightly. Looking at the broken Godfall Sword beside her, Kiana's eyes were filled with nostalgia. She gently released Shen Gonglin from her arms. Everything was over.

The girl looked at the kneeling doll in front of her. Without a doubt, it was the last doll, and she would send it off on its final journey.

Chapter 202 The Most Powerful One

"You lost."

Kiana held her greatsword aloft, looking at the kneeling puppet before her. The Domination Theater had collapsed, and this was the last puppet. With one more strike, everything would come to an end. This was their victory, carrying so much weight. Kiana's heart was now incredibly calm. Meanwhile, Shen Gonglin had fallen to the ground, helped up the Class President and Bronya. It was finally over.

"... We lost... Yes, we lost... But what did we lose to? Did we lose to justice? To something else? Or... simply to power...?"

The kneeling doll stiffly turned its head. The powers of the Herrscher of Consciousness and the Herrscher of Reason had flowed back, and its life was about to end. All of this was caused by Kiana in front of it. Why was she so powerful? Why couldn't the despair of a thousand of them defeat Kiana? They clearly... they clearly lost.

You wouldn't understand.

She didn't want to say much to the doll. This obsessive collection of consciousness would never understand how difficult it had been for her to get to where she was now. Looking at the four gems shimmering on the greatsword, she felt the trust of her friends, the entrustment of her teacher, and the recognition of another version of herself... It was because of these things that Kiana was able to stand here. She would not stop here.

"But we want to understand, Kiana... Kiana, we really envy you... Why can you win every time? No matter what obstacles you encounter, you never waver... No matter what dire situation you face, you can turn danger into safety all by yourself..."

This world is so unfair! The kneeling doll raised its head, its blindfolded eyes staring straight at Kiana. As expected of the protagonist of this world, despair cannot crush her, and power cannot conquer her. Compared to Shen Gonglin, Kiana is just as difficult to deal with. These two... no, not just these two, the Herrscher of Thunder, the Herrscher of Reason, and the Herrscher of Consciousness are all formidable opponents.

Think about it carefully, isn't it a bit presumptuous of one Herrscher of Domination to challenge so many Herrscher?

"I have never been alone."

Like a victor's final act of pity for the loser, Kiana and the others understand that they have come this far not because of one person alone. This is a feat that no one could achieve alone, and no one, no matter who, could accomplish it alone.

"But we are not alone... we clearly... have a thousand companions..."

The dolls wanted to argue, "Are you saying that one person can't do this? But they do it better than anyone else. They are united and willing to sacrifice for a common goal. So why do they still lose to these people in the end?" The dolls couldn't understand. If they could do anything as long as they were united, why couldn't they?

"What binds you together is not ideals, understanding, or mutual trust. You are simply gathered together for a common purpose, venting the same polarized emotions. Such people are not companions."

Kiana spoke these words softly, and her eloquence left Shen Gonglin Kiana in disbelief. Was this real? Was this the same Kiana she knew, the one who used to skip class with her? When did she learn to talk so shrewdly? She couldn't say such things even if she were strung up and beaten. Could it be...?

Kiana is actually the main character? And I'm just a minor character?

No, no, this is too terrible. I need to lie on the Class President's chest and comfort my wounded heart. Shen Gonglin always felt like she was the main character.

"So that's how it is... Is the thing that connects us too fragile... But Kiana, let me ask you one more question: With your so-called belief, your so-called companions, your so-called protection... can you really defeat the Honkai?"

The dolls wanted to know more. Although they weren't human, they were amplifications of humanity's negative will. They couldn't defeat Kiana and the others with such power, but the predicament ahead would only be more terrifying than it was now. At that time... they might have failed, but the enemies that followed would be far more contradictory and powerful than them. Would they still be able to contend with them with these ethereal things?

The doll wanted Kiana's answer, but the girl's tone remained relaxed and at ease. Her white ponytail swayed slightly, and her cape fluttered behind her. The starlight in Kiana's eyes still shone brightly.

"I will not give up, and this is by no means some vague or unreal thing; it is proof of what it means to be human... what it means to be human!"

Kiana glanced back casually, and her voice became somewhat resentful. What was Shen Gonglin doing lying in the Class President's arms? This guy is inhuman! He wasn't even injured, yet he was like this. The Class President is so flat, what's the point of lying there? Isn't he afraid of slipping off? To be honest, with so many people here, isn't she the most suitable person to be lying there?

Hey, right? At the Salt Lake Base right now, am I the strongest fighter? Kiana wasn't talking about combat power.

The valiant female knight's mind seemed to be conjuring up some insect-like thoughts again. The girl quickly shook her head. Now was not the time to think about these things. She could be proud later... Tsk tsk, what kind of rotten fish and shrimp are they? Just think about it: the class Class President, Bronya, the headmistress, the two doctors, and Seele... Hehe, not a single one of them is any good.

"... Haha... Kiana, to be honest, you almost convinced me. I really envy you guys... You're right, we're just puppets of the Honkai... The only thing connecting us is those annoying threads... Strange... Which side am I on? Is it because I'm about to die that I'm thinking these weird things... But human malice doesn't disappear... Kiana... You'll understand soon enough, no, you've always understood. There are still many trials ahead for you."

The puppet was uttering incomprehensible words, while Kiana had already raised the greatsword in her hand. To be honest, her arm was aching from holding the sword with one hand for so long. Having said what she wanted to say, Kiana swung the sword down, towards the puppet, towards the now-ended theater.

Ah... he's here... the golden threads are already wrapped around me.

As it perished, the doll left behind these words, and then, everything came to an end.

Chapter 203 has ended.

At the Salt Lake Base, the remaining personnel had resolved all the disturbances caused by the dolls. Everyone stood quietly in the plaza on the base ground, awaiting the return of the victors. Just a short while ago, all the effects caused by the dolls disappeared at the same time, and they understood that Shen Gonglin and her team had won. Now, all they had to do was welcome them home.

A golden halo suddenly unfolded before everyone's eyes. Shen Gonglin took the lead and walked at the very front. When he saw Einstein, Theresa, and the others in front of him, he was stunned. Did they know that they were coming back?

"Welcome home... Kiana? What happened to you?"

Because there was no rehearsal, the welcoming words sounded sparse. Tesla's tone was lively and eager, while the languid Einstein was a beat behind. However, it didn't matter. Everyone's eyes were focused on Kiana. They had never seen a girl with a single ponytail like this before. Looking at Kiana like this, Theresa's eyes were momentarily dazed.

Why do I feel like I'm seeing someone else's figure... Damn it, it's like Crocodile got into my eyes.

"In short, a lot happened."

Kiana shook her head, and with both hands, she took out a greatsword shattered into several pieces. Looking at the somewhat dim Godfall Sword, Theresa's eyes widened slightly, and her azure eyes trembled violently. Then, the little girl reached out and gently stroked the broken sword. She seemed to understand what had happened.

"Why do you look like someone's dead? Let me tell you, Himeko... umm..."

Shen Gonglin didn't quite understand their current situation. She had already explained it to Kiana and the others. Himeko was currently using the Plague Gem to temper her body. That strong-willed woman was unwilling to return to only do logistical work. Lacking adaptability to Honkai energy, she could only improve herself through this method. She still wanted to stand at the forefront, protecting them from the storm, but...

Why don't Kiana and the others believe me?

"Shen Gonglin, be quiet... just be quiet, that's fine."

Covering Shen Gonglin's mouth, Fu Hua pulled him into her arms. At this moment, there was no need to say much. She knew that Shen Gonglin was unwilling to accept reality. They both understood the real truth: Shen Gonglin was just deceiving himself.

... Okay, nobody believes me. They'll know whether I've been lying or not when Himeko actually comes out.

Shen Gonglin reluctantly shut her mouth. It wasn't because the feeling of being pressed against her chest by the Class President was too comfortable. To be fair, although the Class President was known as having a flat Shenzhou, it wasn't completely without curves. It was just that the slight undulation was a bit irresistible.

Speaking of which... the Class President is probably the youngest in this 6A-level scenic area, right? Or maybe Theresa?

In this solemn setting, Shen Gonglin began to ponder these strange things again. Bronya has grown a lot. In Shen Gonglin's opinion, this girl will probably become a very powerful figure in the future.

"So, the Herrscher of Domination incident has now come to a successful conclusion, and there shouldn't be any major changes. What have you been up to lately?"

As night fell, Shen Gonglin, unusually, stayed in his room. At that moment, he was openly communicating with the commander of the opposing organization at the Anti-Entropy base. He really didn't know why she wanted him to tell her this. With Schicksal's investigative abilities, he probably already knew about these things.

[Recently... I trained all morning today, running about 21,358 meters. My condition was pretty good. I ate lunch prepared by Rita, and because it was so delicious, I ate a little too much. So I increased my afternoon training a bit. I shouldn't be at risk of gaining weight.]

A Valkyrie's very serious voice came from the phone. Listening to her detailed schedule, down to the meter, Shen Gonglin's lips twitched slightly. This girl seems a little bad at chatting, but that's also her characteristic. There's always this strange feeling when chatting with Durandal. This girl is kind of interesting.

"Really? How much do you weigh now, Durandal? What do you look like? Send us a picture."

Shen Gonglin joked that everyone else had gone to record and give a briefing on the time. For some reason, neither Tesla nor Einstein seemed to have any intention of having Shen Gonglin give a report, so he could only stay in his room. When he got bored, he called Durandal.

This made Durandal feel flattered. When Shen Gonglin ever contacted her before? So the girl immediately stopped training and ran to the side to chat with Shen Gonglin. Hearing Shen Gonglin's words, Durandal bit her lip and hesitated for a moment, but in the end she still resolutely took a picture and sent it.

Although it's a bit embarrassing to be sweating like this, since Shen Gonglin wants to see it, she naturally has to do her best.

Through her efforts, Durandal felt that her relationship with Shen Gonglin was getting closer and closer; now he even said things like that to her.

[Approximately 54kg...]

The girl actually sent it. I silently saved the photo of the girl in tight training clothes on my phone. Then I heard Durandal's hesitant voice on my phone. Weight is a very private thing for girls, but Durandal hesitated for a long time before finally saying it. "Is Shen Gonglin thinking that you are too heavy? You train so often, will you train yourself into a muscular body?"

Durandal pinched her arm with some unease. It felt very smooth and didn't have any muscle. But it was this kind of arm that could lift Emperor-class Honkai Beast by its tail and swing it around.

[54kg, feels great! There's a saying that goes, "If you weigh less than 100 pounds, you're either flat-chested or short." You, Durandal, don't need to worry about that at all.]

She had no concept of her weight, since most of the Valkyrie were heavier than her anyway. Shen Gonglin was unusually tactful today, and her words pleased Durandal. Indeed, the girl looked down and was quite satisfied that she couldn't see her toes. She was neither flat nor short, according to Rita.

A girl like me might even be worthy of being called a goddess by outsiders.

The first chapter is what I wanted to hear.

Thinking this made Durandal blush slightly. The girl, who possessed the virtues of a knight, felt a little ashamed, but also a little proud. To cover up this emotion, Durandal coughed twice and became more serious.

Those who know her well know that this golden Durandal is shy.

[To get back to the main point, as I said before, Bishop Otto is not dead, and the Schicksal organization already knows this. Nominally, I am still in charge of Schicksal, but we are no longer able to provide you with direct assistance. Furthermore, I believe Bishop Otto is preparing to implement a grand plan.]

The acting head of Schicksal just openly revealed this top-secret information. It seems that this female knight has been corrupted quite a bit. After all, even if she didn't say it, Rita would definitely tell Shen Gonglin. Rather than letting Rita gain favor, it's better to seize this opportunity herself. Durandal knows that she is not as good at pleasing people as Rita in terms of personality, so she has to seize opportunities in other aspects.

Oh no, that humble and upright female knight has changed.

"We all expected that guy would still be alive, but what exactly is this grand plan you're referring to?"

Knowing that Otto was still alive, Shen Gonglin didn't hesitate after confirming it. She could just kill him again. Last time, it was Shibao who did it, and she didn't get her fill of the thrill. Now, Shen Gonglin was more interested in Otto's plan. This guy was like a schemer, which was really infuriating.

[I haven't figured out the specifics either, but he's already experimented with connecting the Imaginary Tree to the World Bubble. I don't know his exact purpose yet. I experienced a lot inside that World Bubble... After I came out, I learned that you had ended the matter of the Herrscher of Domination. I'm really sorry I couldn't help this time.]

Schicksal has indeed rotted to the core. You can tell from the fact that the acting head doesn't care about such things at all. Feeling the apology from the girl on the other end of the phone, how could Shen Gonglin care about such things? Or rather, the fact that you were able to handle the Herrscher incident without interference this time was because Durandal helped you. This girl seems a bit too serious.

"It's alright. It's just that we couldn't find the core of the Herrscher of Domination in the end, which is a little worrying, but it's all in the past now, so don't worry about it."

Durandal's attitude, how could Shen Gonglin possibly be angry with her? This matter has been handled perfectly. Kiana not only overcame the influence of the Herrscher of the Void but also gained the recognition of the Plague Gem. She is now the Herrscher of Flamescion. The girl's combat power has skyrocketed. It is likely that only Shen Gonglin and Durandal among the younger generation can reliably suppress her. What more could one ask for?

Regarding this matter... I suspect that Bishop Otto has already obtained the core of the Herrscher of Domination, and that an S-rank Valkyrie is hidden within Schicksal. All of this is related to the Bishop's plan. If I have the opportunity, I will investigate and tell you the information.

She's getting better and better at being a traitor. Sure enough, there's only one or countless times when it comes to this. She's eating the food of Schicksal while smashing Schicksal pot. Durandal feels that her mindset is shifting towards Rita's. That girl now treats Schicksal as a well-paid part-time job. If it weren't for the fact that she could earn money here and get first-hand information to assist Shen Gonglin, she probably would have packed up and run away long ago. Durandal feels that she's almost at that point herself.

"Otto? A hidden S-rank Valkyrie? Golden threads... So that's what the doll meant by its last words. Alright, I understand now. But be careful. If that bastard Otto makes any moves, just run away. I think Anti-Entropy would be quite willing to accept a Valkyrie with explosive combat power."

Resting her chin on her hand, Durandal had sent. No one knew what Otto was up to, but whatever he wanted to do, they could stop him themselves. More than that, Shen Gonglin was concerned about Durandal. Working under Otto required being extremely vigilant, or he would scheme against her until she was nothing but dust.

"Besides that reason, do you... want me to come over?"

The question slipped out of her mouth. Durandal wanted to know what Shen Gonglin was thinking. Was it because of her fighting prowess that he wanted her to come over?... Durandal's face flushed slightly as she asked the question. Fortunately, it was just a phone call and Shen Gonglin couldn't see her face. Otherwise, Durandal really didn't know if she would have had the courage to ask that question.

"Ah... actually, I'm just a guest at Anti-Entropy, I don't have much say..."

Shen Gonglin's speech became mumbled, but that made sense. They were still Schicksal defectors, and Anti-Entropy was only temporarily taking them in. So, Shen Gonglin felt she couldn't get a word in edgewise about such an important matter.

[... Do you think I don't know? Don't underestimate Schicksal's intelligence-gathering abilities. They frequently visit Einstein's bedroom, and Dr. Tesla even wanted your opinion on the placement of paintings in his lab. And you say you have no say? I'm afraid Welt has already been sidelined by you all.]

Durandal's tone turned slightly sour. Anti-Entropy was practically turning into Shen Gonglin's shape now. This guy's diplomatic skills were simply unbeatable. If he were thrown into World Serpent, Kevin would probably be sidelined by him. Schicksal and Anti-Entropy were the best examples right now. So why was he spouting nonsense to her? Couldn't he just say it honestly?

He clearly knows what he wants to hear, but he just won't say it out loud. What a... tsundere! Yes, Rita is right, Shen Gonglin is a tsundere!

"No, no, that's too much... Welt can decide what he wants to eat himself, it's not as bad as 'fictional'..."

Shen Gonglin spoke awkwardly, while Durandal simply remained silent. The girl silently conveyed her meaning, and in the end, Shen Gonglin could only sigh helplessly.

"Alright, alright, the Hyperion is huge, and there are plenty of spots up there. If we add one more female knight who always goes forward, I think Theresa should still be able to afford to pay her salary... That's all."

After saying Shen Gonglin hung up the phone, while Durandal on the other end felt secretly pleased. Hehe, that's exactly what I wanted to hear.

Chapter Two: I Want to Play with Fire

Go to sleep.

After finishing her call with Durandal Shen Gonglin was ready to sleep. She figured Theresa and the others would be having a meeting late into the night, so Shen Gonglin didn't want to go out with them. Everyone had finally finished their work and had time to rest, Shen Gonglin occasionally wanted to get a good night's sleep so she could be fully refreshed before she could play with them. The Domination Theater Shen Gonglin had really worn her out; it was quite an achievement for an ordinary person to be so busy for so long.

However, despite what Shen Gonglin thought, reality is never so easy to achieve. A spatial fluctuation came, and then Shen Gonglin felt a warmth in her bed. Suddenly, a furry head popped out from under the covers. Shen Gonglin stared blankly at the white fur in front of her, but the white fur's face was even more unpleasant than Shen Gonglin's.

"Shen Gonglin, why aren't you wearing any clothes!"

Kiana, enraged, questioned her. After fully mastering the Herrscher of the Void's abilities, the girl was no longer afraid of this Shen Gonglin. So, as soon as the meeting ended, she teleported herself to Shen Gonglin's side. Then, the girl realized that something was wrong. The girl, who was sharing a bed with Shen Gonglin, was blushing so much that she was almost bleeding. Why was Rin sleeping naked? Even if you have the means, you can't show off like this. I've never seen Shen Gonglin sleep like this before.

He usually wears pajamas, doesn't he?

"My newly ordered shrine maiden outfit hasn't arrived yet... Wait! Is this the time to talk about this? Get out of here!"

Shen Gonglin Jingu responded blankly. The Salt Lake Base had been invaded by dolls before. Some perverted doll broke into Shen Gonglin's room and blew up his wardrobe, so Shen Gonglin had no clothes left. He could only sleep like this tonight. The clothes he ordered would arrive tomorrow. Who knew Kiana would suddenly come over? Shen Gonglin kicked the white-haired girl away.