These mechs were nowhere near as nimble as Ishiu and the others, and Queen of Raiden's destructive power needed no explanation. The moment they clashed, the mechs shattered into scrap as easily as candles flickering in the wind.
"This is the support you mentioned?" Kiana stared at Bronya in disbelief.
Bronya: "..."
"Forget it. Leave it to me!"
The instant Queen of Raiden's attention was diverted by the Titans, Kiana pushed off the ground and leaped five or six meters into the air. She then stomped hard on a nearby streetlamp, launching herself at Queen of Raiden like a cannonball.
"Mei! Wake up already!"
Like the protagonist of some hot-blooded shonen manga, Kiana had absolutely no idea how to keep a low profile. Her voice was louder than anyone's, as if she were afraid people might not notice she was charging in.
And Queen of Raiden obligingly looked toward her. The cold light in her eyes flickered slightly. She recognized this girl.
She did not know when she had first gained consciousness, but when she did, she clearly understood that she was not the owner of this body.
Although she did not know why she had been born, she had never intended to fight the body's original owner for control. But from the moment she came into existence, a voice had echoed endlessly in her ears, telling her to erase human civilization and destroy the world.
That voice irritated her immensely. To escape it, she chose to extend her consciousness through this body's original owner, borrowing her eyes to see the outside world.
Then, she saw the friends who had once been close to this body's original owner distance themselves from her.
She saw those people who followed "her" around with smiling faces, only to speak ill of "her" behind her back.
She also saw the adults who had once treated "her" kindly become like entirely different people—cold and heartless—as they took away many things that belonged to "her."
She watched with her own eyes as "she" fell from the clouds into the dust.
She was furious about it. She did not even want to admit that this weakling was actually her original self.
If it had been her, she would have slaughtered every one of those hateful people without hesitation!
During that time, "she" had been deeply depressed. Though she could still maintain a smile in front of others, her true feelings could not be hidden from someone sharing the same body.
Until that day, when "she" met a boy.
That boy was handsome, and he spoke in an interesting way. Most importantly, he did not care about "her" identity. He treated "her" like an utterly ordinary girl and was willing to keep her company and talk with her.
Gradually, "she" began to smile again. "She" started seeing that boy more and more often, and she also heard many interesting things from him.
For example, there were marvelous stories called the Classic of Mountains and Seas in the distant East. In the West, there were stories about Odin, king of the gods, and his two sons who loved and killed each other. There was also the legendary Fairy♂ Forest, the True Fragrance Emperor, and so on.
All those stories were incredibly interesting.
That boy told so many stories that she gained an entirely new impression of the world. Even though she knew he was not telling those stories to her, she still wanted to hear more. But that useless original self could only watch helplessly as he left.
If that was the case, then she would make her move personally. She would keep that interesting boy here, make him her retainer, and have him remain by her side forever!
"Get... lost!"
Queen of Raiden parted her red lips. Like the Thunder God of legend, she summoned blades of Thunder Punishment from the heavens with a single word.
Countless lightning serpents surged madly toward Kiana. Facing the sky full of lightning, Kiana gritted her teeth, pulled out her beloved USP54, and squeezed the trigger. Along with the gunshots, the bullets were vaporized by the terrifying heat the instant they struck the lightning.
"This is bad..."
Seeing her attack fail, Kiana's face immediately twisted in distress. She was in midair, with nowhere around her to borrow force from. Was such an incomparably gorgeous young beauty really going to die at the hands of her beloved today?
No! She had not even tasted Mei's Sister's Juice yet! How could she die like this?!
"Ishiu, save me!"
Almost instinctively, Kiana shouted.
"Idiot."
The next second, a white streak tore through the sky. Dazzling blade light split the lightning serpents filling the air in two, as though a sheet of paper had suddenly been torn apart.
Ishiu wrapped an arm around Kiana's slender waist and hurled her away. Then he stepped into the air with his left foot as though he had kicked off an invisible wall. Before Newton could rest in peace, he shot skyward and reached the same height as Queen of Raiden.
In that instant, violet eyes met icy-blue Mystic Eyes.
In Ishiu's vision, the Death Lines on Queen of Raiden's body were pitifully few. What surprised him even more was that the lines of this being that had suddenly appeared and occupied Raiden Mei's body were tightly entwined with Raiden Mei's. They were practically inseparable. If he insisted on cutting them, Raiden Mei would likely be harmed as well.
But that did not stump Ishiu. Since he could not cut "her," he would cut off her source of power!
In Ishiu's sight, deep-purple Honkai Energy filled the sky and was flowing toward a certain point within Raiden Mei's body. If he could sever that connection, perhaps Raiden Mei's consciousness would return.
Flash Sheath - Four Ghosts Annihilation!
Without the slightest hesitation, Ishiu drew his blade. A sharp flash of steel carved a cross-shaped slash through the air, shattering the lightning barrier around Queen of Raiden.
"Mm..."
A trace of surprise flashed across Queen of Raiden's face. She stared into Ishiu's eyes and said in a low voice, "Human, your power seems rather unusual."
"Who are you? Why have you taken Mei's body? And what is your purpose?" Seeing that she seemed capable of communication, Ishiu asked. His body slowly descended through the air and landed on a streetlamp by the roadside.
"I am her, but she is not me. I am the ruler of thunder," Queen of Raiden said indifferently. "As for my purpose, I have already told you. I want you to stay."
"Why?" Ishiu asked, puzzled.
"I have taken a liking to you. I want you to become my retainer." Queen of Raiden was an honest girl. Without a hint of a girl's shyness or embarrassment, she stated her goal outright.
"Huh?"
Ishiu froze. He clearly had not expected that after causing such a huge commotion, her purpose would be nothing more than him.
Since when had he become so charming?
"Don't even think about it! Ishiu belongs to Bronya and Seele!" Bronya was instantly furious. Heavy-duty Bunny activated full-firepower mode, and countless missiles and bullets poured toward Queen of Raiden in an instant.
"Noisy." Queen of Raiden waved her hand lightly. The lightning barrier Ishiu had just shattered reappeared. As more and more Honkai Energy accumulated within her, the blue-violet lightning gradually turned deep purple, growing increasingly powerful. A few tiny arcs struck the ground and immediately blasted small craters into it.
A dense web of lightning enveloped the incoming bullets, ultimately vaporizing every last one of them.
Bronya suddenly felt powerless. Even with Heavy-duty Bunny, was it still not enough?
"Human, what is your choice?" Queen of Raiden stared straight at Ishiu. Her hair danced in the air, and she looked like a demon god about to destroy the world, making it impossible for anyone to muster even the slightest desire to resist. "Become my retainer, and I will grant you endless life and great power. I will fulfill all your needs. What do you say?"
"Really? As long as I agree, you can fulfill my wish?" Ishiu blinked, seeming somewhat tempted.
"That is right. I never go back on my word." The corner of Queen of Raiden's lips rose slightly. She could practically see Ishiu becoming her retainer and telling her stories every day.
"But I refuse!"
"What?!"
"The thing I, Ishiu, love doing most is saying no to people who think too highly of themselves!" Ishiu held his dagger in a reverse grip, his icy-blue Mystic Eyes fixed on her as his voice turned cold. "Besides, the one I want to see is the gentle Mei—not a fake like you!"
"A fake... You actually called me a fake?" Queen of Raiden's expression instantly turned cold. She stared icily at Ishiu. It seemed men really needed to be taught a lesson before they would obediently listen.
The next second, countless bolts of lightning exploded around her!
The Herrscher of Thunder Fell! (Crying Voice)
(Still owed: a 4,000-word bonus chapter)
"Very well. You have successfully angered me."
As Queen of Raiden spoke coldly, countless bolts of lightning gathered around her. The blazing flashes illuminated the pitch-black night sky as brightly as day!
From afar, this region where lightning gathered could be seen flashing clearly even from dozens of miles away.
Above Queen of Raiden's head, blue lightning flickered faintly within the previously pitch-black clouds. She had actually connected with heaven and earth. Like a Thunder God wielding divine authority, she was about to punish the sinner who had defied her will.
"This is bad!" Bronya's expression changed drastically. She hurriedly shouted at Ishiu, "Ishiu! Run! She's about to use her ultimate move!"
Ishiu, who had been bracing himself for battle, nearly fell off the streetlamp when he heard Bronya say that.
He knew Bronya liked playing games, but at such a critical moment, with everyone being so serious, she suddenly called it an ultimate move. That was just too ridiculous...
"Mei..." Kiana stared blankly at Queen of Raiden seated high above the frosty heavens. She tightened her grip on her baseball bat again and again, but she did not recklessly charge forward this time, because she did not want to cause Ishiu more trouble.
Though she hated to admit it, the current Mei really was beyond her ability to handle.
(I can't do anything.jpg)
So she shouted loudly at Ishiu, "Brat! Mei is counting on you! You have to bring her back!"
Bronya, standing beside her, nearly had Heavy-duty Bunny fire a shot directly at Kiana.
She was desperately trying to make Ishiu run and escape danger, yet this idiot was urging him on like she was forcing a duck onto a perch. It really was different when it was not her own little brother, huh?
"Mm, leave it to me." Ishiu nodded. He narrowed his eyes slightly, staring at the violent lightning serpents dancing through the sky. With a thought, he activated Reinforcement Magic.
Fine blue patterns spread from Ishiu's chest and rapidly flowed through his limbs and body. It was an extremely strange sensation, somewhat warm, like a stream of hot water sliding across his arms. Yet what it gave Ishiu was a comprehensive enhancement of his physical abilities.
Since he had already secretly tested Reinforcement Magic before, Ishiu had a certain degree of control over his suddenly increased physical capabilities and would not let them interfere with his technique.
Blue patterns climbed onto the left side of Ishiu's face, adding a distinctive charm to his already handsome features.
"Human, I will ask you one last time..."
"No need to ask. Come on." Ishiu directly cut Queen of Raiden off. Wolf Fang in his hand reflected a cold gleam beneath the purple lightning.
"Very well..." Queen of Raiden revealed a cold smile. She hesitated no longer and lightly pointed a finger at Ishiu.
"Thunder Punishment."
A thunderous boom suddenly erupted from within the black clouds!
BOOM—!
Amid the enormous roar, a bolt of heavenly lightning as thick as a water vat fell straight from the clouds. It was so fast that almost no one could react. The dazzling lightning lit up the entire sky above Changkong City!
Kiana and Bronya had no time to react at all before the lightning bolt pierced through the streetlamp where Ishiu had been standing. Worse still, the powerful shockwave created when the heavenly lightning struck the ground tore apart everything within a hundred-meter radius!
Lightning serpents danced wildly, and shattered stones flew everywhere. Bronya and Kiana barely managed to protect themselves, but they could not withstand the violent shockwave. Both were thrown away like rag dolls.
Fortunately, neither of them was ordinary. They adjusted their posture as quickly as possible in midair and finally landed safely three hundred meters away.
When they looked back at the place Ishiu had been, they both sucked in a sharp breath.
A huge crater had been forcibly blasted into the asphalt road. It was ten meters deep and over thirty meters across. The air was filled with a scorched stench—the smell of stone, metal, grass, and trees vaporized by the lightning's instantaneous high temperature.
"Ishiu!!!" Bronya froze for a second, then her expression changed drastically. She ran toward the crater like she had gone mad. Her heart seemed out of control, pounding so fiercely it felt as though it might leap from her throat.
Fortunately, that panic lasted only a few seconds, because Bronya soon saw a shadow appear soundlessly behind Queen of Raiden.
Flash Sheath - Azure Sky Reflection!
A deep black cloud suddenly appeared between heaven and earth. It looked thin, yet it easily engulfed the dazzling lightning, plunging the sky into darkness once again.
The next moment, a streak of moonlight appeared in the air. Its icy pale glow tore open a gap in the black clouds, illuminating Queen of Raiden's suddenly changed expression.
To outsiders, it looked like moonlight. But to Queen of Raiden, how could that possibly be moonlight? It was clearly a dazzling flash of blade light!
Within that brilliant blade radiance, she felt as though she were naked. Every defensive measure she possessed became utterly fragile before this strike, and the shadow of death enveloped her in an instant.
She could only watch helplessly as that light tore through all the lightning and finally fell upon her.
SPLURT—!
When Raiden Mei opened her eyes again, she found herself lying in a warm embrace. She instinctively looked up, only for a warm drop of liquid to land on her cheek. She froze, but from its smell and thickness, she quickly knew what it was—blood.
"Ishiu!"
After Ishiu carried Raiden Mei to the ground, he could no longer hold on and collapsed.
Blood seeped from his mouth. Cracks had split open all over his body, and bright-red blood continuously flowed from them.
Ishiu had never expected the backlash from using the strongest strike of the Seven Nights Assassination Technique for the first time to be so severe. No wonder, in the memories, this move was only used when one was on the verge of death and prepared to perish together with the enemy. Still, its power had not disappointed him.
Fortunately, he had used Reinforcement Magic, so he could barely endure the backlash. Otherwise, he probably would have passed out already—and been half dead at that.
Still, the result delighted him. After he cut off the line through which Queen of Raiden had been drawing Honkai Energy, Raiden Mei had indeed returned.
Recovering her senses, Raiden Mei hurriedly picked Ishiu up from the ground and held him tightly in her arms. Her face was filled with anxiety and worry, and large tears fell at once.
She remembered what had just happened. Though she did not know why she had lost control or who the consciousness controlling her body had been, she knew Ishiu had become like this in order to save her.
"Ishiu!"
At that moment, Bronya and Kiana rushed over as well. When Bronya saw Ishiu collapsed on the ground, her eyes immediately reddened. Heavy-duty Bunny raised its cannon, aiming it at Raiden Mei.
"Let him go!"
"Bronya! What are you doing? She isn't a Herrscher anymore! She's Mei!" Kiana spread her arms and hurriedly stood in front of the cannon, speaking anxiously to Bronya.
"What do you know? She has already become a Herrscher. Even if she has changed back now, she is still a Herrscher!" Bronya's expression was cold. As she spoke, she moved past Kiana and came to Raiden Mei's side.
Before you continue