9. Xia Ling: What a Coincidence-you're Short on Energy Too? / 10. Theresa: Xia Ling Seems to Be Getting Itchy for the Basement

"Yes, I don't want to give up on any master, even though I admit that the kind master might be the one Sirin admires more and would be willing to help her more, but..."

"But you don't want to eliminate the possibility of another Sirin, right?"

Xia Ling answered the second half of the sentence for her.

The enormous dragon head nodded sharply, staring expectantly at Xia Ling. For a moment, Xia Ling found Bella's pitiful appearance rather endearing.

"I do have a way to allow Sirin and Kiana to coexist... and even to steer her toward the good side. Of course, this process may involve a little bit of pain."

Xia Ling made a slight gesture with her fingers.

"However, this plan may still need some help from you. Walking Linpa (=a二>) III7 Shi Qingba Die Ling>"

"What do you want to do? I need to hear it first."

When it came to Sirin, Bella's answers were extremely cautious.

"I think..."

Xia Ling's lips curled slightly as she slowly revealed a plan she had been conceiving for some time.

Chapter Nine Xia Ling: What a coincidence, you're also short of energy?

In the ruins of West District.

"This is it."

Looking at the ruins in the distance, which resembled an isolated island in the water, the Raven stopped in its tracks.

"If I'm not mistaken, that girl should be somewhere in these ruins."

"But..."

The Raven's aura suddenly surged.

"Although I don't know why Xia Ling left here inexplicably, I won't let this opportunity slip by."

"I'm sorry, but all you can take with you is probably a corpse."

As Raven turned around, the jet-black throwing knife flew out from under her wide cloak and struck the afterimage that Mei had left behind.

Mei sensed something was wrong when the Raven suddenly stopped.

Besides her perception of the Honkai Energy around Raven, there is another very important reason.

She knew that Xia Ling rarely did anything meaningless.

Recalling the headmaster's long-range sniping encounter with Xia Ling in Changkong City, Mei guessed that this positioning device was likely used to provide coordinates for Xia Ling's sniping.

So, did Xia Ling leave to lure Raven into making a move, or did she really have something to do, and was her role merely a safety net?

Mei didn't know the details, but she understood one thing: she couldn't place all her hopes on others.

The original mission was for me to save Kiana. Xia Ling provided me with a backup plan, but I couldn't trouble her every time.

Mei didn't want to experience that feeling of despair again, when she felt powerless and could only rely on others.

So...

Using the assault armor, Mei's remaining Herrscher energy was fully activated.

Purple lightning crackled around her armor, and even though it was designed to withstand overload, the Assault armor was now creaking under the strain.

Her originally blue-purple eyes were now veiled in red.

"Is this how Herrscher energy is used?"

Raven was startled by Mei's sudden outburst; if one didn't know better, they would think that she was the one who was ambushed.

However... as expected, even without the core, she can still use a certain amount of Herrscher energy.

Let's test her one more time... and see if she can, as I think, qualify to re-establish the core...

Meanwhile, Xia Ling and Bella's conversation was also coming to an end.

"Wouldn't this... be a bit too..."

After listening to Xia Ling's words, Bella's voice was a little hesitant.

"You have to trust me... Anyway, even if this plan fails, it won't do any harm."

Xia Ling blinked. "So, you don't want to give it a try?"

"Alright... but I have one condition: if Her Majesty doesn't change as you planned..."

"Don't worry, I won't lay a hand on her."

"If the two of them are truly two mutually exclusive individuals, and only one can stay... then it should be a problem between them."

"I just want to prove that even the 'evil' that represents Sirin doesn't mean that one can only go down the path of evil."

"Moreover, her so-called hatred is just the hatred she inherited from Sirin."

Xia Ling was prepared and assured Bella.

She had already mentally rehearsed today's situation, and as for what would happen if it didn't work out... she felt the chances were slim; at most, it would just mean she couldn't achieve her goal in one go.

Sirin's attitude has softened considerably compared to the original work, which proves that her understanding is correct.

Although Kiana and Sirin are like two sides of the Sirin, there are still differences between them. Kiana's kindness was cultivated during her childhood, and her will was tempered through hardships.

Sirin's hatred, however, was directly inherited from the memories within her core, like a castle in the air.

Although in the original work, Sirin resolutely carried out the hatred inherited from her, Xia Ling ultimately could not stand by and watch Sirin head towards self-destruction.

"So... the deal is done."

Seeing that Bella had no objections, Xia Ling put away the staff in her hand, and the heavy pressure on Bella's body immediately eased.

"Considering you'll need to stay by my side when the plan is implemented... you'll probably have to transform into human form."

Looking at Bella's enormous dragon body, which could be described as blotting out the sky, Xia Ling pondered.

"Your request is fine, but as you can see, I'm not in the best condition."

Bella's voice was also troubled. "If it weren't for the powerful physique that Judgment-class Honkai Beast are born with, I wouldn't have been able to hold on until now with my injuries."

"So, if I can heal you, you can turn into a human?"

"What I need to be fully healed is not only physical healing, but also the replenishment of Honkai Energy. However, if it is just the restoration of the ability to transform and communicate, as long as I can be restored to the state equivalent to that at Schicksal Headquarters, that will be enough."

"I see. Ultimately, besides your injuries, your Honkai Energy requirements are also a major problem. After all, during the Second Honkai Outbreak, Sirin seemed to have directly supplied you with energy using the Herrscher Core..."

"Wait, you need Herrscher Core too?"

Xia Ling suddenly realized what was happening.

Yes, Bella also needs a core, isn't that a coincidence?

Kiana has an unclaimed core inside her body, which is almost invisible.

Xia Ling immediately set her sights on the Core of the Herrscher of Death within Kiana's body.

After all, before Kiana transformed into Flamebringer, this completely unusable Core of the Herrscher of Death had little presence. After transforming into Flamebringer, it wasn't even present on the Flame-Chaser Greatsword.

Later, when Seele became the Herrscher of Death, it had nothing to do with this core. In the original work, this thing was like Kishinuma, a setting that existed but was forgotten.

Even from a purely physical perspective, removing this core would greatly reduce the erosion and burden on Kiana's body.

"Don't worry, I already have a solution for the Honkai Energy issue."

Xia Ling patted Bella's hand. "Now, I'll heal your injuries first. As for the Honkai Energy... I'll take care of it for you in a couple of days after I finish chatting with Qi Ling's dad #Wu Shi Liu's dad Abandoned Wife Skirt".

"Moreover, I can guarantee that as long as you obey, you can stay by Kiana's side in human form from now on."

"Real?"

Bella's thoughts were filled with deep doubt.

"I know my body better than anyone else... Many of my injuries are old wounds that have accumulated over a decade ago, the kind that even my constitution can't heal."

"Don't worry, I know my Cipher Plate better than anyone, it just might take some time."

Xia Ling took out two red Cipher Plate.

[Beginning the announcement]

[Triggered the Kowald's Tribal Concord]

[The bow is drawn, the wind whistles, the hunt never ends. Following ancient teachings, we pray to our relatives, our words calming our minds.]

A red light gradually emanated from the Cipher Plate, enveloping Bella's body.

Chapter Ten Theresa: Xia Ling seems to want to go to the basement.

"Hiss..."

In the red smoke, the Raven quickly retreated, shaking its paws, which were numb from the impact of the longsword.

The Soul Steel components on the sharp claws seemed to have reached their limit. Raven had no doubt that if it took a few more hits, the weapons would be destroyed immediately.

"That's a truly reckless fighting style..."

Raven frowned slightly. She had only intended to test Mei Raiden's determination to save Kiana in order to decide whether or not to carry out the plan.

It now seems the test was very successful, perhaps too successful. The other side is clearly really going all out. Knowing that she has the Third Divine Key, she probably won't give her a chance to leave.

So, knocking her out is the only option...? But that wouldn't explain why I let Kiana go after she fainted, and besides, she'd probably really fight me to the death...

Feeling that it had gone a bit too far, the Raven was contemplating how to leave in a respectable manner.

Just then, a gunshot broke the stalemate.

A bullet flew from an unknown location, and after traveling an extremely long distance, it accurately split the longbow in the Raven's hand in two.

This is... Xia Ling?

Raven broke out in a cold sweat. She had been completely unprepared for the shot, and even now, she couldn't pinpoint where it had hit.

"Sister Xia Ling's support has arrived!"

A glimmer of light flashed in Mei's tired eyes. She roused herself and gathered her Honkai Energy once more.

Regardless of Xia Ling's intentions, the fact that she aimed her gun at my bow instead of my head proves that she probably doesn't want to attack me. Perfect... I'll use this as an excuse to get away.

Raven disarmed herself and looked at the battered Mei Raiden.

"Nice eyes, I like them. Take her with you."

"...?"

"This time, I was outmaneuvered, but you should also thank yourself, Mei Raiden."

"In this battle, you did provide evidence that could save that Herrscher."

The Raven's figure vanished in an instant, turning into a gentle breeze.

Her last words echoed in the air.

"We will meet again, Mei Raiden."

"The World Serpent has a way to save Kiana. If you want to see me then, you know where to go."

Mei's tense mind suddenly relaxed, and her swaying body almost lost its balance.

It seems that the opponent's final battle wasn't about killing Kiana at all. With that kind of mobility, if she really did attack Kiana, she wouldn't be able to stop her at all...

In the end... I still can't do anything...?

Before she could even process her frustration, Mei immediately headed in the direction the Raven had pointed out.

Within the broken wall, a girl covered in ominous purple patterns was quietly curled up in a corner, fast asleep.

"I've finally found you... Kiana."

A dozen minutes later, the transport ship Helios appeared above Mei.

Before she could ask any further questions, Kiana was rushed into the emergency room by Doctor as soon as she boarded the transport ship.

"Mei, how is it?"

Theresa, who had come along, looked at Mei's miserable state and asked what was wrong.