Kaslana—the same surname as Kiana's. Mei looked at his white hair and seemed to realize something.
Though Xing wore a bright smile on the surface, he was panicking inside. (Crap, crap, crap, I actually ran into Mei! What do I do? I just followed her here on impulse! So that vision really was for searching for Honkai Energy? Like a Honkai version of "Elemental Sight"? Let's call it Honkai Vision. No, that's not the point! Mei's condition is super unstable right now! She could undergo Herrscher Transformation at any moment! What am I supposed to do? Am I going to die before I even get started?)
Just as when he had taken the Book of Cang Xuan from Taixu Mountain, he had not considered the risk of some Shenzhou flat-chest cracking his skull open with an inch punch in the future. Likewise, he had not considered the possibility that Mei would casually kill him after transforming into a Herrscher.
"Are you Kiana's cousin?" Mei asked, her mind somewhat muddled.
"..."
Nothing was more terrifying than sudden silence.
"I'm a boy," Xing said with a dark expression. "And I probably am not related to the Kiana you mentioned."
"Oh, then I don't need to show you mercy, right?" Mei asked, tilting her head. Cross-shaped Herrscher pupils gradually appeared in one of her violet eyes.
"Huh?" Xing instinctively leaped backward. Almost at that exact instant, a bolt of lightning struck where he had been standing.
"Not bad reflexes, little brother. So, can you dodge the next one too?" Herrscher Mei asked with a yandere-like smile. Purple currents crawled over her body, burning several holes into her school uniform and turning the black stockings on her legs directly into battle-damaged versions.
"Why does everything I'm afraid of always happen? Did all my luck get spent pulling Old Ai or something?" Xing trembled as he looked at Mei, who had switched into Thunder Queen's Oni-Kiana armor, nearly on the verge of tears.
Raven, in the distance, was almost frightened to death. She wanted nothing more than to rush over, drag that little brat back, and spank him hard, but the problem was that she could not get away right now.
The silver-haired girl, clad in heavy black-and-red armor, controlled a mechanical giant in the same black-and-red color scheme and launched a fierce assault against the mercenary. "Hey, can you let me pass for the sake of us having the same colors?" Raven asked sincerely.
"Bronya does not have gray on her body." Heavy-Duty Rabbit 19C answered with a heavy punch.
Why were these two fighting? Let's turn the clock back a few minutes.
The moment Raven discovered that Xing was approaching Mei, she had wanted to go over and bring him back. Then what was that tracker you implanted in him for? Had you not enabled real-time tracking?
Raven: "It's Jackal's product. She has the location display—how would I know?"
Well, that proved Kevin right. Jackal was very useful, but only when it came to experimental research and development. Sorry, that was off-topic.
However, at the instant Raven made her move, a mercenary's instincts made her sense danger. She swiftly drew her bow and fired an arrow behind her, causing the shell Heavy-Duty Rabbit had just fired to explode directly.
"Searching for target information... Search complete. Similarity to mercenary Raven: 97.413%. Danger level: S-rank. Requesting authorization to use Otherworld Black Nucleus Erosion Armor. Authorization approved." Raven had barely turned around when Bronya went dark on the spot, leaving her completely baffled.
Looking at the overwhelming barrage of firepower, Raven felt a faint sadness. Why had things gone wrong again?
Meanwhile, Cocolia's face darkened. "Why are World Serpent's people here? Could it be... Gray Serpent, are you going to break our deal?!"
(Gray Serpent: "This is Jackal's mess. I'm not taking the blame.")
Dark crimson Raven Feathers intertwined with rampant gunfire as two S-rank combatants clashed fiercely. Raven had no desire to fight. She flung out a huge swath of Raven Feathers in an attempt to obstruct her opponent's vision and escape, but in the next second, a white light engulfed the battlefield.
"Damn, a flashbang?!"
They had interfered with each other's vision, but Raven was the only one truly affected, because Bronya had a thermal detection system. It made no difference whether she could see or not.
Though her vision was obstructed, Raven's senses remained sharp. After sidestepping Heavy-Duty Rabbit's ground-smashing iron fist, she quickly determined the enemy's location and slashed with her claws, kicking up a spray of sparks. Clearly, she had struck a steel plate.
"Are kids these days all this strong? First natural Stigmata, then a Herrscher Core, and now a Stand user?" Raven, a mere civilian player, was exhausted.
Back to Xing's side, he repeatedly dashed left and right, barely surviving in this hell of falling lightning. He completely failed to notice that the Book of Cang Xuan bracelet on his wrist was slowly absorbing the high concentration of Honkai Energy around it.
"(Previous Era language) High concentration of Honkai Energy detected... Replenishing energy... Minimum energy threshold reached... Unknown user detected. Usage denied... Unknown user detected holding Feather Crossing Dust... Emergency mode activated... Connecting to neurons..."
Red feathers surged out of the boy's body, forming a pair of strangely shaped pistols in his hands. Stimulated by the Honkai Energy, this Divine Key finally reconnected after being offline. Xing hurriedly pulled the trigger, sending a flash of electricity at Herrscher Mei, only for her to dissipate it directly midway.
"You actually intend to use lightning against the Thunder Queen?" Herrscher Mei stood where she was, watching Xing get blasted away by the recoil as she mocked him.
...I forgot Mortal Tribulation Difficult to Cross fired lightning. But doesn't it have boosts for ice, fire, and lightning elemental damage? Couldn't it have a function like the Book of Cang Xuan's to switch attack attributes?
"Neural connection complete. Welcome to the Book of Cang Xuan artificial intelligence system. Due to insufficient energy reserves, the advanced artificial intelligence system has been shut down. Basic intelligence mode activated. This system was developed by the beautiful and wise Doctors Cang Xuan and Dan Zhu. It possesses numerous functions, including housekeeping, teaching, combat guidance, and a complete poetry collection. Your current situation has been determined to be dangerous. Combat guidance module activated."
He inexplicably heard a strange voice, but the words "Book of Cang Xuan" immediately made him understand what was happening.
"Change in Key of Consciousness form detected... Analyzing... Analysis complete... Hidden mode discovered... Activation successful... Key of Consciousness output power adjusted... Insufficient energy. Forced shutdown."
The voice vanished, but Xing could clearly feel that Mortal Tribulation Difficult to Cross had become easier to handle. At the same time, it had unlocked a new function for him. He seemed able to adjust its attributes and attack mode now.
Herrscher Mei threw another lightning orb. Xing pulled the trigger again, and a fireball howled forth. Not only that, but the recoil had decreased significantly as well.
Fire + lightning = Overload. A dazzling firework bloomed in midair.
"Hm, interesting. Let's raise the difficulty." Herrscher Mei became interested. Several lightning orbs formed around her, while Xing switched Mortal Tribulation Difficult to Cross to shotgun mode. The two began trading blasts. Whether Xing's shooting talent was simply exceptional or the Book of Cang Xuan had activated auto-aim for Mortal Tribulation Difficult to Cross before shutting down, every shot hit its mark regardless.
But as the fight went on, Xing discovered a problem. This hit-and-run style of fighting while dodging consumed too much stamina, and Mortal Tribulation Difficult to Cross seemed to be running out of power—or, more accurately, it was running out of Honkai Energy. Fortunately, Herrscher Mei had gradually reduced her attack frequency to its previous level as well. Otherwise, he would have been in danger.
Wait!
She had lowered her output power. Could she be running out of power too? The Herrscher Mei before him had not yet triggered the Honkai outbreak in Changkong City. She was far weaker than the Third Herrscher from the original plot, the one Kiana had knocked out with a baseball bat. At most, she was only at the level of a Pseudo-Herrscher. She could not draw Honkai Energy from Imaginary Space like a true Herrscher. In other words, I can try going all in.
With that thought, Xing took a deep breath, raised a hand, and shouted, "Wait a second!"
To his surprise, Herrscher Mei actually stopped attacking. "What, are you begging me for mercy, little bug? If you're willing to kneel down and lick my feet, I might consider letting you become my vassal~"
What if I suddenly wanted to surrender?
Still, Herrscher Mei's attitude indirectly confirmed his guess. The boy's lips curled.
"What are you thinking, brat? You're already this old and still calling yourself a queen? Even middle-school syndrome isn't as bad as yours."
"..." The electricity around Herrscher Mei slowly faded.
What was going on? Did she shut down from getting scolded? I didn't even use particularly vicious words.
"I will turn you—" Herrscher Mei slowly raised her hand, electricity gathering into a massive katana in midair. "—into atoms!" Just as she prepared to bring the blade down, a flash of lightning struck precisely between her brows. The katana dispersed, and Herrscher Mei slowly collapsed.
Holy crap! The Herrscher of Thunder got knocked out by lightning!
"Tch. You actually dared to use a skill with such a long wind-up without any protection. You're about as pathetic as that loser who got rubbed into the ground by a Titan." Xing blew on Mortal Tribulation Difficult to Cross, which was still crackling with electricity, looking disdainful. "What's happening over there? The flames are reaching the sky. Sister Natasha should be okay, right?" Looking at the distant blaze, the boy felt a little sorry for this park.
"Let's carry her away first." The boy walked over to her, but his gaze involuntarily landed on those black stockings riddled with holes. No one's here. It should be fine if I take one lick, right?
Xing shook his head and prepared to pick up Mei, who was a whole size larger than him. Yet the instant he touched her, a flood of memories poured into his mind.
"Did you hear? Her dad was arrested for embezzling public funds! That president of ME Company!"
"Seriously? Then is she still the young lady of ME Company?"
"Young lady, my ass. People can't avoid her fast enough. Hey, how about we draw some 'artwork' on her desk later?"
"These are Mei's memories? Why? Is it because of Mortal Tribulation Difficult to Cross? But how am I even using it?" Xing was left dizzy by the impact of those dark memories. He had only just recovered when he saw a familiar figure.
Bronya, wearing Otherworld Black Nucleus Erosion Armor, was pale-faced. Heavy-Duty Rabbit 19C behind her was severely damaged as well, and several long wounds on her abdomen were still bleeding. They looked as if something sharp had cut her open. Yet the most eye-catching thing was the enormous army of blue-eyed mechs following behind her.
"Unexpected incident detected. Plan altered. Retrieving Raiden Mei ahead of schedule."
Xing thought, I only beat you twice. Was there really any need to bring an entire group of Titans? And what kind of luck did I have today? I had just finished fighting a budget version of Oni-Kiana, and now I got a battle-damaged Black Duck plus a complimentary Titan legion?
Just as Xing was panicking, Mei in his arms slowly opened her eyes.
--Scene Break--
"Raise the price!"
"Not even if you pay more. Didn't you see what that place has turned into? Forget the fare—just hurry home, little girl."
"Damn it." Kiana was forced to get out of the car, then took off running, charging toward the park at top speed. Her instincts told her Mei was there!
"Hey, little girl! Sigh, why are young people these days all so obsessed with thrills?"
--Scene Break--
Another memory flooded into his mind, but it was different from the previous one.
This was the story of a girl. Though she had lost her mother at a young age, her father had taken good care of her—meaning he implanted the Gem of Conquest in her to suppress her Stigmata's rampage. Later, she met a "HOMU Sword Saint" who taught her Hokushin Itto-ryu. Her classmates were close to her as well. She had lived a happy life, until—
Her father, Raiden Ryoma, was imprisoned for embezzling public funds. The so-called "friends" around her all left her, even starting to ostracize her. Even the HOMU Sword Saint vanished. The girl's world fell into darkness. Fortunately, that angel-like girl came into her life and brought her back into the light.
Then one day, she discovered another "her" inside her body. "She" possessed a terrifying power, capable of controlling lightning, and craved destruction. She tried her best to suppress the second personality's destructive urges and distanced herself from crowds before she lost control. Yet by chance, she encountered a boy who shared Kiana's bloodline.
In a moment of distraction, "she" took control of her body. Fortunately, the boy defeated "her." That was truly amazing...
"You're making me embarrassed. It wasn't anything amazing. But I might need your help now. Can you lend me your power, Mei?"
Black clouds blanketed Changkong City, and faint rumbles of thunder echoed through the sky.
"I activate the effect of Thunder Queen's Oni-Kiana in the graveyard! I banish myself to Special Summon two-star Oni-Kiana Tokens onto the field! And treat them as Tuner Monsters!"
Purple currents flowed around the two of them, forming two halos.
"I use the two-star Oni-Kiana Tokens, the four-star Raiden Mei, and the four-star me for Triple Tuning!"
2★+4★+4★=10★
The girl's body broke apart into countless points of light, then condensed into a violet katana. Four additional halos appeared and circled around the boy.
"Thunder originates from Changkong, judging all things here! Tremble beneath the Thunder Queen's might! Synchro Summon! Descend, Level Ten, Kiana's Vassal!"
Six halos enveloped Xing's body. His petite frame instantly grew taller, his white shoulder-length hair turned purple and flowed down to his waist, and a suit of samurai armor clad his body. Xing opened his mismatched purple-red eyes and grasped the katana.
"I can do anything now." He calmly watched the enemies before him as if they were merely a rabbit and a pile of toys.
Meanwhile, at Schicksal Far East Branch—
"Reporting to Lady Theresa, a Herrscher-level Honkai Energy reaction has appeared in Changkong City again!"
"Understood. Himeko, join me in deploying the Hyperion!"
Before you continue