Collapse, I'll Transform and Punch You Directly Chapter 11

"Bai Chen, you're being naughty. You have something on your mind, don't you?"

Bronya floated calmly towards Bai Chen, fixing him with a death glare.

"I've got it covered."

Bai Chen mumbled, his face being pinched by Kiana. He hadn't wanted them to get involved in this in the first place, especially Mei, because Yuno had been Mei's classmate before.

"Alright, Kiana, Bronya. Since Bai Chen isn't telling us, he must have his reasons."

Mei gently stepped forward, removing Kiana's hand and trying to smooth things over.

"Waaah, thank you, Mei-nee,"

Bai Chen said, rubbing his red cheek.

After Bai Chen had recovered a bit, he began to share the information he knew.

"Based on the memory fragments, the Mimic Herrscher is Yuno from Senba Academy."

"Senba Academy?!"

"Yuno?!"

Kiana didn't have any impression of the person, but she was familiar with Senba Academy. Was the school really that problematic? It was the first place where a zombie was discovered, and now a Herrscher had appeared there too.

Now, another Mimic Herrscher had surfaced. It was a den of monsters.

Mei, on the other hand, was familiar with the name. Unlike Kiana, she wasn't even sure who her classmates were.

She remembered that classmate Yuno had always been an outcast in their class, even during the time Mei herself was being ostracized.

Mei felt a surge of sympathy for Yuno.

"Is... is she beyond saving?"

"Completely corrupted by the Collapse."

"Wait, wasn't Mei also completely corrupted back then? Why is she beyond saving?"

Kiana couldn't stand by and watch them condemn someone to death without a second thought. She believed that as long as there was communication, there was a chance for salvation.

"It's different, Kiana. Could that person stay in a classroom at Senba Academy for a whole month? The real Yuno died when the Collapse first broke out. Now, she's just a puppet resurrected by the Collapse."

Knowing from the story that Yuno had nearly caused Theresa's death twice, Bai Chen didn't believe she had any consciousness left. Her soul was trapped by the Collapse, and he could only offer her release.

"No! That's too cruel!"

Bai Chen couldn't tell if Kiana was referring to the Collapse or something else.

Finally, after everything was explained, everyone boarded the fleet under instructions and set sail for Changkong City.

Returning to Changkong City after a month brought a wave of emotions to Bai Chen. He still didn't know why he had come to this world, or what that final flash of white light he saw in his last life truly was.

Everything, like Bai Chen's special abilities, was shrouded in mystery.

"Would you like to try the new cookies I made today?"

As Bai Chen gazed at the clouds outside the ship, Mei approached him carrying four boxes of cookies, each thoughtfully labeled with a different color.

"Ah, thank you, Mei-nee."

Bai Chen instinctively took a box and took a bite. The sweet taste, accompanied by a rich aroma, satisfied his taste buds, significantly improving his gloomy mood.

"Kiana... she's acting a bit strange, isn't she?"

Mei smiled and spoke to Bai Chen, who was looking out at the scenery.

"Hm?"

Chewing on a cookie, Bai Chen looked at Mei, not understanding why she suddenly brought that up.

"You see, Kiana has always been like this. Even when everyone around her tells her it's impossible, she still stubbornly believes in what she believes in, like an idiot, and charges forward.

"Even when she's covered in wounds, she's such a fool. But she really saved me. It's incredible. However, this way, she also tends to overlook the feelings of those around her."

Mei then looked into Bai Chen's eyes earnestly and said:

"I'm sorry, Bai Chen. Kiana has always been like this. Perhaps what I'm about to say will hurt your feelings, but she doesn't dislike you with any ill intent. Can you forgive that foolish girl?"

Bai Chen was surprised by Mei's earnestness for a moment, then let out a chuckle.

"Huh?"

Mei let out a surprised sound, finding Bai Chen's reaction different from what she expected.

"Sorry, hahaha, Mei-nee, I didn't mean to. It's just that I've never been angry with Kiana. I've always known Kiana's personality."

Bai Chen laughed, wiping away tears of mirth from the corners of his eyes, and then continued with a smile:

"Because I've always liked that about her. Isn't she truly dazzling?"

Hearing Bai Chen's confession-like remark, Mei felt relieved. She had thought he was upset because of an argument, seeing him looking so down.

"Mei-nee."

Bai Chen suddenly spoke.

"Yes??"

Mei looked at Bai Chen and asked.

Bai Chen raised his empty cookie box and smiled.

"The cookies are delicious, thank you!"

Knowing that Bai Chen wasn't blaming her, Mei returned a gentle smile and left with the remaining two cookie boxes.

"Wow, Mr. Bai Chen, I want to eat some too."

Kallen, inside Bai Chen's body, saw how much Bai Chen was enjoying the cookies and wanted to try them, but Bai Chen ate them too quickly!

"Then next time, let's eat them together with Yae Sakura."

Bai Chen looked out the window again, his mood brightened, and his eyes held a newfound determination.

He no longer felt lost about what he needed to do. Thank you, Mei-jie, you've helped me make up my mind!

Ever since he learned to control Honkai energy, he had gained a better understanding of his special abilities. Now, he could do things he couldn't before!

With that thought, Bai Chen began to close his eyes and examine his ability cards. Without hurting Theresa, the only way to lure out the hidden Yae Sakura was to transform into Kallen.

If he used "Nighty Night," then the only remaining options were [Divine Key: Imayoh] and [Original Sin Hunter]... or were there?

His abilities weren't that limited. If he wanted to lure out Kallen, he had to use that form.

On Kiana's side, Kiana was lazily sprawled on the table, saying to Mei, "Mei, I'm so hungry. Two cookies aren't enough."

Mei looked around with a confused expression. She had made a whole box of cookies? There were only two left? Perhaps sharing some cookies would be fine.

"Silly Kiana, don't shout. The staff around are looking."

Bronya scolded Kiana while taking out some cookies from the box and handing them to her.

"Heh heh, Bronya, you're quite nice sometimes."

Kiana happily took the cookies and ate them.

"Don't misunderstand, it's just that Bronya can't eat that much. Mei-jie, you should eat some too."

Bronya retorted, while also taking some and handing them to Mei.

Mei, however, was absentmindedly looking around, trying hard to remember where she had forgotten that one box.

Chapter 21: Mission Start

The Hyperion arrived above Changkong City. After discussion, the final decision was for Theresa to single-handedly defeat the Mimic Herrscher, while Himeko would observe from the ship to prevent any accidents.

But Bai Chen knew that Theresa's side was the most likely place for an accident to occur. So, after Theresa descended, he proactively approached Himeko to request to join the operation.

"Teacher Himeko, there's something I absolutely must do here. If I don't complete it, I'll regret it for the rest of my life."

Bai Chen said earnestly to Himeko.

"Sigh, I can't allow you to sneak off too. Theresa mentioned something to me. Go ahead."

Himeko said helplessly. Sometimes, these children were truly difficult to manage.

"Thank you."

As Bai Chen left, Theresa was already cutting through the ranks below, approaching the Mimic Herrscher.

The Honkai beasts that stood in her way were shattered into pieces by Theresa's Judgement the moment she encountered them. Now, this newly awakened Mimic Herrscher probably wouldn't last much longer.

But Theresa had underestimated Yuno, this new Mimic Herrscher.

"Let me end your suffering."

Seeing Yuno's lack of reaction, Theresa assumed Yuno hadn't fully awakened as a Herrscher and charged forward without caution, preparing to pierce her delicate body with the golden spear from Judgement.

But it was all an illusion. As Theresa drew closer, Yuno controlled the poisonous vines to lash out fiercely. They missed piercing Theresa's delicate body by a hair's breadth, and were about to strike first.

[Valkyrie: Saint Kallen]

"Theresa, dodge!!"

A golden hammer suddenly fell from the sky, destroying the building above and smashing directly between Theresa and Yuno!

The immense power instantly crushed the sneak-attacking vine into powder. Even the entire teaching building trembled under the attack as if it were about to collapse.

"!"

Theresa, startled by the sudden attack, stumbled back several steps. This destructive power was comparable to an S-rank Valkyrie!

"Tch."

Seeing her sneak attack thwarted, Yuno stood up unhappily, glaring ferociously at the new figure on the field.

As the dust settled, the person within was revealed. It was Bai Chen, transformed into Kallen. However, his attire wasn't the playable armor from the game; it was a nun's outfit.

"You!"

When Theresa saw the familiar figure before her, she was instantly shocked, and then felt a wave of dizziness.

Only then did Theresa notice a small wound on the back of her hand, as if she had accidentally brushed against a vine while dodging. Did that thing actually have poison on it?!

Just a graze had this effect? Then, if the Mimic Herrscher's sneak attack hadn't been interrupted, Theresa dared not imagine the consequences.

"You want to interfere with me too?! Those classmates always ignored me and interfered with me, but now they're all dead, and only I survived!"

"I am blessed by the gods, I am the chosen one!"

Roaring, Yuno summoned several more vines, attacking indiscriminately within the classroom. Though seemingly crude, the vines sliced through the surrounding walls and furniture like blades.

Seeing Theresa caught in the attack, Bai Chen hastily dodged while firing his gun, shattering several vines approaching Theresa. He then aimed for an opening and kicked Yuno directly in the stomach.

The immense force sent Yuno crashing through a wall and into the adjacent classroom, further smashing the already chaotic seating.

"Stop it, Yuno. You're just sick, you need treatment. Don't be deceived by the voices in your head."

Bai Chen said as he climbed through the hole in the wall towards Yuno.

"I'm sick? No, you people are the sick ones! You never cared about me, you insulted me, spat on me. What did I do wrong?"

"That person gave me power, they chose me! It's you who's trying to deceive me!!"

Yuno, in her madness, refused to listen to Bai Chen's warning and continued to summon vines to attack him.

This attack was even more ferocious than the last, leaving even less room to dodge in the cramped classroom.

"So, does that include your mother too?! Did your mother also not care about you?!"

Bai Chen roared. Perhaps there were many incompetent mothers in the world, but Yuno's mother was not among them. From the flashback in Yuno's manga, her mother was definitely a good mother!

"Mom?"

Yuno's movements faltered. That's right, where was Mom? Did Mom, like those hateful classmates...

An opportunity!

"Judas, deploy!"

A massive golden cross crashed to the ground! The impact sent dust falling from the ceiling! Judas Vow instantly fired several golden chains, binding Yuno tightly.

Just as Bai Chen prepared his next move, Yuno let out a ferocious, maniacal laugh.

"Hahaha! Of course she doesn't! She sent me to school, she must have seen me as a burden! Otherwise, why didn't she ever come to help me! Why didn't she stop those people from bullying me!"