The Advancing Titans

"Jun Xuan... you're really gentle!"

Watching Dong Moxuan's back, Mei wrapped both arms around the stuffed toy and thought to herself.

Has nothing changed?

Recalling the gentle boy from before, Mei couldn't help curling the corners of her lips into a gentle smile. The dark clouds lingering in her heart gradually dispersed.

However, it seemed that heaven had no intention of letting Mei off so easily.

Just as she stood there waiting for Dong Moxuan to return, an accident suddenly happened.

Bang!

The smile at the corners of Mei's lips had not yet faded when several pure-blue robots broke through the arcade's wall and stormed in from outside.

"We finally found you, Raiden Mei... No, the Third Herrscher!"

The streamlined bodies of the dark-blue machines were filled with the radiance of power and technology. Their massive, sturdy frames made it impossible to doubt the tremendous strength they contained.

Anyone with even the slightest understanding of Honkai Impact 3rd could identify those robots at once—they were armed mechs known as "Titans."

At that moment, these armored machines known as "Titans" had surrounded the girl named Mei. From the mech in the center came the voice of a mature yet hoarse woman.

"Who are you? What exactly is your purpose in attacking me without warning?"

After finally steadying herself, Mei looked at the Titan mechs before her. The smile had vanished from her face, and her brows were slightly furrowed as she held the stuffed toy.

She naturally knew that the newcomers meant her no good. After all, if she had not dodged in time just now, she would probably have been seriously injured by these blue robots that had burst in.

However, she was indeed curious about these robots that had suddenly attacked her.

And...

As she examined the entirely blue robots, Mei's eyes filled with solemnity.

She could sense that these robots contained extremely powerful strength...

Dong Moxuan was right beside her, so if the matter could be resolved with words, she did not want to fight.

"Oh? Judging by your appearance, you haven't been completely devoured by the Herrscher's power yet?"

However, the voice from within the Titan had no intention of communicating with Mei at all. In a hidden room several kilometers away, a blonde woman watched the footage transmitted from the Titan's camera and gently rubbed her chin.

"This is quite remarkable... It seems your research value is even higher than that of an ordinary Herrscher!"

The woman's voice held no warmth at all. Her attitude, treating Mei completely as an object, was chilling.

Mei narrowed her eyes slightly. She knew that the person behind the mechs was completely incapable of being reasoned with.

Moreover, from that woman's words, she also understood her purpose.

Research value...?

Before this, Mei had imagined how people other than Dong Moxuan might treat her as a "Herrscher." There could be indifference, hostility, fear, or disgust...

However, she had never imagined that someone like the woman before her would treat her entirely as an object, as a white mouse for experimentation.

"This is really... infuriating..."

The negative emotions that had gradually settled because of Dong Moxuan were stirred up again by the woman controlling the mechs.

Just as on the rooftop yesterday, pale-violet lightning once again coiled around her body.

She had clearly made up her mind.

She had only just shed the darkness in her heart after being persuaded by the boy.

She only wanted to stay by that boy's side.

Why? Why did this person have to appear at this critical moment and destroy everything she possessed now?

Could this be heaven's test?

Then...

She would destroy everything!

Looking ahead, the gentleness in Mei's eyes was once again replaced by coldness.

She had to finish this quickly!

Jun Xuan... would be back soon!

"Oh? Are you angry?"

Watching the emotion revealed in the girl's eyes on the screen, the blonde woman's lips curved slightly.

However, to her, the girl named Mei was merely experimental material for controlling the Herrscher's power.

Mei's anger could not cause the woman the slightest emotional disturbance.

"If that's the case... Titans, begin the attack. Execute the capture order!"

The woman issued the order to capture Mei to the Titans.

"You think this scrap metal can take me on?"

As the Titan mechs approached, Mei showed no panic whatsoever. Instead, her eyes were filled with disdain and icy arrogance.

These Titans were indeed powerful, but she was stronger.

In fact, she was several times stronger than these robots, and then some.

"All of you..."

"Be destroyed!"

As Mei declared this coldly, purple lightning suddenly erupted and shot out in all directions with her at the center.

But...

"Zzt... Clang!"

The purple lightning did not destroy the mechs. Instead, it was blocked outside by the blue polygonal energy shields released by the machines, unable to advance even an inch.

"Naive girl..."

The woman's voice came from within the Titan.

"You didn't really think... I would come without making any preparations, did you?"

"Tch..."

Mei clicked her tongue in displeasure.

However, even after seeing her attack countered and defended against, her expression remained calm.

"You're the naive one..."

"You don't really think... my power... is limited to this level, do you?"

The moment she finished speaking, lightning several times stronger than before burst from her body, easily destroying the light shields around the Titans.

The next second, the entire Titan army seemed destined to be annihilated.

However...

"Mm~"

Just as the lightning was about to touch the Titans, Mei suddenly covered her head in pain. The lightning that had been surging toward the Titans dissipated along with it.

"Damn it..."

The Honkai Will that she had suppressed suddenly struck again.

Not only could Mei no longer use the power of the "Third Herrscher," she was now having great difficulty even remaining conscious.

Although the blonde woman did not know what had happened, she had no intention of letting such a perfect opportunity to attack pass.

She controlled the Titan and sent a punch straight at Mei.

Under her control, the punch would not be enough to take Mei's life, but it would be enough to make her lose consciousness.

However, just as Mei was about to be knocked unconscious by the Titan, a white figure suddenly swept past and carried her as they fell to one side.

"Holy crap, that hurts, that hurts, that hurts..."

With both arms wrapped around the girl and holding her firmly against his chest, Dong Moxuan couldn't help crying out in pain as he felt his back scrape violently against the ground.

"Mei, are you all right?"

Looking at the girl in his arms, the boy—who had been absent for nearly a chapter—asked gently.