We Are All Monsters

"Can you tell me, Mei?"

Hearing Dong Moxuan's incredibly gentle words, Mei felt her heart was about to be completely conquered.

However, her last shred of rationality told her that continuing like this would only bring tragedy to the young man in front of her.

Yet, the warmth emanating from him was so intoxicating that she couldn't bear to let go.

So, after a long hesitation, she gently pushed Dong Moxuan away and sobbed softly, "I can't... Mei... can't stay with Jun Xuan..."

"Why not?"

Dong Moxuan asked patiently.

"Why not?"

Hearing Dong Moxuan's words, Mei froze.

Then, she wore an expression of disbelief and murmured, "Jun Xuan... why can you say that so naturally?"

"Isn't it natural that we can't be together?"

Looking at the young man before her, Mei's beautiful amethyst-like eyes were filled with sadness.

"Because... Mei is a 'Monster'!"

As if to confirm Mei's words, pale purple lightning began to flicker around her.

Mei had understood the fact that she was a monster from the very beginning.

After all, from the "Honkai Will" that constantly urged her to destroy all human civilization, one could see what an evil existence a "Herrscher" truly was.

It was just that Dong Moxuan had personally woven a beautiful dream for her before, a dream where she could still live with Dong Moxuan as she did before.

But...

"Just like that woman said, Mei is... a 'Monster'!"

Cocolia's appearance shattered the beautiful dream Dong Moxuan had woven, forcing Mei to face reality.

That's right, ever since becoming a Herrscher, Mei had...

She could never go back to how things were!

This bloody reality was laid bare before Mei.

"So, Jun Xuan, if you stay with Mei, you'll only be in danger..."

In the original storyline, the reason Kiana was able to gain Mei's acceptance was that while she had saved Mei, she had also demonstrated the "qualifications" – her strength, which could even go toe-to-toe with a Herrscher when she unleashed her power.

As for Dong Moxuan, his persona in front of Mei was that of an ordinary person.

Even though he seemed to have a mysterious background and knew many influential figures, he was still just an ordinary person.

It wasn't that Mei looked down on Dong Moxuan, but rather that an ordinary person was simply too insignificant in the face of a "Herrscher."

For Mei, a Herrscher, her own power, or the battles she might face, could easily take Dong Moxuan's life if she wasn't careful.

If Mei were a "true Herrscher," it would be one thing, but Mei, whose transformation was interrupted by Dong Moxuan, was merely half-baked. Maintaining her own sanity was already difficult, let alone protecting Dong Moxuan.

Therefore...

"Mei... doesn't want to drag Jun Xuan down. Mei... now only has Jun Xuan as the only family member who cares about and cherishes Mei... so..."

For Mei and Dong Moxuan at this moment, parting was the most suitable choice.

Even though this choice would bring Mei immense sorrow.

"So..."

"So that's how it is?"

Mei's next words were cut off because Dong Moxuan sighed softly, interrupting her.

He looked at the girl before him with a helpless expression.

He hadn't expected that the persona he had maintained in front of Mei would cause her so much distress.

"Mei, you seem to have misunderstood something..."

As the young man spoke, his sapphire-blue eyes were instantly engulfed by crimson, and an energy that Mei found incredibly familiar began to surround him.

"Jun Xuan... you... you..."

Looking at the young man before her, the girl was so surprised she could barely speak.

"I'm sorry, Mei, for hiding this from you before..."

Seeing the girl's reaction, Dong Moxuan gave a wry smile and gently pulled her into his embrace.

"If Mei is a monster, then I'm probably not much better."

"We are both monsters!"

"Perhaps, one day, a hero of justice will descend."

"They will step on our corpses and complete the great work of saving the world."

"But at least, until I die, they will never reach Mei's side."

"So..."

Dong Moxuan pressed his forehead against Mei's.

"Please don't send me away, Mei!"

Mei was silent.

The boy's gentle words reached Mei's ears. She could no longer hold back her emotions and buried herself in Dong Moxuan's embrace, sobbing uncontrollably once more.

She probably hadn't cried as much in her entire life before today as she had in just this one day.

However, Mei's mind had no room for such messy thoughts.

She just wanted to cry, to let out all the pent-up emotions in her heart.

After crying for a full minute, Mei slowly pulled away from Dong Moxuan's embrace.

"Jun Xuan..."

Lifting her head, she looked into Dong Moxuan's eyes and softly called him by the name she used for him. The emotion brewing in her gaze made even Dong Moxuan flinch slightly.

"I'm sorry, Mei acted on her own before."

"In the end, Mei still made Jun Xuan worry!"

"An immature Mei like me must have caused Jun Xuan a lot of trouble, right?"

"But, it's probably too late for Jun Xuan to shake off a burden like Mei now."

"Because, Mei... probably can never leave Jun Xuan again!"

"So... thank you, Jun Xuan, for staying by Mei's side, even though she's so willful."

As she said this, Mei could no longer control her emotions. She gently wrapped her arms around Dong Moxuan's neck and slowly leaned in.

However...

"Hey, what are you two jerks doing hugging each other? Are you doing something you shouldn't be?"

Just as Mei's lips were less than a centimeter away from Dong Moxuan's, a clear girlish voice rang out at an inopportune moment, causing both Dong Moxuan and Mei to stiffen.

Mei pushed Dong Moxuan away as if she had been shocked and turned towards the sound. Her expression became one of surprise.

"It's you... the girl from the rooftop earlier?"

That's right, standing beside them with her silver braided pigtails was none other than the cute girl, Kiana.

"Rooftop?"

Due to the angle, Kiana couldn't see exactly what Dong Moxuan and Mei were doing, but Mei's words made Kiana's expression turn sour.

"That's right, the rooftop. I really have to thank you all for what happened on the rooftop earlier!"

Kiana's tone was somewhat gritted.