The Collapse Double-Wear, Taking Xilian to Honkai 3rd

No. It had already transcended mere absurdity. It was terrifying and twisted, something that could only be described as disgusting.

But looking at the boy before her, the one who was in all likelihood the only person in this world kind enough to tell her the truth directly and willing to reach out a hand to her, Raiden Mei chose to nod, deceiving herself.

"...Then, what comes next?"

"--Rebellion."

His voice was crisp, without a moment's hesitation.

"Rebel against everyone you want to rebel against, rebel against everyone you need to rebel against. Kill them, strike them down—do whatever you please."

"..."

The young girl fell silent.

Even though she had known before that she possessed the setup of a protagonist from a shonen manga—

Hiding a powerful and dangerous strength, attracting the covetous eyes of countless people, possessing a rather convoluted background hidden beneath the surface of reality, facing an imminent crisis, and naturally, a journey that perfectly fit the mold of a hot-blooded manga, creating her own story amidst crises and coincidences.

How could anyone possess so many of these traits simultaneously and still not consider themselves the protagonist?

That would be a level of cowardice so profound that one could only watch helplessly as a shrine maiden with orange hair, who had eyes only for her, turned into a desiccated corpse, unable to be saved even by thirty million flower tickets.

However.

Having spent too long in a state of numbness, the young girl still found it difficult to summon the courage so rashly.

Perhaps the Raiden Mei of several years ago, upon learning all this, would have immediately felt her blood boil, swinging her blade forward against all enemies, no matter how strong they were or how many there were—eager to embark on the adventure of a chuunibyou girl.

But now, after being rejected by the entire world she knew and having experienced so much—

"I..."

Her pearly white teeth gently bit into her delicate lip, turning the flesh slightly pale.

Her heart surged with trepidation. A powerful sense of unease, like the rising tide, wave after wave, threatened to drown her.

Raiden Mei's gaze slid forward involuntarily.

It landed on his face.

There, despite having nothing to do with her in the past, was a determination so strong it overflowed—a trust in her.

In his eyes, there wasn't a trace of worry or fear, only something unreserved that could only be called sincerity.

"Can I do it?"

"--You can."

Jiang Cheng spoke every word clearly and deliberately.

It was as if every syllable were a nail, hammered fiercely into the trembling, precarious heart of the young girl.

"At this point in time, this is something only you—"

"Only you—"

"Raiden Mei, can accomplish."

"Now, leave the city with me. Then, unleash your power in the wilderness, and you will know exactly what kind of thing is hidden within this body of yours."

"I..."

Silently watching Raiden Mei, who remained timid, lingering in the shadows, unable to grasp the hand extended to her, the girl standing nearby took a step forward.

A scene of stark contrast unfolded—

The petite girl stood face-to-face with the tall, down-and-out young lady.

"If you don't believe in yourself that much, and you're unwilling to move forward no matter how you're treated, then you—"

"Why would you believe you can defy A-Cheng!"

Her patience had reached its limit; it had reached the critical point.

Xilian.

She could no longer stand by and watch this unfold.

At this moment, the voice that spilled from her lips lacked any sweetness or softness; it was no longer the voice that felt as comfortable as drifting on clouds.

"I-I'm sorry."

Raiden Mei lowered her tall frame, her eyes darting about, not daring to meet that gaze.

"I will do it. I will leave this place."

Jiang Cheng let out a sigh of relief and turned back, feeling reassured—

"--!"

His pupils dilated abruptly.

He saw that a glass-like, crescent-shaped ceremonial sword had appeared in Xilian's hand at some point.

Even as a mere implement for rituals, it was sharp enough to seem capable of slicing through sunlight, shimmering with a brilliant silver glow.

In the shadows previously glimpsed from the corner of his eye, obscured by her pink bangs, the girl who had always been defined by her natural, lively, and adorable demeanor was now truly, tightly knitting her brows.

Pressure.

Aura.

He had never felt it so clearly from her before; despite her slender and petite frame, a terrifying low pressure surged from her, as if they were standing at the very center of a tornado.

This is...

Women are soft by nature, but become strong for their children (X)?

Jiang Cheng shoved the chaotic thoughts aside.

He hurriedly stepped forward, using his still-intact hand to gently stroke her delicate, soft, and fair back.

"It's okay."

He whispered to comfort Xilian.

"Even if a watermelon is forced into a square container, it will be compelled to grow into a square. Flowers and plants that have been suppressed for too long will also become deformed and ugly."

"This is something it cannot resolve—if a square shell is forced upon it while it is still growing, then no matter how much the watermelon dislikes being twisted, it can only follow the shape of that shell during its growth, forcing both its exterior and interior to become square to adapt to the world."

"For a girl like Raiden Mei, having endured the malice of others for no reason and lived under bullying for so long, losing the ability to act is only natural."

Close at hand—

Her deep purple eyes lifted slightly, involuntarily.

Her gaze, which should have been self-evasive—fixed on the small patch of grass thirty centimeters in front of her toes, watching the arc of unknown blades of grass swaying in the wind—

Could not help but fall upon the boy who was speaking eloquently.

The person who, at that moment, was speaking with such earnestness, Word by word.

"She reflexively refuted me because she fears and worries that what happened in the past will repeat itself. The conditioning she has endured is far too heavy, making her instinctively avoid things that might cause her pain. It is even more so because the people around her..."

"Including teachers, police officers, and others deemed by society to be arbiters and the embodiment of justice, have been so unfair to her that she has been forced to carve this into her heart: even if she resists, even if she reports it to the teachers, she will be the only one to suffer. Because she knows it is useless, she would rather endure than resist."

"This has never been her fault. A square is never the shape a watermelon wants to grow into. Blaming the watermelon and asking why it grew that way is meaningless. Isn't the problem the square shell and the farmer who wanted a square watermelon? Why forget that it was once a normal, even excellent, watermelon?"

To emphasize the clarity of his words and avoid any potential contradictions that might trigger Xilian's empathy, Jiang Cheng's tone even carried a bit of the sincerity he used when arguing with people online—

Those whose brains were not fully developed, who belittled psychological issues and displayed malice toward those who had long suffered from bullying—even those who committed suicide or fought back—saying condescendingly: It's just a small matter, why are you the only one who can't move on? It takes two to tango, why did they only bully you?

They were arrogant due to their ignorance; the more ignorant they were, the more conceited and reckless they became, wantonly venting their own aggression.

However, those azure eyes were no longer watching Raiden Mei, who was gradually lifting her head; they were deeply fixed only on him, who was trying so hard to explain.

"..."

"...I understand."

After a long, deep breath, the understanding Xilian seemed to relent just like that.

Is it over?

He watched as the girl retracted the ceremonial sword, the sharp weapon vanishing from her fair palm.

She lifted her face.

The smile that bloomed once more on her round, small face was as radiant as ever.

It was as if a cherry blossom petal from a bright spring day was fluttering against the wind, pink light swaying, the inward-curving petals brimming with spring, much like the jade-smooth collarbone revealed by her camisole dress.

"A-Cheng~"

"...Let's go."

Jiang Cheng withdrew his gaze.

He felt the state of his left hand. The purple veins had not spread further, but the eroded area remained like a necrotic map marked on the back of his hand.

How much longer can I hold on?

He ignored the question for the time being; at worst, he would just call Grey Snake to end this side quest immediately.

"Leave this city. Avoid the bustling crowds and streets, and find a place that is sufficiently empty first."

Jiang Cheng turned around, naturally taking Xilian's fair, delicate, and warm little hand, "Then, unleash your power. Connecting to the Imaginary Space is not difficult for you."

Raiden Mei stood there, stunned for a brief moment.

No complaints. No doubts.

For this one time, the fallen young lady simply followed quickly, calm, silent, and with bright eyes, like a drowning person clutching a piece of driftwood that had drifted by by chance.

He knew clearly that he was doing something contrary to common sense.

Normally, with Xilian already present, the first thing he should have done was shout for Grey Snake—

To hook up with the World Serpent.

In this way, he wouldn't need to endure any Honkai energy erosion or experience any pain to stay safe.

Just like how he was picked up by Xilian back in Omphalos.

Is this a Xilian who is no longer gentle? (Revised)

But knowing is one thing. The gap between understanding and practice is often insurmountable.

Jiang Cheng turned his head to look at Xilian, who was as docile as a kitten yet exuded a unique, sisterly aura. She followed his gaze and blinked playfully.

Cannot call for Grey Snake.

Even if there is an easy mode, he cannot use it.