Honkai, I Alone Will Save Everything

So, Mei had also heard what Ming Yu said to her before entering her inner world, and thus knew her intentions in advance.

It was just that Mei didn't ask her to come out of seclusion as expected, but instead wanted to obtain power from her.

"Mhm, I think if I want to grow, learning to use the Herrscher's power is an essential step."

Mei looked up and shared her thoughts with the other party.

"...Do you know what you're saying?"

The purple-haired figure said playfully, "You're asking an evil Herrscher for power?"

From a common sense perspective, she and Mei should be enemies opposing each other.

Mei nodded silently.

"..."

The purple figure was silent for a moment before saying, "Forget it, with your current half-baked skills, you can't use much Herrscher power. Give me control of your body, and I'll do it."

"Okay... Wait, um, I haven't even asked you to do anything yet."

Mei said in surprise.

She hadn't even explained what needed to be done.

"Isn't it just dealing with that person lying on the ground? It's a piece of cake for me."

The purple figure waved her hand impatiently.

"Okay, um, you're actually... concerned about me, aren't you?"

Mei thought for a moment, tilting her head as she spoke.

Although they had only exchanged a few brief words, the girl who had endured others' malice for three months could still clearly distinguish one thing:

Although the other party's words were sharp, they were not laced with any malice.

Rather, she was just expressing her true thoughts in a rather peculiar way.

"...Who's concerned about you? Don't flatter yourself!"

The purple figure on the opposite side was stunned for a moment before loudly retorting, as if to cover up:

"I just don't want a coward like you messing around and damaging this body. After all, we're in the same boat now."

"Mhm, then... I'll be counting on you."

Mei smiled and didn't say anything more.

It seemed that, just as Ming Yu had said, she... this other self, representing the Herrscher's personality, wasn't as evil as she had imagined.

Perhaps she could try communicating with her more in the future.

With her mind at ease, she didn't hesitate any further and stepped forward lightly, entering the deepest part of her consciousness.

"...?"

After Mei's consciousness retreated, the purple figure was slightly stunned for a moment.

This coward actually agreed to the exchange so readily...?

Sighing, she let her consciousness surface and take over Mei's body.

A moment later, in the classroom, Mei, who had been closing her eyes tightly, opened them again. Her crimson eyes had replaced her original bright purple ones.

At the same time, her entire demeanor changed instantly.

"Long time no see?"

Ming Yu, standing beside her, tentatively greeted the greatly changed girl.

"...Hmph."

The girl snorted coldly and casually waved her hand, summoning a katana into her grasp.

She didn't draw the katana, but instead pressed the hilt against Ming Yu's chin, using her body to exert a slight force and pin him against the wall.

As expected of the Raiden Herrscher, she made such a powerful entrance.

It was just that, although Mei was quite tall—he didn't remember wrong, she was already over 1.7 meters—she was still slightly shorter than himself, a male.

Therefore, she could only tilt her head up and stare at him from an upward angle.

"Is this your welcome gift?"

Although it looked like she was being threatened at close range, Ming Yu showed no fear, merely smiling.

"I haven't settled the score with you for what happened last time."

The girl snorted coldly and released the hilt from Ming Yu's chin.

Yes, she was naturally referring to the unexpected incident caused by Kiana's baseball bat.

"If you need it, I can offer you some compensation."

Ming Yu chuckled softly as he spoke.

"Oh?"

The purple-haired girl raised an eyebrow slightly, waiting for him to continue.

Ming Yu spread his hands and said, "Look at me, I'm dirt poor. If I have to pay compensation, I can only offer myself to you."

"...You smooth talker!"

The girl's face flushed slightly. She then glared at Ming Yu and said fiercely, "It looks like you picked that up at that school. I see you're having a good time there, surrounded by admiring glances wherever you go."

"That's because St. Freya Academy is basically a girls' school..."

Ming Yu said with some helplessness.

"As for you, you've been hiding inside Mei's body. I can't even find you."

"I don't like this rotten world, so I don't like coming out either."

The purple-haired girl replied simply.

Originally, unless Mei or Ming Yu encountered a life-threatening crisis, she had no intention of appearing in the outside world.

Although she was not controlled by the Honkai Will that echoed in her mind at birth, the knowledge and concepts it had instilled in her, combined with the pain and malice that Mei had experienced in the past, made her somewhat disgusted with the outside world and other people.

"However, there are many interesting places in this world... I think you should come out and explore more. Perhaps Kiana and the others would like you too."

Ming Yu said with a smile.

Although for now there was only Mei and the Herrscher as a pair of "split personalities" plus a Herrscher, in a while, there would be no shortage of girls similar to them.

Kiana, Fu Hua, and Bronya – not a single one of them would escape.

Well, rather, it would be strange if they didn't have a second personality or the status of a Herrscher.

"..."

The purple-haired girl visibly faltered.

Despite her outwardly expressed dislike, she actually quite desired to have friends.

"We'll talk about it later."

Finally, she responded.

For now, she needed to finish what Mei had asked her to do.

Then, the purple-haired girl looked at Yuna, who was lying on the ground in pain, and raised her right hand. Bright purple light emanated from it.

"It's her, right."

On the other side of Chiba Academy.

Bronya was leisurely floating between the academy buildings.

She had seen scenes of mountains of corpses and seas of blood since she was young, so this hellish scene did not evoke any particular feelings in her.

However, at this very moment, her usually unfazed heart felt a bit... conflicted.

Receiving a mission from the Head of the Academy to go to Changkong City, far from the Far East Branch, with her two targets, Ming Yu and Raiden Mei, to carry out a mission... this should have been a great opportunity.

As long as she notified Mother Cocolia at this time and had her dispatch troops, there was a high probability of capturing both of them.

As long as Raiden Mei could be captured, Mother Cocolia could study ways to find Seele through her.

She had always been acting towards this goal, but now, with the opportunity right before her, the girl hesitated.

It wasn't a consideration purely based on combat power, but another kind of hesitation, on a mental level.

Although she hadn't lived at St. Freya Academy for long, she had indeed felt a warmth similar to when she lived in the orphanage in the past.

Interacting and living with them made her involuntarily recall the happy times she had spent with Seele and Rosalia in the orphanage.

For example, that idiot Kiana was probably on par with the idiot Rosalia.

Theresa's care for them also reminded her of Cocolia as a parent.

In short, based on emotional factors, she wasn't really eager to capture Raiden Mei and Ming Yu right now.

"...Sigh."

The silver-haired girl sighed softly.

But if she didn't capture Raiden Mei, Mother Cocolia wouldn't be able to research a way to find Seele.

If there were any other options...

The girl was in a dilemma, but then, her combat instincts immediately put her on alert.

—A figure clad in black robes suddenly appeared in front of her.

Judging by her build, it should be a woman.

What slightly caught her attention was that the woman in the black robe seemed to have something resembling animal ears on her head.

Uh, what are those... donkey ears?

Bronya cautiously summoned Project Bunny, its cannon glowing with light, on guard against the sudden arrival.

Who is she?

No, rather, what is she?

Judging by the magnitude of Honkai energy detected by Project Bunny, there was a considerable level of threat. Could she be the new Herrscher born here?

For now, she should still notify Ming Yu and Raiden Mei...

Just as Bronya was about to do so, a woman's voice came from beneath the black robe, clearly speaking her name:

"Miss Bronya Zaychik."

"...Who are you?"

Bronya stopped her hand from touching the communication terminal and questioned.

Her tone was calm, she seemed capable of communication, and she knew her name... was she prepared?

"Miss Bronya, my master wishes to make a deal with you."

"...A deal? Bronya doesn't think a stranger who suddenly appeared and is dressed suspiciously is trustworthy."

The silver-haired girl decisively refused to continue talking with the person in the black robe and turned to leave.

"You won't refuse, Miss Bronya, because..."

Yae Sakura spoke to the petite girl before her, following what Ming Yu had taught her.