When Thunder Split the Sky

Yes, that's definitely it.

After glancing at the license plate, the girl immediately walked straight toward the car without further hesitation.

As the girl approached, one of the car windows quickly rolled down, revealing the face of a handsome young man.

"Come on up, Mei."

Shi Hen nodded slightly to the girl and spoke, his tone somewhat serious.

"Hmm, it's been a long time, Hen."

A smile involuntarily crept onto her lips as Mei opened the car door and got in, not forgetting to shake the rain off her umbrella to avoid wetting the seat.

"..."

Watching the girl skillfully take her seat in the back row, Shi Hen's eyelids twitched slightly.

While your posture with your hands on your knees is indeed very well-behaved, can't you sit in the front passenger seat?

Completely oblivious to the fact that she had done anything wrong, Mei looked around the car, her purple eyes brimming with curiosity. "Is this your car?"

"No, I just borrowed it for a while."

Shi Hen shook his head.

He can drive any mecha in ME Company, let alone a car.

"I see." Mei responded softly, a slight smile playing on her lips, her curiosity undiminished. "That's rare. What brings you to the school gate today?"

Apart from that time at the shrine, she and the boy had never met outside of their home.

Moreover, each time, it was only after she had gone home and practiced swordsmanship alone for a while that the other party would slowly arrive and conduct several hours of Honkai Energy manipulation training with her.

"I have something very important to tell you."

While driving with one hand, Shi Hen took out a small box about the size of his palm and handed it to the girl.

"W-What is it?"

Mei blushed instantly as she took the box.

Although the location wasn't ideal, the enclosed and cramped space of the train carriage did indeed have a unique charm.

If the boy really did say that kind of thing to her, then she...

Thinking about this, the girl couldn't help but feel conflicted.

"Open it and take a look."

Without answering immediately, Shi Hen first pointed to the box.

"Oh..."

Mei whispered, taking several deep breaths before finally opening the box as if she had made a momentous decision, and then...

"A watch?"

Mei's lips twitched as she looked at the women's wristwatch lying inside.

After all that internal struggle she went through, you're telling me this is all?

Although this watch is indeed exquisitely designed and must be quite expensive, and wearing it wouldn't diminish her status as the young lady of the Raiden Family, isn't there something a little off about it?

There is a signal transmitter inside.

Shi Hen added, his gaze towards the girl now carrying a hint of something unusual.

They are partners with the same goal, and he might even be a guide in the girl's life. How could he possibly give her an ordinary watch?

"..."

Mei felt that something deep inside her had shattered even more completely.

"There's one more thing, Cocolia arrived in Changkong City a few days ago."

Shi Hen explained.

Having learned of Mei's special nature and witnessed the arrival of an Anti-Entropy executor, the young boy [Shi Hen] naturally sensed that something big was about to happen.

Therefore, he had to make a certain response.

This is a heroic struggle launched by a young man who inherited Welt's Will against the power of the organization.

"Cocolia!"

Upon hearing this name, Mei instantly gritted her teeth, her beautiful face contorting slightly with hatred.

"I have a feeling something is going to happen soon."

Observing the girl's expression in the rearview mirror, Shi Hen reminded her in a serious tone.

After all, the Anti-Entropy Leader specifically requested that you participate in the Conquest Gem experiment.

Everything was ready, and to prevent Cocolia from causing any more trouble, Shi Hen chose to give her a push.

He didn't want to spend all his time watching Cocolia do experiments.

Do you think Cocolia would target me?

He asked in a deep voice, and Mei gradually got into the zone.

"The possibility is probably not high. Mr. Raiden Ryoma also has friends in Anti-Entropy." Shi Hen shook his head slightly, but his expression did not relax at all. "But in any case, it's always better to be careful."

Under normal circumstances, Cocolia would have no reason to attack Raiden Mei.

If the other side had any sense of shame, they wouldn't have gone so far as to exterminate the Raiden family.

Moreover, Einstein and others would not allow such a thing to happen.

However, Conquest Gem gave Cocolia a strong motivation, and even Einstein and others were happy to see it happen.

However, these are things that the young [Shi Hen] could not know.

He was just a colonel with slightly outstanding talent in Anti-Entropy.

"..."

Upon hearing this, Mei's expression darkened as she fell into deep thought.

As someone determined to become an Avenger, even after accepting the boy as her companion, she never completely relaxed.

"Actually, you don't need to worry too much." Seeing the worry in the girl's heart, Shi Hen said with a smile, "No matter what happens, I will stand with you."

Welt White once pushed Mei into hell, making her witness utter despair.

But as a guide and companion, the boy brings light to the girl and offers her hopeful redemption.

"Yes, I believe you."

Putting on the watch, Mei smoothed a few strands of hair that had fallen beside her ear and gave a bright smile.

"We have enough time today, so we can practice a few more rounds. Let me see if you've been training hard lately, Mei."

With a smile, Shi Hen stepped on the gas, causing the car to accelerate suddenly.

Mei: "..."

Can you give me back all the emotion I felt just now?

Chapter 142 When Thunder Rises Through the Sky

February 14, 2014, near Changkong City.

Boom!

As he piloted a Qing Tian Mech to smash a Honkai Beasts, Shi Hen couldn't help but pant slightly. "This is the last one."

In this way, the Honkai incident is resolved.

The aftermath of the Conquest Gem experiment, coupled with the interference of the Moonlight Throne, has led to frequent Honkai disasters in Changkong City recently.

Although it's not a large-scale event, it happens very frequently, with even the three members having to work overtime from time to time.

For a Honkai disaster of this magnitude, it's unnecessary to use the Godfather series every time.

It costs money.

"As expected of Shi Hen, his movements are still so swift and efficient."

Upon witnessing this scene, exclamations of admiration emanated from the nearby mechs.

Even though Shi Hen is the captain of the Team Seven, he won't always be with the three little ones; he'll occasionally bring others along.

"It was merely by borrowing the power of the Titans."

Shi Hen appeared very modest.

——

Suddenly, the surroundings became noticeably quieter.

"Has the rain stopped?"

There was a mecha looking up at the sky.

The continuous rain that had plagued Changkong City for half a month finally came to an end on this day.

Sizzle

The cockpit of the Qing Tian- Piercing Mech opened, Shi Hen looked at the few golden rays of sunlight piercing through the sky. His expression did not relax but became even more solemn. "No, this is the sound of a new storm coming."

Just now, the signal transmitter he gave to Mei malfunctioned.

In other words, the Third Honkai Outbreak is coming.

Thinking this, Shi Hen dialed a number. "Hello? Is this Bronya?"

Um, there's something I'd like to ask you for help with.

Please, this is probably... the only request I'll ever make in my life.

To fight against the darkness, the boy's strength alone is far from enough.

Therefore, we need to call in more people.

Moreover, how could he possibly persuade the three little ones to study at St. Freya if he didn't let them witness this scene firsthand?

In a secret base on the outskirts of Changkong City, Mei, whom the boy longed for, was quietly floating in an experimental chamber, her eyes closed as if she had fallen into a coma.

"The thirteenth human experiment to Conquest Gem, now begins!"

From a projection screen near the control area, Cocolia's extremely serious voice rang out.

Faced with an experimental subject whom even Welt White favored, she naturally dared not attend in person.

Even though the executor herself was not present, the experiment continued to proceed in accordance with Cocolia's will.

Soon, a mechanical arm controlled the Conquest Gem to approach the girl.

As if sensing its destiny, the Conquest Gem released an incredibly intense light and heat the moment it approached Mei, forcing no one present to look directly at the experimental chamber.

Facing the impact of Conquest Gem, Mei, even in her unconscious state, couldn't help but furrow her brows, her beautiful face revealing obvious pain.

Meanwhile, a screen in the control area displayed the degree of fusion between the girl and the gem: 0.1%...0.3%...0.8%...

The numbers are not rising rapidly, but the trend is quite stable.

Before long, the degree of fusion had surpassed that of any previous experiment, reaching an astonishing 30%!

And it was at this moment that Mei opened her eyes.

With its eyelids lifted, a pair of purple eyes filled with blazing lightning opened and scanned the surroundings, like some ancient behemoth that had been sleeping since time immemorial taking a fresh look at the world.

He ripped off the mechanical arm in front of him, and the Conquest Gem, which was slowly merging into the girl's body, seemed to respond to her call, turning into light and disappearing into the girl's body like swallows returning to their nest.

Almost instantly, the blending percentage displayed on the screen jumped from 30% to 60%!

Unfortunately, no one present was able to witness this scene.

Because the lightning that suddenly erupted engulfed everything in an instant.

Amidst the thunder that tore apart the entire laboratory, the Third Herrscher was declared to have arrived.