The Final Battle: True Ending

"..."

Kiana also noticed the boy's actions and was immediately stunned, her eyes filled with intense grief.

Why?

Even though things have come to this point, why is the boy still unwilling to give up that crazy idea?

Does this mean that everything they went through together was truly worthless? That there was nothing worth remembering?

A wave of despair washed over her, and a glimmer of hope finally flashed in the girl's eyes.

"Heavenly Fire..."

With an almost screaming tone, Kiana commanded that all the Power of Finality within her body be poured into the Phoenix Incinerator.

Since the boy still refuses to believe her, let both of their lives end here.

In this way, she could be with the boy forever.

As for the future of the world... she believed that Durandal and Mei would handle everything.

Let it end here, Hen...

"—Unsheathed!!"

Sensing the force of her opponent's palm strike about to land, Kiana finally uttered her last two words, her eyes instinctively closing as she prepared to face the fate she shared with the boy.

But the next second, only two light fingers landed on the girl's forehead.

Goodbye, Kiana.

With a smile, Shi Hen pushed the girl backward with his fingertips.

As if enveloped by a gentle breeze, Kiana felt her body rapidly retreating.

"No, no!!"

Finally realizing what was happening, Kiana desperately reached out to grab the boy, but could only watch helplessly as he drifted further and further away from her, and then...

Boom--

The energy accumulated within the Phoenix Incinerator finally exploded, and a dazzling light, like the birth of a star, instantly engulfed the boy's body completely.

In the ultimate light and brightness, the last thing Kiana saw was the boy's gentle smile, just like in every time they had spent together in the past.

The next second, a dazzling light erupted, but what spread out was not some terrifying and destructive impact, but countless moon-white light spots as beautiful as fireworks, as if a heavy snow had fallen on the moon.

But unlike the coldness brought by normal snowflakes, these specks of light fall with a just-right warmth, like... a gentle embrace given by someone at the end.

Chapter 248: The Final Battle - True

"It's finally over..."

Looking at the countless sparkling points of light falling like snowflakes before her, and feeling the familiar warmth emanating from them, Mei couldn't help but slump down, her deep purple eyes devoid of any light, like a spring that had long since dried up.

She once lost her most important father because of Welt White.

And now, she has lost her most important love because of the same person.

Looking around at this land already scarred and ravaged, and thinking about all the entanglements she had with the boy, Mei felt no joy at having avenged her great enemy. Instead, she felt only endless emptiness, and even the tips of her hair were faintly tinged with a cold and deathly pale color.

Kiana, are you alright?

Having caught the white-haired girl that the boy had pushed back, Durandal's face showed a mixture of worry and confusion.

Although they did achieve victory after going through great difficulties, the fact that everyone was unharmed always gave her a sense of déjà vu.

"I'm fine, it's just..."

Kiana gently shook her head at the Honorable Knight, then reached out and caught a few crystalline specks of light that the boy had transformed into, her expression becoming somewhat dazed.

Although she did not regret the battle she had fought with the boy, there were still many things she did not understand.

For example... when exactly did the boy develop that extreme idea of wanting to control all of humanity? And why was he so determined to save the world in this way?

In fact, if she had discovered the boy's tendency earlier, could the ending of the story have been different?

Even though there was a question in his mind that he wanted to ask the boy, these things had been completely buried with the boy's death and could no longer be pursued.

And... thinking of the boy's last smile, Kiana couldn't help but feel a deep sadness welling up in her heart again.

Even though she had already admitted defeat, why did the other person still choose to die alone rather than trust her a little more?

Even if the boy did make many mistakes, as long as the two of them are together, many things can be made up for and undone.

Does that mean that all the time they spent together was meaningless and not worth even the slightest bit of the boy's trust?

As she thought about it, Kiana's mood became increasingly gloomy and dejected.

Click~

Suddenly, the sound of ice cracking rang out. The three ice balls that were originally suspended in the air suddenly split open, and Seele and the others, who looked weak, fell from the sky and were caught by Bronya.

"Sister Bronya, Captain Hen..."

Looking around, she saw the last glittering light slowly dissipate, and sadness instantly filled Seele's face.

"..."

Faced with Seele's worried gaze, Bronya simply nodded silently, her eyes also filled with grief.

Even knowing that the boy was also [Welt White], she felt no joy of victory when she thought of his past guidance and support.

"Mark..."

"Alliance Leader Shi Hen..."

Having also realized the outcome of the battle, Wendy and Anna's expressions immediately turned somber.

"Damn it! What is that little liar up to?! He inexplicably claimed to be [Welt White], and then inexplicably died. Is that guy hiding somewhere playing tricks on us again?"

Schariac couldn't help but stomp his foot and curse.

"Xiao Shi, stop talking."

Seeing the Herrscher of Knowledge looking so exasperated, Fu Hua couldn't help but gently offer some words of advice, her face also showing a hint of sorrow.

Struck by an attack imbued with the Power of Finality, no matter how strong the boy's regenerative abilities were, he could not escape death.

Therefore, the other party is undoubtedly dead.

"Class President, Mei, let me send you back to Earth first."

In the somber atmosphere, Kiana flashed closer to the group and spoke.

"And what about you, Kiana?"

Noticing the white-haired girl's choice of words, Fu Hua asked softly.

"I... still have one thing I must do."

Kiana's expression darkened slightly as she explained, "Only by returning to the Cocoon of Finality and obtaining full access to the Finality can I unlock the dream of the Stigmata Project."

"And then what?"

Durandal suddenly pressed for an answer, her eyes filled with worry as she looked at the girl.

As the Herrscher of Origin, she could vaguely sense the state of the Cocoon of Finality and feel its call to the true Herrscher of Finality Cocoon of Finality.

Meeting the Honorable Knight's concerned gaze, Kiana fell silent for a moment before continuing, "After that, I should stay on the moon for a while. The Stigmata Project has ultimately had a significant impact on Earth. To sort out the chaotic Honkai Energy and enable Earth to truly coexist with the Finality, it will probably take quite some time."

Kiana?

Upon hearing this, Mei was immediately stunned.

She has lost her family, lost her beloved, and now even her best friend Kiana is leaving her?

Even if the two might have a chance to meet again in the future, she and Kiana will ultimately have to be separated for quite some time.

"Don't worry, Mei, I'll definitely return to Earth as soon as my work on the moon is finished. And if you have time in the future, you can come to the moon to visit me."

Noticing Mei and the others' sadness, Kiana immediately added with a smile.

"Kiana..."

Seeing the White-haired Girl smile so quickly, Durandal felt even more pity for her.

Knowing how deep the feelings were between the girl and the boy, she understood the girl's true feelings at that moment.

Even so, the other party still chose to force themselves so as not to worry them.

"We will always be with you, Kiana."

Unable to resist pulling the white-haired girl into her arms, Durandal whispered earnestly in the girl's ear.

"Um..."

Upon hearing this, Kiana slightly and immediately activated the Herrscher Authority of the Void, a purple-gold light enveloping the surrounding girls.

For a pure Void Herrscher, teleportation across 380,000 kilometers between the Earth and the Moon is probably a pipe dream, and even after a second ascension, it would be impossible.

However, Kiana is now also the Herrscher of Finality.

Kiana, you must come back soon!

Sensing that she was about to return to Earth, Seele shouted loudly at the white-haired girl.

Kiana simply responded with a bright smile.

Swish—

A flash of purple-gold light disappeared in an instant, leaving only Kiana in the now unrecognizable Finality Crater.

Looking around, Kiana's smile vanished completely, replaced by loneliness and desolation.

"Mark..."

Unable to hold back, Kiana collapsed to the ground, immediately covering her face and weeping bitterly, large tears streaming down her face.

Despite bearing the heavy responsibility of removing the Stigmata Project, at least at this moment, she was not the Herrscher of Finality or the God of Earth, but just an ordinary girl who had lost her loved ones.

After a long while, when her tears had completely dried, Kiana wiped her eyes, stood up, and stepped into the purple Star Gate that had opened in front of her.

"You've finally arrived, Kiana."

As soon as Kiana entered the special space where the Cocoon of Finality was located, she heard a familiar voice.

Hearing this, Kiana looked up and saw a figure she could never forget. She froze, "Hen... Hen? What are you doing here? Aren't you...?"

Without a doubt, the person appearing before the girl at this moment was Shi Hen, who should have died completely in the battle just now.

"Isn't he already dead?"

Adding to the girl's words, Shi Hen turned his gaze from the Cocoon of Finality back to the girl, a leisurely smile curving his lips. "Kiana, do you really not want to see me?"

"..."

Still staring blankly at the familiar figure in front of her, Kiana instinctively wanted to run towards the boy.

But then, remembering what the other party had done, Kiana forced herself to suppress her impulse and, with a stern face, questioned, "You've deceived us time and time again. What is your purpose?!"

She shed so many tears for the boy's passing, and it hasn't even been that long!

Upon thinking of this, Kiana's gaze immediately turned resentful.

"Kiana, if you're going to question me, you should at least try to look serious, okay?"

Shi Hen said with a hint of helplessness.

Although the white-haired girl tried very hard to control its expression, the joy on its lips was impossible to hide.

Of course, the look of wanting to kill him was also genuine.

"None of your business! Confess now!"

Kiana immediately became angry and puffed out her cheeks as she demanded an explanation.

"Okay, okay."

Seeing this, Shi Hen could only helplessly raise his hands in surrender. "Didn't I say 'goodbye' before? So I crossed death to see you."

As the girl's only close friend, he never lies.

"You..."