No matter how bustling a city, there are always secluded areas. Tucked away beside busy streets, certain strange alleyways seem cut off from the world, feeling unusually quiet.
Tap... tap...
The crisp sound of heels clicking on the pavement echoed. In the dim alley, a figure leaned against the wall, seemingly waiting for something.
Just as boredom began to set in, a faint rustling sound came from above. The figure immediately looked up, her right hand already gripping the hilt of her sword. But upon seeing the source of the noise, the wariness in her eyes vanished.
Meow~
The sound came from a small black cat with four white paws. It had just jumped onto a rooftop pipe.
"Oh, just a little cat."
Exhaling slowly, a smile touched the girl's lips. She beckoned to the cat and pulled out a bag of jerky from her pocket.
Unfortunately, the black cat was quite aloof, completely ignoring the girl. Its pale gold eyes even held a distinctly human-like suspicion.
Eventually, though, the cat accepted her offering, leaping down from its perch and snatching the jerky.
Watching the small cat eat with soft whimpers, a sense of contentment filled the girl's eyes. She instinctively reached out, wanting to pet its head. But the next second, a spark of electricity abruptly shot from her fingertip. The startled cat's fur stood on end, and it vanished in an instant.
"Sigh, figures." Raiden Mei sighed. Ever since awakening as the Herrscher of Thunder, no small animal dared approach within ten meters of her.
"Don't mind it. Animal fur is just overly sensitive to electricity," Ren's voice sounded softly just as she was feeling down. She turned to find him standing behind her, appearing seemingly out of nowhere.
"Also, Taxue is a member of The Obsidian Concord. Please don't treat her like an ordinary cat."
"..." Mei fell silent. As one of the Herrschers with the strongest perception, she hadn't noticed Ren's arrival at all.
"I know. I just thought... this one might be different," Mei explained casually, reverting to her usual cool demeanor. She looked towards the bustling street outside the alley, her meaning clear. "You're just leaving her alone over there?"
It was pure coincidence. Mei had been gathering intel at World Serpent for the past few days and only planned to come to ARC City to exchange information once she was free. She hadn't expected to immediately stumble upon Ren and Kiana out shopping together. It left her feeling inexplicably conflicted.
"Don't worry. The entire city is a safe zone now; no one can touch her. Besides, if you want to see her, I won't stop you."
"Let's skip it. We can talk after everything's over." Perhaps driven by her own stubbornness, Mei declined Ren's offer.
"Alright. Then let's get straight to business. What did you need me for?"
Turning to serious matters, both their expressions grew stern.
Mei took a deep breath and relayed the information she'd gathered recently. "First, you were right. World Serpent hasn't noticed the disappearance of the Elysian Realm. Even Kevin thinks Elysia died in the disaster caused by the Herrscher of Corruption."
"Second, World Serpent has fully entered the preparation phase for Project Stigma. The person in charge of execution is named Hare. You'll probably meet her soon."
"Additionally, executives like Jackal and Gray Serpent have been unusually active lately. The reason is unknown, but it's likely related to the project."
"Hare?" Ren frowned. He had no memory of this person. However, with the enhanced processing of his main consciousness, he quickly recalled an incident on Mount Taixuan where some random person tried to impersonate him, only to spectacularly blow themselves up.
"Kevin doesn't suspect you?"
"No. Or rather, he doesn't care. In his eyes, Project Stigma is the only thing that matters. As for me, I'm just a lucky person chosen by Elysia."
Mei understood her position clearly. Since leaving the Elysian Realm, she hadn't shown any unnecessary thoughts or actions. To World Serpent, it seemed the deaths of the Thirteen Flame-Chasers had dealt her a severe psychological blow, leaving her unable to fully recover.
Thinking of this, a faint smile touched Mei's lips. "They have no idea you smuggled all the Flame-Chasers from the Elysian Realm right under his nose."
According to the original story, the fate of the Thirteen Flame-Chasers was sealed the moment the Herrscher of Corruption invaded the Elysian Realm; only a glorious death awaited them. However, Mei had made a deal with Ren, turning the tables in a desperate situation and rewriting the ending.
"So, your purpose in coming here isn't just to deliver intel, is it?"
"Mm. Project Stigma is about to start. Before that happens, I want to see the Thirteen Flame-Chasers one more time."
"No problem. I'll pull them into The Obsidian Concord's forum network later. If you want to see Elysia, just find her yourself. But I must remind you, according to the threads of fate, they are people who shouldn't exist. Be extremely careful not to let them get entangled in your own karma."
Mei naturally understood this. Ren's method of transferring the Flame-Chasers involved the 'Honkai Chat Group' within her own consciousness. In the member list, their names were grayed out, indicating they were offline.
Perhaps even she hadn't realized the Honkai chat group Number 17 had given her could be used like this.
"Right, here's the stuff you gave me before I entered the Elysian Realm." Mei took out a crystal and a ball of light from her pocket.
The previously dim orb of consciousness, having undergone the 'baptism' of the Elysian Realm, was now fully active, radiating brightly. The mechanical crystal, having shielded her from a full-powered blow from the Herrscher of Corruption, was also clearly activated.
"Can you explain?" Even Mei couldn't help her curiosity. Ren giving her these things felt strange from the start, and even now that it was over, she still didn't understand their purpose.
"You probably guessed. The Elysian Realm isn't just a data world; it's fundamentally a fusion of data, consciousness, and memory. Bella's consciousness has been dormant ever since Benares died. Plus, companion Honkai Beasts inherently have fragmented consciousnesses. Honkai Energy alone could never awaken her."
"The Elysian Realm acted as an incubator, greatly accelerating the repair of her consciousness."
"As for the crystal, it was made by extracting your Herrscher authority and a part of your aura. It can simulate your state of consciousness to a significant degree. In special situations, it can confuse enemy perception."
"Like a scapegoat doll?" After hearing Ren's explanation, Mei suddenly understood why the Herrscher of Corruption hadn't killed her back then.
"Exactly. The Herrscher of Corruption has no physical body. The only way it could kill you was through consciousness. This thing used your aura as bait, forcibly intercepting a part of the Herrscher's consciousness."
"Wait, are you saying the Herrscher of Corruption isn't dead, but you trapped it inside this crystal?"
"Something like that. The Herrscher of Corruption's power of infinite replication is formidable, but it also means it can't fully control the individuals it splits off. I captured one of its avatars... Don't worry, its negative personality has been completely erased, leaving only the residual authority and a 'smiling' consciousness."
"Are you planning to..." Even if Mei was slow on the uptake, she understood Ren's implication now.
A self-aware consciousness lacking a vessel and authority, and a mindless entity possessing only authority and a vessel... the answer was obvious.
"Let Bella devour the remnants of the Herrscher of Corruption's self, artificially creating an entirely new Herrscher!"
The moment the thought flashed through her mind, Mei held her breath. She never imagined that Ren's entire plan was laid out even before she entered the Elysian Realm. She thought her final battle with Corruption was Ren's true plan, but it turned out nearly every step was part of his calculations.
This feeling of being completely manipulated sent shivers down her spine. It felt like a perfectly staged play where the actors poured their hearts out on stage, while Ren, sitting behind the scenes, casually flipped through the script.
This level of foresight made Mei wonder if Ren possessed some kind of precognitive ability.
"Don't look at me like that. I just make thorough preparations. Saving Bella's consciousness was opportunistic. The crystal was just insurance. Your fight with Corruption was merely something Elysia and I nudged along."
Ren looked perfectly candid. He wasn't entirely wrong; his 'foresight' was essentially derived from observing and extrapolating from other worlds, not true precognition. He hadn't actively participated in the Elysian Realm's plot, merely given developments a little push.
"Half-truths and half-lies... that fits your style perfectly." Clearly, Mei didn't believe Ren's excuses for a second. She'd figured it out: the entire Obsidian Concord was like a polished film crew. Every member was a skilled actor. Trying to discern truth from lies based on words alone was next to impossible.
Speaking of which, my spying for World Serpent... that's basically acting too, isn't it?
"..."
"Alright, intel delivered, my task is complete. If I drag this out any longer, Kiana might start getting suspicious." Shaking off the messy thoughts, Mei waved her hand, preparing to leave.
But just before she left, Ren stopped her.
"Remember that question I asked you?"
Mei paused. "Which one?"
"Why do birds fly?"
Her steps halted. Mei fell silent.
Why do birds fly? This obviously wasn't a biology quiz but a question about her philosophy. She remembered her answer back then – birds fly to seek new hope.
But thinking back now, she realized she had only stated the goal, not the true reason. After experiencing the Elysian Realm, Mei now had a clear answer in her heart.
"Because it witnessed its ancestors attempting to fly. Because it inherited a passion for the sky. And also because, like those who came before, it yearns for, chases after, the boundless expanse of the heavens."
Yes, the Previous Era, in its fight against the Honkai, gave birth to heroes called Flame-Chasers. For the sake of humanity's hymn, Elysia walked the earth, seeking only a chance for civilization to take flight.
What they passed down wasn't just the conviction to fight the Honkai, but also a yearning for freedom.
"That is my answer." Mei looked Ren straight in the eye, stating her conviction firmly.
"Then, in your eyes, why do birds fly?" she asked in return.
"Death..."
"Hm?"
"Fly or die. That's the reason." Ren's answer was surprisingly simple, yet it landed with immense weight in Mei's ears.
"What... what do you mean?"
Just as Mei was about to press further, a joyful shout suddenly echoed from the alley entrance.
"Mei!!!!"
Before she could even react, she was enveloped in a powerful hug. Recognizing the voice, a surge of panic flooded her heart.
"Kiana?!"
...
...
A few minutes earlier, inside the clothing store.
"Why did he look at me so strangely?"
Inside the changing room, Kiana, still wearing the long dress, muttered to herself. Even though she'd been in there for a while, she'd actually just been staring blankly at the mirror.
She was pondering why Ren's gaze had changed so drastically just because she put on a slightly prettier dress.
"He seemed normal with all the other clothes."
She didn't understand. What she understood even less was why her heart had started pounding inexplicably under Ren's gaze, and why it still hadn't calmed down.
She had hastily tried to change back into her old clothes partly to hide her inner turmoil, which was why she'd taken so long in the changing room.
"Kiana, I'm stepping out for a bit."
Just then, Ren's voice came from outside. Kiana, lost in thought about the meaning behind his gaze, agreed without thinking.
Only after Ren left did the strange feeling gradually subside.
"Could it be... I wore the dress wrong?"
"No. It's simply because you displayed your feminine charm." Just as her thoughts were wandering, the familiar voice spoke again.
"Herrscher of the Void, you really are persistent." The moment Sirin spoke, Kiana immediately became alert again. Her voice turned cold as she quickly changed back into her original clothes. "Popping up even when someone's changing? Aren't you afraid I'll seal you away completely?"
"Couldn't help it. That little brat was right beside you earlier; I didn't want him noticing me. As for sealing me? Heh heh, you can't do that right now."
"Hm?"
"Don't you get it yet? Because your inner conflict hasn't disappeared at all."
"How is that possible?" Kiana had already argued this with Sirin during her bath that morning, and Kiana had clearly won.
"Tsk tsk. I initially thought he was the cause of the crack in your heart. Who would have thought the root of the crack was actually you?" Sirin scoffed. "Kiana, oh Kiana, even you haven't realized you've already fallen into a trap."
"Heh, trying to shake me with just a few empty words? That's incredibly naive." Kiana naturally didn't believe her and retorted immediately.
"Believe it or not, it doesn't matter to me. I just need to wait patiently. I hope that when the pain hits you, you'll be able to hold on for a little while longer."
Sirin didn't continue mocking her, instead lightly changing the subject. "By the way, that guy suddenly left. Aren't you curious why?"
"Where Ren goes is his own business. Besides, he told me he was leaving, so I can just wait for him, right?" Kiana didn't fall for the obvious provocation. She wasn't some naive damsel in a TV show who'd trust the enemy over her own friend.
"You can certainly wait. But whether Ren can wait... that's another question."
At the mention of Ren, Kiana's expression subtly shifted, though she hid it well.
Sirin continued adding fuel to the fire: "Haven't you noticed? The Honkai Energy in this city is rising. There's a new guest in town. A... Herrscher!"
"Maybe your companion is fighting a Herrscher right now. Maybe he got hurt. And when he comes back, he'll have to pretend nothing happened."
A flash of panic crossed Kiana's face. She knew Ren was definitely capable of doing something like that.
"Why not go help? If there's no danger, you don't have to show yourself. If there is danger, you can help out immediately..."
Faced with Sirin's manipulation, Kiana finally wavered. An image of Ren injured flashed through her mind. She pushed open the changing room door and hurried out.
"Miss?" The sales assistant saw her emerge and started to approach, but Kiana just offered a quick apology and rushed out.
"Sorry, I'll be back in a bit!"
Soon, guided by her intuition, Kiana arrived at the entrance of the alley where Mei and Ren were talking.
The moment she saw Ren, the knot of worry in her chest finally loosened. "See? I told you Ren wouldn't secretly go fight without me..."
"Oh? Then why don't you take a look at who's standing opposite him?"
Kiana instinctively looked over. The moment she saw the other person's face, she froze completely.
"Is that... Mei? Wh-why is she here?"
Even though Mei was her best friend, Kiana felt an inexplicable wave of panic rise within her. She quickly suppressed her aura and ducked behind the corner wall outside the alley.
"Why... why are Ren and Mei together?" Her mind raced, chaotic. More importantly, Kiana didn't understand why she felt so uneasy.
This unknown feeling gnawed at her like an empty hole made by insects, filling her with anxiety.
She certainly didn't suspect Ren and Mei of having some secret relationship. It was just an instinctive feeling that the two of them... shouldn't be connected.
"Hm? Looks like you're a little flustered. See? Did you notice? The crack in your heart is widening." Sirin didn't understand Kiana's thoughts either, but that didn't stop her from fanning the flames.
"Shut up." This time, however, Kiana was genuinely angry. She gave Sirin no time for further nonsense, forcefully shoving her back into the mental prison.
"Why..." Kiana bit her lip hard, trying to grasp the root of her inner turmoil. In her mind, Ren was her best friend, and Mei was also her best friend. Them meeting should have been a happy reunion.
Yet, subconsciously, a sense of inexplicable irritation kept sprouting.
Hiding behind the wall, Kiana was caught in severe internal conflict. Only when she saw Mei seeming to prepare to leave did she finally step into the alley.
Suppressing the turbulent emotions, she reached up, rubbed her cheeks, and forced a brilliant smile onto her face.
"Mei! You're finally back!"