Chapter 282: How to Save Kiana
[Start playing the video below]
The scene continued. When Mei Raiden asked about the other party's conditions, Kevin directly said "You."
The man's words were calm and brief, yet they were full of heavy power, like laws engraved on ancient stone pillars, difficult to tamper with and impossible to disobey.
But Mei must face the weight of the words.
Mei Raiden: "...I want to know the specific method, and then watch her escape from danger."
"If you can really do it... then I can do anything you ask me to do."
Kevin answered Raiden Mei slowly, "The girl named Kiana is in danger. The erosion of her core has exceeded the limit she can bear."
"If you want her to survive, you must immediately separate the extra core from her body. There is only one way."
"I will make you the Herrscher of Thunder again."
[Bronya] "As expected, just as Ms. Stargazer said, that idiot Kiana was persecuted very badly by the Herrscher Core."
[Kiana] "Wow... Mei, you actually met with him privately just for me. I'm so touched... Wow..."
[Raiden Mei] "Become the Herrscher of Lightning again? If I had let it go before, I would probably have been very resistant to becoming a Herrscher again, and would have been afraid of my identity as a Herrscher."
"But now, I will not resist this power. I will use this power to protect the people I want to protect."
[Alicea (Paradise)] "Wow, Mei has suddenly become quite handsome. I'm almost obsessed with you~"
[Alicea] "But Kevin, your direct answer is so direct... It must be related to Dr. Mei~"
[Kevin] "Like I said, Alicia, I can tell the difference..."
"What……?"
Mei Raiden was shocked to hear the news, as she had never expected that the other party's method was to make her become the Law of Thunder again.
Kevin continued to explain, "You are the chosen Herrscher, and a door to the Tree of Imaginary Numbers is forever left in your body."
"When the remaining energy from the third Houkai is absorbed by that gate, you will awaken again and take the power of the Herrscher of Thunder from Kiana."
A new Herrscher core will condense in your body, and the Conquest Gem will disintegrate and disappear. With one less core, her symptoms will be alleviated.
The cold voice struck Mei, reminding her of the strangeness of the past few days.
Dr. Tesla's diagnosis, the sudden dizziness, and Raven's sudden change of attitude. She suddenly understood everything.
Raiden Mei: "As long as I become the Herrscher, Kiana can be saved?"
Kevin confirmed, “That’s right.”
Mei Raiden's eyes were firm. "...Then I have nothing to hesitate about."
"Three years ago, she was the one who brought me out of the darkness. Without Kiana, I wouldn't be who I am today. For her, I'd gladly return to that darkness."
"But, if I am controlled by Honkai again, I hope you can..."
Kevin: "Don't worry, that won't happen. What you should really care about is what happens after you become a Herrscher."
Mei Raiden was very confused. Kevin said, "You can save Kiana this time, but next time, she will still be in danger."
"She will use the power of the Herrscher of the Void again, over and over again, for the people around her, and for this world."
"As long as Houkai exists, as long as Herrscher is born, she will definitely step forward and keep pushing herself to the brink of death—until she sacrifices her life."
[Captain] "It is indeed impossible to refute this statement. Kiana will definitely do this. She has accepted the ideals of Kaslana warriors that Siegfried has instilled in her since she was a child. She will definitely stand up when faced with a disaster."
"Even if I'm already seriously injured... Even if I'm already riddled with wounds..."
[Cecilia] "Kiana, it's a good idea that you want to protect others, but Mom hopes that you can protect yourself more."
[Kiana] "Mom, don't worry. Look, your daughter is very capable now!"
[Cecilia] "Well, Mom knows that you are not someone who will easily change your mind, and Mom doesn't want to force you to change..."
"So mom decided that if your situation is really bad, mom will also use some illegal means to prevent you from falling into danger."
[Orchid Dell] "Illegal means?"
[Captain] "To put it simply, just knock him out. It's easy and simple."
[Linnet] "Well, I remember [Father] said that it's okay to use appropriate violence when encountering extremely disobedient children."
In the picture, Kevin recalled the bits and pieces of the distant past, the comrades who fought together, the person who ate noodles together during breaks, and the person who waited for his return...
Kevin: "I have met countless people like her. Even in the face of death and fear, they will still firmly do what they think is right and follow the path they believe in."
"…They left, and none of them came back."
The words were like an icicle, piercing deep into Mei's heart. She wanted to refute, but couldn't put together a word.
Because that was the deepest pain in her heart, because that was a fact that could not be changed no matter how many sacrifices she made.
Mei Raiden: "...No...I won't let that happen...!"
Kevin: "You can't stop her, otherwise, you wouldn't be here. But you have another choice..."
"You can choose to become a member of the Snake."
Kevin extended his hand to invite Raiden Mei.
Raiden Mei: "…What did you say?"
Kevin: "Soon, the Herrschers will follow. The war between humanity and Honkai will enter the next stage."
"You can choose to go with the World Serpent, destroy the Honkai, capture the Herrschers, and seal their powers... so that the Herrscher of the Void can no longer increase her power."
"Only by leaving Kiana can you truly protect her from danger. And when the Stigmata Project is completed, you and she can return to being human."
Suddenly, there was a roar, a beam of light, and the sky shattered in the light, falling like glass.
Mei Raiden looked at the sky with a look of surprise, unable to believe that the scene before her was real. "…What happened!?"
Kevin said calmly, "The time has come. The door has been opened, and soon, the Tree of Imaginary Numbers will appear in this city."
"The dormant Houkai energy will be released from the earth veins. Absorb them, and you will be able to become the Herrscher of Thunder again and buy her more time."
"But if you really want to save her life, there's only one way you can go."
"Whether you want to trust me and the World Serpent, I will give you time to make a decision."
"Raiden Mei, Kiana's fate is in your hands. I don't need to convince you because you know it better than me..."
"Her ideals can save the world, but they can't save herself."
[End of video playback]