"So far, I really can't imagine what else Mei can do…"
"With Kiana in this state, aside from receiving a blessing from the Aeon of the Abundance, I doubt anyone can save her!"
"Did you just mention Abundance?"
"Abomination of the Abundance, take my arrow!"
"Just destroy everything, I'm already exhausted."
...
Just as the players were lamenting,
The scene Yu Ling revealed underwent another change!
A man's figure appeared before Mei.
He had short white hair and blue eyes.
Dressed in black and white combat attire.
Expressionless, cold as ice.
Mei's breathing instantly grew rapid!
[Cold, the air turned cold with the man's arrival. Mei felt as if she were in an ancient ice cellar.]
[A sense of oppression welled up from deep within her body, making it difficult for her to move.]
The man spoke indifferently, introducing himself: "Kevin Kaslana, leader of the World Serpent."
[A calm voice sounded, and the sense of oppression suddenly vanished.]
[Mei looked into those eyes, as if seeing two hollow voids.]
[Within those voids, there seemed to be... a sorrow, a sorrow that even time could not erase, a sorrow that seemed as if it could never heal.]
...
"Holy shit, dude, you're so damn cool!"
"The leader of the World Serpent!"
"An intangible sense of oppression hits you right in the face!"
"I think he actually looks pretty sunny..."
"This person looks so familiar..."
...
At the preview event.
Seeing this figure, Acheron's gaze couldn't help but shift!
"Hakuhatsu Ki..."
Yes,
In her homeland, there was also someone who looked very similar to this person!
Acheron suddenly recalled a previous segment of the story.
When she first met Welt on Penacony, they had a conversation.
Welt had recounted.
In his original world, there was a man who created the spiritual Adam.
Although the man who created Adam failed to protect that painless dream, he did not fail, always believing in the possibility of humanity.
"So it seems..."
"This must be the person Welt spoke of."
Acheron let out a soft sigh.
Only because she remembered, in her own experience.
It was she who alone had killed Hakuhatsu Ki.
And ultimately walked the path of the Self-Annihilator.
At this moment,
Kevin spoke again.
Addressing Mei:
"Raiden Mei, you have someone you wish to save, but neither Schicksal nor Anti-Entropy can fulfill your wish."
"I promise you, the World Serpent can save that girl."
Mei asked warily, "What are your conditions?"
"You."
...
"???"
"I don't agree!"
"Is this what the leader of the World Serpent is really like?"
"Kevin, can't you speak a bit less tersely and coldly? It's so easy to misunderstand!"
"Black humor, kid!"
"Don't get the wrong idea, the World Serpent just wants to hire a chef ("
...
"That girl named Kiana is in critical danger. The corruption of the core has exceeded the limit she can bear."
"If you want her to survive, the excess core must be separated from her body immediately. There is only one method."
"I will make you become the Herrscher of Thunder once more."
Mei's pupils contracted!
She was greatly shocked by these words!
And Kevin continued: "This time, you can save Kiana, but next time, she will still put herself in danger."
"She will inevitably use the power of the Herrscher of the Void again and again, for the sake of those around her, for the sake of this world."
"As long as the Honkai exists, as long as Herrschers are born, she will surely step forward, pushing herself to the brink of death again and again—"
"Until she offers up her own life."
"I have seen countless people like her."
"Even in the face of death and fear, they still firmly do what they believe is right, walking the path they believe in."
"...They left, and not a single one returned."
...
"Real, too real."
"These words are cold, but also realistic."
"Damn, in just a few sentences, I feel like I've glimpsed the tip of the iceberg within this man's heart."
"Kevin must be incredibly strong, otherwise why would he be the only one to survive until now..."
"He must have experienced so much loss and pain to become this cold and unfeeling."
"Honkai is the original sin."
...
Mei's breathing grew rapid.
She spoke: "...No... I won't let that happen..."
Kevin said coldly: "You cannot stop her. Otherwise, you would never have come here in the first place."
"But you have another choice."
"You can choose to become a member of the Serpent."
"Soon, the Herrschers will arrive one after another. The war between humanity and the Honkai will enter its next phase."
"You can choose to walk alongside the World Serpent, eradicate the Honkai, capture the Herrschers, seal their authorities... so that the Herrscher of the Void can never increase her power again."
"Only by leaving Kiana's side can you truly protect her from danger."
"And when Project Stigma is completed, you and she can return to being human."
...
"He's making me feel tempted!"
"Oh my god, the concepts in Honkai Impact 3rd's world are just too vast."
"Long live the World Serpent!"
"So, what exactly is Project Stigma?"
"Mei, are you ultimately going to part ways with Kiana?"
"Hurry up, hurry up! I want to see what happens next!"
...
The scene shifts.
Above Nagazora City.
A massive rift was torn open in the sky.
An immense surge of Honkai Energy instantly flooded the entire city.
Kiana, still recovering from her severe injuries, seemed intent on saving the city once again.
"Using the Herrscher of the Void's power, I can close that giant hole in the sky and resolve the source of this storm."
Kiana's voice was resolute.
But Mei caught up to her.
"Stop being so reckless! Don't you understand your own situation?"
"That doesn't matter."
Kiana coldly cut her off.
Then,
she turned and walked away.
...
"This is the third time, the third time!"
"Without power, I can only watch helplessly as Kiana walks away from me."
"This feeling is all too familiar, and utterly powerless."
"Sigh, the two of them can never return to how they were in the past."
"For Kiana's sake, become the Herrscher of Thunder!"
...
Her pupils trembled incessantly.
Faint purple lightning flickered and intertwined.
A cold, arrogant, queen-like voice rang out.
"...Go!"
"Use your hands to bury me, transform my rage, my lament, my demise into the power for your solitary journey."
"Announce to the entire world the return of the Thunder Queen..."
"Go and become the true Herrscher of Thunder!"
...
"Huh?"
"Why!"
"What's going on!"
"The Herrscher of Thunder's personality actively chose to destroy itself?"
"The Thunder Herrscher's personality is just too good!"
"Announce to the entire world the return of the Thunder Queen!"
"Is it finally coming?!"
"Did Kevin's method work?"
"Oh my god, what will the true Herrscher of Thunder be like?!"