Chapter 193: Return of the Lightning Queen! The Bitter Rise of the Cooking Queen!
Raiden Mei continued to pursue the silhouette in the sky.
Past memories replayed in her mind like a film. she remembered that day on the rooftop, when Kiana had gripped her hand tightly.
["Hold on to me! I won't let you die!"]
["I worked so hard to bring you back to normal, how could I just leave you! If you die like this, I'll be guilty for the rest of my life!"]
["If you understand, then grab my hand!!" ]
In that disaster, Mei met Kiana. Her life, for the first time, intertwined with another's. From that day on, loneliness and coldness gradually drifted away. At some point, Mei had stopped fearing the darkness. Because she knew a ray of light was always there.
["Kiana... come back..."]
Pain wrapped around Mei like thorns, tripping her to the ground. she struggled to lift her head, her gaze flying toward the distance where a lonely figure crossed through the storm, flying toward the horizon. The sky was filled with Quantum Shadows swarming that figure. With every collision, a golden flash split the long sky. Mei knew that every spark of light was Kiana's burning life.
["No... please, stop fighting!!" ]
she knew her voice couldn't reach the other; she knew the right choice was to stop. But she couldn't control her body, just as she couldn't stop running or stop longing—she couldn't stop chasing that light in the dark.
Water splashed, shattering along with her memories. Raiden Mei continued to chase the light in the sky, pursuing a figure she knew she couldn't reach as if she were mad. In the subsequent combat stages, under Elysia's control, Mei continuously defeated the Quantum Shadows while calling Kiana's name. That weak voice made the viewers in the livestream feel like a knife was twisting in their hearts!
Clearly, the golden light in the sky meant Kiana was using the power of the Void again and again. And every time she used it, it meant her life was one step closer to its end. For Mei, this was the scene she least wanted to see. Perhaps because Kiana was so stubborn and reckless, Raiden Mei realized her own weakness and helplessness so deeply. Her heart had long since been covered in wounds.
Heavy rain fell from the sky, battering Mei's body. she looked up with effort at the dim sky. Her consciousness blurred in that moment. she entered a space woven from her own memories.
["With Mei here, it's like having the strength of a hundred people!"]
The memories of her time with Kiana manifested once more. The stage shifted to the Moonlight Throne from Chapter 1. Mei, wearing her Crimson Impulse suit, watched the distant Kiana fighting hard. Back then, they were naive, never imagining the future would become like this.
["The strength of a hundred people... I'm no superman..."]
["No, as long as Mei is by my side, I feel like I have a hundred times the strength!"]
["Heh, that truly is something only Kiana would say."]
Strength? Can I... still give you strength now?
The next scene was the library of St. Freya Academy. Facing a Kiana struggling with exams, Raiden Mei lectured her earnestly.
["Kiana, don't you want to become an A-rank Valkyrie?"]
["If you don't pass this exam, you'll be demoted from B-rank to D-rank logistics!"]
["If you become D-rank, you'll only be in charge of support and logistics; you won't be allowed on the battlefield whenever you want!"]
Raiden Mei, in her Valkyrie Bladestrike uniform, walked across the library's red carpet. The events shared with Kiana manifested as phantoms beside her.
["Logistics? Like the canteen? I don't want that!!" ]
["Then come to the training field with me; no rest today!"]
["Waaaah! Mei! Can you not pull my ears??" ]
I always naively thought nothing would change. But in the blink of an eye, you, who always circled around me... have flown to a distance I cannot reach.
The scene changed. The Battle of Schicksal. Raiden Mei faced the awakened Herrscher of the Void.
["Do you want to take back this body? Do you want to save this girl?"]
["In that case..."]
["Then let me use her hands to kill you all one by one!"]
["I will make your twisted faces and broken limbs the final sight in her eyes!"]
["Intimacy, friends, happiness, dreams, future, hope..."]
["she should not have them, does not deserve them, and shall not have them!!" ]
The Herrscher's mocking voice echoed in Mei's mind.
It's because I was too weak... It's because I failed to protect you... It's me... who pushed you toward this fate...
At the end of the memory space, Mei met Kiana.
["Mei? What are you doing here?"]
["I'm taking you back. Back to the Hyperion."]
["I... I can't go back, Mei. I'm sorry... I can't let you take this risk."]
The perspective shifted with their dialogue. Kiana, filled with resolve, brushed past Mei and kept walking forward without looking back. Raiden Mei entered the final white doorway, calling Kiana's name as a white light swallowed everything.
["I know that actually, you haven't changed at all."]
["You're still the girl who reaches out to strangers with a smile."]
["Even after experiencing so much injustice, even knowing the world isn't perfect..."]
["Even if... there is a tragedy destined to be irreversible..."]
["You will still be as you were in the past..."]
["Fighting for your companions, for others, and for the beauty you believe in."]
["...Kiana, you will certainly become a hero. The world is waiting for you to be its hero..."]
["But... I..."]
["Maybe... I'm the one who was wrong..."]
["Kiana... we can never go back to the past."]
It had to be said: Mei's monologue and the memory space sequence provided the audience with a massive "surprise." However, this surprise made it impossible for them to be happy. From the music to the lines, the intertwining of memory and reality, and the camera work—the production quality was undeniably top-tier.
Because of this, the audience felt the pain and struggle within the girl named Raiden Mei so acutely. Past beauty had turned to smoke. That girl had become an unreachable meteor... she could do nothing; she could change nothing. The beauty of the memories formed a tragic contrast with the reality.
This grief infected Elysia as she played. "Kiana, why are you so silly... look how sad Mei is crying! You dummy, your head is full of yourself; can't you consider the people around you for once?"
Elysia's emotional outburst made the real Kiana scratch her head in embarrassment. Honestly, her in-game self was beyond "headstrong"—it was a death wish. Hurting Mei's heart again and again... her actions proved Kevin right: she was pushing Mei toward World Serpent.
"Even so... Su Mu, you brat! It's one thing to write me so miserably every day! But now you've made Mei cry too! Are you a literal psychopath!" Kiana glared at Su Mu, accusing him of being inhuman.
Su Mu looked innocent. He actually thought Kiana was right. Honkai 3rd writers really weren't "human" in that sense. They were invincible, traumatized, mentally troubled... the works. In his previous life, players had offered many such "greetings" to the writers. But in this life, he had become that writer.
Looking at Elysia and Kiana teared up, Raiden Mei with red eyes, and the chat sharpening their knives to kill the "dog writer"... how could he describe this feeling?
It feels too good!! Yes, this is what I wanted to see! Hahahaha!!!
Su Mu showed a demonic smile. He used to wonder if being a writer and writing "knives" could be this satisfying; now he knew. It was exhilarating! He was on a literal high! However, since people were around, he couldn't be too obvious. He ended up in a state of suppressed laughter, making for a very difficult expression to maintain.
In the game, Mei's memory sequence ended with Benares falling from the sky. The dragon, letting out a shrill cry, was struck down. A greatsword was embedded in its body—the very weapon that brought it down!
["Benares? What happened? Where is Kiana...?!"]
Raiden Mei rushed to Benares, looking at the vibrating greatsword. The next moment, the power radiating from the sword pulled Mei into a strange space where the sky was stained purple. The sword's owner revealed its true form: the Imaginary Construct—Nihilus.
As for this thing, when it first appeared, it coincided with a certain celebrity scandal and was dubbed the "Master of Time Management." Design-wise, it was striking. Even though it had "Imaginary" in its name, it was an "Intuitive" (PSY) type monster back then, as the Imaginary type hadn't been implemented yet. This inconsistency drove veteran Captains with OCD crazy.
Nihilus wasted no words, aiming its sword at Mei and charging like a dragon. Elysia didn't even have time to react before her Mei was sent flying!
["The space has changed... where is this...?"]
Nihilus's moves were a blur to Elysia, making them impossible to dodge. Mei's HP hit zero quickly. Just as she thought she'd have to restart, the in-game Mei propped herself up with her sword, kneeling.
["Get... up...!!" ]
With a roar, Mei stood again, pouring every ounce of strength from her body!
["Raiden Blade!"]
Lightning and blade ki erupted from Mei—the ultimate of Striker Fulminata! In her enhanced state, Mei's strikes were infused with thunder, cutting through Nihilus like a violent cyclone. Nihilus proved more difficult than Elysia expected; she fell again during the phase transition due to unknown mechanics. But she found that no matter how many times Mei fell, she would stand up and keep fighting. That incredible resolve was transmitted through the game to Elysia's heart.
"Su Mu, you play! I don't want to see Mei fall again!" Elysia handed the controller to him. she looked pained; seeing Mei covered in wounds made her want to cry. she couldn't even hold the controller steady.
Su Mu took over without a word and defeated Nihilus without taking a hit.
"Wait? Why was that so easy for you?" Elysia stared in shock. Recalling how her Mei was a literal punching bag for the boss, she felt a wave of sadness.
Su Mu smiled but said nothing. He thought about making an ad for a gaming laptop—To pull off moves like this, you need good gear—but decided against it since HP didn't pay for the ad.
After Mei defeated Nihilus, she could only limp toward Benares. The screen flickered between light and dark, reflecting her exhaustion. She had drained all her strength. Had her will not been so strong, she would have collapsed.
["Benares, are you okay..."]
["Must... hurry..."]
["Find... Kiana..."]
The world flickered like a broken film. Mei knelt, feeling the air solidify.
["What... my body... won't move...!!" ]
To Mei's horror, time itself began to flow backward in the space. Amidst the ticking of a clock, the destroyed scenery restored itself, and the broken Nihilus stood up once more. Despair filled Mei's heart. The monster she gave everything to defeat was resurrected, and she had nothing left to fight with. Nihilus raised its greatsword, swinging down at the kneeling Mei.
Mei's life was about to vanish. But then, a blue and white figure appeared! When Mei opened her eyes, she wasn't crushed. Instead, the blue and white dragon stood before her, the greatsword being slowly pulled from its body.
["Benares...?"]
["No, NO...!!" ]
Raiden Mei watched Benares in despair; she hadn't expected it to take the blow for her. Nihilus raised its sword again, as if passing judgment. In moments, Mei would be crushed.
["Kiana..."]
Calling Kiana's name, Mei's vision blurred completely as she fell into darkness.
[Darkness. As far as the eye can see, only darkness.]
[Can't see anything, hear anything, smell anything.]
[Only a body freed from gravity, drifting aimlessly... drifting...]
[...Right, I've seen this before.]
[Three years ago, the world died like this too.]
[In the endless dark... some cried, some wailed, some were silent, some fell.]
[Finally, only silence remained, and myself falling within it.]
Amidst an ominous tune, Mei's consciousness fell through the void.
["Crybaby, long time no see."]
[A light, a voice rippled out.]
A purple ring appeared in the dark world. Purple currents surrounded and embraced her, bringing her before the light.
["You've changed a lot."]
The voice sounded from a distant place, yet vanished right by her ear. It was cold and dangerous. It was familiar and nostalgic.
["This is the first time you've come before me of your own accord."]
The scene shifted. Raiden Mei knelt before the purple ring. The voice sounded like an interrogation, or a trial. It was Mei's Herrscher personality—the Herrscher of Thunder.
["If you keep going, you will fall into a deep hell."]
[It doesn't matter, I can trade places with her to get her out of that hell.]
["You will say goodbye to everything you have—to your companions, to your family."]
[It doesn't matter, I'm used to being alone.]
["You will endure doubt and criticism, walking further and further down a lonely path."]
[It doesn't matter, that is the fate I should have faced long ago.]
["You will leave her forever. You can never return to her side, see her smile, or hold her hand. Step forward, and there is no turning back."]
["Are you sure this is what you want??" ]
[...It... doesn't... matter...]
[Everyone is here... they... will take care of her... Let me do what I must...]
[I have decided.]
Silence. But it didn't last long. Witnessing Mei's resolve and change, the Herrscher's voice rang through the space.
["Go!"]
["Bury me with your own hands! Turn my rage, my screams, and my passing into the strength for your lonely journey!"]
["Go to the world and announce the Return of the Lightning Queen!"]
["Go, and become the true Herrscher of Thunder!"]
["Goodbye, 'Raiden Mei'."]
Amidst the light, the Herrscher personality said its final farewell. From this moment, the authority was fully Mei's. Merged with her Herrscher self, she had truly become the Lightning Queen!
Nihilus's greatsword was blasted away by lightning. The force made it stumble back. Before it... where Raiden Mei stood... the weak, helpless, wounded girl was gone. Lightning flowed across her determined face. The Lightning Queen opened her eyes, and the power of thunder obeyed her command! A purple divine halo expanded behind her, accentuating her noble form. Thunderous roars tore through the sky, announcing to the world: the Return of the Lightning Queen!
Watching that figure amidst the lightning, Elysia's livestream boiled over!
[Holy crap! HOLY CRAP!!]
[Mei! Mei, my Mei!!]
[Too cool! The Lightning Queen is finally back!]
[Ten-year Mei fans are in tears!]
[I'm going to prove a point—not that I'm amazing, but that I will take back what I lost!!]
[It's back! Everything is back! The Queen has returned!!]
Elysia looked dazed, as if an "ancient memory" had been awakened. she let out a sharp cry! The frustration from Nihilus vanished instantly with the Queen's arrival. You are, you are, an important person! Someone who cannot be forgotten! The person with horns!!
"Mei, Mei is so cool! Th-this is the true Herrscher of Thunder, the Lightning Queen!!" Kiana couldn't control her excitement. The Queen on screen made her eyes sparkle; she practically wanted to dive into the game—and rub Mei's horns!!
END OF CHAPTER
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