Kiana was talking when her slim waist suddenly twisted and her body bent slightly forward.
Buggy looked toward Mei and saw her pupils narrow slightly, staring at the sports field.
The Herrscher of Thunder walked in with a regal stride, and Mei's heart pounded violently.
She was the queen of thunder, long hair flowing behind her, and a great ring of catastrophic lightning circling her back like a burning sun.
Her long, smooth legs carried a sharp, inviolable dignity with every step.
"…Herrscher of Thunder!"
Kiana murmured softly.
Although Mei had touched the Herrscher's demon horn once before, encouraged by Ye Feng,
That didn't mean she had overcome her psychological barrier.
"Herrschers" at this point in time were still terrifying beings in people's minds—disasters incarnate, humanity's absolute enemies.
How could Ye Feng's few words erase such deeply rooted fear?
"Come here."
Ye Feng issued an order to the Herrscher of Thunder, who was about to walk past them.
The terrifying being with a queen-like presence stopped in front of the three.
Even without looking, Kiana could feel Mei's heartbeat accelerate again.
Buggy twisted her body slightly to ease her discomfort, inwardly cursing Ye Feng as a bastard.
Ye Feng looked at Mei and smiled gently: "Mei still seems to fear her."
"...Mr. Ye Feng... I…"
"It's okay. No need to be ashamed. It's perfectly human. Anyone would fear a powerful, destructive unknown like her."
Mei lowered her head slightly. Kiana followed suit, her right arm hanging naturally, left hand gently grasping her right elbow, body swaying softly like a dandelion in the wind.
Ye Feng smiled and said, "Then today, let's talk more in depth about Herrschers."
"Huh?"
Kiana jerked her head up, her eyes sharp like blades stabbing Ye Feng.
Seriously? You have to do this now?
Ye Feng smirked and slid his finger across the smooth cheek of the Herrscher of Thunder.
"She's actually been awake this whole time."
"What?"
Mei's face turned pale with shock.
Kiana's was even worse—she staggered back two steps stiffly to show respect.
"The Herrscher of Thunder... has been awake this whole time? Then she…"
"That's right. She's been awake. You all came in together, but I put her into a sleep-like state."
Mei stared at the Herrscher in disbelief, a possibility forming in her mind that made her uneasy.
"She entered this world conscious... then outside, could she have been awake all along too?"
Mei had thought that after the incident at Nagazora, she had suppressed the Herrscher's consciousness.
And it hadn't appeared again since...
"Didn't you ever notice?" Ye Feng said. "She only appears when you truly need her."
"Huh? What do you mean…"
Mei could hardly believe her ears.
She only appears when needed? That sounded almost like...
"She's helping me?"
"Exactly. Think back. Once was at Qianyu Academy when you were bullied. Another was when Kiana shielded you from a Honkai Beast and got hurt.
"She always appears when you need power the most."
In Honkai Impact 3rd, at the very beginning of the story, she also appeared when Mei was in danger from Honkai Beasts.
Sometimes Ye Feng even wondered—are all these stigmata-born hosts just obsessed with their hosts?
Listening to Ye Feng, Mei looked at the Herrscher of Thunder, emotions surging.
Ye Feng's perspective was something she had never considered.
Right now, Mei was still a very innocent, idealistic girl from the Far East. All black and white. Either good or evil.
To her, a Herrscher was evil—bringing destruction, the embodiment of calamity.
"You two lack communication. Just a guess, but I think she must care about what you think."
Just like how Dark Seele cared about Seele.
Unfortunately, until "Sinner's Requiem," Mei had always rejected her.
Even after becoming a Herrscher herself, she never truly accepted it.
True reconciliation wouldn't happen until near the finale.
Ye Feng asked, "Do you want to wake her up? Heart-to-heart communication is one of the fundamentals of being a magical girl, you know."
"—No! You can't!"
It was Kiana who shouted.
So loud it startled Mei.
Kiana felt like if she didn't say something now, she'd go deaf.
Especially the idea of "waking up the Herrscher of Thunder"—that vibration level wasn't even in the same league anymore.
Seeing Mei's gaze fall on her, Kiana stammered, "...Um, tomorrow… we have a mission tomorrow, right? I think… we should rest well tonight and talk again when we're back at St. Freya…"
"Yeah… what Kiana said makes sense… let's wait till we're back at St. Freya Academy."
Mei, being indecisive by nature, wasn't ready to face "the other self" yet.
Since Kiana gave her a way out, she naturally took it.
"Thank you, Mr. Ye Feng."
"No need to thank me. Mei should decide for herself."
Ye Feng smiled at Kiana and added, "Let's set the Herrscher of Thunder aside for now. Let's look at the next Herrscher."
"Huh?"
"...Another Herrscher?"
"The Herrscher of the Void."
"What?"
The Herrscher of the Void—her name marked a dark chapter in history class.
The instigator of the Second Eruption, responsible for tens of millions of casualties.
Even after more than a decade, the trauma from back then still hadn't healed.
Before the two could react, Ye Feng clicked [Invite], and the Herrscher of the Void descended like a dream.
Snow-white hair fluttered, bare feet touched down lightly, delicate ankles entwined with vine-like ornaments, wings of Honkai energy unfurled behind her.
Her regal golden eyes glanced sideways—chilling to the bone.
"She's… the Herrscher of the Void…"
Mei could feel an aura similar to the Herrscher of Thunder from her—violent, commanding, utterly untouchable.
But why… does she look a little like… Kiana?
Mei looked at the Herrscher of the Void, then at Kiana beside her.
Huh? What's up with Kiana?
That's when Mei finally noticed Kiana was acting a bit off.
Maybe it was because they'd just met two Herrschers back-to-back?
The thought made Mei feel a bit downhearted.
So everyone really is afraid of Herrschers, huh…
Even if Mr. Ye Feng says "Herrschers can fight for humanity," who would believe that?
No—Mr. Ye Feng believes it, truly…
Mei glanced at Ye Feng. His expression was calm, no trace of fear or revulsion in his gaze.
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