The late autumn showers showed no tact. They broke free from the embrace of the dark clouds, blooming upon the moss-covered tiles. Trickling raindrops converged into streams, flowing down rust-stained ventilation pipes, finally playing an unknown melody on Ren's umbrella.
A car horn blared as it passed through the intersection, momentarily gifting the alley with its headlights. The puddles on the cobblestones clearly reflected the two figures.
Thunder rumbled. Only when Ren's figure gradually sharpened in her azure eyes did the girl belatedly realize that what she was seeing wasn't an illusion. The person she had been searching for had truly appeared before her.
"Ren...?"
Rain soaked the ends of the girl's hair, mingling with warm tears as it streamed down her cheeks. Her voice was hoarse, as if choked with the bitterness of over a month.
Seeing her like this, Ren's heart couldn't help but ache. But he knew he couldn't show any weakness, or everything he had done would be meaningless.
Before he could respond, a powerful force slammed into his chest. With a thud, his back made intimate contact with a drainpipe fixed to the alley wall.
Perhaps as punishment for his unannounced departure, the impact was precisely where a fixing bolt was located. Sharp pain shot through his back, but he didn't even frown, merely quietly embracing the crying kitten in his arms.
The fallen umbrella wobbled on the ground, as if trying to catch the girl's overflowing tears. The traffic lights at the crossroads flickered alternately, voicing their silent accusation against Ren.
Neither spoke, yet they tacitly understood each other's feelings. Only when the thunder gradually subsided and Ren's collar was no longer damp with warmth did they slowly release each other, returning from their private world to reality.
Kiana, having vented her emotions, wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, her gaze red-rimmed as she tugged at Ren's sleeve, afraid he would leave again.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have investigated secretly," she apologized softly. If she hadn't presumptuously suspected Ren's identity, perhaps he wouldn't have chosen to leave.
Ren paused, seemingly understanding something. He crouched down slightly, allowing the girl, who kept her head bowed, to see his eyes clearly. "I'm the one who should be sorry. I should have told you sooner. But I chose to leave not because of your notebook, but because I have my own things to do."
Hearing his answer, Kiana slowly raised her head, sniffling. "Wasn't it because I secretly suspected you were the Herrscher of Dominance..."
"Don't overthink it. I don't care about my identity. I kept it from you only because some things couldn't involve you." Like comforting a child, Ren gently ruffled the girl's hair.
"Is it... about Project Stigma?"
"You know?" His movement paused, but Ren quickly regained his composure.
"Yes. When I couldn't find you, I contacted Mei." Kiana didn't dare look Ren directly in the eye, seemingly afraid he would get angry again.
Seeing Kiana acting like a timid kitten, Ren found it somewhat amusing. He shook his head gently, his gaze fixed on the distant future. "Since you know, then there's nothing much to hide."
He patiently explained, "Fifty thousand years ago, the Previous Era was destroyed by the Honkai. World Serpent is one of the embers left from that civilization. To avoid repeating the same mistakes, scientists of the Previous Era left behind a countermeasure called Project Stigma, entrusting its execution to the then-strongest warrior, Kevin."
"However, the purpose of this plan is merely to successfully transition. For civilization itself, it will cause irreparable damage, much like Heliopolis Life Sciences in ARC City. Although it can save a portion of people, it will sacrifice even more innocent lives."
"So, Kevin and I reached an agreement, to try and avert the arrival of the Finality in a different way."
"Does it have to be you? I can also..."
Before she could finish, Ren interrupted her. "Because I am the Herrscher of Dominance. To be precise, I am the Herrscher of Legion, the collective of thousands. Only my authority can accommodate different abilities."
Seeing the girl hesitate, wanting to speak but holding back, Ren offered a faint smile to dispel her concerns. "Don't think too much. I willingly accepted this plan not because I was coerced, but because I want to achieve my own goals through it."
He shook his head, looking into the girl's eyes and asking in return, "You are now the Herrscher of the Void. Do you remember the goal you set for yourself back in ARC City?"
Kiana fell silent for a moment, painful memories flooding her mind, then gradually being soothed. She looked up, her eyes unwavering. "To atone for those who died in the Great Eruption, to fight for those who cannot fight, to make this world free from the threat of the Honkai, to make this world the way I wish it to be."
"Exactly. That is your goal and your belief, and I have my own beliefs."
"The Herrscher of Dominance is born from the despair and suffering of ordinary people. Compared to this civilization of billions, their voices are so insignificant. As their collective, I should rightfully express the unvoiced appeals they couldn't articulate, and I should bear the expectations they couldn't fulfill."
"This is my meaning as the Herrscher of Legion."
Thick dark clouds obscured the sky, making the world seem to sink into night. In the dim alley, Ren's gray eyes slowly closed. When they opened again, they were a blazing gold.
Watching Ren's transformation, Kiana vaguely recalled the scene she had witnessed in a dream – a crying youth seated on a throne, and beneath the throne, ruins piled high from countless remains.
In that instant, an indescribable pain surged through her heart,刺痛着她的内心 (piercing her heart), making it difficult for her to breathe.
She didn't understand what the dream meant, but her intuition told her it was definitely not the future she desired.
"No!" The girl abruptly pulled her hand away from Ren's, her trembling hands cupping his cheeks. "Don't do this alone. Let me do it with you."
Her voice trembled as she searched for reasons to convince Ren. "Have you forgotten I'm a Herrscher too? I'm also very strong. I can change the world with you. Why choose to face it alone? Two people's strength is greater, isn't it?"
Her fingertips lightly touched Ren's cheek, yet she dared not get too close to those golden eyes. She didn't want, didn't want Ren to become the figure in her dream.
"..." Ren was silent. He didn't understand why Kiana was suddenly reacting so strongly...
He gently pushed the girl away, shaking his head and explaining, "It's different, Kiana. It's different."
He repeated himself, unsure if he was trying to convince Kiana or himself. "This is the mission of the Herrscher of Legion, not yours. You've already shouldered enough. You don't need to, and shouldn't, bear my part. Besides, your dream is to become a savior, while my goal is to fulfill the appeals of the Herrscher of Legion. Perhaps in the future, I'll even be defeated by your own hands."
Ren forced a smile, speaking in a deliberately lighthearted tone. The flicker of exhaustion in his eyes, however, was well hidden.
The Herrscher of Dominance was born from human despair, inherently filled with vast negative emotions. Once Ren instigated the Dominance turmoil, it would inevitably cause a huge impact on civilization. In a sense, the danger Ren posed was far more severe than the threat from the Herrscher of Dominance itself.
From any perspective, Ren was a genuine Honkai-side villain.
According to the rule that justice will eventually triumph over evil, his ending certainly wouldn't be perfect. But this was Ren's goal: to make himself the greatest villain. That way, once Kiana defeated him, she could legitimately become the savior. But he understood that if he truly did this, Kiana would surely hate him when she learned the truth. So, he needed a more reasonable and inescapable reason.
"Kiana, in your eyes, what is human civilization like?" he asked, changing the subject.
Unfortunately, Kiana wasn't falling for it, still clinging tightly to his sleeve. Ren didn't mind, continuing his description.
"Perhaps in your view, this world, while not perfect, is still full of hope. Even at your lowest point, there were still people willing to lend you a hand. Even if some suffer, they can still stand up resolutely and move forward towards the future with greater determination. Even if the Honkai rages, there are still people willing to protect the world..."
His voice was gentle, and his description perfectly matched Kiana's own experiences. Unconsciously, it had already touched the softest part of the girl's heart.
However, just as Kiana thought he was about to change his mind, Ren's eyes slowly lowered.
"But, you see, what you've witnessed are those who can stand up. Their courage and resilience indeed shine brightly. What I see are those who could never stand up again."
"They are weak, they are timid. They are like the dust found everywhere on this earth, without any shining points. Faced with hardship and despair, they don't even have the courage to resist, only able to curl up in the corners of ruins, waiting for others to save them."
The two seemed to have returned to ARC City months ago, in the garden with diverging paths at the hospital. Ren, in a wheelchair, had asked Kiana the same question: "You are Herrschers. You are born protagonists. But what about ordinary people? They can't do anything."
"Life is like a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more. Uncared for, meaningless. Even they despise their own weakness and powerlessness, eventually giving up the struggle, choosing to become someone else's shadow."
Golden light burned in Ren's eyes, fueled by the despair of thousands. However, just as Ren was about to continue, Kiana grabbed his hand, gently holding it in hers.
"Then let me save them! Save you!" She looked at Ren with blazing eyes, as if determined to pull him out of the mire.
"No, you can't save them. At least, not now." Ren slowly withdrew his hand, his eyes becoming rational and calm.
He shook his head and slowly walked to the side.
The boy who had been knocked down by the umbrella saw Ren walking towards him and instinctively shrank back. Ren had been measured in his actions; although his face stung, the boy wasn't seriously injured. He hadn't left purely out of fear that Ren would cause him trouble.
"You..." He glanced at Ren's clearly inhuman golden eyes, then quickly looked away.
But Ren clearly had no intention of bothering with such a person. He picked up an umbrella from the side, shook off the rainwater, and closed it. Then, threads spread, and the umbrella transformed into a baseball bat.
"Have they always been bullying you?" Ren glanced at the thugs at the other end of the alley and casually tossed the bat in front of the boy.
"I'm giving you a chance. Get your revenge."
The bat clanged on the ground, making the boy flinch. But looking at the baseball bat that had rolled to his feet, he hesitated to pick it up.
"What are you afraid of? There are no cameras here, no one else around. They've lost the ability to fight back now. Just pick up the bat, and you can get your revenge, you can vent your anger." Ren's voice brushed against the boy's ear, as seductive as a demon's.
Under his persuasion, the boy did indeed pick up the bat and slowly walked towards the thugs who had just bullied him.
The thugs, having heard everything, clearly knew what was about to happen and repeatedly begged Ren for mercy. They didn't even spare a glance at the boy holding the bat.
Kiana, witnessing all this, felt a pang of conscience and instinctively prepared to intervene, but Ren stopped her.
Ren shook his head, signaling her not to worry.
Seeing that begging Ren was ineffective, the leader of the thugs could only glare fiercely at the boy, silently mouthing: "You dare touch me, you're dead."
"..." Seeing this ferocious look, the boy instinctively flinched, and the baseball bat fell to the ground.
Anger and resentment vanished in an instant. He reverted to his weak demeanor, secretly glancing at Ren. Seeing Ren's expressionless face, he let out another sigh of relief.
Ren, though having anticipated his reaction, sneered, "Too afraid to confront those who chronically oppress you, yet daring to resent the one who helps you."
The boy mumbled, saying nothing.
"It's because you're in the same school, afraid that once we leave, they'll retaliate even more severely, right?" The boy didn't say it aloud, but his thoughts were already clear to Ren. Knowing there was no point in continuing, Ren didn't spare them another glance. With a wave of his hand, the group fled the alley as if escaping for their lives. Soon, only Ren and Kiana remained.
Ren leaned against the wall, looking up at the gloomy sky. "Kiana, did you know? Even if you can help him this time, you can't help him countless times. For people like him, weakness is already ingrained in their souls. But it's not his fault. Seeking advantages, avoiding harm, and being afraid of the strong while bullying the weak is human nature."
"Remember South Asia, where we went before? The people there are impoverished and humble. They have nothing, and their only remaining conviction is an illusory faith." Kiana pursed her lips, not understanding what Ren was trying to say.
"Actually, they are very similar. This boy is used to being bullied and extorted, and the people in South Asia are long accustomed to the class system. No matter how many times you help them, the result won't change, because the cause isn't themselves, but the environment they are in."
"The boy doesn't dare to fight back because they live in the same school. As long as they remain in the same school, he will never dare to retaliate. It's the same in South Asia. People who grow up in garbage dumps don't dare to imagine the beauty of the city, because trampling and chains are already deeply embedded in their bones. As long as the 'nobles' exist, those refugees won't dare take a step closer to the city."
Ren spoke cryptically, unsure if Kiana understood. He was merely giving his answer in his own way.
"The Herrscher of Legion puppets are not failures; it's just that their voices cannot be heard. They don't want to be someone else's shadow; it's just that the sunlight that rightfully belongs to them has been occupied by shadows. They don't lack courage; they've just experienced too many failures."
He turned his head, his figure almost swallowed by the shadows.
"Kiana, force can save the world, but it cannot save civilization. To save civilization, certain invisible shackles must be broken."
He smiled, slowly retreating into the depths of the alley.
"So, leave saving the world to you, and saving civilization to me, okay?"
END.....
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Yeah, that's the end of the raw for this novel as of 2025-04-27 18:09:55. You'll have to wait for the next chapter. The upcoming one is an extra side story that I haven't translated yet.