Boom!
Xin Yu was slammed down hard from high above, landing with the sound of a heavy impact.
He climbed out of the crater, his clothes long since tattered, his exposed skin covered in dust and blood. At this moment, the hand gripping the blade trembled slightly – not from fear or excitement, but because repeated violent impacts had caused nerve damage, rendering it uncontrollable.
The Herrscher of Thunder slowly descended from the air. From the start of the battle until now, a mere five minutes had passed, yet Xin Yu was already covered in wounds. His opponent, however, remained completely unharmed, without even a speck of dust on her.
"If this continues, your hand won't even be able to hold the blade. And relying on your physical body alone, you stand no chance of fighting me."
"By now, you should have realized. Whether it's power, technique, speed, or internal energy, I surpass you by far."
"Human, I give you one chance. If you are willing to surrender, willing to drop your blade and kneel before me now, I will spare your life and transform you into my subordinate. You will possess power far beyond what you have now."
Kiana heard the Herrscher of Thunder's words, her expression freezing for a moment. What's going on? Why would the Herrscher of Thunder suddenly say something like that?
The Herrscher of Thunder glanced at Kiana hiding in the building, seeming to understand her confusion. With the same scornful smile, she said without hesitation, "Human, do you recall one night, singing a song to a child?"
Xin Yu's previously cold expression changed. He looked astonishedly at the Herrscher of Thunder before him, murmuring in disbelief, "It was you?"
"Correct. Although that coward doesn't remember anymore, I, possessing all her memories, do... Now, make your choice."
"If you still insist on continuing this meaningless battle, then I will no longer hold back, but kill you with all my strength. If you choose to join me, drop your blade and kneel to me."
Xin Yu remained silent, glancing towards Kiana. He recalled his earlier promise, recalled the original future of this world he vaguely knew. He didn't know the exact plot here, but since the future versions of Raiden Mei, Bronya, and Kiana were close friends, perhaps this disaster, or this battle, could have been avoided. Maybe his time-traveling interference had triggered a series of unknown changes, leading to the current situation.
He looked again at the children.
They were afraid, terrified, but they hadn't run. Perhaps it was because they believed in the Master of the uncle who had helped them, believed he could lead them out of here.
He looked again at Bronya... perhaps he would have to break his promise.
"Herrscher... do you know what true courage is?"
The pale blade in Xin Yu's hand gradually shrank, turning back into the cross pendant. He threw the small cross pendant towards Bronya.
"True courage is, knowing you're doomed to lose before you even start, but doing it anyway, and seeing it through no matter what happens."
"A person rarely wins, but there are always times when they do win."
"My disciple did it. He showed me what courage means."
"And now, I too will show my courage."
In an instant, Xin Yu forcibly merged the two energies within his body. He knew doing so meant death – forcing two incompatible energies together would cause them both to struggle violently, run rampant, but his power would surge.
"Taixu Sword Qi... No, this isn't it anymore."
Xin Yu threw all caution to the wind. He fully activated the technique as he understood it, absorbing the so-called Honkai energy into his body without any regard for the cost.
Purple markings appeared on his skin, and his eyes shone with a molten gold light.
The Herrscher of Thunder watched Xin Yu, who seemed to have entered a boss's second phase. The corner of her lip, previously lifted slightly in contempt, curled upwards further and further.
"Hahaha! Now this is more like it! This is worthy of competing with me! This is an enemy worthy of a life-and-death battle!"
"Xin Yu!"
The Herrscher of Thunder shouted Xin Yu's name, then flashed before him at a speed far exceeding her previous movements, like true lightning, reaching out to grab his face.
But Xin Yu, defying all expectations, reacted to the Herrscher's attack, raising his hand to block it.
The Herrscher of Thunder was momentarily stunned by the speed Xin Yu displayed, as it far surpassed the limits he had shown before. Xin Yu seized this moment of hesitation. Without pause, he delivered a fierce knee strike straight to the Herrscher of Thunder's abdomen, launching her high into the air.
Then Xin Yu also shot into the sky without hesitation.
The two began to clash fiercely high above, moving at speeds beyond the limits of human eyesight.
Lightning roared. The Herrscher of Thunder unleashed her full power, the Honkai-infused bolts capable of shattering anything in their path.
But just as the lightning was about to strike Xin Yu, his body suddenly twisted – not like a trick of light, but a genuine physical contortion, as if a vortex had appeared out of thin air within him.
The lightning struck the vortex and then vanished without a trace, as if swallowed by an abyssal maw.
A black vortex, roughly the size of a basketball, slowly spun on Xin Yu's chest. It gradually accelerated, constantly growing. At this rate, the dark vortex would soon swallow Xin Yu whole.
Xin Yu looked at the countdown timer in the bottom right of his vision: only 10 seconds remained.
Ten.
Xin Yu instantly appeared before the Herrscher of Thunder. Her energy attacks were still utterly ineffective, unable to make a difference even at full power. So, the Herrscher of Thunder decided to fight as before, materializing a long sword from metal and slashing at Xin Yu who had suddenly appeared before her.
Nine.
Xin Yu ignored the blade striking his body; the moment it made contact, it was instantly annihilated into nothingness, not even leaving dust behind. He simply reached out and grabbed the Herrscher of Thunder's head.
Eight.
Finding that her physical attacks were also ineffective, the Herrscher of Thunder tried to break free from Xin Yu's grasp and create distance. However, the very thought was extinguished the moment it formed. Her mind went blank, completely unsure of what to do.
Seven.
The Herrscher of Thunder had no idea what was happening to her body. She only felt her energy dwindling, her consciousness fading, overwhelmed by an intense confusion that prevented her from even releasing the simplest burst of Honkai energy.
Six.
The Herrscher of Thunder's golden eyes began to flicker erratically. Finally, the bright golden light vanished, reverting to Raiden Mei's purple pupils. The overwhelming tyranny disappeared, replaced by confusion.
Five.
Raiden Mei closed her eyes completely, falling into slumber. Xin Yu descended from the sky. Kiana, waiting on the ground, rushed forward and took Raiden Mei from Xin Yu's arms.
Four.
Finding Raiden Mei merely unconscious and not dead, Kiana sighed in relief, then looked at Xin Yu standing before her.
Three.
"Kiana, I did it."
Two.
"I really wish... there was an embrace waiting for me."
One.
"Be happy. Don't forget my drink."
Ten seconds passed. Xin Yu's face was full of smiles. The black hole on his chest expanded instantly, swallowing him whole, vanishing without a trace.
"XIN YU!!!"
Kiana's eyes widened, filled with utter disbelief.
Bronya looked at the cross pendant Xin Yu had thrown her, noticing her own hand trembling slightly. How unsightly.
"Really... what an idiot!" Bronya clenched the cross pendant, shouting in a low voice.