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In Kevin's world, ice and fire continuously intertwined across both sky and earth. Sometimes fiercely entangled, sometimes briefly brushing past each other, these forces transformed the entire space into extremes of scorching heat and freezing cold.
What were Herrschers? Theoretically, the Herrscher of Rock could submerge an entire continent, while the Herrscher of Flame could incinerate a vast landmass. Such was their nature.
And even by Herrscher standards, Kevin and Kiana currently stood as monstrous beings without equal.
As their battle raged on, the once towering landscape first flattened into plains before being reduced to a pockmarked, ravaged terrain. Amidst the interplay of searing heat and icy chill, distant lands continually switched between states of permafrost and molten lava.
In mid-air, their fists clashed once more, forcing both combatants back to the ground where they faced each other at a distance. A clear boundary between frozen and molten earth separated them.
Kevin raised his hand, watching as his scorched knuckles slowly healed, feeling somewhat conflicted—Herrschers from fifty thousand years later were still incredibly powerful, yet this time, they stood with humanity.
Could they be trusted? Even if so, could they change the fate of the new era?
Kevin remained uncertain about these questions, but at least it represented a glimmer of newfound hope, worthy of anticipation.
He looked up towards the girl whose determination and strength astounded him.
At that moment, fiery red patterns had spread across Kiana's entire body, occasionally erupting flames. This transformed her normally youthful and captivating figure, imbuing it with a chilling sense of imminent devastation.
"Huff..."
Kiana panted, sparks flying from her mouth.
"Is there really a need to go all out like this? Don't wreck my body."
"I have no choice; the Authority of Space belongs to you, not me. With only half-access to your power, I gain versatility in combat, but Kevin is flawless without any weaknesses. Flexibility alone won't suffice. I must summon absolute, decisive force."
[Hmph! Just like before, you're nothing but a madman!]
[Take it as a compliment! Without embracing madness, how can one keep pushing forward? I refuse to hinder Zeke with half-hearted strength! Sirin, at this point, shouldn't you finally contribute some rent money?!]
[Huh? You're... Wait, what do you plan to do?]
[I need more abilities, more power! Forgive me, Sirin.]
In the consciousness domain, Sirin, originally seated on her crystal throne, found herself surrounded by golden chains descending from the dome, akin to a bird trapped within a gilded cage.
Subsequently, the energy stored within Sirin's consciousness was forcefully extracted like a torrential flood.
Sirin remained composed on her throne, narrowing her eyes slightly.
"Using consciousness power to forcibly seize abilities—quite an application of information theory, hmph. At least your clandestine study and relentless research haven't gone to waste. But do you really think you're me? Controlling a Divine Key as a Herrscher is one thing, but simultaneously accommodating two sets of abilities is another entirely! Go ahead and take them; I'm eager to see when you'll meet your demise."
With a cold snort, Sirin observed everything unfolding outside, unmoved.
Outside, Kiana breathed out sparks as she bent her knees and leaned forward. Space singularities opened up across the sky, unleashing countless Lance of Subspaces engulfed in flames.
"I'm not quite used to this—it feels somewhat strained, so...this trial run for my new powers ends here. Just like Zeke said, you can't use a max-level mage account as a tank, right, Kevin?" Kiana muttered, but her voice carried far through the resonating Honkai Energy, reaching Kevin's ears.
Kevin looked up at the sky filled with black holes and lances, while behind him, an iceberg slowly grew until it resembled a colossal serpent rearing its head toward the heavens.
"Come." Expressionless, Kevin spread his arms wide and beckoned Kiana over.
In the next moment, the earth trembled as towering pillars of fire erupted from beneath, swallowing both Kevin and the massive ice serpent. Then, the myriad Lances of Subspace descended like a meteor shower upon the ground.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The cataclysmic barrage persisted for over half a minute.
When Kevin reappeared, he had been pushed back hundreds of miles, visibly battered and disheveled.
Kevin looked up at Kiana floating amidst a swarm of Lance of Subspaces, and his brow furrowed.
"Reminds me somewhat of Herrschers I've faced before. Long-range combat truly plays to their strengths," Kevin calmly observed as he soared into the sky, surrounded by countless icicles aimed directly at Kiana.
In midair, Lances of Subspace clashed repeatedly with Kevin's ice crystals like a barrage of gunfire.
"BANG! BANG! BANG!"
Kiana attempted to repel Kevin using her Lances of Subspace, but undeterred, he pushed forward shielded by regenerating ice formations.
Suddenly, as he reached a certain point, Kevin's expression shifted, and he swiftly changed direction, seemingly defying inertia.
But it was too late; Kiana had already clenched her fist in that direction.
"Crack!"
With a sound akin to shattering glass, the space around Kevin fractured into jagged black fissures, collapsing into a Black Dimension.
While unable to escape unscathed, Kevin's remarkable vigilance and reflexes prevented any fatal injuries—he merely lost half his hand.
Unwilling to risk more traps lurking nearby, Kevin continued retreating at full speed while freezing his mutilated hand to seal the wound.
The Lance of Subspace descended like torrential rain, giving him no respite.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Relying on his exceptional physical prowess, Kevin half-dodged and half-endured this barrage.
Suddenly, the surrounding air grew scorching hot.
When Kiana looked up again, colossal fireballs akin to miniature suns plummeted toward the earth.
"KABOOM!!"
Mushroom clouds soared skyward as lava flowed across the land, creating a cataclysmic shockwave that reverberated for an extended period.
With her breath heavy and labored, Kiana halted her attack, staggering mid-air and narrowly avoiding a fall.
No good. I'm not yet the complete Herrscher of the Void, let alone the Herrscher of Flame. This level of sustained output is too taxing... If it were Wendy or the others, relentless attacks would likely be effortless for them.
"Dammit! I'm clearly an extension of the Original Xilin and possess the potential to wield multiple powers—I shouldn't be limited like this!" Kiana gritted her teeth, a fierce determination flashing through her golden eyes.
Her combat prowess was formidable, but it relied heavily on pushing herself to her absolute limits. For instance, defeating Sirin last time had left her completely reliant on Zeke's intervention to survive. In normal circumstances, Kiana's baseline abilities fell significantly short compared to even an average Herrscher.
This half-Herrscher state posed the greatest challenge to her growth.
On the ground, the lava gradually subsided, giving way to re-forming ice.
Kevin emerged from the dissipating smoke, maintaining his defensive stance with crossed arms. His shirt had vanished entirely, revealing his muscular torso marked only by slight burns that swiftly healed without trace.
"Whew..." Kevin exhaled, releasing a breath laden with fine white ice particles. "Your condition looks dire. Do you still wish to continue?" He straightened up, calmly gazing at the girl hovering above as he posed the question.
Kiana's gaze shifted to Kevin, observing his unscathed appearance save for losing his shirt. After a moment of silence, she slowly shook her head.
"It seems you're giving up..."
"Don't misunderstand; it's not about abandoning the fight. The Authority of Space originally belonged to Sirin and was passed down to her successor, with little connection to me. To some extent, my ability to wield this power is solely because it resides within me. Realistically speaking, fully mastering the Authority of Space is impossible for me. If I persist in pursuing it, I'll forever be a half-hearted Herrscher of the Void, never breaking through my own limitations."
"Thus, I relinquish complete control over the Authority of Space."
"Compared to my friends around me, I possess greater potential to become a Herrscher than any of them. Now that the Gem of Grief is in my possession and I've touched upon its abilities, what exactly am I missing to truly become the Herrscher of Flame?"
"Is it...this so-called despair?" Kiana murmured, her eyes momentarily dimming.
She recalled her origins and childhood, the heavy burden of sins carried under the title Herrscher of the Void, countless lives withered by Honkai... And she remembered Zeke, always shielding her like an angel's wings spread wide.
Kiana's lips curved upward.
"People must grow stronger time and again to effect change. To protect our world inevitably requires arduous—even painful—sacrifices. So naturally, I too should bear my share!"
"The Void Sword Divinity is both the blade that slays gods and the blade that slays oneself."
"If despair is needed, then give me despair!"
"I willingly strike myself, returning to those memories where I loathed and resented who I was!
"Honkai, behold! Here stands the despaired one you seek, the Herrscher of Flame!
"Grant me your power!"
"Void...Sword Divinity!!"
In Kiana's consciousness domain, Sirin tumbled from her crystal throne, shrieking hysterically, "Madwoman!"
Simultaneously, a scarlet sword flash sliced through Kiana's consciousness domain.
The next moment, Kiana's eyes dimmed as the crimson flame cracks across her body slowly healed. Accompanying this transformation were terrifying scenes: parched earth evaporating, the sun dominating the sky.
In the lounge area, Zeke's expression darkened, his Honkai energy radiating with abyssal terror and destabilizing the space around him—data overload strained the World of Elysium's processing core beyond its limits.
"Zeke..."
Bronya took one of his hands, her brows furrowed with concern.
Fu Hua closed her eyes, seemingly sensing something. After a moment, she placed a hand on Zeke's shoulder and gently reassured him, "It's alright. Kiana knows her limits; this damage can be repaired by the Knowledge Authority. She must have been aware of that before taking such action, so don't worry too much."
Taking a deep breath, Zeke raised his hand, causing countless black specks to appear at his fingertips before dispersing into the surrounding space. They headed towards the core of the World of Elysium to repair the malfunctions, ensuring the safety of the girls scattered across various realms.
With Bronya's hand in his, Zeke strode out of the domain.
"K! I! A! NA!"
Pronouncing each syllable of the name that always stirred his emotions, for the first time, Zeke felt an urge to destroy this entire World of Elysium.