BOOM—!
Thunder roared across the sky. Hearing it, Kiana slowly opened her eyes.
She found herself on the rooftop of Senba Academy, leaning against the wall.
Struggling to her feet, she swayed unsteadily—then spotted a white-haired man.
"You?! Why are you here?!"
Recognizing him, Kiana immediately assumed a fighting stance.
But Kevin didn't even spare her a glance.
Just as Kiana wondered why he was ignoring her, a bolt of lightning split the sky—and Raiden Mei descended.
"Mei… Why… Why are you like this?"
Staring at Mei's Herrscher form, Kiana's pupils shook violently.
She stepped forward, reaching out to grab Mei's hand—demanding answers.
Then, Kevin—silent until now—spoke:
"It seems you've made your choice. Welcome to World Serpent, Raiden Mei."
"Mn. I'll join you. But don't forget your promise—or you'll face the full wrath of a Herrscher."
"..."
Kevin crossed his arms, unfazed by the threat. His silence wasn't fear—just an effort to stifle laughter.
"Mei, why are you joining World Serpent?! And why have you become a Herrscher again?! What's going on?!"
"..."
"Stop joking around! I won't allow this!"
Frustrated by Mei's silence, Kiana shouted.
"It seems you have unfinished business, Raiden Mei. While there's still time, say what you must."
With that, Kevin turned to leave.
(Though in truth, he just found a better spot to spectate.)
Damn, this is the scene everyone's been waiting for. Missing it would be a lifelong regret.
But as he settled into his seat, Kevin realized he wasn't alone.
"Siegfried? Gray Serpent? And Chang Yuan? What are you all doing here?"
Seeing these familiar faces, Kevin was stunned.
"Ahem. I'm just worried my future daughter-in-law might go too hard. Gotta be ready to whisk Kiana away for treatment."
Siegfried coughed, offering his excuse.
(Though in reality, he didn't want to miss the show either.)
"The Flame-Chasers in the Elysian Realm wanted a live broadcast. They begged me to stream it for them."
"As for me and Elysia? We just didn't want to miss this legendary moment. I wonder if Kiana and Mei will feel awkward revisiting this rooftop after defeating the Honkai."
"Mhm~! Exactly! I even brought a camera~! Once the Honkai's gone, I'll use this to blackmail Mei into letting me touch her horns~♪."
Elysia brandished a pink camcorder, revealing her scheme.
Kevin blinked at them, then turned his attention back to the rooftop.
"I don't care what your reasons are, Mei! I'll never let you join World Serpent—never!"
Kiana lunged, trying to grab Mei.
Mei sidestepped, then drove her knee into Kiana's gut.
Gasping in pain, Kiana tried to counter by wrapping her arms around Mei—but she'd underestimated the speed of a Herrscher.
Every move she made was effortlessly dodged, each countered with brutal precision.
"You're always like this… Suffering, yet forcing yourself to carry everything alone."
As she fought, Mei berated Kiana for never caring about her own well-being.
Seizing an opening, Mei channeled lightning into her hand—slashing like a blade—and struck Kiana's abdomen with a piercing thrust.
The force sent Kiana crashing through the rooftop's guardrail.
"Holy hell… My future daughter-in-law's going all out? No holding back at all?!"
Watching what looked like outright domestic violence, Siegfried gulped.
Kevin averted his gaze.
With Mei's resemblance to MEI and Kiana's surname being Kaslana…
This scene made him imagine MEI beating him up instead.
"Tsk tsk, Mei really doesn't know how to be gentle with such a cute girl~♪."
Elysia shook her head disapprovingly.
Beating someone up in the name of love? Mei's practically a yandere now.
As Mei turned to leave, countless portals materialized in the sky—spewing forth Void Lances that pinned her in place.
One hovered mere inches from her throat.
Kiana had reawakened as the Herrscher of the Void.
Seeing Kiana harm herself yet again to stop her, Mei trembled with rage.
She grabbed the lance at her throat.
"You're always like this… Sacrificing yourself to save others."
"Mei…"
Kiana froze at Mei's words.
"You brush off every injury, never valuing yourself—bearing every burden alone."
"..."
CRACK—!
Mei leaned forward—the lance slicing her neck, drawing blood.
"You were the one who pulled me from the darkness. I don't care about 'saving the world'—all I know is that you matter more than any of it!"
With a roar, Mei crushed the lance in her grip.
Realizing the danger, Kiana moved to knock Mei out—but it was too late.
Mei shattered every restraint, then blitzed toward Kiana like lightning.
Panicking, Kiana conjured barriers to block her path.
But to an enraged Herrscher, they were nothing.
Every obstacle was obliterated.
In an instant, Mei overtook Kiana, seizing the high ground.
With a single slash, her blade illuminated all of Nagazora—