53 Lonely Moon, Thousand-Year Feather.
The girl had a dream, a familiar, beautiful dream.
In the dream, she was still lying on her bed in a small town in the far north of Siberia, hugging the blanket in a twisted posture, with a soft Honkai beast pillow tucked between her legs.
The sound of stir-frying reached her ears, and the rich aroma soon wafted into her nostrils. She knew today's breakfast would be incredibly delicious.
As for the reason—well, her father's cooking was just that good, unmatched even by professional chefs!
However, just as Kiana was lost in anticipation of the meal, an annoying voice suddenly echoed in her ears.
"Kiana, classmate Kiana—Kiana!"
The voice was irritating, deeply so. Every time Kiana dozed off in class, such an annoying voice would always wake her up.
But this time… her instincts told her she had to listen.
If she didn't listen to her father, she'd only get a few symbolic pats on the butt after waking up. But if she didn't respond to the voice in her head now, she might die!
"Hah—!"
Her tightly shut eyes snapped open. One blue, one gold—the bright pupils instantly shone in the darkness. Gripping the two handguns in her hands, Kiana aimed at the approaching Honkai beasts and pulled the trigger!
Boom!!!
Imaginary ammunition poured out. Several spears transformed into spheres of light shot forth, revealing their true form as Spears of Subspace upon hitting the Honkai beasts. The shells of several beasts were instantly destroyed. The two handguns, were weapons Kiana had modified herself during her travels.
She knew nothing about firearm mechanics, but fortunately, these so-called handguns were merely conduits for Herrscher energy.
And right now… she was a Herrscher.
The blissful dream faded. Kiana realized she was curled up in a cold, dark corner of a deep alley, wrapped in a waterproof sheet to shield herself from the rain. A cold, damp aura soaked through her clothes.
After that, all the beautiful memories vanished. All Kiana could recall was her painful rampage and… sacrifice.
"Ugh—Aaaaaaaaaah!!!"
Holding her head, Kiana began to scream. Within her, an intense will seemed on the verge of breaking free. It was cruel, violent, and filled with hatred for the world. If it awakened, not just this city, but the entire world would face utter destruction!
"Kiana, calm down. Focus your mind, let it be still as water."
At that moment, another gentle yet urgent voice rang in Kiana's ears.
And Kiana… hated that voice.
"No, I don't need you to tell me. I hate you! I don't need your lessons! I can defeat her myself!"
Clutching her head with such force it nearly tore out her white hair, Kiana began to seriously resist the dark desires within her.
"Don't you understand yet? Poor Kiana, your father died seven years ago, killed by your own hands. You've long suspected this, but you've been deceiving yourself all along—Otto merely revealed the truth, and you're too cowardly to accept it… how pitiful."
An arrogant, smug, and overbearing tone erupted in Kiana's heart. The persona known as the Herrscher of the Void mocked and ridiculed her from deep within, waiting for a moment of weakness to seize her body.
"Shut up! If anyone dares mock me, it won't be you! Herrscher, since I was little, I've forgotten many things, but I still remember—you said you loved him! Come on, dare to say you're happy about his death, that you feel nothing, and I'll hand this body over to you right now! Without any resistance! Do you dare say it?"
Roaring in her mind and shouting in reality, Kiana challenged the violent force within her.
"I, of course, wouldn't. I am the will to destroy the world. He was just a mortal… Hmph, he brought it upon himself. What could I do? You won't find anyone else in the world who treats the Gem of Serenity like candy!"
From beginning to end, the Herrscher of the Void never spoke ill of Kiana's father. Instead, she grumbled a few words and retreated back into the depths of her consciousness. This made Kiana's lips curl into a faint smile.
In this darkest moment, it was this wretched Herrscher's will that gave Kiana a sliver of warmth. She was indeed a world-destroying calamity, but from start to finish, she never once spoke ill of her father.
Though she didn't know what had happened between them in the past, Kiana felt it must have been a long story.
"You've come to your senses, Kiana. Hurry and leave. The patrol mechs will be here soon. I just sensed an extremely strong Honkai energy reaction in Sky City—likely on the level of a Divine Key…"
Once Kiana finally regained her senses, another urgent voice immediately echoed in her mind. Yet Kiana felt nothing but disgust for her.
It was Fu Hua, Kiana's class monitor, once one of the people she trusted and relied on the most. But Fu Hua had betrayed that trust, capturing her and handing her over to Otto, causing her to awaken as the Herrscher of the Void!
"I don't want to hear you, Fu Hua. I have no trust in you now. Everything you say is just a façade. Stop speaking."
Responding coldly to the voice in her head, Kiana took a deep breath and manipulated Honkai energy to leap effortlessly between buildings, soon reaching the rooftop.
The full moon hung brightly in the sky, exceptionally clear. Kiana still remembered her father explaining that her name was connected to the moonlight.
All these years, how Kiana had missed him! But now... none of it was possible anymore.
"Hah—"
Yet, Kiana still did not cry. Her blurred memories could still recall how her father would always smile and comfort her whenever she cried. But with him gone, she had to learn to be strong.
Months ago, she had truly broken down, but Kiana knew she absolutely could not let herself sink into despair. She had to find a solution.
Her father had sacrificed himself for her, and so Kiana believed she, too, could make that kind of sacrifice. There were still so many people in this world she cared about! She absolutely must not harm them.
And soon, a soft apology echoed beside Kiana's ear.
"I'm sorry, truly so sorry, Kiana. I never imagined Otto would go this far, I... it's my fault. Though I only hold fragments of memories, I understand the magnitude of my mistake. I will help you with all my strength."
And within Kiana's mind, the deeply apologetic voice of Fu Hua resonated.
"I, too, once had someone I deeply loved. Later, because of my mistake, he left me. I understand how painful that is, so I wish to help you—not as your class monitor, but simply as Fu Hua, an ordinary person. Is that alright?"
This was merely Fu Hua's will, residing within Kiana's consciousness through the use of the Fenghuang Down. In her long life, due to the MANTIS surgery, she had fragmented her memories countless times. What she could recall now might be less than one percent.
Yet, even so, she could still remember a blurred silhouette—her brother. No, not just a brother, but also... a lover?
Though his face and name had long been lost over ten thousand years, tucked away in some unknown feather, a voice still persistently echoed in Fu Hua's heart.
Find him, find your love! Even as time passes and seas change, you must never forget him. Find him, love him. He will surely reunite with you!
That voice reverberated incessantly in her mind, even louder and more impossible to ignore than the voice commanding her to fight against the Honkai—the origin of this voice had been completely forgotten, but Fu Hua knew it was something she had left for herself.
From those remaining memories, Fu Hua could only recall sparse fragments of time spent with him.
He had told her that if she ever made a mistake, besides quietly making amends, she must properly apologize.
It seemed she, too, had once committed some grave mistake, but that person had also used his life to remedy her error—now, Fu Hua would properly apologize herself.
"I don't force you to trust me, Kiana, but I will help you with remorse all the way. Please, I'll do anything you ask!"
Retrieving from her memories the words her brother often used when apologizing to her, Fu Hua turned them around and told Kiana.
Such a solemn, gentle, earnest apology actually left Kiana at a loss. As she darted between the high-rises, she nearly fell.
"Ew… that's gross. I'm starting to doubt if you're really Class Monitor Fu Hua."
"Huh? Gross? Really?"
"Alright, I won't accept your apology. But… I might actually need your help. Let's cooperate for now."
In the end, Kiana still pursed her lips and agreed. Her father had taught her: when facing a formidable enemy, unite all who can be united.
"But, Class Monitor Fu Hua, so you had someone you loved in the past too. Never would've thought—what was his name?"
That someone as serious as the class monitor also had someone she liked—curiosity about this even made Kiana momentarily forget her dire situation. The person someone as old-fashioned as the class monitor could fall for must be super old-fashioned too, right!
"N-no, I… this… this is just a feather. I can't remember his name…"
At this, Fu Hua seemed somewhat embarrassed and a little dejected.
"It's fine. I don't remember my dad's name either. Just remember calling him 'Dad' since I was little. Looking back now, I've forgotten his real name, which I barely saw anyway. Just remember he was 'Dad'… Pity I'll never see him again—maybe it's a clone's poor memory. My grades are so bad, it must be because I'm a clone!"
Finally, Kiana smiled again. She had to smile to survive the lonely, long nights.
Just then, Fu Hua's voice reminded her once more.
"Kiana, a Honkai reaction is below. It seems someone is under attack!"
Hearing Fu Hua's words, two Void Lances immediately materialized behind Kiana as she plunged toward the ground.
Quickly suppressing her runaway power, Kiana dealt with the horde of Honkai beasts, then turned to look at the "little couple."
And then, Kiana's smile grew even brighter.
"Miss Rita... what a coincidence. Did you come to Arc City looking for me?"
Note: I'm new to translating so please be kind and tell me any mistakes you all find, I will try to release a chapter a day but don't expect much
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Raw: 崩坏模拟器,你找的人是我么?