The attack was clearly premeditated. Under the cover of the clouds, the grappling claw approached silently. Only when the distance closed did the sound of the mechanical chain friction suddenly erupt. The sharp claw sliced through the clouds, hurtling towards Kiana with terrifying speed.
Clang.
The high-speed claw closed directly, sealing off all of Kiana's evasion angles before she could even react. Having landed a hit, the Herrscher of Rimestar didn't pause. Sharp ice spikes, charged and ready, pierced straight through the grappling claw.
In the cloud-covered sky, the firelight subsided, leaving only the nebula created by the Herrscher of Ice swirling around.
"Kiana!" Ren, who was maintaining the spacetime rift, felt his heart clench and immediately prepared to rush to her aid. However, before he could act, he saw Kiana gracefully reappear above the grappling claw, her toe lightly touching the ice spikes.
This guy really knows how to play with your nerves.
Relieved, Ren stopped moving and continued to focus his attention on maintaining the stability of this space.
This spacetime rift was formed by the unstable activation of the Time Crystal, inherently carrying the risk of collapse at any moment. Both the Herrscher of Rimestar and Kiana were Herrschers beyond the norm. If the damage they caused was too great, it could very likely lead to spacetime distortion, trapping them both in the cracks of time.
Therefore, Ren and Kiana had to have one person maintain the operation of the space.
Of course, Ren could also choose to risk it and engage in a righteous two-on-one, shattering the Herrscher of Rimestar and the space itself in a short time. But Flamescion was a gift Ren had given to Kiana, a trial to hone her growth, and she needed a powerful enough enemy to solidify this power.
And the Herrscher of Rimestar was undoubtedly the best opponent for this trial.
"It's better to leave the stage to her. Whether for herself, or for this world, she needs to unleash her own light."
And Kiana in the sky didn't disappoint Ren. Even if she had been a little distracted just now, she wouldn't be harmed by an ambush of this level.
Finding its control had failed, the grappling claw immediately tried to reverse direction. However, the ice spikes that the Herrscher of Rimestar had used to follow up instead became a restriction. Kiana stepped on the ice spikes with one foot, firmly fixing the grappling claw in a closed state, then raised her sword with both hands.
Flames transformed into an arc, and the chain connecting the grappling claw snapped in response.
Attacked, the Herrscher of Rimestar immediately changed tactics. Frost transformed into sharp prisms, showering towards her. But Kiana simply leaped lightly, drawing an elegant arc in the air like a cat.
"Now, it's Kiana Time!"
Ice spikes brushed past her hair, while Flamescion in Kiana's hand had long been charged and ready. With a forceful flick of her wrist, the greatsword was hurled like an arrow into the ball-shaped grappling claw.
Having escaped the attack range, Kiana didn't look back at the grappling claw. She gently snapped her fingers with her right hand.
Snap.
Corresponding to the crisp snap of fingers was the grappling claw exploding with a thunderous roar. Intense flames erupted behind the girl, illuminating the sky shrouded in gray mist.
Kiana didn't turn to look at the explosion, only casually smoothed the hair that had been scattered by the airflow, restoring it to the style Ren had arranged.
Flamescion transformed into a fire ember, returning from the explosion and reforming into a greatsword in Kiana's hand. All that remained in place was the wreckage of the exploded grappling claw and the miserable cry of the wounded Herrscher of Rimestar.
The enemy who had been difficult to resist before now posed no threat at all. But Kiana didn't show any joy, instead appearing somewhat silent.
«Even after mastering such powerful strength, you're still this same old self, Ki-a-na…»
The cold, clear female voice entered her mind. Kiana, who had been staring blankly at Flamescion greatsword, suddenly widened her eyes. She subconsciously tightened her grip on the weapon. But soon, the emotions on her face gradually subsided, returning to a calm demeanor.
"Herrscher of the Void!"
«What? You didn't think you had completely gotten rid of me, did you?»
The Herrscher of the Void's voice carried a hint of mockery, but Kiana wasn't provoked. She just calmly spoke to her.
"No, I just didn't expect you to still not have given up on controlling me. You should know, I'm no longer the weakling I once was. You have no chance."
«You're right, the power you wield now even surpasses the Herrscher of the Void's authority itself. But…»
«Are you truly ready to use it? Kiana.»
"Of course!" Kiana's tone was unquestionable.
The authority of Flamescion was different from the destructive power of the Herrscher of Flame. It was more of a legacy of power, a continuation of hope. Only when the user's will was firm enough could it unleash its true power.
The former Kiana had wavered in her heart because of Ren's "death", which led to Flamescion's backlash. But now Kiana knew that Himeko was still alive, and she had reunited with Ren. Her heart was now without regrets.
And after so many battles of honing, her will had long become incomparably firm. Now wielding the authority of Flamescion was almost a natural progression.
«Then, why am I appearing now?» The Herrscher of the Void seemed to be questioning, yet also mocking.
«You should be very clear that I am the second side of a Herrscher. As long as your heart is stable enough, you can confine me in the depths of your consciousness forever. But now that I can talk to you again, doesn't it precisely prove that your heart is wavering?»
The Queen's voice was full of seduction, trying to drag Kiana into the logic of Honkai. A moment of carelessness would lead to falling into her trap.
Unfortunately, her seduction didn't affect Kiana.
"Regrettably, I'm not wavering, and I won't waver. The sky is so dark, it needs bright flames to illuminate the path forward for people. The eternally burning Flamescion will become the power for me to change this world." Kiana looked at the Herrscher of Rimestar, hovering in the sky and wantonly destroying the city. Her azure eyes were clear and pure.
"I will carry this flame and keep walking forward, no matter how dark the road ahead."
«…»
«Fine, it seems you really have reached an incredible level of enlightenment. For the sake of some lowly humans, you're willing to be as pathetic as a clown.»
«But if that's the case, why haven't you unleashed that sword strike yet? With this raging fire, you should be able to cut through anything.»
Silence.
«Is it because of that guy named Ren?»
«You've already noticed it, haven't you? The power of this flame came too easily, as if it were destined in the dark. It's as if someone has silently arranged everything for you, and you're just moving forward step by step according to plan.»
«Do you feel it? The void in your heart isn't a lack of power, but an inescapable sense of unreality.»
«Do you remember how you obtained Flamescion?»
The scene of their farewell in the sky above the Pacific Ocean flashed in Kiana's mind. It was also a dim and lightless sky, also a bleak and icy storm, and a small flame flickering.
«Does this power truly belong to you? Or…»
«Did you just steal the power that should have belonged to Ren from him?»