Chapter 272: I Am Your Master
On one side was the dragon's breath infused with storm, wind, and ice. On the other, a chained surge of energy from a million nuclear- and Honkai-powered machines.
In terms of sheer scale and momentum, the dragon's breath was clearly the more formidable force.
Yet the relatively slender light of Dawn shot through Benares' roar with unstoppable might, aiming straight for the massive black hole in the sky.
Just as it was about to pierce the black hole, another black hole unfolded ahead of it.
The beam entered the newly-formed black hole—only to reemerge on the opposite side of the city, heading straight for the colossal wall below.
Inside the command room, Bronya remained calm and composed. She casually activated another command:
"Sequence Seven: Curved Mirror."
The swarm of drones that had fired the previous blast instantly reconfigured themselves, and just as the beam was about to strike the city wall, they formed a massive black circular mirror.
The beam poured into the mirror—and vanished without a trace.
Then, the edges of the black mirror lit up as countless drones absorbed the immense energy and channeled it into countless fine beams that swept across the ground—targeting only the outer city, now fully occupied by Honkai forces.
Whoosh—
RUMBLE!!!
The earth shattered and heaved, mercilessly torn apart. With it vanished countless Honkai beasts, deadwalkers, and even many intelligent puppets.
There was no dodging, no hiding, and nothing that could withstand it—this attack carried the total energy equivalent to three Herrschers.
As the attack ended, the drones dispersed once more, drifting quietly along the city wall.
And from the original black hole, a massive dragon head emerged—its presence overwhelming.
"Raiden Mei, surrender your power."
The great dragon spread its wings, again covering the sky where the storm clouds had just parted.
Atop its head stood the Queen of the Void, her eyes cold and proud, looking down from the skies at the walls below.
. . . . . .
"Raiden Mei, surrender your power."
That familiar and chillingly cold voice echoed throughout the inner city, reaching the assembled forces at the staging ground.
The combat squads were almost fully gathered. Acting as front-line commander, Wendy scanned the area, frowning.
"Where's Kiana?"
"She's making final preparations. Just a little longer, Wendy."
"Alright... but according to the plan, Mei and Kiana are the vanguard against the Herrscher of the Void. Let's hope she makes it in time."
"Trust Kiana. She won't let us down—not at a time like this."
Raiden Mei smiled slightly, then slowly drew her katana. The dark oni armor, symbol of her Herrscher power, emerged around her. Her expression gradually turned cold and resolute.
"Wait a little longer. When Kiana arrives, that's when the real battle begins."
With the enemy's open and direct challenge, only unwavering determination burned in Mei's eyes.
. . . . . . . .
Warehouse 47, a room encased in thick, specially treated walls.
The number simply reflected the order of its creation—it held no particular meaning.
But Warehouse 47 did contain something extraordinary.
"This is Kōmei, the name I gave it. A God Key built around the Gem of Haste. In theory, it can reach the same maximum power level as Judgment of Shamash."
"But considering the Gem of Haste might disappear if the Herrscher of Flame is born, I developed this as an experimental, disposable weapon. Its power is unstable—and extremely dangerous."
"Are you sure you want to use it?"
"Seriously, Sig? You're still talking about that at a time like this? You're so naggy!"
"—Itching for another beating?"
"Hehe~ Not for a beating. But my lower half is itching to be toy—ah!"
Kiana's cheeky grin and innuendo were cut off by a bonk to the head that nearly sent her flying.
Rubbing the growing lump on her head, she stuck out her tongue in exaggerated pain.
Sigurd's projection calmly waved away a few worker drones, then stood with hands behind his back in front of the blazing red katana, his face still betraying a hint of hesitation.
Kiana let out a sigh.
"Don't start with that 'locking me up in a cage' talk again. You know I just want to help—I don't want to be useless."
"...If I'd known it'd come to this, I'd never have taught you how to fight. You'd have been better off in logistics."
"Is the almighty Sig admitting he miscalculated?"
"Yeah. I miscalculated."
"It's fine. I'll turn your mistake into a surprise!"
"If you'd just obediently back down, that would be the biggest surprise."
Sigurd looked at Kiana and sighed helplessly.
He had countless times considered simply overriding Kiana's wishes and forcing her to stay in a support role—something he could easily do.
But every time he saw the stubborn resolve in those bright eyes of hers, he found himself powerless.
If he tried to suppress her will, the light in those eyes would dim in an instant... and that was something he couldn't bear.
"Do whatever you want..."
Sigurd let out another long sigh, and his projection vanished.
Left alone, Kiana blinked, and the mischief in her eyes quietly faded. What replaced it was a soft affection—and iron resolve.
"I'm sorry, Sigurd. Forgive my stubbornness. But I can't always be the one you're protecting."
"Because when the time comes that you need protecting... what will I do then?
"Trust me, Sigurd. For you—I'll become stronger than anyone else!"
Kiana took a deep breath, then raised her hand toward the slender blade floating in midair—Kōmei, the Key of Destruction of this new era.
She grasped the hilt.
In an instant, searing heat surged out, leaving cracks and scorch marks on the warehouse walls—walls designed to withstand extreme heat and pressure.
"Kōmei, Gem of Haste... if you were once part of Sirin—then submit to me!"
"I am your master!"
Red veins, like flowing magma, pulsed from the sword up Kiana's arm, spreading across her body. The heat incinerated her shirt and shorts, and even her blue eyes began to burn with fiery crimson.
Kiana felt pain.
"Ugh!"
She couldn't help but let out a low groan, but even then, she grinned.
"Is that all? Compared to the pain I've felt before—compared to the helpless despair I've known—this is nothing!"
Her voice grew stronger, louder. Her own Honkai energy surged through her veins, assimilating the heat pouring in from Kōmei.
Bit by bit, flames began to flicker from the tips of her silver hair. A white armor-skirt materialized, forming over her body alongside the flame-carved patterns.
With her will, and with her mastery over Tai Xu Sword Qi, she finally brought the Gem of Haste under control.
Kiana lifted her gaze. Through layers of walls and distance, her burning eyes locked onto Sirin, who had descended outside.
. . . . . .
"Huh?"
Sirin, looming over the city and preparing to strike down the wall, suddenly paused.
"This feeling—"
BOOM!!!
Before she could fully comprehend the sudden surge she sensed, a thunderous explosion roared from within the inner city. A pillar of fire pierced the skyline.
Moments later, a rising sun of flame—boiling the seas and burning the mountains—charged directly toward her.
"Sirin!!!"
The name was just that: a name. But since the Herrscher of the Void chose to go by it, Kiana had no problem calling her that.
Through the blazing inferno, golden eyes glared back—Kiana, charging forward, blade in hand.
"So it's you... Figures. You've taken up the weapon forged from the Gem of Haste. Good—then return that power to me!"
Sirin leapt from Benares' head. She didn't use spatial powers—instead, she met Kiana head-on, shrouded in a terrifying cold.
And in that moment of collision—on one side, a frozen world of absolute zero; on the other, molten earth and searing heat—
The world itself split in two, as if hell had descended upon the earth.
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