Chapter 277: No More Confusion
"Edge of Taixuan is not just the pinnacle of skill; it is also a pure, profound state of mind. Even the slightest flaw could cause your will to collapse before you can even harm your enemy. I have no doubts about your martial skills, Kiana, but is your heart truly ready?"
"Hmm... Well, I'll just give it a try first! I think I'll be fine!"
Kiana gave a thumbs-up, showing a row of healthy, white teeth.
Fu Hua simply gazed at her. Those eyes, having seen through thousands of years, still carried a penetrating wisdom, capable of seeing into people's hearts, even with gaps in her memory.
Kiana's cheerful smile gradually faded, replaced by a gentler emotion—calm yet deeply affectionate. She looked at Fu Hua, yet it was as if she was looking through Fu Hua, seeing someone—or something—else.
"Teacher Fu Hua, is this... a trial of the heart?"
"Yes. Before you officially use this technique, I want to understand your current state of mind. Most importantly, you must know your own heart. Kiana, I know... for a long time, there has been a deep confusion within you. Why have you been so lost?"
"Why, huh..."
Kiana tilted her head back, gazing at the clouds slowly drifting across the blue sky. She seemed to space out for a moment, then slowly replied:
"Because... I didn't know who I was."
"I see. And now, do you know?"
"How should I put it... I've only truly been in this world for about twelve or thirteen years, but in that short time, my identity has changed over and over again.
First, I was a girl with no memories of childhood. Then I became a Kaslana, recognized by my dad. After then a troublemaker in Sigurd's eyes.
Then, I turned out to be a clone experiment created by Otto... Then I became the Herrscher of the Void, burdened with countless sins. And now, I'm somehow a continuation of Sirin... It's all so complicated.
Sometimes I even wonder—what if there's something even deeper hidden inside me? Are there even more secrets I don't know? Who exactly... am I supposed to be?"
Kiana murmured, lowering her head. A faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips, but it couldn't completely hide the sorrow in her eyes.
"Kiana..."
Fu Hua sighed silently. She raised her hand and gently ruffled the girl's hair.
Yes, Kiana's background was so complicated and twisted that anyone else might have broken under the pressure. Yet she was still here—so strong, so upright, so brave.
Fu Hua smiled, her eyes filled with a tender, doting warmth.
Kiana smiled back awkwardly, her eyes glowing with a soft warmth as memories seemed to resurface. She said:
"Don't be fooled by how carefree I act. When I'm alone, I actually think about a lot of things, sometimes so much that it hurts.
But now, I've figured it out.
Who I am doesn't matter. Whether there are other identities hidden within me doesn't matter either.
This world has people I love, and people who love me. Just thinking about that fills me with strength.
There are people waiting for me, always watching over me and spoiling me.
I love the name Kiana. Because when the people I love call out that name, I know—they're calling me. And that's exactly where I should exist."
Kiana lifted her head and looked at Fu Hua, who had been quietly listening the whole time. Taking a deep breath, she bloomed into a warm, radiant smile.
"Teacher Fu Hua, I am no longer lost."
It's great to be free of lost
Fu Hua looked at Kiana with heartfelt relief, gently patting her head and smiling:
"Then go. I'll be right here watching you—and so will many others, watching from afar, waiting for you. Kiana, no matter what happens, you will never be alone. Now, go!"
As soon as her words fell, in the blink of an eye, Kiana had already exited the world of Taixu Mountain's projection and returned to her own inner world.
She looked up and saw a massive red sword aura, bathed in sacred flames, slowly descending from the sky.
...
Inside the Theater of Domination, after catching her breath for a moment, Sirin was preparing to move toward where Kiana had vanished, intending to confirm her death.
Suddenly, fire and lightning lit up the darkened sky, illuminating half the world.
"What? She's still alive?!"
Sirin gritted her teeth, yet deep down, there was a strange sense of foreboding that had finally come true.
Alive or not, it didn't matter—she would continue the assault until the victor was decided, until life and death were set.
Sirin raised her hands, energy gathering before her—but then she froze for a moment.
"No... something's wrong! This feeling... What technique is this? It's completely different from before!"
[Sirin.]
Kiana's voice echoed in Sirin's mind, carrying a calm, otherworldly tranquility that, through just the sound alone, made the enraged Sirin falter for a brief second.
"What trick are you pulling? Is this some trump card that old hag left you?"
[Sirin, I understand how you feel.]
"Understand? Ha! What could a naive, foolish thing like you possibly understand? You know nothing!"
[No, I do know. When I slowly uncovered the truth about my origin, when I thought I was Sig's enemy all along, I too felt an unbearable hatred and sorrow.
And... part of your pain also remains within my soul. I understand you, Sirin.]
"You..."
[Revenge will never bring you peace. Sirin, think carefully about what I'm saying. Even if you destroy the world—what then?
Will you really be freed from the abyss inside you?]
"I don't need your pity! Whatever trick you're using now, I will crush it with absolute power and make you taste true despair!"
[Sirin, please turn back. This is the last time I'll ask.
From a realistic perspective, you don't even have a real chance of success.
And for your own sake—the only thing that can save you isn't falling deeper into hatred.]
"SHUT UP!!!"
Sirin clearly had no patience left to listen.
Taking advantage of the moment Kiana was preparing her move, she compressed the entire Theater of Domination's space even further—shrinking it until it barely maintained her dominion, thereby maximizing her power output.
At the center of the surging flames and lightning, Kiana raised Kōmei high with one hand.
The sword of thunder naturally pointed downward as she slowly opened her eyes.
[Sirin, the only answer that can heal a broken soul is written across the history passed down through generations—and it's written in my very being.
That answer is—Love!]
"SHUT UP!!!"
Sirin roared, unleashing unparalleled power in the form of a massive, chaotic flood, tearing through space itself as it crashed toward Kiana with world-ending force.
Kiana watched quietly, her long hair—imbued with fire and lightning—fluttering in the violent storm, a symbol of her power pushed to its very limits.
She sighed lightly, then, she swung her blade down.
[Edge of Taixuan!]
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