Chapter 385: A Self-Severing Blade
In Kevin's world, ice and fire clashed endlessly across sky and earth—sometimes entangled in a violent grapple, sometimes parting the instant they met—turning the entire space into a battlefield of extremes where scorching heat and biting cold intertwined.
What is a Herrscher?
In theory, the Herrscher of Rock could sink a continent, the Herrscher of Flame could burn down an entire subcontinent—such was their level.
Yet even by Herrscher standards, the Kevin and Kiana standing here were undisputed monsters.
A landscape once filled with towering mountains had first been flattened into plains by the residual shockwaves of their battle, then further carved into a cratered wasteland full of scars. Under the alternating burst of scorching flames and freezing cold, even faraway regions were ceaselessly shifting between permafrost and molten magma.
High above, the two exchanged another earth-shaking punch, forcing each other back down to the ground. They stood off again, separated by a stark line where frozen earth met melted land.
Kevin raised his hand, watching his burned knuckles slowly regenerate. A trace of complex emotion flashed in his eyes—Herrschers fifty millennia later were still this powerful. And this time… they actually stood on humanity's side.
Could they be trusted? And even if so—could they truly change the fate of the new era?
He still had doubts, but at the very least… it was a new hope worth reaching for.
Kevin lifted his gaze to the girl before him—a girl whose determination and strength could shake the heavens.
Fiery red patterns had already spread across Kiana's entire body, flames bursting from them now and then. Her youthful, beautiful form now carried a dreadful sense—as if it could shatter apart at any moment.
"Haa—"
Kiana panted, sparks flying out with each breath.
[Do you have to go this far? Don't destroy my body.]
[I don't have a choice. The power of the Void belongs to you, not me. With only half a Herrscher's authority, I can fight flexibly, but Kevin has no weaknesses, no openings. Flexibility alone is pointless—I need absolute force to decide everything in one blow.]
[Tch! Just like before—you're a lunatic!]
[Why thank you. Without a little madness, how do I keep moving forward? Besides, I'm not dragging Sig down with half-baked strength. Sirin… by now, shouldn't you start paying rent?]
[Hah? What are you—wait, what are you planning?]
[I need more authority. More power. Forgive me, Sirin.]
In her consciousness, Sirin—who had been sitting cross-legged on her crystalline throne—was suddenly surrounded by golden chains descending from the dome above, like a songbird trapped within a gilded cage.
A moment later, the energy that existed within Sirin's mental domain was torn away like a bursting dam.
Sirin remained seated, narrowing her eyes slightly.
"Forcefully seizing authority through mental-domain constriction… Information-Origin Theory, huh? Hmph. So all that book-chewing you did in secret wasn't wasted. But do you think you're me? Wielding a God Key as a Herrscher is one thing—but holding two Herrscher authorities at once is something else entirely. Go on then—take it. I'd love to see when you keel over."
She snorted coldly, watching the outside world without moving an inch.
Outside, Kiana exhaled sparks, bent her knees, and leaned forward. One by one, tiny spatial black holes unfolded in the sky, birthing countless sub-space spears wreathed in flame.
"I'm not used to this. Looks like I'm pushing it a little. So… this test run ends here. As Sig said—a max-level mage can't just tank like a shield-bearing warrior, right? Don't you agree, Ancestor?"
Kiana muttered to herself, though her voice carried far across the sea of erupting Honkai energy, reaching Kevin's ears.
Kevin looked up at the countless black holes and spears. Behind him, an iceberg grew and rose, shaping itself into a massive serpent rearing toward the heavens.
"Come."
Expressionless, Kevin spread his arms wide and beckoned.
The next instant, the earth quaked. A pillar of flame erupted from the ground, swallowing Kevin and the ice-serpent whole. Then, like a meteor shower, the storm of sub-space spears rained down upon the world.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The apocalyptic bombardment lasted more than half a minute.
When Kevin appeared again, he had been blasted nearly a hundred kilometers away—his form battered, marked all over with the traces of devastation.
He lifted his head and looked at Kiana, who was now floating in midair, surrounded by countless sub-space spears. His brows furrowed slightly.
"Long-range assault… this is closer to the Herrschers I once fought. Distance combat really is their specialty."
Kevin spoke calmly as his figure shot into the clouds, countless ice spikes forming around him as he rushed straight for Kiana.
In the sky, sub-space spears clashed with Kevin's ice crystals like endless volleys of bullets and artillery.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Kiana tried to use the spears to force Kevin back, but Kevin—shielded by continuously regenerating ice—pressed forward without slowing.
However, the moment he advanced into a certain region, Kevin's expression suddenly changed. With a movement that nearly defied physics, he twisted around and retreated at top speed.
But Kiana had already clenched her fist toward that direction.
Crack!
A sound like shattering glass echoed. The small section of space Kevin had just occupied fractured into black fissures, then collapsed into a tiny void.
Kevin didn't escape unscathed, but his terrifying reflexes kept him alive—he lost only half a hand.
Not daring to gamble on what other traps might be hidden nearby, Kevin continued retreating at full speed, sealing his severed wrist with a layer of ice.
Then, a rainstorm of sub-space spears fell again, giving him no moment to breathe.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Kevin relied on sheer physical durability—half dodging, half tanking—to make it through the volley.
Suddenly, the air itself grew scorching.
Kevin looked up again—and massive fireballs, each like a miniature sun, began descending upon the land.
RUMBLE—!!
Mushroom clouds rose skyward. Lava surged across the earth. Apocalyptic blasts and roars rumbled on for a long time.
Kiana's attacks finally halted as her breathing grew heavier and more seared. Her figure wobbled in the air, almost plummeting.
Not good. I'm not a complete Herrscher of the Void—much less the Herrscher of Flame. This level of output puts too much strain on me… If it were Wendy and the others, continuous bombardment like this would be nothing for them…
Damn it! I'm Sirin's clone! I should have the potential to bear multiple authorities—why am I hitting my limit here?!
Kiana gritted her teeth, golden eyes burning with frustration.
Her combat strength wasn't weak, but everything she achieved required pushing herself to the brink—just like when she defeated Sirin last time. Afterward, she only survived because Sigurd dragged her back from death. In terms of normal, sustainable output, Kiana's base stats were inferior to any ordinary Herrscher.
And this half-baked Herrscher state was the biggest obstacle holding her back.
On the ground, the lava slowly faded, frost reforming across the earth.
Kevin's figure emerged from the smoke—still holding his arms crossed in a defensive stance. His shirt was gone, but his muscular upper body bore only minor scorch marks, which quickly healed entirely.
"Haa…"
Kevin exhaled, white frost drifting with his breath.
"Your condition looks terrible. Are you still going to continue?"
He straightened fully, staring up at the girl in the sky with calm neutrality.
Kiana lowered her eyes. Seeing Kevin completely unharmed—except for the missing shirt—she fell silent for a moment before slowly shaking her head.
"Looks like… I have to give up."
"Don't misunderstand. I'm not giving up the fight."
"The power of the Void belongs to the original Sirin, and was inherited by me afterward. My connection to it is shallow at best. In truth, the only reason I can wield the Void at all is because she resides within me."
"In reality, it's impossible for me to fully control the authority of the Void. If I cling to it, I'll always remain a half-trained Herrscher of the Void—blocked forever from breaking through my limits."
"So… I'm giving up the complete authority of the Void."
"Compared to my friends, I'm the one who has the greatest natural affinity to become a Herrscher. The Gem of Haste is in my possession, and I've already touched its authority… Then what exactly am I missing… to become a true Herrscher of Flame?"
"Is it… what they call despair?"
Kiana murmured to herself, her eyes dimming for a moment.
She recalled her origins, her childhood; the heavy sins tied to the title Herrscher of the Void; the countless lives that perished to the Honkai… and the one who always opened his arms to shield her like a pair of angelic wings—Sigurd.
Kiana's lips curled upward.
"People only grow when they face things again and again. To protect our world, we must endure hardship—sometimes even pain. And if someone has to bear that cost… then of course I should be one of them!"
"The Edge of Taixuan is a blade that slays gods—and a blade that slays oneself."
"If despair is what's needed… then let me have despair!"
"I'm willing to cut myself down—return to that memory of hating myself, resenting myself!"
"Honkai! The despair you seek, the Herrscher of Flame you desire—she's right here!"
"Give me your power!"
"Edge of Taixuan!!"
In her consciousness, Sirin toppled from her crystal throne, shrieking "madwoman" with all her might.
At that moment, a crimson sword-light tore across Kiana's mental domain.
The next second, Kiana's eyes turned ashen. The burning red cracks covering her body slowly healed—yet around her, the world transformed into a vision of terror: earth drying to ash, a blazing sun rising at arm's reach.
…
In the lounge, Sigurd stood with a pitch-black expression. Abyssal Honkai energy roiled around him, distorting the space—the data load had exceeded limits, and the core processing unit of the Elysian Realm was struggling under unsustainable pressure.
"Sigurd…"
Bronya held his hand tightly, her brows knotted in worry.
Fu Hua stood with her eyes closed, sensing something. After a moment, she placed a calm hand on Sigurd's shoulder, her voice gentle and soft:
"It's alright. Kiana knows her limits. Authority of Reason can repair this level of damage. I'm sure she understands that, otherwise she would never have dared. Don't worry too much."
Sigurd drew a deep breath and raised his hand. Tiny black dots appeared across his palm, then scattered into the surrounding space—diving toward the core of the Elysian Realm to repair the failures and ensure the safety of every girl spread across its myriad zones.
Then, still holding Bronya's hand, Sigurd strode out of the domain.
"Ki! A! Na!"
He pronounced the name—one that could always tug at his deepest emotions—with icy clarity, one syllable at a time.
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