"...That's about it for our first encounter with the Herrscher of a Thousand People. Report concluded, Sir!"
In her neat and tidy bedroom, Kiana, clad in simple white pajamas, stood upright, saluting solemnly to the holographic projection seated on a chair. Her confident demeanor exuded valor, yet the subtle lift at the corners of her lips and the playful sway of her white antenna hair added an endearing touch.
It's worth noting that the room's cleanliness owes its credit solely to the diligent efforts of various Cecilia instances, not Kiana herself.
Zeke's hologram stroked his chin thoughtfully and said, "I understand the situation now, but... what's with the slap mark on your face?"
A vivid red handprint marred one side of Kiana's face, revealing the delicate contours of the perpetrator's palm.
Kiana's expression froze momentarily before she glanced sideways, using her unmarked cheek as a shield, and retorted, "It's all your fault! You created such a deep psychological scar for Mei. I was trying to help her overcome it... and this happened. She already apologized; you can't blame her."
"Oh, well then, no problem." Zeke brushed it off lightly, his lingering murderous intent gradually dissipating—so long as she wasn't wronged. Not just anyone could touch Kiana.
Then, Zeke continued, "Once bitten by a snake, one fears even a rope for ten years. Addressing psychological issues isn't straightforward; take your time and don't force it."
"Hmm... By the way, Mei still hasn't fully mastered her Herrscher powers yet. Could that be because of you?" Kiana blinked, casting a suspicious glance at Zeke.
Zeke shook his head.
"Not likely. Wendy is truly exceptional. Five years ago, she experienced a Herrscher transformation and reached a reconciliation with her Herrscher personality—it wouldn't surprise me if she overcomes this hurdle anytime soon. Seele's case is unique; the presence of the Mark of Death inherently predisposes her to becoming a Herrscher. As for your situation, you're aware: from the start, your existence was linked to an extraordinary Herrscher's extension. Excluding the few exceptions like us, normally, humans cannot access the level of Herrscher power. It's understandable if it takes longer or ultimately fails."
To date, every individual who has harnessed Herrscher power had unique experiences that couldn't be replicated. Both Raiden Mei and Ana Schariac fell short: one failed to achieve transformation thus far, while the other ascended but lacked control.
However, this is actually quite normal.
Kiana understood this well, yet she still eyed Zeke suspiciously, her sparkling eyes carrying a hint of teasing as she asked,
"If it truly is due to Zeke's influence, what would you do?"
"Then I'd hang her up and ensure this shadow haunts her for life," Zeke replied coldly, without any trace of humor. "With the Gem of Conquest within her, receiving unparalleled comprehensive education and benefiting from the best body conditioning technology—Eins, Fu Hua, Welt, and myself have invested immense effort into her development. Such resources aren't available to just anyone... If she can't overcome this hurdle merely because of psychological barriers, perhaps extracting the gemstone for my own use would be more fitting."
Kiana hastily waved her hands, panicking and exclaiming,
"No, no, no! I was just joking! You mustn't act recklessly or harm Mei!"
"I was also joking."
"You're not joking at all, you damn Great Demon King!" Kiana stamped her foot and glared angrily at Zeke.
Zeke calmly shook his head. "I've said my piece. Unless there's anything else, I'll disconnect now. The quantum communication device isn't meant for idle chatter."
"Wait!"
Seeing Zeke about to sign off so quickly, Kiana panicked.
"What is it?"
"Can't I just miss you?"
"In real-world time, we've only been apart for two days."
"When one day feels like three autumns apart, that adds up to six years already!"
"...Disconnecting."
"Wait! Seriously, I have something important!"
Frustrated by Zeke's indifference, completely brushing aside her heartfelt words, Kiana puffed out her cheeks in annoyance. However, she couldn't do much against this stubborn man. Eventually, she grumbled:
"Seriously?! Just a few days ago, you were saying we should always be together, and now you're so cold? I might as well date a piece of barbecued pork... Wait! Don't hang up! It's important, I swear!"
"Go on." Zeke pressed his fingertips to his temples and sighed deeply.
Everyone was busy, and communicating across quantum realms required massive amounts of Honkai Energy along with rapid mental exertion to anchor coordinates. In Su's world bubble, currently, this communication relied solely on Zeke's own energy consumption.
If it weren't Kiana initiating the call, Zeke would have only transmitted audio, not wasting more resources for a 3D projection. Moreover, he would've ended the conversation at the first hint of nonsense.
Kiana didn't know the specifics, but she could tell Zeke was inconvenienced by their chat. Hastily, she said:
"Firstly, I need your help with something—Ana's state is unsustainable!"
"I have two suggestions."
"Tell me, tell me!"
"The first: Have Fu Hua create an illusory realm where she relives that incident repeatedly. With enough exposure, she'll become desensitized and eventually move past it. Of course, there's also the risk she might completely break down, allowing me to collect another Herrscher of Ice core."
Kiana stared incredulously... (?!?!)
Kiana seethed, fists clenching tightly.
Listen to this! Is he even speaking like a decent person?!
Her fury made her stomp hard on the floor, causing a loud thud as she exclaimed:
"Oh, so you can crack jokes while forbidding me from saying anything casual? Give me a proper solution, quickly!"
"On a serious note, Ana Schariac is not only an exceptional Valkyrie but also a tender-hearted yet vulnerable girl. It's entirely normal for her to struggle after witnessing her close teammate perish before her eyes. Take her out; visit the orphanage, the infirmary camp, schools, or places where she can meet others who share similar hardships and evoke empathy. She needs to understand that many people endure pain and require assistance. What she requires isn't forgetting her sorrow, but rather developing a stronger sense of purpose, reclaiming her former courage and resilience."
Zeke spoke slowly.
Kiana pondered his words silently for a moment before nodding.
"You're right; it's not about healing her wounds but rediscovering her faith. I understand now... But why do you seem so familiar with her situation? Could it be that even before becoming emperor, Zeke has already started scouting candidates for his harem?"
Pointing at Zeke, Kiana appeared genuinely indignant, leaving him unsure if she was joking as usual or truly harboring such thoughts.
He stared back at her, eyes devoid of emotion, like lifeless fish orbs.