This was a space of consciousness; the contest of strength between the two was, in essence, a battle of spirit and will.
"Kiana's" own spiritual will was exceptionally powerful, and the power it contained was naturally immense, just as her external manifestation suggested—proud and resilient as a deity.
This also meant that in the consciousness space, the power she displayed was extraordinarily destructive; a single, simple attack could achieve an effect akin to shattering the heavens and rending the earth.
Xin Yu, on the other hand, due to his fantastical past experiences—starting from his death and resurrection, followed by a series of transmigrations and the events he had lived through—all these had forged his will and spiritual strength, making him like a vast ocean, absorbing all currents that flowed into it.
Consequently, Xin Yu did not cause immense destruction within the consciousness space, but in terms of enduring attacks and self-recovery, he was stronger than the "Kiana" opposite him.
Once Xin Yu entered combat, his face became devoid of expression, maintaining a deathly, still indifference throughout.
The "Kiana" opposite him likewise maintained her usual mien of disregarding everything.
The two clashed continuously, their weapons striking again and again, the destructive force generated even causing the very ground of this consciousness space to crumble.
During another rapid approach, Xin Yu deliberately slowed his speed by a mere fraction, an almost imperceptible trace. Yet, it caught the attention of his opponent. "Kiana" did not let this minute difference in speed pass. In a matter of milliseconds, she shifted her position, appearing at Xin Yu's side, her scepter wielded like a spear, thrusting fiercely towards him.
This thunderbolt-like thrust instantly pierced Xin Yu's body. But "Kiana" immediately sensed something was amiss. When she tried to withdraw, she found her movements had become incredibly sluggish, as if restricted by something. This restriction lasted less than half a second before "Kiana" broke free, but that brief half-second was more than enough.
The sharp long blade flashed across "Kiana's" throat in an instant. If she hadn't reacted in time, leaning her body back with all her might, her head would likely have been severed by the blade. Instead, as it was now, only half her neck had been sliced open.
"Kiana" tried to use the power of spacetime to quickly distance herself, but the surrounding spacetime completely ignored her commands, instead sealing off the area. This unexpected blockade caused "Kiana's" movements to falter for another instant.
Xin Yu did not strike again with the long blade in his hand. Instead, his other hand, free of the weapon, gathered a massive amount of Void Power and pressed it forcefully onto "Kiana's" face.
The immense erosion and assimilation contained within the boundless Void Power frantically invaded "Kiana's" consciousness-body. This caused her lofty, cold, and ruthless divinity to clash violently with this intent of annihilation, which symbolized that all is meaningless and all will eventually return to the Void.
The extremely weak humanity, originally hidden in the deepest recesses, was stimulated at this moment.
Xin Yu gripped "Kiana's" face tightly with that hand, then, with all his might, plummeted downwards. To accelerate the descent, he even used the power of Trailblaze, increasing their speed in an instant.
Boom!!!
The ground, already shattered into pieces, was utterly pulverized at this moment. Scalding magma surged forth from beneath the earth.
Yet, the two non-human monsters, even bathed in magma, showed little change in their expressions. One could only say it was fortunate this was a consciousness space. The spiritual nature represented by the magma could indeed harm their spirits and consciousness-bodies; otherwise, if this were reality, this magma would be no different from hot water to these two.
At this moment, the two began a protracted struggle. Xin Yu was using all his cultivation power to fuel the Void Power, frantically eroding her will and heart.
"Kiana," in turn, used Honkai Energy corresponding to her own power to resist the Void.
Although it seemed the two would be locked in an extremely intense tug-of-war, the powerful surge of emotional force unleashed by this assault caused the suppressed humanity within "Kiana's" heart to continuously grow and strengthen, until it reached a critical point.
Xin Yu watched as the cross-shaped marks within those golden eyes faded, watched the tears seeping from the corners of her eyes.
Xin Yu could sense that her resistance to the Void Power had lessened. He seized this opportunity, releasing the hand that had been pressing against her face. Freed from restraint, "Kiana" should have instantly used her power to create distance or counterattack. However, due to the growth of her humanity, she was currently lost in immense inner sorrow, unable to make a judgment or act immediately.
And this was the perfect opportunity Xin Yu had created. The long blade in his hand pierced "Kiana's" body without hesitation.
In the consciousness space, the clothes they wore, even their very bodies, were manifestations of their spiritual and willful power. This meant that when this long blade, constructed from spirit and will, pierced her body, it symbolized that Xin Yu's spirit and will had thoroughly invaded "Kiana's" deepest core.
...
Xin Yu stood on the surface of water. This place somewhat resembled the Void Land he would go to after death, except the colors here were not gray, nor was there a massive black sun waiting for him in the distance. Here, there was a sapphire-blue, rippleless, mirror-like water surface and a pitch-black sky.
And not far opposite him, a "Kiana" who looked much older, perhaps around twenty-one or twenty-two years of age, sat there.
"It's hard to imagine that someone could actually see me."
That Kiana looked at Xin Yu, who had appeared here, with some shock.
"...How long have you actually lived?"
Xin Yu looked at this deathly still mindscape, a reflection of a person's truest heart.
"I've forgotten. Countless cycles, countless reboots. I long ago forgot how much time has passed."
"...I see."
"Because of your appearance, although it can delay the birth of the Herrscher of the End, it still changes nothing. When human civilization reaches a certain point, when the scale of time reaches its due position, the cycle will begin once more... This isn't to destroy humanity, but to protect humanity within the Honkai. If not for this, humanity would have long been destroyed by the Honkai's erosion, and this universe would have long been assimilated by the Honkai."
"...Originally, at the very beginning, I just intended to help some strangers. Gradually, I wanted to help more people. Then, because I wanted to help more people, I thought of saving the world and defeating the Honkai. But now, if I still want to continue forging my own path, it means I must become an enemy to an existence capable of eroding the universe."
"You don't need to sacrifice so much for a universe that isn't yours."
"I'm not in a hurry to die. Perhaps I can't do it now, but the future me definitely can."
"Why do you believe you can do it?"
"Because I haven't given up yet."
"I will save you, Kiana. I will also save this world's Raiden Mei, I will also save this world's Bronya, and all the people suffering in this world!"
"I promise you, one day, none of these tragedies will ever happen again."
...
Xin Yu sat cross-legged beside Kiana's bed. The originally quiet night was suddenly broken by the sound of something shattering.
The sound came from Xin Yu, who was sitting on the floor.
His crystal core, already bearing cracks, completely split open. A tiny, tender white hand, like that of an infant, emerged from within.