Just as Kiana spoke, a sudden jolt shot through her, causing her slender waist to twist and her body to arch slightly.
The Tuna glanced at Mei and saw her pupils constrict, her gaze fixed on the training grounds.
The "Herrscher of Thunder" strode toward them, head held high. Mei's heart began to pound violently in her chest.
She was the Queen of Thunder. Her long hair flowed behind her, and the massive Ōmagatoki, a ring of calamity like a dark sun, crackled with heart-stopping lightning.
With each step of her long, perfectly rounded legs, she exuded an august and inviolable majesty.
"...The Herrscher of Thunder!" Kiana whispered.
Although Mei had touched the Herrscher of Thunder's oni horns with Ye Feng's encouragement last time, it was impossible for her to have overcome the psychological barrier so quickly.
"Herrscher." In this era, the word still evoked absolute terror in the minds of the people. It was the embodiment of disaster, the undisputed natural enemy of humanity.
How could a few words from Ye Feng possibly erase the fear rooted so deeply in her heart?
"Come," Ye Feng commanded the Herrscher of Thunder, who had been about to walk past them.
The terrifying existence, radiating the powerful aura of a queen, stopped in front of the three of them.
Kiana didn't need to look; she could distinctly feel Mei's heartbeat accelerating again.
The Tuna could only squirm subtly, trying to alleviate the discomfort. Internally, she was cursing Ye Feng, that giant bastard.
Ye Feng looked at Mei and smiled gently. "It seems you still harbor a great fear of her, Mei."
"...Mr. Ye Feng... I..."
"It's alright. There's no need to be ashamed. It's only human. Anyone would be afraid of an unknown, powerful, and utterly destructive entity."
Mei lowered her head slightly. Kiana lowered her head too, her right arm hanging naturally while her left hand clutched her right elbow, her body swaying gently like a sweet flower in the wind.
Ye Feng smiled. "Today, let's take the opportunity to have a proper discussion about Herrschers."
"Eh?"
Kiana's head snapped up, her eyes stabbing at Ye Feng like daggers.
Seriously? You have to do this right now?
Ye Feng shot Kiana a wicked smile, then extended a finger, stroking it across the Herrscher of Thunder's smooth, tender cheek.
"Actually, she has always been awake."
"What?"
Mei's face paled in shock.
Kiana was even more horrified. She took two shuffling steps back, her body stiffening as a show of respect.
"The Herrscher of Thunder... has always been awake? Then she..."
"That's right, she's been awake. You both entered this world together. I simply put her to sleep."
Mei stared at the Herrscher of Thunder in disbelief. A certain possibility arose in her mind, and her heart began to race.
"If she entered this world consciously, then outside... has she always been conscious as well?"
Raiden Mei had believed that after the Nagazora incident, she had suppressed the Herrscher's consciousness.
And it was true that she hadn't manifested since...
"Haven't you noticed?" Ye Feng said. "She only appears when you need her."
"Eh? What..."
Mei could hardly believe her ears.
Only appearing when I need her... that sounds almost like...
"She's... helping me?"
"That's right. Think about it carefully. The times she has appeared. Once was at Senba High School when you were being bullied. Another was when Kiana was injured protecting you from a Honkai Beast attack. She only ever appears at the moments you need strength the most."
In truth, in the opening act of Honkai Impact 3rd, she had also appeared when they were in danger from a Honkai Beast attack.
Sometimes, Ye Feng suspected that these natural Stigmata were all host-cons.
Listening to Ye Feng's words, Mei stared at the Herrscher of Thunder before her, her emotions in turmoil.
She had never considered Ye Feng's perspective.
The current Mei was still a very simple girl, a typical chunibyo from the Far East.
Her world was black and white, good and evil.
In Mei's heart, a Herrscher was evil, a bringer of destruction, a natural disaster of immense destructive power.
"You two lack communication. This is just a guess, but I believe she cares a great deal about your thoughts as well."
Just like how Dark Seele cares for Seele.
Unfortunately, up until the "Lament of the Fallen" arc, Mei had always vehemently rejected her.
No, even after she herself became a Herrscher, she still hadn't fully accepted her in her heart.
Her true reconciliation with herself wouldn't come until almost the end of the story.
Ye Feng asked, "Shall I wake her up? Communicating with an open heart is one of the basic qualities of a magical girl, you know."
"—No! Don't!"
The shout came from Kiana.
Her voice was so loud it startled Mei.
The Tuna felt that if she didn't speak up now, she was going to be vibrated into numbness.
Especially at the mention of "waking the Herrscher of Thunder"—the frequency had jumped to a level completely different from before.
Seeing Mei's gaze on her, Kiana stammered, "...Uh, tomorrow, we have a mission tomorrow. I think... we should get a good rest tonight. We can talk after we get back to St. Freya, it won't be too late..."
"Mm, Kiana has a point... Let's wait until we're back at St. Freya."
The current Mei was indecisive by nature. She was not at all prepared to face her "other self."
With Kiana giving her an out, she naturally took it.
"Thank you, Mr. Ye Feng."
"Don't mention it. The decision is yours to make, Mei."
Ye Feng shot Kiana a beaming smile before continuing, "Let's put the Herrscher of Thunder aside for now. Let's take a look at another Herrscher."
"Huh?"
"...Another Herrscher?"
"The Herrscher of the Void."
"What?"
The Herrscher of the Void was a major topic in their history lessons.
The main culprit of the Second Honkai Eruption, responsible for tens of millions of casualties.
Even after more than a decade, the wounds she had inflicted had yet to heal.
Before either of them could react, Ye Feng tapped[Invite], and the Herrscher of the Void descended gracefully.
Her snow-white hair flew in the air, her bare, porcelain feet lightly touching the ground. Her exquisite ankles were adorned with vine-like ornaments, and behind her were wings formed from Honkai energy.
Her imperious golden eyes glanced sideways at them, sending a chill down their spines.
"She is... the Herrscher of the Void..."
Mei could feel an aura similar to the Herrscher of Thunder's emanating from her: violent, imposing, and overwhelmingly arrogant.
Why does she look a bit like... Kiana?
Mei looked at the Herrscher of the Void, then back at Kiana beside her.
Huh? What's wrong with Kiana?
Only then did Mei notice that Kiana seemed a bit different from usual.
Is it because she saw two Herrschers in a row?
The thought saddened Mei.
As I thought, everyone is afraid of Herrschers.
No matter how much Mr. Ye Feng says that 'Herrschers can fight for humanity,' who would actually believe him?
No... Mr. Ye Feng believes...
Mei stole a glance at Ye Feng. His expression was composed, without a trace of the look one gives an alien creature.