When Raiden Mei soared through the skies riding the giant dragon Benares, Kiana also awakened from unconsciousness.
She found herself actually on the rooftop of St. Freya Academy, with heavy rain pouring down from the sky.
"This is... St. Freya Academy? I... why am I here…"
The familiar surroundings made Kiana extremely confused.
At that moment, a cold male voice sounded from not far away.
"Don't move."
Kiana looked in the direction of the voice, and then her pupils shrank.
"Ah! You are… Kevin Kaslana…!"
Kevin didn't respond to Kiana's shock, and instead began helping her recall the events prior.
Due to Kiana's actions in trying to shut down the Imaginary Singularity, it triggered the self-protection mechanism of the Imaginary Tree.
That was why the earlier scene of Benares being shot down by the Imaginary God Corpse occurred.
Listening to Kevin's words, Kiana felt no joy of surviving a disaster, instead, she was extremely anxious.
Because if she failed, then Changkong City would face an unprecedented catastrophe. Thinking of this, Kiana tried to stand up again, but the pain coming from her body made her fall back down.
"Although I saved you, your injuries are still very serious. However, the Herrscher of the Void's power has weakened. This way, you have more time."
Kevin's words left Kiana feeling confused. Clearly, this person had previously tried to kill her after she refused to join World Serpent. But now, he had come to save her?
Kiana's question made Kevin fall into a short silence. After a while, he spoke, "Thank Raiden Mei. She's the one who saved you. You don't need to worry about Changkong City anymore, the disaster has already ended. She replaced you and protected this city."
"What are you saying… Mei…?!"
Just as Kiana stood in shocked confusion, a streak of red lightning suddenly flashed across the sky not far away.
"The things after this, let her explain to you personally… she's coming."
As soon as the words fell, that streak of red lightning sliced through the sky and landed on the rooftop where Kiana was.
With the fading of the thunderlight, the Herrscher form of Raiden Mei also appeared in front of Kiana.
Even though Raiden Mei's appearance had already explained everything, Kiana still spoke in disbelief, "Mei… what happened? You… why do you look like this…"
What responded to her was Raiden Mei's silence.
At this moment, Kevin at the side spoke, "It seems you've made your choice."
Sensing the chaotic Honkai energy inside Kiana, Raiden Mei spoke with a tone full of determination, "I will go with you."
After receiving a firm reply, even Kevin's eternally unchanging tone showed a bit of fluctuation.
"Very well. Raiden Mei, welcome to World Serpent."
Hearing this, Kiana finally couldn't hold it in. She interrupted anxiously, "What did you say! Mei… is joining World Serpent?!"
Kiana couldn't believe that after seeing what World Serpent had done in Sky Dome City, Mei would still willingly join them?
Thinking of this, Kiana rushed forward, grabbed Raiden Mei's hands, and questioned her, "Mei, what's wrong with you? What did he do to you?!"
However, what responded to her was Raiden Mei's cold and emotionless voice. "Kiana, don't worry about me anymore. This is my own decision."
Looking at the Raiden Mei before her who was beginning to feel somewhat unfamiliar, Kiana still tried hard to make her stay.
"Mei, stop joking around! I… absolutely will not let you join World Serpent!!!"
Kevin, "Looks like you still have some things to resolve. Before parting, say all that you want to say to her."
Hearing this, Raiden Mei's expression dimmed a bit. Before coming here, she had already said those words to herself countless times.
Could it be that if she told Kiana the truth, and the reasons for joining World Serpent, she would be able to leave in peace?
No, that would only make the other party suffer even more, and feel more guilty… So this time… Raiden Mei decided to shoulder everything alone.
———
[Real world.]
Upon seeing this scene, many viewers felt unbearably heartbroken.
Clearly, both of them cared so deeply for each other, but now they had to draw swords against one another.
Some clever viewers had already prepared tissues in advance. Because based on their understanding of Mihoyo, if not now to bring out the emotional knives, then when?
———
[Back to the video.]
In the footage, to stop Raiden Mei from leaving, Kiana endured the pain and rushed forward. If her words couldn't persuade Mei, then she would use her fists.
However, how could the battered Kiana be a match for Raiden Mei who had just experienced "Feathering"?
She fell again and again, and stood up again and again.
———
This unyielding scene deeply moved everyone.
[Stop fighting already! You two stop fighting!]
[Mei, don't hit so hard, Bugs just doesn't want you to leave, that's all]
[If you drop the blade, you can't protect her; if you raise the blade, you can't hold her]
[Horrifying scene of domestic violence]
[The one above, wtf kind of domestic violence, you ruined the whole mood]
———
In the footage, after cornering Kiana, Raiden Mei grabbed her by the throat and ruthlessly threw her toward the far-off railing.
The whole process was clean and efficient.
If someone unfamiliar with the story saw this scene, they might think there was some deep hatred between the two.
Bang!
Kiana's body slammed onto the ground, stirring up clouds of dust. But even so, she still did not give up.
Kiana struggled to stand from the ground and said resolutely, "I… will not let you leave!"
However, Raiden Mei tilted her head and looked at Kiana with a disdainful expression, her tone laced with mockery,
"With the way you're barely alive?"
"With… My fists!!!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Kiana suddenly charged forward, clenching her fists and rushing at Raiden Mei.
The two exchanged blows, fists and kicks flying, launching into another round of battle.
For a moment, it even seemed like they were evenly matched.
However, viewers in the real world watching this scene all knew, Raiden Mei was holding back.
Calling it "holding back" was modest, she might as well be letting her fight the ocean.
After all, they had seen what Raiden Mei looked like going all-out slashing.
But even so, Kiana still couldn't do anything to Raiden Mei. She knew very well, in her current state, she couldn't outlast Raiden Mei.
So, if she wanted to bring Mei back, she had to use even stronger power.
After being kicked away again by Raiden Mei, Kiana still chose to get up from the ground, unyieldingly charging toward her again.
But this time, unlike before, Kiana used the Herrscher of the Void's power.
Little did she know, this move no doubt touched Raiden Mei's reverse scale.
Seeing Kiana once again disregard her own safety to use her powers, Raiden Mei simply gave up all hesitation and unleashed a violent storm of attacks.
With a bolt of lightning, Raiden Mei directly blasted Kiana off the rooftop and down into the athletic field below.
———
Seeing this, many viewers in the real world expressed that they were shocked by Raiden Mei's ruthlessness.
If they hadn't known in advance that Raiden Mei did all this to save Kiana, they might really have thought the two had turned into enemies.
[Damn… Mei really went hard this time]
[If Raiden Mei was holding back earlier, now she's at least being a little serious, right?]
[Probably got mad seeing Kiana trying to use Herrscher powers again]
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