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"Were you hurt just now?"
A group of worker bees had formed a platform beneath them, carrying Zeke and Kiana as they soared towards Nagazora City. Amidst the silence, Kiana suddenly turned to ask.
Zeke, having just completed a round of intelligence retrieval and swarm repositioning, looked up and replied mildly:
"A little."
"My apologies. I'll master the Herrscher of the Void's powers quickly so that next time, you won't need to do something like that."
"Do your best, but don't overexert yourself. Safety comes first."
"Mm-hmm." Nodding, Kiana pursed her lips. After a moment's hesitation, she gently took Zeke's hand.
Zeke, absorbed in deep thought and appearing rather aloof, was taken aback for a second. "You..."
"It breaks my heart," Kiana said firmly and directly.
For quite some time, Zeke remained silent, not pulling away from the softness enveloping his hand. Instead, he rebuked her matter-of-factly: "...Don't let your mind wander during critical moments; focus on what truly matters."
"Yes."
Kiana blinked but showed no intention of letting go, despite her verbal agreement. She understood the gravity of the situation and deeply worried about her friends' safety, yet that didn't diminish her concern and affection for Zeke.
Zeke didn't say more, merely gazing into the distance while softly squeezing Kiana's small hand.
Handholding wasn't uncommon between them; such casual intimacy had become routine. However, before Kiana's confession, Zeke never felt anything beyond appreciating the pleasant tactile sensation. Now it was different. The warmth and tenderness in his grasp brought him a sense of reassurance, even amidst the grim reality they faced.
In Nagazora City, the roars and destruction wrought by colossal white beasts echoed incessantly. The city's once ever-present lights could no longer dispel the encroaching darkness, enveloping everything in a terrifying atmosphere.
Thousands of Titan mechs and Valkyries fought side by side on battlefields spanning across the city, resisting the seemingly endless tide of Honkai Beasts. Meanwhile, numerous Anti-Entropy combat units actively worked throughout every corner, equipped with various rescue gear, tirelessly evacuating civilians to nearby shelters without respite.
At each cardinal point of the city, towering Selene devices continuously converted dense Honkai Energy into electrical power. This immense energy fueled countless stationary weapons, mowing down Honkai Beasts and Zombies relentlessly, providing significant protection for nearby residents.
"Ah! It's a Honkai Beast! Help me!"
"Dad, Mom, where are you? Waaah..."
"Dammit! We pay so much tax; why is the rescue response so slow when it matters most?!"
"The shelter...the shelter is over there! Just a little more, hurry up..."
In various corners of the city, chaos reigned amidst diverse human experiences. Some civilians lamented the inadequate rescue efforts by both organizations, while others blamed their misfortune on being in this nation and city. However, most focused solely on fleeing for their lives; survival was now their utmost priority.
It was at this moment that Welt entered the city.
With the arrival of Welt Yang—the First Herrscher, Supreme Alliance Leader of Anti-Entropy, Steel-Willed, Living Sage, Human Arsenal—every weapon and piece of equipment wielded by humanity within the city received a significant upgrade, enhancing their firepower exponentially. Countless artillery pieces materialized in strategic positions throughout the area.
The most advanced uses of Authorities were always simple yet highly effective.
Welt didn't need to manifest elaborate cutting-edge technology; merely upgrading and augmenting the existing armaments across the city instantly transformed the chaotic situation.
Within the blink of an eye, seventy percent of the rampaging Honkai Beasts and Zombies were eliminated. Regaining the upper hand, the human forces commenced efficient civilian rescues, rapidly reducing casualties towards near-zero levels.
In such large-scale battles involving numerous civilians, Welt's impact far surpassed individual combat prowess displayed by Fu Hua and Durandal, transcending dimensions in effectiveness.
As Welt saw the situation come under control, he finally let out a sigh of relief—only for Zeke and Kiana to descend from high above and land before him.
"Who are those people?" Zeke pointed toward a group of shackled individuals nearby.
Welt sighed. "Surrenderists, believers of Honkai. They tried to sabotage safe zones in the previous city, guiding Honkai forces... Since we didn't have anyone available to escort them, I decided to bring them along."
"For crimes against humanity, as per wartime regulations, there's no need to waste human resources on these traitors. Execute them immediately," declared Zeke. With a wave of his hand, raging flames engulfed the prisoners entirely. Before they could even scream, they were reduced to ash.
Welt opened his mouth but ultimately shook his head. These individuals had been sentenced to death anyway; he merely wanted to publicly announce their fate and carry it out as a deterrent. Zeke's point was valid too: at such critical moments, wasting time and energy on them wasn't worth it.
His expression softened, showing signs of fatigue yet also satisfaction, as he said, "Very well, then. This crisis unfolded unexpectedly, with both the intensity and scope of the Major Honkai Eruption being unprecedented. It's truly fortunate that you arrived just in time... Any news about the girls?"
No matter how selfless he strove to be, Welt was still human. Having watched over the children at Headquarters as they grew up, it was only natural for him to care and protect them more deeply.
Zeke nodded in understanding.
"We've found Seele, Rozaliya, and Liliya. I'd like you to retrieve them. Kiana must stay by my side; the intensity of Honkai Energy around us could give the Herrscher of the Void an opportunity at any moment. As for others, I can't trust anyone completely—not with Otto involved..."
Welt grasped the unspoken concern underlying Zeke's words. Indeed, although Otto had been remarkably restrained these past years, beneath that veneer lay an inscrutable mastermind. While unwilling to engage in internal power struggles amidst the battle against Honkai, it was essential not to underestimate Otto.
He glanced briefly at Kiana, whose expression remained unchanged.
To openly discuss matters related to the Herrscher of the Void in front of her implied that this child had already understood the truth and accepted it calmly, didn't it?
With a content smile, Welt nodded affirmatively.
"That's precisely why I'm here. Leave it to me. Now then, what about Wendy?"
"Her situation is somewhat unique; I'll handle it myself."
"All right, let's act swiftly. I'll take my leave now."
"Until next time," Zeke responded with a nod.
Kiana waved goodbye, watching Welt depart before frowning and asking,
"What's wrong with Wendy?"
Zeke retrieved his pendant, unraveling the golden Soulium mesh to reveal a significantly dimmed blue gemstone resting in his palm. Without hesitation, he popped it into his mouth.
Crunch!
The gemstone shattered and was swallowed, replenishing Zeke's Honkai Energy reserves slightly.
"As you can see, the Gem of Desire has lost much of its original power, indicating that the replacement Herrscher Core has been born."
"You mean... Wendy is now the Herrscher of Wind?"
"That's precisely why I brought you along. The intense Honkai Energy environment could trigger Wendy's transformation into a full-fledged Herrscher, which would also greatly benefit Sirin. We must remain vigilant."
"I understand; I'll keep an eye on her," Kiana nodded resolutely. For now, Sirin remained sealed deep within her psyche, but there were no guarantees with Herrschers—nothing ever certain.
Kiana refused to become a burden to Zeke at this critical moment, absolutely not!