"I'm sorry, Zeke, but this...is my destiny."
With these words and a radiant smile, Kiana turned and dove headfirst into the onslaught of destruction.
Once more, Kiana died before Zeke's eyes.
Initially, the common culprit was Otto. Later, it became Sirin. Then various formidable and terrifying Honkai calamities followed—or perhaps what truly killed Kiana most often were her own choices.
"Enough..." Weakly, Zeke lowered his futilely outstretched hand, stumbled back several steps, and clutched his head, feeling as if it would split open from the pain.
It wasn't just Kiana; as Zeke aged, the tragedies involving Bronya, Sin, Fu Hua, Seele, Wendy, and others also interwove, repeatedly striking his vulnerable heart.
At this moment, the corrupting influence of Honkai Energy on human nature finally took effect. Various negative emotions amplified relentlessly within Zeke's mind, culminating in an overwhelming surge of murderous intent.
"Ahhhhh!!!"
"BOOM!!"
As Zeke's mind succumbed to Honkai Energy corruption, his power rapidly escalated in the real world.
"Fall back!"
Sensing the backlash from Zeke's mental strength, Fu Hua swiftly shielded Kiana's astral form, taking the brunt of the attack head-on. She involuntarily staggered backward, a trace of crimson blood seeping from the corner of her mouth.
"Master!"
"Old friend, are you alright?"
"It's nothing serious, just a minor wound. It won't hinder my use of the Sword Goddess," Fu Hua reassured Li Sushang and Hera, nonchalantly wiping away the blood.
At that moment, Kiana shuddered, her vacant blue eyes regaining their spark as she fully regained consciousness. With a mix of emotions, she looked at Fu Hua.
With their spirits intertwined, hidden feelings and perceptions became easily accessible, further revealing insights related to Fu Hua's experiences.
Under Kiana's complex gaze, Fu Hua opened her mouth but ultimately turned away silently, avoiding Kiana's stare. There was no time for explanations now, nor did she know how to address it, leaving only silence between them.
"Sigh..."
Kiana let out a soft sigh, then vigorously slapped her cheeks, gathering herself before saying:
"Fu Hua-sensei, let's focus on the task at hand! We'll rely heavily on you next; please get ready. I can assist with the Sword Goddess anytime!"
"Agreed, me too... Let's protect Zeke together."
"Yes, together we'll protect him!" Kiana nodded firmly.
Zeke's safety was paramount; there would be ample time later to discuss and address other matters. The two shared a knowing glance and smiled at each other.
The subtle nuances of their unspoken conversation went unnoticed by all but Hera, who herself had no bandwidth to pay attention amidst her current tasks.
Meanwhile, Zeke continued releasing increasingly potent Honkai Energy, causing further destruction within the laboratory.
Most notably, the experimental cabin closest to him suffered severe damage. The Honkai Energy solution inside violently boiled, and cracks spiderwebbed across its transparent enclosure. Despite Mobius's efforts with mechanical tentacles to maintain stability, they couldn't prevent the imminent rupture of the containment vessel.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Additional mechanical tentacles extended from Mobius's flying device, most dedicated to preserving the integrity of the experimental cabin, while others protected critical equipment throughout the lab.
Finally setting down her coffee cup, Mobius turned her golden-green serpent eyes toward Hera.
"I'll handle the facility issues; you proceed with the next step."
Hera nodded promptly.
"Understood. With Honkai Energy corruption, emotional extremity, and exceptional innate abilities, we have all the foundational elements in place. The next step is to attract the attention of the Will of Honkai," she murmured to herself, holding a diamond-shaped gemstone ablaze with black flames—the Herrscher of Rock's core.
Cradling the gemstone, she slowly approached the experimental cabin and reached inside. Her eyes instantly transformed into the characteristic gold hue indicating the flow of Honkai Energy.
"Zeke, this final, most perilous step involves drawing the gaze of the God of Honkai... Good luck." Hera whispered as distorted, corruptive light enveloped the entire laboratory.
Zeke ascended the golden staircase.
His memories and rationality, willingly concealed by Fu Hua, resurfaced; yet simultaneously, the God of Honkai's corrosive influence and seductive whispers relentlessly assaulted his newly regained consciousness.
["Destroy this world. By tearing down civilization with your own hands, Finality's power will significantly weaken until I can confront it alone."]
"Great idea, but unfortunately, that's not my style. So, I decline."
[There's nothing to hesitate about. I've never claimed to be a good person, nor do I belong to this world. Face yourself honestly: safeguarding the world was never my intention—the most important ones are them, aren't they?"]
"Yes, indeed you're right. But I still refuse."
[The vast majority of humans are useless burdens. Those mediocre fools have no right to enjoy what I bring forth. The better their lives become, the stronger Finality grows, ultimately leading to more deaths—after all, they're just scum destined to perish sooner or later. Why not let them burn early for my goal instead? This is the true path!]
"I refuse."
With each step up the stairs, Zeke conversed with the beast within his heart. His stride remained steady, expression as cool and composed as ever, seemingly unaffected by the roaring fury, hatred, and desire for destruction raging inside him.
["I have no reason to sacrifice for strangers I don't know, increasing risks for myself and Kiana!"]
"Hmm, that's true... So can you quiet down now? We've reached the main event."
Zeke ascended to the golden hall at the summit, where as expected, he encountered his pale counterpart seated on the divine throne.
"...God?" Zeke asked slowly. Perhaps reaching this final stage had finally silenced his inner turmoil and self-dialogue.
The deity remained silent.
Zeke didn't expect such an entity, seemingly a manifestation of cosmic laws, to engage in normal conversation.
Instead, he felt an overwhelming compulsion from within and without, urging him closer to God, compelling acceptance of its gifts.
"Has the Herrschification process begun?" Zeke murmured, attempting to resist this driving force. For now, he maintained a standoff against the God of Honkai.
"It seems everything is progressing smoothly outside. Not surprising, given ample Herrscher data supports our experimental design, ensuring minimal flaws. Plus, Hera and the others serve as safeguards." Zeke acknowledged the successful work outside, but his gaze remained fixed on the God of Honkai.
His superior intellect continued to prove its worth, not by deciphering specific data about this deity but by conveying a profound sense of threat to Zeke.
Then it dawned on him: While his intellect could attempt to analyze God, he himself might lack the capacity to handle such information.
"Beyond human comprehension, calling you a god seems quite fitting," Zeke lamented wistfully. Having finally obtained the chance to engage with the essence of Honkai, yet unable to directly explore and understand it as desired, was truly regrettable.
He had prepared some questions, but at that moment, reason told Zeke that posing them to the divine entity might disrupt the precarious balance he barely maintained—a risky move indeed.
"..."
After a prolonged silence, Zeke ultimately abandoned his additional plans.
He came here to become a Herrscher, filling the final gap in his abilities. Although setting aside these supplementary objectives felt unfortunate, it was best to put them on hold; there was no need to increase further risks.
With that decision made, Zeke took a step forward, approaching the outstretched hand of the God before him.
[Herrscher!]
"Herrscher!"
[Power!]
"Power!"
"Leave it to me!" × 2
Both emotion and logic aligned, guiding Zeke to draw near the deity and grasp His hand.
"Boom!!!"
The golden temple trembled, collapsed, and shattered, or rather, the entire mental domain disintegrated and reformed.
Zeke's consciousness gradually blurred, observing countless cracks appear on God's pale body before it finally dissipated, merging into his astral form.
This outcome starkly contrasted with his encounter with Theresa. Was it due to the immense power disparity between them? Or were there unique factors at play within him?
Zeke lacked the energy to ponder further, feeling an unprecedented wave of chaotic drowsiness overwhelming him irresistibly, like a descending sky curtain.
"It seems they're about to face some serious trouble..." Zeke sighed as he slowly closed his eyes amidst the kaleidoscopic fragments of this world.