As if sensing Himeko's fighting spirit, Mei took a step, treading on the air. Each step was like a flash, and with one step, she was already dozens of meters away.
In a few breaths, the vacant-eyed, expressionless Mei stood before Himeko.
"Himeko! Be careful!" "Get back!"
Ryn and Ryn hurriedly called out to warn Himeko. But with her enemy right in front of her, how could Himeko possibly listen.
"Hah... Haaah!" Himeko took a deep breath, dragged her greatsword along the ground, creating sparks, then used the momentum to leap high into the air and bring down a powerful strike on Raiden Mei.
"You sought me, and so I came. Therefore... you can die."
Raiden Mei slowly raised her hand towards Himeko, who was in mid-air, sword descending, and then pressed down.
Boom—
Himeko was struck by Mei's power with tremendous force, turning into a crimson meteor and flying backward, crashing through several walls behind her and disappearing from sight.
"Boring..." Mei lowered her raised hand, her expression unchanged, as if she had just swatted a noisy fly.
Next were Ryn and the others. Mei raised her hand and summoned the sky.
The sky rumbled, and in an instant, it was covered with dark clouds, with lightning flashing. Bolts of lightning, like long spears, fell straight down, striking towards Ryn and Bronya.
Buzz—
As Ryn, Bronya, and the others hurriedly dodged, a black hole suddenly bloomed in the sky above, attracting and devouring all the falling lightning.
"You guys are really different..."
Ryn landed to the side, holding Himeko, then gently placed her on the ground and drew his Star Sword.
The moment Himeko was sent flying by Mei, Ryn had instantly flown behind Himeko, helping to break her fall and absorb most of the damage.
"Or is it that Mei will become this fierce in the future..."
Ryn said as he slowly walked towards Mei, the tip of his great Star Sword scraping along the ground, leaving a long mark.
Since heavenly thunder was ineffective against Ryn, Mei had no intention of using it again. She extended her left hand, and a giant tachi made of lightning appeared in it.
"I gave you a chance. You shouldn't have stayed here."
"Is this your house? We'll stay wherever we please."
Ryn and Mei clashed, their blades a blur of light and shadow, making it impossible to keep up.
After hundreds of clashes, Ryn had roughly gauged Mei's strength. Much, much weaker than himself... If he hadn't been holding back, Ryn could have shattered Mei's sword with a single blow and killed her with another...
But aside from Himeko... probably no one else present truly wanted to kill Mei.
Ryn gave Bronya and the others a look. After seeing it, they thought for a moment and nodded.
Ryn decisively raised her greatsword and charged straight over, joining the battle between Ryn and Mei.
Seeing the expression on Ryn's face that said, "We won't let you fight alone," Ryn's face turned green.
What are you rushing up here for? Himeko is still lying on the ground... you want to lie down with her?!
Fortunately, Bronya understood. She immediately activated her talk-no-jutsu mode and shouted emotionally at Mei.
"Big Sis Mei, stop! Let's not fight anymore. I've already united all the surviving humans! If you're willing, we can start a new life!
So... come back, Big Sis Mei! Let's restore the world to how it was together!"
"..."
Mei's attacks slowed down, and finally, she transformed into a flash of lightning and distanced herself from Ryn.
"There's no going back... this world has already ended. You will all die here too..."
Sparks of lightning appeared in Mei's hand. Using her hand as a blade, she stabbed towards the approaching Bronya.
Ryn blocked in front of Bronya, grabbing Mei's hand, but Mei transformed into lightning and disappeared from everyone's sight.
Looking around, there was no longer any sign of Mei. She had escaped!
"Big Sis Bronya, are you okay?!" Seele ran up to check Bronya's condition.
"I'm fine... but just now..." Bronya opened her mouth, but the rest of the words wouldn't come out.
"She wanted to kill you just now..." Ryn saw what Bronya was trying to say and said it for her. "Perhaps you were once very close, but she is no longer the Big Sis Mei you once knew."
"Yes... Big Sis Bronya, she is no longer Big Sis Mei..."
"Mm... I know. Huff... huff..." Bronya took deep breaths, then slapped her face hard. Facing the spot where Mei had been, she spoke, word by word:
"I'm sorry, Big Sis Mei... we also have reasons we must survive. Even you, Big Sis Mei, cannot stop us."
"I'm sorry, I didn't expect to be so clueless about the situation until now. I've disappointed you all." Bronya apologized to Ryn, Seele, and the others one by one.
"A pity we didn't have a way to restrain her elemental form. Otherwise, even with extreme measures, I would have kept her here..." Ryn spread his hands and sighed helplessly, then saw Ryn suddenly collapse to the ground.
"What's wrong with you? Were you hit somewhere just now?" Ryn quickly helped Ryn up, only to find her incredibly weak.
"I..."
Ryn suddenly didn't know how to describe it... Her stamina and Honkai energy seemed to be constantly draining away, making her so weak she could barely keep her eyes open.
"Hold on, I'll take you to Emisha right now."
Ryn picked up Ryn and was about to fly in the direction Emisha and the others had retreated, but something unusual suddenly happened in the sky...
Someone was absorbing Honkai energy... All the Honkai energy in Nagazora City was converging there...
"Dammit, Seele! Get Himeko and the others out of here, now!" Ryn shouted urgently to Seele, handed Ryn over to her, and then rushed towards the sky.
Raiden Mei raised her hand towards ME Corp, and energy continuously gathered in it. All the Honkai energy in Nagazora City was converging on the divine wings on her back, then moving to her hand. She was gathering power, preparing to wipe the ME Corp area off the face of the earth.
A normal, undeveloped micro black hole couldn't absorb an attack of this magnitude. And a micro black hole that could would tear ME Corp apart the moment it appeared. So Ryn could only either stop or divert Raiden Mei's attack.
Buzz—
His Heat Vision led the way but was blocked by Mei with a single-handed electromagnetic shield.
The intense light from the energy made Mei's body look pale and bloodless. Seeing Ryn charging towards her, Mei spoke indifferently.
"A world of void needs no life. A futile struggle only has value when it is crushed. Your attacks are ineffective against me. You cannot stop me."