[I'm getting a bad feeling about this!]
[Is Himeko about to get a lunchbox?]
[Let me clarify: Himeko's status in Honkai: Star Rail is well-known. Everyone gets it. Her screen time might not match the main trio, but she's still a core member of the protagonist group. And in the Honkai universe, Himeko's also a key figure in the protagonist's side. That's some serious weight, right?]
[That makes sense, but you saw the earlier plot. It's been foreshadowing one thing: Honkai energy affects the body. The camera's dropped plenty of hints.]
[Exactly! That's the language of the lens, telling you Himeko might get a lunchbox. But maybe not—maybe she'll overcome her condition and get a new lease on life.]
[Bro, are you trading stocks here?]
[I just feel like the atmosphere's building to a point where no character has a death exemption.]
— —
Later, Tesla located Kiana's current position, and suffice to say, Kiana's situation was dire.
To save Kiana, Himeko volunteered to carry out the shutdown mission, creating an opportunity for the others to advance.
But halfway through the mission, Rita and Fu Hua suddenly appeared, successfully restraining the two.
The scene shifted back to the Hyperion.
Mei had disarmed the bomb inside her body, meaning she could now fully unleash the power of the Third Herrscher.
Meanwhile, in the lab, it was as if the facility had been sliced in half like a cake.
Otto, looking at the empty experimental pod, gave a mysterious smile. "Time to begin the next phase of the experiment."
…
"Something's off. The defenses seem weaker." Theresa gazed out of the Hyperion's window. "It's almost… intentional."
Suddenly, an alarm blared, and the warship began to tremble.
"Detecting intense spatial fluctuations!"
Mei felt an inexplicable force. "Huh?!"
In the blink of an eye, she found herself outside the warship, held in Kiana's arms like a princess.
"Mei."
"Kiana?! Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I'm better than ever." As she spoke, Kiana's pupils gradually turned golden. "So good… it's like I've been reborn."
"Ki-Kiana?!" Mei stared at Kiana's transformation, unable to believe her eyes.
"I'm so glad to wake up with you by my side." Kiana's outfit changed, and wings sprouted from her back.
"Now, become one with me again, my other half!"
At that moment, a bolt of purple lightning flashed, snatching Mei from Kiana's grasp.
The lightning materialized into a figure standing beside Mei, its appearance identical to hers.
"We're too late. She's already been taken over by Honkai! She's dangerous now!"
"No!" Mei looked at Kiana resolutely. "It's because she's dangerous that I absolutely can't abandon her!"
The purple figure glanced back, giving a cold huff. "Fine. If the enemy is a Herrscher, we'll need a Herrscher's power to deal with her. Don't let me down."
The purple figure turned back into lightning and merged into Mei's chest.
"Kiana! I'll never abandon you!" Purple light enveloped Mei, with violet lightning crackling across her skin. "Just like you've never abandoned me!"
[They merged! Finally merged!]
[It was mentioned at the start—Mei's no ordinary character.]
[Come on, big bro, look at how OP Acheron is! As an alternate-world counterpart, you kidding me?]
[Exactly. Especially since Mei has some hidden power. Based on Honkai: Star Rail logic, anyone with hidden powers isn't to be messed with—like Dan Heng.]
[But Kiana's line about 'becoming one with me again'—what does that mean?]
[Who knows?]
— —
But the audience was thinking too simply.
They thought even if she couldn't win, it'd at least be a back-and-forth fight.
The reality? In the first few rounds, aside from some flashy effects, Kiana didn't take a single scratch.
As if bored of toying around, in the blink of an eye, Kiana grabbed Mei by the throat with one hand.
Mei couldn't move.
[She got wrecked that fast?]
[Holy crap, this is Ultraman Orb movie-level defeat speed!]
[New power? No beginner's protection period at all?]
[That power was always there; they just removed the limiter.]
[This instant KO is so frustrating!]
[Is it possible Kiana's just that strong?]
— —
"Kiana!" Mei, with all her strength, touched Kiana's cheek. "Wake up!"
Kiana released her grip, and in that moment, her eyes flickered back to blue.
She clutched her head in pain, screaming wildly.
But the struggle for control over her body didn't last long.
Kiana gave a slight smile, her pupils still golden.
A dimensional portal opened above her, and a Honkai Beast crawled out.
With a single swipe, it sent Mei tumbling backward uncontrollably.
Barely steadying herself, Mei froze as the Honkai Beast loomed over her.
Suddenly, the Honkai Beast's attack halted. Anti-Entropy's mecha intercepted it, followed by a missile that instantly reduced the beast to ashes.
"This is… Anti-Entropy!" Mei's eyes widened as countless mecha appeared behind her, charging toward Kiana.
[Holy crap, badass mecha!]
[No way, these mecha are that strong? One-shotting a Honkai Beast?]
[Never underestimate the charm of mecha!]
[Oh man, I just saw a mecha take down a supernatural beast!]
— —
Kiana's expression showed no trace of panic. With a downward wave of her hands, her skirt flared dramatically.
Countless dimensional portals appeared behind her.
Floating in the air, Kiana embodied the chapter's title, descending like a queen.
The background music switched to Befall, a brand-new track.
In this scene, the queen's performance, paired with the music, exuded overwhelming pressure.
[Damn!]
[Such intense pressure!]
[No wonder this chapter's called The Queen Descends!]
[Humans, offer your loyalty!]
[Long live the Queen, forever resounding!]
[Power! I need more power!]
[So cool!]
— —
Tap, tap, tap…
The sound of high heels echoed clearly as the queen strode toward her throne.
Her aura was commanding, perfectly complemented by the song and dialogue, reigning supreme.
The queen slowly raised her hands, and countless Honkai Beasts emerged from the dimensional portals.
In an instant, Honkai Beasts and mecha clashed in a chaotic fray.
The grand spectacle couldn't be described as mere special effects—every second burned through stacks of cash.
"Humans, your existence is a mistake."
"War, deception, jealousy, greed… You once took everything from me. But today, I will devour it all!"
"For I am Honkai itself!"