The moment the golden lances and the crystalized wings clashed in the air, Kiana snapped out of her daze.
She gripped her bat, reinforcing it with as much honkai energy as it could handle, and stomped her feet, launching herself towards the Herrscher.
[Great Sage: Synchronized Battle Mode engaged.]
With the intensifying golden glow in his eyes, Adam's perception expanded.
Time didn't slow. It simply became clearer.
[Vectors calculated, wind resistance taken into consideration…Honkai density mapped.]
The Kaslana warrior slammed her bat towards the purple-haired girl's face-
Clang.
Another crystalized honkai wing came into existence, meeting the white-haired girl's strike with a resounding sound
[Mental fluctuations detected. Authority analyzed. Target core detected. Weakness found.]
The Herrscher extended a hand forward, lightning bursting from her fingertips that pointed towards the girl who tried to strike her-
(Image here)
"Deploy."
The golden cross rotated midair with mechanical precision.
The twelve lances that were thrown into the air after that brief clash unfolded in perfect symmetry yet again, locking into position with a series of heavy metallic clicks that echoed across the shattered rooftop like the ticking of a cathedral clock.
[Psychological breach detected. Suggested action: Circumvent the Will's control and emotionally awaken the individual Raiden Mei]
Then-
They fired.
Golden chains erupted from each lance, curving midair with guided precision.
They bypassed the floating crystalline wings entirely this time, avoiding them as if they had their own minds.
The Herrscher's blank stare shifted, the hand that pointed at Kiana moving to come right in front of her body in an attempt to dodge-
Too late.
The first chain wrapped around her right arm, restricting her movement.
The second pierced the space beside her shoulder and sealed her honkai energy.
The third struck the ground beneath her, forming a glowing sigil that expanded outward in concentric rings, blocking the remaining effects of her Authority.
[Suppression Field: Active.]
The rooftop trembled, and the three chains glowed golden.
The glow spread, and her crystallized wings made of pure honkai energy trembled and shattered.
Adam stepped forward quite casually, the golden glow in his eyes fading.
Under Kiana's scrutinizing gaze and Kyuusyou's fervent one, he came closer to the girl turned Herrscher and-
Placed his hand atop her shoulder.
[Emotional augmentation — target: Raiden Mei.]
"Hey, can you hear me?"
The silver-haired boy looked at the Herrscher's dull eyes with his own brilliant blue ones, and spoke to her.
"Wake up."
A pulse rippled, from its source- him- to the target- Mei Raiden.
Using Emotional Augmentation amplified with the power of the Saint to pierce straight through the girl's soul, Adam tried something new-
He tried to awaken this girl's humanity through emotions.
"Sorry for this, but I have to do it-"
The crimson-violet glow in her eyes flickered.
Yes, strengthening her emotions to awaken her humanity should be enough; however, with the Will of Ruin's interference, it would all be pointless, so-
Gently, Adam placed his hand on her abdomen.
Using Kiana's power of the Saint to control honkai energy and his own unique skill [Degenerate], he attempted to split her connection with the Will, so that she could regain her individuality.
If it succeeds…..This world has a chance to be saved.
"Wow, Adam, I didn't take you for a pervert who takes advantage of girls who can't resist…."
Kiana's teasing voice echoed in his ears, interrupting his thoughts.
"Are you serious?"
The aforementioned boy turned to look at the white-haired girl with a deadpan gaze.
"Hehe."
Her only response was a chuckle and a shrug.
Obviously, no sane person would make a move against a Herrscher. Although this girl seemed beautiful, all three people present knew how dangerous she was.
Though she seemed to get defeated quite easily, that was only because of that weapon- Oath of Judah. Ignoring how long that suppression will last, even Kiana herself wasn't confident in surviving against a full-powered Herrscher.
"E-erm…"
Kyuusyou, who did absolutely nothing except for cheering them on from the side, suddenly spoke up hesitantly with twiddling thumbs.
"The Savior's companion always has unique privileges!" She puffed her chest yet again, her eyes sincere. "Since this foreigner from a higher dimension wants to save the apostle of evil, then he should naturally be entitled to take advantage of her!"
The so-called savior pointed at Adam with a prideful and arrogant gesture.
"Okay, girls. I really need to save this Herrscher." The boy whose small action became a joke had a darkened expression. "So, can you please be silent and let me concentrate? I'm still not done!"
After all, what if they distract him and cause the Herrscher sealed by him to go berserk again? Of course, there was no chance of that happening, but these two didn't know what, did they?
Yes, the Oath of Judah was just a fake constructed through Corruption and made more 'real' by using the Authority of Reason from the core that was in his stomach. It was through a channel, of course. He didn't really want to give the Will of Ruin any chances.
With his abilities that weren't honkai severely restricted and sealed, mimicking an Oath of Judah was the best way to seal this Herrscher of Thunder
"Oh!" Kyuusyou's face instantly changed and turned serious. "Go on, my companion whose destiny is intertwined with mine! Face the slumbering evil with peace of mind!"
To show her commitment, she made a zipping expression over her lips.
After all that, who wouldn't believe her? She was a weird girl, but she surely knew when to be good comic relief.
"..."
The silver-haired boy stared on with a blank gaze, however, to the dark purple-haired girl's relief, he nodded in acknowledgement.
"Be safe." After turning her gaze away from the blubbering chuuni, Kiana nodded at him with an equally serious expression. "Tell me if my power is needed."
Once again nodding silently back at her, Adam turned his attention back to the sealed girl in front of him.
[Detected something foreign in this individual's mental mindscape.]
'As expected…'
With a tilt of his head, a pondering look appeared on his face.
[Employing countermeasures…]
Without any more hesitation, his consciousness dove.
Any enemy inside will get a taste of Veldora's power, or….The bleakness and sanity losing all consuming void of nothingness.
…
..
.
Darkness. Not the familiar darkness of nothingness- just layered blackness that was only devoid of color.
There was a chaotic storm throughout this mindscape. Navigation was difficult. Yet, with his psionic powers, some things were easy to do.
At the center of this mindscape-
A lone figure stood.
Long indigo hair flowed down her back in controlled waves, a single braid resting neatly over her shoulder.
She looked very much like Raiden Mei. However-
A pair of crimson-framed glasses rested lightly upon the bridge of her nose, framing sharp violet eyes that beheld no emotion.
A white lab coat draped over her shoulders, the fabric pristine despite the darkness around her.
It fluttered faintly in the air, revealing beneath it a fitted dark dress trimmed with thin crimson lines that glowed faintly like circuitry etched into cloth. The pleated hem brushed mid-thigh, balanced by pristine white thigh-high stockings that contrasted elegantly against her navy heels.
(Image here)
Is this….Dr. Mei?!
The silver-haired boy's face stiffened.
He expected to confront GGZ's version of Raiden, or maybe even an avatar of the Will of Ruin. But Dr. Mei? Hell no!
"...."
Her violet eyes raised, staring at his figure with an intensity that made even him uncomfortable.
Adam had to admit, this Mei looked….cute. But knowing just a bit of this woman's true personality transformed her from cute into terrifying.
"…You're interesting."
She murmured, and his eyebrows twitched.
Obviously, a foreigner like him is always an interesting 'piece of meat' to powerful figures from other worlds…. Even though this woman doesn't fit this description.
"How are you still alive?"
Adam voiced his doubt straight up without any other pleasantries.
He knew this Dr. Mei was basically a more extreme and 'evil' version of the Dr. Mei from Honkai Impact 3rd. Since they were so similar, he was sure that this one didn't like pleasantries either.
The silver-haired boy also wasn't really in the mood. Since getting straight to the point pleased both parties, it'd be foolish to do otherwise.
"This cycle's 'me' is my vessel."
With her piercing yet emotionless gaze fixed on him, the sole reason that humanity is still alive opened her mouth and spoke slowly, and low, melodious, yet utterly flat voice escaping her.
"Normally, because of the Terminal's rules, I would be slumbering." She crossed her arms under her chest as she explained. "However, your actions awakened me."
Why was she sincerely explaining this to him? Adam had no clue. But whatever it was, he was sure that it wasn't out of any good intentions.
…
..
.
-------
A/N:
I was binging some fanfictions of an 18+ game....I don't know what came over me.
I was so into it that I actually got inspired and wrote a whole chapter of a fanfic myself. It'll probably get uploaded to my story collection....only when my shame disappears, of course.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
p@t reon.com/Adam_Flores