Chapter 7: Why Is It Always Like This?

"Kiana..."

Upon hearing this, Mei felt as if she had been submerged in ice water; her whole body went cold. Yet, wanting to comfort Kiana by saying these things could change, she forced a thin smile, trying to act as if nothing was wrong.

She knew she might die in the future.

How could there be no casualties in the fight against the Honkai?

But in three years, she hadn't even fulfilled many of her wishes.

No guessing was needed; everyone subconsciously thought of Mei.

—The most important person to Kiana.

"Mei, I... I won't let you die! Mei, believe me, I will definitely protect you."

Kiana panicked, grabbing Mei's hand as her mind went blank.

She didn't dare imagine an ending where Mei died.

"Don't panic yet. Mei isn't the only important person to Kiana; it could also be us. It's too early to reach a conclusion."

"Besides, the future can be changed. We just need to know how'she' died and then take action; we can surely save her life."

At this moment, Fu Hua provided a wave of rational analysis.

"Yes, Mei has always been by our side. If we can find out what happens on that day in the future as soon as possible, we can definitely change the future," Bronya said.

"I understand! Mei, no matter what, you will always be the most important person to me. Even if I die, I will never betray you."

Kiana made a firm vow, tightly gripping Mei's palm.

"Don't say such sentimental things," Raiden Mei's cheeks flushed slightly as she awkwardly pulled her hand back, her voice growing softer. "Though, I... I won't betray you either."

"..."

Bronya watched the two with a cold gaze.

"Alright, anyway, do you think Yunduo can defeat the Herrscher of Domination?"

Fu Hua interrupted.

"I think it's probably unlikely. Facing such a powerful and eerie Herrscher... and Yunduo's current appearance is no different from mine. Why isn't she using the power of the Gem of Haste?"

"Besides, Bronya and the Monitor have both become Puppets on the Herrscher of Domination's strings. What should be done? We can't just leave you to fight the Herrscher of Domination like that."

Kiana spoke in a low voice; the thought of fighting someone like the Herrscher of Domination in the future gave her a headache.

Those of the Kaslana Family never fear battle, but the gap in this fight was simply too large.

The opponent was the apostle of the Honkai in the human world—the Herrscher of Domination—and it had even obtained the abilities of the Herrscher of Sentience.

How can one Herrscher have the abilities of another? Isn't that just cheating?

And the challenger, Yunduo, had inherited her body from three years into the future.

Kiana didn't believe her self from three years later could solo a full-fledged Herrscher.

Although she was confident, growth doesn't happen overnight, and three years was too short.

"I don't have high hopes for this battle either. We have no intel, don't even know the Herrscher of Domination's attack patterns, and... I've been captured. Kiana won't just stand by, so the Monitor and I are both burdens," Bronya's voice was weak.

"My thoughts exactly."

Fu Hua nodded.

"Let's keep watching. Maybe Yunduo can pull it off."

Mei looked up and saw the girl in the space.

Thin and frail, she stood alone in the center of a stage filled with a thousand Puppets, appearing so powerless.

With two broken friends entangled in the strings, how despairing she must feel now.

"Kiana."

Mei bit her lip... "Meaningless struggle."

"Meaningless existence."

"Meaningless life."

"Begone—meaningless world!" In the center of the stage, Yunduo held a Greatsword of Fire forged from the Gem of Haste with one hand.

Her weakened body told her she couldn't keep fighting.

There were too many Puppets—a never-ending sea of them.

She couldn't kill them all alone.

"Let them go!!!!!"

Yunduo brandished the scorching greatsword, biting her lip, her mind forgetting everything else.

She only remembered that she had to save Bronya and the Monitor!

Her weak fingertips gripped the hilt tightly as the roaring greatsword slashed down toward the frolicking Puppets!

Boom!

With a single strike, the strings of many Puppets were torn apart, their toy-like bodies bursting into a few ridiculous parts.

These frolicking Puppets felt no fear, even in the face of death.

After all, they were just Puppets.

Clang—

The scattered puppet parts fell onto the stage, making cold clashing sounds.

Dense crowds of Puppets held weapons—swords or daggers—stabbing toward the innocent girl in the center of the stage!

Even if they accidentally killed their companions, they showed no mercy; it only resulted in the collision of parts against parts.

The endless sea of Puppets stretched out with no end in sight.

Every swing of the sword was an exercise in futility.

Before Yunduo could kill all the Puppets, the gloves of the Herrscher of Domination, which had been silently watching everything, moved.

Creeeak!

The surrounding strings, the ones entangling Bronya and Fu Hua, suddenly tightened!

"Agh!!!"

The thread around Bronya's neck was pulled taut, blood soaking the ends of the line as it nearly suffocated her.

"Stop it!!!!!"

Yunduo roared at the sight, her lips torn, her eyes bloodshot, and the sweet, metallic taste of blood flowing into her airway.

Kill!!!

Kill!!!

Kill!!!

Constant swinging!

Constant slashing!

But these Puppets...

They were endless!

They were all marionettes!

Decaying shells with limbs manipulated by the strings of the soul.

When the strings left the body, the remaining shell was nothing more than scattered junk, like a marionette with its strings cut.

Many Puppets were snapped at the waist by Yunduo, their bodies turning to dust.

But as long as a half-remaining body was still connected to a string, it would continue to attack!

The tide-like machines crashed recklessly into Yunduo, and her breathing grew increasingly ragged.

"Agh!!!"

Taking advantage of Yunduo's weakness, a puppet suddenly lunged and hugged her body.

Consequently, thousands of Puppets swarmed over.

Yunduo's body was firmly pinned down, unable to move anymore.

Her body was forced down, her forehead slamming hard against the stage floor.

Thud!

Her forehead split open, and blood flowed out instantly.

The girl clawed at the ground, her vision blurring, her strength completely spent; she was at the end of her rope.

Tragedy and darkness swept in.

It was as if a giant hand had seized the girl.

So heavy.

So heavy.

Her body felt so heavy... all the Puppets were pressing down on the girl's weakened frame.

They showed no mercy, only emitting constant mockery.

"This is the end for humans."

"Humans are all losers!"

Above the girl, the blood of her friend dripped down.

Drip!

Drip!

She could do nothing.

I can do nothing.

Why?

Why?

Why?

It's like this every time!