Save One Person, or Save the Entire City?

Woo—

The sound of the horn stretched long as the maglev train sped along the tracks, creating a fierce gust of wind in its wake. Amid the chaos, two figures leapt from the train unnoticed.

Between flickering shadows, they disappeared again.

The white-haired girl landed on the tracks, her movements swift and precise. In the very next second, she propelled herself forward, leaping onto another foothold with ease.

Mei followed closely behind, her toes lightly tapping on the maglev tracks before springing high into the air. She was chasing after Kiana.

"Kiana…" Mei called out, her voice strained. Despite her determination, her physical abilities were no match for the Herrscher-transformed Kiana. She was falling behind.

The relentless chase took its toll. Mei's vision blurred as exhaustion drained her strength. Even the back of the white-haired figure ahead of her seemed to distort and waver. For a fleeting moment, a haunting image flashed in her mind—Kiana, leaving her behind.

No. She clenched her teeth, pushing away the thought. That vision was a lie. It had to be.

With resolve burning in her chest, Mei reached out and gripped the steel frame supporting her. With all her might, she hurled herself forward, forcing her body to close the distance to Kiana.

Haa~

The drain on her physical strength was relentless—something her sheer willpower couldn't overcome. Mei's legs wobbled, nearly giving way beneath her. But she forced herself to rise again. She didn't dare stop. If she did, she feared she would never catch up to Kiana again.

She jumped from a high place once more, but this time, luck betrayed her. One foot landed securely on the narrow steel frame, but the other missed its mark. Her entire body wavered, teetering on the edge of disaster.

Before she knew it, she was falling.

Her body was suspended in mid-air, tumbling toward the ground. Desperately, Mei reached out, fingers brushing the cold steel frame—but it wasn't enough. She couldn't find leverage.

The sky loomed above her, indifferent and vast. Mei's heart sank as she plummeted. A strange numbness enveloped her, a weightless emptiness that drained even the will to fight. In that moment, she silently prepared to embrace her end.

But then, she landed—not on the unforgiving ground, but in someone's arms.

Her eyes fluttered open, and through her blurred vision, she saw Kiana. The tears came instantly, unbidden and raw.

"Ki… Kiana," Mei sobbed. "I thought you didn't want me anymore."

"Don't be silly."

Kiana's voice was soft, her tone tinged with exasperation and warmth. After setting Mei down gently, she helped her regain her balance. With a tender touch, she wiped the tears from Mei's cheeks, her helpless smile lighting up the somber moment.

She hadn't realized it before, but how come it felt like Mei had grown even more dependent on her after their long separation?

Kiana sighed inwardly. She was just an ordinary girl, one who also craved the comfort of relying on others. Even the courage she carried wasn't truly hers—it had been borrowed from someone else.

But Mei needed her support. And when her friend needed her, Kiana wouldn't hesitate.

The journey had drained much of their stamina. Kiana helped Mei sit down, her gaze drifting toward the distant signal tower.

According to the information, they still had over an hour before the bomb was set to detonate—plenty of time to reach their destination. Yet unease gnawed at her heart.

Her nerves tightened as the feeling intensified.

Fu Hua's calm voice cut through the silence, her tone sharp and alert. "The concentration of Honkai energy in the air is rising. It hasn't reached a level dangerous to ordinary humans yet, but… this isn't normal."

Kiana's head snapped toward her. Just as she opened her mouth to ask more, an intense wave of Honkai energy erupted around them.

The air itself seemed to tremble.

High concentrations of Honkai energy, deliberately set by World Serpent, had become a beacon. It wasn't long before their signal was answered.

Honkai beasts began to emerge...

Honkai?!

This unforeseen event had completely disrupted her plans.

Kiana's expression darkened as her gaze shifted toward the hospital. Just as she feared, a Honkai beast attack was also unfolding there.

"No!"

Her heart trembled. A sinking premonition rose within her. And worse—there were signs that the Honkai bomb at the signal tower was activating. The concentration of Honkai energy was rising steadily, faster than it should have.

"Something isn't right," Fu Hua remarked, her tone sharp and analytical. "If the bomb was set for four hours, the concentration of Honkai energy shouldn't be rising so soon."

But Kiana wasn't listening anymore.

She stood abruptly, taking a few steps toward the hospital. "No, I have to go back."

Mei had also noticed the unsettling changes in the air but didn't fully grasp the situation. Confusion filled her voice as she called out, "Go back? Who are you going back for?"

Kiana stopped in her tracks, her back stiffening. She turned slowly, looking at Mei with an unreadable expression. She opened her mouth to speak but hesitated. No words came out.

Finally, she walked back to Mei and placed her hands gently on Mei's shoulders. Her voice was low but firm. "I'm sorry, Mei, but there's someone very important that I have to save. Can you go to the signal tower first? I promise I'll catch up."

Mei's response was immediate. She grabbed Kiana's sleeve, her grip trembling with determination. "No. I'll go with you. I won't leave you again."

"But…"

But what? Kiana herself didn't know. Something deep inside told her she shouldn't let Mei know about Ren.

Although they were both her friends, somewhere along the way, Ren's place in her heart had grown heavier and heavier.

They had only known each other for a month, yet it felt like she had experienced more in ARC City than during all her years at St. Freya. In those dark days, his presence had been essential.

Perhaps it was the awakening of the Herrscher of the Void that had changed her. At St. Freya, she had lived a carefree life, sheltered and lighthearted. But those days had crumbled into shadow, leaving her desperate for someone—anyone—to pull her out.

And Ren had been that person.

He had reached into her darkness, pulled her back to the light, and allowed her to see her friends again. Even now, standing beside Mei, Kiana realized she had drawn an invisible line between Ren and the others.

He was different.

The weight of that realization struck her. Ren was different. The feelings she carried for him went beyond simple friendship.

But there wasn't time to dwell on it.

The shrill wail of sirens tore through the air, piercing her thoughts. The city trembled under their cry. It wasn't just the hospital under siege—the entire city center was now in the grip of a great Honkai disaster.

Looking at Kiana's changing expression, Mei's heart felt empty.

The sensitive Mei had already noticed that the "him" Kiana mentioned held a special place in her heart.

Taking a deep breath, Mei forced a smile. She looked at Kiana, her voice steady despite the ache in her chest. "It's okay. Go back and save him. I'll be waiting for you."

"Mei…"

Kiana's heart wavered. The hospital and the signal tower were now in completely opposite directions after their long journey. If she went back to save Ren, she'd undoubtedly miss the chance to reach the signal tower.

Time was slipping away. The bomb could detonate at any moment.

It was a gamble—a reckless, desperate gamble with no guarantee of success.

Save one person, or save the entire city?

The question clawed at her, leaving her paralyzed in its grip.

…

「Are you still thinking about it? You're the savior, Kiana.」

The boy's voice echoed in her ears, soft yet unwavering.

Kiana's head snapped up, her gaze drawn to the hospital. For a fleeting moment, it was as if she saw him—Ren—sitting by the window, staring out at her with quiet resolve.