Consolation

As dawn broke, the dark clouds from the previous night had completely vanished.

The first rays of sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting warm beams into the hospital room. The soft light illuminated two figures within.

Kiana, worn down by pain and exhaustion, was slumped against the side of the bed, sound asleep.

Ren, lying in the bed, had already woken up. His gaze was fixed on Kiana, watching her in silence.

For the sake of that "performance" last night, he had been planning for two months.

The execution hadn't been flawless—there were countless unexpected twists along the way—but in the end, he had achieved the outcome he wanted.

Only by experiencing the deepest despair could one truly understand the beauty of the world.

Only by being lost in the darkest abyss could one yearn for the light all the more.

Kiana was strong.

But strength wasn't static—it needed care, nurturing, and constant refinement to grow.

This world had never been kind.

Since birth, Kiana had endured the relentless malice of humanity.

Ren, as the chosen Herrscher of Thousands, had experienced that same cruelty in his previous life. He had been consumed and destroyed by it. No one understood the dangers lurking in the human heart better than he did.

That was why he had turned all of ARC City into a stage for her.

He had given her the heaviest burden of pain and, in turn, the deepest salvation.

Like steel forged in fire, she would emerge tempered—strong, resilient, and unwavering. Never again would she feel lost in the currents of her life.

She would become the sharpest weapon to tear apart the lies shrouding this world.

And she would be the flame to light up the darkness of the Dominance Theater.

With Ren's series of operations, Heliopolis Life Sciences Pharmaceutical was now half-destroyed.

The Honkai beast, created from [Mother], had fulfilled its final mission by falling to Kiana's power.

Heliopolis Life Sciences Pharmaceutical was doomed to come under Schicksal's scrutiny. And the World Serpent, operating from the shadows, would undoubtedly strike back in retaliation.

Meanwhile, Rita and Raven had reached a stalemate. After battling for an extended period without either gaining the upper hand, they had no choice but to temporarily retreat.

Rita's next step was clear. She would find the Eos and summon reinforcements. With the Immortal Blades squad, she would spearhead a full-scale investigation into ARC City.

Raven, however, had a different plan. She would return to Heliopolis Life Sciences Pharmaceutical to upgrade her equipment.

With Jackal—a brilliant scientist—on her side and the advantage of home turf, the World Serpent wasn't afraid of Schicksal's interference.

Luring Rita and Raven away had all been part of Ren's plan—to create the scene from last night and give him a moment alone with Kiana.

Ren knew Kiana still had many unresolved issues, but that didn't matter. As long as she no longer rejected the Herrscher of the Void's powers, she would one day become the strongest Herrscher.

After all, if Otto could nurture Durandal for the sake of reviving Kallen, was it unreasonable for Ren to nurture a Herrscher of the Void?

"So, you have to make this world the way I want it to be…" Ren murmured softly, his gaze resting on Kiana as the sunlight bathed her in its golden glow.

While his thoughts wandered, Kiana stirred. Her eyelashes fluttered as if sensing the light, and then she slowly opened her eyes.

"Ren, you're awake!"

Noticing him, Kiana immediately leaned closer. She didn't even bother wiping the drool from the corner of her lips. Instead, she hurried to adjust the bed, making it more comfortable for him to lie down.

"Does your body still hurt? Should I call a doctor?"

Seeing the worry on Kiana's face, Ren shook his head and forced a weak smile. "I'm okay… Could you get me a glass of water?"

His voice was soft, almost fragile. His face was pale, the lingering effects of severe blood loss evident. The Honkai energy erosion had left his body temporarily paralyzed. His legs felt numb, and the reality of spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair loomed over him.

"Okay."

Despite the situation, Kiana felt a surge of relief. What she had feared most was Ren waking up and refusing to speak to her, a clear sign that he might hold a grudge. She quickly poured some warm water from the dispenser, found a spoon, and carefully fed it to him.

Ren sipped slowly, his condition making even this simple act seem monumental. Once finished, an awkward silence fell over the room.

Kiana sat quietly beside the bed, watching him. Ren, however, turned his gaze to the window. His eyes lingered on the birds chirping in the treetops and the boundless blue sky beyond. In them, a faint longing flickered—one for freedom and a life unburdened by pain.

Kiana, who had been carefully observing Ren, immediately noticed the change in his expression. Her heart clenched. He must have realized that his body wouldn't move.

Determined to lift his spirits, Kiana forced a smile and stepped closer. She interrupted his gaze with a cheerful voice. "It's fine! The doctor said your condition is temporary. With some recovery time, you'll definitely regain your mobility."

Her tone was reassuring, but deep inside, doubt gnawed at her.

The doctor had also mentioned something else—something far more worrying. In addition to the severe blood loss and Honkai energy erosion, there was an unknown illness lurking in Ren's body. It was undetectable but deadly, silently shortening his lifespan.

Even if he underwent prolonged treatment, the road to recovery would be long and arduous. It might take years for him to regain the use of his limbs, and even then, returning to his former health seemed almost impossible.

Kiana clenched her fists, hiding her uncertainty behind a brave face. For now, she couldn't let Ren see her fear.

"Hmm," came a soft murmur from Ren's throat before he fell silent again.

Kiana's anxiety grew with every passing second. Ren's quietness felt heavy, almost suffocating. She could sense his mental state spiraling into self-denial. It was all too familiar—she had walked that same path before. But unlike back then, when Teacher Himeko had always been there to guide her, Kiana now found herself utterly lost.

What should I say? How can I help him? The questions clawed at her, but no answers came.

The silence stretched, almost unbearable, until finally, Ren stirred. After what felt like an eternity of deep thought, he turned his gaze away from the window and looked at her.

"The sunlight outside is very nice," he said softly. His voice was weak but steady. "How about you take me outside for a walk?"

The suggestion hit Kiana like a lifeline. Her face lit up with relief as she quickly nodded. Without wasting a moment, she dashed to borrow a wheelchair from the nurse. Moments later, she was wheeling Ren out of the ward, letting the warm morning light wash over them.

Because there had been a Honkai outbreak the previous night, the hospital was overwhelmed with injured patients. Many, like Ren, had lost their ability to walk. Heliopolis Life Sciences Pharmaceutical had stepped in to cover all treatment fees related to the outbreak.

This generosity allowed even those without financial resources, like Ren, to receive care, significantly boosting the company's public image among civilians.

However, no amount of financial support could heal the emotional scars left by the Honkai. As Kiana pushed Ren's wheelchair through the hospital's public garden, the grim reality was on full display. Patients who had lost their mobility were sobbing uncontrollably. Others mourned the loss of loved ones, their wails echoing in the air.

The garden, bathed in warm sunlight, should have been a place of comfort. Instead, it felt heavier, more oppressive, than the wards inside.

Sensing the shift in atmosphere, Kiana quickened her pace, hoping to escape the weight of the surrounding despair.

After a moment of silence, Ren's soft voice broke through.

"Have they… been properly buried?"

Her footsteps suddenly stopped. Kiana's hands, which were pushing the wheelchair, trembled slightly. The scenes from last night resurfaced again. She suddenly remembered that Ren's mother and Griseo had both died.

And they had died by my hand.

It turned out… that he had seen it.

She had thought that she would be able to leave a hope to live on in Ren's heart, but now the last shred of luck had been shattered. Kiana had become silent. She closed her eyes, and tears trickled down her cheeks, falling onto Ren's body.

"I'm sorry."