I WILL become the Herrscher of Flames!

Luo Mo thought for a while and decided to just pretend that nothing happened.

Honestly, the best move was probably just to let this whole thing go.

After all, they were going to be neighbors for a while. It was like dealing with your own employees – sure, they might grumble about you under their breath, but do you really care? Not really.

You just tell them to stay late for a few hours, toss them some extra cash, and life goes on.

By the way, if we talk about it when we get to St. Freya — Raven, you don't want anything to happen to those children, right?

Isn't this a bit too devilish?

He looks down on such people! Luo Mo was secretly angry,

And secretly said that it was a pity to give up this plan.

Raven's heart did a double-take when she saw the group – especially Fu Hua.

Before, she'd just chalked up her loss as bad luck.

But now, knowing who she was up against? Well, suddenly it didn't feel so unfair.

she just hopes that the other party will stop being so evil.

Then again, even if Luo Mo couldn't take her in a fight, the guy could definitely outrun her if he needed to.

Especially with that crew behind him – Kiana, Mei, Durandal, Rita... Schicksal really pulled out the big guns for this one.

Raven mumbled under her breath.

Not that any of this was her problem, of course.

She was just a humble World Serpent member, trying to live her life.

" So, when will we set off? " Raven glanced at Sora and the other kids.

These children always seemed to grew up abnormally here, but she'd had to keep them hidden for their own safety.

Now, it was finally time for them to venture out into the world.

Not that Raven had strong feelings about it one way or the other.

" Let's go, " Luo Mo smiled, his eyes undecided.

Luo Mo Raising his head, looking at the thick clouds that separated the completely different skies on both sides of the city.

Before them, the crumbling remains of Nagazora City stretched out – deserted, overgrown, and eerily silent.

The river flowed by, slow and steady. Yet, every now and then, a prickle of danger would ripple through the air, a hint of wild beasts lurking in the shadows.

This is due to the effectiveness of his three stigmata, His perception of Honkai is better than that of ordinary Valkyries.

"First things first, let's get those kids out of here. Besides, we've got another job while we're in town – gotta take care of that nasty Honkai problem in Nagazora City."

Luo Mo couldn't help but admire Raven for managing to keep all those kids alive in such a desolate place. Then again, she'd probably get that dream villa of hers soon enough.

Saint Freya was practically a small island paradise – talk about achieving your life goals with one job change!

Wait, why did he suddenly feel that there was a problem with his safety?

Raven... she wouldn't blow up Theresa Saint Freya, right?

If the other party really has some unknown weapon of causality, the island of the villa she owns will explode.

Is that what Kevin thought? Wow, you are really despicable, Kevin. I didn't expect your eyes to be so big and your mind to be so evil.

Luo Mo thought about it in his mind. If Theresa's St. Freya exploded, would Theresa be like a raven?

——Pace, run, roll, and then make an oath under the sunset, will you definitely defeat Honkai?

It seems a little funny... and a little funny,

"You've got that weird look in your eye again," Raven remarked, crossing her arms. Her figure was, well... distracting, to say the least. It defied all known laws of physics.

Luo Mo found himself intensely curious about her ahoge – it practically glowed.

He had a powerful urge to give it a little tug, just to see what would happen.

" By the way, are you really not worried about a spy like me? "raven couldn't help asking,

Although she said she would settle the grudges at the beginning, adults are more particular about their stance. Anyway, she didn't have any expectations for her life there.

As long as she is from the World Serpent side, this reason is enough.

It doesn't matter, she has been to no matter how bad the environment is. As long as Theresa's place won't abuse the children, it's better than staying here anyway.

Ever since Raven found out about that imaginary number singularity lurking beneath Nagazora City, she'd been a weird mix of terrified and relieved.

Terrified because, hello, ticking time bomb.

Relieved because now she had a way out.

It was like living next door to a crazy neighbor with a shed full of fireworks – scary, but also a potential escape route.

It's not a good idea to rely on Gray serpent to save them, Who knows if the other party will also covet those children?

Unless she could strike a deal with Kevin leader like in the game, but... Raven glanced at Kiana and Mei, who were already swarmed by the kids.

Mei, especially, was getting mobbed.

Well, so much for that plan.

"I'm worried, sure, but World Serpent threw you under the bus – what can we do?" Luo Mo answered, his gaze still fixated on Raven's unyielding ahoge.

It quivered slightly in the wind, like some kind of defiant flag.

Sure enough, the human body is very magical.

Compared with the flexible raven, the other party's dull hair more vividly demonstrates this characteristic of hers.

"Kevin's meaning is obvious. He wants to know about the progress on our side. As for the benefits, he doesn't use it at all. As for you, Raven, it's obvious that you were sent there with the children."

"... Same, " Raven sighed. In the gap between several big forces, a little person like her could only let it go.

However, judging from their actions as the protagonists in the game, they are kind enough.

"Alright then, consider me your newest employee. Just keep me away from those top-secret files – too much drama for my taste."

"Speaking of which, Raven, have you ever considered event planning?" Luo Mo stroked his chin thoughtfully. Su Lu's role as an editor wasn't cutting it anymore.

He needed someone who could really get the players hyped, and Raven, well... she had a certain disgruntled charm, and she'd been on the wrong side of the fence before.

Honestly, Luo Mo's first choices had been Anna or Susana. A Valkyrie would probably handle the pressure better, but Raven had potential...

"Yeah, no thanks," Raven immediately shot back. Zero interest in that kind of job – getting roasted by players, stressing about accidentally breaking core mechanics...Nope.

Honestly, she just wanted to be a low-key programmer. Or, if bugs were a major concern, she could always go back to being a bartender. Pride wasn't as important as a peaceful life, after all!

" It's okay, just give me your name, Raven, it's not a big problem ~"

Luo Mo patted her shoulder and comforted her kindly.

raven opened her mouth, looked at the 'harmless' young man in front of her, and said nothing for a long time.

Finally, she sighed again and swallowed.

"Wow, teacher, look, I got the autographs of Kiana and Raiden Mei ~, the real-life version! "

Sora excitedly came over with the paper, and the names of Kiana and Mei were clearly written on it. In the eyes of the children, the two of them had quite a great influence as the protagonists.

"Okay, Sora, we will go to a very beautiful island later, "

Raven bent down, touched Sora's head, and said softly,

There was still a faint trace of blood on her hands, the lingering scent of her past as a mercenary.

Good or bad hardly mattered anymore.

But when it came to these kids, she'd meant what she said.

Letting them loose in a world ravaged by Honkai, or turning them into World Serpent guinea pigs...those were the easy paths.

And she'd never taken them.

"Don't you worry, that island isn't going to explode anytime soon." Luo Mo reassured them, then promptly earned a weird look from Sora.

"...Anyway, you'll be getting a proper education there," he continued. "Get ready to dive into the thrilling world of mathematics! Exams! Tests! Endless homework!" Luo Mo figured it was best to give them a taste of the challenges ahead, lest they pop the champagne too early.

"The goal is to make sure none of you end up like me," Raven added bluntly.

"...Actually, I want to be well-rounded, just like you, teacher!" Sora piped up.

"Haha, should I take that as a compliment?" Raven replied, a wry smile playing on her lips.

"That's right! I want to be just like you, teacher!" Another child chimed in enthusiastically.

...

The singularity will close in two days. We also need to factor in the closing time for the imaginary number singularity.

In this regard, Dr. Tesla and Dr. Einstein of the anti-entropy team conducted a detailed analysis based on the report provided by an unknown green-haired lady with a tough mouth.

Ideally, we'd close the singularity at the same time we opened it – that would be the most efficient way. However, we need to be mindful of the impact on nearby residents.

If the singularity is operating at full strength, Schicksal won't be able to hide what's happening and destruction that will happen to other half city.

The best solution is to close the singularity while it's only partially exposed. This will help minimize any noticeable changes and reduce potential disruption.

The singularity releases a massive amount of Honkai energy, which would cause unbearable pain for anyone except a Herrscher. This concentrated burst is enough to trigger a Herrscher's awakening and allow them to absorb most of the energy.

Mei was originally the chosen candidate for this process.

It was meant to begin with her and end with her.

There's a sense of things coming full circle – the Honkai, the singularity, old conflicts and ties... it would all reach a dramatic conclusion at the same place where her destiny began, mirroring the events of the game.

However, Mei is having second thoughts. She's hesitating.

[Why, you become coward again? why are you still hesitating now? Don't you know, you are still a half-baked Herrscher now. ]

Another personality inside the body is still chattering,

"I know, that's why I want to figure out who you are... After meeting Seele, Kiana, and Sirin in the game, I realized you're fundamentally different from them," Mei thought back then.

Honestly, there's a part of her that regrets that decision now.

"So, Kiana is the one who'll become the Herrscher to close this singularity?" Mei asked, looking up at the giant purple cross forming in the sky.

She turned to Luo Mo, who stood beside her.

"Yes... but Mei, this isn't your burden to carry," Luo Mo replied.

He was just as shocked by the scene before him. The game barely showed the true extent of a Herrscher's power – it's far more terrifying than he'd imagined.

The sky still shines bright, but dark clouds are gathering, their shadows creeping across the sun. Purple lightning crackles, making you think a storm is coming, but something feels different...

The river below looks calm on the surface, but there's a strange energy rippling beneath. If you look close, the reflection isn't quite right. There are flashes of dragons, howling winds, peaceful meadows... cherry blossoms swirling around statues of gods and foxes.

It's daytime, but stars flicker faintly in the river's depths. It's like countless worlds are opening up for just a moment, letting us peek inside. Suddenly, a train rushes past in the reflection, and those worlds fade into fragments. You see hints of their former life, their brilliance, as if they reached for the impossible.

But now, they're just echoes, glimpses of what might have been.

"'This isn't my burden to carry'..." Mei forced a bitter smile. Her hand tightened on her sword, but she knew she couldn't bring herself to strike the girl facing that terrifying vision.

"But what if I had been stronger..." she whispered, a pang of regret echoing in her voice.

"Even if you were, I would've stopped you, Kiana...she has to become a Herrscher." Luo Mo replied firmly. He might be wavering inside, but he knew the right path.

It was all about reducing the risk – and if there was no other option, he'd have to step up himself.

"I don't understand...why?" Durandal's voice was barely a whisper. Her eyes were fixed on the girl – her sister, Kiana – clutching the Haste gem with a mix of fear and determination.

Durandal had never heard anything about Kiana Plan becoming a Herrscher before.

Before coming, she couldn't help but ask the bishop directly, but…

Even Kallen couldn't give a clear answer, only vague promises that Kiana would be safe.

But how could becoming a Herrscher ever be safe? The risks were too great.

" Well, because in the game, Kiana will also become the Herrscher of Fire?"

Luo Mo said softly, " Besides, compared to the challenges after this, a Herrscher Gem is actually the easiest. "

He's right, there are plenty of candidates for the Gem of Haste.

Both Sirin, the original Owner, and Himeko seem like better fits than Kiana.

However, the final chapter 'cocoon of finality' solved by Kiana, and Luo Mo doesn't want to gamble on someone from this world failing where Kiana succeeded.

" Perhaps, as the game says, the world is waiting for her to become a hero..."

Luo Mo said leisurely, but his eyes looking at Kiana were full of expectation.

If the other party can succeed... No, Kiana must succeed.

He'd asked Elysia to manipulate the gem, adding her own stigma power as a safeguard.

But that power is a double-edged sword – it won't activate unless things go desperately wrong.

If Kiana fails, Mei... your Kiana will be absorbed into Elysia's energy... that Mobius theory (and maybe, just maybe, there's the tiniest chance she'll connect with the real Elysia through that process).

Mei felt powerless, unable to understand why her boss was so certain of this path. She wanted to protest, to argue, but something always held her back.

Maybe it was the fact that she hadn't personally faced the same crushing despair Kiana had in the game.

Or perhaps it was because she wasn't yet a fully awakened Herrscher of Thunder.

Or maybe it was a deep-seated trust in her boss's judgment...

In the end, she decided to respect Kiana's choice. "Kiana..."

Mei looked at the other person's back, as if she had returned to this place a few years ago. At that time, she was also looking at the other person's back,

You appeared in my life like a gift, bringing something to look forward to.

But I was terrified you'd fade away, like a shooting star.

I can't imagine life without you anymore, so...

...

"Failure isn't an option! Kiana, attack!"

Kiana gently blocked the wind in front of her with one hand, and suddenly crushed the gem in the container with one hand.

Two white twin ponytails were floating behind them, and the windbreakers on their bodies were making a sound.

Her twin white ponytails danced wildly behind her, her windbreaker whipping in the chaotic air. The moment the gem touched her skin, she felt a blazing heat spread through her.

It wasn't just physical – this heat seemed to sear into her very soul.

Hot——, every part of her body is sending out tingling signals, and countless Honkai energy is swimming in her body,

Red lines flashed across her skin, appearing and disappearing in a frantic rhythm, as if her body struggled to maintain some kind of balance.

"So...this is what Teacher Himeko went through?" Kiana managed a bitter smile; it didn't seem to affect her at all. Her eyes remained clear and blue, like moonlight shimmering beneath the water's surface.

"Finally, I can experience it for myself. It hurts like hell," she admitted, taking a sharp breath but refusing to scream.

——She knew they were watching her, those standing at her back.

Kiana's smile seemed a bit reckless, a single tear slipping down her cheek.

For a fleeting moment, she saw Himeko's figure, but then realized it was just an illusion, a trick of her burning senses.

"Alright, let's bring it on! It's just a Herrscher, and I... I can handle it!" Kiana said through gritted teeth.

She won't give up, not now.

She's chosen this path, the path of growth, and she won't quit halfway.

Besides...

"Teacher Himeko wouldn't give in to the pain, and neither will I!"

The heat of the gem sears her skin, Honkai energy surging wildly through her veins. Kiana fights back a scream, her eyes blazing with defiance.

She declared!!

"I'm Kiana Kaslana, and I WILL become the Herrscher of Flames – on my own terms!"