Chapter 392: A Request
The Elysian Realm—Kalpas's domain.
Among all the Flame-Chasers, Kalpas possessed the most brutal temperament and the most extreme way of life.
Thus, his world was one of fire, blades, and raging tempests.
"Mr. Kalpas, sorry to trouble you again."
Standing amid the burning ruins, Raiden Mei held her sword and bowed politely into the empty wasteland.
Then she let out a faint sigh—there was no scenery here, only the constant brush with death the moment she stepped foot inside.
That was the deepest impression this place left on her.
The next instant, the sea of flames surged like boiling water.
From within the rising blaze emerged Kalpas, wearing the demon-like mask crowned with sharp horns and fangs.
"You've come again to suffer? Am I being too gentle with you?"
"…You call everything up to now gentle?"
"Isn't it? You're still alive—that alone proves my mercy."
"I understand. Your sense of humor is… worth savoring."
Mei exhaled and lifted her sword. "But let's get to the main topic. Please—teach me."
Cold mist spread from Setsuna as she raised it in both hands, her gaze sharp and unwavering.
"Hahahaha!"
Kalpas threw his head back in wild laughter, flames coiling around him as crushing killing intent poured out naturally from his body.
The next moment, blade and fist collided.
A shockwave ripped the ground apart.
BOOM!!
A single explosive greeting—equal in brutality from both sides.
What followed was a barrage of clashing steel and detonating punches.
The two accelerated beyond what ordinary vision could follow, colliding across the scorched earth and sky, accompanied by explosions, freezing winds, surging lightning—Honkai energy continuously breaking its limits.
Bang!
Half an hour later, Raiden Mei crashed into the ground.
She stabbed her sword into the earth to break the momentum, sliding for a long distance before barely managing to stabilize herself.
She looked up—and, as expected, saw Kalpas descending from the sky in a storm of flames, laughing like a mad beast.
"Hahahaha! Die!!"
BOOM!!!
The ground split into four long fissures—yet Kalpas had struck nothing.
Instead, Raiden Mei appeared behind him in midair.
The enormous lightning-forged armor born from her Authority manifested twin massive blades of thunder.
"Sever!"
With a sharp shout, her sword light and lightning crashed down together.
No named technique, no formal style—in a fight with Kalpas, there was no room to pay attention to such things.
Raiden Mei had only one thought:
Faster. Stronger. Again. And again.
RUMBLE!!
The ground suffered yet another devastating strike.
The surface of the land was overturned for miles, deep scars slicing through the earth, lightning crawling in every direction—the destructive might of the Herrscher of Thunder unleashed without restraint.
"Still not enough…"
"I'm not a fusion warrior. I'm a Herrscher."
"A fusion warrior's power lies within their body—vast, but finite. My power lies within the Imaginary Portal—infinite."
"To be faster, stronger—every swing must be everything I have…"
"If I'm a Herrscher, then this is how I should fight!"
Mei tightened her grip on Setsuna.
Frost and lightning burst outward.
Swoosh!
With a piercing shriek, she dove into the dust-filled wasteland in a streak of thunder.
And sure enough, as she charged in, the dust cloud echoed with Kalpas's increasingly inhuman, beast-like laughter.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Collision after collision.
The two showed no sign of weakening; instead, their speed and power climbed like a curve shooting straight upward.
Three hours passed.
Kalpas was covered in wounds, his voice and movements growing more feral—the power he displayed was already far beyond what he had shown at the start.
BOOM!!!
Mei no longer knew how many times she had been sent flying.
Her body slammed into the ground once more, pain blooming across her abdomen as if molten lava had pierced through her.
She sucked in a sharp breath.
"Hiss… What a monster. Theoretically, my energy is infinite, so why does my power keep falling short of his…? No—retreat!"
BOOM!!!
Kalpas stood in the center of the shattered crater, alone.
He threw his head back, roaring toward the sky—a colossal shockwave erupting with his thunderous howl, sweeping across the entire world.
…
In a world of falling sakura petals, Raiden Mei staggered toward the small table, dropping to her knees beside the cushion.
She braced herself with her sword to stay upright, breath uneven and ragged.
Blood seeped through the cracks of her shattered oni armor.
Sakura approached with a basin of warm water.
Mei turned her head and forced a faint smile.
The hardened armor dissolved from her body, leaving only torn scraps of cloth—barely covering her battered, wound-covered form.
"Sigh…"
Sakura wrung a towel, exhaling softly as she began wiping Mei's body clean.
Letting go of her sword, Mei relaxed into a casual, duck-like sitting posture.
She allowed Sakura to remove what remained of her shredded clothing, quietly tending to the battlefield's marks left across her skin.
"You lasted even longer today. It's good to be hardworking, but don't push yourself too far. Kalpas… isn't exactly normal. Don't try to compete with him."
"I'm not competing with him. I'm squeezing everything out of myself. Mr. Kalpas is an excellent teacher. Fighting him forces me to constantly push my reaction time and output to the limit. I'm gaining a lot."
"You're really stubborn. But… well, to fight Honkai, stubbornness is a necessity. Keep it up. I believe in you."
"Thank you, Miss Sakura."
Bare-skinned from the waist up, Mei fully relaxed, trusting herself to Sakura's careful hands as she worked.
This scene had repeated itself so many times that even the normally modest, reserved Mei had long grown used to it.
She felt no discomfort anymore.
After a long while, Mei's body was wrapped neatly in bandages.
She changed into a clean light yukata and sat elegantly at the small tea table, lifting the cup Sakura had brewed for her.
Sssip—
Mei drank a small mouthful, easing her thirst.
She looked across at Sakura with a serene, almost intoxicating smile as her graceful hands moved like a dance, gently wiping down and maintaining the beautiful Setsuna—itself an artwork.
A beautiful woman, a beautiful blade, framed by drifting sakura petals—a scene like a painting.
"Miss Sakura," Mei spoke softly, "do you think… I'm qualified to take this sword with me now?"
"Oh? That's the kind of question most people ask when they're about to leave."
Sakura let out a light laugh.
Her pink long ears twitched slightly—an absentminded gesture of beauty that could daze anyone who saw it.
Mei paused for a moment before smiling faintly.
"Because… I truly am about to leave."
"So soon?"
Sakura's smile froze.
The surprise hit her before she could hide it—followed quickly by quiet disappointment.
It was rare for a guest to visit her.
Mei smiled apologetically.
"I can feel myself nearing my limit. My growth has slowed significantly these past sessions. And… I can't keep Sigurd and the others waiting. Can I?"
"Well… I suppose you're right."
Sakura sighed. "As for Setsuna—of course you can take it. As long as it helps you."
She lifted the freshly polished blade, its edge shining like a mirror of frost, and placed it gently on the table before Mei.
Mei set down her tea.
Her expression turned solemn as she bowed deeply to Sakura.
"I'm truly grateful. I'll cherish and use it to the fullest. For the sake of the Epoch Civilizations, for defeating Honkai—I'll give everything I have."
"Good. I can feel your resolve. I'm at ease entrusting the sword to you."
Sakura watched Mei with a warm, blessing-like smile.
Then, she ran her fingertips along the cold blade.
Her eyes softened with a complicated emotion, and she let out a gentle sigh.
"Come to think of it… Kevin sent Setsuna here all those years ago, but he never told me whether Rin was safe."
"That question has troubled me for so long. Even though fifty thousand years have passed… even though whatever happened, Rin is long gone by now…"
"I just… want to know. In the end… did I use this sword to protect my sister properly?"
"Miss Sakura…"
Raiden Mei tightened her hands, hesitating as silence settled over her.
After receiving training from Sigurd and Einstein, Mei considered herself a cautious, rational person.
So before coming here, she deliberately researched everything she could about Sakura and Kalpas.
There wasn't much on Kalpas—only a general understanding of his temperament.
But Sakura… and her younger sister Rin—the Herrscher of Corruption of the previous era, now the sword spirit Higokumaru of the Jizo Mitama—on that subject, Mei had learned almost everything.
Yet seeing Sakura lost in memories and sorrow, Mei no longer had the courage to speak that truth aloud.
The Sakura here in the Elysian Realm was clearly a memory copy from before Rin's incident, before Sakura defected.
It made sense—after defecting, Sakura died shortly afterward while trying to stop and save her sister. During that desperate struggle, she would have had no opportunity to upload updated memories into the Elysian Realm.
Mei knew the Sakura before her had no idea what happened to Rin… or how it ended.
She didn't know the tragic fate awaiting the sisters.
And throughout their exchanges, Sakura would often subconsciously mention Rin—revealing just how deep her affection and longing ran.
If Mei told her the truth… Sakura might very well break.
So—just like Kevin back then—perhaps letting this Sakura remain unaware forever… was the kinder choice?
Mei stayed silent, her emotions sinking, weighed down by melancholy.
Sakura only shook her head with a soft laugh.
"Sorry. I was just saying nonsense. It's all so long past—knowing or not won't change anything. Just pretend I didn't say it. Come, rest early today. We can continue sword training tomorrow."
"…Alright. You rest early too, Miss Sakura."
Mei replied respectfully, watching Sakura leave the room.
A moment later, her shoulders drooped slightly—a hint of defeat in her posture.
Sakura had treated her so well, helping her tremendously… yet Mei had given nothing in return.
And the fate of Sakura and Rin was truly heart-wrenching.
Because of that, her mood sank further.
Mei sat quietly for a long while, gazing at Setsuna on the table.
She sighed… then contacted Sigurd.
"Mr. Sigurd, when I return to reality, I'd like to speak with Miss Higokumaru. Is that alright?"
"If it helps you feel better, of course."
Sigurd's cool voice came from the communicator in her hand.
Mei's lips twitched.
"Mr. Sigurd… were you watching us just now?"
"Yes."
His answer was brutally honest, as always.
Mei's face instantly flushed—he had been watching the whole time?
Meaning Sakura helping her undress… wiping her body… even when she changed clothes… all of that had been visible to him?
Then Sigurd added in an indifferent tone:
"Relax. I didn't look at your naked body. I'm a married man—I have at least that much restraint."
"…I see."
Mei replied dryly, unsure whether to feel relieved for her modesty's sake or insulted on behalf of her charm.
"Anything else?"
"Yes. I'd like a sword—one that can complement my Herrscher powers, something to pair with Setsuna."
"It's already made. In final adjustments. I should be able to give it to you within a few days."
"Thank you very much, Mr. Sigurd."
The call ended, and Mei allowed herself a soft smile.
As expected of Sigurd—always meticulous, always reliable, someone whose very presence gave others immense peace of mind.
No wonder Kiana and the others were drawn to him.
For a girl, feeling that you can always depend on someone like that… who could resist?
"…Sigh…"
Mei exhaled softly.
For some reason, just thinking about that left a faint, inexplicable discomfort in her chest.
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