Fresh flesh and blood.
Food.
Desire.
Driven by instinct, the tiger-headed monster raised a palm as large as a car and struck toward Kiana, intending to grab her, stuff her into its mouth, and chew—devouring the nourishment of her flesh.
How would Kiana respond?
Ruan Mei watched intently, her gaze fixed on Kiana's condition.
Unexpectedly, Kiana didn't dodge. Instead, she met the monster's descending palm with her fist.
A wave exploded outward from the point of impact.
Ruan Mei watched as the tiger-headed monster actually retracted its hand and staggered backward several steps. Even she couldn't help but stare in astonishment.
Had she... won purely by brute strength?
But the most shocking part was yet to come. Ruan Mei hadn't expected that Kiana's first battle would end in such a way.
The tiger-headed creature, having suffered a blow, was just about to retaliate when Kiana suddenly appeared behind it—and in the next instant, the monster was sent flying with a single punch.
Kiana's strength was terrifying, but her speed was no less so. The moment she struck, she also gave chase. To an outside observer, it looked as if she had teleported to the monster's highest point, and then...
Boom—
Kiana knew exactly what kind of data Ruan Mei wanted—and she also planned to show her the equipment she'd used after the test.
So, before throwing her final punch, she had equipped those badges that boosted unarmed combat power.
It was her strongest punch yet.
The ground, whatever material it had been made of, now bore a medium-sized crater.
As for the enemy—it couldn't possibly withstand such force. The moment it hit the ground, it exploded into a cloud of blood and shattered remains.
Kiana's eyelids twitched at the sight.
She cast a guilty glance in Ruan Mei's direction. Maybe... she should've held back a little?
Ruan Mei?
Ruan Mei remained silent for a long while.
To put it plainly—Kiana's final punch had amplified her strength by over a thousandfold.
And that might not even have been her limit.
It was simply her current normal state.
"Next round?"
"Next round!"
Frost sealed the entire arena—including Kiana's next opponent.
"Next round!"
Kiana's combat methods were ever-changing; as the rounds went on, she somehow managed to bring out various technological weapons from who-knows-where.
After more than ten consecutive battles, the last one ended with a punch.
When Ruan Mei noticed Kiana had stopped using new tactics, she understood that Kiana had exhausted all her techniques.
Originally, this test had been meant to determine Kiana's current limit state—but with all her colorful abilities on display, it had turned into a test of her versatility instead.
Perhaps only an Emanator could push Kiana to reveal her true full-power limit.
Ruan Mei pressed a button. The shields surrounding the arena faded, revealing the devastated and bloodstained battlefield within.
"Ruan, how was that?"
Seeing the barrier dissolve, Kiana—knowing the test was over—hurried toward Ruan Mei.
She was still buzzing with excitement.
Truth be told, she had never experienced this kind of one-on-one battle before. And she had to admit—it felt pretty great.
"Your physical data differs in every battle."
As Kiana approached, Ruan Mei said, "Is it because of varying Honkai energy usage?"
"No."
Returning to the platform, Kiana tugged uncomfortably at her collar. "Let me change clothes first—then I'll explain."
Ruan Mei nodded silently.
Maybe she should prepare some accessories with supportive functions for Kiana... her fighting style really wasn't suited for ordinary attire.
After all, it wouldn't do if every battle ended with Kiana's first thought being: I need a shower.
They left the collection chamber together.
The ruined space left behind by Kiana's rampage would soon be cleaned up by maintenance robots.
Not long after.
Now in fresh clothes and feeling utterly refreshed, Kiana returned to the lab to find Ruan Mei again.
"I'm back!"
Ruan Mei lifted her gaze from the screen, nodding. "Then let's talk."
"Yeah, sure. Let's start from the beginning—how my fate became entwined with the Honkai."
Recalling the events of the past, Kiana said, "It's hard to explain what exactly 'Honkai' is, but there's no doubt that I'm someone chosen by it."
"Although I can't quite understand the reason, it can spread through my actions—and even rewrite the laws of an entire world."
Just like in Izumo.
"I can also retrieve certain things from the Honkai itself—items that it grants me."
"Like these."
Kiana took out a handful of objects—badges, pistols, blades, sprays, even rocket launchers—and piled them all onto the table before her.
"They're all creations of the Honkai. Each one carries a unique power."
She went on to explain to Ruan Mei the effects attached to these items.
"How fascinating. Unlike the Paths, the Honkai's power doesn't bind itself through harsh contracts—it condenses into tools that anyone can use?"
Unfortunately, this wasn't Ruan Mei's area of expertise.
She preferred to study life itself. As for these tools, just one look was enough to tell her they were the kind of thing Herta would find interesting.
Speaking of Herta—
The "little things" she had mentioned during their earlier communication... they must have been these very items Kiana had just displayed.
Ruan Mei picked up one of the badges, deep in thought.
"There's also the Stigmata," Kiana added. "I can exchange for them—and even give them to others."
Upon hearing that, Ruan Mei's suspicions solidified. Setting down the badge, she said, "It seems the Honkai really is cultivating you."
"Huh?"
"Haven't you realized it yet?"
Ruan Mei arched an eyebrow. "Its purpose seems to be to make you something akin to an Aeon."
"That's impossible!"
Kiana shook her head quickly, denying it. "The Honkai has nothing to do with the Aeons! And as for becoming a god—that's even less likely. Isn't there already the Aeon of Finality in this universe?"
"Finality?"
Catching the keyword, Ruan Mei asked curiously, "You know your own Path?"
"Well, I am the Herrscher of Finality."
Finality... Herrscher of Finality...
Ruan Mei shook her head slightly. "Even if you're not an Aeon, its existence must still be guiding you toward ascension."
Kiana hesitated. She wanted to argue—but would Ruan Mei ever say something she wasn't certain of?
"...Why do you think that?"
"Your body is proof enough. I believe I mentioned this before."
"Ah... that might just be interference from Honkai energy."
Kiana scratched her head, unconvinced.
"You are fundamentally different from other Honkai creatures."
Ruan Mei shook her head lightly. "I've studied miracles, and I've also studied Emanators. My intuition isn't wrong."
Wasn't wrong?
Coming from Ruan Mei, that statement carried tremendous weight.
But still...
Kiana lowered her head, silent, unsure of what to say.
Seeing this, Ruan Mei frowned slightly, unable to understand. "Why feel sad?"
"I'm not sad."
Ruan Mei looked at Kiana, who had closed her eyes for a brief moment. It seemed there were still things about her that even she didn't understand.
Unfortunately, the only source of answers was Kiana herself.
Still...
"If you're talking about my body being different, it's probably because my body was born from the Honkai."
"I see."
Ruan Mei didn't ask why. Her mind instinctively began analyzing possibilities, and indeed, that explanation seemed plausible.
So Kiana was a lifeform born of the Honkai—not an ordinary being of natural origin?
Yes... that would make sense.
"So ascending to godhood or anything like that is impossible. At most, I'd be considered a messenger of the Honkai," Kiana said lightly. "Like how Aeons have their Emanators."
"Even if I don't understand why you deny it," Ruan Mei replied, "I still trust my own judgment."
She took Kiana's hand. The bandages were gone, and there were no traces of corrosion left on her skin. "You're already on the path to ascension."
Kiana gave a dry laugh. "Ascend to what god? Don't tell me I'm supposed to become the Honkai God? That's impossible. Behind the Honkai lies the Will of—"
The Will of Ruler?
Once again, she remembered—the Honkai here wasn't the same as the one in Honkai Impact 3rd; it was the one from Houkai Gakuen 2.
And in GGZ, beyond the Herrscher of Finality stood the Will of Ruler.
But the System wasn't the Will of Ruler.
Even by the end of GGZ, the true origin of the Honkai remained a mystery. The Will of Ruler wasn't its true source.
And the reason she had assumed this Honkai to be from GGZ was because of the System's abilities—but was that really the same Honkai as in the game?
Without seeing it firsthand, she couldn't be sure.
"What are you thinking about?" Ruan Mei asked.
"Maybe... the Honkai has a 'master'?"
"A 'master'? If the Honkai truly has a master," Ruan Mei said without hesitation, "then you should replace them."
What a bold statement!
Ruan Mei always knew how to shock her.
Kiana stammered, "Ruan, are... are you serious?"
"Don't you think so? If the Honkai has a will, it's clearly cultivating you. And if it doesn't, then as someone born of it, why shouldn't you become the god of Honkai yourself?"
How did this conversation turn into me ascending to godhood?
Kiana's mind went blank.
That didn't sound right.
That couldn't be logical, could it?
"How could I possibly—"
Seeing her growing restless, Ruan Mei cut in calmly, "Who else is more qualified than you?"
"...Ruan, do you actually want me to ascend?"
Kiana looked at her nervously.
Ruan Mei's words had thrown her thoughts into chaos—she began to wonder if Ruan Mei truly wanted her to take that path.
"I want to see it," Ruan Mei admitted without hesitation. "And it's simply the truth—no one is more qualified than you."
To witness a divine ascension firsthand—
How many people had dreamed of such a thing?
It was only natural that Ruan Mei would be interested. After all, the reason she kept Kiana by her side was precisely because she had seen this potential in her.
"What if there isn't a 'Honkai God' at all?" Kiana asked. "What if the Honkai is like water or the sun—something that's always existed? The universe doesn't have a water god or a sun god, right? The Honkai isn't a Path."
"What are you running from?"
Ruan Mei looked at her, as if seeing through her hesitation. To her, this should have been a good thing. "Have you ever considered that, whether you acknowledge it or not, that position still exists? It won't vanish just because you deny it. And if you don't claim it, someone else might."
If such a position truly existed—
Kiana frowned.
Become the Honkai God, with the System's help?
She thought back to her experience in Izumo—assimilating other worlds and rewriting their rules.
"I've never considered that possibility before."
"Then make it your goal."
Ruan Mei released her hand and met her eyes. "That will be the goal you must accomplish."
Make that... my goal?
Kiana hesitated. "But this is just speculation..."
Ruan Mei's words overturned everything she thought she knew—it didn't seem likely.
"I'll help you."
Kiana swallowed the words she had been about to say, her gaze dazed as she looked into Ruan Mei's beautiful eyes.
Those eyes seemed to hold a quiet power—just meeting them made all her unease and turmoil gradually fade away.
"I'll help you walk this path to the end."
Ruan Mei's voice was soft and even, devoid of emotion, yet somehow it filled Kiana with strength and resolve.
Even if there was no path to begin with—
Ruan Mei would carve one open, and push Kiana forward along it.
She had that kind of confidence.
"If it's something Ruan wants to see... then I'll give it a try!"
Kiana took a deep breath and smiled brightly once more. "From now on, that's my goal!"
Ruan Mei had already gone this far—if Kiana kept hesitating, wouldn't that be too cowardly of her?
Ruan Mei was confident.
So how could she, Kiana, back down now?
"Good."
A trace of satisfaction appeared in Ruan Mei's eyes. Then she said, "Let me help you extract this Stigmata."
"Extract it?"
Kiana's smile froze. Her hand instinctively reached back in alarm as she looked nervously at Ruan Mei.
"Um, I also brought some other Stigmata Crystals—maybe we could start with those first?"
"Keeping that one on you won't do you any good," Ruan Mei said seriously.
"But it's my friend's," Kiana protested. "Let's start with the other Stigmata Crystals first. Once we're sure it's safe, I'll remove this one."
Kiana still didn't know exactly what kind of experiment Ruan Mei intended to perform with the Stigmata, so she preferred to play it safe.
After all, Ruan Mei wasn't exactly known for caring about whether her experiments were humane—or safe.
"Alright."
Ruan Mei understood her hesitation. Seeing that Kiana didn't mind handing over the Stigmata, she didn't press further.
She accepted the Stigmata Crystals and went to the other side of the lab, preparing to stimulate them with Memoria to observe their reactions.
She wanted to see how the Stigmata World would respond.
When Kiana had first mentioned the Stigmata World, Ruan Mei's mind had immediately gone to Memoria and dreamscapes.
Though Kiana didn't really understand the process, she still followed closely behind Ruan Mei like a little tail.
Ruan Mei's interest in the Stigmata World—or rather, the consciousness within Stigmata—far exceeded her curiosity about the weapons.
As she had said before—
Herta would be far more interested in the equipment.
Time was impossible to feel within the laboratory. Kiana ended up staying with Ruan Mei for several days straight.
Once it was confirmed that Memoria was harmless to the Stigmata—and even enriched the Stigmata World—Kiana contacted Yae Sakura and finally removed Sakura's Stigmata from herself.
Now, that Stigmata floated in the center of the lab, inside a transparent cylindrical chamber filled with Memoria.
Ruan Mei was still analyzing it.
The process wasn't going smoothly.
"If you're tired, go rest for a while," Ruan Mei said, glancing briefly at Kiana, who was resting her head on her arms, watching her work. "You don't need to stay here with me."
The next stage was pure analysis.
There wasn't much Kiana could do to help—after all, she knew nothing about the Stigmata herself.