ALL NOVEL Chapter 212: Bella
"What is that thing?" Kiana had sensed a similar presence in ARC City, but those puppet constructs were mere shells compared to this… this monstrosity, radiating an oppressive aura that even she, a Herrscher, found overwhelming.
A massive clock face materialized beneath Nihilius. In an instant, the entire plaza was enveloped in a gray, spherical barrier.
The swirling winds slowed to a crawl within the barrier, the sounds of collapsing buildings muffled.
Nihilius, its clock-hand greatsword raised, its red eyes glowing, moved with impossible speed. Kiana barely had time to summon a spear of Honkai energy before the colossal mecha slammed into her, sending her flying.
She crashed into Benares's side, the dragon's massive body cushioning the impact. Kiana looked up, seeing Benares shielding her, its massive form a protective barrier.
Its wing nearly severed, its body riddled with Honkai corruption, Benares still prioritized its master's safety.
It lowered itself to the ground, protecting the weakened Kiana.
"Benares."
Hearing Kiana's voice, a flicker of something akin to joy crossed Benares's face. But in the next instant, the clock-hand greatsword sliced through its remaining wing, a sickening tear echoing through the air.
The clock face shimmered, the hands spinning. The wing was severed completely.
The massive limb crashed to the ground. Benares, suppressing its agony, extended its other, already damaged wing.
"How…?" From the moment the mecha had appeared to Benares losing its wing, less than three seconds had passed. The colossal construct moved with impossible speed, accelerating and stopping instantaneously, defying the laws of physics.
This wasn't the original Nihilius. Guided by Ren, Otto had glimpsed deeper into the Imaginary Tree, creating a far more terrifying construct, exceeding even Judgment-class levels. Even Kiana, as the Herrscher of the Void, unaffected by time dilation, was outmatched.
Nihilius prepared its next attack, the gray barrier intensifying, the surrounding vegetation withering under its influence.
It was manipulating time within the barrier, accelerating itself.
Space and time, a single entity. Kiana, as the Herrscher of the Void, finally understood the nature of the mecha's power. But understanding didn't mean she could stop it.
"There's something I'm missing…"
Pain wracked her body. If not for the protection of the Fenghuang Down, she would have already lost consciousness. But the city continued to rise, the pillar of light intensifying. Benares, gravely injured, Kiana's unwavering determination… it was all that kept her going.
Blood seeped from her wounds, her newly recovered strength fading. She focused on Nihilius, forcing her Herrscher powers to activate.
"Just a little more time…"
The Xuanyuan Sword materialized in her hand, her golden eyes glowing brighter. The gray barrier distorting space-time shimmered, its secrets revealed under the Herrscher of the Void's power.
She saw them. Gears, spinning within Nihilius's body.
Click. Click.
The gears turned, faster and faster. But before Kiana could exploit this weakness, the clock hands stopped. Nihilius's attack was ready.
A golden disc expanded, filling the barrier. Twelve clock hands materialized, each representing a point in time.
Rotation. Severance. Speed.
Kiana swung her Xuanyuan Sword, intercepting the first clock hand, severing it with a burst of Honkai energy.
But the moment she struck, fissures spread across her body. Her remaining time as a Herrscher, already limited, had been drastically reduced, the wounds on her body a testament to the accelerated time she had endured.
Even a Herrscher's time could be manipulated?
No. It was the energy of the clock hands, damaging her, stealing her time.
But this energy was invisible, intangible. Every attack shortened her remaining time. But if she didn't attack, the clock hands would overwhelm her.
She was trapped. Nihilius didn't give her time to think. The clock-hand greatsword swung. Kiana countered, manipulating space-time, slowing the mecha's accelerated time.
Her blade met Nihilius's, the impact reverberating through the air.
It worked!
But before hope could take root, two clock hands near her shattered, the unseen energy draining her time further, leaving her with less than thirty seconds.
Caught off guard, she was struck by Nihilius's blade, sent flying once more.
If it were just Nihilius, she could have won. But the clock hands, ticking time bombs, forced her to hold back.
What could she do?
A voice, faint and weak, echoed in her mind.
"My Queen… thank you for finding Bella again."
The voice, unfamiliar yet strangely familiar, was filled with a weary acceptance of death.
Benares.
"Wait!"
Roar!
Benares's cry, louder and fiercer than Kiana had ever heard, echoed through the ruins. It launched itself at the clock hands.
Crack.
The clock hands shattered, their energy dissipating. Benares roared again, unleashing a final burst of energy, momentarily stunning Nihilius.
But its body, ravaged by the time distortion, was failing. Its massive form began to crumble, its scales losing their luster, its claws breaking off, its remaining wing shattering like porcelain.
Under Benares's desperate sacrifice, Kiana finally saw Nihilius's core. She poured all her remaining energy into the gears, overloading the mecha, its clockwork components twisting and breaking.
Silence.
The gray barrier vanished. Kiana had won, but victory felt hollow.
She knelt beside Benares, gently stroking its head. Tears streamed from the dragon's eyes, falling onto Kiana's hand.
"My Queen… will you say my name one last time?"
"…Bella."
"Bella is here."
The cross-shaped beam in the sky intensified, flames engulfing the heavens.
Kiana leaned against Benares's still form, a bitter smile on her lips.
She had been too late.