ALL NOVEL Chapter 224: The Sinking of the Japanese archipelago
"Kill Ren?"
Kiana, already harboring intense hatred for Otto, lost control the moment he uttered the condition. She raised the greatsword he'd given her, its edge pressed against his throat. Yet, reason dictated she control her emotions.
Ren's fate was unknown, and her only option was to tentatively trust Otto.
"To be precise, kill the entity controlling him. You've already sensed it, haven't you? His life is nearing its end. Do you know why?"
"..." Kiana remained silent. It was the Great Eruption she'd triggered months ago that led to Ren's awakening. If not for her, he would still be living as an ordinary person.
Seeing Kiana's expression, Otto immediately understood her thoughts. He shook his head and said, "His awakening as a Herrscher wasn't natural. The Gem of Haste is the core of the Herrscher of Flames. It, along with Murata Himeko, was already..."
Before he could finish, the blade sliced into his skin. The simulated sensation of his Soulium body was perfect, replicating even the pain.
Himeko was a constant ache in Kiana's heart, and Otto, the orchestrator of her demise, kept ripping open the wound.
"Avoidance is futile. Until you confront your past, you will remain a slave to the Herrscher of the Void."
Otto wasn't wrong, but Kiana couldn't simply let it go. However, his next words stole her breath.
"Murata Himeko might still be alive."
"What did you say?"
"Ren's awakening wasn't normal. He was an incomplete Stigmata carrier. Such carriers are not uncommon in this world, but most have short lifespans, often dying before they are even discovered. Including those children you rescued from Nagazora City – they are all incomplete Stigmata carriers."
"He's only 17. The oldest of those children in Nagazora City was only 16. He would have died before adulthood because of the incomplete Stigmata. His ability was unique – he could open pathways between Imaginary Space and reality, even more efficiently than you, the Herrscher of the Void."
"During the Great Eruption caused by the Herrscher of the Void, countless people died before his eyes. The intense emotional surge triggered his instinct to absorb the Honkai energy released, opening a passage to Imaginary Space. The Gem of Haste likely found its way to him then, leading to his awakening as the Herrscher of Flames."
"By the same logic, there's a chance Murata Himeko returned to reality through the passage he opened."
Otto's words sent shockwaves through Kiana. She didn't know if he was lying, but no matter how slim the chance of Himeko's survival, she wouldn't give up hope.
Her reaction was precisely what Otto expected. He continued, "This is merely my speculation based on information gathered from Ren. Even he is completely unaware of these details."
"He wasn't naturally awakened. He was a substitute chosen by the Will of Honkai. Once a new Herrscher emerges, he will be discarded without mercy. He's been under constant surveillance by the Will of Honkai, gradually losing control. This time is the endgame. His life is nearing its end, and the Will of Honkai is about to be reborn."
Kiana suddenly recalled Ren's words in Arc City. He was merely an ordinary person who saw no hope, placing all his faith in her. At first, she'd thought it was the despair of an ordinary person. Later, when he became a Herrscher, she'd wavered. Now, she realized Ren knew he would eventually lose control.
No, I won't let that happen. Understanding everything, Kiana steeled her resolve. She looked up at Otto, awaiting his explanation.
"That's why I need you to kill him—to kill the Will of Honkai lurking within him. Only then can he be freed. Though his lifespan will still be short, with Schicksal's technology, by removing the Gem of Haste, we can at least prolong his life by a few years."
"Of course, the choice is yours. Ren used me, leaving a safety net for you, a means for your escape. He didn't want you to know the truth, but...wouldn't it be more interesting if I revealed the answer?" With his last words, Otto burst into laughter. His Soulium body trembled, blood trickling from his lips before he fell silent and still, dead.
Otto's death stunned Kiana. She checked his pulse, confirming he was truly gone. Even more chaotic thoughts flooded her mind.
"Otto wouldn't die so easily. This could be a trap, but..." She picked up the Void Archives. Pure Honkai energy flowed into her, replenishing her depleted strength. It wasn't much, but it was enough.
"Even if it's hell, I have to go."
…
After clearing the surrounding Quantum Shadows, Kiana finally reached Ren. The normally scorching depths were now close to -50 degrees Celsius.
Hypothermia, oxygen deprivation. Ren's body was ice-cold. Honkai fractures covered him, the scars from previous injuries frozen solid.
His eyes were closed, like a corpse.
"Ren!" Kiana called out repeatedly, but Ren, committed to playing dead, remained unresponsive.
She shouldn't have come. If he didn't die this time, the Will of Honkai would inevitably return, rendering all his efforts and plans futile.
He lay still, his body numb from the cold, waiting for Kiana to give up, to let him die in peace.
After an unknown period, he felt a warmth spreading through him, his body temperature rising, sensation returning.
Warm, soft. Heat continuously flowed into him.
What is she doing?
A sudden urge to open his eyes seized him, but he resisted.
Finally, after a long time, his consciousness cleared, his body temperature returning to normal.
They huddled together, sharing body heat.
Sensing Ren was finally out of danger, Kiana breathed a sigh of relief. She adjusted her clothes, hoisted him onto her back, and began the arduous climb back to the surface.
They hadn't climbed far when they encountered Durandal waiting there. She gazed at Kiana with a complex expression, clearly having been there for a while.
Bianka took a deep breath and extended a hand. "Let's go. I'll take you up. The World Serpent overseer is fighting that thing. It's relatively safe here for now."
With Durandal's help, Kiana, carrying the unconscious Ren, finally reached the surface. But they were met with a desolate wasteland. Nagazora City had been completely obliterated in the battle.
Seawater, choked with ice floes, inundated vast stretches of land, extending beyond the horizon.
"Is the sea level rising?" Kiana wondered.
"No," Durandal replied grimly. "The Japan is sinking."