Herrscher of Dominance in Honkai, starting with the abduction of Kiana

"No! Class monitor!" In the flames, Fu Hua's figure gradually faded. Kiana reached out, trying to grasp her, but Fu Hua, now just a consciousness, was powerless to resist after being struck by the corrupted Ren.

She forcefully used her remaining power to disrupt Ren's mind, trapping him in a brief illusion to buy time for Kiana. Then, she transformed into motes of light, merging into Kiana's body.

「Taixuan Sword Qi has five essences: heart, form, intent, soul, and spirit. To unleash Taixuan Sword God, one must possess a Sword Heart. As a Herrscher, you don't need to worry about this, Kiana, because you are naturally adapted to Honkai energy.

But your mind is not ready. Your will is strong but not strong enough to wield the Taixuan Sword God. You're always willing to sacrifice yourself for others, but your will falters when the enemy is someone you can't bring yourself to hurt.

Kiana, you do not lack the courage to save the world but lack the resolve to kill your enemy. That is your only flaw.」

「But it's alright. I'll help you.」

From the beginning, Fu Hua knew that Kiana was not yet capable of using Taixuan Sword God. Ultimately, her experience was limited, and her body and will were in a state of flux.

Even after everything she had gone through, it was too rushed, and she hadn't fully matured.

As Kiana's class monitor, who once harmed her, Fu Hua had long prepared to sacrifice herself to atone for Kiana, she just hadn't expected the moment to come so quickly.

She would gift Kiana the courage to fight with her own sacrifice and guide Kiana with her residual consciousness. This would show Kiana the true essence of Taixuan Sword God. Using Fenghuang Down as the core, she would temporarily compensate for Kiana's lacking mental strength.

This was Fu Hua's purpose.

Kreee!

The final Flying Ash Phoenix erupted from Kiana's body, slamming into the corrupted Ren, forcing him to take the full brunt of the mental attack.

With that, Fu Hua was gone.

Kiana trembled, biting her lip so hard that blood seeped out. A streak of crimson gathered in the corner of her eye, transforming into a tear of blood.

All of it was because she hadn't been decisive enough. From the beginning, Ren had warned her to never waver. But after Fu Hua told her that Fenghuang Down could save people, she had wavered.

The price of her wavering was unbearable.

In the distance, the sky was ablaze. Even with the complete Flying Ash Phoenix, the corrupted Ren wouldn't fall so easily with Ren's help.

Enraged, the corrupted Ren, oblivious to Ren's control, began to gather flames, forming a giant, forty-meter-long sword. He could not trap Kevin for long, and if he was to leave, he had to give it his all.

Kiana, golden eyes reflecting the raging flames, looked down at the red feather in her hand, gripping the Judgment of Shamash more tightly.

She whispered the final incantation Fu Hua had given her.

「Spirit is the extreme of change.」

「It embraces all things, yet cannot be defined by form.」

「Taixuan Sword Qi, Form Essence!」

Starlight appeared in her hand, and she seemed to sense Fu Hua beside her, chanting the incantation with her.

Her soul trembled momentarily, and then under the guidance of Fenghuang Down, she focused again on wielding the Taixuan Sword God.

A golden cross-shaped star shone on her forehead like the night sky.

The Void Archives faded, the line between form and formlessness blurring under the influence of the Taixuan Sword God. Everything was a sword, and Void Archives could simulate everything, making it the perfect medium to unleash Taixuan Sword God.

Infinite starlight converged in her hand, forming the Taixuan Sword God, blocking out the sky.

Like the clash of gods, the sky was lit by the two swords, a crimson flaming sword colliding with a golden Taixuan Sword God.

The world seemed to collapse.

Though not as destructive as Ren and Kevin's battle, this clash impacted the consciousness of every living being.

The flowing flames were gradually pushed back by the Taixuan Sword God. Golden light pierced through the fiery clouds, returning the world to light.

This light tore through the fabric of Imaginary Space, bringing a moment of clarity to this dark world.

The puppets in the Theater of Dominance looked up at the golden sword light. Himeko's eyes, dull for so long, reflected the light, a small smile forming on her lips.

The dark mist that covered the Theater of Dominance billowed, the Honkai energy consciousness of the corrupted Ren melting away like fresh snow.

In the space of consciousness, Ren placed his final chess piece.

The moment it touched the chessboard, it turned gold, like a sharp sword.

Instantly, the game that had long been suppressed by the Will of Honkai found its weapon again, finding a path to victory from the brink of defeat.

Life and death reversed, consciousness returning to its origin.

Kiana's Taixuan Sword God alone could not move the Will of Honkai, but with Ren's main body, and with a weapon, the outcome was sealed.

A single branch sprouted from the golden piece like a seedling emerging from the soil. The Taixuan Sword God, now a seed, bloomed under Ren's command.

Countless threads divided the world, the golden branches of the tree reaching higher and higher, its life-giving light engulfing the world.

Ren's chess pieces on the board converged, completing the sprawling puzzle.

After a long time, the Honkai God did not make a move.

It put down its piece, nodding slightly at Ren. As the space of consciousness collapsed, it transformed into countless motes of light, disappearing along with the shattered fragments.

With this, the Will of Honkai's control over Ren was completely severed. He would transcend the Honkai, advancing towards his final goal.

As the Will of Honkai vanished, the golden tree began to burn, the flames scorching the empty space, burning away this world with it.

In true Imaginary Space, flames poured out of Ren's main body, spreading to the roots entwined around him. This was the origin of the world's annihilation, and the end of everything.

The Imaginary Tree.

The flames burned away the roots that bound Ren, allowing him to move forward.

Amid the infinite red sand, Ren bent down, brushing away the sand to reveal a buried treasure.

A pink [Crystal Flower].

This was the guide to the Imaginary Tree, the key Ren had been seeking all this time.

The answer that the Origin Herrscher had left for posterity.

He placed the crystal flower in his pocket, the flames finally extinguishing.

In the last second before the flames vanished completely, Ren paused, softly bidding farewell to the distance.

「You are my most perfect weapon, Kiana.」