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

The golden light that had pierced the sky slowly dissipated. The gloomy sky was once again covered by clouds, but this time, there were no icy storms or roaring thunder.

The sky, having cooled after the intense heat, seemed to weep, with a light rain falling.

The frozen ice gradually melted. The once-tumultuous sea, as if sensing the girl's sorrow, became tranquil.

Blood flowed down the hilt of the Taixuan Sword, soaking Kiana's grip. As Taixuan Sword God killed the Honkai consciousness controlling Ren, the massive sword disappeared into Ren's body.

The flaming greatsword in the boy's hand vanished. His arm drooped weakly, but his face carried a look of release.

"Well done, Kiana."

Kiana stared blankly at Ren, pierced by the sword. Although the Taixuan Sword God was powerful, she couldn't easily withstand the full force of the Herrscher of Flames. In the final clash, the moment the blade touched her, she clearly felt the flames deflect.

"Why?" Her voice trembled. When she sensed the flame deflecting, she realized Ren had awakened. She had held back, and the Taixuan Sword should have been deliberately off target as well, but Ren had intentionally put himself under her blade.

"I'm sorry, I lied to you." Blood flowed from his mouth. Ren couldn't help but cough, placing his hand on his chest.

A faint light appeared, and the Gem of Haste that maintained his body popped out from his chest. But the once-fiery gem was now dull.

Its core was covered in cracks, as if it would shatter at any moment.

"It's beautiful." Gazing at the magnificent gem, Ren's eyes were full of regret.

Before everything began, Ren had told Kiana that as long as his consciousness was preserved in the Herrscher Core, there was hope for his survival. It was this that had made Kiana believe she could use Fenghuang Down's zeroth-point power to save Ren's consciousness from his Core.

But upon hearing Ren's regretful voice, she realized that the situation was not as expected.

She grasped Ren's hand, her eyes welling up with tears, shaking her head, unwilling to let him continue.

"Fenghuang Down... Fenghuang Down can..."

But Ren only looked at her, reaching out to stroke her cheek, wiping away the tears from her eyes.

"It's enough...let's stop here. I'm...not a Herrscher. The Herrscher core can't save my consciousness."

Thunder rumbled in the gloomy sky, silver lightning illuminating Kiana's face, making her complexion appear unnaturally pale.

"When the disaster happened, everyone died in front of me. The sky back then was much darker than this." Memories returned to the beginning. Back then, Ren was just in a small city. He couldn't remember his previous form, only that there were bodies everywhere.

Mountains of bones, pools of blood, rampaging monsters, and the screams of the dying.

"Everything ended that day, and my life ended that night. But when I was ready to embrace death, a strange light appeared on my body."

Light. Kiana immediately thought of what Otto had told her. She knew that was the power of Ren's Stigmata.

"Yes, a Stigmata. In my final moment, I awakened a Stigmata. The Stigmata opened space before me, and a woman in broken armor fell out. Later, I found out she was your teacher."

"Murata Himeko." Hearing the name, Kiana swayed. The images that had haunted her dreams countless times surfaced in her mind.

"She...is she dead?" Her lips trembled.

"I don't know." After a moment of silence, Ren finally closed his eyes in pain as the cracks on the Gem of Haste increased. "I touched the gem on her armor. The Gem of Haste absorbed the Honkai energy that was corroding me. With my Stigmata, I managed to stay alive. That's how I became the vessel for the Herrscher of Flames.

But I know, I'm not a true Herrscher. I'm just a thief who stole its power. I wanted to live...I just wanted to live…

After becoming a Herrscher, I lost my consciousness, so I don't know what happened to her."

"I'm sorry."

His breath grew weaker. Without the protection of the Herrscher Core, the backlash from the Obsidian Concord seal was rapidly taking his life.

"I'll heal you, I'll save you." White light shone from Kiana's hands, the healing power of the Tranquility Gem. But the healing light did nothing for Ren. Instead, it seemed to accelerate his body's collapse.

The girl froze. Tears poured down her face. No matter how severe the injury, the Tranquility Gem could heal it. Even those who had just died could be brought back for a last breath. But for Ren, everything was back to the beginning.

He was just one of the masses, an ordinary human. Honkai energy would only hasten his demise.

"His lifespan has reached its limit. It's useless." A man's voice came from behind. Somehow, Kevin had escaped his confinement and had arrived at their location.

But Kiana didn't listen. She formed the Void Archives into a golden fluid, applying it to Ren, stopping the bleeding. With blood-soaked hands, she clutched the feather Fu Hua had left her, attempting to forcefully activate its power.

To her despair, even Fenghuang Down couldn't capture Ren's consciousness. His soul was drifting, as if he was far, far away.

She had tried everything, but it was futile.

"It's okay, it's over now." She tried to continue, but Ren embraced her. It was his first time embracing her, and it would be the last.

His embrace was so warm. It was as if she had returned to Arc City, to that dark but warm time.

The cracked Gem of Haste shattered. The death of a Herrscher should have ignited world-ending flames, but now, there was only a small, flickering flame.

Even as the rain poured from the sky, the flame was unaffected. No matter how dark the world was, it would burn eternally.

After the flame appeared, Ren's body seemed to catch fire, igniting.

"No!" Kiana grabbed Ren, trying to stop the flames, but they were only a manifestation of energy. How could she put them out?

Use oneself as a tree, nurturing all things.

Use oneself as fuel, illuminating the world.

Ren used himself as kindling to light a path called Kindling.

"This is the last gift I'll give you." Consumed by the flames, Ren didn't feel any pain. He grasped Kiana's hand holding Fenghuang Down, using his last strength to activate the Divine Key's power.

"Fenghuang Down's zeroth-point power, activate."

Instantly, Fenghuang Down, which had been unresponsive, began to glow. At the same time, Ren's burning body shimmered with the same light.

An identical feather emerged, joining the one in Kiana's hand.

Fu Hua, who should have been gone, reappeared in the burning flames, continuing to sleep in Fenghuang Down's embrace.

The burning Kindling brought not only destruction but new life.

But Ren wouldn't see it.

"Farewell, Kiana."

In Ren's wistful gaze, his body completely burned away.

Darkness engulfed the sky again, leaving only the small flame and Fenghuang Down emitting a faint glow.

The girl wanted to cry, but found her tears were all dried up. She held the small flame, speechless.