The light in the sanctuary suddenly twisted, and Raiden Mei felt an invisible pressure coming from all directions.
At the same time, Aponia's ethereal voice suddenly echoed.
"Seeking knowledge... is arrogance. Miss Mei, since you are so determined... then, let me sever this path... completely."
Raiden Mei's blade cut through the air, the conquering thunderclap colliding violently with Aponia's golden chains of discipline in the void.
Every clash burst out with dazzling light, illuminating the entire sanctuary as bright as daylight.
"Haah!"
Raiden Mei twisted her body, dodging the incoming chains, and slashed backhanded at Aponia.
But Aponia merely raised her hand lightly, and another barrier of discipline appeared before her.
"Your resolve is admirable, but far from enough." Aponia's voice was calm as still water, but the golden chains in her hands twisted like living creatures, entangling Raiden Mei.
"It's not over yet!"
As she swung her blade to sever the chains, Raiden Mei simultaneously activated the power of the stigma within her.
The sustained power of the stigma made the thunder on her body surge even more violently.
Yet, it still couldn't break through the shield of Discipline surrounding Aponia.
"There is no longer an 'Aponia' here. I am the will enforced by fate, and... I have obtained its majestic and beautiful name. Herrscher of Thunder, awaken... and then be saved!"
Aponia's voice echoed through the sanctuary as countless chains rained down like a storm.
At this moment of crisis, the dome of the sanctuary suddenly lit up with a dazzling array of colors.
A massive painting appeared out of thin air, the very starry sky Graffiti Gray had created in the Elysian Hall.
The stars in the painting began to flow, multicolored pigments turning into tangible streams of light, cascading down onto Raiden Mei.
"This is... Griseo?"
At the same time, as she looked at the enormous painting surrounding the sanctuary, even Aponia's chains paused.
For the first time, a ripple of emotion broke through her calm, unwavering tone.
"What a pitiful little trick... Is this the ugly struggle of a Herrscher flailing against the current? Such things... cannot be allowed to remain."
Seizing Aponia's brief distraction, Raiden Mei unleashed every ounce of stigma power within her.
"Gale! Submit to me!"
All of the gathered power erupted at once, finally tearing through Aponia's defense, as the golden chains shattered one after another.
When the light faded, both of them stepped back several paces, for the first time, their fight stood at a stalemate.
"Still not enough..." Raiden Mei panted heavily, her eyes sharp and unwavering. "Even though Griseo's help was... unexpected..."
Just then, a familiar voice suddenly rang out in the space around her.
"Well, you must be missing me, right?"
Raiden Mei looked around in surprise. "Raven?"
"Sorry for being a bit late, but... I finally 'convinced' Klein."
The moment Raven's words fell, a muffled sobbing sound echoed in Raiden Mei's ears.
"Mm... mmm... mmm!!!"
———
[LMAO! Physical persuasion, huh]
[Poor Klein, tragic]
[Klein: I want to file a complaint, I'll report this to the Central!]
———
[Back to the Video]
Raiden Mei, ...
"Remember this, princess. This time... you owe me another favor."
As Raven's words faded, Raiden Mei could clearly feel an endless surge of power flooding her body.
"Now!"
Raiden Mei seized the moment, channeling every ounce of stigma power within her.
"One slash to cut through all!"
With her final, all-out strike, crimson thunder and golden discipline collided violently in the air, erupting into a deafening roar.
When the light finally dissipated, Aponia, for the first time, revealed signs of fatigue. Her white veil was slightly torn, and she slowly descended from the air.
"You've lost, Aponia."
However, just as Raiden Mei finished speaking, Aponia's ethereal voice once again drifted from all directions.
"Were we truly here for victory and defeat?"
Immediately after, the space around them shattered like glass.
Raiden Mei suddenly realized she was still standing at the entrance of the sanctuary, her stance gripping the blade completely unchanged.
Aponia knelt quietly in her original position, as if nothing had happened at all.
———
[???]
[What is this? Tsukuyomi?]
[Alright, alright, illusion technique, huh]
[Based on the background, shouldn't Mei be the one pulling off the ninja tricks? How did Aponia become the one doing it now?]
[Don't ask. The answer is always, 'Honkai can explain everything!']
[🎉 Shoutout to Suleiman, Ifradil, Eryw, Carlos, Goxo & Damokles for joining patreon. Thank you very much.🤗]
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