"Mmm~"
Little Kiana, who had just woken up, let out an adorable sound, rubbing her eyes. She looked at Xin Yu, who was still holding her in his arms. His appearance was quite unique; although he couldn't be described as strikingly handsome, from the very first glance, his features seemed to have been imprinted deep within her mind, unforgettable for a lifetime.
"What kind of beautiful dream did our adorable little princess have?"
"Oh! I dreamed I went on an adventure in an unknown world with a little orange dinosaur! Although I forgot my friend's name because I woke up, I remember we defeated many enemies together, beat lots of bad guys, we saved that world, and I became that world's hero, that world's brave champion!"
As little Kiana spoke of this, her eyes sparkled, vividly describing the seemingly long adventure.
Xin Yu listened with a smile, occasionally chiming in to encourage the child's words. Even if some parts sounded utterly absurd or exceedingly childish, Xin Yu offered no objections nor corrected any errors in her speech. He just listened quietly, encouraging the child to recount her dream.
"Xin Yu, Xin Yu! Am I super amazing?!"
"Yes! Kiana, you are an undisputed brave champion. You saved the world in your dream."
"But Mommy and Daddy said that things in dreams are fake, just made-up nonsense, not real."
"But it could also be real, you know? It's possible that little Kiana traveled to a very distant place in her sleep and truly saved that world with her little companion. What you call dreaming might just be your consciousness and soul projecting outwards, experiencing a grand adventure. After the adventure ended, you returned to this world, back to your body, which is when you woke up."
"Really?!"
"Yes. Aren't you able to clearly remember who you helped, and don't you still clearly recall how many bad guys you defeated? Think about it, in your dream, when you truly saved someone, when those you rescued sincerely expressed their gratitude to you, were you happy, Kiana?"
"Mhm! I remember after I helped those people drive away the big bad guys, they gathered around me saying thank you, giving me blessings, and lots of yummy food and drinks. Everyone was very grateful to me!"
"That's enough then. The dream might be false, but those feelings are definitely real."
Little Kiana nodded with a somewhat dazed understanding. She felt that this big brother in front of her knew so much. And before, Mommy and Daddy were always busy and never had time to play with her. Now, having such a big brother to play with her, she was so happy!
If only this big brother were really my brother, then I could play with him all the time.
"Xin Yu, will you always stay with me?"
Little Kiana looked up, a faint golden light glinting in her eyes.
Xin Yu looked down, gazing at those blue eyes now tinged with a hint of gold. The gentle expression on his face remained unchanged.
"Until your mother completely overcomes her difficulties and obstacles, until your mother truly has the time to start taking care of you, I will stay with you."
Xin Yu reached out and gently stroked little Kiana's head. Although Kiana was a little resistant at first, for some reason, the more he stroked, the more comfortable she felt, her eyes narrowing in contentment.
Xin Yu could perceive the Herrscher core within Kiana's body. He had encountered something similar before, when he used the power of the Void to suppress the Herrscher of Thunder.
There was a clear difference between the two. If one were to use an analogy, the Herrscher of Thunder's core was somewhat like a reflection in a mirror—clear, yet ultimately just a reflection of something.
However, the Herrscher core within this world's little Kiana exuded an intense sense of reality and pressure, as if, left uncontrolled, the power contained within would erupt completely, like a ticking time bomb.
Only, because of Xin Yu's presence, the timer on this bomb had been frozen. As long as he was here, the bomb could not detonate.
But at the same time, Xin Yu found it particularly strange. If, at the beginning, he had thought Kiana's power, on par with his own, originated from that Herrscher core, after spending this time with her, he realized it wasn't so. The Herrscher core seemed to be merely a key, a key that could unlock some kind of power sealed even deeper within Kiana.
And within that power, a will was definitely hidden.
If this matter couldn't be resolved, an even greater disaster might occur later. After all, Kiana's truly liberated strength was on the same level as his own, and her destructive capability might even surpass his. His own abilities were too focused on anomalies; in terms of direct destructive power, he might be slightly lacking.
And either a Kiana with her powers unleashed, or himself, could wipe out human civilization on this planet.
...Perhaps I should try to make contact with the will contained within this power.
...
Time passed, minute by minute, second by second. Another day was spent with Kiana, learning and playing. Yes, that's right, learning.
Constantly playing with Kiana was one way to look after a child, but it wasn't the correct way.
Childhood is when a person is at their purest. Establishing good morals and setting up worthy role models at this time can influence a person's entire life.
Xin Yu didn't intend to cultivate this world's little Kiana into some extraordinarily capable or amazing person. He was simply teaching this child basic common sense, the most fundamental moral principles of being human.
He was teaching this child what is right, what is wrong, what is good, what is bad, what is kindness, what is evil. He also taught her not to go to extremes in anything.
...Like himself, for instance.
After a fulfilling day, as night fell, little Kiana drifted off to sleep very early. According to her, she wanted to find her companion again and embark on another adventure.
Xin Yu stayed by little Kiana's side. After ensuring she was sound asleep, he took a deep breath and delved his consciousness into that sealed power.
Upon entering the consciousness space of that power, Xin Yu found himself on a desolate planet. All traces of life here had vanished. The earth was shattered and broken, burning with inextinguishable flames. All creations of human civilization had been reduced to ruins, like cinders after a conflagration.
And high in the distant sky, a brilliantly dazzling white star flickered.
Within that light stood a figure with white hair, adorned in a solemn, long dress. A golden halo hovered above her head, and prismatic wings spread from her back. Her sky-blue eyes had become as radiant as molten gold, and within her pupils were upright, cross-shaped marks.
Kiana, or rather, this world's Herrscher of the End.
She lowered her head, looking at the anomaly who had intruded into this consciousness space.
She lightly gripped her scepter.
He slowly drew his long blade.
The weapons in their hands clashed in an instant. A colossal shockwave instantly transformed into a massive tsunami, sweeping outwards, launching all the ruins and dust towards the even higher sky.
The battle commenced.