When did it increase?!
Why didn't I know about it?!
Kiana's expression froze completely.
She knew this system was a little suspicious from the beginning.
"It's because it's inherently powerful."
"So when it comes into contact with Honkai Energy, it only appears to grow even stronger."
"That's what I think."
After Mei finished speaking and saw that Kiana wasn't responding, she turned her attention back toward her—only to notice Kiana's tightly furrowed brows.
Her heart sank slightly.
"What's wrong?" she asked, concern creeping into her tone.
Kiana's face looked troubled and uncertain. "…It seems things are getting a bit out of control."
The progress had increased without her knowing. Although it was slowly decreasing now, the fact remained—it had gone up without her awareness.
Now she finally understood the 'Summary' section—those seemingly redundant, meaningless lines actually had a purpose.
And after seeing the downward arrow, she realized what the 'Permanent' progress reward meant.
"Are you talking about Almighty Thunder?"
Things were looking bad.
No—worse than bad.
But there was no turning back anymore.
Once she chose to activate the system, there was no retreat left. Her eyes locked on the word 'Honkai' under the 'Faction' tab.
The pressure cleared her mind.
"Yes, it's that—but not just that!"
Kiana stood up. "I don't know if Yae Sakura and the Sentinels can win, but I think I… should prepare for the worst."
She swallowed the word "I" that almost slipped out. This was her responsibility—not Mei's.
"You're trying to leave me out of this, aren't you?"
Raiden Mei was sharp, frowning as she studied the suddenly steady and serious Kiana.
"Of course not!" Kiana smiled. "I want to be with you forever, Mei."
The worst-case scenario would be Izumo being destroyed ahead of time. If it came to that, she would find a way to ensure Raiden Mei—who still had a chance to live—escaped Izumo safely.
Her goal had always been to add as many people as possible to the list of survivors.
When Kiana spoke those thoughts aloud, Mei blinked in surprise. The tension in her face eased slightly.
"I… I feel the same way."
So Kiana felt that way too.
That was… such a relief.
Under normal circumstances, Kiana would've been ecstatic and taken the chance to tease her further.
But now, there were more important matters at hand.
"In any case, becoming stronger is never a bad thing," Kiana said, changing her mindset.
If it couldn't be controlled, then she'd use that power to its fullest.
"Let's go hunt Kami together!"
Kiana's eyes blazed with determination as she looked expectantly at Raiden Mei, eager to gather more Honkai Cubes to arm themselves.
She also wanted to test a theory.
If the progress increase wasn't related to the Cubes, then she'd turn every Kami nearby into Cubes and use them to arm herself and Mei.
But if it was related…
Then increasing progress to gain more power—and raising Izumo's Honkai Energy concentration—might also serve as a way to fight against both the Kami and Nihility.
"Right now?"
"Right now!" Kiana nodded. "If the Sentinels can't kill Almighty Thunder, then in the end…"
She didn't finish the sentence.
Because she knew Mei understood what she meant.
"I get it," Mei replied. "Wandering around aimlessly will just waste time. I've added contact links for those armed squads we saw earlier—maybe they can report any Kami sightings."
"They told me that the sky's been shrouded by Almighty Thunder's power. With it manifesting, the Kami that normally hide away are all out celebrating right now."
"When powerful Kami walk the earth, it triggers a 'Night Parade of One Hundred Demons.'"
A Night Parade of One Hundred Demons, huh?
That should mean there are plenty of targets—enough to farm for a while, maybe even get a few better weapons and emblems.
"Then Mei, you contact them. I'll go talk to Sirin again."
Sirin?
When it came to that girl Kiana had rescued, Raiden Mei still had many questions.
"I'll wait for you here," Mei said.
"I'll be right back!"
Of course Kiana knew Mei had many doubts.
But it wasn't just Mei.
Even she herself—
She had countless questions in her heart. She didn't really understand this Miss Sirin at all, and for now, her impression of her was replaced by the Herrscher of the Void from Honkai Impact 3rd.
Back at her room door, Kiana politely knocked, letting the person inside know she had arrived.
"Come in."
Sirin hadn't been resting. The moment she heard the knock, she already knew that the two had finished their discussion.
She wasn't the kind of person to pry into others' affairs, but for the girl who had saved her from a collapsing Imaginary Space—and the one praised by Yae Sakura—she couldn't help but feel curious.
"How are you feeling?"
Once inside, Kiana's first concern was Sirin's condition.
"The same as before," Sirin replied, pausing for a moment before continuing, "How did you manage to pull me back from the brink of death in such a short time?"
"I used a method that wasn't exactly scientific."
Kiana smiled awkwardly, then looked at the violet-haired girl sitting on the bed. "Miss Sirin, do you know about the 'Night Parade of One Hundred Demons' that happens when Almighty Thunder manifests?"
"I do."
After her mother's death, the battle between Eternal Zenith and the humans had lasted several more days, with no rescue teams appearing during that time.
She had survived by wandering through the ruins with other homeless survivors, hiding from the Kami that could appear at any time to snatch their lives, and searching for food and water until the day the rescue teams finally arrived.
She had personally witnessed the brutal Kami of the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons—those that chased, toyed with, and devoured humans alive.
"Do you have any advice?" Kiana asked. "Mei and I are planning to go out and clear the Kami in Nagazora City!"
"Clear the Kami of this entire city?"
Sirin was stunned. After thinking for a moment, she said, "As long as Almighty Thunder still exists, these weaker creatures will never be completely wiped out. It's as if they're receiving some kind of command—they'll keep pouring into any city where humans are still alive, coming from the wilds, from afar."
"Can't be wiped out?"
Kiana's eyes lit up. That meant she didn't need to switch maps—she could just keep running around Nagazora City, slaying Kami and collecting Honkai Cubes endlessly?
"…You seem… happy about that?"
Sirin's expression turned strange as she looked at Kiana, hesitating to speak. Since Kiana was her savior, she didn't think too much of it—but still, it felt a bit odd.
"Was it that obvious?" Kiana scratched her head sheepishly. "The more Kami I kill, the stronger I get. So, if you put it that way, you can probably understand why I'd be a little excited."
The more Kami she slew, the stronger she became?
Sirin thought of the Kami's curse—the deeper one's corruption, the greater the power they could draw upon.
But the risk of losing control grew just as fast.
To use her own health to keep slaying Kami, becoming stronger and stronger… all to protect the right of others to live?
"Actually…"