For the first time in a long while—so long that Raiden Mei had forgotten how long it had been—she had a sweet dream.
In the dream, although her father still suffered injustice and she still faced bullying, a beam of light illuminated her life back then, preventing her from falling further and further!
Perhaps precisely because of this, she didn't become the culprit who completely destroyed a city!
Although she seemed to eventually become the Herrscher of Thunder, that light, much like Leo, helped her snap those purple thunder wings, allowing her to see the light again.
Afterwards, she experienced adventures both big and small, and hit rock bottom... "I can't do anything!"
But in the end, relying on amazing perseverance and that light as a solid foundation in her heart, she successfully controlled that unruly, wild purple thunder, becoming a Herrscher of Thunder who could freely control lightning!
She even grew into the Herrscher of Origin after undergoing a trial somewhere.
That powerful strength shocked her but also made her yearn for it, though that was ultimately not a life that belonged to her!
If that light had really existed, she wouldn't have been trapped in that Honkai day formed of obsession and resentment, day after day, year after year, with no peace!
Fortunately—
Although still in the sweet dream, in "reality" she nuzzled her head affectionately into Leo's embrace.
She now possessed that light she yearned for.
That light was even gradually taking on Leo's appearance.
—That's right, I found the light too!
Precisely because of this, she subconsciously moved closer and closer to Leo, as if wanting to merge herself with him.
"She really is clingy."
Feeling Raiden Mei's attachment to him, Leo, who had sobered up halfway through the battle, hugged her with a mix of amusement and heartache.
Compared to the Raiden Mei he knew, this girl was even more unfortunate.
That omnipresent malice had successfully destroyed everything about her.
And—
"Even Cocolia didn't go this far!"
Although according to the official history of the Honkai world, Raiden Mei becoming the Herrscher of Thunder was also Cocolia's doing, the other party didn't go to the extreme of buying off the school and the students around Raiden Mei.
Otherwise, that beam of light... namely Kiana, wouldn't have had the chance to illuminate Raiden Mei's heart.
Besides, Cocolia didn't need to do this; she could just implant the Gem of Conquest into Raiden Mei directly. Why go through such trouble?
So—
"It's definitely another faction!"
That was why the diary filled with the smell of blood gave Leo such a shock.
It could be said that the contents of this diary gave him a new hypothesis regarding the formation of the instance... that is, the Honkai Domain.
Perhaps the birth of a Honkai Domain, aside from the obsession and resentment within, is more importantly due to the anomalies within!
First, Honkai energy and Imaginary Energy are both present, so he should still be within the Imaginary Tree's system.
Second, the Honkai Domain fits some characteristics of a Bubble Universe... limited range, constant looping.
Finally, it makes sense to understand the Honkai Domain as a Bubble Universe that fell from the Imaginary Tree.
But in that case... am I in the Sea of Quanta?
Thinking this, he immediately denied this possibility!
Because the world he is in is vast enough, completely different from the Bubble Universe situations he knows.
If that's the case, he can only assume he is still on the Imaginary Tree, but those Bubble Universes falling from "above" are constantly eroding this world!
In other words, if he can't resolve these Bubble Universes, this world will also be judged by the Imaginary Tree as an existence not conforming to "Official History", and eventually truly turn into a Bubble Universe.
"Tsk tsk... thinking about it this way, isn't the pressure on my shoulders even greater?"
Suddenly, he felt a wish that this world was actually just a Bubble Universe.
But he never deceived himself. Although he indeed didn't like hard work—having a bad stomach and thus preferring to eat soft rice—when he truly encountered difficulties, he had always risen to the challenge; otherwise, when his parents died back then, he wouldn't have been able to maintain his self long ago.
And now—
Isn't it just a few Bubble Universes formed with Herrschers as the core?
Watch me break them!
After clarifying his goal, he actually relaxed.
However, at the same time, he became concerned about the formation of these Bubble Universes... this definitely wouldn't be a random natural product.
Instead, it was a disaster created by someone's meticulous planning.
Anyway, everything about the instance and the Honkai Domain was still a fog, requiring him to constantly work hard to pry it open.
—Damn fragmented storytelling!
For now, he could only take it one step at a time.
However—
Looking down at Raiden Mei's face filled with a happy smile, he reached out to brush away the messy hair sticking to her cheek, then lowered his head to imprint a kiss.
At least this gain wasn't bad for him!
—Tongzi, so you really do offer super intense physical confrontations!
Closing his eyes, he gradually fell asleep in this gentle dream.
...
When Leo woke up from the dream again, the sky outside the window was gradually darkening.
"Is it already this time?"
Sitting up from the bed, he felt his energy was abnormally abundant, even wanting to find Raiden Mei for another round!
But unfortunately, Raiden Mei's essence was now a spirit body; he couldn't just vent on a long sword, right?
Therefore, he could only get up and enter the bathroom, trying to calm himself down with cold water.
And just as he finished his personal hygiene, the doorbell rang.
"Hi~"
Opening the door, he saw MEI, who had changed into casual clothes and was carrying a bag of ingredients.
"I didn't expect you to bring your own ingredients?"
"In that case, I shouldn't have to pay you at the end of the month, right?"
Raising an eyebrow, MEI sized up Leo's mental state... Hmm, he seemed to have slept enough.
But inexplicably, she felt that the Leo before her seemed somewhat different.
Especially the look in his eyes when he looked at her, giving her the feeling of being seen through.
More crucially... she felt very annoyed!
She couldn't say exactly where she was annoyed, but she just felt very wrong inside.
"Heh~"
Chuckling lightly, Leo stepped aside and let MEI into his home.
"Really speaking, I should be splitting the cost of ingredients with you."
"That's not necessary."
Shaking her head, MEI put the ingredients in the kitchen.
"Just consider it your technical investment."
"At the same time, just answer some of my questions."
"No problem."
Nodding with a smile, Leo said, "I'll answer you while cooking."
After speaking, he put on an apron, adding a touch of warmth to the home.
It also made MEI, who had been secretly annoyed, feel slightly relieved.
But under some strange influence, she didn't ask the first question she had planned, but instead asked:
"Where is Student Raiden?"
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