NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 258: The Ember
The roars of Honkai Beasts, the crash of collapsing buildings, the explosions of cars, and the sharp, piercing wail of sirens. The cacophony of sounds converged upon the city, fraying everyone's nerves.
Yet, these sounds gradually faded from Ren's mind, leaving only the girl's pained breaths.
His eyes, hidden behind the mask, gazed at Kiana's sleeping face as he gently descended, cradling her in his arms. His feet touched the ground, landing as lightly as a feather.
Looking at the girl's pale face, burned by the Flamescion ember, Ren frowned. He had expected Kiana, even if unable to fully control Flamescion, to be far stronger than an average Herrscher.
But judging by her performance in the two battles in ARC City, her condition was far from ideal. Setting aside Li Sushang's Taixu Sword God, the Flamescion ember was a gift he had specifically prepared for Kiana. Theoretically, it shouldn't reject her.
Before formulating his plan, he had repeatedly reviewed the events of the original timeline, confirming that Kiana had only fully become the Herrscher of Flamescion after killing the Herrscher of a Thousand and inheriting Himeko's will. In a sense, only his death could give rise to a stronger Kiana.
He had done the same thing; why was the result different?
Was it because Himeko's lingering regrets hadn't been resolved?
Having eliminated his own actions as the cause, Ren could only temporarily blame Himeko. It must be her fault as a teacher that Kiana was so weak.
Now wasn't the time for such thoughts. Kiana was clearly unable to fully control Flamescion's power, so Ren could only try to alleviate the Honkai energy erosion.
However, his own condition wasn't ideal either. He could only hold the girl with one arm, placing his other hand over the burning ember in Kiana's hand, closing his eyes, and using his senses to probe for the problem.
To his surprise, the moment his consciousness connected with Kiana's, the previously volatile Flamescion ember calmed down, resting docilely in their joined hands.
Ren opened his eyes, a strange expression on his face.
The Flamescion ember in their hands radiated a gentle warmth, with no searing heat. This was how the flame of hope should be. So why was Kiana's compatibility with it so low?
It couldn't be that she wasn't treating it as Ren's legacy and was actively resisting its power, could it?
"..." Ren froze, realizing the possible truth, his gaze towards Kiana becoming even more complex. "Could it actually be my fault?"
As Ren controlled the ember, it eagerly flowed into his body like a fledgling returning to its nest, transforming into the power of flames.
This scene was witnessed by Fu Hua, hidden within the Edge of Taixuan. A thoughtful expression appeared on her face.
Realizing she had stumbled upon a secret, Fu Hua immediately prepared to use the Edge of Taixuan's consciousness-blocking ability to discreetly probe Ren's mind. However, the moment she activated her power, she met a pair of cold, gray eyes.
"Immortal Phoenix, it seems you haven't upheld your end of our bargain."
The familiar voice, the familiar tone. Fu Hua instantly recalled the mysterious figure who had invaded her mindscape and made a deal with her during Kiana's time wandering in ARC City.
"It's you? Wait…"
Before Fu Hua could say anything more, her vision blurred, and her consciousness within the Edge of Taixuan vanished.
Ren, having forcibly severed the connection, looked away. Fu Hua's perception was also incredibly keen; if she continued to observe, he risked revealing more than he intended.
Of course, as he cut off her connection, he didn't forget to leave a misleading clue. Since the protagonist group was so good at filling in the blanks, he might as well give them his old fake identity to ponder over.
The number of Honkai Beasts in the city was overwhelming. In the few seconds it had taken Ren to catch Kiana, several had already noticed them. Fortunately, thanks to Kiana's presence as a lure, they were near the city's edge, away from most of the population.
Roar!
With a roar, a massive, lance-wielding beast charged towards Ren.
"Since she needs to rest, you all should quiet down." He murmured softly, releasing Kiana's hand. With a flick of his wrist, a three-foot sword slid from his sleeve, landing perfectly in his grip.
The charging Honkai Beast was still dozens of meters away when a thin, crimson thread sliced cleanly through it.
The collapsing beast's corpse burst into flames, consumed by Flamescion within seconds, reduced to nothing.
Orange-red flames spread from Ren's fingertips, coiling around the Ink-Dyed Fragrance like tiny snakes.
He released his grip, and the flame-wreathed sword floated beside him. Ren picked up Kiana and slowly walked towards the eastern district.
Any Honkai Beast on the street, whether a low-level Chariot or a high-level Emperor, was instantly incinerated by the flying sword the moment they approached.
This was the destructive power of the Herrscher of Flamescion.
A beautiful girl in his arms, slaying all who stood in his path.
While it looked impressive, Ren would rather not use this sword if he had a choice.
Li Sushang, attuned to Spirit, would undoubtedly sense the unsheathing of her sword and would come looking for him, creating more complications. He hadn't even learned Taixu Sword God yet.
However, in his current state, he couldn't withstand Flamescion's destructive power directly. He needed a conduit, and the Xuanyuan Sword was his only option.
"I'll explain later."
Drawn by the Herrscher's presence, the Honkai Beasts continued to swarm towards Ren. The sheer number of them, even though he could kill each one with a single strike, was taking its toll.
This body, created by the Herrscher of Reason core, couldn't connect to imaginary space without the core's cooperation. After more than ten minutes of continuous Flamescion usage, the skin beneath his mask had become deathly pale.
Fortunately, while Ren was clearing the beasts, Li Sushang was also fighting the horde in another area. With two S-ranks working together, the Honkai eruption was finally coming to an end.
Gradually, the city quieted down, and the sanitation and rescue crews began their work, organizing relief efforts and clearing the streets. Ordinary Honkai Beasts could be handled by the mechs; Ren's task was complete.
Looking at Kiana sleeping peacefully in his arms, Ren smiled with relief. Just as he was about to take her to Himeko, the injuries he had been suppressing finally caught up to him.
He stumbled, nearly falling to the ground with Kiana.
The Flamescion ember that had merged with him popped out, returning to Kiana's hand. Ren, unable to continue, found a safe place to set Kiana down.
He then staggered in the opposite direction, his vision blurring from exhaustion. Finally, he could no longer stand, sliding down a wall and collapsing to the ground.
Shortly after he lost consciousness, faint footsteps approached. A figure appeared at the corner of the alley. Looking at the blood-soaked Ren slumped against the wall, Li Sushang instinctively clutched the Crimson Empress plushie in her hand.