Herrscher of Dominance in Honkai, starting with the abduction of Kiana

Her limbs were numb, her body was freezing, and the human rationality within her was constantly being eroded as the Honkai's encroachment intensified. Anna was like a swaying ice ghost, wandering in this frozen land.

Taking advantage of the time when the Herrscher consciousness had been knocked into a slumber by Kiana, she desperately suppressed her desire for the Honkai, trying to get as far away from densely populated areas as possible.

She did this, so that it would be easier for the Valkyries to eliminate her after her body fully awakened as a Herrscher.

She had frozen this abandoned area of the city, using it as her own grave.

However, perhaps it was fate, or perhaps it was a deliberate arrangement by the Herrscher of Dominance, but even this lonely grave would not have peace at the end.

Faint footsteps echoed in the silent glacier. Anna, who had been in self-seclusion, was gradually awakened. She raised her head and saw a figure slowly entering her domain.

The next second, an unbelievable surprise appeared in her mind.

After two years, Anna never expected to see that boy again in such a place and at such a time. Even though the boy had matured a lot, Anna still recognized his familiar appearance at first glance.

「Chen... Uh...」

Anna tried to call his name, but she could only make strange noises, as she had long lost the ability to speak.

An uncontrollable panic surfaced in her consciousness. Even though she had decided not to run anymore and to face her destiny, Anna once again felt like fate was mocking her.

Why was Chen Tianwu here? Anna didn't have time to ponder this question. She only knew that her resistance to the Herrscher's consciousness was nearing the point of collapse. If Chen Tianwu didn't leave in time, she, completely Herrscherized, would kill him with her own hands.

This was something she absolutely could not accept.

With Chen Tianwu's arrival, the once dormant Herrscher consciousness seemed to have sensed a human presence. The Honkai energy within Anna's body was constantly gathering, and the Herrscher core, which had barely calmed down, was rising rapidly at a terrifying speed.

「Run!」

Anna felt the signs of her body going out of control. She trembled as she gave a warning, but this sound was just a roar of the Herrscher in Chen Tianwu's ears.

The moment the Herrscher of Ice's gaze fell on him, Chen Tianwu felt a chill envelop his entire body. Even his mechanical body became sluggish due to the low temperature.

However, as a World Serpent executive, he didn't lose his mind. After a brief moment of shock, he immediately put down the briefcase in his hand. The glaring red warning markers on the screen were everywhere. Chen Tianwu pushed a button to open it.

In the lower compartment, there was a special pistol and a melee short sword. These weapons were barely enough to deal with Honkai beasts, and were almost useless against a Herrscher, but he had no other choice.

"Raven, prepare to provide support." Chen Tianwu's nerves were highly strained. This was the first time he had faced such a terrifying enemy, and even the usually lazy him felt the pressure.

"I see her too... static..."

The voice that came through his earpiece gave Chen Tianwu some reassurance. He trusted Raven, but due to the interference of the Herrscher's energy on electromagnetic signals, their communication seemed to have some problems.

He didn't run. It was pointless to run from a Herrscher. His mission was to act as bait and create an opportunity for Raven. In order to prevent Anna from getting caught in the Herrscher's battle, he couldn't retreat.

Taking the Staff of the Underworld from his waist, Chen Tianwu watched the Herrscher of Ice's floating figure with caution. However, the Herrscher didn't attack him immediately, but rather seemed to be under some kind of suppression.

He quickly realized that this might be an opportunity. Without any hesitation, Chen Tianwu immediately raised the Staff of the Underworld and aimed it at Anna.

"Welcome your death, Herrscher."

With Chen Tianwu's soft murmur, the Staff of the Underworld suddenly emitted a golden light. Countless rays of light spread out like a rain curtain, constructing a field of constraint sufficient to interfere with the Imaginary Space.

However, this was only interference.

To disrupt the connection between the Herrscher core and the Imaginary Space, the Staff of the Underworld had to hit the Herrscher.

Sensing the threat, the Herrscher of Ice instinctively tried to dodge, but Anna, sensing that the Honkai energy in her body was being suppressed, immediately realized the purpose of the Staff of the Underworld.

She forcibly invested what little ability she had left into the battle with the Herrscher's consciousness for control of her body, creating an opportunity for Chen Tianwu that lasted less than a second.

Half a second was enough. The beam of light from the Staff of the Underworld completely penetrated the Herrscher of Ice's body, severing the connection between Anna's Herrscher core and the Imaginary Space.

The Herrscher consciousness, which had been using the Herrscher core to repair the damage caused by Kiana, lost its supply of Honkai energy and was completely awakened. Anna's consciousness was submerged in less than half a second.

Her body was completely out of control and taken over by the Herrscher consciousness.

However, Anna didn't fall into a slumber. Instead, she watched everything from the Herrscher's perspective. She looked at the calm boy in the distance, and her soul gradually became peaceful.

「Did you come, to kill me?」

All the mistakes originated from her initial escape. Failing to save Chen Tianwen was the sin that Anna blamed herself the most for, and not being able to meet Chen Tianwu again was her deepest regret.

Now, Chen Tianwu appeared before her again, as an enemy.

To Anna, this was actually the most beautiful ending.

On that day, she failed to fulfill her mission as a Valkyrie and failed to keep her vow.

And now, she would use her death as a way to atone to Chen Tianwu, and her demise as a human was a way of fulfilling her mission as a Valkyrie.

She would no longer run away, but welcome her final destination.

「Kill me, Chen Tianwu.」

But...

"Raven?"

The Staff of the Underworld had successfully taken effect, but Raven's sniper shot was nowhere to be seen. The entire space was as silent as a tomb, with only the sound of shattered ice and the gradually solidifying frost enveloping Chen Tianwu.

A strong sense of unease arose in his heart. Chen Tianwu continued to call out to Raven, but the communication signals were heavily interfered with. Only the buzzing static came through.

In the vast plaza, only Chen Tianwu and Anna stood facing each other.

Not receiving Raven's reply, Chen Tianwu's heart sank. Images of his interactions with Raven flashed through his mind, and a terrible guess slowly took shape in his mind.

Raven, might have betrayed them.

"Damn it!"

The Staff of the Underworld was only effective for about 10 minutes. During that time, the Herrscher core wouldn't be able to draw Honkai energy from the Imaginary Space, but that didn't mean the Herrscher's own power would be greatly reduced.

The powers of the Herrscher could still easily kill Chen Tianwu.

Now that Raven had betrayed them, Chen Tianwu was alone facing the Herrscher of Ice and had no chance of winning.

Realizing the situation, Chen Tianwu turned to run, but as soon as he took a step, countless ice cones came crashing down at him.

The biting cold penetrated through his prosthetic nerves into his brain. He could only roll on the ground in a somewhat pathetic way, hiding behind a frozen building.

However, by doing so, his only path of retreat had also been cut off. Countless ice cones completely sealed off the path he had come from.

The only sound in his ears was the sound of his own breathing. There was a hint of pain in Chen Tianwu's eyes.

"Anna, I might not have a chance to see you again." The half of a light blue heart-shaped necklace shimmered with an ice crystal-like light.

Chen Tianwu held it in his hand like he was praying and then hung it around his neck.

When he stood up again, the fear in his eyes had gradually dissipated.