NOVEL NEXT Chapter 417: Misunderstanding
Hare's appearance didn't faze Ren. He had no idea he'd just eliminated a recent ally. Even if he had known, he wouldn't have cared. His deal with Kevin was meant to create an opportunity for Kiana to face the Finality.
This imposter, daring to block his path, wearing his face no less, had signed their own death warrant. In his emotionally unstable state, even without the loss of control, he would have crushed her like an insect.
"Why is the Honkai energy on Mount Taixu suddenly spiking?" Ren gazed at the fog-shrouded mountain, worry etched on his face.
Over the past few days, Kiana had absorbed most of the Fenghuang Down, and the excess Honkai energy had dropped below the critical level. Ren had even checked before leaving; there were no large Honkai energy sources nearby. A sudden eruption like the one at the airport was unlikely.
Kiana, now wielding the power of Flamescion, was no longer the unstable girl from ARC City. As long as she didn't do anything reckless, there shouldn't be any problems.
Unless... the Herrscher of Sentience.
Ren's eyes narrowed.
The Herrscher of Sentience controlled consciousness. Even other Herrschers had difficulty defending against mental attacks, as evidenced by Kiana's unawareness of the illusion surrounding Mount Taixu.
This was why Ren had learned the Taixu Swordsmanship and made contact with the Herrscher of Sentience so early on.
He had helped Senti stabilize herself, hoping to bring her to his side. While she had ultimately chosen to leave, she had been influenced by him, remaining free from Honkai's control.
But there were no guarantees. Senti was her own person, not one of his puppets. If she betrayed him, Kiana, in her current state, would be vulnerable.
"Damn it!" Ren cursed himself, not Senti. His plans had gone so smoothly that he'd subconsciously considered Senti an ally, forgetting that Herrschers were unpredictable.
Leaving Kiana alone within a Herrscher's domain had been a grave mistake.
He didn't doubt her combat abilities, but mental confrontations were dangerous, easily leading to severe injuries. Months ago, he would have had ample time to help her recover, but now, time was running out. He couldn't bear to see her hurt by such a pointless risk.
As these thoughts raced through his mind, Mount Taixu loomed closer. The sight that greeted him made his blood run cold.
...
"Kiana, oh Kiana, are you the real you, or a fake?" Senti sat on the cliff edge, dangling her legs, a blade of grass between her teeth.
She had been waiting here for three or four days, planning a grand welcome for Kiana.
She'd envisioned an elaborate illusion, a dramatic retelling of Fu Hua's past through Lin Zhaoyu's narration. Just as Kiana's hopes were dashed by Fu Hua's perceived weakness, Senti would make her grand entrance.
With her decisive attitude and newfound strength, she would surely win Kiana's friendship once more.
But that pesky boy had ruined everything.
His constant presence at Kiana's side had prevented Senti from making contact. Her carefully crafted welcome ritual was useless, turning her from director to mere spectator.
"How inconsiderate," she grumbled, standing up. Being alone in the wilderness for days was torture for someone who hated silence.
"I should just go back… No, wait! Going back now would make me look weak!" Like a child running away from home, she couldn't bring herself to return.
"But I can't keep waiting. What if Kiana absorbs all the Fenghuang Down and leaves with that boy? All my efforts would be wasted!"
Maintaining the illusion was draining, and someone seemed to be siphoning her energy. It had gotten so bad she'd almost lost control of the illusion. To avoid revealing her weakened state, she had abandoned her role as Lin Zhaoyu and retreated to this spot.
"I guess I'll go back and check."
Senti returned to Mount Taixu, riding her sword case. But in her self-proclaimed role as Fu Hua, she failed to realize that her presence was causing the Honkai energy to spike. Even unconsciously, a Herrscher impacted their surroundings.
And this coincided with the energy drain from Kiana's Fenghuang Down feather.
Created from the Herrscher of Sentience's core, the feathers naturally drew power towards the current Herrscher of Sentience—Senti herself. Weakened by No.17's energy drain, Senti inadvertently accelerated the feathers' decline.
"Huh? Where is she?" Senti didn't find Kiana at the mountaintop shrine where she expected her to be. She hadn't anticipated Ren gathering all the feathers.
After searching a few more locations, Senti resorted to using her consciousness-tracking ability.
She preferred not to rely on it. It felt wrong for "Fu Hua" to use Herrscher powers, and it risked exposing her true identity to Kiana, another Herrscher. She had avoided using it outside of maintaining the illusion.
But she was desperate.
"There she is!"
She located Kiana on a small platform to the south. Even better, that annoying boy wasn't there. This was her chance to speak to Kiana alone!
But when she arrived, she found Kiana unconscious, clutching a familiar black feather.
"What's this?" Senti recognized the feather she had discarded.
"Why does Kiana have this Fenghuang Down feather?" As she reached to check on Kiana, a cold voice cut through the air.
"Get away from her!"