The burnt-out shantytown was reduced to scorched earth. Above the ruins, Kiana stood high in the sky, looking down upon the refugees on the ground. The golden power of her Herrscher authority flowed constantly in her eyes, radiating an inviolable pressure.
In this moment, it was just like when the Queen descended months ago. But the Herrscher of the Void brought only destruction, whereas Kiana, right now, was granting people new life.
She closed her eyes, carefully sensing the flow of Honkai Energy everywhere. Such complex work soon beaded her forehead with sweat. But compared to her own fatigue, the desperate expressions on the faces of the infected pained her more.
Down on the ground, no one looked up to notice the figure in the sky. People only felt the pain and burning within their bodies gradually fade, as if some invisible force was gently caressing them.
This unprecedented feeling of comfort made them drowsy.
Of course, not everyone was oblivious. The boy Ren had interacted with earlier was one of them.
The moment he felt the change in his body, he instinctively looked up at the sky.
After all, the boy had received an inhibitor injection; he knew this level of effect was absolutely impossible for the 'Holy Medicine' to achieve. The only explanation he could think of was a divine blessing. And in his understanding, if anyone deserved to be called a god, it was Kiana and Ren.
Sure enough, looking up, he saw Kiana in the sky. He didn't make a sound, however, simply pulling his mother to kneel beside him, silently offering worship.
In South Asia, religious belief was extremely common. Local legends told of three main gods creating the world, allowing people to survive. Myths about the gods were widespread; even the Honkai factor 'Vishnu' within Theresa was named after one of the three main gods.
This was also why the caste system had persisted for thousands of years.
The boy, being young, hadn't yet been indoctrinated or poisoned by traditional religion. In his mind, whoever could save him and his mother was a true god. The moment he witnessed Kiana's 'miracle,' faith in her had already taken root in his heart.
As he worshipped devoutly, a thought gradually entered his mind.
"The world nears its end; only the Savior can grant the world hope."
He didn't know where the thought came from, but he subconsciously raised his hand to touch his forehead. There, the mark Ren had left emanated a gentle warmth.
He finally understood. This was an epiphany granted by Ren (the god).
He stood up, murmuring repeatedly, "This is a miracle! Salvation granted by the gods!"
He repeated it over and over, his voice growing louder. The other drowsy refugees seemed to awaken from their stupor. The boy's words resonated with their inner faith, and they began to follow his example, praising the miracle of the gods.
"Can sinners like us truly be forgiven?"
"The gods have forgiven our sins!"
Ordinary people didn't know about the Honkai. The city's rulers, to maintain their control, had simply used the gods' names, spreading the belief that Honkai infection equaled divine punishment.
Now that the Honkai was receding, wasn't it proof that the gods had granted them forgiveness?
For those living in the shantytown, they were refugees abandoned by the city, sinners punished by the gods, lowly beings relegated to the ruins.
They had nothing. The only thing they possessed, perhaps, was their deeply ingrained faith.
Faith wouldn't grant them salvation, but Kiana would.
And so, amidst the prayers, someone finally looked up and saw Kiana in the sky, saving people.
The sky above the refugee area was choked with ash from the great fire, thick and heavy like dark clouds pressing down on everyone.
But now, as Honkai Energy flowed around Kiana's body, the ash began to dissipate, bit by bit. The sky was filthy, yet the space around Kiana remained perfectly clear.
Finally, the ash scattered. Warm sunlight pierced through the darkness, falling perfectly upon the girl's figure.
Kiana stood with her back to the sun, her flowing white hair emitting a soft glow. Her eyes were closed, like a deity pitying the world. She waved her hands, drawing the sickness out from people's bodies.
Light fell from behind her, gracing every face.
"I think I saw... a true god," someone whispered.
"The gods haven't abandoned us," others embraced, weeping softly.
Even the thugs who had previously tried to snatch the medicine now knelt on the ground, trembling uncontrollably, fearing the gods would inflict divine punishment upon them once more.
"Her name is... Kiana... the Savior."
...
"Feeling okay?"
By the time the Honkai energy absorption was complete, night was approaching. The prolonged absorption, even for a Herrscher like Kiana, left her pale.
The moment she descended from the sky, her steps faltered. But Ren was prepared, catching her smoothly in a princess carry.
"I'm fine, just a little tired." Though her face was etched with exhaustion, Kiana still managed a smile, which made Ren feel both exasperated and amused.
"You really didn't need to push yourself so hard. Some people weren't severely infected; they could have been treated once new inhibitors arrived."
"But if I only saved the severely infected, it wouldn't be fair to the others." Shaking her head slightly, Kiana curled up in Ren's arms like a small cat.
After working hard all day, she truly didn't want to lift a finger now. All she wanted was a soft bed to sleep comfortably in.
Of course, completely focused on absorbing Honkai Energy, she was unaware of the 'miracle' she had inadvertently performed, nor did she know the legend of her as the Savior was already beginning to spread through South Asia.
Wriggling slightly to get more comfortable, Kiana closed her eyes and leaned against Ren's chest, whispering, "I'm sorry, Ren. I shouldn't have questioned you this afternoon. When I went back to the Relief Association, I saw everything Vyasa did."
"No need to apologize. You didn't do anything wrong. Those who wield the power of the Honkai shouldn't attack ordinary people; that's a moral restraint one places on oneself. The fact that you felt bad just proves you're a good girl, doesn't it?"
Without the city lights, the sky above the South Asian ruins seemed even clearer. Starlight fell from above, making the vast wasteland feel like a private world for just the two of them.
Ren found an open spot and sat down, letting Kiana lean against him more comfortably. He looked up at the stars, speaking softly, "However, I don't think rules should always be followed rigidly."
"People like Vyasa not only intercepted Schicksal's life-saving medicine but also profited from it, even experimenting on humans. That level of evil has long crossed the line of morality. To let him continue acting freely when you have the power, relying solely on the law for punishment... that's incredibly unfair to the victims."
"After all, being lenient towards evil is being cruel to the good."
The night wind ruffled his hair. Starlight reflected in his grey eyes, mirroring countless wandering shadows.
Human society has never been fair. Everyone constantly compromises and adjusts. And in that process, some inevitably become sacrifices due to so-called rules.
Evil people sheltered by the law, while good people are abandoned by it – he had seen far too much of this while absorbing the memories of the Herrscher puppets. It wasn't that Ren distrusted the law; he just felt that even the best laws were executed by humans. He simply didn't trust humans.
Therefore, for someone like Vyasa, dealing with him on the spot was the most appropriate action.
"Then next time something like this happens, leave it to me." Kiana didn't grasp the deeper meaning in Ren's words. She leaned against him, greedily inhaling the scent that might have been the wind, or perhaps Ren himself.
In the slightly intoxicating air, she slowly opened her eyes, gazing at Ren's face, her vision gradually blurring.
She suddenly understood. Her discomfort at Ren killing wasn't born from morality. After all, Mei, Bronya, and even she herself had caused immense destruction in the past.
The reason she didn't want Ren to get his hands dirty... was because, in her heart, Ren was like flawless white moonlight – special, meant to be untainted.
"I just don't want your hands stained with blood. Let me bear all the sins."