Honkai: You're telling me this difficulty is from Honkai Impact 3?!

Mei had wanted to stop Bronya from revealing the truth of what happened back then, but ultimately did nothing, only tightening her grip on Kiana's hand, trying to give her some comfort.

Kiana was stunned for a couple of seconds, then fell silent, no longer speaking, only her other hand gradually clenching into a fist, tightening until it started to tremble.

"At this time, Shu still can't have lured the Honkai Imperator far enough away from here yet. If we leave now with these people, and attract the Imperator's attention…"

Bronya didn't continue, but Kiana already knew what Bronya was implying.

It would be no different than letting all of Shu's efforts be for nothing.

That Honkai Imperator would unleash a massacre here, and in the face of such an Imperator, they couldn't even defend themselves for a moment.

Without Shu, they were now pathetically weak.

"Then Shu's words…" Kiana gritted her teeth, unwilling to accept it.

"We will definitely fulfill them, that's what we promised him." Mei soothed Kiana's emotions, speaking softly, "Shu will be alright, he could withstand the Honkai Imperator's attack, he can definitely get away from the Imperator unharmed."

"I know, Mei…" Kiana lowered her head, "It's just… I feel so useless… I can't do anything…"

Mei didn't answer, only sighed.

Silence fell between the three.

After a long while, Mei spoke softly, "Let's wait until tomorrow, okay? Tomorrow, we'll take them away."

Kiana nodded, pulled her hand back from Mei's, and lay down without a word, pulling the blanket over her head.

Kiana, you haven't eaten yet…

Mei opened her mouth, but ultimately lowered her hand.

Let Kiana have some quiet time for now…

Under the covers, Kiana curled into a small ball, biting her lip tightly, fists clenched.

…

The night was as dark as if the sky had collapsed, gloomy black clouds obscuring the moonlight, the main roads pitch black. The brightest lights were actually the emergency lights inside the shelter.

The reason this shopping mall could still have electricity after the Great Honkai Eruption was simple: when the Honkai struck, a grand performance was being prepared here.

Three people who didn't follow pop stars and one who didn't even know who the celebrities of this world were still underestimated Yun Mengxi's fame among young people.

With her own talent and looks, and Yun Feng's full support, Yun Mengxi was undeniably a top star.

This place was called a shopping mall, but at its center was a huge performance venue capable of holding seventy thousand spectators.

Everything for the stage was ready, but what awaited it wasn't the grand opening it was supposed to have, but the Honkai that destroyed everything.

Yun Feng had led a few people out of the venue and taken shelter here. In the following half-month, Yun Feng had been trying to explore the outside world, bringing back many survivors.

Until that Honkai Beast appeared, forcing Yun Feng back into the shelter.

Kiana quietly crawled out from under the covers, gently pulled the blanket up for Mei, then quietly opened the door and slipped out.

Mei opened her eyes, watching Kiana's departing figure with worry.

The frustration and unwillingness in her heart were causing Kiana to suffer from the same problem as Shu – insomnia.

Kiana rarely had insomnia. Usually, even if she failed all her classes, Kiana would still sleep soundly, and even if she had a stomach ache from bad food at night, she could endure it until the next morning.

But tonight, she had insomnia.

Walking slowly, Kiana gradually shifted her gaze away from the survivors around her, lowering her head, walking straight ahead.

Following the same path as Shu, the surroundings gradually became deserted.

The path wasn't long, but walking further would mean running into a wall. Kiana could only slow down, finally sitting down in an open area.

A deathly silence of darkness, the emergency lights in the distance emitting a faint glow, particularly glaring in this darkness.

Kiana gradually curled up, trying to shrink into a ball. She buried her head, taking two deep breaths, seemingly enduring and suppressing something.

Tears.

Tears that "Kiana" would never shed, but tears that a seventeen-year-old girl would shed, tears that most people would shed when faced with sudden upheaval.

Tears called "unwillingness."

Kiana felt she was right, she couldn't do anything now.

She could only watch helplessly as Shu went to fight, only watch Shu single-handedly lure away that Honkai Imperator for the sake of her and her companions' safety, while she couldn't even grasp the tasks Shu had instructed them to do.

If she really did leave with everyone tonight and made all of Shu's efforts futile…

Kiana didn't know how she would face Shu.

Bronya knew so many things, driving, using firearms, and could easily understand what Shu was thinking.

Mei also knew many things, could help Shu accomplish his requests, could help Shu continue to maintain the "Fire Moth" identity, could negotiate with others…

What about herself?

She only dragged everyone down… Shu was getting stronger now, but after she couldn't rely on her physical advantages, she had completely become a burden to everyone…

This wasn't the "hero" Kiana wanted to be, nor was it the "Kiana" she aspired to be.

She was just dead weight.

But she didn't want to be dead weight…

Kiana hugged herself tighter. For the first time, she blamed herself for being lazy in the past, for not studying properly like Mei, instead choosing to be a slacker.

She was unwilling to be a useless burden, she also wanted to keep up with Shu and the others, she… wanted to live up to Shu's expectations of her.

"But I can't do it…" Kiana finally couldn't hold back her tears, letting hot tears stream down her cheeks.

Afraid of crying out loud and disturbing others, Kiana bit her lip, sniffled, wiping the tears on her face again and again.

But new tears kept flowing out, Kiana could only continue to wipe away the tears in vain, with the back of her hand, with her fingers, with her palm, with her wrist…

Until her hands were covered in tears, and her face was no longer presentable.

Kiana simply buried her face in her arms and sobbed softly.

In the shadows, Mei pressed her hand to her chest. Every sob from Kiana felt like a sharp blade cutting into her heart.

She really wanted to rush over, hug Kiana, and tell her she was doing great.

But Mei knew, as soon as she appeared in front of Kiana, Kiana would immediately force a smile, smile at her, and loudly say she was fine, telling Mei not to worry.

Kiana never showed her vulnerable side to her.

That was also why she came here alone.

Two people in the darkness, both heartbroken.

Until…

"Um… are you alright?"