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

"Mei-nee, why are you here? And what's with… this?"

"Just my Herrscher form. After we parted, I followed Kiana to Nagazora and awakened as the Herrscher of Thunder." Mei summarized her complex journey, lightly touching her two horns.

The horns retracted into her forehead.

"As for why I'm here..." Mei looked towards the passage Bronya had come from, resting her hand on her katana's hilt. "To stop you from going any further."

"Stop me? Why? Isn't this a World Serpent base? You..." Bronya trailed off, eyes wide with disbelief.

"You're right. I'm currently with World Serpent."

"You're kidding! Mei-nee, you know better than anyone what kind of organization they are! Did you forget what they did in ARC City?! Why would you help them?"

"I'm sorry. I have to do this."

Looking at Mei's unwavering gaze, Bronya realized she was serious. The joy of reunion faded, replaced by a chilling coldness.

"Does Kiana… does she know you joined World Serpent?" she asked, her voice strained.

Mei stared at her for a moment. "There's no need for this, Bronya. When this is over, I'll explain everything to her. You've chosen your path, she's pursuing her own goals, and so am I. We all have our own choices. We can't stay at St. Freya forever. Once this is all over, I believe we can all reunite."

"Enough! I don't want your explanations! No matter your reasons, World Serpent isn't an organization you should be part of. If Kiana can't bring you back, I will." Bronya's twintails trembled with anger, but Mei remained resolute.

Bronya exhaled, closing her eyes. When she opened them, she was a queen of thunder.

When Mei joined the Obsidian Concord, she'd prepared for this. The world couldn't always be bright. While Bronya and Kiana chose the path of salvation, someone had to shoulder the darkness.

She wasn't worried about Kiana, but Bronya, now with Anti-Entropy, clearly didn't understand this yet. She couldn't afford to be soft.

"Stop. I won't hurt you, as long as you don't go any further."

"Same goes for you. It's not too late to leave World Serpent."

Memories of friendship shattered as the former friends faced each other, blades drawn, their conflicting beliefs clashing deep underground.

...

"Who do you think will win?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

"It seems our new member is unexpectedly strong."

"Bronya's grown up. I hope she doesn't get hurt."

"Watch your allegiance, Hare."

"What's it to you? I'm practically her aunt. Can't I be concerned about family?"

Gray Serpent: "...Fine."

As they spoke, Bronya fell. Mei's Herrscher powers were highly developed, amplified by her inherited swordsmanship and unwavering resolve.

For now, Bronya, still grappling with the meaning of the Herrscher of Reason, wasn't strong enough.

"I can't lose!" Bronya, her twintails singed, collapsed. Her mecha-bunny lay beside her, smoking like a short circuit.

She struggled to rise, but a jolt of electricity paralyzed her.

"It's over. Rest for a while."

"Mei-nee..." Bronya felt weak, like she hadn't slept in days. She looked at Mei, confusion and pleading in her eyes, reaching out.

Before she could touch Mei's stockinged leg, Mei scooped her into her arms.

"Raven, keep her safe. If anything happens to her, even Kevin won't be able to save you."

"Don't worry. Mercenaries are true to their word. I owe you two lives. I won't let her be harmed."

As the corridor lights flickered, Bronya drifted into unconsciousness, hearing muffled voices as she was passed to another woman.

"Raven...that name sounds familiar..."

Before she could place it, darkness consumed her.

While Mei and Bronya fought, other events unfolded within the base.

"Damn it, where did he go?" Senti, lost in the labyrinthine base, opened door after door, finding only patrol robots.

"No, he doesn't matter. I need to find Kiana!" Senti finally calmed down, focusing her thoughts.

"Simple traps can't hold Kiana, and I've expanded my consciousness to its limit. She can't have vanished. Unless... unless she's in a space I can't sense. Someone powerful enough to do that...Kevin?!"

"Right, Kevin's the Lord of World Serpent. Only he could take Kiana without a trace. That blockhead... Kevin! Get out here!"

"If you don't show yourself, I'll tear this base apart!"

Senti punched a hole through a nearby office wall.

As she prepared to demolish another, a dark crack appeared, exuding a faint, sinister aura.

"Ha, knew it." Senti grinned, jumping into the fissure without hesitation.

Elsewhere, Mei, having dealt with Bronya, headed deeper underground. A spatial rift opened before her.

After a moment's hesitation, she took a deep breath, tightened her grip on her katana, and stepped through.