"You were thinking something very rude just now, weren't you, Herrscher?"
Suddenly, Xi Wang spoke first, but the topic was a little strange.
"For example, the relationship between me, Alicia, and Sakura."
"…I'm just a little curious."
Mei Raiden was a little embarrassed, but she admitted it openly.
"After all, judging from the performance of the other Yingjies... they don't seem to want to mention you, but you seem to have a good relationship with them."
"Not bad? Huh... Where did you come to that conclusion?"
Xi Wang chuckled, with a hint of sarcasm in his tone... I don't know if it was Mei Raiden's illusion, but after Alicia left, he seemed to have changed, becoming a little... crazy, as if he had lost some kind of restraint.
"How can my relationship with them be [good]? It should be [hostile]... No, except for Alicia, Sakura, and Grayshu, everyone else is my [prey]."
"It sounds like you are a Hunter? But why... in Yingjie, your title is Revelation?"
"Ha...you'll find out why, but not here."
Xi Wang's voice suddenly turned cold.
"Also, haven't others told you that I don't like the name [Ying Jie]?"
Xi Wang turned his head to look at her, and at the same time let go of the dark sword in his arms. A stream of azure blue water began to appear, flowing in the air with the sword.
It's getting more humid around here...
"Or do you think that a Herrscher, an existence that killed six Yingjies... can be called Yingjie like them?"
? !
Mei Raiden was stunned for a moment.
"Alright, Herrscher."
Xiwang's voice was calm, like water.
"Since you promised Alicia to give you a chance to take the test, you only have this one chance. Cherish it. If you are ready, tell me."
"...Can I ask first what [Assessment] is?"
Mei Raiden felt it again, that feeling of being stared at by a predator... She couldn't help but grip the hilt of the knife.
"It's simple, just survive, that's all."
"It sounds no different from Qianjie's... If it's just a fight, I'm willing to accompany you."
"Thousand Tribulations? Ha..."
Xiwang chuckled again.
"You have to understand one thing, Herrscher. This is not a battle. It is just a hunt. It is my hunt for you. All you have to do is to survive. That's all."
"Is that so? It seems that I am your new [prey]... Be careful not to get hurt by the [prey]."
Mei Raiden is no longer surprised by Xi Wang's weird personality... Anyway, all the [Heroes] are weird, and Mei Raiden just wants to see what the gap is between the two generations of [Herrsers], and what it's like to be able to kill six [Heroes].
"Well... I'm ready. Let's start your hunting... Puff——"
However, before she could finish her words, a mouthful of blood mixed with azure water gushed out of Raiden Mei's mouth, and then her entire body was directly split apart, and countless tiny azure water blades poured out of her body and cut her.
Before Mei Raiden lost consciousness, she could only see a blue shark-like creature opening its mouth to bite her...
The Hunt is over.
When Mei Raiden returned to reality, she looked a little dazed, and her body still felt the phantom pain of being cut from the inside by water and being eaten by sharks.
[After re-entering the "Paradise of the Past", you will meet Alicia who is waiting for you and receive her comfort. After letting Alicia lead you into the "Deep Sea" again, you will receive Xiwang's affirmation and open the "Revelation" mark.]
————[Event: A glimpse of the ocean (select Sakura)]————
"Want to go see Wang? Sure, I'll take you there."
Hearing Raiden Mei's request, Sakura nodded in understanding.
"But please wait for me for a moment before you leave..."
Sakura left for a short while, and when she came back, she had a small sakura-colored bag in her hand, which contained a lot of wrapped candies.
"This is?"
"Ah, since we haven't seen each other for a while, I wanted to prepare some gifts... Don't mind, this is just a way for Wang and I to communicate."
"It seems that you have a good relationship with him."
"Well... in a way, that's true."
Sakura smiled and nodded.
"Hey, let me see what I found."
Alicia's brisk voice came from the side.
"Did Sakura prepare candy again? You're going to see Nozomi, right~"
"Well, Miss Mei wanted me to take her to see Wang... and it just so happens that we haven't seen each other for a while."
"Oh~ So that's what it is~ I was just about to tell Mei~"
Alicia stepped forward slightly and stood shoulder to shoulder with Sakura.
"Would you mind taking me with you? I want to go play over there on this rainy day~"
"Of course you can... I'm sure he will be very happy too."
Sakura just smiled and nodded, not caring.
…I always feel like I can’t get a word in—Raiden Mei thought so as she watched the two people gradually walking forward.
Under the guidance of Sakura and Alicia, Mei Raiden came to a place deeper than the "Deepest Place". The surroundings were filled with darkness, and a slightly damp breath rushed into their nostrils, as if the three of them had come to a flooded cave.
"……Um?"
Mei Raiden frowned because she found that when Sakura and Alicia in front of her were talking, inexplicable bubbles would float out of their mouths... as if they were already in the water, and she herself had the same situation.
More importantly, she just felt a strong sense of crisis, a terrifying feeling as if she was being stared at by a predator, as if something was going to eat her physically...but this strange feeling only lasted for a moment, as if it was just her illusion.
But that strange and terrifying feeling still made Mei Raiden alert, and her hand unconsciously fell on the hilt of the knife.
But at this time, Alicia greeted the front cheerfully.
"Wang~ Are we here to play~?"
"...Alishia, you shouldn't have come with others."
"Hehe~ This time I just came here with Sakura~ and Mei also asked Sakura to bring her here~"
"……Ugh."
Like a helpless sigh, the deep darkness before his eyes was gradually illuminated by the faint blue light, and everything around seemed to be covered with a layer of filter unique to the "ocean", with a unique beauty.
Following the sound, you can see a man in a dark "hunter's suit". A dark, slender and strange sword is wrapped in blue water, floating quietly beside him, which makes people feel surprised. His white hair is like waves, his pupils are golden like stars, and his handsome face makes people like him at first glance.
But compared to Raiden Mei who was paying attention to him, his gaze remained on Sakura. The corners of his mouth raised slightly, and he spoke softly in a calm tone.
"It's been a while, Sakura."
"Well...it's a gift."
Ying also smiled and nodded, walked forward and put the prepared candy bag in his hand. Xiwang gladly accepted it and directly took out a pink candy in the shape of a cherry blossom and put it into his mouth.
"Thank you."
"As long as you like it."
"Okay, okay~ I know you two have great chemistry~ But this time there are more important things~"
Alicia stepped forward in time to interrupt the two people who were about to immerse themselves in their own world, and reminded them with a smile.
"Well, Wang, this is Miss Mei, who is considered our [successor]..."
"I know... the rain told me something about her."
Xi Wang nodded, indicating that there was no need to introduce Raiden Mei to him, and then shifted his gaze to Alicia.
"Alisa, I don't think she should come to me... nor should she accept my [Mark], even if she is a [Herrser]."
"Please, just for Sakura and me, give her a chance, okay?"
"……whatever."
"I know that Wang likes me the most~"
Alicia walked up briskly and rubbed Xiwang's cheek affectionately. Then, as if she remembered something, she quickly spoke to Ying who was standing beside her.
"Ah, Ying, don't be jealous~ After all, you are the most important one here~?"
"Aliceia...you don't have to explain so much."
Ying looked helpless, but in the end she didn't say anything, as if she agreed with Alicia's statement...even the pair of animal ears on her head trembled slightly, as if she was somewhat happy.
"........."
Mei Raiden was speechless... Is this some kind of love triangle comedy?
"Okay, Alysia, let's get this sorted out first."
Xi Wang put his hand on Alicia's forehead and pushed her away, then took a few steps forward and came in front of Raiden Mei.
"Since you want to accept my [Mark], then you must also accept some [Test]... Of course, it's not difficult."
"Appreciate further details."
Mei Raiden also temporarily suppressed her random thoughts about the two women and one man in front of her, and focused on the [Ying Jie] in front of her.
"Just need to withstand one blow."
As Xi Wang said this, the azure water flowed quietly, placing the strange dark sword in his hand.
"As long as you can withstand one blow and not die, you have passed the test."
“…Is that all?”
"Ha... do you think it's easy?"
"No, I don't think so, but... never mind."
Mei Raiden shook her head... She had thought that the so-called [assessment] would be a battle, or something else, but she didn't expect it to be so "simple".
"Let me know when you're ready."
"Well, I can already...?"
The next moment after Raiden Mei finished speaking, Xi Wang's figure had already appeared in front of her, with a strange dark sword held high, and azure water gathered behind him like waves, and then... he swung it down heavily at her.
There was no time to dodge! - Raiden Mei made a split second judgment and drew her sword to block.
But the force from the blade that followed made her feel terrified… It was too heavy and she couldn’t block it at all.
And in the next moment, her body was submerged by the azure water. She was unable to use her own abilities and lost consciousness in an instant.
…………
………………
"Hey Mei, are you awake? Did you dream about me?"
When Mei Raiden woke up again, the first words she heard were Alicia's concern.
"I am..."
Mei Raiden got up in a daze and shook her head. When she regained consciousness, she found that she had been resting her head on Alicia's thighs. It seemed that Alicia had been taking care of her since she fainted.
Also, her body was completely soaked in water, and it seemed that she had not been unconscious for long.
"First of all, congratulations on passing the Lookout's [Test]~ This is very rare~"
Alicia said with a smile, and then gently pulled Raiden Mei's body, pulled her to her side, and whispered to her.
"But please don't be too anxious to collect your reward now~ After all...it's rare for them to be together for a while~?"
As she spoke, Alicia secretly gestured with her hand.
Following Alicia's instructions, you can see that on the other side, Ying is curled up in Xiwang's arms, breathing steadily, as if she has fallen asleep. The slender ears on her head are gently resting on the back of Xiwang's neck, and she rubs it affectionately from time to time to express her love for him.
