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[D.S] Ch 34: The Happy Reunion
🕑 Added 2025-09-19 18:42:18 +0000 UTC— — — — — —
A few days later.... Arc City
Night blanketed the massive bridge as dozens of figures darted across it, bullets and sparks flashing in the darkness.
"Kiana, wouldn't it be easier if you just surrendered quietly?" Rita spun her scythe, effortlessly deflecting the incoming bullets.
"No way." Kiana sidestepped, both guns blazing as she drove back the enemies closing in.
"That's too bad, then." Rita smiled, but her scythe only moved faster, its sharp edge swinging toward Kiana.
And then—Kiana was gone.
"Hm. Vanished?" Rita narrowed her eyes at the empty space ahead.
"You won't catch me that easily." Kiana's voice came from behind her.
'So, she can already use the Herrscher of the Void's power?' Rita frowned, lowering her weapon. If that was true, she knew she wouldn't be able to capture Kiana tonight.
"Believe me or don't," Kiana said, tossing Rita a flash drive without looking back. "The Honkai attack on this city isn't my doing. There's something here you should know—Heliopolis Life Sciences is not what it seems."
She took off without waiting for a response.
"Heliopolis Life Sciences…?" Rita turned the flash drive over in her hand, lips curling into a small smile. "Well, things just got interesting."
---
Meanwhile, the Hyperion was approaching the city's outskirts.
"So, Kiana's here?" Himeko leaned over the rail, gazing down at the sprawling city below. The bright lights couldn't hide the sense of danger lurking beneath it all.
"According to the data, yes," Bronya replied, fingers flying across the console. "I'm also trying to contact Mei and get her to meet us here. She may have information on Kiana's whereabouts."
The screen flickered, and Mei's voice came through, worried. "Bronya? What happened? Why are you contacting me? Is there news about Kiana?"
"Please remain calm, Mei," Bronya said, her tone as level as ever. "We're back in Arc City. I'm sending you our coordinates. Meet us there—and one more thing: we have a way to find Kiana."
"What?!" Mei's voice lit up. "Alright, I'm on my way!"
"Rimuru," Himeko said, turning to him, "we'll leave finding Kiana to you."
"Leave it to me." Rimuru smiled, and in the next second, his body dissolved into countless motes of light, scattering into the night sky.
"I hope you find her soon," Himeko murmured, watching the trail of starlight vanish into the city. 'I didn't think I missed that idiot this much. How has she even been surviving out there?'
The lights converged high above the city, gathering together until Rimuru's form appeared once more.
"Presence Detection."
A wave of energy rippled out from him like an expanding sphere, scanning every corner of the city.
"Nope, not this one… not this one… that one kind of looks like—wait, that's a guy?! Why does a guy get to have a body like that— he is more girly than me... Whatever next."
"Hold on, this one's hers. Definitely her!"
A golden light flickered in Rimuru's eyes before his whole body shot forward, a streak of radiance heading straight for Kiana.
"Kiana, watch out—someone's coming!" Fu Hua's voice echoed in Kiana's mind, her tone sharp with warning.
Before Kiana could react, the streak of light landed in front of her and coalesced into Rimuru's figure.
"Who are you?" Kiana gripped her guns tight, feeling the oppressive aura radiating off him.
"Finally found you." Rimuru's chest tightened unexpectedly at the sight of her guarded expression.
"Who are you? What do you want?" Kiana didn't lower her guns, inching backward to put distance between them—ready to run at any moment.
"Relax. I'm not your enemy." Rimuru held his hands up in a disarming gesture. "Himeko sent me to find you."
"H-Himeko… Aunt Himeko?" Kiana froze, disbelief flashing in her eyes. "You're saying she's still alive? That she sent you here?"
"That's right." Rimuru nodded. "She's waiting for you on the Hyperion. Mei, Bronya, and the others are all there too. They're waiting for you—so come back with me."
"No… no, no, you must be lying." The excitement faded from Kiana's eyes, replaced by cold suspicion. "Prove it. Otherwise, I'm not going anywhere with you."
Rimuru tilted his head toward the sky. "Well, by now they should have caught up… Lemme help them..."
Just after he finished, several figures dropped from the air.
Kiana's eyes went wide, tears streaming down her face.
"Do you have any idea how worried we were about you?" Mei cried, rushing forward and wrapping Kiana in a fierce hug. "I swear, I'm never letting you out of my sight again—stupid girl!"
"Mei…" Kiana buried her face against Mei's shoulder, drinking in the warmth of her embrace. 'I could stay like this forever.'
"You idiot!" Himeko walked up and bonked Kiana on the head with her fist.
"Ow! Aunt Himeko—I missed you so much!" Kiana winced but laughed, throwing her arms around Himeko too.
"I want a hug too," Rimuru muttered, jealous. It had been days since anyone had hugged him, and he was starting to feel deprived.
"Bronya would also like a hug," Bronya said flatly.
"Bronya-nee!" Seele appeared out of nowhere, glomped onto her, and declared, "You can hug me anytime!" In her heart, another voice whispered possessively: 'Bronya belongs to me. No one can take her away.'
"Seriously? Can't any of you think about the poor single dog here?" Rimuru groaned inwardly, glaring at the happy reunion scene in front of him.
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