The elevator base was complete frosted over as multiple layers ice frosted over the floor.

Despite that, cracking sounds were heard as in an instant, all the ice shattered into a million pieces from tons of volts of electricity.

Standing from the rubble was Mei as it took her a while before she had managed to gain back her full strength.

"Raven. Owl. Hello? Anyone there?" She asked over her comms device however she was once again still met with silenece.

She surveyed her surroundings and saw Alex laid next to her still unconscious.

"Alex!"

Mei rushed and kneeled by his side as she saw a dart sticking out of his right shoulder.

She'd pluck it out and inspected it before quickly figuring out what it was.

"A tranquilizer? Someone put him to sleep, but why?" She asked.

Mei would touch his face and gasped as the boy was extremely cold.

Figuring that she had to get out of there since the Herrscher had escaped again, Mei would hoist Alex onto her back and left the area.

As she continued on, her comms device came to life on its own.

"Mei........" Said Raven in a tired tone.

"Raven! What's happened!?" Asked Mei.

"Owl............betrayed us."

"Owl? Why?"

"B-Beats me...........ain't got a clue. All I know is that he used the Scepters on you.............and then stabbed me. He took my weapon, b-but thankfully he can't use it without authentication."

"Are you okay?"

"To be honest, I feel awful. Whatever he stabbed me with, it had some kind of toxin on it. A-Anyway's.........how's the kid?"

"Alex got hit with a tranquilizer. Owl must've put him to sleep. He's still unconscious and is extremely cold to the touch." Said Mei before she then decided to question Raven on something important to her. "Hey Raven?"

"What's up?"

"I noticed Alex favoring and hold his left arm in pain during that prior battle. Do you know why?" Asked Mei.

Raven kept silent for a bit as while she obviously knew why, she was certain that Alex wouldn't want Mei to find out the truth.

"Beats me. Probably just suffered a bad stinger during it. Those go away quickly though so there's no need to worry about it."

"I see."

"Anyways, listen Mei. Don't waste time on trying to help me. Go warm up Alex first. Once he's good, you two go and chase them down. Don't let Owl escape with the Herrscher." Said Raven.

"Understood. Take care of yourself Raven."

"Hold up Mei. One last thi-." Despite it seeming like Raven had one last thing to say, Mei resumed to leave the as she quickly tried to find the nearest furnace she could find.

Thankfully there was one right down the path as she activated it and set Alex down on the ground as he began to warm up.

Mei would breathe a sigh of relief as she kneeled by his side and awaited his awakening.

As she waited, Mei figured she could take a peek at Alex's arm just to make sure nothing was wrong with it however before she could, she heard footsteps approach them.

Instinctively, Mei placed a hand on her sword's handle and stood up before quickly calming down as upon seeing who it was.

"Durandal?"

"Mei Raiden. Are you still in fighting shape?"

"Yes, but........."

Mei would look down at the still sleeping Alex.

Durandal also noticed him and figured that Mei didn't wanna leave his side until he was up.

"No worries. Just hope he wakes up soon." She said.

Fortunately only a few minutes would pass as Alex began to quietly stir before slowly opening his eyes.

His vision was initially blurry as he felt a little light headed.

Once his eye sight cleared up, he saw Mei above him with with Durandal off to the side.

The boy would sit up with a slight groan.

"Ugh. How long was I out for?" He asked.

"Not that long. Just a couple of minutes." Said Mei.

"Last thing I remember was being hit with that dart? What happened after that?"

"Owl did that. He betrayed us. After he put you to sleep, he activating the Scepters on me and then stabbed Raven."

"O-Owl did all that? Damn. Why?"

"I believe I know why." Said Durandal as Alex and Mei turned their attention towards her.

"Recent information given to me by Alvitr revealed that Ana once saved Owl, real name Tianwu Chen, from a Honkai event in Asia two years ago." She said which surprised the two.

"Honkai event? Two years ago? Didn't Owl......." Said Mei as Alex nodded.

"Yeah he did mention that. This is all starting to make sense now." He said.

"When that information was revealed, I knew it was too coincidental to simply overlook. Owl has a connection with the Ice Herrscher. Whatever he plans to do with her is a mystery. It's why I left the defenses in Rita's hands and came here into the city. Alex, I know you've just woken up but are you able to keep fighting?" Asked Durandal.

"Yeah don't worry over me. I'll be fine." He said.

"Alright then you two follow me. We don't have time to waste."

The two would follow Durandal as the three made their way over to the Herrscher and Owl's current location and it was evident once against as the weather around them got colder the closer they got.

Eventually after walking through the abandoned city streets, they came across an opening where two figures were spotted.

One being the Herrscher of Ice, and the other being Owl.

The two were seemingly in a conversation that was unable to be heard due to the distance.

Once they were close enough, Mei called out to his attention.

"Owl." She said.

The boy turned around to face them, standing by the Herrscher's side as Alex noticed how oddly calm and relaxed it was acting now.

"Stay out of my way, Herrscher of Thunder." He said.

"Owl. Do you know what you're doing?" She asked.

"Of course I do. I'll save Ana and free her from the Honkai. She'll be human once more. I know what the World Serpent has in store for her. You refused to give me a chance so I have no other choice. However, you proved to me that Herrscher powers could be mastered, Mei Raiden. I'll help Ana do the same." Stated Owl, grabbing the Herrscher's hand as a massive blizzard engulfed the area.

At that moment, Alex had a shocking realization about this whole ordeal.

Not only was Ana in the same role Kiana was in months ago, but he had now just realized that Owl was doing the same thing he and Mei had done.

Defending and protecting her as well as entrusting and believing in her to overcome and master her Herrscher powers.

At that moment, a massive hoard of Honkai Beasts emerged and charged at them.

"Mei, Alex! I'll take care of this! Make sure the Herrscher doesn't get away!" Shouted Durandal as she went to deal with the beasts.

Owl would spread his arms out and step in front of the Herrscher.

"I believe I've failed to convince you, haven't I?"

"I'll hear nothing more from you. I won't let you stop me."

Whereas Alex was completely conflicted on what to do, Mei didn't budge.

She was fully on board with seeing this mission through and completing it.

"Then come and face me!" Shouted Owl as he readied a punch and charged at Mei.

Unsurprisingly, Mei would step aside and push Owl down to the ground as she brandished her sword.

Alex would also withdraw his blade, having come to a decision as he ran ahead towards the Herrscher first.

"Wait! Stop! Don't hurt Ana!" Shouted and pleaded Owl, however it fell on deaf ears as Mei coated her blade in electricity and charged at the Herrscher.

As she drew closer and closer, she readied a critical strike alongside Alex.

Suddenly, her forward momentum would come to a complete stop as her blade clashed with another's.

It took a moment for Mei to register who had stopped her attack, however once she did, her eyes widened in shock.

Before her blade made contact with Ana, it had clashed with another sword.

It was Alex's.

"A-Alex? What're you doing?" She asked in a surprised tone as the boy managed to hold and keep her at bay before he looked up at Mei with a stern look, their swords locking in the middle as they looked straight into each other's eyes.

"It's as Owl said. You aren't hurting her. You're not touching Ana!"

Alex would then shove Mei away, putting some distance between them.

"If you wanna get to Ana, you're not only gonna have to go through Owl." He said, pointing his sword at her. "You're also gonna have to go through me."

Upon seeing this, Mei merely gave out an annoyed sigh, sparks of electricity crackling around her signaling that she was starting to get mad.

"Alex. We don't have time for this. Move aside." She sternly said.

Despite her threat, Alex could only give out a smug smirk.

"Make me."

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Chapter 8: Complete