"...I look forward to your actions."
Though she said so aloud, Selene asked herself inwardly—did she truly look forward to it?
Well... who knew?
Kiana had experienced failure—more than once. She had been isolated and helpless. She had gradually lost hope. She had hurt those close to her against her will. She had witnessed someone she admired offer redemption at the cost of her own life...
And yet, she still maintained an upward, unyielding spirit. She refused to succumb to the darkness within her, smiling as she stubbornly tried to shoulder everything alone.
How should she put it?
Selene's feelings were complicated.
Indifference? Mockery? Amusement? Admiration? Longing? Envy? Disdain?
Perhaps all of them.
Selene could understand it. But she did not believe it was correct.
Yes—failure did not mean one should give up. Pain did not mean one should surrender. Even in the most perilous despair, beauty could still exist.
That was a correct statement.
But from another angle, in Selene's view—the real world would never be beautiful.
Beauty was merely a fleeting sensation. Only reality was eternal. And reality was never beautiful.
That statement was also correct.
There was no eternal truth. Whether governance should be moderate or extreme, Selene could adjust according to circumstances.
Human life required hope.
And Kiana's existence would make for an excellent promotional example...
The Valkyrie forces. Schicksal's research departments. Anti-Entropy's research divisions. All of them were valuable assets.
Unconsciously, Selene's thoughts drifted toward utility and calculation. Realizing it, she shook her head silently.
Well... relax. Perhaps... I am already beyond saving.
The gentle curve returned to her lips, warm as a spring breeze. Bending down, Selene did not use any energy manipulation. She personally reached out and helped Kiana to her feet.
"I will do it!"
After being helped up, Kiana thumped her fist against her chest, brimming with fighting spirit as she declared her oath.
Standing beside her, Durandal let out a breath of relief and smiled at the two of them.
But in the very next instant, her body stiffened in shock.
From her angle, Selene was still looking at Kiana's spirited posture.
But those eyes—
They were icy. Calculating. The gaze of someone weighing the value of a tool.
It was familiar.
Durandal had seen it many times before.
Otto Apocalypse.
Just like Otto, it was the look of someone observing something useful from afar.
Years of serving under the Archbishop had taught Durandal to recognize it.
Noticing her gaze, Selene glanced at her almost imperceptibly.
"As expected... compared to her, you are more suitable."
Selene's gentle voice echoed softly in her mind.
The abrupt, seemingly unrelated words made Durandal react instinctively.
"W-what do you mean?"
"Hm? What do you mean, what do I mean?" Kiana looked between them in confusion. "Selene-sister?"
"Ah, it's nothing." Selene waved her finger lightly, her voice soft.
"No need," Durandal interrupted before she could continue.
"That was the name our father gave you—our father. You can call me Bianka. Or Durandal. Either is fine."
Gently patting Kiana's shoulder, Durandal spoke calmly.
"R-really? I took everything from your childhood..."
"It's alright. I don't harbor any resentment toward you. If anything, the name Kaslana suits you more than it does me. You are a hero."
"But you—"
...
"Ah—suddenly I remembered. Earlier, little Kiana, didn't you ask me for something?"
Just as the two of them were slipping back into mutual apologies and praise, Selene's slightly apologetic voice interrupted them.
There seemed to be an indescribable undertone to it.
"While we were discussing serious matters just now, I almost forgot."
"..."
The atmosphere fell silent.
Kiana froze in place. Panic flooded her face. Her vision seemed to blur as the image of a purple-haired girl surfaced in her mind—a girl who had joined World Serpent and had always cooked for her.
"T-this is bad!"
"Hm? What's bad?" Tilting her head, hands clasped together, Selene smiled sweetly. "Little Kiana, who was it you wanted to save? What was her name... again?"
"Ah! Mei—!"
"Kiana? Are you alright?" Durandal asked, startled by the drastic change in Kiana's expression.
"I forgot about Mei! What do I do?"
Cold sweat broke out across her body. Her hands and feet turned icy as she stiffly turned to look out the floor-to-ceiling window at Earth, now blanketed in steel leviathans.
The darkness of space was pierced by crimson light lances. Like torrential rain, artillery fire poured down toward the planet's surface.
Mei was with World Serpent.
And World Serpent's style—ruthlessly exterminating Honkai at any cost—Kiana knew it all too well.
After all, she had once stopped their experiment that sacrificed the entire population of Arc City.
Given World Serpent's stance, they would never surrender to Selene, who stood on the side of Honkai.
If Mei had already clashed with the Imperial forces under Selene's command—what then?
Would Mei cause excessive casualties among Selene's subordinates?
Would she be surrounded and injured by the Imperial army?
And afterward—caught awkwardly between Selene and Mei—what would she do?
Selene had shown her so much consideration. Kiana was not foolish—she understood.
Selene could have taken the hard path. She could have killed everyone.
Whether Kiana approved or accepted it did not matter. Without strength, one could only submit.
Kiana knew that clearly.
The only reason she had been given room to negotiate was because, for reasons unknown, Selene had chosen to be tolerant.
She could not repay that kindness with ingratitude.
She had to repay Selene with tangible results.
And that was precisely the deadlock.
Mei was her most important friend. That was unquestionable.
But if Mei killed Selene's subordinates—now that Kiana herself was effectively part of the Imperial camp—should she take action?
Beg Selene shamelessly for forgiveness?
She was not that brazen.
"This is bad, bad, bad—!"
Grabbing at her white hair with both hands, Kiana seemed to turn ashen, on the verge of collapse.
"Selene-sister, I need to go down there."
"There's no need to go to such trouble..."
Selene cast her an odd glance and waved her hand.
In the golden hall, a massive projection screen materialized instantly.
Selene nodded slightly, stroking her chin as she said calmly, "The person you're looking for—Raiden Mei. I roughly know her location. Let me see... hmm? Budo?"
Although she knew Raiden Mei was with World Serpent, Selene had not bothered to check the exact battlefield. Watching Mei being brutally pummeled by Budo on the screen, Selene's eyelid twitched faintly.
"Mei!" Seeing Mei gripped in the hand of a blond giant over four meters tall, Kiana cried out.
At the same time, she let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Unexpected as it was, thinking rationally and without personal bias—if the alternative was Mei killing or injuring Selene's subordinates, it was better that Mei was the one being beaten.
As long as no blood feud was formed, things would be easier to handle.
"Selene-sister, that's her."
...
"Understood... Your Majesty!?" Though puzzled, Budo obeyed Selene's instruction without hesitation.
"Yes. Transfer Raiden Mei to the flagship... I accept the order!"
That was the final sentence Raiden Mei heard clearly before losing consciousness completely.
Your Majesty... brought to the flagship... Have I already lost? Are they going to extract my Herrscher Core... As expected, I'm still useless.
At that moment, Raiden Mei was terrified.
Not of death.
She was afraid that if something happened to her now, she would never reunite with Kiana. She still wanted to apologize to her in person. She still wanted to ask her—
Kiana... I'm sorry. Back in Nagazora City, I never meant to hurt you... Truly, Kiana, I want to see you again... Are you still angry with me?
She did not know how much time passed.
Perhaps eternity. Perhaps only an instant.
Suddenly, her body felt lighter. Two familiar voices reached her ears.
"Raiden Mei. It's been a long time... and you're injured this badly."
"Selene-sister... this is Mei."
Kiana! And who was this Selene-sister she mentioned?!
Raiden Mei's consciousness cleared instantly, yet her body remained numb. Her eyelids felt as heavy as mountains, refusing to open.
The next moment—
"Mm. Perfect. I've been wanting to test this..."
"I am the black born from the abyss. I am the white descended from the heavens."
"Born before creation. Existing beyond annihilation."
"I shall freely grant the waters of the fountain of life to those who thirst."
"Divine Key—Abyss Flower. Zeroth Power—Unleash!"
With that unfamiliar, cool voice, warmth flooded Raiden Mei's entire body. It was soothing beyond words. The pain vanished completely, and even the fatigue in her limbs was dispelled. Her tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed.
The bruises and blunt-force injuries she had sustained fighting Budo were enveloped in a thin layer of white light.
Moments later, the injuries began to mend. Fine cuts on her skin closed and healed. Aside from her tattered, dust-covered clothes, there was no trace of her previous wounds.
"That's great! Thank you, Selene-sister!"
Raiden Mei suddenly opened her eyes.
The first thing she saw was Kiana—her long white hair cascading down to her hips, tears shimmering in her eyes as she stretched out a longing hand, about to call her name.
In the next instant, however, Kiana's affectionate gesture toward the person beside her made Raiden Mei freeze.
"Hehe." Watching the purple-haired girl in battle-worn clothing stare blankly at her, Selene flashed a mischievous smile and suddenly pulled Kiana into her arms.
Crack—!
It was as if glass had shattered.
The light vanished from Raiden Mei's eyes.
I was first. I was clearly first. Why did it turn out like this... Cooking for her, hugging her, even falling in love with her... Why are you, you red-eyed woman, so practiced at this?!
Cough.
Pressing down on Kiana's white hair with one hand, Selene withdrew Abyss Flower with the other and turned Kiana's face back, whispering teasingly, "Hey, little Kiana. Your cook has woken up."
"Mei!"
At once, Kiana lunged toward Raiden Mei, who was sitting weakly on the carpet, burying her face against her ample chest and rubbing eagerly.
In an instant, the light returned to Raiden Mei's eyes. She wrapped her arms around Kiana and cried out as well, "Kiana!"
Watching the scene, Selene felt an odd sense of secondhand embarrassment.
As expected of Kaslana women—truly sinful creatures.
With that thought, she turned her head toward Durandal, who seemed to be sighing inwardly that "girls' friendships really are wonderful," and spoke out of nowhere.
"Rita—I'm requisitioning her. Alisa needs someone to instruct her."
She even found a convenient excuse on the spot.
"Oh, alri—huh?!"
"It's settled." Selene turned and called out, "Attend me!"
Knock, knock, knock!
The palace doors were struck and pushed open. A Royal Guard commander clad in extraordinarily ornate golden power armor strode inside.
Standing over three and a half meters tall, his finely crafted power armor was engraved with intricate patterns and vibrant coloration—so elaborate one might mistake it for a work of art rather than a suit of battle armor.
A crimson cloak trimmed in gold hung from his shoulders. Behind his head, the radiant sun-wheel halo symbolizing a Royal Guard commander gleamed brilliantly.
"Your Majesty!" Dropping to one knee, he bowed deeply, voice humble and reverent.
"Lawrence, I have a task for you."
Walking before him, Selene manifested the Complete Book of the World · Rongo Rongo and connected it to Schicksal's organizational database. She flipped to a page belonging to Schicksal's research department and began reviewing the records of the Siberia Research Institute.
In particular, she focused on the personnel involved in the Herrscher vessel experiment—the K-Project.
Selene had never been magnanimous.
On the contrary, her revenge was ruthless.
"Siberia Research Institute. K-Project. Person in charge... K-404... hm, found you."
Staring at the middle-aged man's face displayed on the page, Selene's lips curled into a smile.
That face was unforgettable.
The one who had stood outside the laboratory glass window, looking at her as though she were trash.
"Order: All Schicksal personnel who participated in the Second Herrscher—Sirin K-Project, regardless of whether they are retired, currently serving, defected, or deceased—are to be included. Their direct relatives, regardless of gender or age—even newborns—are to be executed by association."
At those words, Durandal, Kiana, and Raiden Mei all heard the cruel decree of collective extermination.
Selene continued expressionlessly, "Except for those on the necessary protection list. The rest—leave no one alive."
They had merely conducted research. They were not wrong.
But Selene was merely venting the suffering this body had endured. She was not wrong either.
She was simply stronger.
And thus, the rules of the game were hers to decide.
"Understood!"