After reabsorbing Zeztz Esprim Recovery and Genm Zombie Gamer Level X back into her fire-colored crystal necklace, Kiana continued deeper into the Heliopolis facility.
She barely had time to take a breath before another wave of zombies and mechs intercepted her.
Kiana sighed.
She raised both pistols.
Gunfire erupted through the corridor.
One after another, the enemies fell.
Zombies were blasted backward, while the mechs collapsed beneath concentrated fire from Kiana's pistols.
She moved through the battlefield with practiced precision, never wasting a shot.
Her final volley sent the last zombie crashing into the wall.
Kiana lowered her pistols.
Her eyes shifted toward the end of the corridor.
An elevator stood there.
Kiana stared at it for a moment.
This section of the facility had not been part of her previous, extremely brief visit to Heliopolis.
She had discovered something new.
And judging from the heavy security surrounding it, whatever was beneath this elevator was important.
Kiana approached the control panel.
Fu Hua: "That Valkyrie said that Rita is still down there and in danger. This must be it."
Kiana glanced toward the elevator.
She could already sense something beneath them.
Kiana: "I think I'm close enough. I can even sense Honkai energy reactions. Rita must be fighting them."
Fu Hua's voice became more serious.
Fu Hua: "Kiana, our time is running out. You could help Rita or find out the truth. The choice is yours."
Kiana looked at the elevator.
Then she looked around the facility.
The elevator had yet to return.
She couldn't simply stand there and wait.
Instead, Kiana decided to search the surrounding laboratory while waiting for it.
She moved into a nearby research room.
Rows of computers and storage terminals lined the walls.
Kiana activated one of the terminals.
Files appeared across the screen.
She began scanning them.
Then her eyes widened.
Kiana: "The STIGMA experiment? Is this why every zombie has Stigmata on them?"
Kiana remembered every zombie she had encountered.
Every corpse had possessed the same strange markings.
She had initially thought they were merely some kind of Honkai mutation.
Now she knew better.
Fu Hua carefully examined the information.
Fu Hua: "They're planning a city-wide experiment to create a new breed of Honkai-resistant humans."
Kiana stared at the screen in disbelief.
Kiana: "This is crazier than Otto's plans."
She continued scrolling.
Another file caught her attention.
The contents immediately made Fu Hua's voice change.
Fu Hua: "The file clearly mentioned the Previous Era. Heliopolis knows more than I suspected."
Fu Hua paused.
Her expression darkened.
Fu Hua: ""The almighty Serpent"…? That man… he's still alive…"
For the first time, Fu Hua sounded genuinely shaken.
Fu Hua: "How is that even possible…?"
Kiana opened another document.
Its title immediately caught her attention.
Kiana: "This file is titled MANTIS Observation Logs… MANTIS?"
Fu Hua fell silent.
Fu Hua: "…!"
Kiana began reading the records.
Her eyes widened.
Kiana: "Year 1475. Phoenix Shatters the Enemy Formation. Fu Hua, the Phoenix in the painting looks just like you."
She scrolled further.
Another image appeared.
Kiana: "Year 1887. A Photo with Dr. Conan Doyle, London. Wait a sec, this person looks like…"
Fu Hua finally answered.
Fu Hua: "You're right, Kiana. This is a record of the places I've visited and the things I've done."
Kiana slowly turned away from the screen.
She looked directly at Fu Hua.
Kiana: "What are you exactly, Fu Hua…?"
Fu Hua remained silent for several seconds.
Fu Hua: "I don't mean to hide things from you, but my past is simply too long… I don't even know where to begin."
Her eyes returned to the files.
Fu Hua: "I'm more concerned as to why this pharmaceutical company would be interested in my life."
Fu Hua's expression became solemn.
Fu Hua: "The person behind Heliopolis must know something… and probably came from the same era as well."
Before Kiana could ask another question—
DING.
The elevator finally arrived.
The doors opened.
Darkness waited beyond them.
Kiana glanced once more at the MANTIS files.
There would be time for questions later.
Right now, Rita was still in danger.
Kiana stepped into the elevator.
The doors closed.
The platform began descending.
The elevator finally reached the deepest level.
Kiana stepped out.
The air was heavier here.
Honkai energy filled the underground complex.
Then—
Kiana heard something.
Metal striking metal.
Her eyes narrowed.
She immediately rushed toward the source.
She emerged into a massive chamber.
And what she saw made her stop.
Rita was surrounded.
Three Death Webs stood around her, their mechanical legs scraping against the floor.
Rita was already weakened by the serum.
She could barely maintain her stance.
The machines prepared to strike.
Kiana moved without hesitation.
She rushed between Rita and the Death Webs.
BOOM!
Kiana slammed into the nearest machine and pushed it backward.
The other two recoiled.
Rita stared at the girl who had just saved her.
Kiana: "Looks like Miss Maid has made her choice."
Rita: "I never thought you'd be the one to save me…"
Kiana glanced at Rita.
Kiana: "Hope you still have the juice LEFT for a breakthrough."
A large screen suddenly flickered to life.
Raven's face appeared.
Her expression was visibly annoyed.
Raven: "I'm hardly surprised…"
Raven: "I sensed that someone was feeding hints to Rita when that Valkyrie started doubting us."
Her eyes narrowed.
Raven: "You could have stayed out of this, Herrscher."
Raven raised her hand.
Raven: "Kill them!"
The three Death Webs immediately charged.
Kiana reached for the fire-colored crystal necklace around her neck.
She didn't hesitate.
She willed the warriors into existence.
Orange light exploded across the chamber.
Four transparent warriors appeared.
The first wielded the Hybrid Magnum.
Premiere DekaRed.
The second held the D-Swordbega.
Dekamaster.
The third stepped forward with overwhelming physical strength.
Dekabreak.
And beside them stood the familiar green warrior.
Kamen Rider Zeztz Esprim Recovery.
The Death Webs lunged.
Premiere DekaRed raised the Hybrid Magnum.
BANG!
A concentrated blast struck one of the Death Webs directly.
The machine was launched backward and exploded.
Dekamaster moved next.
His sword flashed.
For a brief moment, nothing happened.
Then—
The Death Web beside him separated into multiple pieces.
It took a second for the machine to finally collapse.
The final Death Web charged toward Dekabreak.
Dekabreak simply stepped forward.
He pulled back his fist.
BOOM!
One punch.
The Death Web shattered.
Rita stared at the transparent warriors.
She looked toward Kiana.
Rita: "seem like you have a lot of surprise up your sleeve."
Kiana didn't answer.
Zeztz Esprim Recovery stepped forward instead.
He raised his hand.
Green energy flowed toward Rita.
The wounds caused by the Death Webs began closing.
Rita felt strength returning to her body.
She took a breath.
Then the alarm sounded.
WARNING.
WARNING.
Raven's voice echoed through the facility.
Raven: "All units ready for battle!"
Doors throughout the underground facility opened.
Zombies poured into the corridors.
Mechs followed behind them.
There were far too many.
Kiana looked toward the exit.
She grabbed her pistols.
Kiana: "We need to move."
The four transparent warriors charged.
Premiere DekaRed opened fire.
Dekamaster carved through the approaching zombies.
Dekabreak smashed mechs apart with his fists.
Zeztz Esprim Recovery changed into Zeztz Physicam Impact.
He launched himself into the horde.
The first wave was annihilated.
But another wave immediately replaced it.
Then another.
There were simply too many.
Kiana gritted her teeth.
Kiana: "Hang on… We have to get out of here!"
The zombies continued their relentless march through the darkness.
Rita looked toward the corridor ahead.
Rita: "The exit is right ahead…"
The two rushed toward the upper levels.
Their transparent warriors fought desperately behind them, keeping the pursuing horde at bay.
Eventually, they reached the rooftop.
Cold night air struck Rita's face.
But she could barely appreciate it.
Her movements were becoming slower.
Her breathing grew heavier.
Despite Zeztz's healing, the effects of the serum were still draining her strength.
Her scythe felt heavier with every passing second.
She could no longer swing it with the same force.
Rita looked toward the sky.
Rita: "EOS, requesting ground support! Come in, EOS!"
Static answered.
Then—
A series of explosions erupted in the distance.
Rita's visor displayed the status of the EOS crew.
One by one, their names disappeared.
Her expression remained calm.
But she understood what had happened.
EOS had been taken.
Her last chance of escape had been destroyed.
Kiana immediately raised her hand.
Space began twisting before them.
A dimensional portal opened.
Her four transparent warriors continued fighting the approaching zombies and mechs.
Kiana struggled to maintain the portal.
The constant pressure was taking its toll.
Kiana: "Quick! While I can still… hold it…"
She looked toward Rita.
Kiana: "Jump in!"
Rita stared at the portal.
Then she shook her head.
Rita: "My apologies, Miss Kaslana…"
She turned toward the battlefield.
Rita: "Bear with me till I have fulfilled my last duty."
Rita raised her communicator.
A faint smile appeared.
Rita: "After all, the duty of a maid is to clean…"
She activated the damaged EOS systems.
Rita: "EOS, activate auto-navigation system."
Rita: "Initiate command "Sweep"."
Rita entered the final command.
Rita: "Target, current coordinates."
Far above the battlefield—
The EOS suddenly came alive.
The damaged shuttle changed course.
Its engines roared.
Rita's eyes narrowed.
The shuttle descended toward the Heliopolis complex.