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At St. Freya Academy—
"Mei! Did you see that?! I did it!!"
With a cheer,
Kiana threw her arms around Raiden Mei, bursting with excitement.
She was happy not only for the millions of citizens of Sky City—
but also for her own future.
She had done it…!
"Kiana… your hand!"
After the Sky City Meteor incident,
Durandal arrived at the scene and effortlessly defeated Raiden Mei,
then took Kiana away to Schicksal's North Africa experimental base, where—on Otto's instructions—she was carefully tended to.
"You're awake."
A strange voice reached her ears, instantly putting Kiana on edge.
"You are… Durandal?"
"It's me."
"… "
As her eyes slowly adjusted to the light, Kiana realized she was lying in a heavily guarded, sealed medical ward.
She already knew what must have happened.
"What about Sky City? And… where's Mei?"
"The crisis there has been resolved. No civilians were harmed. The Valkyries are cleaning up the aftermath."
Durandal replied simply, holding a book and reading quietly.
"Raiden Mei reunited with her companions and has already left Sky City."
(Mei… thank goodness. She's safe.)
"You're currently in Schicksal's North Africa experimental base. Is there anything else you'd like to ask?"
"Durandal… I always knew this day would come, when I'd have to face you."
"Since you were mentally prepared, this will be much easier. If there are no other questions, then lie still. You need proper rest."
Durandal showed no hostility.
Yet that very calmness made it impossible for Kiana to relax.
Even though she tried to appear composed, Kiana knew all too well—
This was the worst possible situation.
She tried calling out to Fu Hua in her heart,
but only silence answered her.
She closed her eyes, attempting to reach her again—
Still nothing.
After using so much power to suppress Sirin, Fu Hua had likely fallen into dormancy.
Kiana remembered Fu Hua's final words, and the familiar helplessness she'd felt three months ago when she first entered Sky City washed over her again.
But now—
She was no longer the same Kiana as back then.
(Looks like… I'll have to rely on myself.)
(With Herrscher power, I should be able to—)
"I told you. You need to rest."
"What?!"
Reflected in Durandal's sapphire-like eyes was Kiana's startled face.
Durandal leaned in close, fixing the girl who was trying to escape with a sharp gaze.
"This laboratory is one thousand meters below the surface. You can't escape."
(She noticed? How…?)
"There's no need to be confused. Your thoughts are easy to read."
"Your body is riddled with injuries, and it's still being eroded by the Herrscher Core. Even while unconscious, you were constantly releasing Honkai energy."
"Regardless of what you may have been able to do before, right now, you cannot control that power within you."
"If you leave here, you'll become a ticking time bomb."
"It seems you understand what I'm saying. Then you should know what you ought to do."
After calmly laying out the situation, Durandal left the ward.
Leaving Kiana alone in silence.
Outside the ward.
"Bishop, she's awake. It's strange—despite repeatedly using Herrscher power, the Honkai energy within her is still increasing."
"According to satellite reconnaissance over Sky City, the Honkai energy generated by the engine's explosion didn't spread—it vanished completely."
"Clearly, it was absorbed by the Herrscher of the Void. She's growing, just as expected."
"Back to the main point—since she's awake, let's begin the experiment immediately."
Otto's words instantly ignited shock and anger among the viewers.
An experiment…? What experiment?!
World Serpent's conspiracy in Sky City had just been stopped—
And now Otto was capturing Kiana, the greatest contributor, to use her as an experimental subject?!
Even Durandal hesitated slightly.
"Right now? Isn't that a bit hasty? She still harbors strong hostility toward Schicksal."
"After everything she's been through, I don't think there's any way for her to trust Schicksal again."
Otto's voice remained confident, tinged with amusement.
"On the contrary, I believe her current state will allow her to display the power I wish to see."
[Raiden Mei: This time… I'll protect you!!]
[Shenhe: Durandal is so strong… worthy of being Schicksal's strongest Valkyrie…]
[March 7th: Kiana just saved Sky City!! She's a hero!!]
[March 7th: And you grab her for experiments?!]
[Tesla: That's Otto's usual style.]
[Durandal: The bishop must have his reasons.]
[Silver Wolf: But with Herrscher of the Void power, escaping from Durandal shouldn't be that hard, right?]
And just as many had guessed—
Kiana soon seized an opportunity while being escorted to the surface, attempting to escape!
But the instant she revealed her intent—
She was cut off by Durandal's attack!
"If you want to leave that badly, don't do it that way."
"Defeat me like a warrior, then leave with your head held high."
As Durandal spoke, the shackles binding Kiana's wrists fell away, clattering into the sand.
But very quickly—
Kiana realized the vast gulf between herself and Durandal.
Even the Kaslana family's gun-kata—
Was far less refined than Durandal's!
After enduring a bizarre experimental battle against monsters,
Durandal brought Kiana back to the base.
The two remained silent along the way.
But once back—
Kiana could no longer suppress the storm of emotions in her heart.
"Why…?"
"Back at St. Freya, I heard so many stories about you. Everyone saw you as a hero."
'Schicksal's strongest S-rank Valkyrie'—that title was my admiration… my goal."
"But… you chose to stand on Otto's side!"
Kiana's emotions surged—
And everything she shouted was exactly what many viewers wanted to ask.
"Do you know the truth?! Do you know about the experiments I went through?! Do you know what that man has done?!"
"Why… you're so strong! You're clearly not a bad person!"
"So why… do you help Schicksal?!"
[Tesla: Well said!]
[Xiangling: Kiana really stood her ground this time!]
[Kiana: Hmph! I've always stood my ground, okay!]
[Paimon: Yeah! Durandal's a good person, Otto's a bad person! Why follow Otto…]
[Lumine: Ahem… good and bad aren't that simple, Paimon.]
[Durandal: The bishop is not a good person—and neither am I. But Schicksal needs Otto, and humanity needs Schicksal.]
[Theresa: …]
On screen—
Just as Durandal herself said:
"If there were no Schicksal, who would protect the tens of billions on this planet from Honkai?"
"You were once a Valkyrie of Schicksal. You should understand this better than anyone."
"This world has no absolute good or evil—only missions."
"And I fight… for my mission."
For a moment—
Kiana stood frozen.
But then—
BOOM—!!!
Several dull explosions thundered from overhead, alarms blaring instantly!
"Lady Durandal! The base is under attack! It's World Serpent's mechanized forces!"
In an instant—
Even greater explosions followed!
Dust filled the air!
And amid the chaos, Kiana seized the chance to flee the room!
At that moment—
World Serpent's forces had launched a full assault on Schicksal's North Africa base!
Their objective…
The Herrscher of the Void—Kiana!
In the desolate cityscape,
Hundreds of mechs weaved through weathered streets,
hunting their prey.
Amid the tide of steel, Kevin stood atop the ruins like an immovable monolith.
"Pin down Durandal. I'll deal with the Herrscher of the Void myself."
At Kevin's command,
World Serpent's forces sprang into action.
And Kevin—
Instantly locked onto the Herrscher aura emanating from Kiana!
In mere moments, he appeared before her!
At that same instant—
Fu Hua's consciousness suddenly manifested, buying Kiana precious time to escape.
Facing Kevin—
A friend from fifty thousand years ago—
Both sides knew each other all too well.
Fu Hua held nothing back, striking with all her remaining strength!
The battle ended swiftly.
Within Fenghuang Down's illusion—
"Hua, your final move was indeed powerful. But you no longer have the strength to sustain it."
"We could have witnessed the day humanity defeats Honkai together."
"You've given too much. You need rest."
"What comes next—you no longer need to worry about. I'll complete our mission."
When Kevin opened his hand again—
A faint, insubstantial feather lay in his palm.
In the same instant, the illusion shattered, the mirage dispersed.
The world shifted—
He was back amid the sandstorm-lashed ruins.
"When everything is over, I'll awaken you. Until then… sleep peacefully."
Kevin carefully put away the last remnant of his old friend—the Fenghuang Down feather.
But before he could resume pursuit of Kiana—
A golden-haired Valkyrie stood before him.
Durandal had arrived at the battlefield!
"So you're World Serpent's leader?"
"…Come."
"As you wish!"
Their auras erupted instantly!
Unlike Kevin's battle with Fu Hua within an illusion—
This clash reshaped the very ruins, the flying sand itself changing under their might!
And just as this world-shaking battle was about to truly begin—
A figure in an aristocratic tailcoat slowly stepped onto the battlefield.
"Durandal. Stand down."
"Bishop?!"
At that moment—
The one who stopped them—
Was none other than Otto Apocalypse, Overseer of Schicksal!
Raising his head toward Kevin in midair,
Otto's emerald-green eyes gleamed with playful interest.
"Leader of World Serpent, you've demonstrated your strength sufficiently."
"Since that's the case, it's only proper that I return the courtesy."
"I am Otto Apocalypse, the current Overseer of Schicksal."
His demeanor was elegant, his tone gentle—
Yet no one dared underestimate the weight behind his words.
Outside the screen—
Witnessing Otto and Kevin's first meeting—
Every viewer felt their hearts tighten.
These two—
One was the man who had controlled Earth's strongest anti-Honkai military organization—Schicksal—for over five hundred years.
Otto Apocalypse.
Driven by an obsession to revive Kallen, twisted over centuries,
responsible for countless unforgivable acts.
Yet he had also resisted Honkai and protected humanity for five hundred years—
a contradiction many could not accept.
The other—
A warrior who had slept for fifty thousand years, the strongest fusion warrior of the Previous Era,
Ranked first among the Thirteen Flame-Chasers.
Founder and leader of the extreme anti-Honkai organization World Serpent.
Executor of the radical, insane Stigma Project.
His organization had committed innumerable atrocities as well.
At this moment—
In the eyes of all viewers,
Aside from Honkai itself,
These two were Earth's most troublesome villains.
And now—
They stood face to face.
[Keqing: hiss…]
[March 7th: Otto and Kevin… are they about to fight?!]
[Tesla: These two—best if they tear each other apart!]
[Bailu: Hmph! Neither of them is a good guy!]
[Furina: But if they fight… wouldn't that just weaken humanity and let Honkai win?]
[Einstein: But… what if they cooperate instead?]
[Theresa: Impossible… Grandpa would never agree to the Stigma Project!]
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