"So you both absolutely have to come back safely, okay?"
"It's a promise!"
"A promise!"
After saying goodbye to Seele,
Kiana and Durandal began heading toward the cathedral.
At the entrance,
Kiana suddenly called out.
"Hey, Durandal!"
"What is it?"
"Once we open this door, we'll be settling everything with Otto—for good."
"Yes."
"You know… it was Otto who created me in the laboratory. He's the one who brought me into this world, and he's also the one who treated me as nothing more than an experiment. A vessel to resurrect a Herrscher. Test Subject K-423."
As she said this,
Kiana's voice grew slightly subdued.
"Test Subject K-423—that name was all the dignity he was willing to give me. Back then, I was a blank slate. I didn't understand what a human being should receive from this world… or what they should give back."
"It was Dad who taught me, by example, what kindness was, what sincerity was. He gave me the most simple and genuine love in the world. He gave me the name Kiana. And then… he disappeared."
"So I began wandering this world—searching for Dad, and trying to become someone like him. Someone who could help others. A righteous drifter."
"I thought the past was behind me… but then Otto appeared again. He awakened the malice of the Herrscher, took everything from St. Freya, and forced me to start wandering once more—bearing the sins of the Herrscher of the Void, the pain of losing my teacher, and the guilt that tore my companions apart."
"And it was in that state… that I met you for the first time."
"Back then, with our opposing stances, we parted ways almost immediately. After that, many things happened—and I came to understand that relationships between people aren't simple."
"They're far more complicated than we ever imagined."
"And because of that, Durandal—"
"At this moment, I have to ask you something."
Outside the screen,
even Kiana herself was surprised to hear those words coming from her own mouth.
More shocked still were Raiden Mei and the others.
The usually cheerful, optimistic—and straightforward Kiana…
was now speaking with such depth and reflection.
But that was only because, along her journey,
she had endured countless heartbreaks, and suffered innumerable farewells.
[Keqing: My heart aches for Kiana…]
[March 7th: She's suffered so much!!]
[Silver Wolf: Otto really destroyed Kiana's life…]
[Sparkle: But without Otto, would Kiana ever have felt Siegfried's love?]
[Ningguang: Even so, every tragedy still traces back to Otto.]
[Herta: What Kiana truly wants to know right now… is Durandal's resolve.]
[Kafka: Indeed. I understand her—right now, she only wants victory.]
[Durandal: Not just Kiana. This world also needs a victory.]
[Rita: I believe Lady Durandal's resolve will not waver.]
[Jean: This is the final battle… please give it everything.]
[Kiana: Good luck! Future me!!]
[Changguang: Aaaaah!! Overseer!! My research funding!! QAQ]
[Furina: ??]
[Charlotte: What happened?! Is there news?!]
[Tesla: Damn Otto! Retaliation already?!]
[Silver Wolf: No way?!]
[Sushang: What a despicable man!]
[Honkai · Himeko: Everyone in Schicksal—be careful of Otto's revenge!!]
[Theresa: But… Grandpa probably wouldn't stoop that low, right? Maybe there's another reason?]
[Otto: Haha, Theresa still knows how to care about Grandpa.]
On screen,
just as the audience suspected—
Kiana looked directly into Durandal's eyes and asked solemnly:
"Right now… in what capacity are you choosing to fight Otto?"
Durandal paused.
She understood what Kiana was asking.
"I could stand as an avenger, repaying blood with blood."
"I could stand as a rebel, opposing tyranny."
"I could stand simply as a guardian, fighting for the fate of the world."
"But none of those are the identity I choose right now—at least not when facing him again."
"At this moment, I still see myself as a Valkyrie of Schicksal."
"I know Schicksal isn't a perfect organization. I know a Valkyrie's work is far less ideal than the slogans claim."
"And precisely because every one of us must face moments of choice… I must take the authority to define Schicksal, and to define Valkyries, back from that willful Overseer."
"Schicksal is a militarized organization. Soldiers obey orders—that is their duty."
"But that doesn't mean Schicksal's members should be puppets on strings! Or mere cogs in some grand machinery of fate!"
"What is right? What is wrong? What is justice? What is evil? What is Schicksal?"
"These are not things any single person gets to decide!"
"They should be the collective result of everyone's choices, everyone's paths, everyone's lives—painted together upon the canvas called the world!"
[Theresa: Yes… that's what Schicksal should stand for!]
[Durandal: Did I… really say something like that…?]
[Rita: Hehe~ Lady Durandal has grown quite a bit, hasn't she?]
[Ningguang: Every organization should maintain such self-reflection.]
[Herta: But—]
[Herta: Against the Honkai, no one can guarantee this will work better than Otto's methods.]
[Ruan Mei: Indeed. Under Otto, Schicksal was cold and inhuman—but stable, precise, and reliable.]
[Kiana: But doesn't that mean losing what makes us human?!]
[Raiden Mei: Must we truly lose everything to defeat the Honkai…?]
[Tesla: Either way, Anti-Entropy will never be like Schicksal!]
[Tesla: And Otto is someone who must be defeated.]
Durandal continued:
"So right now, I will reclaim this canvas from Otto—together with you—and preserve everyone's right to paint freely upon it."
"This is also the color and line I leave behind as a Valkyrie."
"For me, this is the will of Bianka Ataegina."
"From every perspective, Otto is a man who forever altered the trajectory of my life."
"If we use Shakespeare as a metaphor—he is not just Caesar, not just Macbeth. He is Claudius, Othello… even Hamlet."
"He is like a work of art—beautiful yet cruel, great yet evil."
"We will defeat him, and leave his history to be judged by future generations."
"I believe… that is what he himself would want."
As Durandal finished,
Kiana nodded, understanding.
"In your heart, he's still an elder. A complex, contradictory person."
"Yes. But that doesn't prevent us from fighting side by side."
"And it doesn't prevent me from seriously defeating him—
even killing him."
"…I understand."
Kiana nodded.
"Then, before we head into battle—how about a team-spirit high-five?"
Durandal froze for a second.
She hadn't expected such a bright, upbeat proposal before a battle of destiny.
But…
this really was Kiana Kaslana.
Just like Siegfried and Cecilia's daughter should be.
No matter ten years ago—
or ten years later.
Snap.
A crisp, decisive clap.
It conveyed all the trust that needed no words.
"My back is yours."
Even without saying it aloud, they both understood.
Not born of the same reasons,
not driven by the same emotions—
But that didn't matter.
What mattered was that their paths had fully converged on this day.
What mattered was that the stars representing their destinies
were now shining together in the same sky.
At this moment,
countless viewers were moved to tears.
That single high-five
contained all the trust that words could not express.
This was the unspoken understanding between Kiana and Durandal.
It was always meant to be this way.
[March 7th: Do your best!! Both of you!!]
[Hu Tao: That high-five… I'm crying!]
[Einstein: Even now, Durandal still regards Otto as an elder.]
[Rita: Lady Durandal still respects the Overseer in her heart.]
[Tesla: What's there to respect about that guy?!]
[Durandal: My resolve to defeat the Overseer will not waver.]
[Durandal: But I cannot deny his guidance and care in my life.]
[Durandal: As my future self said—his merits and sins must be left for history to judge.]
Inside the cathedral.
There was no immediate sense of urgency.
Beyond the doors—
emptiness. Silence.
No oppression. No tension.
"What's going on? There's nothing here?"
"No—look over there."
"That's… a rift torn open by Imaginary Space in reality?!"
"Let's take a closer look."
Floating in midair
was a strange, shimmering rift.
"Can you sense the space beyond it?"
"Yes. Pure sensing isn't an issue. What's flowing behind it is the same power Otto used before."
Kiana frowned.
"But to widen it enough for us to pass through freely…"
"Is it difficult?"
"I'll try. But this is Herrscher power—you should keep some distance, just in case."
"Understood."
Durandal stepped back, giving Kiana space.
The Herrscher of the Void steadied her breathing and focused her power on the unstable rift.
"Sever stray thoughts.
Gather the breath.
Know nothing. Feel nothing."
[She had attempted this method not long ago during the Herrscher collision experiment—]
[But now, her power was weaker than before, and the object she was trying to control far more complex.]
[Beyond the rift, a massive temple had already risen, drawing Honkai energy from all across Imaginary Space.]
[She had to be careful—one misstep, and her power could be devoured instead.]
(The chance won't last long. I have to gather everything and tear it open in one strike…)
(But in my current state, ordinary control won't be enough…)
(Then—there's only one choice.)
(I'll push myself to the limit.)
White light flooded her vision.
And once again,
Himeko's face appeared before Kiana.
Not in any place.
But before that door—
their final farewell.
"Are you ready, Kiana?"
"I am, Teacher Himeko."
"You've grown so much. Honestly… I wanted to watch you all grow up."
"To return to St. Freya. Teach classes. Train with you…"
"Write on the blackboard again. Have a drink in my room."
"Those days… were my most precious memories."
"But… I can't do that anymore."
"The road ahead is long… and I can't walk it with you."
"But it's okay. You never disappoint me."
"Remember—there will always be people by your side. Supporting you. Protecting you."
"Myself included."
"Say goodbye to everyone at St. Freya for me."
"I will."
"Tell Mei I support her choice—but next time, don't hit friends so hard."
"I will."
"Tell Bronya I'm proud of her growth. She'll be a great leader someday."
"I think so too."
"Tell Fu Hua—even if I can't return, she'll always be the class monitor."
"Mm."
"And after this, Theresa will be the only one looking after you. Behave yourselves—don't make the principal angry. Help her out more. She may act tough, but she's carrying more than anyone."
"I know."
"And finally… tell yourself this, Kiana."
"I will always be by your side."
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