AQK 96-115 (Patreon)

Chapter 96: Mei: I'm Not Greedy at All

Placing her hand on Bronya's shoulder, Mei sighed.

Honestly, she was also furious about Cocolia's actions in the video.

But...

"She's dead, isn't she?"

Mei's words instantly dissipated Bronya's anger.

...Yes.

Although Cocolia's mother did something infuriating in the video, this anger wasn't so deep as to disregard the boundaries between life and death.

"Bang!"

The sound of something heavy falling echoed.

Everyone looked over.

Fu Hua was holding a Homu reward box in one hand.

The one that had just hit Book of Fuxi,

and now this one had hit Fu Hua.

Hmm...was this a coincidence?

Without further ado, Theresa took the initiative to open the Homu Reward Box under everyone's gaze.

After a flash of golden light, a graceful, emerald green figure appeared before everyone.

"A dossier...?" Einstein raised an eyebrow. If she remembered correctly, dossiers should have come from Shenzhou.

Fu Hua, a Shenzhou immortal, couldn't help but gaze upon the dossier with some surprise.

However, discussing its origin wasn't necessary at the moment.

The dossier's greatest use lay in what it contained.

Under the curious gazes of several people, the strange emerald green dossier unfolded.

The first thing that caught her eye were four ancient Shenzhou characters.


"Wind... Color...... Scroll."

As a Shenzhou immortal, Fu Hua readily translated the meaning of these characters word for word.

Beneath these four characters lay numerous densely packed characters and strange images.

However...the more troublesome thing was that these densely packed characters weren't written in the ancient Shenzhou language, but rather in a kind of writing Fu Hua had never seen before.

"...I haven't seen this kind of writing either. Perhaps it's from the previous era?"

Einstein regretted her words the moment they left her mouth. She subconsciously glanced at Fu Hua and Book of Fuxi.

These two were antiques from the previous era. If it was truly a writing from the previous era, it would be a miracle they couldn't recognize it.

Kiana, not being the brightest of minds, didn't bother to dwell on it. She simply addressed the situation with the most effective solution.

"Since you don't know, why not open the panel and take a look?"

The others agreed, and without further delay, they opened the attribute panel for the volume.

[Wind-Colored Scroll]

[A unique volume imbued with the power of the Herrscher of Wind. Wendy's stigma is engraved within it. Channeling it grants powerful strength.]

[Effect: Increases all attributes by 30% (100% if the target is Herrscher of Wind Wendy, Morality decreases by 30%)]

[Note: Want to experience the thrill of single-handedly overturning the entire Schicksal headquarters?]

The file's attributes were revealed at a glance.

"...This...seems to be an exclusive item for Wendy?" Perplexed and slightly surprised, Mei immediately understood the item's identity. She also categorized the Wind-Colored Scroll as a separate item, along with her glasses and Bronya's headdress.


Although this file wasn't a limited-edition item like her glasses and Bronya's headdress, requiring only the two of them to use it to trigger its special attributes, the additional condition clearly revealed its true nature.

However, compared to the two previously mentioned, somewhat frivolous exclusive items, the Wind-Colored Scroll's attributes seemed quite simple and straightforward.

As long as Wendy used this item, all its attributes would be instantly enhanced. Doubled even.

Doubling the Herrscher's combat power isn't just a matter of adding one plus one.

"Very good stuff, but also very dangerous."
Einstein gave a succinct assessment of the simple, crude attributes of this exclusive Wendy item.

A 100% increase in all attributes is indeed an exaggerated increase.

But the corresponding side effect of -30% Morality is also a very negative stat.

You have to remember that as a Herrscher of Honkai, they are easily seduced by the Honkai and become enemies of humanity. Their ability to become a traitor depends almost entirely on their willpower.

And yet, you've reduced Morality by 30%. While it's not Willpower itself, isn't Morality roughly equivalent to Willpower?


"That girl's will wasn't strong to begin with. If she takes on this negative effect again... I doubt using this on Wendy wouldn't cause us serious trouble."
Einstein said calmly.

From the video just now, Einstein had seen that although Wendy had managed to escape the control of the Honkai thanks to Bronya and the others, a slight change had caused her to fall back into the Honkai's grip. Perhaps this was related to the girl's situation, but it certainly proved that her will wasn't strong.

"Hmm... That's something we must consider."
Mei nodded slightly, resting her chin on her hand, agreeing with what Einstein had said.

Then, with a raised brow, she said.  "However... given the current situation, Wendy is still... recuperating in the New Zealand branch's sanatorium."

"Until we take Miss Wendy away, this thing is practically useless."

Although this issue can still be effective even without Wendy, and without the side effects she suffers,

As rational scientists, Mei and her peers are naturally focused on maximizing the value of an object.

To so hastily use a treasure that could significantly increase a Herrscher's power is clearly not a wise choice.

"I suppose we could try studying this dossier later."
At Mei's words, Einstein's eyes twitched, and she couldn't help but admire her.

Good girl, you're just thinking about how to make the most of this scroll.

You're even more greedy than me, actually wanting to delve into the details of this dossier?

Although Einstein's expression remained calm, Mei could still detect her thoughts from her gaze.

She adjusted her glasses, the slightly reflective lenses giving her a more villainous aura.

To be honest, Mei didn't have much confidence about replicating this scroll.

After entering the research facility, she had specifically researched the magical properties of the items from the Q&A Space.

The results were predictable: essentially nothing.

However, Mei hadn't originally intended to replicate this dossier.

She wanted to research it purely because of the two Hannah stigmata techniques Fu Hua had drawn earlier.

Because only because of the reasons mentioned above, the stigmata technique isn't perfect.

And judging by the description, this scroll seems to contain the Herrscher's stigmata.

Mei plans to study the Herrscher's stigmata, then try to combine it with the technique from Hannah's stigmata to complete the missing third of Hannah's stigmata.

If successful...

Based on the properties this Wind-Colored Scroll provides the engraver...

Mei feels that at least 10% of the power contained in the Herrscher's stigmata can be restored to complete Hannah's stigmata.

It might not be possible to fully replicate the Wind-Colored Scroll, but if she can only replicate some of its power as a second-best option, that isn't too much to ask, right?

---

Chapter 97: The Fear of Comparison

[6. The Second Eruption began in the Tower of Babylon, a Schicksal-based experimental facility deep within the Siberian glaciers.]

[What caused this catastrophe and the birth of the Second Herrscher?]

[A. Sirin wanted to find her mother.]

[B. Persecuted by Schicksal, she witnessed the deaths of her friends and, seduced by the Honkai, threw herself into it.]

[C. Humanity has its limits! (Realizing the limits of a human identity, Sirin chooses not to be human!)]

[D. The world is so big, Sirin wants to see it.]

The sixth question followed.

Seeing the content of this question,

The expressions of the witnesses of the Second Eruption all grew complicated.

Although she didn't know the details, Mei had learned a lot from Theresa because of the previous questions that touched on it, so she raised an eyebrow.

"...Second Herrscher... Sirin...huh?"

Speaking of this name, she subconsciously glanced at Kiana, who had a very close relationship with Sirin.

In the previous video, Otto had already revealed the entirety of the sinister plan. However, they didn't really have a strong impression of this so-called Second Herrscher.

The only impression they had was from the Final Lesson and the Will of the Herrscher.

As for the reason for the Second Herrscher's birth, as mentioned in the question, they were still unclear.

Perhaps out of curiosity, Mei fixed her gaze on Theresa, a questioning look in her eyes.

And Theresa naturally understood what this meant. However, she appeared deeply conflicted about this.



Einstein naturally understood that Theresa didn't want to expose the darkness of Schicksal to Kiana and the others.

She understood this so she consciously assumed the role of villain, revealing to Kiana and the others the darkness hidden beneath Schicksal's seemingly glamorous facade.

"To treat those suffering from illness, Schicksal built a unique medical facility deep within the Siberian glaciers—the Tower of Babel."

Einstein paused. "But that was only the public announcement."

"According to intelligence we've received from within Schicksal, the Tower of Babel is actually a major, large-scale Honkai research facility. Its primary purpose is to perfect the artificial stigmata technology that forms the foundation of Schicksal's Valkyrie Army."

"Inside the Tower of Babel are orphans from around the world. Schicksal took them from their families under the guise of medical treatment, but their true purpose is to use them as experimental subjects for perfecting artificial stigmata technology."

"The artificial stigmata you see now, products of Honkai, are basically... gained through hundreds and thousands of experiments on these test subjects."

"The fate of these test subjects is that if they're lucky, they might survive the first test, but after that, they'll be subjected to repeated experiments until their usefulness is exhausted."

"These test subjects, having endured so much pain, will meet their end—their bodies will be abandoned in the snow and ice after death, without even a proper grave."

"And the Second Herrscher, Sirin, is one of those persecuted."

After hearing this, a hint of surprise crossed Mei's face.

Under the protection of Raiden Ryoma, she hadn't been exposed to much darkness, so hearing this should have been a shock.

But... thanks to the wisdom her glasses imparted, Mei had already anticipated the darkness she would face.

Bronya on the other hand, showed no emotion. Born a mercenary, she rose to fame at a young age, having long since grown accustomed to the existence of darkness.

The more glamorous a place is, the more filth it harbors. Bronya understood this truth, so she found the evil hidden within Schicksal unsurprising; rather, she would have been surprised if it hadn't happened.

Of the three, Kiana was the only one who reacted most strongly to the revelations.

She was shocked by this appalling crime, yet also tormented by it.

As the continuation of Sirin, her tragic past was etched into her DNA. More than anyone else, Kiana could personally relate to the misery and despair faced by the experimental subjects, as described by Einstein.

Looking at Kiana's complex, dazed expression, Theresa sighed.

Mei and Bronya's reactions were fine, but Kiana's...

This was the reason she was so entangled and reluctant to speak.

For Kiana, always innocent and carefree, having previously lived under Siegfried's protection and not having experienced much darkness, this profound darkness, so deeply connected to her, was a real blow.

However, as the previous video had said, Kiana would eventually grow up...

The stalemate on this issue didn't last long. After eliminating the odd choices, they quickly arrived at the correct one.

However, this time, it was Himeko who made the choice.

As the continuation of Sirin, Kiana should have been the most suitable person to answer this question. However, the darkness revealed by the question shook Kiana's faith, leading her to fall into self-doubt.

Mei wanted to comfort her, but Himeko stopped her.

Not everything can be guided by others, and Himeko, as Kiana's teacher, understood this.

At this moment, Kiana should be left alone to figure things out.

Encouragement from those around her is essential.

But now was not the time.

After answering the question, the Homu reward box arrived again.

This time, it landed in Fu Hua's hands.

Amidst the strange looks from others and Book of Fuxi's disdainful gaze, Fu Hua awkwardly handed the Homu reward box to Himeko.

Himeko opened the box.

The golden light still shone.

From the box, Himeko found... a complete set of stigmata!

Under everyone's eager gaze, the stats for this stigma appeared.

[Thales - Upper/Middle/Lower]

[The ultimate fire-attribute stigma, granting the user immense power]

[Effect 1: Complete Adaptation to Honkai Energy: No longer susceptible to damage from Honkai Energy]

[Effect 2: Fire Adaptability: In combat, significantly increases resistance and self-healing abilities]

[Effect 3: More Courage: While in combat, continuously increases Strength, reaching a peak of 100% strength.]

[Note: Feel the power of this flame!]

The information about this stigma was clearly visible.

Powerful...incredibly powerful.

Mei tried to compare it to the Hannah's upper and middle sets Fu Hua had drawn earlier, but found there was no comparison. This set of Thales' stigmata would absolutely decimate Hannah.

She suspected that even a full set of Hannah's stigmata wouldn't be able to match this set of Thales' stigmata.

Hmm... Speaking of full sets, Mei blinked and couldn't help but glance at Fu Hua.



---


Chapter 98: The Forgotten Apprentice

Fu Hua felt offended.

But she felt like a mute woman swallowing bitter herbs, unable to express her bitterness. She could only pout and show her dissatisfaction with a resentful look.

Ignoring this resentment, Mei began discussing the stigmata.

"Mophead and I are both support staff. You guys can keep these things for fun."

Tesla had no interest in stigmata at all and waved his hand wearily.

As support staff, it would be a waste for them to use them.

Besides, these things originally came from Mei’s side and had nothing to do with them.

Even regarding research, stigmata didn’t hold much significance for either of them.

After all, Tesla worked in mechanics, and Einstein in quantum mechanics and physics.

Their majors were completely unrelated to the stigmata associated with bioengineering.

Mei wasn’t particularly strong in biology right now, but with her glasses and the boosted intelligence she had gained, she could practically master biological research capabilities by simply exploiting book covers.

This Thales stigmata would definitely be studied later. Thales, Hannah, and Wendy—if they extracted portions of the two super stigmata and fused them together with Hannah’s, who knew, they might be able to create a super Hannah stigmata capable of both setting fire and creating wind? However, before research could begin, a final decision had to be made regarding its ultimate owner.

Otherwise, using this powerful weapon solely for scientific research would be a waste.

Mei glanced at the people one by one.

Theresa had already declined. Her physique was exceptional, and with the Oath of Judah, she was already very strong. Adding these stigmata would be a waste.

Kiana… Kiana was withdrawn, and she had no use for them. Everyone in the Kaslana family had a stigmata inherited from their ancestors, unique to the Kaslana family.

Clasa Monitor…

Seeing Fu Hua, Mei passed without a second thought. Stigmata were things passed down from the previous era. As a pioneer of that era, why would Fu Hua need them?

The Book of Fuxi… oh, she wasn’t a human, she couldn’t be inscribed with stigmata.

The remaining candidates were only herself, Bronya, and Himeko-sensei.

Mei herself had no opinion of Thales’s stigmata. After all, she would become the Herrscher of Thunder in the future and wouldn’t need the functions they provided. She already had one, though it had never seemed to be of much use.

"Himeko-sensei, Bronya, you…"
Looking at the two, Mei was about to speak. She stopped again.

"Give it to Bronya."

Himeko, without even a second thought, simply gave the stigmata to Bronya.

She already possessed the IHCOR, and according to Fu Hua, its effects were no less potent than those of the stigmata.

But Bronya was different.

Besides the appearance of her future self, Bronya had nothing special about her.

Bronya’s own Honkai resistance wasn’t high.

Giving Bronya this stigmata would not only increase her combat effectiveness but also increase her Honkai resistance, allowing her to inherit the Herrscher of Reason’s core and become the Herrscher of Reason. Even when using the Herrscher’s power, she would be immune to the damage caused by the Herrscher Core.

“…”
Bronya was silent for a moment, but didn’t refuse.

She truly lacked the strength to save Seele.

And since this stigmata could bring her strength, there was no reason for her to refuse.

Although she felt strangely that this stigmata didn’t suit her, she didn’t care, believing in the principle of "anything that can relief you is a good ointment."

[7. Fu Hua had many disciples in her life. Which of the following did she feel the most guilty about?

[A. Ma Feima]

[B. Su Mei]

[C. Cheng Lixue]

[D. Qin Suyi]

The seventh question popped up, a question about Fu Hua.

"Another of Jingwei’s traitorous disciples?!" Book of Fuxi’s face puffed up in anger, her hands on her hips, a little annoyed.

Now that she knew about the seven traitorous disciples, just seeing the word "disciple" in relation to Fu Hua filled her with fury, her soulium computer overheating.

Book of Fuxi had considered all four options as among the seven disciples, so she was filled with fury and shouted.

"Those ungrateful bastards don’t deserve Jingwei’s guilt! Shouldn’t they feel guilty towards Jingwei?!"

Mei understood Book's rage. Even after she learned about the seven disciples, she felt sorry for her actions, but reason still prompted her to express her thoughts:

"Perhaps one of these options isn’t one of the Seven Disciples of the School of Taixuan?"

"But Jingwei only accepted seven disciples."

Hearing this, Mei immediately fixed her gaze on Fu Hua, her eyes inquiring.

"...I should have only accepted…"
Recalling this painful past, Fu Hua’s mood darkened.

But the next moment, she denied it from the bottom of her heart.

"No… no, I should have had another disciple."

"But… I can’t remember anything about her."

Although Fu Hua’s face remained calm, a flicker of struggle and pain flashed in her eyes.

A voice deep within her heart told her that this disciple was very important to her.

She tried to recall the image of her forgotten disciple.

But… she couldn’t remember it at all.

Even if there were any relevant fragments, they were so fragmented that they couldn’t form a single memory.

"Li…"

"Li… Xue."

After repeated attempts, under the gaze of Mei and the others, Fu Hua unconsciously and with difficulty summoned two syllables.

"Lixue?"

Accurately catching those two words, Mei immediately focused her attention on the answer.

Finally, her gaze landed on option C, Cheng Lixue, and she instantly understood.

"Is that it?"

Fu Hua, brought back to her senses by Cangxuan’s shove, followed Mei’s gaze and looked at the answer.

After seeing the name [Cheng Lixue], her figure slightly shifted.


A slight tremor.

She still couldn’t remember anything about the owner of this name.

But…

From the moment she saw that name, her heart was in constant turmoil.

Mei whispered softly, "Monitor, make your choice."

Without hesitation, Fu Hua nodded slightly and said, "I choose C!"

The outcome was clear without a result.

Looking at the signal that represented the correct answer, Fu Hua felt no joy at all.

She simply stared at the name, unwilling to look away.

The screen gradually shifted, and images began to emerge.

The figure was none other than the eighth disciple, Cheng Lixue, who, though long forgotten, had played a crucial role in Fu Hua’s long life.


Chapter 99: Cheng Lixue’s Resoluteness

[Edge of Taixuan] had four levels.

—Still Water
—Dustless
—Bright Mirror
—Taixu

Withered maple leaves drifted onto the calm water, drifting with the ripples.

Immersed in an ethereal state, the girl clutching a sword sat on the ground, her long gray hair tied up.

It was said that the Edge of Taixuan was passed down from Master Jingwei of Mount Taixu. Her master taught it to her to mitigate the erosion of the Honkai.

However, a demon lingered within her. The Dustless Sword Heart had become an impenetrable shackle.

Cheng Lixue’s thoughts were heard by everyone in a cold voice.

Master, why did you leave me?


Accompanied by these voices filled with confusion, sadness, and grievance, memories of the past unfolded like a scroll.

"When I was five, my family suffered a tragedy. Overnight, we lost everything."

"It was she who came to pick me up."

"Neither speaking nor smiling, this silent sister led me."

The figures of Cheng Lixue, one older, and Fu Hua, dressed in a windbreaker, emerged into view.

"As a child, I timidly grasped her hand."

"Her hand was cold. But it held the warmth of home."

Cheng Lixue, now much older, was in Fu Hua’s arms, practicing swordplay under Hua’s gaze.

"She taught me reading, writing, playing the qin, and martial arts…"

"I really wanted to make this person proud of me."

"I really wanted to see this person smile."

"She was very busy, and we were rarely together."

"Only this bowl of wonton noodles remained with me, month after month, unwavering."

Recalling her figure from that time, a hint of nostalgia lingered in her cold voice.

"The soup was made with bighead carp and river shrimp, and it was delicious and sweet."

"Duck eggs were added to the dough, and the dough kneaded by the master was very chewy when cooked."

"My favorite part was the wontons in the noodles, with the perfect amount of fresh shrimp and the perfect amount of pork. Although they didn’t use any expensive ingredients, I believe the wontons made by Master were the best in the world."

With a nostalgic aftertaste, she recalled the moment she was stunned to see the birthday note Master left while holding a bowl of wonton noodles.

[Greed] is a poisonous substance.

"I knew what she was doing must be very important."

"But sometimes, I still wished she were by my side."

At that moment…

"I suddenly realized that I had only ever called her by name. A name I could use to introduce you, a way I could connect with peace of mind…"

"It didn’t exist."

Realizing this, she sincerely pleaded during a rare moment with Master.

Master.

"Can I… call you Master?"

She waited, filled with anticipation yet apprehensive about receiving an inappropriate response. Her eyes closed tightly, and the brief moment felt so long.

"Okay."

Gently stroking her forehead, the master responded.

She felt incredibly happy then.

But why hadn’t I noticed?

Master smiled gently, but her eyes were filled with sorrow.

—The next day, Master left.

When she met Master again, she had become a Valkyrie fighting for the people.

The martial arts Master taught her, the teachings Master shared, had finally become her life.

But, Master…

Why did you leave me?

The unspoken words became a demon within her. The swordsman’s heart ultimately struggled to break through the realm of Dustless.


The images of Fu Hua and Cheng Lixue’s past unfolded before everyone. Their words, both happy and filled with sorrow, lingered in their minds, captivating their hearts.

The images continued.

Lixue had grown up and become a Valkyrie of Schicksal.

One day, she stepped onto the battlefield.

Gazing at the blazing figure in the sky.

Although she had sensed the opponent’s strength, Cheng Lixue remained surprisingly calm.

[Use This Battle to Temper Oneself]

[Use This Body as a Cauldron]

"Have the decoy troops retreat, and leave the target to me!"

Cheng Lixue, who had been waiting for a long time with her sword draped over her shoulder, made a decision after retreating her weakened subordinates.

[This is the only way to get one step closer to that person.]

"Hmph, are you the boss of these ants?"

"You dare to face me alone? How brave!"

Full of contempt in his delusion, the formidable enemy, bathed in fire, stood tall in the air.

[By then, perhaps…]

With a fierce fighting spirit, Cheng Lixue, wielding Water's Edge, one of the Ten Divine Keys, and possessing the power to manipulate water, launched an attack on the enemy.

However, the enemy’s power was too great.

The scorching flames shattered Water's Edge into pieces.

"Die!"

As the cold, murderous words fell, the blazing flames pierced her abdomen.

The burning pain spread through every nerve.

Just standing there took all her strength.

However, even in this desperate situation, she showed no intention of surrendering. Hearing the swaggering mockery, she attacked without hesitation, enduring the pain. Even without Water's Edge, she mastered the Inch Force Fist technique her master had taught her.

However, it was clear that bare hands could not defeat a Herrscher, even if the opponent was merely a false entity.

Having escaped the attack and found a gap, the pseudo-Herrscher, enraged by the attack, unleashed flames with pure murderous intent, vowing to burn her to ash.

Smoke and dust filled the air. Amidst the Herrscher’s rage, a figure emerged from the flames. Emerging from within.

The blazing flames dissipated instantly upon encountering the figure.

"Who… who are you?"

"Lixue, don’t move. Master will come and heal you once she defeats her."

Putting Cheng Lixue down from her arms, her words were filled with concern and… anger.

The pseudo-Herrscher was dead.

The flamboyant Herrscher died in Fu Hua’s fury, in the sleepless illusion silently.

"...Very handsome, Class Monitor."

Breaking out of her deep reverie, Kiana watched this scene with a startled expression. She admired Fu Hua from the bottom of her heart.

Judging from the video, Fu Hua’s performance was truly impressive, saving the day and protecting her disciple at that crucial moment.

But…

Fu Hua didn’t seem pleased at the praise at all, simply watching the unfinished video calmly.

To the final scene…

Burning everything that mattered, the unrivaled Eminence struck the almighty Second Herrscher.

But it didn’t achieve the expected result.

"Ahem!"

"Master!"


Cheng Lixue worriedly supported Fu Hua.

But the next moment, Fu Hua suddenly thrust her hand away.

"I failed. Flee!"

After issuing a warning, a hint of sadness and apology crossed Fu Hua’s eyes.

"I’m sorry, I can’t remember your name…"

"But I vaguely sense that you’re very important to me…"

"So, you must live…"

Fu Hua, exhausted, spoke these words before collapsing.

"No, Master."

Holding the person most important to her, she recalled the past, absorbing the alluring warmth in this brief moment as best she could. She smiled a gentle smile and whispered, "This time, it’s my turn to protect you."

"Your Excellency, please take Master away from here as quickly as possible." She handed Fu Hua to Otto.

She glanced sideways at the person most important to her, as if to engrave her forever in her heart.

Then, Cheng Lixue looked resolutely at the Second Herrscher, who was about to revive.

"I’ll hold the Second Herrscher back!"



---

Chapter 100: Lixue... I can only accompany you so far.

The undeniable outcome for an A-rank Valkyrie attempting to stop the Herrscher of the Void is death.

In the Herrscher's fury, the icy Sub-space lance pierced her chest.

Pain ripped through her body, and she collapsed to her knees, feeling the breath of life slipping away.

Death—this moment was so near.

Beautiful scenes from the past flashed before her eyes.

"Lixue... I can only accompany you so far."

Falling into darkness with regret, the colors of life faded from her eyes.

The scene ended here.

The life of the girl named Cheng Lixue was laid bare in this fleeting image.

It wasn't long, filled with regret, even a bit dull.

But it shocked everyone present.

This girl, striving to grow just to make her master smile, willing to face death in the face of danger just to give him a chance to live—even in her final moments—regretted only that she could no longer accompany her master.

The willpower she displayed was no less than that of Himeko in the Final Lesson.

Even Einstein who had experienced much and was not easily moved by ordinary things couldn't help but stare at this.

As for the person involved, although Fu Hua's expression remained calm after watching these images, anyone could see the sadness and grief in her eyes.



"..." Himeko placed a hand on Fu Hua's shoulder and sighed.

Thinking carefully, she had experienced something similar to Fu Hua, so she understood her feelings quite well.

Perhaps it was because of the atmosphere.

This time, the Q&A Space didn't drop a reward box from the sky above Fu Hua' s head.

It simply appeared out of thin air in front of Fu Hua.

This left Tesla speechless.

So this time, they were using a more normal distribution method. Then what about that damn space dropping rewards from the sky before?!


Fu Hua answered this question, so logically, she should have opened it.

However, the image of Cheng Lixue had a profound impact on Fu Hua.

Seeing Fu Hua's dazed look, Mei hesitated for a moment before opening her mouth.

Book of Fuxi took the initiative, "Let me do it."

Given Jingwei's current state, it was best to leave her alone.

As Jingwei's personal attendant, it was no problem for her to open the box.

The others naturally had no objections, but their eyes were fixed on Book of Fuxi, anticipating what he would reveal.

After a flash of golden light, Boox of Fuxi pulled a metal box, even larger than the Homu box, from the modest Homu box.

Seeing this extremely unscientific scene, the scientifically savvy Tesla felt his perspectives shaken and couldn't help but grumble.

"Hey, hey, hey, how did this get stuffed in there?!"

That's not how you put objects!

Of course, this was just a rant.

After all, talking about science in a question-Q&A Space is inherently unscientific.

Book of Fuxi pressed a button on the metal box with her small hand.

Under the expectant gazes of several people, the metal box instantly disintegrated.

And the contents within were revealed.

"What is this...!?"

Seeing the contents of the box, everyone was somewhat surprised.

Because inside sat a humanoid doll with its eyes closed.

"Oh, it's an ELF!"

Book of Fuxi was naturally familiar with this thing, and upon seeing the doll, which was roughly her own size, a hint of joy crossed her face. This could be considered a companion.

Born in this era, Book of Fuxi had never seen another ELF.

"But, this appearance..."

Amidst her joy, Book of Fuxi suddenly realized something very important and exclaimed in surprise.

"Isn't this... isn't this Cheng Lixue?!"

Although she was much smaller than the one in the video and her attire was different, judging from her appearance, she was definitely the Cheng Lixue from the video.

Book of Fuxi floated next to the Cheng Lixue-shaped ELF and tried to activate it the same way her activated her own.

Luckily, it seemed that this one... it already had a certain amount of energy built into it, allowing it to be activated immediately.

After a series of transformations, the ELF resembling Cheng Lixue slowly opened its gray eyes and stood up.

At this moment, everyone noticed a water-blue sword at the base of the puppet's butt.

They were no strangers to this sword.

After all, they had just seen it.

Under Fu Hua's complex gaze, the puppet resembling Cheng Lixue took flight atop the water-blue sword.

Under everyone's gaze, she blinked and spoke.

"I am Water's Edge, once one of the many Xuanyuan Swords. I can control the flow of water and clear all obstacles before you."

And Water's Edge's gaze fell on Fu Hua, a strange expression on her face.

She circled Fu Hua, noticing her nostalgic, mixed gaze. She couldn't help but ask.

"Do you know me? No, I mean, do you know someone who looks like me?"

"Sorry, I asked such a strange question. This face always feels so familiar. Where have I seen it before..."

She muttered to herself with a hint of distress.

After a moment of hesitation, Water's Edge shook her head and smiled.

"If you ever see someone who looks like me, please let me know. I really want to meet her!"

As soon as the words left her mouth, Water's Edge was embraced by Fu Hua.

"Hmm..."

This sudden action surprised Water's Edge, but she made no attempt to resist. She simply raised her head and gazed at Fu Hua with her gray eyes.

For some reason, when this person embraced her, she always felt warm and comfortable, and inexplicably... happy.

...so strange.

The others watched this harmonious scene in silence, unwilling to disrupt the brief peace.

[8. In the ELF Academy, which of the following individuals discovered Theresa's dark secret, causing Theresa to become enraged and kill everyone?]

[A. Selune's Elegy]

[B. Water's Edge]

[C. Book of Fuxi]

[D. Bella]

In the silence, the eighth question appeared.

However, after reading this question... everyone was a little confused.

Strange questions were added.

What is a ELF Academy? I've never heard of it.

Uncomprehending, Einstein turned her gaze to Theresa. After all, the question mentioned Theresa, didn't it?

Under everyone's gaze, Theresa curled her lips, a little confused.

She had no idea what was going on.

ELF Academy? Is it an academy full of ELFs?

Will she open something like that in the future?

Forget it!

She couldn't even manage St. Freya Academy, and she had nothing better to do than open an academy specifically for ELFs.

But... after seeing the message in the question about [her anger and annihilation of everyone], Theresa suddenly felt a sense of unease.

Hey, hey, this... is this going to persecute me?!

--

Chapter 101: TeRiRi

"Let's put this strange question aside for now."

Einstein rested her hand on her chin, her gaze sweeping over Book of Fuxi and Water's Edge before he spoke noncommittally:

"Based solely on the answers, all four should be ELFs, right?"

Although she didn't know the details of Selune's Elegy and Bella, but based on the question's mention of the ELF Academy, as well as Water's Edge and Book of Fuxi who were also ELFs, she could roughly guess this.

However, while understanding that all four options were ELFs didn't help ger get the correct answer.

After all, the question asked which of the following options had discovered Theresa's secret.

And they had no idea what the question entailed, not even the answer.

"Why bother? Just guess at something!" Tesla didn't bother dwelling on this and simply offered a straightforward suggestion.

Although Einstein had some reservations, she had to admit that this crude method was the simplest way to handle the clueless question.

"How about... three short, one long, pick the longest?"


When it came to the four-choice section, the super-student Kiana couldn't help but start promoting her answering tips.

Of course, everyone present rolled their eyes.

Three long, one short, pick the shortest; three short, one long, pick the longest.

A god of war who struggles academically might consider this a treasure.

However...

Among the people present...

Tesla, Mei, and Tesla were at the intellectual ceiling, the forefront of human science.

Although Himeko was a martial arts Valkyrie, she also had a wealth of knowledge, thanks to her father being a doctor and having read countless books in her youth. Considerably qualified.

There's nothing much to say about Bronya; she's always had good intelligence.

Even Theresa who's a bit of a loser has accumulated a considerable amount of knowledge simply by aging. Although—knowledge doesn't equal wisdom.

Fu Hua's style is a bit like a stuffy old-fashioned antique, having completely forgotten much of her past, but she still possesses considerable wisdom.

Except...

No way, no way, there really aren't any students who are poor students here, are there?

Looking at everyone's expressions of looking at someone who is struggling academically, Kiana blushed as she realized she was the only one who was an idiot.

Seeing her embarrassment, Mei stepped in to smooth things over.

"Ahem, I don't think what Kiana said makes sense. It doesn't make much difference, after all."

Kiana was touched by this.

She secretly praised Mei for being so good.

With Mei's encouragement, the question was finally answered using Kiana's trick, with Theresa taking the responsibility.

And the result:

The longest-named Selune's Elegy was actually the correct answer.

This result surprised everyone who had already resigned themselves to fate.

Then, the image of this question unfolded.

On the screen:

Two small figures sat on the sofa. The white-haired Blood Embrace looked nervous and guilty, as if she had done something wrong.

Selune's Elegy, with gray hair and a gorgeous evening gown, was enjoying a comic book with great interest.

It was a harmonious scene, and no one noticed anything amiss.

Then, Theresa, wearing a red beret, pushed the door open.

"Oh, I'm so careless!"

"I didn't even bring Judah with me."

She muttered to herself, then, seeing the other figure on the sofa, said with some surprise.

"Selune, did you bring any friends over?"

"Little one, is there anything you want to eat...!!!" While greeting, Theresa glanced at the booklet's cover. Seeing the familiar words, Theresa's face instantly turned into an emoji.

Then, Selune's Elegy was quickly grabbed by the collar and thrown onto the bedroom bed.

As the door closed, Selune's Elegy was left with a questioning expression, a tone that sounded like, "What happened?"

"Little friend, where did you get that book?"

Carrying Judah, Theresa slowly approached with a kind smile.

"Can you give it to me, sister?"

Hearing this, Selune's Elegy dodged as if facing a formidable enemy, clutching the booklet bearing Theresa's portrait and stammering, "You... disrespectful person!"

"This is the authentic work of TeRiRi-sama, the Magical Girl of Light who conquered countless battlefields!"

"It's not for you mortals to touch!"


"Uh..."

A flash of cold sweat appeared on her face.

"Don't worry about that."

With a kind smile, "Quick..."

"Give it to me..."

Theresa reached out and snatched the booklet from Selune's Elegy's hand.

"Give it to me!"


However, Selune's Elegy's movements were truly agile, dodging Theresa repeatedly.

"Huh... huh... huh... huh... huh..."

Exhausted, Theresa couldn't help but complain.

"How can you run so fast, little one? You're killing me!"

Desperate, she suddenly thought of something, and a hint of cunning flashed in her eyes.

"Ahem..."

She coughed, cleared her throat, and rallied.

"Hey, little friend, let me tell you a secret."

"Actually, TeRiRi and I are very good friends."

"If you give me this book right now..."

With a face full of deception, Theresa's eyes flickered with temptation.

"Maybe I can get TeRiRi's autograph for you."

"Stop it! Scam!"

Selune's Elegy leaped down from the wall, shielding the booklet with one hand, and shouted, "TeRiRi-sama will never be friends with a mean aunt like you who steals children's things."

"Aunt?!"

Hearing this, Theresa who was watching the video, and Theresa in the screen, shared a strikingly similar expression.

"She is a flawless person, embodying the virtues of honesty, grace, and courage."

"How can such beauty be glimpsed by mere mortals like you?!"

With a look of ecstasy on her face, she opened the booklet, its countless rays of light radiating onto her face.

"You unreasonable person, let me show you the greatness of TeRiRi-sama!"

She declared.

Seeing this, Theresa panicked and waved her hands away.

"Wait... wait!"

But the next moment, Selune's Elegy read the words from the booklet aloud.

"I am TeRiRi, the world's cutest magical girl!"

"Savior of this world!"

"Dimension Sonata!"

"You monsters, only destruction awaits you!"

"Shut up! Stop saying that!"

Theresa, flopping around in embarrassment, felt quite frantic, listening to that incredibly childish dialogue.

"Blazing star magic!"

"Burn! TeRiRi~~"

"Liberation is here, my victory!"

"Enough!"

Finally, unable to resist, she pulled out her dazzling magic wand.

"You forced me to do this!"

"The Oath of Judah!"


Before the words were finished, before the next verse could be recited, Selune's Elegy was stunned by the burst of light.

"O superdimensional wand that seals the power of darkness!"

Gripping the dazzling butterfly wand, Theresa's voice reached everyone.

"Show your true power here!"

"The power of miracles transforms into stardust, the magic of light converges within my heart!"

"Dimension Sonata!"

As everyone watched, Theresa transformed into another form. She assumed another pose, namely—Magical Girl TeRiRi!

"Hmm~"


"I'll TeRiRi you~~"

For a moment, Selune's Elegy revealed a fascinated expression.

The audience, stunned by Theresa's transformation, were left speechless.

The person involved, Tgeresa blushed intensely.

Hearing herself speak such idiotic words, and being seen in such a shameful state by so many people, she felt completely humiliated and couldn't even lift her head.

But the scene wasn't over yet, nor was this journey of shame.

"Click"

As the door opened, amidst Selune's Elegy's frenzied gaze, Blood Embrace said:

"Sister Theresa, there's a white-haired older woman at the door looking for you." "You..."

As soon as she finished speaking, Kiana, wearing a red tank top, appeared.

"Auntie, I'm here to get the snack box!"

"Who are you?!"

Against Judah's questioning, Kiana looked at Theresa in shock and exclaimed.

"You... you're the magical girl TeRiRi?!"

"Shut up!"

Extremely embarrassed, Theresa, without hesitation, knocked Kiana down with her wand before she could finish her next sentence.

"Ahahaha~~"

"Kiana, why are you here?!"

Again, amid the dazed stares of the two ELFs, Theresa laughed. "Just now, there was a mosquito on your face, and I swatted it away for you!"

However, this wasn't the end.

"Principal... think Bronya's game console is with you."

Bronya said as she pushed the door open. She was stunned for a moment upon seeing Theresa's outfit, then a hint of joy crossed her face.

"Hey, you're..."

Before she could finish her words, a fiery red light suddenly appeared on Bronya's collar.

"?!"

As the two ELFs trembled, Bronya was transformed into a charcoal figure by the flames. She fell to the ground, puffing out a puff of black smoke.

"Hmm, haha~~"

"Bronya, why are you here?"
Theresa laughed again, clutching her magic wand.

"There's a thread on your clothes just now. I burned it for you."

Another person pushed the door open.

Rita: "Ms. Theresa, the tea party is about to begin. Let's..."

"Bang"

—Rita, dead.

The fourth victim appears.

Fu Hua: "Principal, I made some dumplings. Come join us."

"Bang"

—Fu Hua, dead.

Mei: "Principal, is Kiana trying to steal food from you again?"

"Bang"

—Mei, dead.

"My dear granddaughter, do you want to come with Grandpa..."

—Otto, dead.

Victims arrived one after another.

All seen, known, unfamiliar, even some resembling Theresa herself.

After retreating through the door—dead.

All were piled in a corner of the room, forming a massive murder scene in the dimly lit room.

Amid the screams of the ELFs who had survived to the bitter end,

In response to that eerie smile, a shuddering voice.

"TeRiRi~~"

It formed a scene of hell.



----


Chapter 102: Do You Want to Be a Monkey?

The video ended here.

Everyone looked at each other, their hearts, young and old, shaken by what they saw.

Their gazes fell on Theresa. Their undisguised strangeness and unconcealed smile drove Theresa who was already mortified by the image of her own chuunibyou (middle school second-year student), a little mad.

"This principal doesn't have such a dark past!"

Her past of secretly reading comics and slacking off at work was enough. Theresa absolutely wouldn't allow herself to be labeled some weird chuunibyou like Magical Girl TeRiRi.

"That girl in the video... that's not me at all!"

The rational Einstein nodded in approval at Theresa's frantic attempts to disentangle the issue, then spoke in a measured tone.

"Judging from the image, it's clear that the image just now doesn't belong to this world."

"At least, our world can't be so harmonious and nonsensical."

"Based on the theory of parallel worlds, I think that world is very likely a twin world similar to ours."

At this, everyone familiar with the concept of parallel worlds nodded.

Only Kiana had a question mark in her head.

What are they talking about?

What... parallel world...?

Why can't I understand anything?

Kiana glanced furtively at Bronya and saw that she looked completely understanding, which instantly made her feel uneasy.

This short pudding girl actually understood!

Damn it, I'm the one who's illiterate!

Feeling deeply hurt, Kiana's eyes instantly lit with flames. She resolved to listen carefully in class and strive to avoid illiteracy.

I, Kiana, refuse to be left behind in the literacy campaign!

Just as Kiana made up her mind, a reward box plummeted from the sky, hitting her head squarely.

Although the box wasn't heavy, the sudden impact still left her dizzy.

And that wasn't the end of it.

The box, as if springy, bounced back towards the nearby Fu Hua.

Thankfully, Fu Hua reacted quickly and caught the box with her backhand.

She handed the box to Theresa, the highlight of this question.

Having repeatedly opened boxes with valuable items, Theresa, already somewhat addicted to opening boxes, happily accepted the box and, under watchful eyes, unhesitatingly opened the Homu reward box.

A golden light shone. Ignoring the already nervous Theresa, she reached into the box, groping around for a moment, and finally felt a hard, round cylinder. She pulled it out. In an instant, a dark figure was dragged from the small box.

Bang!

The heavy object crashed to the ground. Everyone looked curiously, then froze.


Theresa's expression froze. Her excitement vanished as she gazed at the pink cross tied with ribbons, taller than herself and as large as Judah. A look worse than tears appeared on her face.

This... this... this...

Isn't this the magic wand that her other self held in the video when she transformed into the Magical Girl TeRiRi?!


However, compared to the magic wand that could be grasped in one hand, this one before her was several times more powerful.

She trembled, nervously opening the cross's attribute table under the gaze of the crowd.

[Super Dimension Sonata]

[Dimension☆Sonata, one of the highest-level magic items sealed by the Schicksal Order School of Mages. Due to a chance encounter, it formed a contract with the Magical Girl TeRiRi and embarked on an adventure with her.]

[Spirit Song: When deployed, it releases a blazing wind ray that slices the opponent and continuously restores vitality within the range.]

[Holy Chant: When deployed, it increases the holder's Strength attribute by 40% by default.]

[Magical Girl TeRiRi! Spell: The holder enters magical girl mode, increasing all stats by 75% after chanting a specific spell.]

[Spell: Super-Dimensional Wand that Seals the Power of Darkness

Show Your True Power Here



Miraculous Power Transforms into Stardust, Light Magic Converges in My Heart

Dimension Sonata]

[Note: Sign a contract and become a Monkey!]

The attributes of the oversized wand were revealed.

Just based on its attributes, this thing is definitely a formidable weapon.

After all, not only does it possess offensive capabilities, but when deployed, it also significantly increases the user's power.

But...

At first glance at that embarrassing line, and then recalling Principal Theresa's utterly chuunibyou, socially devastating moments in the video just now, even the calm Mei couldn't help but curl her lips.

What's this? What's this?

Want power? If you want power, trade it for integrity!

Would Theresa choose this?


You didn't even need to look at it; just from her clenched fists and the resolute look in her eyes, you could tell Theresa was completely firm about this extradimensional concerto.

She had originally intended to defend herself against the dark past that wasn't hers. If she actually used this cross, wouldn't that justify her identity as Magical Girl TeRiRi?!

So...

I, Theresa, would never use this broken cross, even if I had to jump from Schicksal Headquarters into the sea! Never!

"In that case, why not just give it to me?"

Seeing Theresa's determination, Mei proactively prepared to take over the cross to prevent her from wasting it by throwing it away and using it as a warehouse keeper.

Everyone was stunned by her words.

The straightforward Kiana exclaimed in surprise, "Mei, do you want to become a monkey too?!"

"... "

Even with her glasses and her exceptionally high rationality, Mei couldn't help but frown upon hearing this. She slapped Kiana on the head and said angrily, "I'm going to use it for research! Research, you understand?!"

Although she was already speaking loudly, Mei emphasized her tone.

As a special weapon, this Super Dimension Sonata undoubtedly possesses a wealth of technologies that can be extracted and borrowed.

Utilizing these technologies would greatly facilitate other research.

As for transforming into a monkey magical girl ?


Well, logically speaking, a reasonable person wouldn't care about the shame that would come with such a thing.

Chanting the spell solemnly, then transforming into Magical girl with a nonchalant expression, that was the normal course of events.

But... thinking about that scene, even a very rational Mei could imagine how... beautiful it would be.

Besides, she doesn't wear glasses all the time.

Mei knew that if she really tried to transform into Magical Girl, her face would definitely look like a monkey's butt once she took off her glasses.

For the sake of her normal self, she immediately gave up on the possibility of Raiden Mei transforming into Monkey Magical Girl.

Although, Mei thought that if she really did that, her shy look after taking off her glasses might be quite captivating.


---

Chapter 103: Wendy Was Terrified

It had seemed quite interesting at first, but on reflection, she decided against it. She wasn't the type to act on a whim.

Although she still wanted to discuss things with Tesla and Einstein, after hearing the results from the Q&A space, Mei knew this was the end of the discussion.

The results were just like before, correct and incorrect. The only thing missing was the distribution of the rewards.

From this brief yet elongated quiz... during this time, they briefly counted the rewards collected.

The strange Allspark, which Einstein and the others planned to use to power Wodan.

Bronya's accessory, a unique item for Bronya, granting her the power of the Herrscher of Reason.

The scroll called Wind-Colored Scroll, a unique item for Wendy.

A special stigmata called Thales, a one-time stigmata, to be allocated to Bronya after research is complete.

An ELF named Water's Edge, resembling Cheng Lixue, appears to come with a Xuanyuan Sword. Although these two appear to be bound together...

The Superdimensional Sonata, a strange cross that grants its owner the power of a Magical Girl. Theresa doesn't plan to use it, but Mei intends to study it to see if she can extract any useful technology from it.

There are six items in total.

Of these, only the Wind-Colored Scroll has the least clear purpose.

Although Mei intends to examine the Herrscher of Wind's stigmata within, it seems likely that this item will eventually be distributed to someone else.

The most suitable recipient for this item is naturally Miss Wendy, to whom it belongs exclusively.

Currently, Miss Wendy remains stationed in the Oceania branch.

To rescue her from under the nose of Schicksal... is no easy task.


Of course, Mei, as the intellectual leader, had already drawn up a plan with Einstein regarding this matter.

Since emerging from the Q&A Space, life has become relatively peaceful again.

However, Mei has been spending a lot more time in the research facility than before.

Kiana's experience in the Q&A Space motivated her to study hard. She eventually managed to earn a spot in class by fishing, earning a promotion. She no longer had to stand outside the classroom, but behind it. Hmm... that's a cause for celebration.

Bronya, on the other hand, was training herself to utilize the Herrscher power granted by her headdress.

One day... 

Theresa proactively called Otto, forcing a smile. After Otto's surprised look, she chatted with her grandfather about family matters.

Even further on, the Schicksal branch in Oceania was attacked by Anti-Entropy. A massive Titan wreaked havoc on the land, temporarily attracting the attention of the Valkyries.

Led by an A-rank Valkyrie directly under the New Zealand branch, the New Zealand branch's Valkyrie troops engaged the Titan.

However, even Tesla was amazed by the power unleashed by Wodan, who had wielded the AllSpark.

The A-rank Valkyries were completely powerless against it; they were easily defeated in a single blow.

Feeling overwhelmed, the Oceania branch naturally appealed to headquarters and other branches for assistance.

Chatting with his lovely granddaughter, Otto didn't give the matter much thought, simply ordering Rita, one of the three S-rank Valkyries of Schicksal, to lead a team of Immortal Blades to handle the situation.

However, on their way, Rita and the Immortal Blade team ran into an enemy blocking their way: the leader of Anti-Entropy, the First Herrscher, Welt.

Having been apprehended by Theresa immediately after his escape and coordinated by Einstein, he naturally joined the Wendy rescue plan without hesitation.

After most of the manpower of the Oceania Schicksal branch was diverted, the spearhead trio consisting of Kiana, Bronya, and Mei quietly infiltrated the Oceania branch.

Hmm... infiltration, I guess?


Mei glanced back at the Valkyries lying on the ground, some of them electrocuted to the point of being frog-legged, some unconscious, and some with large bumps on their heads from being knocked out by Project Bunny and Kiana, and she couldn't help scratching her cheek.

A patrol robot's mechanical eyes flashed red as it attempted to attack.

But the next moment, it was blasted to pieces by a floating cannon that appeared from the sky.

Bronya dropped her hand in dissatisfaction. "It's all Idiot Kiana's fault!"

Originally, they had planned to sneak in, but Kiana wasn't the type for infiltration.

They were exposed shortly after entering, leading to their discovery by the patrol robots and Valkyries.

Unable to hide any longer, they had no choice but to unleash their skills, defeating all witnesses and those who tried to stop them.

Thankfully, electromagnetic force can slightly interfere with memory. Otherwise, if they had continued this brazen behavior, their photos would have appeared on Otto's desk tomorrow.

"Hehehe..."

Knowing this was her fault, Kiana gave an awkward smile and subconsciously scratched the back of her head, then looked at Mei, who looked helpless.

"Mei, Mei, quickly check where Wendy is."

Searching for someone in a modern facility should have been the job of Bronya, the master hacker.

But the task of finding the target ultimately fell to Mei.

This was naturally due to Mei's omnipotent power of lightning.

Electromagnetic force can be a bug in cyberspace.

Electromagnetic fields are also incredibly effective in reconnaissance.

Compared to Bronya using conventional methods to slowly search, Mei could achieve the same, or even better, results with a single, quick move.

"Hmm."

Mei nodded slightly and began using her power of lightning to sense Wendy's electromagnetic field.

What? What if I don't know what the electromagnetic field on the other side looks like?

The solution was, of course, simple.

She only needed to find the electromagnetic fields of the awake people in the research facility.

The awake ones had either been knocked unconscious by Mei or knocked unconscious by Project Bunny.

Since there were few people standing in the research facility, Mei easily found her target.

"Down there," she said succinctly.

This research facility should have a basement.

And if they wanted to get down, they would need to find an elevator.

...Elevator?

Mei gave Bronya a look.

Understanding this, Bronya nodded and immediately called out Project Bunny.

"Bang!"

After the explosion, smoke and dust filled the air.

A large hole came into view, revealing another level below.

Using a simple and crude method of descending the stairs, the three of them successfully reached the basement.

Led by Mei's humanoid radar, Kiana, Bronya, and Mei easily located the laboratory where the magnetic field reaction of a standing person was occurring.

"Bang!"

Bronya immediately ordered Project Bunny to shred the one-meter-thick iron door.

This sudden change stunned the white-coated researchers in the lab.

But before they could think anything more, Mei's lightning bolts followed.

Accompanied by several screams, a few more frog legs appeared.

The target of this mission, Wendy, sat in a wheelchair and witnessed these brutal scenes. Even the former A-rank Valkyrie was horrified.

After dealing with the researchers, the three turned their attention to Wendy.

For a moment, Wendy was terrified.



----

Chapter 104: On the Proper Use of the Herrscher's Power

Amidst Wendy's trembling body, Mei got straight to the point, explaining her and her companions' purpose:

"Wendy, we've been sent by Principal Theresa to pick you up."

"Principal Theresa..."
Hearing this long-lost name, Wendy froze.

She had been communicating with her a while ago.

"Pick me up..."

Wendy was a little confused by this statement. She should be doing pretty well, right?

... Even Wendy herself didn't believe it.

Although they had already defeated all the guards, and logically there was nothing to fear, Mei somehow felt that if she continued to stay here, something terrible might happen.

Driven by this ominous premonition, Mei urged.

"I'll explain the details later. We shouldn't stay here for long."

Wendy naturally had no objection.

Based on the actions of Kiana and the other two, she didn't dare deny it.

Mei also mentioned Principal Theresa, and Wendy, who always had a good relationship with Theresa, was skeptical as she was pushed away by the three.

But wheelchairs were clearly too slow.

To expedite the evacuation, Bronya had Wendy sit in the lap of Project Bunny, abandoning the wheelchair.

The four of them rushed outside.

The sight of unconscious people strewn across the ground made Wendy who sat on the Project Bunny pale with fear.

After rushing out of the Oceania branch, at the research facility, Mei used her power of lightning to launch an electromagnetic storm.

Mei had previously launched one to prevent any information leaks when Kiana's carelessness led to their discovery.

This time, Mei was simply playing it safe and giving it another shot.

This electromagnetic storm would essentially destroy all the electronic components in the testing facility, reducing them to scrap metal.

After completely escaping the electromagnetic barrier Mei had previously set up, the communicator began to buzz.

"You..."


Theresa appeared. She saw Wendy, stunned for a moment, then breathed a sigh of relief. Then, with a hint of seriousness, she said, "You need to get out of there quickly. Grandpa might have already taken Durandal and sent her over."

Otto, who had been chatting happily with Theresa, didn't take the sudden Anti-Entropy attack seriously, so he simply sent Rita with a team of Immortal Blades to handle it.

However, Rita was intercepted by Welt, and Rita reported the situation to Otto in real time.

Otto felt a bit embarrassed at the name of his old rival, so naturally he became serious.

Even when Theresa tried to stall for a while, she was dismissed with a few words.

Seeing her grandfather's seriousness, Theresa easily guessed that he was ready to throw Durandal out.

"Tsk, I'm not afraid of that Durandal!"

After her previous showdown at the base, Kiana, who had no qualms about picking off kills, was now quite inflated. She waved her hand nonchalantly as they marched.


This naturally left Theresa, on the other end of the line, speechless.


However, she didn't expect Kiana to be particularly reliable.


For this operation, her hopes were still with Bronya and Mei. They were steady and each possessed partial Herrscher powers, making them a truly reliable force. However, Theresa still didn't believe these two could contend with Durandal.


After all, they only possessed partial Herrscher powers, not actual Herrschers. Along the way, female warriors from the Oceania branch, who had noticed their homes had been robbed during the battle and were returning to defend, began to appear.


Amazing!

Not wanting to continue the unnecessary battle, Mei cast a perception-influencing electromagnetic field.

Bronya also cooperated, activating the Power of Reason, simulating the Black Nucleus erosion technique she'd developed since emerging from the Q\&A space—her optical camouflage device.

The two of them working together had effectively given the Oceania Valkyries ten more years of work.

It's a shame Wendy hasn't become the Herrscher of Wind yet. Otherwise, combined with the Herrscher of Wind's fluid control abilities, they'd be a true thieving team.

Kiana enjoyed this convenience, but watching the two of them so happily toying with the Herrscher's power, she couldn't help but feel a little jealous.

She wanted to play with the Herrscher's power herself, too.

But forget about the Herrscher of the Void...

Kiana suddenly remembered her alternate form as a Herrscher.

She couldn't help but wonder if the Herrscher power she possessed in that form would be quite awesome.

After a moment of reflection, the three of them quickly arrived at the location Einstein had prepared and boarded the Anti-Entropy warship.

Einstein had been waiting there for a long time.

At the same time, another figure appeared on the warship.

Seeing that familiar figure sitting there, Mei cried out in surprise, even in her perfectly rational state.

"Father... Father?!"

Yes, it was none other than Raiden Ryoma.

Mei was surprised to see Raiden Ryoma appear.

"Why are you here?"

"This move... But if half of Anti-Entropy has been mobilized. As one of its executors and the commander of the Titans, Ryoma naturally can't stay out of it."

Einstein folded her arms across ber chest and added, "Of course, there might also be reason to worry about your safety."

Next to Ryoma was a rugged man with white hair in a ponytail.

Mei didn't know him well.

But Kiana was no stranger.

"Did you miss me, Kiana?"
Facing a face that Kiana knew all too well, Siegfried smiled a somewhat hearty smile.

Of course, Kiana only managed a forced smile and ran away, clenching her fists.

Seeing her irresponsible father again, she could only say...

Hard! Her fist is hard!

---

Chapter 105: It was a Scene of Great Filial Piety

Wendy who had been brought out was handed over to Theresa for communication. Although she didn't know the details, she seemed to accept her situation calmly.

Perhaps because Wendy's personality was similar to Seele's, Bronya got along well with her. As soon as she appeared in the video, she easily captured Wendy's heart with her older sister (the harem orphanage) aura.

Mei and Theresa were also classic role models. They were always considerate and caring during their conversations, although they were worried about Kiana. Because of the situation over there, she seemed a bit absent-minded during the conversation.

—Kiana was initially filled with both joy and anger at her awful father's appearance.

Joy at the reunion after so long, and anger at his sudden departure.

The punch she threw was an outlet for this frustration, and Siegfried had anticipated it and was prepared to take it.

After the next punch, he'd play the victim, and that would essentially appease Kiana. Siegfried was quite experienced in pleasing girls due to his earlier experiences.

But this incident…

Siegfried and Ryoma were relatives of Mei and Kiana, and they trusted each other well enough to understand the existence of that strange dimension through Einstein's explanation.

Ryoma was surprised, but also surprised.

He wondered why his daughter, a delicate and obedient girl, had come to his place and mentioned Cocolia's name. It turned out to be through something like this.

Siegfried, like Ryoma, was surprised by the Q&A dimension. However, upon learning about Otto's plan, he was furious and planned to rush and attack Otto.

However, as one of the few warriors of the Kaslana family with a decent level of intelligence, Siegfried naturally wouldn't risk his life by single-handedly attacking Schicksal—it was foolish behavior.

After calming down, he began to worry.

After learning about Otto's damning plan, his daughter would inevitably learn things he didn't want her to know.

Siegfried was completely unprepared for how to communicate with his invited companions.

It had gone well as expected, but judging by Kiana's sudden change of attitude, Siegfried expected the situation to naturally deteriorate to the worst.

To ensure the safety of the operation, Himeko was also pulled out of the battleship.

After learning of this development, Kiana's teacher found her somewhere in the battleship's corridor.

"Are you blaming your father?"

Kiana shook her head, gazing out the window at the clouds passing by as they sailed.

"I don't blame my father for anything. Although I was angry before when he left without saying goodbye, leaving me wandering alone..."

"But... this... there's a lot of my own personal involvement..." She said, her palms clenched, a hint of regret and remorse in her eyes.


The Q&A space revealed the truth about her identity, but it also awakened memories she had forgotten, or rather, didn't want to recall. She wasn't puzzled by Siegfried's broken arm, because, with a glimmer of recollection, Kiana understood that it was her own fault, the result of the other, dormant demon within this body...

"Dad gave me a childhood, protected me under the hand of fate, and... also gave me this name. No matter what, I have no right to blame him."

Having witnessed Himeko's sacrifice for her during the Final Lesson, Kiana had quickly formed a deep bond with her during this time so she confided. She pursed her lips, a hint of confusion in her eyes. "As for him... I just... don't know what to do. How to face it?"

…

The warship was moving at a remarkable pace, quickly arriving at the designated Anti-Entropy base.

During this time, thanks to Himeko's thoughtful guidance, Kiana came to a considerable understanding, and her grudge against Siegfried had largely dissipated.

The two returned to a harmonious father-daughter relationship—it was said that Kiana unceremonious beat her father without hesitation, in which Siegfried felt both pained and delighted by.

The usually strict Raiden Ryoma, observing Siegfried's bruised appearance, let out a rare laugh, secretly thankful that his precious daughter was a filial daughter—it was said that she had abandoned her father to hang out with Kiana.



Feling a strange sense of déjà vu as he watched the two filled with the scent of orange, Ryoma sat with Siegfried, a pang of sadness welling up in his heart.

Siegfried, however, was cheerful. He had always feared his daughter would be taken away by some unsuspecting pig, but now, wasn't he much more relieved?

Well, it still seems a bit strange.

At the Anti-Entropy base, Tesla, who had retreated from the vanguard interference force, had returned, along with Welt.

Although the Schicksal Valkyries were no match for Welt, Welt still possessed a number of high-tech weapons, which had inflicted considerable damage.

While cursing, Tesla inspected Wodan. Although Wodan itself thought this was unnecessary, considering he had become a mechanical lifeform after being infused with the Allspark, capable of self-repair.


However, Tesla, who had a particular obsession with mechas and considered Wodan a son. She was adamant and insisted on inspecting him to prevent any accidents.

As she put it, "After all, you're my creation, and I have a responsibility to you."

That was the meaning.

Tesla, like a stubborn donkey, was acting like a stubborn donkey. Wodan, who considered Tesla a close friend, could only accept this with resignation.

In addition to Tesla, Teacher Yang, the leader of the Anti-Entropy Alliance, who was tasked with blocking the reinforcements from Schicksal Headquarters and a familiar figure to Kiana and the others, also returned.

Yang was in poor condition, bearing numerous wounds. Upon returning, Einstein dragged him to the infirmary for examination.

It is understood that Welt first faced Rita and the Immortal Blades head-on.

This wasn't a difficult situation; it was pure childish cruelty. Rita, the shrewd maid, ran into the First Herrscher and was completely defeated. If Welt hadn't chosen to kill her, Rita might have been playing mahjong with Cocolia after a few encounters.

However, Welt soon ran into Durandal, who had been sent by Otto upon hearing the news.

Seeing how badly her lieutenant had been beaten, Durandal was naturally furious.

Carrying the Abyss Flower, she prodded Welt all over the ground. If he hadn't run fast, Welt might have been a corpse there.


Of course, this isn't to say Welt is too weak; it's simply because his compatibility with the opponent is so poor.

Even so, he was seriously injured—his finger was grazed by the Abyss Flower.

The Abyss Flower's inherent decomposition effect nearly killed Welt.

---


Chapter 106: Mei's Contradictions

Because of his proficiency in a particular sport, Welt suffered a serious injury, but aside from the damage to his body caused by the Herrscher of Reason’s core, he was otherwise unharmed.

He took the time to meet Bronya, the girl Einstein had said would become his future heir.

The initial impression was favorable, but further observation was needed to determine the specifics.

Although Yang trusted Einstein's words, he knew he must exercise caution when it came to the inheritance of the Herrscher of Reason’s power.

As for Wendy's future plans, she would naturally remain with Anti-Entropy. Einstein and Tesla would conduct further treatment and research on her.

The goal was to cure Wendy's legs while also allowing her to control the power of the Gem of Desire, thus providing them with additional support—Herrscher-level combat power.

Mei handed the Wind Scroll to Einstein, which made her raise an eyebrow.

According to the original plan, Mei was supposed to study the Wind Stigmata within it first, perfecting and strengthening the missing Hannah Stigmata before it could be put to use.

And now…

After carefully counting the days since leaving the Q&A Space, Einstein was stunned and asked, "Have you figured out anything yet?"

"Hmm," Mei nodded noncommittally. Then, meeting the curious gaze, she glanced at the scroll and curled her lips. "That stigmata is quite powerful."

"But perhaps because it's a Herrscher’s Stigmata, it barely has the ability to enhance the Brander’s Honkai Impact resistance."

"I learned from that Tai before... I extracted a portion of the Stigmata of Les, supplemented the missing portion, and then, drawing upon the power within, amplified Hannah's stigmata."

Mei had mentioned the existence of Hannah's stigmata during their casual conversation, so Einstein could understand.

However...

"Completing the stigmata... and amplifying the original..."

Although not particularly involved in biotechnology, Einstein could already imagine the sheer scale of this operation from the records of stigmata left from previous eras.

To achieve such results in such a short period of time, even Mei, who had previously claimed she wasn't skilled in biotechnology, couldn't help but exclaim in admiration:

"You truly are a genius!"

"You're too kind!"

Mei was unworthy of the title of genius. I don't deserve it. After all, I've only gotten this far thanks to these glasses. Without them, I'd probably only be able to cook.

Without any sense of self-preservation, Mei mercilessly criticized herself for only being able to cook.

She’s become so adept at this task lately. If she hadn't clearly understood that there was nothing wrong with her, Mei would have thought she was going schizophrenic.

Before getting glasses, I despised how boring they made me feel, but I had to wear them because studying made me happy.

After getting them, I became quite disgusted with myself, the one who was usually good at cooking and spent the rest of my time playing games with Kiana.

Mei herself couldn't understand why. We were the same person, with no difference in our thoughts or memories. Wearing and removing glasses creates two completely different looks, and they dislike each other.

Mei remembered something and casually said,

"Oh, by the way, I extracted some data about the Herrscher of Wind from this stigmata. I think it might be helpful for my future research on Wendy."

That's not surprising. After all, the core function of stigmata is to engrave information. Since it's the Herrscher of Wind, it's not surprising that it contains some information about the Herrscher of Wind.

Einstein, unsurprised by this, glanced at the file containing the Herrscher of Wind stigmata that Mei had sent on his personal terminal.

"This..." Einstein's expression froze as he saw what looked like a string of measurements.

Mei immediately understood what was going on and couldn't help but laugh.

When he saw this thing, he also... I was completely stumped. I was wondering what the Herrscher of Wind had carved into the stigmata.

Besides the measurements of the grass, the rest of the information was quite useful.

"We'll take our time later. Wendy's in your care, Dr. Einstein."

They'd been here for quite some time. Although Fu Hua was there to protect St. Freya’s Academy, their absence wouldn't be noticed.

But to be on the safe side, it was better to return early.

Mei said goodbye to Raiden Ryoma.

Kiana said goodbye to Siegfried.

Bronya said goodbye to Wendy.

...the two of them were tearful, reluctant to part. It was a good thing Seele was still in the Quantum Sea, otherwise she’d burst into tears after seeing this.

Under Anti-Entropy's arrangement, they boarded a small aircraft. The St. Freya Academy personnel were quietly sent back.

…

Information regarding the recent Anti-Entropy invasion of the Oceania branch and the abduction of Wendy, the Gem of Desire experiment subject, was compiled into a report and presented to Otto's desk.

The unfolded page showed that he had already flipped through it.

"Going to such great lengths for a single Gem of Desire isn't typical of those guys."

A super-sized Titan, several Titan units, and a First Herrscher.

Mobilizing so many forces just to steal a single Gem of Desire—Otto couldn't believe there was no nonsense involved.

As the core of a Herrscher, the Gem of Desire was indeed extremely valuable.

But it was in the hands of Schicksal.

Going to such great lengths to snatch this object from Schicksal's hands wasn't impossible, but it was... it was somewhat unwise.

Those Anti-Entropy rats couldn't possibly be unaware of the consequences of provoking Schicksal.

Otto glanced at the photo of Theresa and himself on the table.

He didn't believe there was anything fishy going on between his granddaughter's impulsive greeting and the Anti-Entropy invasion.

Of course, it was also possible that Theresa's greeting was a ploy, intended to trick him into suspecting her.

Otto could probably guess that this was definitely related to his lovely granddaughter.

But he felt that this distraction and frame-up was orchestrated by Anti-Entropy.

Although it was a bit superficial, Anti-Entropy's presence could still hint at some kind of calculation.

And if Theresa were to come... wouldn't that be a complete cover-up?


"It's not a good thing if the rats run rampant."

Without further thought, Otto raised his brow and made a decision.

Since Anti-Entropy was so reckless, even if it was simply to maintain the dignity of Schicksal, he had to keep those Anti-Entropy rats in check, otherwise Schicksal's reputation would completely shatter.

---

Chapter 107: Grandpa Yang Enters the Question-Q&A Space

Anti-Entropy, an organization dedicated to combating Honkai, was formerly the North American branch of Schicksal.

The birth of this organization is largely due to Otto.

At one point in the past, he believed that Schicksal was too powerful and needed a suitable opponent to maintain a certain level of pressure. Therefore, he chose to dump all researchers who criticized Schicksal’s actions into the North American branch.

Soon, as Otto had predicted, the North American branch declared its independence from Schicksal and became the current Anti-Entropy.

Initially, Otto hadn't taken this organization seriously; after all, he was a self-confident and conceited person.

In the eyes of this five-hundred-year-old Archbishop, the nascent Anti-Entropy seemed too immature, so naive that it could be easily destroyed.

But now...

Otto had to admit that this toy he had created in his spare time seemed to be completely out of his control, posing a threat to his plans.

He absolutely could not accept this situation.

Next, Anti-Entropy would bear the brunt of Schicksal’s relentless attack, which would inevitably have a significant impact on Anti-Entropy, already far inferior to Schicksal.

However, St. Freya and their companions, far away in the Far East, would not know of these events.

After a few peaceful days, following the time indicated by the previous Q&A space,

St. Freya's group gathered in Theresa's office again one afternoon.

Waiting for the clock to stop, the Q&A space arrived again after nearly ten days.

The others also disappeared from Theresa's office.

They looked around.

Besides the St. Freya Academy group, there was Anti-Entropy's Tesla and Dr. Einstein.

However, this time, besides the two of them, there was another figure nearby.

"Mr. Welt, you're in too," Bronya said with a hint of surprise.

"Hmm."

Welt nodded, glancing around the space from the corner of his eye.

Although Ein had previously told him about this space, he still felt a bit surprised to be here.

And so, Yang, the champion of resurrection matches who had just arrived at the quiz space, cosplayed as Liu Laolao.

Welt's entrance was the least of Bronya's surprises; she was more disappointed not to see Wendy.

Mei noticed that Bronya was concerned about Wendy, and since she had something else to ask, she asked, "How's Wendy?


A hint of concern flashed in Bronya's eyes. Although she hadn't seen Wendy, it was still helpful to get a glimpse of her current situation.

"Not bad, isn't it? The Gem of Desire is very stable."

Einstein said with a touch of emotion, "As expected of the future Herrscher of Wind. According to the instruments, Wendy's compatibility with the Gem of Desire is quite high."

Although the Gem of Desire wasn't a Herrscher Core, its danger level was no less than the Core of Reason that Bronya had touched in the previous video.

Something like this, simply reaching out to touch, would infect you with a flood of Honkai energy.

And Wendy's ability to contain the Gem of Desire within her body, while perhaps due to the Gem of Desire's relatively stable state, also demonstrates the high degree of compatibility between Wendy and the Gem of Desire.

If there were a standard for becoming a Herrscher... as for the other Herrschers, Einstein couldn't say anything about them, but as far as the Herrscher of Wind was concerned, Wendy was definitely the best candidate.

Mei wasn't particularly concerned about this and asked directly, "Can she become a Herrscher?"

"Not yet."

Einstein shook her head slightly and said sternly, "The Gem of Desire is too stable, which makes it difficult for Wendy to draw out its power."

"Experiencing a major Eruption or being infused with a large amount of Honkai energy should both help her draw out the power of the Gem of Desire."

The former was the method Cocolia devised to awaken Mei as the Third Herrscher, while the latter involved the Second Herrscher, Sirin.

Both methods were proven feasible.

Of course, to them, this was essentially nonsense.

Neither St. Freya Academy nor Anti-Entropy had any idea of  doing it. There are two possible options for helping Wendy become the Herrscher of Wind.

The first option involves injecting a massive amount of Honkai energy into the human body, but who knows when it might happen.

The second option involves injecting a massive amount of Honkai energy into the human body. This has only two possible outcomes: Wendy's death, or her transformation into a Herrscher and then Sirin II.

After experiencing that kind of torture, Wendy might cry out in pain upon becoming a Herrscher.

Mei frowned.

Although they hadn't known each other long, she didn't remember Einstein as the type to bring up meaningless things.

"You should have other reasonable options, right?"

Einstein said helplessly, "You overestimate me. It's only been a few days..."

Although she was considered a genius,

But Wendy... it's been barely over a week since Anti-Entropy entered the question-Q&A Space.

Adding to the numerous experiments and other matters she still has to deal with, asking her to come up with a plan for Wendy's Herrscher transformation is like, "You might as well just kill me."

Even Edison who was known for her diligence didn't push her this hard.

"But it's not entirely impossible. Judging from the research data you gave me on the Herrscher's stigmata in the Wind Scroll."

Einstein folded her arms and said calmly, "If the stigmata are branded, it should be quite helpful in helping Wendy channel the power of the Gem of Desire... of course, this is just a guess. I'll have to spend some more time researching it later."

Tesla couldn't help but say, speechless, "How did you two turn a casual conversation into such a mess? Just like a work summary?"

"Huh? Really?" Mei and Einstein said in unison.

"Nonsense!"

Tesla rolled her eyes rudely. "You two, get over it!"

"It's fine for any other time, but in a place like this, you're still talking about work. It's driving me crazy!"

Mei and Einstein exchanged amusement.

This harmonious situation was met with a look of amusement from the audience as Kiana, embracing Bronya and biting her, was naturally chased and beaten by Bronya.

In the remaining time, the first question of this quiz quietly appeared on the unchanging answer screen:

[1. During the Arc City Incident, the wandering Kiana saved Arc City and thwarted the conspiracy of the mastermind. Which of the following options was the core of this incident?] 

[A. Malice from Otto Apocalypse]

[B. The lingering ghost of Cocolia]

[C. The World Serpent's Plan]

[D. Dr. Tesla's obsession with technology]






---



Chapter 108: You Didn't Expect This, Fu Hua!

This question reveals a very important piece of information.

In the future, a battle will take place in a city called Arc City.

However, the information revealed is unclear and doesn't provide any clues to the answer.

As for the question itself...

"Hey, hey, hey, what's the meaning?! Why is there even an option for me?!"

Seeing hed own name appear among the options, Tesla was extremely dissatisfied, so she shouted angrily.

As Tesla's frenemy, although Einstein hadn't considered this option, she didn't hesitate to take the opportunity to tease her.

"If it's Dr. Tesla, that's quite fitting, isn't it?"

Naturally, Tesla was intrigued. Her eyes blazing with fire, and she retorted bluntly: "If we're really talking about this, you're no worse than me, Mophead!"

Some technology? Isn't that just scientific research?

Tesla admitted that she did a lot, but as someone of the same level, perhaps even more enthusiastic, Einstein was far more aggressive. Even Tesla had to admit that.

"Indeed, I wouldn't go around creating a bunch of meaningless so-called 'projects.'"

Einstein was quite frank, but she emphasized the final word "projects."

What did this mean? Tesla, who had argued with Einstein for so many years, naturally understood.

So-called projects, but actually garbage, right?!


Although many of the gadgets she'd developed were indeed unused, Dr. Tesla, with her immense pride, wouldn't tolerate her gadgets being humiliated like this.

"You want a fight?! You idiot!"

Raising her fist, Tesla's face was filled with the words "I'm angry."

Suddenly realizing she'd strayed a bit, she muttered indignantly.

"And what's wrong with me pursuing technology?! This genius is engaged in research to contribute to humanity's scientific progress and to better resist the Honkai!"

"Indeed, although Tesla is unreliable, I don't think Dr. Tesla has anything to do with this."

Einstein nodded, but at the same time, she didn't forget to criticize Tesla's unreliability, saying grumpily. "As for contributing to science and resisting the Honkai... Regarding this, if you could produce fewer of those meaningless gadgets, I think we wouldn't be facing so many fiscal deficits."

Because when it comes to resisting the Honkai, due to human factors...


Considering the path, Anti-Entropy chose the mecha route.

While Anti-Entropy's mechanized units saved manpower, the cost of building a mecha unit is far higher than that of Schicksal's Valkyrie unit.

Taking into account maintenance and other expenses, Anti-Entropy's finances are quite tight.

As for Tesla, developing Titans and mechas is practically popular within Anti-Entropy. After all, Tesla is an expert in this field, and everyone is eager for her to improve her mecha units and enhance their combat capabilities.

Spending some money on this is essential, and even Einstein had no objection.

And Tesla's fond inventions...

As Edison once said, they either lack practical considerations, don't care about cost, or are simply so meaningless that she herself doesn't know what they're for.

Einstein could only laugh at this waste of funds.

Papapapapa!

Not wanting Tesla to express her dissatisfaction, Mei clapped her hands.


The bickering ended, and a decision was made.


"Just eliminate Dr. Tesla's option."

Then, looking at the remaining three options,

Kiana muttered, expressing her feelings, "Neither of them are good people!"

Take a look at the question.

Aside from the unruly World Serpent, both Cocolia and Otto are pure villains.

Generally, if something bad happens, it's almost certain to go straight to these two.

And the World Serpent... judging by the man who seemed to be hostile to Bronya in the previous footage, he doesn't seem to be a good person either.

Unable to eliminate any of the options, this wave of starting questions is a three-choice question, which is quite surprising.

The Intelligence Team seemed a little troubled, trying their best to eliminate the answers.

Bronya, on the other hand, simply moved closer to Fu Hua.

It's just a multiple-choice question, look how easy to answer this.

"Which answer do you think is correct, Class Monitor?"

Fu Hua had been tricked last time. It had happened once before. As soon as she heard Bronya's words, she naturally guessed what she was going to do. A dark line immediately formed on her forehead, and she was speechless.

"I don't think my choice matters."

Fu Hua strongly disagreed with Bronya's pinning her hopes on the illusory luck of the situation and prepared to give her a lecture, trying to reassure her.


Well... it definitely wasn't that she cared about her bad luck.

"It doesn't matter. It's just a reference anyway."

Bronya naturally wouldn't give up. Instead, she opted to encourage Fu Hua, urging her to make a choice.

"This time, it's one out of three. With a one-third chance of being correct, Bronya believes the class monitor will definitely pick the right answer (excluding the one wrong answer)."

Bronya's childish, indifferent voice reached Fu Hua's ears, and at that moment, her heart was as still as a deep, still well.

She thought to herself: Bronya's right. This time, it's one out of three. If I try hard, maybe I can get it right?

After a typical gambling mentality, Fu Hua had to admit.

She was tempted!

This wave, this wave was going to turn the tide and completely dispel the stereotype that "Fu Hua is incredibly unlucky"!


Just as Fu Hua's heart was overflowing with emotion, little Book beside her couldn't bear to see her immortal being fooled by Bronya. She leaned over and slapped Fu Hua in the face. Her small, adorable hand made her look incredibly cute.

"Today, this little ancestor is going to use this slap to wake you up, you foolish immortal!"

This naturally left Fu Hua bewildered. She looked at the little ancestor with a bewildered expression, not quite understanding why Book was slapping her.

She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could,

Project Bunny appeared, grabbed Book by the collar, and flew off to the side.

"Project Bunny is a little bored and wants to play with Book Of Fuxi"

Facing Fu Hua's questioning gaze, Bronya calmly thought, "If Book stays here any longer, all my deception will be in vain."

For the sake of everyone else, Book of Fuxi should just stay and play games with Water's Edge and Project Bunny. "Hmm."

Fu Hua was skeptical, but she didn't think too much of it.

Under Bronya's expectant gaze, she slowly spoke, "For me, it should be... B!"

Instantly, Bronya's eyes lit up.

Okay, now it's a choice between two!

As Bronya secretly rejoiced, the lenses of Fu Hua's red-framed glasses gleamed slightly, a rare glint of cunning in them.

After all, I've lived so long, and while I might be a bit old-fashioned, I'm not stupid. How could I not see what Bronya was up to?!

Although she said option B, Fu Hua actually believed the correct choice was option A.

Unexpectedly, Bronya?

This is my choice, Fu Hua!

----

Chapter 109: The World Serpent's Plan Was Revealed

Because Fu Hua had made her choice, Bronya decisively eliminated the one she had chosen from the three-choice question.

Mei, on her part, didn't take it too seriously. After all, it was just a random, one-choice question. If someone could eliminate the error... even if the method seemed unreliable, it was worth a try.

Excluding Dr. Tesla's option D and Bronya's option B, the only two remaining answers were option A, Otto, and option C, World Serpent.

Although only one option was eliminated, it did remove a lot of uncertainty, significantly increasing the chances of answering the question. Choosing one of two is always better than choosing one of three, right?

Of course, that assumes they haven't eliminated the correct answer. Otherwise, choosing one out of three or one out of two would make no difference.

The right to choose was given to Kiana, who was relevant to the question.

Amidst everyone's eager anticipation, a hint of confusion crossed Kiana's pretty face.

But Kiana wasn't the type to overthink things, so having already figured things out after much thought, she didn't bother to dwell on it. She simply made her choice without any second thought:

"I choose C, the World Serpent's plan."

[Correct]

The result was confirmed, and Kiana couldn't help but scratch her cheek, feeling a little unreal.

Is this the right answer?

Everyone was delighted that Kiana had answered the question correctly.

Well... Fu Hua, of course, was also happy, but at the same time, a sense of disappointment was also present.

This wave had been a complete loss.

Before Fu Hua could continue to lament, a video related to the question began to play.

This time, the video featured a chestnut-haired figure.

"Rita?"

Theresa was naturally familiar with Rita so she was somewhat surprised.

Besides this surprise, Rita in the video was wearing a sci-fi green ceremonial outfit.

Directly facing her was Otto, the Overseer of Schicksal, the very one currently hated by the entire St. Freya Academy.

The two conversed. Their words hinted at their pursuit of K-423, or rather, Kiana.

This also made Mei understand Kiana's situation as depicted in the Final Lesso .

Under Otto's orders, Rita and her Indestructible Blade were dispatched to Arc City to interact with a force called Heliopolis Life Sciences.

"He mentioned the Serpent."

Mei was concerned by the information Otto revealed, a hint of solemnity in her eyes.

"It seems Heliopolis Life Sciences has a connection to the unfathomable World Serpent."

Einstein's expression remained calm. "I'll investigate this company later."

Last time... After emerging from the question-Q&A Space, she had diligently investigated the organization known as the World Serpent.

But there were no leads. If it weren't for the connection to the World Serpent found in the journals left behind by Cocolia, Einstein would have almost believed the World Serpent didn't exist.

Now that she had found a clue related to the World Serpent, she naturally wouldn't ignore it.

"But... Heliopolis Life Sciences? I've heard a little bit about this organization."

Talking about this company, Einstein, who had always kept an eye on the outside world, rested her chin on her hand, her eyes gleaming with interest.

Normally, she wouldn't take any other company seriously, but Heliopolis Life Sciences was different.


"That company with a serious problem?"
Tesla seemed to be familiar with the company, but hwr impression wasn't positive.

Mei's puzzled gaze led her to casually say, "I don't know the specifics, but it seems that company is providing anti-Honkai drugs and vaccines to the world, free of charge!"

She emphasized the word "free" deliberately.

"...providing anti-Honkai drugs free of charge?"

Mei was a little confused and instinctively quipped, "Is the boss of that company a philanthropist?"

"Who knows?"
Tesla curled her lips.

Even as a pioneer in the fight against the Honkai, Anti-Entropy still needs funding.

And this company providing anti-Honkai drugs for free… she admired them morally, but from the perspective of a superior, it was simply bizarre.

During the conversation, the image continued.

Rita chatted with a host named Cioara, sent by Heliopolis Life Sciences, while leisurely touring Kamisato and investigating K-423's whereabouts on Otto's orders.

She had indeed heard rumors of a lone ranger girl fighting Honkai beasts in Arc City.

And before Rita could make any preparations, she noticed this... clues hidden in the city.

After careful investigation, Rita discovered the secrets hidden underground and, guided by her mechanical hound, found the elevator to the basement.

After making her arrangements, she took the spacious elevator to the hidden depths.

Here was a breathtakingly spacious hall, but even more astonishing than its sheer size, was the sight within.

Among the numerous experimental chambers, there were the figures of the dead.

The skin of these zombies, who had fought countless battles, was covered in fine lines interwoven, forming glowing marks.

"...Stigmata?" Having been dealing with these things lately, Mei recognized it instantly.

Why the assassins had stigmata on their bodies is a topic worthy of attention.

However, compared to this...

Those suspended in the experimental chambers, of varying ages and heights, had all been implanted with Honkai Beast tissue, covered in silicon-based shells, or had missing limbs replaced with mechanical prostheses.

Like a museum, everything on display seemed to reveal to visitors the extent to which the human body could be transformed.

"Dirty human experiments."

Although moral boundaries have become increasingly flexible recently, for this... Mei, in a rare instance, gave a cold assessment of the scene.


"Clumsy garbage."


Even Mei was dissatisfied.

It's easy to imagine the feelings of the two Anti-Entropy doctors, who chose mechas for the sake of humanity, after witnessing this scene.

Einstein, given her temperament, simply kept a cold expression.

But the fiery Tesla made no secret of her displeasure, her forehead vein bulging. "Don't let me know which bastard did this, or I'll make her feel the power of an iron fist!"

[Stigmata, the most precious legacy of human blood]

[Stigmata are not the product of natural evolution, but a miracle of biotechnology from the previous civilization. Its principles and operation remain a mystery to this day.

Before the previous civilization vanished, they implanted a complex Honkai antibody genome into the embryos of a few of their descendants.

These genomes create marks on the human body's surface, known as the Stigmata.

Humans bearing the Stigmata possess increased resistance to and control over Honkai energy, thereby displaying incredible powers.

Sadly, as human lineages passed, genes constantly mutated and exchanged, and the previously complete Stigmata genome eventually fragmented.

Once the puzzle pieces were disrupted, the meaning of the pattern was lost.

Therefore, while every modern human carries the Stigmata gene, only a handful can naturally express it.

Schicksal once artificially replicated the Stigmata and used it through postnatal implantation. However, this technique was fraught with flaws and dangers, and was merely a crude imitation.

However, inspired by the omniscient and almighty serpent, our research has made tremendous progress.

We now know how to activate and reorganize the latent Stigmata fragments within human genes through artificial intervention, rendering them complete.]

[This process is extremely difficult. Those who cannot endure will die or even become the walking dead.]

[But those who survive will have the power to survive the Honkai.]

[The cost is high, but it's well worth it...!]

[The activation progress is still slow, far from the expected number. We plan to conduct experiments in a densely populated city...]

After listening to the information Rita opened in the video, everyone who understood the World Serpent's so-called plan had a common assessment of the World Serpent.


"Madness!"


--


Chapter 110: The Ascension to Void Drifter

Mei had recently conducted considerable research on stigmata so she naturally understood the artificial intervention the experimental data owner was referring to.

It was simply using Honkai energy to stimulate the incomplete fragments of stigmata in people's genes, allowing them to manifest.

However, if this were done...

Even if the goal was ultimately achieved, only a very small number of people would be able to activate the stigmata as planned.

Aside from these lucky survivors, the fate of the others was simply beyond question: death or becoming the walking dead, as they had predicted.

This was an extremely insane plan.

In Mei's opinion, its madness was no less than that of Cocolia's earlier plan.

The two even had many similarities.

The former aimed to awaken a few people through the baptism of Honkai, while the latter aimed to create a massive Honkai eruption to transform Mei into the Third Herrscher.

"If this is the World Serpent's goal..."

Mei glanced at Welt, whose face was visibly gloomy, and understood why Bronya and Welt had been so determined to follow Kevin in the previous video. The man confronted her, refusing to give in and preventing her from leaving the Sea of Quanta.

Unlike the others here, who were all unchanging,

As a survivor of the Previous Era and Kevin's comrade...

Fu Hua sighed deeply after reading this.

Although it had been a little unclear before, after the encounter, her memory of this part was still quite deep, so she remembered it somewhat.

"That was just the beginning..." Fu Hua, in a rare moment, corrected Mei's statement.

Hearing this, everyone looked at Fu Hua, all listening attentively.

"That question about the plans left behind by the Previous Era also came up before. Those plans are the follow-up measures Dr. Mei will implement when we reach our end."

"As the question suggests, Project Stigma is the most brutal of those plans."

"This plan may be necessary. But the price it comes at is something humanity may never be able to bear."

Fu Hua didn't elaborate on the cruelty of Project Stigma, casting a somewhat enigmatic quality about it.

But even without fully explaining it, given the high level of understanding among those present, wisdom could also make a rough guess.

...Judging from Kiana's bewildered expression, she seemed to be the only one who had slipped through this net of intellect.

The video ended after Rita became embroiled in a chaotic battle with the enemy.

At this moment, Book of Fuxi who stood beside Fu Hua. Consciously drifted away.



With a troubled expression, Fu Hua raised her head and reached out to catch the falling reward box, her movements extremely skillful...


Like a resentful young wife who had been abandoned, she tossed the Homu Box to Kiana with a slight tremor of her brow.

With a hint of sympathy, Kiana glanced down at the Homu Box in her hands.

With her gaze fixed on it, she opened the Homu Box.

Once again, Fu Hua's heart was broken.

A headdress fell out of the box.

Seeing this, Bronya's gaze froze, and she seemed deeply concerned. After all, she had also opened a headdress.

Kiana didn't hesitate and checked the headdress's attributes.

[Void Drifter's Headdress]

[Wandering Kiana, in her semi-Herrscher form, can access some of the powers of the Herrscher of the Void]

[Effect: Enter the Void Drifter Kiana mode, and use some of the Herrscher of the Void's powers (use with caution, as this increases erosion)]

[Limited to: Kiana (K423)]

[Note: Very cool, but you won't like this look.]

Mei murmured, "It's Kiana's limited equipment..."

The fact that it's limited to one user speaks volumes about its nature.

From experience so far, every item with a limited user is incredibly powerful.

Kiana's is indeed quite powerful.

Compared to Mei's glasses and Bronya's headdress, both can utilize the power of a Herrscher.

However, unlike the previous two, it has essentially no side effects...

Kiana's was the rare one to have a more limited side effect.

Kiana didn't think too much of it, and after checking the stats, she curiously put it on.

She wasn't concerned about the so-called power of the Herrscher of the Void.

But the fact that this one, labeled as cool but not liked, made Kiana curious.

If it was so cool, why wouldn't she like it?


The moment she donned the headdress, a ball of light enveloped Kiana. The next moment, the light dispersed.


Then, Kiana's casual St. Freya Academy attire instantly transformed. Her braids, once tied together, fell loose behind her, and her figure was tightly clad in a black-and-white outfit. One of her azure eyes now shone a different shade of gold. It was a similar, indifferent gold to that of the Herrscher of the Void.


At this moment, Kiana resembled a valiant female warrior, yet her heterochromatic eyes gave her an incomparably sinister air, emanating a chilling aura.

"...Kiana, how are you?" Fu Hua's eyes flashed with a hint of solemnity.

...the eyes of the Herrscher.

Although Kiana was not as powerful as the Herrscher of the Void, the sense of danger she posed was no less pronounced.

"...I'm fine," Kiana replied with some reluctance. She shook her head, indicating she was fine.

Different from her earlier lively demeanor, Kiana now seemed more mature and calmer than usual.

Feeling a little uncomfortable, Bronya leaned in closer, tiptoed, and removed the ornament from Kiana's hair.

In an instant, the aloof Void Drifter reverted to a naive Paramecium.

"...I feel so weird." Kiana didn't care about Bronya reverting her to her original form. Instead, she spoke with some hesitation about the feeling just now: "I always feel so weird in this state..."

Furthermore, it felt as if a heavy burden was weighing on her heart.

She felt so tired, filled with guilt and loneliness.

Kiana didn't reveal this feeling to anyone.

She glanced at her hands, recalling the feeling just now, feeling a bit heavy inside.

...Is this my future self? I don't know if she's handsome or not, but based on her feelings, Kiana definitely can't like herself like this.

[2. During her wanderings, she encountered a life-or-death battle, and she initially mastered the power of the Herrscher of the Void, becoming Void Drifter.]

[In that moment of despair, who was the first person who strengthened Kiana's faith and completed her ascension to Void Drifter?]

[A. Fu Hua]

[B. Himeko Murata]

[C. Raiden Mei]

[D. Bronya]
--

Chapter 111: Now Is Not the Time to Despair

The title appeared before my eyes.

The content revealed echoed the previous title, also hinting at the history of Kiana's ornament.

Fu Hua betrayed them and died at the hands of Otto, so it has nothing to do with this question.

Mei was willing to do much for Kiana, but at that time, she was not much different from Kiana. According to her predetermined life, she might even have been weaker.

The way she watched helplessly as Kiana was taken away by Durandal was revealing.

Bronya... was indeed a valuable companion to Kiana. Although she often bickered, she was undoubtedly very reliable in crucial moments. Damn, that wisdom is admirable.

But encouraging Kiana isn't for her.

Third answer eliminated.

That leaves only Himeko Murata.

As Kiana's teacher, she sacrificed her life to guide her student back to the right path.

She's undoubtedly the most suitable person to strengthen Kiana's faith.

But...

"She's already dead."

Einstein slowly pointed out a crucial flaw.

Bronya had seen the recurrence of the Final Lesson, and she admitted that no one was better suited to encouraging students and strengthening their faith than Himeko.

But, judging by that last lesson...

With Himeko fighting fiercely with the Herrscher, she seemed to be in a desperate situation. While it was unknown whether she was still alive, it seemed she had no strength left to fight.

Aside, Himeko's eyebrows trembled slightly as she listened to this, a sense of helplessness welling in her heart.

Although she knew they were discussing her own sacrifice, hearing it simply as if she were dead—that was still somewhat awkward.

However, everyone present agreed with the key point Einstein had made.

"But if it weren't for Himeko, the others..."

Theresa bit her thumbnail. Though she didn't finish her words, the meaning was clear.

As she had just done... inference.

Of these four options, only Himeko is the most suitable.

Kiana listened to everyone's confusion, pursed her lips, then pulled the hair accessory Bronya had returned from her pocket and put it on.

This action caught everyone's attention, and they all looked puzzled.

"Since we can't come to a conclusion, let me make the choice!"

Kiana once again entered Void Drifter form, and she spoke calmly.

She had no memories of herself in this form, and all she could sense was the underlying heaviness and lingering guilt.

However, since this concerns her now, why not let her make the decision in this form? Everyone agreed with this decision.

Seeing this, Kiana glanced at the four options, took a deep breath, and, following her body's instinct, opened her lips softly: "I choose B, Himeko Murata!"

Following the throbbing in her heart, she made this choice without hesitation. Even though others suggested Himeko couldn't help her, and even though Himeko herself agreed, Kiana still made this choice.

It was somewhat willful, but no one around her showed any disappointment.

Time stood still.

In a brief moment, the answer that popped up sealed this abrupt choice. The result was [Correct]

For a moment, everyone was stunned. Those with extraordinary intelligence all looked surprised and puzzled. Even Himeko Murata herself hadn't expected this to be correct.

Stuck on the loopholes she'd pointed out earlier, Einstein, unable to comprehend the answer, frowned in disbelief and made another deduction.

"Could it be that Ms. Himeko didn't die, but survived like Kiana, and helped her in times of crisis?"

"Indeed, if that's the case, it makes sense."

Mei nodded slightly, agreeing with Einstein's theory. While this wasn't actually true, it certainly made sense given the surprisingly correct answer.

Hearing this, Theresa breathed a sigh of relief.

Himeko was her valued friend and subordinate. Although she was still vibrant and had even escaped the desperate situation she had previously struggled to resolve,

She was also quite concerned about the fate of Himeko in the video of the Final Lesson.

Now, hearing that Himeko hadn't died, she felt a sense of relief.

This was a point of contention for St. Freya's Academy, which had recently forged a bond with Himeko. The others, along with Tesla, who admired Himeko's awareness and conviction, naturally shared the same sentiment.

However, these were merely speculations based on Einstein's own assumptions.

To truly understand the situation, one needed to understand the details.

Everyone fixed their gaze on the screen, waiting for the changes.

[Honkai disaster is currently occurring in the northern part of Arc City.]

[Residents in this area are requested to evacuate immediately and seek the nearest shelter.]

Amid the blazing ruins, the sirens blaring from the radio echoed, alerting all citizens.

[Arc City Guards are rushing to the affected area.] Repeat...]

"Help!"

A citizen hugging a young child screamed. Behind them, a gun-wielding Templar-class Honkai Beast glared fiercely, its eyes ablaze with blood, ready to pierce the loving mother and child in a moment.

Kiana hid behind a nearby barrier as she stared at the perilous scene with clenched teeth, her eyes filled with anxiety.

"Kiana, you can't touch Honkai energy anymore..."

A familiar voice rang out.

The audience, familiar with the voice, fixed their gazes on Fu Hua, all with surprise.

Fu Hua was also completely bewildered.

Based on the previous footage, she should have been killed by Otto's gun.

Confused, they continued to watch the footage.


"Go! You can't do anything right now," Fu Hua advised, her voice tinged with resignation. "You can't do anything right now."

"Can't do anything?!"

These words didn't quench Kiana's thoughts; instead, they fueled a simmering anger.

"I must..."

A split-second decision was made.

"Clang!"

As the iron and stone clashed, Kiana burst from behind the barrier, blocking the incoming spear with her cold baseball bat.

"Run! Don't look back! I'll hold it back."
Kiana spoke these words to the mother and child, her voice filled with urgency.

The mother and child departed.

Kiana, now in this place, became the target of the Honkai Beasts.

One Honkai Beast after another condensed from the air, charging at the weakened Kiana. Staring intently.

"I... can't die here..."

In this perilous situation, the incredibly weak Kiana spoke firmly.

But how could she, already crippled, resist the powerful Honkai Beast?

The Templar-class Honkai Beast thrust its spear forward without reservation, charging towards Kiana.

As the shadow approached, control of her body grew increasingly unbearable. Kiana's face showed signs of struggle. The lines of Honkai began to spread, staining her azure eyes with gold, marking them with the mark of the Herrscher of the Void.

"Hehehehe"

A loud laugh echoed with this transformation.

"Leave this body to me."

"Kiana!"

Amid Fu Hua's screams, Kiana's consciousness briefly darkened.

"You said..."


Himeko's teachings, Himeko's image emerged from memory.

"If a comrade loses his mind."

"Controlled by the Honkai."

"You must end his life without hesitation."

Looking back on the past, that final moment, a faint smile.

"But why..."

Kiana's trembling voice was filled with tears and lamentation, "Why did you..."

That moment seemed like it had happened only yesterday, and Himeko's shattered figure was still before her.

The darkness dissipated, and the scene became clear again.

The eager-watching Honkai Beasts stood motionless, standing still. If they had any feelings, they would surely be filled with devotion.

Devotion to their returning queen!

"Finally, you have surrendered."

The demonic voice of the Herrscher of the Void lingered in her heart.

Paralyzed and sitting on the ground, Kiana trembled as she understood the meaning of these words.

"I..."

She gripped her pistol tightly, making a decision even though her body was already extremely weak.

"I will never let you..."

"Click"

The gun was fired, pressed against Kiana's jaw.

Outside the video.

The people at St. Freya Academy, who held a deep bond with Kiana, all had heavy eyes. Mei, who held Kiana above all else, clenched her fists, her hair sparking with crimson arcs.

In this crucial moment.

A shimmering light shone, and a crimson figure supported the suicidal gun from behind.

"Now is not the time to despair, Kiana..."

"Because..."

Amidst the plumes of light, amidst the lingering echoes, Fu Hua, now like an immortal, was filled with gentleness.

"I'm here."


---

Chapter 112: Transformation Towards Void Drifter

Seeing Kiana sobbing and choking, Himeko remained silent.

[If a comrade loses his mind
and is controlled by the Honkai, you must end his life without hesitation.]

This was the lesson her future self gave Kiana.

But...

Judging from those scenes...

Himeko gave a wry smile. "I'm truly not a qualified Valkyrie."

For a Valkyrie who resisted the Honkai, it was not uncommon to personally sacrifice their former companions.

And what she had done was absolutely not what a Valkyrie should do.

However, Himeko felt no regret for her own choice. On the contrary, she wholeheartedly approved of it.

Even if she were faced with that situation, she would make the same choice.

Rather than being a qualified Valkyrie, she preferred to be a good teacher, saving her students and guiding them onto the right path.

This choice was absolutely correct!

After Fu Hua's crucial moment in stopping Kiana, everyone had their own thoughts.

"Wow, that's Jingwei at her peak!"

Book of Fuxi couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement at the sight of the Jingwei Immortal embracing Kiana, reminiscent of the high-spirited Phoenix in her memory.

Hearing this, Fu Hua glanced at the image of herself with a complicated expression.

This gesture truly brought back memories.

It’s a shame that she could hardly recreate that grace now.

Einstein brushed her hair. Although her expression remained calm, she was genuinely impressed by the image of the exiled, immortal-like figure.

"Is this Jingwei who has protected Shenzhou for thousands of years? Truly remarkable!"

Along with her admiration, she also noticed something special about Fu Hua in the image and asked sarcastically:

"But, your condition..."

Though she didn't know the details, seeing herself in the image gave her a rough idea. After a sigh, she spoke slowly. "That must be me manifested through Fenghuang Down..."

Before Einstein could ask, Fu Hua guessed what she wanted to know.

"That's the Eighth Divine Key I possess, the Key of Sentience, Fenghuang Down. It can manipulate consciousness and create illusions."

As she spoke, Fu Hua raised her hand and clenched it, revealing a single red feather.

This wasn't Fenghuang Down's true appearance, but it was enough to reveal a few details.

Combining this with Otto's previous attempt on her life, Fu Hua, having already deduced the general idea, lowered her hand and sighed softly.

"I'm probably in that state because of Fenghuang Down's 1st power."

"I must be using that power to bind my consciousness to Kiana through Fenghuang Down."

Fu Hua knew Fenghuang Down well, so she had a pretty good idea of the reason behind her who seemed like a ghost behind Kiana.

She continued to gaze at the unfinished image.

"Kiana, it's up to you from now on!"


Facing the Herrscher of the Void, who was about to resurrect, Fu Hua resolutely stepped forward, uttering a hasty remark before engaging the Herrscher's consciousness.

A dazzling flash of light brought Kiana, who had been sinking into the present, back to reality.

She gasped, trying to catch her breath.

But then, movement came from behind.

In Kiana's alert sight, several Temple-level Honkai beasts appeared.

They, their eyes blazing with murderous intent, charged directly at her after identifying their target.

Kiana, exhausted from fighting any longer, turned and attempted to flee, but how could she possibly outrun the tireless and agile Honkai beasts?


The scene froze in that moment, just like Mei's attack by the Honkai beasts sent by the Herrscher of the Void during the battle at the Schicksal Headquarters.

The surroundings grew silent; all was still.

Kiana seemed to be alone here.

She clutched her head, unable to endure the pain she had anticipated.

Before her, something began to crack and shatter, like glass.

At first, the sound was quiet, but it caught Kiana's attention, drawing her forward.

As the cracks grew larger, a dark figure appeared in front of her, shattered like broken glass.

"Da," "Da," "Da."

The footsteps approached. Kiana's azure eyes widened, reflecting the figure's eyes, though she could not see them clearly. Tears welled up faintly within her, then fell.

"Crack!"

A sliver of shattered glass, a figure in a fiery red battlesuit walked straight ahead, her face crystal clear under the light.

Dragging her fiery red sword, she stepped past Kiana, walking and walking.

Kiana lowered her head, daring not to look back, her body trembling as she crossed her arms across her chest.

Having reached the end, she paused, clutching the fiery red greatsword and turning slightly.

"Kiana, what are you waiting for?"
As the words fell, the shattered chip dissipated into a speck of light, and with it, her figure.

Everything returned to reality.

Hearing those words, Kiana realized something. Powerful Honkai energy fell alongside her tears, bursting forth from her body!

The attacking Honkai beast was easily swatted away.

The Herrscher of the Void's signature weapon, the Sub-space Lance, was also displayed behind her.

Recalling the past, recalling Himeko's words, Kiana, illuminated by the light, appeared incomparably holy.

"Himeko-sensei..."

Her tears drifted away with her resolute resolve. Her open eyes shone with the golden glow that represented the Herrscher.

But they were different from the cold, ruthless, indifferent, and hateful eyes of the Herrscher.

Kiana at this moment... Only determination shone in her eyes.

"I won't run away anymore!"

The video ended at this moment.

Everyone fell completely silent.

Even Einstein was solemn.

She had assumed that Himeko had survived, and that she had saved Kiana and provided her with guidance at a crucial moment.

She hadn't imagined that even in her absence, Himeko was guiding Kiana, her student, on the path forward.

Himeko looked at Kiana, her mouth about to speak.

But before she could utter a word, as soon as she opened her mouth, she felt a weight in her arms.

It was Kiana hugging her, in her Void Drifter form.

At that moment, she cried like a tearful person.

The Void Drifter's emotions had already deeply affected Kiana.

After watching this image, Kiana, under Void Drifter, felt as if she had experienced the future herself.

The feeling of having lost Himeko made her hold her tightly.

It was as if she feared that if she let go, Himeko would disappear like in those images.

"..."

Being held by Kiana, Himeko as speechless, her thoughts shimmering in silence.

Finally, she chose to remove the hair ornament from Kiana's hair, returning her to her normal self.

But...

There was no going back.

Looking at Kiana's reddened eyes, a sadness brewing within them, though her former spirit and liveliness could still be seen, Kiana understood that at this moment, she had begun to transform into Void Drifter. 

---
Chapter 113: Theresa Turned into a Lemon

Sadness was only temporary. Having grown, Kiana wouldn't dwell on it.

Off to the side, Fu Hua handed over a Homu Reward Box. It's needless to say how it came about.

As everyone waited eagerly, Kiana, after a moment's pause, opened the Homu Reward Box, filled with unknowns.

Inside it was a silver USB drive.

Tesla's eyes lit up when she saw it. "Is this technical information?"

Mei had discussed some of the technical information she'd obtained from answering questions earlier, including information on the miraculous mass-production stigmata manufacturing technology and... soulium technology.

After learning from Mei that St. Freya had obtained this technology, Tesla, after some negotiation, naturally obtained information on soulium technology.

Marveling at the ingenuity of the previous era’s soulium technology, and knowing it was a reward from this Q&A space, Tesla was naturally eager for this once-unknown technological information to reappear.

Of course, the same was true at St. Freya Academy.

Amidst the urging, Kiana opened the USB drive's attribute table.

[HAN-b46 Serum Technical Data]

[A special agent developed by Dr. Maki, a researcher of Schicksal, inactivates Honkai energy within a living organism and releases it through the body's circulation.]

[Note: The Valkyries' savior, and also the "final step" required for Otto Apocalypse's development of the anti-Honkai weapon, the Herrscher Slayer.]

The information stored within the USB drive was revealed at a glance.

Seeing the technology contained within, all the information... Theresa's mouth dropped open in shock.

Dr. Tesla, a pioneer in the fight against the Honkai, naturally saw the true nature of the technology contained within the USB drive and exclaimed, "Oh my god, this... is a cure for Honkai disease?!"

Einstein's eyes were filled with shock.

Although large-scale Honkai events are rare, in this world of constant minor Honkai events, the infection of Honkai energy, known as Honkai disease, is widespread.

To treat these patients, some have developed drugs specifically to suppress Honkai energy. Schicksal, for example, possesses numerous such technologies.

However, even with Schicksal, a technological leader hundreds of years ahead of the world, its anti-Honkai drugs can only suppress, not eradicate, the disease. Because Honkai energy is so unique, it's practically a panacea for practical applications, surpassing traditional energy sources in efficiency.

However, its corrosive nature means that once it invades the human body, it becomes like a cancer cell, a maggot-like worm... No, cancer cells are nothing compared to Honkai energy.

"If this potion can be put into practical use, the cost of the Valkyrie army should be significantly reduced, right?"

Mei was also amazed at the potion's effectiveness, but she also focused on its scope of application.

Since this potion can heal Valkyries damaged by Honkai energy, many Valkyries will no longer face the fate of a fixed age.

And this also means...

Those Valkyries can continue to fight on the front lines against the Honkai, which is what they call... extending their lifespan?


Mei adjusted her glasses, a gleam of brilliance flickering through her lenses as she calculated the data.

Because of Theresa's hands-off approach, she'd recently been involved in St. Freya Academy's finances.

Although she'd taken a generous cut from her father, after deducting the already massive budget deficit, there wasn't much left.

Under these circumstances, finding ways to increase revenue and reduce expenditure became something Mei constantly needed to consider.

But Mei quickly abandoned the idea.

This technology might indeed be of extraordinary value to the Valkyrie Corps. Used to save elite Valkyries who have fought for years.

However, St. Freya Academy is merely a training base for Valkyries. After Himeko's removal, there are few Valkyries facing certain death who need this serum to be saved.

The Far East branch is similar.

As the weakest branch of Schicksal, there are few Valkyries who could be considered elite. Furthermore, the Far East region is relatively peaceful, so the Valkyries here are not as susceptible to Honkai energy.

In short, it's useless.

Einstein unexpectedly requested a copy of this technology. As an anti-Honkai force, minor issues are inevitable in the fight against the Honkai, and many members are susceptible to Honkai energy.

Keeping a small amount of data can be useful in critical moments.

And...

This Honkai energy healing potion... combined with the mass-produced, nearly harmless stigmata technology from St. Freya Academy...

If there are indeed no problems, then after mastering these two technologies, Anti-Entropy might also consider establishing a Valkyrie unit, like the one destined for Schicksal.

The reason they chose this was that it was costly and laborious. The reason mechanized troops are unpopular is because the Valkyrie unit is so inhumane.

If both of these technologies can be put to use, then establishing a Valkyrie unit on Anti-Entropy's side isn't impossible.

Compared to the high cost of mecha units, the training cost of a single Valkyrie is far lower.

In this moment, the third question quietly emerged.

[3. Due to an accident, Cecilia and Siegfried met, and this opportunity led to their future marriage, turning Theresa into a "lemon-faced" person.]

[So, who among the following options caused this accident?]

[A. Otto]

[B. Theresa]

[C. Welt]

[D. Shigure Kira]

After reading the question, under the strange gazes of the crowd, Theres looked at the question mentioning her, blushed and exclaimed, "I'm not a lemon-faced person!"

What lemon-faced person! Although I did feel a little sour when I learned that Cecilia had been seduced by that pig Siegfried, but how could I be so jealous when it comes to things between girls?


Unlike Theresa who was utterly shy after her secret was exposed, Kiana was stunned by the name she saw again in the question.

Mom... Cecilia...

This is so strange... yet so familiar.

Kiana lowered her head, feeling a mixture of anticipation and trepidation.

She had never met her supposed mother.

"About Kiana's parents?" Mei's eyes flickered with surprise.

Siegfried Kiana often mentioned them, even meeting them a few days ago.

As for Kiana's mother...

She had never heard Kiana mention her, and she didn't seem to have appeared in the previous questions.

However, judging by the connection in the question, Mei fixed her gaze on Theresa and asked, "Principal Theresa, do you know the one mentioned in the question?"

---


Chapter 114: Theresa, the Victim

Theresa struggled with Mei's question but ultimately sighed.

Although the wording in the title was vague and unspecific, she had a rough idea of what it referred to.

"Well, Cecilia told me about this before, when she was still alive."

"Still alive?"
Mei noticed the word.

Theresa, seemingly having caught on to her weakness, spoke slowly with a touch of sadness. "During the Second Eruption, Cecilia and the Second Herrscher perished together."

Noticing Theresa's expression and Kiana's trembling after hearing the news, Mei, realizing she had asked the wrong question, apologized.

"...I'm sorry."

Theresa waved her hand slightly, ignoring the question. Then, with the atmosphere somewhat heavy, the subject of the question brought a flash of nostalgia.

"Back then, while carrying out my grandfather's mission, Cecilia was attacked by Anti-Entropy and suffered serious injuries. She was rescued by the wandering Siegfried, and then... it seemed that because of that experience, they got together."

She recalled Cecilia's story of her encounter with Siegfried, recounting it all, her words filled with resentment and anger she hadn’t noticed.

She had already made up her mind to confess her feelings to Cecilia.

But then Cecilia came back and said, "I've found my soulmate!"

Theresa's heart ached as she was hugged by Cecilia's shoulders and watched her happy smile.

And then she had to say, "I wish you happiness."

...Damn it!


Thinking back on this incident, Theresa still felt a bit resigned.

Now that the topic of her being the culprit for her own exaggeration had been brought up, Theresa naturally glared at the three Anti-Entropy men without hesitation.

"..." After hearing what Theresa said, Einstein, understanding what was going on, felt a bit awkward under Theresa's resentful gaze.

It wasn't their fault.

Back then, they had heard that Otto had developed a weapon capable of killing Herrschers, so they went to intercept the darts.

Even after intercepting them, they didn't see any significant results.

Who could have known that their involvement would lead to the fated meeting of a couple?

"Alliance Leader..."

"Well, I'll answer the question first!"

Einstein tried to deflect the awkward topic with current business.

But judging by his final answer, Welt clearly had to bear the brunt of the blame.

"I chose C."

Welt Yang, who had been silent until then, was forced to answer the question out loud at Einstein's glance.

The answer was naturally correct.

Kiana, eager to see her mother, yet apprehensive.

Theresa, nostalgic for her old friend.

Mei, Bronya, and Himeko, curious about what Kiana's mother was like.

The awkward Anti-Entropy group.

On closer inspection, Fu Hua was the only one who wasn't particularly interested in Cecilia.

She had occasionally wandered around the Schicksal headquarters before and had seen the S-rank Valkyrie, hailed as the strongest in Schicksal at the time.


Interesting.

As for her impression… she didn't have much contact, so she wasn't quite sure.

However, since she was the captain of Lixue's Snow Wolf Squad, she had a general idea based on what Lixue had said.

The image in this question touched on some gossip about those two people.

Fu Hua had never been interested in such things, but the little ancestor, who loved to watch the fun, was quite excited.

Water's Edge… perhaps because she was modeled after Cheng Lixue, her personality mirrored Fu Hua's, and she was quite concerned about Cecilia.

Amidst these complex emotions, the story of Cecilia and Siegfried unfolded.

The video began with the two chatting in the room.

The others didn't recognize the tan-skinned person, but Anti-Entropy and Theresa were very familiar with her.


And the other one... was, of course, Fu Hua's best disciple of all time, Cheng Lixue.

At the sight of Cheng Lixue, Fu Hua who didn't seem to care much about gossip shifted her gaze slightly.

Well, she really didn't like gossip; she just wanted to see her disciple more.

The two of them chatted endlessly.

The scene shifted to the remaining person, a figure with white hair and a gun.

At the sight of her, Theresa trembled slightly, her eyes surging like waves, filled with unspeakable longing.

First meeting. Kiana, who looked like her mother, pursed her lips, staring intently at the graceful figure as if engraving it in her memory.

She was still as a flower, yet her expression shifted slightly at the sudden turn of events.

As the axle flipped, the three escaped, only to see the incoming enemy.

Welt Yang, leader of the Anti-Entropy Alliance.



Seeing his own appearance—though not particularly handsome—was naturally embarrassed by the context of the image.

In the scene, Yang, having obtained the item he sought, discovered it was empty.

The two accompanying him then launched their attack.

This provided Cecilia with the opportunity to strike.

The scene froze at that point, the outcome unclear.

Fu Hua fixed her gaze on Yang. Although expressionless, her calmness was eerie.

"Don't worry, she's not hurt."

Knowing what Fu Hua was concerned about, Yang helplessly defended himself against this somewhat terrifying look.

He had beaten someone's apprentice, and it would have been fine if he hadn't known about it.

Now that they'd seen it, he naturally needed to give an explanation.

Otherwise, there might be a fight later.

Although Yang wasn't afraid, he didn't want to needlessly engage in a fight with this old monster who, Einstein said, had lived for 50,000 years.

"All three are fine."

Yang glanced at his own reflection. As someone who had experienced it, he knew the details of what happened next. Although they were enemies at the time, he had no intention of killing them. After failing to find what he was looking for, he simply defeated the two and let Cecilia escape.

But eventually, he discovered Cecilia's hidden secret, and that's why he became even more concerned.

The image continued, just as Welt had imagined.

Then, Siegfried and Cecilia met.

Returning with a splendid harvest, Siegfried imagined encountering an angel, who had descended from the sky... oh, Cecilia.

Half-heartedly, Siegfried took the rescued Cecilia back to his home.

He complained but waited for the girl in bed to wake up.

When she woke, Siegfried... Siegfried then presented a meticulously prepared vinegar... fish soup.

But was it fish cooked in vinegar, or vinegar cooked in fish? Cecilia's face, tinged with sourness, was indistinguishable.

Having experienced this devastating culinary feat, Theresa and Kiana both twitched their lips, their memories unbearable.

Cecilia's concern for the two people who had followed her was fruitless. After Siegfried comforted her for a moment, she could only silently pray for their safety.

Perhaps because they struck a chord, the two chatted happily.

However, Siegfried's skillful and aggressive flirting naturally infuriated Theresa, who cursed inwardly, "You're such a hypocrite!"

Get money? I'll give it to you!

Give Cecilia back to me, damn!

---

Chapter 115: It's so sad, I'm playing Chopin in the rain.

The images unfolded the moments of Cecilia and Siegfried's acquaintance before everyone's eyes.

Everyone present could sense their genuine joy.

Einstein and Welt were also frequent visitors. The former's elegant and neat appearance made everyone wonder at the disheveled, untidy figure beside her, while the latter...

First he assaulted Cecilia, then Cheng Lixue, and then attacked Siegfried.

If they hadn't understood that this was inevitable in the past and irrelevant to the present, those with close ties to the victims would have ganged up on Welt long ago.

Even so, someone like Kiana was eager to take on Welt.

However, compared to Welt and Einstein, Kiana might have disliked the Otto depicted in the images even more.

"I'll personally bring her back—"

"Or, I'll personally destroy her!"

For that determined look on his face... Otto, who had displayed an extremely ruthless demeanor.

The already extremely negative impression of him naturally saw his favorability ratings drop by three points.

However, with his favorability already at -100, there seemed no room for further decline.

--Putting aside her dissatisfaction with Otto,

Witnessing her father and mother's love story firsthand, and witnessing the true nature of her own mother, Kiana felt a surge of emotion.

Cecilia possessed a multitude of endearing qualities, including gentleness, simplicity, and liveliness.

Kiana's heart was filled with inexpressible emotions for this mother, whom she had never met.

But she could only calm down as the video ended.

The box containing the answer to this question was handed to Welt.

As the matchmaker who had arranged Cecilia and Siegfried's marriage, the correct answer to this question naturally did not strike anyone as inappropriate.

Although Welt had seen the Homu Box in other people's hands before, this was the first time he had personally handled one. Naturally, curiosity arose when he came into contact with the object.

He examined the ordinary box, his eyes reflecting the traces of a Herrscher.

"Puff!"

As everyone wondered why Welt was holding back, he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.


Fortunately, he had deliberately avoided it, preventing the box from getting stained.

"Yang, are you okay?!" Tesla, seeing this, naturally leaned over to support Welt, a look of concern on her face.

Welt's condition wasn't looking good at the moment, his face pale and his spirits drooping.

"...I'm fine," Welt said, shaking his head slightly to assure himself.

Einstein had seen what Welt had just done, so she crossed her arms, her face serious, her brow etched with displeasure. She scolded, "You're so reckless!"

Einstein was annoyed by Welt's bold attempt at something unknown, but seeing his miserable appearance, she couldn't vent her anger.

She remained calm and asked, "What was the result?"

Realizing Einstein was asking about the results of his analysis of the box, Welt couldn't help but smile bitterly and shook his head. "I can't hold on..."

From the outside, this box looked like an ordinary one.

But within, at its core, was something... beyond words.

Infinite possibilities, incomprehensible knowledge, a power as deep as the ocean.

The moment he tried to comprehend it, Welt was severely damaged.

This wasn't a counterattack from the box; Welt simply couldn't bear the knowledge.

Theresa didn't know what had happened, but from their conversation, she understood what Welt had just done.

"Just open the box."

This was a warning to Welt, but it was a little too late.

Having already suffered a setback, Welt naturally wouldn't do anything again. He nodded to Theresa's warning and, dragging his weakened body, opened the reward box.

Everyone waited eagerly, anticipating what would be inside.

...white light?!


Saint Freya was accustomed to the color of light so they were stunned.

Fu Hua's eyes lit up, and she looked at Welt as if she had found her true friend.

Tesla slapped her forehead. After answering questions and witnessing countless box openings, she knew that white light didn't mean good.

Mr. Welt was still unsure of what was going on, and he could only stared blankly at the contents of the box.

After opening it, a piano flew out?!

Looking at the square, pitch-black object, Welt, who was all too familiar with it, was stunned.

He stared at the slowly disappearing reward box in disbelief.

A piano popping out of such a small box was something Welt hadn't grasped.

However, considering he had just nearly collapsed from the terrifying sight of the box, Yang didn't dwell on it.

Following Einstein's instructions, he opened the piano's attribute table.

[Magical Piano]

[A strange piano, possessing magical powers. It is said that the music performed with it... concerts performed by this piano have various effects.]

[Kagura: Music played on this piano gains special effects such as spiritual healing, physical recovery, physical strengthening, spiritual cleansing, and enlightenment (live performance only).]

[Chopin: This piano can automatically play Chopin without a human. When playing Chopin, the weather automatically changes to rainy, causing the listener to become sad and their inner vulnerabilities to become magnified (specifically, becoming more susceptible to rhythmic manipulation).]

[Note: It's truly sad, playing Chopin in the rain.]

This piano's attributes were clearly visible.

Just looking at the first effect of this piano, some of its functions were truly powerful.

They could restore even the most elusive spirits and bodies, cleanse the soul, and even induce a state of enlightenment.

Honestly, just reaching this state of enlightenment was truly divine.

This realm of enlightenment is rarely reached even by the most gifted.

And yet, to hear a piano piece alone could lead to enlightenment...

Realizing the depth of this object, Fu Hua was slightly moved.

And the piano's second function:

The automatic, unattended Chopin-playing effect was clearly a joke.

But considering the note at the end, the soul of those listening to Chopin... vulnerabilities would be magnified (easier to become a Herrscher).

This... isn't that a bit too Herrscher-esque?

Unlike the others' groans, Welt calmly reviewed the piano's attributes.

Though outwardly calm, a rare joy lingered within him.

Before becoming the heir to the Welt name, his forte was piano playing.

After inheriting the name, he rarely touched the piano again.

Now, he'd unexpectedly acquired a magical piano that could buff others through music.

Doesn't this mean he could now legitimately play the piano?!

Mr. Yang, always so proud, had a hankering for slacking off.


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