"Kiana!"
This sudden incident far exceeded everyone's expectations. Mei rushed to Kiana's side, worriedly gripping her hand.
"Hehe~ Mei, I'm fine~" Kiana stood up, gently cradling Mei's right hand, her smile growing dangerous as if she had become a different person.
"Mei, get away from her, that's not Kiana!" Theresa sensed the overwhelming Honkai energy reaction, and distant memories rushed to her mind.
This feeling, she couldn't be mistaken!
It was the Void Herrscher!!!
"Too late, shorty~" Kiana grabbed Mei's throat, her eyes gleaming with golden light.
"My other half, return to my side!" She thrust her right hand straight toward Mei's chest.
If this strike landed, she could devour the Gem of Conquest and reclaim the authority of lightning!
But contrary to her wishes, just as the Void Herrscher's fingertips were about to pierce Mei's chest, that extremely strong pulling force came again, dragging all three except Theresa into another world with irresistible power.
"Damn it, where is this?" Looking at the vast city around her, Sirin felt her anger burning.
"You think you can escape with such petty tricks?" She flew high, looking down at everything below with the posture of one judging all creation.
Portal after portal appeared behind her as Sirin decided to plow through this entire city first.
Like hiding, do you? You damn little rats~, let's see where you can hide now!
"Hehe~, such a boring show, but it makes decent entertainment."
She sat cross-legged high in the sky, launching void lances from behind her like artillery shells bombarding the ground.
At this moment, Sirin was like a noble queen, mockingly watching the insects struggle below.
Just then, a purple figure moved!
"?!"
BUZZ!!!
An intense ringing pierced Sirin's brain, her golden pupils filled with disbelief.
"How... is this possible, you insect?"
She stared intently at her "other half" before her, unable to sense even a trace of power from her, yet what was that just now?
"...There are two people?" Acheron placed her scabbard against Sirin's neck, looking at the violent girl before her with confusion.
"Wait, you're not my other half? Answer my question, insect, who are you?" Sirin reached out, as if trying to prove herself, staring into Acheron's deep gaze while forcing herself to remain defiant.
She was strong, she had to be strong, because only then would she not remember those past pains.
But... she was afraid. Yes, Sirin truly felt fear.
No, no, she didn't want this!
Desperately channeling the Honkai energy within her, Sirin launched a finishing blow at the girl before her.
"Won't answer? Then die!!!"
A giant sword formed from overlapping void lances fell straight down under Sirin's control, carrying spatial power, determined to kill this insignificant human before her.
But accompanied by a sound like shattering glass, Sirin's eyes widened.
"...What kind of monster are you?"
"..."
Casually catching Sirin's attack, Acheron grabbed her hand and pulled her close.
She remained silent, her complex gaze scanning over Kiana's form.
Finally, Acheron spoke.
"Return this child's body, or you will die."
"Human, are you threatening me?!" With those words, Sirin immediately opened a portal to escape, "Heh~, don't even think about it★."
She refused to believe that if she couldn't win, she couldn't at least escape!
Let's see you chase me into Imaginary Space!
"?!"
"No way."
Seeing the hole torn open in Imaginary Space, Sirin completely lost her composure, her queenly demeanor instantly shattered. Now, only the most basic desire remained.
The will to survive.
"...Ugh~, my head hurts, what happened to me?" Holding her splitting headache, Kiana looked at her unfamiliar surroundings in confusion.
Wasn't she supposed to be answering questions? What was this...?
"Hey, Mei, is that you?"
Suddenly, catching something in her peripheral vision, Kiana immediately put on a pitiful expression and rushed up to Acheron.
"Mei, help me rub it, it hurts so much!"
"..."
Time passed second by second, and gradually, Kiana noticed something was off.
"Hey, Mei, what's wrong?"
Normally, whenever Kiana acted cute with Mei, even if she was angry, she would at least say a few words.
But a situation like this, Kiana had never encountered before.
She looked up, carefully examining the woman before her, and finally realized that although they looked almost identical, there was indeed quite a difference in their aura.
"Um..., miss, you look very similar to a friend of mine, I mistook you for her, sorry." Kiana scratched her head, feeling somewhat awkward.
"Heh~, it's fine, you and this Mei must be very good friends."
The corner of Acheron's mouth curved into a smile as she reached out, almost unconsciously patting Kiana's head, nostalgia clearly visible in her eyes.
'Eh... though it's not Mei, this feeling... isn't bad?'
Feeling the touch on her head, Kiana slightly narrowed her eyes.
When Mei grows up, she should become a mature big sister like this too!
Imagining that scene, Kiana's mouth couldn't help but spread into a grin.
'Hehe~, Mei, my Mei.'
Just as Kiana was getting lost in these thoughts, that ethereal voice sounded again.
[Detecting all factions have entered, now announcing preliminary tasks.]
[1. Participate in the Aventurine subjugation battle]
[2. Find "Where Death Points" and engage in combat]
[3. Investigate the identity of the "Stowaway"]
[4. Travel with the Galaxy Ranger (?) ■■]
Special Task (invisible to other factions)
[Herrscher] [Find all companions 1/4]
"Eh!!!"
Looking at the special task above, Kiana's mouth gaped open, her mind buzzing.
This time's faction wasn't [St. Freya Academy], but [Herrscher]?
When did she become a Herrscher? How did she not know herself?!
And what's with this 1/4? Does this mean besides her and Mei, there are two more Herrschers wandering around this place?
Looking at this shocking task, Kiana felt numb.
Only then did she think of the content described in her reward.
She confusedly opened her panel, and there in the announcement section was actually written [Activate all dormant powers within you belonging to the Second Herrscher.]
In other words, without her knowledge, the Second Herrscher's consciousness had already been hiding in her body?
"No, that's not right!"
The huge shock caused Kiana's consciousness to gradually blur, fragment-like memories surging to her mind. Kiana swayed, lost her balance, and fell directly into Acheron's arms.