A huge storm was set off following Shi Tian's and Kiana's disappearance.
The biggest contributor of them all was Kevin Kaslana. He probed the First Herrscher, fought Fu Hua, and had the World Serpent steal emperor-class honkai beast corpses.
That included the surviving judgement-class honkai beast, Benares.
The said honkai beast was in the process of healing her body and soul. Kiana left her somewhere safe, yet World Serpent managed to track her down.
When World Serpent attempted to strike at the judgement-class honkai beast Benares, Bronya appeared and saved her.
The hidden might of immortal cultivators erupted at this instance. Foundation Establishment cultivators are comparable to fully armed S Rank Valkyries at minimum. Two such forces, including Welt Yang, appeared on Anti-Entropy. Two more appeared during the fight with Kevin Kaslana, both of which had their identities concealed with an actual fog (i.e., concealment spell). Everyone assumed they were under Anti-Entropy. Sin Mal and Mei remained under the radar.
On Schicksal's side, there are three S Rank Valkyries. Rita was made one due to her reconnaissance and management talent—she does not possess the combat power of one. One of them is out of commission, leaving Bianka to deal with all sorts of reconnaissance and first-hand exploration of the battle aftermath.
A lot of secrets were dug up on the Kaslana Family line. They are shocked to see their Ancestor back in the real world, with zero intention of hiding his identity. This led to the two other families, Schariac and Apocalypse, to question them.
It caused a lot of "trivial fights" within Schicksal's top brass.
As for their combat power…
Isn't Bianka there?
In this chaotic manner, the effects of Kevin's return subsided. One week has passed since then.
A total of twelve days had passed since Shi Tian went missing; nine days since Kiana followed suit.
"I will be giving this Herrscher Core to you, Bronya."
"..."
At the Salt Lake Base, the trio faced the silver-haired girl. Einstein and Tesla understood why Welt Yang did this.
"The Bronya does not understand. The Bronya did not show any exceptional traits to be worthy of the Sovereign's Herrscher Core."
Her voice remained flat as she spoke all these things at once.
"Finally, the Bronya thinks it is a bad choice to surrender the Herrscher Core. The Sovereign will need it against his fight with the World Serpent."
"It will not happen for a while."
Welt Yang told the details of their "fight". It was limit-testing at best. The most important thing was the conversation they had.
Because of his early release, Kevin saw that the situation hasn't turned dire yet. He wasn't as rushed to begin Project STIGMA as in the canon. World Serpent hasn't even experimented with the people of the Arc City. A lot of things remain incomplete.
Hence, Kevin boldly stated of Project STIGMA's start one year later. He opens anyone who wishes to challenge him—including Anti-Entropy.
"...The Bronya wishes to be enlightened. Why me?"
"Our first meeting was unsavory." Welt Yang replied. "Still, there is clarity in your eyes. I can see your will to move towards an ideal."
It would have been a metaphysical, somewhat unreliable basis before. Immortal cultivation changed that.
The current cultivators did not bother hiding how clear or disordered their thoughts are. It is now easier to judge a person.
In Welt Yang's eyes, Bronya is always moving towards some sort of "ideal". Her pure mindset caught his attention.
With the time running out and their two top combat forces missing, he knew he had to make a choice.
Bronya fell silent for a while. One look was all it takes to see how sincere Welt Yang is of passing her the Herrscher Core.
Thinking of her missing friends and her being unable to help them… to be as powerless as that…
"I understand."
…Bronya chose to inherit.
*****
The catastrophes of the outside world did not have any impact within the Bubble World. They, too, are facing a calamity… a love tribulation.
Before Kevin wrecked havoc…
Before the troubles of the outside world happened…
There was another Kaslana who did it first.
"Hm..?"
Kiana's eyes lit up at the sight of the familiar presence. She has been in this world for ten days. She wanted to find Shi Tian but was limited by Seele's circumstances. The latter could not defend herself when something bad happens. Kiana only had an hour to search for Shi Tian's presence every day.
By that time, the aftermath of the Sundown Alley dissipated. She did not notice any form of abnormal traces belonging to cultivators. This made her search more difficult.
What she didn't expect was that Shi Tian came to herself. This was already the second time!
Kiana did not hesitate. She flashed right in front of him and locked him in a hug. She buried her face on his chest, greedily inhaling his scent. Her long white hair was styled in a ponytail, giving off a different feel from the typical naughty Tuna.
She turned her head upwards and was ready to initiate a kiss when she saw through Shi Tian's internal turmoil.
"Did something happen?" She asked.
"No. I have been asleep during the past ten days. I found you through this Earth's Schicksal equivalent…"
Hearing him talk about large-scale inducement, she felt dumb. She could have found Shi Tian had she headed straight to the Fire MOTH and used her superior spiritual consciousness.
Shi Tian saw her reaction and laughed.
"You are still a paramecium."
"I know what that means! I am not like that!"
She pouted while retorting her paramecium allegations. He patted her head, which slightly appeased her 'angry' look.
"I know. You are too kind. That's fine." He then added, "You can leave the rest to me."
"..."
Driven by her experiences as "Sirin", Kiana wanted to be her antithesis. She avoided killing as much as possible. The evil people she got were handed over to Anti-Entropy's prisons.
Only when she encountered those evil people who experimented on children did she lose her temper. Everyone inside those laboratories died. It served as a mental blow to Kiana, though it also forced her to mature when it comes to dealing with things.
She does not want to drag innocents to her problem. That is one of her bottom lines.
"Then, what is it?"
Her innocent question rendered Shi Tian silent.
This was the moment she knew things were more serious than she thought.
"It's about Seele. I heard about it from her other self. She is planning on confessing."
"..."
"...and I don't know if I should still reject her."
Kiana's body froze.
*****
A/N: Only two chapters left before the lemons lmao.