Everyone else grew serious because of the system's question. Only Kiana remained blank-faced, staring straight at the screen, as if lost in thought.
Perhaps she was wondering what could possibly happen that would push her into despair…
"Bronya wants to deny it… but the reward for the Amplifier Core: Sky Ranger proves it's real. Since there's a second question, that means that at some point in the future, Kiana will fall into despair over something and almost suffer a personality collapse."
Bronya still kept her usual expressionless face, but if you looked closely, her speaking speed was slightly faster than usual.
"Kiana, I don't know what exactly happens in the future, but I want to tell you: even in despair, you won't face it alone…" Raiden Mei hugged Kiana and whispered in her ear, "Because… I will always stand by your side and face it together with you. You're not alone."
"Mei…" Kiana came back to her senses and looked at Mei's face so close to hers. A warmth welled up in her heart. "I'll remember that."
The girl understood that no matter what she would face in the future, someone would be by her side.
"Alright, everyone, calm down. Things haven't reached the worst-case scenario yet. Kiana was pulled back before her personality completely collapsed."
Bronya organized her thoughts and suppressed her worry for Kiana, urging everyone to focus on the system's question first—that was the key issue.
"According to the system's answer, when Kiana fell into despair, although we don't know where we were at the time, there were clearly other people present."
There were four possible answers:
Otto apocalypse, Kevin Kaslana, Anna Schariac… and Fu Hua.
Fu Hua watching silently: …
"Except for the class monitor, I don't recognize any of the others," Kiana said after looking carefully. If the system hadn't appeared, she wouldn't even know who the Overseer of Schicksal was, let alone members of the Kaslana family she'd never met.
Rita: "I checked Schicksal's database. The Kaslana family does not have a Kevin Kaslana… Anna Schariac is an A-rank Valkyrie active on the front lines. As for Otto Vera… this option can be ruled out."
"Overseer, I've already sent the intel."
After finishing her report, Rita looked at the virtual projection of Overseer Otto to ask for further instructions.
"…Let's observe for now. I'm very interested in this system of unknown origin."
It seemed he had heard a name buried deep in his memories. Otto was briefly distracted, then smiled faintly after Rita called him back, ready to watch what came next.
"So which answer should Kiana choose?" Mei asked.
"There's too little future information. We can only eliminate option A. After that… we can only guess," Bronya said.
The chat filled with suggestions but led nowhere. Eventually everyone agreed to let Kiana answer herself—this concerned her own future.
"…Out of the four, I only know the class monitor. I'll choose D."
After a moment of silence, Kiana put on her usual goofy smile and made her choice.
[Kiana Kaslana has submitted answer: D.]
[Answer correct.]
Reward obtained: Stigmata – White Comet: Burst Form (Top)
White Comet: Burst Form (Top):
After equipping, performing an ultimate evasion creates an explosion around the user, dealing physical damage equal to 180% of attack. 10-second cooldown.
White Comet: Burst Form:
A special system installed on the third-generation Valkyrie armor White Comet—Burst Mode.
It releases Honkai energy from the back reactor at several times the normal rate, greatly enhancing combat capability for a short time.
In this state, thrusters remain constantly active, and golden patterns appear along the armor's joints. The activation button is located in the V-shaped crystal at the neck, and it can also be unlocked by preset voiceprint commands.
Valkyries at the Far East Branch are required to fill out a customization sheet before receiving their armor. Kiana's White Comet had cat and star elements added in many places. But it's said she didn't particularly like them—she only filled the form under Himeko's pressure.
The heavy atmosphere suddenly froze. Everyone stared at that final note—like someone ordering spicy noodles in a five-star restaurant.
Theresa: "Himeko, I didn't know you liked cats and stars…"
Kiana: "I still remember the terror of that afternoon when Himeko forced me…"
Himeko: "Cough, that's because you turned in a blank sheet! Was I supposed to fill it for you?!"
Trying to avoid returning to the heavy mood, everyone instinctively ignored the topic.
But Mei stared closely at Fu Hua's answer.
It was actually the class monitor who pulled Kiana back. But… why wasn't it me?
Mei couldn't understand. By relationship, Fu Hua and Kiana shouldn't be that close.
Before she could think further, the screen began playing a video.
Before the darkness faded, chaotic broadcast sounds were heard—
—A Honkai disaster is currently occurring in the northern district of Sky City—
—Citizens are requested to evacuate immediately—
—Sky Patrol is heading to the disaster area—
A subtitle appeared:
(Three months after the Great Honkai Eruption)
Then the video began.
"Help!"
A mother and daughter cried out while clinging to each other. Behind them, a Honkai beast had already raised its weapon.
Kiana hid behind a building, gritting her teeth as she watched. Just as she was about to rush out to help, a voice sounded by her ear.
"Kiana, you can't come into contact with Honkai energy anymore… let's go. Right now, you can't do anything."
It was Fu Hua's voice. But she didn't appear or attack the beast. Instead she told Kiana to leave, surprising everyone watching.
With Fu Hua's strength, that level of Honkai beast shouldn't be a problem…
Even more surprising—
"Can't do anything?! I have to—" Kiana reacted strongly, clearly irritated by Fu Hua's voice.
She grabbed a baseball bat and rushed forward, shouting to the mother and daughter: "Run! Don't look back! I'll hold it off!"
But Mei and the others looked worried. They could see Kiana's condition was terrible.
Sure enough, after only a short fight, Kiana was covered in injuries.
Panting heavily, she watched as the Honkai beast raised its spear for the final blow.
"I… can't die here…"
Her mind was fading. Her left eye suddenly turned gold.
"Let me take this body."
A voice echoed—not from beside her, but from deep within her mind.
It wasn't Kiana. It wasn't Fu Hua. The voice carried a playful confidence, as if everything was under control.
"Kiana!" Fu Hua shouted in alarm, trying to wake her consciousness—but she was too late.
Kiana slowly closed her eyes…
People say that when you're about to die, your past flashes before your eyes.
But now, there was only darkness.
"Shouldn't I have already been pierced by the Honkai beast's spear?" she thought.
She should have died like all the victims—unable to do anything but run and scream…
"Why am I still alive…?"
—Because she committed too many sins and must live to be punished?
—Because she thought she could resist the Herrscher within and still save everything?
—Or because deep down she still hoped this was a nightmare…?
She didn't know. There was only endless darkness.
"Kiana…" Mei covered her mouth, feeling the despair and helplessness in the video. She began to hate herself for not being there at the time.
Bronya said nothing. Even the opening of the video revealed shocking truths.
Three months after the Great Honkai…
Kiana had committed a crime. That meant she had become the Herrscher of the Void and caused the disaster.
Kiana sat silently in Mei's arms, feeling the same despair from the video.
Theresa could no longer sit still. She planned to discuss things after the video ended, but now she had to act early.
Those who cared about Kiana rushed to the Valkyrie dorms. Schicksal reported to Otto again. Anti-Entropy and World Serpent also began preparations.
The information revealed at the start was too huge. Kiana really was a Herrscher.
The video continued.
Kiana struggled to hold onto her sanity and tried to recall memories worth holding onto…
But the memories that came were not what she wanted. They were the source of her pain.
In the first memory, Kiana, Theresa, and Mei stood facing each other. A purple figure floated in the sky.
"Theresa! Mei!" Kiana ran forward—but her hands passed through them. "How…?"
"All those people who said they would take you home…" the voice laughed. "After seeing the truth in your heart, would they still let you approach them? Embrace them?"
Kiana froze and stepped back.
"At this moment, in their eyes, the girl named Kiana no longer exists. The only way to save them… is to destroy you."
As the words fell, Mei and Theresa attacked.
"Kiana… I'm sorry," Mei said as she swung a fatal strike.
"I have no choice," Theresa raised Judah and brought it down.
"Theresa… Mei… what are you doing?" Kiana dodged instinctively as they kept attacking.
Laughter echoed.
Exhausted, Kiana was quickly defeated and knocked to the ground.
She closed her eyes to accept death—but when she opened them again, they were gone.
In their place stood… Fu Hua.