Ling Ke suddenly understood the sheer "holy shit" feeling the Alien Babarue must have experienced. This was the same alien who once disguised himself as Astra to openly rob—no, to steal—the Ultra Key, only to be kicked in the chest by Ultraman Leo, creating a burst of colorful fireworks.
Back then, during the same period (and the same episode), this Dark Alien had earned the "esteemed" title of "GZZ" from a legendary dubbing studio. He had masterminded a plot that sent Planet Ultra hurtling a ridiculous three million light-years in just seven days, putting it on a collision course with Earth.
Just as he thought victory was in his grasp, the Leo Brothers suddenly biu~ restored the Ultra Key, which had been accidentally broken by an elderly Ultra. This allowed the massive Planet Ultra, already moving at hundreds of thousands of times the speed of light, to execute a gutter-drift maneuver with a difficulty rating of 990 million, narrowly scraping past Earth.
Honestly, that kind of insane speed—the kind that would make the human civilization on our "Little Blue Marble," or even the Trisolarans, curse out loud—was just unbelievable. The moving object was an entire planet, and even if it only grazed Earth, it should have torn the unlucky third planet of the Solar System to shreds.
No, even the continued existence of the Solar System itself would be questionable.
But in the end... well, let's not get sidetracked.
The point is, from the perspective of many unfortunate villains, the protagonist's growth arc and their own defeat often feel just this absurd.
Plot armor?
Maybe!
Take now, for instance...
Seriously, if Ling Ke hadn't already sensed that Kiana had stepped onto the Path of Remembrance and unknowingly awakened "Memory Replication"—a conceptual Path Ability powerful enough to touch the Divine Realm—he probably wouldn't have understood the bizarre changes that had just abruptly occurred in the white-haired girl before him.
It's only been a few dozen seconds, right?
Just one wave of unusual memory flashbacks, and she gained a will of steel.
And... a flexible way of thinking that shatters convention.
"Revive Sirin?"
At this moment, Ling Ke actually found Kiana's choice acceptable.
Unexpected, yet reasonable, perhaps?
But Kiana's decision completely baffled Sirin herself.
"Hey! What do you mean?"
Sirin's shocked and furious question echoed in her mind.
To this...
"You and I have long understood this: there has never been any possibility of reconciliation between us," Kiana responded with calm clarity. "So, I plan to use this rare opportunity to separate us, making us independent individuals."
"This way, we won't have to forcibly share a single body like before."
"It's not a bad thing for either of us."
That's what she said.
However...
"Yes, it's not a bad thing."
Sirin sneered. "But for you, the benefits are clearly greater... absurdly so, aren't they?"
She remembered it all too well.
The rule Ling Ke had previously set was: as long as "Kiana" survived past the outbreak of the "Twelfth Honkai Eruption," she would become the future "God of Earth."
In other words, Sirin, as a competitor, fundamentally lacked this qualification.
Therefore, only by being Kiana, or rather, by possessing the identity of "another Kiana," could she have any chance of ascending to godhood.
Sirin was confident she hadn't misunderstood this point.
After all, from the very beginning, the reason Ling Ke had established such a rule stemmed from Raiden Mei.
And considering the information Ling Ke had just revealed about the "Herrscherization Curse," this conclusion was undoubtedly further confirmed.
On one hand, people in the current era who knew of Kiana's potential to ascend to godhood... like Kevin Kaslana... would hunt down this threat without hesitation.
In fact, Kevin had already done so before.
On the other hand, before today, Raiden Mei, having not yet triggered the "Herrscherization Curse," was unable to approach within a 13-kilometer radius of Kiana.
So... the so-called path to godhood was, in essence, still aimed at Raiden Mei.
Fundamentally, Kiana was still just the unlucky soul dragged into this mess.
Just like the situation today.
On the surface, Ling Ke was "giving" them an opportunity, but in reality, he was thoroughly escalating conflicts on all fronts.
Even her own existence as a competitor was part of this scheme.
After all, if it weren't for her, this "ticking time bomb," Kevin Kaslana and the others probably wouldn't have acted with such ruthless determination.
Even in Raiden Mei's eyes, Sirin herself was a threat to Kiana.
In summary, Kiana's current choice not only sidestepped the earlier, deliberately difficult question but also cleverly exploited the rules Ling Ke had previously and just now established.
At the same time, she leveraged Ling Ke's self-proclaimed promise to "try his best to keep his word" to maximize her gains.
And now...
"You've made some progress, Kiana Kaslana."
The white-haired girl had earned a sliver of recognition from the "villain."
Ling Ke wore a faint smile, seemingly unbothered by Kiana's clever maneuvering.
Then he spoke...
"Relax. I won't play boring word games with you at a time like this, especially when you've shown a bit of brilliance."
"That's not my style."
Ling Ke added casually. His current approach was simple.
"I give 'rewards' to those who perform exceptionally."
Ling Ke looked directly at Kiana. "So, are you now confirming that you wish to use this precious 'revival' opportunity to separate Sirin from your body and allow her to exist independently... is that correct?"
"Yes."
Kiana nodded firmly.
"Very well."
Ling Ke raised his right hand. "Then, as you wish!"
Snap~
He snapped his fingers, a habitual gesture rather than a necessary one.
In that instant, there were no special light effects, no grand displays of power.
In just a fleeting moment, beside the white-haired, blue-eyed girl... beside Kiana, a little girl with purple hair and golden eyes appeared.
She still looked exactly as she had before she died.
Of course, Ling Ke knew, and Kiana knew as well.
This Sirin was fundamentally different from the Second Herrscher born in Siberia during the Current Era.
Because Kiana was her "other half."
However...
"This way, we're both 'free.'"
Kiana turned to Sirin and said calmly.
"That's right. You're 'free.'"
Sirin, with her purple hair and golden eyes, met Kiana's gaze, her expression twisted with resentment. "You're 'free' to ascend the Divine Throne. 'Free' to stop me, to ensure I can never harm your precious Raiden Mei again."
"How wonderful!"
"You're always so lucky."
"Everything is always yours!"
Why?
Why does she always get everything?
Is it just because she's the 'Good' side of the original Sirin, while I'm the 'Evil' one?
But...
Sirin subconsciously glanced at the gray-haired youth standing nearby.
He... Ling Ke, was clearly also "Evil," and he himself couldn't care less about that label.
Why is he an exception?
He could also, like Kiana... No, describing it that way was completely backward.
The current Ling Ke could effortlessly obtain anything.
Even resurrecting her, a divine miracle beyond the reach of ordinary people, was merely a matter of his... no, Hissingle thought.
Sirin was truly envious.
Can "Evil" also have everything?
Or is it just me who can't...?
"Miss Kiana, your 'reward' has been delivered," Ling Ke suddenly spoke. "So, you may leave now. (Your 'role' here is finished.)"
"..."
Kiana fell silent.
Just a moment ago, he had been watching her with keen interest, scrutinizing and judging her.
Now, his expression had abruptly shifted to "You're not needed here anymore," completely ignoring her and practically kicking her out.
She once again experienced firsthand just how fickle Ling Ke could be.
But in the end, she simply nodded and left with her newfound "freedom."
Only Ling Ke and Sirin remained on the Stellaron Train.
He and she shared many similar experiences.
Both were Herrschers born from humanity's malice and darkness.
Both had launched campaigns of total revenge.
The difference was that Ling Ke had succeeded, while Sirin had failed... twice.
Thwack!
"Ow!"
Sirin had been abruptly flicked on the forehead.
She rubbed her slightly aching brow and looked up quizzically at the gray-haired youth before her.
"What, still out of it?" Ling Ke's eyes narrowed, a playful smile spreading across his face. "Forgotten the decision you just made?"
"Uh..."
Sirin's mind was a jumbled mess.
What decision did I just make?
It seems... I think...
!!!
She had pledged her loyalty to the true One Who Ascends to Godhood before her.
However...
"But didn't you say before..."
"Before was before. Now is now." Ling Ke waved his hand dismissively, seemingly acting on another "whim."
It was clear he was in an exceptionally good mood today.
He even had the leisure to joke around.
"What, you want to go back on your word?"
"No, no, no!" Sirin hastily denied.
At the same time, she bowed deeply to the man before her.
Feeling that wasn't enough, she dropped to her knees. "True One Who Ascends to Godhood, Sirin wishes to become your apostle."
"Hmm." Ling Ke nodded in satisfaction.
He was a "villain."
Therefore, he couldn't be bothered with what Sirin had done to others in the past.
After all, from start to finish, she had never done anything to harm him.
On the contrary, she had always been utterly respectful and maintained an excellent attitude toward him.
So...
"Then you will follow me from now on." Ling Ke's tone suddenly shifted. "Remember, do not disappoint me."
"Yes!" Sirin replied instantly, her attitude even more reverent.
She was overjoyed.
Having thought she had lost everything, she now suddenly realized...
She had finally met her "savior."
She had found her place.
Perhaps it was all a bit twisted.
But this was what she wanted... a small salvation.
An absolutely safe realm where no one could hurt her.