"...!"
Kiana woke up with a start from her dream.
Fu Hua immediately showed concern: "Kiana?"
Kiana was still a bit dazed: "I fell asleep? I... I had a dream. I dreamed I was standing in a place like the moon, preparing for a great battle."
"I also dreamed of a man talking to me. His face seemed familiar, but I don't know him... He mistook me for someone else and called me Hua."
Fu Hua said, "Kiana... that was my experience. Perhaps for some reason, our consciousnesses overlapped... It seems that through your dream, I can recall many things from the past as well."
"I haven't had the chance to tell you before. Even if I did, you might find it hard to believe. My identity isn't just a Schicksal Valkyrie..."
"My life has been far too long—long enough to trace back to what you call the Previous Era. I am a survivor of that era."
"Eh?!"
Kiana jumped in surprise: "Although I had a feeling the Squad Leader wasn't an ordinary person, hearing you say the answer outright is so exaggerated I can hardly believe it..."
"So all the records about you found in the laboratory... are they all true!?"
"Then... who was the man talking to you?"
Fu Hua replied, "Kevin Kaslana, the origin of your Kaslana family bloodline, a survivor of the Previous Era's Finality war, humanity's strongest protector..."
"...If he had sacrificed himself in that war, everything would have been as it should."
"But the outcome of the Finality war was too tragic... It changed me, and it changed Kevin."
"After the war ended, Kevin founded an organization called World Serpent and began executing the human revival plans left from the Previous Era."
Kiana immediately thought of the previous data: "World Serpent... you mean the Stigmata Project?"
Fu Hua nodded: "Yes. This plan may be necessary, but the price it demands is one humanity might never be able to bear."
"Many pioneers couldn't agree with Kevin's actions, believing he had crossed the line. Many broke away and rebelled against him because of it... but then he suddenly vanished from history."
Kiana quickly asked: "What happened?"
Fu Hua thought for a moment and said, "It's a long story—I'll tell you when there's a chance. In any case, many people breathed a sigh of relief... After Kevin disappeared, World Serpent fell apart. I even thought it had dissolved centuries ago."
"But in the underground laboratory of Shencheng Pharmaceuticals, when I saw the archives tracking my footsteps and that familiar emblem..."
"I understood they hadn't disappeared—they had just hidden in the shadows, patiently awaiting their master's return."
"Listen well, Kiana. We can't stay in Arc City any longer."
"If that man has returned from his seal, if all this is part of his plan... then this place is far too dangerous!"
"From what I know of him, once he finds you, he will strike to kill without hesitation."
"In the past, I could still protect you, but now..."
Kiana slowly lowered her head: "So I can only run? Like these past three months? But Squad Leader, where can I even run to? I've run countless times before. Afraid, retreating, curling up in a corner—did I ever truly escape?"
"I'm not leaving Arc City. I don't want to look back in the future and realize every choice I made was to run away."
Fu Hua sighed softly: "Since you've made up your mind, I won't oppose you."
"But Kiana, if you discover any trace of Kevin in Arc City, you must choose to avoid him temporarily."
Kiana nodded: "I understand. Then, back to the Stigmata Project... Schicksal's vaccines have been shipped to Shenzhou since a year ago. Did World Serpent's plan start then?"
Fu Hua said, "No. Modifying the vaccines is only one part of the plan. To truly activate the Stigmata Project requires another step, but aside from World Serpent's core members, probably no one knows the real procedure."
Hearing the two's conversation, the audience in front of the TV was shocked.
The official fan circle also exploded with activity: "Just how strong is this Kevin? A survivor of the Finality war, and humanity's strongest protector? That's the strongest human!"
"I said his presence felt so imposing from the start. But with a setting this powerful, can Durandal really beat him?"
"The more they say this, the more I look forward to the battles later in this episode. Durandal alone definitely can't—probably needs Kiana's help. See how Rita and her relationship has improved?"
"This Kevin is too awesome—no flaws at all. I'm already in love with him."
"So cool! Kevin's titles sound so badass—hurry up and kill Otto for me!"
"Is it because Kalpas is pushing too hard at the company? Why would the director suddenly create such a strong character—the power scaling is completely broken."
"I'm a bit worried too. This show won't end badly, right? I can't imagine anyone beating Kevin."
"..."
At Fire Moth Interstellar Entertainment Company,
many actresses were curious about this point as well.
But right now, they had no mind to think about such issues.
After all... being able to watch TV with Elysia—even if it were a bad show—would be satisfying enough, let alone their own show?
Fu Hua asked directly: "Elysia, what do you think of my performance?"
Elysia beamed with a brilliant smile: "It was wonderful~ Your acting with Kiana was truly outstanding—I really loved it~"
Kiana, hearing her name mentioned nearby, was overjoyed.
Hessian felt helpless... His wife was just too beloved.
Mobius, sensing his thoughts, said: "Now you know how lucky you are? It's a good thing the people who like Elysia are all civilized—otherwise, for stealing the one they love most, they'd have diced you into pieces long ago."
Hessian teased: "So... because I stole the person you like most, you're encouraging her to divorce me?"
"Pah!"
Mobius said in disgust: "I don't like her at all!"
To avoid continuing the topic, Mobius quickly turned to the TV.
On the TV,
Kiana decided to return to the industrial zone once more, find the person commanding the Deadwalkers, and uncover the full picture of the Stigmata Project.
After deciding,
she went to the still-unconscious Rita, checked her wounds,
and decided to leave Rita there.
Finally, she scanned the surroundings, ensuring no clues that could lead to tracking were left, then silently exited the room.
She didn't know that the moment the door closed, a pair of eyes opened.
In past missions,
Rita had never encountered so many unreasonable situations.
A Herrscher who should have lost human reason and existed only for destruction was instead trying to expose the conspiracy hidden behind this city and save the unaware people.
As the prey she had relentlessly pursued, the other hadn't stood by while the hunter fell into peril but extended a hand in crisis.
And just earlier, she had witnessed Kiana facing the air, talking to herself with an invisible shadow.
"Who is she contacting?"
"Too bad I couldn't hear more clearly—if I had moved just then, she would have noticed."
"Anyway, I can't delay here any longer."
She immediately contacted Alvitr, and in dozens of seconds, the call connected: "I'm glad you're okay."
Alvitr was still confused: "We were saved by the Herrscher of the Void—why would she save us?"
Rita said: "I don't know that either."
Alvitr said: "Vice-Captain, I just tried contacting headquarters, but communications seem jammed."
"Take care of the team—I'll rendezvous with you soon."
After ending the call,
Rita also immediately tried contacting headquarters.
But the result was as Alvitr said—no response. She could only leave a message for now.
"Operation codename: Moon Hunt. Report to: Durandal. Reporter: Rita Rossweisse..."
A few minutes later, after finishing the mission report message, Rita pondered.
"Although Lord Durandal can't be reached for now... Miss Kiana's friends... should be reacting to my invitation by now, right?"
The TV screen switched to World Serpent's side.
Jackal was contacting Raven: "How's the progress? Shencheng Pharmaceuticals' secrets are exposed—there's not much time left for the experiment."
Raven replied: "I've already thrown all manpower into action. I'm not a magician—I can't pull tricks out of thin air. Schicksal Valkyries left me a mess and delayed our pace. But that's not the key..."
"The fatal issue is that the Herrscher of the Void is targeting us. That Herrscher girl will completely ruin this plan."
Jackal simply said three words: "Hold her back."
Raven was stunned: "Hold back...??"
Her temper flared: "Heh, though I hate her, I'm not insane. I know that even if you made ten times more monsters than now and threw their lives at her, it wouldn't hold the Herrscher of the Void for even a second."
"Think about the Second Eruption—think about what she did. You know better than I that fighting a Herrscher isn't a matter of adding numbers."
Jackal said: "I reviewed the site records from an hour ago—that girl didn't display the destructive power recorded for a Herrscher."
"Perhaps she's newly awakened and can't fully control her power yet. Your fear of her is just the imprint from your childhood experiences."
"According to intel I obtained earlier, the newborn Herrscher of the Void lost control at Schicksal headquarters, causing massive destruction, but was swiftly defeated mere hours later."
"It's said three S-rank Valkyries were present at Schicksal then. One of them, Rita Rossweisse, just fought you."
"And the result? She still fell to our careful arrangements."
"From this, the newborn Herrscher's power isn't as unattainable as you imagine."
Raven sneered: "Perhaps? It's said?... There are too many assumptions in your words. Maybe Schicksal's Bishop has means we don't know about?"
"Otto?" Jackal was even more disdainful: "It's well known that Otto is a coward hiding behind Valkyries. You'd have better luck believing he invented some incredible armor, had a near-retirement Valkyrie wear it, and took down the Herrscher of the Void in one blow."
Hearing Jackal's words,
the audience all wore strange expressions—should they say Jackal is smart or not?
She guessed the truth in one go, but it was all in the joking parts she didn't believe...
Raven also said: "Your sense of humor is really reassuring..."
Jackal grew serious: "Raven, for the Stigmata Project, the organization has prepared for many years. A massive, densely populated city under martial law due to disasters, unable to evacuate in time—there are no better experimental conditions than now, and there won't be in the future."
"More importantly, the Lord's gaze is fixed here—he hopes to see humanity's future in this place. Neither of us has a way out."
Under the gray hood, Raven's face tensed.
She had to admit these words were correct.
Especially... since the Lord was mentioned.
She could only reply: "All as the serpent wishes."
The TV screen switched again.
In the dark night, highway lights streaked by like fleeing stars.
Kiana pursued swiftly, constantly overlooking the convoy below.
Finally, she leaped lightly, landing silently on the roof of one truck.
Fu Hua reminded: "Kiana, stay wary of that hooded woman at all times. From Rita's fight with her, she's very skilled at insidious tactics."
Kiana nodded: "I understand. Those Valkyries lost their combat ability due to the gas they deployed."
The two discussed countermeasures.
After following the enemy to an open area,
Kiana charged out directly, destroying all the armored vehicles.
But the next moment,
serum gas spread everywhere, completely enveloping the space.
Raven also emerged from the shadows.
Kiana eyed her warily: "By doing this, you can't use Honkai energy either—are you challenging me to a fair duel?"
Raven glared at her angrily, injecting the antidote into her neck: "Hmph! Against you... there's never fairness!"
Kiana felt her body's strength continuously draining, her limbs struggling as if moving through cement.
Above her, Raven's gray cloak flared open like a bird of prey spreading wings, blurring into a phantom in high-speed movement.
She tried to dodge, but the opponent's claws precisely predicted her actions, silently piercing her ribs.
"What exactly... are you planning to do in this city?"
Her steps faltered; she could no longer maintain balance.
Raven didn't answer her at all, directly contacting Jackal to report the target complete.
Jackal was smug: "Heh heh, just as I predicted—as long as the method is right, a Herrscher isn't an unchallengable monster. Raven, bring her back to the lab."
Raven cautioned: "I advise against leaving loose ends."
Jackal grew excited: "Killing her now would be a waste! A Herrscher—a living Herrscher... I can't wait to dissect her!"
"Madwoman..."
Raven directly had people take Kiana back to the base.
And this entire scene was witnessed by Rita from afar.
"Ara ara, I only delayed a moment, and you got captured. But it's not all bad—at least now I know the serum gas has an antidote."
"Then... Miss Kiana, please endure a little longer for now."
"After all, you did order this scheming maid around before—consider it payback."
"In any case, let's pray reinforcements arrive soon."
Muttering, Rita vanished into the night.
To prevent the city's disaster, Rita decided to act first, infiltrating Shencheng Pharmaceuticals again to find the antidote.
And at that moment,
a ghostly figure appeared behind her, placing a long blade at her neck.
"Miss Mei... it's been a while."
Mei eyed her warily: "I received the message you sent through that child."
Rita smiled: "It seems... luck is on my side. The reinforcements I hoped for have arrived. Did Dr. Tesla not come with you?"
Mei replied: "Upon receiving your message, we've prepared for the worst... Now, why should I believe you're not scheming this time?"
Rita said: "Lying with a knife at one's throat is the most unwise choice. Look around—you'll see there's no ambush. Right now, I have no power to resist you either, Miss Mei."
"I just want to make an honest deal with you—you help me obtain the antidote, and I'll tell you Miss Kiana's whereabouts."
To prove everything she said, Rita waved her hand, and her armor's recording device projected footage of her fighting alongside Kiana.
"In this city, we're on the same front."
After confirming, Mei also sheathed her long blade.
Rita said: "It seems we've reached an agreement. Then, I'll trouble you, Miss Mei."
As for finding the antidote,
Rita already knew where it was—she simply had no combat strength now and needed Mei's assistance.
So it didn't take much effort at all; they directly obtained the serum antidote.
And Mei also learned Kiana's current location.
She hurried over immediately...