Kiana called out to Fu Hua in her mind, but all that answered her was silence.
She closed her eyes, trying to communicate with her, but that voice still did not ring out.
She thought of Fu Hua's final words. That familiar sense of helplessness from three months ago, when she first stepped into Arc City, enveloped her once more.
But now, she was no longer the Kiana from back then.
She considered using the Herrscher of the Void's power to escape.
The moment this thought arose, Durandal spoke: "I told you—you need to rest properly right now."
"What!"
Kiana startled, opening her eyes: "When did you..."
In pupils like blue gems, Kiana's surprised face was reflected.
Durandal leaned in close, gazing sharply at her as she attempted to flee.
"This laboratory is 1000 meters below the surface. You can't escape."
Kiana grew even more puzzled—how had she been seen through?
Durandal said again: "No need to wonder. Your intentions are easy to read. Your body is covered in wounds and still suffering erosion from the Herrscher core. Even while unconscious earlier, you were constantly emitting Honkai energy outward."
"Whether you could control it before or not, at least right now, you cannot control the power within you."
"If you leave here, you'll become a timed bomb."
Kiana's tense body instantly relaxed. She truly didn't want others to come to harm because of her.
Durandal noticed the change: "It seems you've understood what I said. Then you should know what you need to do."
After giving her instructions,
Durandal went to contact Otto.
"Bishop, she's awake..."
"It's strange. Despite continuously using the Herrscher's power, the Honkai energy in her body is still increasing."
Otto explained: "According to satellite reconnaissance over Arc City skies, after that engine exploded, the resulting Honkai energy didn't spread—it vanished without a trace."
"Obviously, the Herrscher of the Void absorbed that energy. She's growing as expected. Back to the matter—since she's awake, begin the experiment immediately."
Durandal was somewhat surprised: "Start now? Isn't that a bit hasty? She still harbors strong hostility toward Schicksal."
Otto said: "I don't believe there's any way, after all she's experienced, to make her trust Schicksal again. On the contrary, in my view, her current state will allow her to display the power I hope to see."
"Begin the experiment. I trust you can handle it—in your usual way."
"...Understood."
The scene returned to the room.
Kiana stared blankly at the salad before her. This was the first time she felt so indifferent toward food.
The nightmare of Arc City and Durandal's words kept churning in her mind, filling her heart with unease.
In the haze, Mei's voice made her recall those deeply buried longings.
When getting out of bed, when eating, when in class—that gentle voice had called her name countless times.
Along with her voice, those small moments flowing through ordinary daily life slowly emerged before her eyes...
Before the warmth of memories could linger, a crisp sound of the door opening interrupted her thoughts.
It was Durandal.
Seeing the untouched salad, she asked: "What's wrong? Don't you like basa fish?"
Kiana replied: "I don't like eating fish because of the bones. Before, someone would always debone it for me."
Durandal smiled: "Since you have the energy to joke, I'm no longer worried about your condition."
She deftly cuffed Kiana's hands.
And brought her to the surface.
Knowing Kiana wanted to escape, she directly removed the shackles and proposed a duel: if Kiana won, she could leave freely.
However...
Even the current Kiana, even using the techniques Fu Hua had taught her,
couldn't gain much advantage against Durandal.
Durandal deliberately provoked her to use more power, eventually starting the experiment and forcing Kiana to cooperate in eliminating the quantum shadows appearing from portals in the sky.
After the experiment ended,
on the way back to the underground base,
both remained silent. The slightly eased atmosphere returned once more to freezing point.
Kiana turned her head away in dissatisfaction: "Big liar—you clearly said you'd let me go if I won."
Durandal said: "You only dealt with the quantum shadows. Our match had no conclusion."
Kiana remained unhappy: "The moment I got serious, you stopped fighting. How is that fair? So sneaky!"
"The 'serious move' you mentioned was Taixu Sword Qi..." Durandal had recognized it: "I remember—that's Fu Hua's signature technique. When and where did you learn this skill from her?"
Kiana said angrily: "I don't want to answer that question."
Both fell silent.
Finally, Kiana couldn't hold back and questioned: "Why... back at St. Freya Academy, I heard so many stories about you. Everyone saw you as a hero."
"Schicksal's strongest S-rank Valkyrie—that title was my admiration, the goal I once chased. But you stand on Otto's side..."
"Do you know the truth of all this? Do you know the experiments I endured? Do you know what that man has done!"
"Why... you're so strong, and you're clearly not a bad person..."
"Why do you help Schicksal?"
Her questions one after another didn't shake Durandal. She simply said calmly: "Without Schicksal, who would protect the billions of people on this planet from the Honkai? You were once a Schicksal Valkyrie yourself—you should understand this well."
"..." Kiana couldn't refute it. She knew Schicksal had always protected the masses.
Durandal continued: "This world has no absolute good or evil, right or wrong—only missions. And I merely fight for my own mission."
"..."
Kiana could only remain silent.
And this silence was soon broken by an explosion from outside.
Followed immediately by alarms within the base.
Durandal received a communication: "Lord Durandal! The base is under attack! It's World Serpent's mech forces!"
Countless mechs collectively assaulted the base, causing its facilities to teeter on collapse.
Until the passage where the two were suddenly caved in.
Kiana seized the opportunity to use the Herrscher of the Void's power and escape to the surface.
She hid behind ruined walls.
Observing the base's situation, she was instantly shocked by the scene: hundreds of mechs collectively launching attacks on the base.
"Isn't this Schicksal territory? They've got some nerve."
"But... bypassing this front line shouldn't be too hard."
Kiana glanced back at the base one last time: "Sorry, but I'm not letting you catch me!"
As she stood to leave, a distant figure caught her attention.
"Hm? That person is..."
Though far away, she could still see the white hair, standing amid the dust and ruins.
And at that moment, as if sensing her gaze, the man lifted his head.
This focus across thousands of meters allowed her to clearly see his face.
"...Kevin Kaslana?"
The TV perspective switched to World Serpent's side.
Jackal commanded hundreds of mechs shuttling through weathered streets, continuously attacking the Schicksal base. Amid this flood of steel, Kevin stood like an immovable rock atop the ruins.
"Lord, the vanguard has breached the base interior and engaged Durandal."
Kevin asked: "What about the Herrscher of the Void?"
Jackal replied: "Not detected yet—searching further."
"Hold Durandal. The Herrscher of the Void is mine." Kevin closed his eyes, listening to the howling wind and sand.
In an instant, Honkai energy flows within a hundred-mile radius formed a massive vortex, converging with him at the center.
These vortices varied in strength, but none approached Herrscher level.
Yet in that brief moment, a tiny turbulent flow caught his attention.
Though fleeting, Kevin firmly grasped it.
Kevin opened his eyes, looking toward the remnants of a tall building thousands of meters away. Behind the crumbling walls, a girl's gaze met his.
"Found her!"
The perspective returned to Kiana's side.
She was hurriedly running away from the base.
Her heart was in chaos. Though it was only an instant, she felt as if he had discovered her.
She shook her head, trying to suppress the feeling, telling herself it was just an illusion. She had to leave now.
Unknowingly, she had already distanced herself from the base.
Only then did she stop: "Phew... I'm a good distance from the base now. That gaze earlier was definitely an illusion. Kevin—he's the man from my dream before. The Squad Leader said he's dangerous. Better stay far away."
"As long as I cross these ruins, I can leave this city. Then..."
Before she finished speaking,
Kevin was already standing before her: "Where do you think you're going?"
"What!!" Kiana startled: "You! How are you here!"
Facing the man towering before her, Kiana couldn't move a muscle—she had even given up trembling.
The man's gaze was profound, as if it could awaken the deepest fear etched in human genes—
The look of a predator eyeing prey.
"You're here... to kill me?"
Kevin didn't answer.
Kiana only felt a scorching flame rushing toward her chest.
The burning greatsword aimed straight at her heart, without a hint of hesitation—
And then, it pierced Kiana's chest.
But the next moment,
Kiana realized it was an illusion. Fu Hua appeared and blocked the strike—or rather, the sword was still far from her, yet it had felt as if she was already pierced.
Kevin didn't even look at her, instead gazing at Fu Hua: " Fenghuang Down... Hua, it's been a long time."
Fu Hua stared at him: "Kevin, stop."
Clearly, seeing Hua caused some ripples in Kevin. He didn't continue attacking Kiana, giving the two women some time—out of respect for Hua.
Kiana was still panting heavily... completely frightened by that strike earlier.
"Squad Leader..."
Fu Hua remained vigilant toward Kevin, not turning her head as she said to Kiana: "Kiana, run. Don't look back. I wanted to accompany you further, but now it's time to say goodbye."
"Squad Leader... no..." Kiana shook her head reluctantly.
Fu Hua said: "Remember our promise in Arc City? You agreed—I'd buy you time. Now, leave here."
"..." Kiana was still unwilling.
Fu Hua had to continue: "If you die here, your promise to change the world becomes empty words. Do what you must—this is your responsibility."
"Squad Leader..." Kiana was immensely reluctant, tears welling in her eyes: "I understand... I'm sorry..."
She lowered her gaze, turned, and ran away, as if unable to bear looking back even once, running faster and faster.
Her silhouette grew fainter in the dust, eventually swallowed completely.
"Goodbye, Kiana." Fu Hua felt reluctance too.
Kevin had silently watched the scene until now: "Hua, you've changed."
Fu Hua said: "Perhaps..."
Everything around them changed. Fu Hua used Fenghuang Down's ability to pull Kevin into an illusion.
Kevin still gazed at Fu Hua: " Fenghuang Down... you know it can't interfere with my senses."
Fu Hua stepped forward, standing firm as a mountain, slowly extending her hand, palm upward.
This combat stance brought a flicker of nostalgia to Kevin's eyes—the figure who, fifty thousand years ago, had stood beside him countless times.
"I'm not trying to interfere with your senses, but to show you everything I've experienced... and my state of mind."
Kevin respected her, allowing her to unleash all her attacks to block him.
But...
The battle didn't last long.
It ended quickly with Hua's defeat.
"Hua... this move of yours is indeed strong, but you lack the power to sustain it. We could have witnessed together the day humanity defeats the Honkai."
"You've already given too much. You need rest. From now on, you don't have to concern yourself—I'll complete our mission."
Kevin reached out to touch Fu Hua's flickering form. When he opened his hand again, a faint, almost illusory feather rested in his palm.
In that same instant, the dream shattered, illusions dissipated.
The scenery changed entirely—he was back in the dust-filled ruins.
"Once everything ends, I'll awaken you. Until then, sleep peacefully."
Seeing this,
the audience panicked.
They all rushed to the official group admin: "What does this mean? Squad Leader is gone? Just like that, offline?"
"F*** your grandma—Teacher Himeko is gone, now Squad Leader too. Next it'll be Principal Theresa, right? Do you have to leave Kiana with no one around her?"
"I can't accept it. Such a good Squad Leader—why does she have to go offline?"
"Fu Hua... does Kevin even have a heart? Why not spare even his own comrade?"
"Are you sick? What does this have to do with Kevin? He didn't kill Fu Hua—he just let her rest offline."
"I can't watch anymore. Why does Kiana have to suffer so much? Now she's alone again."
"My Kiana—next she'll have to flee alone again. How can she bear this?"
"They finally understood and relied on each other—and you separate them, make Fu Hua go offline. Damn director, I swear I'll kill you."
"F*** the director—if you dare let Fu Hua go offline like this, I'll end you, no matter where you hide!"
"Just because you moved, you can mess up the plot and stab characters? Today I'll find your new home, damn director!"
"F***! My favorite Squad Leader—will I never see her again?"
"..."
With Himeko's precedent, almost everyone now believed Fu Hua was offline, and they were furious beyond measure.
Fu Hua, watching this, was stunned.
She murmured: "So... am I getting fired?"
Everyone in the lounge startled.
They all turned to look at Hessian.
Hessian quickly waved his hands: "What are you thinking? I said—do you watch TV without using your brains? It said let her rest—just rest. Where did it say offline?"
Fu Hua let out a long breath, relieved: "That's good. I thought the dog... cough, Director He was going to stab me."
Hessian rolled his eyes: "What were you about to call me just now?"
Fu Hua waved repeatedly: "Nothing! Director He, my most respected Director He!"
Elysia also gave everyone reassurance: "Don't worry, everyone. My husband promised he absolutely won't fire anyone from the company."
Fu Hua: "Since Elysia says so, it must be fine."
Himeko: "Then I can just slack off at the company?"
Kiana: "Though no firing, no guarantee against stabbing us, right? Last week filming, my eyes were swollen from crying."
Mei: "Please, Director He—don't stab me anymore. I already can't do anything."
All the actresses chattered at once.
Only two remained steady as mountains: Durandal and Kevin.
They were both eagerly awaiting their fight scene, wanting to see how the grueling shoot turned out on screen...