Yunduo closed her communicator; everyone's hearts were heavy now.
Now, the truth of the matter was laid bare before them.
Clearly, this was Schicksal's doing.
No, it was the work of Schicksal Headquarters!
The origin of it all was simply one man's command!
Otto.
He didn't trust the Far East Branch.
He didn't trust any of them.
He wanted to seize the Challenge Space within St. Freya Academy.
He wanted to rely on his own power to resurrect his lover from five hundred years ago.
So, while everyone was away at the Sea of Quantas City, he used some unknown method to trigger the Sea of Quantas Eye's rampage.
"Is there anyone left at St. Freya Academy?"
Kiana cried out in surprise.
"We've all come out—Fu Hua, Yunduo, and all of you. It was meant to be a precaution, so in the Academy... only Himeko is left. She didn't come because of her health."
"That serum from the previous reward—didn't she use it?" Kiana asked in shock.
Having said that, she suddenly remembered.
The HSN-B46 Serum rewarded by the Challenge Space could repair Himeko's body from Honkai erosion.
However, after using the serum, she would become an ordinary person, no longer having anything to do with this world.
But with Herrschers appearing frequently nowadays, the Far East Branch's strength could hardly be said to be without concerns.
How could Himeko dare to gamble with all of this?
Kiana knew her personality.
Rather than being protected by them as an ordinary person, a certain tsundere old lady would rather fight until her death.
"Auntie Himeko..."
Kiana shook her head and murmured, "No, it can't be. If that were the case, Himeko would have just given up the Academy and handed it over to Schicksal, to that Otto. It wouldn't be a big deal."
"..."
Hearing Kiana's words, the group was momentarily unable to respond.
This mysterious existence that could predict the future and grant rewards was something no one could easily give up.
Everyone has a past filled with regrets, and now that the space even has a resurrection function, who can guarantee that a function to return to the past or reshape time won't appear in the future?
This temptation was too great; as long as one was human, it was impossible to let go!
They couldn't.
Not even Otto, who seemed to have no desires and ferried through the river of time, could do so.
"So, in the Academy, only Himeko and Benares are left. I hope they can hold on until we get back."
Mei said worriedly.
In the few minutes the group was discussing, the Honkai Energy reaction in the Sea of Quantas City intensified once again!
The detection devices placed by the stationed squad were already nearing their limits.
This sudden tide of Honkai Beasts was far more terrifying than the two Honkai Beast tides they had experienced at St. Freya Academy!
What's more, they were deep under the sea and had no reinforcements.
There was no fire suppression from Gaia or Titan Mechs, nor the slaughter from the Blood Knight's Limit Break.
Waiting before them was a tide of Honkai!
At this time, Rozaliya pulled Yunduo with one hand and took out her weapon with the other.
It was a large pink sword, the "Sleeping Beauty," a silicon greatsword processed from Honkai Beast shells.
The blade was covered in thorn-like spikes that would vibrate slightly upon contact with Honkai Energy.
Through Anti-Entropy's technology, the Olenyeva sisters had obtained incredible power comparable to Emperor-Level Honkai Beasts.
The name Sleeping Beauty was also given by Rozaliya because of this reaction.
However, even with the power of an Emperor-Level Honkai Beast, they didn't have the confidence to make it back alive.
They also had to protect Bronya and Yunduo.
This was an almost impossible task!
Rozaliya bit her pink lip, her nervousness plain to see.
Her grip on the Sleeping Beauty's hilt bracket was so tight her knuckles turned white, and her legs were trembling slightly.
A hero—she was going to become a hero!
To die for a good friend.
It was worth it!
"I'll protect you, and Big Sister Bronya. You... you'll be fine. Rozaliya will definitely protect you." As if to cheer herself up, Rozaliya repeated her murmurs to Yunduo.
Beside her, although Liliya's face remained expressionless, some clues could still be found in her slight body movements.
Her breathing was slightly hurried, and her gaze was as cold as condensed snowflakes.
There was no more time for the group to adjust.
All the stationed mech squads had assembled, and for a moment, gunfire filled the air.
The pungent smell of gunpowder created a strong impact under the sea.
In addition, there was the foul stench from the Honkai Beasts, which was enough to make one gag.
"Roar!!!"
Listening to the roars of the Plankton Class Honkai Beasts not far away, Kiana's face turned pale, and she pressed harder on the communicator.
But there was no news!
She couldn't contact the Far East Branch at all!
And her private communication with Himeko also failed to connect.
It was as if an invisible net had caught all of them, enveloping them in a dark web.
The scent of conspiracy suffocated everyone in the Far East Branch.
They were also part of the Schicksal Branch!
Just for space, the Schicksal Bishop actually betrayed them first!
"Kiana, they're here!"
Theresa reminded her in a low voice.
One couldn't be distracted on the battlefield.
On a rapidly changing battlefield, distraction meant death.
Suddenly, before she could finish her sentence!
A Tidal Class Honkai Beast arrived in an instant, like a sharp arrow!
Only the sound of rippling seawater could be heard as the purplish Honkai Beast, resembling a crab, raised a giant pincer.
Too fast!
It was practically like a shadow!
No one noticed it!
Bloodthirsty emotions flickered in its crimson eyes, and its giant pincer still had traces of blood.
Behind Kiana.
The chilling Honkai Beast coiled its body into a sphere, extending its bloody pincer like the Scythe of Death!
Because it was too fast, combined with Kiana's distraction.
This Honkai Beast's attack exceeded Theresa's expectations.
In less than a second!
The enormous pincer, almost as tall as a person, with its deadly maw in the middle.
Was placed just a few centimeters from Kiana's tender, willow-like neck!
One could imagine that in half a second, a graceful young girl would be buried in the Honkai Beast's maw, dying beneath the deep sea!
Time seemed to pause... In this dangerous moment, Theresa's eyes widened, and the river of time seemed to break through its usual boundaries.
In Kiana's slightly upturned smile, she seemed to gaze at that familiar face, Cecilia going alone to dangerous Siberia, on the icy snowfield, the pure white Valkyrie stained with a bright red blood rose.
In an instant, Cecilia's profile and Kiana's bewildered gaze aligned, and in the dark abyss, a swaying white flower bloomed, the destructive sound of missiles roaring in Theresa's ears.
The girl's smiling expression, with the bright moon in the sky, she held the Goddess of the Moon, only able to helplessly watch her former friend die from rebellion.
"Theresa, please take good care of Kiana, I beg you."
Theresa's vision blurred, and she heard the woman's gentle murmur.
She made her final choice, regardless of the consequences.
She must protect Kiana!
A crimson flash!
A fragrant, pure aura brushed past her cheek.
The chill of the abyss was pierced by the little nun's light.
Until Kiana turned her head in confusion, only to find that, at some point.
Theresa's small body was shielding her.
"..."
Rozaliya also witnessed this scene, but was surprised to find a cold cherry blossom stuck on the head of that Tidal Class Honkai Beast.
Like spring had arrived, cherry blossoms bloomed beneath the deep sea.
"It... it bloomed?"
She said in surprise.
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