『 Time returns to the present.
High in the sky, Aventurine fiercely waves his arm. The coin pillars, which had been descending at a slow pace, suddenly poured down like a torrential rain.
Accompanied by the whistling sound of the coin rain falling rapidly like arrows, they shot down ruthlessly like arrows released from a bowstring, charging toward the towering skyscrapers in the Golden Hour.
Under the force of the powerful impact, the originally indestructible high walls collapsed in an instant, and the already fragile glass was shattered into pieces, with countless shards flying into the distance.
Facing Aventurine's fierce offensive, Himeko and Welt stood in front of March 7th and Stelle without the slightest hesitation. The chainsaw in Himeko's hand began to spin at high speed, letting out a terrifying roar; Welt raised his cane, creating a small black hole that was slowly expanding, attempting to stop Aventurine's attack.
Standing behind them, Acheron lowered her hand from the tsuba of her sword and let out a sigh, as if she had long foreseen the outcome of her action.
Then, she walked forward. Time seemed to freeze at this moment; the falling coins and rain in the air became clearly visible. The speed at which they should have been falling rapidly now seemed extremely slow. 』
『 ....』
〘Stelle〙: Oh my god, is this a time stop?
〘·HSR· Welt Yang〙: No, it's just that Acheron's speed is too fast. In her eyes at this moment, everything in front of her is slow, or even static.
....
『 After walking in front of everyone, Acheron slowly raised her arm. Red patterns began on her palm and spread all the way up her arm. Several red and white Lycoris flowers bloomed on her crimson arm.
"I wish to mourn the departed, weeping like rain, to swell the crossing stream..."
As these words left her mouth, the colors on Acheron's body faded further. Her signature purple hair turned white, and her eyes turned blood-red. Holding the sword above her head with both hands, her right hand gripped the hilt and gently exerted force.
With the slight unsheathing of the blade, Acheron opened her eyes. A single tear of blood flowed from her eye, leaving a crimson trail on her beautiful face.
Suddenly, the screen flickered, and the silhouette of a white-clothed figure extremely similar to Acheron appeared in the center of the screen. However, she had two red horns on her head, continuous rain was falling from the sky, and the white-clothed figure was surrounded by swords and blades thrust into the ground.
However, this image only flashed for an instant before quickly vanishing like a mirage. When the screen cut back, Acheron had completely drawn her sword.
"...As the tide arrives, leading you back home." Along with Acheron's whisper, bursts of fierce red lightning emerged around her, and the surrounding colors vanished with them, leaving only black and white… and her terrifyingly powerful blood-colored sword light.
The sword light, like a newly born blood moon, swept toward Aventurine, swallowing all obstacles in its path. The coins, which had turned black and white, actually receded toward the sky due to this strike. Looking at the strike in front of him, Aventurine had no intention of defending. He merely blocked his chest with his arms. After a muffled groan from Aventurine, the sword light passed through him ruthlessly.
However, the sword light did not stop at this moment. It passed through Aventurine's body, easily slashing open the largest screen behind him, and also easily slashing open a black protective barrier. The sky also seemed to be sliced in half by this strike, with a huge red rift appearing in the middle.
After the two strikes landed, Acheron slowly sheathed her sword. The raindrops that had seemed frozen in time slowly fell to the ground as the blade was completely sheathed. 』
『 ....』
〘March 7th〙: The Duke didn't die in vain. This one slash is way too terrifying.
〘Acheron〙: One slash? That description isn't quite accurate. The 'me' on screen drew two slashes; it's just that the second one was faster.
〘Stelle〙: Now I understand why the Family wanted you to leave once they found out your identity.
〘Yanqing〙: These two slashes have no technique at all. It's just simple energy accumulation and then blasting it out…
〘Yunli〙: Can't learn this at all…
〘Belle〙: What a shocking slash.
〘Kiana Kaslana〙: Mei, Mei, SAIKOU!
{Well, let's pause the Penacony viewing here. We've watched for so long, it's time for you all to digest it~}
〘Sunday〙: What about my sister's whereabouts?
{Oh my, I know you're anxious, but don't be anxious yet. It will be shown eventually.}
{Have I neglected a certain world for a long time?}
〘Kiana Kaslana〙: Are you going to show this young lady's story?
{Hmm… Since you're volunteering so eagerly, let's tell yours. It's also a good time to let everyone see the true face of a certain blond guy.}
〘Otto Apocalypse〙: Alas, prejudice in the human heart is a great mountain.
〘·HSR· Welt Yang〙: Heh.
{Previously on…}
{Mei was captured by Cocolia of Anti-Entropy. Kiana and the others sneaked into the ME Corp headquarters. Waiting for them was Bronya, who was controlled by Cocolia. During the battle, Bronya burned the bio-chip in her brain to break free from Cocolia's control, but fell into a coma as a result. Even St. Freya had no way to wake Bronya up.}
{Therefore, Principal Theresa came to the Central Church beneath the school. What she didn't know was that a 'paramecium' was hiding behind her.}
〘Kiana Kaslana〙: What do you mean paramecium! This young lady is very smart!
〘Honkai Bronya〙: The chip in my brain…
〘·HI3· Welt Yang〙: Cocolia, I think you've really gone mad.
〘Cocolia〙: Say whatever you want.
〘Bronya Rand〙: !!!
....
『 "Search for bio-chips in the human brain," Theresa ordered, looking at the red data stream.
"A total of 713 related records were found. 712 of them are classified as top secret due to their connection to the Sirin Project, and cannot be accessed," a cold AI voice replied.
"Tch, hidden by that guy again," Theresa snorted upon hearing this. "What about the remaining one?"
"On February 7, 2000, at the Babylon Labs in Siberia, there is a related record."
Hearing this significant date, Theresa murmured and repeated, "February 7, 2000?"
Then she slammed her fist heavily on the console in front of her. "Damn it, it actually happened at that time." 』
『 ....』
〘Otto Apocalypse〙: My dear granddaughter, those instruments are not cheap.
〘Theresa Apocalypse〙: I'll slam it anyway! To vent my anger!
....
『 "Database, pull up the relevant records for me."
"Understood, Lady Theresa."
Then the screen began to disappear. Seeing that she might return empty-handed, Kiana immediately rushed inside. Just as she rushed in—
"Virtual space construction complete. Time: February 7, 2000, 3:00 PM. Location: Siberia, Babylon Labs."
The space behind Kiana transformed into a snowy plain along with the voice. She stared blankly at the black tower in the distance. "Where… is this?" 』
『 ....』
〘Theresa Apocalypse〙: KIANA!!!!
〘Kiana Kaslana〙: Ehehe, please understand, Auntie. I was also in a hurry to save Bronya.
〘Siegfried〙: This time… could it be…
〘Lieserl Albert Einstein〙: Babylon… Sirin… the Second Eruption.
〘·HI3· Welt Yang〙: This piece of information was definitely arranged by you on purpose, wasn't it, Otto?
〘Otto Apocalypse〙: Why would I do such a thing?
....