Thud! Thud! Thud!
Creak—
As Lawrence accepted the order and withdrew, his heavy footsteps gradually faded into the distance. Under the careful movements of the stationed Royal Guard, the massive palace doors slowly closed once more, and the grand hall instantly sank into a suffocating silence.
It was so quiet a needle drop could be heard. The only sound that remained was Raiden Mei's labored breathing, clear due to her weakened state.
Kiana and Durandal widened their eyes, staring at Selene in undisguised horror.
Setting aside the casualties of war, Selene had just so casually issued an explicit order of clan extermination affecting thousands of families—something they would never be able to do.
In the end, Kiana, Durandal, and Raiden Mei were still just girls who had only recently come of age.
Killing... yes, it was true that quite a few humans had died by Kiana's and Raiden Mei's hands. That could not be denied. But their killings had been indirect.
The Third Honkai Eruption that destroyed Nagazora City, the global Honkai Eruption triggered by the Herrscher of the Void while descending—without exception, those disasters had been caused unconsciously by Kiana and Raiden Mei.
Objectively, killing was killing. Sin was sin. That could not be concealed. But the harm inflicted upon the public had never been their intention.
Because of that, Kiana had nearly been crushed by the overwhelming drive for atonement born from her guilt.
That was fundamentally different from Selene's deliberate issuance of an extermination order.
At this moment, Selene's completely different values—her utter disregard for life—were displayed in full.
Closing the Teigu: Complete Book Of The World · Rongo Rongo, Selene spoke calmly, her expression unchanged. "It's only a minor issue." Her crimson, diamond-shaped pupils glanced sideways at them. "What? Is there a problem?"
Her smile was perfectly ordinary and gentle. Her tone exceedingly mild.
Yet Kiana, Durandal, and Raiden Mei could not help but shudder.
It felt as though they had fallen into an icy abyss. A chill shot from the base of their spines straight to their skulls, freezing them to the core.
What kind of smile was that?
Raiden Mei believed that after making the decision to join World Serpent, she had already shed her innocence and naivety. She had grown accustomed to life and death. Even her colleagues in World Serpent had remarked that she had matured, that she was like a different person.
But with Selene—Kiana's newly appeared sister—simply standing there and, in a casual tone, condemning thousands of households, affecting at least tens of thousands of people...
Compared to that, what did her so-called experience with life and death amount to? Child's play?
Selene merely stepped forward once. Her spring-breeze smile did not change. Yet the overwhelming pressure, the instinctive trembling of the Herrscher Core within Raiden Mei, made her heart pound in terror, as though she were being stared down by some ancient beast.
"..."
After a long moment, Kiana suddenly released Raiden Mei from her embrace. With her head lowered, she walked up to Selene, fidgeting with her jade-like fingers as she choked out, "Selene-sister... for my sake, you really didn't have to do this."
"Hmm?"
In the next instant, Selene immediately understood.
Kiana had once again overthought things.
She believed Selene's purge of the personnel involved in the Sirin Herrscher vessel K-Project was to vent anger on her behalf?
Going along with it instinctively, Selene blurted out without thinking. Under Raiden Mei's strange gaze, she very naturally reached out and placed her hand atop Kiana's fluffy white head.
"You're calling me your sister, aren't you? As your sister, how could I not show a little sincerity? Not a single participant will be spared. I said so."
"I..."
As for the researchers who had created her, Kiana's feelings were complicated. She could not say she hated them, but she certainly had no fondness for them either.
"No need to say more. They have a grudge with me," Selene cut her off directly.
As she spoke, Selene kneaded Kiana's smooth white hair—much like stroking the 'big orange cats' and 'giant hamsters' raised in Shanglin Garden.
"Mm..."
Perhaps because Selene had begun her skills with cat-petting and perfected them through petting Arisa, her technique was superb. Kiana immediately let out a soft, small-animal-like moan.
The difference in their heights made the head-patting even more convenient. And perhaps out of guilt, Kiana's delicate face flushed red.
If this had been during her time at St. Freya Academy, Kiana might have argued passionately, trying to persuade Selene not to implicate the families of others.
But now...
Selene had already said this much. To continue protesting would only seem ungrateful. After everything she had experienced, Kiana had grown considerably. She understood compromise.
"Ki—"
Breaking free from her body's instinctive fear, Raiden Mei wore an aggrieved expression, as though abandoned. Her purple-red eyes locked tightly onto the blissful Kiana.
Though, to be fair, Kiana standing beside that sister of hers named Selene... they really did resemble each other.
"Oh, right!"
After rubbing against her for a while, cheeks still tinted red, Kiana slipped out from under Selene's grasp and ran toward the dazed Raiden Mei.
"Selene-sister, this is Mei. She's my best friend."
Like a child proudly showing a beloved toy to a parent, Kiana pushed the stunned Raiden Mei a few inches closer to Selene.
"H-Hello, Selene-sister."
Leaning slightly against Kiana, years of elite upbringing compelled Raiden Mei—despite her trembling—to present herself with proper etiquette.
Though... the situation felt strangely off to her. Why did it feel like a daughter-in-law meeting the parents? Because of that, she spoke somewhat awkwardly.
"Mm."
Selene nodded, her reaction indifferent. "Raiden Mei. I know. The daughter of Ryoma Raiden. Former young lady of ME Corp."
As she spoke, Selene cast a teasing glance at Kiana. "And your close best friend? The little girlfriend who only wants to cook for you? Heh—when you have time, you can exchange notes with my head imperial chef, Susanoo."
Selene's words caused both Kiana and Raiden Mei to smile awkwardly in embarrassment.
"Your Majesty, what do you require of us now?"
In the end, it was Durandal who rescued Kiana by shifting the topic.
"Ah, just in time. I'm going to send off an old friend. You may choose to remain aboard the flagship and deepen your understanding of the Empire by reviewing materials here. If you need anything, simply call for an attendant.
"Of course, you may also choose to return to the surface and assist Theresa in completing Schicksal's surrender negotiations."
...
Mediterranean Sea. Schicksal Headquarters' floating island cluster. Midgard.
"Hey, Legion Commander Alex, Legion Commander Sanguinius, what's wrong with you two?"
Standing on the hangar deck, Theresa looked up at the visibly irritated Alex and Sanguinius and called out.
"Nothing wrong with telling you. We just received word from above. The Royal Guard and the Inquisition are coming. Quite a few people are probably going to die in a bit."
Arms crossed over his chest, the warm blond Sanguinius raised a brow and looked down at the white-haired girl who barely reached his knees, speaking with a sigh.
He still couldn't quite accept it. When he learned that this little fool with a perpetually silly air was actually the supreme leader of Schicksal, the thought 'Schicksal is doomed sooner or later' had instantly filled his mind.
Theresa bristled at once. "Didn't we agree not to slaughter innocents indiscriminately?! Your Empress approved this too?"
"Mind your wording, Archbishop Theresa Apocalypse." Alex shook his head. "Not your Empress. Our Empress. Recognize your position."
"Innocent? If the Empire says they are guilty, then they are guilty."
With a cold snort, Alex glanced at the Valkyrie forces and Schicksal mechs lined up across the hangar deck and continued without turning his head, "You know about the Sirin Herrscher vessel K-Project, don't you?"
"Huh?" Though startled, Theresa still nodded. "I do. Why bring that up? Don't tell me the targets are—"
"That's right. The Royal Guard and the Inquisition are here to purge every participant in the Sirin Herrscher vessel K-Project."
The moment Alex finished speaking, Sanguinius pointed toward a nearby surveillance screen. "They're here."
Theresa and Alex turned simultaneously.
On the screen, in near-Earth orbit, several specially outfitted large golden assault ships detached from the flagship and plunged toward different vectors of the atmosphere.
Alex recognized them at a glance.
The paintwork was resplendent—golden double-headed aquila reliefs, crimson tassels, crossed guardian spears. It was the exclusive insignia of the Royal Guard.
Soon, as one assault ship landed upon the floating island and towering golden-armored Royal Guards emerged—especially with the Sisters of Silence accompanying them and the oppressive Binding Field spreading outward—the hangar deck descended into chaos.
Many of Schicksal's constructs powered by Honkai energy shut down on the spot. Valkyries scrambled to avoid the spreading suppression. Theresa's eyes widened as she exclaimed, "Again? This many?! The Herrscher of Binding?!"
"Retract the Binding Field. This floating island is already Imperial property. Do not damage it," Lawrence ordered the Sisters of Silence behind him.
He nodded courteously to the three present. "Greetings, Legion Commander Alex. Greetings, Legion Commander Sanguinius."
"Greetings, Commander Lawrence," Alex and Sanguinius replied in kind.
Without further delay, Lawrence raised the double-headed eagle token in his hand and declared, "By order of Her Majesty: all personnel involved in the Sirin Herrscher vessel K-Project are to be executed by association!"
"Understood. We will cooperate."
The instant they saw the token, Alex and Sanguinius straightened and offered it a solemn salute.
"Why would such an order be issued—"
Before Theresa could finish, Lawrence's sharp gaze fell upon her, scanning her repeatedly like a blade.
Then he ignored her entirely. With a wave of his hand, large numbers of black-robed figures stepped forward from within the gleaming ranks of the Royal Guard and the Sisters of Silence.
Following arrest lists in their hands, they surged into every corner of Schicksal Headquarters.
Clad in sleek black power armor beneath their robes, they were far smaller than the Royal Guards and nowhere near as individually powerful. Yet the icy, blood-soaked aura surrounding them was enough to make one tremble.
The scales-and-skull insignia upon their chests was the nightmare of all criminals within and beyond the Empire.
The Imperial Inquisition.
To fall into the hands of the Royal Guard meant death, nothing more.
To fall into the hands of the Inquisition—death was the gentlest punishment.
They were true enforcers of cruelty. Within the Inquisition's dungeons, countless wronged souls wailed in endless torment, living worse than dead.
Very soon, amid desperate cries and wails, a group of middle-aged and elderly researchers in white lab coats were dragged out.
The Inquisitors roughly hauled them onto the raised platform of the hangar deck and kicked their kneecaps apart, forcing them to kneel.
"Ian Whittier, researcher of Saint 7308 Research Institute. In the name of Selene, I hereby sentence you to death!"
"Karl Hsu, Saint 4308 Research Institute—"
"Ivan Hawkins—"
They drew their bolt pistols from the magnetic holsters at their waists.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Theresa stood dumbfounded.
...
Elsewhere—World Serpent Headquarters.
Boom!
Kevin swung the Judgment of Shamash, its rotating blade whirling with blinding speed. Explosive flames erupted, movements too fast to follow.
His azure eyes shone like stars, a glimmer of light in the darkness. In the battle against Honkai, he carved out a path for humanity's future, driving back the encroaching great catastrophe.
Every motion was flawless. Every strike lethal.
Roboute's every slash was perfectly parried. The corrosive flames failed to splash even a single drop onto Kevin's body.
Yet Kevin's expression grew heavier.
He had struck Roboute many times, but without exception, the strange void-like defensive field surrounding him and that suit of heavy armor rendered all efforts futile.
At the Zeroth Power of Judgment of Shamash, victory would not be decided quickly.
Do I truly have to use the Shuhadaku of Uriel form...? If I do, I won't have the stamina for what comes after.
Even after absorbing the energy of the Judgment-level Honkai Beast—Chiyou—he had only recovered part of his strength. The premature descent of the Herrscher of Finality had left many of his contingencies unprepared.
Damn it...
At that moment, Kevin suddenly lost all sense of Raiden Mei's presence.
She vanished?!
She had been fighting that one called Budo... Did she escape... or was she defeated?
"In battle, the greatest taboo is losing focus."
Roboute unleashed a full-powered slash to suppress Kevin, then spun and drove a kick into his upper body.
Boom!
Kevin raised Judgment of Shamash horizontally before him. His feet embedded deeply into the burning seabed, plowing a long trench as his internal organs churned violently. He nearly vomited.
In the next instant—
Crackle—
Vooooom!
"Lightning Prison—Descend!"