---o---
Early morning, birds chirped melodiously on the branches.
Sunlight filtered through the clouds, casting bands of light upon the artificial island in the Far East.
Kiana was awakened by the sound of conversation outside her door.
She sat up, rubbing her drowsy eyes. Her loose pajamas slipped down, revealing a fair, smooth shoulder that glowed in the morning light.
From a debauched wastrel to a pure young maiden, the bug switched modes seamlessly.
Kiana got out of bed, her soft, tender, snow-white feet touching the floor.
The mirror-like porcelain tiles reflected the girl's beautiful jade feet. The bones beneath the supple, icy skin gave them a delicate structure, yet they did not lack for the full flesh of her legs. In the sunlight, every line revealed a gentle beauty and an inner, water-like grace.
In the living room, Mei, Bronya, Yae Sakura, the Principal, and the Class Rep were all present.
"Why is it so lively? What's everyone discussing?"
Mei smiled and waved. "Good morning, Kiana."
"Why are you just now getting up? Were you receiving special training in there?" Theresa asked impatiently.
"Ah... uh, yeah, something like that..." Kiana replied, scratching the back of her head.
She then glanced around guiltily but didn't see Ji Lin.
To be precise, she didn't see the Xuanyuan Sword.
Ji Lin's main body was suppressed, sleeping within Chiyou.
The current Ji Lin was a consciousness attached to the Xuanyuan Sword.
And Chiyou, under Higokumaru's control, had also come to the sea surrounding St. Freya.
Not far from the azure sea, it had transformed into a small, black island, with several white seabirds circling under the blue sky.
Seeing that her great-aunt was about to press her with more questions, Kiana quickly clutched her stomach. "I'm so hungry! Mei, is there anything good to eat?"
"Mhm, I saved some for you."
There was a ham sandwich, warm milk, and two eggs.
Kiana scurried over to the dining table and began to eat with relish.
Theresa clearly had no intention of letting her off so easily and stuck to her like glue.
"Kiana, just tell your great-aunt what's going on in there. Don't worry, St. Freya Academy's confidentiality is top-notch. Not a single shred of information will be leaked."
---o---
St. Freya Academy was built on a giant artificial island.
Aside from air and sea travel, only a single large white bridge spanned the ocean, connecting it to the mainland.
At this moment, a silver train sped along the tracks.
Through the window, Welt, the Sovereign of Anti-Entropy, watched the sparkling sea, his gaze fixed on a black island he could now clearly see.
In his memory, that place should have been empty.
And moreover...
"A Herrscher who possesses humanity and is capable of self-control."
Welt pushed up his glasses.
Although he was Schicksal's sworn enemy, Welt had recently succeeded in infiltrating St. Freya Academy, taking on the role of a history teacher.
Humanity needed to remember its history.
Herrschers had brought grave disaster upon human civilization.
But there had also been a Herrscher who carried the will of 300,000 people and fought to protect them.
None of this should ever be forgotten.
"Setting aside those Pseudo-Herrschers named Yae Sakura and Yuno Sato, that other one is clearly a complete Herrscher..."
As the Herrscher of Reason, Welt could sense Higokumaru's presence.
It wasn't difficult for the Herrscher of Reason to conceal his aura and gather information while lurking within the academy.
"And what is this 'other world' they've mentioned several times...?"
Schicksal Headquarters.
The Overseer's Grand Hall.
This was a building with an intensely futuristic feel.
Luminous screens replaced the walls, with countless torrents of data converging from all over the world, shining with the light of information.
Otto Apocalypse stood in the center, like an observer standing outside the world itself, watching the data streams with an abnormal calmness.
His eyes, once as placid as an ancient well, rippled with a hint of human emotion upon seeing a particular piece of intelligence.
"Oh? It seems quite a lot has happened on Theresa's end. Chiyou, the Xuanyuan Sword, ah~ and them as well."
Otto stared at two images on the screen.
"The Previous Era's Herrscher of Erosion, and... Yae Sakura."
When he uttered Yae Sakura's name, the emotion in Otto's voice was clearly different.
This was only natural.
Otto had personally supervised the production of the 3A blockbuster game, "Kallen Fantasy," a story that primarily told of a brave hero and a nun who embark on a journey, defeat an evil fox demon from the East, and live happily ever after.
It was less "Kallen Fantasy" and more "Otto's Fantasy."
From this, it was evident that the Lord Overseer still held a grudge to this day.
At the very least, he couldn't face it calmly.
He took a deep breath, suppressing his distracting thoughts.
"And this 'other world' that Kiana has entered... although the time is not yet ripe, she is a precious sample."
Otto propped his chin on his hand and pondered for a moment.
"Have Rita conduct a detailed investigation."
---o---
No matter how the winds of change blew in the outside world, Ye Feng was having a grand time in his own.
The night was hazy, and the mountain wind whispered softly. Halfway up a tree-lined mountainside, a quaint inn sat, its windows glowing with faint candlelight.
"Honored guest, stopping for a meal or staying the night?"
Ye Feng, having transformed into an innkeeper's assistant, greeted the peerless female sword saint who had just drifted in.
Jingliu was dressed in an elegant white robe, looking ethereal and otherworldly.
Her cool and stunningly beautiful face, though not intentionally stern, always gave people the impression of a lofty, unattainable fairy.
But her eyes were covered with a black cloth, as if sheathing a sharp sword, which added a certain charm.
Jingliu frowned.
"It's happening again..."
Her Mara-Struck state was acting up.
The last time it occurred, Jingliu was plunged into a world of darkness, only able to feel a "dark hand" constantly assailing her heart.
This time, not only had the scene changed, but so had her clothes.
And there was another person present.
Jingliu looked at the person before her. The voice was extremely familiar.
"Is that you?"
"Me? Honored guest, you must have the wrong person. This humble one is just an assistant at this inn. How could I possibly know a celestial being such as yourself?" Ye Feng said with an ingratiating smile, a white cloth slung over his shoulder.
Jingliu's frown deepened.
Ye Feng spoke again, "It's getting late. Our inn still has a fine imperial suite available. If the honored guest wishes to stay, please follow me."
Jingliu secretly composed herself, deciding to see what tricks her "Mara-Struck state" was playing this time.
She followed Ye Feng to a room on the second floor.
He pushed the door open.
The room was simply yet exquisitely decorated. Incense wafted from a black jade desk, and the room was lit only by five identical bronze lamps shaped like maidens holding cups. The candlelight danced gently, carrying a warm fragrance. A simple patterned bamboo curtain hung before the window, half-illuminated by the flames, casting mottled light upon the bookshelf that was as beautiful and moving as snowflakes.
What was most eye-catching, however, was the extremely luxurious, massive bed that took up two-thirds of the room.
A huge, transparent pink gauze canopy cascaded down from the rafters, enclosing the enormous bed. The light, transparent pink gauze, paired with the exceedingly soft, pure-white, wide mattress, gave rise to an intoxicating, amorous atmosphere...