Kiana devoted most of her time and energy to the space station. This matter required her direct cooperation in order to proceed smoothly.
However, cultivating a clone was not simple.
The problem lay with her.
She was not an ordinary person.
And what they wanted to clone was not an empty shell that merely resembled her in appearance—a body identical on the outside but otherwise no different from a normal human.
The experiment did not progress smoothly.
But that was within their expectations. From the very beginning, no one had thought this would be easy.
"...This is really strange."
After yet another failed cultivation attempt, Herta flipped through the failure reports, frowning in visible frustration.
"Is there something wrong with your body?"
Kiana looked innocent. "But I even drew blood in my Herrscher form to cooperate with the experiment."
"Alright, Herta." Ruan Mei did not find it particularly strange. No one understood Kiana's physical condition better than she did. She withdrew her gaze from the failed specimen and said, "Kiana's uniqueness has always existed. It's something I've long wanted to fully understand."
"Which is exactly why this shouldn't be happening. No matter what, your body should carry at least part of your power!" Herta suddenly looked at her oddly. "Don't tell me you're actually a puppet like me?"
"How could that be!" Kiana shook her head quickly. "If that were true, there's no way I wouldn't feel it!"
"That's true."
Herta looked down at the failed reports in her hands, her expression turning serious. Was it that her genes simply did not contain that information? Or had she and Ruan Mei still failed to uncover the true mystery hidden within?
"...Perhaps we can try approaching this from another angle," Ruan Mei suddenly suggested after days of stagnation.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm planning to experiment with an Emanator," Ruan Mei stated her idea calmly. "A progeny of Propagation—the Starcrusher Swarm King, Skaracabaz."
"You—"
Herta raised a brow, as if she wanted to say something. As Ruan Mei's collaborator, she understood exactly what that implied.
Her expression grew complicated.
Cloning a Propagation Emanator—Ruan Mei was undeniably far bolder than she was, and far less concerned about others' opinions or even life and death.
This was not a whim.
Even without Kiana's situation, Ruan Mei had likely already been researching the cloning of the Starcrusher Swarm King. She might even have made progress.
Kiana, however, was not surprised in the slightest.
After all, she was a transmigrator. She knew of Ruan Mei's achievements and her research into the power of Propagation.
She merely looked at the cultivated clone before her—aside from inheriting a portion of her so-called "saintess power," it possessed nothing special.
This was already the result of their combined efforts and considerable time.
At first, they had worried that the clone might develop self-awareness. If that happened, the plan would have to be temporarily halted.
But that concern had proven unnecessary.
There was no need for measures to prevent self-awareness. The clones cultivated from her genes were all empty shells—incapable of developing independent consciousness.
The one before her was no different.
Repeated failure made her realize that cloning alone might not produce a truly qualified carrier.
"Just don't overdo it," Herta said flatly. She knew Ruan Mei's personality well and didn't bother lecturing her. "If something happens to you, that's your business. Just don't drag my space station down with you."
"What about trying Stigmata?"
Kiana suddenly raised her head and interjected.
She successfully drew the attention of the two who had been discussing the Starcrusher Swarm King.
Looking at the blank carrier body, Kiana said, "Since cloning isn't enough, then I'll infuse this empty body with Honkai power."
"How?" Herta's interest was immediately piqued. She no longer cared about Ruan Mei's cloning plans. "From the look on your face, you've got an idea. Don't hold back—say it."
"I'll implant a Stigmata into this body and see if I can trigger a Stigmata trial," Kiana said after a moment's thought. "If the Stigmata can undergo transformation, perhaps there will be an unexpected result."
"A Stigmata trial? Like Acheron's?" Ruan Mei asked.
"Something like that." Kiana nodded. "This is just an empty shell. I might be able to exploit a loophole and complete the trial in its place."
"If you want to try, then try. At worst, we waste some time. It's certainly more reliable than researching the Starcrusher Swarm King," Herta commented sharply.
In her view, Ruan Mei's roundabout approach was simply about improving her research capabilities first and then trying again.
Whether it would even work was uncertain.
Honkai energy and the Path were not the same thing.
"A Stigmata trial... It might be feasible. Let's test your idea first," Ruan Mei said calmly, unconcerned by Herta's remark. "The probability of success is likely higher than continuing as we are. Experiments require multiple attempts."
Failure was nothing serious.
After all, many breakthroughs were born from failure. Eliminating an incorrect direction was itself a gain.
"Then I'll give it a try."
At worst, it would cost some reserves. Since leaving Izumo, she had not lacked enemies she could convert into Honkai Cubes.
Without hesitation, Kiana purchased the Stigmata "Wings of Oath." A blue, illusory Stigmata materialized in her palm.
Looking at the glowing mark, then at the empty clone body, Kiana raised her hand and attempted to imprint it onto the clone.
Fortunately, she did not hear any prompt like [Incompatible. Cannot assign.]
The "Wings of Oath" in her hand equipped successfully.
At the moment of equipping it onto the clone, she faintly sensed a connection forming between herself and the body.
This had never happened when she assigned Stigmata to others before.
She did not know whether it was because of this particular Stigmata—or because the body before her was her own clone.
"Did it work?" Herta asked.
"Not yet."
There were two ways to level up a Stigmata. One was accumulating experience through combat. The other was direct enhancement by consuming Honkai Cubes.
Kiana chose the latter.
She poured a massive amount of Honkai Cubes into upgrading the Stigmata. After a series of operations, she quickly pushed Wings of Oath to maximum level.
The once faint connection grew noticeably stronger. It felt as though, if she wished, she could directly link to the Stigmata imprinted on the clone.
"Should we run a check first?" Ruan Mei asked.
Kiana glanced at her balance—which had barely changed—and withdrew her hand. She decided she would farm more Honkai Cubes the next time she encountered enemies.
After all, there was no such thing as having too many.
"It should be different from before now."
"Of course we need to check! Tsk, you should've waited just now. We should've recorded the data step by step at each stage."
After equipping the fully leveled Stigmata, the clone's various metrics changed noticeably. Herta and Ruan Mei conducted a series of detailed examinations.
Only after recording all the data did Kiana decide to proceed to the next step. Before that, however, she took advantage of the time while Ruan Mei and the others were busy running tests to speak with Acheron.
As a precaution.
She had a feeling that her own trial would not be simple, so she informed Acheron in advance that she might not be able to visit her for a while.
There was no immediate reply.
She was probably busy.
"That should be about it. What next?" Herta asked.
"Next..."
Kiana stepped forward slowly, approaching the clone. She could feel the Stigmata drawing her in.
Instinctively, she reached out.
"Next comes my Stigmata trial. After installing the Stigmata onto the clone, a faint connection formed between us. I should be able to use that link to initiate the trial."
"A Stigmata trial... Can we watch?" Herta asked curiously.
"Probably not."
Kiana recalled Acheron's last trial. She hadn't been able to witness its contents either. She had only heard about it afterward. Apparently, it had even contained fragments of past events.
So she didn't think it was possible.
"It's fine. Don't worry about us," Ruan Mei said with a shake of her head. "Just focus on what you need to do. Don't overthink it."
"Then I'm starting."
Kiana took a deep breath. Following the thread of that connection with her consciousness, she touched the Stigmata.
She didn't know what Sirin or Acheron had felt during theirs. But the moment Kiana's awareness made contact with the seemingly activated Stigmata—
A prompt appeared before her eyes.
[Begin this trial?]
A line of panel-like text suddenly materialized in her field of vision, capturing her attention.
Of course she would begin.
Without hesitation, Kiana chose to start the trial. And the instant she made her selection, something unexpected occurred.
Completely different from what had happened when Acheron began her Stigmata trial, the Stigmata placed upon the clone suddenly flared to life. Dazzling light burst forth, interwoven with countless strands of blue radiance.
"That's way too much commotion!"
That was her only thought before her consciousness was swiftly pulled into the Stigmata, leaving her no time to think further.
The moment she chose to begin, there was no turning back.
And just as her consciousness was drawn inside, the overwhelming light generated by the Stigmata vanished.
The laboratory fell into deathly silence.
...
"So that means... I've been dragged into Kiana's Stigmata trial by that light."
Herta stroked her chin. There was no panic in her tone—only fascination.
She was no stray cat or dog.
Even if the incident had happened suddenly,
for something to pull her in without her consent spoke volumes about what had just occurred.
Ruan Mei was here as well.
Even her puppet consciousness had been dragged in, so there was no way Ruan Mei could have avoided it. That meant both of them had been swept into Kiana's Stigmata trial.
But...
Where was the tower?
Wasn't a Stigmata trial supposed to involve climbing a tower?
After observing her surroundings, she realized she was in a biological research laboratory. Looking down at herself—
She was neither in her original form nor in the form of a puppet.
She looked like she had in her youth.
Her joints were indistinguishable from those of a normal human.
After a quick examination, she confirmed that she could not use the power of the Path. Her body showed no signs of enhancement either. In fact, her physical strength was that of an ordinary person—perhaps even weaker.
Herta still didn't feel alarmed.
If anything, she found it even more interesting.
She wasn't in a hurry to find anyone. Since this was a trial, it must require completion—but there was no need to rush. She wanted to see what this place was first.
The laboratory wasn't large.
Herta skimmed through the lab's records and data. Combined with the materials present, she quickly reached a conclusion.
This place was researching Honkai-based lifeforms.
The documentation was rudimentary, filled with uncertain terminology. A brief glance told her that their understanding of Honkai energy was still extremely superficial.
There was little of value.
Herta decided to step outside and gather more information.
In her pocket, she found a card printed with her portrait and information.
It was likely an access pass.
She glanced at the title line.
Level Two Researcher.
Beyond the laboratory was a base somewhat similar to a space station. This was not the "ruins" Kiana had mentioned before. There were still many researchers moving about.
Herta casually struck up conversations with a few of them.
They behaved quite normally—almost entirely human.
Outside was a complete world.
Through careful probing and reviewing available records, Herta gradually pieced together the situation of this trial world.
Its technological level was not high—far from being capable of leaving its home planet through its own means. More than a decade ago, Honkai disasters had erupted here.
The civilization of this world had steadily retreated under Honkai's assault. Especially after the emergence of a lifeform known as a Herrscher, cities began falling in large numbers. An entire continent had even sunk permanently beneath the sea.
The downward spiral seemed irreversible.
"So to clear the trial, I have to reverse the decline—and help humanity defeat Honkai along the way?" Herta crossed her arms, studying the information before her in contemplation.
The state of this world was dire.
It was practically on the verge of total collapse.
Only a dozen or so human bases remained, struggling to survive. Despair had long since cast its shadow over everyone.
Because Jarilo-VI had originally been a world ravaged by a Stellaron, with only Belobog barely holding on, this was Herta's first time witnessing the devastation wrought by Honkai so directly.
From the records before her, it seemed comparable to a Stellaron in scale. If it spread throughout the galaxy, it would likely become another cancer upon countless worlds.
The difference was that a Stellaron gave rise to the Fragmentum.
Honkai gave birth to Herrschers.
"Save the world?" Herta smiled faintly, brimming with confidence. "That's hardly more than a side task."
The greatest value of this trial world lay in itself.
She had already tested it—there was no discernible difference between this place and reality.
And so, a world invaded by Honkai and teetering on the brink of extinction was, in itself, an excellent specimen for Honkai research.
Jarilo-VI had been complicated by too many external factors.
This world was different.
There was no Path here—only Honkai.
It was the perfect environment for conducting Honkai research.
And Herrschers were not particularly rare in this world either.
Capture one for study. Save the world along the way.
Herta saw no issue with that.
Though her body had become that of an ordinary person, and she could not wield the power of the Path, what she had always prided herself on was her intellect—and her beauty.