Bai Lu, still waiting for the plan to unfold, felt a sudden chill of foreboding. It didn't take long to understand why.
Ding-dong. Mission issued: Witness the end of the Second Honkai Eruption and ensure at least five key characters survive. Reward: 1400 Crystals. Achievement rewards unlocked.
Damn it! Why did Sirin awaken as a Herrscher ahead of schedule?!
Aside from the system notification, Bai Lu only had to glance at Sirin—now standing beside him, her eyes glowing with power—and the researchers who had vanished in an instant.
"Brother Bai Lu," Sirin said, her voice trembling with excitement, "I have immense power now! I can take you, Sister Bella, and the others and escape!"
"Then I'll destroy Schicksal. I'll make them pay for everything they did to us!"
Bai Lu looked at her—eyes burning with hatred—and fell into deep thought.
Even if they escaped, Sirin's thirst for revenge would remain. Otto wouldn't stop. The cycle would repeat. And Bai Lu's mission would fail.
They couldn't run. They had to change things from within.
"Sirin," he said gently, "Schicksal isn't something we can defeat right now. And the real source of our pain isn't just Schicksal—it's Otto, the Overseer. He's the one behind all this."
"I promise you, I'll help you get revenge. But not yet."
Sirin clenched her fists. "Why? I'm strong now! Those hypocrites deserve to die!"
Bai Lu ruffled her hair. "Not everyone is evil. Some people are kind. If we kill indiscriminately, we become the very monsters we hate."
Sirin hesitated.
Seeing her waver, Bai Lu pressed on. "We need strength—real strength—before we can face Otto. I know you don't want to become the person you despise. Bella and I don't want that for you either."
Sirin's voice cracked. "But they killed so many children… I can't forgive them."
"You're right. They're not human anymore. They're beasts. And they will pay."
Bai Lu had seen too much. Every day, lifeless bodies of children with low Honkai adaptability were dragged away. He'd wanted to lash out, to destroy those monsters—but reason had kept him in check.
Now, things had changed. The plan was ruined. The time for restraint was over.
Because Bella and the others were still alive, Sirin wasn't consumed by rage. This time, she listened.
News of the mysterious disappearance of 322 researchers from Babylon Tower spread like wildfire. Both Schicksal and Anti-Entropy mobilized.
Theresa, enjoying a rare moment with Kiana and her family, received an urgent directive from Otto. She and Patrick led a Valkyrie squad to investigate.
Meanwhile, Welt, Einstein, and Dr. Tesla deployed Anti-Entropy's Titan mechs to the Siberian facility.
February 2, 2000 — Babylon Tower
Theresa and Patrick arrived at the snow-covered tower. Bai Lu and the others couldn't risk letting anyone escape, so they remained hidden inside.
In the depths of the tower, Patrick and Theresa heard faint cries. Following the sound, they discovered the underground prison—filled with young girls, locked away and broken.
Theresa's heart sank. The children stared at her with fear.
She broke the iron bars and extended her hand. "Come. You're safe now."
She remembered the artificial island she'd requested from Otto—a sanctuary for girls like these.
"You'll have a place to live and study. When you're ready, you can return to a normal life… or become Valkyries yourselves."
Bella and the others boarded a transport plane bound for St. Freya Academy.
Patrick and Theresa continued investigating. The residual Honkai energy and reactor anomalies left Patrick deep in thought. Though they found no direct clues, Theresa's disgust for the facility grew.
Sirin stood before the Honkai reactor, absorbing its energy. Her strength surged. She felt invincible.
Then a voice echoed from the doorway.
"This is as far as you go, Miss Herrscher."
Patrick, armed with twin rocket launchers, stepped forward.
Sirin sneered at the Schicksal emblem on her chest. "You came alone?"
"I'm enough. Too many would only alert the enemy."
Suppressing her fury, Sirin replied, "Those researchers told me we should feel honored to be sacrificed for Valkyries. That our suffering was noble."
"To hell with your honor. I won't be your sacrifice."
Patrick raised her weapon. "Then taste suffering."
Just as she fired, space distorted—and Patrick vanished.
The next morning, Theresa was stunned.
"What?! Patrick is missing?!"
Only traces of blood and her weapon remained near the reactor. An A-rank Valkyrie, gone without a trace.
Otto dispatched the Snow Wolf squad and Siegfried. Anti-Entropy's forces arrived five kilometers from the tower.
Then, Patrick reappeared—severely wounded.
"I'm sorry, Supreme Leader. She awakened."
"You've done well," Welt said, rubbing his temples.
Inside Babylon Tower, Sirin seethed. Theresa's presence near the reactor irritated her. Bai Lu was out preparing something. Bella and the others were gone.
She felt alone.
Then, a small Honkai Beast appeared.
"Oh? You can lure them away?"
Knowledge surged into her mind—methods of summoning Honkai Beasts.
She unleashed them across the Siberian plains. Theresa's forces were diverted.
Approaching Welt's group, Bai Lu cursed under his breath.
"Damn it, Sirin! You can't betray your teammates like this!"
Suddenly, Titan mechs surrounded him. Bai Lu raised his hands.
A calm, commanding voice rang out:
"Who are you? Why are you here?"