Amid the blue-and-white flowers, the white-haired girl's eyelashes fluttered slightly before she opened those flawless azure eyes.
"Aaahhh, how did I never notice before? Our Kiana has grown up—she's so beautiful!"
"My daughter has come of age—Flamescion draws her sword, her spirit unmatched!"
"Truly beautiful like a painting—she's super ultra mega TM adorable Kiana!"
"Kiana is beautiful like a painting—come to think of it, Kiana is the real female lead!"
"Kiana, charge!"
"…"
Not only were viewers nationwide stunned by the beauty, they went crazy spamming "ca11" in the group chat.
At the company.
Kiana herself was floored by the version of herself on screen and said in disbelief: "This, this… is this really me?"
"Mei, Bronya, hurry up and pinch me—is this really me?"
It wasn't until Theresa, annoyed by the noise, gave Kiana's already not-so-bright head a whack.
Only then did the girl start giggling foolishly.
Theresa panicked: "Oh no, I didn't actually knock Kiana stupid, did I?"
Of course—that was impossible.
Hessian was also admiring his own handiwork and couldn't help boasting: "As expected of me!"
Mobius and SAKURA both shot him a glance; even the former, who usually couldn't stand Hessian, didn't say anything.
Because the shot was so stunningly good that they almost didn't recognize this as the same silly braided girl.
On the television.
The sleeping-beauty version of Kiana slowly awoke: "Where… am I…"
Only as the foggy consciousness from her slumber gradually cleared could Kiana finally think a little.
"Just now… was that Bronya's voice?"
"Bronya… why would she come to Schicksal HQ…"
The next moment, the full scene came into view and instantly captured Kiana's attention.
The vista spread out before her was filled with an incomprehensible sense of disorder.
In short, it didn't look like anything a waking person should see.
"…?!"
Confusion and bewilderment appeared on Kiana's face. Even though companions had personally set foot here before.
And had given her detailed descriptions…
She still couldn't immediately recognize where she was.
Or rather, this strange space called the Sea of Quanta was never a concept that could be easily understood or clearly explained.
Rubbing her forehead, Kiana murmured: "Am I… dreaming?"
"But… before this, I should have just arrived at Schicksal's training ground, right?"
"And then I just fell asleep on my own… and started having a lucid dream…"
That was very strange, because after truly mastering the power of the Herrscher.
Kiana's sleep had always been deep and peaceful; she no longer dreamed like she used to.
But Kiana quickly stopped dwelling on it.
"…Well, whatever. Experiencing this kind of inconvenience after so long actually feels kind of fresh."
Even now, Kiana seemed unable to fully grasp the situation.
Instead, she subtly conflated it with the dream-like state the Herrscher core had once forced upon her.
"Makes sense. Since I can't wake up on my own, I might as well look around."
"Maybe… I'll unexpectedly uncover some interesting memories?"
With this whimsical thought, Kiana began to move.
Not long after, she heard Bronya's voice.
"Hmph, piece of cake."
Kiana immediately brightened: "It really is Bronya's voice… I didn't mishear earlier."
So the girl actively ran toward the source of the sound and saw a familiar figure.
But the moment she got close—before she could even reach out to touch her.
The form she had just seen vanished like a bubble.
Kiana murmured: "Unstable to that degree?"
"But… Bronya in my dream actually feels this lively?"
"Kind of unexpected."
From Kiana's perspective, she was simply having a strange lucid dream right now.
But the audience, with their omniscient view, had noticed many things wrong long ago.
For example, that fleeting Bronya from earlier—her appearance alone was obviously off.
"Hahahaha… HAHAHAHA!!"
A very healthy burst of laughter rang out, instantly letting Kiana guess who the laugher was.
"Strange… why would I dream of the Herrscher of Sentience?"
Before Kiana could think it through, the Herrscher of Sentience's voice rang out again:
"Yeah, Kevin—we've ultimately walked different paths after all."
"Friends or enemies—choose!"
Those two short sentences instantly prompted countless viewers to spam question marks in the group chat.
Little Sentience, why are you reciting Kevin's lines?
But Kiana had no mood to roast; she once again followed the voice to find its source.
The result was obvious. Watching the Herrscher of Sentience vanish like a bubble, Kiana thought:
"Same as before…"
Before Kiana could ponder further, Bronya's voice came again.
"Damn it, I still can't use it smoothly after all…"
Kiana said instinctively: "Bronya?"
Only at this moment did Kiana finally notice something off.
"…Bronya, where are you?"
"Could it be… this isn't…"
Seeming to realize something, Kiana began purposefully exploring the surroundings.
Not long after, she encountered somewhat illusory monsters.
Seeing this, Kiana pursed her lips: "As expected, this probably isn't a dream at all."
"But why would I…"
Instinctively, Kiana tried to use her Herrscher authority to fight back, but her consciousness felt as if it had been struck hard.
The girl let out a muffled groan, and the monster seized the chance to attack.
Kiana could only dodge while looking for an opening to counter.
"The Herrscher authority… can't be used freely?"
Though she quickly dealt with the monster using raw physical ability, Kiana still couldn't figure it out.
She kept exploring, kept eliminating monsters, and gradually began to feel the strain.
Especially when a new wave appeared—their strength was clearly on another level.
Just as Kiana braced herself, ready for a tough fight.
"Kiana!"
Bronya's voice suddenly rang out, followed immediately by an attack blasting toward the monsters.
"Heavy Bunny, full armament deployment!"
With Heavy Bunny's power, the monsters were easily wiped out.
Kiana looked joyfully toward the petite voice and said: "Bronya? It's really you!"
Bronya also looked at Kiana with concern and asked: "Are you okay, Kiana?"
Kiana scratched her head: "Mm, thanks to Bronya."
"But what exactly is going on?"
"Those monsters seem…"
Bronya answered without hesitation: "They are Quantum Shadows… and this place is undoubtedly the Sea of Quanta."
Kiana said thoughtfully: "Sea of Quanta? So the things I saw earlier…"
Bronya confirmed: "Probably projections scattered between world bubbles."
"…"
After thinking for a moment, Kiana asked puzzledly: "But… entering the Sea of Quanta shouldn't be as easy as just falling asleep, right?"
"Before waking up, I remember… I was at Schicksal's training ground."
"Right, Durandal had just arrived, and I even greeted her."
Bronya, unsurprised, said: "As expected, perhaps it has something to do with so-called compatibility levels."
"Bronya even arrived here while fully awake."
"At the time… the spatial fluctuation happened without any warning."
"So we can't completely rule out the possibility that our current situation is just some large-scale illusion."
Kiana thought of something and said: "You mean… like when we encountered the Herrscher of Sentience at Taixu Mountain?"
Bronya was a little surprised but still nodded: "Mm. Though aside from that somewhat absurd scenario."
"The only remaining possibility is—some power capable of ignoring spatial and target restrictions."
"Forcibly transferring the other party and sealing them in the Sea of Quanta."
"Compared to that… perhaps the illusion possibility is a bit more comforting."
Kiana asked puzzledly: "Comforting?"
Bronya explained: "If this kind of mass forced transfer is a real method…"
"It definitely wouldn't be used only on us."
"But on the flip side, although it feels subtly different from when Bronya entered the Sea Abyss Eye…"
"There are also no flaws here that would mark it as an illusion."
"So even if this really is just an illusion—the one who wove it must understand the Sea of Quanta extremely well."
Kiana followed up: "Then… what did you mean by that subtle difference earlier?"
Bronya continued: "Bronya believes that in this place, there exists a theoretically almost impossible special situation."
"How should I put it…"
"…"
"Mm, the patch of affiliated Sea of Quanta space we're in could be said to have been conquered."
"Although the principle can't be confirmed yet, it seems a certain world bubble broke through its limits."
"Turning this small patch of sea into its own satellite or subordinate unit."
Hearing Bronya's explanation, Kiana couldn't help saying: "This… is that possible?"
Bronya shook her head: "Normally impossible, unless…"
"No… regardless, if we don't try to leave this place, all speculation is meaningless."
"…"
Kiana didn't reply but looked toward the distance, where Quantum Shadows had appeared again.
These monsters seemed to respawn on a timer.
Bronya said: "This is also one of the reasons we must leave."
Seeing the Quantum Shadows launch attacks, Kiana quickly asked: "They look like existences that can't be eradicated."
"Bronya, what do we do next?"
Bronya said calmly: "Bronya will use the earlier method to provide fire support and clear a path."
"Kiana, break through in that direction."
Kiana replied without hesitation: "Got it!"
Working together, the two easily shook off the Quantum Shadows.
Once out of danger, Kiana asked: "This direction… is there something special about it?"
Bronya explained: "Before noticing us, these Quantum Shadows were all heading steadily in that special direction."
"Like… they were gathering forces there."
Kiana continued: "Does this have anything to do with what you said earlier about conquering the Sea of Quanta?"
Bronya shook her head: "I don't know, but… something is definitely off."
Kiana couldn't help sighing: "But… even Bronya's Herrscher authority can't be used normally?"
"This shouldn't be a side effect that comes automatically from being in the Sea of Quanta, right?"
The surrounding Quantum Shadows were growing more numerous. While providing support, Bronya said: "Mm, this is exactly another inexplicable matter."
"It's very likely that what the other side is targeting is…"
At this point, Bronya shook her head again: "No, the evidence isn't sufficient yet."
"It's too early to make that judgment. I hope things aren't developing in the direction Bronya is worried about."
Even though she said that, both Bronya and Kiana had already mentally prepared for the worst.
After shaking off another batch of Quantum Shadows, the two finally reached their destination.
They saw a massive cluster of Quantum Shadow monsters gathered together, seemingly attacking something.
Kiana said uncertainly: "They're attacking… space?"
Bronya, unsurprised, said: "As expected, this kind of conquest-like behavior also demands a considerable price."
"These Quantum Shadows aren't the executors of the conquest—they're its result."
Kiana said thoughtfully: "Incorporating a small portion of other spaces in the Sea of Quanta into a world bubble."
"And in turn bringing itself an endless stream of enemies…"
"In other words, that place should be something like the connection point at the Sea Abyss Eye?"
"But with this kind of endless scale, breaking through would…"
Bronya spoke: "In a situation where authority can't be used, at minimum we'd need a third force aside from us to assist from the side."
Kiana rubbed her chin: "In that case… maybe we shouldn't rush forward?"
"Although I don't know much theory… no one can guarantee the world bubble on the other side bears us any goodwill, right?"
Bronya hesitated: "That's true, but…"
After a long silence, Kiana asked: "What's wrong, Bronya?"
Bronya spoke: "We should split up and act separately."
"Compared to staying in the Sea of Quanta and endlessly tangling with the shadows."
"The potential risks from the world bubble on the other side might actually be smaller."
"If we just keep spinning our wheels here, we can only passively wait for someone else to rescue us…"
"And finding the reason for the restricted Herrscher authority would be completely out of reach."
"Bronya will use Heavy Bunny to try drawing these Quantum Shadows away."
"What comes next… should be something Kiana is better at."
Kiana said: "You want me to… try breaking through the spatial barrier here during that time?"
Bronya nodded: "Mm. You can use brute force to pry it open."
"And then… try to find a new path, or that hypothetical force we imagined."