Kiana gave the gory ground below a cool glance—Honkai Beasts and Borisin corpses tangled together—and flicked her wrist. A man-sized void yawned open behind her.
Just as she was about to step through the Imaginary Gate, her body jolted; she bit her lip and pressed a hand to her brow.
Her left eye blazed sapphire, confusion flickering across it.
A moment later the blue gaze swept the Honkai Beasts below, understanding dawning.
"Thank you… other me."
"Hmph, so you know I exist. Then you also know—"
"Yes… I know everything… all of it."
Before the Herrscher consciousness could finish, Kiana seized control of their mouth and cut her off.
Kiana's voice was perfectly calm—utterly unlike what the Queen had expected.
Instead of the mental collapse she'd anticipated, Kiana was eerily serene.
The Queen was left speechless; those memories had been her trump card to break Kiana.
Now the girl knew it all, yet her emotions barely rippled.
While the two spoke, the Borisin hesitated to advance after that bizarre attack.
For a moment the scene froze in stalemate.
Relieved they weren't pressing the assault, Kiana exhaled.
Her real goal was to persuade the Queen; only then could she drive off the Borisin—or even erase the Abyssal Star.
She had to become a true Herrscher, her body strengthened enough to unleash Ultra Instinct.
"You know as well as I do—we're the same person, extensions of Sirin's consciousness."
"…"
The golden pupil trembled; the Queen offered no denial.
She hadn't expected Kiana to grasp the truth so completely.
As Kiana said: the Queen was Sirin's malice, while Kiana was Sirin's yearning for goodness.
That was why she'd tried to crush Kiana—to make her break and vanish forever.
As malice incarnate, she carried every negative memory Sirin had of humanity.
She even bore the recollection of Babylon Tower's inhuman experiments.
She loathed mankind and longed to shatter every shred of beauty—
—including her own hidden desire for it.
"Is that all you wanted to say?"
"No. I know I can't offer grand arguments, and I know how deeply you despise humans…"
Kiana paused, sincerity shining in her eyes.
"I don't ask you to forgive everyone—only to give me a chance, and those who still harbor kindness.
Let my eyes show you the world's brighter side…"
"Hah. This world was never bright, and once you're gone the body will be mine anyway."
The Queen snorted, yet her tone had softened—if only slightly.
She could feel Kiana's emotions, the genuine reach across the divide.
"We spring from the same Sirin—why so eager to destroy each other?" Kiana sighed.
Having laid the groundwork, it was time for the finishing move; if this failed, she was out of plans.
"Please… even if you only accept me for now… Big Sister!"
"?!!"
The Queen's golden eyes went wide.
Seeing it work, Kiana pressed on before the Borisin regrouped.
"Ever since I learned of you, I've wished for an older sister—to shop with, share meals, do everything together."
"…"
"A family sitting around the table, laughing as we trade stories of our day."
"Stop!"
The Queen's shout rang out.
The Borisin below, watching the girl argue with herself, began to creep closer.
Kiana's worry spiked.
"Sis, please—just try to believe in me!"
"Join me—let's remake this world into the beautiful place you and I—and Sirin—truly want!"
Hand over her heart, Kiana cried out.
"…"
The Queen's golden lashes trembled, then closed. Her lips parted.
"Tch. I'm tired. Borrow my power for now—clean up these vermin."
With that she sank into the depths of Kiana's mind, leaving one last line:
"Don't you dare die, vessel. You promised to show me beauty. Break that promise and I'll wipe out humanity myself."
"I won't break it…"
A smile curved Kiana's lips.
She opened herself to the herrscher core, soft light enveloping her.
Moments later her appearance transformed.
The tattered sailor uniform vanished.
In its place: a black off-shoulder dress armored in white, violet streaks and gold runes; four Honkai veins trailed from the hem.
Silvery-white hair floated behind her, long and weightless.
Natural curls framed her face; twin feather ornaments perched above, three spikes hovered at each shoulder, golden embroidery hidden in the skirt.
Within her azure irises glowed a diamond-cross pattern ringed in gold.
"Herrscher power—but only a trickle of Honkai Energy. My body's far stronger now."
She flexed her pale hand, testing its strength.
With this foundation she could push Ultra Instinct further.
Kiana closed her eyes, relaxing until instinct alone remained.
A silver energy unlike Honkai Energy rippled out, tracing her form in luminous lines.
Far away, Liza—just regenerated—suddenly lost all sense of her.
Yet she was still visible—
Kiana vanished like smoke.
Liza blinked—and Kiana's ghostly form appeared before him.
He threw up an arm on reflex, but she was already behind him, silver flashing as countless unseen fists slammed into his body.
The barrage sent the wolfman rocketing through bulkhead after bulkhead, punching clear through the entire warship.
Still flying, Liza streaked straight toward the Abyssal Star.
The planet's surface split and swallowed him whole.
Inside the ship the pack, leaderless, panicked and hurled themselves at Kiana.
She twisted through attacks no human joints should allow.
A final flicker carried her into open space—an argent meteor that pierced the warship from end to end.