『 "Lady Cecilia, please let me fight alongside you!" Kiana shouted, looking at Cecilia with determination.
"Kiana, it's dangerous here. Get back to the safe house, quickly!"
Kiana shook her head. "No, I can't hide in a safe place while completely ignoring your safety!"
"My dad said that one must give everything to protect the people they love the most."
Kiana's voice grew louder and more resolute. "So, I will also do everything in my power to protect Lady Cecilia! I can be of use too!"
"Kiana…" Cecilia sighed. "What your father said sounds a lot like someone I know. I seem to see his shadow in you as well."
"…I understand. Please forgive my previous rudeness. I won't force you to leave anymore."
"You're right. If not for your help just now, I might have already died at the hands of the Second Herrscher."
"You are an excellent and reliable warrior. Please fight by my side, Kiana."
Hearing this, Kiana nodded excitedly. "Yes!"
"However, there is still one problem." Cecilia suddenly asked, looking at the happy Kiana.
"Eh? What is it!?" Kiana was a bit bewildered.
"Kiana… I'm only 24 years old! Don't call me mother, call me big sister! Got it?" 』
『 ....』
〘Hanabi〙: Lmao.
〘Kiana Kaslana〙: If I call her big sister, what should I call Theresa?
〘Fu Hua〙: You should call her eldest sister…
〘Theresa Apocalypse〙: I don't want to have such a silly younger sister…
....
『 With that, Cecilia smiled as she pinched Kiana's cheek, making Kiana cry out in pain.
"Ow, ow, ow, ow! Don't pinch me, Lady Cecilia!"
Cecilia let go of Kiana's cheek. "We can't let our guard down yet, Kiana."
"The Second Herrscher has gone deeper inside. We must catch up to her quickly."
Kiana nodded, and the two of them headed deeper. But when they passed through the iron gate, the sight behind it was far too horrifying.
It was a long corridor, but it was not lined with walls. Instead, it was filled with rows of green incubation capsules, and inside each capsule was a living human. 』
『 ....』
〘Mobius〙: Even with the information left behind from our previous era, humanity still ended up conducting this kind of experiment after all…
....
『 As the two went deeper, some of the girls inside the incubation capsules broke out to stop them.
The girls blocked their way numbly. Cecilia stared at their lifeless eyes, stunned. She seemed to understand something.
After dealing with the blocking zombies, Cecilia and Kiana stopped in front of a door.
"Is the final fate of the children locked up here to end up like this…" Cecilia looked at the corpses of the zombies behind her and muttered with her head lowered.
"Those 'doctors,' in order to strengthen their Honkai resistance, stripped away their emotions and memories, turning them into puppets that only know how to obey orders and fight."
"What difference is there between doing this and killing them…" 』
『 ....』
〘Su〙: Doing such atrocious things under the guise of being doctors…
〘Pardofelis〙: Oh my god! Brother Su opened his eyes!
〘Kalpas〙: Excellent! Otto! You are doing great! Let me burn you to ashes!
〘Herta〙: Disgusting research.
....
『 Kiana seemed to notice something. She squatted down and picked up an object—it was a test tube.
"Lady Cecilia, look… the empty test tube here has '051 Sirin' written on it."
Looking at the test tube in Kiana's hand, Cecilia suddenly realized. "I see… Was the Second Herrscher also once a victim here…"
"Kiana, would you mind listening to me say a few more words?"
"What is it, Lady Cecilia?"
"I've always had a dream. There are still many children in the world who are born with Honkai resistance." Cecilia's eyes were filled with yearning.
"I want to build an academy just for them. Whether they are Valkyries or the children here…"
"They should all grow up like normal people, rather than becoming victims of war."
"…We must never let the dangers in this tower happen again."
"So, if possible, would you be willing to help me realize this dream together?"
Cecilia reached her hand out to Kiana, looking at her expectantly. 』
『 ....』
〘Stelle〙: Her personal charm is completely maxed out.
....
『 Kiana grasped Cecilia's outstretched hand and nodded firmly. "Of course, Lady Cecilia! Please let me walk alongside you!"
"Haha, great! Then we must first consider where to build the academy."
"I heard that there is a very beautiful small island in the Far East…" 』
『 ....』
〘Raven〙: It's definitely not as beautiful as the one I chose.
....
『 Before Cecilia could continue, a sound came from inside the laboratory.
Cecilia shrugged helplessly. "It seems my academy plan has to be put on hold for a moment. Let's go."
Once the two of them arrived at the core area of Babylon Labs, Kiana looked up and saw the Second Herrscher overhead.
"I've spotted the Second Herrscher; she's at the top of the tower!"
Cecilia also looked up and saw the Second Herrscher revealing a mocking smile at them, though it could not hide her current weakened state. "She looks very weak. It seems the attack just now dealt a lot of damage to her."
"Don't miss this opportunity. It's time to end all of this!"
With that, the two walked toward the top of the tower, conversing along the way.
"Thank you, Kiana."
"Without you, I definitely wouldn't have been able to make it here alone."
"It's really strange. Even though this is the first time I'm meeting you."
"Yet, there is always an incredibly close feeling."
"It's as if… I have always been watching over you…"
"Lady Cecilia… I…"
Hearing Cecilia's words, Kiana felt a surge of strength within her.
"I have also heard many things about Lady Cecilia."
"But to see you with my own eyes… this is the first time."
"Although I was very nervous before, now I am certain."
"Just thinking of you fills my heart with courage."
"As long as you are by my side, I feel like I can do anything!"
"I… will definitely protect Lady Cecilia!" 』
『 ....』
〘Hanabi〙: The death flags are completely planted.
〘Belle〙: I feel like something big is coming.
....
『 "The Second Herrscher is just ahead." Cecilia said solemnly, looking at the tower top that was drawing closer.
"So, are you ready, Kiana?"
"Yes! We will absolutely not lose!" Kiana replied firmly.
Following the familiar white transition screen.
The Second Herrscher cried out in pain, "Ugh, how… is this possible?!"
The camera then focused on the Abyss Flower.
"Rest in peace, Second Herrscher."
"No… Miss Sirin." 』
『 ....』
〘Herrscher of the Void〙: No, even if it's fake, this is too fake. Did you just fill in these stats randomly? @Otto
〘Otto Apocalypse〙: Ahaha…
....
『 Kiana rushed in front of Cecilia and hugged her, cheering, "We succeeded, we did it!!"
Cecilia gently patted Kiana's head. "You really are like a child."
"Lady Cecilia, can you let me hug you for a little longer? Just a little longer."
"Yes, you can hug me for as long as you want."
"Thank you for your hard work, Kiana."
"Kiana, why are you here!?" Theresa looked at Kiana in shock. 』
『 ....』
〘Theresa Apocalypse〙: It seems this is the real me.
〘Hanabi〙: Here it comes, raising hopes just to crush them. I'm all too familiar with this.
....
『 Kiana let go of her mother and pointed a hand at Theresa, laughing, "Theresa? Haha, you came back too slowly."
"The Second Herrscher has already been defeated by me and Lady Cecilia!"
"Eh? What are you talking about, Kiana?"
"There is no one else here at all…"
"What silly things are you saying? Lady Cecilia is standing right by my…"
The camera pulled back, showing only Kiana in the frame, with no trace of Cecilia's existence.
"…side…"
"Eh?!"
The data space around Kiana became unstable once again.
"Mom…!"
Until finally, the surroundings turned into piles of gray blocks. Kiana returned to reality, blankly reaching out her hand toward the spot where her mother had been.
"How did you sneak into this data space?"
"Hurry and come back with me; the things here…"
Before Theresa could finish speaking, smoke suddenly rose all around, and the sound of Theresa resisting came from behind Kiana.
"LET GO OF ME!!!"
As the smoke cleared, an unexpected person appeared—Fu Hua.
"To avoid interfering with our mission, please exit for the time being, Principal."
"Kiana, your mother is not here." 』
『 ....』
〘Elysia〙: It's Hua. But why does something feel off? Did you use Fenghuang Down too much?
〘Fu Hua〙: Probably…
〘Elysia〙: Oh, you, really. Come to the Realm when you have time.
....