As the battle between Siegfried and the Second Herrscher erupted, Theresa, who was far away, noticed the signs of the fight.
The light from Judgement of Shamash was too dazzling, standing out starkly in the silent snowfield.
Thus, Theresa immediately rushed over with Kiana in tow.
However, the distance was still considerable, and it would take at least ten minutes to reach the scene.
"Theresa, please tell Cecilia I'm sorry. I have to use the Zeroth Power."
After sending this final message, Siegfried didn't wait to see if Theresa had received it. He raised Judgement of Shamash high.
"Judgement of Shamash, Zeroth Power—Heaven's Flame, Draw!"
In an instant, a blaze bright enough to light up the night sky erupted. The once-dark snowfield was now illuminated, and the intense heat melted the snow.
Even Theresa and Kiana, who were far away, could feel the scorching temperature.
Theresa's pupils constricted in shock.
"That idiot Siegfried actually chose to go down with the Second Herrscher! Hurry, we might still be able to save him."
Although she knew the chances were slim, as Siegfried's friend and Cecilia's close confidante, Theresa didn't want little Kiana to grow up without a father.
Kiana, however, didn't understand what Theresa meant.
She asked in confusion, "Theresa-senpai, what do you mean? Why would Siegfried go down with the Herrscher?"
"That guy's Judgement of Shamash can unleash its Zeroth Power. Judgement of Shamash is a Divine Key from the Previous Era. When he uses Heaven's Flame, the temperature approaches that of a dying star. Even the user will be burned by the heat. No member of the Kaslana family who has used it has ever survived."
Grabbing Kiana, Theresa explained while running at full speed.
Thanks to her terrifying Honkai beast genes, Theresa didn't know the meaning of fatigue.
Soon, the journey that would have taken over ten minutes was completed in just six minutes at Theresa's top speed.
By the time they arrived, the battle had already ended. All that remained was a white-haired woman using Black Abyss White Flower to heal Siegfried.
"Cecilia, why are you here?"
"Hehe, how could I not come when my husband is out fighting a Herrscher? But it seems I arrived just in time. At least Siegfried's life is saved."
Looking at Siegfried lying on her lap, Cecilia breathed a sigh of relief.
Although Siegfried's skin was peeling off in black layers, new flesh was already growing.
"That guy Siegfried is really lucky. Seriously, I told him to wait for us. Why did he have to be so reckless?"
Theresa couldn't help but tease Siegfried.
But then she looked around and noticed the absence of the Second Herrscher's body.
"Where's the Second Herrscher? Siegfried used Heaven's Flame. There's no way the Herrscher could have survived."
"I don't know. Maybe she really is still alive. After all, this Second Herrscher is different from the previous ones and even the Herrschers recorded in the Previous Era's data.
She doesn't just have the Authority of Space. She also has the Authorities of Wind, Thunder, Fire, Life, Death, and even the Authority of Reason."
Cecilia shook her head, indicating she didn't know.
After healing Siegfried for a while and ensuring he would survive, Cecilia slowly stood up.
"The Second Herrscher must be at her limit now. Theresa, please take Siegfried back. I'll go and finish her off."
Handing Siegfried to Theresa, Cecilia prepared to personally hunt down the Second Herrscher.
As she carried Siegfried, Theresa looked at Cecilia with concern.
"Are you sure you can handle this alone? You know the Second Herrscher just survived Siegfried's Heaven's Flame."
"I don't know, but I have to do this. If I don't take her down now while she's weakened, there won't be another chance."
"This..."
"Theresa-senpai, let me go with Cecilia-sama. I may not be as strong as her, but I can handle some Honkai beasts."
Just as Theresa hesitated, Kiana stepped forward and volunteered to accompany Cecilia.
Theresa glanced at Kiana, then at Cecilia.
Cecilia nodded. "Alright, I'll protect you."
"Eh? Shouldn't I be the one protecting Cecilia-sama?"
Hearing that the person she was supposed to protect was offering to protect her, Kiana scratched her head in confusion.
"Protecting the younger generation is also the duty of a senior, isn't it? Let's go, to the Tower of Babylon."
Smiling at Kiana, Cecilia picked up Black Abyss White Flower and headed toward the Tower of Babylon.
Her intuition told her that the Second Herrscher had fled to the Tower of Babylon. After all, that place held significant meaning for her, in many ways.
Seeing Cecilia move forward, Kiana quickly followed.
Theresa, meanwhile, could only take Siegfried, who was in critical condition, back for treatment.
Along the way, noticing the heavy atmosphere, Cecilia initiated a conversation with Kiana.
It had to be said, Cecilia was a very gentle senior. Otherwise, she wouldn't have so many Valkyries following her, even to the point of bending their orientations.
With Cecilia starting the conversation, Kiana opened up and talked about many things, including her friends. Eventually, she even revealed her name.
"Eh, your name is the same as my Kiana's? What a coincidence."
"Right? I think so too, hehe."
Scratching her head, Kiana grinned at her mother.
Although she had few memories of her mother, talking to her again, even in this fabricated world, filled Kiana with excitement.
But the more excited she became, the calmer her mind grew.
She vaguely remembered having many dreams, one of which featured a purple figure telling her that Cecilia had died during the Second Honkai War—this very war.
Kiana didn't know if it was true, but she didn't want that to happen, even if this was just a virtual simulation.
When the two reached the base of the Tower of Babylon, Cecilia stopped.
"Before we go in to face the Herrscher, I have a small request. I hope you can grant it, Kiana."
"Cecilia-sama, please tell me. I won't refuse."
"Then, can you call me 'Mom'?"