As Theresa and the others, aboard the Anti-Entropy-modified Hyperion, sped toward Schicksal, Bella appeared on the deck.
However, she was no longer in her human form but had taken on her true form as Benares.
"The Queen sent me to assist you. Are you ready?"
"Hey, hey, Anti-Entropy will be here soon. Don't say things like that. If they overhear, we won't have any villains left to play."
Hearing Benares so blatantly reveal their plans, Himeko, holding her greatsword, couldn't help but complain.
In response, Benares scratched her head with her claw.
"Sorry, the Queen didn't tell me about this. I don't understand."
"Your script doesn't include any lines, so just follow the actions. Oh, and don't go all out. Just act."
"Understood."
Beep beep beep—!
At that moment, Theresa, in the Hyperion's cockpit, received a mysterious communication.
"Hey, Theresa, our radar has detected a massive energy signature above your Hyperion. What's going on there?"
"We seem to have been discovered by the Second Herrscher's servant from the Second Honkai Eruption. Himeko is currently engaging her in combat."
"I see. Hold on a little longer. Anti-Entropy's reinforcements will arrive soon."
"Thank you."
After ending the call, Theresa silently apologized to the Anti-Entropy members in her heart.
Sorry, sorry. Someone has to play the villain in this script, and it has to be you.
"Himeko, drive that Honkai beast away!"
"Understood."
Hearing Theresa's shout, Himeko knew the script had begun. She turned to Benares.
Without further communication, a single glance was enough for both to understand what needed to be done.
The battle began.
...
"Miss Rita, are we really okay just sitting here drinking tea?"
Looking at the serene little garden, where Rita was elegantly sitting at a white stone table sipping coffee, Fu Hua couldn't help but feel a little out of place.
Everyone was like this. She was the only one diligently following the script.
She hadn't even changed a single line, reciting everything word for word.
Wasn't this just bullying the honest ones?
"Don't worry, Miss Fu Hua. Such a small change won't affect the overall plan. As long as the important characters don't notice, the core of the story remains intact."
Taking a sip of her coffee, Rita spoke nonchalantly.
She even poured a cup for Fu Hua.
But Fu Hua declined, shaking her head and pushing the cup back.
"I'm not used to this. Never mind. I'll go follow my script now."
Fu Hua couldn't do anything about their laziness. After all, she couldn't out-argue them.
As long as she stuck to her part, it didn't matter what the others did, as long as they didn't deviate too much.
Watching Fu Hua's retreating figure, Rita shook her head gently.
"This senior seems a bit out of touch with the times. Can't she loosen up a bit?"
Rita felt that Fu Hua's thinking was a bit rigid, almost like someone with social anxiety.
But at the same time, she found Fu Hua's demeanor oddly charming. Many women seemed to like Fu Hua's type.
After all, she exuded an air of intensity, which must feel special when pinched.
At this thought, Rita's face turned slightly red.
Come to think of it, would Durandal also have that kind of intensity?
While Rita was lost in thought, Fu Hua had long since left.
...
As the Hyperion approached Schicksal's airspace, Theresa grew increasingly excited.
The script had already deviated in many places, and she wasn't sure if the Herrscher of the Void would still take Mei.
But fortunately, the next moment, the Hyperion's systems delivered reassuring news.
"Detecting abnormal spatial fluctuations in the vicinity. Detecting abnormal spatial fluctuations in the vicinity."
In the next second, Mei felt her body being pulled, and she fell backward.
When she reappeared, she found herself being carried in a princess carry.
"Ki... Kiana?"
The person holding her was Kiana. Mei couldn't believe it.
The person she had wanted to rescue was now right in front of her.
For a moment, Mei wondered if she was having a nightmare.
"Kiana, are you okay?"
"Okay? I'm great. Never been better, hahaha—!"
As Kiana answered, her laughter made Mei doubt whether this was really Kiana.
In the next moment, Kiana's once sapphire-blue eyes turned into a menacing gold.
"My other half, I never thought you'd return to my embrace like this. This is perfect, as if the heavens are helping me."
Sirin then reached out to extract Mei's Herrscher core for her own use.
Realizing her intent, Mei quickly reacted.
Breaking free from Sirin's hold, Mei quickly stepped back.
"You're not Kiana!"
"Hmph, are you talking about that idiot? Her body is quite useful. Since you like her so much, why don't you offer me your core? I'll let you two be together forever."
"Never! I will definitely save Kiana!"
"Hmph, to face a Herrscher, you must use the power of a Herrscher. Coward, use this power to save her."
As a purple lightning figure said this, she merged into Mei's body.
In an instant, Mei felt an overwhelming surge of power flow into her.
At the same time, the bomb buried near her heart was completely destroyed by electromagnetic force.
"Fight!"
Soon, Sirin and Mei, now wielding the power of the Herrscher of Thunder, clashed.
However, because Sirin was using Kiana's body, Mei was extremely cautious, fearing that Kiana might lose an arm when she returned.
But Sirin had no such concerns. After all, these were Kiana's friends, not hers.
Thus, it didn't take long for Mei, who hadn't fully mastered the Herrscher of Thunder's power, to be defeated. Sirin grabbed her by the neck and lifted her up.
"Kiana..."
Choked and lifted into the air, Mei struggled to call out that name, even reaching out to touch Sirin's face.