After bickering with Raven, Jackal turned her attention back to Kiana in the incubation pod.
"Lord, please bear witness. All you veterans of the Previous Era, watch over me. I'm only following the script—making her suffer isn't my idea!"
After this prayer, Jackal began her performance.
A series of sharp pains roused Kiana.
Though her sense of pain had dulled significantly, she still pretended to writhe in agony—this was the only way to sell the act and distract Jackal.
"Heh. Never thought you'd be captured alive, did you, Herrscher? Do you have any idea how valuable a live specimen like you is?"
Pressing close to the observation screen, Jackal fought down her scientific curiosity.
If circumstances were different, she'd kill to dissect a Herrscher.
"Go ahead. This 'pain' is nothing. But you'd better hope I never get out—or I'll rearrange that masked face of yours."
"Still defiant, huh? Must not be hurting enough. Let's crank it up, then."
Jackal increased the intensity, and Kiana thrashed violently in response.
Kiana's acting was flawless—if Jackal didn't know better, she might've been fooled.
"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue now?"
"Spit! You monsters—experimenting on innocent people! You deserve to die!"
Kiana glared venomously at Jackal and spat.
Among the monsters she'd fought earlier, she'd recognized faces—people she'd once saved from Honkai beasts.
They'd escaped the Honkai's clutches, only to die at the hands of their own kind.
It made Kiana wonder: Which is worse—the Honkai, or humanity itself?
"Pathetic. We're the ones saving the world. So what if a few people die? They should be honored to contribute to overcoming the Honkai.
"And since you seem so opposed to our work… I wonder how you'll react when you learn the full truth.
"At the top of Shenzhou Pharmaceuticals, we've installed a Honkai reactor. Once activated, it'll bathe all of Arc City in Honkai energy.
"Those with Stigmata will awaken theirs. Those without… will perish. What do you think? A brilliant plan, isn't it?"
"...You animals!"
Kiana punched the pod's glass, shattering it instantly.
Seeing the script had reached this point, Jackal shut off the feed and bolted.
If Kiana caught her now, she'd be in for a world of pain.
"Kiana, are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine, Class Monitor. That stuff barely hurt. Right now, we need to stop their plan."
Kiana flexed her muscles and grinned, as if to prove she was unharmed.
But Fu Hua, who knew the truth, wasn't fooled.
The Honkai corruption had dulled Kiana's pain receptors—even her sense of taste was fading.
Yet Fu Hua didn't call her out. Everyone had their own way of coping.
CRASH—!
As more pods shattered, waves of monsters emerged.
Kiana grabbed her guns and charged in, cutting them down one after another.
Once the last monster fell, she heard footsteps behind her.
Whirling around, ready to fight—
—only to be engulfed in a sudden hug.
"Kiana! I found you!"
"M-Mei...?"
Hearing that voice, Kiana froze.
In the past, she would've poured her heart out to Mei.
But now, the words stuck in her throat.
"Mei, there's no time to catch up. We have to stop Shenzhou Pharmaceuticals' plan. Come with me—I'll explain on the way."
Every second counted. Grabbing Mei's hand, Kiana sprinted out while briefing her on the crisis.
Once outside, they found Rita—already clad in her Herrscher-slaying armor—waiting for them.
"Miss Kiana, do you like my 'thank-you' gift? I'm the one who called your friend here~."
"Rita, this isn't the time for games. Shenzhou Pharmaceuticals plans to detonate a Honkai reactor and engulf Arc City in Honkai energy.
"Our grudges can wait. Don't get in my way now."
"..."
ROAR—!
A monster as massive as an Emperor-class Honkai beast appeared, its power rivaling one.
Kiana knew taking it down would waste precious time.
Just as panic set in, Rita spoke.
"Little sis—ahem—Miss Kiana, I'll handle this thing. The fate of Arc City is in your hands now."
With that, Rita flashed forward and engaged the beast.
Surprised by Rita's cooperation, Kiana thanked her and rushed toward the reactor's location—exactly where Jackal had "revealed" it would be.
Along the way, Anti-Entropy-style mechs tried to stop her.
Then Raven appeared.
"Herrschers of Void and Thunder? You're not stopping this plan while I'm here."
Kiana wasn't imagining it—Raven's gaze burned with hatred.
And for good reason: Kiana had destroyed her beloved villa island.
Since she couldn't take revenge openly, she'd settle for screwing with Kiana's head in the script.
A little psychological torment would avenge her island's spirit.
"Then we fight."
Kiana had no patience for words. Who knew if talking would even work?
Fists would be faster.