For the first time, Mei truly understood her weakness. Without fully mastering her Herrscher powers, she couldn't protect anyone.
Meanwhile, Durandal rushed Kiana back to a desert base.
After confirming Kiana's stable vitals on the medical readouts, Durandal nodded and stepped out.
"Dad? What are you doing here? This doesn't concern you."
Outside the room, she found Siegfried loitering.
"Ahem, I'm just worried about Kiana. She's my daughter—of course I care!"
Having witnessed everything, Siegfried's heart had nearly stopped when Kiana fell from the sky.
"You're not going in. What if she wakes up and sees you?"
"Come on, sweetie, just a peek. She just passed out—no way she's waking up yet, right?"
Rubbing his hands, Siegfried gave his most ingratiating smile.
Durandal massaged her temples.
"Five seconds. Or I'm telling Mom."
"Deal!"
Siegfried eagerly reached for the door—only for a hand to clamp onto his shoulder.
Thinking Durandal had changed her mind, he patted it reassuringly. "Now, now, a promise is a promise. S-rank Valkyries don't go back on their word."
"...Dad. Turn around."
Durandal watched as Siegfried slowly turned to face Kevin Kaslana—their ancestor—who was smiling far too brightly.
Gulp.
"Ancestor! Fancy seeing you here! Here to check on Kiana too?"
"Nope. Heard someone was trying to skip scenes in the script. Came to investigate. And look what I found."
"But you also—"
"Shhh. Don't say it out loud. Now... let's spar."
Kevin grabbed Siegfried's face and began dragging him away.
He was in a mood after being forced to eat Mei's "home cooking." Beating up a disobedient descendant sounded perfect.
Whoever leaked my location to Mei... I'll find you.
That day, Kevin had faced a terror rivaling the Final Herrscher.
Monarch-class Honkai beast flesh. Honkai crystals. Energy cubes of dubious origin.
The taste... defied description. "Physiological rejection" barely covered it.
And now, Siegfried would bear the brunt of his frustration.
Durandal watched them go.
Not that she disapproved of her father's punishment. But even if she did, fighting their ancestor was out of the question.
"Dad... try to behave next time."
She headed to the mess hall. As a Kaslana, her appetite was legendary.
Between bites, she could hear Siegfried's distant screams. It was... oddly satisfying.
After eating, Durandal returned to Kiana's room. By her estimate, Kiana would wake soon.
Sure enough, Kiana groaned, clutching her head as she sat up.
"You're awake. How do you feel? Any discomfort?"
"Who are you? Where am I? What do you want?"
Ignoring the questions, Kiana fired back her own.
Durandal answered patiently.
"This is a Schicksal outpost. I'm Schicksal's strongest S-rank Valkyrie. As for why you're here? That's the Overseer's business. I just retrieve targets."
Closing her book, Durandal regarded Kiana with sisterly affection.
Kiana, however, remained wary. Anyone associated with Otto was an enemy in her eyes.
"Your refusal changes nothing. Your body is saturated with Honkai energy—it's leaking even while you sleep."
Standing, Durandal shook her head at Kiana's condition.
Kiana knew it was true. But this was the path she'd chosen. No matter how dark, she'd walk it to the end.
"Come. Let's train outside. Show me what you have left."
Kiana didn't resist. Escape was impossible in her current state.
Schicksal's strongest S-rank Valkyrie versus her half-crippled self? No contest.
As she followed, Kiana memorized the base's layout. When the time came, her Herrscher powers would get her out.
On the sands outside, Durandal turned. "Fight me with everything you've got."
"Hmph. Let's see if you live up to your title."
Drawing her guns, Kiana relied on Kaslana gun kata—her body couldn't handle more.
Durandal mirrored her style perfectly.
Kiana's eyes widened. "How do you know gun kata? And why are you better at it than me?!"
"It's all in the archives. Seems you don't study much."
Durandal intensified her attacks, forcing Kiana into pure defense.
Yet within each block, she left deliberate openings—guiding Kiana toward the correct forms.