Gradually, Kiana mastered the remaining techniques of the Kaslana gun kata—though she remained unaware of her progress.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't make Durandal budge an inch. This made Kiana recall Fu Hua's words about the "Taixu Sword Qi" technique.
Closing her eyes, Kiana steadied her breathing.
"Know nothing, perceive nothing."
As she silently recited these words, several Void Lances materialized behind her, their surfaces shimmering with an unfamiliar energy.
"Not bad. Now, for the real test—do whatever it takes to survive."
"Real test—?"
Before Kiana could finish, the sky darkened. A rift tore open above them, spewing forth Honkai beasts.
Seeing this, Kiana abandoned her questions and aimed the Taixu Sword Qi—originally meant for Durandal—at the rift.
She might miss her chance to escape, but she couldn't let the Honkai beasts rampage.
With Kiana's strike, the rift collapsed, and the Honkai beasts vanished.
But the effort drained her completely, and she passed out.
"Always thinking of others... My foolish little sister, when will you think of yourself?"
Scooping Kiana into her arms, Durandal carried her back to the infirmary.
When Kiana awoke, a meal was waiting beside her bed.
"Eat. It's not good to stay hungry."
"...I don't like fish. The bones are annoying. Someone always picked them out for me before."
"That girl, Mei?"
"..."
Their conversation was cut short as the base's ceiling exploded, leaving a gaping hole.
Durandal knew this was her ancestor's doing—part of the script. She just hoped her father was okay.
Leaving Kiana behind, Durandal rushed to assess the damage.
Seizing the opportunity, Kiana escaped, retracing the path from memory.
But she didn't flee immediately. Curiosity kept her rooted—if Durandal couldn't handle the threat, she'd help.
Peeking from behind rubble, Kiana spotted a white-haired man.
"He has the same hair as me... Is he a Kaslana too?"
Sensing her gaze, Kevin turned abruptly. Kiana ducked, heart pounding.
That oppressive aura, that piercing stare—she felt seen. But at this distance? Impossible. She shook off the thought.
As she crept away, she turned—and froze. The man stood right behind her, holding a familiar weapon.
"That's—Dad's Judgement of Shamash! What did you do to him?!"
Seeing her father's weapon in another's hands, Kiana feared the worst.
And she wasn't wrong. Her dear father was currently bedridden, being tended to by Cecilia.
"Mmmpfh! Mmm!"
Mummified in bandages, Siegfried couldn't form coherent words.
But his message was clear: Why am I the only one getting punished when you broke the script too?!
"Now, now. I gave Durandal the Abyss Flower, so I can't heal you. Just endure it, dear."
Siegfried swore never to deviate from the script again—or at least, never get caught.
...
"Herrscher of the Void, humanity's calamity. I offer you two choices: join World Serpent, or perish here."
"I choose neither! I'll defeat you!"
Blinded by rage, Kiana charged—completely derailing Kevin's script.
Thankfully, Fu Hua intervened. "Kiana, don't! He's the progenitor of the Kaslana bloodline—Kevin Kaslana. You stand no chance."
Through Fenghuang Down, Fu Hua manifested visibly even to Kevin.
Hearing this, Kiana halted mid-step.
"Kiana, I'll hold him off with my remaining strength. Run. Don't look back."
"Class Monitor..."
These sounded like Fu Hua's last words. Kiana knew this might be goodbye.
She was losing another person she wanted to protect. Once again, she was powerless.
Gritting her teeth, Kiana fled. Tears trailed behind her as she forced herself not to turn around.
Unbeknownst to her, the moment she left, Kevin pulled out a kettle, boiled water with the Judgement of Shamash, and made beef-flavored instant noodles.
"Hua, want some?"
"...No thanks. Still addicted to instant noodles? Does Dr. Mei's cooking displease you that much?"
"..."
Kevin chose silence.
If only Mei would cook normal food—without Honkai beast remains or Honkai crystals—he'd endure even excessive salt.
But Mei believed only such "nutritious" meals could truly sustain him.
He couldn't refuse her kindness, but his stomach couldn't accept it either. So he stayed away—a compromise.
"Sigh... Kiana has grown so much. But now, she seems... broken."
Fu Hua gazed in the direction Kiana had fled, her expression maternal.
Having witnessed Kiana's journey, Fu Hua's heart ached for her. This was the burden of destiny—growth forged through loss.
"Relax. Once she defeats the Cocoon of Finality, we'll all reveal ourselves to celebrate. If she's still upset, we'll throw Chang Yuan under the bus."