It wasn't that Kiana doubted Bronya's plan.
In fact, she was certain it would work.
The real question was—could Bronya endure the strain?
They weren't true Herrschers anymore. Without a connection to the Imaginary Space, their Honkai energy wasn't infinite.
Creating multiple Moonlight Thrones might push Bronya past her limits.
"Bronya can do it. Please trust Bronya."
Seeing their concern, Bronya reassured them firmly.
With no alternatives, they agreed.
Bronya closed her eyes—syncing with the 30,000 minds within the Core of Reason.
"Here we go."
White light gathered before her as the Moonlight Throne took shape.
A blue-white glow enveloped Bronya as the wind whipped through her hair.
One by one, the phantom Moonlight Thrones solidified—until, at last, Bronya ceased Honkai output.
"Construction complete. FIRE!"
The replicated Moonlight Thrones unleashed their beams simultaneously.
The golden barrier shattered—and this time, stayed broken.
But the victory came at a cost.
Bronya plummeted from the sky, drained.
A blue blur shot upward—catching her before she hit the ground.
"Bronya-oneechan! Bronya-oneechan!"
Cradling Bronya, Seele called her name desperately.
No response.
Then—a spear embedded itself in the grass nearby.
"That's... Durandal's Black Abyss White Flower!"
Realizing its healing potential, Seele's hope surged—
—only to crash just as fast.
"Hey, idiot. Even if the spear's here, can you use it?"
Veliona's blunt remark shattered Seele's momentary joy.
Right. She had no idea how to activate its powers.
"Stop moping. For some reason... I think I can control it."
Despite her usual sharp tone, Veliona softened.
"Really? But will it hurt you? If so, we can wait for Doctor Tesla—"
"Tch. Don't worry about me. I can tell it won't harm us."
Taking control, Veliona grasped the spear with unnatural familiarity.
White lilies bloomed across the field as healing energy flowed into Bronya.
Slowly, her eyes fluttered open.
Veliona relinquished control—vanishing without another word.
"Other me? Other me! Seele! Please answer me! Don't tease me like this—"
"..."
"SEELE! I'm begging you—"
"Ugh. Fine. I'm here. Just resting, okay? I'm not disappearing."
"You...! Next time, just say something! I was so scared—"
"Pfft. Alright, alright. No more scaring you. Promise."
Veliona chuckled, conceding.
Back on the Hyperion, Tesla and Einstein spotted rotating gears in the sky—with an Imaginary Seed at their center.
"That's... Celestial Hymn!"
"Kiana! Get away from those gears! If you touch them, it's over!"
At Tesla's warning, Kiana and the others recoiled.
"But if we don't go in, Otto gets away!"
"...Let me try. I can also activate Celestial Hymn. If two barriers collide, they might cancel out."
Theresa stepped forward.
"NO! That'll kill you!" Tesla objected immediately.
"We don't have a choice! We don't know what Otto's planning—if it endangers everyone, hesitation now could doom us later."
Ignoring Tesla's protests, Theresa summoned Oath of Judah and dashed toward the church.
Leaping into the air, she cried:
"Celestial Hymn—Localized Expansion!"
Gears materialized around her—clashing violently with Otto's barrier.
The moment they connected, Theresa nearly cursed aloud.
That bastard father of mine isn't holding back AT ALL!
She'd assumed Otto would go easy, letting her break the barrier dramatically before "exhaustedly" falling—completing her scripted role.
But no.
Full power.
Now she had to match it.
By the time the barriers neutralized each other, Theresa was spent—plummeting from the sky.
As she fell, she muttered through gritted teeth:
"Just you wait, you damn old man... Next time, I'm stabbing you with Frostmourne..."