"Why would someone as important as you be here?" Kouga asked, his eyes narrowing at Otto, suspicion dripping from his tone.
Otto gave a polite smile, tilting his head ever so slightly."Well, someone has broken into the Schicksal core database." His green eyes shifted briefly to Bronya, then to Kiana—still bickering in the background—before returning to Kouga. "As Overseer of Schicksal, it is my responsibility to ensure nothing… irregular is happening."
The words were smooth, measured, but Kouga could feel it—Otto wasn't just here for the system. He was studying him. More specifically, he was dissecting the Kamen Rider Ghost armor with his eyes, like a scientist observing a specimen in a cage.
"However…" Otto's smile widened, though his voice stayed calm and pleasant, "you may continue with that plan of yours—how you and your friends intend to help poor Kallen Kaslana. I am curious to see it."
Kouga didn't relax for a second. His instincts screamed at him not to trust this man, not even for a heartbeat. Still, he turned from Otto, walking over to Kiana and Bronya. The two had finally stopped arguing long enough to look at him expectantly.
"Alright," Kouga said quietly, his tone firm. "Let's talk about the plan."
The next morning, the execution site was tense, soldiers and robed doctors filling the square. Kallen stood at the center platform, bound, the noose ready above her.
Hidden among the crowd, Kiana crouched beneath a brown cloak with red trim, waiting for her moment. In the shadows, Bronya was preparing the handmade explosives she had crafted. The plan was simple: create chaos, give Kiana a chance to storm the stage, and rescue Kallen.
Farther back, Kouga and Otto stood at a vantage point where they could see everything. Kouga's attention never left the platform, his body ready to move if Kiana needed backup. Otto, however, seemed far less focused on the execution. His eyes were glued to Kouga's armor.
"I'll say, your armor is fascinating," Otto murmured, almost in awe. "Where did you get one of them?"
"You won't find another," Kouga replied without looking at him, his gaze still locked on Kallen and the rope tightening above her.
Then, the signal came. Bronya's explosives went off with a deafening boom, fire and smoke filling the square. Panic swept the crowd as civilians scattered, soldiers shouting orders in confusion.
Kiana seized the chance, leaping onto the stage. She spun and kicked one of the masked doctors hard, sending him flying unconscious off the platform. She landed in front of Kallen, ready to take on the leader himself—
Only for the leader to… step aside. Instead of raising his weapon, he gestured urgently for Kiana to help Kallen escape.
Kouga's eyes narrowed. Then it clicked. He remembered Kallen calling the man "Grandpa Arthur." This leader wasn't her enemy. He was trying to protect her all along, even begging for her safety.
'Guess I was a little too quick to judge,' Kouga thought, silently granting the man respect.
But the chaos only deepened. A monstrous roar shook the square, and from the smoke emerged a Honkai beast. Its hulking body was half the size of a building, with a crocodile's head and grotesque muscle-bound limbs that tore through stone and steel alike. Screams filled the air as it rampaged.
And then Kouga saw him—no, another Otto. The younger-looking man commanded the beast with manic glee, his words chilling.
"Hehehe, this is because of my plan."
Kouga turned sharply to the Otto standing beside him. The man smiled faintly, almost amused at his own duplicity.
"I understand your confusion," he said smoothly. "This is history from five hundred years ago. But yes… that is indeed me."
Kouga's jaw tightened. Immortality. Whatever form it took—cloning, resurrection, agelessness—it didn't matter. What mattered was that this Otto was the same man who engineered this slaughter.
From the battlefield came his voice again, dripping with obsession:"Ah? Stop Joking. Even If You Add Up All Those Civilians' Life Are Not Even Worth One Of Your Hair—my Goddess!"
The words made Kouga's stomach twist. It was clear—Otto would sacrifice anything, anyone, to protect the one he loved. Even if she didn't want it.
On the stage, Kallen proved it. She slapped Otto across the face, knocking him out cold for what he had unleashed. But the punishment was swift: one of the Honkai beasts drove its claw straight through her as she shielded someone behind her.
Kouga clenched his fists. No more waiting.
He saw Kiana struggling against another beast, her strength nearly spent. In a blur, Kouga dashed forward in his Kamen Rider Ghost form, his fist glowing with power. One punch was all it took—the monster's upper body exploded into fragments.
'Hmph. These are weaker than the one I crushed before.'
He turned quickly to Kiana, who lay on the ground, exhausted. "You okay?"
"I'm fine… just a little tired," she muttered, forcing herself up to her feet.
But then, something strange happened. A radiant white light engulfed her body, forcing Kouga to take a step back in shock.
"Kiana…?" he asked, confused, watching the transformation unfold.
When the light faded, Kiana stood completely changed. Her usual St. Freya uniform was gone, replaced by sleek white and black battle armor. A black cross-shaped hairpin adorned her head, gloves covered her hands, her waist held a glowing blue belt, and six ethereal wings of pure energy stretched wide from her back.
Another beast lunged, massive fist ready to crush her. Kouga prepared to intervene—
But he didn't need to. Kiana raised one hand and stopped the blow effortlessly. Then, with a single strike, she punched straight through the monster, dropping it instantly.
She looked at her palm, wide-eyed."This Is… Weapon Sent By Bronya?"
"Amazing!"
Her shock gave way to a confident grin. The kind Kouga had seen so many times before.
"Well Then, It's Time For Main Character To Make Their Debut!"
With a flap of her new wings, Kiana soared into the sky. Energy beams fired in radiant lines from the wings, tearing through the battlefield. One by one, every Honkai beast within sight was obliterated in the brilliant storm of light.
Bronya walked up quietly beside Kouga as the last embers of battle faded away. Kiana slowly descended, her glowing armor vanishing into light until only her St. Freya uniform remained. She wobbled slightly as her feet touched the ground.
"So Tired.. Finally Cleaned Up All Those Honkai Beasts," she groaned, stretching her arms.
Kouga gave her a brief smile before turning to Bronya. "Bronya, where did you get that armor?"
"Otto allow Bronya to gain access to it," Bronya replied flatly, as if stating a simple fact.
'Yep… need to be careful around Otto,' Kouga thought, his eyes narrowing slightly.
He noticed Kiana had gone quiet, her gaze fixed in the distance. Following her line of sight, Kouga saw Kallen slumped against a wall, her body weary and battered.
"Kouga, You Said That, This Is A Virtual World, Then The Real Sister Karen, 500 Year Ago...." Kiana's voice trembled as she asked.
Before Kouga could answer, Bronya stepped in with her calm tone. "Indeed, The Real Kallen Kaslana Died 538 Years Ago. Saving The Illusion Right In Front Of You Won't Change The History."
"I Know All These... But!" Kiana shouted, refusing to accept it as final. She dashed toward Kallen without hesitation.
Kouga sighed and followed closely behind, unwilling to let her face the moment alone.
Kallen lifted her head weakly as the two approached. Her lips curled into the faintest smile."Miss Κiana, Mister Kouga..."
Kiana immediately knelt at her side, her hands trembling but firm."Sister Kallen, Don't Worry. All The Honkai Beasts Have Been Eliminated, You Also Have Your Freedom..."
"Thank You, Even Though I'm Just A Virtual Personality, You Still Treat Me Kindly."Kallen's soft words stunned both Kouga and Kiana.
"How Did You Know...?" Kouga asked, blinking.
Kallen lowered her eyes, her voice quiet but steady. "When Did It Start Happen? I Realized That Everything Around Me Keeps Looping With A Fixed Script. At The End Of The Script, I Will Be Killed By The Honkai Beast, When I Wake Up Once Again, I Will Be Back To Previous Day. After Numerous Of Reincarna-tions, I Just Realized That, I'm Just One Of The Actresses In This Show."
Kiana clenched her fists as Kallen continued, her tone bittersweet."I Tried Everything I Could, Yet I Still Couldn't Escape From This Show. Until I Saw You Fell Down From The Sky, This Show Changed..."
The nun raised her tired eyes to Kiana. "Miss Kiana, In The Real World, How Long Has It Been Since Karen Kaslana's Death?"
"...it's More Than 500 Years," Kiana whispered.
Kallen's lips trembled faintly. "It's Been So Many Years? I'm Just A Personality That Recreated Based On Karen's Memory, She Sealed Her Beloved Lover Before Her Death." Her eyes softened as she spoke the name, almost like a prayer. "Yae Sakura... Who Turned Into a Herrscher, She Would Not Die Even After 500 Years. If The Seal Has Been Released, And She Is Returned To This World, I Guess She Won't Recognize Anyone, She Will Feel Lonely..."
Her voice shook as she stared at the floor. "...the Moment When I Thought About Yae Sakura, I Was Aware Of The Reason Of My Birth."
Finally she turned back to Kiana, her expression resolute despite the fading light around them. "Miss Kiana, I Will Not Leave This Virtual World, If You Ever Meet Yae Sakura In Outer World By Any Chance... Please Help Kallen Kaslana Bring The Word To Her, It Has Been Bury Inside Her Memory For Over 500 Years."
Kouga noticed the scenery around them beginning to flicker, chunks of data dissolving into blue particles. Bronya's voice cut through the static. "This Region Is Starting To Collapse. Begin Log Out Operation."
Kallen looked at them one last time, her form shimmering like glass. "Well Then Miss Kiana and Mister Kouga. Good Bye..." she said, lifting her hand in a slow wave.
Bronya and Kiana's figures vanished in streaks of light as the system pulled them out, but Kouga remained standing in the collapsing world.
"Mister Kouga?" Kallen muttered in confusion.
Kouga exhaled, stepping closer to the dissolving image of Kallen. "Those words you tried to said, I think you should the one directly said it." With the power of Kamen Rider Ghost, he reached forward, absorbing Kallen's data as she disappeared—her essence crystallizing into a glowing blue fragment in his palm.
The virtual world folded in on itself, and then—
He woke up.
Beside him, Kiana and Bronya also stirred, both returning to the real world. Kiana's face was distant, thoughtful, still lost in the echo of Kallen's words.
Kouga clapped his hands lightly, forcing some warmth into the air. "Okay, that's that, let's have some snack," he said, gesturing to the tray of treats he'd prepared earlier, trying to cheer Kiana up.
Later that night, Kouga sat at his desk, surrounded by scraps of paper, fragments of machinery, and glowing Honkai data crystals. After gathering every material he could, he finally set down a tiny figure on the table—a miniature version of Kallen, resembling the cute dorm chibi style.
He stared at it for a moment, then exhaled. "Alright… let's see if this works."
Channeling the sharp mind of Kamen Rider Build, Kouga carefully assembled the vessel, making sure it could hold what he planned. Then, summoning the spectral energy of Kamen Rider Ghost, he extended his hand. The blue fragment of Kallen's data floated out, glowing softly, before sinking into the chibi figure.
For a few tense seconds, nothing happened. Then—the doll's eyes flickered, glowing faintly. With a blink, they opened wide, alive.
"Where am I?" Kallen's voice, soft but recognizable, came from the tiny body. She looked around in confusion, tiny arms moving stiffly as she took in the unfamiliar room.
Kouga smiled, leaning back slightly in his chair. "Welcome to the outworld, Kallen."
The little nun froze, her expression shifting between shock and disbelief.
"Out… world…?" she whispered, staring down at her small hands.