Hearing Bronya's voice, Kiana, who had been somewhat excited, suddenly broke out in goosebumps, and black lines appeared on her forehead.
Ming Yu, standing not far from Bronya, saw Kiana's expression and felt a strange sense of satisfaction. Seeing Kiana get flustered was indeed a joy. Although he was laughing internally, Ming Yu maintained a serious expression and said to Kiana, "Kiana, prison life wasn't pleasant, was it? Now do you understand the consequences of being reckless?"
Hearing Ming Yu's lecture, Kiana immediately became unhappy again. She said huffily, "You rotten Ming Yu! To think this young lady was so worried about you in there. And you're teaming up with Bronya to tease me like this."
A hint of helplessness flashed in Ming Yu's eyes. This Kiana still hadn't learned her lesson. His face remaining serious, he moved away from the prison and continued, "Do you know who Kallen is? Who are those men in black? What is the relationship between them? You just rushed in without knowing anything. After being locked up for so long, haven't you learned anything?"
Bronya also spoke up, "This space is special. Unlike other data spaces, everything inside can be touched. We can change things in this space, and conversely, this space can affect us. Therefore, if you are injured or die here, it's very likely you will die in reality as well." As Bronya spoke, she picked up an apple from a nearby fruit stand, took a bite, and held it out to Kiana.
Kiana looked at the incredibly realistic bite mark on the apple, even seeing the juice. Combined with the joint lecture from Ming Yu and Bronya, a wave of fear washed over her. *Is this space really that dangerous? Could I really have died here?*
After a moment of silence, Kiana thought of Kallen again. Even in a cage, even when misunderstood for trying to escape, she still rushed to save her. Besides, Big Sis Kallen was so beautiful. There must be a hidden story here. *I must know the truth.*
"That Big Sis Kallen, who is she?" Her eyes regaining their determination, Kiana asked Bronya.
Bronya didn't answer immediately. Instead, she looked at Ming Yu. After getting a nod of approval, she replied, "Kallen Kaslana, I believe. She was once Schicksal's strongest Valkyrie."
Kiana was surprised by the answer. "Kaslana? The strongest Valkyrie?" Although she had vaguely understood that Kallen's identity was special, she hadn't expected her to have such a significant background.
Ming Yu stroked his chin and said slowly, "Speaking of which, she can be considered your ancestor, although not a direct one. This entire space was built for her by someone."
Bronya was also a little surprised by Ming Yu's knowledge of Kallen, but her hands didn't stop moving. With a swipe of her finger in the air, Kallen's profile appeared before the three of them. In the picture, Kallen was wearing a uniform styled like a nun's habit, holding a long spear in each hand. Behind her, Judah was unfurled, its golden chains dancing as if guarding their queen.
Ming Yu looked at Kallen's profile in silence. As the eldest daughter of Francis, the twenty-ninth head of the Kaslana family, Kallen was not only born into a prestigious family but was also an undeniable genius. At the young age of sixteen, she passed the trials to become the captain of the Valkyrie squad and spent the next eight years on the front lines against the Honkai, sealing over a thousand Honkai Beasts.
To recognize Kallen's achievements, Schicksal created her exclusive weapon—Judah's Oath. Seeing this, Ming Yu couldn't help but scoff internally. It was clearly the Schicksal expedition team, dedicated to archaeology, that had dug up this Divine Key from somewhere. After long years, the weapon was damaged and its energy had severely depleted. It was only after being modified with the black technology of the lovelorn Otto that it became Kallen's exclusive weapon, even getting the Kaslana family crest stamped on it. Otherwise, looking at all the other Divine Keys, which one had a crest on it? Such an eventful story, yet it was reduced to this. So many interesting details lost. Ming Yu shook his head and sighed.
The profile only vaguely recorded that Kallen had stolen a Honkai Energy Crystal that was under research by Schicksal, fled to the Far East, and fell in love with a Pseudo-Herrscher named "Yae Sakura" who had been infected by the crystal. After the mysterious disappearance of the Pseudo-Herrscher and the Honkai Energy Crystal, Schicksal's pursuit team captured the heavily injured Kallen and brought her back.
When Kiana saw that Kallen had declared in court, "That girl who became a Herrscher is innocent, and I have fallen in love with her," only to be deemed insane by the people and sentenced to be hanged, the image of Mei flashed in her mind. The everyday Mei who was busy in the kitchen wearing an apron, the quiet Mei reading a book, and the Queen of Thunder who looked down on all creation in Nagazora. In that moment, Kiana felt she completely understood Kallen's situation, as if she were the one standing proudly in court making that declaration.
*Herrschers are human too! Is it a sin to fall in love with a Herrscher? Such a rule, I will never accept it!* Her body trembling, Kiana clenched her fists and said with unwavering determination, "Big Sis Kallen is innocent! I have to save her!"
Unmoved by Kiana's passion, Bronya said expressionlessly, "It's useless. This is just a data space. The real Kallen died 538 years ago. Nothing you do can change that fact."
Hearing Bronya's explanation, Kiana was stunned for a moment, then her determination returned. She said, "I don't care. Even if it's just a virtual space, I'm going to save her."
Looking at Kiana's determined eyes, Ming Yu was momentarily lost in thought. *This is Kiana. Even knowing this is all fake, knowing the ending is already set, she still refuses to give up, willing to risk it all no matter what. For a single belief, she can disregard everything. This is Kiana Kaslana!*
Although he was moved, Ming Yu wasn't going to rush in blindly with Kiana. He chuckled and said mockingly, "Save her? How are you going to save her? This is Schicksal's headquarters. Kallen is a key criminal personally named by the Schicksal Overseer. Do you think the security is a joke? Not to mention the knights and Valkyrie squads, you can't even handle that Arthur alone. What are you going to save her with?"
Taking a step forward, Ming Yu stared into Kiana's eyes and said, word for word, "You need to remember this clearly: if you die in this space, you're not coming back!"
Kiana was taken aback by Ming Yu's words, and the light in her eyes dimmed. But when she thought of Kallen, her heart still refused to yield. "I don't care, there must be a way. Ming Yu, Bronya, you two will help me, right?"