Inside Sirin's illusion, Theresa stood frozen as she watched a haunting memory unfold—Sirin's mother, pale and trembling, succumbed to Honkai sickness on the operating table. A young Sirin, barely able to comprehend the loss, cried out in despair.
Then came the deception.
Schicksal scientists, exploiting Sirin's rare Honkai adaptability, lured her away with false promises. What followed was a nightmare—daily injections, endless pain, and isolation. Theresa's heart shattered. Her faith in Schicksal, already fragile, now teetered on the edge.
"I'm sorry…"
She reached out to embrace Sirin, but her arms passed through the illusion. In the next moment, Sirin's power surged, and Theresa was teleported to an unknown location.
Outside, Siegfried and the others had just defeated the Twin Nightmares when the cocoon began to dissolve. Welt readied for battle. Siegfried rushed to find Theresa.
When the cocoon vanished completely, only Sirin and Bai Lu remained.
Sirin snapped her fingers. Honkai Beasts surged forward. Welt stepped in front of Bai Lu, shielding him. Siegfried demanded answers.
"Mr. Welt, Sirin was fine just now, but suddenly… This isn't her! We were just—"
Welt hesitated.
"She must be controlled! She was close to me once. Please, Mr. Welt, save her!"
As if responding to Bai Lu's plea, Sirin clutched her head, trembling.
"Quick… run…"
Welt's eyes narrowed. "If she still has human consciousness, I'll do everything I can."
Siegfried cleared the beasts and turned to Bai Lu.
"Kid, have you seen that shorty Theresa?"
Bai Lu recalled Sirin's mischievous teleportation.
"She fell into a purple hole Sirin made. She's probably fine."
Siegfried nodded, relieved.
Then, Sirin summoned a barrage of void spears. Welt blocked them effortlessly.
"Spears from imaginary space are no different to me. Can we talk?"
Sirin didn't answer. She attacked again.
Welt sighed and summoned the Star of Eden. Then the battle began.
Sirin's barriers deflected the Star of Eden's blasts. Welt knew he couldn't afford a drawn-out fight. He unleashed the full power of the Herrscher of Reason.
Titans, mechs, aircraft carriers, and cannons materialized, bombarding Sirin's shield. As it cracked, Sirin retaliated—voids absorbed the artillery and redirected it.
Welt replenished his forces, but his Honkai energy and mental stamina waned. Einstein and Tesla, watching from afar, knew he couldn't last.
Beside them, a massive missile locked onto Sirin.
Sirin, outwardly calm, was internally conflicted. She knew she could overpower Welt, but leaving abruptly would be disgraceful.
Welt misread her hesitation as resistance to Honkai corruption.
"Wake up! Don't let it control you! Your friend is worried!"
Sirin's mouth twitched. She made her decision.
She released a wave of Honkai energy, clearing the battlefield, then clutched her head, feigning agony. Welt paused, concerned.
Suddenly, a silver-white dragon descended, scooping Sirin away.
Welt didn't pursue. He needed time to strategize.
On the far side of the Moon, Benares landed. Sirin dismounted, drawn to an ancient altar. Stone pillars bore unreadable inscriptions. At the center stood a golden crystal, pulsing with immense Honkai energy.
She reached out.
A blinding white light engulfed her. When she opened her eyes, she stood in a pure white space. A figure sat on a throne—shifting, morphing—until it became her own likeness.
Sirin trembled. Despite her power, she knelt. She knew this was no illusion. This was truth incarnate. This was God.
Answers flooded her mind—the history of the previous civilization, the sealed power on the Moon.
The figure rose and pointed at her forehead.
Sirin tried to resist, but energy surged into her. A destructive urge overwhelmed her. She collapsed, clutching her head, fighting the madness.
Eventually, she stood. Her eyes dimmed. She whispered:
"I am the ruler,
God granted me dominion, to command endless storms—King of Desire.
I am the ruler,
God granted me a crown, to draw lightning—King of Conquest.
I am the ruler,
God granted me a sword, flames entwined—King of Pestilence.
I am the ruler,
God granted me a robe, to bestow death's wine—King of Serenity."
Four crystals merged into her body. Power surged. Sirin turned toward Earth, smiling eerily.
Back on Earth, Welt and the others debated their next move. Despite the devastation of the Second Eruption, many still hoped Sirin could be saved.
Inside Babylon Tower, Salome, Nicholas, and Herschmith monitored the situation. Herschmith grumbled about the futility of observation.
Suddenly, a massive battleship descended. Alarms blared.
Over ten thousand Honkai Beasts were detected. The team retreated.
Bai Lu, having finally slipped away from Siegfried, watched the descent with dread.
As the beasts poured out, Bai Lu's heart sank. Something had gone wrong with Sirin.
News of the Herrscher's return spread quickly.
Schicksal dispatched Cecilia—despite her recent childbirth—to support Siegfried and Theresa.
Anti-Entropy sent Welt alone, with Einstein and Tesla providing fire support.
But the Honkai outbreak severed all communication with the Siberia squad.
Bai Lu stared at the battleship, the air thick with Honkai energy. He sighed, then spoke:
"System, use the experience card: Blade."