Houkai Universe.
Bronya treated the world of Ai Enma like a simulation strategy game.
Commanding the Chosen, manipulating Honkai zombies and Beasts, she crushed all forces of rebellion.
"These insolent peasants refuse to pay their taxes."
She had observed that the gentry of Jiangnan used the same old tricks they once employed against the previous dynasty—relying on their former influence, bribing local officials, concealing land holdings, and evading both tribute and tax through every method possible.
Fine.
Perfect opportunity to deal with them.
She was helping a girl named Man Sui govern the nation.
Bronya learned quickly—and with the power of the Honkai, she could handle things as if she were playing a game.
Whatever she wanted to do, she did.
When they invoked "ancestral law" to protect their interests—claiming that the laws of their forefathers could not be changed—
Couldn't be changed, huh?
Then drag them out and have them meet their ancestors.
Refuse to pay taxes?
Then fine them until they're bankrupt!
"Bronya-sis... is this really alright?"
At that moment, Man Sui listened to Bronya's proposal.
Anyone refusing to pay taxes would have all their property confiscated.
That sounded... a bit too ruthless.
"There's nothing wrong with it. These habitual offenders must be dealt with severely," Bronya replied calmly.
"Alright. I understand."
Man Sui nodded.
Though she had unified the nation and become its new ruler—
Because of her young age, and because she was a girl, many subordinates still disobeyed her orders, following them only in appearance.
"Liang."
"Yes, Lord Man Sui?"
"Take men to investigate the Jiangnan gentry and officials. Any noble families who refuse to pay taxes—confiscate eighty percent of their property. As for the officials colluding with them, replace them all."
Man Sui thought for a moment, then added, "Use the seized wealth and grain to aid the refugees—give them food, shelter, and work."
The local officials from the old dynasty couldn't all be replaced immediately—it was hard to find enough capable people at once.
However, the modern cities had already been built.
The Church of Revelation had sent many teachers, and within a decade or two, schools would produce a steady stream of new talent.
Soon, there would be no shortage of competent officials.
"Understood."
Liang received the order and departed.
In the days that followed, Man Sui continued consolidating her control over the nation—purging bandits, marauders, and rebellious forces.
After all, Honkai armies didn't need supplies or food, and even if they were destroyed, they could be replenished. Why not make full use of them?
Bronya constructed Honkai zombie military bases across the land to suppress uprisings whenever necessary.
Once domestic peace was secured, Bronya and Man Sui turned their attention to the surrounding hostile states.
With Bronya's help, Man Sui's nation rapidly expanded. Beyond the Shanhai Pass, the Qing Army was bombarded daily by Seraph-class Honkai Beasts.
The bombardment continued for ten days.
The Qing Army was utterly shattered, suffering massive casualties.
Both internal and external threats were eradicated in one sweep.
By now, everyone understood the difference between a nation with a Chosen and one without.
A nation with a Chosen could crush its enemies effortlessly—sweeping across the land without resistance.
No matter how wealthy or powerful a country without one was, it couldn't withstand such devastation.
Bombs rained from the sky day and night—no one could eat or sleep in peace, forever fearing that the next explosion might be their last.
War was expensive—but the divine armies summoned by the Chosen fought without cost.
Send assassins, then?
Impossible. The Chosen were protected by divine power and Heaven's blessing. Even if an army of hundreds of thousands attacked at once, a single Chosen standing still might survive unscathed.
For Heaven itself watched over them.
And should Heaven's wrath descend, total annihilation would follow.
Once the world was pacified, the Chosen's daily duties were to root out corruption, ban gambling, drugs, and vice, and promote industrial and technological development.
Sirin, however, had little interest in the affairs of the humans in Ai Enma's world.
Kiana Kaslana merely treated conquering worlds as a game. Now that her objective was fulfilled, it was as though she had already cleared it.
She could play this world if she wished—or abandon it if she didn't.
Bronya, on the other hand, though she too viewed the world as a game, was not playing the same kind of game as Kiana Kaslana.
They played in the same world—but different genres.
Kiana's was a conquest game.
Bronya's was a civilization-building simulator.
Civilization was still developing.
Her game wasn't over yet.
Kiana Kaslana held Bronya in her arms, watching her play.
...
Honkai Impact 3rd World.
Perhaps to escape someone's incessant chatter, Kevin had begun executing Project STIGMA ahead of schedule. Without the three great families to stop him, his plan went smoothly.
Humanity's consciousness was transferred—humans now lived within the Stigma space, while the Stigmata themselves occupied the real world.
Now, when she broadcasted her voice through consciousness, the ordinary people of Honkai 3 could no longer hear her.
The fun was gone.
With Project STIGMA realized, civilization's progress came to a halt.
Now it was only a matter of seeing how long Kevin could hold on.
To invade the Stigma space—Kiana Kaslana thought about it but decided to leave it for later.
After all, she didn't even know what she wanted to do there.
If she wanted to destroy humanity's civilization, she could just fire a single Honkai Star Destruction Cannon at the planet through the dimensional passage right now.
But if she invaded the Stigma space right after Kevin completed his plan, she would surely be treated as an enemy and attacked.
...
For now, the Honkai Impact 3rd world was fine.
Peaceful.
In the future, she could always find a chance to pull her own Raiden Mei and Bronya's Seele out from the Stigma space.
"Sweetheart, do you want to visit that world?"
Kiana Kaslana suddenly asked.
She and Sirin were living comfortably in Ai Enma's world, while Bronya stayed behind in the Houkai Universe, drinking Honkai nutrient fluid every day. That didn't seem fair.
Though her daughter had low standards for food—and loved Honkai nutrient fluid a bit too much.
"Can I?" Bronya turned to look at her.
"Of course you can. I'll send you there myself."
Bronya had already absorbed Kiana's Honkai energy—her strength was more than enough to walk freely in that world.
Kiana Kaslana could send her there with peace of mind.
...
Ai Enma's World.
Europe.
A modern academy city.
A pillar of golden light descended from the heavens.
Bronya had arrived.
"Welcome to this world, my adorable little Duckling sister."
Sirin appeared from behind and hugged Bronya tightly.
Hearing that name, Incarnation, Zofia, Westminster, and the others froze for a moment. Duckling? Was that the name of the new angelic lord?
What a strange name!
Bronya glanced around at the people nearby, then turned her head toward Sirin, who wore a mischievous, devilish smile.
Just as she was about to retort, Sirin's hand covered her mouth.
Bronya, unwilling to let her off easily, opened her mouth and bit down on Sirin's hand.
"Ah! Are you a dog?!" Sirin yelped, quickly pulling her hand back.
"Bronya is a wolf, my dear Pufferfish sister," Bronya replied expressionlessly.
"Dog, wolf—same thing!"
Sirin looked at the bite mark on her hand—still wet with saliva—and shook it off in disgust.
"Not the same."
Bronya retorted flatly.
Incarnation stepped forward with a polite smile and bowed. "Lady Bronya, we humbly welcome your descent."
"Mm."
Bronya nodded slightly. Thankfully, these humans hadn't been completely corrupted by her sister—they didn't call her Duckling outright.