Filled with determination, her sky-blue eyes burned with conviction... Then she turned off the light, snuggled under her blanket, and drifted off to sleep at lightning speed. Huginn, watching from the window, gaped in astonishment—if ravens could make such an expression.
"This bird doesn't understand, but this bird is deeply shocked..." Huginn shook his head vigorously, watching Kiana, now lost in slumber, once again boot the Lord Queen, who had been trying to assert her presence, offline and silenced her for good measure.
Today, the Lord Second Herrscher remained banned.
In the dark space, Kiana opened her eyes and saw Hermit standing before her.
"I must say, you've changed significantly in just one day... There's a newfound resolve in your eyes."
The Hermit's voice, masked by both a hood and a mask, revealed no trace of emotion. Yet Kiana knew she had finally earned the approval of the person before her—though that approval might have been barely sufficient.
"Hmm, still quite immature... but at least you've qualified to move forward... Keep up with me... This journey is far from over."
The darkness gradually receded, transforming into a snow-covered wasteland. Kiana glanced back and saw Babylon Tower looming approximately five kilometers behind her, while her current location was a small grove in the Siberian wilderness.
-
"Achoo—! It's freezing here, bird's nest! Why are we waiting here? Aren't we supposed to be attacking the Babylon Tower?"
A woman with red twin tails and glasses caught Kiana's attention. She was shouting at a blue-haired girl beside her and a...
"Teacher Yang?!" Kiana exclaimed, turning her gaze to the last figure—a brown-haired man in a gray coat.
"Don't be impatient, Dr. Tesla," the blue-haired girl said calmly. "Our best spy has already infiltrated the Babylon Tower. We need to wait for her to bring back the intelligence."
"If we're lucky, she might even be able to secretly capture that person, allowing us to avoid a direct confrontation with the Schicksal forces. I'm sure the Leader also hopes for a peaceful resolution to this incident."
Kiana glanced at the Hermit beside her; her face was covered in small question marks.
"Putting aside why Teacher Yang is here... What's this about Dr. Tesla? Is it the Tesla from the textbooks? Didn't they die ages ago?"
"...If you ever get the chance, you can ask Dr. Tesla herself. See if she'll use a Titan Mecha to fix you up."
"That's Dr. Tesla from the textbooks, and the blue-haired one is Dr. Einstein."
"Yes, stop looking at me like that. That really is Dr. Einstein."
Hermit rolled her eyes at Kiana, who was glaring at her, her face screaming, Don't try to fool me!
"As for your dear Teacher Yang... he's the second Leader of Anti-Entropy, his full name is Welt Yang, and he's the second First Herrscher."
"Wait, wait, that's too much! Let me sort this out..."
"...So, Dr. Tesla and Dr. Einstein from the textbooks are actually women, and they're still alive. And Yang, our former history teacher at St. Freya Academy, is the Leader of Anti-Entropy."
"Then was he the one who orchestrated the invasion of St. Freya?!" The White-haired Clump suddenly realized something.
"No, that was the Radical faction of Anti-Entropy... the faction led by Cocolia. The ones you're seeing now are members of the Conservative faction—you heard them yourself, they're trying their best to avoid direct conflict with Schicksal forces."
"To be precise, the Anti-Entropy members you've fought all belong to the Radical faction. The Conservative faction rarely initiates attacks against Schicksal. They are idealists who prioritize human welfare, believing machines can replace humans in the fight against the Honkai."
"Why would they go out of their way to attack Schicksal's Valkyries?"
Hermit briefly explained the two main factions within Anti-Entropy to the White-haired Clump before her.
"Then Teacher Yang and the others wouldn't be here to capture the Second Herrscher, would they...? After all, you said Teacher Yang is a Herrscher himself." Kiana scratched her head, struck by a bold idea.
"Congratulations, you're right. Welt Yang's initial goal was to persuade the Second Herrscher and take her away under Schicksal's very nose, avoiding conflict—a typical idealist."
Hermit confirmed Kiana's guess and offered her assessment of Welt Yang's actions.
"So Patricia is the spy Dr. Einstein mentioned. She faced the Herrscher alone without Auntie because she planned to kidnap Sirin herself. And they're waiting for her now, right?"
Kiana's mind raced, piecing together the situation from the previous intelligence. Hermit nodded, a hint of approval in her voice:
"Your mind works quickly. It seems you're not as dim-witted as you appear—just plain lazy..."
"Hey—! Is that really a compliment?!"
Kiana glared at Hermit, waving her clenched right fist in protest.
"Am I wrong?"
"Ugh..." Kiana sputtered, caught off guard by Hermit's retort.
"Patricia has arrived. Anti-Entropy now knows Sirin has become a Herrscher and turned against humanity."
"Eh? So they're going to attack Babylon Tower next?"
"No. They'll cooperate with your wretched old man, Siegfried Kaslana."
"The Babylon Tower is currently under siege by Honkai Beasts spawned from the awakening of the Second Herrscher. Many ordinary Schicksal members assigned to the investigation are trapped inside."
"Uh, so... I'll get to see my stinky old dad and Cecilia-mama fighting back then?!" Kiana suddenly leaped to her feet.
"?... Calmness is a warrior's most crucial psychological asset. You must learn to conceal your true emotions, young warrior."
"Uh..."
"Don't act so nonchalant, little one. Let me give you an example..."
"In this scenario, your team—consisting of you and your companion Raiden Mei—is currently retreating. However, your companion has been wounded, hampering her mobility and rendering her combat-incapable."
"At that moment, I—the commander of an enemy unit—discover you and order an attack to eliminate you, the only remaining combatant. However, one non-lethal bullet veers toward your injured companion. What would you do, Kiana?"
"Of course I'd block the bullet for Mei!"
"Such admirable knightly spirit. Now, guess what I'll do when I see your anxious expression?"
"Naturally, defeat me while I'm still capable of fighting. What else could you do?" Kiana stared at the Hermit with a puzzled expression.
"How naive, child. I'll divert some of my forces to attack your already incapacitated companions."
"With your impulsive nature, you'll exhaust yourself flitting between defending against attacks and protecting your comrades... you might even make some rash, nonsensical moves in a panic."
"Do I need to spell out the fate awaiting you and your companions?"
Kiana could feel the Hermit's mocking gaze piercing through her mask.
"Wow, you tactical schemers are all so ruthless!"