Theresa did not grow suspicious and directly agreed: "Miss Rita is welcome to step in personally and offer combat guidance. So, which candidate is so fortunate?"
Rita's gaze instantly locked onto Kiana: "That white-haired little girl—what's your name? Hm... Kiana Kaslana?"
???
Theresa was startled inside.
Kiana?
Why pick Kiana?
She felt things weren't that simple.
Rita continued: "Oh? Kaslana..."
Theresa hurriedly covered it up: "No, no, no—not that Kaslana. Just a coincidence."
Kiana still hadn't fully grasped the situation and scratched her head in confusion: "Eh? Spar with a headquarters official? Spar what?"
There was no need for her to understand.
Rita had already stepped onto the sparring platform—it was clearly a match.
Kiana, refusing to back down, leaped onto the stage and attacked first.
However...
This battle was completely one-sided. Rita didn't even use her battlesuit armor and still defeated Kiana.
"That's enough. Thank you for your efforts, Kiana."
Kiana wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and said unwillingly: "This young lady... huff... hasn't called stop yet! I can keep going!"
Rita gave her a slight curtsy: "The word 'exhaustion' is written all over your face. Please rest well. I'll take my leave first."
With that, she directly left the sparring platform.
The exam continued.
As each Valkyrie finished her assessment,
it finally came to Kiana's turn again. Just as suddenly, an anomaly occurred—the exam module malfunctioned, and an Emperor-class Honkai beast became Kiana's opponent.
When everyone thought she was certain to lose,
she defeated the Honkai beast with thunderous momentum.
While everyone was shocked,
Rita showed no surprise and murmured: "What a splendid battle! Though the opponent was a virtual module, it was simulated using the combat data of an Emperor-class Honkai beast after all. I'm growing more and more excited for your future performance."
The exam ended.
Kiana returned to the dormitory together with Bronya and Mei.
As they walked,
she suddenly realized the two were gone.
That voice, so familiar from her dreams, appeared once more: "Adorable little girl, you've truly surprised me. You even defeated that Ganesha~"
"You know, this Honkai beast that appeared in 2012 once caused the deaths of 2 A-rank Valkyries and severe injuries to 12 others..."
"I thought it would be an insurmountable obstacle for a B-rank Valkyrie like you."
Kiana snorted lightly: "Joke. Though my rank is B, in reality, this young lady possesses the strength of an S-rank Valkyrie!"
The voice laughed: "Hehe, you really love bragging. Though your strength is decent, it's still far from an S-rank Valkyrie~"
"Because fourteen years ago, I personally experienced the power of an S-rank Valkyrie."
Fourteen years ago?
Experienced personally?
Kiana's eyes widened as she instantly understood.
Her whole body grew alert: "Could it be... you're the... Second Herrscher?"
"How is that possible? Why would the Second Herrscher, confirmed to have vanished fourteen years ago, appear in my dreams?"
"Aiya~" the voice said with a teasing tone: "Even your slow reaction is so cute—it makes one want to gobble you up in one bite~"
Kiana assumed a combat stance: "Even if it's just a dream... today, you won't leave here alive. You... the murderer who killed my mom!"
Faced with her fighting spirit,
the other party merely said calmly: "I have no intention of leaving here, hehe~ Because this place is both your dream and my dream. I am you, and you are me. The one who should leave..."
"Is you, Kiana!"
"Shut up!" Kiana shouted, chasing after the illusion and attacking.
However...
Just as the figure had said, none of her attacks had any effect.
She could only hear the echoing laughter: "Did you think... this would be our last meeting? In the rest of your life, I will appear endlessly, endlessly, in your deepest nightmares."
"Until one day, you can no longer... resist..."
As the voice vanished deep into her consciousness,
Kiana gradually regained awareness.
Mei, Fu Hua, Rita, and Theresa were all by her side, looking at her with worry.
Rita explained: "It seems Kiana's sleepwalking and fainting are, like Bronya's, caused by the influence of the Moonlight Throne engine's energy."
"This battleship's engine is truly strange. In any case, my task here is complete. Next, I will return to headquarters to report."
Kiana, supported by Mei, stood up and coquettishly told her she was hungry.
Mei indulgently said she would go cook for her.
Watching this episode end on such a sweet final scene,
the TV screen went black.
The scene shifted to Rita.
She stood alone on the battleship, sending a report to headquarters: Observation Record Report, Number 105—K423. Compared to the past, the observation subject has shown clear growth in physical ability and combat strength.
However, the specific state of personality replication still requires further observation. Lord Bishop's plan is about to enter the implementable phase.
Everything... is under his control.
With this,
the second episode came to an end.
Elysia looked at Rita's final report, somewhat puzzled: "Husband, what does Rita mean by this? Why does it feel like the later plot is a bit off? This Lord Bishop is the role you're going to play, right?"
Hessian nodded: "Yes."
Only then did Elysia relax: "Then it should be fine, right?"
Hessian smiled and said: "Of course it's fine. The theme of the drama I'm filming is positive, optimistic, and uplifting. It will fully showcase the beautiful bonds between girls. Of course, to make it more story-like, there needs to be a few twists along the way, right?"
"Mm... that does make sense!"
...
It wasn't just Elysia.
At this moment,
all the viewers who had finished the second episode were discussing it online.
"What does the end of this second episode mean? My precious Kiana is actually a test subject?"
"I quite liked Rita when she first appeared—how is she a villain at the end? Everything is under his control—he's the Bishop? Otto Apocalypse?"
"Good grief, the later plot of this drama really isn't simple. But what the hell do you mean by cutting it off here?!"