With Bronya as an inside agent, Kiana and the other two easily infiltrated the interior of the laboratory.
Kiana suddenly turned back: "Wait! Am I imagining things? The path we just came through has been sealed! Does that mean... this is a trap, and we have no way out!"
Cocolia's voice suddenly appeared: "Oh my, I've always heard that you're an idiot, Kiana, but you're actually pretty sharp in critical moments."
Everyone recognized that the voice was hers.
Theresa immediately shielded Kiana and Himeko behind her: "So that's how it is. You must be Miss Cocolia?"
Cocolia said: "That's right, I am Cocolia. And you must be Theresa Apocalypse? My my, I didn't expect such an important figure to show up."
"I've always heard you're an outstanding warrior, but you fell into this kind of trap so easily. Seeing is believing, I suppose."
Theresa scoffed: "Tch, I've always heard you're a cunning fox. Looks like that's true."
"But the bait was luxurious enough—we'd feel bad not taking it."
Himeko also said: "Though getting trapped does feel unpleasant, things have become simpler now. We just need to enter the lab, rescue Mei, and then fight our way out! Let's tear the entire ME Corporation apart."
Cocolia snorted coldly: "You sure talk big."
Himeko replied calmly: "You'll find out soon enough whether it's just talk."
Cocolia finally said: "Then I'll be waiting in the laboratory to welcome you. I hope you don't die on the way and make me wait in vain."
Next.
Himeko and Theresa cleared the path ahead, advancing while mowing down everything in their way.
Their combat strength was far superior to the current Kiana's.
The viewers watching were stunned over and over.
They all exclaimed in admiration: "If I had teachers this protective of their students back in school, would I ever have been bullied?"
"If I had a teacher this protective and this strong, I'd strut into other classes—no! I'd dominate other schools."
"So envious. I never imagined Theresa, with her tiny body, is actually this powerful. Worthy of being the Principal."
"Theresa is badass! I didn't expect her to be this amazing."
"From now on, I'm Theresa's fan. Strong and protective—when something happens, she just goes for it. I love her so much."
"Exactly, who wouldn't love a little loli like this? She perfectly fits my type. Theresa is the best."
"Worthy of director Hessian—this is so well-designed and logical. The Principal should be the strongest, and Himeko's great too."
Because of the current plot.
Many people were captivated by Theresa and became her fans.
And the story continued.
The three had already reached Mei.
A darkened Bronya stood blocking them.
Kiana said angrily: "Give Mei back to me!"
Cocolia said: "You have no idea of the true value of Herrschers. As long as we understand how Herrschers manipulate natural forces, human technology will advance by leaps and bounds. Bronya, stop them for me."
Kiana looked nervously at Bronya, urging her to wake up quickly.
But the expected attack did not come.
Bronya murmured to herself: "When Bronya was little, her parents passed away. In Bronya's heart, Cocolia was like a mother. But Bronya met big sister Mei, and big sister Mei was very kind to Bronya."
"Bronya doesn't want to hurt big sister Mei, so Bronya will not fight."
"Kiana, take big sister Mei and go quickly."
"Bronya has already burned the bio-chip."
Cocolia immediately panicked: "What a joke. The bio-chip is implanted in your brain. If you burn it, are you trying to commit suicide?"
Bronya looked toward the camera: "Bronya believes that compared to her own life, big sister Mei is more important. Bronya will no longer accept any commands that would harm big sister Mei."
She looked gently at Mei: "Goodbye, big sister Mei."
"Kiana, big sister Mei is entrusted to you."
As the chip burned, Bronya lost consciousness and collapsed to the ground.
Theresa immediately went to check her body, while Kiana rescued Mei.
Himeko looked at the camera and said: "It seems that no matter how advanced science is, it cannot arbitrarily manipulate the human heart. Let's leave here quickly."
After examining her, Theresa said: "Although Bronya's brain has been damaged, it's not hopeless yet. If we take her back to St. Freya Academy and get timely treatment, there should still be hope for recovery."
Clearly...
Cocolia would not let them leave so easily.
She directly accelerated the experiment on the Fourth Herrscher, Wendy.
As the three were preparing to break out, Wendy's voice suddenly came through their earpieces: "Miss Kiana."
"Wendy??"
Wendy continued: "I don't have much time left. There are some final words I want to say to you—please remember them well. A few days ago, the Honkai energy inside the Desire Gem restored my ability to walk."
"I think... if that Honkai energy could help big sister Bronya recover..."
"If... if you ever get the chance to obtain the Desire Gem... please..."
Her communication with Kiana suddenly cut off.
It was Cocolia who interrupted, and she immediately mocked: "Hi there, do you like the gift I sent you? Shouldn't you thank me for my great mercy? For delivering Wendy's last words to her beloved big sister Bronya and to you."
Last words?
The three's expressions turned grave.
Cocolia laughed loudly: "Oh my, didn't I mention it? I've already killed the Fourth Herrscher."
"Wh-What?!"
Not only was Kiana shocked.
Even all the viewers watching this plot were completely stunned.
No one had expected that such a cute little girl would be killed just like that?
She was written off so suddenly?
No...
Wasn't this supposed to be a beautiful story of girls bonding and getting close?
When the TV series was announced, all those promotional slogans and the stated creative intentions—were they fake?
Wendy just died like this?
Elysia looked at her husband in disbelief.
The little girl who had only just signed with the company, whom she had recently thought Hessian had given a really good role to.
And now she's dead?