The four people in the Challenge Space each had different emotions.
When she saw the Herrscher of the Void's mocking remarks, Kiana clenched her fists, gripping the strength of her body in her palms, her face full of defiance.
"Stupid woman, what are you babbling about? What 'broken vessel'?"
However, when the Herrscher of the Void mentioned the events in East Siberia, Kiana became bewildered.
In her mind, there was no Remembrance of this disaster at all.
Was it... was it the Herrscher of the Void who cut off Dad's hand?
So it was this hateful woman!
Finally found the true culprit!
Also, who exactly was the "she" the Herrscher of the Void spoke of?
Three years later, after her death, it would leave her filled with guilt and collapse.
Could it be Mei?
Before Kiana could figure it out, Yunduo's emotional retort made her blood boil, and her body felt as if it had been activated!
This was the philosophy she had always been seeking!
Fight for all that is beautiful in the world!
Finally, when she saw the figure consumed by firelight draw the sword representing conviction.
The Gem of Haste was driven to its full power, light and flames intertwining as it slashed at the Herrscher of the Void.
Until Yunduo won the challenge and looked calmly into the distance.
Kiana's blue eyes were full of disbelief, wide as copper bells, and her mouth was agape.
She never thought that Yunduo, who had transformed into her in the Challenge Space, would possess such strong conviction and power!
"Can I, can I do it too?"
"Can I also defeat a Herrscher?"
"Mei, Mei!! Did you see that?!!"
Kiana suddenly hugged the pensive Mei, like a giant panda that had found its bowl of milk, shouting happily.
"I saw it. Having the power to defeat a Herrscher is truly strong, but..."
Mei spoke hesitantly, reaching out a hand to stroke the head of Kiana, who was nuzzling her.
At this moment, Bronya coldly added the next sentence.
"But that wasn't Idiot Kiana; that was Yunduo. She is the one who defeated the Herrscher of the Void."
"Hmph~ What does that matter? When she entered the Challenge Space, didn't she use my power? She looked exactly like me. Bronya saw it too, right?"
"..."
Bronya sighed; this point was undeniable.
She also didn't understand why Yunduo would turn into Kiana after entering the Challenge Space. Was it a rule of the Challenge Space?
Even more suspicious was why Yunduo could transition so seamlessly, practically becoming that Kiana from three years later.
That mature and firm conviction and temperament.
If someone said that the Kiana from three years later had traveled back to the present, Bronya would be willing to believe it.
Was Yunduo playing the role of Kiana?
Or were Kiana and Yunduo similar?
Or, Bronya remembered the look in Yunduo's eyes when they first met.
What did that indescribable emotion represent?
"Yunduo is still in the Challenge Space and hasn't come out yet. She might be going for a second challenge to defeat the Herrscher of Domination."
Fu Hua's calm voice stopped the noisy trio.
"Kiana, when you were inside the Challenge Space just now, could you hear us speaking?"
"Eh~ I couldn't," Kiana scratched her braids, her expression a bit bashful. "Hehe, I only just found out that you guys were watching me the whole time. I thought only I could see that Herrscher of the Void; her aura was so terrifying."
"She is a Herrscher, after all—an apostle of Honkai in the human world. It's normal for you to find it terrifying. Even an S-Rank Valkyrie would find it hard to withstand a few attacks from a Herrscher," Fu Hua comforted.
After saying that, she gathered the trio together and lowered her voice.
"Let's not talk about that for now. There are mainly two problems we need to figure out."
"What are they?" Mei said softly.
"First, this space itself doesn't seem to be a product of Honkai."
"In the process of humanity fighting against Honkai, there has never been such a special situation. This Challenge Space is less like something meant to trap us in an illusion and more like a parallel world of the future..."
"A World Bubble?" Bronya caught the key point.
She had once heard a theory.
There are unknown World Bubbles in the Sea of Quanta, and each World Bubble is an existing branch of reality—a parallel world.
In reality, everyone's thoughts could influence the direction of the future, thus giving rise to countless World Bubbles.
This theory was questionable, but it was very similar to what Fu Hua said. "World Bubble? Yes, what you said reminds me of... Project Valuka?"
This unfamiliar term suddenly popped into Fu Hua's mind, but she didn't know its meaning after saying it.
"Project Valuka, what's that?" Kiana was puzzled.
"I—I don't know. Ugh... my head hurts. I don't know, what is that?"
"Don't force yourself if you can't remember. Squad Leader, please continue," Kiana said.
"Alright. This space is probably the direction of a parallel world, and each instance is an unknown future."
"In other words, this future can either continue or be changed by us. We just need to choose to develop toward the better side."
Fu Hua rubbed her aching temples and analyzed calmly.
"I told you! Hehe~ Look, Bronya, even the Squad Leader said that the future me can personally defeat some Herrscher of the Void!"
After hearing this, Kiana's exquisite eyes were full of joy. She hadn't expected that her future self could grow into a warrior capable of defeating a Herrscher.
And the time was only a short three years.
Thinking about how she could personally defeat a Herrscher and protect Mei, Bronya, and everyone else, Kiana smiled foolishly.
Right!
I have to let Aunt Himeko see too!
Even if she skips class every day, Kiana can still become the most powerful Valkyrie!
Looking at Kiana lost in her fantasies, Bronya shook her head in disdain.
Although the facts were laid out before her, she always felt it would be difficult for this idiot to grow into the Kiana seen in the Challenge Space.
In just three years, moving from an idiot who wasn't even a B-Rank Valkyrie to a flame that steadfastly and fearlessly defeated a Herrscher—Bronya didn't know how many setbacks and hardships Kiana would have to endure to finish this journey.
As for that person who died, causing Kiana such immense grief... could it be herself?
Thinking of this, a flicker of worry passed through Bronya's grey eyes; she hadn't found that person yet and couldn't fall here.
"Secondly, there is Yunduo herself."
Fu Hua's voice rang out clearly in the quiet space.
"Yunduo? Is there something wrong with her?" A large question mark popped up in Kiana's little head.
"Idiot Kiana," Bronya said coldly.
"Hey! What did you say, idiot Bronya? Watch out, or I'll beat you up in three years!"
"That will have to wait three years. Right now, you are no match for Bronya. If you fail the final exam, Kiana, you'll become a D-rank Valkyrie."
"Damn it, you always bring that up! I... I'll work hard!"
Kiana said unwillingly.
"Stop messing around. This is an emergency. I don't know if you noticed Yunduo's eyes."
"Eyes? What about them? Isn't that my body?" Kiana didn't understand.
"It was a very complex look. Facing a Herrscher who is like a natural disaster, she didn't show fear. Instead, she seemed a bit... pitying? I don't know if that's the right way to describe it, but in short, she didn't look like someone seeing a Herrscher for the first time, or specifically, the Herrscher of the Void."
"Eh?" Kiana was suddenly stunned.
"Yunduo seems to be a C-Rank Valkyrie, right? And Kiana, was that the first time you met her?"
"Yeah, because I often skip—ah, no, she took the seat where I usually rest. I was actually quite happy to find a like-minded person and wanted to be friends with her."
"Then it was a first meeting," Bronya concluded.
Fu Hua took over, voicing her suspicions:
"So Kiana pulled Yunduo into the storage room, and then our group entered the Challenge Space."
"I suspect there is some connection between Yunduo and the Challenge Space. She might be the medium that triggered it."
"Or perhaps, she already knew what happened in that World Bubble beforehand."
"Or even... she is a person from that World Bubble."
Fu Hua's words caused the trio to stiffen simultaneously.
"Class Monitor, what are you saying? It was clearly Yunduo who succeeded in the challenge through her conviction. It's impossible... impossible that she's a version of me from a parallel world, right?"
Kiana panicked, the complaints in her mind slipping out of her mouth.
"It's not impossible," Fu Hua said...
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