"What did you say?! You bratty Bronya!!!"
Kiana bared her teeth and pointed at Bronya, her expression somewhat agitated.
Crack—
Kiana's face stiffened as a crisp sound came from her waist, and her small face turned pale.
"Ow, ow, This Young Miss's waist!"
"Kiana...! Are you okay!"
Raiden Mei's face was full of concern as she hurriedly stepped forward to support Kiana's slender waist.
"Hehe... I'm fine, Mei, I just accidentally twisted it..."
Kiana immediately forgot the pain, leaning against Raiden Mei's chest with a slightly flushed face, then raised an eyebrow provocatively at Bronya.
Bronya's brow furrowed slightly, then she walked to the bedside expressionlessly.
"Bronya has recently learned Shenzhou massage. Bronya believes that idiot Kiana needs a massage now to relax her muscles and bones."
Bronya said indifferently.
Behind her, Project Bunny also deactivated its quantum camouflage, and a torso-only robot full of technological flair slowly emerged.
Project Bunny's eyes glowed slightly as it slowly approached Kiana.
"Mei... Mei-Mei-Mei! Help—"
Crack—
"Aaaah!!! Bronya!!!"
On this day, Kiana's tragic screams echoed through the sky—
...Schicksal Overseer's Office.
A blonde-haired, blue-eyed man wearing a white shirt, with a ponytail draped over his left shoulder, was looking at a video projected on a virtual screen.
This man was the actual helmsman of Schicksal, Theresa's grandfather, Otto Apocalypse.
"An energy form different from Honkai Energy, significantly enhancing reaction and speed. This marvelous state is definitely not a product of the Second Herrscher's clearance."
Otto rested his cheek on the back of his right hand, which was propped up on the sofa chair. His tone was flippant, and he wore a playful expression.
He continued to observe the recording while his left hand pulled a recording pen from a desk drawer.
"Experimental Observation Log: K423 exhibits abilities beyond expectations, but this ability has a clear flaw. The ability is tentatively named 'Limit Break'..."
As he finished speaking, the video played to the scene where Kiana's body was wrapped in black electric arcs, her face filled with pain.
"After using 'Limit Break', the body clearly shows an overload reaction. According to subsequent medical reports, this negative reaction is even life-threatening and causes serious damage."
Summary: The impact on the plan is negligible. Continued observation is required.
Recorder: Otto Apocalypse"
After finishing the recording, Otto put away the recording pen and looked at the screen with very calm eyes, lost in thought.
At this moment, a golden cube appeared in front of Otto's chest, floating slowly and blooming with golden light.
A small figure condensed within the golden light.
This newly appeared figure looked just like Otto in his youth.
He strolled leisurely to the side sofa, sat down, crossed his legs, and looked at Otto.
"That kind of ridiculous dodging movement and speed is not inferior to those Pioneers. It might even become a variable~"
The youth spoke with a flippant tone similar to Otto's.
Otto's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at the youth, his expression indifferent.
"Heh~ The stronger K423 is, the more helpful she is to me. Why should I fear her becoming a variable~? Void Archives."
Otto spread his hands and responded casually.
What he needed was a controllable Second Herrscher with humanity.
The stronger K423's strength was, the easier it would be to suppress the Herrscher Personality, and the easier it would be for K423's consciousness to take charge.
Moreover, an emotional girl with such bonds was very easy for him to control.
"Hahahaha~ Then let's wait and see, old friend~"
Void Archives laughed as it transformed back into a golden cube and floated back onto the desk.
—Go! Sprint! Go! Divider—
At nightfall.
"Kiana, we're leaving now. We'll come to see you tomorrow morning."
Mei and Bronya stood at the door and said to Kiana.
"Mei, I'm alone at night... I'm scared... Can you stay with me for a night... I promise I won't... won't get handsy..."
Kiana looked at Mei with a pitiful face.
"This... isn't right..."
Seeing Kiana's pathetic appearance, Mei became conflicted again.
"Project Bunny 19C! Target locked: Kiana!"
The Project Bunny behind Bronya raised its mechanical fist, its eyes flashing red.
"Sister Mei has shown clear resistance. If the harassment does not stop, Project Bunny's attack will not stop!"
"You Little Dot! Where did you see Mei resisting?! My Mei really wants to be open and honest with This Young Miss! She's just shy!"
Kiana retorted fiercely.
Then, as if she had imagined something, her face turned slightly red, a bit of drool escaped her mouth, and she let out a 'hehehe' laugh.
"Wa..."
"Wants to be open and..."
"How could I possibly want to be open and honest!"
Mei covered her blushing face and ran out.
Bronya gave Kiana a 'you suck' gesture and followed Mei out of the room, leaving behind a grayed-out Kiana.
"Hey! You shorty!!! You just wait!"
Regaining her senses, Kiana waved her small fist and shouted fiercely with bared teeth.
Of course, she was just talking tough.
Having already considered Bronya a close friend, Kiana naturally wouldn't really do anything to her.
In the now quiet ward, Kiana looked out at the dark sky through the window alone.
The indoor light shone on the window, reflecting Kiana's slightly blurred face.
At this moment, the cheerful and lively expression Kiana showed in public was gone, replaced by a hint of worry between her brows.
"She... should be waking up soon..."
Kiana murmured softly.
The reflection on the glass seemed to confirm her words, as a flash of gold passed through those blue eyes.
"Forget it, I'll find a way to make her accept me when the time comes."
After all, on the Astral Express before her in-game self became the Herrscher of Finality, she had personally told her 'well done'.
Withdrawing her gaze from the window, Kiana's slender fingers swiped slightly, opening the system warehouse.
"System, after using the Xianzhou Card, where will the Xianzhou appear?"
[The Xianzhou will default to being stationed within the imaginary energy tide belt of the Solar System, but the system does not recommend stationing the Xianzhou within the Solar System range.]
"Why? If it's next to Earth, it'll be convenient for me to travel back and forth at any time, right?"
Kiana didn't understand the system's meaning for a moment and asked with slight confusion.
[The sudden appearance of the Xianzhou will attract the attention of Sa and the 'Sky People'. Given the Host's current strength, a direct confrontation is not recommended.]
"Does the system have any good ideas?"
Taking out the gold-plated card, Kiana held it up before her eyes and said somewhat helplessly.
Other people's systems come with defense systems when they draw these Planetary-level Arks. Why does hers require her to do everything herself...