[The Dimensional Q&A System has officially started. Please listen to the question.]
[Question 1: In Sky City, how did Kiana Kaslana save the entire city's residents?]
A: Under the wisdom of the Herrscher of Sentience, she exposed the Bishop of Schicksal's conspiracy and beat Otto to death.
B: She temporarily mastered Herrscher authority and pushed a Honkai energy bomb into the sky, turning it into a meteor.
C: She forcibly endured Welt Yang's pseudo–Star of Eden, seized the Core of Reason, and obtained the title of dual Herrscher in advance.
D: She integrated knowledge taught by the Far East Demon Cave and cracked Anti-Entropy mech control networks.
The moment the question appeared, every selected person across the Honkai world showed shock.
Kiana's expression was the most exaggerated.
"Save an entire city? With what ability could I accomplish something like that?!"
"Wait!" Kiana suddenly noticed something. "I've never been to Sky City. Did the question get it wrong? I've been active in Europe. The only place in the Far East I've been is Nagazora City. I've never even heard of Sky City."
"…Bronya doesn't think so." Though shocked, Bronya analyzed calmly. "This thing can invade our minds and even involves other worlds. Rather than the question being wrong, it's more likely the system is predicting the future."
"The future? So… I save a city in the future?"
Kiana only half understood but still grasped part of it. She immediately put her hands on her hips proudly. "Hmph! By then, this young lady must be an S-rank Valkyrie!"
"Kiana, calm down and read the question and answers carefully," Mei said. She examined them closely—and broke into a cold sweat.
"The answers… what's wrong with them…?"
Kiana tilted her head and looked again. Her face instantly changed.
Herrscher of Sentience.
Schicksal bishop.
Herrscher authority.
Herrscher of Reason.
Dual Herrscher title.
Far East Demon Cave.
Pulling out the keywords, even the weakest-sounding one was "Anti-Entropy mechs."
What kind of city was Sky City for so many forces to be involved in the future? Did it have mines underground or something?
The sheer amount of information overloaded Kiana's brain.
The chat channel exploded as well.
Theresa: Kiana, explain yourself! When did you defect to the Honkai?! You betrayed St. Freya and joined the Far East Demon Cave—just hearing that name sounds shady!
Kiana: I'm innocent, Auntie! I'm just a small B-rank Valkyrie. I don't know anything!
Kiana looked like she was about to cry, feeling wronged beyond words. Mei quickly comforted her.
Rita: Everyone, let's focus on the question. This "system" hasn't set a time limit, but that doesn't mean we can stall forever.
Rita Rossweisse—the vice-captain of Schicksal's strongest Valkyrie squad, Immortal Blades, and Durandal's trusted aide—was known for her sharp thinking.
She had locked herself in her room and didn't even dare meet Otto in person, just in case.
Kiana: The system mentioned my name. I'll answer this question.
Kiana was kind-hearted and didn't want to push danger onto others.
No one objected. Even people like Theresa and Himeko held back and waited.
In the Valkyrie dorm, Kiana hugged Bronya's leg and begged for help.
"…Sigh. As expected, grasshopper brain," Bronya muttered helplessly, but still helped analyze.
"The core of this question is the word save. If the target is an entire city, what could threaten a city's destruction? That is the key to choosing an answer."
"At least three organizations are involved. A: Schicksal. C: Anti-Entropy. D: Far East Demon Cave…"
Bronya paused. Aside from D, the other options involved Herrschers.
"Bronya believes A and C can be eliminated. Schicksal and Anti-Entropy are on the front lines against the Honkai."
"In A, the helper is the Herrscher of Sentience—this contradicts Schicksal's ideology. It's likely a false premise."
"In C, Anti-Entropy leader Welt Yang inherited power from the First Herrscher of Reason. With Anti-Entropy's philosophy, it's hard to imagine him attacking a city."
She took a breath.
"Of course, this is only Bronya's opinion. If any faction betrayed humanity, then the darkness hidden behind them would be impossible for Kiana alone to fight. It would be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot."
If Kiana offended both Schicksal and Anti-Entropy—the two top powers…
That wouldn't be funny.
Bronya stopped there. There wasn't enough information. Eliminating two options was already difficult.
Until they understood what the "Far East Demon Cave" was, further analysis was pointless.
Theresa: As expected of my St. Freya student. You've inherited my wisdom.
Bronya's analysis was sent to the chat. Many were impressed.
"…So B or D…" Kiana hesitated. A lucky 50-50.
She suddenly smiled and gave a confident thumbs-up.
"My luck is really good. Since we can't analyze further, let's trust my luck!"
"Bronya recommends choosing B," Bronya said.
"Why?" Kiana and Mei asked.
"Bronya does not believe grasshopper brain has the IQ to hack Anti-Entropy mech networks."
Sound reasoning. Very convincing.
Everyone who knew Kiana nodded—except Kiana herself.
Bronya didn't say one thing aloud:
If B were correct, it would mean Kiana would become a Herrscher in the future.
While Kiana protested loudly, Mei and Bronya exchanged glances.
No one understood Herrschers better than Mei—because she herself was the Third Herrscher.
"Yes, Kiana. Choose B," Mei urged. "If you answer wrong, the punishment…"
"Mei, even you…?"
Kiana felt life was meaningless.
"…Fine. I'll trust Bronya's suggestion. But for the record, I'm not dumb." She put her hands on her hips proudly. "After all, I'm the Valkyrie who saves a city."
"Hey, system! I've decided—answer B!"
[Kiana Kaslana has submitted her answer: B.]
[Correct.]
[Reward obtained: Augment Core — Sky Ranger]
[Augment Core: Sky Ranger]
- After equipping, it can guide the power of the Herrscher of the Void within the host and enter Herrscher mode. Duration depends on the host's physical and mental endurance.
[Sky Ranger description]:
When the Queen of Destruction was sealed in blood, a girl who had long slept awoke from her dream.
Her teacher's final words became the most distant hope.
Enduring pain, she healed herself, resisted erosion, and fell into the abyss.
Her clear blue eyes were dyed with cold gold, and through suffering she displayed Honkai's power.
She once indulged in peaceful daily life.
But when the end came, she became a cold warrior beneath the sky, standing again above blood and enemies.
Rita: Rather than a ranger…
Einstein: It sounds like a warrior prepared for sacrifice.
Himeko: I'm curious about "the teacher's final words." Is that referring to me?
The chat buzzed with discussion.
In the Valkyrie dorm, the three examined the core.
"Guide the Herrscher power inside me? I'm not a Herrscher,"
Kiana said, looking at the blue sphere in her hand.
She subconsciously clenched it.
The core turned into light and merged into her body.
Herrscher energy burst from Kiana. The overwhelming Honkai energy shocked Bronya and Mei.
Her outfit changed.
Black-and-white gloves. A white base suit with a long black coat. Orange armor at the waist. Stockings and shorts. A cloak with a pentagram fluttered behind her.
One gold eye and one blue eye gave her a completely different presence—like a warrior forged through suffering.
"Kiana…"
Mei could hardly believe the person before her was the same girl who usually acted silly.
"Mei-sister, don't get close," Bronya said seriously. "Kiana… is currently a Herrscher."
The Honkai energy output rivaled the time Mei became the Herrscher of Thunder in Nagazora.
"Herrscher? Where? I don't see one… Why are you two so far away—wait, when did my clothes change? Huh… not bad. Suits this young lady perfectly."
Just as tension peaked, Kiana casually broke the silence.
Bronya suddenly felt silly for being so serious.
At that moment, the screen began playing a video.
[In the video]:
Kiana, wearing a hooded outfit like a ranger, leaped across rooftops.
Anti-Entropy mechs detected the intruder and activated combat mode.
She reached a rooftop and stared at a glowing tower ahead.
"They're here."
Facing incoming mechs, she took a deep breath, opened her jacket, lowered her hood, revealing her braids, and summoned a baseball bat from the void.
"I don't have time to play with you here!"
She dashed forward, leaping with the help of cranes and cables, gliding between buildings.
Missiles filled the sky.
Kiana dodged through them fearlessly.
With gravity-assisted kicks, she crushed mech cockpits, weaving through attacks and destroying many machines.
But eventually, numbers overwhelmed her.
While swinging on a cable, she couldn't dodge in time. Using the bat as a shield, she forced her way toward the tower's midsection.
Surrounded by mechs, she gritted her teeth in pain.
Her right eye turned gold.
She borrowed the Herrscher of the Void's power and counterattacked.
In the distance, more mechs launched another barrage of missiles toward her…