Kevin waved dismissively. This wasn't his plan anyway.
If the Herrscher of Finality Kiana came for revenge, they'd just blame the scriptwriter.
"...I think she might punch you first."
"She'd have to beat me first."
Kevin wasn't boasting. He was that strong now.
If the Previous Era's Herrscher of Finality appeared before him without the Cocoon's buffs?
He'd choke it out while sneering, "You call yourself Finality?"
So no, he wasn't worried about Chang Yuan's retaliation either.
"..."
Fu Hua had to admit he had a point.
Meanwhile, Kiana wandered the desert, directionless.
Memories surfaced. Perhaps... she could return to where it all began.
"Maybe... I should go back."
Resolved, Kiana asked for directions to Nagazora and set off on foot.
...
"Dr. Tesla, still no news about Kiana?"
At Anti-Entropy's base, Mei made her daily inquiry.
As usual, Tesla shook her head.
"Sorry, Mei. Nothing yet."
"...Where is she? Is she eating well? Is she safe?"
Mei's worry was palpable as she stared out the window.
Then, Einstein brought hope.
"Dr. Tesla, we detected brief Herrscher activity in Nagazora. It's likely Kiana—there's no Honkai eruption accompanying it."
"Really, Dr. Einstein?"
Mei's spirits lifted as she rushed to Tesla's side.
"Indeed. But the signal was fleeting and unstable—Kiana's condition is poor. You should hurry."
"Thank you. I'll leave immediately."
Without hesitation, Mei departed for Nagazora.
Tesla sighed at her retreating back.
"Kids these days. So impatient."
"And if it were Welt in trouble? Could you stay calm?"
"Don't compare people like that!"
Blushing, Tesla changed the subject.
Einstein smiled but grew somber.
"Joachim... You'd be proud of your successor."
Meanwhile, at a private Schicksal beach...
"Archbishop Otto, are you sure this is okay? Einstein and Welt will kill me when they find out."
"Joachim, this is a necessary sacrifice. You get to witness the Honkai's end instead of dying. A small price, no?"
Otto sipped lemonade on his sun lounger.
The original Welt Joyce wasn't dead—Otto had secretly brought him to Schicksal.
No one, not even Anti-Entropy, suspected a thing.
"Easy for you to say. You're not getting beaten up. And according to the script, won't you die confronting the Imaginary Tree?"
"Of course not. The script's Otto died because he tried to create a parallel world. If I just pretend to seek godhood and fake my death afterward, it's foolproof."
Otto had memorized every plot point.
"Sigh... I envy you. Lady Kallen dotes on you so much—she even cooks for you. Meanwhile, I—Wait, Archbishop, why are you crying?"
Joyce panicked at Otto's sudden tears. Was he having a breakdown?
"Tears of joy. You wouldn't understand."
Otto wiped his eyes miserably.
Kallen's cooking was proof of her love—a love so heavy he drafted wills before each meal.
"Just don't die here. If they think I killed you, my vacation is over."
Joyce relaxed once Otto recovered.
Ding.
Otto checked his phone. "Siegfried, your wife wants you home for dinner."
The message came from their "Kiana World" group chat—which Siegfried had ignored.
"...I'll head back then. Have fun, guys."
Siegfried's departure resembled a condemned man walking to his execution.
Otto sighed. Every family had its struggles—his, Siegfried's, all the same.
...
"Sora, remember what I taught you?"
Raven double-checked with her adopted child.
"Don't worry, Teacher. I memorized everything. And Mecha Bunny can react if needed."