As that scene unfolded—
The group chat completely exploded.
[Ningguang: Sigh… poor Kiana… this is heartbreaking…]
[March 7th: Only able to hug her own mother inside an illusion…]
[Theresa: The Second Herrscher—has she really not been completely eliminated?!]
[Tesla: I told you! I told you!! That bastard Otto!! Just as I thought—he had a scheme! Despicable!!]
[Kiana: Fu Hua… Class President??]
[Fu Hua: Cough…]
[Honkai · Himeko: Fu Hua… was an undercover agent sent by the Bishop??]
[Otto: Hehe, no need to be so extreme.]
[Otto: Fighting Herrschers and opposing Honkai—that is the very reason Schicksal exists, isn't it?]
[Tesla: You'd better actually be fighting Honkai!!]
22 Hours After Kiana Was Taken — Schicksal Headquarters
"Continue injecting Honkai energy into the experimental chamber.
That level of concentration isn't nearly enough to wake her."
Otto looked up at Kiana, floating in slumber within the chamber.
A cold smile curved his lips.
"Heh… long time no see. Welcome home—K-423."
Under the watchful eyes of countless viewers in the group chat—
Driven by massive amounts of Honkai energy and the Gem of Serenity,
the second personality hidden deep within Kiana awakened—
Sirin.
At the same time,
her retainers revived on the Second Siberian Battlefield!
Seeing the gigantic dragon on the screen,
Otto showed not the slightest surprise.
"Oh? Have you come to protect your queen?"
He then issued orders to Schicksal.
"Deploy full-domain defensive satellites!
All Valkyrie units—Level One combat readiness!"
"Prepare yourselves.
The transformation of the world is about to begin."
The entirety of Schicksal Headquarters
was enveloped in an enormous energy barrier.
Elsewhere
Theresa and the others were already approaching Schicksal Headquarters
aboard the transport ship Helios!
After destroying one of Schicksal's automated defense warships—
Otto's video transmission connected directly to Theresa's command room.
On the massive screen,
Otto propped his cheek up elegantly, letting out a soft chuckle.
"What do you intend to do with such toys, Theresa?"
"Be a good girl and go back."
"Everyone has a rebellious phase.
I won't hold it against your childishness."
"You're still as gentle as ever, Grandpa."
Theresa lowered her head slightly,
but quickly clenched her teeth and replied,
"But this time—
I will not yield to you again!"
At that very moment—
Huge numbers of Honkai beasts swarmed in,
threatening Theresa's assault ship!
At the forefront was a Judgment-class Honkai Beast—
Benares, the dragon and one of Sirin's retainers!
At the critical moment—
It was Fu Hua who stepped in,
forcing Benares to retreat!
The remaining Honkai beasts
were wiped out by the Anti-Entropy forces that arrived shortly afterward!
Einstein:
"Thank you for the coordinates, Ms. Theresa.
Looks like we arrived just in time."
Theresa:
"You're finally here! You took long enough, Einstein!
I hope you came prepared."
Einstein:
"You won't be disappointed, Ms. Theresa."
Einstein:
"Come to think of it… how many years has it been since we last returned to headquarters, Dr. Tesla?"
Einstein:
"Seeing this place again… it brings back those old names—
Edison… Planck…"
Einstein:
"But now isn't the time for nostalgia.
We still have an important mission to fulfill."
With Einstein's command—
Anti-Entropy and Theresa's forces launched a coordinated assault!
Under the fierce barrage,
the mech units seized control of the outer perimeter of Third Aerial Harbor!
But at that very moment—
The protagonist of this rating segment—
Murata Himeko—
quietly spat out two mouthfuls of blood.
Instantly,
the hearts of all viewers tightened!
Kiana, watching from before the screen, cried out in alarm!
Yet within the footage—
Himeko seemed fully aware of her own condition.
"So… my time is running out, huh?"
As the operation was about to advance further,
she proposed to Theresa and the Anti-Entropy members—
That she herself would form a suicide squad
to deal with the ground-based defense systems.
But beside her—
Tesla immediately sensed Himeko's intentions.
"I've met someone just as stupid as you before.
And I hate people like you the most—
the kind who sacrifice themselves to pave the way for others!"
Faced with Tesla's blunt words,
Himeko still tried to keep up her tough front.
But in the end,
she agreed to let Tesla accompany her.
[Tesla: As expected—future me is just as sharp!]
[Tesla: That red-haired idiot! Don't you dare make sacrifices without thinking about how others feel! I really hate fools like you!!]
[Honkai · Himeko: Hmph, as if I would…]
[Kiana: Auntie Himeko, what's wrong with your body…]
[Raiden Mei: Could it be because of the Stigmata…]