"Do you still remember this detestable face, Kiana? She betrayed your trust. At the academy, she was always strict with your will. You thought that was just her cold personality, but that isn't the truth." The cheerful voice seemed almost magical.
Kiana staggered to her feet and looked at the person she both hated and loved. "Class monitor…"
"To her, from beginning to end, you were a monster. She watched you constantly, guarded against you. In the end, when she destroyed you with her own hands, she handed you over to Overseer Otto…"
Theresa, who had been running, suddenly stopped and turned toward the training grounds. Fu Hua trained late every day and was probably still there. She had to find her and ask what was going on.
"To her, everything you have is prey. Look! She's come to hunt you again~"
As the words fell, Fu Hua attacked Kiana.
Strangely, however, her words and actions completely contradicted each other.
"Don't believe her, Kiana. Don't let her control your thoughts."
After only a few exchanges, Fu Hua's figure suddenly disappeared. In her place appeared Overseer Otto.
What Otto said next shocked everyone at St. Freya.
"Test subject number K-423. Donor cells come from direct descendants of the Kaslana and Schariac families. The genetic code of the Second Herrscher has been inserted."
"As with previous test subjects, although the embryo developed successfully, it remains in a vegetative state with no autonomous activity."
Otto's tone carried regret, then shifted.
"However, this time, after implanting the Herrscher core, K-423's brainwave patterns have begun to show regular activity…"
"What…?" Kiana's eyes widened. She couldn't believe what she'd just heard.
"This is your birth," the voice replied, shattering her attempt at denial. "To be precise, it was the day I was brought back into this world."
"That's not true." Kiana's voice trembled in panic.
Then one 'Kiana' after another appeared around her and attacked.
"It was these foolish humans who created our tragedy with their own hands. They summoned the punishment of the gods. And you—you are merely a container, a prison humanity built to restrain me."
Inner grief. Physical exhaustion. Mental collapse.
Facing the attacks of the other 'Kianas,' she barely resisted. In truth, she hardly fought back at all.
The cheerful voice continued:
"Your name and your past are fabricated lies. They never belonged to you. You and I are both victims. Since that's the case…"
The voice grew louder, stirring something inside her.
Her mentor falling from the sky.
Loved ones crying. Close friends leaving her…
Why do I have to suffer this? I didn't want any of it. I did nothing. I'm a victim too…
Why… why… why…
So… whose fault is it?
"…Why not join me in hating the humans who expect things from us and toy with our fate?"
Kiana's movements changed.
From passive defense, she turned to active attack.
Her strikes grew fiercer, harsher.
One by one, the other 'Kianas' fell at her feet.
Negative emotions stained her will.
The comfort of killing dulled her guilt.
The call of the abyss crowned her…
"Good. That's right. Keep killing. Keep destroying!"
Mocking laughter echoed like a flock of crows circling the dying.
Suddenly, the laughter was cut off by a calm voice:
"Fortunately… I'm not too late."
White hair, red eyes, cloaked in flames—
Fu Hua appeared, completely different from usual.
"It's time for you to calm down."
She took out a pink feather. Light shone from it, and the pitch-black space brightened slightly.
"Tch. Annoying."
The scene shifted. A far more arrogant, domineering 'Kiana' appeared—the owner of that cheerful voice.
Her expression was displeased.
"But it doesn't matter. How many times can you help her? I can feel her emotions… anger, sorrow, repression."
Her expression turned pleased again as she reclined in the void.
"Her existence grows weaker by the day. I only need to wait patiently…"
Her voice grew faint, but the confidence remained.
"One day, you'll watch me completely take over this body…"
The video faded into darkness and ended.
After watching, everyone was stunned.
The second video revealed far more shocking information than the first.
The Herrscher of the Void wasn't dead.
Kiana wasn't the real Kiana.
And during the Second Honkai… who rescued Sirin from Anti-Entropy?
Einstein: "Miss Rita, Schicksal owes us an explanation."
Rita: "I will consult the Overseer. If you're interested, you're welcome to visit Schicksal HQ. He would be delighted."
Einstein: "Do you think I'm Tesla?"
Tesla: "Hey! I'm right here!"
Old grudges made the chat chaotic again.
"Is this a joke…? It's not funny at all…"
Kiana stepped back, confused and lost.
She wondered if the Herrscher had fabricated lies to break her mind.
But… what if it was true?
It felt like someone whispering in her ear—
She wasn't Kiana. Just a clone. A puppet Otto made to revive the Herrscher.
Kiana clutched her head. The shock drained all strength from her body.
Her legs gave out—if Mei hadn't caught her, she would've collapsed.
A faint golden light flickered in her blue eyes.
If her head weren't lowered, others would have noticed.
Unlike the video, the current Kiana still had people beside her.
"Kiana, you are Kiana. You're the one who saved me in Nagazora. The Kiana I know and rely on."
Mei shook her shoulders, trying to call her back.
"Bronya doesn't care if Kiana is K-423. Bronya cares about the single-celled idiot. Did you forget losing 36 matches in Honkai Fighter last night? You said you'd get revenge. Are you giving up already?"
Bronya tried to provoke her pride.
It failed. Normally it would work—but not now.
The golden light in her eyes grew brighter.
She couldn't hear anything anymore.
Only hysterical laughter in her ears.
"Fortunately… I'm not too late."
A pink feather fell onto Kiana's head.
The laughter stopped instantly.
Same scene. Same voice.
Mei and Bronya looked at the door.
Fu Hua stood there holding Fenghuang Down, staring at Kiana, then sighing in relief.
"Fu Hua, you saved Kiana, so you clearly don't have ill intent. But tell me—who are you really? Were you sent by my grandfather as a spy?"
Behind her, Theresa held Judah, unusually serious.
She had taken Kiana from Schicksal HQ years ago.
If the video was true, that rescue had been part of Otto's plan.
She and Siegfried had been pieces on the board.
"…I have my reasons. Principal, let me deal with Kiana first. After that… I'll tell you everything."
Fu Hua stepped forward and crouched beside Kiana, placing Fenghuang Down before her.
Mei tried to stop her, but gave up.
"Trust me. I'll bring back the Kiana you know."
Fu Hua closed her eyes and activated the feather's power, entering Kiana's mind.
'So dark… where is this…'
Everything was black. Kiana felt like she was floating in a void.
"…Kia…"
"…Kiana…"
Her consciousness jolted awake.
"Where am I? Wasn't I in the dorm waiting for Mei's fried chicken?"
Everything felt familiar, yet she felt she'd forgotten something…
"Kiana, you almost lost control just now," Fu Hua's voice echoed in the darkness. "Your Herrscher persona has begun to awaken. You must learn to control her. Don't let her take over."
"Class monitor… I'm not Kiana… I'm just a clone. An experiment. A container…"
Fu Hua's voice awakened memories she wanted to forget.
She curled up, hugging her knees.
Her identity was fake.
Everything she believed felt like a mockery.
The real Kiana should have had this life—Mei, Bronya, Theresa, Himeko…
Would they abandon her if they knew she was a clone?
She had no memories before age eight…
No wonder her father looked so conflicted when calling her Kiana.
If Theresa had saved the real Kiana back then…
what would everything be like now?
She was a thief.
A nameless thief.
[TL note: k 423 my love ♥️]
Her thoughts spiraled into chaos. The suppressed Herrscher persona began to stir again…