"Don't just stare. There's more."
The world twisted again—
—into a scorched wasteland, fissures bleeding molten light.
"Look at him. The man who saved you. See how you took his arm? Happiness, family, peace—none of it was meant for you.
Had he left you there… they'd still be whole."
"..."
Lies didn't hurt.
The truth was the sharpest blade.
Kiana trembled—
—until...
"Papa! Your arm—who did this?!"
Little Kiana was pulled into a one-armed hug.
Her tiny hands clutched at Siegfried's empty sleeve.
"It's nothing, Kiana. Just a scratch."
"But it's bleeding! You need—"
"Listen. There's something I have to tell you."
"Papa… okay. I'll remember."
Wiping her tears, little Kiana nodded.
"Kiana… from now on, you'll walk this path alone. I… can't stay. I'm sorry. I failed as a father. But I have to go."
"No! I don't want you to leave!"
Her small fists gripped his coat.
Siegfried's heart ached—but he couldn't stay.
His presence would only awaken Sirin sooner.
"Kiana… we made a promise, remember? A Kaslana protects others—no matter what.
I know you'll do better than I ever could. You'll never lose to her… to the Honkai.
Because you're my daughter. Kiana Kaslana."
Watching the memory, Kiana's doubt shattered.
She met Sirin's gaze—steady.
"I am his daughter. He gave me this name, knowing you were inside me. He taught me to fight—to protect."
"Even leaving… was to shield me. Because you hated him. You'd have awoken sooner if he stayed."
"Tch."
Sirin scowled as the scene shifted again—
—to Schicksal's skies.
"What if I crippled her here? Would she still rush to her death?"
"She would. Even dying, she'd go."
"And what did she save? St. Freya fell. Your friends left.
Mei betrayed you. Bronya drifted away. She failed."
"No. She saved me. They saved me."
"Saved? More like cursed. Without her, you'd have pulled the trigger in Arc City.
Died clean. But she made you live—with guilt, forever."
Sirin laughed—
—but Kiana didn't flinch.
Himeko's sacrifice wasn't meant to make her doubt.
It was meant to make her stronger.
"Fine. If words won't break you… let's fight. Winner takes all. Loser disappears."
The arena morphed into a narrow, castle-like space.
"Then I'll win!"
Kiana braced—
—when a roar shook the air.
"RAAAAAGH—!"
A silver dragon descended.
"My servant."
"Bella!"
Both called her name—
—but the dragon landed behind Kiana.
Sirin's eyes widened.
"HAH! You lose, Kiana! Benares—crush her!"
But the dragon didn't move.
"...Traitor! You betrayed me?!"
"No. She chose the queen she wanted to follow.
Sirin, face it—we're both possibilities of Sirin's will. You chose destruction. I choose protection.
And Benares… chose me."
"...Then DIE."
Benares was pinned to the wall by Sirin's spears—
—but Kiana was already lunging.
Sirin just smirked.
"Did you forget something?"
SNAP.
Kiana's Void Drifter suit dissolved—
—reverting to White Comet.
"The Herrscher of the Void's power was mine to begin with. And…"
She held up a crimson gem.
"Recognize this? The Gem of Haste —from that woman's armor. Pathetic… but not useless."
"That's—! The gem from Himeko's battlesuit!"