"That's right. So now you'll be facing me with multiple gems."
"Even so, I will defeat you. Because I promised her—promised them—that I would turn this imperfect world into the one I desire."
Even though her Valkyrie armor was only the most basic White Comet, Kiana still charged forward recklessly to grapple with the Herrscher of the Void.
Though "grappling" was more like Kiana being completely overpowered.
The entire fight consisted of Kiana taking all the damage, while the Herrscher of the Void didn't even have a single wrinkle on her clothes.
"Pathetic. Weak. Ant. Look at you—without the authority you stole from me, what do you have left? Nothing. Just a bug that can be crushed at any moment."
The Herrscher of the Void sneered mercilessly at Kiana, who was kneeling on the ground, panting heavily, her strength nearly spent.
Kiana ignored the mockery, her gaze only growing more determined.
She fell, stood up, fell again, stood up again—neither the Herrscher of the Void nor Kiana herself knew how many times she had gotten back to her feet.
Looking at her battered body, Kiana wiped the blood from her lips and stood up once more.
"Tch. Enough playing. Time to end your life. Don't worry—I'll use this body to send every last one of your precious friends and family to meet you in the afterlife."
With a wave of her hand, countless Void Lances materialized in the sky, surrounding Kiana.
One command, and she would be skewered like a pincushion.
That would mean Kiana's death—and the Herrscher of the Void reclaiming this body.
"I won't fall. I promised them. What I must do isn't done yet. Until then, no obstacle can stop me—only slow me down."
Gathering the last of her strength, Kiana lunged at the Herrscher of the Void.
In that instant, countless memories flashed before her eyes—parting with her father as a child, meeting Mei and the others, growing up, then separating due to differences.
All her convictions converged here.
The Gem of Haste tore itself free from the Herrscher of the Void's grasp.
Its target—Kiana.
The moment it fused into her, Kiana felt its power—and something more.
A will.
With a sweep of her hand, a sword identical to Himeko's Godslayer: Surtr appeared in her grip.
"The battle isn't over yet. Don't celebrate too soon!"
"What?!"
The Herrscher of the Void stared in disbelief as the gem abandoned her for Kiana.
She immediately retaliated with her remaining authorities.
"Countless sparks gather here. This is more than just a legacy—it's the flame passed down through generations, the unbroken will of those who came before!"
Two immense forces clashed, shaking the very fabric of the mental space.
The Herrscher of the Void still held more power, so even Kiana's full-strength slash couldn't defeat her.
But the unexpected interference of the Gem of Haste had shaken the Herrscher's will.
In that moment, she felt it—her authorities slipping away, flowing toward Kiana.
"No! That's my power! Come back!"
Panicking as her strength drained away, the Herrscher of the Void screamed, commanding her stolen authority to return.
But it was useless.
In this battle of wills, she had lost.
As Kiana's power surged, her blade, burning like wildfire, descended.
The flames illuminated the entire mental space.
A blinding white light—
—and when it faded, only the grievously wounded Herrscher of the Void remained amidst the ruins.
"..."
"..."
"I won."
"...Yes. You won. In this battle between good and evil, good triumphed."
"No. We were never embodiments of good and evil. I chose good. You chose evil. That's all."
"Heh. Call it whatever you want. The victor writes history."
With that, the Herrscher of the Void quietly awaited her demise.
Then—
Benares, still impaled on the wall, let out a pained roar.
She forced herself forward, letting the Void Lances tear through her wings as she dragged herself to her queen's side.
Lowering her head, she nuzzled against the Herrscher of the Void.
"...Even now, you still follow me? Even after this..."
Gently stroking Benares, the Herrscher's voice lacked its usual arrogance—only calmness, with a trace of warmth.
"As the victor, live on. Struggle as much as you can—until the very end."
With those final words, the Herrscher of the Void and Benares began dissolving into golden light.
Kiana turned away, unable to watch.
Meanwhile, somewhere else...
"Hey, hey, Senti, are you even capable? If we don't hurry, their consciousnesses will fade for good!"
"Shut up! I'm the Herrscher of Sentience here. You think you know better? The timing isn't right yet!"
Senti shot back at the purple-haired midget grumbling beside her.
Then—
Her eyes sharpened.
"Now!"
Activating her authority over consciousness, augmented by Fenghuang Down, she worked swiftly.
Kiana noticed nothing.
Two golden streams of light shot into the feather.
"Done! Let's go, let's go—back to Babylon Tower!"
Senti immediately dialed a certain two-toned-haired girl who drove the Thousand-Crossing Train.
Five seconds later, they were aboard, speeding toward their destination.
Back at Babylon Tower, under everyone's curious gazes, Senti proudly released the two consciousnesses.
"...Huh? I should've faded. Where is this... You?!"
The Herrscher of the Void—no, Serena—looked around in confusion before freezing at the sight of the purple-haired girl.
Wait. If Sirin was standing in front of her, then who was she? That didn't make sense—she was Sirin!
"Hehe~ Little Senti, be a dear and share my memories with her so she understands the situation."
"Got it, got it! Watch and learn~"