Come to think of it, she had never seen Kiana fully undergo Herrscherization. She did not know what she would become after completely unleashing her power.
"What if... it isn't like that?"
Kiana's voice was low. She had seen, heard of, and understood those Herrschers. She knew that once they transformed, it was as if they became someone else, controlled by Honkai.
What if it wasn't like that?
"If it isn't like that?" Herta noticed the faint worry in her eyes and answered without much thought, "Then it means we failed."
In any case, this world now only had the two of them left. If they failed, they would just go back out and continue researching cloning technology.
Then it means we failed?
Kiana looked at her as if she wanted to say something, but when her gaze met Herta's indifferent expression, she swallowed her words.
Herrscherization?
"...What do I need to do?"
She really didn't care about anything at all.
Of course. In her eyes, everything here was fake, so there was no need to care.
That was fine too.
Kiana took a deep breath.
No matter what, she would stay by Herta's side.
What did she need to do?
Herta had studied her body, but judging from the results, she had not discovered much that was different, nor had she found many traits related to a Herrscher.
However, there was a shortcut to Herrscherization.
"This is a Herrscher Core. I'll transfer its power into your body. That might stimulate the hidden power within you."
Herta took out a purple core. It was the spoils recovered after killing a Herrscher earlier. After researching it for some time, she had set it aside.
"This is?"
Seeing the core, Kiana raised her brows in surprise. For some reason, she thought of the Herrscher she had chased for so long.
Her words suddenly echoed in her ears.
Words filled with hatred and curses.
As if all disasters had happened because of Herta.
"Don't recognize a Herrscher Core anymore?"
"Is it the Herrscher I chased for so long?"
"Seems your memory isn't too bad."
Herta played with the core in her hand, calmly observing the crystal that contained immense power. The Honkai energy within it was extremely intense.
Anyone with slightly weaker resistance—
Just touching it would turn them into a zombie.
Transfer something like this into her body, awaken the hidden power within her, and then...
"...We'll still meet again, right?"
At this moment, staring at the purple core before her, that was what Kiana was thinking about.
"Whether you want to or not, whether you succeed or fail, once it's over you'll see me immediately," Herta said. "After all, you're in my space station right now."
"After it's over, I'll get to see the real you?" Kiana suddenly smiled. "That's wonderful."
Herta remained calm and nodded. "Go on. Say more. I hope when you return to reality, you'll still think that way."
She was already looking forward to seeing Kiana's expression change.
Kiana pressed her lips together. She understood what Herta meant, yet she still could not imagine it.
"I believe in myself."
"Mm, good. That's the confidence you should have," Herta replied perfunctorily. "Believe a little more. Just don't believe me."
She wanted to say something, but she could promise nothing. In her current incomplete state, anything she said would not be believed by Herta.
No matter what she said, it would only be empty words.
"Anything else you want to say? If not, I'm starting," Herta urged when she saw she had fallen silent.
Seeing how unconcerned she looked, Kiana steeled herself and said, "Can you grant me one last request?"
"Let's hear it."
Herta showed a hint of interest. She was also curious what Kiana would ask at such a critical moment.
"Can I kiss you?" she said in a shocking tone, her gaze locked tightly on Herta.
Hearing those unexpected words, Herta froze for a moment. Then she narrowed her eyes, and the way she looked at Kiana turned dangerous.
"Do you think I'm too easy to talk to?"
There was no difference between this and flirting.
If it were someone irrelevant and unimportant, she would probably ignore it, or perhaps give a light punishment as a warning.
But this one was different.
"This is my last and only request!" Kiana did not feel afraid under that gaze. Instead, she spoke more firmly. "I haven't forgotten the things you told me. I've tried hard not to disturb you."
"But at this moment that decides fate, I still... want to try."
Herta's expression remained unpleasant. "Is that all that's in your head?"
Kiana pressed her lips together in disappointment, then forced another smile. "It's fine. A hug would do."
Herta still said nothing. She simply kept a straight face and stared at her, cold and expressionless, an intimidating sight.
"...Not even that?"
Her smile became strained. Kiana lowered her eyes and said, "I want to remember you."
If all of this truly was a trial, if everything here was fake, she still wanted to remember everything that had happened.
Herta turned her head away and said flatly, "You don't need to remember me. You don't need to remember anything that happened here. It would be best if you forgot all of it completely."
Kiana's eyes widened, her lips parting slightly as she forced out a strained question, "Wh-why?"
"Mistakes shouldn't continue."
Her coldness felt like countless fine silver needles piercing Kiana's heart, turning her face deathly pale.
"After you leave here, we'll still just be unfamiliar friends," Herta continued. "A researcher and her subject—that's the only relationship that will ever exist between us."
Kiana staggered back a step, as if she had never expected such words. Her already aching heart felt as though a large hand had gripped it tightly.
The pressure made her chest hurt.
"Stop clinging to unrealistic fantasies," Herta said mercilessly. "I don't like you."
There was no meaning in continuing to entangle themselves.
Everything here was fake. After leaving the trial, everything would return to its original state. No matter what Kiana said or did, it would be unreliable.
There would not be the slightest progress between them because of this.
This was not reality.
She did not even have her memories of reality.
"...I see."
Kiana tried to smile again, but after curling her lips several times, she failed. Thinking about it carefully, Herta indeed had no reason to like her. Herta was so perfect, and she was so ordinary.
Scenes of the time they had spent together flashed through her mind. Aside from the very beginning, she had spent most of her time by Herta's side.
Doing nothing at all. Just quietly watching her from nearby was enough to make her feel at ease and happy.
"I have nothing more to say. Let's begin."
As the power of the Herrscher Core was transferred into her body, Kiana clutched her chest in agony. Honkai energy erupted from the core, and unparalleled pain swept through her entire being, as if every single cell were screaming.
It hurts!
Was this what a Herrscher had to endure?
Her ability to perfectly control Honkai energy was useless against such violent power.
All she could feel was the agony of being corroded.
Was this the kind of pain those who died to Honkai had felt?
"What's going on?"
Herta stepped forward in surprise. This was not what she had anticipated. The compatibility between the Herrscher Core and Kiana was poor, and the moment it made contact, it began eroding her body without restraint.
Kiana's monstrous resistance to Honkai and her flawless control over it both seemed to be suppressed.
Marks of Honkai corrosion surfaced one after another across her body. This was completely outside Herta's expectations.
In her imagination, even if it failed, Kiana's resistance to Honkai should have ensured that implanting a Herrscher Core would not cause severe consequences.
She had never expected that her compatibility with this core would be so terrible. Under the core's internal corrosion, her Honkai resistance crumbled as if it were made of paper.
Exposed to such intense Honkai energy, not only did she show no signs of Herrscherization, she was already being consumed.
Herta hurriedly removed the Herrscher Core she had just implanted, but Kiana's condition did not improve even after the core was taken out.
Her Honkai resistance, her regenerative ability, her power as a Saint—all seemed suppressed. None of them could repair the wounds left by the corrosion.
Had she misjudged?
Herta's brows knit tightly, her expression turning grim. She could feel Kiana's organs rapidly failing.
Her cells were dying.
Wasn't she the Herrscher of Finality?
Her resistance to Honkai was so strong. She was the embodiment of Honkai itself. How could she be eroded by a mere Herrscher Core?
Was this not the correct answer to the trial, but the wrong one? Was that why Kiana's life was draining away so quickly?
Herta's expression grew darker and darker—especially when there was not enough time for her to think of a solution.
"I'm going to die, aren't I?"
Kiana lay on the ground, already numb. Her dim, unfocused eyes stared at the ceiling lights.
"...This was a wrong choice."
Herta crouched beside her to examine her, realizing that she had triggered a fatal option, causing Kiana's life to wither.
And she had no chance to remedy it.
"So this is what dying feels like..."
Kiana could feel her vitality draining rapidly, yet she felt little fear or sorrow.
"Don't be troubled by this. You've done enough for me."
Her voice was soft and labored. She knew death was approaching.
If she had listened to Kiana...
Herta quietly watched her calm expression, and the discomfort in her heart grew stronger. She had considered the possibility of failure, but she had never imagined it would happen like this.
All she could do was watch her die.
"Are you... sad for me?"
Her vision was blurry, yet she seemed to catch a fleeting emotion on Herta's face. Was it an illusion?
...Let's assume it's real.
At least thinking that way made facing death and failure a little easier. She could smile and embrace it.
Herta said nothing.
Did she not refute it?
Or could she no longer hear?
"It's okay."
The colorless corners of Kiana's lips curved slightly into a smile that was not convincing at all. "Everything here is fake, isn't it?"
Her voice grew weaker and weaker.
The light in her eyes gradually faded.
"You said it yourself. This is a trial."
"We'll meet again."
"That's... enough."
Will we really meet again?
Is everything here truly fake?
...It doesn't matter.
Death or rebirth.
The light in her vision dimmed further. She closed her eyes, waiting quietly for the end.
Then her jaw was gripped roughly.
"Seeing me upset for you makes you happy, doesn't it?"
Her vision was too blurred to see clearly, but she could hear the girl's voice, suppressing anger.
So she had confirmed it—she had drawn her in.
Very proud and pleased with herself, wasn't she?
After returning to the real world, she would never forget this. She might even joke about it.
"You really want to entangle yourself with me that badly, don't you?"
She had warned her countless times. She had someone she liked. Everything here was fake. None of it counted.
Yet she had provoked her again and again.
"Kiana!"
Herta's anger was laced with something far more complicated. She leaned down, staring heavily at her bloodless face and dulled eyes.
"No one gets to toy with my feelings. You crossed the line first!"
"The consequences that followed—"
"You'll bear them alone!"
Her body seemed pinned down. Though her senses had not completely faded, she could feel warm, soft lips pressing against her own, then pushing inside.
The metallic taste of blood spread through her mouth.
So it wasn't that she didn't like her.
She had just been worried.
That was why she kept emphasizing that everything would return to normal.
As her consciousness dissipated, Kiana suddenly understood why she had been hot and cold, and why she had said those words.
But she had no time left to say anything.
Herta did not know how to kiss. Rather than a kiss, it was more like one-sided ravaging—a release of the emotions churning inside her.
She bit through Kiana's lip, tasting the sweet metallic blood seeping from the wound. It was a kiss stained with blood.
Pressing her forehead against hers, Herta tried to calm the turmoil within her. She could feel Kiana's last trace of consciousness sink into silence.
Yet she herself had not been released.
She was still trapped within this trial world.
Herrscherization was not the correct answer. Even death was not failure. This was Kiana's trial. Now that she had died, the trial still had not disappeared.
Herta pushed herself upright and silently looked at the white-haired girl lying there with her eyes closed. Her deep gaze fell upon those vivid red lips.
The blood-stained crimson contrasted sharply against her pale face. It was painfully striking.
Herta sat down beside her.
She did not rush to do anything. She simply watched her like that. Reaching out, she touched the blood on her lips. The red smeared onto her fingertip, and she dragged it lightly to the corner of her own mouth.
"You'd better not do anything that makes me unhappy."
Whether she could hear or not, Herta muttered to herself.
"No one in this world gets to betray me."
With the world reduced to a single living person, Herta no longer cared what the answer to the trial was. To begin with, her interest in the Stigmata World had always been limited.
Compared to whether the trial could be cleared, what she wanted more at this moment was to see Kiana's reaction.
Since she was still alive and the trial had not ended, did that mean the trial was tied to her? That being dragged into it herself had not been an accident?
None of that mattered anymore.
If she died once, she would find out what was going on.