"Nice to meet you. My name is Diana, the headmistress of this academy."
Diana introduced herself.
She smiled softly and continued, "From now on, you'll be studying here under my care. Do you have any questions?"
"Studying? What can I possibly learn from you?" the Herrscher of the Void asked.
"You'll learn various forms of knowledge and skills, master laws, powers, and authorities, and be sent to explore unknown dimensional universes—to grow into an exceptional Herrscher," Diana replied.
"...You mean everyone here is a Herrscher?" The Herrscher of the Void looked at her in astonishment.
"More or less. We only accept students who have the potential to become Herrschers. All three of you possess the potential to become the Final Herrscher."
Diana spoke calmly.
The Herrscher of the Void was silent for a moment.
Then she nodded. "Fine, I'll stay and study here."
She needed greater power for revenge. In her current state, she couldn't accomplish anything.
"I... I want to leave and find my dad," said little Kiana.
"Alright," Diana replied with a gentle smile. "I'll send you back to your father shortly."
"Really? Thank you, big sister!" Kiana exclaimed joyfully.
Diana walked over to K-423 and lifted the small girl into her arms. "You don't have a name yet, do you? How about I give you one?"
She smiled. "How does Durandal sound to you?"
"..."
Hearing that name, Kiana suddenly felt a strange emotion deep in her heart.
It was as if she had lost something important.
"Durandal... that's my name?" K-423 asked in confusion.
"Yes. From now on, your name will be Durandal. How does that sound?" said Diana.
"I am... Durandal."
"Yes, such a smart child," Diana said warmly, gently stroking K-423's smooth white hair.
In this new world, Kiana Kaslana remained Kiana Kaslana—but K-423 became Durandal.
Durandal basked in Diana's gentle touch, an unfamiliar warmth filling her heart.
"Alright, you should go now. Your father is still waiting for you."
"When you change your mind and wish to return to study, simply call my name."
With those words, Diana waved her hand, and little Kiana was transported away.
In a vast, snowy wasteland, Siegfried wandered aimlessly like a walking corpse, searching for his daughter. The world had changed so drastically that he couldn't even find the wreckage of the plane.
"Dad!"
Hearing that familiar voice, Siegfried raised his head. A little girl stood not far away.
"Daughter!"
Siegfried's eyes widened as he ran toward her, pulling her into a tight embrace.
"Dad!" Kiana cried out, hugging his waist tightly.
"You're alive! Thank goodness, thank goodness!" Siegfried's eyes filled with tears.
His daughter was alive—and that meant more to him than anything else.
"Ow, Dad, you're hurting me," Kiana pouted, struggling slightly under his strong grip.
"Oh, sorry, sorry! I got too excited," Siegfried apologized quickly.
"By the way, sweetie, are you hurt anywhere?"
He let go of her and looked her over carefully.
Not a single wound.
Kiana shook her head. "Nope."
"That's good." Siegfried sighed in relief.
"What about the other kid? Is she okay too?"
If his daughter had returned unharmed, then the experimental subject he had rescued should also be fine.
"My sister? She's fine. She stayed behind at Chiba Academy."
"Chiba Academy?" Siegfried frowned. "There's an academy around here?"
"It's a school! We met a big sister named Sirin. She revived us and sent us to Chiba Academy."
"Sirin!!" Siegfried's heart skipped a beat.
"Dad, you know Sister Sirin? She's amazing! She granted all three of our wishes."
"Your wishes?" Siegfried asked curiously.
"The first person—I don't know her name—but she called Sister Sirin 'herself from another world.' Her wish was to destroy all humans..."
Little Kiana recounted everything she knew.
Siegfried listened silently, his brow furrowing tighter and tighter. Humanity had died, then revived. The world had changed—all of it connected to this Sirin from another world?
Chiba Academy... only accepting students who could become Herrschers?
"Let's get out of here first," Siegfried said. He didn't think too much and planned to regroup with the people from Anti-Entropy.
Though he had noticed the world changing, everything outside was still a field of white snow. At first glance, nothing seemed drastically different.
So, Siegfried assumed the problem wasn't too severe.
That was, until he saw the fantasy-style towns.
The transformation was far too extreme.
Siegfried began to doubt if he had been transported to another world entirely.
Humans and the new NPC-like beings often clashed.
Those who had once been powerful and wealthy—the so-called elites—found themselves stripped of their privilege and reduced to ordinary commoners. They couldn't accept it. Resentment brewed, and some tried to resist.
Naturally, Sirin had no patience for such defiance and swiftly crushed them by force.
As time passed, the remaining humans had no choice but to adapt to the newly altered world.
The three great powers—Schicksal, Anti-Entropy, and World Serpent—along with national governments, lost their former influence. Their struggle had shifted from fighting Honkai to rebelling against the rule of a god.
...
Chiba Academy.
Inside the headmistress's office, Diana reviewed several resumes in her hands—Natasha, Amber, Tesla, and Einstein. All four were applying to become teachers.
"What's this? Are they trying to gather intel?" she muttered.
Hadn't this world's Bronya, Rita, Raiden Mei, Seele, Wendy, and Susannah already enrolled?
She herself had issued their admission notices and welcomed them personally.
If they wanted to know anything, they could've just asked those students directly.
After the world had stabilized again, humanity began gathering information and soon discovered that the former Nagazora City had been completely replaced.
They suspected it to be the enemy's headquarters.
Naturally, investigations were attempted—but a barrier, like an invisible wall of air, sealed off the entire area. Combined with incomprehensible external forces, it was impossible to enter.
The only way to access the Academy City was to be registered as a teacher or student.
After thinking it over, Diana decided to approve all four applications.
Anti-Entropy.
Inside a small hotel room, Tesla and Einstein simultaneously received an email from Chiba Academy.
"I got accepted! What about you, chicken-head?" Tesla asked.
"Accepted as well," Einstein replied.
Since the world's transformation, the two had lost not only their research facilities but even a place to live. Now, the only way to survive was by taking small part-time missions to earn points.