The basement fell silent. "Kiana's" expression twisted into a grotesque mixture of fury, disdain, and mockery.
"What are you babbling about... Valkyrie? You... want me to kneel?! Hahaha—!" "Kiana" sneered, turning sideways to glare at Snow by the warehouse entrance with the corner of her eye. She clutched the Gem of Serenity tightly against her chest.
"Is there a problem, Kiana... oh, I mean—Second Herrscher Consciousness, Miss Sirin?" The basement's temperature plummeted rapidly. The once stifling air, heated by the nearby server racks and machinery, suddenly turned icy cold.
"How do you know that name?!" Cold sweat trickled down Sirin's cheek as she sensed the sudden shift in her surroundings. A prickling sense of unease crept into her heart.
The Herrscher clenched her fists tightly, once again feeling the solid weight and power of the Gem of Serenity in her hands. A flicker of confidence returned to her heart.
"Now is not the time for you to awaken... In my grand design for the future... your pathetic consciousness has no place."
"And now... you have no right to command here either—
My little actress, this isn't your stage. Now... get down—"
The golden-haired Valkyrie raised her palm again, clenching her fist.
"Ha ha ha! How dare you ignore my sugge—"
Boom!
The arrogant voice vanished as the Valkyrie's casual strike slammed the white-haired girl into the basement wall. She slid down the shattered surface, kneeling on the ground, the Gem of Serenity still clutched in her hand before it slipped from her grasp.
"I told you from the beginning, I'd make you kneel... you insect."
"—When did you ever get the impression I was joking with you, remnant consciousness of the Second Herrscher?"
The golden-haired Valkyrie stepped closer to the kneeling "Kiana," her golden eyes fading, filled with rage, fear, and a hint of lingering defiance.
"I love your eyes—furious, terrified, weak yet defiant. They're the eyes of a weakling."
"This means that when we meet again, you'll still be my most beloved plaything, to mold and shape as I please... just like clay in a child's hands."
Snow stared directly into those fading golden eyes, as if trying to etch the person's face into her memory.
"...You wretched insect... die—!"
The trembling roar echoed through the underground warehouse. The dissipating golden pupils suddenly refocused, and the power she had briefly gained from the Gem of Serenity coalesced into a black mist around her hand. She lunged at the golden-haired Valkyrie.
But in Sirin's eyes, the attack unfolded exactly as before: she raised her hand, made a fist, and flicked out a finger.
The white-haired girl, who had charged forward like a kite with its string snapped, was once again flung back, crashing through server racks before slamming into the wall and collapsing to the floor.
"You seem to have misunderstood something..." The girl's tone carried a hint of confusion, which quickly shifted into anticipation.
"From the very beginning, you were the only 'insect' on this battlefield—"
"Tsk tsk tsk... I can hardly wait for our next encounter. I wonder what pose you'll be sent flying in this time? Second Herrscher? Don't make it too easy for me to break you, okay?"
Next time I see you, I'm crawling right back into the void... Who's the Herrscher here, you or me?! You've stolen all my lines!
The Herrscher Persona let out one final mental roar before sinking back into slumber.
"Whew... No wonder they say Kaslana genes are something else. Taking two hits like that and only getting a few scratches?"
Snow picked up the White-haired Clump that had fallen into a corner.
"...Why has she gotten so heavy again? Just how much did this White-haired Clump eat in Singapore?" Feeling the noticeable difference in weight compared to when she'd thrown Kiana earlier, Snow pursed her lips, went to the other side of the warehouse to find a burlap sack, and stuffed the White-haired Clump inside...
"Even though it's heavy, I'll just drag it along..." Whistling, she tossed the burlap sack containing the White-haired Clump onto a trolley and turned to look at the spot where the Gem of Serenity had been.
A cute kitten was scurrying toward the door with the gem in its mouth.
"Put down that blue gem right now... you little World Serpent—kitty—!"
Boom!
Round two. But this time, the victim was a black-and-white kitten with a hint of purple.
The kitten, plastered against the wall, loosened its jaw, and the Gem of Serenity clattered to the ground. Its entire feline face wore an expression that screamed, "How could you hit something so cute?!"
"?! Before I decide to stew you out of spite... vanish! Got it?!" The golden-haired Valkyrie glared menacingly at the gem-stealing cat trying to make off with her loot.
"Meow—!" Where did Schicksal find this monster?! Jackal, you screwed me over! R-N-M, give me my money back! Stan let out a piercing meow, kicked the gem toward Snow, and stared intently as she slowly backed away toward the exit. Then, in a flash, he vanished from her sight.
-
"...The gentle flutter of a butterfly's wings can trigger a storm on the other side of the ocean. You shouldn't be here right now... But it's inconsequential. After all, I'm just like your Revered Master—"
"Sometimes, promises aren't necessary... All that's needed is submission or destruction—"
Snow shook her head, watching Stan disappear through the doorway. She picked up the Gem of Serenity, placed it in the box she'd gotten from Siegfried, sealed it, and then dialed a special communication channel.
"Mr. Siegfried... The crisis has been resolved. The Herrscher Persona did emerge... but I've left her with a bit of psychological trauma. She likely won't resurface for quite some time. If you're still engaged with Schicksal's support forces, you can withdraw now."
"Received—Speaking of... Durandal, that little girl has remarkable strength... and quite a figure too... Ahem cough cough cough!!" Realizing what he'd said, the middle-aged Kaslana man covered his awkwardness with a fit of coughing.
"...If you're not afraid of getting your legs broken, go ahead and flirt," Snow retorted, rolling her eyes and casually recording the voice log.
That's your daughter, you old fool! she thought. When I revive your beloved Cecilia, I'll play this recording for her. See if she doesn't break your legs in half! With a sense of perverse satisfaction, Snow pushed the handcart carrying Kiana's burlap sack out of the underground warehouse.
-
"This is Snow Apocalypse. Mr. Welt Yang, please relay a message to Dr. Magi."
"Go ahead."
"Kiana is currently very safe. As for the promise that old man made her, you might have to postpone fulfilling it. But sooner or later, she and her teacher will need it. Focus on advancing the serum research to the next level. Oh, and by the way, the Schariac Family's Holy Blood might be the key ingredient."
"Thank you for taking care of the child... I owe her a promise, and this old man will definitely repay it. And thank you for the reminder..."
The voice on the communication line shifted to that of an elderly man. He had taken the phone from Welt and was expressing his gratitude to the golden-haired Valkyrie he had never met.
"Then, may your journey be smooth, Dr. Magi. Your promise will be fulfilled one day—"
The girl watched as a white contrail streaked across the sky, left by the transport ship carrying Anti-Entropy's Leader and the Doctor.