The area where Schicksal's elite combat forces were stationed was filled with a festive atmosphere, except for the Far East Squad consisting of Theresa, Mei, and Bronya.
They were desperately holding their ground against the Second Herrscher's relentless assault. The Schicksal Mecha and Anti-Entropy Titans accompanying them had been completely exhausted in the earlier clashes, leaving behind only shattered fragments of armor scattered across the battlefield.
As the Far East Squad's situation grew increasingly dire, they finally caught a breath of relief when Fu Hua's reinforcements arrived.
"She shouldn't possess it. She doesn't deserve it. She will not possess it—"
The Second Herrscher continued her lengthy, electronically distorted tirade, a speech she had prepared with all the eloquence she could muster. Suddenly, a meteor-like figure descended from the sky, smashing into her from behind with a sneak attack.
"This ends here, Second Herrscher!"
A Valkyrie clad in black armor descended from the heavens, positioning herself between the Herrscher and Theresa's group, cutting them off from each other.
"Headmaster Theresa, Mei, and Bronya, please evacuate immediately. Leave the Second Herrscher to me."
Theresa glanced at the two students beside her—Raiden Mei and Bronya Zaychik, both bearing significant injuries. Bronya had even rushed to support them straight from the infirmary after waking up.
"Fu Hua... then we'll entrust this to you for now. I'll bring reinforcements soon!"
Theresa nodded to Fu Hua, then scooped up Bronya, who had just emerged from the infirmary only to return to battle. With Mei in tow, they retreated rapidly toward the rear lines.
The Second Herrscher didn't attempt to stop their retreat, instead focusing on Fu Hua, who stood blocking her path.
"I recognize you, wretched human. You seem much weaker now. What's wrong? Not using those two amusing trinkets anymore?"
"Or could it be... you can't use them at all anymore?"
"..."
The gray-haired Valkyrie met the white-haired Herrscher's taunts with silence, lunging forward with a fist aimed at her face.
Silence, a long, unbroken silence, hung in the air before Kiana finally broke the stalemate.
"...Uh, hello there, Class Monitor?"
In the Consciousness Space, the group—bored and playing Parcheesi —waved casually at the newcomer as if to acknowledge her arrival. Only Kiana stood up to greet her properly.
"Kiana? Wait, you guys... What's going on here?!"
Fu Hua stared in shock at the Sea of Consciousness, filled with Herrschers whose faces practically screamed, "Yo, you finally made it!"
"...Student Kiana, could you explain what's going on here?"
Pushing up her red-framed glasses, which somehow existed even in the Consciousness Space, Fu Hua gazed at the White-haired Clump before her.
I'm fighting tooth and nail out there, and you lot are just leisurely playing Parcheesi inside this body?! And that purple-haired girl... that's Sirin, isn't it?! It has to be Sirin!
Fu Hua roared inwardly, glaring at the Purple-haired Girl as if she could devour Little Sirin whole. The little girl cowered under the Sage's gaze, shrinking behind Kiana in fear.
"Um... Class Monitor, which explanation would you like to hear first?"
Kiana looked awkwardly at Fu Hua standing before her.
We shouldn't have all been playing Parcheesi together. No one was keeping an eye on the outside, and we didn't even notice when the Class Monitor came in...
"Then explain the little girl hiding behind you first. If I'm not mistaken... that's the Second Herrscher, right?"
Fu Hua eyed Little Sirin, who was hiding behind Kiana, with suspicion. But as she stared, the Class Monitor seemed to notice something amiss... Was this Sirin a little too young? And... was she actually a little cute???
"Class Monitor, whatever I say next, no matter how absurd it sounds... please take it seriously."
Fu Hua gazed at the vastly different Sirin behind Kiana and nodded silently.
"The little girl hiding behind me is indeed Sirin... Sirin, the Herrscher of the Void. But she's different from the Sirin you know."
"I can see that. This Sirin seems... hmm... to evoke a strong protective instinct in others?"
Fu Hua chose her words carefully to describe what she observed.
"Class Monitor, you think Little Sirin is cute too? Ahem, ahem... Well, here's the thing: Little Sirin is a Herrscher from another world—or rather, another universe. For some reason, fragments of her soul drifted and coalesced within my body."
"I only discovered her in a dream a few months ago. Class Monitor, let me tell you, Little Sirin is super adorable!"
"Ahem, ahem... Calm down, Kiana. I can see that... Another universe, you say? Schicksal has mentioned such theoretical possibilities before. So, it seems most worlds are indeed plagued by the Honkai or similar disasters."
Fu Hua quickly accepted Kiana's explanation, but new questions arose in her mind.
"But Kiana, who told you all this? And who is that silver-haired girl?"
"Ahahaha... That's Snow! Even the Second Herrscher's rampage at Schicksal—all Snow's doing! She said it was 'for Otto's sake'..."
"For Otto's sake... Meaning you can reclaim control of your body at any time, right?"
Fu Hua fell into deep thought, recalling her "old friend" who had rushed to save her only to shoot her moments later. According to his explanation, they genuinely needed a Herrscher capable of controlling their power, a plan that would require sacrificing Kiana's companions.
"Exactly," Kiana nodded solemnly. "As soon as the time is right, I'll take back control of my body."
"Kiana, you'll have to handle this yourself... Ugh—if Miss Snow predicted all this... why are these blondes always so secretive?!"
Fu Hua felt utterly drained, her heart weighed down by a mixture of exhaustion and helpless rage.
"And who's this silver-haired girl, Kiana? Your Sea of Consciousness is getting quite crowded with guests..."
"I'm Muninn—Monarch of Memory," the girl interjected. "In terms you'd understand best, I'm a Herrscher—one not affiliated with the Honkai Will."
"I'm also Kiana's ally—consider me a friendly force."
Without waiting for Kiana to explain, the silver-haired girl introduced herself proactively.
"A Herrscher unaffiliated with the Honkai... Let's not even dwell on where she suddenly materialized from..."
Fu Hua rubbed her temples and sighed heavily.
"Now I understand why Kyuusyou didn't seem to care at all about supporting Theresa and the others..."
"Even if something unexpected happened... Miss Muninn, you could instantly suppress the Second Herrscher's personality—right?"
"Exactly. Suppressing a Herrscher who's been severed from the Honkai Will and forcing her back into slumber is trivial. Moreover, we have our own plans for that personality."
"Plans?"
"Indeed. She's already been accounted for. Lady Fu Hua, if you're bored, you could go drill Kiana... Hmm, her combat skills are still a bit lacking."
"Besides, you probably won't be able to return to your original body anytime soon anyway."
"I see... I understand now."
"One more thing. I'll give you a quick buff first. Oh, and Kiana called you the 'Shenzhou Tablet' earlier."
"You have been enhanced—!!"