The space was torn open with a harsh roar. The baby carriage-driving Bronya descended from the sky, streaking across the screen between the two people talking.
Among the two, Bronya was not unfamiliar with the first—Seele Vollerei, someone who often came to her mind.
Directly opposite Seele stood a white-haired, blue-eyed man wearing a long windbreaker.
"Kevin..."
Seeing that familiar face, Fu Hua's hands, hidden beneath her sleeves, trembled slightly. A trace of nostalgia flashed through her eyes—even though she no longer remembered much of the past.
"This is the pioneer like you, Kevin."
Standing to the side, Himeko looked at Kevin in the image with a casual tone, admiring the man's striking features.
"I think he looks pretty good."
"Tch, I don't think he's all that," Kiana said, unimpressed.
Although she had to admit he was good-looking and shared the same surname, the Kaslana family had always been about strong women. Even though she wasn't the real Kiana, the Kaslana bloodline ran deep in her—and it mattered.
Thanks to the instincts embedded in her very DNA, Kiana found it hard to feel anything for a man.
And...
Looking at Kevin's indifferent expression, Kiana felt uneasy. There was an inexplicable dislike growing in her chest. The feeling was similar—but not identical—to the way she felt about Bronya, the short little pudding.
She instinctively reached out and held Mei's hand. Mei, surprised by the sudden gesture, looked at Kiana's conflicted expression, not quite understanding what had happened.
Still, she didn't pull away. Instead, she held Kiana's hand tighter and gave a small, comforting smile.
Seeing that smile, the strange feeling in Kiana's heart began to fade. Her mood gradually calmed.
She leaned against Mei, clinging to her arm as they silently watched the video continue to play.
Bronya had reunited with Seele and exchanged a few words.
Then her gaze fell on the conspicuous "light bulb."
"Mr. Welt, is that man the [Serpent]?" Bronya stared at Kevin with a serious expression and asked her companion— Welt Yang
Even as the Herrscher of Reason, she could feel the danger emanating from this man.
"This is the first time I've seen his true form," came Welt's deep, magnetic voice in her ear.
"But his aura is undeniably the [Serpent] I sensed in the Sea of Quanta."
Einstein and Tesla, watching the footage, were visibly moved by the voice. Their expressions shifted, their eyes flickering with recognition.
"We meet again, Herrscher of Reason... and her successor."
Kevin had already noticed Bronya's arrival and her conversation with Welt, so he was the first to greet them.
Welt, whose will was hidden in the core of the Herrscher, was surprised and a bit skeptical.
"He's speaking to me...? Can he sense my presence?"
Kevin didn't answer. He continued calmly:
"I once thought you were an apostle of the Honkai, but in that labyrinth, I saw your past."
"Your will isn't a disguise. As a Herrscher, you truly fight for humanity."
"So, I helped that girl—hoping she'd bring you to me."
He glanced at Seele and spoke lightly,
"Fighting the Honkai is our shared mission. I have no intention of being your enemy."
But Bronya wasn't convinced. She stared coldly at Kevin and declared with unwavering determination:
"Sweet talk won't let you walk away from here!"
Kevin realized that words would no longer avert the inevitable conflict.
"Can you stop me?"
A dangerous glint flashed in his icy-blue eyes. Kevin lowered his arms and spoke with chilling calm.
At his words, a black tide surged from the dimensional rift, enveloping him. It twisted and churned like a living shadow.
At the same time, energy in the space converged into Kevin's hand, transforming into a glowing emerald gem.
"Is that... the Gem of Desire?!"
Not only Bronya in the video, but also Theresa outside it exclaimed in unison.
But upon recognition, surprise followed.
The Gem of Desire should have been with her student Wendy in New Zealand. How did it end up with this man named Kevin in the future?
What had happened in the meantime?
The image continued.
"I have slumbered in this ocean for 1,500 years," Kevin said.
"In all that time, Honkai has ravaged the world, and I could do nothing but sink into memories."
"But now, it's time for the serpent to return."
His words were absolute. Kevin made a bold declaration in a tone that left no room for objection:
"Whether you accept it or not, I will fulfill my mission!"
The air grew tense.
With that declaration, the already strained conflict reached a breaking point.
"Kevin, I will never let you succeed!" Bronya declared fiercely.
As a Herrscher, her power surged to life. Blue artillery formed midair.
The barrage rained down, shredding the twisting shadows in the sky.
Bronya soared through the chaos in her beloved mechanical vehicle, charging toward the white-haired man—
—But things didn't go as she'd hoped.
Just as she approached, something unexpected happened.
The core of the Herrscher of Reason radiated a dangerous energy, broke free from her control, and returned to Kevin's hand. Bronya, stunned, lost her Herrscher form and Honkaid weakly to the ground.
"Bronya Zaychik," Kevin said coldly.
"You've crossed countless world bubbles."
"Carrying a heavy burden, you've come all this way."
"But your body can no longer keep up with your will."
As he finished, the glow from the Herrscher's core in his hand changed—and slowly transformed into Welt Yang Joyce!
"Why does this guy... look exactly like Mr. Yang, the history teacher at the academy?" Kiana scratched her cheek in disbelief.
Mei and Bronya were speechless.
Call that similar? They're exactly the same!
Even their clothes hadn't changed!
As principal, Theresa didn't know every staff member personally, but she was well-acquainted with all the teachers. Of course, she knew Mr. Yang.
Now, seeing Welt—who looked identical to Yang—Theresa was left with a huge question mark floating above her head.
"What the heck is going on?!"