The elevator ride down to the bottom floor felt endless. Himeko and Kiana stood in silence, prepared for whatever would be awaiting them at the bottom. Above them, there was an indescribable feeling of anxiety and dread. The battle being waged by the Herrscher of the Void could be felt even down here.
Every explosion, every attack. The foundations of Schicksal was shaken to its very core and the reverberations even reached them at the depths of Hel.
However, as their eternity seemed to stretch on, the elevator came to an abrupt stop.
"We're here," Himeko said.
"Let's get ready. Before I—" Kiana felt a sharp pain in her chest. She held it in and pushed forward.
"Being Stigmata Awakened… at such an age. Your body is not used to it and neither were your aunt or father. Even us MANTIS have a hard time controlling our Active Honkai Reaction Forms at times…"
Fu Hua's voice floated into her head.
Kiana looked up at her. The girl floated beside them, following behind Himeko.
"Am I going to die?" Kiana asked.
Himeko turned around, her eyes wide at the question. It was then that she noticed Fu Hua hovering between them.
"No. You won't. But there is a high chance… you'll lose yourself…," Fu Hua said.
Kiana nodded.
"You scared me there," Himeko sighed in relief.
The three turned to the chamber that lay before them. Lights shone and illuminated the outlines of the room. Its dimly lit and somber environment reminded Kiana of a shrine that housed an ancient relic. This place, while not neglected, appeared older than it did.
Kiana and Himeko stepped into the chamber, gazing at all the capsules that lined the walls. There were suits inside of some of them. It didn't take a genius to figure out what these suits were. Still, the sight of this many of them all in one place caused their eyes to go wide with wonder.
"Woah… these are all Godsbane Suits?" Himeko asked, walking over to one of the pods. "HDA-002. Designation: Knight Moonbeam. A long-range hunter killer battlesuit. Wait, Kiana used this when that Welt clone invaded the school right?" she said.
"And back at Singapore when the Herrscher temporarily possessed her," Kiana nodded.
The two walked to another pod. "Warrior Knight - Usagi. Serial number HDA-00X. A hybrid drive imaginon battlesuit," Kiana read.
"Fu Hua. Do you want us to don one of these?" Himeko asked.
"No. The one you want is over at the end over there." Fu Hua gestured to a lone containment pod, located at the end of the room. Inside of it, there was a bright red battlesuit kept inside. The containment pod had a weapons chamber attached next to it which housed a dull red sword.
Kiana was sure that once it was activated, it would glow as bright as an inferno.
"That thing. You want one of us to wear it?" Himeko asked.
Fu Hua nodded and floated over to the battlesuit pod. "Indeed. This is what you need. Otto kept this secret here in the event of an emergency. This is his other trump card. A weapon capable of directly engaging a Herrscher in combat."
"What… like the Longinus Spear that they're making upstairs?" Kiana asked.
"No, this is the prototype and origin of all Godsbane Class Battlesuits, from Knight Extremis - Osiris down to Shadow Knight. This is the Vermillion Knight - Eclipse. With the Herrscher of the Void awake, this is one of our only means of fighting her directly," Fu Hua said.
"And the other means is…"
"That's right. Himeko, you need to don that. Kiana, follow me," Fu Hua said.
"Huh? Me? You want me to wear this?" Himeko asked.
Fu Hua nodded. "Like the Judgement of Shamash, this is a relic from the Previous Era. It is classified as the 14th Divine Key - The Key of Blankness. After acquiring it, Schicksal used it as the basis for the modern Valkyrie battlesuit, in addition to the Godsbanes.
"After the Second Eruption, Schicksal acquired the Gem of Haste which Otto integrated into the Key in order to recreate the destructive power of the Herrscher of Flames and the Judgement of Shamash," Fu Hua explained.
Kiana remained silent as she gazed at the suit. The power of a Herrscher contained in a battlesuit. To think Otto would have such a trump card ready. He was prepared in the event his plan with Cecilia ended up as a failure. A weapon that could kill the failure without leaving a trace.
"Before he initiated the plan, Otto sent word to all S-Rank Valkyries to don this suit in the event the plan ended in failure. Ana and Kriemhilde with this suit would be able to easily slay the Herrscher," she said.
"And… you want us to use this battlesuit to kill my sister?" Kiana whispered.
A pang of guilt stabbed through Fu Hua's ethereal body. "If it comes down to it…"
A grim look settled on Himeko's features. "Kiana…"
Kiana clenched her fists. Her jaw tightened as she glared at the suit. "Where is Shamash?" she asked.
Fu Hua nodded and beckoned for the two to follow.
"In addition to that, Otto acquired copies of the 10th Divine Keys. They're kept down her under lock and key but the sudden awakening of the Herrscher prevented him from doing so with the Judgement of Shamash. The weapon is contained in one of the pods but it's under passcode protection—"
Kiana wasted no time. She pressed her hand against the containment pod. Her sclera bled black as frost rapidly spread and seeped into the glass. Cracks began to form across the bulletproof casing before shattering.
"Or we can do that," Himeko interjected.
"I missed you," Kiana said almost lovingly as she grasped the handle of the blade.
The moment her hands closed around the handle of the blade, the ancient soulium weapon stirred. It responded to her will, her drive, and her unwavering resolve.
Fu Hua and Himeko took a step back as a cyclone of bright orange flames surged around Kiana. The containment pod which held it began to melt underneath the intense heat. The fire extinguishing protocols activated, dousing the room in an endless rain of water. Yet, the constant drizzle from above did little to extinguish the all-consuming flames of the weapon in Kiana's hand.
Kiana raised Shamash into the air, letting loose a tongue of flames that bathed the entire room in its warm, orange glow.
"Let's go save, Ceci, like we promised to Dad… old friend."
Bronya winced as the Hyperion shook once more. She looked past the window of the bridge. There were Honkai Beasts as far as the eye could see. Above them, the once clear skies were beginning to take on a dark violet hue. The fight had been going on for hours. Attempting to navigate to Helheim Labs amidst of monsters hellbent on their demise was a challenge.
"How are we doing on ammunition?" Einstein asked, directing orders to the crew members.
"Ma'am, we've lost one of our batteries. However, we are doing well on ammunition," one of the crew members said.
"Good. Maintain the use of the rounds. Do not switch to Honkai rounds unless absolutely necessary. Direct 25% of power to thrusters and 25% to forward shields. Direct the rest to the Selene," she ordered.
Bronya gripped the railings of the bridge. Outside, a brilliant display of explosions lit the skies ablaze.
Honkai Beasts that flew within range were obliterated and those that made it past the nigh-endless bombardment slammed into the shields and were promptly shot down.
"Bronya. Have you finished the transmission?" Einstein asked.
"Yes. We are approximately 4 kilometers from Dr. Tesla's last location. Other than the Honkai Beasts, no large Honkai Distortions were detected in the vicinity," Bronya reported.
"Roger that. All crew. Reduce cruising speed and begin descent. I want boots on the ground to look for Tesla and the others as soon as we land," Einstein said.
"Doctor, if I may, all reserve valkyrie staff among the ship are still in the infirmary," one of the crew members said.
Einstein bit her thumb. She glanced at the device on her wrist. A holographic screen protected itself from the watch face and she typed in a few commands. "No need. I'm sending what remains of the 2nd Mech Battalion. We'll find Tesla that way."
"Roger that, Doctor," the crew members replied.
"All hands. Remain alert. These may be low fodder Honkai Beasts but the Herrscher is beginning to engulf Schicksal in Imaginary Space. Be aware of any signs of an impending attack," Einstein ordered.
"Roger, Doctor!"
Einstein sighed and ran a hand through her hair. This was far worse than any of them could have ever anticipated, even when planning for their worst case scenarios. If they managed to escape, the losses would be incalculable.
"Doctor, our casualties…"
Einstein closed her eyes. "Madam Theresa's wounds have been tended to but she'll need time before she can fully recover. And Mei… she suffered cardiac injuries when the Herrscher of the Void took the Gem of Conquest from her. Her vitals are growing weaker. If she is to survive, we need to retreat and perform cardiac surgery on her," she said.
Bronya bit her lip. She never felt more useless in her life. The Principal was injured and one of her best friends was fighting for her life. She clenched her fists tightly, drawing blood from her palms.
"After we get Tesla, I'm ordering a tactical retreat. The losses we've suffered are too great. We need to regroup somewhere and make a plan to rescue Cecilia or… if worse comes to worse—"
"No! The Bronya believes that Cecilia will pull through! She has to," she protested. Her vision began to mist and her body shook. "She has to…," her voice came out in a weak whisper.
Einstein said nothing. As much as she wanted to tell her that it was possible, the rational part of her mind told her otherwise. If it had to come down to it, they would unleash the Selene on Cecilia and kill her. It would be the only way to prevent a horrific loss of life across the planet.
Bronya wiped her eyes.
[Large Honkai Concentration detected]
Her eyes caught sight of the notification on the Hyperion's HUD.
"Radar picked up a large honkai beast swarm attempting to attack the Hyperion," Bronya said.
"Now, when we've just broken through a swarm. Tch, all crew—"
"No. Let the Bronya handle this. She can—"
"I'll go with you."
The two turned to see the elevator door opening. Their eyes widened as a girl wheeled herself onto the bridge. Her pale face and shaky arms did their best to push herself onto the the bridge's overlook.
"W- Wendy?" Bronya said.
"Mmm. Let me go too—"
"Absolutely out of the question. You've just woken up. There is no way I'm letting you join Bronya outside," Einstein said, shooting down her idea.
"I can pilot one of your mechs! I can't let Bronya go out there alone!" she protested.
"Wendy, you're still recovering from surgery. You need to—"
"No. Cecilia… she saved me! I'm not going to stand by and watch her lose herself when I could have done something. Please, let me—"
Wendy's words were cut off as a massive force slammed into the side of the ship.
"We've taken a hit! A large concentration of archangel beasts has slammed into the starboard side! Shield's integrity at 65%!" one of the crew members announced.
"Are there any other valkyries we can send out there to aid Bronya?" Einstein asked.
"Negative. All current human personnel are in the infirmary recovering from the last attack," the crew member said.
"I can't go out there. I need to calibrate the Selene. God damn it… Bronya—"
"No. I won't take her—"
"You have to! This is an all-hands-on-deck situation! If we go down before we can get Tesla and the others, then we're all done for!" Einstein said. She turned to Wendy. "Take the Manhattan with you."
"The… Manhattan?" Wendy asked.
"My personal mech. It'll run better than the others in our squad. I personally modified it myself. The passkey is the speed at which light travels," she said.
"E- Eh? I don't…"
"Just ask Bronya what the speed of light is and she'll tell you," Einstein said.
Wendy nodded.
"The Bronya does not approve of this maneuver," Bronya said.
"Me neither, however, if we are to descend safely and provide Tesla cover, we need to do this," she said. "That's how dire our circumstances are. Now, go. We'll provide fire support with the artillery batteries."
Wendy and Bronya nodded before leaving.
[Access request verified. Initiating mental wave verification.]
[Verification complete. Privilege category: Zeroth Order. Group: Konfident…]
[...]
[...]
[Request verified!]
[Chamber seals open. Switching to subject encasement mode.]
Kiana stood off to the side, leaning against one of the Godsbane Pods as Himeko stepped into the chamber. Since the Vermillion Knight was already equipped with the powers of the Herrscher of Flames, Fu Hua deemed it unnecessary for Kiana to don the suit.
She watched as Himeko's eyes fluttered close. The phantasm of the woman she held untold levels of resentment for kept dutiful watch over the unconscious Himeko.
"The Blank Key."
Kiana's eyes drifted away from Himeko's pod and to the presence that had suddenly appeared next to her. Her translucent pale blue form of KIANA leaned against the pod next to her. The woman's gaze hovered on Fu Hua for a few seconds before her eyes closed.
"You haven't changed in over 1000 years, Hua," she said softly.
"You two know each other," Kiana asked.
"You can say that we go way back," KIANA replied.
"So why are you here? Are you here to make more cryptic messages about choices? Because I'd really like a straight answer for once," Kiana replied.
The translucent phantasm glanced at her for a few seconds before letting out a sigh.
"For once, Progeny. I'll give you an explanation as to what is currently happening to you," KIANA said.
Kiana raised an eyebrow.
"People like us. Like Hua. We are known as MANTIS. A form of super soldiers developed by my era in order to combat the Honkai. It was move born out of desperation and the surgery bonded our genetics to that of Honkai Beasts, particularly those of Emperor Class or higher," KIANA said.
"I can see that. I saw your memories."
"Then I don't need to explain further what this entails for you. You can feel it. The CHIMERA that my brother and I were infused with was a second surgery. The Vipralopa Class Honkai Beast, a honkai beasts whose existence rivaled that of a Herrscher's, was infused into our genetics along with that of 100 other beasts," she said.
"The pain you feel. The agony coursing through your body. That is the power of the CHIMERA flooding every cell, every tissue, every nerve in your body," KIANA said.
Kiana remained silent.
"Yet, this power will allow you to surpass the Herrscher of the Void and make the ultimate decision which will decide the course of events that will unfold down the line," she continued.
"This decision. You keep bringing it up. You said whatever choice I make, it might save Cecilia—
"At the cost of everyone else."
Kiana's eyes widened at her words. "Explain."
"You already know. You've seen my memories…"
Kiana took a step back.
For a split second, the grip of absolute terror overtook her as KIANA's eyes changed. It was only a momentary feeling. Yet that instance of terror seemed to last an eternity and its cold grip remained on her mind even after. She had seen the face of death in that fleeting instant and it had forever ingrained itself into her memory.
However, in that moment, Kiana became acutely aware of what choice this woman was referring to.
"He chose you… didn't he?"
"And it cost us our home, everyone we loved, even his own life…," KIANA clenched her fists, "Now, that same decision will fall on you. Will you cast aside your humanity and the world for her… or will you make a different choice my brother did and choose the world over her?"
"Targets acquired. Wendy, cover me," Bronya said.
Project Bunny manifested behind her and took aim. Energy gathered within its cannons and fired, ripping through the swarm of Archangels that had gotten past the gunfire.
Behind Bronya, a blue mech rushed past her. Its fist pulverized the armor of a Knight that had boarded the deck.
"Bronya! On your 6!" Wendy called out. She grabbed the Knight's corpse and threw it at a Templar that attempted to spear Bronya with its lance.
Bronya moved back, raising the Star of Eden's cannon. A red light gathered within the opening of the cannon. A concentrated wave of gravitational energy ripped through space, tearing apart the Templar by the rippling beam of scarlet and black energy.
A distortion in space ripped apart any other stragglers that attempted to get past.
"Bronya and Wendy to Einstein. The starboard side is clear," she said.
"Roger. Unfortunately, we're picking up high anomalies in the space-time curvature of the Hyperion's portside. Can you two investigate?" Einstein asked.
"Anomalous… space-time curvatures?" Wendy asked.
"The Herrscher. Wendy, retreat back to the Hyperion—"
"No! I'm not going to let you face the Herrscher alone!" Wendy protested.
"Wendy is not in any condition for a prolonged battle. Retreat and guard the others. The Bronya will buy time for the Hyperion to land and pull back," she said, floating past her.
"Wendy, she's right. We also have some stragglers who managed to infiltrate the hallways near the Medic wing. Most of our combat personnel are down there. We need someone to go take care of the situation down there, now," Einstein said.
With a hiss, the Manhattan's hull opened. Wendy glowered at Bronya for a few seconds before letting out a sigh. "You better come back alive, you hear?" she asked. She held her hand out. Tears pricked the edges of her eyes.
If she could smile, Bronya would have done so. Instead, she clasped Wendy's hand tightly. "The Bronya will live. She will bring Cecilia back."
Bronya watches as Wendy retreats back into the ship's interior. She opened and closed her own fist before making a break for the portside.
Honkai beasts barred her path.
However, all of them stood no chance as her salvo blew through them. A trail of pulverized remains lay in the wake of her advance.
Yet, even if her advance remained steady, the familiar sensation of fatigue began to creep into Bronya.
As the sound of heavy silicon objects slammed against Project Bunny's shield, Bronya felt a weight getting heavier and heavier on her shoulder. The winds of the high altitude ripped across the deck, bombarding her exposed skin with frigid needle-like sensations.
"The Bronya will not give up… I will save Cecilia-idiotka…," Bronya clenched her jaw as she aimed the Star of Eden at the Honkai Beasts.
A Legatus Beast lumbered in the distance, making its way toward her. Its massive, beefy arms were raised, preparing to attack Bronya.
"[Level 1 Output]," she announced.
A swirl of black mass fired forth from the superweapon, devouring everything in its path as it traveled.
The swirling dark orb slammed into the Legatus, rapidly expanding outward and sucking everything in the vicinity toward its incredibly dense center. As fast as it bounded outward, the orb rapidly contracted into nothingness, leaving behind absolutely nothing in its wake.
The Honkai Beast Legatus and the smaller beasts around it had been completely annihilated.
Beads of sweat trickled down Bronya's forehead. Her chest heaved up and down as she struggled to catch her breath.
"Bronya has cleared the portside—"
"Bronya! Clear the portside now! We've detected a massive anomaly heading in your directi—"
The radio suddenly cut. Or rather, Bronya never had the chance to register Einstein's full warning. The sound of twisting metal was deafening. The suddenness of the impact had knocked her off balance and disrupted Project Bunny's hovering capabilities.
She hit the deck hard as powerful forces slammed and tossed the Hyperion like a ragdoll. The nauseating sensation of a sudden nose dive overwhelmed her senses. The feeling of vertigo overtook her as she momentarily passed out from the sudden overwhelming amount of stimulation on her brain. And then, Bronya felt pain. Intense pain. Had she not activated Project Bunny's Honkai Shield, she was sure she would have died here and now.
"Has the Hyperion crash landed?" She quickly shook her head.
"Nyet… The Bronya must return… For Mei, for the Principal, for Wendy." Her vision began to return. Small pinpricks of light began to burn through the darkness that had briefly overwhelmed her. Her hands curled into fists as she propped herself up.
Then, Bronya saw her. The familiar orange flames that burned around her sent waves of relief through her body.
"...Kiana?" Bronya said.
Kiana stood before Bronya, her back turned to her. Her white hair fluttered gently in the breeze. Shamash's flames were a comforting sight to see during such a desperate situation. Kiana glanced over her shoulder, her icy blue eyes giving Bronya a once over.
"Thanks for covering the ship, Bronya. Now go back," she said.
"N- Nyet! The Bronya will help find Cecilia-idiotka and—"
"Do what she says, Bronya."
Bronya turned to see Himeko landing next to Kiana. Her battlesuit was different from what they had arrived in. The crimson battlesuit radiated an extremely powerful aura about it. The bright flaming, curved greatsword she held at her side held a brilliant orange aura. If Bronya hadn't experienced Shamash firsthand, she would have believed that Himeko had a replica of the weapon.
"Leave Ceci to us, Bronya. I'll get my sister back," Kiana replied.
Bronya opened her mouth to protest, however, a stern look from Kiana snapped her mouth shut. She nodded and began to make her retreat toward the entrance to the ship's interior.
"You two!"
The pair turned to see Tesla running toward them. A burst of lightning split the sky in half. Pillars of ice erupted in the distance as Kriemhilde jumped into the air and landed next to them.
"More are coming," she said. "Looks like Ceci's summoning more minions for her army." Kriemhilde gripped Balmung tightly.
"I've never seen space-time curvature anomalies like this! These Honkai Levels are insane! I haven't seen levels this high since the Second Eruption!" Tesla said.
"We'll take care of the minions, just focus on the wounded," Himeko replied, brandishing her new blade.
"What about the engines?" Kiana asked, glancing at the portside hull.
"Fucking damn it!" Tesla seethed. She ran over to inspect the damage. Her eyes skillfully scanned and assessed the situation. However, there was a hint of desperation in her eyes. "Port side armor plating compromised! Drive chamber impacted! Shock absorbing systems damaged! I'll need time to at least make her airborne again. Drive conversion rates—"
"Calm down and give us a time. We'll give it to you," Kiana said, turning to face the oncoming horde.
"3 minutes. Give me 3 minutes and I can get us to a level where Mophead and I can run full diagnostics and get us out of here," Tesla said.
"You heard her," Kriemhilde said.
"Tch, we might not get those 3 minutes! There's a massive Honkai distortion closing in on our location rapidly! It's the Herrscher! If she gets here before we can get airborne, we can kiss our ass goodbye!" Tesla said.
Kiana nodded and took a step forward. A horde of Honkai Beasts approached them at high speeds.
"Now… that same decision will fall on you…"
Kiana closed her eyes and shook her words out of her head. Flames whirled around her. Ice erupted from the ground and a dense bony armor encased her hands. She raised Shamash into the air before swinging it down.
A swathe of flames ripped across the area, obliterating every obstacle in its path. As it reached the approaching horde, a tremendous burst of light illuminated the area. A searing hot wave of wind slammed into the Hyperion, rattling it violently.
Himeko and Kriemhilde used their respective weapons to shield them from the powerful blast.
A towering infernal storm of flames surged in the distance, annihilating an entire portion of the Helheim Energy Labs along with the Honkai Beast Horde.
"Wait… Kiana! Move!" Kriemhilde rushed forward and grabbed Kiana.
Kiana's eyes widened as a violet arc of light slammed into an oncoming massive white blur.
A shockwave split them apart.
Kriemhilde stood before the two. A black carapace encased her arms. A single curved horn extended from her head along with a swishing, thick stocky tail.
"I'll handle the Judgement Class. You two protect Tesla with your lives!" Kriemhilde ordered.
Benares quickly recovered and roared. The dragon charged at Kriemhilde. It leapt into the air, talons splayed to rip her to shreds.
Kriemhilde shot off from her position at incredible speeds. She slammed into the Honkai dragon, sending the two crashing through several pillars. In the distance, a massive cloud of dust erupted. The ground shook violently.
"Your aunt is crazy," Himeko commented.
As Himeko said this, a massive spire of ice split the ground open in the distance.
Benares had taken to the air and was immediately followed by a divine flash of lightning that tore the skies asunder.
A blur suddenly shot past them, attempting to slice into Himeko's unprotected back.
"Himeko!"
Himeko spun on her heels and swung her blade.
A Honkai Zombie gurgled before it landed on the ground, sliced into two. A small cut appeared on Himeko's cheek, sizzling as it trickled down her chin and dripped onto the floor.
"That was close. Looks like there are some stragglers," Himeko said.
"She's here."
The red-headed woman froze at Kiana's words. She saw the unreadable expression on her friend's face as she followed her gaze. Her eyes widened slightly when she saw her, hovering above them in all her glory.
Amidst the roiling heavens, the monster that wore Cecilia's face appeared among the flashes of lightning.
The golden eyes that used to be warm pools of blue were nothing more than molten pits of malice and hate. Hatred for humanity that bubbled clearly on the surface of her smoldering gaze.
The voice that left her mouth was not the energetic and cheerful one that Kiana had come to associate with her younger sister.
It was cruel and full of malice. A twisted mockery of what her sister had once been.
"Oh dear, I can't believe I'm getting stalled by this. You should really stick to the script, girls~!" the Herrscher of the Void said mockingly. A venomous and sadistic smirk spread across her lips as she gauged their reactions.
Kiana's eyes narrowed. A feeling she hadn't felt in years welled up within her. Rage.
"Ceci…," Himeko said.
"I finally found you!" she said.
Kiana's jaw tightened as she eyed the Herrscher.
The Herrscher's eyes flitted over to Kiana. Her eyes lit up with a malevolent glee. "Big Sis~! I've missed you so much~! Did you miss me? It's been years since we've seen each other. Ever since Dad died putting me back to sleep."
Kiana's eyes flared with anger.
"But I'm not really as picky as I was all those years ago, Big Sis. Whoever steps first, it doesn't matter to me. I'll crush you all the same," the Herrscher said.
"Well, since you're dying to fight—"
"Give her back."
Himeko and the Herrscher took notice of an overwhelming cold that spread through the area. The cold was followed by a searing heat. Their skin began to sting and burn slightly from the sheer intensity of both hot and cold that had completely fallen upon them.
The Herrscher's eyes widened slightly when she saw her.
"So Big Sis wants to go first?" the Herrscher asked in a mocking tone. She quickly regained her composure as she watched Kiana step forward.
"Give her back to me…"
"Huh? Give—?"
Kiana's eyes glowed. A shroud of blue flames enveloped her body. A pair of asymmetrical horns sprouted from Kiana's head. Her sclera bled black as her transformation continued. With a flourish of her blade, a swirl of ice and flames erupted from her, sending both Himeko and the Herrscher back.
"Give my sister back to me!"
And soon, the Herrscher found herself staring at an abyssal demon born of ice and flames. The monster's legendary god-slaying sword let loose an inferno of hellfire along with a cascade of frigid ice crystals.
"Hah… this feels nostalgic. You said the same thing all those years ago, Kiana," the Herrscher replied. "But remember, Big Sis. Cecilia's no longer here. It's always just been me," the Herrscher said. Space distorted around her, causing rifts to form in reality.
Kiana brandished her blade. The incandescent flames around her surged.
"No, she's still there. And no matter what happens from here on out," a sudden sound akin to an explosion nearly deafened everyone within Kiana's vicinity. A violent gale cracked the ground.
At the very last moment, a blue barrier formed around the Herrscher of the Void, who had acted on pure survival instinct. Her eyes were wide in shock and some fear as the flames of the Judgement of Shamash began to slowly sear through her shield.
"I'll get my sister back… that is the choice I've made!"
Alright! Here we go, Kiana vs HoV round 1.