Chapter 161

As her fingers gently brushed against Sirin's jade-like skin, Anqi thought, it's time to bring Benales back.

With that special girl around, Sirin would definitely be even happier!

Chapter 222 Queen... Master...

The silent, cold snowfields, still in Siberia, an inescapable battlefield and origin.

Inside the desolate snow-capped mountain, in the silvery-white steel passageway, Sirin walked nervously beside Tachibana Yuki, her golden eyes with circles and crosses glancing left and right like a wary little animal.

Tachibana Yuki smiled gently, reached out, and intertwined her fingers with Sirin's.

"Is my older sister worried?"

"Nonsense! This is Otto's territory. That five-hundred-year-old scumbag is incredibly cunning. Are we really sure it's okay for us to walk in like this?"

"It's alright. This base monitoring Benales is only guarded by one Valkyrie squad, which rotates annually. And due to some predictable 'coincidences,' the previous Valkyrie squad has already left, while the new squad won't arrive for another two days. Right now, there are only a few ordinary technicians at the base... Look, this researcher seems to have just finished her on-site inspection for today. How about we go say hello?"

Tachibana Yuki smiled and waved to the passing lady in the white coat.

However, the other person seemed not to see or hear them, passing by them without any reaction and walking away on their own.

Sirin, who had immediately hidden behind Tachibana Yuki, straightened up and peeked out, only to be met with Tachibana Yuki's bright and flawless smile. Her Majesty, her face expressionless, slowly puffed out her cheeks:

"I'm not hiding because I'm afraid!"

"Yes, of course. How could the invincible and majestic Queen of the Void be afraid of a mere cricket, a staff member of Schicksal?"

"..."

Sirin remained expressionless, attempting to salvage her authority.

Tachibana Yuki smiled broadly, but anyone with a brain would know what she was laughing about.

"Snort!"

Furious and helpless, Sirin shook off Tachibana Yuki's hand and strode forward.

Tachibana Yuki patted her cheeks and rubbed her soft, smooth face, finally managing to suppress her smile before following after them.

Sirin's temper tantrums came and went quickly, because the further she went, the clearer Benales's senses became. She had been trapped in Kiana's body for over a decade, while Benales had been frozen for over a decade. With such similar fates, even someone as proud as her could hardly help but feel sad for Benales.

"Bella, have you been here all these years?"

"Yes, according to the records of Schicksal, she has been sleeping here all along."

"They built such a huge base specifically to deal with Bella. Looks like I've got another debt to settle with that old geezer Otto!"

"Hehe, my dear sister, you may not know this, but this base, including the Valkyrie troops stationed here, isn't actually meant to deal with Bella. At least in terms of practical combat, its symbolic significance far outweighs its actual value."

"That's what Tachibana Yuki said casually."

Sirin unconsciously twitched her ears and turned her head, her golden eyes filled with a hint of inquiry. Clearly, although she didn't say it, she cared about her familiar.

Tachibana Yuki then spoke eloquently, explaining:

"Sister, you might want to consider this: what can a mere ordinary Valkyrie squad possibly use to stop Bella from awakening? To effectively suppress Judgment-class Honkai Beast like Bella, at least a Durandal- level Valkyrie would need to be stationed here year-round. But even with the immense power of Schicksal, there's no room to keep such a force in the desolate wilderness for an extended period. This base, including its members, is merely there to provide an early warning or be eliminated if Bella manages to escape, thus alerting Schicksal to the danger—nothing more."

"I see..."

Sirin nodded in sudden realization.

The conclusion is that Otto is really cunning!

Even we Herrscher wouldn't be so heartless as to use our own lives as a warning!

While it might be practically appropriate, Sirin didn't care much and mentally poured another bucket of ink on the Archbishop. After all, he couldn't possibly be any more discredited, could he?

Tachibana Yuki took Sirin's hand and continued:

"Bella's luck wasn't too bad, because for Schicksal, there was actually another option—to eliminate Bella directly, rather than letting her sleep here."

"Huh? He dares!?"

"He really dares to do it, and he has the ability. But Bella is Sister's familiar, and you two are closely connected. Sister's power is irreplaceable to him, so he's unwilling to do anything unnecessary. After all, who knows when he might need Bella's help?"

"Hmph, what a despicable fellow, but just as I wanted. It would be quite amusing to see his expression when he finally remembers he needs to use Bella, only to find Bella gone!"

As Sirin imagined her enemy's disgraceful act, a smile involuntarily crept onto her lips.

Tachibana Yuki looked at her with tenderness and affection, then sighed softly and said:

"From a practical standpoint, keeping Bella alive is actually more beneficial for him. Bella is Judgment-class Honkai Beast with multiple attributes and powers, even capable of containing authority. She is unique in both Previous Civilization and Current Civilization, and her research value is immeasurable. In any case, even if she awakens, she can be destroyed at any time. Sealing Bella and continuously extracting research materials from her is obviously more valuable than eliminating her directly. Otto has been doing just that all these years."

"Shameless! Bastard! How dare he do such a thing to my Bella!?"

Imprisonment, experiments, research subjects—these elements were far too sensitive for Sirin. She couldn't help but think of the past of the Babylon Experiment Tower, and she was instantly enraged, gritting her teeth in hatred.

If she weren't currently devoid of Herrscher powers, this fleeting emotional fluctuation alone would have been enough to obliterate the entire base, wouldn't it?

Tachibana Yuki understood Sirin's feelings, so she squeezed Sirin's little hand and kissed her on the cheek.

Her emotions took a sudden turn amidst the turmoil; Sirin's expression shifted rapidly, and finally, her face flushed red, she forced out a sentence through gritted teeth:

Are you sick in the head?

"Hehe, it's a terminal illness that will kill me without my big sister~~"

"You son of a bitch..."

Veins bulged on Sirin's forehead. After fuming for a while, she shook off Tachibana Yuki's hand again and strode forward.

The two eventually walked through a long passage and arrived at the top of the snow-capped mountain, where they saw a giant ice dragon sculpture lying on the mountaintop.

"Bella..."

Sirin couldn't help but step forward, reach out and place her hand on the icy surface of the ice. All her previous emotions vanished, replaced by a sadness welling up in her eyes.

"Anqi, what should we do?"

"I injected her into my core, then I replicated her human form and transferred her consciousness into it. That way, she can regain her freedom and come home with us. But in Otto's eyes, Bella is still here, unchanged."

Knowing Sirin's eagerness, Tachibana Yuki explained her next steps in a simple and easy-to-understand way.

Sirin nodded in relief and gestured to Tachibana Yuki with her eyes to take action.

Clearly, the Queen of Void had no idea what Tachibana Yuki's casual remark meant to the Thousand-Person Ruler.

Initially, Anqi could only replicate fragile human bodies, and was powerless against those with even slightly special bloodlines. Now, however, she can replicate the bodies of Judgment-class Honkai Beast. Furthermore, this ability to transfer consciousness at will is far beyond the original power possessed by the Thousand-Person Ruler.

Anqi is evolving, she has always been evolving, whether it is in terms of pure strength or deeper levels of authority, she is constantly moving towards surpassing the Herrscher.

Without further delay, Tachibana Yuki reached out and pressed her hand against the ice block, and a purple gem disappeared from her palm as if melting in water.

Then came a dazzling and magnificent purple glow.

A moment later, a scantily clad, beautiful girl appeared beside Tachibana Yuki, then swayed and fell forward.

She wore a tricolored feather ornament on her head, and her long, gray hair, reaching her hips, looked smooth yet playfully curled at the ends, giving her a charming and unrestrained air. She had long legs, a slender waist, and a hint of alluring white navel. Black and white stockings encased her delicate calves, highlighting the whiteness, fullness, and roundness of her thighs. Her long dress flowed behind her like soft wings, subtly revealing the shapely curves of her buttocks, creating a dreamlike and captivating effect.

The dragon Benales, a simple and persistent follower from the original timeline who was so pitiful, now appears before her Queen of the Void.

Bella!

Sirin quickly caught the girl as she fell.

The familiar voice and the unforgettable, unique address made the newly revived Benales subconsciously sniff Sirin's snowy neck. He wasn't sniffing Sirin's scent, but rather sensing a deeper connection between their souls.

A moment later, Benales smiled with satisfaction and relief, letting out a weak, sigh-like sound of boundless joy:

"Queen... my lord..."

Chapter 223 Himeko Sleeps Soundly

In the empty and clean base corridor, Sirin carried the unconscious Bella on her back and walked forward expressionlessly.

It wasn't that Anqi didn't have a more effortless method, but rather that Sirin didn't want to let go of Bella.

"Is Bella really alright?"

Sirin feigned nonchalance and asked, her pride forbidding her from revealing any weakness. However, how could her inner anxieties and worries escape Tachibana Yuki's discerning Mystic Eye, which had seen through countless people?

"She was severely injured and frozen for too long, which caused immense mental strain; the problem was actually quite serious. However, she met me, so after a couple of days of rest, once her soul adapts to this new and intact body, she'll be fine."

Upon hearing Tachibana Yuki's explanation, Sirin believed it without much thought.

So, she began to feel at ease.

Bella is special.

Sirin created her, gave her the name of her deceased friend, unlocked her wisdom, shaped her into human form, and even shared her own powers with her—such treatment was clearly not given to an insignificant appendage, but to a true friend.

In Siberia at that time, Sirin regarded Bella as a loyal, eternal, unique, and exclusive friend. Although she never admitted it, Sirin's regard for Bella was undeniable. Otherwise, Kiana wouldn't have nearly broken down when Bella chose Kiana during their duel.

Tachibana Yuki with her hands behind her back, composed and elegant, her bright eyes smiling like two crescent moons, and her steps gradually becoming lighter.

There's no other reason than that it's rare to see Sirin show such a human side; she's a bit like a spoiled little girl who's tough on the outside but soft on the inside and cares about her friends.

Anqi deserves irreplaceable credit for this change; isn't that something to be happy about?

"Hey, what are you laughing at by yourself for?"

"Big sister noticed?"

"Nonsense, do you think I can't tell when you're genuinely laughing and when you're just pretending?"

"I never expected my older sister to pay so much attention to me, I'm so touched~~"

However, Sirin was already immune to this level of malicious cuteness; she simply snorted and continued walking as if she hadn't heard it.

Tachibana Yuki couldn't seduce Sirin, so she gently tapped her chin with her index finger, her obsidian-like eyes darting around, and then she said with a grin:

Actually, I've been thinking about a question.

"Um?"

"Since my elder sister is Queen of the Void Bella, given our relationship, should she call me Princess or Prince?"

The Queen's sister is a princess.

The Queen's husband is His Highness the Prince.

It took Sirin three seconds to understand the logic. She glanced sideways at Tachibana Yuki's incredibly cute and expectant smile, and another second passed without her saying anything.

However, her steps quickened, and a blush crept across her lowered face, a blush she didn't want others to see.

'Oh my god, my feelings are so complicated.'

Herrscher of the Void, Anqi, couldn't help but rub her arms, unsure of how she should react.

I'm wearing the Queen's disguise, watching myself flirting with the Queen—what kind of ridiculous script is this?

How strange!

"Hey! Is anyone there?"

"Are u there?"

Where have you been hiding?

I've come to find you!

On the other side of the consciousness space, Kiana held the Level 3 Frying Pan she had obtained in the battle royale Dreamscape above her head and carefully walked forward.

There's no way around it; every time I find the Herrscher of the Void in Dreamscape, I inevitably end up wearing a thin veil.

Even Kiana, with her strong nerves, will have her shadows.

But she couldn't give up. In Kiana's eyes, persuading the Herrscher of the Void was her only option to resolve her own problems and then do everything she could to help and protect Anqi.

Kiana moved cautiously across the empty ground, turning back every three steps and bending over every five, as if walking on a battlefield amidst a hail of bullets.

Meanwhile, the Herrscher of the Void, Anqi, floated in the air, her lips twitching slightly.

"It should be considered a good thing, after all, it has worn away his recklessness and cultivated his caution."

Anqi touched her chin uncertainly.

Kaslana is the type who excels at using her body to memorize and learn; Kiana is a typical example of this.

Through the carefully constructed different battle instances, Kiana's combat style has finally evolved from a reckless, aggressive approach to a more mature and varied one.

But Anqi, who witnessed the changes firsthand, had some concerns.