Sirin Awakens

"The Fourth Herrscher is an important experimental specimen. If she cannot be recovered, destroy her. We cannot let her fall into Schicksal's hands."

Bronya recognized whose voice it was as well. She said tremulously,

"...No, don't."

That voice did not seem to care and continued with a hint of regret.

"Hehe, you little thing, your self-awareness is getting stronger and stronger."

"But this is all futile resistance. Highest Authority Command:"

"Even if you cannot defeat the Fourth Herrscher, hold her back for me! My main force will arrive soon."

"Highest Authority Command entered. Project Bunny, switch to Sniper Mode. Attack the Fourth Herrscher."

"Stop! Bronya, what are you doing!?" Kiana cried in shock.

Wendy looked at Bronya, who had suddenly attacked her, and shouted in disbelief,

"Big Sister Bronya, why are you attacking me?!"

Wendy could hardly believe that the Big Sister Bronya who had always cared for her so gently had been deceiving her.

"Were everything you just said lies!? I... I already... can't trust anyone anymore."

The immense power within Wendy, originating from the Gem of Desire, erupted once more like a volcano! A violent energy instantly engulfed her body.

Amid a flash of light, Wendy transformed once again into the Herrscher of Wind, wielding the authority to manipulate fluids! At that moment, she was like a wild horse breaking free of its reins, unstoppable.

Kiana and the others also sensed the enormous change in Wendy. They did not dare let down their guard in the slightest and prepared themselves for this incomparably fierce battle.

In an instant, the battlefield changed dramatically. Wendy controlled fierce hurricanes and launched wave after wave of savage attacks at Kiana and the others. Every wind blade contained boundless might, as if it were about to tear the entire world apart.

Facing such a terrifying assault, Kiana and the others used every means at their disposal to fend off Wendy's attacks. For a time, both sides exchanged blows without yielding, and the battle reached a deadlock.

"She's really troublesome..."

Wendy panted heavily, silently grumbling, What is this? Before I obtained the Gem of Desire, I was still an A-rank Valkyrie known as "the one most likely to become an S-rank Valkyrie"! After getting the Gem of Desire, how am I being held back by three students who haven't even graduated yet!? Was this gem engraved with some kind of weakening curse!?

"Hmph! Being troublesome is my greatest strength."

Kiana looked at the exhausted Wendy and said smugly.

"I can keep fighting all day!"

At that moment, the surroundings suddenly changed. The sky seemed to have been dyed the color of blood, while something resembling a magic circle bearing the Anti-Entropy emblem appeared above them.

At the same time, a mature female voice rang out beside their ears.

"Unfortunately, I don't have that much patience."

"All combat mechs, disengage stealth. Target: Fourth Herrscher."

Only then did Kiana and the others realize that Titan Mechs developed by Anti-Entropy had somehow already surrounded them.

Upon receiving the order, the mechs took advantage of Wendy's lack of reaction and threw a punch at her.

"Ugh..." Wendy let out a cry of pain and was instantly knocked unconscious, collapsing onto the grass.

Mei watched the scene with disbelief in her eyes. "How is that possible!? A Herrscher was knocked down in one blow..."

That voice seemed very satisfied with the outcome.

"The new tactical mechs are quite powerful~"

Then she spoke to Kiana and Mei.

"Hmph, though I should thank you for weakening her power."

At that moment, the voice seemed to suddenly remember something.

"Oh! Right, I nearly forgot there was another Herrscher here."

"Bronya, my daughter, Highest Authority Command: capture the Third Herrscher!"

"What!?" Mei and Kiana looked at Bronya in disbelief.

Faced with the command, the controlled Bronya merely replied coldly, "Understood, Mother."

Seeing her two friends about to turn their weapons against each other, Kiana hurriedly shouted, "Mei!" "Bronya!" hoping to wake Bronya.

But unfortunately, Bronya, already under control, could not hear Kiana's cries at all.

Bronya now had only one target in her eyes: capture the Third Herrscher—her companion, Raiden Mei.

Yet when facing her friend, Mei could not use her full strength for fear of hurting Bronya. In the end, under the combined assault of Bronya and the Titan Mechs, Mei was knocked unconscious as well.

Kiana stared at the scene and muttered in disbelief, "How could this be..."

Although Kiana did not want to believe what she was seeing, the controlled Bronya did not care about that.

Bronya controlled Project Bunny, gripping Raiden Mei in one hand while aiming the cannon in the other at Kiana.

"Mother, Raiden Mei has been captured. Only one final target remains."

Clearly, Bronya now intended to take Kiana out as well.

Kiana knelt weakly on the ground. At that moment, she desperately longed for power and cried out in her heart, I need power. I need the power to save Bronya and Mei!

As if responding to that wish, another voice echoed in Kiana's heart.

"Do you want power? Do you want to save your companions?☆"

Kiana could no longer think about where the voice had come from and instinctively replied, "I want it... I want the power to save them!"

"Then relax and temporarily give your body to me.☆"

"Fine." Kiana immediately agreed to the voice's request. "But you must save Mei and Bronya."

"I accept your request.☆"

Hearing the voice accept her request, Kiana relaxed her control over her body. Her consciousness gradually sank into darkness, and just before it did, Kiana forced herself to stay alert long enough to say one final sentence.

"I have one last question."

"What question?☆"

"Who are you?"

"..."

"You can call me... Big Sister.☆"

Just as Bronya was about to make her move, she suddenly turned to look into the distance.

"Schicksal forces detected nearby. They are approaching at high speed."

"Hmph! Consider yourself lucky. All forces, return."

Just as Bronya was about to leave, a powerful surge of Honkai Energy suddenly erupted from Kiana.

Her body slowly rose into the air, and she opened those golden eyes.

"Humans~ Don't be in such a hurry to leave... Stay and play with me.☆"

When Himeko arrived, she found mech wreckage strewn across the ground, along with the unconscious Bronya, Mei, Kiana, and Wendy.

In the end, because they were all still unconscious and a large amount of Honkai Energy had been detected at the scene, the incident was temporarily classified as "Raiden Mei used the Third Herrscher's power to destroy these mechs."