9. Xia Ling: "You're saying it's that easy to become a Herrscher?" / 10. Looks Like Her Mom Has to Step In

"So, whether you want to see Cecilia or help Sigfried..."

"Our destination is here."

Xia Ling circled the location representing O-23 on the map.

Chapter Nine Xia Ling: Aren't you supposed to be so easily Herrscher transformation?

"Sister Xia Ling..."

"Is this position... really okay?"

Kiana looked at the almost vertical snow slope in front of her and swallowed hard.

"It should be... no problem, after all, that's how the navigation is written."

Xia Ling scratched her head and hesitated, "At least it proves that someone has walked this road before."

"But the navigation didn't say whether that person actually walked the whole way alive!"

"I think, Kiana, you should trust the Valkyrie's physical abilities."

Looking at the coordinates ahead that represented the "Wish Fulfilled" node, Xia Ling resolutely said, "Fortune favors the bold, so let's go!"

"Wait, I'm not ready yet—"

Seeing that Kiana had already gone down, Xia Ling followed suit and slid down the snow slope.

A moment later.

"Wait, Sister Xia Ling, there really is something here!"

[My Wish Fulfilled]

Kiana seems to have "accidentally" slipped down a huge snow slope, but every cloud has a silver lining. At the bottom of the slope, Kiana found a huge supply crate. You excitedly opened the crate, only to find it contained far too much stuff. Reluctantly, you could only take some with you.

Bring more weapons (take two sets of Schicksal Standard Individual Weapon Modules to increase Kiana's combat power)

Bring plenty of medicine (take the emergency life support device made by Schicksal, which can restore health to maximum, but it takes some time).

[Calling for more support (Requires proficiency in Schicksal's internal communication code; currently does not meet the requirements for activation)]

"There's no need to choose, we'll definitely take the weapon." Xia Ling chose the first option without hesitation. "I might get banned at any time, it would be such a waste to take medicine."

In the data space, Kiana was somewhat puzzled as she watched Xia Ling decisively choose to take the weapon.

"Sister Xia Ling, shouldn't we bring some medical supplies...? I think according to the instructions, these things should be able to heal your injuries, right?"

"Forget it, we don't have time for that. By the time I heal Cecilia, she might already be fighting the Second Herrscher..."

"Besides, I didn't get in through normal means, so I could be banned at any time. While I'm still here, the best thing to do is to give you as many good things as possible."

"So that's how it is..."

After dressing Kiana in armor and equipping her with weapons and ammunition, Xia Ling was about to continue when her communicator suddenly rang.

"Beep—This is Theresa, Sigfried, please respond!"

"I have arrived at area O-17. I have discovered a large number of Valkyrie armor fragments in the area. Valkyrie in this area have been wiped out!"

"But these wreckages are still sending signals to mislead us. I'm just bait. The real Second Herrscher is with you. Try to stall for time, at most ten minutes. I'll come over to help you right away!"

"Ten minutes?" Sigfried's voice also came through the communication. "Hey, Theresa, when you encountered the Second Herrscher before, how long did it take from the start to the defeat?"

"... With Xia Ling's help, five minutes and forty seconds."

"Oh dear, this is terrible news. I can already see the Second Herrscher... Does that mean I have to hold out for almost twice as long?"

"If only we could avoid a direct confrontation..."

"Forget it, using a distraction strategy isn't really my style anyway. Theresa, I'll give it a try and eliminate the Second Herrscher here."

"Wait, were you planning to use the Heavenly Fire Judgment to take her down with you from the very beginning, Sigfried?!"

"Of course, goodbye, Theresa. Oh, and please take good care of Cecilia and Kiana for me."

The communication was immediately cut off by Sigfried.

"It's Auntie's voice! Sister Xia Ling, she really doesn't have Herrscher on her side! And what did that old man mean by 'mutual destruction'?"

"So studying history is very important... It seems that we are on the right track now, but even so, we should only be able to finish it off."

"Huh? Aren't we going to help...?"

"Fool, once the Heavenly Fire Judgment is unleashed, even the user will be engulfed by the flames. Did we intend to deny Sigfried even the chance to perish together with others?"

"But... that stinky old man..."

"Alright, don't worry. Based on history, your mother should be there just in time to save Sigfried."

"So, let's go. We might have to stop our current jungle clearing plan and get to the scene quickly. Otherwise, you might not see your mother until later."

Seeing the vast stretches of Wish Fulfilled and Safe Corner in the subsequent stages, Xia Ling had no choice but to reluctantly give up and start planning her route anew.

A moment later, on the other side...

"Huff... huff..."

"Theresa, haven't you arrived yet?"

"So it really is because my legs are too short..."

Sigfried wiped the blood from his mouth and, trying to find humor in it, made a sarcastic remark about Theresa.

"Heh, human, to be able to fight me for so long, your strength seems to be much greater than that nun's."

An ethereal voice rang out from in front of Sigfried.

"Yes, I regretted it the moment I started fighting you. I'm afraid even if Theresa and I went up together, we still wouldn't be a match for you."

Sigfried stood up, his two pistols now combined into a giant flaming sword.

"However... I had already made up my mind."

"I am willing to give my life to protect the people I love most!"

The surging power startled the Second Herrscher.

"Why do you possess this power...?"

"Take your questions and go to hell!"

"Heavenly Fire—Unsheathed!"

Not far from the battleground, gazing at the flames that seemed to pierce the sky, Xia Ling sighed.

"It seems we're not late, but rather early."

"Sigfried just used Heavenly Fire Judgment, so this area won't be accessible for a while... Kiana? What are you daydreaming about? Why aren't you saying anything?"

At that moment, a notification popped up on Xia Ling's screen.

[The Fated Path]

Upon seeing the flame that pierced the sky, Kiana seemed to suddenly awaken some memory; specks of golden light began to appear in her eyes, and at the same time, her mind suddenly became unstable.

Please make your choice carefully, as this event will alter the course of the story.

[Facing off against the soon-to-awaken Sirin -on.]

[Attempting to calm Kiana down. (Needs a hug from Cecilia)]

[Forcibly reseal Sirin. (Requires Feather Dust)]

"No, buddy?"

The sudden turn of events almost made Xia Ling press her face against the screen.

"What's going on? Kiana is suddenly going to become Herrscher transformation?"

"Just how deep is your psychological trauma from the Heavenly Fire Judgment?!"

Chapter Ten: Even the Mother Has to Step In

On the other side...

"What happened? I just went to change my clothes, and when I came back, the sky had fallen?"

A blond man almost lost control of the clam again.

"Where Durandal and the others? They're still so far from St. Freya?"

"Wait, which side is Xia Ling on? How come Kiana was completely Herrscher transformation by her the moment I saw her?"

Otto quickly checked the situation in the data space, trying to salvage the situation.

"The data space can only accelerate the plot, not slow it down... If we don't do anything, Sirin will definitely awaken before Durandal and the others arrive, so we must find a way to delay her. Wait, this is..."

Seeing the voice appear on the screen, Otto felt slightly relieved.

"We have no choice but to try it, even if it's a desperate situation. Hopefully, she can turn things around."

"This was a huge mistake. How could I not have thought that someone could sabotage my plans by stepping on the gas?"

"This Xia Ling is truly outrageous..."

Returning our attention to the data space, Xia Ling was now somewhat at a loss.

Xia Ling was truly unprepared for this situation. In her plan, as long as Kiana didn't awaken after leaving the instance, she could achieve her goal. Who knew that observing the Heavenly Fire up close seemed to have stirred up Kiana's long-buried memories.

She really has no way to stop Kiana right now. She can't just shoot Kiana, can she? Putting aside whether she could bring herself to do it, if things went back to reality, Kiana would basically be instantly Herrscher transformation into a Herrscher of Reason.

Before Xia Ling could make a choice, the options on the screen suddenly disappeared, and the screen returned to a controllable state as before.

"What? You won't even let me choose?"

Xia Ling quickly shook Kiana's body.

"Kiana? Wake up!"

"Sister Xia Ling... I... I feel something's strange..."

Kiana stood there, stunned, her voice filled with confusion.

"That flash of light... I feel like I've seen it before in my memory..."

"When was it again? That's strange, I can't quite remember..."

"Oh right, I remember now, the last time I saw a fire like this..."

Kiana clutched her head, her eyes gleaming with golden light.

"Ugh, my head hurts so much..."

"Why, why do I remember..."

"That flame was once aimed at... me?"

"Oh no!"

Xia Ling's expression turned grim. Given the current situation, it seemed she was forced to choose the first option.

However...

"This is... Xia Ling? And who is this little girl next to you? Does she look a bit unwell?"

A gentle voice came from behind Xia Ling.

Upon hearing this voice, Xia Ling was taken aback.

Although she had never heard Cecilia's voice, there was no doubt that she was the only person who could be here at this time.

However, given Kiana's current situation, no one can determine whether Cecilia's appearance is good or bad. After all, Xia Ling cannot be sure whether Cecilia appeared here naturally due to the data space's own development, or whether she was deliberately created here by Sirin, or whether she is Sirin in disguise.

However... there doesn't seem to be much time to consider this now. Xia Ling gritted her teeth. Even in the worst-case scenario, where Kiana awakens right here, it wouldn't be much different from what's happening now.

"It's me, Cecilia." Xia Ling said urgently, "This child may be emotionally unstable due to being too close to the Second Herrscher and the influence of Honkai Energy, possibly triggering something like PTSD."

"Honkai Energy have this kind of effect?" Cecilia was taken aback, and quickly came over. "I brought Black Abyss White Flower, do you need...?"

"No, no, no, Black Abyss White Flower probably won't work on these emotional things." Xia Ling shook her head repeatedly. "Um, Cecilia ..."

"It might seem a bit abrupt, but... could you hold this child?"

"Huh?"