11. We'll Eventually Wake from the Dream / The World Inside the Painting

Cecilia was a little stunned, but she quickly walked over and pulled Kiana into her arms without hesitation, skillfully stroking Kiana's long white hair that had become somewhat disheveled from the battle.

Before Kiana could react, she was enveloped in Cecilia's warm embrace.

Seemingly soothed by Cecilia's actions, Kiana gradually calmed down, and her eyes, which had begun to emit a golden light, returned to their original azure blue.

"Huh? This child's eyes... are blue too, just like my daughter's."

Cecilia noticed the change in Kiana's eyes and a hint of surprise flashed in her own.

"Yes, this child is also from the Kaslana family, but her mother left her a long time ago... I suspect her emotional instability is related to that, so..."

"So, you want me, someone with 'mother' experience, to comfort her, right?" Cecilia blinked. "Xia Ling, you still have as many mischievous ideas as ever."

"However, I don't mind at all. This child, both in voice and appearance, perfectly matches my imagination of what my daughter will be like when she grows up. Especially the voice, it's exactly the same as the voice I imagined my daughter would have when she grows up!"

"Where am I...? I felt a little dizzy just now..."

"Ah! Mom..."

Kiana, still feeling a bit dizzy, suddenly opened her eyes wide. Although she couldn't see it yet, this embrace... she had a strange certainty in her heart that this was Cecilia, and also... her mother.

"Mmm, what a lovely voice."

"But didn't you just call out...?"

"I'm so sorry... Lady Cecilia, I accidentally..."

Kiana then realized that she seemed to have unconsciously said something rude.

"No, it's nothing. Rather, I'd like to ask you for a favor."

Cecilia smiled, seemingly unconcerned.

"Yes, of course! I'll definitely help if it's within my power!"

"There's no need to go to such lengths..."

Kiana felt a warm hand smooth her slightly messy hair and then gently pat the top of her head.

"I just want to say, Kiana, can you call me 'Mom' one more time?"

"Huh?"

"Well, because your voice is almost exactly the same as the voice I envision my daughter will have when she grows up..."

"Of course!" Kiana readily agreed; in fact, this was exactly what she had been dreaming of.

"Mother..."

Chapter Eleven: We Will Eventually Awaken from the Dream

"Yay, so satisfying!"

Cecilia happily put away the terminal, and as if reluctant to let go, she patted Kiana's head again.

"Alright, although I still want to comfort you a little longer, the remaining power of the heavenly fire has already begun to subside."

Cecilia stood up. "I can sense that the Second Herrscher has left. That idiot Sigfried always likes to act tough."

"We have to go save him."

"Interesting..."

"Unexpectedly, Cecilia was actually able to temporarily suppress Kiana's Herrscher transformation. However, it seems the Second Herrscher also tried to influence this data just now..."

Otto stared at the screen, lost in thought.

"So, is this sudden Herrscher transformation really just an accident? Even Sirin didn't expect it?"

"It should be. If this was orchestrated by Sirin, she could have easily found a way to stop Cecilia from going beforehand. It seems she didn't manage to seize the opportunity..."

"Tsk, let's think of a reason to transfer Xia Ling out of the data space. This troublemaker is too good at causing trouble. Who knows what kind of trouble she'll cause if we don't take care of her?"

Otto quickly entered a series of commands into the data space.

"The way she entered the data space seems quite unique, and it doesn't seem to be entirely Kishinuma... Sure enough, she still has some trump cards up her sleeve. It seems that Rita's previous assessment of her was indeed wrong."

"Fortunately, I've left enough room for error regarding her existence. Xi's growth rate is rapid now, and her strength is already sufficient to be classified as S-rank. Therefore, her combat power is adequate for now, and there's no need to awaken Li Sushang..."

In the center of the battlefield, the three indeed found a "person" whose body was charred black.

"Using the Heavenly Fire Judgment would actually come at such a high price..."

Kiana gently covered her mouth.

"It's alright. The rated zero power of the Black Abyss White Flower is enough to achieve a similar effect of bringing the dead back to life. As long as there is still a breath left, it is enough to save them."

"But using the Black Abyss White Flower consumes one's own life force, doesn't it...?"

Xia Ling asked with some concern.

"It only consumes a portion; most of the consumption will still use Honkai Energy, and such consumption can be recovered in a short period of time."

Cecilia smiled and then drew her black and white lance.

As Cecilia softly chanted, the white lance began to emit a light imbued with a rich life force, enveloping Sigfried's body.

Then, the charred areas on Sigfried's body quickly scabbed over and fell off, revealing new skin. His body, which had been on the verge of death, regained its vitality.

"This... this is so strong..."

Seeing the scene of Black Abyss White Flower bringing the dead back to life and healing flesh and bones, Kiana couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.

"Of course, the Black Abyss White Flower has always been the symbol of Schicksal's strongest Valkyrie." Xia Ling paused, then said in a low voice, "Now... it should be in Durandal's hands."

"It's alright, I will definitely become the strongest Valkyrie in Schicksal and get my hands on that gun!"

Kiana seems to have rekindled her fighting spirit.

"Uh... good luck."

"Okay, that completes the treatment."

While the two were chatting, Cecilia's treatment was complete. She reunited the Black Abyss and the Abyss Flower and walked towards them.

"I have already called Schicksal's transport planes to bring Sigfried back. Although he has been treated by Black Abyss White Flower, the Honkai Energy and energy he lost can not be recovered. He needs to recuperate now."

"And you, Xia Ling, you go back and get treatment too." Cecilia looked at Xia Ling: "Don't think I didn't see the bandages under your clothes. Schicksal isn't short of people enough to send seriously injured people to the front lines. You go back too, and keep an eye on Sigfried so he doesn't run around."

Seeing Cecilia's unquestionable gaze, Xia Ling nodded helplessly. At this point, she would probably be sent away by Otto or Sirin with various excuses, just as she had expected.

Moreover, she has almost achieved her goal. After her actions, Kiana should now realize that this is just a data space, and she won't be as easily controlled by Sirin as she was in the original work.

Shortly afterward, an armed helicopter similar to the RPC-6626 that Xia Ling used to play in games hovered above them.

"Huh? It's this kind of helicopter that's picking us up?" Xia Ling asked curiously. "I remember this type of helicopter is a special version of the bullet screen helicopter."

"After all, with the appearance of the Second Herrscher, the number of Honkai Beast near Siberia has increased dramatically," Cecilia explained. "If the aircraft itself isn't strong in combat, it probably would have crashed before it even reached the halfway point."

Immediately afterwards, several Schicksal staff members got off the plane and carried the unconscious Sigfried up.

Xia Ling patted Kiana on the shoulder and whispered, "Kiana."

"Hmm?" Kiana looked over with some confusion.

"Remember my words." Xia Ling said solemnly, "Everything here happens in the data space. For you, everything that happens here is just a dream."

"Don't get lost in dreams, because we will eventually wake up from them."

After leaving those words, Xia Ling waved and boarded the plane.

Within the system space, the image on the screen also froze completely.

Xia Ling stood up and stretched.

[It seems the host is very satisfied with the service this time?]

"That's great, except for the part where Kiana almost Herrscher transformation, which gave me quite a fright."

[I see. It seems this feature still needs further development... just in case you encounter a similar situation again.]

"Next time..." Xia Ling shook her head. "Let's focus on the present first."

"Xi, have you arrived at St. Freya?"

"We're here..."

"Hmm?" Xia Ling tilted her head. "Your voice... sounds a little weak?"

"Because Otto rushed me too much, I got a little airsick..."

Xi didn't seem to be in good condition, but she still mustered her spirits and said, "We are infiltrating. Otto seems to have notified Fu Hua as well, and plans to start the operation once Fu Hua is in place."

"Let's get started?" Xia Ling glanced at the still-lit screen. "But Kiana shouldn't be able to get out of the data space for a long time, right?"

"Processes in the data space can be accelerated. Haven't you noticed that almost no time has passed outside?"

Xi's messages came in fits and starts, as if she was busy with something. "As soon as you left the data space, Otto accelerated time inside. Kiana should be out soon."

"You should come out soon too, we're all in position... Otherwise, once Theresa lies down, you might be facing a righteous three-on-one."

Chapter Twelve: The World in the Painting

"Alright, since you've put it that way..."

Xia Ling removed the Scale Cloak from her body and then left the system space directly.

The next second, her figure appeared out of thin air outside the laboratory door.

"Who is it!"

The sudden noise immediately alerted Theresa.

"It's me, Theresa."

Xia Ling pushed open the door and walked straight in.

"Xia, Xia Ling?" Theresa was taken aback. "What are you doing here? Did you discover I secretly left?"

"I'm sorry, but because this involves some unpleasant aspects of Schicksal's past, I didn't tell you..."

Xia Ling shook her head. "I'm not pursuing this, Theresa."

What I really wanted to say was that I didn't secretly follow you here.

"Ah?"

"I came here with Kiana."

"Ah??"

Theresa was clearly flustered. "Kiana? How come she's not here either... Wait, oh no, that data from earlier..."

Theresa instantly remembered the "fish that slipped through the net" that Otto had specifically left behind.

"Xia Ling, where's Kiana? She wouldn't be...?"

"If you're referring to the data space, yes. When I came in, I found she had just disappeared, so I started tracking her with Kishinuma, but I didn't expect she had already entered..."

"Alright, stop talking now." Theresa's face was filled with anxiety. "This isn't the time to worry about how she got in. We need to find her first. This place is a trap!"

"A trap? Wait, this is..."

Under Theresa's dazed gaze, Xia Ling sighed, and Crescent Rose instantly appeared in her hand, pointing towards a shadowy spot.

"I think... Theresa, you might be too late to say that."

"The one who's been hiding, would you please come out for a chat?"

"As expected of Miss Xia Ling, her senses are indeed sharp."

Rita's figure slowly emerged from the shadows. She had changed into the Shadow Iron, Assault Suit designed to target humans, and the autonomous tracking weapon "Carbon-based Hunter" was quietly lying at her feet.

"Rita? What are you doing here?"

"Good evening, Lord Theresa." Rita gave a slight bow. "I apologize for disturbing you so late at night, but this is for the sake of His Lord Bishop's mission."

"Task?"

Theresa immediately realized what was going on. "What do you want to do to Kiana!"