Interlude: Heart-to-Heart Before the Battle

(Sorry, the battle will have to wait a bit. Please allow me to insert a short dialogue scene, since I accidentally leveled up the next dungeon a few times.)

(Also, updates will be slow during this period, please bear with me.)

The battlefield is cruel.

If an officer's strict training of his daughter is out of a soldier's duty, then his hesitation when his daughter steps onto the battlefield is out of a father's responsibility.

That's roughly how Sachi treats Kiana and the others.

Take the Arin Sisters as an example. He promised to shield them from the darkness of reality, but if the Arin Sisters had the will to step onto the battlefield and actually took that step—

He will never again lower that white veil before their eyes.

—It's a miracle that this child hasn't developed any psychological issues from the beginning until now. What has he been through?—

The night is deep.

A white-haired girl, wearing a cotton coat, stood alone in the snow, staring blankly at the bright white sky.

Damn the midnight sun!!!

Kiana, who had wanted to go out and see the stars, belatedly realized that Welt had told them it was the polar day in Antarctica when they arrived, and she was immediately very depressed.

Kiana exhaled a breath of hot air, which visibly turned into icy mist and dissipated. She Flame Sword Liehuo in her hand. She was about to have her final battle with that version of herself, but did she really have the resolve to kill her?

"I'll hit!"

Sachi, dressed in pajamas, descended from the sky in a knight's kick stance, slamming her into Kiana's back and sending her flying far away without mercy. "Confused? You're already here and you're still talking about being confused? Are you awake now?"

PS: When the Queen descended, the Herrscher of Void, who had been beaten up, promptly went back into slumber. Kiana, upon learning the truth, was utterly devastated and then had her choked and asked whether she wanted to live or die.

(I'm probably one of the few people in Honkai 3rd fanfiction who uses this method? Also, there was a problem with Sachi back then.)

PS: In this Movie Version, Sachi did not tell Kiana the whole truth and concealed the part about the K-series clones.

The Kiana, which was stuck upside down in the snow, felt dizzy. When it regained its senses, it was in front of the gentle and lovely Luming Lady.

Kiana returned to her tent, cuddled Wendy, and slept to recover her energy. Her consciousness then controlled the doll to pull the Kiana out, patted the snow off her, and tidied her messy long hair. The stark contrast between her previous roughness and her current gentleness almost made Kiana cry.

Why, why are there such big differences between a stinky younger brother and a stinky younger sister?

Note: Fortunately, he hasn't told everyone yet that he has an extra doll. However, when he officially reveals it, he will use the doll he created with magic to cover it up. After all, after this Movie Version ends, the main character will temporarily go to St. Freya to eat, drink, sleep and recover from his injuries, while the doll doll will continue to be an idol in Sky Dome City.

"What's wrong? It's rest time now, can't you sleep?" Luming pulled her into a separate tent, sat her down around the heater, and thoughtfully served her her favorite toast pizza and a cup of hot milk.

"Hmm, just thinking about the upcoming battle makes me restless. Every time I close my eyes, she appears before me." The Kiana didn't rush to eat. Looking at the steaming milky white liquid in the cup, the image of the IF Bug seemed to be reflected on the surface of the liquid.

"What's there to worry about? That weakling is nothing to fear." Luming's eyes were full of disdain, making Kiana feel extremely embarrassed. So, the BOSS in my eyes is just a monster that can be easily killed in your eyes?

"However, what I'm worried about isn't her, but the series of reactions she might trigger. After all, malice is something invisible and intangible, and it's very troublesome to completely eliminate it. Fortunately, we have this Light Sword here." As Luming spoke, she took out the Light Sword in its dagger form, used the Flame Sword to generate the Sacred Sword Driver, put it on Kiana's waist, and then inserted the Light Steel Sword to try to activate it, but there was no response.

"Sigh, why can only I use it?" Luming put away the Light Sword with a headache and sighed helplessly. When she activated this thing, her soul would be forcibly absorbed into the sword. It wasn't just her body that needed to complete the sword; her soul was also a necessary component to unleash its power.

Even when she transforms into a doll-like body, she can still draw the soul from her original body to the sword, which is a major headache for her.

"I remember you said that this sword is a collection of the good intentions of those 'me's', right?"

"Hmm, what's wrong?"

Kiana shifted her gaze to the empty space. "They were living, breathing people just like me. Some of them probably didn't even know their own situation before that guy stifled their future... Just thinking about that makes me want to pin that guy to the ground and beat him up; but when I think about how she was carrying out this endless slaughter in such extreme despair, I just... just..."

Seeing the reluctance and struggle in Kiana's eyes, Luming's eyes dimmed slightly. She patted Kiana's shoulder and said softly, "Do you remember what you said before? Don't worry about anything else, just defeat them first. After we finish physics class, we can talk about reason with them."

"... I completely agree." Having just been educated by physics and reason, the Kiana obediently lowered its head. First, it'd beat that guy up, then try its persuasive skills. If that didn't work...

I will personally end Kiana's sinful life.

Perhaps noticing the heavy atmosphere, Kiana playfully ruffled Luming's fox ears and jokingly changed the subject. "Speaking of which, how much do you like 'Luming Lady'? You've maintained your original childlike appearance for a long time, haven't you? Yet you still use that look, and even now you're used to interacting with us using that identity... Hey, little brother, you haven't really psychologically become a little sister, have you?"

PS: When creating the doll, a certain enthusiastic divine messenger who wishes to remain anonymous specifically designed the doll to be able to perfectly replicate Luming Lady's full form—this only applies to appearance and feel; some specific abilities are missing.

Idol Lady's face instantly turned black. Booster Buckle seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, glared menacingly at the insect, as if it intended to kill her if its master was displeased.

"... I like pretty and cute girls, what's wrong with that?" After a long silence, Luming forced out these words.

"But you're a boy, how come you spend more time acting like a girl than a boy?" (A concerned older sister's comment)

"Mind your own business!" The young wife, whose brain was filled with a bunch of female memories, angrily punched Kiana's shoulder with her small fists, but how could the powerless doll body resist the violent muscle worm? In just a few moves, Kiana tackled her to the ground, but fortunately, the Booster Buckle knocked her away.

"Actually, it's not hard to understand this kind of thinking from a boy's perspective." Luming straightened her clothes and explained to Kiana, "You know what? In role-playing Yugi, most boys choose female characters."

"Hey, why? Because it looks good?"

"If you could choose, would you prefer to see a burly man or a cute girl all day long?"

"... But it doesn't matter whether you're male or female, right?"

Bang!!!

With a face full of black lines, Luming rode the Propeller Vanguard and sent Kiana flying as she spoke the truth.

After a while—

"Actually, there are other reasons why I like to become Luming. This way, I can do a lot of things that I can't do when I'm a boy without any worries. And since we're all girls, I can have a deeper relationship with you guys. The main thing is that it can help me overcome a little psychological barrier. Besides, I'm not referring to that kind of depth. Wipe your drool, you perverted older sister who's a pervert to her younger sister."

Kiana, who was trampled underfoot by the Idol Lady with a disdainful look, seemed to have opened the door to a whole new world. After this battle, let Mei try it on her too?

(Ahem, I wasn't wearing shoes. Uh, I was wearing shoes when I kicked the Kiana earlier.)

"It's okay, no matter what you become, you'll always be my little brat. In my eyes, you'll always be that stubborn, cool Xing~" Kiana casually grabbed one of her thighs and sniffed it. Hiss, why does this black stocking have a strange smell... disinfectant?!

P. S.: Xing, who is a germaphobe, washed the doll's body several times from the inside out before using it. She even asked You Hui if the doll had been used for any special fetishes before, since it is exactly the same as the real person, even the reproductive function is a one-to-one replica.

"Is that so..." The girl's eyes suddenly softened. She knelt down and gently rested her head on the Kiana's forehead, her eyes lowered, and said in an almost inaudible voice, "Then, even if I become a monster, it will be the same?"

"What are you saying?! How could you possibly turn into a monster?!" Kiana suddenly became agitated, grabbing her hand and saying with utmost seriousness, "Listen carefully, I may not be as strong as you, nor have I experienced as much as you, but there's one thing: even if my friends, my family, turn into monsters right before my eyes, I will do everything in my power to knock that thing out and bring it back!"

"...Thank you, sister." Luming buried her head in Kiana's arms and nuzzled against her, unusually expressing her emotions like a little girl.

Inside the warm tent, a smile appeared on the boy's lips, and he tightened his grip on Wendy.

"Brother Xing".

"Um?"

"I thought about the question you just asked me for a long time before I finally came up with an answer."

"Um."

"If one day, Brother Xing really becomes a monster, then... I am willing to live with you as a monster."

"... Idiot, can't you learn from the mortals in Shenzhou mythology who fall in love with demons and wait for me to transform back into human form? As long as Herrscher doesn't do anything reckless, living for tens of thousands of years is not a problem."

"Huh?"

Seele's Heart-to-Heart Communication Channel —

"Heh, a monster? I am a 'monster' to begin with. There's nothing wrong with two monsters being together, is there? Seele, what about you?"

"Seele, Seele doesn't know... I can't even imagine what Brother Xing would look like as a monster. Why are you asking Seele this question? Could it be that Brother Xing's body has reappeared?!"

(Imagine the style of the chibi-style characters in the dormitory here.)

A precise chop to the head landed on White Seele. "Don't think nonsense. Even if I really do turn into a monster, I'll still be your guardian beast and won't do anything bad."

"But, but that would also..."

"Seele, sometimes the line between humans and monsters isn't so easy to draw."

The kitchen during the day —

"... Even if it takes my entire life, I will find a way to turn you back into your original form."

"... How about becoming one of my personal attendants? I'll appoint you as my personal bodyguard!"

"Has she been watching too many period dramas?"

Yugi time after dinner —

"Huh? If that's the case, I wouldn't mind playing monster raising, monster simulation management, monster survival and evolution... and even monster anthropomorphism and a whole host of other Yugi. Anyway, whatever you are, if you dare to mess with me, you'll be sorry!"

"... Bronya, do you know why I've always been afraid to get too close to you?"

Why?

"You'll burst from being stuffed."

"Hurrah! I'll prove to you right now whether or not your thing will burst!"

"Calm down!!!"

The night before departure —

"I'll always be by Little Xing's side, so don't worry. Even if you fight against the world, Mom will stand with you, even if it means going to the other world together..."

"Don't always threaten to die for me! Besides, Mom, have you ever thought about finding someone to marry? You're already over forty..."

"Little Xing, are you serious?!"

"Hehe, just kidding. If any other man dares to touch you, I'll chop him up. Don't worry, son or daughter, I'll take care of you for life~"

Note: A funny little story: When a silly mother is sleeping with her son, she is often kicked off the bed in the middle of the night for no apparent reason. Then, when she gets up from the floor the next day, she looks at the Luna next to her son and falls into deep thought.

Secret phone call with my partner —

"Huh? If Luming turns into a monster... Luming, did that Dog-headed Strategist do some kind of experiment on you? I'm going to chop her up right now!!!"

"Oh, right, and also, cough cough, about Luhuan..."

As soon as he finished speaking, Kane saw his partner suddenly appear at the door, holding a phone in his hand, and witnessed the entire process of the big girl turning into a child.

Smack! Smack!

The first sound was when Luming threw out the washboard;

The second sound came from Kane kneeling on the alloy washboard.

"You want me to look at you like trash, trample on you, and insult you all at the same time? I'll grant your wish right now!"

Luming, kicked off her shoes. The following process was too bloody to describe, otherwise you would accuse me of trying to create a romantic pairing or something.

(What's wrong with rewarding your good buddy?)

The teachers' dormitory at the St. Freya Academy —

"Hiccup~" Himeko, her face flushed, put down her wine glass, which still had a few bubbles left. She wiped her mouth with a lingering sense of enjoyment and let out a rather unladylike hiccup. "Strange, why do I feel like I've been forgotten?"

The Arin Sisters, who were secretly drinking vodka. "We were too."

—The long-awaited main text—

The night is deep.

The black-haired man flew through the air, his feet treading on the ground, as if slowly walking along an invisible staircase.

A moment later, he lowered his head, a ferocious look flashing in his eyes.

"Star of Eden - Liberation!!!"

Almost simultaneously, a similar gravitational wave erupted from the night below, and the two forces from the same source collided violently, setting the stage for this great battle.