Kallen's Resolve

Kiana threw her cape into the air, and it instantly landed on a black-robed figure below. Just as the figure was about to draw his sword, his head was struck with a heavy blow, and he collapsed on the road, unconscious.

"It's you! How did you get here?" Kallen, touched but also worried for Kiana, exclaimed as Kiana appeared before her as if descending from the heavens.

"Of course, I'm here to save you, Sister Kallen!" Kiana flashed Kallen a smile over her shoulder before turning her gaze to Arthur, who was slowly approaching. "I'm taking Sister Kallen with me today, which means I have to fight you. This time, I won't hold back!"

"I'll handle him!" Another black-robed figure appeared on the scene, standing opposite Arthur. Sheng Jiu drew Castro's sword and whispered to Kiana, "I'll hold him off. You take Kallen and meet up with Bronya."

"What about you?" Kiana looked at Sheng Jiu's determined back, starting to worry about this unreliable guy.

"You really underestimate me, don't you? Don't worry, I won't die that easily!" Sheng Jiu then turned to Arthur in front of him and said, "Old man, make your move!"

Arthur looked at Kiana and Kallen, then at Sheng Jiu blocking them, and slowly lowered his long sword. He pointed in a direction and said, "Go this way. You two take Miss Kallen and leave. Go through that path, and you'll reach the port. I've already prepared a ship for you to set sail."

"Huh? Huh?" Kiana stared at Arthur in surprise. "Grandpa, I never thought you were such a good person~"

Kallen's voice, however, was filled with deep concern. "Grandpa Arthur, if you let me escape, you will..."

Arthur slowly removed his Raven Mask, a smile appearing on his aged face. "It's alright. I'm already this old. Even if I'm punished, I have no regrets. I never thought I'd see someone so loyal in this world. I can die without regret... Kid over there, take good care of Miss Kallen for me. Stay safe..."

"Grandpa Arthur..."

Just then, another loud boom echoed from the west of the execution platform. Kiana looked at Sheng Jiu in surprise, but Sheng Jiu shook his head firmly. "This wasn't in our plan?!"

As the smoke gradually cleared, four or five terrifying monsters emerged. These monsters emanated a black and red glow, their eyes blood-red, clearly hostile. They attacked anyone they saw and were rapidly approaching the execution platform.

"Stop them!" Arthur shouted at the remaining guards, muttering to himself in disbelief, "How can Exotic Beasts appear here?! There's a strict defense line set up outside this city!"

"Hahaha, this is naturally my plan, young master." A gorgeously dressed young man emerged from the shadows nearby. He appeared to be in his early twenties, with blonde hair, blue eyes, and long hair tied into a ponytail that draped over his left shoulder. He had exquisite features and wore a blue priest's robe, looking completely out of place among the fleeing citizens.

"Otto, what are you doing here?!" Kallen exclaimed in shock, recognizing him. The man was Otto Apocalypse, the son of Schicksal's Archbishop and Kallen's fiancé.

"Of course, I'm here to pick you up, my Kallen~" the young man's words were filled with arrogance and affection.

"My father... that old Archbishop really thought his plan was foolproof. He thought that by sending your former subordinates, the Valkyrie units, on missions far away, no one would be able to rescue you. But he miscalculated one thing: those Exotic Beasts you captured are still imprisoned beneath the cathedral. As long as I release them from their restraints and use a few scapegoats, I can unleash these little darlings. The chaos they create will be enough to dismantle all effective combat power within the city, and we can use this golden opportunity to leave with dignity. Come with me, my Kallen~"

Kallen looked at the man before her, both familiar and strange, her face pale. "Do you know how many innocent people will be harmed by what you're doing?"

"Huh? Don't be ridiculous. The lives of those commoners aren't worth a single strand of your hair, my goddess! My Kallen, no one can stop us from reuniting anymore. Let's go quickly, to the Far East, your favorite place—"

Kallen lunged forward, slapping Otto to the ground. She shouted angrily, "Don't insult me, Otto! Kaslana are protectors of the people, their shield. I will not abandon the people's safety and flee!"

Otto got up, clutching his face, his expression pleading. "Please, Kallen, come with me. The Exotic Beasts are already here—"

"There's no need to say more, Otto. Thank you for your kindness, but your methods are completely wrong. I won't go with you! And... I already have someone I love. I'm sorry."

Kallen looked at the Honkai Beasts below, frantically slaughtering innocent people, and resolutely walked towards the plaza.

Arthur quickly called out to Kallen, "Miss Kallen! What do you intend to do with that frail body? We don't have any anti-Honkai weaponry now. Going there would be suicide!"

"Don't go, Kallen!" Otto scrambled up like a madman, trying to stop Kallen, but Sheng Jiu knocked him down with a chop. "You're too loud. Hey, old man, keep an eye on him." Arthur caught Otto. The Archbishop's son could not risk falling here.

"Sister Kiana, where are you going?" Kiana followed worriedly, asking for clarification.

"Do I need to ask? Of course, to protect my people!"

Facing Kallen's answer, an indescribable emotion surged within Kiana. What is this? Justice? Or is this the hot-blooded spirit of the Kaslana family my dad talked about? I don't know, but I suddenly feel like I have to do something too.

Kiana then smiled at Kallen and said, "Let us help too. One more person means one more effort."

"That's right. So what if we don't have anti-Honkai weapons? I'll prove to these ugly freaks with my strength that power is king!" Sheng Jiu brandished his gleaming long sword.

Looking at Sheng Jiu and Kiana, whose minds were made up, Kallen was deeply moved. "Thank you, Miss Kiana and this gentleman."

Meanwhile, Bronya hung from a flagpole, gazing solemnly at the swarm of Honkai Beasts below. "What's going on? The intel didn't mention any Honkai Beasts attacking the plaza at this time."

"No, no, Bronya has to quickly crack this space's firewall to let the idiot Kiana and the idiot Sheng Jiu use modern weapons." Bronya's fingers flew across her virtual tablet. "Huh? What's this hidden message? It says... what?!"