Next, the two members of this trio who usually didn't get along were about to face a fateful showdown...
Rita's Challenge
Seele in the Live Stream was extremely surprised by Bronya and Kiana's encounter.
"Big Sis Bronya actually got grouped with her good friend... The upcoming match must be hard for them, right? Anyone would hesitate and feel conflicted about fighting someone they spend every day with..."
Seeing Seele's scrolling comment, Beichen smiled.
"Don't worry. Their relationship is actually very good. They won't care about something like this at all."
If anything, these two rivals who were always bickering and arguing desperately wanted to show each other what they were made of.
Bronya, your body... should be fine now, right? I'm actually pretty happy to see you taking the exam.
Hmm... Could Kiana be trying to improve her chances of winning through some kind of emotional strategy? No, idiot Kiana couldn't possibly think that far...
Before the duel even began, Kiana and Bronya were already acting like they were at each other's throats.
That was because she finally had the chance to properly face off against that annoying Bronya! Hehe, I'll make you understand that this young lady's strength is far beyond what a little brat like you can imagine!
S-So Bronya was overthinking it. Had Kiana's brain finally been completely corrupted by Honkai energy?
Their tsundere responses left Seele, who had initially been worried sick, at a loss.
"Huh? Did I get it wrong? Are they actually not on good terms?"
"Not really," Beichen replied after seeing Seele's comment. "Maybe they're just being tsundere."
"Tsun... dere? What does that mean?"
Seele asked blankly.
But Beichen did not answer her question. There was no need, and it was time to start the stage.
As the conversation ended, the game entered its actual gameplay screen.
Bronya joined the battle wearing the Snowy Sniper Valkyrie Armor.
Meanwhile, Beichen was using the latest Herrscher of Reason armor.
Their strength levels weren't even in the same league, so Bronya was utterly defeated within a few moves...
When Seele saw the dialogue box pop up again in the Live Stream, she immediately sent a delighted comment.
"Big Sis Bronya won! No, Big Sis Bronya lost... Huh? So did she win or lose?"
In her eyes, there were clearly two Bronyas on the field! So who had won and who had lost... she couldn't tell.
Beichen noticed this and explained, "She lost, and she lost badly."
"Huh! How could that be..."
Amid Seele's deeply resentful and unwilling comments, the game's dialogue box appeared again.
Hahaha, how was that, Bronya? Once this young lady got serious, you couldn't fight back at all, could you?
Damn it. Bronya's body probably hasn't fully recovered yet, so her performance is temporarily unstable. Kiana shouldn't be happy too soon. Bronya already peeked at the upcoming matchups. Idiot Kiana's next opponent is the Class Monitor.
"Class Monitor?" After hearing that, Hua in the Live Stream recalled that this referred to the Valkyrie who looked remarkably like her...
Would they see her fight next?
It was something to look forward to... What powerful move would she use to defeat Kiana?
At the same time, Elysia, who had only recently joined the Live Stream, was equally delighted. "Wow! Class Monitor? You mean that adorable girl named Fu Hua?"
Beichen nearly laughed out loud when he saw Elysia's description of Fu Hua. "Pfft, an adorable girl..."
An adorable "girl" over fifty thousand years old, huh?
"Hmm?" Elysia looked puzzled.
"Nothing."
Beichen did not continue the topic. He knew that if he kept talking, matters from the Previous Era would be exposed.
"Let's keep watching the story."
"Okay~"
Huh?! Th-This can't be real...
As Kiana complained unwillingly, the dialogue box vanished.
Fu Hua's dialogue soon appeared...
Kiana, please go easy on me in today's exam as well.
C-Class Monitor...
What is it, Kiana? You seem like you have something to say.
Um...
I don't know what Kiana is thinking right now. But no matter what burdens you carry in your heart, you should set them aside for now and focus only on the battle before you... Overthinking will only lead to a crushing defeat. To be honest, I envy the Kiana from before. She was full of fighting spirit and energy. I think Kiana when she fights like that is already the finest Valkyrie.
Hua: "..."
Beichen: "Hmm? What's wrong?"
Hua: "Ahem, nothing."
In the Previous Era, Elysia turned to look at the speechless Hua. "I never expected Hua could care for someone so gently too. Hehe~"
"Please don't make fun of me. That person is named Fu Hua. I am not her; we merely look alike."
Hua closed her eyes, trying to distance herself from Fu Hua.
"Hehe~" Elysia teased. "If Hua could comfort me like that too, I'd be very happy~"
As the two Heroes spoke, the dialogue had already ended.
Beichen controlled his character and began the final battle.
Facing Fu Hua on the field, Ri Duck effortlessly defeated her with a few attacks.
Afterward, Fu Hua and Kiana's dialogue box appeared again.
...Kiana, your performance was truly outstanding.
I don't know what happened either. Fighting felt especially smooth today. So smooth that I barely felt like myself.
Then, Stage 2-7 ended, and the game's results screen appeared.
Seeing this, Hua in the Live Stream was somewhat confused.
"That's... it?"
Seeing the comment float by, Beichen casually replied, "Yeah. This isn't a fight to the death. Did they need to fight until the skies went dark?"
"So who won and who lost this battle?"
"Fu Hua won."
"Hmm... That is fortunate, but I think her performance could have been even more perfect."
Beichen was somewhat speechless at Hua's assessment.
Was this perhaps her past self judging her future self?
Still, as one of the Thirteen Flame-Chasers, Fu Hua of the Previous Era certainly had the right to say that.
"Always striving for perfection, huh? All right, let's continue the stage."
After chatting for a while, Beichen opened the story stage for 2-8.
As the story played, Theresa's adorable face was the first thing to appear on the screen.
Taking advantage of the intermission, let me introduce everyone to the inspector from headquarters, Miss Rita Rossweisse.
While visiting St. Freya Academy, she will also be observing the Valkyrie assessment. I hope everyone performs well.
After Theresa finished her introduction, Rita's beautiful and captivating figure appeared on the screen.
However, after appearing, the inspector said something baffling...
Sorry to disturb everyone. Theresa-sama, the students you have taught are truly full of talent. I cannot help but feel interested in exchanging a few words with them.
An exchange?
Several Valkyries' performances have truly surprised me.
Please forgive my rudeness, but I would like to have a match with one of them.
We welcome Miss Rita personally taking the field to offer guidance in combat techniques. So which examinee is fortunate enough to be chosen?
Hua Felt an Unprecedented Embarrassment...
As an inspector from Schicksal, Rita's suggestion that she spar with one of the examinees greatly surprised Theresa and everyone present.
Of course, the truly surprising part was still to come.
That white-haired girl, what is your name? Hmm? Let me see your name tag... Kiana Kaslana?
The moment Rita finished speaking, Theresa said in surprise:
Kiana...? Why did she choose Kiana?
Oh? Kaslana...
Rita's tone was extremely meaningful, giving everyone the illusion that she had discovered some unknown secret.
Her reaction—or rather, the surname she had repeated—caught the attention of the Live Stream viewers.
"Kaslana..." Durandal could not help sending a thoughtful comment. "That must be a surname with extraordinary significance..."
Durandal's remark left both Beichen and Otto in the Live Stream speechless.
There was no other reason. Both of them knew the hidden truth.
Otto, in particular, had witnessed the incident back then and handled its aftermath. Ragna had brought her back to Schicksal for treatment. Otto had encased her body in Soulium, inducing the activation of her potential and giving her a head of curly hair.
Having lost her memories after the treatment, she had personally chosen the name Bianca Ataegina.
Beichen had no intention of revealing this truth, so he responded along with her, "Yes, indeed."
Just as he said that, Academy Principal Theresa's response appeared on the screen.
No, no, no. Not that Kaslana. It's just a coincidence.
Seeing Theresa's words, Durandal sent another comment. "Why would Academy Principal Theresa say it was merely a coincidence?"
Seeing that comment, Beichen could only laugh helplessly.
Because he knew very well that the truth really was a coincidence...
"Haha, maybe Theresa has something she can't talk about. All right, it's time to continue the story."
As Beichen's words fell, Kiana's dialogue box appeared.
Huh? A match with an official from headquarters? A match over what?
But just when everyone thought a conversation would follow, the game directly entered gameplay mode...
Rita, wielding a scythe, joined the battle as an ally.
However, although she was a companion fighting alongside them, she was also a competitor.
What the two sides had to compete over was the speed at which they could eliminate Honkai Beasts.
However, this was extremely easy for Beichen. His team composition was excellent, and his characters were fully upgraded.
In only a short while, all the monsters on the field had been killed.
As for the score floating on the screen, it read Rita: 10 and Kiana: 100.
"Did Kiana win?" Seele could not help sending a comment after the battle ended.
"No, she lost."
As soon as Beichen said that, the story dialogue box appeared.
Before you continue