"I'll unleash an insanely powerful attack!" "Don't die, you old man!" / A certain bug: "Mama Cecilia! I'll save you, no matter what!"

Easy to guess? No, no, no. That was only for you.

Beichen knew full well that Theresa truly had no secrets to speak of before Otto.

And just as he was chatting with the viewers, the game's story had already reached Siegfried and Theresa's final conversation.

Sigh, forget it. A diversionary operation never suited my personality anyway. All right, Theresa, I'll try to eliminate the Second Herrscher here.

Hey! So from the very beginning, you planned to use Judgement of Shamash to die together with her, didn't you, Siegfried?!

Of course. Goodbye, Theresa. Oh, right, help me take care of Cecilia and Kiana.

Wait, Siegfried!

"Has Siegfried... already decided to perish alongside the Herrscher? Just how much resolve would it take to make that decision... As expected of a Kaslana warrior..."

After the story dialogue ended, a neatly written comment drifted across the screen.

The person who sent it was Durandal, who had previously seemed somewhat dissatisfied with Siegfried...

"I'm Going to Launch an Awesome Attack!" "Don't Die, You Crappy Dad!"

Beichen saw Durandal's comment and, after thinking about it, felt there was nothing wrong with it. After all, his father-in-law was preparing to gamble his life for victory. It truly could be called heroic and great.

But...

Beichen watched Durandal's comment disappear from the screen.

That last line, though, was also the truth. But why did it feel like a daughter was calling for her father to come back safely?

Haha! But thinking about it carefully, if Kiana really regained her memories, she would probably want to jump through the screen and slap Siegfried again, wouldn't she?

Sure enough, the Kaslana family's conviction to protect others at all costs had been passed down from generation to generation.

How could that be?! No! I can't let Crappy Dad die here!

The story dialogue displayed Kiana's determination to save her father.

After she said that, the game once again entered gameplay mode.

Only then could Ri Duck continue onward, and this time, no monsters appeared along the way.

Thanks to that, Beichen was able to quickly follow the guiding path on the ground to reach his destination.

And as Ri Duck arrived, the screen was once again swallowed by pale white...

Then the story began playing a cutscene.

The first image on the screen was a snowy field dyed red with blood. Off-screen, Siegfried's pained breathing could be heard.

Huff... huff... Theresa... isn't she here yet?

"Is that... blood?! Is that Uncle Siegfried's voice?" A blue comment drifted across the screen. "He sounds like he's in so much pain."

Not long after Seele's comment floated by, another comment appeared.

The one who sent it was Bishop Otto.

"Hmm... it seems he's already injured. If nothing unexpected happened, then the only enemy capable of inflicting such severe injuries on him would likely be the Second Herrscher. What a pity, what a pity Theresa isn't by his side, because..."

Was it because her legs were too short?

"?"

Before Archbishop Otto could finish voicing his thoughts, the cutscene reached Siegfried's jab at Theresa.

Seeing him add a question mark, Beichen could neither laugh nor cry.

He had to admit that Siegfried's jab was completely accurate. Theresa's legs really were rather short... After all, she was a legal loli who had not grown taller in decades~

Just as Beichen was secretly enjoying himself, another blue comment drifted across the screen. "Even at a time like this, Uncle Siegfried still hasn't forgotten to joke around? Being able to face the threat of death like that, he feels strangely dependable..."

Not long after Seele sent her comment, another viewer in the Live Stream also sent a comment to share her thoughts.

But it was not Otto. It was Durandal...

"Indeed. Even I cannot avoid feeling nervous when facing a life-and-death situation, so I usually choose to stay quiet."

Beichen froze for a moment when he saw Durandal's reflection.

That trait truly was unlike Siegfried. Maybe it was because she resembled Cecilia more. After all, they both used lances as weapons...

As the viewers' comments continued drifting across the screen, the game's cutscene began playing Sirin and Siegfried's conversation.

Hehehe... Human, to think you could fight me for so long. Your strength appears greater than that nun's.

Hehe, thank you for the compliment.

The cutscene camera shifted, showing Siegfried looking up at the Second Herrscher.

At that moment, he was kneeling on one knee with a flaming greatsword in hand. Around him stood Siberian pines heavy with snow. Meanwhile, the Second Herrscher floated in midair, radiating a dazzling glow from her entire body.

Her light shone across the earth.

At that moment, a blue comment drifted across the screen.

"So this is... the Second Herrscher? She's so strong... Her oppressive presence isn't even on the same level as Miss Wendy's!"

Upon seeing the Second Herrscher, Seele was clearly stunned.

"Of course. She's a Herrscher, after all. As for Wendy... all that could be said was that she had some bad luck."

Beichen had read the script, so he knew that the next opponent who would give the three protagonists a chance to join forces and fight...

Would be Old Ancestor Kevin.

The cutscene continued, gradually zooming in on the Second Herrscher floating in the sky. Meanwhile, Siegfried's voice-over played in the background:

The instant we clashed, I regretted it. I'm afraid that even if Theresa and I joined forces, we still wouldn't be your match.

As he said this, the camera had already revealed the Second Herrscher's face. Unfortunately, the light radiating from her body was too dazzling, so the image only showed a young girl with flowing long hair.

Then the cutscene played the girl's response.

You truly know your place, human. If you are willing to beg for mercy, I can let you go.

Thank you for your kindness, beautiful lady. But I've already made up my mind.

As he spoke, the cutscene camera showed Siegfried's face. He had suffered a head injury, and blood ran past one of his eyes, but his gaze remained firm.

Siegfried wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and replied:

To protect the people I love most, I am willing to offer my life!

As he said those words, the cutscene's background music became tragic and urgent.

At the same time, the greatsword Judgement of Shamash in Siegfried's hand erupted with brilliant flames.

The blaze was so imposing that it filled the entire screen.

Why?! Why does that sword possess such power?!

Take your questions to hell with you!

At the very instant the flames of Shamash ignited, the Second Herrscher cried out in alarm.

Shamash, unsheathe!

As Siegfried raised Judgement of Shamash and shouted those stirring words, the screen flashed with fire before finally going black...

"Wow! So cool! That line just now was so imposing!"

"Hmph, that's his only good point."

"Shamash, unsheathe... It really makes me curious about what happens next."

Several comments drifted across the black screen. These were probably the viewers' most immediate thoughts.

After the cutscene ended, the game returned to gameplay mode, and a conversation between Theresa and Kiana appeared on the screen.

We're finally almost at O-23. Wait, that person is... Siegfried!

What caused this enormous flaming crater?

This was caused by unleashing Judgement of Shamash's power. Damn it! That guy still did it in the end...

How could this be? If Crappy Dad uses Judgement of Shamash, he'll die!

The story dialogue ended with Kiana's anxious, uneasy voice.

After entering gameplay mode, Beichen controlled Ri Duck and hurried forward, eventually following the guiding path to the target location.

However, after reaching the location marked by the mission prompt, the story that appeared was not a conversation between Theresa and Siegfried.

Instead, it was Kiana's wary voice.

Wait, there's still a Honkai Beast in the center of the crater! This Honkai Beast actually survived within the flames.

Is it a servant of the Second Herrscher? Hmph, don't think you can stop us.

As Theresa and Kiana's conversation ended, a massive Honkai Beast with one arm unimaginably huge leaped out...

A Certain Bug: "Cecilia-mama! I'll Definitely Save You!"

That Honkai Beast was clearly different from the other monsters. Its body, half large and half small, looked as though one Honkai Beast had been split into two.

As for where the remaining half was, no one knew.

After the enemy leaped out, it roared and charged forward.

"Careful!" A blue comment drifted across the screen as the monster rammed toward them.

However, not long after Seele's warning appeared, Ri Duck fired several charged attacks, successfully reducing the monster's health bar to nothing.

Then Beichen pressed the ultimate skill button. As a motorcycle descended from the sky, the Honkai Beast on the ground was instantly reduced to critical health... It fell to the ground and then vanished into nothingness.

Seeing this, Seele sent another comment. "Eh? This boss... feels much weaker than it looks."

"No, no, no. This only counts as half a boss."

"Half? Does that mean there's another Honkai Beast like this one?"

"Yeah. Look at its structure—it's obviously only half. Once the two combine, they can evolve into a stronger form."

After hearing Beichen's explanation, Seele sent an "Mm!" and then said nothing more.

Seeing how impressed yet confused she looked, she would probably only understand when Ashvatthaman blocked the laboratory entrance at the end of the stage and came to throw its life away.

After the battle ended, Kiana and Theresa's story dialogue appeared.

That Honkai Beast got away!

There's no time to worry about it. The Second Herrscher must have gone toward the "Tower." We have to stop her before she reaches the "Tower"! We absolutely can't let Siegfried's sacrifice be in vain!

Theresa sounded flustered. She was so worried about Siegfried that her voice had gone out of control and nearly cracked.

"I never thought Academy Principal Theresa could lose her composure like this... I didn't expect the Academy Principal to have such a vulnerable side..."

After hearing Theresa's voice, which sounded as though she was about to cry, Seele could not help sending a comment of reflection.

However, seeing her innocent remark, Beichen merely smiled without saying anything.

Once you see Cecilia's sacrifice later, you'll understand what truly drives Theresa into despair.

"Siegfried... isn't dead yet, right?"

A green comment drifted by... expressing someone's complicated feelings.

"Why is Theresa so upset? Siegfried isn't dead yet, right???"

"Viewer, do you want him to die?"

"I never said that. Don't twist my words."

Twist your words? Why do I feel like I didn't...

Of course, Beichen would not say that aloud, because Otto would never admit it.

So if he kept pressing the matter, Otto might very well turn it around and pry information out of him instead...

"All right, then. Let's continue."