Honkai's Thousand Laws, Abducting Kiana at the Start

The laboratory was completely destroyed in an ultimate burst of power, and the strength stored within the Stigmata was also depleted. In this intense surge of Honkai Energy, it's unknown how many people in the entire industrial district were infected by the Honkai and turned into MANTIS. But since they were all personnel involved in the Stigmata Project, they must have been prepared for a grim end.

Griseo stood amidst collapsed buildings and burning flames. A spatial rift suddenly opened, and she stepped through it, returning to the Theater of Domination.

Meanwhile, outside Shencheng Pharmaceuticals, Kiana, who had just infiltrated and bypassed the robotic guards, looked up at the direction of the explosion.

Chapter 74: Stigmata MANTIS

The sudden Honkai event instantly shattered the tranquility of Shencheng Pharmaceuticals, and piercing alarm sirens began to echo incessantly, grating on everyone's nerves.

Upon receiving the defense alert, a large number of patrol robots quickly advanced towards the industrial district. For a time, the Shencheng building gradually became empty.

Watching swarms of mecha units pass beneath her, Kiana, who had secured herself to the ceiling with the Spears of the Void, frowned.

"Honkai? Why is it here?" She hadn't felt any spatial distortion, which meant this Honkai outbreak wasn't caused by a Honkai Beast attack. If it wasn't a natural disaster, then it indicated a massive Honkai Energy leak.

Kiana realized at this moment that she might have found the answer hidden within Shencheng Pharmaceuticals.

Releasing her grip, Kiana dropped from a height, finally rolling lightly on the ground to absorb the impact. Just as she was about to follow the mecha units to the industrial district, two figures leaped from the rooftop of the industrial building and headed towards her.

Startled, Kiana immediately abandoned her plan. Using the reception desk on the first floor, she leaped onto the glass platform on the second floor, then pressed herself tightly against the wall.

"...Can you still hold on?" A clear, cold female voice approached. Kiana held her breath, quietly listening to their conversation.

"You came too late. If I hadn't used the medicine, I would have died there."

"Isn't that your own fault? It's not the first time an experimental subject has lost control." The voices of the two women drew nearer to Shencheng Pharmaceuticals' elevator. Kiana peeked out and saw a woman supporting... a Honkai Beast?

But Kiana quickly realized it wasn't a Honkai Beast, but a human. Honkai Beasts wouldn't be this small.

What kind of experiments were they conducting?

Kiana's mind was filled with questions. It was her first time seeing a human who could transform into a Honkai Beast while retaining their consciousness. If she hadn't been sure this was a world of technology, she would have suspected she'd stumbled into a fantasy setting.

"You should focus on healing yourself first. Schicksal is watching us closely right now, and the commotion you caused will likely be discovered soon." Raven pressed the elevator's descent button, sending the jackal-like creature to the backup laboratory underground. As an important scientist for World Serpent, her role was crucial. With the descent of World Serpent's Lord imminent, many experiments still required her attention.

"Hoo~" The jackal-like creature gasped for air, the effects of the Honkai Beast transformation serum wearing off, and the damage to her body continuously feeding back to her.

This failure was the most severe she had ever experienced, yet she showed no signs of discouragement.

The stronger the combat power of the experimental subject, the more it proved that her research direction was not wrong. The failure was simply due to insufficient preparation. It must be that World Serpent's security personnel were too weak. When the Lord descends, she'll have him personally...

Interrupting her own thoughts, although the jackal-like creature's focus was primarily on her experiments, she also understood that if she were to ask Kevin to be her bodyguard, she wouldn't even need to choose a graveyard; she'd be cremated on the spot.

So, she shifted her gaze to Raven, looking at her cool feather cloak, an idea popped into her mind.

"How about you be my bodyguard next time? If the experimental subject loses control again, just use your red claws to scratch it fiercely."

"..." Raven's expression gradually turned grim. She glanced at the jackal-like creature, already contemplating how to dispose of her colleague without a trace. Just as she was about to say something, she noticed a figure in the reflection of the elevator doors.

"Who?!" Dropping the jackal-like creature unceremoniously to the ground, Raven immediately drew her bowstring and shot an arrow towards Kiana's location.

Thwack—

The arrow was blocked by the Spears of the Void. Using the railing for support, Kiana burst through the window.

Raven was about to give chase, but the jackal-like creature's condition was also not optimistic. After a moment's thought, she decided to send this troublesome individual to the laboratory first.

After leaving the Shencheng Pharmaceuticals building, Kiana immediately rushed to the industrial district. She had already overheard crucial information. This Honkai outbreak was indeed caused by Shencheng Technology's experiments, so the previous outbreaks in Sky City were likely related to them as well.

What she needed now was concrete evidence. Based on the conversation between the two women, the experiment had clearly failed, and a powerful experimental subject had even appeared. Perhaps she could find key evidence in the abandoned laboratory. Moreover, while Shencheng Pharmaceuticals might be able to get away with it, Kiana couldn't ignore the Honkai outbreak. Once it spread, the entire Sky City would be affected, and those citizens were innocent.

The explosion in the industrial district had indeed attracted widespread attention. Large numbers of MANTIS infected by the Honkai began to spread towards the residential areas. As the Honkai concentration continued to rise, Honkai Beasts from the void were also drawn out and appeared in reality.

Shencheng Pharmaceuticals' mecha units were not weak, but under the onslaught of endless Honkai Beasts and MANTIS, they were still retreating. Official patrol mecha units and ground handling teams were also rapidly providing support, yet they couldn't stem the tide of defeat.

"This is impossible. If it were just the industrial district, there shouldn't be so many MANTIS gathered here. And their clothing doesn't look like that of staff; they look more like ordinary civilians." After participating in the rescue battle, Kiana immediately noticed the difference in these MANTIS. More importantly, she saw strange patterns on some of the MANTIS. If she remembered correctly, these should be Schicksal's unique Valkyrie Stigmata...

Did this mean that the disaster in Sky City was indeed related to Schicksal? Kiana didn't jump to conclusions, merely keeping the possibility in mind.

The large number of civilians gathered in the industrial district could very well be because Shencheng Pharmaceuticals was experimenting on them. Those who were transferred to Shencheng Pharmaceuticals for treatment were likely victims of this Honkai outbreak.

The clues in her mind gradually became clearer. Looking at the increasingly fierce flames in the industrial district, she gritted her teeth and charged in.

Upon entering the industrial district, Kiana was somewhat surprised to find that compared to the fierce flames and Honkai outside, the interior was remarkably quiet. Many facilities were still operating, and the structure was undamaged.

"Was this area not affected by the Honkai? Or was the Honkai outside intentionally triggered?" Things were becoming increasingly complicated. If the Honkai outside was intentionally triggered by Shencheng Pharmaceuticals, what were they hiding?

The interior of the industrial district was empty. Kiana passed through an electric gate, and a large, operating computer entered her sight. The electronic screen still recorded a lot of data.

"Regarding the hypotheses and research of the Stigmata Project..."

Chapter 75: Experimental Subject

"Stigmata, the most important treasure in human history. It is not a product of natural evolution but a miracle of the Previous Civilization's biotechnology. Its principles and modes of action remain a mystery to this day."

"Humans carrying Stigmata possess stronger Honkai Energy adaptability and control, thereby exhibiting various incredible powers."

"However, with the iteration and exchange of genetic genes, the originally complete Stigmata genome was broken apart."

"Therefore, although humans now carry Stigmata genes within their bodies, it is difficult to form a complete pattern, and they cannot awaken natural Stigmata."

"Schicksal uses Stigmata through artificial implantation, but this is merely a clumsy imitation. Under the revelation of the Serpent, we have made a leap in development."

"We have obtained the means to artificially intervene in Stigmata awakening. Although this technology carries immense risk, and failure will result in humans becoming MANTIS, it is all worth it."

"To accelerate the research progress of the project, we chose a densely populated city for experimentation..."

The moment Kiana saw this message, a single word flashed through her mind: madness.

"They plan to use the entire city and millions of its inhabitants as experimental subjects. Without a doubt, Sky City is the place they've chosen."

"No wonder Honkai incidents keep happening. Is it really because Shencheng Pharmaceuticals is constantly experimenting?" Kiana clenched her fists. The thought of so many innocent civilians suffering from the Honkai, and even some civilians she had saved who sought medical help from Shencheng only to be tricked into signing voluntary participation agreements and becoming test subjects, ignited a fierce anger within her.

There was still a lot of data in the computer, including specific lists of experimental subjects. This information was displayed so openly, unprotected, as if someone deliberately wanted her to see it.

But now wasn't the time to dwell on such thoughts. The data was real, so whoever was guiding her became irrelevant.

She continued to examine the experimental subject forms. These subjects only had simple identification numbers and photos, with no names recorded. However, when she saw two familiar photos, Kiana trembled as if struck by lightning.

"Griseo..."

"And Su Jue's... mother."

Kiana had been relentlessly searching for Griseo for so many days, holding onto a sliver of hope that if she tried hard enough, she could bring her back. But upon seeing this file, and the densely written experimental procedures beneath it, that last shred of hope was torn to pieces.

As if for their own amusement, this computer specifically recorded complete videos and audio of the experimental process.

Listening to Griseo's agonizing screams as she underwent inhumane experiments.

Watching her body tissue being cut open and studied piece by piece.

Watching her being injected with special Honkai agents, her entire body torn apart by the Honkai, her skin stained with blood.

Watching her once vibrant body gradually being ravaged by the drugs, her skin covered in countless needle marks, the sutures stitching her together like a doll with no pain.

Until the end of the experiment, the girl's screams grew weaker, her body gradually losing responsiveness. Yet, the experimenters didn't stop. They experimentally attached Honkai Beast limbs to the girl's body, attempting to transform her into a monster.

Her mind was filled with these cruel images. However, the flickering memories kept splicing together starry skies and the girl with these scenes, relentlessly assaulting her thoughts and dragging her sanity into the abyss.

Ultimately, it transformed into that night, that lost and wandering little girl, standing alone by the roadside, waiting for her help. And she, without mercy, chose to leave.

The golden light in her eyes intensified. Sirin, suppressed for so long, began to awaken. Even the Honkai Energy in the air surged.

"No!" Just as her sanity was about to snap, the Spears of the Void pierced her palm. Kiana forcefully pressed her blood-gushing hand against her right eye, as if all her strength had been drained.

"No, not here... He's still in this city."

No matter how dark the world became, there were still people she needed to protect, waiting for her.

Intense self-blame and regret intertwined in her heart. But throughout this journey, there were still people illuminating the path ahead for her, whether it was Himeko or Su Jue...

"At least let me atone to him personally..."

"Kiana, if you make a mistake, do your best to fix it. If the outcome cannot be changed, then become better yourself and never make the same mistake again."

In a daze, Kiana seemed to see a figure illuminating the sky, embracing her.

"Kiana, don't give up."

"Teacher Himeko..." Tears streamed down her face. Kiana reached out to embrace the figure, but it dissipated like foam.

Her collapsing spirit was pulled back from the brink. Kiana, who had fallen to the ground, propped herself up and looked at the computer. The Spears of the Void pierced it directly.

After the computer crashed, the electronic chip storing the information popped out. Kiana wiped away her tears and took the chip. Looking at Shencheng Technology again, her eyes were now filled with hatred.

Pat-a-pat...

Pat-a-pat...

Just as Kiana was about to leave and completely destroy Shencheng Technology's conspiracy, the sound of bare feet on ceramic tiles echoed through the empty hall.

A petite figure emerged from the darkness, completely enveloped in a large white garment, her face obscured. However, judging by her exposed forearms and bare feet, her body had been severely corrupted, and her gait was no different from a MANTIS.

She gathered her thoughts, which had been filled with pain, and picked up the Spears of the Void in her hand. She couldn't give up yet, nor could she fall here. At the very least, she had to destroy Shencheng Technology, and then spend the rest of her life atoning.

"Is it a MANTIS or an enemy?"

The petite figure offered no answer to Kiana's question. Instead, the railings, tables, and other debris around her began to twist and break. Then, lifted by an unseen force, they flew towards Kiana.

Chapter Seventy-Six: Goodnight

Boom—

Driven by a furious force, the flying equipment shattered against the wall, but under Griseo's control, it transformed into countless bullets and rained down on Kiana.

Kiana's golden Herrscher eyes, stained with scarlet blood, glowed intensely. She gritted her teeth and opened several spatial portals, swallowing the incoming fragments.

"A power I've never seen before. What is she?" In Kiana's impression, Valkyries mostly fought using their physical abilities. Beings who fought solely with their abilities, without any physical movement, were most familiar to her as the Herrscher of Void herself.

Hum~

The air was compressed by the Herrscher's power, emitting a dull hum. Kiana raised her hand, and a large number of Spears of the Void shot out from the opened spatial portals, dissipating upon collision with the debris controlled by Griseo.

Seeing that all controllable debris had been shattered, Griseo gently raised her hand. The pillars of the entire hall began to tremble, and falling concrete fragments rained down, as if being forcefully gripped and pulled by an invisible hand.

Kiana didn't give her a chance to demolish the building. She directly pinned the support pillars with the Spears of the Void. After all, the Herrscher of Void's power was greater, and it was too strenuous for Griseo to demolish the building. However, Su Jue wasn't that stubborn. Since the building couldn't be demolished, the battlefield would be shifted directly.

Outside, the rescue mech troops were still fighting MANTIS, and Honkai Beasts, gradually emerging from the void, appeared like locusts, leaving nothing but devastation in their wake. Even the hard concrete was something these Honkai Beasts wanted to gnaw on.

Just as one of the less intelligent Tank-class Honkai Beasts was about to charge at a utility pole, an extremely powerful energy shockwave instantly leveled the ground. That Honkai Beast, along with numerous mech troops, was vaporized, creating a massive trench one meter wide.

Even the residual energy from Kiana and Griseo's battle was beyond the resistance of Honkai Beasts and mechs. Griseo was now suspended in mid-air, with countless stones levitating behind her by telekinesis.

The next moment, these stones fell like meteorites. The immense impact destroyed the space Kiana could stand on, forcing her to use the Herrscher of Void's power more frequently. Unfortunately, Kiana wasn't a Herrscher yet and had to rely more on close combat. In such an open area, she was easily suppressed.

Helpless, Kiana gradually fell into a disadvantage. Her mental state, already unstable from the previous stimulation, worsened with frequent use of Herrscher power. Fine Honkai cracks spread, and even Fu Hua, who had been withdrawn, couldn't sit still and tried to use Feather Dust to alleviate the erosion.

Unfortunately, she was powerless now, only existing as a consciousness. Kiana also repelled her, leaving her to watch helplessly as Kiana was engulfed in the bombardment.

The last giant stone fell, and Kiana remained motionless. Su Jue, suspended in mid-air, watched quietly before turning to leave.

Griseo, clad in a white lab coat, moved with the agility of an elf. Her fair little feet lightly landed on the head of a Honkai Beast before she tiptoed again, drifting towards the distance.

The Honkai Beast she had stepped on had already turned into fine powder, along with the ground it stood on.

With Griseo's victory, nothing could stop her advance. Along the way, both Honkai Beasts and MANTIS were crushed under her power until she stopped before a female MANTIS.

Her delicate little hands were covered in cracks, and even her fingertips were completely shattered. Griseo raised her hand, intending to touch the female MANTIS.

Her vocal cords severely damaged, she seemed to be softly murmuring something. However, the next second, the space buzzed, and a purple spacetime tunnel was torn open. A Spears of the Void shot out, piercing her directly.

At this moment, Kiana's Herrscher transformation was severe, but she still propped up her body and said in a tired voice, "She is a child's mother, you can't hurt her."

The MANTIS, having lost its will, looked up. It was Su Jue's mother.

Griseo's chest was pierced by the Spears of the Void, and the gushing blood splattered on the MANTIS's face. The white lab coat that enveloped her entire body finally fell away. However, she merely looked down at the Spears of the Void lodged in her chest and continued to advance towards the MANTIS. The blood-stained white coat finally flowed down from the hem and onto the ground.

Screech—

Another Spears of the Void flew out, pinning her in place.

"Go away!"

Kiana, at her limit, hunched over and walked towards the two step by step.

"Since MANTIS transformation is inevitable, at least let him see his mother's complete form."

Then.

He saw the light blue short hair beneath the white lab coat.

And the little girl looking at him blankly.