Honkai's Thousand Laws, Abducting Kiana at the Start

"It's Shencheng Pharmaceuticals. The vice-captain also said they're World Serpent." At this point, Alvit seemed to remember her previous objective. "Oh right, Lady Rita is still underground at Shencheng Pharmaceuticals. Please save her..."

"I understand. You should rest well first, your teammates will be rescued." After speaking, Kiana gently placed Alvit down and walked towards where the Immortal Blade Squad was fighting.

As she got closer, she could feel the unique gas lingering in the air. Although it had faded considerably, it could still interfere with Honkai Energy.

"Good thing I didn't rush in earlier." She breathed a sigh of relief. Kiana raised her hand, creating several Spears of the Void that pinned the MANTISes to the ground from a distance. Then, Honkai Energy erupted, blowing away the remaining gas and finally rescuing the Valkyrie squad.

Confirming the area was safe, Kiana didn't linger and continued towards Shencheng Pharmaceuticals.

As the Herrscher of Void departed, the area fell silent again. Alvit struggled to support herself and tried to stand up. But halfway through, a shadow suddenly fell over her.

Looking up, Alvit saw a familiar face. "Herrscher of Void, didn't you go to save Miss Rita?"

"Mmm? I just remembered something. Saving people is fine, of course, but I can't just do it for free." The Herrscher of Void before her seemed different from before, a strange smile on her face. "So, Miss Alvit, you don't want your teammates and vice-captain to die here, do you? What can you offer?"

"Payment..." At this moment, Alvit didn't notice the difference between the Herrscher of Void before her and Kiana earlier. Looking at the girl exuding immense pressure, and thinking of Rita, whose fate was unknown underground, her heart was filled with anxiety. "As long as you can save them, I'll do anything."

Seeing the naive Alvit fall so easily into his trap, Su Jue was quite satisfied. His voice was full of temptation. "Is that so? Then be good and obedient, let go of your defenses, and let me enter your body."

"You... What are you going to do?" Alvit felt something was wrong with that sentence, but she didn't have much time to think. She could only follow Su Jue's request and temporarily lower her guard.

"Of course, I'm going to make you mine."

Darkness instantly enveloped the surroundings. Alvit's relaxed consciousness became increasingly fragile in the hazy darkness. She didn't notice the increasingly transparent threads wrapping around her, only vaguely sensing that the Herrscher of Void before her seemed to be stuffing a huge sphere into her body.

A sudden gust of wind swept by, and a cold sensation jolted Alvit's consciousness. She shivered and woke up from her daze. Nothing had changed on her body; she was still in the same place, and her teammates were still unconscious.

"Was I dreaming?" the girl muttered to herself. However, being naturally cheerful, she quickly forgot about it and continued to force herself to stand up to treat the injured Valkyries.

No one knew what happened here. On the other side, Kiana had arrived at Shencheng Pharmaceuticals. However, the entire building was now in a state of full combat readiness, with a large number of armed robots patrolling back and forth. All staff had been evacuated, leaving only a battlefield specifically prepared for Rita.

"It's hard to imagine Rita being trapped in a place like this so easily." Before the Herrscher of Void awakened, Kiana's lifelong dream and goal was to become Schicksal's strongest Valkyrie. Therefore, she knew quite a bit about S-ranks. A tall building like this could be completely demolished in ten minutes. However, thinking of the tear gas Alvit had mentioned earlier, being trapped was understandable.

Not only were there mechanical guards here, but also a considerable number of MANTISes. Hidden in the darkness, Kiana noticed a faintly glowing pattern behind the MANTISes, and her anger surged.

"It's this kind of dirty experiment that ruined everything for him!"

With that thought, Kiana stopped hiding. A golden light shone in her right eye. Having gradually accepted the Herrscher of Void's authority, she could now use her Herrscher powers with relative ease. Although the Herrscher's consciousness still tried to erode her, Kiana's mental barriers had become more resilient after multiple repairs.

Buzz~

A faint buzzing sound echoed. A black sphere suddenly appeared in the center of the guards, and the intense fluctuations directly distorted space, pulling all the enemies towards the black hole. Then, a large number of Spears of the Void rained down, directly covering the gathered guards and MANTISes.

With a chain reaction of explosions, the entire area was cleared, and a large portion of the Shencheng Pharmaceuticals building was destroyed.

"Enemy detected!"

After Kiana began her rampage, all the guards quickly converged and attacked Kiana, who had revealed her position. A barrage of machine guns and grenades rained down on her. Kiana leaped high, dodging the first wave of attacks. However, the mecha guards, with their AI-assisted calculations, immediately locked onto her predicted landing spot.

Yet, Kiana didn't descend. A light purple disc appeared beneath her feet, allowing her to perform a second jump in mid-air to evade the attack. Even after that, a new black sphere reappeared among the mechs, pulling them together.

"It's Kiana time!"

With the girl's soft cry, the Spears of the Void in her hands descended like sharp swords, directly cleaving through the gathered mechs.

Chapter 92: Eos Mission Cleanup

The explosion shook the entire building, and Rita, deep underground, felt the significant tremors. Simultaneously, with Kiana's unrestrained destruction, a large amount of equipment was damaged, and the lines connecting Shencheng Pharmaceuticals to the industrial zone were severed, cutting off Jackal's signal link.

Although the situation was grim, Rita finally saw a glimmer of hope. She immediately discarded some of her spare equipment to lighten her physical burden and desperately fled towards the underground passage, fighting MANTISes along the way. Her wounds continued to increase.

Just before her strength gave out, she finally reached the second underground level, with only a few dozen meters left to the exit. However, the group of MANTISes blocking her path clearly didn't want her to escape so easily and quickly surrounded her.

Just as Rita gritted her teeth, preparing for a desperate fight, several Spears of the Void pierced through the MANTISes, and the white-haired girl she had been searching for finally appeared before her.

"Herrscher of Void!" Rita raised her arm, wanting to swing her scythe again, but all her strength was gone. She stumbled and fell to the ground.

After intense combat and continuous power bursts, Kiana was also in poor condition. But seeing Rita Loweswiser, who had once relentlessly pursued St. Freya, now lying on the ground, exhausted, a strange sense of satisfaction surged within her. It was like revenge served.

She didn't know where this feeling came from. In the past, she would only blame herself for her weakness. Now, after gradually accepting her inner redemption, she found herself valuing herself more, rather than others' opinions.

After clearing out the surrounding enemies, Kiana slowly walked up to Rita and pointed her spear at her.

"Heh, I didn't expect the Herrscher of Void who ran away back then to have grown to this extent. I thought you'd be like a little dog, hiding and running..."

Slap—

A Spear of the Void directly struck Rita's beautiful face, leaving a red mark. After this action, Kiana seemed to realize what she had just done.

However, Rita was even more shocked. She had never imagined that she would be slapped in the face one day, her eyes filled with disbelief. She tried to force herself to stand up but could only lift her head to look at Kiana.

Having regained her composure, Kiana maintained her current attitude, pointing the spear tip at Rita, her voice cold. "Miss Rita, you don't seem to recognize the current situation. Even if you are Schicksal's S-rank Valkyrie, shouldn't you learn to be humble towards a Herrscher?"

The girl before her was completely different from the clueless girl at St. Freya back then, no longer a mere tool resurrected by Otto as the Herrscher of Void.

Rita suddenly realized this and felt a surge of fear. She wasn't afraid of her own death, but of this girl's incredibly rapid growth. She was no longer a tool easily manipulated by Otto, but a true Herrscher who could potentially become powerful. And if such a Herrscher stood against humanity, the disaster humanity would face would be unimaginable.

"Heh." There was no longer any contempt in her eyes. Rita gradually lowered her stance. She was no longer the powerful S-rank Valkyrie, but a true maid. "My apologies, Herrscher of Void. How do you intend to deal with me?"

This sudden change in attitude left Kiana momentarily confused about Rita's intentions. She could only maintain her tough stance and asked, "You should be aware of the plan currently underway at Shencheng Pharmaceuticals. What are your plans now? Will you continue to obey Otto's orders and hunt me, or will you choose to stop this disaster from happening?"

"Don't worry, I won't kill you no matter which you choose."

Looking into the white-haired girl's mismatched eyes, Rita suddenly felt that perhaps Otto had made the wrong choice. She closed her eyes, the woman named Raven and the dog-faced mask constantly appearing in her mind. When she opened her eyes again, they were filled with anger.

"Of course, I'll send these despicable people to Schicksal's laboratories first, so they can properly experience Schicksal's hospitality."

The support troops dispatched by Shencheng Technology were already approaching not far away. Although she hadn't heard the answer she wanted, Kiana still helped Rita up from the ground.

"Then you'd better remember what you said." Kiana had very little Honkai Energy left to use. Continuing to use it at full capacity could very likely lead to erosion again. She gathered the last of the Honkai Energy in her hand, gradually forming a circular spatial portal. "Let's go, Shencheng Pharmaceuticals' support will be here soon."

However, just as Kiana was about to send Rita through the portal first, Rita temporarily broke free.

"I'm sorry, please allow me to finish the last task of the day." After returning to the second floor, the communication signal had been restored. Rita lightly pressed her communicator and said with some exhaustion, "After all, a maid's job is to clean up."

"Eos automatic navigation function activated, executing command 'Cleanse', target current location."

Kiana was still a bit confused when she heard Rita's words, but she immediately noticed a huge shadow rapidly approaching in the distance in the sky.

"What the hell!" Even the cute girl couldn't help but curse. Seeing the approaching airship, she quickly grabbed Rita's arm and rushed into the spatial portal.

Within seconds of their departure, a large number of mechs broke in. Jackal, controlling a mech, looked at the empty industrial zone, grinding his teeth.

"Search for them! I want them alive or dead. Even if they're cut into pieces, I want them found!"

After the commotion caused by Rita and Kiana, the entire underground research facility was basically destroyed. Moreover, if she escaped, Schicksal would launch a heavy counterattack. The Stigmata Project was not yet complete, and the base World Serpent had painstakingly built was about to be razed. This forced Jackal to consider how to face the Venerable Lord's reprimand.

"No, there's still a chance. Since it's already exposed, let's just forcefully proceed with the experiment and turn the entire city into a testing ground."

"Wait, something is approaching!"

Jackal abruptly adjusted the mech's camera perspective and captured the transport ship that was almost within reach in the sky. The next second, only a blank space remained in his vision.

And deep underground in the main building of Shencheng Technology, several kilometers away, Jackal, who was far beyond the control of the mech, scrambled down the stairs, not even having time to bring his cane. His feet slipped, and he tumbled down the stairs.

Subsequently, a fierce fire lit up the entire Sky City. The residents living in Sky City experienced an earthquake for the first time, followed by a powerful shockwave that swept through, shattering the glass windows of many tall buildings. If it weren't for the previous Honkai outbreak, the residents near Shencheng Technology would have already evacuated. Otherwise, this single 'cleansing' by the Eos would have taken tens of thousands of lives.

Shencheng Technology, located at the target site, naturally became the most direct target of this cleansing. The countless awakened potions stored here by World Serpent, the large number of cultivated MANTIS with Stigmata, and the mech forces worth billions were all buried in this area.

Although Rita's Eos also cost over a billion to build, compared to the losses of Shencheng Technology, this cleansing was a profitable endeavor. More importantly, the self-destruction destroyed the potions that Shencheng Technology had prepared for city-wide experiments. It had to be said that Rita's temporary decision was truly decisive.

Chapter Ninety-Three: Taixu Sword Qi

Misty clouds swirled, and rosy clouds filled the sky. Lush forests and shrubs clung to the rolling hills, presenting a picture of paradise. However, apart from the vibrant plants, there were no signs of birds, nor were there any beast roars, making this wilderness exceptionally strange.

Unstained, flawless, undisturbed, unconcerned.

In the wilderness, isolated from the mortal world, a dilapidated thatched hut sat atop the mountain peak.

Within the simple courtyard, the two colors of yin and yang, the Two Principles, blended together, with the Eight Trigrams of the Four Directions arranged within, imprinted on the ground.

A gray-haired girl sat cross-legged within the Taiji formation disk. At this moment, her mind was empty, as if she were meditating to perceive the truths of the world and recalling the past to understand the laws of all things.

But in reality, she frowned, with occasional flashes of confusion between her brows.

After a while, Fu Hua, who had been meditating peacefully, finally opened her eyes and looked into the distance.

This was the mental space constructed by the Eighth Divine Key, Feather Dust. Feather Dust was the Key of Consciousness, capable of preserving souls and dividing consciousness. It was with this Divine Key in hand that Fu Hua was able to divide her consciousness into several parts upon death, thereby protecting her friends.

The one that retained her original consciousness was the one possessing Kiana.

Ever since the Herrscher of Void was defeated, Kiana had been on the run. Although Fu Hua found it difficult to see the outside world through Kiana's mental space due to constant exclusion, she was well aware of Kiana's physical condition.

The continuous erosion by the Herrscher of Void, coupled with the strain on her body from forcibly using Honkai Energy, had pushed Kiana to the brink of extreme danger. A slight misstep could lead to the Herrscher taking over her consciousness, completely turning her into the Herrscher of Void. This would be a disaster for the city and the entire world, which was why she constantly urged Kiana to act within her limits.

However, although their relationship had eased during the previous period, Kiana's doubts and even rejection of Fu Hua's decisions resurfaced due to this caution. It was then that Fu Hua began to question whether her choices were right or wrong.

But before she could find an answer, a sudden change occurred within Kiana's heart. Not only did the consciousness of the Herrscher of Void awaken, but Kiana herself was completely swallowed by the darkness within. It was at that moment that Fu Hua fully unleashed the power of Feather Dust, attempting to reawaken Kiana's consciousness.

However...

Fu Hua sighed. Her body, seated in the Eight Trigrams formation, didn't move, but her gaze fell upon an unfamiliar figure.

"Who exactly are you?" Her tone was not strong, but it carried a hint of helplessness.

Yes, during the process of unleashing the Key of Consciousness, this mental space had been invaded. Not only was most of Feather Dust's power drained, but Fu Hua herself was trapped in this space.

"Hmm?" White hair cascaded down, and the girl's voice was filled with playful energy. "What are you talking about, Class Monitor? I'm Kiana."

Although her eyes were a light blue, Fu Hua saw an indelible gray within them. While her appearance was identical to Kiana's, there was no doubt that the person who had trapped her in this mental space was not the girl she knew.

"Your appearance is identical to hers, and even the mental space of the Key of Consciousness cannot reflect your true form, but your demeanor is completely different from hers." Calmly exposing the girl's disguise, Fu Hua slowly stood up from the ground. She stood in the center of the courtyard, meeting the eyes of the girl leaning against the door.

"Demeanor? You mean like this?" A soft chuckle came. In Fu Hua's eyes, the false Kiana gradually became somber, a strong sense of fatigue filling her body. With a slight change in her gaze and posture, the lively girl transformed into a battle-hardened fugitive.

"Class Monitor, why did you betray me back then... You clearly knew Otto's plan, yet you still pushed me off the cliff. Those thousands of victims, rather than dying because of the Herrscher of Void, were actually all killed by you!" The girl's eyes were filled with madness as she vented her emotions. She lowered her voice and said in a strange tone, "Immortal Red Kite, do you remember what it felt like to be betrayed by your disciples?"

[Kiana]'s words were like a falling leaf, landing in Fu Hua's calm, water-like heart, finally causing ripples. Just as she was about to retort, the girl who had been in agony the moment before transformed back into her unrestrained self the next second.

"Well, are you satisfied with my performance?" A wild smile outlined the girl's face. This stark contrast made Fu Hua frown as well, for she could feel the mental space weakening.

With over 50,000 years of experience, Fu Hua quickly understood the situation. Just now, when she was emotionally affected by the person in front of her, another trace of Feather Dust's power had been stolen. It was likely that this performance had been planned long ago.

"No need for further words. State your purpose. I believe a being capable of stealing the power of a Divine Key wouldn't simply want to trap me here." As she spoke, her hair gradually changed from gray to snow white, with a hint of red at the ends, making her look as if bathed in flames. A scorching aura gradually emanated from Fu Hua's body, eventually forming a red and white qipao, which was Fu Hua's Phoenix form, her former immortal guise.

Lifting her wrist slightly, her fists and palms were aimed at the girl. She lowered into a lunging stance, capable of unleashing infinite power in an instant.

Seeing Fu Hua enter a combat stance, Su Jue didn't continue to provoke her. He wasn't like the rabble in the original plot who just spoke for the sake of it. Giving the opponent an anger buff would only hasten his demise.

"Don't be so nervous. I have great respect for the Immortal Red Kite who guarded the Land of the Divine for ten thousand years. This transgression is merely to ask for a favor."

"Heh, I am but a residual consciousness now. I don't think there's anything worthy of your attention on me. As for Feather Dust, it will likely be taken by you sooner or later."

"It's just a feather, how can it compare to an immortal? Immortal Red Kite, have you ever considered taking on a disciple again after five hundred years?" Su Jue lowered his stance, appearing like a humble student.

"You've come for the Taixu Sword Qi?" In an instant, Fu Hua understood his intentions. Since he knew about events from five hundred years ago, it was only natural that he would be interested in her Taixu Sword Qi.

"Yes and no." Su Jue became a riddler this time. "I am indeed here for the Taixu Sword Qi, but the student is not me."

"Who was that?" Fu Hua asked, a hint of confusion in her voice.

"..."

"Kiana."

Chapter 94: A Shift in Mindset

The transaction within Feather Dust went unnoticed by anyone. Meanwhile, in an unknown corner of Sky City...

With a hum, a dark gold spatial rift suddenly tore open. Two figures stumbled out, nearly falling to the ground.

Kiana's white hair was covered in black soot, with even some burnt ends. She grabbed a nearby railing with one hand while supporting Rita, who was about to fall, with the other.

"Hey, don't tell me you're having second thoughts because a Herrscher saved you and you're planning to take me down with you."

"Hoo~ I wouldn't make such a futile sacrifice over a little humiliation." Rita exhaled a deep breath, trying to stand up. However, the intense battle had drained all her strength, and she could only lean on Kiana for support.

"Judging by the number and deployment of the enemies, if we couldn't create an effective distraction, we could have been hunted down at any moment in this city. That's why I chose to use this collision to cause chaos. Not only could it destroy a large portion of the enemy's armed forces, but it could also effectively destroy the drugs they were preparing for experiments in the city."

"That was too risky. What if it had failed?"

"Even if it failed, I could have taken a powerful Herrscher down with me as a sacrifice. That would have been a good thing for the entire world."

Hearing Rita's undisguised hostility, Kiana's face darkened. "You're going too far. I specifically saved your teammate, and you were actually planning to take me down with you."

"Miss Kiana, I hope you can clearly realize your identity. And this was only a choice for the worst-case scenario. I wouldn't..." Before she could finish her last word, Rita's body began to tremble. Her will could no longer fight against her body's exhaustion, and she slid down Kiana's shoulder, collapsing onto the ground and falling into a peaceful unconsciousness.

Kiana could do nothing but sigh as she looked at the fallen Rita, dragging her up from the ground. However, she herself was at the end of her rope. The chaotic consciousness of Honkai Energy was constantly invading her mind. Even though the Herrscher's consciousness was temporarily dormant due to Su Jue, it was difficult to resist the erosion of Honkai itself.

Huff, huff.

Breathing heavily, she walked towards a temporarily safe place carrying Rita on her back, her mind gradually blurring. Just as she was about to pass out, a cool sensation suddenly surged into her mind, clearing her consciousness once more.