[B: Kiana.]
[C: Raiden Mei.]
[D: Fu Hua.]
Kiana: "Pushing the Honkai Energy Fission Bomb into the sky and saving countless people—when did that happen?"
Bronya: "There's been no useful information so far, but considering that the principal can't fly, and Sister Mei went to World Serpent after getting stronger, the answer can only be between Idiot Kiana and the class monitor."
Theresa: "..."
So sorry for not being able to fly.
Even if she couldn't fly herself, Judas might be able to. She just hadn't figured out how yet.
Rounded off, didn't that basically mean she could fly?!
Fu Hua: "I could indeed do something like pushing a Honkai Energy Fission Bomb into the sky, but if it were me, I'd probably follow it up with a punch."
Raiden Mei: "Just as expected of you, Class Monitor."
Elysia: "Hua's getting a little rough, but pretty girls are even more lovable when they're so dashing."
Kiana: "Then that means the correct answer is me! I choose B. Kiana saved countless people!"
Correct answer.
Congratulations, Kiana. You have obtained the item: Skybreaker.
Description: A weapon modified by Kiana. By infusing the twin guns with Herrscher energy, the fired bullets become Imaginary objects, turning solid the instant they strike their target and dealing damage that cannot be defended against.
Kiana: "I actually made that?"
Bronya: "Idiot Kiana can actually modify weapons?"
Unbelievable.
Although the Skybreaker twin guns were nearly unrecognizable from their original model, after Kiana's modifications, they had indeed become a useful pair of large-caliber firearms.
This unbelievable reality made everyone wonder whether the Kiana the system mentioned was really the same Kiana they knew.
Kiana: "What do you mean, I can actually modify weapons? Are you looking down on me? When this young lady gets serious, I'm amazing!"
Theresa: "Big Niece, I never knew you had that talent. How about joining the logistics department and helping St. Freya Academy modify weapons?"
Kiana: "Hehe, next time. Definitely next time."
She had no intention of joining any logistics department. Kiana aspired to become the strongest Valkyrie.
After hiding the twin guns at her waist, Kiana noticed that the screen had changed again.
Chapter 37: Skyfall Meteor
On the screen, Kiana ran through a pitch-black city. She passed through crowds and streams of traffic, sprinting with all her might toward the source of the light.
Kiana reached the top of a building. Across from her stood the structure containing the Honkai Energy Fission Bomb.
She unfastened her collar and lowered the cap from her head. Her braids fell loose at her sides, and beneath the lights, the girl looked especially captivating.
"I don't have time to play with you here!"
Kiana pulled out her inherited baseball bat, leaped onto a steel frame, then kicked off it and charged toward the building opposite her.
Blue mechs blocked her path. They fired shells, and bullets came at Kiana like a torrential downpour, but she dealt with every one of them.
Kiana threw herself into danger, running through flames and rolling amid gunfire and artillery shells.
All to fulfill her wish—to save the important people she loved in this city.
The mechs' attacks battered Kiana like a raging storm. She could only keep moving forward. She could not take even one step back, even if she had to use the Herrscher's authority, even though her body had long since reached its limit.
Theresa: "What point in time is this?"
Bronya: "It looks like Kiana has begun to master the Herrscher of the Void's powers. Bronya guesses this happened after Kiana was captured by Bishop Otto and before Sister Mei joined World Serpent."
Pardofelis: "She clearly controlled a Herrscher's authority, yet she wasn't controlled by the Honkai at all. All she thought about was saving the people of Sky-Piercing City. Kiana is incredible."
Kiana: "Heh, I told you this young lady was amazing. Look, I took down all those mechs by myself."
Himeko Murata: "What are you so proud of? How dangerous was it to charge in alone like that? What if you got hurt? If you were in danger, how worried would everyone be?"
Teacher Himeko sternly scolded Kiana, feeling that this student truly gave her no peace of mind.
Going alone to deal with a Honkai Energy Fission Bomb was practically treating her own life like it was nothing.
Kiana: "But nothing happened, did it? Look, I knocked down every single mech."
At Kiana's words, everyone turned their attention back to the screen.
On the screen, Kiana had already taken down every enemy. She crouched halfway down, still holding her landing posture.
Directly opposite Kiana stood an enormous Honkai Energy Furnace. The energy contained within it was enough to destroy the entire Sky-Piercing City.
"Here it is. I have to dismantle the bomb as soon as possible."
Kiana wiped the corner of her mouth and stared at the Honkai Energy Fission Bomb before her.
It was a furnace composed of massive quantities of Honkai Energy, flashing with purple light. A dazzling pillar of light shot straight into the sky, signaling its danger.
A single glance made one's eyes feel as though they were burning. Its dangerous aura alone was enough to keep people from approaching.
But Kiana ignored all that and jogged toward it, only to be knocked back by the furnace's automatic defense mechanism.
Purple Honkai Energy poured outward without end. Kiana could only stand where she was and struggle to endure it. Her body felt as though it were being roasted by flames, and even taking one step forward was incomparably difficult.
Kiana gritted her teeth, stretched out her hand, and forced herself to take a step forward.
That short step caused her right hand to suffer the corrosion of high-concentration Honkai Energy, purple cracks visibly spreading across it.
Kiana knew she could not retreat.
She had already come this far. The hope of saving everyone was right before her. No matter what, she could not back down.
Kiana tightly gripped her right hand, which was nearly numb, and took step after step toward the furnace ahead.
Every step felt as though a massive burden weighed upon her body. Honkai Energy pierced Kiana's skin like blades, yet she could not let go.
She had already endured pain even more heart-wrenching than this.
Compared to the despair of losing someone important that day, how could physical pain possibly make her fall?!
As she endured the double agony of mind and body, Kiana seemed to feel someone take her hand.
"Kiana."
A gentle voice sounded beside her ear. Kiana turned and saw that familiar face. "Teacher... Himeko?"
The person from her memories smiled at her, still as gentle and beautiful as ever.
It was as though Teacher Himeko had always been by her side and had never left.
Himeko merely glanced back at her with a smile and said nothing more.
"That's right... I promised you."
That faint smile gave Kiana courage once more. She grabbed the Honkai Energy Fission Bomb with all her strength and pushed it forward.
"I'll turn this imperfect story into the way we want it to be!"
Her voice carried a sob as Kiana's eyes turned gold. Once again, she mastered the Herrscher's power. Once again, she reached the expectations Himeko had held for her.
Kiana became the Herrscher of the Void and pushed the Honkai Energy Fission Bomb, which was on the verge of exploding, into the sky.
Below her stood countless innocent people.
There was Mei. There were the people she cared about most.
They talked and worried as they watched a meteor streak across the sky.
Yet few knew that at this very moment, a girl was enduring unimaginable pain, giving everything she had and disregarding her own life, all for everyone else's peace.
Just before the explosion capable of destroying Sky-Piercing City ignited, Kiana used the last of her strength to push it away.
A dazzling light flashed above the planet, so brilliant that even the stars dimmed before it.
The rosy glow enveloped Sky-Piercing City. Everyone witnessed that magnificent sight, but no one saw the girl falling from the sky.
"This is... my promise."
Kiana murmured with a smile, slowly closing her eyes as the screen came to an end.
Theresa: "Th-this is really Kiana? The Kiana who sleeps in class and loves sneaking snacks?"
For a moment, everyone turned to stare at Kiana. It was hard to believe that the Himeko before them would one day become so powerful and mature.
Kiana: "Why is everyone staring at me? Even I'm starting to wonder."
Judging by her appearance, Kiana was certain that was herself. But judging by what she had done, even she lacked confidence.
Could this be what they called a girl's transformation as she grew up?
Himeko Murata: "You saved a Sky-Piercing City—perhaps even more people. Kiana, you did very well. If that bomb had exploded, it would have been an utterly horrific disaster."
Elysia: "That bomb really was formidable. It relied entirely on Honkai Energy to unleash destruction. Judging from the results, its creator must have been a madman."
Raiden Mei: "Damn it, who planted that bomb? Were they trying to wipe out everyone in Sky-Piercing City? If not for Kiana, they would really have succeeded."
Kiana: "Hahaha, just as expected of me! I told you this young lady would become incredible in the future."
Judging from what she had seen so far, perhaps her plan to become an S-rank Valkyrie could be moved up a little.
As long as she fought like this a few more times, wouldn't she be promoted to S-rank soon enough?
Fu Hua: "I only remember seeing a scene before where Kiana was captured by Otto and became a Herrscher. Is that what made her mature?"
Elysia: "Not likely. Growth needs a strong catalyst. There must have been another reason."
Himeko Murata: "Then it must have been my teachings. Didn't you see my image appear when Kiana pushed the Honkai Energy Fission Bomb?"
Fu Hua: "..."
Bronya: "..."
For a moment, Teacher Himeko noticed that Fu Hua and Bronya had both fallen silent and were staring at her.
Himeko Murata: "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Bronya: "Teacher Himeko, according to Bronya's calculations, the fact that Kiana thought of you at that time, combined with the enormous change she underwent, gives a seventy percent chance of only one answer."
Kiana: "B-Bronya, you're joking, right...?"
No one was an idiot. Although Kiana usually looked a little foolish, she was not actually stupid.
After Bronya's reminder, everyone immediately understood.
In the scene on the screen, as well as during Mei and Kiana's rooftop duel earlier, Teacher Himeko had not appeared to stop them.
With things having developed to this point, they could almost certainly conclude one thing.
Himeko Murata was already dead!
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PS: Thank you all for the rewards and votes. The fourth update is here.
Chapter 38: St. Freya? Far East Demon Cave!
Inside the St. Freya Academy dormitory, because Himeko Murata had appeared in the exposed footage, everyone had guessed a very ominous possibility.
The atmosphere suddenly became especially oppressive.
"Um, what's wrong with everyone? It's only one possibility. Why are you all looking so worried?"
Seeing their sorrowful expressions, Himeko Murata patted Kiana's shoulder in comfort.
"Teacher Himeko, although Bronya would like to agree with you, the probability of that possibility is practically equivalent to the truth." Bronya shook her head.
Although the matter had not yet been confirmed, avoiding it could spare them temporary grief and despair.
But none of the Valkyries present were the sort of people who would choose to run away.
Before you continue