Chapter 149: An Interrupted Awakening
Elysia and the others were waiting back stage while Rita lead him to the venue. "Ein nii-sama, Elysia-san and the others have prepared something for you. Please follow me." Rita started walking and Ein shrugged, dialing down his senses so he won't ruin it.
They arrived at a space where the light were dim and a stage was set. "They're doing an idol concert or something?" Ein didn't know what exactly they would do, but Elysia appeared while wearing a bunny suit.
"Hi~ We worked hard on this you know? How about you take a seat and enjoy?" Elysia greeted and the lights suddenly turned on. He was then greeted by the ladies wearing different kinds of bunny girl costumes.
"Woah, this isn't an idol concert at all." He watched on as he filmed the whole thing. The music started and they danced really well, making him happy with their effort.
After a few minutes, their little concert ended and they went up to him. "Did you like it?" Himeko asked shyly as she was not used to wearing a one piece bunny suit.
"I did, thanks everybody. How about I show you my appreciation?" He hugged them one by one and they were a little bit disappointed.
"Ehh, I thought you'll give us something more." Elysia whined and he chuckled as he pinched her nose. "That will be later, anyways. Why did you guys decided to do this?" He asked as it wasn't a special day or anything.
"Ahh, we thought that the incident with Shamash put you in a really foul mood." Eden replied as she was still annoyed that Kevin's descendant used the most destructive divine key as a toaster. And she also witnessed HIMEKO's fall in Australia back then.
"He has suffered many untold tests Ein-sama, do not worry." Aponia added and he raised a brow as he looked at MEI. "MEI-chan, you didn't sic Aponia at him right?" He sighed as MEI nodded.
"Well, I just brought her with me just in case to erase some memories. Why? Oh..." She then had the realization that Aponia won't be thrilled to know that Siegfried disrespected her family. And their little group is basically Aponia's religion. She would not tolerate anything untoward done to them.
"Hua, can you delete his memories? Preferably for the last I don't know. Few weeks? And I'd advise you to not look into his memories really, you'll be horrified what she'd put in there." Ein remembered that Aponia used to torture so called 'heathens' that discredit the MOTH's any chance she would get back then as they were put into soul crushing situations.
"Aponia, it's okay baby. Just a little bit of rage back then. I just really didn't expect he'll do that." He smiled wryly and Aponia pouted.
"But he used HIMEKO-san's memento as a toaster. That heretic needs to burn in hell." Aponia said with unbridled rage as she started to breathe heavily.
Kallen sighed and was outraged as well. Her father sacrificed himself using that weapon to protect her and Tilie. It was a dishonor as a Kaslana, but what's done was done.
"Don't waste your energy Aponia. There are more things to do than beat him up. I've also made his life very inconvenient. Kukuku~ He would regret his choices dearly." Ein rubbed his hands and would like to see him go rage at his seemingly unlucky streak.
"But anyways, thanks girls. I appreciate it." He gave them a little peck on their foreheads and they just had a huge cuddling party.
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Everything was fine and dandy. No major honkai outbreaks, no schemes or bad guys doing anything in particular. Until Kiana Kaslana's mind started to unravel one day.
At the Kaslana home, Siegfried stubbed his toe and he was about to curse, but Kiana was just behind him as she laughed at him.
"Dad! what are you doing you doofus? You're seriously going to need some glasses for bumping through everything." Kiana said with a boisterous laugh as Siegfried gave a cramped smile, sure that he evaded the corner.
And when Kiana calmed down. She saw a picture of their family. With Cecilia, Siegfried, Theresa, and Adelheid. And she suddenly thought that she does not remember that happen.
Sirin's herrscher persona then saw the opportunity and tried mental games with her. *You can't remember it right? It's because it isn't true. They're not your family, they lied to you! Those worms tried killing us.*
Kiana heard a voice inside her head as she clutched it. Receiving a head splitting ache as her mind went unstable from their personalities clashing.
'No! Mom and dad are my parents! They've been with me since I was in that room that the blonde big sister told me to go.' Kiana reasoned and the herrscher scoffed.
*Too naive, it was a lab and you know it! The place where we suffered. Also, do not forget the past... Those two insects neglected you, thought you were a nuisance, a reminder that you are not their real child.* The herrscher hit her where it hurt and her eyes started turning yellow orange. As the herrscher slowly took over.
"Kiana? Baby? What's wrong? Are you hurt? What happened?" Siegfried went up to her and she started giggling.
"Hehehe~ Kyahahaha! Fool! This world is forfeit! I have finally awakened!" The herrscher of the void laughed maniacally as she sprouted their signature honkai wings and she floated.
"Oh no... CECILIA! WE'VE GOT A SITUATION OVER HERE!" Siegfried called Cecilia immediately and he prepared for a hard fought battle.
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"Hmm? Oh, so HOV cracked through and is taking over huh? And it's especially potent because Kiana received it artificially." Ein noticed the surge of honkai energy and he called Rita immediately to give her a mission, testing her mettle.
"Yes, Ein nii-sama?" She appeared quickly and was already battle ready with a scythe on her. Rita's preferred weapon of choice, as her maid senses told her that a battle would happen.
"Rita, you've been training tirelessly. I think this is a good opportunity for you, a fight with the herrscher of the void. I need you to incapacitate her, you already know right?" He patted her head and she bowed.
"Yes, she just needs to be incapacitated correct? Then consider it done." She waited for him to teleport her and he nodded in satisfaction for Rita taking advantage of instant transportation and not run around to sortie.
He sent her out nearby the Kaslana house and he also contacted Mobius for some back up. "Mobius, your 2nd in command took in some kids in Siberia back then right? I haven't met her yet, the sister is a combat specialist right? Send her to Rita's location and they'll take care of Kiana so she won't bring too much damage."
Mobius raised a brow as she thought Rita was enough, but she just went to the girl that gray serpent. A life form she created on her experiments for sentience transfer after the incident of the 8th herrscher, took in.
It was a pair of brother and sister from Siberia that almost died of honkai corruption. But Adelheid's blood cured them of it and they were now operatives of Mobius' organization, world serpent.
"Natasha, you have a mission. This will be your greatest one yet. A battle against a herrscher, though she's still a little kid so this would be quite easier than if she was an adult." Mobius informed her and Natasha prepared for battle.
"Yes, lady Mobius." Natasha, code name Raven suited up. She was given a modified type of honkai genes that came from Garuda. Hua's honkai beast, and she could control feathers for battle. Though her honey blonde hair turned gray and her eyes turned red because of it, but no notable side effects occured as it was now safe for people with just above average honkai genes.
She then equipped a relic that was handled by World Serpent, 7 thunders of retribution. As Mobius thought it was necessary for her to compete against the herrscher of the void. Because Natasha did not receive hard core training like Rita and Bianka.
"So you have a mission? Good luck." Her brother, a spy. Wished her luck as she snickered. "I have the 7 thunders of retribution, this will be a piece of cake." She patted the weapon on its gun form as it glowed, affirming her confidence.
She then sortied to the operation with the divine key and was on a mission to prove herself.
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The Kaslana house erupted with an explosion and HOV looked down on Siegfried and Cecilia as she floated above them.
"Tsk, this is pretty bad news Siegfried. Is Theresa and Adelheid on the way? Schicksal would surely be on their way too." Cecilia asked Siegfried and he nodded.
"I'll try to hold her down, she isn't that strong right now compared to what happened back in 2000." Cecilia said as she took a low class spear, but it was enough. Making a small cut on her hand as she ran towards her, coating the weapon with her holy blood.
"Futile! That won't work on me human!" HOV immediately put up her void shields, and Cecilia's attack really didn't pierce it as she lacked a great weapon and her blood wasn't enhanced by her suit.
"Ara~ How about this then, herrscher-san?" Rita appeared and smashed her shields using her scythe. A bladed weapon that had the motif of a rose. And could also function as a pike as the bottom end was sharp, called Aphrodite. (pic)
HOV crashed down to the ground with a resounding explosion and Rita landed on the ground lightly, like a feather that dropped on a surface of a lake as she bowed towards Siegfried and Cecilia.
"Ahh, my apologies. My name is Rita Rossweisse, here to give support. A pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Kaslana, Mr. Kaslana." She introduced herself and the two of them were stunned, seeing a young maid suddenly appear out of nowhere and breach HOV's shields.
"Ugh, another insect has appeared. But it seems your surprise attack did not do much." The herrscher scoffed and Rita smiled at her.
"Hmm, surprise attacks are not lady like herrscher-san. Let me show you, how a perfect maid and lady fights." She twirled her scythe and entered her stance gracefully.
"H-hey, aren't you a bit too young to be fighting herrschers? Let us deal with this kid." Siegfried was about to stop her, but Rita chuckled at him. "Mr. Kaslana, I do not see weapons on you though? Please, this is a mission I've been entrusted."
She then dashed like a bullet and HOV's currently still developing body could not see her clearly. And it was too late to try and slow down time, so she deployed her void shields again and Rita surprisingly kicked at it upwards, launching her into the air.
A thick beam of lightning then rained down on the herrscher as Rita looked at the newcomer. "Ally-san, thank you for your nice follow up." Rita smiled at the gray haired woman and she smirked.
"Nice assist too maid-san." Raven appeared with the 3rd key smoking, as she just blasted HOV with its railgun form.
HOV's energy was depleted rapidly from the attack and panted heavily. The surprise attack drained her. "Another one!? And you dare use my sister against me?" She raged and used her subspace lances.
Rita then looked at Cecilia and the older woman understood what she wanted. As she put blood on Rita's scythe and the budding maid parried all of the lances coming their way without much difficulty. As if she was dancing through the battlefield.
Raven then used the gauntlet and greaves form of the 3rd key as she smacked her palm and fist together. "I just need to knock you out eh? Then let us start."
Rita threw her scythe like a boomerang and HOV dodged it as her now cracked void shields would've broke from the attack.
Raven then pelted her with feathers from behind that were like bullets and HOV redirected it right at her.
The herrscher played smart and bided her time. Not engaging to conserve energy and just zipped around. Having the aerial superiority as she could fly unlike them.
And after a few minutes of them trying to chase down the herrscher, a valkyrie squad also appeared. Lead by Ragna, the assault squad of Schicksal.
"What is happening? Why are those two young girls fighting a herrscher?" Ragna was confused and fixated on Rita. As she actually had a love for maids and she has a day job at a maid cafe so she could cosplay.
"I don't know, but that one with red eyes has a divine key. I'm sure of it, I can feel that the lightning that morphing weapon has would vaporize me to ashes if I get hit by it." Siegfried explained succinctly and Ragna nodded, but she pointed at Rita.
"Why is she wearing a maid outfit though? That's so cool. Ahem, so inconvenient to fight in." Ragna's passion came out for a bit, but she quickly corrected herself.
"We don't know actually, but we do know that she's been sent here by someone. And that girl is no joke, she cracked her void shields with her scythe. But she never attacked with the bladed end, probably just here to incapacitate her." Cecilia concluded and they just watched on as the 2 chased her down like some prey.
"Woah! Damn, shhh. Calm down girl, it's alright." Raven's gauntlets and greaves started malfunctioning as the weapon hasn't accepted her yet. It does not feel the appropriate power and will for conquest from Raven.
HOV capitalized on the opportunity and teleported her away. She then willed her subspace lances to attack her, but Rita swooped in as well and grounded her once again with a swipe of the blunt side of her scythe.
"No you don't herrscher-san, she's my ally you see? Kiana-san, it is time to wake up. You have been letting the herrscher control you for far too long." Rita smiled at her and took out a syringe. She then enhanced herself with honkai energy and with her personality of being a perfectionist, the level of control she has was immaculate.
The herrscher was stunned for a second from Rita's earlier attack and that was all she needed. "Agh!" She screamed as Rita injected the contents of the syringe in her. A cocktail of Soulium and honkai antibodies that Su created for corruption of people with high honkai adaptability.
Kiana kneeled down as her eyes flickered from their original blue and yellow-orange. As her distorted voice returned to the original. "Hello Kiana-san, it's good to have you back." Rita smiled at her.
"R-Rita nee-chan... W-what happened? Did I do all this?" Kiana looked at the destruction she caused and Rita shushed her. "It's fine Kiana-san, Aesir will take care of the damages here. And there has been no casualties as well." Rita scanned the place too and there were only minor injuries to speak of. And it was mostly because of Raven using the 3rd key.
"Ugh, that was intense. Thanks for the save there, this little baby is quite unruly. Especially if it feels that someone stronger is nearby." Raven went up to them and she patted her divine key softly as if to soothe it.
"Hmm, thank you for the compliment. But I do not know your name, please let me introduce myself. I am Rita Rossweisse, forgive me for only introducing myself now as there were circumstances as you know." Rita bowed and Raven was not used to it.
"Ugh, you're one of those methodical ones that doesn't break character. I'm Raven by the way, I guess the job is done here. I will take my leave." Raven started leaping through lamp posts and buildings as she quickly left the premises.
"Kiana-san, do not be discouraged. You are a good person, things will be alright." Rita wiped her face that was with dust and Kiana started tearing up.
"I... I caused this Rita-san, I need to get away from people." She thought that she would lose control again. And Kiana didn't even know what caused it. Making her anxious and scared. She also did not have any recollection of what happened, just a feeling that she caused the incident.
"I see, we seem to be at an impasse. Then, how about you stay with your parents at all times? They would surely stop you if this happens again, I'm sure of it." Rita suggested and Kiana thought that her parents were strong, so she slowly nodded and looked for them.
"Kiana! Are you hurt?" Cecilia ran to her with Siegfried and they checked if there was anything wrong with her.
"Un, I'm fine. Rita-nee helped me." Kiana pointed at Rita's earlier location, but she has already disappeared like a ghost. Deeming it unnecessary to stay any longer.
"She did introduce herself earlier. But who was that Kiana? How do you know her?" Cecilia asked as Kiana addressed her affectionately.
"Un, she's Ein-nii's self proclaimed maid. She's always so proper and cool." Kiana recollected what she knew of Rita.
"His maid huh? What a terrifying maid, that girl was really strong. She always had the situation under control, her nerves are probably made of steel or something." Siegfried said as they watched her fight the herrscher inside of Kiana. And she did not even flinch at her subspace lances that managed to one hit Theresa back then.
They then heard winds whistling and saw Adelheid. "Cecilia, Siegfried! Status report!" She did not notice Kiana that was hidden by the couple's body. But she sighed in relief when she saw that Siegfried didn't lose his arm and Ragna was still alive.
"Captain, shouldn't we try and apprehend her?" One of Ragna's squad mates asked and she shook her head. "You do know that she was the former paladin of Schicksal right?" Ragna replied and her squad immediately shut up.
Addy went up to the Kaslanas and she saw that Kiana was relatively fine. "Kiana, are you okay?" She patted all over her body.
"Un, I'm fine auntie. Rita-nee helped me, and there was this red eyed nee-san too. She had this violet gun on her." Kiana described them and Adelheid was shocked.
"Is her name Rita Rossweisse? And the other called herself Raven?" Adelheid asked in a hurry and they all nodded.
'Damn! I didn't see them. I want to see them when they are still cute kids.' Adelheid got depressed as she thought she would have to wait for years before she could see them again. And they would be older too, losing their cuteness and turning into onee-sans.
"Auntie, what's wrong? Do you know them?" Kiana asked as her aunt was acting weird. "Not really, just curious is all... Hey, you. You're Ragna Lothbrok right?" Addy singled out the captain of the assault squad and she nodded.
"I know you, you shouldn't be at Schicksal. Aesir and Anti-Entropy are always open to people like you. Schicksal has far more secrets than you can imagine." Adelheid warned her and then left with the family.
"Secrets huh?" Ragna was deep in thought as she started having doubts as well. With squad snowwolf all deciding to go to st. Freya, especially the commander of the valkyrie order, Cheng.
She then thought of visiting Anti-Entropy to get their side of the story.
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Thanks for reading everyone. And some people are thinking that Ein giving Siegfried bad luck was excessive. I would just like to ask you, how? He immediately went to the sea of Quanta to cool off because he knows that he'll be too angry to give a proper pay back. Which are just inconvenient things for day to day life by the way. Remember that he crippled Hua's disciples until the day they die. He could do much worse, and he has done worse too. Siegfried got off easy because he's Cecilia's husband. Aponia disciplined him by her own will, why? Because her world revolves around their family. Of course she would be super pissed. He didn't even order for them to take it back.
And that one guy that keeps insisting he's a hypocrite. You do know that Shamash is the Kaslana's symbol for justice right? All of the sires that died for their cause would be rolling in their grave if they knew what he did with it. Not even mentioning that the divine keys are one of the only hopes the previous era had to win the war. One of their greatest creations. He not only disrespected the weapon, he dishonored his oath, his family, and the previous era combined. It's like scribbling on the original copy of the declaration of independence because you had it on you. You could, but you shouldn't.