The Speech of the Herrscher of the Void

Theresa had some doubts about the new curriculum, but seeing her grandmother rub her temples and looking like she had a headache, she decided to keep quiet. Even though she had concerns, she didn't want to cause any more stress for her grandmother.

However, the students seemed really excited about the classes! They were all nodding their heads and saying how much they liked it.

Some of them, like Kiana and Bronya, were paying extra close attention and seemed really eager to try everything out when they got back home.To this, Luo Mo could only say that it was none of his business.

Luo Mo just shrugged his shoulders and said it wasn't his problem. He made it clear he wasn't responsible for anything that might go wrong.

Irene giggled and said, "It's pretty interesting, right? I bet Kongming-san thinks so too," she said, turning to Kongming who was standing nearby.

Kongming snorted and said, "Why are you asking me? These classes sound so strange! Who knows what kind of academy this is!"

Theresa jumped in quickly, "Don't say that! My academy isn't weird at all!" she protested, surprised that someone would actually complain about it.

…

In the Golden Garden

"Different people see different scenery. That's true, not everyone sees the bright sunshine and afternoon in life, kindness lingers around the ears, songs float in the air…"

Elysia's ears twitched, she said cheerfully.

"But, the real self? Suddenly I feel like Kiana has a lot of fate with me too!"

Mobius scoffed. "Oh really? So now Kiana is the one you have fate with? Just a few days ago, you said you and Raiden Mei were meant to be together because you're both gentle girls. What a fickle mind you have!"

Just a few days ago, she said Mei had fate with her, the reason being they are both gentle girls. Now it's Kiana? Ugh, what a trashy fad girl!

Elysia just laughed lightly. "Why can't I have fate with both of them? They're both cute girls! Maybe you should be considered a little girl too, Mobius?"

Then, Elysia had a mischievous thought and smirked at Mobius, ready to tease her even more.

" ...You're a jerk, I'm clearly older than you!"

Mobius was a little annoyed, glaring at the other.

"Hmph, heroes don't ask about their origins, and little girls don't ask about their age," Elysia said with a smug look, putting her hands on her hips. "Luo Mo said so, and I think he's right!"

Is she talking about her body? Mobius thought to herself.

Mobius, who had been lying down, sat up and stared at the flat landscape in front of her. She sank into the sofa with a heavy sigh.

She's not normally like this, but in front of Elysia, she always loses her composure.

Think about it, even that video could make her cry, she just found it boring, but she was greatly influenced by the other's words.

Mobius felt like she was probably sick, hopelessly so.

Meanwhile, Aponia was giving Griseo some advice. "Griseo, don't be alone with your Luo Mo brother in the future."

"Ah? Why? Because… he's a bad guy?"

Griseo asked with innocent eyes.

"No, not really. Just remember what I said," Aponia said, gently touching Griseo's head and nodding.

-----

In the Space of Consciousness

The Herrscher of the Void and Kiana walked through significant scenes from Kiana's memories, arguing about right and wrong at every turning point in her life, trying to determine whose thoughts truly reflected Sirin's.

They stood in the place where it all began, the origin point called K423.

Kiana looked around and said, "At the end of her life, Sirin prayed for a new beginning, hoping for a different start. That's how we were born."

The Herrscher of the Void scoffed. "Born? You sure know how to make it sound nice. It was just that man's dirty crime, his selfish desires. Sirin died but couldn't rest. Humans took her body, split her up, and turned her into a bunch of numbers on a science table."

Kiana disagreed. "But there were people who didn't like that plan. Their choice started everything changing."

Suddenly, they heard the voices of a little girl and a man talking about the K423 test subject. They wanted to take her away, to protect her from all the scary experiments.

"Siegfried, him again. To save you, this fake, he lost his real daughter."

The Herrscher of the Void mocked, looking at Kiana, her eyes filled with amusement.

"What a irony! He had a happy family and a wonderful life, yet Sirin and you took away the two most important people in his life."

"I'm filled with guilt, unwilling to face this memory... My weakness gave you an opportunity."

Kiana's eyes were complex, as if the man's broad back reappeared, only to be consumed by flames.

"But the kindness they gave me, I can't, and I don't want to forget. They risked their lives to save me, a nobody at that time, allowing me to become a real 'human'."

Then, they came to a battlefield consumed by fire, the smell of burnt earth mixed with charcoal, with snow stretching out in the distance.

Eastern Siberia, 2010, her first awakening.

"That man refused to give you up, even though he'd already lost his real daughter," the Herrscher of the Void said, her voice dripping with mockery. "Schicksal was looking for you. Schicksal was looking for you. And then, that assault Squad found you."

"You won't forget what happened next, will you?" The Herrscher of the Void laughed coldly, as if mocking Kiana's foolishness.

Yes, she killed them all, with her body.

Everyone on that assault team, including her father's arm.

The flames burned that snowy plain, leaving an indelible wound in her heart, constantly aching.

"Do you know? That assault team captain had a chance to hurt me. She hesitated when she saw that you were a child, and as a result, she lost her last chance."

"And Siegfried... he could have killed us all with that sword, but he didn't. He couldn't. Because he saw you as a phantom of his daughter."

"It's all your fault. Don't you feel ashamed? Ordinary? Happiness? Love? You don't deserve any of them..."

Sirin spoke softly, but her words were chilling, stabbing into Kiana's heart.

"Heh, starting over? Such a naive fantasy," the Herrscher of the Void said. "The world will only show you malice because your existence is a threat to the world!"

Kiana stayed quiet, her mind replaying that scene from long ago.

Siegfried, missing an arm, covered in blood, holding her, giving his final instructions.

He couldn't stay by his daughter's side anymore. He realized that his existence would only accelerate the awakening of that consciousness.

At that time, little Kiana's eyes were a striking blue and gold. She had invaded Kiana's body at that moment.

"Kiana... we made a promise, didn't we? A Kaslana warrior fights to protect others, no matter the cost," Siegfried said. "I believe you'll do better than I did. You won't lose to her. You absolutely won't!"

"Because, you are my daughter."

Kiana clenched her fist and then slowly loosened it. "Ugh... Dad..."

"He knew of your existence, yet still gave me a name, taught me to fight, allowed me to use my own strength to protect those I love."

"Without Dad, I wouldn't be who I am today. I... wouldn't have entered St. Freya."

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-----

In Himeko's dormitory,

The echo of those words resonated quietly, reaching every ear present.

"These are the turning points in the life of someone called Kiana, and also... the places where she suffered immensely."

Kiana stared at her strong self in the game, speechless.

Those were things she had never experienced, so, at least here, she wouldn't recognize her as herself.

It would be disrespectful to both of them.

---

"But, her determination, I will learn from her. Countless dangers, confusion, those tragic events, none of them could stop her."

"Even when confronted with the truth in front of her enemies, she could quickly refute, arguing point by point. She would move forward, always move forward, nothing could hold her back..."

Kiana felt a mixture of envy and sadness.

She tried her best to avoid those memories, but the other's repeated losses, her constant rise, made her realize how precious her own life was now.

Since her birth, she had repeatedly fallen into the mire. Every blow was something that ordinary people couldn't recover from.

---

The protagonist?

Wasn't that what she deserved?

"Kiana... It breaks my heart to see Kiana like this," Mei said softly, watching Kiana in the game, who remained strong throughout.

"Alright, I admit it. Kiana is indeed strong enough. Such a strong heart, no wonder she could be the protagonist..." the Herrscher of Sentience said helplessly.

When she heard the Herrscher of the Void's words, she didn't know how to argue. She felt like the other was right. Whether it was Otto's actions or the world's persecution of Kiana, she couldn't disagree.

Therefore, she also sincerely believed that Kiana was strong enough. Of course, she thought this as a friend. When they were enemies, she was quite stubborn and refused to listen to her no matter what!

-----

"St. Freya? Didn't you destroy it? Heh - yes, I should mention your most painful memories, the facts you can't accept!" Herrscher of the Void chuckled lightly, with a hint of disdain and pity.

With a wave of her hand, she began the official prelude for today.

Before the battle, Himeko had to make up her mind to fight the final battle,

"As you wish, she's about to step onto that battlefield again, using all her strength, but dying for nothing, becoming a loser," Herrscher of the Void said.

"Teacher Himeko... isn't a loser!" Kiana shouted angrily.

"Heh, then tell me, what did she save?" Sirin asked. "After her death, the entire St. Freya crumbled. The school was empty, existing only in name. Raiden Mei betrayed you, and Bronya drifted away."

"...They saved me, Teacher Himeko, saved me!" Kiana looked into the Herrscher of the Void's playful golden eyes and said resolutely.

"She cursed you." The Herrscher of the Void sneered.

"You had a chance to end everything, didn't you? That day, you knelt in the fire of the ARC City, raised your gun, aiming at your fragile body."

"But you didn't. Because you wanted to live, and that woman wanted you to live - with lifelong guilt and regret!" the Herrscher of the Void continued.

"This is why you'll never be able to escape me."

"She saved you, but left a permanent curse in your heart, a wound that could never heal, a... regret that could never be forgotten," the Herrscher of the Void said. "Her obsession, it's right here."

Flames rose, condensing into a crimson gem. The Herrscher of the Void looked at the gem and smiled slightly.

"Then... we need to settle this."

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-----

"A curse... huh?" Himeko paused, looking at the words spoken by the Herrscher of the Void on the screen, and sighed.

She had started to feel that way herself.

Although she was touched and proud of her last lesson, feeling she had lived up to the role of a teacher, she wondered if it was truly okay. 

Whether it was Kiana's solo journey in ARC City or her dragging her battered body to Nagazora City, pushing Mei away, everything was her forcing Kiana to grow. But, was that really okay?

The world was waiting for Kiana to become a hero, but the key factor that made Kiana a hero was her own actions and her final words.

Himeko was a little confused, but still didn't say anything.

Her words had saved Kiana from committing suicide in ARC City, but also forced her to rush into danger again and again with a broken body. She didn't know right from wrong, but she hoped Kiana could live happily... or was it that after she died, would Kiana's heart be left with a hole that could never be filled with smiles?

"It's not a curse! Those, those are clearly the most important treasures Teacher Himeko left me. They shine brightly and warmly in my heart, guiding me forward."

Kiana held Himeko's hand, her eyes bright and serious. "I believe she feels the same way. Yes, there's regret, there's sadness, that's why she strives forward, so there won't be another situation like that!"

"A Kaslana wouldn't make the same mistake twice! Isn't that why she resolutely saved Fu Hua later?"

As if to provide evidence, Kiana brought up Fu Hua's example.

"Alright, Kiana - " Himeko seemed surprised. She didn't realize when the girl in front of her had changed so much. Even if she wasn't exactly like the girl in the game, she was definitely making progress in her own way.

Himeko smiled and ruffled Kiana's hair. "Isn't it better not to make mistakes?"

"Um... I don't mean that. Uh... yes, even if I just saw it, I wouldn't make the same mistake again!" Kiana shook her head, avoiding Himeko's touch, and casually added.

-----

The space of consciousness, however, resembled the Theater of Domination, dark, desolate, and chillingly cold.

Yet, it was a fitting place for battle.

The two finally returned here, beginning their final confrontation.

"Sirin has six gems, now only half remain. But don't worry, I'll take them back one by one," the Herrscher of the Void said.

"I'll stop you!" Kiana remained calm, her dual pistols held level.

"You can't."

"Remember that assault team captain I killed in the memories just now?"

"Her name was Ragna Lothbrok. She was a Schicksal Valkyrie instructor - and the teacher of Murata Himeko."

"What..." Kiana widened her eyes, disbelief evident.

"You killed her, destroyed the entire assault team. Only the absent Himeko survived."

"But she lost her home, her teacher and companions, became homeless, and had to leave headquarters, going to the far east."

"But there, she met you again."

The Herrscher of the Void's eyes held a hint of curiosity as she watched Kiana's horrified expression, ruthlessly stating,

"Murata Himeko... hahaha. You changed her life, changed everything she had initially, and in the end, brought her death. What irony, a farce!"

"She burned herself out, placing her so-called hope on you..."

"...But made you into a walking corpse living to atone."

"You're just hating her."

Kiana instinctively retorted.

In her view, the other self that was locked up by Himeko was undoubtedly filled with hatred towards Himeko.

The Herrscher of the Void shook her head, her golden eyes looking at her opponent. Her reflection appeared.

"No, Kiana. For the past six months, I've been watching the world through your eyes. Your repeated failures, your goodbyes..."

"You went all out to save those who were completely unrelated, risking your life, alienating your friends, only to be feared, alienated, and pointed at by them in the end."

"They never accepted you, they only feared your power. They wanted to ostracize you, make you feel guilty and ashamed, and then feel comfortable letting you protect them."

"Those you saved, they would still be crushed by continuous malice, blaming their misfortunes on you..."

"And those who hailed you as a hero, they only wanted to use you, get close to you, destroy you. Remember that staff member who expressed admiration for you? She was one of the puppets. It was her... who leaked Schicksal's intelligence, allowing the Herrscher to easily enter."

She pointed out another fact, one that had happened not long ago, aiming to further undermine Kiana's confidence.

Kiana had been happy that she had saved someone and brought them back to a normal life...

The Herrscher of the Void ruthlessly revealed the truth, and indeed it was true.

"You can never save them, because they don't want to be saved."

"Everyone in this theater is like that."

"The world outside this theater is the same, it's never changed."

"Theresa, Siegfried, Cecilia, everyone is the same."

"Their kindness was trampled by another evil, their lifelong efforts destroyed overnight, the ideals they believed in were worthless in the eyes of others."

"Facing such a world, can you still boastfully say 'fight for all the beauty in the world'?"

"Hypocritical pretender."

The Herrscher of the Void looked at her coldly, her words piercing everyone's ears, prompting contemplation.

The world is awful. It's unfair. Not all kindness accumulates, not all beauty can exist.

Against those evil people, a simple wave of their hand crumbles the walls they built, years of effort reduced to ashes.

[The screenwriter's knife skills are really fast, stable, and cruel. Every detail mentioned earlier turns into a blade aimed at me... Wasn't it just mentioned that Himeko was from the assault Squad?]

[The Herrscher of the Void's speech... I've actually been convinced. That's how those people treated Kiana. Though I understand from their perspective... but why make Kiana suffer?]

[Good, amazing. A questioning of humanity]

[What about the Herrscher of Domination? Let me join you! ?X?X?X?X?X!]

[A single spark can start a prairie fire, there will always be someone to take up the torch of those who have fallen!]

[Fight for all the beauty in the world!]

[I feel like the Queen is right. Can real-world kindness really fight against evil? Also, after Himeko's death, Kiana did live to fulfill Himeko's dream.]

[I'm seeing many comments is siding with Queen again. what is wrong with you all? if you guys also agree that there is no beauty in this world and only evil, then that makes you all weak in heart. you all will quickly lose and become a puppet to evil of humanity, while those how survive the pain of the evil world will become the true heroes that bring beauty!] B_N_F2 

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-----

Kallen looked at the Herrscher of the Void's words, falling silent, closing her eyes for a moment;

Kalpas' rage burned, seemingly expressing agreement, but the flames deep within were scorching and bright;

Elysia furrowed her brow, quickly relaxing, as if thinking of a retort;

Vill-V, having switched personalities, nodded vigorously, agreeing deeply with Mobius;

Cecilia sighed heavily, staring at the strand of Sirin's purple hair in her hand for a moment, then smiled wryly;

Kongming shook his feather fan, squinting at the screen, offering no comment;

Theresa tilted her head, looking at the opponent in confusion, pointing a finger, and asking questioningly, "This guy... is really Sirin? Sirin isn't that eloquent! I'm almost convinced!"

Luo Mo narrowed his eyes, looking at her.

Was that all she could think of? Defection? Should he make a move first? Schicksal couldn't have a useless bishop like that.