Chapitre 58: Kiana? K423?
In the quiet seclusion of the villa, a tense atmosphere hung in the air. Mei, Bronya, and Fu Hua, the only three remaining protagonists, had congregated to watch the unfolding episode. Their faces, usually animated with conversation, were now etched with silence. An awkwardness permeated the room, filling every corner with an unspoken tension.
Despite the knowledge that it was merely a game, they couldn't help but be consumed by the implications. The lines between reality and fiction seemed to blur, and their thoughts began to wander into the realm of 'what if'.
"Fu Hua, you've got such big eyes, yet you're an undercover agent!" The accusation hung in the air, a stark reminder of the unexpected twists that life often presented.
At this moment, Mei and Bronya both stole covert glances at Fu Hua, whose face remained impassive. They hadn't anticipated that the seemingly harmless, even stereotypical class monitor could be an undercover agent. It was a revelation that shook their perception of her.
Their minds raced with questions. Was there a conflict brewing between the branch and the headquarters? They didn't know. But one thing was certain - they would never condone taking Kiana captive, not now, not ever!
Fu Hua, acutely aware of the suspicious glances cast her way, adjusted her glasses with a resigned expression. She couldn't help but think about the drastic change in her mission. If they were to take someone, why not Sirin? What if they captured a bug(kiana) and it went berserk, stealing Bug from the headquarters? Would it be so difficult to return to Taixu Mountain to steal her Spring Fountain?
And so, the trio continued to watch the plot unfold in St. Freya's Academy. An Anti-Entropy undercover agent, an undercover agent of the Schicksal headquarters, and a person whose father held a high-level position in Anti-Entropy, all engrossed in the intricate web of events that was their reality.
.....
The scene transitioned abruptly, and Kiana found herself materializing at the headquarters, standing before Otto. The surroundings were sterile and cold, a stark contrast to the warmth of her previous location.
Submerged in a glass chamber filled with a lavender-hued solution, Kiana floated effortlessly. Her two twisted braids danced in the liquid, creating a mesmerizing spectacle. Her face was the picture of tranquility, her eyes closed in a forbidding manner, reminiscent of the sleeping beauties from ancient tales.
On the other side of the glass, Otto, with his golden locks, watched Kiana with an expression of joy. His voice echoed through the chamber as he greeted her, "Welcome home, K423!" His tone was filled with a strange mix of delight and anticipation.
Without missing a beat, he proceeded to inject Honkai energy into the water. His words were laced with a beautiful lie, assuring that the concentration of the energy wouldn't disturb her slumber.
Simultaneously, a black seed displayed on the screen was reactivated by the influx of Honkai energy. Its energy fluctuations rippled outwards, permeating the entire room. The pupils of 'her' eyes began to glow with a golden light, a stark contrast to the serene blue of the solution. Her voice, once filled with innocence, now resonated with an indifferent tone.
"Come back to me, my familiars." Her words echoed through the chamber, a call and a command intertwined. She was rallying her minions, those who had once pledged their unwavering loyalty to her.
Meanwhile, in the icy wilderness of Siberia, the eyes of a blue dragon encased in ice snapped open. With a mighty roar, it shattered its icy prison, spread its wings wide, and let out a piercing whistle that echoed across the snowy plains. Then, with a powerful beat of its wings, it ascended towards the sky.
It was answering the call of its queen, ready to have an audience with her.
"Who is he, trying to wake up? Luo Mo?" Alarm bells went off in Kallen's heart, feeling very bad, "And that title, k423, shouldn't she be called Kiana?"
Luo Mo, his gaze unwavering, met Kallen's eyes. His voice was steady, devoid of any condescension as he responded, "The golden pupils, the voice, and Benares, shouldn't you, as a Bishop, have already pieced together the puzzle?"
For the first time, Kallen found herself unable to meet Luo Mo's gaze. She had indeed guessed it, but the truth was a bitter pill to swallow. She was grappling with disbelief, wrestling with a reality she didn't want to accept.
"But why would the Second Herrscher be her, no, or rather, why would the Second Herrscher be in her?"
This time, Luo Mo remained silent. His silence was answer enough. The video playing in the background provided the damning evidence. Otto's face was lit up with elation, his lack of surprise serving as undeniable proof of his involvement in this intricate plot.
Kallen found herself grappling with a sense of unease as she faced Otto. His familiar visage was a stark contrast to the man she had once known. If she truly wished to understand this enigma that Otto had become, she knew that this was merely the beginning of a long and arduous journey.
His face, a haunting echo of the past, was a stark reminder of the man she once knew. Yet, the man in the video bore little resemblance to the Otto of her memories. The Otto she remembered was a collage of fragmented memories - the innocent paper airplanes of their shared childhood, his intricate schemes woven around her, their adventurous escapades beyond the city limits, and his protective shield during her daring escape to the Far East.
The Otto she now faced was a far cry from the timid, shy, and fearful man she once knew. He no longer shied away from human experimentation. Instead, he was a picture of subdued calmness, a reckless abandon that bordered on insanity.
He took personal command of the Honkai defense arrangements, ruthlessly crushing Theresa's last vestiges of hesitation. He cast aside affection and human ethics with a chilling disregard. He sat high above the clouds, manipulating the situation with the ease of turning his hand to the clouds and rain.
"Why, Otto? Why have you changed so drastically?" Kallen's voice echoed in the silence, her words heavy with the weight of her confusion and despair.
She sighed, a weary sound that spoke volumes of her long life. She understood that those who lived long lives often harbored obsessions in their hearts. Without these obsessions, life was a fate worse than death.
Yet, she struggled to comprehend Otto's obsession. What drove him to recreate the power of the Second Herrscher with such righteous fervor? She had faced numerous moments of despair, moments when she wanted to surrender. But each time, the thought of the smiling faces of the people, the deeds of the old Schicksal, and the relentless waves of Honkai that had battered her time and again, spurred her to grit her teeth and persevere.
Kallen was considering an idea, but the more she thought about it, the more she realized it was a wild one. She remembered the midsummer event and the simulation she had experienced. Her lips started to feel dry, and she knew she needed to think about something else to distract herself.
"Luo Mo, could Kiana truly be the central figure in all of this?" Kallen asked, her voice laced with uncertainty. "She's currently… transformed into a Herrscher."
"Central figure? I'd rather refer to her as a hero," Luo Mo responded, a hint of laughter in his voice. His smile, however, was tinged with a touch of bitterness. His tone was resolute, filled with unwavering faith.
"As for the Herrscher… If she can't even triumph over the Herrscher, how can she possibly bring about the salvation of the world!"
"Salvation? Are we talking about my playful, perpetually sleepy, and somewhat disrespectful great-niece?" Theresa, standing beside Kallen, voiced her disbelief.
"Though it might not be the most respectful thing to say as an elder, if we're talking about saving the world, Durandal seems to be a more likely candidate."
Kallen responded with a soft smile, "If she can truly conquer the Herrscher consciousness within her, she might indeed rise to the status of a hero."
"But can she really accomplish this on her own? From what I've observed so far, she's deeply entwined with the world. She possesses a kind heart but lacks the warrior's resolve. She has the strength to battle the Herrscher, but she's far from ready."
"Or perhaps, like other protagonists, she'll find her resolve in a moment of desperation?"
"Perhaps," Luo Mo conceded, realizing he had divulged too much and decided to hold his tongue.
He knew that Kallen's observations were accurate. The current Kiana was still somewhat naive.
But that didn't matter, because she would grow, evolve into something beyond anyone's imagination. After all, growth is an integral part of life's journey.
"So, Theresa has taken the lead, guiding the branch in a revolt against the headquarters. Is this what it means to brandish the sword of rebellion against the Schicksal? It seems a tad dramatic, don't you think?" Kallen mused, her words hanging in the air.
As she watched the unfolding episode, a wave of surprise washed over her. The shock was palpable, yet it quickly gave way to a smile that danced on her lips. There was a sense of pride in her eyes, a testament to the admiration she held for her granddaughter.
Theresa, ̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶o̶w̶n̶ ̶f̶l̶e̶s̶h̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶b̶l̶o̶o̶d̶, had indeed done an admirable job. She had boldly declared war against the headquarters, not mincing her words, not hesitating for a moment. Kallen couldn't help but feel a surge of satisfaction at this display of courage. However, a nagging question lingered in her mind. Had Theresa made all the necessary preparations for this audacious move?
Theresa in another world may be more competent than the one here, Kallen want to laugh when making that statement.
With each passing moment, Kallen found herself increasingly engrossed in the unfolding narrative. The anticipation was building, her interest piqued. She was eager to see what the next episode held in store.
...
"Me? Could I really be the Second Herrscher?" Kiana questioned, her voice trembling with disbelief. The thought of having any connection with the formidable Second Herrscher was beyond her comprehension. It was a concept that seemed to defy the very laws of reality.
Then there was the peculiar designation, K423. She had observed that many mechanical entities, the cold, unfeeling machines, were often assigned such alphanumeric identifiers. But to apply such a dehumanizing label to a living, breathing human being…
"Mom," she asked hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper, "I don't have this strange code name, do I?"
Her mother's response was immediate and reassuring. "Oh, no! Little Kiana, you were born from me, personally. There's no need for you to worry."
Meanwhile, Bella, standing beside her, turned her attention to Sirin. With a careful, almost reverential tone, she said, "Your Majesty, look! This, this is me oh!" Her delicate, scallion-white finger pointed towards the screen, where a blue and white dragon roared defiantly into the sky. Its majestic wings, large enough to cast a shadow over the land, and its formidable, unyielding body seemed to bear no relation to the petite, adorable girl who was pointing at it.
Sirin merely glanced at her and dismissed her with a nonchalant wave of her hand. Her mind was preoccupied with more pressing matters. She was grappling with the daunting prospect of confronting her family once her memories returned. How would they react? How would they treat her? These questions plagued Sirin, casting a shadow over her thoughts.
In the midst of this emotional turmoil, Cecilia remained a picture of serenity. She continued to gently smooth her hand over her vibrant purple hair, her actions a soothing rhythm in the chaotic symphony of emotions.
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author note:
Ignore this, just weird rough text
// Kallen failed to understand that Otto's obsessive behavior in the game Honkai impact 3 was actually the same level as in the simulation, she thought Otto's obsession arose because in the simulation Kallen was closer to Otto and Kallen allowed his feeling to grow, in Kallen's real childhood memories she didn't remember Otto being clingy with her, all she remembered was that Otto was just her childhood friend, he never show romantic or weird fondness for Kallen (he shows that he likes you Kallen, you're just that dense) //
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone