Bronya directed Project Bunny to grab Kiana, who lay powerless on the ground; the metal rabbit loomed larger and larger in her vision…
Inside the familiar mental space, Kiana sat on a chair. Across from her, the Verna had already tidied up, stashed the chips, changed clothes, and was now ready.
"I'm so weak" Kiana hung her head. First the Herrscher of Thunder had thrashed her, and now Project Bunny.
Once again she felt her own frailty. Apart from bullying a few Zombies, she could do nothing.
"Weak? On the contrary, you're strong, Kiana." The Herrscher rose, stepped around the small table, and lifted Kiana's chin, forcing her to meet her gaze.
"There no weakling that can survives a Herrscher's strike, and holds off against mech for so long. You feel weak only because you're just flesh and blood."
Gazing into Kiana's sapphire eyes, Verna smiled and whispered at her ear, "Are you giving up? Letting her drag you away, drag Mei away… She called you mission targets, that means inhuman experiments…"
"Mei…" Kiana's despair vanished; she wanted to leave the mental space and fight Bronya again, at the very least let Mei escape!
"Go out now, what could you possibly do? Your body's at its limit, isn't it?" Verna knew Kiana's condition, she had nothing left.
"Kiana Kaslana, your body can no longer keep up with your will. Apart from feeding the enemy, what can you do?" She watched as Kiana clenched her fists.
Yes, even if she went out now, she couldn't win; Mei would still be taken. "So I'm supposed to just watch?!" She lifted her head; she wanted to protect Mei, yet she was still too weak.
""rade with me, Kiana," the Herrscher said, gently stroking her cheek.
Kiana blushed at the touch—ah, Kiana the les…
"Like last time—let me handle this nuisance for you, how about it?" Seeing Kiana flush and fidget, Verna returned to her seat, and Kiana actually felt a pang of loss.
'No, no! I belong to Mei!' Kiana shook her head, scattering the stray thoughts, then looked at the Herrscher again.
"But I can't rely on you forever—I know the proverb about leaning on a mountain that may collapse. I need to grow; I can't always depend on your help."
She hadn't expected this Tuna to say such a thing.
"Then how about I teach you?" She wasn't annoyed; Kiana's resolve was good—remember the fourth of the Ultra Five Oaths: Don't rely too much on others' power.
This attitude made the Herrscher genuinely pleased.
"Once you're safe, I'll teach you how to command the power of space…" As she spoke she started getting handsy again.
Kiana's face turned red and her momentum collapsed instantly.
"Big sister, keep your hands to yourself!"
…
In the end Kiana agreed to the trade; she really couldn't win, and perhaps because she still felt wary of the Herrscher—or believed she needed to grow—she didn't want frequent swaps.
Outside, golden lines and diamond patterns surfaced in Kiana's blue eyes; her twin white braids came loose, and her Chiba Academy uniform disintegrated, then re-formed.
The campus outfit became a black one-piece dress laced with purple stripes that shimmered with the Herrscher's breath; white armor overlaid it, and six sash-like panels bearing Honkai patterns extended outward.
A collar of black feathers circled her neck; her legs wore black thigh-high stockings, her shoes turned into black-and-orange heels, and the hair ornaments became cross-shaped pins.
Project Bunny's hand froze ten centimeters from the Herrscher; a Temple-class Honkai Beast's shield floated into the air, followed by a Knight-class lance that drove the rabbit back.
"This Honkai Energy index…" Bronya's pupils shrank; watching the Herrscher rise felt like being coiled by a python—cold sweat poured.
"It's a Herrscher!" Inside Cocolia's base researchers clamored at the data feed—another Herrscher! And according to Bronya's body-cam, an unknown one at that!
"Bronya—retreat now!" Cocolia rushed to the console and shouted into the comm, "I've dispatched Titan Mechs to back you—pull out!"
"Commander Cocolia! The Herrscher—she's gone!" a researcher cried; Cocolia spun around—indeed, the feed showed empty space.
"Retreat? Do you really think she can run?" A stranger's voice came through Bronya's channel; Cocolia felt an icy dread—had Bronya already…
"Project Bunny!" Bronya's voice returned, easing Cocolia's fear, but she realized the enemy must be lightning-fast to have reached Bronya and located the communicator.
"Hahaha—come, dance for me, vermin!" The Herrscher laughed wildly; Cocolia stared at the main screen, and in the next second Verna's face filled it.
"Bronya!" From the feed Bronya had clearly been knocked back; Project Bunny's newbie protection had expired with the swap!
Just then the Titan platoon arrived, de-quantized and shielded Bronya behind them.
"Great, Bronya—now, hurry…" Cocolia had no time to rejoice; she saw the Honkai Beasts the Herrscher had summoned.
Temple-, Knight-, and Assault-class beasts plus Zombies ringed the Titans and Bronya, charging fearlessly.
Titan Mechs might be strong, but far too few had come.
"Now, let our dance resume, vermin." Verna strode toward Bronya—floating might suit a queen, but each deliberate step crushed the spirit even more.
"Ugh…"
The label 'vermin' made Bronya's eyebrow twitch.
By now Bronya knew escape was impossible; since she couldn't flee, she would try to fight!
Bronya was about to face the terror of a Herrscher!
…
Next time: The Death of Bronya!
Just kidding~♪