The Herrscher of the Void Awakens
"Very well.
Let all of you…
become the sacrifices to herald my return—"
The fully Herrscher-fied Kiana didn't even turn around.
She simply tore open a field of spatial distortions behind her.
In an instant—
CRACK—CRACK—CRACK—
Dozens of rifts split open, and a rain of Subspace Spears poured toward the group with lethal force.
But Jiuxiao stepped forward calmly.
"Kiana, Kiana…
You always need Lady Jiuxiao to save you.
But don't worry.
Don't blame yourself.
I will save you again and again—
because I am the Savior!"
Theresa's eyes widened.
Always?
Again and again?
Who exactly IS this girl?
Jiuxiao's claims were usually too chuunibyou to take seriously—
but without her, they would still be wandering the city searching blindly.
Could she really have helped Kiana…
not just once, but many times before?
Theresa didn't have time to question it.
Because—
WHOOSH—!
Jiuxiao had already disappeared.
And every single Subspace Spear vanished with her.
Theresa looked up—
Jiuxiao was now right in front of Kiana, a massive sword materialized in her hands.
How… How is she moving that fast?
Even Mei, even Bronya, even Theresa herself hadn't seen her move.
Herrscher vs. "Savior"
"Hmph.
Approaching me instead of fleeing?
Humans really are foolish."
The Herrscher smirked.
She flicked her hand.
CLACK—!
A cube of subspace shaped itself into existence—
then another—
then a third—
All closing in around Jiuxiao to crush her.
But Jiuxiao only sighed.
"Kiana…
You're so much weaker than before.
Even though Lady Jiuxiao has always protected you,
you still need to grow stronger, okay?"
BOOM—!!
Her greatsword shattered all three subspace cubes in a single swing.
"Ku ku ku—
Kiana!
Wake up!"
"Tch—
Die!"
The Herrscher lunged, furious that her attacks had been destroyed so easily.
But—
BAM!!!
Her body folded around Jiuxiao's fist.
The Herrscher of the Void—
the Queen of Collapse—
was punched so hard she flew into the far wall.
CRASH—!!
Dust fell from the ceiling.
The girl who had threatened the world…
just stared blankly.
How… did she…?
My barrier—
She broke through my spatial barrier?
A memory surfaced.
A hated memory.
A fear she thought she would never feel again.
"Get aw—"
BAM—!!
Another punch smashed into her ribs, cutting her words short.
"Wake up, Kiana!
Your friends are waiting for you!
Hear me—
Lady Jiuxiao commands you to wake up!"
The Herrscher of the Void's face twisted with rage and humiliation.
How dare a human—
a mere human—
treat me like this?!
She tried to open a subspace escape route—
But her limbs felt impossibly heavy.
"What—?
Why can't I…
move…?"
Jiuxiao loomed over her—
not as a human,
but something monstrous in the Herrscher's terrified eyes.
"Let go of me—!!"
The Herrscher screamed, trembling.
For the first time in ten years—
the girl who once annihilated Siberia…
felt pure fear again.
Kiana Returns
"Kiana—!"
Theresa's voice cut through the tension.
The Herrscher's form flickered—
and her eyes—
changed.
"…You're…
Huh?
What… what was I doing?"
The oppressive aura vanished.
Kiana blinked up in confusion, sitting weakly against the wall.
Jiuxiao sheathed her imaginary sword with a flourish.
"You're finally awake.
As expected of Lady Jiuxiao.
Saving you once again."
Theresa stared speechlessly.
Jiuxiao's strength was far beyond anything she had expected.
Only now did she fully grasp—
This girl was not normal.
Not even close.
"Kiana…!
You're back…!"
Mei ran forward, tears already falling, and wrapped Kiana in her arms.
Kiana blinked, bewildered but slowly returning the embrace.
Incoming Forces
Meanwhile—
outside the ruined building—
"Collapse energy decreasing…?
Huh? Someone's approaching—
and a lot of mechs."
Bronya tensed, reading her detector.
"Doctor Tesla, Doctor Einstein—someone is coming.
Orders?"
Einstein inhaled deeply.
"Then we find Theresa.
Now."
Tesla nodded.
"Move!"
High above, perched on a rooftop—
Wendy watched with amusement.
"Such a lively place~
Looks like things are about to get interesting."
Advance Chapters available on Patreon
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