Herrscher of Dominance in Honkai, starting with the abduction of Kiana

"Alright, my mission's complete. Good luck."

The helicopter landed smoothly. With Ren's protection, there had been no complications.

But the timeline had been altered. The Herrscher of the Void's location was unknown. Many events had changed.

Otto, having found a new research method, was now obsessed with his experiments, ignoring everything else. The only immediate threat was World Serpent. If Ren remembered correctly, Kevin, upon escaping, would attack the North African base, attempting to kill Kiana.

According to Moth of Ink's intel, World Serpent's next move was to attack Anti-Entropy's North American base and steal the Judgment of Shamash. They likely wouldn't have time for other distractions.

"Thank you, Liuli-san." Mei helped Kiana off the helicopter, nodding her thanks.

During the four-hour flight, she'd found the secretary eccentric but generally pleasant.

And quite attentive to her, though strangely hostile towards Kiana. Shouldn't Obsidian Concord be supportive of the Herrscher of the Void?

"Kiana-san!" Bronya and Seele, waiting for them, immediately noticed her… or rather, her.

Seele, unaware of the Herrscher of Sentience, called out Kiana's name without thinking.

Kiana looked at Seele, confused, then realized the girl was looking at the helicopter, at Liuli.

"Huh?" She turned back to Liuli, her eyes narrowing.

She hadn't noticed before, but now, from a distance, Liuli looked… familiar. Like another version of herself.

The moment Seele called out Kiana's name, Bronya knew something was wrong. "Mei! Get back! She's a Herrscher!"

Herrscher!

The word struck Kiana like a physical blow. Her eyes widened in disbelief, then dimmed.

Herrscher… are they talking about me?

The fragile hope Mei had offered crumbled. Her worst fear had come true.

Even her best friend was rejecting her, the Herrscher.

Bang!

A gunshot shattered the tense silence. The bullet struck the helicopter's door, cracking the glass.

A few strands of white hair drifted down. Older Kiana, still turned, had barely dodged the bullet. It had passed within inches of her face.

Her playful expression vanished, replaced by icy rage. If not for Ren's warning, Bronya's shot would have hit its mark.

"Bronya?"

The sudden attack startled Mei. The helipad had become a battlefield. She pulled Kiana behind cover.

Obsidian Concord had helped them. Bronya was her friend. Why were they fighting?

She couldn't understand, but with Kiana beside her, she couldn't risk intervening. She could only watch.

"Mei? What's happening?" Kiana, bewildered, clung to her. "Isn't this your organization?"

Mei's face fell. She'd only been with Obsidian Concord for a few days, and it already felt like a sinking ship.

Gunfire erupted.

The base, already on high alert after the earlier attack, assumed the Herrscher of Sentience was attacking.

They likely believed Mei had been controlled, had betrayed Anti-Entropy, and brought the enemy here.

Ren, unaware of the Herrscher of Sentience accusation, was just as confused as Older Kiana.

Both sides felt betrayed.

BOOM!

A rocket struck the helicopter, engulfing it in flames. A figure shot through the smoke, streaking across the sky.

Anti-Entropy mechs locked on, firing.

The surrounding steel structures twisted and warped, deflecting some of the blasts, but the figure was forced back.

"Ren… I'm pissed." Older Kiana's voice, tight with anger, echoed in Ren's mind. He sighed.

He'd just wanted Anti-Entropy to treat Kiana. Why were they making this so difficult?

"Do what you must. Just protect her."

He unlocked the Puppet's restrictions. The collective consciousness' power flowed into Older Kiana, her power surging, surpassing the S-rank limit.

A wide, manic grin spread across Older Kiana's face. It felt like those years in the bubble universe, fighting alongside Ren against Welt.

Back then, she just followed his orders, fighting with everything she had, no hesitation, no questions.

After the war, as she'd aged, she'd become more composed. But Older Kiana knew she wasn't meant for a desk job.

That's why, after Ren left, her frustration had grown, until she'd finally shattered the world to find him.

"I'm not secretary material. Fighting is what I do best."

…

"Sensei! The Herrscher of Sentience is attacking! We need backup!" Bronya sent an urgent message to Theresa, watching the mangled remains of the building with Seele.

Flames obscured the figure within.

Bronya didn't dare let her guard down. Project Bunny unleashed a barrage of fire, buying time.

I hope Welt can help…

「All my efforts… have ended in failure.」

「Those I wanted to protect… have vanished.」

A cold voice echoed through the battlefield. A figure emerged from the flames.

Bronya's heart leaped. She barely had time to raise her shield before a massive force sent her flying.

Older Kiana appeared beside her, a cruel smile on her face, her fist slamming down.

Crack!

Yamabuki Armor's shield shattered. Bronya crashed into the ground.

The surrounding mechs opened fire, then burst into flames.

"Sister!" Seele cried out, but she too was met with a simple, brutal punch.

She raised her scythe, but the impact forced her out of her phase-shift.

「Only through bitter regret…」

「…can true growth be achieved!」

Older Kiana walked through the flames, the years melting away, her appearance reverting to her younger self.

Kiana, breaking free from Mei's grasp, rushed into the battlefield.

Her azure eyes widened in shock. The girl before her, with matching blue eyes, grinned.

"Who… are you?"

"Don't you recognize yourself, Kiana-san?"