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

Like the ocean itself, the weather above the sea was fickle.

Experienced captains, seeing even a hint of cumulus clouds on the horizon, would alter their course. One never knew when a distant droplet could become a raging storm.

Young captains, lacking such experience, learned humility only when the storm arrived.

BOOM!

A gaping hole appeared in Anti-Entropy's headquarters building, as if struck by a missile.

Twisted metal and debris rained down, raising a cloud of dust.

A figure slowly rose from the rubble.

It was hard to believe anyone could survive such a blast, unless they possessed the regenerative power of a Pseudo-Herrscher.

Blood trickled down Theresa's arm, the gash on her shoulder already closing.

Vishnu's genes granted her not only destructive power but also incredible vitality and regeneration, allowing her to quickly recover from even grievous wounds.

But there was a price. Sensing Theresa's injuries, the Vishnu factor accelerated, increasing her healing while also corrupting her own genes.

Even with this power, she was struggling against Older Kiana's relentless assault.

Both were S-rank, but Older Kiana had the Puppet's amplification and the Ether Singularity from the bubble universe as a power source. She could even hold her own against Durandal.

Theresa, despite possessing a Divine Key, couldn't fully utilize its power. Even as the Twilight Paladin, she hadn't reached her full potential.

"Heads up!"

Older Kiana's cheerful warning came too late.

The damaged building, destabilized by Older Kiana, began to collapse, falling towards Theresa.

"Judah!"

Golden chains shot out, anchoring themselves to the collapsing structure, forming a safety net.

It held for only a second, but it was enough. Theresa escaped.

But as she dodged the falling debris, Older Kiana appeared before her. Theresa barely raised her arms in time. A crushing blow sent her flying back into the rubble.

Dust and debris obscured her form.

But where there's smoke, there's a Valkyrie, pissed off and armed with sharp things.

As Older Kiana approached, azure blades sliced through the dust, grazing her hair.

At this rate, she'd need a haircut by the end of the day.

"You still don't understand the difference in our power," Older Kiana said, her expression flat.

But Theresa was different now. Her blades weren't spinning; they hovered around her hands.

"Giving up on ranged attacks for close combat?" Older Kiana was slightly disappointed.

She was putting on a good show. Theresa should at least try to make it a challenge.

Initially, she'd been annoyed by the surprise attack, wanting to teach them a lesson. But the fight had become one-sided, a simple matter of crushing weaker opponents.

It was fun, at first. But when the power gap was this wide, it became boring.

And she couldn't stop. This "lesson" was part of the plan.

It had been a setup from the start. Bronya's attack was merely the trigger.

"Bad girls need to be punished." Theresa's lungs burned, each breath scorching her throat. Her blood boiled. The sensors in her battlesuit screamed warnings.

The Vishnu factor had reached a critical point. The line between Valkyrie and Honkai beast was blurring. If she lost control, she would become a monster.

But she embraced the power. Even the threat of becoming a beast wouldn't stop her from protecting her friends.

Blood Boil!

The Twilight Paladin stood, blade in hand, ready to judge.

Her emerald eyes held the predatory gaze of an Emperor-class Vishnu.

Older Kiana met her gaze, feeling a sudden pressure. She paused, then laughed.

"Good. This is the Twilight Paladin's true power."

As her words faded, the air shimmered. Theresa appeared before her, a blur of motion.

Her speed, enhanced by the Blood Boil, was far beyond what she'd shown before. All her Honkai energy was focused on speed and power.

She'd sacrificed regeneration for raw destructive force.

Blood splattered. Despite anticipating the attack, Older Kiana was injured.

"Why not aim for the neck? You were fast enough," Older Kiana observed. Theresa had held back.

The fight had gone on long enough. Even Theresa must have realized this wasn't her student. But she couldn't bring herself to kill someone who looked exactly like Kiana.

"I told you, bad girls need to be taught a lesson. Whether you're Kiana or not, once I catch you, I'll teach you how to behave." Theresa's voice was hoarse. The Blood Boil was taking its toll. She couldn't maintain it for long.

"Teach me how to behave? Let's see if you can."

Theresa, in this state, was a formidable opponent. But Older Kiana wasn't worried. She just had to wait for Theresa to burn out.

Thunder boomed, lightning flashed. They clashed again.

The surrounding buildings crumbled under the force of their blows. The Twilight Paladin's blades tore through everything. The relentless assault pushed Older Kiana back.

Theresa was finally fighting like an S-rank Valkyrie should. But Older Kiana just kept smiling.

Victory was within her grasp. She could feel Theresa's strength fading.

But just as she was about to press her advantage, an explosion engulfed her.

Bronya, Seele, Kiana, and Mei had finally arrived.