Chapter 10: Challenge Victory, Hero's Elegy.

 "It's truly unbelievable. Kiana three years from now actually grew into a true warrior."

Fu Hua's eyes shifted as she recalled the Taixu Sword Qi Kiana had just used.

If she hadn't been mistaken just now, that was Fenghuang Down, followed by a herrscher core.

Does that mean my future self really might become a Herrscher?

With this heavy truth laid bare, even the usually composed Fu Hua found it hard to describe her current feelings.

"Bronya, I didn't realize you were so amazing~ Your little cart just fired so many shells and directly eliminated those Puppets," Kiana said, glancing suggestively at Project Bunny next to Bronya. "I won't call it a baby carriage anymore. Hey, can I borrow it for a ride?"

"Idiot!"

Bronya's icy gaze fixed on Kiana, making the certain Paramecium shiver.

"I don't have that thing, and I won't lend it to you three years from now, idiot Kiana."

"Hmph~ Stingy."

Kiana shrugged, feigning indifference, and was about to go find Mei in the corner, but suddenly remembered something and turned back to Bronya.

"But Bronya, you seem to have a gem too~"

"You are all Herrschers!"

"Hahaha, Aunt is still paranoid every day, saying Herrschers are terrifying, but she's only 1.4 meters tall!"

"Stare—"

"Eh hey, I was joking, sorry."

Kiana stuck out her tongue and fled from the increasingly icy Bronya.

"The Herrscher matter cannot be confirmed yet. Not everyone who possesses a gem is a Herrscher."

"Also, Kiana, after we leave this space, none of us should mention this matter to anyone except Theresa."

Fu Hua was silent for a moment, then spoke to the group.

"The appearance of the Challenge Space is a double-edged sword. It allows us to know what will happen in the future, but if it falls into enemy hands, it would definitely be a weapon too terrible to describe."

"I know that, don't worry, my lips are sealed!"

After Kiana finished speaking, she saw Mei still staring blankly inside the Challenge Space and walked over curiously.

"Mei, what are you looking at?"

"I... Kiana."

Mei didn't speak. Following her gaze, Kiana realized that everything from before hadn't completely stopped.

Looking at the scene before her eyes, Kiana unconsciously widened her eyes.

"What is she doing?"

...The collapsed stage.

Scorched earth blackened by fire.

A light rain began to fall from the sky, pattering down, seemingly able to wash away all malice and tears of blood.

The girl stood alone atop the scorched earth.

She looked up at the sky, her half-burnt cape rustling softly in the wind and rain.

The resolute look from before vanished, replaced by confusion and bewilderment.

Where is this place?

Why did I have to fight?

Which dream is this now?

The girl's silver-white long hair was soaked, clinging tightly to her slender body.

The longsword in her hand was buried deep in the ground, leaning against her body.

"Kiana!"

For some reason, the girl heard a call beside her ear. Her eyelids fluttered, and she noticed the summons nearby.

It was her friends, her dearest companions.

She threw away the sword in her hand and rushed toward the collapsed corner, where Bronya and Class Monitor Fu Hua were.

In her sight, their broken bodies were covered in mud, needing her help.

"Bronya, Class Monitor!"

The girl cried out in distress, using all her strength to step forward.

She stretched out her hand, wanting to touch those precious people.

Seeing this, Bronya also smiled weakly and extended a hand in response.

The next second.

Snap!

The mirror shattered! Bronya and Fu Hua's bodies vanished without a trace, like broken shards of glass.

As if they had never existed in this world.

The girl's eyes widened, and her outstretched hand froze in mid-air.

The hands that had not hesitated to wield the sword against the Herrscher of Domination suddenly wavered.

She had brought the Incarnation and hope to everyone.

Now, however, she was like a newborn child, unaware of the path ahead.

"Challenge complete. Rewards are being distributed!"

"Congratulations to Challenger Yunduo, you have obtained the 【Herrscher of Flamescion】 Character Card!"

"Challenger Kiana's punishment has been canceled!"

The cold prompt sound of the Challenge Space echoed in the girl's ear.

People outside could not hear this sound.

This was the exclusive reward for everything she had done!

Drip!

Drop!

The rain washed away the memories, leaving behind fragmented shards of glass on the ground.

"Is it over?"

The girl murmured, lifted her head, and looked up at the sky under the heavy rain once more.

Her azure eyes revealed an unspeakable loneliness.

She stood there for a long time.

The warrior's body remained straight; the Greatsword of Fire was plunged into the scorched earth.

From a distance, it resembled a Hero's Elegy.

Outside the scene.

For some reason, Mei's heart suddenly clenched, her breathing became rapid, and her chest felt a stabbing pain.

This girl, they had clearly just met for the first time.

Why was her demeanor so similar to Kiana's?

Why did she feel heartbroken when she saw Yunduo's sorrow?

It wasn't just Mei; Kiana also pursed her pink lips and suddenly felt awkward.

If she had an older sister, she would probably be like Yunduo.

For no apparent reason, Kiana developed a strange feeling toward Yunduo, one she hadn't even noticed herself.

"Perhaps this is what a hero is."

"Fighting Honkai is the mission of a Valkyrie. On this difficult road, countless familiar people will die, maybe you, maybe me. Besides cherishing past feelings, we must also seize everything we have now and move forward."

"Bronya, what do you think?" Fu Hua's steady voice softly sounded.

"We must seize every opportunity now to learn what happens in the future inside the Challenge Space, to prevent those things we might regret for a lifetime from happening again."

Bronya nodded, a thoughtful look appearing in her gray eyes.

She felt that Yunduo was the idiot Kiana from three years later.

However, there were no arguments for this conclusion yet; it was all just speculation.

Otherwise, those emotions couldn't be explained.

After the battle just now, the girl's cry of "Bronya" had left her stunned for a long time.

Although Bronya and Kiana usually liked to bicker, they were the best of friends.

That heart-wrenching call gave Bronya an urge to give Yunduo a warm hug.

But she wasn't good at expressing her emotions, so the thought settled in the depths of her heart.

Before they could discuss it for long, the scene within the Challenge Space changed.

A flash of pure white light flickered.

Kiana and the others were teleported back to the storage room of St. Freya Academy.

The room was quiet now, and except for the four of them staring at each other, it was as if nothing had happened.

Except... "I won."

A warm smile appeared on Yunduo's pale face as she stood before the four of them.

Having said that, she could no longer support her exhausted body and suddenly collapsed.

"Yunduo!"

Mei panicked, and at the critical moment, she caught the falling girl.