Honkai Impact: The Dream Keeper

“Theresa, I have good news for you. My husband is out of danger,” Cecilia said via the communication.

"As expected of my mother, Lady Cecilia, she can even heal the burns from the Judgment of Heavenly Fire," Kiana said.

"That's not good news at all. Only the Black Abyss White Flower, which is also a holy relic, can heal the burns from the Heavenly Judgment, but it will greatly deplete your life force and stamina," Theresa said.

“Theresa, you’re worrying too much. Look at me, I’m full of energy right now!” Cecilia said.

"Don't joke around! After healing the burns from the Judgment of Heavenly Fire, your stamina is less than half of what it used to be! If you were to fight the Second Herrscher now..." Theresa said.

“If one person can’t beat it, then Theresa will have to fight alongside me,” Cecilia said.

"Hey, hey, hey, what about us? Don't leave us out! We're capable of fighting too, no weaker than that young 'old man' with a full head of white hair!" Men Mo said.

"In that case, I'll have to trouble you little ones then~"

“Leave it to us!” Zhang Qing chimed in.

“Just give up, Cecilia. Your health has been poor all year. I... I don’t want to lose you…” Theresa said, her voice trembling with tears.

“That’s impossible, Theresa. If we back down here now, even more people will lose their lives because of the Second Herrscher. Protecting humanity is the glorious mission of us Valkyries. Alright, I’m heading to the tower now. Let’s meet there,” Cecilia said solemnly.

The group immediately rushed towards the tower, while Kiana, who was running behind, received a communication from Cecilia—

"Lady Cecilia, why did you suddenly contact me?" Kiana stammered.

“Ha, that voice really is Kiana,” Cecilia suddenly said.

"Eh?"

“Actually, there’s something I want to ask you,” Cecilia said.

"I will do anything Lady Cecilia asks me to do, even if it costs me my life! Please give me your orders," Kiana said.

“It’s not that serious. I just want you to call me ‘Mom’ once,” Cecilia said.

"Huh? Wh-what?" Kiana stammered.

“Please, please, because your voice sounds just like the voice I imagine my daughter will have when she grows up,” Cecilia said.

“…Mom,” Kiana said.

"Great! So satisfying! Hehe~ Quickly, record it with the recording function." Cecilia said excitedly.

"Oh, right... actually, I also have a favor to ask of Lady Cecilia. Please... be sure to abandon this mission," Kiana said.

"Hmm? Can I know the reason?" Cecilia asked.

"Theresa said that you are not feeling well, and that you just used up a lot of energy to save Siegfried..."

“Yes, that’s true. I haven’t been feeling well lately, and I’ve also used up my energy. Besides, judging from the recorded data, the Second Herrscher is extremely powerful. To be conservative, we only have an 80% chance of winning,” Cecilia said.

“Eighty percent? But Theresa and the others are so worried…” Kiana said in shock.

“So they’re worrying too much. Don’t worry, your ‘mom’ is really amazing,” Cecilia said.

“This is the miracle of a mother…” Long Qiao, who was listening nearby, exclaimed.

“Yes…” Menmo chimed in.

“Unfortunately, my parents passed away from illness when I was very young…” Long Qiao said calmly again.

"What?!" Men Mo exclaimed in shock.

“There’s nothing to be shocked about… It’s normal for people to be born, grow old, get sick, and die. Alright, let’s go! The Babylon Laboratory is just ahead,” Long Qiao said.

“Yes, but we haven’t found any trace of the Second Herrscher. Could it be that the Second Herrscher has already entered the tower?” Theresa said, coming back to her senses.

"Everyone be careful, that Honkai Beast is coming again!" Zhang Qing shouted a warning.

"Good timing!" Just as Long Qiao, Men Mo, and Zhang Qing were about to transform, the Honkai Beast suddenly disappeared.

"Disappeared? That's incredibly powerful!" Long Qiao exclaimed in shock.

“That’s the relic that can decompose everything, the Black Abyss White Flower,” Theresa said, looking up at the newcomer.

“Thank you for your hard work, Theresa, but I’m sorry, I’ve stolen your prey,” Cecilia said.

"As expected of Cecilia, the strongest Valkyrie of Schicksal," Mei and Bronya exclaimed in shock.

"Don't praise me, Theresa, I'll get shy. Isn't that the pretty girl with the braids next to you Kiana?" Cecilia said.

“Cecilia…Mom…” Kiana said.

————————————————————

"Be careful, there's a very violent Honkai energy reaction ahead, the Second Herrscher is inside," Long Qiao said, raising her right hand.

"You all need to be prepared and absolutely cannot let your guard down," Menmo said.

"Look at these two, don't they look like the regimental commander and deputy regimental commander?" Zhang Qing said disdainfully, looking at the two of them.

"Pfft—" Upon hearing Zhang Qing's words, everyone couldn't help but suppress their laughter.

"Phew... I can finally fight alongside Mom. I must do my best," Kiana thought to herself.

However, everyone's behavior in the virtual world was observed by a blond man in the real world—

After entering the Babylon Laboratory, the group split into two groups: Mei, Kiana, Bronya, and Cecilia went together, while Menmo, Zhang Qing, Long Qiao, and Theresa went together.

Kiana and Cecilia were chatting when Long Qiao called.

"Don't waste time. The most urgent thing is to take down the Second Herrscher first."

"Tsk, this Long Qiao, she finally got to talk to her mother... this Long Qiao, she's doing all this unnecessary work."

Kiana and Cecilia then split up. Later, Kiana was trapped in an elevator by Cecilia. Although Kiana escaped and rushed towards Cecilia, Cecilia was already fighting the Second Herrscher.

“Oh no, she’s gotten stronger…” Cecilia said, supporting herself against the Black Abyss White Flower.

"Heh, you're quite capable, aren't you? You're completely different from those guys. Come on, let me have some fun," said the Second Herrscher.

However, a bullet struck the Second Herrscher, and Kiana walked over and said, "Get away from Lady Cecilia, you damn Second Herrscher!"

"You guy!"

"Now's the time!" Kiana shouted.

Immediately afterwards, the black abyss white flower struck the second herrscher.

"Damn it! You guys, just you wait!" The Second Herrscher's figure flashed.

“She escaped, but why are you here, Kiana?” Cecilia asked.

Kiana then expressed her desire to fight Cecilia, and Cecilia ultimately agreed to Kiana's request. Furthermore, Cecilia witnessed a previously unknown aspect of the Babylonian Laboratory—

"Lady Cecilia, we've found the Second Herrscher! She's at the top of the tower!" Kiana said.

"She looks very weak. Let's not miss this opportunity!"

"Yes!"

Once Kiana reached the top of the tower, Menmo and the others were also there. Meanwhile, Long Qiao, now transformed into Ultimate Red-Eyed Kuuga, unleashed a punch comparable to a nuclear bomb at the Second Herrscher—

Then the virtual space collapsed, and Menmo and the others looked at each other in bewilderment, before staring blankly at Theresa in front of them—

"Theresa, where were you when we were transported to the virtual space?!" Menmo roared.

"Well...I..."

Before Theresa could finish speaking, a hole was suddenly blasted open in the wall beside her, and a figure emerged from it—it was Fu Hua…

Fu Hua and Kiana then revealed the truth: everything that had just happened... was fake.

Immediately after Kiana uttered a spell, her pupils turned gold. When Menmo and the others realized something was wrong, Zhang Qing and Menmo used clone cards to confuse Fu Hua, then escaped with the two of them, leaving only Theresa and Kiana behind. Fu Hua then contacted Otto, who told her to release Theresa, but Kiana was... taken away.