"But it wasn't made any higher after that."
"Why?"
"Because she was afraid you'd hurt yourself falling."
The two gradually walked up to the training ground.
"Ah, it's the old training ground."
"This must be a rare class where you wouldn't fall asleep, right?"
"Back then, after all, I only liked this kind of combat training. Though I never won a single sparring match against the monitor and the others."
"And now?"
"Well, that's hard to say."
"It feels like just yesterday you two were taking classes here."
Then Himeko and Kiana talked about the others, and reminisced about Kiana's past.
"I think the Captain must have seen something in you she wanted to protect, something I once saw too. The Captain did, I did, and everyone did.
We believed you could do it, that you could save more people and make the world a better place. And you did it, Kiana.
Everything you did in Arc City, everything you did on Mount Taixu, and everything you are doing right now to deal with the Domination Oasis...
You've saved many people, and those people will go on to help even more. This is the legacy of humanity, the flame that burns forever."
"Thank you... Himeko, actually I understand... It's just that sometimes, I can't..."
"I understand your nervousness, Kiana. The more help you receive from everyone, the more you feel the weight of a heavy burden.
So you must remember—you are never alone. Anti-Entropy carries the weight of comrades and companions, Theresa the Principal always thinks of you all, the reliable monitor, and your teacher Yeye.
Bronya, though she isn't good at expressing herself, is always thinking of her companions. Her actions, her progress, you've seen it all with your own eyes.
And as for the repressed one, she is the gentlest child among you. So don't worry about her, Kiana. Trust her, she will definitely make the right choice.
...And you, Kiana."
Himeko said with a hint of pride:
"You are the naughtiest of all my students, and also the one who never gives up easily.
You have the principles to change everyone, the power to make those around you march forward with you.
So, trust and rely on your companions, Kiana. Because they certainly trust and rely on you, too."
Outside the Theater of Domination, Yemu watched Raven strolling and chatting by the distant seashore, then pulled back the foot she had just stepped forward.
"Leave it to me this time, Mei should just stay here and rest for a while."
A portal opened in front of Yemu, and Yeye stepped through it, arriving inside the Theater of Domination, instantly perceiving the surrounded group in the distance.
Rushing to their side, flames surged up, blocking all the approaching puppets.
"This time, I'm afraid things are getting a bit tricky."
The flames Yeye had just summoned were instantly extinguished by the Herrscher of Domination using the authority of the Herrscher of Ice.
"Who are you? That mecha from before, how did you get here?"
"Some idiot messed up and called me over to back you all up, though it looks like that idiot still has some energy to spare."
Lightning surged over the mecha's body, slamming into the surrounding puppets together with flames, triggering small explosions.
"How can this be? What you're using is clearly a Herrscher's power, why can't we seize it?"
"You are too weak and simply don't have the strength to seize the power of the Herrscher Core inside my body."
The mecha's armor gradually changed color, shifting from black to purple.
"The current number of cores is barely enough to unlock this form."