It must be miHoYo's doing.

A tear rolled down her cheek. "But now... I regret it."

The command room fell into a deathly silence. Theresa's hands were tightly clutched at the hem of her clothes, Einstein's expression was as solemn as steel, and even the usually lively Tesla remained silent.

Suddenly, the sharp beep of the communicator broke the silence.

"It's Mei's communication request!" the staff exclaimed.

Theresa took a deep breath and said, "Please answer it."

The screen flickered, and Mei appeared before everyone. Her long purple hair was a little messy, and her eyes were filled with anxiety.

"Principal, and everyone else," her voice trembled, "I heard you found Kiana's location. Tell me, where is she?"

Theresa bit her lip, but finally told the truth and brought up the video of Sky City: "Mei... Kiana might be inside this barrier..."

Mei's body trembled violently. She closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, as if she was trying hard to suppress something.

"Mei," Theresa said hurriedly, "calm down a little while we figure out what's going on..."

"I'm sorry..." Mei's voice was so soft that it was almost inaudible, "I... can't calm down."

Communications ceased abruptly.

…………

Eos transport ship outside Tianqiong City

"Reporting to Lady Rita!" the soldier's voice was filled with tension. "All six reconnaissance planes we sent into the barrier have lost contact! Not even a single image has been transmitted back."

Rita Rossweisse stood in the center of the bridge, her graceful figure a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere. Her emerald eyes fixed on the black screen, her slender fingers tapping lightly on her cane.

"Drive straight in." She suddenly ordered, her voice soft but unquestionable.

"But, Rita-sama!" the adjutant stammered, "We'd be trapped in there too! And based on the energy readings..."

"Of course I understand the risks," Rita interrupted, her eyes sharp. "But if we don't go in, not only will the mission fail, but millions of lives in Sky City will be lost without a single person." She sighed softly. "We have no choice..."

As the order was given, the massive transport slowly sailed toward the black barrier. Rita gazed at the approaching darkness and whispered to herself, "World Serpent... what are you planning?"

………………

Raven paced anxiously, and a harsh electrical noise came from the communicator.

"Hello? Raven? How's things going over there?"

The communicator finally connected, and Raven stopped dead in her tracks. "Jackal! The entire Sky City is engulfed in a black energy barrier!" Her voice was unusually hurried. "I've tried everything, but I can't crack the barrier."

The surveillance footage switched, displaying real-time images from all over the city—on the streets, more and more Honkai beasts emerged from the shadows, their shells radiating ominous purple-black patterns.

"To make matters worse," Raven pulled up the data panel, "the concentration of Houkai energy around Sky City is surging." She ran her finger over the rising curve on the screen. "At this rate... we'll soon reach the critical value set by our Stigma Project."

There was silence on the other end of the communicator for a few seconds.

"Jackal?" Raven frowned. "Should we abort our plan and try to evacuate?"

"Continue the mission." The Jackal's voice suddenly became unusually cold, as harsh as the friction of metal. "Don't worry about these things. I will find a way..."

"But--"

The communication was suddenly and rudely cut off.

World Snake Base Core Laboratory

Jackal slowly lowered the communicator. Her pupils constricted, as if she had witnessed something utterly terrifying. A strange black aura clung to her arm, writhing like a living creature. The lab lights flickered, illuminating her pale face.

"Heh... heh..."

A deep laugh echoed in the empty laboratory. The jackal raised her head, her once golden pupils now completely stained with darkness, without a trace of white. The corners of her mouth twisted into an unnatural arc, as if pulled by invisible strings.

"What a...perfect vehicle..."

Black energy seeped from her seven orifices, condensing into a vague humanoid shape in the air. The laboratory's instruments began to alarm frantically, and the pointer of the Honkai energy detector directly broke through the upper limit of the range.

The jackal—or rather, the being that possessed her—slowly walked toward the center console. Her movements were too stiff to be human, and each step was accompanied by the sound of bones snapping.

"The Stigmata Project?" She laughed harshly. "Such... childish toy..."

Pale fingers danced across the console, entering a code that didn't belong in this world. On the main screen, the three-dimensional model of Sky City suddenly turned blood red, and countless black dots spread across the city.

"Let me...show you the true...evolution..."

Volume 1: The Birth of miHoYo: 078: Defeated Kiana, Stolen Bracelet (2/5)

Kiana's spiritual world.

"Squad leader, do you know what that black barrier that suddenly appeared in the sky is?" Kiana looked a little worried.

Fu Hua's figure slowly emerged, but she just shook her head lightly.

"Based on my experience, I can't tell what that barrier is made of. However, there is something more troublesome now..."

"I sense that the concentration of Houkai energy in Sky City is rising at a very strange rate. If this continues, it may trigger a large-scale Houkai disaster."

"Then..." Kiana's expression was obviously anxious, "Is there any way to stop it?"

Fu Hua nodded. "According to my observations, these Honkai beasts are converging in a ring towards a central point. Let's head over there now. I sense that there should be a group of Valkyries approaching as well. We should follow them and wait for the opportunity to strike."

………………

Tianqiong City, Shencheng Medical Outskirts

Under cover of darkness, the team led by Rita Rossweisse silently approached the walls of Shencheng Medical. The moonlight was obscured by thick dark clouds, leaving only the flickering glow of a burning building in the distance.

"Everyone, attention," Rita lowered her voice, her emerald eyes flickering in the darkness. "According to intelligence, this is the World Serpent's stronghold. Stay alert, and if you encounter resistance, immediately..."

Her words stopped abruptly. A faint sweet smell wafted through the air—it was too late.

"It's gas! Hold your breath!"

But it was too late. A lavender cloud of smoke erupted from the vents, instantly enveloping the entire squad. Rita felt dizzy, her legs feeling heavy as lead. She struggled to lift her scythe, only to find that the Houkai energy she had once wielded with ease seemed locked, unable to be mobilized at all.

"Hehehe... stop struggling! This is the gas the World Serpent developed specifically to deal with the Valkyries. Now you're no better than ordinary people~~"

Raven's figure stepped out of the smoke, his golden pupils glowing like a feline in the darkness.

"Everyone from the Undying Blade, you've come uninvited. Now that you're here, why don't you sleep here for a while?"

"You should be thankful... our target is not you."

………………

At the same time, inside the building

Kiana Kaslana held her breath and moved slowly along the wall. She had long known it was a trap, but to find out the truth, she decided to take the risk.

While checking a machine just now, Kiana accidentally discovered the World Serpent's experimental log, which clearly stated the process and purpose of the Stigma Project verification experiment.

After speculation, Kiana preliminarily confirmed that those high-level Honkai energy 1-year-old Dad Si VIIl Liu Beasts in the outside world should have been attracted by the Honkai energy leaked from the experimental device.

As long as the experiment is stopped, the crisis in Sky City should be over.

"I wonder what happened to the Valkyrie who just entered..."

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sudden sound of an alarm. Purple smoke suddenly erupted from the ceiling vents. Kiana immediately covered her mouth and nose, but she had already inhaled several breaths. Instantly, she felt as if the Houkai energy within her body had frozen, unable to even perform the simplest armor summon.

"Oh no..."

Heavy footsteps echoed from the end of the corridor. Kiana struggled to stand, but her legs gave out and she fell to her knees. In her blurry vision, Raven approached with several World Serpent soldiers.

"Look who this is?" Raven squatted down and grabbed Kiana's chin. "The famous K423 actually fell into their trap."

She roughly ripped the terminal bracelet off Kiana's wrist and flipped it over in her hand: "Is this what the Lord wants? It doesn't look special..."

Surprisingly, Raven did not harm Kiana further, but instead signaled his men to let her go.

"Go away," Raven turned and left. "You're not even worthy of being a test subject right now."

Kiana's vision was blurry, but she didn't want to collapse powerlessly.

Gritting her teeth, Kiana reached out and grabbed Raven's ankle.

"You... beasts! Are you going to destroy the lives of an entire city just for some verification experiment?!"

Raven kicked back, and Kiana rolled on the ground several times like a gourd.

"You, a Herrscher who only brings disaster to the world...you still want to save people? Don't be ridiculous!"

"Alright! Since you're looking for death, I'll let you die knowingly!"

Raven stepped forward again and stepped on Kiana, with hatred and pleasure in his eyes.

"In fact, the so-called Stigma Project verification experiment is just a cover to attract you here. We stopped the Stigma Project a few days ago. All we want is the bracelet on your hand." As he said this, Raven also showed the terminal bracelet with the three big words "miHoYo" engraved on it.

"Cough cough cough..." Kiana coughed up a few mouthfuls of blood, her expression even more painful, "You... don't lie to me... It's just an ordinary bracelet that suddenly appeared on my wrist a few days ago. What's the use of it...?"

"Besides... how are you going to explain those sudden appearances of Honkai beasts outside and the black barrier covering Sky City..."

Raven gave a dangerous smile. "That wasn't done by the snakes of our world, and I don't care who did it. Anyway, please be on your way!"

As he spoke, Raven swung out the dagger and stabbed it hard at Kiana's head.

Suddenly, time seemed to freeze, and a red and white feather fell from the sky and landed right on Kiana's chest.

"Kiana, take advantage of now!" Fu Hua's voice sounded in Kiana's mind.

A burst of Honkai energy was released from Kiana's body, which was supposed to have no Honkai energy stored in it.

The azure pupils turned golden in an instant.

The raven also reacted instantly, his pupils shrank, and he quickly switched from offense to defense.

Unexpectedly, a black and gold light flashed before his eyes, and there was no trace of Kiana at the spot.

Raven frowned and looked around cautiously. After a long time, he put down the dagger.

"Qi~~ ran away?"

"Forget it. There are so many high-level Honkai beasts out there. It won't be easy for her to survive with her gas-damaged body..."

"The most important thing now is to quickly take this terminal bracelet that Your Excellency has given me and leave this troubled place of Tianqiong City."

Immediately, Raven ordered all the World Serpent soldiers to assemble, get on their vehicles and prepare to leave.

On the vehicle, Raven turned on the communication device and wanted to call the Jackal.

After some time, the Jackal accessed the communication.

"Jackal, I've already got the terminal bracelet. Have you found a way out?"

After that, the communication channel fell silent.

After a long while, a sneer came from the other side.

"Who is the Jackal? And why should I help you out? Ant... just stay in this cage and become the cornerstone of this great evolution!! Hahahahaha!"

"Beep beep..."

The communication was disconnected, and Raven was dumbfounded, with confusion in his big eyes.

"From the sound, it's a jackal, huh? What the hell is this..."

Before Raven could think about it, several tank-level Honkai beasts suddenly appeared on the road ahead and attacked them.

"Damn it! What the hell is going on?!"

Raven cursed under his breath, then shouted, "Everyone, stand guard! Enter combat mode!"

Volume 1: The Birth of miHoYo: 079 For Everyone! Become a Member! (3/5)

Tianqiong City Street·Soon

Kiana Kaslana, who had barely escaped using the Herrscher of the Sky's abilities, was now leaning against a broken concrete wall, her chest heaving violently.

The purple poisonous mist still raged through her veins, and every breath stung like swallowing broken glass. Her trembling fingers brushed across her cheek, leaving a trail of sweat and blood.

"How could it... become like this..."

Looking up, the entire city had been reduced to a hellish state. Tall buildings lay shattered, as if gnawed by a giant beast. A new breed of Honkai Beasts roamed the streets—their shells covered in eerie black markings, their eyes flickering with an ominous purple light. Even more terrifying, those Honkai Beasts defeated by the Sky City mecha troops transformed into a sticky black mist, only to reappear a short distance away in an instant.

"Cough...cough cough!"

Kiana suddenly doubled over, a violent coughing fit blinding her vision. A rusty taste rose from the back of her throat, and her spit was streaked with blood. Only then did she realize that the gas wasn't just a Houkai energy suppressant, but also a deadly neurotoxin.

In the distance came the roar of crumbling reinforced concrete, followed by heartbreaking cries. Kiana closed her eyes, but countless voices flooded into her mind like a tide.