Chapter 20: Second Challenge: Skyfire Meteor! St. Freya Academy Utility Room.

The next day, after all the miscellaneous matters had settled, Theresa found Yunduo, hoping to enter the Challenge Space with them.

Taking advantage of the Academy students' holiday, the group planned and found a time to gather here.

This time, besides Kiana's trio and Class Monitor Fu Hua, there was also Theresa, who expressed anticipation, and a bewildered Murata Himeko.

Even after arriving at the utility room, Himeko's face was full of disbelief that a space capable of predicting the future could exist.

"Challenge Space, are you there?"

Kiana called out excitedly in a low voice within the empty utility room.

Since they wanted to remain discreet, they hadn't intentionally moved the items in the utility room or done any cleaning.

There was a lot of dirty dust inside, which stirred up like a layer of waves under the sunlight.

"Stop joking with me. It's a hard-earned holiday; today I'm definitely drinking until I drop."

Himeko yawned, weary tears welling in the corners of her eyes.

"But speaking of which, Kiana, you really do have an S-Rank Valkyrie sister. She really gave me a fright on the battlefield yesterday. I originally thought you, this idiot, had secretly snuck onto the battlefield. I didn't expect this outcome."

"Sigh~ How embarrassing."

At this, she sighed.

Only Bronya clearly knew that the Herrscher of Flamescion was Yunduo.

Kiana and Mei didn't ask, and Theresa acted as if she didn't know either.

So Yunduo happened to hide her identity to avoid unnecessary trouble.

"Alright, Himeko, we aren't lying to you. Just wait a bit longer."

Theresa persuaded her. Today she wore a pure nun's habit, with a cross weapon on her back that far exceeded her own size.

The 11th Divine Key: Key of Binding, Oath of Judah!

The entire style looked both cute and violent.

Yunduo stood next to Bronya, while Kiana was pestering Mei to talk about their plans for later.

"We can begin."

Bronya reminded softly.

Yunduo nodded upon hearing this and chanted in her mind.

"Open Challenge Space."

With that, at the very moment Himeko squinted and stretched, a pure white light flashed.

The space around them distorted, and they were teleported to the Challenge Space.

"Welcome to the Challenge Space—"

A mechanical voice rang out.

"I was saying—Eh?!!"

The moment Himeko noticed something was wrong with her surroundings, she switched to a defensive posture.

"Aunt Himeko has started. Watch closely; maybe there'll be a future version of you in a bit."

After Kiana finished speaking, she ran to Yunduo's side.

"Challenge Mission Act 2: Skyfire Meteor officially begins!"

"Background Hint: Three months after the Great Collapse descended. After being saved by her at the cost of her life, Kiana arrived in Sky Dome City."

"The Honkai has already affected this city. To save the people, Kiana began to fight despite her weak body. Her mental fragility gave the Herrscher of the Void an opportunity to control Kiana."

"The phantom of Fu Hua's Fenghuang Down first appeared in Kiana's mind. However, because Fu Hua had monitored her and eventually handed her over to Schicksal, Kiana hated Fu Hua, which also gave the Herrscher of the Void an opportunity to awaken again..."

"Mission Objective 1: Resist the awakening of the Herrscher of the Void!"

"Mission Objective 2: To be unlocked!"

Looking at the first line of the background hint, Kiana's azure eyes froze.

Why was it another hint about her being saved by someone?

Who exactly died? And seeing the part later about Fu Hua betraying her, Kiana's consciousness felt as if it had been struck by lightning.

The Class Monitor monitored her and eventually handed her over to Schicksal?

Why would she do that?!!

"This time, the period is three months after the Great Collapse. It's clearly before the first challenge, Everlasting Flames, and also when the Herrscher of the Void had not yet fully controlled Kiana."

Bronya's calm voice rang in the ears of the stunned Fu Hua.

"Isn't that right, Class Monitor?"

"Yes... yes." Fu Hua's voice was somewhat low.

"Fu Hua, you—you came from Schicksal Headquarters to monitor us?!!"

"You even handed Kiana over to Schicksal Headquarters. Why?"

Mei's face turned pale in an instant. The feeling of being betrayed was like a sword piercing deep into her heart.

Previously, she had followed Kiana in calling Fu Hua 'Class Monitor,' but now her tone was full of distance.

"Fu Hua, you..."

Theresa and Himeko also frowned simultaneously, not knowing whether they should say what came next.

They wanted to question Fu Hua, but the bond from many days spent together made it difficult for them to speak.

"I'm very sorry. I don't want to lie to you; this is the truth."

"Since the Challenge Space has already told you, I was indeed sent by Schicksal Headquarters to monitor you."

After a moment of silence, Fu Hua slowly admitted it under everyone's incredulous expressions.

It was hard for her to lie to people she was familiar with.

Moreover, the facts were already laid out before them.

"But you're our Class Monitor! I thought we were best friends. Why would you do this? Is it because that Otto guy has something on you?"

Kiana was unwilling to believe that Fu Hua would truly betray them for personal gain!

The Class Monitor was never that kind of person.

"Alright, let's not argue for now. I believe the Class Monitor is still that dull Class Monitor with terrible luck. She must have her own reasons. Why don't we listen to what she has to say first?"

At this time, Yunduo stepped in to mediate.

She seemed to have never doubted or blamed Fu Hua from beginning to end.

When Yunduo looked at Fu Hua, who raised her head in confusion, a slight smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.

Once her warm and calm voice flowed into everyone's ears, it caused the flames in their hearts to extinguish one after another.

That's right, now was not the time for accusations. Finding out the reason was the most important thing.

"Well, I believe the Class Monitor. Say it—if Otto is really blackmailing you, I'll help you beat that stinky Overseer to a pulp!"

Kiana brandished her small fist.

After hearing everyone's words of belief, Fu Hua's eyes became tranquil.

Facing Himeko, who was waiting for a reply, her memories rippled for an instant.

It seemed her body was urging her to tell the truth, not wanting to betray Himeko.

Yet Fu Hua didn't know why; she clearly wasn't very close to Himeko.

Subsequently, Fu Hua followed the will in her heart and said softly:

"I was once an Immortal guarding Shenzhou, and I have been for a very long time."

"As time passed, my power also gradually faded. After an accident, I began to feel powerless against Honkai Beasts and could no longer protect the peace of Shenzhou."

"So I made a deal with Otto. Schicksal is responsible for guarding Shenzhou, and I..."

"...have to do some things for him."