Previously: To hunt down The Herrscher of the Void and the Herrscher of the Dragon, Rita Rossweisse has returned to Arc City. But to her surprise, the city has fallen into World Serpent's clutches. Its machinations trapping her in a cul-de-sac. At the critical moment, her prey comes to her aid. And thus, the fates of the hunter and the prey entwine...

In a secluded corner on the outskirts of Arc City: "......!" "......!" Kiana and I woke up from our sleep. "Kiana? Patrick?" Asked Fu Hua. "...I fell asleep?" Asked Kiana. "Yes we both did." I answered. "I dreamed that I was standing on the moon or somewhere, and was about to face a big fight. And there was a man. He thought I was someone else and called me Hua. He looked familiar, but I don't know him. But I also saw Toriyama." Explained Kiana. "I was in the same dream too. Only I wasn't someone else, I was like an invisible spirit. I think it was the past." I said. "...That was my memory, Kiana. And Patrick, that must have been Toriyama's memory also. Looks like our minds have intertwined for some reason. I also started to recall my past through your dreams and when I met Toriyama at the temple. It didn't come up so I never told either of you. But you probably wouldn't believe anyway—I'm actually not a Valkyrie. I've lived for so long—long enough to have seen what you call the Previous Era. I'm a survivor of that era. I am also Jingwai from the legends." Explained Fu Hua.

"Wha...?! I always feel that you're special, but this...?! This is too..." "Too much to take in?" I asked. "Exactly." Answered Kiana. "And Drago. Remember that girl who used fire that fought with you against Sirin? That girl was me." Said Fu Hua before Drago's illusion appeared. "You. I thought you looked familiar before we first met at St. Freya. You used the water sword only to be destroyed." Said Drago. "Precisely." "So the records about you in the lab are all true...?! Then... who's that guy talking to you and Toriyama in our dream?" Asked Kiana. "Kevin Kaslana, the start of the Kaslana bloodline, a survivor of the final battle in the Previous Era, and... humanity's best protector, if he died in that battle. But the battle was so brutal, that it changed me, and Kevin. It also changed Toriyama before he created the Gem of Protection and the Dragon Divine Keys. After the war, he established an organization named World Serpent, and started his plan to revive humanity." Explained Fu Hua.

"World Serpent... You mean Project Stigma?" Asked Kiana. "Yes, This project might be an imperative, but its cost is far beyond what humanity could afford. Many disapproved of what he was doing and eve turned against him. Till the day he disappeared from the world." Explained Fu Hua. "What happened?" Asked Kiana. "That was too long of a story to go into right now. Anyway, his disappearance was a relief to many people. The World Serpent also collapsed because of that. I even thought it was gone hundreds of years ago. But in the Heliopolis underground lab, when I saw those records about me, and that familiar logo... I realized it's still alive, hiding in the shadows, waiting for its ruler's return. Listen, Kiana. We must leave Arc City. If that man comes back, and all this was part of his plan... You will be in great danger! Knowing him, once he finds you, he will definitely kill you." Explained Fu Hua.

"She's right Kiana, the time has come for us to leave Arc City. He hammered me down in the Sea of Quanta and almost took the Gem of Protection away from me. Even as a Herrscher and with the Dragon Divine Keys, I can't surpass him." I explained after. "In the past I would have been able to protect you, but now..." "...So I have no choice but to run away? Like what we've been doing the past three months?" Kiana interrupted Fu Hua. "Exactly Kiana. It's for your own safety and protection. We were unable to beat Fu Hua and Durandal before we were captured and we can't even fight Kevin." I answered. "But what's the point of running... if it doesn't take me anywhere. I'll only end up huddling in a corner again." "No you won't. We're gonna have to find somewhere else to hide away from Schicksal, now that Rita and Immortal Blades have found us. We can't keep staying in Arc City any longer. It's only a matter of time before you get captured again." "I won't leave Arc City. I don't wanna be a helpless girl running away from her problems forever." This made me and Fu Hua shocked. "..." "..." "So that Schicksal can recapture you again?" I asked. "I want to prevent World Serpent from hurting more people." Said Kiana.

"Kiana, we've gone to the Dragon Temple and my home country. Now we have to leave ARC City so that World Serpent and Schicksal doesn't try to capture you. We need to leave so that Rita doesn't capture us. The time to return to our friends and family is now or never." I said. "No way! I'm staying in Arc City and that's final!" Kiana raised her voice. "If you've made up your mind, I won't try to change it." Said Fu Hua. "Fine... I'll stay in Arc City with you, Idiotka. But if Schicksal has us corned and we can't escape. You will use Sirin's powers and get us out of Arc City and too somewhere far away. Do we have a deal on that?" I asked. "Fine, a deal." Said Kiana taking my hand and shaking it in agreement. "But remember, Kiana, if Kevin shows up in Arc City, promise me you'll try to avoid him." Said Fu Hua. "She's right. We have no chance at beating him in a two on one fight." I said. "...Okay. About Project Stigma, the vaccines were shipped to Shenzhou a year ago, was it the start of the Serpent's plan?" Asked Kiana.

"No, just part of the plan. The next step is to activate the stigma. But only their core members know the detail." Said Fu Hua. "The World Serpent is definitely on that now. We must hurry up." Said Kiana. "What's your plan?" "Simple—I plan to go back to the biomedical park to find that zombie commander. She looks like someone important... She must know something. Rita just created some distractions there, maybe we'll have a shot. Though Patrick and I had a huge fight in that park..." "Don't push yourself too hard, Kiana. You need rest..." "I've rested enough. The earlier I go, the bigger chance we have." "What should we do with Rita?"

We came to Rita, who still remained unconscious, and examined her wounds. "Leave her here for now." Said Kiana. Kiana and I looked around, making sure that we didn't leave any traces, then left the room. But we did not know, a pair of eyes opened the second we closed the door. Rita heard everything.

As we got outside, we saw Mecha guards on patrol. "Mecha guards are showing up outside." Said Fu Hua. "Then we better stay out of their sight and to not engage." I said as we began to sneak past the Mecha guards. "Take the stairs up yo get out." Said Fu Hua. We went up the stairs. But then there were more Mecha guards. "Mecha guards! We need some distraction." Said Fu Hua. "Then let's detonate some bombs." Said Kiana. "Good idea." I said. We set up the first bomb. "This is a good spot." Said Fu Hua before we went back down and set up the second bomb. "Looks good here. Stay clear. They'll explode soon." Said Fu Hua. We got far from the bombs then set them off as they blew up. This caught the attention of the Mecha guards as they rushed to where the explosions were set off. "That should be enough." Said Fu Hua. "Now we go while we have the chance. Kiana and I ran back up and right. "Right ahead." Said Fu Hua as we made it out.

I secretly started to record a message. "Mei, it's me. Look, Kiana and I don't have much time. Schicksal knows that we are in ARC City and is getting closer to capturing us. Kiana refuses to return to you because she's scared that Sirin will kill you. I need you to get to ARC City as fast as you can. Hurry." Then I sent the message.

'Sorry Kiana, but we need to get out of here as soon as possible. The message should go straight to the Ningyo so they can receive it and to get us out of here before Schicksal or World Serpent catches us.'