Honestly speaking, Kiana didn't actually taste what that piece of tofu was like.
Because the moment it entered her mouth, a piercing scream erupted in her brain, as if the wrinkles of her cerebral cortex were being ironed flat.
Consequently, after ingesting that piece of tofu... let's tentatively call that thing "tofu"... she immediately lost consciousness.
Vaguely, she felt her consciousness being hooked down into the underworld. By the Bridge of Helplessness, she saw her late great-grandmother waving at her.
She also dreamed that Meng Po by the bridge served her a bowl of soup, but when she picked it up, it looked suspiciously like noodles.
Before she could taste the noodles, a sudden sensation of falling jolted her.
And so, she woke up.
Staring blankly at the ceiling, Kiana realized she was back in Mu's living room.
Then, she heard it.
"Hey, you're finally awake. You're a Valkyrie now."
Hearing this, Kiana instinctively reached down to check her body.
But soon, she remembered she was already a girl. She deflated like a popped balloon, looking depressed.
Only then did she have the time to look around. Raising her head, she saw Li Mu standing in front of her holding a glass of water.
Seeing her sit up, he handed her the glass.
Kiana took it and found it was warm water.
"If you're feeling unwell, drink plenty of hot water." Li Mu gave her a brilliant smile.
But Kiana, feeling depressed, just wanted to smash the cup into his face.
However, feeling the nausea in her stomach, she still lifted the cup and drank.
After the warm water went down, her stomach felt soothed, and she thought of another matter.
"Wait." Kiana stared at Li Mu. "Wasn't I having dinner at MEI's house? How did I end up at your place?"
"Because I just fished you out of the ICU!"
"???"
Seeing Kiana's confusion, Li Mu explained:
"You passed out cold during dinner and MEI's family rushed you to the hospital."
"The hospital needed a family member to sign the papers. To prevent your identity from being discovered by your parents, I had to pretend to be your relative and sneak you out. You're welcome."
Kiana rolled her eyes.
"Oh, thanks a lot!"
"I told you, we're bros. No need for thanks."
Kiana didn't reply, simply draining the remaining warm water in one go.
After finishing, she moved to hand the glass back to Li Mu.
However, just as she extended her hand...
CRACK!
With a crisp shattering sound, the glass in her hand exploded into fragments.
Kiana stared blankly at the glass shards remaining in her palm.
Only then did she realize that, aside from the lingering nausea in her stomach, her physical condition was actually unprecedentedly good.
She felt a powerful strength coursing through her veins. Right now, she felt like she could easily punch through a wall.
"This is...?"
To Kiana's confusion, Li Mu provided the answer.
"Stigmata. I implanted a Stigmata in you while you were unconscious."
"Stigmata?"
"Just think of it as a superpower from fantasy novels. Congratulations, my good bro. From now on, you are a Valkyrie with extraordinary power."
Li Mu glanced at his System mission log.
[Mission: Witness the Heiress of MEI Corp, Raiden Mei, enrolling in Chiba Academy. Reward: 300 Crystals, A-Rank Stigmata Selector Box x1]
[Status: Completed. Rewards available.]
[Mission: Witness the friendship between Kiana and Raiden Mei. Reward: 300 Crystals, A-Rank Stigmata Selector Box x1]
[Status: Completed. Rewards available.]
While Kiana was still in a coma, he had already completed the Check-In missions.
First was the mission to establish MEI Corp. He used the massive funds obtained from Eden to acquire a nearly bankrupt engineering machinery manufacturing company in Nagazora City and renamed it MEI Corp.
With Eden's financial backing, he could have built MEI Corp from scratch, but he didn't have that kind of time.
With only about a year left until the Third Eruption, if he started building the framework of MEI Corp from zero, all of East Asia would probably be wiped off the map by the Honkai before he finished.
So the optimal solution was naturally to acquire an existing company and hang up a new sign.
However, his plans for MEI Corp went beyond just using it for a Check-In and discarding it. The construction of St. Freya Academy would also require MEI Corp's resources.
So next, he would carry out drastic upgrades and restructuring on this newly branded MEI Corp to ensure it met his requirements.
But the moment MEI Corp was officially established, the System indicated that the previously missing "Raiden Mei" had been detected, and the Check-In was naturally completed.
At the same time, Kiana and MEI, who had already become friends, naturally fulfilled the requirements for the second Check-In mission.
The rewards this time totaled 600 Crystals and two A-Rank Stigmata sets.
Li Mu directly selected one set corresponding to A-Rank Valkyrie-era Kiana (White Comet/Valkyrie Ranger), loaded it into his best bro's body, and granted her most of the combat capabilities of A-Rank Kiana.
Meaning, up until now, his best bro was finally a true Valkyrie Kiana. Before this, her stats hadn't even reached White Comet levels.
Looking at the glass shards in her palm, Kiana was dazed.
Although she had believed Li Mu was a returner from 50,000 years in the future and had witnessed his various incredible abilities recently...
It wasn't until this moment, personally feeling the supernatural power flowing through her body, that she realized the weight of those words.
After being told by Li Mu about the future tragedies, she had always felt uneasy.
Because no matter how powerful her future self was supposed to be, the current her was just a physically fit high school student. Facing such catastrophic disasters, she could only feel powerless.
But now, feeling the power surging within her, a fighting spirit truly ignited in her heart.
Power was the most favorable weapon to break fate.
Kiana pressed her lips together and said to Li Mu with utmost formality, "Thank you."
In response, Li Mu wrapped his arm around her shoulder, acting all buddy-buddy, and said heroically:
"We're bros, why are you being so polite?"
"With the two of us bros working together, we'll definitely send that Herrscher of Finality packing!"
THUD!
Kiana elbowed Li Mu in the ribs, making him suck in a cold breath.
But she quickly smiled, wrapping her arm around Li Mu's neck in return, mimicking his buddy-buddy posture.
"You're right, Mu. My good brother."
"If the future is truly as dark as you say, and I have the chance to become the savior who ends it all..."
"Then take my strength and use it. I trust you, just as you trust me. Always."