"Huff... huff... that should clean everything up."
Shigure Kira panted heavily as she looked around.
More than eighty Valkyries lay sprawled across the ground around them. With only their own five members, the Snowwolf Squad had nearly wiped out one-fifth of Schicksal Headquarters' forces. That kind of record was nothing short of terrifying.
But their own consumption had not been small either. The two responsible for long-range support, Shigure Kira and Patricia, had completely run out of ammunition. The pair had ended up using their sniper rifles and Gatling gun as blunt weapons.
Meanwhile, the three who specialized in close combat—Cheng Lixue, Salome, and Shub—were also gasping for breath, on the verge of their limits.
"Y-You're way too strong..."
Theresa was still in relatively good condition. Possessing the bloodline of Kaslana and as a fusion warrior of Vishnu, though she was small in stature, her strength and stamina were the greatest among them.
The white-haired little bundle stared in shock at the Snowwolf Squad's combat power, which was absurdly high. Even the five strongest A-rank Valkyries of Schicksal, facing such high-intensity waves of battle—
To defeat nearly a hundred opponents and suffer nothing more than massive stamina depletion without any serious injuries—the gap between ordinary Valkyries and the five members of the Snowwolf Squad was painfully obvious.
It was clear that all five had already reached super A-rank standards, with one foot stepping into the domain of S-rank.
"Ha... ha... if we couldn't even handle this much, then Mr. Elias' training would have been for nothing."
"Yeah. But thinking about it now, we still know far too little about that man. Next time, we should find a chance to ask him properly."
"By the way, Captain is really slow. Did she get held up by some troublesome enemy? With her speed, she should've arrived by now."
"Impossible. Lady Cecilia is Schicksal's strongest S-rank Valkyrie. Who could possibly make her take this long?"
"Wait, more enemies are coming... the Overseer?!"
"Grandpa!"
The five members of the Snowwolf Squad and Theresa instantly tensed to their limits. In their eyes, Otto Apocalypse was without question the most dangerous enemy in this world.
Clap clap clap—!
"To defeat so many... it seems you, like Cecilia, have been hiding your true strength all along."
"Not good! We're surrounded!"
Fifty Schicksal Aesir units suddenly appeared.
Though they were only early models, each possessed combat capability equivalent to an upper B-rank Valkyrie. At the same time, several heavily armed Valkyrie squads arrived, along with numerous soulium bodies of Otto.
The five girls of the Snowwolf Squad turned pale. This was already far beyond the limit of what they could handle. If a fight broke out now, they would likely be wiped out instantly.
Though all five were powerful, none had reached a level where they could ignore overwhelming numerical disparity.
"This is bad. Pick a direction and break through with everything we have."
"No! Captain hasn't arrived yet!"
"But if this continues, we'll all be annihilated."
Just as they hesitated in tension, Otto presented them with yet another piece of dreadful news.
"There is no need to wait for Cecilia. Because she has already arrived. Look—she's right here."
"Lady Cecilia/Captain!" x6
Otto tossed Abyss Flower onto the ground. At the same time, two Valkyries escorted Cecilia forward in restraints.
In an instant, the Snowwolf Squad's morale collapsed.
"Impossible! How could Captain lose?!"
"Heh. In this world, nothing is impossible. So-called impossibilities are merely events that have not yet occurred. That said... I too have suffered heavy losses."
Otto glanced at Cecilia, who was bound in shackles. His eyes were filled with deep wariness and killing intent.
Cecilia's strength had far exceeded his expectations.
By herself alone, she had destroyed more than sixty of his soulium bodies. One had to know that each of those soulium bodies possessed at least lower A-rank Valkyrie-level combat strength.
Moreover, soulium itself was extraordinarily durable and possessed properties that rejected and isolated Honkai energy. For this newly promoted S-rank Valkyrie to achieve such results was far too abnormal.
"Grandpa, what despicable method did you use?!"
"Theresa... even you have betrayed me?"
"You have no right to decide Cecilia's future or arrange her life. I stand against you because you did something wrong. This is—my anger as her friend!"
As she spoke, Theresa hurled the weapon in her hand with all her strength.
Several Aesir units immediately deployed protective barriers in front of Otto. However, the tyrannical force pierced straight through them.
Though the armor of the Aesir formed another layer of obstruction, in the end, the spear tip still slightly penetrated Otto's chest.
"...A fine strike. Very well. The power of emotion truly exceeds my imagination. Cecilia became strong and courageous enough to defy me because of love. And now, Theresa, this spear thrown in anger has surpassed your former limits."
"It seems I must henceforth incorporate emotion into my calculations. You have proven that this intangible thing can indeed unleash power beyond my expectations."
"And... as you guessed, Theresa, I did use less-than-honorable means. But what of it? After all, I have never claimed to be a good person."
As Otto spoke, he brought out a massive golden cross.
"Judah!!"
Theresa's eyes widened as she recognized her partner.
"The Zeroth Power of Oath of Judah is truly formidable. Even an S-rank Valkyrie will be weakened to insignificance in an instant. I truly wonder how the Previous Era defeated the Herrscher of Binding," Otto praised.
"I knew it! Otherwise, no matter how many soulium bodies you had, Grandpa, there's no way Cecilia could have lost!"
Theresa clenched her small fists. The Elysion Pedion, capable of completely nullifying Honkai energy and severely suppressing other forms of power—once activated, the outcome was almost decided.
"Methods are irrelevant. Results are everything. Now I offer you one final chance to surrender. You are all Valkyries of great potential. To die here would be such a waste."
Otto gazed at the Snowwolf Squad and Theresa as he spoke.
Under normal circumstances, he would have already ordered their execution. But Theresa was one of the few people toward whom he felt softness. And the Snowwolf Squad's strength had also exceeded his expectations.
Super A-rank Valkyries who could one day grow into S-rank—even Otto was reluctant to kill them so easily. After all, in Schicksal's history, there had never been five S-rank Valkyries existing simultaneously.
He had no desire to destroy tools with such potential.
"In your dreams!!" x6
The girls answered in unified refusal.
Their weapons all aimed at Otto. There was no need for discussion. They already knew exactly what they had to do.
Take back their captain—then break through the encirclement!
"Very well. That response was within my expectations. In that case, let us test the results of my research."
Otto shrugged and snapped his fingers.
The next second, a Schicksal Aesir fired a shell into the sky above Theresa and the others. The projectile exploded midair, and crimson liquid rained down like a storm, drenching the girls.
"Damn it! Is this some kind of poison?!"
"No... this smell... it's blood!"
"What's going on? My strength—it's disappearing!"
All six were shocked. They could clearly feel the Honkai energy within their bodies dissipating rapidly. Especially Theresa—being a fusion warrior—she grew so weak she could barely stand.
"Excellent, excellent~ The Schariac Holy Blood that can eliminate Honkai energy in an instant... it seems the cloning was truly a success." Otto's lips curled upward in satisfaction.
"So this is why you never allowed Cecilia to leave Schicksal Headquarters!"
"Correct. A precious Holy Blood bearer like her—if she were to fall into outsiders' hands—would pose quite the threat. And now that the Holy Blood can be successfully cloned, even if a Herrscher-level enemy appears in the future, I will have no need to fear."
Otto gazed at the falling rain of blood. Rather than repulsive, it carried a strange sense of sanctity. His mood improved slightly. Then he looked at the six girls, now utterly powerless.
"Take them away. Lock them in prison so they may reflect properly. Killing them outright would be far too wasteful."
He possessed many methods to make people "have a change of heart."
At that moment, Otto had already conceived several ideas—for example, using Fenghuang Down to alter Cecilia and the others' memories.
When the time came, whether it was making Cecilia obediently enter a marriage alliance, turning the Snowwolf Squad back into his chess pieces, or reconciling Theresa with himself—such matters would be trivial.
However, just as the girls were about to be captured—
Buzzzzz—!
An incomparable pressure suddenly descended.
"What's happening?!"
Everyone felt as if a mountain had been placed upon their backs. At the same time, a sensation of weightlessness struck them. The entire Schicksal floating island was plunging downward under overwhelming gravitational force.
BOOM—!!!
In the end, the floating island crashed into the Mediterranean Sea below. The tremendous splash and the seawater surging upward washed across the entirety of Schicksal Headquarters.
Otto's expression turned grave.
Gravity manipulation? Could it be Welt leading Anti-Entropy in an assault? No... impossible. With his current strength, that would be beyond him. Then who?
The next moment—
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap...
Amid the chaotic surroundings, a white-clad youth appeared at some unknown time. His footsteps were crisp, yet each step struck like a heavy hammer against everyone's heart.
That overwhelming sense of presence drew all eyes toward him.
He's here!
Hidden in the shadows, Fu Hua's eyes widened. Her intention to intervene vanished instantly. Unconsciously, she stretched out her hand toward the white figure, as if yearning.
"!!!"
Otto stared at the familiar platinum mask. Even through the crystal lenses over the eye sockets, the golden gaze behind it was like twin blades, making it impossible for him to meet them directly.
"It's you!!"
"Otto Apocalypse. If you truly wish to die, I can grant you the most agonizing death in this world. But even such a death would not atone for the sins you have committed."
Elias, having descended upon this place, spoke coldly.
With a casual flick of his scythe-form Seven Thunders of Retribution, a several-hundred-meter-long chasm was carved across the floating island that had already fallen into the sea.
"How are you here... was there a traitor?!"
Otto's face darkened. He had originally intended to use this opportunity to lure Elias here and kill him—but he had arrived too quickly. Not even half an hour had passed since Cecilia's defection.
There was only one answer.
There was a traitor within Schicksal.
Who could it be? There are far too many suspects. Among the more than two hundred Valkyries he once captured, any of them could be the traitor. No—now is not the time to think about that.
Otto's gaze locked onto the white youth before him. From the very first time he had met Elias, a strange impulse had risen within him—kill him, kill him at all costs.
This man was the greatest threat of his life.
Otto Apocalypse was both cautious and arrogant. He had never regarded anyone as an opponent. There were only a handful of people in this world he deemed worthy of notice.
And yet...
When facing Elias—
He realized that he was the challenger.
Otto took a deep breath and met Elias' razor-sharp gaze directly, staring at the youth who seemed almost divine.
"It has been a long time. Will you still not remove the mask from your face? Not even willing to tell me how I should address you?"
"Because the current you is not worthy."
"Heh. I do not recall how many years it has been since anyone dared speak to me in such a tone. Very well. If that is the case, then to satisfy my curiosity, I shall simply kill you first—then remove your mask and behold your true face."
"You? Kill me? Delusional."
"Whether it is delusion or not—we shall know once we try!"
Otto immediately issued an order to the Aesir.
All the units charged toward Elias at once, as if intending to smash him to death through sheer impact.
Behind the platinum mask, the golden eyes were filled with deep contempt—like one observing toys made of paper.
Elias merely swung the scythe in his hand lightly. No one present could see his movement clearly. In an instant, the Aesir units were cleaved in two, reduced to piles of scrap metal.
"Trash."
"That arrogance will be your downfall!"
Otto forcefully pressed a certain button. The severed Aesir units exploded simultaneously. The Schariac Holy Blood stored within them vaporized into a crimson mist, instantly engulfing Elias.
"No matter how strong you are, as long as you use Honkai energy, the Holy Blood will reduce you to an ordinary man. Well? How does it feel to have your own power gradually stripped away?"
"Is that all?"
With a casual wave of his hand, the authority of the Herrscher of Wind dispersed the blood mist completely. He stood entirely unharmed.
After all, how could the so-called Holy Blood the Fool took pride in possibly affect Elias—who had already become the true source of the Schariac Holy Blood?
Not to mention, compared to Elias' blood, Cecilia's Holy Blood was pitifully impure. His blood alone could grievously wound and weaken a Planet-class Honkai Beast.
Moreover, Elias' immense reserves of Honkai energy were not something this small amount of Holy Blood could erase.
"Impossible! The Holy Blood didn't work?!"
"Otto. You understand nothing about true power."
Elias no longer restrained his aura.
In the next second, everyone present felt their scalps go numb, their entire bodies trembling uncontrollably.
A Planet-class Chimera MANTIS possessing over 3,000,000 HW of Honkai energy—merely the presence of his existence was enough to inspire terror.
Even Otto Apocalypse was no exception.
This was absolute suppression at the level of biological hierarchy—like a noble and mighty dragon gazing down upon insignificant ants.
Elias spoke calmly.
"Have you prepared yourself to repent?"