Later, Wendy brought good news—Welt had agreed to her strategy regarding the Herrscher of a Thousand People.
"Unification is not about patching the remnants of the old world; it involves purging decay and rebuilding society anew, establishing a comprehensive order that reaches every corner. To confront the darkness surging forth from the abyss of humanity, we must respond with fire, never gentleness. Such a mission cannot afford elegance or complacency. For a brighter future, against Honkai itself, even amidst brutality, our struggle will persist until the end."
Wendy relayed Welt's compassionate yet resolute words.
When even the most moderate Welt displayed such determination, naturally, neither Otto nor Einstein would show mercy either. Throughout Anti-Entropy and Schicksal, there would no longer be room for luck.
This was destined to be an unprecedented storm. Since they had chosen to unleash thunder... The Herrscher of a Thousand People and Wendy's plan were merely ordinary raindrops amid the tempest—hardly worth mentioning.
The combat strategy for the Herrscher Squad could proceed as planned, but not one girl felt any joy at this prospect.
"Uncle Welt must have been under immense pressure..." Seele murmured sorrowfully.
She knew just how kind-hearted Welt was. He cherished every letter from the children he once saved, carefully storing them away in his bedroom and proudly recounting their stories whenever the opportunity arose.
Still young, Seele didn't fully grasp many things, but she understood that everyone was undertaking incredibly difficult tasks out of necessity. From Welt and Zeke above to her elder sisters beside her, down to the countless older siblings who continuously trained and graduated at Anti-Entropy Headquarters each year, all were striving tirelessly.
But what about herself? As a Herrscher, what could she do to help?
Gathering courage, Seele looked up at the thoughtful faces around her.
"Everyone, next time we're in battle, please let Seele fight alongside you!" she declared.
Despite her fear of the unfamiliar battlefield and its countless dangers—though unimaginable, undoubtedly terrifying—Seele resolved to take this step forward.
"Seele..."
Kiana, Wendy, and Raiden Mei looked at Seele, who was striving to hold her head high, with pride and affection.
Kiana gently stroked Seele's hair, smiled warmly, then turned to address the others: "Based on Wendy's analysis, once news of unification spreads, the Herrscher of a Thousand People will inevitably seize the opportunity to cause trouble. When that happens, I propose entrusting any external missions to Wendy and Seele."
"Why only us two?" Wendy asked Kiana, not out of doubt but seeking a reasonable explanation.
The others shared similar reactions, their gazes fixed on Kiana.
Kiana's smile faded as she tilted her head back, as if peering through the ceiling at something unseen. She posed another question: "Is the Herrscher of a Thousand People truly significant?"
This unexpected query left everyone perplexed.
Without giving them time to ponder, Kiana continued immediately:
"No, they're not important. They're just a bunch of weaklings huddled in a corner, thinking themselves clever. If Zeke wanted to, he could effortlessly take care of them anytime. So why did he assign this task to us?"
"...It's for training and testing," Wendy replied.
Kiana nodded.
"You're right—it is about training and testing. The crucial aspect isn't completing the mission efficiently or even whether we can eliminate our targets; it's our own growth. We all understand the power of Herrschers well enough. Bearing such strength, we must become formidable champions capable of holding up the sky—that's the true purpose behind Zeke assigning these tasks. Please remember: the Herrscher of a Thousand People doesn't matter; what matters is our development before Zeke returns."
Speechless, Wendy exchanged glances with Raiden Mei, who also agreed with Kiana's words, and they both nodded silently. Seele and Ana seemed somewhat puzzled but listened attentively without further comment, absorbing the information.
Kiana continued, "Wendy and Seele have already achieved near-perfect Herrscher status. Wendy needs this battle of wits, courage, and strength to hone her skills beyond her inherent abilities. Seele requires stepping out of her peaceful environment to truly experience the battlefield. For both of you, the Herrscher of a Thousand People serves as the ideal sharpening stone."
Kiana looked at Wendy and then Seele, offering them both encouraging smiles.
Wendy's furrowed brow gradually relaxed as she pondered, seemingly grasping Kiana's intentions.
With her hand on her chest, Kiana sighed softly. "Unlike us three, our primary issues must be resolved within ourselves," she said. "I need to confront my inner Resentful One and fully master the Herrscher of the Void's abilities. Raiden needs to understand what she lacks and overcome the barrier of transformation as soon as possible. Ana requires...a stronger version of herself—one resilient enough that when those Herrscher powers return, she can confidently declare 'For all the beauty in this world' without hesitation or fear."
"For us, hunting down the Herrscher of a Thousand People is mainly about honing our teamwork skills; beyond that, it holds little direct value. So, we'll prioritize addressing our individual challenges while considering mission execution secondary, agreed?"
Kiana gazed earnestly at Wendy, their team leader. Beneath her playful antics, she revealed a mature and insightful wisdom to everyone present.
The corners of Wendy's lips curved upward.
"What else can I say? Let's do our best together."
Wendy spread her hands with a resigned tone, but beneath it lay a smile of agreement.
Thus, with a new plan set, the Herrscher Squad split into two groups.
In the following days, Wendy and Seele teamed up to focus on eliminating the Herrscher of a Thousand People.
As for the other three, under Kiana's lead, they ventured boldly out of the Inner City: Bronya commanded her formidable mechanical forces, while Fu Hua headed the trio from Taixuan Mountain as their protectors.
Their first stop was the orphanage located in Anti-Entropy's Outer City.
"Kiana? Why are we here?" Raiden Mei asked, perplexed, stepping through the wide-open gate of the orphanage.
"To volunteer, of course!" Kiana replied matter-of-factly, flashing a radiant smile with her gleaming teeth.
"Aren't we supposed to find ways to address our own issues?"
"My battles take place in my sleep, so I need something relaxing to do during the day. As for Ana... it was Zeke's suggestion, which made sense to me, so she's today's protagonist! And Mei, honestly, I'm not sure what your specific problem is either. But regarding your 'Zeke phobia,' I've prepared this!"
Out of nowhere, Kiana produced a photo of Zeke's face, stuck it to her forehead, and approached Raiden Mei closely.
"Eeeeek!" Raiden Mei shrieked, stumbling back three steps but managing not to completely lose control.
"Huh? That's progress!" Kiana removed the photo from her face, playfully sticking out her tongue.
From immediately attacking upon seeing the photo to now managing some composure despite her shock—indeed, it showed progress.