Rumble—
Amid the trembling and thunderous roar of engines, the massive Honkai plasma flames spewing from the rear of the warship gradually weakened.
The transport craft lowered its altitude, circling Midgard Floating Island once to adjust its angle. Following instructions from the control tower, it extended its landing gear and descended toward the deliberately cleared open space on the runway.
On the hull, the emblem of the Holy Testament spread within burning golden flames, declaring its identity—the Seventeenth Astartes Legion, the God-Empress Preachers.
Inside the transport bay, rows of Astartes clad in deep gray power armor stood in perfect formation, chests lifted, fully prepared.
An Astartes Chaplain holding a power crozius walked before the ranks, personally pinning small parchment slips—handwritten excerpts from the Holy Testament—onto each warrior's orichalcum shoulder plate with a skull-shaped red seal.
He adjusted their appearance and bearing.
After all, they were about to meet allied forces.
The presence of Chaplains was one of the defining traits of the Seventeenth Legion, the God-Empress Preachers. Depending on the style of each Legion Commander, some Legions had them, some did not.
Yet no Legion integrated Chaplains as thoroughly as the God-Empress Preachers, embedding them down to the smallest tactical unit level.
In truth, under Lorgar's meticulous guidance, every Astartes warrior of the Seventeenth Legion had been trained into an exceptionally devout believer. Their professionalism in roles such as priest, preacher, and missionary was beyond question.
If not for organizational limits, Lorgar would have gladly made every warrior in the Legion an officially ordained Chaplain.
Thus, the Seventeenth Legion was often jokingly referred to within the Imperial military as the "cultist Legion."
"Legion Commander, we have arrived at Schicksal Headquarters—Midgard, one of the nine primary floating islands," a warrior reported.
The dark gray precision-forged composite armor was engraved with dense pale-gold prayers. Under the cold white lighting, the sacred armor shimmered like living runes, each character clearly visible.
"Mm."
With a crimson cloak hanging behind him, Lorgar stood with arms crossed. Turning his head, he looked toward the containment grid beside him.
Within it lay his captured trophy.
Inside the cage, Pardofelis lay slumped on the cold armor plating. Her head hung low, her clothes tattered, revealing smooth, newly regenerated fair skin—soft and delicate as if freshly born.
Aside from her ruined clothing, she looked almost the same as before the battle.
Except...
Her cat ears and tail were now completely bald.
From a fluffy Siamese cat to a hairless Sphynx.
"I reviewed the combat footage from the squad that engaged her," said a Seventeenth Legion officer bearing command insignia. "Her overall combat capability isn't impressive, but she's extremely agile. High physical responsiveness."
"And her regenerative ability is remarkable," he added, glancing at her newly restored skin.
When she had first been carried aboard, she had suffered extensive muscle tears, blunt-force trauma, lacerations, and burns—red and purple bruises covering her body. Yet in such a short time, everything had healed.
"Fear of fire. Cat ears. Cat tail. Feline agility... A specialized modified human?" another senior commander offered, eyeing the sharp tip of her tail.
"A MANTIS..." Lorgar stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Just then—
"Mm..."
Pardofelis' hairless flesh-toned cat ears twitched.
Her brows furrowed as she murmured faintly, her voice no louder than a mosquito's buzz.
"She's awake."
"Perfect timing."
Rubbing her splitting headache, Pardofelis slowly opened her eyes, staring blankly at the unfamiliar surroundings.
"W-Where am I...? I feel awful... I'm so hungry."
Though MANTIS warriors did not strictly require food to survive, she had only just awakened from hibernation and had been beaten before her body fully readjusted. Repairing her injuries consumed energy.
Naturally, intense hunger now gnawed at her.
After a long moment, she regained clarity and raised her head—
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Towering shadows loomed over her.
More than a dozen glowing green visors stared down, cold metallic gazes locked onto her. At the front, Lorgar wrinkled his nose and released a low, warning snort.
"Awake?"
"Y-Yeah... huh? W-Wah—! Y-You, you guys—!"
Realization struck.
Pardofelis instantly bristled, rolling and springing to her feet—only to slam her head into the cage ceiling with a bang.
"Ow!"
She whimpered like a wounded cub.
Lorgar's eye twitched.
Was this really a senior cadre of World Serpent? A MANTIS of MOTH?
She seemed more like an idiot.
At that moment, the engine roar ceased. With a slight tremor, the transport craft settled firmly onto the busy runway.
Shaking his head, Lorgar turned as the hatch opened and strode out first.
What does that bald guy want? What's he going to do with me? I should be fine, right...
She tried to reassure herself.
The next second, tears welled up in her eyes as she collapsed face-first onto the floor plating.
"There's no way I'm fine! Waaaah! My canned food... what do I do...?"
Clang—
Bang bang!
"Out."
A power sword—its disintegration field inactive—struck the cage. The grid opened. The company commander of the God-Empress Preachers stared down at her, his amplified voice grinding like sand.
"Hehe... bosses, I didn't cause any trouble, did I...?" Pardofelis peeked her head out cautiously, rubbing her hands together as she looked up at the wall-like gray-armored giant.
"Out."
The tone did not change.
But blue electric arcs suddenly burst along the finely crafted power sword.
I am an Astartes. I have no emotions.
"O-Okay... I'll be very obedient..."
The cat chose survival.
Escorted by his Legion's Honor Guard, Lorgar descended the ramp. Officials of the First Astartes Legion—the Dark Angels—had already been waiting.
"Legion Commander Lorgar, Legion Commander Alex and the other generals have already begun dining. Please follow me."
"Brothers of the Seventeenth Legion, your banquet hall is just ahead. Please come this way."
"Wait."
Lorgar raised a hand to stop the leading Dark Angel.
"Assign a squad. Settle this prisoner."
The Dark Angels officer of the Honor Guard replied tactfully, "There's no rush. Legion Commander Lorgar, it would be better if you bring her personally. Legion Commander Alex and the others are still waiting to admire your trophy."
"Tell me honestly. What are they planning?"
"You'll know once you arrive," the Dark Angels officer said calmly.
...
Elsewhere.
"Yo."
Selene sat down unhurriedly, withdrawing her gaze from the notes on the Edge of Taixuan written by Fu Hua. She looked up and waved with a smile.
"You've worked hard, my generals."
Cough cough cough—
"Your Majesty!"
Violent coughing broke out. All the Legion Commanders instantly froze mid-action, halted their conversations, straightened their backs, placed both hands neatly on their knees, and sat upright in perfect posture, looking at Selene in unison.
"Drink. Why did you all stop?" Selene asked suspiciously.
Heaven and earth bore witness—she had simply come over because she felt like it. She had no other intentions. It was a banquet, and she liked banquets. She definitely had not come to scare them.
"Drink!"
Selene smiled faintly and gestured for an attendant to bring over the wine. She poured herself a small cup of honeyed wine, took a light sip, and said, "Perfect. I'm a little hungry as well. Let's eat together."
As she spoke, she casually motioned for the attendants to adjust the seating.
After all, although her normal height ranked near the top among mortal women—she could certainly reach the table, unlike Theresa—it was still somewhat awkward.
Even with the platform stilettos she wore, their needle-thin heels lifting her nearly half a foot higher, the table had clearly been made for beings of a very different scale.
Compared to the Astartes Legion Commanders who stood three to four meters tall...
The difference was obvious.
"Your Majesty, I was prepared!"
Alex was the first to spring up. He shoved the attendant aside and personally folded down the sides of the round table.
Adjusting the table was good. A round table symbolized equality. Selene dared to sit at the same round table as them—but they did not dare accept such equality.
"Wow, Senior Alex, I didn't expect you to be so... ahem... adaptable," one of the other Legion Commanders muttered.
Seeing this, the other Astartes Legion Commanders also hurried to assist.
Only one white-haired loli stood there awkwardly, at a complete loss.
Wow. The difference in treatment is way too obvious. Oh right—the other party is the Empress. Never mind.
Looking at the white-haired loli whose feet dangled in the air as she sat blankly on the chair, Selene laughed softly and beckoned.
In an instant, Theresa was pulled over.
"Wah! What's happening?!"
Her slender body twisted midair like a lifted doll before being tossed into Fu Hua's arms.
"I'll leave her to you."
"Wah, Fu Hua! I missed you all so mu—hm?"
Eyes closed, Theresa nuzzled into what she assumed was a flat chest—only to be startled by a soft, unfamiliar sensation.
Wait... second growth spurt?!
Fu Hua immediately felt a surge of malicious intent.
"Phew, scared me." Opening her eyes and visibly relaxing, Theresa noticed another green-haired loli occupying Fu Hua's arms.
Putting on her principal's authority, she demanded, "Who are you?"
Earlier, Alex and the others had been too massive, the table too tall, and the dishes piled too high. She hadn't even seen Fu Hua.
Mobius flicked her tongue playfully and blinked her beautiful snake-like eyes in a rather seductive tone.
"Me? Allow me to introduce myself. A shy maiden blooming like a flower—that would be me, Mobius. Principal Theresa."
The tone made goosebumps erupt across Theresa's skin.
Staring at the green-haired loli roughly her own size, a certain figure gradually surfaced in her mind.
Rita?
Mobius seemed to find this amusing and began poking Theresa's cheeks repeatedly.
"Mobius, you're still imitating Elysia's tone," Fu Hua said, holding two lolis with black lines across her forehead.
"Hehe. It's easier to lure clueless little lab rats onto my operating table that way... That shameless Elysia—at least she's useful for something."
"What are you even talking about?" Theresa blinked in confusion.
Standing nearby, Selene glanced back.
Elysia...
After devouring her memory construct within the Elysian Realm and observing the impressions the other Flame-Chasers held of her, even Selene had felt a bit speechless.
A truly extraordinary person.
Flipping through Elysia's memories, every crooked page seemed filled with the words "I like you"—whether directed at him or her.
One could only say—God loves all people.
Pink through and through.
Outward and inward, completely consistent.
By observing Elysia, Selene had indeed learned quite a few flirtatious techniques.
She simply had not put them into practice.
Of course, Selene was self-aware.
Her imitation captured only the form, not the soul.
Soon, the round table was extended into a long one. After rearranging seats, everyone sat down again, Selene naturally occupying the head position.
After a brief moment of awkward staring, the atmosphere quickly warmed up.
After all, they were Legion Commanders. They had spent a long time with Selene and understood her character well.
She was not one to fuss over trivialities.
As long as no one committed a fundamental mistake or happened to run straight into the muzzle of Selene's gun, she was far easier to get along with than Great General Budo.
And most importantly—Sebas was not here.
As long as no informants reported them, no one would pursue matters of decorum or elegance.
"Sit."
Arranging for Fu Hua to sit beside her, Selene first plucked the two lolis out and tossed them to the children's table. Then she sliced off a piece of premium dragon-type Danger Beast steak for Fu Hua.
"It's excellent. A specialty from the Imperial Capital—premium dragon-type Danger Beast. Its meat nourishes muscle and repairs bodily damage."
As she spoke, Selene calmly tore off a massive rib of dragon-type Danger Beast and, with elegant yet astonishing speed, devoured it entirely.
"Medicinal cuisine?"
"You could say that. High-level Danger Beasts and beasts from a savage world—if properly prepared, their meat generally provides beneficial enhancement to the human body. I'll introduce it to you when we return to the Imperial Capital."
Taking a sip from her cup, Selene leaned back thoughtfully.
"There's news about the Herrscher consciousness that once shared your body."
"Where is she?"
Meeting Fu Hua's green eyes, Selene spoke clearly.
"North America. Liver discovered her. After that, Esdeath, Hak Foo, and Borsalino joined in pursuing and intercepting her."
"Judging by the time... the battle should already be over."
"Your Majesty!"
Fu Hua abruptly stood up.
"Your Majesty, may I go to her? I still have a promise to fulfill."
"Don't worry. I gave orders beforehand—capture alive."
Purple-red Honkai energy particles gathered at Selene's fingertips. In the next instant, a projected screen appeared.
On it, a figure clad in icy blue was racing toward Schicksal Headquarters at high speed.
In her hand, a mass of black mist locked inside a Honkai Cube cage instantly drew Fu Hua's attention.
"She's fine. Esdeath will escort her here. As for you—how do you plan to handle her?"
Resting her chin on her hand, Selene gazed at the imprisoned black mist on the screen, a strange smile curling on her lips.
Perhaps... I should indulge myself a little this time.