Author Notes:
UmU
I am back with another GSS chapter! Things are finally back into gears, and I do wonder just what the heck is going on with Installation 08, huh? *nudge* *nudge* *wink* *wink*
Anyway, yeah, still working on the house, as expected, hence the delay. I am sorry about that part... I do have to take care of both my Mom's and my health as well in this time, so yeah.
Monthly Recruitment Drive, apologies for that long ass delay as well, is ongoing still from here to the 25th. Merry Christmas time right there, heh.
Don't forget to take some time off for the holiday season, enjoy your chapter, one nifty Ein's image, and subsequent IRL fun activities!
Peace!
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With my sword fingers holding out in front of my chest and pointed upward, I slowly exhale as I survey the aftermath of my most unfathomable attack in my repertoire of weapons and techniques. The scene at the foot of this green mountain I'm on remains pristine with no sign of any upheaval or combat having just taken place. In fact, the previously scared and innocent wildlife are returning to their once-abandoned habitat. Yet, amidst the ancient greenery of Shenzhou, there exist countless carcasses of white, unnatural monsters, Honkai beasts. Beasts that, if left unchecked, would go on to multiply and terrorize the budding civilization of Shenzhou, causing even Hua and Xuanyuan no small amount of trouble in hunting them down. It's these very Honkai beasts that suffered and had their lives extinguished by my increasingly proficient Taixuan Eminence. Despite casting an Eminence with an area of effect large enough to kill what can only be equated to a small-to-medium-sized Ork horde, I've mastered my control to the point that I can designate what will and will not be affected by my ultimate move that deals true damage.
Of course, Taixuan Eminence comes with its appropriate cost, as all things should be. It all depends on the enemy I will be engaging and how powerful I want my Eminence to be. If my mental power can be quantified, then I would say that the Eminence I just deployed took a whole 20% chunk of it. It's an absurd cost, considering my other spells and skills run on the same power pool. Yet, Eminence is well worth any price thanks to its flexible effects. Hua and Xuanyuan say that each practitioner's Eminence is different. Hua has her giant Heavenly Sword, wreathed in flame, while Xuanyuan has a gigantic copy of her golden Xuanyuan Sword. Their Eminences blur the line between reality and fiction, weightless yet not, and superimpose on the world itself to decimate their foe. Overall, they can be quite flashy even if they try their best to minimize the power of their Eminences. I, however, take it a step further in the fact that I can customize the visual effects for my Eminence at will, or even make it as easily dismissible as a blast from a Melta Gun. None of us can quite explain how I can do that, but the overall consensus is that my Abyss Totem Stigmata has a hand in it, given how it allows me to reshape Honkai energy as easily as breathing, for the most part.
Abyss Totem Stigmata for the win~! Although I will still keep the flashy visual effects, though. The shrinking innocent part of me thinks that an ultimate skill should have an ultimate visual spectacle. That's just how the world works, and none can say otherwise.
Once my feet touch the grassy mountain top, I let out a soft sigh as I feel my mental strain lessening with each passing second. Twenty percent is still twenty percent. When your brain is burdened like that, it's like you're hearing a constant alarm even when you can still function normally. It's annoying, even quite unnatural, but I have learned to live with those minor sequela during my stay in this world.
I make my Halo and energy wings disappear, returning my appearance to the same look I once had upon my initial arrival on Mount Taixuan: my trusted and dusty Battle Dress Uniform with small patches of dried blood in some places. For the record, I am missing my martial robes already; they are just way better in terms of comfort. I let out a wry smile at the thought. Once more, the peace I have attained under Hua's careful tutelage is like a temptation any normal Guardsmen and Guardswomen would have killed for.
I am anything but normal, however.
I've made my peace, and it's time to move on. Caressing the handle of Myrtenaster, which I have been holding in a reverse grip, I turn around upon feeling the presence of my second family. Hua, Xuanyuan, Fuxi, and Nuwa all come with proud smiles and melancholic looks. And apparently, they bring something along with them in a container carried by Xuanyuan.
Stopping in front of me, Hua is the first to say. "This is not a farewell."
In an act that surprises me, Hua's hand moves to gently pat my head. It's something that causes me to chuckle wryly. "Seriously, what's with everyone giving me head pats? Is my hair that nice to the touch?"
Hua's smile widened just a tad more than before. "It just feels natural to do so. I am technically your Master, after all."
"So, Master's privilege then?" I quip back, still being patted by Hua.
"That and because you address me, us, as your sisters. I reckon we have all earned the privilege to do this." Hua adds. More than teasing, I feel that she's straight-up speaking a fact.
I make a motion of slumping my shoulders in defeat. "I guess it's a fate that I have to accept from now on."
It's now that Xuanyuan interjects teasingly. "Were I not holding this box, Ein, I would have joined Jingwei in patting you, you know? Sister Fuxi and Nuwa are free, though, so they may overwhelm you soon."
Nuwa's just about to follow through on what Xuanyuan suggests when Fuxi clamps a hand on her shoulder, stopping Nuwa on her track and making her pout. Still, Fuxi goes on to say something that makes me give her a deadpan look. "You need not fear us getting touchy, Ein, we already got our share of pampering you."
"So you mean that you will come pile on me had you not cuddled enough with me for the last week?" I give them my best attempt at a dead fish gaze.
Fuxi, with a very serious look, nods. "That's indeed the case."
"..." I'll just ignore that then.
I shake my head before changing the topic, looking at the container in Xuanyuan's hands. "So, what's with the box, everyone?"
Instead of replying, they all share a look before Xuanyuan wordlessly opens the lid, revealing a pair of gauntlets that look like they come off a celestial movie set.
"... Wow." I mutter in appreciation. More than its beauty, my trained senses are telling me that the gauntlets may as well be just a tier below Myrtenaster, if not on the same level. Going by Warhammer logic, that's a Relic-tier equipment right there.
Going from appearance, the pair of gauntlets is predominantly adorned in white and blue, with the palms taking on a darker shade of deep blue. The colors of teal and gold are used lightly to enhance the visual appeal. Additionally, the middle fingers and thumbs of the gauntlets are covered in thin protective armor, coated in white, that runs all the way from the fingertips to the arms, forming the armguards. Finally, there's a red gem on each middle finger.
Nuwa steps up, introducing the gauntlets to me. "These gauntlets, together, form a Divine Key, the Key of Domination. Its name is Nocturnal Stealth. At first, one of its main abilities is to increase the efficiency with which the wielder manipulates Honkai energy. However, Fuxi and I have made some modifications to it, knowing that you already have impressive control. Nocturnal Stealth is now more durable, allowing you to block and parry some heavy melee attacks, and has a self-repair function that runs on Honkai energy. More than that, when you punch someone, you can feed the gauntlets some energy to increase the physical force behind the blow, allowing you to theoretically blast an entire mountain range with ease!"
Seeing my brightening reaction at the abilities of this pair of gauntlets, Hua adds as she removes her hand from my head. I admit, I feel a bit of a loss at that. "Knowing that your mental power is limited but your Honkai energy is not, this modification is what I have asked Fuxi and Nuwa to add. It should run on Honkai energy only, and even if it does consume mental power, it will only do so at a very, very minimal cost. This gives you more options in combat, allowing you to save your mental powers for truly powerful moves."
But then Fuxi reminds us seriously. "But be warned, amplifying your punches will induce strain on your arms. Overusing it may... No, it will cause damage to your tissue and bones. Even your Honkai-enhanced body has its limit. Although the concern may be overstated, given that you have your Halo..."
"Sisters, you mean...?" Although I already know the answer, I think it's polite to ask just in case.
Hua smiles, nodding. "Yes, Ein, this is our gift to you. Consider this a reward for attaining Eminence so quickly."
Hua then stops before scratching her cheek with a blush. "Having said that, I must admit we would have only thrown you a party if not for Xuanyuan's recommendation."
I turn to my Senior Sister, who is practically buffing her chest out behind that container. Xuanyuan says with a grin between her rosy cheeks. "Uhm! Given that I received my Xuanyuan Sword under Jingwei's tutelage, it's only natural that you will also acquire something as a fellow disciple! So, the four of us discussed and settled on Nocturnal Stealth, something that was stored without an owner!"
They all then look at me with warm eyes. I can only smile, touched by their kindness.
"I already received too much from all of you, you know...?" I say weakly, before going on my knees, cupping my hands, and bowing neatly in their direction. Additionally, Myrtenaster is stabbed into the ground. "Everyone... Thank you."
Flustered when I suddenly committed a perfect Shenzhou-style gratitude etiquette, Hua rushes forth to carefully raise me back to my feet.
"Ein..." Unable to refuse such a heartfelt showing of my gratefulness, Hua sighs with a wry smile before moving to take the gauntlets out of the box. "One more thing..."
Hua then injects her Honkai energy into Nocturnal Stealth. As if receiving a mental command, the pair of gauntlets fuse together into a silvery white scabbard with thin lines of teal, blue, and gold running down its length and all the way to the chape. The locket of the scabbard has small red gems inlaid in it, one on each side. It doesn't have to be said that it's a scabbard that will perfectly fit my still naked Myrtenaster.
"Sister Hua..." I mutter as Hua hands over the scabbard with both hands. I receive it with all of the care as if receiving a divine privilege. After all, I'm already on my knees, and the weight of their gift is too heavy for me to stand.
Hua goes on to say. "Without a scabbard, even a mastercrafted blade will chip and dull. Your blade, Myrtenaster, is your lifelong comrade and is something you must treat with all the respect it deserves. When you haven't needed Myrtenaster, let Nocturnal Stealth be its sheath."
"I understand, Sister Hua, and I will cherish both Myrtenaster and Nocturnal Stealth with all my heart." I respond seriously as I hold Nocturnal Stealth in my hands.
I pick now to stand up, pulling out Myrtenaster in the process and flicking it habitually of any, even though the rapier is already spotless. Then, I slowly marry the blade and its scabbard together, ultimately hearing a soft, pleasant clink as Myrtenaster sets perfectly in Nocturnal Stealth.
On a bit of a side note, perhaps I should start humanizing Myrtenaster and Nocturnal Stealth, treating them properly like the elegant ladies that they are, now that I have seen their noble beauty when combined together.
Seeing that the two items fit so well, the four in front of me smile in relief. Hua gives one last comment. "Myrtenaster and Nocturnal Stealth are fortunate to have you as their wielder, Ein. Make us all proud in the fights that are to come. And..."
"... Don't forget there's always a home for you to return."
I must admit, I can feel my eyes going misty at her heartfelt words. Sharing one last group hug with them, I say my parting words.
"I'll be back~!"
And then I am whisked away from Mount Taixuan after the System's confirmation, going back into that metallic box that is the nostalgic Chimera IFV.
When I wake up from my trance induced by my transition from one world to another... When time itself resumes its normal course... I find myself muttering aloud as I take in the ever-familiar faces of Sergeant Johnson and my dear Rookie, Weiss. "It's good to be back."
Hearing my words, Weiss turns to look at me with a cute tilt of her head while Johnson laughs, misunderstanding my comment as me missing riding inside a Chimera. "Damn right, it is! We're all one big and happy family in the Chimera, going on a merry-go-round picnic trip!"
Holding my trusty old comrade, which is my Lasrifle, I fall back into my usual rhythm as a normal Guardswoman, quipping as I lean against the wall of the IFV. "Heh, that's something we'll all pay good money for, Sergeant, although we can all do with a little less heresy around the hood. It'll be chef-kiss if that's the case."
"Aye, but were it so easy..." We all settle for a shared, knowing grin as the convoy starts moving to fulfill its mission.
What do the Salamanders tend to say again...? Ah, right, it's:
Into the fires of battle, unto the anvil of war.