The Siberian winter was cold.
Fierce snowflakes fell in a frenzy, and the biting wind howled in gusts.
The wind was a palpable force that stabbed into flesh and blood. The roaring gales raged, carrying an icy chill like a rebellious sword, draining what little warmth there was and unleashing a wild, surging cold.
The air was thick with chill and dryness. This weather had ruled the entire winter.
The climate alone was treacherous.
If an ordinary person were exposed to such weather and couldn't find shelter for a prolonged period, it would be perfectly normal for them to freeze stiff and die.
But on this land, there were things far more sinister.
Demonic beasts.
The same Honkai demonic beasts that had once ravaged the Mesopotamian plains.
The head of the Kaslana family, Siegfried Kaslana, swung his fist. Divine power capable of rivaling an Emperor-class Honkai Beast gathered in his hand as he smashed it viciously into the head of a lion-like beast.
Like a battering ram striking a small iron gate, the fearsome monster was sent flying backward like a cannonball, crashing heavily into the snow before its life faded away.
"What the hell."
The man, with the Divine Key known as the Might of An-Utu hanging from his waist, panted heavily, then unceremoniously wiped the sweat from his brow with his sleeve.
On this journey, how many Templar-class Honkai Beasts had he taken down?
Fifty? Sixty? Or seventy?
Why were these high-level Honkai Beasts, which should require a 270mm or 430mm railgun to eliminate, appearing in swarms?
This was bad.
The man, who had received orders from Overseer Otto to "accompany Cecilia in the subjugation of the Second Herrscher," couldn't help but think this as he looked at the fallen behemoths.
To search for survivors as much as possible, Cecilia and Theresa, who had proactively joined her, had split up with a significant portion of the Snow Wolf Squad.
Theresa, along with the A-rank Anti-Entropy spy, Patrick "Genius" Highsmith, had gone to the core of the Second Honkai Eruption—the Babylon Laboratory.
Cecilia herself, along with Cheng Lixue and Shigure Kira, was rescuing people in the populated areas infested with Honkai Beasts.
Naturally, the mission of clearing out the beasts in the remote areas fell to Siegfried and the remaining members of the Snow Wolf Squad.
"This number… it's too exaggerated."
A woman, known as Shubb-Niggurath, who possessed unparalleled regenerative abilities due to her symbiosis with an alien creature and had earned the title "Spawn of Chaos," swung her weapon and pierced through the head of another demonic beast.
"It's completely unreasonable," said Salome Jokanaan, the "Washer," who controlled twelve sharp blades and usually wore a stoic expression. Her face was also grim.
This plain was teeming with terrifying species of Honkai Beasts that had never been recorded in history.
As far as the eye could see, there wasn't a single Honkai Beast below Chariot-class.
Creating Honkai Beasts was a basic Authority of a Herrscher.
Honkai energy concentrates within a Herrscher's body to form a Herrscher core, granting them the power to create and command Honkai Beasts and死士, with the ability to create up to Judgment-class beasts.
The relationship between a Herrscher and their beasts was much like that of a queen bee and her workers. The birth of a Herrscher would spur a growth in the number of Honkai Beasts in their region, just as a queen bee reproduces more workers to guard her hive.
These Honkai Beasts, like soldiers loyal to their monarch, were utterly devoted to the Herrscher who commanded them.
Just think, her insignificant pawns were beasts that required B-rank Valkyries to take down.
It would be understandable if multiple Emperor-class, or even Judgment-class Honkai Beasts, appeared next.
So, what level of monster was the main subject of this incident, the monarch of these Honkai Beasts—the Second Herrscher?
Like a creeping fog, the shadow of the Second Herrscher clouded the hearts of the three people present.
Subjugating the Second Herrscher…
A lot of blood would likely be shed.
Realizing this, the faces of the three grew solemn.
But even so, they had to keep fighting.
Siegfried, the very shield of the people and head of the Kaslana family, sensed the slightly heavy atmosphere in the team and sighed.
"Hey, hey, everyone cheer up."
Perhaps to liven things up, the still-young and valiant man put on a cheerful smile.
"We've almost cleared our way to the town area."
"We can have a nice bowl of hot soup in town, warm ourselves up, and then replenish our spirits for the cleanup work ahead."
Like a typical hot-blooded protagonist, Siegfried Kaslana made an exaggerated gesture as he spoke.
"If we're lucky, we might even run into Cecilia and the others, meet up ahead of schedule, and exchange some intel face-to-face."
His words were a bit clumsy as a way to change the subject, but they were clearly enough to ease the tension.
"Exchange intel? You mean, on how you've managed to touch the butt of every single Valkyrie in Schicksal?"
As if deliberately bringing up something amusing, Shubb-Niggurath, who had a mouthful of shark-like teeth akin to a certain Mr. Kyo who was perennially kicked out of the orphanage, casually mentioned a rumor from within Schicksal.
Hearing this, Siegfried's expression instantly fell.
As the Honkai world's famously whipped husband, where would he get the guts to touch the butts of every Valkyrie in Schicksal?
That was a rumor started by Shigure Kira.
Shigure Kira, a member of the Snow Wolf Squad, hadn't become a Valkyrie by choice.
While participating in a trainee idol recruitment event, she met Salome, who was renowned as a "genius dancer." In order not to lose face in front of her, she passed the trials and unexpectedly became a Valkyrie.
After becoming a Valkyrie, Shigure Kira often used the training room for idol practice (she was tone-deaf, and her voice could be used as a sonic weapon). One day, she met the combat instructor Cecilia. Because of Cecilia's beauty, strength, and gentleness, she became Kira's most beloved Valkyrie.
Therefore, Kira deeply despised Siegfried for "stealing" Cecilia and spread many "unfavorable rumors" about him.
For instance, that he had touched the butt of every Valkyrie in Schicksal.
"Alright, let's not talk about that."
Seemingly noticing Siegfried's exasperation, Salome Jokanaan brandished her weapon and said, "Next, what we should discuss is—"
Before she could finish her sentence, her pupils contracted sharply.
Without any warning, a person had appeared in her field of vision!
"Who's there?!"
Sensing his teammate's change, Siegfried reacted instantly, drawing the dual pistols from his waist and roaring.
On the other side, the golden-eyed "girl" with purple hair cascading down to her ankles was gazing at them, not answering the question.
He looked at the man who, in the future, would bring disaster upon Kiana and Sirin, and his eyes narrowed.
Although the Siegfried of this era wasn't the wimp from the future, he was still Siegfried.
So, let me collect a little interest on behalf of Sirin and Kiana.
PS: Siegfried's character assassination is pretty severe…