"What? What did you just say? A large number of Titans have appeared in Sapphire City?"
When Mo Wang heard this news, his first reaction was that Einstein and Tesla had lost their minds. Maybe they'd gotten too into their act, or maybe they regretted handing over their life's work to the Far East Branch.
Actually sending a whole swarm of Titans to cause trouble.
But Mo Wang quickly dismissed that idea.
Because those two doctors had no time for such things right now.
Their faction, the Anti-Entropy loyalists, was currently being pushed to the brink by Cocolia's side.
"So, these Titans were sent by that woman, Cocolia?"
At this thought, Mo Wang's face fell.
If there was anyone in this world he despised with every fiber of his being, Cocolia was definitely on that list.
This woman was, without a doubt, the number one troublemaker in the Honkai universe.
Compared to her, Otto almost seemed like a saint, Elysia was downright adorable, and Vita was just a mischievous little girl.
If her counterpart in Honkai: Star Rail could be somewhat redeemed by the Stellaron's influence, allowing her to be portrayed as a good mother, then the Cocolia in this world was a pure, anti-human psychopath.
Of course, it was undeniable that the woman had ambition and skill.
To rise as a newcomer within Anti-Entropy, to stand against the two founding doctors, and even to force them into exile—that wasn't something an ordinary person could achieve.
Then again, this was also because old Yang's management skills were admittedly lacking, which ultimately led to this result.
"Wait a minute? Was this part of the plot in Chapter One?" Mo Wang couldn't figure it out. What wire had short-circuited in that troublemaker's brain?
If even a few of the student Valkyries died here, Theresa would probably hunt her down to the ends of the earth.
"Where are those Titans now? Report immediately."
Mo Wang snapped out of his slacker mode and began questioning everyone on the bridge.
"The Titan units have made landfall and are currently splitting up! They are advancing towards our five squads!"
The Valkyrie compiling the intel was startled by Mo Wang's sudden appearance and subconsciously blurted out everything she knew.
No one understood why the slacker king from just moments ago seemed to have transformed into a completely different person. The aura he now exuded was that of a true captain...
"Split into five groups? What are the exact numbers?"
Mo Wang pressed the Valkyrie before him.
"Um... we can't see much difference in numbers between the groups. It seems like the enemy count is the same for each route."
"So that's how it is..."
The moment he heard the report, Mo Wang guessed what Cocolia was planning.
For Cocolia, the only target she would deem worthy was Mei, the Third Herrscher.
That woman dreamt of nothing but Herrscher cores. She must have gotten wind of the doctors' little plan and decided to use this opportunity to fish in troubled waters and capture Mei.
The reason for splitting her forces was simply to confuse and tie down the St. Freya units.
The current situation was that the Valkyries in the deployed squads were completely unable to handle the incoming Titans.
And St. Freya, already short on high-level combatants, probably wouldn't be able to send reinforcements to Kiana's squad, even if they knew she was in danger.
"Notify all squads and Himeko immediately! Rendezvous at Squad Five's position with all possible speed!"
Mo Wang rapidly issued his command to the surrounding Valkyries.
"It's no good! Our signal is being jammed! We can't contact Major Himeko or the others!"
Several Valkyries frantically worked the communication consoles, but no matter how they tried, all they got back was static.
"Squads One and Two have engaged the Titans! They are under heavy fire!"
"Squads Three and Four are being shelled! All communications have been lost!"
"Squad Five is also under attack!"
On the bridge, Mo Wang sucked in a sharp breath.
Damn it, Cocolia's move was truly venomous.
First, she cut their communications, then she launched surprise attacks on multiple points. With this move, they couldn't even send support if they wanted to.
"What do we do now? Should we contact the Principal?"
Faced with this situation, the Valkyries on the bridge began to panic.
Most of them were just students who hadn't graduated yet.
For some, this was their very first official mission.
Without Himeko's command, they were all fumbling, completely forgetting what they had learned in class.
"Everyone, calm down. Things aren't that bad yet," Mo Wang said, becoming the calmest person in the room.
His gaze shifted to an older-looking Valkyrie standing to the side.
She was Himeko's former adjutant and one of the few Valkyries on the bridge with an actual military rank.
Compared to the panicking students, she was remarkably composed.
"Second Lieutenant Yume, you will take full command from this point on. Your priority is to organize personnel and restore communications between the squads as quickly as possible. Also, report the current situation to the Principal!"
The second lieutenant, Yume, frowned upon hearing Mo Wang's words.
"Wait a minute, Captain. The situation is unclear. What are you planning to do? Our top priority right now should be figuring out how to deal with the attacking Honkai Beasts..." Second Lieutenant Yume couldn't understand what this person was thinking. At a time like this, was he still planning to slack off?
"I'll deal with them!" Mo Wang cut her off.
"In a situation like this, sitting here and commanding the battle won't cut it anymore. Those Valkyries are my subordinates. I have to bring them all back."
Mo Wang looked her straight in the eye, his gaze unwavering and resolute.
"But... without Major Himeko's orders..."
"Forget about Himeko!" Mo Wang cut her off again. "Right now, I am the captain of the Hyperion! Don't give me that crap. I know that in your eyes, I'm just some temp brought in to take the blame. I don't care if the Overseer and the Principal fire me later! But you remember this: right here, right now, I'm the boss!"
Second Lieutenant Yume was taken aback by the intensity in Mo Wang's eyes and found herself unable to say anything more.
It was true. Everything Mo Wang said was right. Everyone thought he had only become captain of the Hyperion through sheer, dumb luck.
But no matter what others thought, Mo Wang was, in fact, the highest-ranking commander on this warship.
Even Himeko was technically under his command.
"Carry out your orders. I'll bring them all back safely," Mo Wang said, turning away. He then shouted to the bridge, "Ai-chan, open the hangar doors for me!"
"Yes, boss!" As Ai-chan's cute voice echoed from the ship's speakers, Mo Wang burst into a sprint and vanished from sight.
"Wait!" Second Lieutenant Yume watched Mo Wang run off, a headache building.
What was it with their captains? Was every single captain of the Hyperion this reckless?
"Quick, see what the captain is doing! Where did he go?!"
The second lieutenant frantically asked the surrounding Valkyries.
Mo Wang had run off so fast, she hadn't even had time to call for backup.
"The captain... the captain has already reached the hangar doors!" the queried Valkyrie replied, hurriedly checking Mo Wang's position.
"What's he doing there?" the second lieutenant asked, her mind blank.
"Oh... oh no! The captain just jumped! He... he's not even wearing a parachute!"
Hearing this, the second lieutenant stumbled back two steps.
Her mind went completely blank.
What was happening? Had their new captain cracked under the pressure and decided to just jump?
This new captain had only been on the job for two days, and now they were going to have to find another one already?