Schicksal, Far East Branch, Council Chamber.
In a hall with a strong metallic aesthetic, seated around a long council table were the heads of various departments of the Schicksal Far East Branch. And at the head of the table was a petite loli, less than one and a half meters tall, dressed in a nun's habit?
At this moment, the council table served as a screen, displaying the battle between the Hyperion and the Herrscher of Thunder. One by one, voices rose in the council chamber, analyzing the current situation.
"The Hyperion has entered the Honkai zone, but it's experiencing interference. Communication is currently cut off. This is the last image received before the signal was lost."
"Is that humanoid creature the Herrscher?"
"Is that Honkai Beast kneeling before her to show submission? Can a Herrscher control even such a powerful Honkai Beast...?"
"The interference is too severe! We can't even make out the Herrscher's face! Hasn't communication been restored yet? We need more useful footage!"
"Besides the Hyperion, the satellites above Nagazora are also being affected by a strong electromagnetic field. Is this also the Herrscher's ability?"
...
The petite figure at the head of the table listened to the clamorous discussion below, staring blankly at the final image, and muttered to herself, "So, it has finally appeared? A new Herrscher after fourteen years. The final judgment is drawing ever closer."
At that moment, the situation aboard the Hyperion was not optimistic. After taking a hit from the Herrscher, its armor was heavily damaged in multiple places, and some parts were even on fire.
"Warning, warning! External armor heavily damaged!"
"Power output down by 40%. Recommend immediate return to base!"
The adjutant also analyzed, "We definitely won't survive another attack like that."
Himeko looked at the Herrscher's relaxed posture, her own expression turning grim. "Tch! Does that damned brat know how expensive it is to repair this warship?!"
Throwing off the military coat draped over her shoulders, Himeko decisively ordered, "Activate nuclear fusion reactors 5 and 6! Maintain reactor output and switch ship's power to backup energy! In two minutes, lower the ship's altitude to the Herrscher's level!"
The adjutant was somewhat stunned. "Wait! You're not planning on using... that, are you?!"
"There's no time to think of other ways out now," Himeko said, leaving only her back to the adjutant as she walked away.
"But the council's order is to capture the Herrscher alive..." the adjutant reminded her.
Himeko, while taking off her cumbersome dress, replied, "It's too late for that now. I'm the kind of woman who sees things through once my clothes are off!"
"Command of the ship is yours now!" Himeko said before breaking into a run, leaving the adjutant alone and bewildered.
"Backup power switch complete! Preparing to descend!"
Himeko rushed into the middle of a cluster of mechanical arms and shed all her clothes. The waiting arms immediately began fitting pieces of armor onto her. The cold armor pressed against her skin, and the sound of metal meeting flesh made even Himeko's cheeks blush.
In the Far East Branch's council chamber, the discussion continued.
"The fifth squad has already engaged the Herrscher. Murata Himeko's strength as a single A-rank Valkyrie is not enough to stand against a Herrscher!"
"We must contact HQ immediately and request the dispatch of an S-rank Valkyrie!"
"Troops from HQ will take at least forty-five minutes to reach the battlefield. We have to stall the Herrscher's movements somehow during that time!"
"Lady Theresa! Please deploy all of the Far East Branch's forces immediately!"
Theresa instantly vetoed these requests. "Now is not the time. Acting rashly without intelligence on the Herrscher will only lead to more losses. We must trust Major Himeko. The Hyperion is crewed by the Far East Branch's finest! Besides, there's a hidden trump card on board the Hyperion."
Hearing Theresa's words, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
"Could it be that exoskeleton armor, still in development, that can instantly boost a Valkyrie's combat capabilities?"
"Is that thing ready for combat?"
"Ah, if we have that system, it might be possible to fight the Herrscher."
Theresa stared blankly at the silent subordinates below, her thoughts already on the battle between the Hyperion and the Herrscher. *It's all up to you, Himeko.*
In Nagazora, the battle continued. The Herrscher of Thunder quietly watched the Hyperion descend to her altitude. Looking at Himeko on the deck, clad in armor and holding the Sunfire Greatsword, she shouted angrily, "How dare you raise a blade against me, you worthless bug! Turn to ash before me, you trash!"
With a wave of her arm, countless electrical sparks converged into a torrent of lightning, which, under the command of the Queen of Thunder, poured down towards Himeko.
Himeko looked at the torrent of lightning rushing towards her, feeling the immense power surging through her, amplified by the armor. She muttered to herself, "Sorry, but I'm not kicking the bucket until I find a good man."
"Nexus System, activate!" Himeko roared. She lifted the Sunfire Greatsword with both hands and slashed violently at the torrent of lightning. "Molten Core Burst!"
The surging torrent of lightning met Himeko's blade, the sharp edge of the Hyperion, and split like a river hitting a reef, slowly dissipating into the air.
The lightning cleaved by Himeko flashed with a dazzling brilliance, illuminating the entire night sky and making the night in Nagazora as bright as day.
Schicksal Headquarters, The Chamber of Caskets. In this small, octagonal, secret room, each wall held a rectangular, pod-like screen, connecting to the communications of Schicksal's high-ranking members. The matters discussed here were Schicksal's highest secrets.
"The Third Honkai Eruption has occurred in the Far East, just as the prophecy foretold. We are one step closer to the day of judgment," a deep voice stated.
"What is the current situation in the Far East?" a second voice asked.
"The Far East Branch's troops have made contact with the Herrscher, but due to interference, we have yet to receive an accurate frontline report. The interference is likely caused by an ability the Herrscher possesses, similar to a strong magnetic field," a third voice analyzed.
"The Honkai Eruption has been going on for this long, and they still have no intelligence on the Herrscher. The Far East Branch's troops are truly outstanding, aren't they," a fourth voice said sarcastically.
"Moreover, the Far East Branch isn't even equipped with an S-rank Valkyrie. Such a force is surely too outmatched against a Herrscher," the fourth voice continued.
"The Far East Branch's forces are equipped with the most advanced warships and weaponry. They are far more outstanding than the Africa Branch, which can't even manufacture a Yamato-class battleship," the third voice retorted sarcastically to the fourth.
"Silence!" the first voice shouted. "The commander of the Far East Branch, Miss Theresa, is an excellent individual personally appointed by the Overseer, Lord Otto. We should trust in her abilities."
"Indeed, Miss Theresa is a warrior who experienced the Second Honkai Eruption," the third voice said. "She must have made ample preparations for combat against a Herrscher. I believe she will absolutely not allow a repeat of the 'Tragedy of Pripyat'."
"Gentlemen!" The casket in the center, representing the Overseer, finally spoke. "Herrschers are messengers who follow the will of the Honkai to bring destruction to the earth. They are born from the Honkai and descend in human form, mocking humanity's millions of years of evolution. In their eyes, humanity is but a fleeting cloud of smoke.
But as long as we can find the source of the Honkai from the Herrschers, we can seal the Honkai completely. Overall command of this operation against the Herrscher will be entrusted to the Far East Branch. All other branches must provide the greatest possible assistance. The Third Herrscher must be captured.
Fourteen years of effort have all been for this moment. Gentlemen, the time for a counterattack has come! We exist with Schicksal!"
"We exist with Schicksal!" the other seven voices echoed in unison.
*Do not disappoint me, Theresa,* the Overseer's whisper echoed in the void.