Immortal Blades temporary command center.
The Valkyries from Schicksal HQ were moving in an orderly fashion according to the pre-established plan to deal with the upcoming threat from Anti-Entropy.
In the temporary camp, the blonde girl looked at her adjutant and asked with concern, "Rita, are you alright?"
When she had just gotten Rita back, her adjutant had been completely drained of strength, her skin flushed, her back and knees sore.
It was as if the previous conflict hadn't been a battle, but an extreme training session that had squeezed every last drop of energy and fluid from her body.
Otherwise, there was no explaining how she had been taken hostage by an ordinary person.
It wasn't that Rita couldn't resist; it was that she had absolutely no strength left to do so.
"Lady Durandal, Rita is fine," the charming Valkyrie replied, but a deep hatred was hidden in the depths of her eyes.
That man... he had actually made her lose her composure like that in front of her commander and subordinates. They had almost seen the truth.
Fortunately, all the members of the Immortal Blades were pure virgins who spent most of their time training. Otherwise, Rita couldn't imagine how much the gossip about her would have exploded.
Just the thought of such a development was enough to make one's scalp tingle.
"That's good. We can't afford to be without your strength in the upcoming battles." Leading her own team on a mission for the first time, Durandal felt a somewhat irrepressible excitement.
This wasn't like shouldering a responsibility that wasn't hers in the Sea of Quanta, but about protecting the world that had raised her!
"Rita understands," Rita Rossweisse responded, sounding a bit strained.
For one, the after-effects that bastard had left on her hadn't disappeared yet—severe dehydration and overall weakness.
And for another...
She had to find a way to keep her dear Durandal away from that dangerous man.
As Durandal's keeper, Rita Rossweisse of course knew her still-growing silly goose inside and out.
Confident, brave, strong, persistent, kind...
When facing an enemy, she would strike without hesitation to eliminate the threat. But against an 'ordinary person' like the young Brian, Durandal was truly incapable of acting.
And yet, that man's ability was so terrifying, taking effect with just a touch of his skin.
What if Durandal was ambushed by that man and forced into the world of adults...
"..." Rita dared not imagine what would become of Durandal.
But Durandal was still young, and Rita didn't want her to know what the adult world was like just yet.
What should she do?
"..." Rita was lost in thought.
"Rita? Rita, what are you thinking about?" Durandal waved a hand in front of Rita's face, intending to have her reliable adjutant plan their next move.
Rita snapped back to her senses: "Lady Durandal, I think we should alter our plan slightly."
"Go on."
A wise glint shone in the Valkyrie's eyes: "Our biggest obstacle in retrieving the Gem of Conquest's vessel is not that Herrscher miss, but Anti-Entropy."
Schicksal Overseer Otto Apocalypse had entrusted her with the task of looking after Durandal, so as her maid, she had to ensure Durandal's healthy growth.
Although Durandal was actually a few years older than her official documents stated, in Rita's eyes, she was still a child.
She absolutely could not let Durandal learn about those unspeakable taboos before she became an adult!
Otherwise... she would grow up crooked.
Keeping Brian and Durandal apart was the decision Rita had made.
"Everything happening in Nagazora City right now is the conspiracy of the Anti-Entropy executive, Cocolia. While we are looking for that Herrscher of Thunder miss, they are doing the same thing."
Durandal understood the deeper meaning of her words: "We don't need to find them at top speed. As long as we crush Anti-Entropy, we will have more time and energy to complete this mission."
Rita smiled: "Exactly."
"As long as we defeat the Anti-Entropy forces here, we will gain a great deal of room to maneuver."
"That Herrscher miss who fought with you earlier doesn't seem to intend to cause a major Honkai Eruption either. We just need to keep an eye on her."
She breathed a sigh of relief. It was wonderful that her silly goose wouldn't be led astray.
"Alright, let's proceed with that plan!" Durandal had no objections.
Compared to the trouble of searching for people, she still preferred fist-to-flesh combat.
Speaking of which, she had never fought against those iron lumps from Anti-Entropy before. She wondered how they compared to the mechs from Schicksal HQ.
Suddenly, a silent terror struck.
An invisible, immense force tore the world apart in an instant, leaving the Immortal Blades' temporary camp in ruins.
A man with short, sea-blue hair walked out of the darkness, hands in his pockets, so arrogant it was as if he'd never known an opponent.
"Valkyries of Schicksal, are you ready to meet your deaths?"
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Clang—! Clang—!
Her petite body erupted with unimaginable power, smashing the Titans that Anti-Entropy prided itself on into pieces.
It was proof that in front of a truly powerful Valkyrie, the so-called Titans were still just a pile of scrap metal.
"Is this the best Anti-Entropy can do?"
Without her face flushing or her breath hitching, Theresa stood on a plot of cratered land and declared her victory.
But she had no time to waste.
The Immortal Blades had already arrived and had even clashed with that Herrscher miss once. If she were any later, she would have to go hug her grandpa's long legs and beg him to return her grandniece.
Less trouble is better than more. Theresa acted quickly.
In just a few strides, the seemingly petite girl walked up to a girl of similar height.
She roared with feigned ferocity: "Hand over the intelligence you have, and I'll give you a quick death!"
Compared to interrogation, direct intimidation was much faster in this situation.
However, not only did Bronya feel not the slightest bit threatened, she actually wanted to laugh.
"Ms. Theresa, there's no need for you to do this."
Ms. Theresa?
Had someone finally started to recognize her authority?
Theresa felt a satisfaction welling up from the bottom of her heart, as if she had hit the grand slam of life.
But official business was more important: "Don't think you'll get preferential treatment as a prisoner just because you flatter me a little!"
Schicksal was not righteous, and Valkyries were not merciful.
Theresa had been on the battlefield and knew what it meant to make sacrifices. To prevent a greater tragedy, she was willing to temporarily sacrifice her own morals and kindness.
Even if the person before her was just an underage girl.
Bronya was well aware of all this. The killer who once roamed the snowfields was certainly no innocent.
Besides, she wasn't here to fight this stupid loli.
The girl turned, exposing her back completely without reservation: "Come with me. Let's go see your niece and your nephew-in-law."
Theresa: "..."
???
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