Meanwhile…
Rita returned to the Immortal Blades' temporary station at the Far East Branch.
"Rita, have you confirmed the situation?"
The blonde Valkyrie cut a heroic and imposing figure, the maintenance on her battlesuit having just been completed.
Although it wasn't time to move out yet, Durandal was already prepared for battle at a moment's notice.
Her last mission in Nagazora City had already given her an idea of the extent of Cocolia's forces, but the powerful Valkyrie hadn't let her guard down in the slightest.
"Lady Durandal, I have already confirmed with Miss Bronya. There are no other individuals under Cocolia's command that we need to pay attention to for the time being."
"That's good. This operation is of the utmost importance. We can't afford any mistakes."
As she said this, Durandal stared at her adjutant, feeling that there was an indescribable sense of discomposure about her.
And the last time this happened…
"Did you go see your ex-boyfriend?"
Rita: "…"
Three times! A full three times!
The stone she had picked up a few days ago had now smashed her own foot for the third time.
One lie requires more lies to cover it up. To prevent her dark past from becoming a point of leverage, she had been forced to fabricate a past relationship.
Unexpectedly, everyone around her was bringing it up, and the crucial point was that she couldn't even argue against it.
She was tired. She was full of regret. And she couldn't even defend herself.
Rita forced a smile. "Lady Durandal, we only saw each other from a distance. We didn't even exchange a single word."
To explain is to cover up, and to cover up is to admit the truth.
Although Durandal had never been in a relationship, under the influence of her good friend Ana Schariac, she could be considered something of a master of theory.
"Rita, it's useless to run from your feelings. Only by bravely facing your past and your own heart can you find true happiness."
"Besides, we're Valkyries. A moment of happiness is precious to us."
Rita: "…"
She wasn't running from her feelings, she was running from her dark past!
If she wasn't so wary of that guy's demonic hands that could make her lose her composure with a single touch, she would be raising her scythe right now to cut off his two heads as a warning to others.
Durandal didn't notice the strange expression on Rita's face and continued to share her thoughts: "Our mission and responsibility is to fight the Honkai and protect this world. But just as Teacher Theresa believes, we cannot exist solely as weapons of war. We should also have lives as human beings."
"Rita, be brave and face your feelings. Even if the Overseer gives you trouble, I will handle it for you."
The Valkyrie clenched her fists, a fierce fire burning in her azure eyes.
Even if Otto Apocalypse, that old bachelor nobody wants, were to interfere with Rita's relationship, she, as his student, would have to righteously disown him.
Valkyries already had short lifespans, and the restrictions of their profession made it incredibly difficult to have a relationship. Finding a man who was excellent in all aspects was even more of a fantasy.
She had seen the man. He was about the same age as Rita, quite handsome, and an excellent cook.
Aside from his unknown origins and his ambiguous ties to a Herrscher, he had almost no flaws.
As Rita Rossweisse's superior officer, Durandal approved of this marriage.
Rita: "…"
"Lady Durandal, perhaps we should discuss the operational details first."
Her smile was very strained.
If it weren't for that old fool Otto making her look after Durandal, plus the deep bond they had developed over so many years…
Otherwise, with how slow this silly goose was, she would have packaged her up and sent her to the young Brian's bed in a minute.
Spare the rod and spoil the child.
Although she had never hit her, it was certainly possible to get her so full she was like a cream puff, producing a litter of little Durandals to vent her resentment.
Durandal belatedly realized, "You're right. Your relationship can wait. Let's handle the mission first."
The straightforward Valkyrie stood with her hands on her hips, her movements open and graceful.
But perhaps it was her imagination, she always had a feeling that 'treacherous subjects are plotting against me.'
Durandal was decisive and efficient, getting the topic back on track in a few words. "We have currently confirmed the composition of Cocolia's main armed forces."
"According to our previous plan, I will be responsible for clearing out her Herrscher of Reason clones, while you and the team will handle neutralizing the Titan units."
"After completing the suppression and cleanup, we will be responsible for escorting Senior Fu Hua and your ex-boyfriend to try and complete the forging process of the Twelfth Divine Key."
Rita: "…"
She no longer wanted to correct the term 'ex-boyfriend.'
Let her be. If 'ex-boyfriend' turned into 'current boyfriend', at worst she'd just get them both filled up like cream puffs.
Rita was gradually coming to terms with it.
"Additionally, the false information we released has reached Anti-Entropy, and Cocolia has reacted. I think we should have Senior Fu Hua be more careful."
Fu Hua's physical condition was known to all.
The old injuries from five hundred years ago had not healed, and the Second Honkai Eruption had only added injury to injury.
It could be said that the Celestial who had once guarded Shenzhou for millennia was at her weakest moment ever.
If she were to face hordes of Herrscher clones, she might be in danger.
Rita said, "Lady Durandal, you don't need to worry about that. Lord Fu Hua has already used Fenghuang Down to disperse the residents around Yae Shrine, and Anti-Entropy has not detected anything unusual so far."
"Besides, a single Pseudo-Herrscher isn't worth Cocolia launching an all-out war with us. The conflict between us will not exceed the planned scope."
"That's good."
Durandal looked up at the time. "We have about four hours until departure. Let's go for a walk."
"It's been a long time since I've been to St. Freya High School."
"Yes, Lady Durandal."
…
"Himeko, why do I have such an uneasy feeling?"
The petite, snow-haired, blue-eyed girl sat on a high perch, letting her chubby little legs dangle and swing in the air.
There wasn't much time left before departure, but for some reason, Theresa's heart was pounding with anxiety.
Two S-rank Valkyries who had come all the way from Schicksal HQ were strolling nearby, and even with her, a former S-rank Valkyrie, holding down the fort, her mind couldn't find peace.
Beside her, Murata Himeko, who felt the same way, gave a helpless, bitter smile. "Probably because Nagazora City is such a geomagnetically blessed place."
Herrscher of Thunder, Herrscher of the Void, Herrscher of Corruption, Pseudo-Herrscher…
The obscure Nagazora City actually had nearly a handful of Herrschers and Pseudo-Herrschers.
Such a luxurious lineup could only be slightly surpassed by the Second Honkai Eruption in the year 2000. It was truly unprecedented and likely unrepeatable.
Murata Himeko was even convinced that if Cocolia's plan succeeded, a fourth Herrscher would definitely pop up in Nagazora City and send everyone spiraling into the heavens together.
Theresa's smile was a bit forced. "Could it be that you in the Far East have been too focused on beating up little monsters, and now you're facing retribution?"
Across the ocean, New York was constantly being invaded by aliens, while the island nation of the Far East was either beating up little monsters or on the way to beat up little monsters.
As the saying goes, walk the night roads enough and you're bound to see a ghost.
For Nagazora City to encounter such a grand lineup, one could only say it was retribution for the Far East.
"Who knows?"
Murata Himeko shrugged, unable to give an answer. "Instead of worrying about that, Theresa, you'd be better off thinking about whether that little frame of yours can even lift Judah."
Her professional skills being questioned, Theresa stood on her high perch, crossing her arms and putting on a dignified expression as she looked down at Murata Himeko.
"Himeko, even if I haven't fought in a long time, the power of me and Judah is not something a mere… Judah can compare to."
"This time, although I'm not the main force of the operation, my presence is still crucial!"
This was the confidence that Judah, her launcher, gave her!
What else could Murata Himeko say?
"As long as you're happy."
Let her be. Anyway, with others around, even if Theresa messed up, she could be saved.
"What do you mean, 'as long as you're happy'?!"
"Nothing. Just that I have great faith in the power of Judah."
"That's more like it."
The colossal ship set sail. The Hyperion's movements were unconcealed, announcing the arrival of Schicksal to Cocolia.
The vanguard, the Immortal Blades, once again descended upon the island nation of the Far East, and Valkyrie squads from all over Southeast Asia converged on this place.
In the brightly lit Anti-Entropy base, the voluptuous Slavic woman stared at the giant warship on the screen, her expression icy.
"Schicksal, come on! Let's see who's stronger!"
War was on the verge of breaking out.
…
Yae Shrine.
Cocolia's faction was on high alert, completely unaware that the key to deciding the outcome of this conflict had already quietly entered the city.
Theresa Apocalypse, and Brian, who seemingly should have had nothing to do with this matter.
"Has Fu Hua finished the evacuation work?"
The once bustling shrine was now empty, a thin layer of dust accumulating on the vermilion Torii.
Theresa wondered how Fu Hua had managed to make this area so isolated, but with the mission at hand, she didn't probe further.
"Fu Hua, Grandpa told me to follow your command. Tell me what to do."
The half-ton Judah launcher cracked the stone slabs under her feet. Theresa looked left and right but couldn't find the target of this mission. She narrowed her eyes.
Fu Hua, who had been silently guarding this place for days, met the Branch Head's gaze. "Principal, your mission is to deploy Judah to prevent any accidents."
"Leave it to me."
When Judah appears, who can stand against it?
Even the Herrscher of Corruption, standing right here, could not escape the constraints of the Eleventh Divine Key.
The Herrscher of Corruption Subjugation Operation begins!
…
"Lady Durandal, we have arrived at the target location."
"Then let's begin."
The Immortal Blades' warship decloaked, dropping Valkyries into Cocolia's base area.
The Valkyries, both beautiful and powerful, cut heroic figures as Schicksal's strongest Valkyrie squad annihilated Cocolia's prized Titan forces as if they were dead wood.
Durandal did not make a move, because according to the intelligence obtained by the Immortal Blades, there were no Herrscher clones in this base, posing no threat to her subordinates.
But since this was her adjutant's arrangement, she accepted it without question.
Although she didn't know why Rita chose to alert the enemy, she trusted that her adjutant would make the proper arrangements.
On the floating ship, Durandal and the Valkyries on standby closely monitored the ground operation, ready to provide rescue at any moment.
A reserve Valkyrie from the Far East Branch, Bronya Zaychik, was like a little nobody, staying in a corner of the cabin, wondering why that bad woman Rita had placed her here.
She was Cocolia's adopted daughter, a traitor to Anti-Entropy. Even though she had become a student at St. Freya High School, she shouldn't be trusted.
Yet, that woman Rita not only brought her along but also gave her a better-performing exoskeleton armor.
It was impossible to understand what this woman was thinking.
In the silence, broken only by the hum of electronic equipment, Bronya suddenly heard a voice: "Bronya, are you worried about your adoptive mother?"
It was Durandal.
"…"
Bronya's silence was the best answer.
"I suppose so. Although she did many things to wrong you all, she is, in any case, your mother."
In the eyes of Schicksal, Bronya's past was no secret.
Whether it was the assassin on Charon's List, the Silver Wolf of the Urals, or a test subject in the X-10 experiment.
Durandal had not had a life as full of twists and turns as Bronya's, but she could understand Bronya's thoughts.
And for that reason, she couldn't understand Rita's decision to place her here.
Bronya: "The Bronya does not know how to face her, so the Bronya has decided not to face her."
Distance creates beauty, lest familiarity breeds contempt.
Durandal smiled. "I didn't realize you were such a little old soul in a young body."
This kind of thinking was usually found in adults. Even if children disliked their parents, they rarely made such a decision.
Bronya: "It is merely a rational decision."
As they were talking, an external communication suddenly came through.
"Lady Durandal, it's a communication from Anti-Entropy."
Without a doubt, it was Cocolia.
"Patch her through."
As she spoke, the Slavic woman in a military green coat appeared on the screen.
"Valkyrie of Schicksal, you are provoking an all-out war between Anti-Entropy and Schicksal!"
This woman was bluffing, completely oblivious to the fact that she was the one being hunted by Schicksal.
Durandal's expression was calm. "Cocolia, you are not qualified to represent all of Anti-Entropy, nor are you qualified to speak to Schicksal on behalf of the Anti-Entropy Sovereign."
In other words, who the hell do you think you are, Cocolia?
The Herrscher clones in your possession might fool ordinary Anti-Entropy members, but they were useless against Durandal.
They were just weaklings that could be taken down with one punch, posing no threat at all.
"…"
Cocolia's fists clenched. It had been a long time since she had felt this angry.
But as a person in power, hiding one's emotions with a deep-seated cunning was a basic skill.
Cocolia sneered, "Valkyrie of Schicksal, your numbers are ultimately limited, but my Titans are infinite!"
Fighting the limited with the infinite, the advantage is mine!
Anti-Entropy's Titans were designed specifically to counter Schicksal's Valkyries. Although not as cost-effective as the latter, their strength lay in mass production.
The few months since taking over ME Corp had been enough for her to 'rationally use' Raiden Ryoma's assets to expand her forces.
The last time, she had simply been caught off guard by the Immortal Blades.
Today… she had made thorough preparations!
Durandal's expression was stern. "Then you can bring it on and try!"
Cocolia: "Fine! As you wish!"
Cocolia's gaze was scorching, like a contestant in a deathmatch, ready to fight to the death with the Schicksal represented by Durandal.
However, only Bronya, who silently witnessed this scene, knew that with Cocolia's personality…
What she was focused on right now was not Durandal, but Bronya herself, standing behind Durandal.
In this woman's eyes, her own frail power could decide the outcome of this war.
She's making me fight an S-rank Valkyrie?
That's a suicide mission!
Project Bunny's power was nothing in the face of an S-rank Valkyrie. The only possibility was that a life-or-death strike from her could affect Schicksal's command and combat deployment.
Obviously, she wasn't about to give up her life for this woman's false desires.
So, according to this woman's personality…
"…"
Bronya closed her eyes, hiding the pain of being betrayed by her adoptive mother once again.
"Bronya, Mother needs your strength."
"Yes."
Beneath her raised eyelids, the girl's eyes were vacant.
Her will still belonged to her, but her body was no longer under her control.
Project Bunny materialized behind her. The light that flared from its cannon in an instant destroyed the Immortal Blades' command center, engulfing the powerful S-rank Valkyrie in the explosion.
Cocolia never intended to eliminate the Immortal Blades. The chasm in strength was not something that could be bridged by numbers.
Destroying the Immortal Blades' command center and paralyzing Schicksal's command system for a period of time would be enough to sway the outcome.
"Hahaha, how foolish! These Valkyries really are a bunch of brainless idiots!"
Cocolia, who had long since evacuated the dangerous area of Nagazora City, was overjoyed, not expecting this part of the plan to go so smoothly.
Her daughter had successfully infiltrated the enemy's nerve center and paralyzed their command system at a critical moment.
For her, there was no better news; as for Bronya's personal will… it wasn't important.
But before the woman could celebrate for long, her men in black suits suddenly became busy.
On various instruments, countless black pop-up windows flashed with characters, completely destroying the computer systems.
Cocolia was furious. "What's going on! Fix this problem for me right now!"
Now was a critical moment in the battle. The command center here absolutely could not have any problems.
A man in a black suit, sweating profusely, reported, "Lady Cocolia, we are under a computer virus attack from Schicksal."
Cocolia: "…"
She wanted to paralyze the Immortal Blades' command system, and the Immortal Blades… had the same idea.
Striking a snake at its most vulnerable point—paralyzing the command system was far more effective than eliminating combatants one by one.
…
Nagazora City…
"Rita, how is the situation?"
"Lady Durandal, my operation is proceeding very smoothly. I haven't encountered any difficult enemies."
Next to the crashed floating ship, the heroic Valkyrie was regrouping her forces. The Immortal Blades' command system would be back online in thirty minutes.
At this moment, Durandal finally understood Rita's intention.
"You noticed the problem with that child long ago?"
"Lady Durandal, being observant is one of a girl's virtues, you know."
Amidst the fierce battlefield, the Valkyrie Rita Rossweisse strolled leisurely. Everywhere she passed was a scene of wreckage.
As the S-rank Valkyrie in charge of intelligence and assassination, Rita was of course not as harmless as a little white rabbit, and she also understood the darkness of the human heart very well.
After completing her investigation into Bronya's past, she discovered the possible arrangements Cocolia had made on Bronya.
A weapon possessing Previous Era technology and a wise and intelligent subordinate—these two conditions combined were enough for that woman to abandon familial affection.
When a woman becomes ruthless, she can often be more vicious than any other creature.
A bio-chip installed in the brain—this location was naturally a perfect opportunity for control.
Realizing this, Rita started from there, leaving a few little tricks in the exoskeleton armor she provided for Bronya.
If it worked, of course, everyone would be happy; if it had no effect, it would just be a speculative move.
Otherwise, with her personality, she would not have brought such a liability like Bronya with her, even if she was a wicked Lolicon.
Durandal: "I see. If you have such arrangements next time, remember to inform me so I can be prepared."
"But if we did that, wouldn't it be easy to blow our cover?"
Although she wasn't face to face with Rita, Durandal could already imagine the pleased smile on Rita's face.
The heroic Valkyrie's brow furrowed, and she clenched her fist, wanting to smash it into that face.
But thinking that Rita wasn't by her side…
"…"
She would remember this grudge.
The mission was more important now.
"Since your plan has succeeded, it's time for us to launch a full-scale operation."
"Of course."
Rita agreed. "However, Lady Durandal, please protect the child by your side. She is the great hero who made our plan go so smoothly."
"Sorry, that's the one thing I can't do."
Durandal pushed away the wreckage of the floating ship. "Bronya already left during the chaos just now. I don't know where she went either."
"…"
…
Yae Shrine.
All preparations were complete.
"Anti-Entropy's command system has been completely paralyzed. We need to hurry and finish this before Cocolia regains command capability."
Golden chains spread across the ground, centered on the Divine Tree.
The half-ton Judah was fully deployed, turning this space into a world of [Constraint].
In the face of [Constraint], all energy would lose its activity. Even the power of the Herrscher of Corruption could not escape it.
The gray-haired girl opened her palm, and a feather materialized in its center.
Its light was dazzling and mesmerizing, filled with a mysterious charm.
The Key of Consciousness, Fenghuang Down.
Theresa, learning of this for the first time, had an astonished expression. "Fu Hua, where did you get this thing?"
Fu Hua: "I had some opportunities during a previous mission and obtained this feather."
The thought of erasing this memory from the others arose for no reason.
But thinking of how Theresa's memory had been erased by Otto multiple times, turning her into the muddle-headed person she was today, Fu Hua decided it was better not to do such things too often.
There was no time to lose, lest things get complicated.
"Let's begin. The Pseudo-Herrscher Yae Sakura is still conscious. We can enter her world of consciousness and try to get her help."
Having guarded this place for several days, Fu Hua had naturally not been idle.
She had already confirmed the relationship between the Pseudo-Herrscher and the Herrscher of Corruption and had decided to win over this potential ally.
"Alright."
The young Brian had no objections.
An ethereal glow flowed from the feather, carrying their consciousnesses into the body of the Pseudo-Herrscher, Yae Sakura.
In an instant, all light and shadow flowed back five hundred years.
Low wooden houses became the main theme. An old woman on the roadside held up a salted fish towards the two of them. "You two, care for some salted fish?"
Looking around, this village called Yae Village was practically no different from a small town.
The streets were bustling with commerce, and several large ships of unknown origin were docked at the port.
Fu Hua, already accustomed to all this, spoke first: "There's no need to pay attention to anything here. Everything is a product generated from the Pseudo-Herrscher's memories."
"Here, only the Pseudo-Herrscher herself and the Herrscher of Corruption are real."
With that, the Valkyrie started walking towards the shrine behind the town.
Since everything was an illusion, all just NPCs from Yae Sakura's memory, there was no need to pay them any mind.
The two left, and everything in the town remained as it was, as if they had never been there.
Fu Hua expertly led Brian deep into the shrine, and behind the vermilion Torii, they saw the shrine maiden with pink hair. "Miss Yae Sakura, sorry to disturb you again."
"…"
Silence.
Then: "You're here again."
"Yes."
"You shouldn't have come."
"But I came anyway."
Sipping light tea, her expression was as calm as Fu Hua's face.
"We have come this time to help you subdue Higokumaru and escape this cage."
The shrine maiden's eyes were lifeless. "It's useless. In this place, you cannot defeat Higokumaru."
An endless cycle, until the end of time.
Yae Sakura didn't know how long she had been tormented in this place, how many times she had repeated that painful memory, nor how many times she had fought with Higokumaru.
But without exception, this world would endlessly reset, sending her back to the origin of the tragedy, torturing her mind and spirit.
If she didn't know that once Higokumaru obtained her body, this demon would be unleashed upon the world, Yae Sakura would have given up resisting long ago.
Binding Higokumaru here was the only thing she could do for Kallen.
Fu Hua: "Please trust us. We have prepared a comprehensive plan."
Herrscher, Divine Key, Valkyrie…
Due to the generational gap, Fu Hua had explained these things, but Yae Sakura didn't understand any of them.
She still held her own opinion.
Yae Sakura: "You should go back. I will remain entangled with Higokumaru until the end of time. It's fine for it to continue like this."
Stubborn and inflexible.
That was Yae Sakura, and also Fu Hua.
At this moment, the young Brian spoke up: "Let me handle this."
Fu Hua stepped aside.
He said: "Miss Yae Sakura, in order to eliminate the threat Higokumaru poses to this world, we have decided to use your body as a medium to accomplish certain things. Your body will not be harmed in any way during this process, nor will you feel any pain."
Of course, it would feel amazing.
The method wasn't exactly proper, but with Fenghuang Down being ineffective, this combo was the only way.
Yae Sakura: "Do as you please."
Pain no longer mattered. The physical pain was far less than the torment of the soul.
Her heart was already dead, from the moment Kallen left.
Suddenly, the shrine gates burst open. Several neatly dressed men blocked the sunlight from outside, casting demonic shadows indoors.
"Yae Sakura, it is time for the ritual."
Another round of torment from Higokumaru was coming!
But.
"Miss Higokumaru, are you ready to feel what heaven is like?"
That young Brian's smile was bright and sunny.
…