Everywhere the eye could see was filled with the songs of birds and the fragrance of flowers.
Although there wasn't a single student in sight, the youthful campus atmosphere was palpable.
"I never expected the Valkyrie training institution of the Far East Branch to be so well put together."
This was the first time Raven had set foot in this place.
The last time she had invaded the Far East Branch to retrieve Cocolia, she hadn't taken a stroll through this famous academy.
The peaceful and serene atmosphere of this academy was exactly the kind of life she yearned for, but as a professional assassin, she was clearly not fated for such a life.
Perhaps it would be possible after humanity overcame the Honkai, but she didn't know if she would live to see that day.
Pushing down the brim of her hat, Raven pulled her attention away from her small wish and looked at the man beside her.
"What now? Where should we start?"
This entire domain, including this world bubble, was a product born from the power of the Herrscher of Reason.
As long as they found the Herrscher of Reason's core, they could dismantle the barrier Welt Yang had placed in front of Kevin Kaslana, allowing the Sovereign of World Serpent to return to the Real World.
But for Raven, this was undoubtedly an incredibly difficult task.
She hadn't even figured out the true purpose of that Joachim Yang from before sending them into this world bubble.
She didn't even know if this place was dangerous.
As Raven was on guard, she suddenly felt a chill creep over her, as unnerving as a hissing viper.
Looking closely, she saw that the man beside her had, at some point, a terrifying black mist swirling around his hands, filled with a hair-raising aura.
"You… what are you trying to do?"
"What am I doing?"
The black-haired youth grinned. "Obviously, I'm going to destroy this world bubble!"
Welt created so many world bubbles not just to stop Kevin, but also with the purpose of selecting a successor.
After all, the man's compatibility with the Herrscher Core was not excellent, and every time he used the core's power, it brought him one step closer to his final rest.
To select a successor and pass on Welt's will, that was the core purpose behind Welt Yang's creation of these world bubbles.
But…
"No one can test me, not even Welt, even if he was my teacher!"
Besides his parents and his hometown, no one could test him!
Before Raven could even comprehend what 'Welt was my teacher' meant, she saw a black mist representing death and terror spread towards everything in sight.
Besides passing the test according to the rules, another way to win is to flip the chessboard.
If you don't want to solve the problem, you can just eliminate the problem.
When you have super powers, you don't need to use your intellect to solve problems.
Moreover, these world bubbles were different from normal ones. They were products of the Herrscher of Reason's power. They appeared to have form, but they were merely puppets born from memory.
Brian felt no burden in destroying them.
Raven: "…"
People's joys and sorrows are not always shared. Raven only found this guy terrifying, and was also afraid that he thought she found him terrifying.
The world that was just full of birds and flowers disappeared inch by inch under the invasion of the black mist. The Honkai energy network that constituted the world bubble began to disintegrate, heralding the end of a world bubble.
Raven only felt a bizarre and chaotic scene before her eyes, and then she was back in that brilliant golden world.
And the world bubble where the two of them had been was now gone.
The power of the Herrscher of Death was clean and pollution-free, an essential tool for home, travel, murder, and arson.
"We're back again."
"On to the next location. If we keep destroying our way through, we'll eventually find what we're looking for."
…
"Seele, faster! Faster!"
"My other self, I can't run anymore…"
The short, shoulder-length-haired girl was panting, with beads of sweat glistening on her delicate face.
Seele Vollerei's heart was pounding wildly in her chest, trying to alleviate the fatigue from the long escape.
It wasn't that she wasn't trying, but her other self was urging her on too frantically.
But Seele also knew that she couldn't blame her other self. The reason could only be attributed to the inherent dangers of the Sea of Quanta.
After the X-10 experiment, the two-in-one girl cautiously explored the Sea of Quanta, struggling to survive under the threat of monsters.
While hiding from pursuit in a world bubble, they met that terrifying man, and from then on, they were forced to work for him for free.
After being dispatched to this golden domain, for some unknown reason, they encountered a large-scale disaster of continuous world bubble collapses, forcing them to run for their lives in this dangerous world.
The destruction of a world bubble itself would release enough power to kill them, and the unknown being that could destroy world bubbles was an even more terrifying existence they couldn't possibly fight.
In the two girls' minds, besides the man who exploited their labor, no one could contend with this unknown existence.
'Seele': "…"
It was true that she was a bit too anxious.
No one cared more about Seele's safety than her, not even that flat-chested, butt-less Russian loli Bronya.
Others might think it's because they were two-in-one, but only she herself knew it was because on the day she awakened, she had sworn an oath to protect this idiot forever.
Since it was an oath, it had to be fulfilled.
Whether in the Sea of Quanta or the Real World.
"Alright, let's rest for a bit. I'll keep watch for you."
The gentler tone made Seele breathe a sigh of relief. The girl, sitting with her legs tucked under her on a broken platform, could finally rest properly.
After being trapped in the Sea of Quanta for so long, aside from the initial period, today was the most thrilling.
The two Seeles didn't know what was happening, but their intuition told them that staying far away was definitely the right choice.
The fatigue of her body surged forth once she calmed down, and the girl's delicate eyelids began to droop.
Although it was still a bit unsafe here, with her other self around… everything would surely be fine.
The girl's consciousness grew hazy, and she didn't know how long she rested.
'Seele Vollerei', who was guarding against the surrounding dangers, suddenly felt an inexplicable chill that was bone-chilling.
"Seele! Something is coming!"
The groggy girl had just opened her eyes when she saw two strangely styled figures crossing the bizarre objects in the Sea of Quanta, approaching her.
The gentle girl retrieved her scythe, Nursery Rhyme, from somewhere, and her big, watery eyes showed no fear in the face of danger, only unprecedented determination.
Seele Vollerei's appearance might be fragile, but her heart was very strong.
She knew very well that when facing an enemy, running away would only lead to a quicker death.
When facing a fierce beast, displaying one's own strength in a standoff was the only sure way to escape successfully.
But before Seele could be on guard for long, the woman in all black among the two looked her up and down, then asked the man beside her, "Is this the person you're looking for?"
"That's right, it's her."
Before the two little Seeles could react, the rather handsome boy walked up to them.
He said, "Seele, your sister Bronya is my friend. She asked me to take you back to Earth."
"…"
Her delicate little face was completely stunned, and even her other self was a bit slow to react.
From a life-or-death moment to 'sisters are the best in the world' and going home.
The change was so drastic that both of them were stunned.
But 'Seele' was clearly more vigilant: "Seele, be careful, these two might not be human! It would be bad if they are monsters from the Sea of Quanta!"
The things in the Sea of Quanta were bizarre and varied.
When they were first trapped in the Sea of Quanta, the two girls witnessed many incredible monsters.
Behemoths disguised as world bubbles, bait traps mimicking human form.
The Sea of Quanta was treacherous, and its bizarre composition added countless dangers to this place, requiring extreme caution.
In reality…
"It seems you don't quite believe me."
"Um…"
As a polite and good child, Seele's expression was a bit awkward.
After all, someone came with good intentions, yet she not only suspected them but was also wary.
However…
"That's normal. You've been in the Sea of Quanta for so long, it must have been hard on you."
The black-haired youth's smile was gentle, making Seele feel a sun-like warmth.
Compared to that cold man, being around this big brother was so comfortable!
The next second, it was bone-chilling.
"Since you don't believe me, let me prove it to you."
A warm palm gently stroked the girl's head, and then a black mist filled his other hand.
When the two girls saw this scene, they felt a strange sense of familiarity, yet they were instantly choked by a silent terror.
The black mist spread, and with that man as the starting point, everything within a 60° area in front of him dissolved like ice and snow, leaving not a single trace.
Quantum monsters, world bubbles, objects… none survived.
At this moment, the two girls finally understood his method of proof.
He possessed absolutely overwhelming power, so he naturally had no need for schemes and tricks.
Besides, this wasn't Earth, so there were no laws to restrain him.
After the great terror, what followed was an indescribable sense of security: "Big brother… are you really Sister Bronya's friend?"
"Of course."
Patting Seele's little head, Brian's expression was full of deception. "Not only do I know your sister Bronya, I also know your mother Cocolia."
"It's just a pity she did too many bad things and has already faced retribution."
Getting confirmation again, the expression on Seele's face became even more excited.
Her sister Bronya hadn't forgotten her. Not only did she always remember her, she had also found a powerful and reliable big brother to rescue her.
"Sister Bronya…"
Seele's heart felt warm.
'Seele' in her body opened her mouth, not knowing what to say.
The naive and pure Seele trusted this guy because of one sentence, but she, Seele's guardian, would not be so naive.
If she wasn't mistaken, this guy was the unknown being that had destroyed the world bubbles earlier, full of ferocity and power.
Being with such a person was in itself a danger.
But now was possibly their only chance to return to Earth. Even 'Seele' couldn't choose to give up.
The well-endowed and intelligent girl weighed her options and finally could only force out a sentence: "Seele, be careful. I always feel like this guy has bad intentions towards us."
No reason, just a feeling of a chill on her skin.
"I know, my other self. I'll be careful."
The girl had just replied to her other self when she heard Brian's voice: "Seele, let's leave this place together."
"Mm, okay, big brother."
'Seele': "…"
You know nothing!
…
"Alright, you've found the person you were looking for. All that's left is the Herrscher of Reason's core."
There was no wind in the Sea of Quanta, so the cowlick on Raven's head only swayed with her movements.
With Seele Vollerei as a seemingly cuter scapegoat, Natasha Cioara's mood relaxed considerably, not as tense as it was initially.
Proximity breeds intimacy, as they say.
This little girl Seele Vollerei would have to enter St. Freya High School eventually, facing the direct threat of the Inner World Protagonist.
As for her, the World Serpent executive, as long as she handled things properly and slipped away after completing the mission, she could preserve her chastity and ensure her brother in heaven would not rest in peace.
As long as she found the Herrscher of Reason's core as quickly as possible, she could slip away!
"Of course, I haven't forgotten our deal."
As his voice fell, the black mist spread, disintegrating everything in this domain one by one.
Wherever the three of them passed was like a path ravaged by a god of destruction, leaving behind no tangible objects, only pure material particles and Honkai energy forming mists that resembled nebulae.
"There isn't much left of the domain constructed by the Herrscher of Reason. Once we find the Herrscher of Reason's core, we can complete our deal."
The soft-spoken girl behind them heard this, and her delicate little face showed some hesitation, but she finally said: "Are you… also looking for the Herrscher core?"
Also?
Raven caught the keyword.
"What, are you interested in the Herrscher core too?"
Seele shook her head: "Seele met a cold uncle before. He told Seele to find the Herrscher core in this golden world and bring it back to him."
"Does he have white hair, and is it very cold around him?"
"Mhm, that uncle is just like that."
Getting a confirmatory answer, Raven's eyes lit up, and she looked at Seele even more favorably.
A scapegoat who could save her from being screwed, and also a colleague in a sense.
She felt that as long as this gentle girl didn't try to drag her down with her, the two of them could be good sisters for life.
Raven kept her thoughts to herself.
"I didn't expect us to be colleagues. Once we complete this mission, we can return to Earth together."
The hope of returning to Earth grew closer, and a hopeful expression appeared on Seele's little face.
She hadn't seen Sister Bronya for a long time, and hadn't played with everyone at the orphanage for a long time.
A large, warm hand came from behind, skillfully patting Seele's head.
Brian saw through the girl's thoughts and stopped her with this action.
"Seele, the Herrscher core is a very dangerous thing. Let Raven and I handle this."
"Oh? Not even in a relationship yet, and you're already being so protective?"
Raven teased.
"Isn't this our relationship? Seele is mine and Bronya's little sister."
Seele: "…"
The girl, who knew nothing of the world's dangers, watched their interaction, completely oblivious to what they were describing.
Fortunately, she wasn't someone who could only keep her thoughts to herself; she had her other self to help her with her worries.
"My other self, what do you think the relationship is between Sister Bronya and this big brother?"
The feisty girl pouted, somewhat despising this girl's innocence.
"Is there even a need to ask?"
"Your Sister Bronya has probably already prepared a little niece for you."
Seele: "…"???!!!
Σ（⊙▽⊙"A."
…