"Please rest assured, Lady Fu Hua. I will take care of Miss Kiana from here."
Rita Rossweisse, clad in her 4th-generation Valkyrie battlesuit, bid farewell to her superior and Fu Hua with a smile.
She looked at the white-haired fluffball on the ground, and her originally gentle expression gradually turned cold as time passed.
"I'm sorry, Miss Kiana. For the sake of a better future, you will need to make a small sacrifice."
Her smile was somewhat bleak.
This mission was imperative, with no room for choice.
The Schicksal Overseer Otto had confessed to her and Durandal the detailed plan of this operation, as well as its deeper purpose.
The Honkai comes from the Imaginary side of the world, and the Herrscher of the Void's authority happens to be strongly related to the Imaginary domain, capable of interfering with it.
The authority of [Imaginary Space] is essential; humanity must have a Herrscher who can interfere with the Imaginary world.
Only then can they have the possibility of interfering with the Honkai.
And among all the Herrschers, Kiana's predecessor, Sirin, the Herrscher of the Void, is special. She possesses the qualification to accommodate multiple Herrscher Cores and is easily manipulated.
Although the current Kiana has begun to master the power within her body, her growth rate is far from meeting Otto's requirements.
The world's peace is merely a facade. The Honkai is coming on strong, and it's unknown when it will tear apart this fragile curtain, presenting the cruel world before everyone's eyes.
To prevent this from happening, Rita could only cooperate with Otto's plan and feed Kiana the nutrients for growth.
As for her future... at least she has a clear conscience!
On the cold floor, the S-rank Valkyrie Rita Rossweisse took out a Soulium container from her person with a bleak smile.
The moment it was opened, the massive amount of Honkai energy almost spawned a Honkai Beast on the spot.
The irregular polyhedron shape and vibrant colors of the contents revealed the identity of this gem—the Gem of Desire!
The best way to revive a Herrscher is to provide it with a massive amount of Honkai energy, and the authority within the Herrscher Core will further strengthen it.
Before Durandal brought this Herrscher Core to the Far East Branch, the Gem of Desire had already been pre-charged with Honkai energy. It only needed to be implanted into Kiana's body.
Rita picked up the Herrscher Core. The ultra-high concentration of Honkai energy almost burned through the protection of the 4th-generation Valkyrie battlesuit, making her feel waves of heat.
With a heavy heart, the Valkyrie watched as Kiana's body absorbed the Herrscher Core. After sensing the threatening aura emanating from her, she departed.
The first step of the plan was complete, but the most crucial step had not yet begun.
Kiana has many friends and relatives, but among them, only one person has the potential to disrupt today's operation.
"I'm sorry, Rita has to do this..."
…
An invisible force swept across the entire Far East Branch, causing Fu Hua to pause in her tracks.
She didn't understand.
"Durandal, why is this happening?"
That was the power of the Herrscher of the Void, coming from Kiana Kaslana, whom she had just subdued!
The subdued Kiana was supposed to be taken back to Schicksal HQ by the S-rank Valkyrie Rita Rossweisse for Otto to find a way to eliminate the Herrscher within her.
But... but!
"Durandal, why did you deceive me!?"
The gray-haired, blue-eyed girl clenched her fists, unable to believe that the comrade she had trusted with all her heart had betrayed her.
And it was she who had personally subdued Kiana; she had personally handed her friend over to Otto!
Looking in the direction of Kiana and Rita, Durandal's expression was calm, with a hint of sorrow in her eyes.
"This is a necessary sacrifice!"
Otto had persuaded her with his research findings, convincing her to agree to this plan.
Humanity needs a being who can interfere with the Imaginary domain; this concerns the grand scheme of fighting against the Honkai.
Without the Herrscher of the Void, Schicksal's fight against the Honkai would only be superficial.
Even though executing this plan in the Far East Branch would sacrifice many innocent people, she was prepared to bear the sin.
Fu Hua: "You deceived me just to create a massacre, like Cocolia!?"
The atmosphere between the two was tense.
"Fu Hua, we didn't lie!"
The details of the plan were relayed to Fu Hua by Rita.
In the operational plan Rita gave to Fu Hua, Fu Hua was to use Fenghuang Down to subdue Kiana, and then hand Kiana over to Rita for 'handling'.
It was 'handling', not for Rita to take Kiana back to Schicksal HQ.
There was a slight omission in the content, causing Fu Hua to misunderstand the plan.
Of course, apart from this small omission, the other parts were not lies.
They had merely exploited Fu Hua's trust in them.
"..."
Fu Hua clenched her fists, filled with rage!
She had been betrayed once again, and these people had used the power in her hands to be on the verge of making a grave mistake!
She had no more time to get entangled with this person. The mistake that started with her must be corrected by her!
"Durandal, are you going to stop me?"
"I will not stop you. I came here only to prevent a more serious situation from occurring."
The valiant Valkyrie's expression was firm, without the slightest waver.
Before coming to the Far East Branch, her teacher Otto had discussed this matter with her…
"There is no such thing as a plan that is absolutely successful in this world. No one can control everything."
"What we can do is to do our best and leave the rest to fate, to try our utmost, and then leave everything else to probability!"
Even Otto, who had planned all this, was less than fifty percent confident.
Let the Herrscher of the Void use Kiana's body to kill someone close to Kiana, and then let Kiana kill the Herrscher of the Void, allowing her to grow.
The other people around her would become chains to pull this girl back, preventing her from falling into the abyss of self-blame and despair.
And Fu Hua... was also one of the candidates who could be sacrificed.
Durandal could even guess Otto's intentions; Fu Hua was definitely in the group that could be sacrificed with the highest priority.
She was injured, the plan began at her hands, and her sense of responsibility was strong...
A look of compassion bloomed in the Valkyrie's eyes.
Fu Hua had no time to pay attention to all this. After receiving a definite answer, she rushed in the direction of Kiana.
She had the qualification to wear the 4th-generation Valkyrie battlesuit, which would have been a great supplement to her combat power.
But now... Otto would never give her this chance.
What that man wanted…
"Otto, what on earth are you planning!?"
…
In the same spot, the blonde Valkyrie watched Fu Hua's back recede quickly, her heart heavy.
The sacrifice of a Valkyrie was a common occurrence, but watching a friend walk to her death was truly a sorrowful thing.
But the current situation did not allow her to grieve; she still bore a more important mission.
"Sushang, let's go."
From a shadowy corner, a woman dressed as a Shenzhou martial artist emerged. Watching the direction Fu Hua left, her mood was equally complex.
"That Rakshasa fellow actually has his sights set on Master Celestial..."
This girl was dressed as a martial artist.
Although she was short, about the same height as Bronya, her curves surpassed the Russian loli's by more than an order of magnitude.
Her ample chest clearly showed she had absorbed a lot of nutrients, and her extreme waist-to-hip ratio made one want to grab the girl's slender waist from behind.
Her name is Li Sushang, Schicksal's third S-rank Valkyrie, and also a friend Otto brought to this era from Shenzhou five hundred years ago using a Previous Era life-support device.
This Schicksal Overseer had saved Li Sushang's life and made a pact with her to repay the favor with one deed.
Ensuring the smooth progress of the plan alongside Durandal was Li Sushang's repayment. From now on, she and the Rakshasa would be even.
Therefore, even though she knew her master's ancestor would likely not return, she had no power to intervene.
Repay a drop of kindness with a gushing spring.
Let alone the favor of saving her life.
The two S-rank Valkyries walked side by side, and as planned, they came face to face with their final opponents.
Brian, and Raiden Mei.
But Durandal's gaze was entirely focused on the young Brian.
Compared to the Herrscher next to him whose mind was filled with romance, this male Herrscher with two cores was more difficult to handle.
Raiden Mei felt that she was being underestimated, and a bit of anger rose in her heart.
But circumstances were urgent, and there was no time for her to throw a tantrum.
"I'll leave things here to you. I'm going to deal with that idiot Kiana."
"Mm."
The two Valkyries watched as Raiden Mei left.
The atmosphere among the three became tense.
But for some reason, Li Sushang always felt that this man posed a threat to her far beyond what his on-paper strength suggested.
Logically, not only had she mastered the Taixuan Sword God, but she also had the assistance of Schicksal's strongest S-rank Valkyrie by her side. Even if she couldn't defeat this Herrscher, it shouldn't have come to this.
But her sixth sense told her that this guy was far more dangerous than his harmless appearance suggested.
She couldn't help but ask in a low voice: "Durandal, you don't think... the intelligence that Rakshasa fellow gave us could be wrong, do you?"
Her Master Celestial was misled by a single omitted phrase and became the culprit who started it all.
Li Sushang figured that if Otto could use a 500-year-old friend like that, then she, who was being forced to repay a favor, would be even easier for him to use.
Durandal: "..."
The Valkyrie's expression was a little complicated.
"For us, this man is indeed very dangerous."
It wasn't until the operation began that Durandal learned about the past Rita had been hiding all along.
The so-called ex-boyfriend never existed. It was because she was forcibly given an unbearable dark history in Nagazora City, and to avoid being blackmailed by this guy, she fabricated this relationship.
This man possessed an extremely lewd ability against women like them. After touching their bodies, he could force them into a restricted state.
And this ability had almost no cooldown.
He was simply the bane of all women!
Li Sushang's hair stood on end, the mounds on her chest creating eye-catching waves with the girl's movement: "You're making me even more scared."
Despite her words, Li Sushang did not choose to flee.
This was her promise to her lifesaver; there was absolutely no reason to run away.
Whether it was a mountain of blades or a sea of fire ahead, she had no reason to retreat!
The black-haired youth's gaze met Durandal's, and invisible sparks flew in the air: "Durandal, it's been several months since we last parted, hasn't it?"
Now, it was time for pre-battle trash talk.
"Yes, the last time we met, I conceitedly made a grave mistake, allowing Rita to be poisoned by you."
Flames burned in Durandal's eyes. "I feel extremely guilty about this. I must get justice for Rita from you!"
"Durandal, you can't say that."
The Inner World Protagonist shrugged. "The way I treated Rita was because you all kept pressing me, so I had no choice but to use some unconventional means."
"Now Rita and I are in love. Aren't you afraid that after you beat up her lover, you won't have any food to eat when you get home?"
Durandal: "..."
When it came to matters of the heart, she really couldn't say for sure.
Rita had confessed everything to her, which naturally included her current feelings for this man.
She had thought that time and distance could solve everything, diluting this ill-fated relationship that should never have happened. But unexpectedly, the increased distance and occasional encounters made this ill-fated love even richer, causing her to sink deeper into the mire.
Though she spoke of seeking justice, Durandal had no intention of beating this guy to a pulp.
Besides…
"Durandal, although you are Schicksal's strongest Valkyrie, it doesn't mean you can truly defeat me!"
On the Inner World Protagonist, a fighting spirit blazed!
"Then let's see what you've got!"
Boom—!
The Valkyrie armor's thrusters engaged, and Durandal's agile body instantly appeared in front of Brian.
Her slender fingers clenched into a powerful fist, smashing towards him at a speed that broke the sound barrier!
Opening move—Sonic Punch!
A long spear, intertwined with black and white, struck from another direction, neutralizing Brian's abilities as the Herrscher of Death.
A sharp slash followed closely behind. The martial artist from five hundred years ago was, to one's surprise, perfectly coordinated with her companion.
A three-pronged attack, a fight to the death!
If an ordinary, uncultured Herrscher were standing here, they would have been beaten to their knees by the perfect coordination of these two, dragged back to the basement of Schicksal HQ to become a taro-filled star-slave!
But the Inner World Protagonist had no interest in becoming a slave of the magic capital's elite troops.
"Durandal, being so rough with your subordinate's boyfriend right from the start, have you hit menopause early?"
The Herrscher of Reason's authority activated, and the Inner World Protagonist's martial arts began to improve rapidly.
"Hmph! You, who only know how to boast!"
Durandal was a woman of few words and much action. While constantly dodging his body to avoid getting wet, the battle-hardened Valkyrie continuously launched attacks.
The two S-rank Valkyries cooperated seamlessly. Even though they were wary of direct contact with the man, they had already gained a slight upper hand in the battle.
But both Durandal and Li Sushang could feel that the man was improving at an incredible speed during the fight!
'So this is the power of the Herrscher of Reason, truly amazing!' Durandal praised in her heart.
Anything that can be created by humans, anything that has existed in this world, can be reproduced through the power of the Herrscher of Reason.
This was the description from the relevant data she received before the operation.
Undoubtedly, the fighting techniques she and Li Sushang used were of the type that anyone could learn, and the power of the Herrscher of Reason directly helped this man skip the learning process, allowing him to expand like a sponge in battle.
If they wanted to defeat this man, they not only needed a swift victory, but also needed to bring out some power that he couldn't copy in a short time.
For example…
"You are indeed very strong!"
The battle-crazed Valkyrie had already forgotten about her adjutant.
She no longer cared about the humiliation Rita had suffered at this man's hands, or even the question of whether she would become a widow.
Durandal had only one thought right now.
—VICTORY!!!
"Sushang, let's use our final move!"
In a duel of masters, there are no fancy tricks; those are just additions for entertainment in works of art.
A one-hit kill, ending the battle in the shortest amount of time, is the essence of combat.
As for the fact that their purpose in stopping this man was merely to stall for time... that had probably been forgotten by the battle-crazed Valkyrie.
Regardless, today she must bring this man to his knees and make him pay for what he did to Rita.
She had wronged Rita, so let her make up for this mistake by beating up this Inner World Protagonist!
Her fighting spirit soared!
"Star Anchor, Forge the Way!"
The valiant Valkyrie let out a fierce cry.
Golden armor covered her entire body, even giving the Divine Key in her hand a sacred hue.
This power of Durandal's could only last for three minutes. If the duration were extended, this unstable power would harm both herself and others.
The intention for a swift battle was now crystal clear!
And this power needed to be obtained from the aether anchor point in the Sea of Quanta. Even the power of the Herrscher of Reason could not learn its essential core through these superficial manifestations.
A hot wind howled. The light and heat from the Valkyrie's body momentarily made one feel as if they were facing a sun god.
Durandal continued the fight without hesitation, and Li Sushang followed suit with her own ultimate move.
No matter what, she couldn't be a burden in this battle!
A sharp light bloomed in the martial artist girl's eyes: "Divinity! The pinnacle of change!"
Taixuan Sword God!
A powerful will moved the Honkai energy. The "Taixu Sword Ki", which trains the mind and not the qi, was brought to its zenith by this third-generation successor. An immense, wondrously sharp blade manifested in the air, then pressed down with the force of Mount Tai.
In Li Sushang's mind, even if the Herrscher of Reason's ability could analyze their powers, it would still require time to learn and understand.
The more profound the technique and move, the more time and energy it would require.
A fleeting move would certainly allow him to grasp some of the technique, but it would also cause him harm.
In this way, the tactical objective of this operation would be achieved, and she would have repaid her debt to the Rakshasa, free to roam the world thereafter.
However…
"Excellent! I was waiting for this!"
The prescient man's eyes shot out a sharp glint. He actually had enough energy to decipher the Taixuan Sword God used by Li Sushang while under Durandal's fierce attack.
The Herrscher of Reason's ability activated. Even with an incomplete Herrscher's power, as long as he met all the prerequisites and had obtained the 'Divine Voice' technology from the Elysian Realm, it was no problem at all.
Taixuan Sword God... learned!
Then, in an instant, he improved and refined it, combining this power born for slaughter with his own ability, the Hand of God…
Removing the lethal parts, with the goal of subduing his opponents without killing them.
"Durandal, Li Sushang, since you're both so enthusiastic, come and try the new move I learned from you!"
An even more majestic and terrifying giant blade appeared in the sky, arriving after Li Sushang's Taixuan Sword God yet striking it first, shattering it after a moment of humiliation.
An unsettling aura made the two powerful Valkyries tremble instinctively.
This was not a killing move aimed at living beings, but the ultimate strike against women like them!
This is…
Taixuan Sword God: Thunderfire Sword!
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