"Principal Theresa, the Science Department has detected a massive Honkai energy fluctuation in Nagazora City."
Late at night, at St. Freya Academy in the Far East, Theresa was woken from her sleep by an emergency communication. Hearing the report, she rubbed her eyes, still groggy.
"Is it a new Honkai Beast? All survivors in Nagazora City have been evacuated, so there's no need to be too nervous. I'll notify Himeko to deal with it after daybreak. In the meantime, just make sure that Honkai Beast doesn't leave Nagazora City."
"No, it's an existence with fluctuations stronger than a Honkai Beast. Our Science Department suspects it's... it's a Herrscher's fluctuation."
"Impossible!"
Theresa woke up instantly. She hurriedly changed into her nun outfit, which served as her formal attire, and turned on the video communication. She saw the equally incredulous face of the Science Department staff member on the other side.
"Every Honkai eruption only produces one Herrscher! Isn't the Third Herrscher, Raiden Mei, right here at St. Freya Academy?"
"The Honkai energy fluctuation observed this time is indeed weaker than the Third Herrscher's. We suspect that because Nagazora City lost its commanding Herrscher, the massive residual Honkai energy has gathered and is attempting to catalyze a new Herrscher. However, we believe this Honkai energy is insufficient to form a new Herrscher Core. The formation speed of the Herrscher will be very slow, but if left unchecked, it will eventually become a threat."
"I understand. It seems we have to deal with it immediately."
"Then, Principal Theresa, should we contact Major Himeko and the pilots of the Hyperion on your behalf?"
"...No need. They just returned from Nagazora City. Although they didn't go through a fierce battle, we shouldn't disturb their rest now. I'll go personally. Alone. If the target is an unformed Herrscher, I alone am more than enough. Prepare a small destroyer."
"Yes."
After ending the communication, Theresa picked up the giant cross placed in the corner of the room. It was an artifact larger than her entire body, weighing 150 kilograms—a relic of the Previous Era, a weapon left for future generations to fight the Honkai.
Normal people couldn't use it casually. Even an A-rank Valkyrie like Himeko Murata, who wielded a greatsword and possessed considerable strength, couldn't fight with it. But Theresa could, because she possessed superhuman strength from birth. Using this giant cross, which contained hidden mechanisms, as a simple blunt instrument to smash people was no problem for her.
"Where are you planning to go, Principal?"
Theresa, carrying the giant cross and leaving her residence, saw Evan. Hearing his question, Theresa raised an eyebrow.
"Naturally, I have things to do. And you? It's so late, yet you're not sleeping. Insomnia?"
Evan stretched.
"I slept for a whole day before, so isn't it natural that I can't sleep now? Speaking of which, I'm bored. If the matter Principal is about to handle doesn't involve privacy issues, can you take me along?"
Evan's words made Theresa narrow her eyes.
"Did you hear something?"
"No, I'm just out for a walk because I can't sleep."
"Then continue your walk. I am indeed going to fight, but there's no need for you to follow. I can handle it."
"If you can handle it, just take me along to broaden my horizons. It's a good opportunity for me to experience the dispatch process of St. Freya Academy in advance."
"...Your greatsword hasn't been fully repaired yet. It's still in the Science Department."
"Just retrieve it then. Please lead the way, Principal."
Seeing that Evan had clearly made up his mind to follow her, Theresa recalled his decent combat power shown earlier and didn't think he would become a burden. The girl sighed and finally said.
"You guy, do you really know nothing or have you made up your mind long ago? Forget it, come with me. Let's go to the Science Department first to get your greatsword back. We can't let you go into battle empty-handed."
St. Freya Academy's Science Department was located in a building that combined technological and European styles. Although it was late at night, the Science Department still looked somewhat busy. Most of it was because of the changes observed in Nagazora City. They were urgently processing various data and would report to Theresa later on where the Honkai energy concentration in Nagazora City was highest—that is, where the immature Herrscher was most likely to be.
The situation was urgent, so Theresa didn't say much to the people here. After retrieving the mostly repaired [Nitro Crystal] sword, she went with Evan to the tarmac of St. Freya Academy, where a small aircraft about ten meters long was already parked.
Evan, who had learned about the changes in Nagazora City from Theresa, looked at this somewhat shabby aircraft on the tarmac compared to the incredibly huge Hyperion floating battleship and couldn't help but speak.
"I thought we were taking the Hyperion."
"The Hyperion won't appear on the tarmac; it has a dedicated hangar. This time it happened suddenly, and if nothing unexpected happens, we won't encounter too big a problem. So taking a reconnaissance destroyer is enough. Don't underestimate it. Although it wasn't designed for combat, it's still equipped with missiles and medium-caliber machine cannons. Dealing with ordinary zombies and Honkai Beasts under ten meters is completely not a problem."
"Under ten meters? I can slap them to death with one sword strike."
"Tsk, I told you it's just a destroyer not meant for combat. Compared to the Hyperion, the destroyer's praiseworthy advantages are its flexibility and speed in conventional states. Alright, let's go."
"Allow me to ask, Miss Theresa, can you fly this destroyer?"
"Don't worry, all transport vehicles in our St. Freya Academy have autopilot systems, which are even more reliable than human control."
Theresa pulled Evan to sit down.
Because of the existence of the Leonov anti-gravity engine, this destroyer could achieve vertical takeoff and landing and mid-air suspension just like the Hyperion and other aircraft. After Theresa operated the electronic screen for a while and confirmed the destination, the destroyer soared into the air.
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