"All Honkai construct signatures on-site are gone. We've detected the Second Herrscher's Honkai energy and an unknown source of Honkai energy."
"Sweep the battlefield, then we can clock off! That cute Second Herrscher cat helped us take care of the Honkai constructs again!"
One of the Valkyries barked an order, directing the cleaning robots to speed up the battlefield cleanup.
"Feels like the past few years were never this relaxed... A Herrscher is actually helping us clean up Honkai disasters... If I went back to the Schicksal Valkyrie Academy eight years ago, the old instructor would probably slap me twice across the face and ask if I was still asleep and daydreaming."
Another Valkyrie stretched lazily, a pancake dangling from her mouth as she mumbled indistinctly.
"Don't let your guard down, Second Lieutenant! Even though a Herrscher is constantly helping us clean up Honkai disasters here, Arc City's Honkai energy readings are still rising. We must be ready for battle at all times!"
"Even Miss Herrscher can't be at multiple disaster sites at once."
The lead Valkyrie shook her head, looking at her somewhat lax subordinates with an expression of exasperated disappointment.
"Ah, yes, Captain!"
"But... why are the city's Honkai energy readings still rising? Could it be..."
"Don't jump to wild conclusions. How long has it been since the Fourth Honkai Eruption? Miss Wendy is still soaring over the European continent right now."
"No, Captain. I meant, could it be that the Second Herrscher's continued presence in this city is what's causing Arc City's Honkai energy levels to keep rising?"
"We initially suspected that too, but that theory was eventually debunked. If a Herrscher were causing the Honkai energy concentration to rise, the energy would consciously converge on the Herrscher herself. But this city's Honkai energy... seems to have no master."
"It's gathering randomly, wandering and accumulating without purpose, then erupting into small or medium-sized Honkai disasters—completely uncontrolled."
"Besides, the Second Herrscher only arrived in this city a month ago... nearly two months after this strange phenomenon began. It's less likely that the Herrscher is causing the Honkai energy to rise, and more likely that this city's bizarre phenomenon attracted Miss Herrscher, who has been cleaning up Honkai disasters worldwide."
"Uh... I have a bad feeling about this..."
Hearing this, the team members began to whisper among themselves.
"Yeah, it feels like the calm before the storm. But there's nothing to be afraid of. As Valkyries, we're the ones who stand on the front lines against the tempest. Besides, you still have me, your Captain! If the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up. What's there to panic about?"
"Captain, if you keep jinxing us like that, you really won't make it to retirement!"
"I've jinxed us so many times already, what's one more? Back when I was a rookie, my first words before heading into battle were, 'After this mission, I'm going to confess to the guy I like!'"
"Damn, Captain, you're a serial jinxer..."
"Alright, enough fooling around. Let's finish cleaning up here and get back for our rotation. A-Team is taking over this week's shifts. After this, you can go play, find a man, or find a woman—whatever you want."
"Hooray!"
At the mention of time off, the Valkyries cheered and began cleaning up the battlefield with renewed vigor.
-
Arc City's Lower District, much like those in other cyberpunk metropolises, was a stark contrast to the glamorous Upper District. It was piled high with trash and plastered with endless layers of illegal posters. People of all kinds bustled through the streets, but most shared a common trait: they were ragged refugees. Lacking any specialized skills to begin with, they found it even harder to integrate into this advanced, high-tech city after fleeing from place to place. They could only eke out a meager existence in the Lower District.
Most of the foreign faces among them were unregistered residents, lacking any legal status in Arc City. They survived only through the charity of local residents.
"What a city of stark contrasts..."
Kiana, having teleported directly back home, glanced out her window at the bustling street below and sighed deeply.
"This situation won't be resolved until the aftershocks of the Great Honkai Eruption have completely subsided... The city's authorities have already done a decent job—distributing life-sustaining food and water regularly, maintaining 24-hour patrols with security drones, and keeping a dedicated Honkai Response Unit on standby."
"Except for the living conditions, which are worlds apart..."
"The city's population is already overflowing," Imhotep offered her assessment. "It's not so much that they lack skills, but rather that they were repeatedly outcompeted for the limited jobs and eventually squeezed into this district."
"This situation won't see any decisive change until the city expands again. And expansion can only happen after the recent, endless Honkai disasters plaguing the city have ceased. Only then will they have the energy to develop new territories."
Just then, she noticed a little blonde girl with her hair in a bun at the street corner. The girl's clothes were tattered, and her eyes were covered by a black cloth, suggesting she was blind. She stumbled around, feeling her way, before disappearing around a corner...
"So it's you... But the time isn't right yet..." Imhotep murmured, her gaze fixed on the spot where the girl had vanished.
"Hey, hey, what are you staring at, Miss Imhotep? Now, how about you explain your relationship with Snow? Are you her older sister or her younger sister?"
Kiana's voice pulled Imhotep's attention back to the White-Haired Knight in the shabby room.
"...This room really is run-down. Oh well..."
"I am Snow," she stated. "'She' is a derivative of humanity—you can call me that if you wish. Snow, the non-divine one. Of course, I prefer the name 'Imhotep.' It's the human name I chose for myself."
"Then what's with your current state?" Kiana pressed. "If I'm not mistaken... those angel wings that look like a headpiece are actually attached to you, right?"
Kiana leaned in, trying to touch the small wings, but Imhotep sidestepped her.
"Insolent fool—don't touch... It's ticklish..."
"Ahem. My current state? This is the ultimate life form the 'human me' can manifest from the Kaslana family—the Realm of Heavenly Origin. It's a form similar to the Bianca Ataegina you saw in the prophecy—an Awakener of the Kaslana Stigmata... and the power of a MANTIS."
"Realm of Heavenly Origin... Hmm, can you do that thing... you know, that one?!"
"'Run her down, Krishna?' Unfortunately, my awakening doesn't summon a horse..."
Wings woven from pure light unfurled behind the girl, making her resemble an angel from myth.
"I am Imhotep. I am... the Weaver of Storms—"
However, the light radiating from the girl brought Kiana no warmth. Instead, it carried a bone-chilling cold reminiscent of Kevin Kaslana—like a frozen sun...