St. Freya Academy. A dazzling golden light descended from the sky. The moment he landed, Ling Feng immediately released his divine sense to scan the entire academy.
"Damn it, am I too late?"
Ling Feng muttered angrily. Within his perception, the auras of Theresa, Himeko, and the others were present, but Kiana's aura was gone.
On the St. Freya battleship's flight deck, Theresa, Himeko, and others were discussing the rescue of Kiana.
"Later, we'll take the Helios transport ship to Schicksal headquarters, then..."
"Theresa, Himeko."
Theresa and the others turned their heads upon hearing the voice. Ling Feng approached with a grave expression.
"Ling Feng, where have you been? Your communicator couldn't get through earlier." Himeko asked, confused, then said with a solemn expression, "Right, Kiana, she was..."
Before she could finish, Ling Feng nodded.
"I know, but Theresa, I can't participate in the upcoming operation. I'll leave these weapons to you; they should provide some assistance."
Ling Feng retrieved the God of War Blade and the flying sword Ao Xue from his system space.
"Why?"
Theresa was puzzled. Ling Feng's combat power was supposed to be the strongest among them, and his presence would greatly increase the chances of a successful rescue.
Ling Feng fell silent for a moment, then sighed, "I need to improve my strength..."
...
Multiverse, Baishi Dongtian.
The figures of Ling Feng, Shin, and Tu Shan Hong Hong appeared out of thin air.
"Hong Hong, I'm entrusting Shin to your care. I need to go into seclusion for a year in another world."
Ling Feng entrusted them with a serious expression. This was likely his first time entering seclusion for cultivation. Previously, he would never choose to do so.
But... to face the impending crisis, he didn't want to feel as powerless as he did back in Inazuma...
Facing the Herrscher, his current peak Mid Nascent Soul stage strength was not enough. Therefore, he had to break through to the Late Nascent Soul stage and increase his strength as quickly as possible before that battle arrived!
Only then could he have a chance to defeat the Herrscher of the Void.
"Okay," Tu Shan Hong Hong nodded.
"Mmm."
Ling Feng's figure immediately shot up, transforming into a rainbow light and disappearing into the Baishi mountain range.
...
Twenty-two hours after Kiana was captured, Schicksal Headquarters.
"Continue injecting Honkai energy into the experimental chamber. This concentration alone won't wake her up."
Otto watched Kiana sleeping in the experimental chamber with a smile.
"Heh... long time no see, welcome home, K423."
As the Honkai energy was injected, Kiana slowly opened her eyes, her blue irises turning golden.
"Come back to my side, my kin!"
Siberia, the ruins of the Second Honkai War. A giant blue dragon awakened from the solid ice, shattering its restraints.
"Roar! Roar! Roar!"
Benares let out a long roar to announce the queen's return.
"Oh, are you here to protect your queen? Deploy all-domain defense satellites. All Valkyrie units, Level 1 combat readiness."
"Prepare for a world-altering event!"
About 300 kilometers from Schicksal headquarters, on the Helios transport ship, Himeko said with a grave expression, looking at the flight path on the large screen.
"We're about to enter headquarters' airspace."
"Hmph, if the Hyperion was here, these enemies would be nothing."
Himeko cast a resentful glance at Theresa, thinking that if it weren't for her not allowing them to pilot the Hyperion, she would have charged straight in.
"Stop complaining, Himeko. We can't deploy the Hyperion until 'that thing' is modified."
"Unauthorized access detected. Initiating target elimination!"
"We've been discovered! Prepare for insertion!"
Seeing the numerous defense satellites and a command ship approaching, Theresa immediately ordered an attack.
After a brief exchange of fire, the obstructing command ship was shot down. Just as Theresa was about to issue the next command, Otto's communication suddenly connected.
"What do you want with that kind of toy, Theresa? Go back obediently. Everyone has a rebellious phase, and I won't blame you for your childishness."
Otto's tone was full of affection.
"Heh, still as gentle as ever, Grandpa."
"But..."
The transport ship's main cannon began to accumulate energy, and a massive energy beam directly blasted a large hole in the shield.
"This is my answer! This time, I will not yield to you again!"
After advancing a bit further.
"Theresa, large-scale Honkai beast reactions detected on the port side of the transport ship!"
Himeko frantically typed on the keyboard.
Theresa exclaimed in shock, finding it hard to believe, but the facts were laid out before her. From the screen, a large number of Manti-class Honkai beasts and many small Temple-class Honkai beasts could be seen.
"How is this possible! This is within Schicksal headquarters' defense perimeter!"
The Manti-class Honkai beasts, like swarms of bees, began to densely impact the transport ship's shield.
The energy supporting the shield began to plummet rapidly. At this rate, the shield would disappear soon.
Indeed... after about fifteen minutes, the transport ship's shield began to fade.
"This is bad, the transport ship's energy is no longer enough to maintain the shield!"
Theresa looked extremely anxious.
Suddenly, a beam of light sliced through the Honkai beasts entering through the hole in the shield, including a God-class Honkai beast.
"Don't worry, Theresa. It's time for the Far East Branch's ace to make an appearance!"
Himeko, dragging her Aurora Sword, walked onto the deck alone. Facing the endless Honkai beasts on the deck, a confident and resolute smile played on her lips.
"But the Far East Branch's ace is Ling Feng."
Himeko, who had been full of spirit, suddenly froze as if petrified.
'I finally got to show off like this, only to be utterly defeated by you. Damn it!'
Although a little unresilient, Himeko still dutifully cleaned up Honkai beasts on the deck.
...
Somewhere in Schicksal Headquarters, Durandal, clad in her blue and white God-slaying armor, the "Bright Knight: Paladin," knelt before a few gravestones, holding a bouquet of immaculate white flowers, which she gently placed down.
Durandal slowly stood up and looked at Rita beside her.
"Let's go, Rita. We'll intercept the rebellious Far East Branch together."
"Yes, Lord Durandal."
Rita smiled slightly, her hands clasped at her abdomen. She had also donned her God-slaying armor, "Luna Kin: Moonlight."
Meanwhile, Himeko had just dealt with the last Honkai Emperor when countless lightning strikes fell from the sky. Fortunately, Himeko reacted swiftly and managed to dodge them.
However, the lightning seemed unending, striking one after another, scaring Himeko into fleeing in all directions while simultaneously activating her communicator.
"Theresa! Tell me what's happening!"
"Hello, hello, what is this situation!"
Theresa looked at the readings on the detector with a grave expression and replied.
"There's a big one near the transport ship! Watch out for the lightning!"
"You don't need to tell me that! I don't want to experience being electrocuted!" Himeko shouted, desperately dodging a lightning strike.
Inside the ship, Theresa watched the energy readings of the large entity hovering near the transport ship on the Honkai energy detector steadily climbing.
"This reading is... an Apostle-class Honkai beast!"
Theresa exclaimed in surprise. Only two Apostle-class Honkai beasts had appeared in history, and now another one had emerged.
"Alarm! Alarm!"
"No good, Himeko, avoid it! It's going to dive!"
As soon as she spoke, with a roar in the sky, Benares, engulfed in layers of lightning, descended heavily onto the deck.
Its length almost occupied the entire transport ship.
"Ugh!"
The sudden attack and violent air currents sent Himeko flying backward, her Aurora Sword carving a deep gash on the deck.
Seeing this, Himeko's expression became extremely solemn, but she didn't retreat. Instead, she charged forward with her Aurora Sword, engaging Benares in a fierce battle.
Himeko calmly wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and said mockingly.
"You've got some real skills, but this is not enough to defeat me!"
Just as Benares was about to attack again, a golden stream of light suddenly streaked across the sky.
It was Fu Hua, who had previously fought with Benares. Fu Hua frowned as she looked at the battle on the transport ship.
"No, the Helios is no match for that Apostle-class Honkai beast at all!"
As she spoke, Fu Hua released the restriction program of "Night Knight: Moonlight." The two sets of blade propulsion units on her waist fully deployed, and her entire armor turned a fiery orange-red, like a total lunar eclipse.
"Mmm, let me lure her away!"
Fu Hua's armor flashed with golden light, and her faceplate covered her face.
Benares turned its head and roared. It immediately recognized the person in front of it as someone who had harmed the queen many years ago. Without hesitation, it flapped its wings and chased after her.
Himeko, seeing Benares being lured away, let out a sigh of relief. She then curiously wondered who the person who lured it away was, as they seemed somewhat familiar.
Before she could think further, Theresa's voice suddenly came through her ear.
"Watch out! There are still Honkai beasts nearby!"
"Really, can't I get a moment's rest!" Himeko hefted her Aurora Sword and charged back into the Honkai beast swarm.
Just as Himeko finished off the Honkai beasts in front of her, Theresa's voice sounded again.
"Himeko, the next wave of enemies is coming soon."
"Hmph, it's endless. There has to be a limit to this madness!"
Fighting so many Honkai beasts at once, even as an A-rank Valkyrie, she couldn't sustain such high-intensity combat.
"Theresa, you'd better come up with a way to control this situation... Honestly, if Ling Feng were here, I wouldn't be in such a sorry state."
Himeko suddenly missed the gentle young man she usually saw... If he were here, she could comfortably sit in the command center and drink tea.
Ling Feng: You old maid, you're so bad!
"The method you wanted has arrived, Miss Himeko."
Upon hearing this familiar, calm voice, Theresa, who had been frowning with worry, couldn't help but feel a sense of relief.
"You've finally arrived, Dr. Einstein."
Following that, several Anti-Entropy mechs landed on the deck and began fighting the Honkai beasts. Himeko finally let out a sigh of relief and leaned against the wall to rest.