Shenzhou. Jiuyou
Sin Mal, who had arrived in Jiuyou ahead of Schicksal, looked at the message on her terminal, a cruel smile spreading across her face.
"Hmph, they're finally here."
"A few D-rank rookie Valkyries, plus that B-rank knight who got his position through luck, and an A-rank who doesn't even wear Valkyrie armor, and they dare to come to Jiuyou?"
"Is Otto that stupid that he has no idea we'd be here to ambush them, or is he just too confident in these guys... never mind that."
Seeing the image that popped up on the terminal, Sin grew even more excited.
"If Otto dares to be so confident, he's a fool. In any case, that idiot has already let his bunch of morons walk right into our trap."
"Next, I just need to knock out Raiden Mei, bring that Bronya girl back, and as for the remaining Schicksal members..."
Glancing at the Titan mechs assembled here, Sin muttered to herself with confidence.
"Might as well kill them all."
Sin was able to appear here with so many Titan mechs mainly because her mother, Cocolia, seemed to have recently completed the analysis of the X-10 Experiment data. With the help of some mysterious allies, she had completed a special system called the [Quantum Teleportation System].
By using this system, Cocolia could transport things to any specified location with known coordinates.
However, because the system was still in its experimental phase, it couldn't be used a second time for a short period after activation.
But for the currently overconfident Sin Mal, this was clearly not a major issue.
After all, she herself was exceptionally skilled, and she had so many mechs by her side.
If those Schicksal people were to actually meet Sin on the battlefield, the one who would have to flee wouldn't be her, but those Schicksal idiots.
As for Cocolia's instruction to 'contact our other ally in Jiuyou before you act'...
Just thinking about it made Sin furious.
Sin didn't feel she needed any help.
But as her mother's good daughter, she could only choose to obediently listen and proactively contact that so-called ally.
However, that person actually had the nerve to disrespect her, directly blocking her on the communication channel!
This incident made the invincible Lady Sin Mal very angry.
But for now, she kept telling herself that the mission was what mattered.
Otherwise, she really wanted to teach that bastard a lesson first before turning around to deal with the Schicksal people.
"Hmph, whatever. Let me see..."
Seeing the heat signatures on the map begin to split into two teams, Sin felt her chances of victory increase even further.
"These idiots, they're actually splitting up in a place like this? That's even better. Isn't this just making it easier for me to pick them off one by one?"
"Hmph, Bronya... I'll let her group be for now."
"If I attack Bronya and Raiden Mei first, even after I deal with them, I won't be able to return right away. I'll still have to face the other team eventually."
"But if I take out the other team first, then with no worries behind me, I can go all out to capture Raiden Mei and Bronya."
"Mm, it's happily decided then."
Looking at the images of Kiana, Yuno, and Leo Ash, Sin immediately began to direct the Titan mechs to move toward their position.
"Don't you guys blame me, because..."
"—it's your own fault for standing in Mother Cocolia's way!"
Same time. Deep within Jiuyou.
Inside Jiuyou, Raven, who had arrived long ago, looked at the missed call on her terminal and let out a faint sigh.
Although the three World Serpent executives—Gray Serpent, Jackal, and Raven—all looked down on Cocolia, they all agreed that she still had her uses.
Gray Serpent had determined that before they squeezed every last drop of value out of her, it was not advisable for the two sides to have a complete falling out.
Therefore, in Gray Serpent's plan this time, Raven was to choose an opportune moment to see if she should cooperate with Cocolia's people.
But when Raven arrived on site, she received new intelligence and orders from Gray Serpent.
Gray Serpent's intelligence mentioned that the subordinate Cocolia had dispatched this time was her other adopted daughter, [Sin Mal].
And according to Gray Serpent's investigation, this girl named Sin Mal was clearly not a smart and reliable partner.
Therefore, Gray Serpent told Raven that the decision of whether to contact the other side was up to her, the on-site commander.
And Raven, upon learning this information, decisively hung up on Sin Mal's communication.
As the king of mercenaries in the underworld, Raven knew all too well how terrifying an incompetent teammate could be.
Often, a difficult opponent isn't the biggest problem.
Because as long as your own intelligence is up to par, even if your opponent is a master, you can at least analyze their possible plans based on the benefits they seek to gain.
But incompetent teammates are a different story. Raven couldn't possibly predict the thought processes of these psychos and morons.
Take Cocolia for example. Neither World Serpent nor Anti-Entropy had expected that she was seriously planning to create a large-scale Honkai Eruption and then have Titans and her daughter fight the Herrscher of Thunder.
You can predict some of a master's movements, but it's hard to keep up with a mad dog's.
And that's precisely why Raven wanted nothing to do with Sin Mal, who clearly wasn't very bright.
In the end, as long as Sin Mal was in motion, she was helping Raven.
With her team of Titan mechs, as long as she operated within Jiuyou, she could help Raven draw the fire of the Schicksal forces.
Ultimately, Raven's objective this time was different from Cocolia's.
Because Cocolia needed to retrieve her daughter and capture a Herrscher, she had to take the initiative and confront the Schicksal group.
But Raven was different.
The mission Gray Serpent gave her was to find Chiyou's seal within Jiuyou, break it, and release Chiyou.
Her mission was decryption. Why would someone responsible for decryption be thinking about fighting and killing?
If Cocolia's people could win and capture Raiden Mei, that would be great.
After all, once the Gem was in Cocolia's hands, knowing Cocolia as he did, Gray Serpent would sooner or later be able to get it from her.
And once they obtained the Gem, the day of their lord's return would be even closer.
As for if Cocolia's people lost, their team of mechs would have at least depleted some of the Schicksal members' strength.
For Raven, who was hiding in the shadows searching for the seal, it was a no-lose situation no matter who won or lost the fight.
Under these circumstances, Raven naturally felt that acting alone was the most suitable course of action for her at the moment.
"But, the plan Gray Serpent gave me this time is very vague."
Opening her wrist terminal, Raven muttered to herself in frustration.
"What does it mean, 'Chiyou has two seals, break the seals with the attack of the Seven Thunders of Retribution, then find an opportunity to retreat immediately'?"
"Not only is there no specific address, but to rely on the Seven Thun..."
At this point, Raven suddenly shut her mouth.
The Seven Thunders of Retribution, as a weapon created from the Third Herrscher's core by a Previous Era Flame-Chaser, was naturally much more powerful than ordinary weapons.
But the problem was, the Seven Thunders of Retribution had some very bizarre properties.
First, Raven, who had possessed the Seven Thunders for some time, discovered that its power, output, ammunition type, performance, and even weapon form varied in different situations or in different people's hands.
And under this legendary system bug, which was often called 'hitting the jackpot,' even Raven herself would sometimes be screwed over by the Seven Thunders in battle.
Like one time when she was fighting with the Seven Thunders, it suddenly turned into a slingshot right in front of her. Raven almost died in that mission because of it.
Even weirder, another time she intended to use the Seven Thunders' rifle mode scope for reconnaissance, but it turned into a lipstick instead.
Does a lipstick even count as a weapon?
Fortunately, Raven hadn't made her move then. Otherwise, she probably would have died of anger from that Divine Key during that mission, just by looking at the lipstick in her hand.
Anyway, she had figured it out. This Divine Key was extremely weird, and might even have a temper.
When carrying out critical missions, Raven generally adopted a 'better safe than sorry' attitude and tried not to 'offend' the Seven Thunders of Retribution.
But now, after that thought had formed in her mind, Raven realized—it was too late, completely too late.
Even though she had immediately shut her mouth before she could voice her complaint, the Seven Thunders of Retribution, like a little girl who had overheard someone badmouthing her, got angry on the spot.
Looking at the Seven Thunders of Retribution: Slingshot Mode in her hands, even though she was mentally prepared, Raven still really wanted to curse.
*Damn it, aren't Divine Keys supposed to be the ultimate weapons for fighting the Honkai? How can an ultimate weapon be so unstable? What kind of brat designed this thing!*
......
Having now split off from Fu Hua's team, Leo Ash listened to the footsteps behind him and began to think about his next move.
In the original story, Himeko was controlled by the Xuanyuan Sword after she touched it.
But now, Himeko wasn't here, so in that case...
He glanced back at Kiana, a look of helplessness in his eyes.
"Hey, Senior, what's wrong?"
"Kiana, listen to me."
Looking at the girl before him, Leo Ash said very seriously.
"Don't touch anything you see later, and don't step on anything carelessly. I'm from Shenzhou, and I know all too well what kind of tricks my ancestors would pull in places like this."
"Huh? Is it that scary?"
Of course it is.
Looking at Kiana, who was starting to say things like 'Senior, you're overreacting' and 'the three of us are so strong, a few traps won't be a problem,' Leo Ash felt a massive headache coming on.
Himeko was just an ordinary A-rank. It was normal for her to be controlled after picking up the Key of Domination.
But the problem was, Kiana had a Sirin squatting inside her.
In the original manga, there was an embarrassing situation where [Kiana touched the Gem of Serenity, and Sirin woke up].
If Kiana really did accidentally touch the Key of Domination, then it wouldn't be the Key dominating her, but Sirin dominating the Xuanyuan Sword.
Once Sirin popped up, even a Sirin whose Honkai Energy levels weren't up to par was still Sirin.
Sirin's intelligence was erratic. When the tables were turned against her, she knew to absorb Honkai Energy and lay low at the start. When things were going her way, she was so reckless she'd mess up constantly. When being chased by a Honkai-fied Siegfried, she even had an embarrassing moment where she forgot to open an Imaginary portal.
If the Sirin who appeared this time was in her normal mode and not her reckless pufferfish mode, then the danger Leo Ash and Yuno would have to face would be much greater.
Even now, with his enhanced skills and equipment, Leo Ash didn't think he could easily suppress a Herrscher.
The stronger you are, the more cautious you must be, because...
—the cautionary tale, Sirin herself, was right beside him.
As for Kiana, who was now muttering complaints, she had actually noticed something.
Leo Ash's words were directed at her, not at both her and Yuno.
Although Yuno was present and could hear their conversation, Leo Ash's gesture clearly meant, 'I trust Yuno but not you, so you better not mess around.'
*Sigh, sleeping in class all the time before must have left a really bad impression on Senior. Hmm, I must use this mission to prove to him—that was all a misunderstanding! When I get serious, I can be really reliable!*
"You two, I think something is wrong."
Yuno, who had been following behind them, suddenly said nervously.
"Ever since we entered Jiuyou, I've been sending out plants to sense vibrations in the ground by keeping them close to the surface."
"And now, not far from us, I can feel a uniform vibration."
"Uniform?"
Hearing Yuno's description, Kiana first thought of a possibility.
"Did another squad come in? Are their footsteps uniform because they're well-trained?"
"No, we're the only Schicksal members here, and as for the Shenzhou side..."
Leo Ash frowned and said to them.
"Shenzhou relies mainly on mechanical patrols to deal with lesser Honkai Beasts and zombies, while the martial artists are responsible for slaying the more powerful, higher-level ones."
"But the lower-ranking soldiers here would experience physical discomfort just by entering Jiuyou. No matter how well-trained they are, it's impossible for their footsteps to be so uniform."
"As for the martial artists, forget it. How many of them would be as well-drilled as soldiers?"
"The only ones who could be here, besides our own people, are most likely enemies."
"And the enemy we're about to face probably isn't human, but rather..."
"—Anti-Entropy's tactical mechs."
"Huh? Anti-Entropy again???"
Upon hearing Leo Ash's deduction, Kiana muttered in dissatisfaction.
"Didn't Dad say that most of the people in Anti-Entropy are good guys? Why does it feel like they're involved every time something bad happens?"
"Anti-Entropy..."
Upon hearing the name of this organization, a smile suddenly appeared on Yuno's face.
"Senior Leo Ash, can I act freely later?"
"Of course—not."
Seeing the dangerous glint in Yuno's smile, Leo Ash said in annoyance.
"First of all, Yuno, you need to understand one thing. Anti-Entropy mechs are immune to Herrscher poison. Your powers are half-useless against them."
"And for the other half of your powers—do you think creating a large tree to poke a bunch of iron lumps will achieve any outstanding results?"
"...But!"
Hearing Leo Ash's denial, Yuno said to him with great impatience.
"Cocolia might be here! I don't care about those mechs, but she's human, which means I can—"
"You can nothing."
He brought a hand down in a light chop on Yuno's head, then spoke irritably to both her and Kiana.
"Anti-Entropy's mechs are already a counter to our Schicksal's [Stigmata/Protective Suit/Armor] combat system, which combines biotechnology with physical strength. What's more, Cocolia usually doesn't send out just a few mechs."
"Right now, your powers are countered by the mechs. If you rush in recklessly, you'll be the first to die when you encounter a large number of them. Kiana won't leave you behind, and I can't just watch you two get beaten up by Anti-Entropy. The most likely outcome is that we all get wiped out together."
"But..."
"And Cocolia won't be here."
As he said this, a scornful smile appeared on Leo Ash's face.
"That woman isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but she at least knows she's not well-liked."
"Someone like that values her own safety above all else. I'll bet you that unless it's a last resort, she will absolutely not appear on the battlefield."
"I know you want to take her down, but the problem is, if all you think about is charging forward without considering how to charge, then even as an avenger, you're just a third-rate, useless avenger."
Leo Ash's strike hadn't used much force, but after the light tap on her head, Yuno did calm down a bit.
But now, looking at the young man before her, she still felt a little defiant.
"...Then as a first-rate avenger, could you, Senior, advise me on how to proceed?"
"First of all, I'm not an avenger—don't look at me like that."
Being stared at by the two of them with 'keep telling yourself that' looks, Leo Ash pointed to his own temple and said.
"Don't worry about such minor details right now. As I've said before, I'm very afraid of dying."
"So, whether it's for revenge or for survival out of fear of death, the biggest difference between us humans and beasts is that—we can learn to use our brains before we act."
"Of course, I can understand if you two can't think of anything. After all, I used to be a special agent, so I've had to deal with far more unexpected situations than you have."
"Yeah, yeah, you're the smart one."
Listening to Leo Ash's lecture-like words, Kiana said defiantly.
"Then, smart Senior Leo Ash, what do you think we should do now?"
"Don't rush—Yuno, can you tell which general direction the vibrations are coming from?"
"...It's our direction."
Realizing this, Yuno immediately asked Leo Ash.
"According to you, we're at a disadvantage against them, so—should we retreat?"
"Retreat... Tsk, I don't have time to waste on them."
*Right now, I don't know if someone is in Jiuyou preparing to break Chiyou's seal, and just when I'm racing against time, someone shows up with mechs. Moreover, Schicksal's communication systems are jammed, but the enemy is still charging towards us. This can only mean that their communication and detection systems are functioning normally. Going back to find Fu Hua and the others seems like a safe bet, but the problem is that by playing it safe, we'll waste time. We were forced to split up because we didn't have enough time in the first place. Turning back now would be defeating the purpose...*
*I've got it.*
"Yuno, if we speed up, can you still maintain your vibration detection?"
"That's not a problem—wait, what are you planning to do?"
Seeing Leo Ash start to sprint in the direction Yuno had pointed, Yuno paused for a moment before quickly catching up to him.
*You just told me to use my brain, and now you're being even more reckless, Senior!*
"Hey, wait for me!"
Seeing the two of them suddenly break into a run, Kiana immediately chased after them.
*That's strange. Didn't Senior say that our combat system, which relies on [biotechnology combined with physical strength], is at a disadvantage against Titan mechs? But now... Senior may be an avenger, but it's impossible for him to have suddenly lost his mind. Judging from his actions in Nagazora City, his seemingly reckless actions were actually well-thought-out... I think.*
Recalling the memory of falling from the top of the TV station building, Kiana suddenly felt that she should probably be a bit more cautious.
Kiana judged that the current Leo Ash still had a brain.
But at the same time, Kiana also judged that the current Leo Ash, after entering his berserker mode, would definitely act recklessly, even while thinking things through.
He must be confident, but as for how the process would go...
*Ugh, no, I suddenly feel a little sick.*
Leo Ash, sprinting at the very front, of course knew that his two teammates, who had just been placated, certainly didn't understand what he was thinking.
But only Leo Ash himself knew...
*System, if I do this...*
[Ha, it's a small matter. As long as you're not maliciously exploiting the system for personal gain, I won't care about such little things.]
*Heh, thanks a lot for that.*
*And, the fact that you've shown yourself now proves one thing. I'm charging towards a squadron of Titan mechs, and since I'm prepared, you can still show up and haven't given me a reward. All these factors together are enough to show that...*
*—The current me, against those Titan mechs, will not face a life-or-death crisis.*
[Your reasoning is correct, but it's not entirely that simple.]
[This system will issue rewards before you encounter a life-threatening crisis, but these crises do not include things like 'suddenly encountering a murderer who stabs you' or 'getting run over by a runaway truck while walking down the street'.]
*...So what you're saying is?*
[In other words, while low-probability events exist, this system will not warn you about them, nor will it send rewards.]
[Don't forget what this system has said long ago—in the end, a person must rely on themselves.]
*That's true, you're right. Against those mechs, there's at most a small chance I'll die at their hands. But if I don't speed up, that ten-pull will be the last supper the system gives me. So, now...*
"I'm going on ahead!"
Seeing Stigmata manifest on the back of Leo Ash's right hand while Honkai Energy patterns rapidly appeared, Kiana became flustered.
"Senior, wait! If you use your Stigmata now—"
"It's still better than wasting more time."
Watching Leo Ash's speed instantly soar due to the Stigmata enhancement, Kiana felt incredibly worried about him.
"Yuno, I'm going ahead too!"
"Propulsion mode, activate!"
"You two..."
Seeing Kiana activate the thrusters of her [White Comet] armor and charge forward with Leo Ash, Yuno gritted her teeth and slammed her hand on the ground.
Before participating in this mission, everyone in the dorm except Fu Hua had put on the armor Schicksal had prepared for them.
However, because the third-generation Valkyrie armor was limited, Yuno had given it to the others who were weaker than her, wearing only a set of second-generation armor herself.
In a race of speed, she normally couldn't compete with the two in front who were using Stigmata and thrusters.
In that case, Yuno's choice was, of course—
"Come—out!"
After pressing her hand to the ground, small trees instantly sprouted in front of Yuno.
Although these temporarily generated trees were flimsy, as one-time mobility tools, their toughness was at an acceptable level.
Just as she had when chasing Leo Ash and the others a month ago, Yuno whipped a vine generated from her wrist forward and used the inertia to swing her body towards another tree.
Using this special method, she actually managed to catch up with the two who were sprinting like mad.
Even though the three of them were now comrades, seeing this scene still felt incredibly strange to Yuno.
*Senior Leo Ash and Kiana are running up ahead, and I'm chasing frantically from behind... No, why does this scene feel so wrong???*