"Hand over Fuli, and no one gets hurt."
Flying through the air, Bianka's tone was indifferent.
"Otherwise, you will all die!"
This was Durandal! The Woman of Women! The Alpha of Alphas! The Dominator of Women! The Ruler of Women! The Lord of Women! The Terminator of Women! King! Master! Goddess! Emperor! Demon Lord! An absolutely overwhelming woman!
"That Durandal came uninvited; she definitely intends to knock A-Li down and drag him back to Schicksal to be a Star Slave!"
Kiana ran frantically back and forth across the bridge, shouting bizarre nonsense.
Mei, having rushed back just in time, couldn't help but feel irritable. almost instantly, she suspected Bronya, thinking the girl had leaked the precious intelligence Fuli obtained from the Era of Great Peace.
But in a flash, the girl dismissed such a mindless conjecture that would easily cause infighting.
Leaving aside the fact that Bronya had indeed signed a blank contract, even if she really had leaked the intel, the people chasing them wouldn't be Durandal of Schicksal. It would be the power-holders of Anti-Entropy.
For example, a certain lobster-head and a certain blue-haired natural perm. Just those two renowned scientists alone would spare no cost to take Fuli back and eat him clean! And she meant eat him clean in the physical sense!
Men only slow down the speed of our research, but Fuli adds Attack Speed!
"..."
Squatting in the corner, Bronya silently observed the reactions of her two companions.
A hand sneaked up from behind and ruffled her single drill-tail, a hairstyle she had lazily chosen for the day.
"I said, the people I choose are all worth befriending."
Despite the critical situation, Fuli could still smile.
"...Mn."
The little girl nodded with a minimal movement.
Regardless of the reason, not a single person present—including Kiana, who usually fought with her incessantly—voiced any suspicion that Bronya was the leak.
This greatly exceeded the girl's expectations. It also made her realize that staying by this cheap older brother's side out of spite for Mother Cocolia wasn't actually a bad thing.
After all, who really wants to be ostracized?
having experienced the warmth of the orphanage—okay, the messed-up things Lord Sin Mal did didn't exactly count as warm.
Even so, Bronya didn't want to go back to being a cold, solitary individual.
She was only 14 years old.
"If you're okay, then get to work!"
With a wave of his hand, the scum of the earth exploiting 14-year-old child labor interrupted his little sister's internal emotion and gratitude.
"Drag the damn Genesis out for me! Aim the muzzle right at Durandal! Let this uninvited blonde wavy-hair know our Hyperion isn't to be messed with!"
Seven steps away, the gun is fast; within seven steps, the gun is fast and accurate?
No, the beam cannon is the fastest!
Fuli didn't know why this noble knight, who had been his companion for a while in the previous loop, had suddenly run over screaming about arresting him. But whatever the case, he couldn't just sit and wait for death.
Moreover, the boy felt there was a hidden story behind this. However, just like the Siege of Baideng between Emperor Gaozu of Han and Modu Chanyu, dialogue is always established on the premise of equality between both parties.
If they wanted to figure out the situation, they had to show the other party the Hyperion's strength.
Bronya obediently departed.
Moments later, the front deck of the aerial battleship split open from the central axis. A majestic, imposing, and structurally complex octagonal giant cannon revealed its presence.
Bianka, speeding over at supersonic speeds, narrowed her eyes. The faint loosening of the "S-Rank Restriction Treaty" within her body told her that once the opposing attack unfolded, it would be enough to deal a fatal blow to an S-Rank Valkyrie in her prime!
Even so, the tall, blonde knight maiden still charged straight toward Fuli, taking the lead!
Dea Anchora, also known as the Holy Sword, Durandal. It was a sword-type universal armament with super-computational capabilities, created by the top scientists of the Previous Era's Fire Moth.
This armament not only possessed the ability to alter the structure and physical properties of matter by manipulating microscopic particles, but it also possessed seven basic control units.
The Crystal of Courage had the ability to continuously track specific energy wavelengths; the Crystal of Reason could continuously perform logical analysis on intelligence pouring in from all directions.
The Crystal of Dominance could manipulate various energies by altering the way energy operated within a certain range; the Crystal of Freedom could take over parts of the user's bodily functions to perform maneuvers impossible in normal times.
The Crystal of Prosperity could make one's vitality more tenacious; and the complete Dea Anchora was an ultimate weapon capable of cutting through space itself.
And this especially powerful super-cutting-edge weapon, which could compare to a Divine Key in certain aspects, had already been reverse-engineered into Bianka's body during a marvelous journey alongside a First-Class Planetary Grade Bubble Universe. It had merged with the girl, becoming one with her.
That's right! It is the noblest Internal World found in xianxia novels!
If Wendy of New Zealand's Queenstown possessed the posture of a Great Emperor, then Durandal was the Emperor of Orchids, arbitrarily ruling over Schicksal for eternity!
Of course, in the current year of 2014, Bianka could not yet utilize the power of the Bubble Universe itself.
Even in the previous loop, she had only been able to manifest the power of the Bubble Universe in the form of the Dea Anchora armor thanks to the Seed of Sumeru obtained from the Pioneer, Su.
However, just because she couldn't use the Bubble Universe didn't mean the relevant functions of the Holy Sword were unusable.
Ship cannons, in the end, only deal damage if they hit.
With the assistance of the Holy Sword within her, the girl had enough confidence to dodge the limit-breaking strike from the Genesis, a shot capable of piercing continents and shaking planetary structures!
However, this premise relied on there being no opponent of the same level to pin her down.
"!!!"
Bianka stopped abruptly, furrowing brows that countless people dreamed of.
Under the afternoon sun, those eyes, blue as the sea, locked onto the Hyperion close at hand with uncertainty.
The intuition honed through thousands of battles told Bianka: If she took one more step forward without scruples, a terrifying enemy that even she, in her prime, would have to take seriously would inevitably emerge from the seemingly defenseless interior of the Hyperion!
And under the opponent's full-force distraction, the fully charged Genesis would inevitably hit her while she was unable to dodge!
As Schicksal's current strongest, even against an S-Rank breaker-level bombardment, Bianka in her prime was confident she could defend against it single-handedly.
The problem was that combat required considering far more than just that. While resisting Genesis, she definitely wouldn't be able to spare any attention, and she would inevitably be successfully ambushed by the enemy!
An S-Rank powerhouse hiding in the dark, and a world-ending magic cannon capable of annihilating stars.
Recalling the intelligence she had seen earlier, the girl felt a rare urge to curse.
—Senior Theresa, you call this a ragtag team established less than a month ago?!
...
"St... Stopped?"
On the bridge of the Hyperion, Kiana stared blankly through the glass at Durandal, who had already arrived within visible distance.
Mei calmly slipped her hand into her wide sleeve, stroking the small red dragon curled up inside that was baring its fangs at the enemy.
Withdrawing her small hand, her expression was indifferent with a hint of disdain. "She was just scared by the destructive power of Genesis, that's all."
"What the heck!"
The option of doubting Raiden Mei did not exist in Kiana-cat's dictionary.
She put her hands on her hips and laughed loudly. "To think Aunt Himeko caught this guy in class earlier and praised her to the skies. Turns out she's just a coward who fears death!"
"Why do I hear someone badmouthing me the moment I arrive?"
A lazy female voice that didn't belong to the four of them drifted onto the bridge.
Startled, Kiana aimed her gun at the newcomer. "Who is it?!"
"It's me."
Himeko's 3D projection pointed at herself. "Your! Aunt! Himeko!"
Gnashing of teeth implied.
"Huh? Oh."
Kiana moved the gun barrel away and flipped her hair in confusion. "Sister Himeko, what are you doing here at a crucial time like this? We're about to go to war with Durandal!"
Auntie before she arrived, Sister after she arrived.
Respectful before, arrogant after; thinking about it makes one laugh!
"Huh? War?"
Himeko froze, her gaze subconsciously drifting outside the glass window.
When she saw Bianka hovering in mid-air with a vigilant expression and the Genesis aimed right at her, ready to fire, she immediately wore an expression as if the sky were falling.
"No, wait, I arrive just a little late, and you guys are already at each other's throats?!"
Himeko, having awakened her shipper attributes, had planned to set up her little savior (who she thought was a match made in heaven) with Durandal.
Everything was progressing smoothly; the only small flaw was that she forgot to notify Fuli, the party involved.
"This guy rushed over without a word, screaming about dragging A-Li back to Schicksal to be a Star Slave, letting that thirsty bunch of Immortal Blades Valkyries taste him one by one!"
Kiana shouted in dissatisfaction. "If we don't fight her properly, are we supposed to kneel on one knee, implement a policy of non-resistance, and voluntarily strip A-Li clean and deliver him to her?"
Is that okay? That absolutely cannot be!
Coming to our Hyperion to taste men? You have to get past this young lady first!
"Let the Valkyries taste him one by one?"
With her excellent physical qualities, Bianka could easily hear the conversation on the bridge. The noble and upright knight maiden immediately flushed red. "I am not! I didn't! Don't slander me!"
Her delicate and charming contrasting appearance made Fuli dizzy. It was like a ray of slightly warm morning sunlight falling on the dew of a freshly bloomed flower, refracting a fragmented and beautiful halo.
In the previous loop, when Durandal invited him to become the Vice Captain of the Immortal Blades, her expression—shy, yet mixed with a bit of 'screw it' recklessness and desperation—was similar to this.
As mentioned before, after Kiana left without saying goodbye at the hotel in the previous loop, Durandal specifically found Fuli and teamed up with him for missions for a while, naming him specifically.
At the beginning of the team-up, putting aside strength, Fuli indeed didn't feel much for this strongest S-Rank Valkyrie of Schicksal.
Blonde, upright female knight—attributes like that haven't been popular in the 2D community for ages!
However, as their time together increased, perhaps due to the compatibility shown in their words and actions, or the seamless nature of their conversation and coordination, his XP (fetish) that originally leaned towards white hair and blue eyes was uncontrollably shifting towards Durandal!
It wasn't until the girl issued the invitation after the mission ended that Fuli finally confirmed his XP had been locked in by her.
He was a man who believed in the unity of knowledge and action: he wanted to marry a girl with a personality like Mei's, his biggest XP type was Durandal, and his childhood white moonlight was Kiana.
Amidst the knight maiden's eager anticipation, and under the strong surge of inexplicable emotions in his heart, Fuli almost blurted out the words, "I do!"
Ring—
The communication devices of both parties suddenly rang.
[The Great Eruption has occurred on Coral Island. The Herrscher of Ice has been born. The host is the A-Rank Valkyrie captain of the Snow Lotus Squad, Ana Schariac.]
Seeing that her acquaintance Ana had become a Herrscher, Durandal panicked instantly.
Noticing this, the boy instantly calmed down, realizing he had almost broken his principles as a solo player because of the girl in front of him.
So, suppressing his emotions, he quickly waved his hand, signaling for the Goose to go ahead; the survivors there needed a powerhouse like her to save them.
The matter of joining the Immortal Blades squad ended there.
Okay, let's put aside the boring previous-loop side stories like "Even if you become a completely different person, I will still fall in love with you again in the process of getting along" and shift the perspective back to the current Hyperion.
Regarding Bianka's loud protest, Kiana huffed lightly, crossing her arms, making it clear she didn't believe her excuses.
Nonsense. She only denied "letting the Valkyries taste him one by one" but said nothing about "dragging him back to Schicksal to be a Star Slave." This sounds like leather pants over cotton trousers—there's definitely a reason behind it!
Mei, on the other hand, sensed something wrong from Himeko's attitude.
"Himeko, what exactly is going on?"
"Actually, it's just..."
Himeko explained the specific situation.
Of course, she didn't mention any intelligence about Theresa's fiancé or finding a boyfriend for the Goose.
She would be torn apart by Mei, and her corpse would probably take a cheap shot from Kiana.
Bronya, having returned, tilted her head. "In other words, it's a misunderstanding?"
"So it turns out it's Himeko running her mouth that got us into this mess!"
This was Kiana, grasping the essence of the problem.
"I didn't have a choice either! It's been a month since the Third Eruption. To stall the Council of Elders, Theresa has used every excuse she could find."
Himeko spread her hands. "Instead of having the mission to hunt down 'Fuli the Lackey' assigned to other branches and ending up in a total mess, it was better to simply have Schicksal's Strongest declare that you are her prey to settle it once and for all."
She winked. "Besides, don't you think that facing the pressure of a frontal assault from a knight is much lighter than dealing with those people's constant underhanded tactics?"
"But this knight's strength is S-Rank."
Bronya sighed wearily. "Even if she can only exert peak limit-level combat power due to the treaty, that's not something the current Hyperion can handle casually."
Hard to say.
Mei remained expressionless.
Laughable. False Hyperion carry: measly Fuli.
True Hyperion carry: Raiden Mei, Lord of Massive Electric Corp.
"That's why I came to help smooth things over!"
Himeko chuckled and spread her hands. "I just didn't expect you little guys to be so formidable. You actually managed to intimidate the current strongest, someone even I have to look up to."
Whether arriving this late was simply due to drinking too much, misjudging Durandal's overly eager flight speed, or taking the opportunity to "beat the grass to scare the snake" and test the situation regarding Mei, the (former) Herrscher of Thunder—well, different people have different views!
"Logically, it makes sense, and the starting point is good too."
Fuli, who had been listening the whole time, sighed at this moment. "I just have one question, Ms. Himeko."
"Call me Sister."
The mom-fan/sister kept a straight face.
"Sis."
Fuli immediately climbed the pole. "With your prestige, if that Durandal is dead set on arresting me, can you... really persuade her?"
Himeko's smile remained unchanged. "Of course I ca—"
Bianka waved her hand to interrupt. "Senior Murata, if you choose to withdraw now, I can overlook the grave crime of you colluding with a Schicksal wanted criminal!"
She emphasized the words "grave crime," making it clear she didn't intend to give Himeko face and let this slide.
"Wait? This development isn't right!?"
Hearing this, Himeko was dumbfounded.
As a warrior from the same lineage as the late A-Rank Valkyrie Ragnell, Himeko and Bianka usually had a decent relationship.
Back in the day, she had gone to recruit at the convent where Bianka was staying. The little Goose had even questioned her back then, and the two hadn't lost contact since.
Combined with the tacit approval and backing of the Far East Branch and St. Freya—or more accurately, Theresa, the future Overseer—Himeko thought this matter could be turned from a big issue into a small one, and then into nothing.
The result?
Th-th-this?
Is this development appropriate?
It's extremely appropriate!
Bianka saw through Himeko's thoughts clearly as well.
She might have the nickname "Goose" among certain groups, but that absolutely didn't mean she was stupid.
The girl simply had direct thoughts; if she could solve something by swinging her fist, she couldn't be bothered to care about those twists and turns.
In fact, Bianka had originally intended to give Himeko and Theresa this face.
Truly important missions couldn't be delayed. Otto hadn't even mentioned it before she left, which meant he didn't care at all about the Council's order to [Recover Fuli].
The girl had run over specifically because of an inexplicable thumping in her heart, urging her to see with her own eyes what kind of person Fuli was.
And so, the hurriedly arriving Bianka saw Kiana wandering around in an oversized boyfriend shirt + panties, and Raiden Mei in a loose bathrobe with ultra-thin white silk stockings underneath.
A nameless fire ignited in the girl's brain with a WHOOSH!
She had assumed the newly established Hyperion was a vibrant, emerging organization. Even with poor foundations, the members would be full of hope under Fuli's leadership, marching forward step by step with the goal of becoming the strongest.
Durandal was that kind of person.
Out of some strange mindset, she hoped Fuli was an ambitious person like herself.
But now?
Obscene! Shameless! Promiscuous! A massive pervert engaging in multiplayer sports all day long!
Girls actually walking around dressed like that! No sense of shame!
I must take Little Li back to Schicksal and train (discipline) him properly, dragging him back from the crooked path leading to vulgar lust and returning him to the broad road of striving to become stronger!
...