Autumn 2015, Aerial Battleship Nibelungen, Over West Asia
"Boss? Your homecoming trip might have to be put on hold temporarily. Just now, the West Asia Branch sent out an urgent request for reinforcements to all Schicksal units in the area."
Simon Lailey's face appeared on the electronic terminal Snow was fiddling with, her expression grave.
"A massive Honkai eruption has struck Dubai, UAE, in West Asia. The sudden surge of Honkai energy has already paralyzed the city. With the West Asia Branch's current manpower, this metropolis of over three million residents is on the verge of destruction."
"...The West Asia Branch—it's Schicksal's wealthiest branch outside Headquarters... Those oil magnates shouldn't be short on manpower," the Golden-haired Valkyrie said, her confusion evident on her face.
"The West Asia Branch's elite A-rank Valkyrie Squad, Phosdjinns, recently lost their captain. The squad is currently understaffed, with only two A-rank Valkyries and one B-rank Valkyrie combat-ready," Simon Lailey explained, demonstrating her skills as a Valkyrie trained in intelligence.
"Moreover, the current captain, A-rank Valkyrie Matilla, lost her right arm and left eye in a previous operation. She now operates using prosthetics," Simon Lailey added.
"...Accept their request for aid. There's no need to wake Kyuusyou and Ninti; I can handle this myself. Lower the ship's altitude, activate the optical stealth device, and prepare for combat. Target: Dubai. I'll meet you on the bridge now, Simon."
The warship's engines hummed to life. Hidden among the high clouds, the vessel sliced through the dense cloud cover with its bow as sharp as a blade, plunging toward the distant city.
"Deploying an Aerial Battleship for a non-Great Honkai Eruption... What extravagance," Simon Lailey remarked from her position as Adjutant on the bridge.
Snow shrugged dismissively. "The bill will ultimately be sent to the West Asia Branch's finance department. Those oil tycoons will cover it. Extravagance is only extravagant to them."
"European Headquarters has also dispatched a small team. According to the IFF signals, it's likely the Immortal Blades' captain, Durandal," the brown-haired Valkyrie reported, her gaze sweeping across the screens brimming with information. She quickly identified the relevant details and relayed them to the captain.
"...I suddenly have a rather amusing idea, my dear Intelligence Officer," Snow said, turning to Simon Lailey with a dangerous smile.
"Boss... let's talk this through calmly... Don't look at me with that creepy expression," the brown-haired Valkyrie pleaded, her teal eyes brimming with a "no way!" vibe.
"Alright, alright... Hmm... I recall you're exceptionally skilled at disguises and impersonations, aren't you...?"
"Boss, if you're talking about this, I'm wide awake! Watch, I'll conjure one for you right here!" The Valkyrie pulled out a pile of small props and went to work on herself. In moments, a brand-new Theresa emerged.
"Poof! Look, Theresa's chest just got bigger!" She added sound effects to her magic trick, thoroughly enjoying herself. Caught up in the fun, Simon Lailey glanced back at her captain.
The captain was holding up her phone, recording the entire scene.
"Emmm... I'll send this to Theresa later..." the Golden-haired Valkyrie nodded seriously.
"Nooo! For the sake of your intelligence officer's safety—please, absolutely not!" The Brown-haired Valkyrie immediately dropped to her knees, sliding across the floor to grab the captain's leg in a practiced move.
"...Ahem, ahem... No more jokes... Simon, come here and make me up like Durandal... You've seen Schicksal's most famous S-rank Valkyrie, right?"
"Uh... yes, I have. Wait, Boss, what are you planning?" The intelligence officer paused, her face filled with question marks.
"Fun," Snow replied swiftly.
"Can't you act normal for once?"
"Fine, let's get serious. Our squad still appears as an A-rank Valkyrie Squad externally—a backdoor I had my dad set up. Our public rank can switch between A and S as needed."
"But you know the real situation. The Divine Authority Squad has evolved into a Valkyrie unit led by S-rank Valkyries. Most Branches, including Theresa, are unaware of this, and I intend to keep it that way for the foreseeable future."
"So, before I jump down and wipe out all the Honkai Beasts below, I need to borrow Durandal's appearance for a while. Understand?"
"Boss, you want to conceal your identity? Got it! Then watch me work my magic!" Simon Lailey once again pulled out her strange assortment of gadgets and began tinkering with her captain.
Clang! Clang! Clang! "Schicksal S-rank Valkyrie, Captain of the Immortal Blades, the illustrious Lady Durandal makes her grand entrance!" Simon produced a mirror and held it up to Snow's face.
"...Not bad. Too bad there's no Valkyrie Battlesuit. It would have been perfect otherwise," Snow nodded in approval.
"Arrived at destination. Detecting low-level, high-concentration Honkai energy signatures," the ship's AI announced through the bridge speakers.
"...Time to head down." "Durandal" turned and strode toward the Aerial Battleship's deployment bay.
-
The three Valkyries of the Phosdjinns from the West Asia Branch were currently observing the mutated Emperor Class Honkai Beast in the distance.
"Perfect timing! Honkai Beast, allow me to send you to your grave!" The red-haired Valkyrie, their leader, was about to charge forward when the green-haired Valkyrie grabbed her prosthetic right arm.
The green-haired Valkyrie pulled back the impulsive captain.
"Matilla... the Emperor Class Honkai Beast's power is immense, and this one is still mutating, potentially possessing abilities we don't know about. We need to reassess our plan," she said, her voice filled with concern for her teammates.
"No need! Zofia, you and the rookie just need to stay behind me. I'll personally annihilate every last Honkai Beast here!"
...Zofia watched Matilla standing before them, closed her eyes, and silently prayed.
Captain... don't worry. Whether it's Matilla or Susannah, I'll protect them both. The entire Phosdjinns will return alive.
Just as Zofia finished her prayer (a flag), the trio rallied their spirits and prepared to engage the Padishah Emperor Honkai Beast, which had begun wreaking havoc. At that moment, a golden meteor plummeted from the sky—
The golden-haired Valkyrie, her martial spirit blazing, crashed down between the two combatants, her armored boots shattering the concrete street. She inhaled deeply, then unleashed a simple yet devastating punch.
The force of her strike literally tore the Honkai Beast apart, while the shockwave pierced through one of Dubai's iconic landmarks: the Burj Al Arab hotel.
"Phosphor Sand Squad, the Emperor Class Honkai Beast has been defeated by Durandal, the S-rank Valkyrie dispatched from Headquarters as reinforcement. You may return now. Leave the rest to the other ground forces."
"Why... why were we so fired up just now?" Matilla sank into an existential crisis.
"I... let's just go home..." Zofia sighed.
At least everyone in the squad is safe.
"So we're just dumping all the blame on that dumb goose, huh, Simon?" The golden-haired Valkyrie surveyed the street and Burj Al Arab, both bearing the scars of her devastating strike.
"Yep. But Boss, you'd better run—that dumb goose you mentioned is charging straight toward you right now!"
"Ugh, gotta hang up. Meet me at the evacuation point—" The blonde girl glanced at the deserted streets, immediately shed her disguise, activated her Valkyrie Battlesuit, and soared into the night sky.
...Shortly after Snow's hasty retreat, another blonde Valkyrie arrived on the scene, radiating fierce determination.
"...Huh?" Durandal stared at the kill attributed to her in the mission report, the hotel she'd supposedly blasted through, and the property damage report, lost in thought.