Far to the east.
Theresa led the Schicksal corps and, after a brief site selection, established the academy's location on a deserted island.
Countless Schicksal personnel were dispatched to level the ground and divide zones...
With full support and Honkai energy technology, in no time at all, a grand academy rose from the earth.
"Whew—"
"It's done—"
Months later.
Theresa wiped the sweat from her forehead and stood at the academy gate, looking with satisfaction at the academy before her that rivaled a small city.
The buildings were luxurious and striking, mixed with some of Theresa's personal tastes.
Aside from dormitories, classrooms, and a library for students, per Otto's instructions, the academy also featured a small aviation base to support future aerospace experiments and education.
Schicksal had gathered numerous scientists from all over the world to serve as faculty members.
"Lady Theresa, what shall we name this academy?"
A subordinate of Schicksal inquired.
Though she appeared as a small loli, Theresa's seniority within Schicksal exceeded most.
"Well..."
Theresa tilted her head, thinking for a long while.
"Let's call it St. Freya Academy."
"Our goal is to train outstanding Valkyries to combat the Honkai and other threats—and to explore space."
She gazed at the starry sky for a long time.
Her eyes seemed to pierce through clouds and time, meeting Setsuna's gaze aboard the transdimensional starship, overlooking Earth.
"The universe is so vast... what lies within it? Where did the Starsea Empire come from?"
The small loli murmured softly.
"If not for the Honkai, would we have already begun exploring the stars?"
"In this universe, aside from humanity, could there be other forms of life?"
"..."
As she spoke, she suddenly clapped her hands.
"Oh, I've just thought of a motto—one that perfectly suits St. Freya Academy's founding spirit:"
"—Our journey is the sea of stars!"
...
"..."
"Interesting."
Setsuna watched as St. Freya Academy, under Theresa's leadership, appeared a decade earlier than it should have.
Its founding ideals, too, had taken a subtly different direction.
"I remember St. Freya's original motto was something like 'For all that is beautiful in the world,' wasn't it?... This new one sounds much bolder."
He couldn't help but wonder what kind of Valkyries St. Freya Aerospace Academy would produce in the future.
"Wah!!!—"
"So you used to watch us like this?!"
Beside Setsuna, Cecilia stared in shock as he observed the Earth from the transdimensional starship.
With the aid of Sophons and advanced sensors, everything on Earth was laid bare before them.
Each time the starship moved a bit along the spacetime axis, time on Earth fast-forwarded like a film reel.
From Theresa's construction of St. Freya Academy to its staffing and full operation—it took about a year.
From the starship's perspective, however, it was less than half an hour.
No wonder Otto felt that, across five centuries, the Starsea Empire hadn't changed at all—even Jingwei hadn't so much as changed her clothes.
Their temporal frames of reference were completely different.
"Incredible... unbelievable... so this is what a super-civilization truly is..."
Cecilia couldn't stop marveling.
"Of course. Otherwise, how do you think I found you so precisely?"
Setsuna replied with a grin.
"..."
"Wait!"
Cecilia suddenly recalled something.
"Your... what was it, Sophon—it can monitor everything on Earth, right?"
"Yeah." Setsuna nodded, thinking she was just curious about Sophon technology.
"It's an eleven-dimensional microscopic particle that can also function as a super AI..."
"No, no, I mean—can it see every person on the planet, bypassing all obstructions?"
Cecilia gestured dramatically.
"For example, even if I'm inside a house, the Sophon can still see me?"
"Of course."
Setsuna casually swiped across the holographic screen twice.
The Sophon immediately zoomed in on Earth's surface.
"Forget buildings—even underground structures and hidden missile bases can't escape its surveillance."
"..."
Cecilia froze for a moment.
"You just said... you've been using the Sophon to monitor my movements?"
"Yes. You're someone I pay particular attention to."
Setsuna spoke honestly.
"Constantly? Every hour, every second?"
"Mm-hm. The Sophon doesn't need rest, and it can even backtrack data. I know exactly which year, month, day, hour, and minute you were born."
"!!!"
"So that means... school, meals, work... even when I'm taking a bath..."
Her face turned bright red.
The pure-hearted girl suddenly imagined Setsuna observing her from the heavens—seeing everything—and wished she could crawl into a hole and disappear.
"???"
Setsuna looked puzzled and pinched Cecilia's cheek lightly.
"Please stop your wild imagination. I don't use the Sophon for such boring things, thank you."
"—If I really wanted to, I could do something much more... exciting. Ahem."
"Eh..."
Flustered by his teasing, Cecilia grew even redder and needed a moment to calm herself.
Together with Cheng Lixue and Kallen, she gathered near Setsuna to continue observing Earth.
For those who had once been mere natives, viewing Earth's future from a higher-dimensional perspective was an entirely new experience.
They were deeply curious to see where Schicksal's path would lead—and how the world itself would evolve.
"What time are we heading to next? Hmm... it's been over forty years since the First Eruption. Will there be a second?"
Kallen asked.
"Hmm..."
Setsuna glanced at the holographic interface, where small gray markers indicated key temporal nodes.
"This time, a little earlier. We'll change those tragedies."
In the original timeline,
the Second Honkai Eruption occurred because Schicksal conducted human experiments to study the fusion between Honkai energy and the human body. The results deeply affected the world thereafter.
The Herrscher of the Void—Sirin—was born from that catastrophe.
Cecilia, too, was meant to die during the Second Eruption.
But with his ability to traverse time and space, Setsuna had no intention of letting such tragedies repeat.
Boom—
The starship roared to life, speeding through higher-dimensional space toward the future.
This time, they advanced only a few years.
They watched as St. Freya Academy grew from its founding into a thriving institution.
Theresa, as the academy's leader, personally taught and trained the newly joined students.
Meanwhile, Schicksal continued searching across Earth for the missing Herrscher and Cecilia—but to no avail.
Everything seemed orderly, progressing in a positive direction.
Fast-forward four years.
Boom—
The starship disengaged from its transdimensional state, descending once more over Earth.
...
Siberia—upon a vast frozen plain.
A colossal tower-like structure stood amidst the endless snow.
The Babylon Labs—Schicksal's secret base for researching Honkai energy.
Inside, the facility was filled with intricate experimental machinery and bustling staff in Schicksal uniforms.
"Over here."
Several scientists, leading a few young girls dressed in ragged clothing, entered the building.
"Your parents died from something called the Honkai disease," one of the scientists said.
"But don't be afraid. The Schicksal Organization will take care of you."
He spoke kindly to the newly arrived children.
"Also, you're quite lucky—you were born with antibodies that resist the Honkai. For the sake of humanity, we need your help in some experiments."
"Is that okay?"
"Uh... okay."
The children, unaware of the truth, nodded.
For them, having already lost everything, obedience was the only thing left.
A small girl wearing a short white coat, with purple hair and golden eyes, was chosen first.
"The first experiment will hurt a little at the beginning. Don't be afraid."
Sirin was restrained on a cold, metallic experiment table, surrounded by doctors in white coats and masks.
A staff member inserted a needle into her arm and injected the Honkai energy.
"Ah!!"
"It hurts!!!"
Tears welled up at the corners of the little girl's eyes as she struggled desperately.
The Honkai energy tore violently through her body, the pain so overwhelming she couldn't even form a complete sentence.
"...Tch."
"This test subject doesn't work either? Useless."
The Schicksal scientists recorded the data coldly, indifferent to the suffering before them.
"No... please don't..."
She wanted to refuse, but there was no choice, no pause, no mercy.
"The purpose of these experiments is to recreate the Stigmata found on Valkyries, granting humanity the power to resist the Honkai."
"You orphans should feel honored to sacrifice yourselves for the Valkyries, for Schicksal."
One scientist sneered as he observed the readings.
Schicksal's rapid progress in Honkai energy research had come at a terrible price.
And these little girls... were among that "price."
After all, they had no families, no one who would care.
"No..."
"It hurts... it hurts so much..."
Sirin was thrown into a prison-like cell, curling up on the cold ground, trembling.
She had been deceived, used.
She couldn't understand what "Stigmata" or "Valkyries" meant—only the unbearable pain tearing through her body, and the utter confusion over why she had to endure such torment for no reason.
"Conduct the second phase in six hours. Inject another 1.5 units of Honkai energy."
A Schicksal scientist read from the report without emotion.
"If she survives, she has some value."
"If not... dispose of her as waste."
"Ah..."
With tears blurring her vision, Sirin shrank into the corner, whispering her parents' names over and over.
"Someone... please... save me..."
"Mom..."
In her daze, she heard a gentle female voice.
"Don't be afraid—we're here."
"Huh?"
Following the sound, she lifted her head.
Through the tiny window of her cell, across the endless white of the frozen plain, she saw black dots appearing in the sky—flying rapidly toward her.
Sirin squinted, stunned.
"Are those... angels?"
...
"Too much!!!"
Smack—
Aboard the starship.
Cecilia, who had been leaning against Setsuna while snacking on futuristic treats and watching Earth like a movie, suddenly slammed the table and stood up.
Crack! The cup in her hand shattered to pieces.
"Miss Cecilia, I understand your emotions, but please refrain from damaging Master's furniture," Ikaros tilted her head and said softly.
"S-sorry..."
Cecilia exhaled deeply, then pointed toward the Babylon Labs below, biting her lip as she spoke each word with trembling fury.
"Th-they dare to do that?! How could they?! Those little children... how could they treat them like that?! Using syringes to inject... inject Honkai energy..."
"This... this is... too much!!! Ah!!!"
Her words came out broken and stammered, emotions overwhelming her.
Beside her, Cheng Lixue, Patricia, and the others all looked grim. Kallen's brows furrowed as she trembled in anger.
It was unimaginable.
In their minds, Schicksal had always existed to protect humanity and fight against the Honkai.
Even if they disagreed with its authoritarian practices, they still believed it to be a noble, righteous organization—one worth sacrificing for.
But after witnessing the truth inside Babylon Labs, something within them shattered.
Using children for human experiments, injecting them with Honkai energy, and labeling those who failed as "waste," discarded like trash.
No matter the cause, neither Cecilia nor Kallen could accept such cruelty.
"Ah, looks like there's going to be a major purge," Xiao Hui shrugged.
"...Do the upper echelons of Schicksal know?"
Kallen fell silent for a moment before asking Setsuna.
"If the Three Great Houses and the Archbishop hadn't approved it, an experiment of this scale couldn't have been sustained."
Setsuna brought up the Sophon's report.
As he had shown Cecilia earlier, nothing escaped its gaze.
Every classified Schicksal document was there—detailed records of Babylon Labs' construction, operations, and results.
"...Just as I thought."
Kallen finished reading the report carefully, her fists clenching tight.
She recalled five centuries ago, when Schicksal had conducted similarly inhumane human experiments to study Honkai energy and the Black Box.
Five hundred years later, beneath the illusion of progress and brilliance, the same darkness still festered.
She had once stood up against Schicksal's clergy to protect the oppressed.
Now, whatever lingering affection she had for the organization vanished completely.
Bang—
Cecilia struck the table, forcing herself to calm down as she turned to Setsuna.
"Let me go, please."
"Let me save them."
"I'll go too," Kallen said firmly.
"...Alright."
Setsuna nodded.
Both women's compassion was unmistakable.
They would never turn a blind eye to such atrocities.
"Ikaros, deploy the Angeloid units. Erase them."
"Yes, Master."
...
"Hmm, this test subject—Sirin—seems to have some experimental value left... I hope she lasts a few more years."
Within the Babylon Labs' advanced systems division, Schicksal scientists analyzed their data.
Rumble—
The entire building shook violently.
"What? An earthquake?"
The staff panicked.
"Check the reactor status immediately—"
Before the sentence finished—
Shhhh—
A deafening sound of superheated metal cutting through steel echoed overhead.
Looking up, they saw countless Angeloids surrounding the area for kilometers.
From above, they unleashed a storm of firepower upon Schicksal's defense forces.
Brilliant beams of energy and missiles streaked across the sky, weaving an unbroken web of destruction.
The outer security forces didn't last even a minute. Under the overwhelming, saturated bombardment, they were completely vaporized.
Even after five centuries of progress—from bows and catapults to muskets, anti-air guns, and guided missiles—
For battle angels equipped with shields, there was no essential difference.
It was all the same.
The only change was that electronic warfare had become an additional step.
Zzzra—
A gamma laser carved clean through part of the experimental tower.
Boom!!—
Smoke and dust billowed as the drop troops landed directly inside the facility.
"Save those children!!!"
Cecilia, clad in a sleek black combat suit and armed with a long spear, led the Angeloid forces forward.
"!!!"
"Cecilia?! The long-missing heiress of the Schariac family?!"
The Schicksal scientists froze, staring in disbelief.
A few of them, confused and flustered, attempted to approach her.
"Lady Cecilia, what are you doing here—this place is—"
The next moment—
"You dare...!!!"
BANG—
Cecilia, furious beyond reason, grabbed one of them by the collar and slammed him against the wall.
"M-Misunderstanding! It's a misunderstanding!"
"These are direct orders from the Archbishop himself! We can contact him—"
The more they explained, the worse it sounded. Cecilia threw them aside, leaving them for others to handle, and stormed toward the cells where the children were imprisoned.
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!!!—"
The piercing alarms blared throughout the Babylon Experimental Tower.
More Schicksal troops were mobilized from distant bases.
Boom—
But when their eyes fell upon the other Valkyrie among the attackers, they all froze.
White hair, blue eyes, long braid, clad in white battle armor.
Behind her shone a massive golden cross.
Kallen Kaslana—no one could mistake that divine weapon.
The saint of the Kaslana family, lost during the Eastern Crusade five centuries ago, now stood before them.
The Archbishop had spent decades searching the entire world for her traces.
"Lady Kallen?! Is it really you?!"
"How could you be here?! The Archbishop—"
Before he could finish—
"I am no longer part of Schicksal. You've gone too far."
Kallen's voice was cold.
She gave her answer with the Divine Key in her hand.
Sweeping through the lab, she aided the Angeloids in rescuing every test subject.
"Ah..."
"What...?"
Sirin heard the commotion within the lab.
She barely managed to sit up, crawling to the bars to see what was happening.
Tap—tap—tap—
Moments later, accompanied by hurried footsteps, a beautiful woman with white hair and blue-green eyes appeared before her.
Clang—
Cecilia easily broke open a section of the cell and lifted the trembling Sirin into her arms.
"Commander, I want to find some medical supplies. Can the Sophon locate them for me?"
"No need," Setsuna's voice came through the comms. "The ship's medical department is ready."
"Alright... thank you."
Cecilia gently brushed Sirin's hair.
"Don't be afraid. I'll protect you."
"Ah..."
In Cecilia's arms, Sirin felt a comforting warmth that eased even her pain.
Her memories of her parents had long faded, but at this moment, Cecilia felt like her mother.
"Mom..."
She nestled closer, whispering softly.
"Pfft..."
Cecilia let out a small, helpless laugh. She was still too young to be anyone's mother, yet when she looked down at Sirin, she smiled tenderly.
"Yes... Mommy will protect you."
"Ich liebe dich, Sirin."
—
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