On another small island, a considerable distance from the one where St. Freya Academy was located, the agency known as Chaldeas was being established.
According to the introduction, it was the incomplete state of an organization capable of extending human civilization to the greatest possible degree.
However, even though this agency was still unfinished, its capabilities were mind-boggling—to return to the past.
An instrument called the Spiritron Transfer Calculation Machine could convert a person into a quantum state, send them to the past, and then reconvert them back into a physical entity.
To go back in time, retrieve the souls of top-tier Valkyries who had died in battle, bring them back to the present, and resurrect them in artificial bodies.
When humanity is on the brink of extinction, return to the past and erase the catalyst that caused the great annihilation.
Without a doubt, this organization, which was said to be not yet fully completed, was a terrifying agency capable of directly altering the fate of humankind.
And constructing such an agency was just one of the plans held by the Director of Chaldea, the very person who had summoned her here.
"It's really… super amazing."
Ana, a member of Schicksal's Snow Lotus Squad, stood within the facility that sounded like something out of a science fiction novel, her voice filled with unconcealed amazement.
She was a very beautiful girl.
Her chestnut-colored hair was long, smooth, and glossy, gleaming like silk under the light.
Her rare pink pupils were magnificent, like gemstones.
Much like Mei, this girl was very well-developed. The softness of her chest, completely at odds with her age, seemed ready to burst forth, pushing her armor out prominently.
Although she was a Schicksal Valkyrie, she wasn't as staid or old-fashioned as one might imagine; her style was surprisingly girly.
However, that was perfectly reasonable.
Ana Schariac was only a fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl. It would be stranger if she acted like a world-weary adult.
Even while wearing armor, she still added a few accessories.
A blue-purple hairpin was clipped to the left side of her hair.
On her head, she wore a black beret decorated with two white four-pointed stars.
A blue-purple cape, bearing the same white four-pointed star insignia, was draped over her left shoulder.
Ana Schariac, a member of the Schariac family—one of Schicksal's three great houses—and an unofficial member of the Snow Lotus Squad.
After receiving the invitation to the Artificial Herrscher Experiment, just like the Oceania Valkyrie Wendy, she had hesitated for a while before rushing over.
Ana was a traditional Valkyrie. She fought on the front lines against the Honkai to protect the people, continuing to fulfill her duty even when facing danger herself.
The Artificial Herrscher Project was certainly dangerous, but if even one test subject could succeed, it would greatly weaken the power of the Honkai and make a huge contribution to the survival and continuation of humanity.
Therefore, she came.
And then—
After she arrived, she received a piece of news.
The Artificial Herrscher Project, a plan for a human to wield the power of a Herrscher, had already succeeded.
The Oceania Valkyrie Wendy had seized the power of the Herrscher of Wind.
The plan, which sounded extremely dangerous, almost insane—like the delusion of a mad scientist—was actually quite safe.
All participants were individuals with an extremely high probability of becoming humanity's mortal enemy—Herrschers. Therefore, none of the participants would be harmed by the Honkai.
The Director of Chaldea, who had observed those with Herrscher potential through some unknown method, chose to gather these Herrscher candidates who would become monsters in the future, bring them to an uninhabited area, and induce their Herrscherization ahead of schedule.
Then, using the power of the Eighth and Twelfth Divine Keys, he would destroy the Herrscher personality that emerged from the candidate during the great Honkai eruption, allowing the human to occupy the Herrscher's position.
The only drawback to this plan was that the test subject's human personality would be slightly affected by the Eighth Divine Key, Fenghuang Down, and the Twelfth Divine Key, Jizo Mitama.
The girl, who was now aware that the Divine Key known as Jizo Mitama would amplify her own feelings towards its wielder, felt her face flush red, and her expression became a little awkward.
Why is the side effect of such a serious experiment so… improper?
However, compared to being saved from the fate of becoming an enemy of humanity and the bright future this brought to human civilization, that small effect was completely negligible.
Only after arriving at Chaldea did Ana learn that she had been chosen entirely because her observed future showed the possibility of her becoming the Herrscher of Ice. Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel a wave of relief.
If it weren't for this experiment, she would have very likely become a mortal enemy of humanity during some Honkai eruption.
As a Valkyrie, that was something she absolutely never wanted to see happen.
Her worldview having been completely refreshed, Ana then learned about the Human Order Security Project—Chaldeas.
The two projects had completely different directions; there seemed to be no common ground in their supposed research focuses.
If one had to find some commonality, it was that they could both change the future of humanity.
In that instant, she understood.
In this world, people could not be judged by the same standards.
Some people could see through the future and, through their own talent and wisdom, guide the world toward the direction they desired.
He was a hero, moving forward while shouldering the hopes of all humanity.
At this thought, the girl's eyes filled with clear admiration and reverence.
She couldn't help but walk over to the glass window and, using her reflection, nervously checked her appearance.
Next, she was going to meet that super genius who was said to be her age but was already capable of guiding humanity forward.
If she made a fool of herself due to being too nervous or excited, both the name of Schariac and the banner of the Snow Lotus Squad would be shamed.
After repeatedly checking her appearance, the Valkyrie once again confirmed that there was nothing wrong with her attire and let out a sigh of relief.
Good, just like this.
The girl, who was much livelier than she would be post-Herrscherization, gave herself a silent pep talk.
I must maintain my image.
And then.
Out of the blue, a boy's voice sounded from behind her.
"What are you doing?"
A ghost!
Although she was a Valkyrie, her personality was actually similar to that of an ordinary, clumsy girl. Hearing the voice that appeared beside her without any warning, her heart trembled.
She was supposed to be the only one here.
So where did that voice come from?
In her panic, Miss Ana's muscle memory, honed through training, was triggered.
Her slender elbow erupted with tremendous force, smashing viciously behind her.
Then, it was caught.
"Hey, are you here to assassinate me?"
Afterward, the boy's voice rang out once more.
Assassinate?
Realizing she had made a terrible mistake, Miss Ana's expression froze instantly.
She stiffly turned her head and looked over.
A boy with exquisite features and a handsome face was holding her arm, his expression blank.
That face… she felt like she had seen it somewhere before.
In a photograph.
At this realization, Miss Ana's expression grew even more rigid.
What do you do when you elbow your leader right after being summoned by him?
Waiting online, it's urgent!
Author's Note:
PS: Ana is so pretty