St. Freya High School. It was an academy established by the Schicksal organization, recruiting only girls from all over the world with excellent Honkai energy adaptability. While the girls were still in their youth, the academy rigorously trained their adaptability to Honkai energy and various martial arts, because… they were to become a vital force in humanity's fight against the Honkai—'Valkyries'.
'Valkyries' were the primary combat force of the Schicksal organization against the Honkai phenomenon. Schicksal utilized the Natural Stigmata they collected for research and replication. Although they couldn't truly replicate the naturally occurring Natural Stigmata, and were only at the stage of superficial imitation, they ultimately created 'Artificial Stigmata'.
The students of St. Freya High School would have these 'Artificial Stigmata' inscribed on their bodies to enhance their physical abilities and their adaptability to Honkai energy environments. This allowed Valkyries to move freely even in Honkai-dense environments without being easily corrupted by Honkai energy and turning into Honkai Zombies…
Of course, St. Freya High School didn't just teach how to slay Honkai Beasts and Honkai Zombies. It also taught these future Valkyries about the various types and weaknesses of Honkai Beasts and Honkai Zombies… as well as the history of humanity's fight against the Honkai. These were the legacies passed down by this school.
And the name of St. Freya High School's principal was 'Theresa Apocalypse'.
At this moment, in front of the principal's office, a red-haired woman was rubbing her shoulder. "Honestly," she said.
"It's been three days, and my whole body still aches."
She walked in with her military boots, not even bothering to knock on the principal's door, and went straight inside.
"You used the Nexus system, which is still in development, and on top of that, you forcibly used the armor's maximum output to block the Herrscher's attack. You should be thanking God that you're not severely injured and bedridden for several months," the petite figure sitting on the principal's desk said in an angry tone.
"You reckless bombshell!" the stern Principal Theresa said, pointing a finger at Murata Himeko.
"…" Murata Himeko looked wordlessly at the top of the head peeking over the tall desk. The principal's height was as regrettable as ever. She had almost thought the principal wasn't in the office…
"Ah! So you are here, Principal~ You're so small and cute I almost didn't see you!~" Himeko said honestly.
"Shut up! Report!" Himeko's words were like arrows that pierced Principal Theresa's little heart. She said with an annoyed expression.
"One moment~ I'll get it for you…" Murata Himeko lowered her head and reached her right hand into the two towering peaks on her chest, pulling out a memory card from her deep cleavage.
"Y-y-you! Why would you put the data in a place like that?!" Principal Theresa said, her small face blushing with shame. This was too embarrassing…
"Ah?! Did you forget? We collected this data behind the organization's back," Himeko said, teasingly holding the data card.
"To prevent it from being discovered by others in the organization, I naturally have to hide the data in the safest place~" Himeko said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Enough, give it to me!" Looking at Murata Himeko, who had at least a D-cup, the flat-chested Principal Theresa Apocalypse's anger burned fiercely.
"Disgusting… It's still warm…" Principal Theresa said unhappily as she took the memory card.
"Sigh~ So, according to the footage you secretly recorded with the camera you installed on the Valkyrie armor…" Theresa's expression turned serious. "The Third Herrscher's defeat was actually because the girl the Herrscher was holding broke its Wings of Lightning with her hand, causing the Herrscher to lose its power and ending the battle?!"
"Mm, that's right…" Himeko said, her tone equally grave.
"In the end, it was her who stopped the Herrscher… Kiana Kaslana…" Theresa said, looking at the file on Kiana that Himeko had secretly collected. Her eyes were filled with reminiscence. "It's strange, didn't the science department think that the human body couldn't directly come into contact with Honkai energy?"
"Let alone using one's body to destroy wings formed from high-density Honkai energy…" Himeko said, sitting on the sofa with her legs crossed.
"Kiana… I never thought I would see you again after so many years… my child…" Theresa murmured, gazing at the picture of Kiana Kaslana in the file, her eyes full of memories. That bastard Siegfried has finally let go of his daughter…?
"I guess the people of the Kaslana family really do have an unbreakable, ill-fated bond with the Honkai."
"Huh?!" Himeko looked blankly at the self-muttering, somewhat entranced Principal Theresa.
"This next one… is quite unexpected…" Theresa flipped to the next page, which contained information about the Third Herrscher…
"Raiden Mei… the young lady of ME Corp, which is controlled by Anti-Entropy…" Theresa said in surprise. "Is Anti-Entropy having internal strife?"
"Raiden Mei… Father, Raiden Ryoma, president of ME Corp. ME Corp is Anti-Entropy's weapon development arm, and its president was arrested for economic crimes… How ridiculous…" Theresa was speechless. Was this some kind of cosmic joke?!
"Yeah… I never expected our biggest old rival, [Anti-Entropy], to be behind ME Corp… And their young lady actually became a Herrscher…" Himeko also lamented.
"Alright, so are there any other survivors in Nagazora City?" Theresa asked.
"So far, we've only found these two…" Himeko said, completely overlooking a certain emotionless girl and another boy who had been knocked out…
.........
"What is this?" the adjutant Yuudachi asked, looking at the doll-like girl hugging a yellow plushie. She nervously pushed up the black-framed glasses on her face.
.........
"So what's the plan for those two?" Himeko asked, both curious and concerned.
"We'll do as I said. I'll take responsibility for the consequences…" Theresa said with her eyes closed.
"As calm and decisive as ever. Well then, I'll be taking my leave. I still need to contact the repair department at HQ about the Hyperion's repairs. The personnel at the branch are completely insufficient," Himeko said, standing up.
"Major! Don't use the Nexus system again in the future. The physical strain it puts on a Valkyrie is too great. The medical department said… you don't have much time left…" Theresa said, standing up and speaking with concern to Himeko, who was walking toward the door.
"Relax, I know my own body best. I won't die before I find 'him'…" Murata Himeko's steps faltered for a moment. She turned her head and said with a smile.
"Sigh…" Theresa watched wordlessly as her friend Himeko left, letting out a helpless sigh. Her small frame sank back into the soft leather of the principal's chair.
"…" She silently opened a video on her computer, the last footage the Hyperion had taken of Nagazora City.
"This is?…"
In the video, a girl with long pink hair, holding a long katana, was walking through the ruins as if searching for something.
.............
Kiana, Raiden Mei, Bronya Zaychik…
Li Xuan reached out his hand, trying to touch them, but he couldn't reach them no matter what. He could only watch as they were pulled into a dark abyss…
Li Xuan turned his head, and his eyes met a pair of golden, beast-like slit pupils.
"Hah! Hah!…" Li Xuan's eyes shot open. He sat up abruptly, gasping for breath. The clothes on his back were soaked with sweat…
"Hmm?" As he slowly came to his senses, Li Xuan looked at the blanket covering him, confused. "Where is this?…"
He raised his head and looked forward. The gentle autumn sun shone warmly on his body, and a slight breeze rustled the white curtains by the bed…
Wasn't I buried alive in the rubble?
"Li Xuan-kun? You're awake…" A soft, sweet voice came from the bedside.
"…" Li Xuan turned his head. A head of beautiful, cherry-blossom-pink hair came into view, along with a pair of long fox ears, a delicate and perfect face, and eyes filled with a hint of concern.
"Yae Sakura…" Li Xuan whispered the name of the person before him.
"Hmm?" The girl named Yae Sakura tilted her small head, giving off an air of adorable confusion.
"I've finally seen you again!" Li Xuan suddenly reached out and hugged the girl before him, who felt both real and illusory. His eyes were a little red.
"…" Yae Sakura was slightly taken aback, but eventually, the corners of her mouth curved into a slight smile, and she hugged the boy back.
Under the sunlight, the two of them were like flames huddling together for warmth in the darkness…
(End of Chapter)