Chapter 556: Durandal and St. Freya Academy!
A crisp autumn breeze rustled through the grounds of St. Freya Academy. Today, the usual tranquility was disturbed by the arrival of two distinguished guests: Bianka 'Durandal' Ataegina and Rita Rossweisse, elite members of Schicksal's most prestigious unit, the Immortal Blades.
Inside the principal's office, the atmosphere was thick with questions. Theresa Apocalypse, the diminutive principal, sat perched on her oversized desk. Her violet eyes scanned the official documents Rita had presented.
"Two active S-rank Valkyries," Theresa murmured, a mixture of surprise and suspicion in her voice. She tapped the document. "Dispatched to our modest Far East Branch? For what reason?"
She was acutely aware of the weight this carried. S-ranks were Schicksal's ultimate power, deployed only for the most critical threats. Has a new Honkai eruption been detected? A Herrscher awakening? Could it be... has Mei's situation been discovered?
She lifted her gaze. "What exactly did my grandfather send you here to do?"
"Lady Theresa, this was a sudden directive," Rita replied with her characteristic grace. "The Overseer did not provide us with the specific details."
Suddenly, the beep of a communicator cut through the tension. "Grandpa?" Theresa's eyes widened as she saw the caller ID. A holographic image flickered to life, revealing an elegant, blond-haired man: Otto Apocalypse.
"My dear Theresa, it has been too long," he began, his tone dripping with affection.
"Stupid Grandpa! I'm not a child anymore!" she retorted, her cheeks puffing out. "Why did you send two S-rank Valkyries here? Are you planting spies in my academy?"
"Alas," Otto sighed dramatically. "Not even a word of concern for your lonely grandfather. The Theresa of the past was so much sweeter…"
"Get to the point, you old fossil!" she snapped, not wanting him to dredge up her past. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Himeko desperately trying to suppress a laugh.
"Very well," he chuckled. "Theresa, I wish for Bianka to enroll as a student at St. Freya for a period. Would you agree?"
"Huh?" Theresa was dumbfounded. "An S-rank Valkyrie… studying here?" Who was qualified to teach her?
Even Rita showed a flicker of surprise. "My Lord Overseer…"
"Rita," Otto said, his voice leaving no room for argument. "You will remain to assist Bianka. Is that clear?"
"Yes, my Lord!"
"Excellent. Then it is settled," he declared cheerfully. "And little Theresa, do remember to visit." With a final, disarming smile, the communication was severed.
"Huh?" Theresa stared at the empty space. "Stupid Grandpa! I never said I agreed!" But her protest was met with silence. She slumped, rubbing her temples. "Himeko, could you please handle her enrollment?"
"Of course, Principal," Himeko said, turning to the newcomers. "Ladies, please follow me."
As they left, Durandal's focus remained on the red-haired woman. She hadn't paid much attention to Theresa or Otto. Her gaze was locked onto Himeko's back, her mind trying to comprehend the immense power she felt radiating from her.
So strong… she thought. Not even an Emperor-class Honkai beast had exuded such pressure. This woman, Murata Himeko, is officially listed as a mere A-rank. How is this possible?
"Durandal-sama, Rita will handle the dormitory arrangements," Rita said after Himeko had given them the location. "Himeko-sensei mentioned she was taking you to observe a combat class."
"Combat class…" Durandal murmured, skeptical. When they arrived at the training deck, her doubts were confirmed. The students' skills were disappointing. Their movements were unrefined, their stances sloppy.
"It's my time to shine! Mei, watch this!" a loud, energetic voice declared.
"Kiana, according to Bronya's analysis, your probability of victory is 0%," a monotone voice replied.
"Kiana, do your best!" a gentler voice encouraged.
The distinct conversation instantly caught Durandal's attention. Her gaze sharpened, zeroing in on the white-haired girl named Kiana. A member of the Doomsday Chat Group. So, she is real.
Her opponent was a silver-gray-haired girl with a calm demeanor, wearing a blue, cheongsam-style combat suit: the class monitor, Fu Hua.
"Kiana, you seem to have grown much stronger," Fu Hua observed.
"Hehe, you noticed, Squad Leader! Let's go!" Kiana grinned, and in the next instant, her body erupted forward like a thunderclap.
"So fast!" Fu Hua's pupils contracted. She instinctively grounded herself, crossing her arms in a defensive block. A fraction of a second later, a tremendous force slammed into her, sending her skidding back several feet.
"Her strength has also increased exponentially…" Fu Hua stared at her trembling arms in disbelief. In terms of sheer speed and power, she had been completely overwhelmed.
"Squad Leader, are you okay?" Kiana, realizing she might have used too much force, immediately stopped. "I think I went a little overboard."
"I'm alright," Fu Hua reassured her. "Kiana, you have indeed become stronger. However, your combat techniques haven't caught up. You can't fully utilize your own strength. Allow me to help you refine them."
"Okay!" Kiana nodded eagerly.
From the sidelines, Durandal's expression was solemn. I could barely track her movement. Yet, Fu Hua managed to block it. These two… they are far from simple.
Meanwhile, Himeko clicked her tongue softly. She had immediately recognized the familiar energy radiating from Kiana. It's him, she thought. Who else could it be but Ren?
[Inorin Note:
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