Xiao: "I hope Brother Bosacius and I can fight this time... Let's see the content. We discussed the last Five-Star mission; we definitely have the strength to win."
Bosacius: "Exactly, Brother Su Han. If there's a suitable mission, just assign us. Don't be polite!"
Su Han: "Alright... if it fits, I'll let you two handle it. We'll see what drops."
The 32nd mission was approaching. If it was a Five-Star, the accumulated points could be used to exchange for Tier 3 treasures. If not, a Four-Star mission would be a great chance for the lower-tier members to gain experience.
Barbara: "I'm looking forward to it too. I hope I can contribute!"
Kuki Shinobu: "Mhm... I want to join as well. Lady Guuji said the enemies from other worlds are incredibly strong. I want to test my blade against them."
Fischl: "It is time for the Empress of the Imternachtreich to descend... The enemies of the myriad worlds shall face my judgment!"
Mona: "You... give it a rest. Look at the enemy's strength first. They can be terrifying. New members should watch how the veterans fight before jumping in. Get a feel for your own limits first."
Yelan: "Is the difficulty really that high?"
Eula: "Yes. Five-Star missions are reserved for the absolute peak of the group. Anyone else going is just... well, 'emergency food.' Check the archives; the recorded livestreams don't lie. Just remember, those videos are strictly confidential."
Lisa: "Indeed. Only Su Han and a few admins can download them. No unauthorized forwarding."
Diluc: "That is for the best."
Kaeya: "Heh... I'm getting impatient. I want to see what 'slaughtering across the worlds' feels like!"
Paimon: "What do you mean 'slaughtering'? So violent! We need to focus on scavenging treasures! Mmm... this marshmallow is amazing..."
Keqing: "???"
Lisa: "Little one... we are having a meeting. Be careful, or you might get 'locked up' for eating through the budget!"
Lumine: "And you call yourself my best travel companion? A mission is coming, and you're out here snacking. You really are just emergency food!"
Paimon: "Hey! I can't fight in missions anyway! I don't have combat power, and I can't just go in as a cheerleader. You're all so mean. Especially Lumine... I'm 'taste-testing' for you! If you finish the mission quickly, I'll have a feast waiting!"
Well, when it came to twisted logic, no one could beat Paimon. The group shared a resigned laugh.
Venti: "I'll sit this one out to give others a chance. Hehe... Paimon is right, though. Killing strong enemies is one thing, but the treasures from other worlds are what we truly need."
Venti had hit the jackpot with the Fountainhead Palace. By uprooting the entire "Celestial Realm," he had secured spirit springs that doubled the growth rate of their crops. Missions were important, but resource plundering was vital.
Rosalyne: "I agree. Lower-level worlds are fine for points, but for high-level worlds, we must prioritize resource collection. Our group is Tier 3 now; new members can reach Tier 2 in half a month just by signing in. Even for a Four-Star Hard mission, we should maximize our loot while completing the objective."
Everyone fell into thought. Rosalyne's point was crucial. High-level worlds meant better resources. Zhongli's trip to the Emei world brought back a mountain of swords and an entire cultivation legacy, allowing them to train thousands of sword immortals.
Jean: "Rosalyne is right. We shouldn't just pick people randomly anymore. We need a team that can complete the task and strip the world of its assets."
Fischl: "Aww... does that mean the Empress has to wait longer to debut?"
Paimon: "If you're not strong enough, just train harder!"
Just as Paimon finished her sentence, the system pinged.
[Ding! Mission Cooldown Ended. Four-Star Hard Team Mission Published!]
[Mission]: Defeat the Espada of Las Noches and rescue Orihime Inoue.
[Difficulty]: Four-Star Hard
[Description]: Sosuke Aizen has betrayed the Soul Society and taken control of Hueco Mundo. Defeat the ten Espada and rescue the captive.
[Warning]: You MUST ensure Ichigo Kurosaki does not undergo 'Full Hollowfication' (Vasto Lorde) and ensure Orihime Inoue does not die. If either occurs, the mission fails.
[Note]: You are not required to kill every Espada; recruitment or capture is an option. However, beware—some Espada possess powers (like Baraggan's rot) that can lead to group member casualties.
[Team]: This is a team mission. Limit: 10 members. Points will be distributed equally.
The mission was live! A ten-person team was a massive opportunity for the newer members to prove themselves in a "Hard" environment.
Fischl: "Haha! This mission is mine! A 'Hard' quest is exactly what the Empress needs! There must be a spot for me in a ten-person team!"
Lisa: "Don't be careless. The world of Bleach is dangerous. We need a balanced lineup."
Lumine: "I want to go this time... Big Brother Su Han, is that okay?"
Yae Miko: "Your strength is top-tier; you're a perfect fit. I think Fischl can go too—she can handle the smaller fry while the heavy hitters take the Espada. Let's finalize the roster."
Xiao: "Brother Bosacius and I are going. That's two. Arrange the rest."
Kaeya: "Count me in. I've heard Diluc brag enough about his exploits. As his 'brother,' I can't fall behind. We can't let Mondstadt lose face!"
The first four were set: Lumine, Kaeya, Xiao, and Bosacius. Six spots remained.
Ningguang: "I recall Su Han mentioning that the Espada are unique. Especially Baraggan—his power to make anything rot is terrifying."
Hu Tao: "Rotting power? That does sound scary."
Hanachirusato: "I'll go to keep things steady since Venti is staying behind. Miko, you coming?"
The "Kitsune" declined; she didn't want to work alongside Hanachirusato, fearing the other fox would prank her. After a quick screening, the final team was confirmed:
Lumine, Kaeya, Xiao, Bosacius, Hanachirusato, Fischl, Beidou, Kujou Sara, Ganyu, and Rosalyne.
Su Han uploaded the intel on the Espada to the group and handed several items to Hanachirusato: the Tenseiga and Soul Boxes to collect spiritual particles. If the Espada wouldn't submit, their souls would still serve a purpose for Havria or Makoto. He also handed a special artifact to Kujou Sara—the Mortal Blade from the world of Ashina.
"One more thing," Su Han messaged Hanachirusato. "In the outskirts of Las Noches, there is a 'Privaron Espada' who was kicked out. She's currently in the form of a child due to soul damage. If possible, bring her back. Her name is Nelliel. She should be easy to... bribe."
"Oh? A child with a figure like Ei's?" Hanachirusato teased.
Su Han sighed. This woman never missed a chance to poke fun at him.
With everything ready, the ten members stepped into the golden portal. The battle for Hueco Mundo was about to begin.
100+ chapters are available now and daily updates! @patreon.com/Zefyrus