"—Am I to understand that our prior agreement is now null and void?"
As Raiden Mei's voice grew more and more excited, Bianka suddenly felt a tangible chill that threatened to pierce her skin.
Something was stirring beneath the waves as well—not just the unknown S-Rank powerhouse she'd sensed before, but other, even more unidentifiable things!
Internally surprised at how much the Hyperion had upgraded in such a short time, the girl's willow-like eyebrows shot up as she cursed, "That crazy broad!"
Of course, Bianka knew Mei didn't like her.
The first time they met, Mei had scanned her up and down like a radar, as if trying to find which part of her would be easiest to slice off for a side dish.
Coincidentally, she didn't like Raiden Mei either.
Parading around in front of little Li all day dressed in such a shameless, debauched manner, constantly trying to lure the innocent (in her eyes) and naive (still in her eyes) boy into the abyss of lust—her intentions were as clear as day!
"What's with all the talk? You want a fight? You've got one!"
Her slender, armor-clad fingers clenched into a fist in the empty air. Without another word, Bianka drew Hler's Serenity, which she had brought with her just for this trip.
The Godsbane weapon, forged from a heterochromatic Soulium block, glinted coldly in the sunlight. The waves hundreds of meters below her feet instantly calmed, reminiscent of the deathly silent, azure deep sea where Schicksal had first discovered it.
"Huh? Huh?"
The sudden hostility left Ana completely bewildered.
Thinking back, it seemed that the conflict between the two had been triggered by her sudden arrival.
She quickly mustered her courage and stepped forward.
"Excuse me, is that Lady Raiden Mei speaking? I am Ana Schariac, Senator Five of the Senate. I did not come with malicious intent. I wish to invite Mr. Fuli—"
"Invite him to go back with you obediently for an interrogation?" Mei cut her off with a cold, unforgiving sneer. "The wanted notice for him was issued by the Senate. You think we wouldn't know about that?"
Ana froze on the spot.
Issuing a wanted notice for someone one moment and then trying to invite them to join you the next... the thin-skinned girl really couldn't bring herself to say such a thing!!!
"It's no use, Ana." Bianka flexed her wrist disdainfully. "This crazy broad is just looking for an excuse to fight me. Even if you hadn't come, she would have found some other reason."
"You can't say that, Durandal." Mei wasn't about to let her take the moral high ground. "The Hyperion has always been a place of reason and law. You were the one who brought a lobbyist from the Senate here without any notice. It was only natural for me to be on guard and prepare to counterattack."
"Yeah, I brought her. So what?"
At this point, Bianka couldn't be bothered to waste any more words on her.
Their eyes met across the distance, their beautiful gazes filled with contempt and disdain for one another.
"I've further perfected the Durandal-slash-Fuli-style Gun-Kata after my last spar with little Li. You'll make a perfect punching bag to test it out on!"
Schicksal's Strongest suddenly stabbed her lance into the sea, the blade cleaving a hundred-meter-tall wave that had been obscuring her view.
She used the recoil to leap into the air, away from her aircraft. The skirt of her Valkyrie Gloria battlesuit snapped open into a hexagonal force field shield!
"Whoa!"
Ana, who still hadn't figured out what was going on, hastily retreated. Her high heels just barely made it through the closing gap in the rapidly forming defensive field, and she curled up in the pilot's seat of the private jet like a frightened rabbit.
Twelve rainbow-hued beams from the Thunder Throne followed close behind, like spears of divine punishment thrown with the full might of a war god, tearing a burning vacuum tunnel between the sky and the sea!
"Chase!"
Bianka spun her lance so fast she became a golden tornado. With every beam she blocked, a phoenix-shaped flame burst from the tip of her weapon.
The deflected energy beams crashed into the ocean, and the instantly vaporized seawater formed a boiling wall of fog that stretched for thousands of meters.
On the bridge, the mechanical glasses Mei wore projected a holographic analysis. "Durandal's evasion trajectory predicted. Hit probability increased to 87%—no, firing now will trigger a Time Fracture."
As if to prove her words, the afterimages of the deflected beams suddenly solidified into a golden spiderweb in the air.
Bianka threw her lance, hooking it onto the nearest beam. The laser, which was pure energy, was held in her hand as if it were a solid object.
She swung towards the Hyperion's main cannon like a pendulum, the starlight from the Time Fracture leaving a galactic trail behind her!
Her target was undoubtedly the Genesis, the demonic cannon that had been charging for a long time and, at full power, could annihilate a third-class planet!
"I knew you'd aim for that."
Mei raised an eyebrow confidently, the four-leaf clover diamond earring on her earlobe sparkling faintly.
Her slender fingertips swept across the turret's control interface, and the residual static electricity in the air spelled out the taunting words: [Welcome to the trap].
The electromagnetic fluid that had long since been injected into the base of the cannon silently activated. Twelve massive metal pillars, shimmering with starlight, suddenly rose from the Pacific seabed. Thirty-six thousand electromagnetic drone units shot out from within, turning Bianka's assault path into an impenetrable prison of lightning!
A flash of surprise and admiration crossed the latter's eyes, but her hands moved without the slightest hesitation.
The power of the Immortal Blades surged forth. The beams that had been shot down before suddenly returned, transforming into phantom knights wielding lances of light that charged forward to fight the drone units to the death!
Ana watched the dazzling battle, utterly captivated. Lost in the moment, the girl didn't notice that she, standing in the center of the battlefield, had not been touched by a single arc of electricity or a single gleam of a spear.
The sound of munching, crunch crunch, suddenly rang out at an inopportune moment.
The fighting girls all turned towards the source of the sound.
Fuli was sitting on a plastic chair formed from his Shadowchaser sword, floating at the edge of the battlefield, his legs crossed as he chewed on a Lay's potato chip.
"Don't mind me. You two carry on, carry on."
"Alright!"
"No problem!"
After their respective replies, Mei and Bianka returned their gazes to each other.
The legions of lightning that had previously stood down returned to their work, crashing into each other and churning the atmosphere once more.
This time, Fuli panicked.
"Wait, wait! This isn't how it's supposed to go!"
He steered his plastic stool to a spot between the Hyperion and Bianka's aircraft, a smile plastered on his handsome face as he tried to play peacemaker.
"Seeing me watching the show with such a dismissive attitude, shouldn't you both sigh in unison, call a truce, and end this accidental conflict?"
What harem drama? I'll bang you both!
"Mhm, mhm!" Ana, beside him, nodded like a woodpecker, sneaking glances at Fuli's face.
Her first impression was: clean.
Delicate and well-proportioned features, a straight nose, and cheeks that seemed to be bathed in a soft glow under the sunlight, as if the very air around him was tinted a crystalline blue. An indescribable, unique kind of beauty.
He wasn't so handsome as to be devastating or divinely favored, but he would at least leave a good first impression, scoring between a 60 and an 80, depending on one's taste.
Out of 100, of course.
"Hmph! I'll let you off this time, you magnetic psycho!"
Seeing that even little Li had come over to mediate, Bianka realized the fight couldn't continue. She snorted and retracted her gleaming lance.
"Oh? Let me off? Heh! I wonder who's letting who off!"
As for Mei, with Fuli himself having clearly expressed his desire for a ceasefire, she remembered that a woman should give her man face when they were out, and didn't insist.
Her index finger tapped lightly on the desk. A hundred meters below the sea, the unmanned deep-sea submersible units dispersed the magnetic storm stigmata matrix they had deployed. In the depths, the long, narrow shadow of a dragon swept past, swallowing up all the unlucky sea creatures that had been caught in the crossfire.
Seeing the girls call a truce, a relieved Fuli invited them, "Anyway, why don't you come inside first?"
Only then did he have the time to properly look at the other visitor, who had been hiding in the shadows.
After carefully observing Ana's still-youthful, delicate face, the boy's pupils shrank.
"Holy crap! The Ice—!"
Bianka, who was preparing to land her aircraft on the Hyperion's deck, perked up her ears. "Ice? What ice?"
Fuli's expression didn't change. "Ice—it must be hot traveling so far in this weather! Bronya! Get our guests some iced drinks!"
Inside the bridge, Bronya, who was lounging on a chaise longue and enjoying the show, ordered, "Angela, hurry up and prepare drinks for the guests."
"Don't bully the newbie!" she was then picked up and shaken by Kiana.
"Which dummy Tuna was it that asked her to make sparkling water earlier?" Bronya retorted, calling out her hypocrisy.
"It's alright." Seeing the two were about to start fighting, Kallen said cheerfully, "I can just ask Project Bunny."
"Huh? Huh?"
Bronya had just sensed something was off when she looked up and saw Project Bunny materialize out of thin air.
And on the coffee table in front of them, there was already a full spread of various iced drinks.
"Good girl, good girl~" Kallen floated up and affectionately stroked Project Bunny's large head.
Kiana gasped. "Is this the power of a top-tier AI? No wonder Li was willing to hack into Schicksal's database just to bring you out, Christina!"
"It's nothing, really." Kallen spun gracefully in the air, her long silver braid dancing like a dragon. "It's mainly because Project Bunny is such a good and obedient child, and it didn't involve harming Bronya—hmm, it was just apologizing to me on Bronya's behalf, saying that its master has been so overwhelmed by this life of luxury this past month that she needs to be pushed a little harder."
And wasn't it a life of luxury?
What kind of life had the little girl lived before?
Either she was running around as a mercenary, or living on the edge as an assassin. She had only had a few good days at Cocolia's orphanage before being goaded into helping trigger the Third Honkai Eruption.
And look at her now. Good food and drinks every day, video games to play, and she could just leave all the thinking to her cheap older brother, without a care in the world. She had even started to put on a little weight recently.
What? The Hyperion hasn't paid her a salary yet?
The Duck can earn money on the side!
With a godmother who's the head of Anti-Entropy's New Schicksal, she'll show you what a true Capitol Hill stock market god looks like!
...
While the girls were bantering, Fuli and Ana, who had landed first, stepped onto the deck.
He first waved to Bianka in the distance, indicating she could park her aircraft anywhere, then, seemingly nonchalantly but actually scanning her from every possible angle, he stared at Ana.
His intense gaze made the girl squirm with discomfort, breaking out in a cold sweat. She wondered if she would really have to resort to seduction to achieve her goal, as Senator Twelve had suggested before she left.
No, not that!
This Mr. Fuli does seem to be a high-quality man, but I really want a normal, sweet romance with someone I like!
Little did she know, Fuli's inner turmoil was far greater than he let on.
[This is the future Herrscher of Ice? Why does she look so frail, like a single push could knock her over?]
The specifics of Herrscher Cores, even in his previous life, were top secret, known only to a select few.
But as fate would have it, Fuli had been by Durandal's side when Schicksal had informed her of the Great Honkai on Coral Island. By chance, he had overheard the name of the Herrscher of Ice.
It was this very Ana Schariac.
Afterwards, Fuli had asked a familiar information broker to gather information on her. The results, however, were... underwhelming. The Snow Lotus Squad captain's life story was so thin that it made one wonder how she had been chosen to become a Herrscher in the first place.
Even a potential S-Ranker like Wendy had first been implanted with the Gem of Desire, tortured by its side effects for two and a half years (mid-2014 to mid-2016), and had her reality and mental state shattered multiple times before she finally transformed into the supreme ruler of the heavens, unleashing a storm that swept across New Zealand.
And Ana?
A-Rank Valkyrie, stationed on Coral Island, became a Herrscher, was defeated.
The whole thing reeked of being rushed.
But rushed or not...
"Miss Ana, I've heard so much about you!"
The boy tightly grasped Ana's soft, slender hand. With an iced rose he had swiped from Kallen held between his teeth, his gaze was devout. "Would you do me the honor of joining the Hyperion and becoming one of us?"
You're so flirty~
Prometheus, floating nearby, rolled her eyes and zipped back to the moon.
Her host was too cringe. She couldn't watch.
"Eh?"
Ana, who had come to invite Fuli to an honorary seat in the Senate, only to be poached before she could even say a word, stood there dumbfounded, forgetting to pull her hand away from Fuli's.
It was cool to the touch, and felt super comfortable.
It might sound lewd to anyone listening, but Fuli got a boner—okay, no he didn't.
"You didn't hear me?" The boy, who didn't have a hand fetish, muttered to himself before solemnly starting to spin a yarn. "Miss Ana, your talent is as dazzling as the midday sun, but Schicksal's narrow-mindedness clearly cannot allow it to flourish. Why not leave that quagmire and join our vibrant Hyperion, and unlock the supreme talent within you that could rival the Herrscher of Ice!"
The plot might be rushed, but if she could become a Herrscher, Ana's talent was undeniable.
He had to poach her now while she was still just a B-Rank Valkyrie. In the future, the Hyperion would definitely have another powerful S-Rank or higher combatant!
"I, I..."
This time, Ana reacted. She stared blankly at her hand, which was still tightly held in his, and then at the handsome boy's confession-like words and sincere, devout gaze.
Poof!
A puff of white smoke rose from the girl's blushing head.
Her eyes rolled back, and she fell straight into Fuli's arms.
She had fainted.
"Ana!"
Bianka, who had just parked her aircraft, panicked—panicked in every sense of the word.
She rushed over and snatched Fuli out of Ana's arms.
Realizing her mistake, she quickly let him go and caught the slumping Ana.
"What happened?!"
"I don't know!"
Fuli was also feeling wronged.
He was just trying to poach her. If she didn't want to, she could have just said no. Why did she have to go and have a brain shutdown? Was she trying to frame him?
The thought spurred him into action. He couldn't just sit back and take the blame. His body went limp, and he collapsed onto the deck.
"Oof! I think Ana hit my stomach when she fell! I'm three months pregnant! No, I need to lie down too!"
"Stop fooling around!"
The Knight Princess shot him an annoyed glare before turning to check on Ana.
The boy, pretending to be unconscious on the ground, peeked at her:
Her smooth, golden hair, smelling faintly fragrant, brushed against Durandal's fair, delicate cheek. Beneath her thick, long eyelashes, like feathered fans, her azure eyes, like the sea, were misty and hazy.
Although she feigned annoyance, it couldn't hide her lotus-like beauty.
But the place his gaze lingered the longest was her collarbone.
Following her delicate, smooth swan-like neck down slightly, her collarbones were distinct, exuding a hint of charm. No wonder they were called beauty bones.
Women are always sensitive to gazes on their bodies. Bianka easily noticed the mesmerized stare fixed on her collarbones.
She subtly slowed down her examination, while also seemingly casually adjusting her angle, so that her proud figure, honed by long hours of training, could be more perfectly displayed to the boy.
For a moment, only the sea breeze rustled across the deck, teasing the ambiguous atmosphere between the boy and the girl.
Until the unconscious Ana let out a soft moan. Snapping back to reality, their eyes met.
A spark, like an electric shock, crackled in the air, and they both guiltily looked away, pretending to be engrossed in their own thoughts.
"S-so, little Li, what did you do to Ana just now?"
"I-I just invited her to join the Hyperion, that's all."
After he told her the whole story, Bianka was truly at a loss for words.
"Leaving aside the massive gap between your ragtag group and Schicksal, Ana was just appointed as the Schariac family's representative in the Senate. No matter how you slice it, a position as one of the twelve high senators isn't exactly wasting her potential, is it?"
"High senator? Number Five? Ana?"
This sudden plot twist, so different from the previous timeline, caught Fuli completely off guard. Even after a mental storm, he still couldn't figure out how his butterfly effect had managed to stir up such a typhoon in the Senate.
He said with great regret, "Well, it looks like I won't be able to poach her after all."
Damn it! My Herrscher of Ice!
"Do you have a thing for poaching Schicksal's members?"
Bianka didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "It was one thing when you said you wanted to poach me, but to set your sights on Ana too..."
Hidden in her tone was a hint of jealousy that even the girl herself hadn't realized was there.
She'd thought she was special to have earned Fuli's favor, but it turned out any girl would do?
"Because you two are different!" Fuli was dead serious.
"How are we different?"
"You're both super-potential prospects with a promising future!" the regressor said with complete sincerity.
—Super-potential prospects?
Bianka raised an eyebrow and looked down to study Ana's face.
The girl had some confidence in herself, at least. Her title as Schicksal's strongest and youngest S-Rank Valkyrie was proof of her worth.
But Ana... for Fuli to place her on the same level as herself?
The power of the Immortal Blades instinctively permeated Ana. After a moment of examination, the feedback left Bianka baffled.
There was nothing special about her, just an ordinary B-Rank Valkyrie.
Even with St. Freya's lax curriculum, any trainee Valkyrie with a bit of talent could reach that level in three to five years.
So the key wasn't "potential prospect," but "promising future"?
She recalled that people from Shenzhou often used puns based on similar-sounding words.
For example, wordplay that twisted the original meaning.
What was the pun for wèilái kě qī (a promising future) again?
A future... that's wife-able? [T/N: In Chinese, "a promising future" (未来可期, wèilái kě qī) is a homophone for "can be a wife in the future" (未来可妻, wèilái kě qī).]
"!!!"
Feeling she had grasped the truth, the Knight Princess quickly looked down again, but this time she was scrutinizing Ana's face and figure.
Smooth, beautiful hair; a faint, even blush on her cheeks, showcasing the unique purity of her age.
The form-fitting armor was pushed up high by the roundness of her chest. Delicate, snow-white asymmetrical stockings encased her two fair, slender legs. Though her overall look was pure and innocent, it secretly held a soul-stealing allure and charm.
So that's it!
So that's what he meant by "future wife"!
"Heh!"
Bianka let out a cold laugh, unconsciously flexing her fingers and making her knuckles crack.
The sudden chill in the air made Fuli rub his arms uncomfortably. He thought to himself, Is it just me, or did the wind suddenly get a little rowdy?
...