Several days later, tragic news arrived from St. Freya:
——Wendy... crashed (Sad)!
The Gem of Desire implantation experiment failed, and she was rendered a complete invalid.
Or rather, this was the expected outcome. If determination alone could birth miracles, then miracles wouldn't be something countless people have yearned for throughout history.
Through the communication screen, Fuli could clearly feel the despair and self-blame radiating from Theresa, heavy enough to almost materialize.
Her beloved student, once her pride and joy, had met with such misfortune. The Valkyrie who once soared freely through the skies was now paralyzed from the waist down. losing everything, only to become a human container for the Gem of Desire.
Even though she had prepared herself mentally beforehand, when it actually happened, the petite Principal was still weighed down by a crushing sense of guilt. Seeing the highlights vanish from her eyes made one want to pull her into a tight embrace and comfort her.
I should make a trip to St. Freya next, Fuli thought.
Likely realizing her fiancé intended to come over and comfort her, Theresa's exhausted voice came from the other side of the screen: "Go to HQ. Check on Wendy for me."
Rarely, there was a pleading note in the girl's tone. "I don't have the face to see her right now. Due to the classified nature of the experiment, Wendy's friends and colleagues know nothing about this. They can't be by her side. You're the only one who can go to HQ to visit her."
"Visiting isn't a problem," Fuli rubbed his chin, looking skeptical. "But are you sure I can even see her if I go to HQ? Won't the people there stop me?"
Honestly, the fact that Theresa was willing to disclose the details of the human experimentation to him was surprising enough.
That was the Gem of Desire, one of the four great authorities stripped from the Second Herrscher.
In the previous loop, Cocolia created the Herrscher of Thunder, Mei, using just the Gem of Conquest. Now that he suddenly knew such a heavyweight secret, was Schicksal's hit squad already galloping his way?
Hmph! Let them come! My sword is not dull!
Gwah! Mei, save me! Someone wants to silence the Great King of Hyperion!
"Silence who? You? Who's coming? The Four Knights of the Apocalypse or an S-Rank Valkyrie?"
Theresa was amused to the point of laughter by his outlandish worry. Does he really think I, his fiancée, don't know who he hangs out with all day?
"Well, there are still people in the Immortal Squad I haven't met," Fuli looked left and right guiltily. "Besides, among the Four Knights of the Apocalypse, I'm only familiar with Duchess Iron Maiden. I've got quite the beef with the other three."
In his Burning Three Divine Keys state, he had gifted each of them a Friendship Face-Breaking Fist, physically ejecting them from the virtual space—wait, didn't someone get hit three times in a row?
It was the War Knight, Zofia, right? As expected of the leader of the Four Knights, she was surprisingly durable.
"Then why don't you just let Durandal pick you up? That child hasn't been on many missions lately so she could stay with Rita. She's probably dying for you to go to HQ and play with her!" Theresa's tone was sour. "Besides, didn't you nag me a few days ago about going to HQ to see Rita, who's recovering from a serious illness? Perfect, solve two problems at once!"
Fuli thought about it and agreed. He still had a bottle of Underworld Resurrection Medicine for Sister Rita.
"Alright," he nodded. "I'll set off right now."
Just as his finger was about to press the hang-up button, Theresa's tender, cute little face suddenly zoomed in, almost pressing against the screen.
"Don't say anything crazy when you meet my student," she nagged anxiously, like a mother protecting her cub. "She just suffered a fatal blow. If you irritate her, we might just get a 'Buy One Get One Free' Serial Herrscher deal!"
She wasn't worried about Schicksal; she was worried that a Herrscher-fied Wendy would be beaten to death by the monsters at HQ before she could even evolve into the world-destroying Emperor Wendy.
This wasn't the Far East's Nagazora City, with only two or three kittens around, allowing the Herrscher of Thunder to roam free. This was one of the three super-organizations of the Proper World—the core stronghold of Schicksal HQ!
"Relax." Fuli straightened his back, patted his chest, and spoke with brimming confidence. "No one. Understands. Comforting beautiful girls. Better than me!"
Theresa wanted to nag a bit more, but a large hand suddenly cut in, scooped up her petite body, and tucked her casually under an arm.
Immediately after, Himeko's hearty smiling face appeared on the screen.
"Got it, got it. Little Brother Fuli, just remember not to comfort her all the way into bed. Wendy has zero sensation in her lower body right now, so even if you did that, she wouldn't feel a thing."
The Principal, trapped under the armpit, instantly bristled and hammered Himeko's chest with her small fists. "Hey! That's too hellish!"
"But isn't she still alive?" Himeko's smile faded slightly, her tone becoming rarely serious. "A living tragedy is always better than a peaceful death. As long as she's alive, there's hope for a comeback."
This was the message Murata Himeko entrusted to Fuli to pass on to Wendy.
Ending the call with St. Freya, Fuli went to Massive Electric Corp, intending to report this itinerary to the true head of the household.
"Mei, what kind of gift do you think is appropriate for me to bring to the patient this time?"
"Buying jade to give away is best." The girl buried in data didn't even lift her head. "It expresses sentiment, and since it has no resale value, they can only keep it forever."
"Huh?"
This cold and slightly stinging suggestion stunned Fuli, and he immediately met Mei's gaze.
Those clear violet eyes clearly said: Why do you think I would give you good ideas when my boyfriend is going to see his side chicks?
"Not side chicks," Fuli felt the need to defend his relationship with them. "Just female friends I'm on good terms with."
"Rita Rossweisse and Miss Wendy, I'll believe for now. But what about Durandal?" The girl asked rhetorically, tapping her fingertips lightly on the desk. "To someone, Durandal is just a 'female friend on good terms'?"
"Her role this time is accompanying security personnel," someone responded with mock seriousness. "I'm mainly going to see Sister Rita, who is bedridden, and Wendy. I'm not going specifically to see her."
Playing word games with me, are you?
Mei put down her work, slowly took off her rimless reading glasses, and glanced at him sideways.
Finally, she sighed. "I currently have no solution for Miss Wendy's condition."
"Is that so?"
Fuli was stunned. It turned out even the omnipotent Mei-aemon had things she couldn't do.
"Like you, I've only truly devoted myself to the field of scientific research for four or five months. Naturally, there are things beyond my reach."
Mei crossed her arms in her chair, frankly admitting her shortcomings. "Of course, it's not that there's zero probability. The premise is that Schicksal is willing to lend me the Fourth Divine Key floating in the atmosphere for research."
Thinking about it, that was impossible. A super-strategic weapon capable of modifying global climate and geography at will was second in value to Schicksal only to the Void Archives.
It wasn't very effective against Herrschers, but against other countries and organizations, it was undoubtedly a Sword of Damocles hanging over their heads.
It was simply too convenient for mass slaughtering ordinary people.
"As for the gift, you can give this to Wendy."
Mei changed the subject, handing over an exquisite blue and white porcelain bottle. "Inside is the Ice Coagulation Pill. The consumer will be sealed in hard ice and fall into a deep sleep, while their vitality and related factors will increase a hundredfold until awakened by external forces."
Taking the porcelain bottle, Fuli looked thoughtful. "You mean, entrust hope to the future?"
Just because the current Dr. MEI couldn't fix the defects of a top-tier Stigmata didn't mean the future her couldn't.
Right now, the Gem of Desire was like a bomb buried inside Wendy, ready to explode at any moment.
It was better to let her take this pill, enter a slumber, and wait for the technology to mature.
Of course, the premise for all this was that those lunatics at Schicksal, who didn't treat people as humans, would allow Wendy—a precious experimental subject—to take this pill.
Seeing the cheerful smile on her boyfriend's face, Mei fell silent for a moment, ultimately swallowing the cold reality she was about to speak.
Next, Fuli ran to Mt. Taixu to pick and choose. Amidst Sus's whimpers, he furiously rubbed the dog's head and harvested several tons of seasonal fruits and fresh meat that it had diligently cultivated using the Yuan farming method.
After searching the System Store and exchanging for a suitable gift for Rita, he arrived at the hangar located on the flank of the Hyperion.
As a large aerospace battleship, the Hyperion carried various small flight units. Mei often flew these planes out to purchase supplies.
Considering the considerable distance between the Pacific Ocean and the Schicksal Floating Islands above the Mediterranean, Fuli abandoned options like armed helicopters or flying skateboards, opting to activate a medium-sized aircraft named the Yukikaze (Snow Wind).
The aircraft had a wingspan of 14 meters, its streamlined body shimmering with a cold metallic luster.
It had a maximum speed of Mach 5.5 within the atmosphere and was equipped with advanced Type-3 hybrid engines, capable of travel in both the atmosphere and space.
Fuli couldn't wait to sit in the cockpit. A virtual image of a chibi Kallen popped up.
She saluted: "My King! Initiate automatic control system?"
"Denied!"
Fuli refused decisively, unable to suppress the excitement on his face.
For a flight trip across half the planet, surely he had to fly it himself for the thrill!
"Wuhu! Takeoff!"
He shouted the activation key, yanking the control stick.
The Yukikaze's engines let out a low, powerful roar. The fuselage turned into a sharp arrow, blasting through the hangar's airlock gate and shooting toward the boundless azure sky!
At the same time, inside the temple on the dark side of the moon.
Prometheus, monitoring Little Li's movements in real-time, looked at Dr. Mei. "You don't plan to stop the Host this time?"
Dr. Mei sat on a protruding lunar rock, the corners of her mouth curling into a faint arc. "My utmost effort to stop the Little Host from going to Schicksal last time was because he intended to use Jizo Mitama in Rita Rossweisse's stigmata transplant surgery. This time, he won't be stupid enough to expose the fact that he holds a Divine Key, so why go and ruin his mood?"
Little AI thought about it and agreed, then asked, "Then, regarding the Current Era implanting a Herrscher Core (Gem of Desire) into a human body, what is our Chief Scientist of the Fire Moth's opinion?"
"The only pity is that I'm not the one conducting the experiment personally." The purple-haired beauty sighed. "If I were doing it myself, perhaps a Herrscher fighting for humanity would truly be born."
As for human experimentation, in the Previous Era, the number of times she and Mobius had done it exceeded the amount of bread they had eaten. LOL, she wouldn't have a single extra fluctuation of emotion.
---||---
The blazing noon sun poured down on the silver-white architectural complex. The grand Schicksal Floating Islands hung in the sky like a divine ark.
Below was a boundless, surging sea of clouds. The rising mist was plated with a dazzling golden edge, holding the islands up above a hazy dust of light and the vast cloud ocean.
"Truly beautiful."
Fuli hovered his Yukikaze at the outer edge of the floating island. He took off his helmet, opened the canopy, and sincerely praised the scenery before him.
"Since you think it's beautiful, how about staying for a few more days?"
A serious yet implicitly smiling voice clearly overpowered the howling wind.
Fuli turned his head to look.
Gorgeous long blonde hair drifted gently in the wind. Exquisite features without a single flaw seemed like the most perfect work of art. Under long eyelashes, those azure eyes holding a galaxy were crystal clear—a charm capable of sucking one's soul in.
Bianka Durandal Ataegina. The girl who had been waiting here eagerly after receiving the news had finally waited for the man of her dreams.
"I can't stay too long."
Looking at the strongest Valkyrie smiling beautifully, Fuli replied solemnly, "I might enjoy myself so much that I forget to return, ending up Le Bu Si Hyperion (Too happy to think of Hyperion)."
Le Bu Si Hyperion?
Oh, a variation of "Le Bu Si Shu" (Too happy to think of Shu), right?
"Is that not a good thing?"
Bianka, understanding the reference, raised an eyebrow and asked back, as if implying: Is lying flat in my arms not good?
"Of course not. Many people choose to lie flat because the upward channels are blocked by those with vested interests. The Hyperion is developing quite nicely right now."
Fuli reached out his hand toward the girl hovering in the air, smiling slyly. "Besides, I plan to wait until it becomes super-sized, then kidnap Schicksal's strongest Valkyrie to take home as my subordi—(wife)."
"I thought Little Li had long forgotten about that matter."
"I can't forget. Since we made an agreement, I definitely have to do it."
"Then I shall look forward to it as always."
Bianka smiled, taking his outstretched hand, allowing the boy to pull her from Schicksal's territory into the Hyperion's cabin, bringing with her a faint, refreshing fragrance.
Sitting firmly again, Fuli followed the instructions on the instruments and landed the Yukikaze at the Heimdall Hangar at the end of the Rainbow Bridge connecting the floating islands.
He jumped off the plane first, turned around, and without hesitation, opened his arms to Bianka in the back seat.
The girl coughed lightly, her gaze sweeping the surroundings as a reminder.
Actually, Fuli had noticed long ago that the moment the Yukikaze landed, countless gazes hidden in the shadows focused here.
Schicksal's most popular strongest Valkyrie and her mysterious rumored boyfriend formally appearing in the same frame was enough to attract the eyes of every gossip lover.
Even so, he still kept his arms open, a bright smile on his clean face.
"Come, come, ignore them."
It was as if declaring his unquestionable ownership of Bianka Durandal Ataegina.
What? Didn't he say he came to visit Sister Rita?
This is the World-Famous Painting: Rita Rossweisse Recuperating in the Hospital Room.
Wendy?
The current her isn't even fit to sit at the table.
"Um."
Bianka's cheeks grew slightly hot, but under Little Li's encouraging gaze, she finally cast aside her reserve. She leaped, pouncing into his arms with precision like a swallow returning to its nest.
Instantly, an uproar exploded around them.
"Wah! She really jumped!"
"Lord Durandal! Do you not want Vice-Captain Rita anymore?"
"My heart! My dream! Shattered!"
"NOOO!!!"
Snowflakes flutter, the north wind howls...
Click, click, click!
excitement and wailing flew together; the sound of camera shutters merged with the sky.
When had Durandal, who usually swept through battlefields, ever seen such a scene?
The Knight Princess curled up in the boy's arms was both shy and anxious, hurriedly tugging at the lapels on his chest. "Quick, r-run!"
"You got it, my Princess!"
Fuli knew well that you couldn't tease this blonde Persian cat too hard at once; if she started hissing, he wouldn't be able to handle it.
Immediately, he tightened his arms, lifting her into a princess carry. With a few void flashes, he rushed out of the crowd, disappearing into the entrance of a building.
"Don't run!"
"Chase them!"
The army of gossips chased unwillingly, but with the help of Setsuna Slash · Cold River Reflecting the Moon and his presence concealment, Fuli shook them off without a trace in just a few moves.
Except for the most deadly person.
"It's been a while, Mr. Fuli."
A crisp, elegant female voice rang out, carrying a hint of fanaticism and playfulness.
The Death Knight, Iron Maiden, with gray hair cascading like a waterfall, strode forward with a gorgeous sword hanging at her waist. Her emerald eyes swept over Durandal before locking firmly onto Fuli, like a starving jackal eyeing its prey.
"Did you come here specifically to bring me pain?"
The tip of her small tongue slowly glided over her thin lips. Excitement flickered in the Iron Virgin's eyes, as if recalling some ultimate sweetness.
Fuli's face instantly looked as ugly as if he had just eaten Theresa and was then caught in bed by Otto. He had been worried about this masochistic nympho finding him. Murphy's Law truly didn't lie; exactly what he feared had happened.
"Obviously not."
Durandal snorted coldly, stepping forward to shield Little Li behind her. Her lance pointed straight at the newcomer, a chilling coldness erupting suddenly.
"Leave now, and no one gets hurt!"
Goose only knew that Fuli had once sent Iron Maiden to heaven (in various senses) with a "Five-Times Magnification Millennium Kill" in the virtual space. She knew nothing about the Duchess actively seeking discipline later on.
Otherwise, after "no one gets hurt," she definitely would have added, "You will all die!"
Bianka didn't think Little Li was at fault. Clearly, this shameless Duchess was indiscriminately seducing someone else's b-b-b-boyfriend!
"Hurt? Miss Durandal is truly confident."
Iron Maiden chuckled low, as if she had heard something amusing.
The gorgeous longsword in her hand slowly unsheathed, the sharp blade slicing through the air with a crisp hum.
"Regrettably." Her smile vanished abruptly, her emerald eyes congealing like a cold pool. "I don't plan to give Mr. Fuli to anyone else this time, either."
Otherwise, who's going to make up for the missing Partial Expansion Jutsu for me?
The air solidified. An invisible storm surged with the two at the center!
A great battle was on the verge of triggering!