Inside the museum, at the director's office. Catherine pieced the puzzle that Rita was most likely trying to find an important relic that is related to the Arthurian legends. And with her years of research, she would likely pose a great help to Rita. So Catherine called up Rita to have a small partnership.
"Ms. Rita, I have a proposition for you. How about I help you in finding what you need?" Catherine asked and Rita agreed as there were currently no leads right now except the fresco.
Rita arrived at her office and was pleasantly surprised by the warm hospitality of tea and scones. "Thank you kindly for your welcome Ms. Catherine, but how can I help you exactly?" Rita didn't beat around the bush and Catherine smiled, as she already knew that this would cost something.
"Pardon me, but I am furious right now. As the custodian of british history. I want the perpetrator to be behind bars. Especially because they have caused damage to multiple fragile pieces in the museum." Catherine huffed and Rita thought it was understandable.
"I see, no worries about that Ms. Catherine, I have access to their whereabouts right now actually, but only me and Bianka-san. My partner, can deal with them." Rita sipped her tea and Catherine thought it was enough.
"Ahem, anyways. I believe an individual like you have already done your fair share of research, Ms. Rita. And you have probably found out that various scholars minted the history of the legends with their own personal biases and changes." Catherine started and Rita nodded, as it was only natural that history could be changed minutely, slowly changing until it was basically unrecognizable from the truth.
"Ms. Rita, would you entertain my idea that the legends of king Arthur may be a metaphor for something different?" Catherine specialized in history and has linked the legends to something that can be explained through science instead of magic.
"Indeed, most legends have been written by people that didn't even saw the events to begin with. So tell me what's your idea Ms. Catherine." Rita was interested on what's next.
"Exactly, have you heard about Avalon Ms. Rita? It's the final resting place of Arthur Pendragon and it is described as an island paradise not of this world." Catherine was getting to the meat of the discussion and Rita raised a brow. As things started clicking into her head and Avalon was probably something that was found using the Cosmic Juggernaut.
"I think there is a mistake, Arthur did not find Avalon. But it still exists at another side of the fabric of spacetime." Catherine said as Rita nodded, but the question is. Where in the world is the divine key?
"Another dimension?" Rita asked and that was the logical answer, considering the powers of the 2nd herrscher.
"Yes, Merlin and Arthur embarked on a great journey. The enchanter also gave Arthur a divine sword. A weapon from Avalon that can slice the fabric of space and time. Making it the only tool that could grant access to the place, but Arthur never found it." Catherine took out her book where she writes the possible theories of the real legend of the legends.
"Wait, so Arthur never found it. But it exists?" Rita thought that was possible, but something is missing.
"Well, that's merely a minor speculation on my part. But I certainly believe that Merlin is someone that is based on a real person. As he was the one that gave king Arthur the chance to rise up as a monarch. The one who gave rise to the Arthurian legends." Catherine finished and Rita speculated that Merlin might be from the previous era.
"Merlin? I should take a better look at this person." Rita browsed a book of the legends and tried to look for more information about Merlin. But Catherine's eyes shone and she suddenly dropped a huge stack of papers on the table, enough to make a gust of wind that blew Rita's hair a bit.
"I've compiled this humble stack on my years of research Ms. Rita! Feel free to browse through it." Catherine fixed her glasses and was satisfied that someone is interested on the mysteries of the legends.
"Thank you... That's exactly what I needed." Rita smiled as the stack of papers in front of her was certainly not humble in amount.
After some time, Rita finally finished researching and was being escorted out. "Thank you for your help Ms. Catherine, it was a pleasure." Rita made small talk while they walked and Catherine welcomed her.
"The pleasure is all mine Ms. Rita, ugh. Those vandals even managed to destroy the fresco you were looking at yesterday. That thing is centuries old." Catherine sighed as she massaged her temples.
'Wait... Is that what I think it is?' Rita saw shards of metal that was inside the rubble of the fresco and immediately thought of a Soulium data bank.
Rita took samples of it and immediately had it scanned so the overseer would see it. And after a little bit of analyzing. Tilie confirmed that the fresco was a relic that people from the previous era has tampered with.
"This fresco has surely been embedded with Soulium by people of the previous era. And the limited data we could gather from it confirms it too." Tilie learned that the scientists of the previous era used the core of the 2nd herrscher to be used as a locomotive that would let them explore the sea of quanta without being exposed to null energy. Which would delete normal humans instantly.
"The previous era used the key to travel in the sea. We do not know their purpose, but they might have been trying to find ways to defeat the honkai there." Tilie concluded and Rita had a question.
"The sea of quanta... Do you think there's an island there that happened to be named Avalon?" Rita asked as she was onto Catherine's hypothesis that the 2nd key was the supposed divine sword that would lead the people to Avalon.
"Technically, that's correct. The assumptions of the director is right on the mark. The 2nd key is the sword. And Avalon is probably a bubble universe inside of the sea." Tilie thought that Rita's mission just got more interesting.
"Rita, I must remind you that the 2nd key is vital for our war against the honkai. You must obtain it at any cost." Tilie reminded her and Rita bowed slightly.
"I understand, I will see to it then." Rita was about to cut the call, but Tilie stopped her. "Ahh, before you go on with your mission Rita, I have decided to give you an assistant." Rita raised a brow and was confused.
"An assistant?" Rita did not expect it and the blonde nodded. "Yes, to ensure your safety and success." Tilie said, not even trying to make a good excuse for her bullshit. But Rita didn't call her out and just though of it as one of her schemes.
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At the lounge of the phosdjinns squad. Zofia received a message from Schicksal HQ. And they will be having a mission. Missions from HQ are a big deal and completing them has promoted A-ranks to S-ranks. Separating the riff raff from the best.
"Captain! We have a message from HQ, it says here that there's a mission! And it's addressed to our squad!" Zofia shouted as Matilla immediately got excited.
"Really!? Finally! It is time, they've finally noticed our true potential! Alright girls, it's time to head to a place where the real battles are raging! Our sacrifices won't be in vain once we turn into S-rank valkyries." Matilla said with fervor and Zofia opened up the message.
"Let me read through this mission brief, hey... Wait." Zofia noticed that something was wrong and couldn't tell it to her captain straight.
"Susannah! Get your ass out of the showers and suit up! Or we'll leave you behind to be S-rankers!" Matilla called for Susannah and she ran out of the bathroom while only in a towel.
"Kyaa! I'm done, I'm done! Wait for me! Sorry that I'm so slow captain!" Susannah rushed out as she listened intently for what their mission will be. (pic)
"Sorry captain... But HQ only asked for valkyrie Susannah..." Zofia told Matilla with an exasperated face and her captain shouted. "A-are we a joke to them!?"
Susannah then had a loopy face on as she couldn't imagine what HQ would need her for.
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"Ahhh, that huh? That's an unpleasant time where I made mistakes." Kevin started sweating and Su squinted his eyes at him.
"What, what did he do?" MEI asked with a raised brow as her big brain quickly concluded that Kevin was responsible for the Arthurian legends with Su.
"Goddammit Kevin! Why did you have to say that out loud?" Su prepared for the interrogation as Kevin couldn't say no to MEI.
"S-sorry about that..." Kevin scratched his head and MEI pinched his ears hard. "Now, tell me what you guys did?" She said with a hiss as Kevin couldn't do anything.
"Someone is whipped nya~" Phyllis commented with a chuckle and MEI glared at her, making her retreat the premises as Phyllis knows that a woman interrogating her man is deadly.
"Kevin infected an entire village back in those times for a test run of project Stigma. And Arthur Pendragon awakened a stigmata, being the only survivor in the village." Su started the story with a heavy sigh. As that was the start of their communication breaking down. Resulting to the activation of project Regulator.
"Ha! I told you we should've killed him when we got the chance MEI." Vill's Kevin killer mk. 5 shouted as MEI gave a sigh as well.
"Su was even mistaken to be the lady of the lake. Hehe." Kevin chuckled and forgot that MEI still has his ear on her hands. And she got excited with that snippet of information, making her pull on him. "What!? Tell me more." MEI demanded and Su cringed.
"I was travelling with the kid. And Su contacted me, as you know. Su is quite the quirky guy and he decided to show up at the lake. And when he left, he also disappeared in the lake. The kid must have misunderstood and saw his long hair, thinking that he must have been a woman AHAHAHA!" Kevin laughed his ass off and MEI smirked at Su.
"Hohhh? Su does look girly doesn't he? Especially with his body type and long hair. Unlike Ein who towers over every single one of us and has perpetually low body fat." MEI commented and Su rolled his eyes.
"Umu, you could see the striations on his muscles. He's shredded as hell." Sushang said while nodding in satisfaction. Remembering his physique.
"Hey, Vill-v just told me that Su was the lady of the lake? Is that true?" Ein arrived and he had a shit eating grin on his face.
"Oh no." Su felt the dread coming to him as Ein stared at him and Kevin. Ein browsed their memories real quick and smirked. He then recreated the scene right in front of them as he ate some popcorn with Elysia.
"Haha, they got you there Su. You do look like a skinny woman from behind, you should workout more." Eden commented and Elysia nodded.
"Right~ I mean, ladies would be crazy over your face Su. But you're just... How should I say this, lanky?" Elysia said with a wry smile and Su sighed while massaging his temples.
And when Su emerged from the lake to meet up with Kevin. Ein of course added some artistic freedom and creativity. As Su turned into a beautiful woman. (pic)
"Whooo! Hot damn, Ein. Can you turn Su into a girl? Permanently? I mean, he doesn't even use his junk right? Why not turn him into a girl~" Elysia suggested and Su glared daggers at her, clutching his crotch immediately as he started sweating.
"Hmmm, a fine idea Ellie. But unfortunately, Su can be beautiful. Though whatever you're thinking isn't possible. I can't possibly betray Su like that and just rail him." Ein nodded at Su and he sighed in relief.
"But... Unless." Elysia squinted her eyes at Su and he didn't like that one bit. So he started running line the wind. And it was the correct decision.
"Ellie, what in the world is going through your head right now? You scared Su off." Eden sighed and thought Elysia had really scary and drastic ideas sometimes. Just like when she created a faction and they would battle with the other flame chasers so the organization would be more united in Ein's absence.
"Kukuku. Aponia! Can you discipline Su? Make him feel like he's a girl, trapped in a woman's body? Pretty please~" Elysia went up to Aponia and the nun raised a brow. But Elysia rarely asks for something. And she could feel the burning desire of Elysia. She genuinely wanted to turn Su into a woman.
"What a crazy girl. She hasn't changed one bit, I guess I'll just turn him back later. Yo, Kevin. Stop laughing your ass off there, if Aponia is successful, then you're next." Ein thought it was unfair to Su, so he threatened Kevin too and he immediately ran away to chase Su so they would have a better chance in victory.
MEI then propped up and imagined Kevin being a woman as she chuckled. Elysia then went up to her and whispered something to her. "Hmmm, don't you want to see it MEI? Kevin and Su, turning into beautiful women and Ein railing them from behind? Their faces in ecstasy, you don't know how my lover does it. They'll drown in it, aren't you curious to see it?"
MEI was in a dilemma and she fantasized about it. Vill-v then added as she wanted to see Kevin like that. As Kevin killer mk. 5 had stars in her eyes. She went up to MEI slowly so her fervor won't interfere in trying to convince her fellow scientist into accepting.
"Yeahhh~ aren't you curious MEI? It would be a spectacle, I'm sure of it." Vill-v was like the devil and MEI gulped, getting terribly tempted. Like Eve that wasn't supposed to be eating the apple at the garden of Eden. But her curiosity was through the roof.
Ein sighed heavily and massaged his temples. "Damn, being immortal would make you think of some crazy shit sometimes."
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Thanks for reading everyone, I've just had some free time as the hospital isn't too busy today. And for those degens out there, show me your dedication. Or I might just do it, kukuku~ Anyways, ciao.