"Drip, drip, drip."
Siegfried's phone rang, and the old man with white hair felt somewhat heavy-hearted. With his daughter in one hand, he followed the team of heavily injured and unconscious Valkyries, walking aimlessly forward. He hesitated to answer the phone.
Just moments ago, they had watched helplessly as a young Valkyrie disappeared into a sudden rift in space. Ragnar urgently led the team away from the dangerous, unstable area of that space.
As for the S-class Valkyrie who had aided them significantly, she too disappeared abruptly from everyone's sight afterward, just as mysteriously elusive as when she first appeared.
Even Siegfried, who appeared to be just a worried father, had displayed formidable strength earlier, giving everyone a glimpse of what S-class truly entailed. Everyone felt that S-class Valkyries were extraordinary and thus abandoned futile thoughts.
Himiko was also nearby, carrying a comrade who was unconscious, looking somewhat lost and dazed. She hadn't spoken for quite some time, staring blankly into the distance.
"Hello?" The old man with white hair finally answered the phone.
"Siegfried! It's Tesla! We'll be arriving at your location soon. Take care of your daughter and beware of the Valkyrie combat units around you... Hello? Are you there?"
The Valkyries who were still able to move looked at each other, unsure of what to say.
Siegfried said helplessly, "Tesla, you're a bit late. I'm surrounded by Valkyries..."
"You've been captured? And you can still make calls?" Tesla's mind worked quickly, suddenly realizing the meaning behind Siegfried's words. "Alright, facing such a level of Honkai, it's inevitable that you and the Valkyries would collaborate."
"Oh, by the way, I've already blocked all your signals. So forget about asking for help from the Valkyries or reporting your location."
One Valkyrie awkwardly put down her communicator, listening to the noise coming from it, and scratched her head.
Tesla seemed to confirm the situation around Siegfried, she continued, "Alright, Siegfried, take your daughter and leave the team. You know, even though you can still collaborate during the honkai event, you're still a wanted criminal on the Valkyrie Order list."
"I understand..."
The man with white hair looked at Ragnar and said to the team leader of the assault team with no expression,
"Well, that's the one of the Anti-Entropy leaders, Dr. Tesla, right? She's right, if possible, we really don't want you to leave."
"Are you sure you can stop me?"
Ragnar glanced at the white furball in Siegfried's arms, the meaning was obvious, although they couldn't stop Siegfried, they could still target Kiana.
Siegfried nodded, acknowledging that their choice would indeed trouble him, "Alright, but you can't do that now."
"Siegfried, don't waste time, hurry!" Tesla urged, "The Valkyries have noticed the signal loss of the combat units, and they're sending troops over!"
"Yes, so I can only turn a blind eye for now, just pretend I haven't seen you! You hurry up and leave!"
Ragnar said impatiently, "Do I need to say 'please'?"
"Thank you... then I'll go."
Watching Siegfried's figure disappearing into the distance, the captain of the assault team's mouth twitched a few times, but in the end, she swallowed back some words.
Siegfried loved his adoptive daughter very much, even though she had just demonstrated the ability to destroy humanity as a Herrscher, but the man still believed that the girl could overcome the consciousness of Herrscher and become the next Welt Joyce, fighting for humanity as a Herrscher.
So, she needed more love.
If Siegfried knew that his real daughter hadn't died, would he still care so much about the girl?
Ragnar wasn't sure, and didn't dare to gamble on the white-haired man's choice.
Now she vaguely understood some of the words of the Overseer, about strength, human emotions, and love.
Because love can indeed work miracles.
She witnessed such a miracle today, belonging to the little white kid.
"Come on, another Kiana, don't lose to the Honkai!"
The captain of the assault team watched Siegfried disappear into the snowstorm, quietly praying for them.
A dozen minutes later, the signal interference of Anti-Entropy was lifted, and the Valkyries' reception team located Ragnar's position.
Twenty minutes later, amidst the roar of engines, the floating warship arrived at its destination.
Twelve hours later, Ragnar arrived at the headquarters floating island and entered the office of the Archbishop of Schicksal.
Otto put down the report in his hand and said heavily, "Unfortunately, most of the Valkyries of the assault team have been severely eroded by the honkai energy in the ultra-high concentration honkai environment, and the vast majority of them are unable to continue their combat missions."
"Including you, Ragnar, your body can no longer use honkai energy without risks."
"But I can assure you that you will all receive treatment with the most advanced technology, and you will be able to live for a long time. Schicksal will not fail its loyal warriors."
"I know."
Ragnar nodded, not particularly surprised by this.
The blond man raised his eyebrows, "Then, what are you going to do next?"
"I heard that Lady Theresa is planning to establish a school in the Far East Branch... " Ragnar pondered for a few seconds, saying with some uncertainty, "Are they still recruiting teachers there?"
"Of course, they're still recruiting. If you go, Theresa will probably be very welcome."
Otto flipped through the information in his hand.
"Oh, right, your assault team has so many talents... that Valkyrie named Himeko Murata is ready to take over your position as the combat instructor at Schicksal headquarters?"
"I support her choice."
Ragnar shrugged,
"But Bishop, are you really planning to disband the Valkyrie Assault Team? It's a banner I've been building for a long time."
"After all, there are only a few Valkyries left in the assault team who can still fight, and among the remaining few, which one do you think can handle the responsibilities of a captain well, like you, leading others forward as a role model?" Otto asked.
"Indeed... there are none."
"In that case, let me borrow your name and the reputation of the Valkyrie Assault Team to establish a stronger and more appealing banner... " Otto squinted, "Let's call it... the Immortal Blades?"
"As you wish, Archbishop."
As for that mysterious Valkyrie who appeared... Otto squinted his eyes, he wasn't indifferent, but the recording equipment on the scene was affected by the high-concentration honkai energy, and the images left behind were blurry and unclear.
Ragnar's description reminded Otto of a certain relic of the previous era hidden deep in the floating island, but that thing had always been under his surveillance and had never disappeared.
Now, it seemed that the mysterious person had no impact on the plan. Instead, she had helped him a bit so Otto decided to let her go, but he quietly raised his vigilance and prepared to search for other organizations in the world that needed attention.
Anyway... he still had many tricks up his sleeve.
------------------------
On the invisible transport ship of Anti-Entropy, Tesla sat next to Siegfried, the man was looking at Kiana covered with a blanket, leaning against the seat in the cabin.
"All personnel from Schicksal have already withdrawn, and now I know nothing except that there was a honkai outbreak there. Are you interested in telling me what really happened here?"
Siegfried was silent for a few seconds, and quietly told Tesla what had happened before.
"You said this child became the Second Herrscher? And then after beating her violently, you suppressed the consciousness of Herrscher?"
Tesla's glasses almost fell off, she grabbed her messy ponytail, not knowing where to put her fingers.
"And then you just brought her back like this? How do you know that when she wakes up, it's Kiana and not the Second Herrscher?"
Siegfried didn't answer her question, but instead said calmly, "I think I've found the cause of Sirin's awakening..."
"What is it?"
The white-haired man pointed to himself with his fingers, and then pointed to Tesla, "You and me..."
"And everything related to the second eruption."
Tesla suddenly realized, "You mean we triggered her?"
"Yes... if we don't want Sirin to awaken again..."
Siegfried hesitated for a moment, and said with difficulty, "We have to leave Kiana and let her grow up on her own... at least we have to make sure her mind won't be easily overwhelmed by the consciousness of the Herrscher, then we can try to approach her again and then..."
"Let her control the power of the Herrscher..."
This also meant that Kiana would be alone for a long time, with no visible care around her, and she would have to solve the troubles of life on her own.
Could she hold on?
Siegfried stroked Kiana's face, his expression complicated.
------------------------
France, Orphanage of Schicksal
"Sister Luo Lin... is dead?"
Little Bianka looked at the red-haired woman in front of her wearing a Valkyrie uniform, muttering in disbelief.
"Sister, she promised... sob... sob..."
The golden-haired girl covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face.
We agreed to witness me becoming the strongest Valkyrie of Schicksal...
"I'm sorry, Bianka... it's my fault, if only I could be faster, stronger..."
Himeko Murata also bowed her head, her voice trembling.
"...No, I don't believe it."
Bianka Ataegina suddenly stopped crying, stood up, and said firmly.
A strange feeling rose in her heart, as if she could feel something comforting herself, linked from the distant void, stabilizing her mind.
"Sister Luo Lin must still be alive."
And I, I will fulfill my promise!
"Sister, tell me, how can I become the strongest Valkyrie?"
Himeko looked at little Bianka, her expression trance-like, through her figure, she vaguely saw the cheerful, smiling girl.
"Follow me then... I'm Himeko Murata, a combat instructor of Schicksal, I can help you become the strongest Valkyrie!"
---
Volume 1 End.