After a year, Jun'an once again witnessed Theresa and Himeko fighting at full strength.
Himeko wielded a massive red sword. After integrating the Houou genes, she had not only overcome her poor Honkai resistance but also reached S-rank power levels.
Theresa, Otto's masterpiece in the Kallen revival experiments, was a special fusion warrior who perfectly integrated the Apocalyptic-class Honkai beast Vishnu's genes along with Kallen's genes. Her overwhelming power needed no elaboration.
Now Himeko could effortlessly swing her hundred-pound greatsword with one hand even without Valkyrie armor. Her fighting style somewhat resembled Jun'an's – wielding massive swords as if they were feathers, their sword qi alone leaving ten-meter-long gashes in the ground.
On the other side, Theresa casually swung the half-ton heavy Judah, transforming it into a spear that created sonic booms with each strike.
Without question, their combat prowess exceeded 99.9% of the world's population.
The mere shockwaves from their battle could demolish surrounding buildings. No wonder they chose an unreconstructed area to fight – they were more efficient than any demolition crew.
And the reason for this all-out battle? Simply to determine who would sit at the table with Jun'an on odd versus even days.
Since there were more odd-numbered days in a year, sometimes even two consecutive days, of course they had to compete for it.
Jun'an, the prize in question, watched from the Helios at one kilometer altitude, safely avoiding the aftermath of these two S-rank powerhouses.
Watching them, especially how Theresa could easily crush concrete walls, Jun'an nervously glanced at his own crotch, thinking it would be wise to avoid angering Theresa in the future.
It was already somewhat painful normally, but if she used more force... Jun'an felt a chill run down his spine.
The victor was, unsurprisingly, Theresa. Her strength needed no explanation – after all, the last person who combined Pavanti genes with an Apocalypse-class Honkai Beast was the invincible Kevin.
Himeko checked the time and stood up dejectedly, dusting herself off.
"Even though I've been secretly training all year, I only lasted half an hour against Theresa. The gap is really something else."
She had hoped her year of secret training would let her win at least a few exchanges against Theresa, but instead, she was completely overwhelmed by raw power, with barely any suspense.
And this was just a friendly spar at full power, not a fight to the death. Otherwise, Himeko felt it would have ended even faster.
"Hehe, I am the High Archbishop of Schicksal after all. How could I possibly lose to my subordinate in combat?"
The victorious Theresa was particularly smug as she hugged the Captain's arm. "As agreed, the remaining demolition work is yours. I'm going on a date with the Captain!"
"Wait, since when was there an additional clause?" Jun'an hadn't heard about this before – he thought the dining arrangements were already outrageous enough.
"We added it during the spar."
Theresa observed Jun'an's expression. "Of course, if the Captain is unwilling or tired, we can rest today."
Theresa noticed how Jun'an's expression had reverted to how it used to be when he helped with their paperwork at St. Freya – looking tired but deliberately holding it in.
"It's fine, don't underestimate my mental fortitude."
Though his physical strength was only A-rank now, Jun'an was confident his mental resilience wouldn't lose to Aponia.
"But your body still gets tired, right?"
Theresa knew that will and flesh affected each other. No matter how strong one's mental fortitude was, physical exhaustion would still impose limits. In other words, she felt that she and Himeko had been working Jun'an too hard.
"Then for our first date stop, let's find a place to take a nap."
Theresa led Jun'an onto the Helios, found a comfortable spot, sat down, and patted her lap. "Come here."
Looking at the premium loli lap pillow, Jun'an immediately lay down. Though the floor was a bit hard, a beautiful girl's lap pillow was more healing than anything else.
Unlike Himeko's lap pillow, due to their size difference, Himeko's height made it somewhat awkward for the current Jun'an – too high, and grabbing it resulted in nothing but flesh. Theresa's lap pillow was just right, soft and comfortable.
"But is this really okay? It's a rare date after all."
Jun'an felt somewhat guilty.
"It is a rare date," Theresa stroked Jun'an's hair, "but being able to take afternoon naps together with the Captain like we used to – that was something unattainable for me a year ago."
Theresa gently stroked the Captain's hair, her eyes showing a hint of pain. "Only at times like this do I truly feel that you've returned to our side, Captain, back to the daily life where you were always within reach."
Jun'an closed his eyes, feeling guilty. "Sorry for making you wait so long."
"No, this isn't the Captain's fault."
Theresa looked at Jun'an's face, tired yet peaceful, just like when she first found him years ago.
"If it wasn't for that sudden attack, the Captain wouldn't have had to sacrifice himself and leave me for an entire year. I know this isn't your fault, Captain."
That attack had come too suddenly, too perfectly timed.
Everyone had just finished fighting Kevin and was exhausted, while Kiana was at a critical point integrating the two Final Herrscher powers. That's when the attack came out of nowhere.
In that situation, if the Three Valkyries and Jun'an had dodged, Earth would have been destroyed instantly. And at that time, Jun'an was the only one with star-destroying power who could still move.
So naturally, Jun'an acted faster than Mei and Bronya, saving not only Earth but also the people on the moon.
But now, rather than those sad memories—
"More importantly, being able to continue taking naps with the Captain like this, going on dates, telling you how I feel – these were things I didn't dare even dream of a year ago."
"You came back, Captain. That's better than anything else."
Jun'an: "..."
Theresa stroked Jun'an's bangs like she was petting a cat, continuing to express her thoughts.
"You know? During the time you were gone, I'd thought about what I should say and do if you ever came back."
Theresa sighed softly. "In the end, no matter how much I thought about it, I was just left with regret. Regret that I shouldn't have put on airs as the Academy Principal, shouldn't have always acted like a guardian, shouldn't have held back my feelings because of the impending Great Collapse..."
Theresa blushed as she stole a glance at Jun'an's expression, only to find him breathing steadily.
Theresa smiled gently and stroked Jun'an's face as she leaned down. Their faces were so close they could feel each other's breath, just a bit closer and their lips would touch.
Theresa deliberately breathed on Jun'an's lips. "If only I had expressed my feelings to the Captain earlier, then I could have eaten the Captain while he was still warm~"
"Pfft!"
Jun'an, who had been pretending to sleep, couldn't hold it in anymore. He lifted his head slightly, and their lips met, making him realize he'd definitely been set up.
Satisfied with the brief kiss, Theresa looked at Jun'an smugly. "Hehe, the Captain still tries to avoid situations he's not good at."
She poked his cheek, which was soft and cute.
Jun'an panicked and protested, "Wait, what do you mean 'while warm'? Don't tell me when I'm cold you would..."
"Of course not!"
Theresa definitely didn't have that kind of fetish. After all, someone who could move was far better than someone who couldn't. Besides, she knew fewer positions than the Captain who had read those books, and she couldn't exactly... well, it wouldn't work anyway.
Theresa poked Jun'an's cheek and said, "Back then, even your body had disintegrated completely, not even DNA remained, just an empty grave."
"Could you not drop such shocking statements?" Jun'an wiped his cold sweat, thinking about the possibility was truly terrifying.
Theresa pinched Jun'an's cheek in dissatisfaction. "Besides, I've never done that kind of thing before. You know that best, Captain. It hurt quite a bit back then."
Jun'an turned his face away. Indeed, he had momentarily forgotten about that in his shock at Theresa's apparent preferences.
"Alright, no more jokes. We have plenty of time, Captain, just rest easy. I won't tease you anymore. We can talk more after you wake up."
Theresa resumed stroking Jun'an's hair like a mother, and Jun'an nodded slightly.
But Theresa still asked symbolically: "By the way, Captain, do you need motherly service? You know..."
Theresa made an OK sign with her hand and waved it in front of Jun'an's eyes.
Jun'an was immediately speechless. "Hey, you're joking, right? Have you forgotten why I need to rest?"
End of chapter