Nagazora City, two years after the Cataclysm, looked no different from when Lin Wei had risked his life returning a year ago.
A gray, oppressive sky loomed overhead, with dense purple clouds swirling ominously, blocking out the sun.
The clouds churned and rumbled with thunder, yet no lightning ever pierced through to illuminate the bleak, desolate world below.
Occasionally, feeble rays of sunlight squeezed through the gaps in the cloud cover, casting faint, fragile warmth onto the cold, lifeless earth—like a final gift stolen from life itself.
Still, some changes had occurred.
Standing atop a high-rise, Lin Wei surveyed the ruined city.
Seawater had begun flooding in, turning low-lying districts into watery graves.
In the streets-turned-rivers below, Lin Wei spotted the occasional Honkai Beast or Zombies struggling against the currents. Smaller Zombies often succumbed, swept away by the rushing waters, their fates sealed in unseen whirlpools.
The submerged areas were still some distance away from his vantage point, but the truth was undeniable—this once-thriving city was well and truly dead.
"Brother Lin Wei, what are you looking at?"
A girl with short lavender hair approached carefully from behind, picking her steps to avoid scattered debris. The ground was slippery.
The high humidity from the seawater had allowed moss to grow everywhere—on walls, rooftops, and corridors—giving the ruins an eerie semblance of life amid the decay.
"Little Sora, it's you. Be careful; walk slowly so you don't slip."
Lin Wei leapt down from the parapet and quickly steadied the girl as she nearly lost her footing.
"This place is pretty good," he said with a grin. "It's high up, offers a great view, and the wind isn't too strong. I was just thinking… maybe we could tidy it up and turn it into a lookout for you and the younger kids. What do you think?"
As he spoke, he playfully ruffled her soft hair, smiling as sunlight faintly illuminated her.
"Kids should get some sun every now and then, after all."
"I'm not a kid anymore…" Little Sora muttered, brushing her hair back into place. Remembering why she'd come, she added, "Teacher's heading out to gather supplies for next week. He wanted to know if there's anything you need him to get. I figured you'd be outside, so I came to ask."
Lin Wei felt a warmth in his chest. Smiling, he ruffled her hair again, undoing her efforts to fix it.
"I found some useful stuff myself. Let's head back together."
With one last glance at the direction of his earlier musings, Lin Wei slung a bulging pack over his shoulder, took Little Sora's hand, and led her away.
Returning to Nagazora with Raven had been nearly a month ago.
For Lin Wei, life over the past month could be summed up in two words: scrap hunting.
(ノへ￣,)
Raven's shelter lacked practically everything. And honestly, on a bona fide wasteland like Nagazora, scavenging was practically a way of life.
At least, that's how Lin Wei saw it. So, when he casually mentioned this to Raven, she immediately assigned him to gather supplies for the shelter. Scrap hunt to your heart's content, she'd said.
And so, Lin Wei wasted no time raiding a nearby mall, bringing back a bizarre assortment of toys. His loot earned him a few raised eyebrows from Raven but quickly won over the kids at the shelter.
How fast?
Lin Wei arrived in the morning, and by noon, Little Sora was calling him "Older Brother."
Other kids, too, grew fond of him. Lin Wei's approachable demeanor and knack for gifts worked wonders.
One kid, however, was tougher to crack—a boy named Lyle with sandy blonde hair and a haughty attitude. As one of the few boys in the shelter, Lyle had been something of a leader among the kids. But Lin Wei's arrival stole the spotlight, bruising Lyle's little ego.
Lyle initially planned to sulk and ignore Lin Wei for a few days before graciously "forgiving" him.
But Lin Wei wasn't one to play by the rules.
Out of nowhere, he whipped out a complete set of gun models—sniper rifles, SMGs, assault rifles, pistols—you name it. Each piece was meticulously crafted, museum-quality. Lin Wei even dedicated a room to display them, turning the walls into a mini armory straight out of a movie.
When Lin Wei slyly invited the reluctant, sulking Lyle to see the "collection," the boy's resistance crumbled. By the end of the day, Lyle was clinging to Lin Wei's leg, calling him "Older Brother."
Watching Lyle's starry-eyed reaction, Lin Wei smirked to himself. Gotcha.
(￣_,￣)
Kids really are simple creatures.
"I mean, don't you think it's a little much to 'bully' a kid like that?" Raven chided, crossing her arms as she approached Lin Wei.
"Bully? Who, me?" Lin Wei retorted with mock innocence.
At that moment, Lyle ran off clutching a newly equipped sniper rifle model, gleefully shouting, "Thanks, Brother Lin Wei!"
Lin Wei shrugged. "See?"
Raven sighed and turned away, choosing not to dignify him with a response.
She wasn't worried about Lyle venturing far. She knew the boy was cautious and wouldn't cause trouble. Little Sora had also followed him out, ensuring their safety.
"Don't give me that look," Lin Wei said, meeting Raven's skeptical gaze. "I can't cook, so I've got to find other ways to bond with the kids."
Cooking? Raven blinked, puzzled by the sudden non-sequitur.
The thought passed quickly, though. She could tell Lin Wei meant no harm, so she let the matter drop. After all, a little camaraderie wouldn't hurt.
And so, Lin Wei swiftly integrated into the "nest" of children, earning their trust and affection.
As a native of Nagazora and a fellow survivor of the Third Eruption, Lin Wei shared a bond with the kids that only deepened his connection to the shelter.
Leading the petite Little Sora back toward the shelter, Lin Wei couldn't help but smile, reminiscing about the day's events.
Who'd have thought I'd get along so well with kids?
"Brother Lin Wei, what's making you smile like that?" Little Sora asked, her sharp eyes catching his lighthearted mood.
Pointing to the packed bag in his other hand, she added, "Is it because of the supplies you found?"
"Oh? Hmm… Yeah, these are some pretty important supplies. Finding them really made my day."
Lin Wei chuckled, keeping the truth to himself.
"What kind of supplies?" Little Sora asked, curious. Lin Wei's "treasures" often brought surprises and laughter to the shelter.
"Oh, just some materials I found in a tutoring center—video lessons, textbooks, practice tests. You know, educational stuff."
Lin Wei's grin turned devilish.
"Education is critical, after all. I figured it was time for the kids to hit the books."
"...Huh?"
Little Sora froze, her face blank with disbelief.
And so, amid the ruins of Nagazora, in a small, unremarkable corner of the city, life at the shelter continued with its unique blend of hardship and warmth.
------
At the other end of the Earth, Schicksal Headquarters, aboard the floating island, at the Immortal Blades squad base.
Though called a "squad," this rapid-response Valkyrie unit directly under HQ's command far exceeded the scope of a typical squad. It commanded various sub-teams and even had dedicated battlefield intelligence analysis and logistics support teams, all staffed by elite Valkyries.
Elite indeed.
At least, that's what the members would tell each other during casual chats, trying to comfort themselves.
"Ugh... even though we're all exceptional Valkyries, why..." Alvitr muttered through her straw, her voice getting progressively quieter,
"Why do the Captain and Vice-Captain always go on solo missions?"
Durandal had been gone for over a month now, working non-stop on global Honkai suppression missions alone.
Except for Vice-Captain Rita, who was out on another important mission, the entire Immortal Blades seemed to be on an unplanned vacation with nothing to do.
"Maybe... this is what it means to be an S-rank Valkyrie? Having us along would probably just slow them down..."
The squad members sitting together all looked dejected, their expressions full of defeat.
Each one was filled with guilt - they felt utterly useless!
It was break time, and everyone had gathered in the break room to pass the time.
"BANG! BANG! BANG!"
The muffled sounds of intense impacts echoed from the distant training room, clearly someone engaging in high-intensity combat practice.
The Valkyries exchanged confused glances. Hadn't they all agreed to take it easy together while feeling demoralized?
Who could be training so diligently?
Were they secretly trying to outdo everyone else?
That's going too far!
"Don't overthink it. It's that... special member," Alvitr explained while nibbling on her straw. "With the Captain and Vice-Captain away, someone of her C-rank status should technically be sent to the Valkyrie Academy or HQ's training facility according to regulations."
Alvitr sighed, being the intelligence specialist with better access to information,
"But they all refused to take her..."
The group of Valkyries exchanged knowing looks. It made perfect sense.
Indeed, the elite Immortal Blades base was the best place to "keep an eye on" her.
Though it felt impolite to put it that way, since she was their colleague, junior, and companion.
But her power... carried the risk of going berserk.
The squad members didn't actually dislike Yuno. If anything, they sympathized with her circumstances and admired her resilience. But they found it difficult to approach her.
She appeared gentle and fragile, with a shy and kind smile, but when she lost control...
Everyone would shudder whenever they recalled her wild and savage fighting style in battle.
Better to keep their distance...
Fortunately, Yuno was well aware of her unpopularity and proactively avoided interacting with other Valkyries. Now with both leaders absent, she had shut herself in the training room, subjecting herself to brutal, non-stop training sessions day and night.
Only someone with her unique self-healing abilities could endure such punishing treatment.
"Tap tap tap"...
Light footsteps approached, and everyone looked up to see a chestnut-haired girl running over with a bright smile. Her Valkyrie uniform differed slightly from the Immortal Blades members, clearly belonging to a different unit.
"Hello everyone! I didn't see anyone on my way here, so I figured you'd all be in the break room, and came straight here!"
The girl greeted everyone with a cheerful wave. Spotting an empty seat next to Arvelt, she asked if it was taken, then naturally sat down, completely at ease.
"Anna, long time no see. What brings you here today? Unfortunately, the Captain is away on a mission."
Alvitr greeted the girl familiarly.
Anna Schariac, descendant of one of Schicksal's old noble families, was a naturally gifted Valkyrie who had been training since childhood. Though not an Immortal Blades member, everyone knew her well.
Strange as it might seem, sharing the same skyborne island meant frequent encounters, and familiarity had grown over time.
"Oh, really?..."
Anna looked disappointed to hear Durandal wasn't around.
But with her bright personality and proper upbringing, she wouldn't let such a small setback dampen her spirits.
"I came to share some good news!"
Anna beamed with excitement.
She proudly held up her A-rank Valkyrie badge and certification document, her face radiating with the joy of a realized dream.
"Look! I finally passed the A-rank Valkyrie examination! Soon, I'll receive my official appointment and become part of a Valkyrie squad somewhere on Earth, dedicating my strength to fighting the Honkai and saving humanity!"
Anna eagerly shared her joy with her seniors, confident they would feel proud and happy for her!
She had been waiting for this day. As a Schariac heir, she was strictly raised to believe in Schicksal's mission and the Valkyrie calling, admiring it endlessly and working tirelessly toward it.
Now, finally, it was time for her dream to become reality!
That's why Anna wanted to share this joy first with the person she admired most. Though Durandal's absence was disappointing.
But that's okay - if she kept pushing forward, she would surely catch up to that figure one day!
Anna encouraged herself, her spirit burning with determination.
"Huh? Isn't it break time? Why is someone using the training room?"
Anna perked up at the intense collision sounds coming from deep within the training room. She felt her soul being elevated - was this the true dedication of an elite Valkyrie? Such diligence!
But I won't lose either!
Anna strode toward the training room with fighting spirit, eager to see the gap between herself as a "newly promoted A-rank Valkyrie" and the Immortal Blades' elite members!
Eh?
The Immortal Blades Valkyries exchanged bewildered glances. What just happened?
How did the situation suddenly turn in this direction?
Wait, the training room?!
Alvitr and the others' expressions instantly turned to horror as they scrambled to stop Anna.