Thanks to Sister Sirin for the Script

Rita used Durandal as a reference point to judge Delta's power, but neither she nor Otto felt anything amiss about it.

"The authority to create and manipulate ideal fluids—small enough to form a vacuum or even a simple oxygen-free zone, and large enough to push the atmosphere, the earth, and the oceans to create world-sweeping destructive catastrophes—is the ability of the Herrscher of Wind. Delta's true upper limit should go far beyond this."

"But Lord Durandal's upper limit goes far beyond this as well. Rita believes that Lord Durandal will certainly bring victory to the Bishop, no matter who the opponent is."

Rita wrapped both arms around the anxious Wendy, speaking with elegance and confidence.

Otto smiled slightly and offered no rebuttal.

Only Wendy kept staring at the sky, her crystal-deep-green eyes flashing with extremely eager yet helpless tears.

"Delta, I beg you, come back quickly..."

Chapter 71: Thanks to Sister Sirin for the Script

"Ha!"

Durandal swept out with a spear, heavily knocking Delta—who was inside the protective shield—flying away.

At the same time, fine, invisible blades had already closed in on Durandal.

Durandal knew well that this kind of attack could not be defended against, and before she could be cut, she had already chased after Delta, her figure cutting across the sky like light.

This terrifying war, which people on the ground viewed as something out of a myth, seemed rather boring to the two parties involved.

Delta possessed absolute defense and attack power, but unfortunately could not catch up to Durandal's speed.

Durandal could ignore the howling winds and air pressure, instantly dodge the vacuum zones created by Delta, and even easily avoid those bizarre and dangerous ideal fluid thread attacks. Durandal rendered these endless means of attack completely ineffective, and instead repeatedly managed to get close to Delta—yet unfortunately, she could not break her defense at all.

The brilliant, magnificent battle imagined by mortals actually turned into a tedious war of attrition.

Whoever fell into a slump first in basic conditions like Honkai energy, stamina, and spirit would lose.

Yet Delta was a genuine Herrscher, and Durandal was a monster whose base stats even surpassed a Herrscher's. The war of attrition between them showed no sign of ending at all.

"Boom!!!"

Another earth-shattering, violent collision occurred.

The aftermath of the howling wind smashed apart by Durandal constantly spread into the distance across the earth.

As for most of the people in the Oceania Branch, they had already grown numb from long periods of watching the battle.

"It's been this long, could Delta really be insane and unable to wake up?"

"Clearly that mouth is so infuriating; someone like that should live a long time..."

"Anyway, pray that Lord Durandal wins; otherwise, who could stop a maddened Delta?"

The Oceania Valkyries whispered among themselves. Even half of the troops guarding the Overseer had dispersed to assist the branch with disaster relief and establish facilities to withstand these gusts of wind.

They had grown somewhat numb.

Mostly because they could not see what role their own weak power could play in the face of such might, forcing them to resign themselves to fate.

Meanwhile, a confident Otto was also starting to get bored. The fusion degree of the Herrscher cores, the expected power and authorities had all been savored well enough; there was truly no need to continue watching a big-budget special effects blockbuster.

Next, it was time for the main course.

"Order Durandal to force Delta back to the starting point."

"...Understood!"

Rita glanced at Otto's back, then looked at the distraught Wendy in her arms, suddenly realizing something and feeling a touch of apology and guilt.

Yet in the end she followed Otto's command.

In the sky, Durandal—having received the directive—began consciously driving Delta back toward the branch.

Fortunately, Delta seemed "completely unaware" of this, merely launching various attacks of terrifying scale and destructive power, chasing after Durandal's light-and-shadow real body.

"Bang!!!"

After a while, Delta and the protective shield were heavily driven into the ground, smashing a huge crater at the original laboratory ruins.

"Lord Bishop, Delta has been delivered, please give your instructions!"

Accompanied by a gust of wind, Durandal appeared before Otto, her gold-like hair flying wildly, her speared back exuding a breathtakingly cool and heroic aura—a scene that made the hearts of quite a few bystander Valkyries flutter, unable to keep their legs from pressing together.

There was no help for it; she was too beautiful, and also far too reassuring.

Who could possibly resist the battlefield charm of the strongest, invincible golden holy-goose iron-blooded rose!

Only Wendy turned a blind eye to this, suddenly breaking free of Rita's grip.

"Delta!!"

Wendy screamed, running in the direction of Delta with her heart in turmoil.

She did not know what Delta's condition was right now, nor did she know what she could do.

Only infinite sorrow flooded her heart.

Yet no matter what, she had to get to Delta's side; she simply had to reach Delta's side—this was Wendy's sole thought at the moment.

Then, Otto grabbed her by the shoulder with one hand, controlling her movement.

"Lord Overseer..."

"Delta, I, Otto, the Schicksal Overseer, am speaking to you now!"

Ignoring the little girl's pitiful expression of anxious tears, Otto simply gripped Wendy's shoulder and said toward the bottom of the crater.

At this moment, an unscathed Delta also slowly flew up from beneath the ground, covering her face with one hand while her golden eyes flashed with unstable, intense emotions, shifting between agony and murderous intent.

"Ah!"

Delta screamed, launching an ideal fluid thread attack toward Otto and slicing through the ground.

"King! Queen!"

Durandal flashed in front of Otto, her two accompanying giant mechs appearing simultaneously, and then a massive amount of Honkai energy converged within her lance, transforming into a golden torrent radiating brilliant light.

"Boom!!!"

Even an energy attack comparable to the main cannons of high-tech warships was hard-pressed to destroy the ideal fluid created by Delta, but through sheer brute force, knocking these attacks off course was quite enough.

Following the loud crash, Durandal stood like an unshakeable pillar holding up the sky, spanning the space between Otto and Delta.

Durandal said with a solemn expression:

"Delta has not yet regained consciousness, please be careful, Lord Bishop!"

"It's fine. Step back, let me try next."

Otto said with a calm wave of his hand.

Durandal then slowly stepped back, standing by Otto's side and on standby at all times.

Gripping the at-a-loss Wendy, Otto took a few steps forward, and then a golden handgun appeared in his hand.

"Delta, listen to me, if you don't wake up now, Wendy will die before your eyes!"

Otto shouted aloud, pressing the muzzle of the gun against Wendy's temple.

Except for Rita, who had anticipated this, and Durandal, who was frowning, everyone else froze for a moment.

And Otto stepped forward again.

"Wake up, look at everything around you, look at everything you've created—is this what you want to do? Do you know how worried Wendy is about you? Look at your only friend; she has shed countless tears for you!"

"So, stay strong! Find yourself again, even if only for Wendy!"

Otto spoke in a deep tone. As he continued forward, the image of Wendy being held at gunpoint was reflected more and more clearly in Delta's eyes.

Delta backed up just a tiny bit.

Once again, she grabbed her head tightly with both hands, arching her body in excruciating pain as if returned to her initial state, struggling against some powerful influencing force.

Watching this scene, Wendy had forgotten the threat of the muzzle, tears streaming down her face as she spoke tremblingly:

"Delta... can you... can you still recognize me?"

"I'm Wendy!"

"Don't you remember, we first met by the sea? Back then I was still sitting in a wheelchair, while you were very healthy. Every day back then you pushed me around the branch, and you were the one who kept teaching me to enjoy life and cherish the present."

"Don't you remember those sunrises we watched together, don't you remember the insulated mug I bought online and the goji berries you bought online, don't you remember what you said... we're best friends, Delta!"

Weeping bitterly, Wendy tried to run over to hug Delta, but was held back by Otto and unable to move forward, leaving her only able to weep before the "agonized" Delta.

Delta gradually stopped trembling and covered her face with one hand.

"Ah... Wendy..."

She seemed to recall something, panting as her fiercely struggling expression stabilized slightly, revealing a hint of bewilderment.

Wendy's tear-stained little face immediately lit up with joy:

"Delta!"

"Hum... hahaha!"

At that very instant, Delta abruptly raised her head, her crazed golden eyes staring at Wendy and Otto as she let out a wild laugh and reached out her hand.

Countless invisible blades flew forth.

"Oh no!" × n

Numerous exclamations of alarm rang out simultaneously. Durandal sprinted forward at extreme speed, only to see that it was too late for rescue.

"Alas, in the end..."

Before Wendy could react, she heard Otto let out a sigh laden with complex emotions.

Immediately afterward, Otto turned around, putting his back to the incoming attack, and pulled Wendy into his embrace.

Otto: Come on, slice both me and Wendy into pieces, and then use the grief of Wendy's sacrifice to conquer the will of Honkai, Delta!

Delta: Screw you, you can still maintain your image at a time like this, truly living up to your name! Also, you're blocking Wendy's body, so I have no way to avoid her, you dog Otto!

The two actors engaged in acting out the scene produced completely different inner thoughts.

However, what Otto wanted was to witness a concrete instance of humanity overcoming a Herrscher's will, and what Delta wanted was also to let Otto see that their goals were actually quite consistent.

Therefore, those blades urgently scattered to the sides, ultimately only severing the arms of Otto's soul steel body while keeping Wendy's body completely unharmed.

At the same time, Delta let out a roar toward the heavens.

"Ah!!!"

Amidst a piercing scream of ultimate agony, countless cracks appeared on the unbreakable ideal fluid barrier, forming visual effects visible to the naked eye.

"Chance!"

Too late to block the attack for Otto, Durandal swiftly changed targets, her lance piercing straight through that crumbling barrier and penetrating Delta's abdomen.

Delta's scream cut off abruptly.

She slowly lowered her head, looking at her pierced lower abdomen gushing with blood. Her golden eyes flickered and gradually returned to an ordinary cyan.

Durandal caught sight of the faint bewilderment on Delta's face and felt her suddenly weakened yet stabilized Honkai energy, hesitating as she spoke:

"Delta, you..."

Delta did not give Durandal time to finish her question; she merely gently pushed away the spear tip in her abdomen, then stumbled, swaying as she brushed past Durandal.

Under everyone's gaze, Delta dragged her small feet, from which blood continuously welled, leaving a bloody footprint with every step as she walked with a blank and dazed expression toward Otto and Wendy.

By this time, Otto was already kneeling before Wendy, smiling as he spoke to the tear-stained girl:

"I am very sorry for dragging you into danger without sufficient certainty. Now, go hug her; that child needs you."

Before his voice had even faded, Wendy had already lunged forward.

Delta walked slowly for a few steps, stumbled just as Wendy rushed over, pitched gently forward, and ultimately collapsed into Wendy's embrace.

Holding Delta, Wendy wept bitterly, not knowing what to say, and could only frantically call out her best friend's name:

"Delta! Delta!!"

"Ah, I'm back. So stop crying, Wendy..."

With a bloody little hand, Delta gently stroked the back of Wendy's head, and then her whole body went limp against Wendy, her face as pale as paper yet closing her eyes in absolute peace.

The onlookers could not help but feel a sympathetic ache in their hearts at this bloody yet pitiful scene.