Falling behind everyone else was inevitable, and that helpless feeling of being unable to keep up naturally bred a lazy mindset.
It wasn't her fault.
As for the current assessment, although it focused on actual combat, not all real combat was the same.
In the current world's Honkai, everyone could still ride the kiddie bus for now. Even if there was a Third Honkai Eruption, the most terrifying Herrscher would be converted in an instant.
But this was PvP. If you didn't grind for even a single point, you really would lose rank.
Even the most laid-back Far East Branch had started to panic.
Aside from the eager Kiana, there was also Bai Yan, who remained completely detached.
"Mei, why do you all seem so worried about this competition? Isn't it interesting to exchange moves with those people from headquarters?"
"That's why Kiana is an idiot."
Bronya looped her arm around Bai Yan's. She had been doing that often lately, and it had become a habit.
"What? Is there something wrong with what I said?"
"If the assessment rankings are too low or end up at the bottom, St. Freya might have its funding cut. Then idiot Kiana will have to go hungry."
That last line was deliberately meant to scare her, but Kiana fell for it.
"Ah?" She froze briefly, but her fighting spirit quickly surged even higher. She clenched one hand into a fist. "I'm not scared! This time, I'll show them the strength of this combat genius from the Kaslana family! Right, Xiao Yan and Mei?"
"Mm, I believe in Kiana." Raiden Mei smiled.
"That depends on who the opponent is. Still, they probably won't let a Valkyrie of that level fight you." Bai Yan propped up her head and answered lazily.
A blonde figure surfaced in his mind, but he quickly shook his head.
Even if she came, she would probably wait until everyone else was taking the exam before coming to cause him trouble.
Forget it. There was no chance.
Even if there was, he wouldn't fight.
Otto's goal was most likely to observe Kiana's condition and, while he was at it, take a look at his granddaughter.
At that moment, the vibration from his communicator immediately put Bai Yan on alert.
He excused himself to use the bathroom and found that it was a message from Rita.
Rita: Anna is back, and she has already joined this round's examiner group.
Huh?
It wasn't strange for Anna to return to headquarters, but joining the examiner group...
Bai Yan: Don't tell me Teacher Ragna is stirring things up again?
Rita: I didn't say anything.
Bai Yan: Let's make this clear first. I'm not fighting.
Rita: The opponents will be decided by drawing lots, but there are a few subtle details involved.
Bai Yan understood.
There was an inside arrangement, and Kiana would definitely be fighting.
Bai Yan: Who's the opponent?
Rita: Lady Durandal said that she wanted to see how the new generation of the Kaslana family has grown.
That was right. Durandal had looked through the records and discovered that the Kaslana family possessed monstrous strength and produced powerful warriors in abundance.
Durandal had a heart that constantly pursued greater strength.
When she was young, she had often pestered Theresa in search of suitable sparring partners.
Besides, it was also to guide the younger generation... at least, that was what she said.
Bai Yan: Then why doesn't she look at the new generation of the Saniate family?
Rita: They have already been assessed. Lady Durandal doesn't seem particularly satisfied.
Bai Yan: Then I'm even less qualified to satisfy her.
Rita: You know that what she expects from you isn't combat strength.
Bai Yan: Right now, I think Kiana needs my help more.
Rita: Whatever you do, don't say that in front of her.
Then she sent a snickering emoji.
Bai Yan: So why did they suddenly decide to hold an event like this?
Rita: From what I observed, this plan appeared not long after Lady Durandal met with the Bishop.
This Dumb Goose was suspiciously proactive.
After chatting about work for a while, Rita asked about Bai Yan's life again.
Rita: How have things been lately?
Bai Yan: I'm barely getting used to it, but the days without Sister Rita are very lonely.
Rita: I'll come over after a while, together with Lady Durandal and the others.
Bai Yan sent back a conflicted expression.
Sister Rita, good. Dumb Goose, bad.
The next moment, a notice calling everyone to assemble came from outside. He hurriedly explained the situation, ended the conversation, and returned to the classroom.
On the field, the trainees lined up neatly and waited for the headmistress's speech.
No one questioned the old lady's appearance, unless they thought life had been going too smoothly.
The speech was delivered amid tense atmosphere, but once it ended, everyone became even more nervous.
Himeko, standing below the stage, covered her face in disbelief at how the speech had achieved the opposite effect.
Things like, "You can't relax or lower your guard anymore, or you'll lose to the other branches," and, "Increase your training volume and strive to catch up..."
The more Theresa spoke, the more numb Himeko became.
"The good days are over..."
It was already too late. Going up to stop Theresa now would only have the opposite effect.
She might as well let Theresa keep going as though she couldn't feel pain. Maybe everyone would hesitate before their morale completely collapsed.
Her gaze swept across Bai Yan and the others.
Kiana was fearless, while everyone else wore solemn expressions.
Only Bai Yan seemed completely unaffected.
"Ragna asked me more than once to look after Xiao Yan, yet among this entire class, this child has the best mentality..."
Himeko suddenly remembered something.
"When Xiao Yan first arrived, she helped Kiana pass her exam. Maybe she actually has a way?"
However, because she was a teacher, Himeko couldn't bring herself to seek out Bai Yan.
So she secretly decided to loosen her supervision of those two from today onward.
"Ragna really wasn't wrong. That child looks eccentric, but she actually knows her limits."
Himeko already had records of catching the two sneaking out seven or eight times, yet Kiana's grades had stabilized during this period and even improved a little.
Bai Yan hadn't said anything, but Himeko had subconsciously reached some kind of agreement with her.
According to the information Ragna had quietly revealed to her before, Kiana would definitely be tested.
"But what should we do next..." Himeko felt somewhat powerless, yet also hoped that her students could pull themselves together.
One Sword Startling Swan
Over the next two and a half months, St. Freya fell into a tense atmosphere of preparation, as though facing a great enemy.
This was even more motivating than the outbreak of the Third Honkai Eruption.
At first, everyone trained on their own, until Raiden Mei discovered that someone was receiving private tutoring.
She joined Bai Yan, Kiana, and Fu Hua's three-person study group. Not long afterward, Bronya found out and joined as well.
Although Bronya said nothing, Bai Yan could still see something like, You're not being loyal, in her eyes.
We agreed to play ranked together for life, but you secretly formed a three-stack with someone else.
Ever since discovering the ability of the Luoshen Transformation, Bai Yan wore only one earring unless there were special circumstances.
Putting on the other earring would activate the ability.
Even so, under the diligent supervision of the Immortal and Jingliu's completely unreserved instruction, Bai Yan's strength inevitably improved at a terrifying pace.
Bai Yan had originally planned to use another weapon to further conceal her strength.
Before she had even chosen one, however, Fu Hua stuffed a sword into her hands...
In the end, she still couldn't escape it.
She hadn't expected Theresa to target her.
"Otto's plan won't be moved forward. His standard of judgment is definitely the extent of Kiana's attachment to this 'home.'
"But Theresa can't fulfill her promise to a Kiana who has met the requirements. That's quite a troublesome problem, heh.
"Now that I have the Luoshen Transformation, and I feel like it can continue to level up, then if it comes to fighting, so be it..."
Bai Yan raised her head and looked at the purple-haired girl before her.
She held a katana and wore crimson armor, faint lightning curling around her.
Her resolute gaze revealed an eagerness to fight.
"Beichen Ichiryu, Raiden Mei."
Bai Yan held her sword horizontally before her chest, its tip aimed directly at her opponent.
This was a practice match, as well as Bai Yan and Raiden Mei's first clash.
"Two and a half months of practice, Valkyrie trainee Bai Yan."
Raiden Mei felt like she had punched cotton. After pausing briefly, she steadied herself again.
"Please teach me."
"No need to be polite."
Raiden Mei's eyelid twitched.
Sure enough, she was completely incompatible with this person!
In the spectator stands, Fu Hua watched the two seriously, notebook in hand and ready to record any problems she spotted.
Kiana casually held an oversized bag of potato chips, sharing them with Bronya beside her.
Seeing that the two were ready, Fu Hua announced, "Begin!"
Raiden Mei flashed forward and drew her blade with tremendous momentum, hoping to defeat this seemingly rookie girl in one go.
However.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
The instant the sword and blade met, a continuous series of metallic clashes rang out.
"Oh!"
Kiana abruptly rose to her feet, staring wide-eyed at Bai Yan.
The ice-blue girl moved like drifting willow catkins, dancing gracefully alongside the sword in her hand. It was an exceptionally pleasing sight.
Raiden Mei only felt that her opponent's sword danced so dazzlingly that her katana seemed about to be swept away by a waterfall descending from the heavens.
Ice-blue afterimages formed an inescapable net, sealing off Raiden Mei's room to move.
Before you continue