"What's going on? What are those things?"
"No, those are Anti-Entropy mechs. Anti-Entropy has invaded!"
"What are those spiders? There are people on them?!"
"They're Bio-Mechas! How does Anti-Entropy have something like that?"
On the main platform, Otto quietly watched the Anti-Entropy forces surrounding them without making a move.
Theresa was already dumbfounded. She had never expected Anti-Entropy to choose this moment to attack the Far East Branch.
The Valkyrie assault squad had already formed up and stood ready to strike at any moment.
It was not as though there had been no contingency plans for this situation, but Anti-Entropy's actions had been far too unexpected.
A circular barrier immediately descended, establishing a temporary line of defense between the mechs and the Schicksal personnel.
At this moment, most of Schicksal's people were unarmed. Many Valkyries had fallen into disarray, with only a small number gathering by squad and shrinking their defensive perimeter.
After issuing her orders, Ragna looked in Bai Yan's direction.
He had returned from somewhere unknown and stopped beside Raiden Mei, who was bandaging Kiana. A practice sword hung from his hand.
At this moment, Bai Yan was already wearing both earrings.
"Anti-Entropy? Why are they attacking now?" Kiana came to her senses and immediately tried to stand.
"Wait. Something's wrong. Don't act rashly," Raiden Mei warned, pressing Kiana back down.
The silent standoff did not last long. Above the dark clouds blotting out the sun, an aircraft slowly descended through the clouds.
It hovered above everyone's heads and delivered the first words of the attack.
"First meeting, Bishop of Schicksal. I am Jackal of World Serpent."
The moment he heard that voice, Bai Yan froze on the spot.
Jackal.
When did she become so grand?
At this point, shouldn't World Serpent be crawling around in some dark corner?
They're really courting death, aren't they?
Bai Yan had noticed the Bio-Mechas long ago. He just had not expected World Serpent and Anti-Entropy to launch a joint attack.
No, they were courting death together.
He looked at Durandal and Rita, then secretly glanced at Theresa, whose brain seemed to be trembling.
A suspicion gradually formed in his heart.
He was not certain. He needed to confirm it.
He suddenly smiled, deliberately letting out a faint laugh.
Kiana stood up and leaned close to Bai Yan, asking curiously, "Xiao Yan, what are you laughing about?"
Bai Yan's smile did not fade as he said cheerfully, "I'm laughing at Anti-Entropy's incompetence and World Serpent's lack of brains. If they'd blown up the Far East Branch's armory and the academy bridge right away, wouldn't we be trapped?"
Boom!
Boom!
Two deafening explosions rang out, one from the weapons depot and the other from the bridge.
"..."
"Looks like World Serpent isn't so 'brainless' after all. Don't you agree, little girl of Schicksal?"
Jackal's teasing voice came through.
Everyone turned to look at him as though he were an idiot.
Raiden Mei covered her face, unable to bear watching.
Even Kiana felt embarrassed. She gave an awkward laugh and hid behind Bai Yan.
Jackal ignored all of it and gave the order directly.
"Heh. Open fire."
Countless mechs suddenly began firing, pouring down firepower as if ammunition were free.
At that moment, the defensive light barrier took effect, barely blocking the barrage.
However, the light barrier quickly began to dim, clearly unable to hold out forever.
"Haha..."
"Xiao Yan, stop laughing!" Kiana tugged at Bai Yan's arm from behind, desperately trying to stop her friend's baffling behavior.
"Don't rush," Bai Yan reassured her carelessly. "I'm laughing at Anti-Entropy's incompetence and World Serpent's lack of brains. We have three S-rank Valkyries in Schicksal. Those mechs are nothing but chickens and dogs before them. The other side doesn't have any top-tier combat power at all, okay?"
Upon hearing that, Raiden Mei stepped forward and tried to pull Kiana away, as though she feared Kiana might catch whatever stupidity he had.
Theresa on the platform had also heard Bai Yan's "brilliant theory," but even she felt that this girl's words were far too baffling.
"What is that child talking about?!"
Otto's expression remained unchanged. He said nothing as he sat there and observed the situation unfold.
Rita and Durandal's expressions did not change after hearing it.
The former narrowed her eyes and carefully observed the enemy's position, while the latter stared at the aircraft, lost in some sort of thought.
The next moment, the mech fire stopped.
"Fine, then let me show you what real top-tier combat power is."
Everyone froze, only to see a staircase descend from the aircraft and a figure slowly walk down.
Otto's gaze sharpened slightly.
"Allow me to introduce myself."
The person nodded, then looked arrogantly toward the main platform. "The First Herrscher, Welt."
Otto sat up straight and stared intently at that familiar figure.
"What an unexpected person..."
A Herrscher?
Everyone who understood what that word meant collectively sucked in a breath.
Durandal tilted her head, her heart filled with doubt. She could not help secretly glancing toward Bai Yan.
Bai Yan only wanted to laugh. He could barely keep the corners of his mouth from twitching.
Everyone knew that the real Herrscher of Reason was teaching while recovering from his injuries. He was probably utterly stunned by the situation before him right now.
Poor Old Yang. Being stuck with this bunch was harder than serving the Son of Heaven.
"The First Herrscher?" Kiana was surprised. She turned to glance at Raiden Mei. "Is he strong?"
In her impression, weren't Herrschers the kind you could take down by grabbing a baseball bat and beating them up?
But Bai Yan suddenly remembered something.
A Herrscher had to have a core.
Volume One: Welt Might Be Numb
"Enough nonsense. Hand over the Herrscher of Thunder, and we'll spare your lives."
Hearing that, Theresa, who had somehow already hoisted the Oath of Judah onto her shoulder, immediately leaped out of her seat.
She shouted angrily, "You want to take someone from me? Dream on! Whoever you are, I'm going to beat you all to pulp today!"
With that, she swung Judah and smashed it toward the Welt Clone.
The clone had been prepared and immediately activated his power, making Theresa's body stall.
But she quickly overcame the suddenly increased gravity and swung Judah in a furious barrage.
The clone retreated again and again. Shattered stones flew in every direction, stinging wherever they struck. He hurriedly increased the output, strengthening the gravity further.
That was still not enough. The clone created two Titan mechs and had them punch simultaneously, forcing Theresa to defend herself.
After casually blocking them, Theresa immediately counterattacked. She smashed the close-combat mechs apart in a few blows, but the new mechs created by the clone soon distracted her again.
The two exchanged blows back and forth. One relied on brute force as though venting some sort of frustration, attacking with all her strength; the other could only defend.
The battle possessed a primitive sort of beauty, though that did not stop everyone from slipping into spectator mode.
Kiana only became more excited as she watched, cheering Theresa on. "Auntie, go! Smash that guy!"
As though she had heard her niece's cheers, Theresa's movements sped up several degrees, and the huge cross danced with fierce momentum.
Otto shook his head, secretly laughing at how badly he had misjudged things earlier.
This imitation was nothing alike.
But in Bai Yan's eyes, the battle meant something else.
This clone's combat power was a little too high. Had World Serpent provided more technical support?
Welt had no right to hold off Theresa.
Bai Yan tightened his grip on the greatsword in his hand. His attention had long since left the battlefield.
Why were World Serpent and Anti-Entropy doing this? Was running into the muzzle of a gun really that fun?
Just as everyone watched the battle, a sudden change occurred.
A black shadow appeared at some unknown point and suddenly lunged toward Raiden Mei.
The instant it neared its target, the shadow stretched out a hand and tightly seized the girl's shoulder. The terrifying strength made one's heart tremble.
Raiden Mei did not react at all and merely stood there in a daze.
The hand's strength was too immense. She had no doubt that the other party could easily lift her up.
She closed her eyes.
No one could save her this time.
Just now, she had temporarily moved away from Bai Yan and Kiana.
The distance was only around five meters, but at this moment, it was no different from eternity.
The next moment.
The owner of that hand suddenly stopped, as though falling into a state of confusion.
In the black shadow's eyes, endless dazzling purple light suddenly erupted from Raiden Mei's body, briefly blinding it.
That alone should not have stopped its movements.
But immediately afterward, when the shadow's vision suddenly returned, it discovered that the hand gripping Raiden Mei's shoulder seemed to have lost all sensation!
That instant of hesitation caused the shadow's capture operation to fail completely.
Because by the time the shadow reacted, a lance came whistling through the air, and it barely dodged on instinct.
The lance pierced deeply into the floor, standing firmly between Raiden Mei and the black shadow.
The black shadow looked up and saw Durandal already closing in.
She pulled out the lance and thrust it backhandedly. The shadow dodged the attack somewhat awkwardly, then quickly retreated beyond her range, warily watching the Valkyrie before it.
Once it steadied itself, the shadow shifted its gaze toward Bai Yan, who had quietly appeared in front of Raiden Mei.
Bai Yan held a practice sword. His Ice Blue Long Dress fluttered in the wind as he stared quietly at the black shadow.
One Sword Startling Swan.
At present, this move could deprive someone of one of their five senses in an instant. Though it did not last long, for someone at Durandal's level, that brief moment was enough to reverse the situation.
"What was that just now?" the black shadow asked softly.
Bai Yan had gotten a clear look at the black shadow. The other party was completely shrouded in a black robe, and even its voice was electronic, making its identity impossible to discern.
"To stop you from taking someone."
Before you continue