Herrscher of the Outfit!

Inside the bridge, a holographic image unfolded before everyone, displaying footage of the incident site along with all kinds of data!

As he analyzed the information, Ling Feng spoke to the three of them. "Overall, the Honkai Beasts won't be very high-level, but the three of you still can't let your guard down—especially you, Kiana!"

Ling Feng specifically reminded Kiana again. She currently had no Stigmata, and after what had happened last night, it naturally hadn't been appropriate to continue engraving them. Since he had thought there probably wouldn't be any combat missions anytime soon, he had not engraved any for her. Who knew a mission would come up today of all days?

"Don't worry, Acting Captain. These little grunts will be a piece of cake!"

Kiana looked utterly confident and paid no heed to Ling Feng's warning. Although she had no Stigmata, that only meant her combat power was a little weaker. She had more than enough strength to deal with these low-level Honkai Beasts!

Ling Feng could only turn to Mei. "Mei, you'll be the main force. Charge in head-on. Bronya will handle long-range support, but the Honkai outbreak center is in the city, so try not to damage too many buildings!"

"Bronya understands!"

Bronya nodded mechanically!

Meanwhile, Mei seemed to be thinking about something, almost as if she were spacing out...

"Mei?"

Ling Feng called her again...

"Huh? I... I understand!"

Mei immediately snapped back to attention and nodded hurriedly, though Ling Feng seriously doubted whether she had heard a word he said...

"Everyone, would you like some black tea?"

At that moment, Rita suddenly appeared in the command room, holding a teapot and teacups, smiling pleasantly!

"Rita? Why are you here?"

Himeko was instantly at a loss for words. Wasn't Rita supposed to be at the academy? When had she sneaked onto the Hyperion?

"Hehe, as a maid, of course I must appear on the front lines of battle!"

Rita smiled faintly. "Besides, the Bishop asked me to observe the assessment and record the data. Naturally, I wouldn't miss a live combat mission like this. But please rest assured, I won't interfere with the mission in any way. My task is simply to brew black tea!"

As she spoke, Rita handed Ling Feng a cup of tea with a smile. "So, would you like some black tea, Captain?"

"Uh... thank you..."

After thanking her, Ling Feng accepted the tea, inwardly marveling that maids really were the best...

Rita's appearance did not affect anything. The mission still had to continue. Soon, the Hyperion arrived above the Honkai outbreak site. According to the data, there were seventeen Rush-type Honkai Beasts, five Knight-type Honkai Beasts, and two Chariot-type Honkai Beasts below. Aside from the Chariot-types possibly posing some threat, the first two types were basically just free experience!

"Alright, Team 233, deploy!"

Since the Honkai Beasts were not very difficult, Ling Feng did not make many additional arrangements. In short, there was only one word for it: fight!

Mei landed at the front of the outbreak site and immediately attacked in the Honkai Beasts' direction. Kiana landed in the rear. Since she had no Stigmata, Ling Feng had her clear out the few Rush-type Honkai Beasts at the back. Bronya positioned herself farther away to provide support and long-range firepower for the two of them!

The Chariot-type Honkai Beasts stood over five meters tall. With two enormous arms, a single punch could destroy a building. Valkyries seemed truly tiny before them, but...

"Beichen Iai Style, Amaterasu, Slash!"

Mei never hesitated when facing Honkai Beasts. She immediately activated her Stigmata's power, gripped her blade with both hands, and slashed forward, unleashing a powerful energy blade. The Chariot-type Honkai Beast neither dodged nor evaded, instead leaping directly toward Mei and taking the powerful attack head-on. Then...

The Honkai Beast was instantly split into two and died on the spot...

Then Mei swiftly rushed behind the other Chariot-type Honkai Beast and used the technique again...

"Amaterasu, Slash!"

Alright, the two most threatening Honkai Beasts had been dealt with. The remaining cannon fodder would soon be cleaned up as well!

Thus, through the efforts of the three girls, the remaining Honkai Beasts proved utterly vulnerable. The entire battle lasted less than three minutes. Clearly, Honkai Beasts of this level posed no challenge to them at all!

"It seems they can already stand on their own. I think Theresa will be very happy too!"

Watching the three of them complete the combat mission with such ease, Himeko felt gratified, though she also sighed inwardly. Kiana, who had been like a salted fish not long ago, had changed so much. And Mei—judging by her actual combat strength, she had already far surpassed B-rank standards, though it was all thanks to the Stigmata...

Thinking of this, Himeko looked at Ling Feng again. It seemed this guy had plenty of interesting things about him...

"Congratulations on completing the mission. I didn't expect St. Freya Academy to have such powerful students. And... the four-star Stigmata on Lightning Mei's back was engraved by you, Captain, wasn't it?"

Rita glanced at Ling Feng with her usual smile. For her, investigating this matter had been incredibly easy. Besides, it was no longer much of a secret at the academy!

"Of course. This is an exclusive benefit for the Valkyries on my team!" Ling Feng did not deny it!

"Very interesting!"

Rita nodded lightly and said nothing more!

"Alright, Mei, Kiana, Bronya, get ready to wrap up and head back!" Ling Feng called down to the three of them. Since the Honkai Beasts had been eliminated, it was time to return to the academy!

"Yes, Captain!"

"Got it, Acting Captain!"

"Bronya received!"

The three girls all indicated that they understood, then headed toward the Hyperion!

"Wait, it seems... the Honkai energy readings are suddenly increasing. There seems to be another Chariot-type Honkai Beast!"

At that moment, the observation team issued an alert. "No, the energy level exceeds that of a Chariot-type. It should be Temple-class. Huh... the data is still rising. It seems it's not merely Temple-class. It should be..."

"An Emperor-class Honkai Beast!"

Himeko immediately realized something. Looking at the data on the screen, she instantly recognized that only an Emperor-class Honkai Beast could reach this energy level!

Sure enough, as Himeko spoke and the Honkai energy continued to rise, an Emperor-class Honkai Beast flew into the air above the outbreak site. It was currently advancing toward Kiana!

"Ling Feng, have the three of them return to the ship immediately. This is not a Honkai Beast they can fight!" Himeko drew her greatsword, preparing to deploy personally!

"Understood!"

Ling Feng did not object. Though Mei was very strong right now, she was indeed still somewhat lacking if she wanted to contend with an Emperor-class Honkai Beast. Moreover, Ling Feng could see that although Mei's power was formidable, she was not accustomed to wielding it. When fighting Honkai Beasts, she almost always relied on overwhelming force and rarely used technique!

That was not a good habit. It did not seem like a major issue now, but when she faced Honkai Beasts stronger than herself, that weakness would leave her in a very passive position!

P.S.: Event salted fish really are fucking useless...

Herrscher of Reason!

"Kiana, get out of there!"

Seeing the Emperor-class Honkai Beast dive straight at Kiana, Mei immediately stepped in front of her. She knew Kiana had no Stigmata and was severely lacking in combat power, so she had to protect Kiana!

"Beichen Iai Style, Amaterasu, Slash!"

Mei once again used her most familiar move!

"Whoosh!"

However, a purple Honkai energy shield immediately lit up around the Emperor-class Honkai Beast. Mei's strongest strike could not even break its shield. The gap in strength... was simply too obvious!

At the same time, the Emperor-class Honkai Beast pressed directly down toward the two of them...

"Boom!"

A silver figure flashed past. Himeko descended from the sky and blocked the two girls, then swung her greatsword with both hands. "Fusion Burst!"

With Himeko's movement, the Emperor-class Honkai Beast was sent flying by her tremendous strength. Although she still failed to shatter its energy shield, the lightning damage carried by her strike still had a considerable effect on it!

"Hyaaah!"

Without stopping for even a moment, Himeko charged forward again, dragging her greatsword in both hands before slashing upward from below. "Fusion Impact!"

The greatsword struck the Emperor-class Honkai Beast again. Its shield shattered, and its body was hurled backward, collapsing an entire building! (I think I understand why St. Freya Academy is short on funding now. Buildings in Magic City? Do you know how expensive they are?)

"Take this..."

Seeing that the Emperor-class Honkai Beast's shield had vanished, Himeko naturally would not let this chance slip away. She leaped high into the air, activated her Stigmata's energy, and released powerful Honkai energy, intending to deliver the final blow...

"Hm?"

Suddenly, Himeko felt a sharp pain tear through her body, and then...

"Pfft..."

Blood sprayed from Himeko's mouth, and she fell straight to the ground...

"Himeko?"

"Himeko?"

Ling Feng and Mei called out almost simultaneously. Ling Feng in particular looked completely bewildered. What... was going on? Wasn't Himeko an A-rank Valkyrie? There was no way she should lose to an Emperor-class Honkai Beast, right? Why had she suddenly coughed up blood?

Seeing Himeko fall, the Emperor-class Honkai Beast immediately counterattacked. It spread its huge body and bore down on Himeko menacingly!

"Slash!"

Mei appeared in time and slashed at the Emperor-class Honkai Beast. But compared to Himeko's attacks, Mei's strike was much weaker. Even her strongest attack could only slow the Emperor-class Honkai Beast down...

"Mei, get out of here..."

Himeko clutched her chest, drenched in sweat. The intense pain coursing through her body kept her painfully clear-headed...

"No. I can't leave you here!"

Mei knew what was happening to Himeko, and she knew why Himeko had become like this. But precisely because she knew, she could not abandon Himeko. Mei could not say whether she would regret this choice, but she knew that if she ran away now, she would regret it for the rest of her life!

"You fool, it's not like I'm anyone important..."

Himeko struggled to lift her greatsword again, but her body simply could not support her will. She smiled. "My life has already been enough!"

As the Emperor-class Honkai Beast drew closer and closer, Mei and Himeko's situation grew increasingly perilous. Rita silently arrived at the hatch, adjusted her maid dress, and was just about to deploy when...

"Move aside!"

Ling Feng suddenly appeared, then leaped down without hesitation...

"Hm? Him?"

Rita froze for a moment, somewhat unable to understand what was happening. Wait, Ling Feng had actually jumped down? Though it was not extremely high, it was still dozens of meters! And he had jumped without wearing Valkyrie Armor. Was he trying to kill himself?

Just as Rita was wondering whether Ling Feng could still be saved, she saw in surprise that he landed safely on the ground. Though countless clouds of dust billowed up, he really had landed safely!

"This really... is interesting..."

Rita temporarily gave up on deploying, wanting to see what Ling Feng would do...

"Ling Feng?"

"Ling Feng? Why did you come down here?"

Seeing Ling Feng suddenly appear, Mei and Himeko were both at a loss for words. Worse still, Ling Feng had not even put on Valkyrie Armor. Coming down here like this was just throwing his life away...

"Mei, help Himeko to a safe place!"

Ling Feng snatched the greatsword from Himeko's hand and smiled. "Aunt Himeko, let me borrow your weapon!"

"Ling Feng, don't..."

At that moment, Himeko did not even care that Ling Feng had called her aunt. She only wanted him to get away quickly...

"Take this!"

But Ling Feng had already charged forward while swinging the greatsword...

Himeko: "..."

Ling Feng's body might not be able to use large amounts of energy, but close combat was still possible, right? The only annoying part was that he rarely used greatswords, and... this thing was so damn heavy...

"Aaaaaah!"

Ling Feng's sword struck the Emperor-class Honkai Beast, but it only knocked the monster back less than five meters. Compared to Aunt Himeko's strike, it was nowhere close!

Moreover, because of his body, Ling Feng did not dare use energy recklessly and could only fight in close quarters. The academy definitely knew about the situation here. As long as he held on until the academy's reinforcements arrived, it would be fine!

"Ling Feng, I'll help you!"

Kiana had somehow come back as well. Holding the Water Sprite, she kicked at the Emperor-class Honkai Beast. "You dare hurt Mei and Himeko? Watch me kick you flying—Comet Fall!"

"You idiot..."

Ling Feng hurriedly tried to stop her, but... he was on the left, while Kiana had charged in from behind. It was too late...

"Whoosh..."

Sure enough, when Kiana drew close, the Emperor-class Honkai Beast released an energy beam that instantly shattered her armor. Kiana did not even manage to touch it...

"Huh?"