25. HSN-B46 Serum Gas / 26. Rita: Fuck It, Let's Blow Her Up

"Yes, I'm here, Rita."

"Recall all the Immortal Blade members who were originally dispatched. Half of them will stay to guard the Eos, and the other half will come with me to the industrial area. They will be divided into groups of three to carry out infiltration and support work."

"The portion remaining on the Eos will be under Little Xi's command."

"Alvit, please assist Little Xi. Also, I have the highest priority for remote control of the Eos."

"Little Xi, do you understand what I mean?"

"I understand, but... are you sure you don't need my painting?"

"No, I have other considerations."

Rita shook her head slightly. "Now, recall the team members immediately and begin carrying out the orders."

"So sleepy..."

Kiana stood near Kamisato Pharmaceuticals and stretched.

"Cheer up, Kiana. Didn't we let you sleep for a few hours at noon?"

Xia Ling's voice came through her earpiece.

"A few hours isn't enough..."

Kiana blushed and subconsciously tried to cover it up.

After all, she couldn't very well say that it was because Xia Ling was holding her that she couldn't sleep all afternoon.

After successfully handing the information over to Rita, the two went directly to the vicinity of Kamisato Pharmaceuticals's industrial zone.

After all, Kamisato Pharmaceuticals is practically across the entire Changkong City from their safe house. When Xia Ling was choosing the location, she didn't intend to be wandering around under the World Serpent's nose every day.

Based on Xia Ling's guess about Rita, she would definitely start checking the authenticity of the information immediately, and then go to the industrial area to investigate that night.

Don't ask, the answer is I've read the script.

So Xia Ling and Kiana had no intention of going home at all. Instead, they found a hotel to rest for a while and then started looking for good sniping spots near the industrial area.

Kiana only arrived near the industrial area after Xia Ling had finished setting up the teleportation portals between the various locations, waiting to rescue Rita under Xia Ling's cover.

"Sister Xia Ling, why do you think Rita will definitely be discovered... and why are you so sure she'll mess things up?"

"The difference in strength is too great. In addition, World Serpent has a clear understanding of her every move. She thought that World Serpent did not know that the Immortal Blade had come to Changkong City, but they knew from the beginning."

"In addition, her expertise lies in infiltration and assassination... The most important aspect of these two skills is stealth."

"Her advantages vanished, and she didn't even realize that the other party had completely seen through her. Defeat was inevitable."

"But you can't blame her for that. After all, the world's power is expanding too fast. This time last year, S-rank Valkyrie could still be called the ceiling of combat power, but now..."

"Who would have thought that this small industrial zone would house six individuals with combat capabilities equivalent to S-rank?"

"Huh, six?"

Kiana belatedly asked, "Did Sister Xia Ling include me?"

"Of course, don't underestimate yourself now."

On the other end of the communication, Xia Ling chuckled, "You're someone who can control the Herrscher Core to a certain extent. When you clashed with Rita before, didn't she also have no way to deal with you?"

Chapter Twenty-Five: HSN-B46 Serum Gas

In the quiet industrial area, the sound of footsteps was slowly echoing.

Because she was going to be conducting an infiltration operation, Rita did not use the Moon Spirit Armor she had used when she was chasing Kiana, but instead switched to the Shadow Iron Armor, which was more suited for stealth.

Ahead, the Carbon-based Hunter signaled to her that everything was safe.

Rita continued forward, swiping her ID card to unlock the door.

She was looking for the industrial park's database; once she found it, most of the problems would be solved.

As it turns out, Rita's background in intelligence studies has indeed proven her competence.

In less than ten minutes, she had located the database and successfully found what she wanted.

"Research on the Schicksal patented anti -Honkai Energy vaccine HBA-022..."

Looking at the title of the document in her hand, Rita fell into deep thought.

"Vice Captain, it seems that Kamisato Pharmaceuticals has been reverse-analyzing and researching our drugs all along."

Alvit's voice came through the communicator. "Vice Captain, look, we're completely out of this medicine, including the 30,000 doses of vaccine we just delivered."

"It's a bottomless pit..."

Rita for a moment, then tapped the screen on her arm a few times.

"Alvit, notify the members of the Immortal Blade to prepare for battle, and also synchronize my coordinates with them."

"Their research certainly goes beyond this; there are even deeper secrets buried beneath this industrial zone."

Rita's expression turned somewhat somber as she watched a faint red dot appear on the Carbon-based Hunter's radar.

This radar is designed to detect Honkai Energy- infected organisms, meaning that beneath this industrial zone, there must be the same kind of special Honkai zombie they encountered before.

"I will continue to search for the entrance to the underground. Once I find it, I'm afraid I'll face a fierce battle."

"By the way, Alvit, how are things on your end?"

"Everything is normal, and Little Xi did not issue any warnings."

"Okay, remain on guard."

After temporarily shutting down the communication, Rita crouched down and patted the Carbon-based Hunter on the head.

This mechanical hound can not only help Rita in combat, but is also adept at searching and tracking.

Finding this so-called underground area is only a matter of time for it.

Sure enough, a few moments later, the Carbon-based Hunter successfully found an entrance leading underground using its onboard detection equipment.

"The access card doesn't seem to be able to open this door, so..."

The carbon-based hunter leaped up, forcibly breaking into the door lock. Amidst the blaring alarm, Rita slowly walked into the underground area.

"Really..."

Before her stood various cultivation chambers on the ground. Inside one of them, she immediately spotted the same kind of Honkai zombie carrying Stigmata that she had seen in Changkong City.

The underground space was not small. Looking around, in the incubation chambers in the distance, there were even more shocking experimental subjects densely packed together. Some of them even made Rita feel an overwhelming sense of nausea.

The Valkyrie armor's built-in camera and the Carbon-based Hunter were rapidly filming the underground scene. A moment later, Rita decisively turned around, preparing to leave.

After all, she forced her way in, and if she had been slow, she might have run into some trouble.

"Since Miss Rita is so interested, why don't you stay and watch a little longer?"

Behind Rita, the previously off screen suddenly lit up, and the figure of Raven appeared on the screen.

At the same time, several incubation chambers exploded instantly, and two Death Weaver and four or five Honkai zombie emerged from the chambers and surrounded Rita.

"The Immortal Blade, prepare to rendezvous. I've been discovered."

Rita gave the command in a low voice and looked at the Raven on the screen.

"If you think that you can defeat the Valkyrie of Schicksal with just these things, then I can only express my deepest sympathy for your ignorance."

"The Valkyrie of Schicksal? Ha, I've seen many stronger ones than you."

Raven chuckled, and two gas canisters suddenly fell from the legs of the Death Weaver, instantly filling the entire underground space with a cloud of gas.

"Whether it's Honkai zombie or poisoning, these methods only make you look more ridiculous."

The Shadow Iron Armor swiftly deployed its mask, shielding Rita's mouth and nose from the mist, while simultaneously slashing its scythe, cleaving an approaching Honkai zombie in two.

"This is not tear gas, Miss Valkyrie."

Raven showed no sign of frustration at the failed plan. "This thing was developed based on a reagent from your Schicksal."

"You've probably heard of that thing's name: HSN-B46 serum. You could also call it one of the raw materials for synthesizing the God-Slaying Spear."

"This is a modified version specially designed for you Valkyrie. It can enter the body's circulation without breathing, just through skin contact."

"Then, your bodies will gradually become weak, and the Honkai Energy will rapidly dissipate and become inactive."

"Of course, as an S-rank Valkyrie, you might be able to hold on for a while, but as for your teammates... well, we can only wish them good luck."

"Well then, I hope you have a good time with the Death Weaver, Miss Rita."

Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield.

Behind Xia Ling, three pairs of black wings spread wide, and the halo above her head was rapidly integrating the situation in the industrial zone and then projecting the map into her mind.

Xia Ling then performed further calculations on this data, and then fired.

Within the industrial zone, the Honkai zombie who had separated and surrounded several Valkyrie squads began to be picked off one by one by Xia Ling.

Kiana, on the other hand, constantly shuttles between them, acting as a human transport aircraft.

While Rita was still struggling to fight the Death Weaver underground, Kiana had already rescued all the members of the Immortal Blade on the periphery.

After securing them in a safe location, Kiana returned to the battlefield.

"Judging from the condition of the Death Weaver, the HSN-B46 serum underground has probably completely dissipated. It's just unknown whether it was completely absorbed by Rita or dissipated on its own. In any case, Kiana, you can go in directly."

Xia Ling, now acting as a human radar, began directing Kiana's next move.

"But the bad news is that your rescue seems to have attracted more pursuers, and a small group is heading this way. After rescuing the person, head to the original rendezvous point number three."

"I'll snipe both Death Weaver on Rita's side before the next move. After that, I'll go into a state of silence to stay hidden. The rest is up to you to figure out."

"Okay, I understand. Sister Xia Ling, please be careful."

Kiana's voice came from the other end of the communication.

After estimating the enemy's distance, Xia Ling once again peered through the scope.

"There's still some distance; enough time for me to kill two more..."

The bullet left Xia Ling's gun barrel and then disappeared instantly.

Chapter Twenty-Six Rita: Damn it, I've blown her up!

In the underground of the industrial zone, Rita was still fighting a fierce battle with the Honkai zombie.

The two Death Weaver had just suddenly fallen, and the method of their deaths was exactly the same as the way Xia Ling had sniped Xi.

Rita knew that if she held on for a while longer, reinforcements would arrive.

Each swing of the sickle is more strenuous, and each dodge is more arduous.

Rita experienced the feeling of weakness for the first time in a long time.

As she continued fighting, she calculated her remaining stamina and searched for a way to break through.

"Still struggling, Miss Rita?"

"If you keep pestering me like this, your dear teammate might be waiting for you on your way to the underworld."

Raven continued to provoke Rita on the screen, but although she appeared calm on the surface, she was actually starting to panic inside.

The S-rank Valkyrie's perception is beyond that of ordinary people. If she and Flame Willow were also stationed in the industrial area, then without a doubt, Rita would never have gone so deep under World Serpent's arrangement. Therefore, this plan was not foolproof.

She originally thought the plan was foolproof enough. Even if she herself touched the serum gas, she would be directly infected. Rita's ability to last this long was beyond her expectations.

However, the problem lies on the ground; because of Kiana's interference, the members of the Immortal Blade were not wiped out at all.

She could only take advantage of the signal being blocked in the underground area to put as much psychological pressure on Rita as possible, hoping that she would reveal a weakness before Kiana arrived, even if it meant being seriously injured.

However, Kiana obviously wouldn't give her that many chances. Kiana didn't even glance at the Honkai zombie she sent to block Kiana, and teleported directly, focusing on a speedrun strategy.

Now, she is very close to Rita.

"Ha, Raven ...you'd better kill me here." Rita wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth. "Otherwise, you won't want to know what fate awaits you in the hands of Schicksal."