41. Did Anna Run Away?

"The advance Valkyrie units from nearby branches have established a blockade line, completely containing the spread of the Honkai on the main island of Coral Island."

On the cross-sea bridge, the two strolled among the Honkai Beast as if walking in their own backyard, taking a leisurely walk.

"Sigh, at times like this, I always miss Little Xi."

"Me too, Durandal. It's true that Little Xi is more skilled at dealing with these swarms of Honkai Beast, but it seems that the Lord Bishop has some other plans. I don't know why, but he wants Little Xi to accompany him."

"That's how it is with the bishops. They just need to focus on their experiments. We Valkyrie who do the work have to think about a lot more..." Durandal sighed and casually dealt with the nearby Honkai Beast.

"So what's our next task?"

"Next, we need to lead the Immortal Blade along the cross-sea bridge connecting to the main island and advance into the interior of the main island."

"However, according to members of the Snow Lotus Squad, Anna should still be wandering around the city."

"Furthermore, His Lord Bishop's orders are that we are only responsible for routine Honkai Energy cleanup, rescue, and recovery work. Any matters related to Herrscher will be handled entirely by the World Serpent."

"Is it another deal involving the bishop...?"

Durandal hesitated for a moment, then opened the communication device. "Alvit?"

"Captain, I'm here!"

"Slow down your pace from now on and proceed cautiously. Rita and I are going to the main island."

"Also, give me a copy of the detection data on the Herrscher's energy fluctuations. I need her location information."

"Eh? Captain, but the Lord Bishop's orders are..."

"Alvit, the Lord Bishop's orders to fight the Honkai and search for the missing Valkyrie are naturally included in this."

Rita explained with a smile, "Although the members of the Snow Lotus Squad said that Anna has become Herrscher, we didn't see it with our own eyes, did we?"

"In that case, Anna, the captain of the Snow Lotus Squad, is still missing, and we naturally have the right to rescue her."

"I see, so this doesn't count as disobeying orders. The vice-captain is truly amazing!"

"Even setting aside Rita's excuse... I still want to see Anna in person." Durandal's face showed a hint of hesitation.

"She's one of my few friends... She's already moved on from her past trauma, so why won't the Honkai leave her alone...?"

"Becoming Herrscher doesn't necessarily mean standing against humanity," Rita comforted softly. "The St. Freya Academy, led by Lord Theresa, has proven this to us time and again."

"I believe Anna will definitely have a chance too..."

"Hmm? Wait, Durandal, a Herrscher's reaction seems to be rapidly approaching us."

"They came to our door on their own initiative?"

Durandal's spirits lifted, and the Black Abyss White Flower instantly appeared in her hand.

"Immortal Blade, retreat the defensive line and prepare for reinforcements!"

"Captain, it doesn't seem to be the Herrscher of Ice... at least I haven't seen any Herrscher with clearance from our air defense system..."

Alvit puzzled voice came through the communicator.

However, at this moment, Durandal already had the answer.

"Mei Raiden... I never expected you to join World Serpent."

"I have my own path to walk." Mei's answer was very brief, "It seems that Schicksal takes this operation very seriously, and has even sent the Immortal Blade."

"Anna is an important member of the Saniat Family, after all. Even if it's just for show, Schicksal won't let it go so easily. Besides, Lady Durandal and I also want to confirm our friend's situation."

"As for the World Serpent... you must be more than just one here. Where is that old friend?"

Rita emphasized "old friend" in her voice, and Mei, who had fought alongside her in Changkong City, naturally knew that she was referring to Raven.

"I'm sorry, this is an organizational secret and I cannot disclose it."

Mei pondered for a moment but still didn't reveal the fact that Raven was nearby. Although they later realized that Reed was one of their own, Schicksal knew nothing about it.

She was afraid that if Rita used the disappearance of the Reed to mock the Raven, things might get out of control and they might start fighting on the spot.

She wasn't one to stir up trouble, so naturally she wouldn't want to see such a scene.

"That's a real shame. I was hoping to catch up with some old friends..."

"Alright, Rita." Durandal gently shook her head, then looked at Mei:

"As agreed, we will not interfere in matters related to the Herrscher. However, this does not mean that we will not take action when necessary. After all, we cannot stand idly by and watch the situation escalate."

"Before you, there was only one Herrscher signal on the Coral Island, and it hasn't moved for a long time. I've already shared the location information with you, so go there as soon as possible."

Chapter 41 Anna ran away?

"So, what's the attitude of the Schicksal ones?"

"They said they wouldn't interfere with the World Serpent's actions... but take that with a grain of salt. Knowing Durandal's personality, she won't stand idly by."

"Perfect timing... An upright blonde female knight, especially when someone like that appears on our side."

After a slight sigh, the Raven took the initiative to lead the way.

"Let's go, I've found a shortcut."

"Shortcut?"

"That's right. As we all know, Coral Island is a semi-artificial island. The artificial part refers to the central mechanical main island."

"It has very close connections with the three surrounding sub-islands, for example... the pipeline we are walking on."

"Normally, the temperature here is too high for humans to pass through, but now that even the main island has turned into a giant ice block, the high temperature here has become a rare refuge."

"Through this pipeline, we can go directly to the city center of the main island. Of course, there is a drawback."

The two, who were moving quickly, had already reached the exit.

That is...

Looking at the ice wall that was more than ten meters high in front of her, and then at the street in front of her that was almost completely frozen, Mei fell silent.

"How... should we proceed?"

"Simple, try to find places with roads. If you really can't get through..." Raven casually tossed out a flaming arrow. "Like this, just boil it."

"Won't this alert the enemy?"

"No, Anna hasn't moved for a full hour, or rather, if the timing is correct, she hasn't moved an inch since the beginning of her Herrscher transformation."

"The squad members said Anna might be wandering around the city, possibly because Anna was mobile before Reed rescued them."

"So, Reed did actually do something..." Mei pondered for a moment, "Could it be that she brought Anna back to consciousness, and then Anna sealed herself away to prevent herself from losing control?"

"What you said makes sense, but doesn't that mean I'll see the two of them sealed in ice together?"

"What, are you jealous?"

"Just kidding, why would I care about those things? As long as they're all alive and well, that's all that matters to me..."

Raven's words suddenly stopped, because she realized that after she had burned a large enough space, Mei suddenly stopped walking.

Why aren't you leaving?

"Your flame efficiency seems a bit too slow."

Mei succinctly criticized Raven's efficiency, and then, to Raven's astonishment, summoned a large pink fox.

"Raven, stay close."

"Hi-maru, breathe fire!"

"Hey! You already have a ride, why can't you let me hitch a ride?"

"Damn it, you must be showing off... Hmph, whatever, it's just a fox, I have a dragon to ride!"

After optimizing the Raven, the two's movement efficiency increased dramatically.

After a short while, Hi-maru stopped.

"Why did you stop running? Oh... we've arrived."

Raven's voice suddenly lowered; she had also seen it—the ice pillar that seemed to pierce the sky.

"So... what do we do now? Should we use this thing that the Gray Serpent gave us?"

Mei took out the box that Gray Serpent had given her before he left.

"You mean Imaginary Interferometer? That's impossible. It won't work through such a thick layer of ice."

Raven casually took out two and put them on his person, then looked at the dark blue-black ice pillars.

"There's no other way. In this situation, we need you to step in, Mei Raiden."

"Let's wake up this sleeping girl first... and then decide whether to communicate with her or use the Imaginary Interferometer based on whether she is rational."

"Hey, it looks like they've started breaking up the ice."

"Let them demolish it. I'm just a pathetic corpse. What can I do?"

Flame Willow continued to leisurely rock her chair, watching her own death from a different perspective.

"You're really not in a hurry...?"

"There's no use in being anxious. Anna's current situation is really hard to predict. Even with Mei and Raven, plus the second-tier spirit and the fierce Durandal, although we can definitely subdue Anna, I can't guarantee that she will be completely free from the effects of the Honkai."

"If this fails, even if I die a few more times later, the effect won't be very good. It's better to wait for Mei and the others to help me weaken Anna's power, and then finish the job in one go..."

"Moreover, I also need to be wary of something else."

"You mean, Rock Herrscher?"

Xia Ling tilted her head.

"That's right, I'm really not confident until this thing comes out."

"There's been no movement from Chen Tianwu's side. If we don't choose him, then the Herrscher of Rock's storyline will be completely changed, and we might even see a Herrscher body that we've never seen before."

"However, there shouldn't be many people on the main island of Coral Island right now... If this Herrscher of Rock doesn't descend on Coral Island, where will she descend?"

"Gale, submit to me!"

Accompanied by a crimson bolt of lightning, a large section of the solid ice that the Herrscher of Ice had forged for herself shattered with a deafening roar.

"Why should you, a Herrscher of Thunder, make the gales submit...?"

"Stop complaining about these things. I feel like the Herrscher of Ice has made a move."

Mei quickly jumped away from her spot, holding her long sword horizontally in front of her chest, while Raven beside her lowered her bow.

It seems she really trusts her family...

With these thoughts flashing through her mind, Mei braced herself. Regardless of whether the Herrscher of Ice could communicate with her, the threat of her combat power was unavoidable. Facing the Herrscher of Ice had broken free of her seal, Mei made no attempt to conceal her aura.

"Anna looks so beautiful in that outfit... Is becoming Herrscher a bonus, like getting a pretty dress? But what's that huge ice spike behind her?"

Raven didn't think much of the neatly shaped icicles behind Anna. Under Mei's imposing presence, she took a few steps forward, about to speak.

However, at the very moment she revealed herself, the Herrscher of Ice, or rather Anna, seemed to have suffered a tremendous blow and let out an indescribable shriek.

"So... it really is time for a fight after all?"

Mei's eyes sharpened, and she quickly prepared for battle.

This was her first official battle since becoming Herrscher, and she wanted to test her strength.

However...

"Wait, she ran away?"

Mei blinked, her purple pupils reflecting a clear sense of confusion.

"What's going on? I didn't do anything..."

Before she could react, the Raven grabbed her.