A Thunderous Crash from the Sky-Xia Ling Makes a Dazzling Entrance / System: You've Convinced Theresa to the Point of No Return

"So I'll just sell you off directly. You're now the ultimate support-type Divine Key created by our civilization."

Huh? I'd been downgraded just like that?

"As for what my original world was like, doesn't this Sami look like an apocalypse? And don't these Sea Creatures look like an apocalypse? There's no need to explain it too clearly. They just need to know it was miserable enough."

"I can even explain my familiarity with and fondness for people like Theresa. If they ask, I'll say I knew your counterpart. If they ask further, I'll say your counterpart is already dead."

...Reasonable. So this was substitute-lover fiction, huh?

"Hehe, I haven't spent this past month just training my strength. I've also put some thought into all sorts of plans for what comes next."

"So now all I need to do is wait until tonight to raid Chiyu Academy's sports field. Then I'll give Yunna a nighttime surprise attack. Based on the speed I tested at the training grounds before, she definitely won't be able to react in time."

"Armor up, gags in place, raid the camp as if entering uninhabited territory!"

You were really getting into it, weren't you?

With a thunderous boom from the heavens, Xia Ling made her dazzling entrance

Night fell. Yunna, who had been dozing off in the teaching building, was suddenly startled awake.

Her bleary eyes turned toward the window, toward the spot where the weapon left behind by that little midget who had come to subdue her was located.

If it had been any other weapon, Yunna would have simply let it remain planted on the sports field. But as everyone knew, Judas' Vow was the Key of Binding. To Yunna's detection of the academy, it was like a black stain that could not be scrubbed away.

And now, this piece of junk had erupted with a burst of intense Honkai Energy in the middle of the night, even accompanied by traces of a living presence.

After carefully inspecting the surroundings with her vines and confirming that no one was there, Yunna withdrew them in relief. She secretly resolved that tomorrow, even if she had to endure the discomfort, she would get that piece of junk out of there.

Otherwise, what kind of nonsense was it to have it clanging around in the middle of every night?

Meanwhile, on the sports field, inside the system space.

"As expected of an ability awakened after Elite 1. The effect is amazing." Xia Ling lay in the snowy Research Team Camp within the system space and let out a satisfied sigh.

"Once I accelerated to the limit, I could even feel the air turning liquid, filled with a sense of sluggish resistance. I always thought that kind of feeling only existed in novels."

It looked like Yunna had not suspected there was someone hiding here at all.

After conducting a scan, the system reported.

The vines on the sports field merely twitched symbolically before shrinking back obediently after discovering no one.

"Isn't that perfect? It proves Yunna can't clearly catch sight of me either. Tomorrow's safety factor just went up again."

"By the way, System, I forgot to ask before. When you teleport me out of the system space, can you add some special effects?"

...Honestly, I never imagined a host could play around with a system space this creatively.

There are no special effects, but that isn't a big problem. Tonight, I'll find some mods and add them to the system.

"You're not going to give me some cursed special effects, are you?" Xia Ling's eyes widened. "Like those classic video effects from elderly WeChat groups, with flowers and animals everywhere, or some ridiculous effect like a food-stall chair."

I really hadn't thought of that... Don't worry, Host. I definitely won't mess with you when it comes to serious matters.

"Don't mess with me when it isn't serious either!"

Hehe~...

Early the next morning, on Chiyu Academy's sports field.

Amid one thunderous bang after another, Xia Ling, who was getting beaten up in the training ground within the system space, raised her head in confusion.

"What's going on? Is it my turn to make an entrance?"

Xia Ling stretched lazily and looked toward the system's light screen.

Probably soon. Yunna has already started hammering away.

"Hammering?" Xia Ling looked at the shared view of the outside world from the system and nearly laughed herself off the bed.

On St. Freya's sports field, Yunna was controlling vine-like tentacles to attack Judas' Vow with clang after clang. Yet neither the vines nor the Honkai Energy could so much as leave a scratch on that golden cross.

After realizing that her attacks were basically ineffective, Yunna tried to move the cross away. Restricted by the nullification of Honkai Energy and the cross's own weight, she pushed, pulled, and tugged for a long while, but failed to move it even an inch.

"Stop wasting your strength." Along with the pleasant voice came the sound of a white-haired nun's boots stepping across the ground.

"Judas' Vow is a Divine Key made from Soulium and a Herrscher Core. It was designed from the start to resist Herrscher attacks."

"A mere Pseudo-Herrscher can use all her strength and still fail to leave the slightest mark on it."

"Oh? Is that so?" Yunna stopped attacking the cross, and the vines on her body began swaying behind her.

"Although I don't know how you cured the poison, you're still as stupid as ever. You actually came back to throw your life away again."

Yunna's taunt made Theresa flush crimson as she shouted in protest, "I was just careless last time!"

"If I get serious, I can take out someone like you easily!"

"Hehe, what a big mouth." Yunna gave a disdainful laugh and raised her hands slightly. The vines behind her instantly swelled and lashed toward Theresa.

"Hmph." Theresa did not even look at the incoming vines. She lightly tapped the cross with her toes, borrowed its force to leap forward, and sent her petite body directly through the vines. Then, with a heavy flying kick, she sent Yunna flying.

Host, isn't it about time?

"Mm, send me out."

"You..." Yunna, who had been kicked away, wore a gloomy expression. Before she could speak, however, her gaze was involuntarily drawn to the scene before her.

A blue pillar of light suddenly erupted across the sports field, forcing both of them to take several steps back. Then, the pillar gradually shrank, continuously leaving behind black and blue fragments in the air.

"Such dense Imaginary Energy!" Theresa's eyes narrowed as she watched the center of the pillar nervously. She vaguely noticed that a silhouette seemed to have appeared within it.

As the pillar of light gradually faded, a petite girl curled inside a bright yellow cocoon of light, covered in wounds from being beaten up in the training ground, appeared before them.

"Ugh..." The girl in the cocoon let out a pained groan and opened her eyes.

"This is... The-Theresa?"

"You know me?"

Theresa looked utterly confused. She had no impression whatsoever of this suddenly appearing girl, yet the girl had recognized her at a glance and called her by name. Moreover, the instant the girl looked at her, Theresa clearly sensed the surprise, sorrow, and longing in her eyes.

Although she did not know who this girl was, the emotions in her eyes did not seem fake. She would deal with Yunna first, then have a proper talk with her...

Just as Theresa was about to speak, she saw Yunna's vines attacking the girl from behind.

Theresa's heart instantly clenched. Judas' Vow in her hand began to glow as it shifted into its unfolded form, and she shouted, "Watch your back!"

Seeing the worry in Theresa's eyes, Xia Ling was delighted. It worked! Next, I just need to defeat Yunna step by step, and I can raise Theresa's favorability openly and legitimately.

Honkai Energy rapidly extended from her body, forming a bright yellow cylindrical barrier that protected her within it. At the same time, Xia Ling hooked her hand backward, and Crescent Rose fully unfolded from its portable form.

Xia Ling aimed the muzzle at Yunna and fired several shots in succession. Using the tremendous recoil, she leapt backward and steadied herself beside Theresa.

"Tch, another helper. But it doesn't matter. You can both die here together!"

The Honkai Energy around Yunna began to riot under her control. Dozens of vines were instantly spawned, baring their fangs and claws as they lunged at Xia Ling and Theresa.

"Whoever you are, that thing in front of us is a Herrscher that endangers civilization. She's extremely dangerous. You look badly injured, so hide behind my cross for now. Once I deal with her, we can have a proper talk."

Theresa turned her head toward Xia Ling and spoke seriously.

System: You've talked Theresa into going lame

"No!"

Theresa felt as though her words had stepped on some kind of landmine. The petite black-haired girl abruptly raised her head, her eyes glistening with tears.

"I can fight too. I want to fight alongside you!"

The girl tightly grabbed Theresa's clothes, looking as though she would not let go unless Theresa agreed.

"Fine, then stay close to me."

"Her abilities are vines and the deadly poison attached to them. But don't worry, Judas will protect you."

Seeing the girl's expression and recalling how she had called her name the moment she appeared, Theresa had already formed some guesses in her heart.

Xia Ling brought her hands together, and a bright yellow shield wrapped itself around Theresa as well.

Why did you make your manifested Honkai Energy bright yellow, anyway?

"To pay tribute to a certain old man taking a stroll. My goal is to one day make a peace sign in front of my own tombstone," Xia Ling answered inwardly.

You're still thinking about killing yourself so others will be left with lifelong regrets, huh? As expected of you.

On the sports field, Theresa, empowered by Xia Ling, charged forward again. At the same time, the fully unfolded Judas' Vow fired twelve spears of light. Some guarded Xia Ling's position, while the rest attacked alongside Theresa, helping her deflect the vines around her.

Xia Ling, meanwhile, did not rashly join the close-quarters battle. Theresa was handling it with ease because she was, after all, an S-rank Valkyrie. Fighting a Pseudo-Herrscher was naturally effortless for her.

With this B-rank Valkyrie's close-combat ability, if she got too close, it was hard to say who would beat up whom.

So Xia Ling retracted Crescent Rose's scythe blade and began sniping at the roots of the vines approaching Theresa. These vines were incredibly thick, but at such close range, even someone as half-baked as Xia Ling could hit them easily.

The situation seemed to be steadily tipping toward Theresa. The vines' interference could not break through the blockade formed by the light spears and sniper rifle, while Yunna, who had previously been nothing more than a student, was completely being beaten around by Theresa in close combat.

However, Yunna did not seem to think so.

"I have to admit, you really are strong. It seems that without relying on a sneak attack before, I truly had no way of defeating you."

Yunna braced herself on the ground with one hand. The vines on her body seemed to droop, and Theresa's attacks had clearly caused her considerable damage.

"But today, I'm no longer the same as before!"

"Just yesterday, I sensed that the Pseudo-Herrscher fluctuation nearby that had constantly been interfering with me suddenly disappeared for some reason."

"After that interference disappeared, no one nearby could stop me from absorbing Honkai Energy anymore. My abilities finally gained an unparalleled evolution."

"Haven't you noticed? You've already been poisoned!"

A trace of panic appeared in Theresa's eyes. "Could it be... the floral fragrance just now..."

"But I noticed it already?"

"?" × 2

Theresa and Yunna both looked toward the black-haired girl hiding behind them.

Seeing their gazes, Xia Ling tilted her head in feigned confusion. "Why wouldn't I notice? Don't you think that in a city that has already become a field of ruins, your strange floral fragrance feels a little out of place?"

"Besides, Theresa said your abilities were poison and vines. Wouldn't it be strange not to connect the two?"

Ignoring Theresa, whose face had turned bright red, Xia Ling continued speaking to Yunna. "Didn't you notice? Oh, right. You never touched Theresa the whole time, so of course you didn't."

Xia Ling poked the bright yellow shield in front of her, which looked quite springy. "This shield isn't an energy-field shield. It's a physical filtering shield. As long as your poison in the air and your poisoned Honkai Energy are completely isolated, won't that solve everything?"

"You... You bastard!"

Her trump card for turning the tables had been seen through by Xia Ling. If looks could kill, Yunna's gaze would probably have torn Xia Ling apart hundreds of times by now.

"Even if I die, I'll take you with me!"

With an enraged roar, Yunna's body gradually began to dissipate, reverting to its most basic form of Honkai Energy.

After all, a Pseudo-Herrscher was originally a phenomenon that appeared when Honkai Energy accumulated to a certain degree.

Along with Yunna's dissipation, the vines began to riot.

Although Yunna was consumed by fury, she had not completely lost her reason. Knowing the poison was ineffective, she shifted her focus to the vines themselves.

Under Yunna's life-sacrificing catalysis, the vines grew wildly as though they had been fed miracle fertilizer, rushing toward Xia Ling at the rear.

But Theresa was clearly faster. Having long noticed that something was wrong with Yunna, Theresa had already retreated to Xia Ling's side. Seeing this, Theresa directly opened Judas and shoved Xia Ling toward its interior.

"Theresa? What are you doing?"

"Get in there first!" Although Theresa was not particularly clever, the Kaslana family's inherited monstrous strength left Xia Ling utterly unable to resist.

"These vines can't break through Soulium's defenses. Hide inside Judas' Vow first. I'm an S-rank Valkyrie. Mere vines can't do much to me!"

"I don't believe a word of that!"

Xia Ling directly activated the speed talent she had gained after Elite 1. Twisting her body, she slipped out from Theresa's side, then viciously kicked Theresa into Judas.

"I have my own way of avoiding these vines. Just take care of yourself. Stop thinking about sacrificing yourself every day!"

The girl's voice cracked slightly, showing that Theresa's actions had truly angered her.

As she spoke, the girl vanished from before Theresa in a familiar flash of blue light.

"Oh no, did I step on another landmine..." Recalling the girl's furious appearance just now, Theresa felt somewhat guilty.

"I'll apologize once these vines stop rioting. I don't even know her name yet..."