Herrscher Paradise

"Turn to ashes before me, vermin!" the Herrscher of Death roared at Himeko, who stood in her way, then hurled a ball of pitch-black mist at her on the deck.

"Sorry, but I can't oblige you. After all, my mission was never to defeat you!" Himeko's armor began operating at full power as she raised her greatsword and took the Herrscher's attack head-on!

So this was an A-Rank Valkyrie? I wonder what an S-Rank Valkyrie was capable of...

As she pondered this, a golden cross suddenly appeared out of nowhere at the edge of the upper-right corner of the screen.

The enormous cross unfolded in midair and fired twelve golden spears, piercing through the Herrscher of Death, who was locked in a fierce battle with Himeko.

"Damn Valkyries! But... I am immortal!"

Even with her body impaled by the spears, the Herrscher of Death did not die. The core's innate regenerative power was still sustaining her life.

"The Herrscher of Death's regenerative ability is such a pain!" The twelve golden spears that had pierced the Herrscher of Death seemed to respond to a summons, flying toward the figure that had suddenly appeared on the deck and lodging securely back into the golden cross behind her.

It seemed she had not appeared suddenly. Rather, she had already been there, but for some reason, the camera had failed to capture her...

"Principal Theresa, please hold the Herrscher back. Let me try delivering the final blow!" Durandal, her long hair tied in a high ponytail, rushed in from behind with Abyss Flower in hand.

Logically, Durandal was no slower than Theresa. She should have reached the scene before Theresa.

But as it happened, Durandal had run into a rampaging Honkai Emperor on her way over. Being so "helpful," she had casually taken care of it...

"It's useless! I cannot be killed! Vermin, I am God's apostle! You will all die!"

After suffering one devastating blow after another, the Herrscher of Death's mind was already on the brink of collapse. She glared viciously at Durandal, endlessly spouting threats.

Looking down over the devastated city from high above, Theresa swung the massive cross from her back heavily before her. "Enough, Herrscher. Your sins end here! Durandal, I'm going to use that move. Can you still attack under those conditions?"

"Yes!" A flash of resolve crossed Durandal's eyes as she raised Abyss Flower high against her shoulder.

"Good! I'm counting on you, Judah! Domain expansion!"

"Judah's Oath, Zero Rated Power—Grace Barrier, activate!"

Dazzling golden light flared from the golden cross. Centered around it, countless fine golden gears spun rapidly through the air.

At the outermost edges of the gears, golden chains imbued with binding properties emerged from thin air. They shot toward the Herrscher of Death, who remained where she was, and firmly bound her to the ground.

"What are you doing? My power... my power is gone." The Herrscher of Death weakly collapsed to her knees on the Hyperion's deck, staring at her hands in terror as though trying to reclaim the power she had lost.

"Go! Abyss!"

Even Durandal could not remain unscathed under Judah's Oath's Zero Rated Power.

Suppressed by its effects, she hurled the powerful weapon in her hand with all her strength like a javelin.

Its target was the Herrscher tightly bound by Judah.

"Damn it, I can't move. No, don't!"

This time, the Herrscher of Death's wounded body did not regenerate as it had before. She stared blankly at the hole through her chest and muttered, "This... how is this possible?!"

Crack!

A crisp explosive sound rang out from the Herrscher of Death's chest as the artificially enhanced gem fragment finally shattered under the strain.

Shattering along with it, and even turning to ash, was the Herrscher of Death's body, which had been so "open-hearted."

So this was an S-Rank Valkyrie? She really was incredibly powerful.

Wait, what was that lance-like weapon?!

Xina stared at Abyss Flower in Durandal's hand in astonishment. Even through the screen, she could feel a tremor deep in her heart, as though she shared some special bond with that lance.

"How is this possible?!"

Watching the Herrscher's body crumble to ash before their eyes without leaving anything behind, Durandal and Theresa exchanged shocked looks, disbelief written across both their faces.

Why had the Serenity Gem, which held the Fourth Herrscher's Herrscher Authority, vanished after her death?

Shouldn't the gem containing a Herrscher's Authority have remained after the Herrscher died?

Could it be...

Seemingly having thought of an unpleasant possibility, both Theresa and Durandal looked grim.

Once Judah's Zero Rated Power ended, Durandal, having recovered some of her strength, turned around with a solemn expression. "Senior Theresa, I need to return to Destiny Headquarters and report this matter to the Bishop in person. I'll be leaving first."

"Mm." Theresa nodded and watched Durandal's figure disappear beyond the distant horizon.

"Himeko, let's head back first!"

Theresa withdrew her gaze and walked with Himeko across the deck, now pitted and battered after the Herrscher's rampage.

Only after they reentered the Hyperion's command room did Xina finally see the S-Rank Valkyrie carrying the enormous cross with her own eyes.

The Far East Branch's strongest combatant was not as tall as Xina had imagined. Instead, she was... very... ahem...

Aside from that slightly mature-looking nun's outfit, she was not much bigger than an elementary school student.

The only thing Xina could not figure out was how such a... petite person could swing such a massive metal cross around.

Unable to come up with an explanation, Xina ultimately decided to attribute it all to the omnipotent Honkai.

"This Miss is..." Theresa looked Xina up and down curiously.

"She is Xina, a survivor of this Honkai incident." Fu Hua stood and recounted the entire story from beginning to end.

"Since she is a survivor of the Honkai, have Bronya take her to the Medical Room and use the equipment to examine her. Let's see how her body is doing."

After briefly understanding the situation, Theresa nodded to show that she understood. Then she sat off to the side and began drafting a report for Otto.

Two S-Rank Valkyries had put in so much effort only to take down an impostor, while the real Herrscher had not even shown herself. Something this serious had to be reported to her all-powerful grandfather.

"Miss Xina, please come with Bronya!" Bronya rose from the console and walked over to Xina.