Thanks for the Invite, I'm in Honkai, Grinding Stats to Level Up

Otto, an old friend of Fu Hua and an active archaeologist of the Previous Era, knew very well that there were other pioneers from the Previous Era, and that those people, in order to carry out their plans, must have established organizations.

"It seems the storm is coming..."

Looking at the night outside the window, Otto whispered as if in contemplation, but his gaze was as calm as water, quietly reflecting the starry sky outside.

While Otto gazed at the night sky, far away in the east, over the Sea of Okhotsk, it was the darkest hour before dawn. Rain poured down, and lightning occasionally flashed, illuminating the large raindrops in the sky.

Under this downpour, in a laboratory belonging to an Anti-Entropy radical faction, human experiments that Otto had anticipated were underway.

However, the progress of the experiment was clearly not very optimistic—

"Brain damage rate 8%... The experimental subject's amygdala has been destroyed!

Emotional circuits are severely damaged!"

Under the piercing alarm, the anxious reports of researchers echoed.

In the center of the laboratory, a beautiful blonde woman in a military coat had a grim expression, her fists clenched, her nails digging into her flesh. Fresh blood slowly dripped, staining the floor beneath her feet.

Today, she had already lost one daughter, disappointed another to the extreme, and even resorted to threatening her own life to restart the experiment.

The result was that she now seemed on the verge of losing another daughter.

At this moment, endless regret weighed on the woman's heart like a mountain, making it difficult for her to breathe.

Chapter 61 Cocolia: I Can't Do Anything!

But even though she realized she might have been too hasty in starting the experiment, it was already too late—

Forcibly terminating the experiment would directly lead to the experimental subject's death.

Now, she... could do nothing!

Just then, a blinding light suddenly erupted, causing the blonde woman to instinctively raise her arm to shield her eyes.

A moment later, the strong light dissipated. The blonde woman, realizing what unexpected event had occurred, hesitated to lower her arm—

She was worried that when she lowered her hand, she would see her daughter's corpse.

"Ah..."

"What is this..."

However, while the blonde woman didn't lower her hand, the other researchers looked forward immediately after the bright light subsided, and involuntarily let out soft exclamations.

"Madam Cocolia..."

The sounds of surprise and even terror from her ears made the blonde woman's anxious heart even more uneasy.

However, she was, after all, a prominent warlord in this land of ice and snow. She couldn't show weakness in front of her subordinates. The blonde woman took a deep breath, slowly lowered her arm, and looked up, only to see a scene that made her eyes widen in disbelief—

The experimental pod, which she imagined to be shattered into pieces, was still intact, and the gray-haired girl inside was unharmed.

And outside the experimental pod, a giant, alien robot that had appeared at some unknown time was half-embracing the pod, as if embracing the girl within.

"What is this!?"

A researcher nearby murmured subconsciously, causing Cocolia to quickly regain her composure, trying her best to hide the shocked expression on her face—

As a warlord, Cocolia knew the importance of maintaining dignity in front of her subordinates.

At the same time, looking at the suddenly appearing alien robot, Cocolia's eyes also shone with a strange light.

"Madam Cocolia, the experiment has been terminated!"

At this moment, a researcher who had recovered from their shock checked the parameters and exclaimed with joy.

"Then quickly release Bronya!"

Hearing this, Cocolia's face showed surprise, and she shouted loudly.

"Yes!"

The startled researcher responded loudly and quickly operated the computer.

Soon, the liquid in the experimental pod was drained, and the pod opened. Inside, Bronya, wearing only a special experimental suit, sat at the bottom of the pod with her eyes closed.

Cocolia wanted to step forward and pick up Bronya, but was stopped by the large hand of the alien robot that had appeared for some unknown reason.

And on the robot's left hand, a dark cannon muzzle was directly aimed at Cocolia, showing no hidden hostility.

Under the threat of the cannon muzzle, Cocolia had to stop, frown at the robot that seemed to possess sentience, and said:

"I am Bronya's mother. She is injured and needs medical attention!"

However, facing Cocolia's words, the alien robot showed no reaction. Its eyes coldly stared at Cocolia, while the cannon muzzle remained aimed at Cocolia's head, causing the researchers behind her to break out in a cold sweat for the woman who paid their salaries.

Fortunately, before the conflict escalated, a voice devoid of any emotional fluctuation broke the awkwardness—

"Heavy-Duty Rabbit, lower your weapon. This is... Mother Cocolia..."

"..."

Upon hearing the command, Heavy-Duty Rabbit obediently lowered its large hand and cannon muzzle.

Seeing Bronya wake up, Cocolia's face immediately showed a look of surprise—

"Bronya, you're finally awake!"

"You scared me to death..."

With the obstacle before them gone, Cocolia embraced the silver-haired girl with Roman curls who had collapsed in the experimental pod, staging a dramatic display of maternal affection.

However, no matter how Cocolia poured out her emotions, Bronya in her arms showed no change in expression, as if Cocolia were embracing a stranger.

But the researchers were not interested in the BOSS's family matters.

In comparison, the robot known as "Heavy-Duty Rabbit" attracted their attention more.

And what no one noticed was that after her emotions calmed down a bit, Cocolia, holding Bronya, looked at the Heavy-Duty Rabbit with a glint in her eyes similar to that of the experimental staff...

A minor incident within a branch of the radical faction of Anti-Entropy, which grew wildly like weeds, naturally wouldn't attract the attention of Otto, the Archbishop of Destiny, who controlled almost the entire world.

Compared to these vermin who deserved to hide in the shadows, there were plenty of things in this world that required his attention.

For example, digging into that underground organization established by some unknown predecessor, whose name, whereabouts, and earth-shattering plans were all a mystery.

However, Otto also knew that since the other party could remain hidden throughout human history, digging them out would not be a matter of a day or two, and would require significant human and material resources.

Therefore, Otto simply cast his net and waited quietly for the time to reel it in.

So, compared to World Serpent, who didn't know where the cat was, Otto was more concerned about Gwen, who had been staying in the hospital ward for a week.

To be precise, Otto, the Archbishop of Destiny, was currently happily surfing the community forums under a secondary account, participating in various topics related to Gwen—

A week had passed, and the news that Gwen and You Lan Dai Er had jointly defeated Ganesha with almost no damage was already common knowledge at Destiny headquarters.

And thanks to the convenience of online information dissemination and the indulgence of a certain someone, this news had spread to various branches.

The direct result of this news spreading was that Gwen, who was only known within headquarters, had now become famous throughout Destiny.

After all, with his brilliant battle achievements, rare male identity, and a few handsome photos taken at some unknown time, it was hard not to attract the attention of girls in their confused adolescence.

And in the community, some well-informed individuals had already spread word that the Archbishop himself had praised Gwen, stating that he would be the first S-rank Destiny Knight since the formation of the Valkyrie rating system—

Hundreds of years ago, when the Honkai energy intensity was far less than it is today, and even Herrschers couldn't be born, the two important indicators of Honkai resistance and Honkai adaptability had not yet been clearly proposed and emphasized. The main force against Honkai, besides the Valkyrie units that had already shown their potential, was also Destiny's Knight units.

The Caslana family, known as the "Shield of the People" at the time, also had the reputation of being a knightly family.

However, with the development of the times and the strengthening of Honkai, Honkai resistance became increasingly important, and males, who had a lower probability of possessing high Honkai resistance, gradually withdrew from the battlefield against Honkai.

As a result, the title "Destiny Knight" had not been mentioned for a long time.

If it weren't for the mention in history class, many new-generation Valkyries might have been curious about how to refer to Gwen's profession.

Chapter 62: Anna: I want to become a Valkyrie who can stand on her own!

In the related discussions, Gwen's distinctive white hair and blue eyes, along with his strength far exceeding his rating, also reminded some "old predecessors" who had lived through Cecilia's era of that glorious time.

And as those events from ten or twenty years ago were brought up, rumors gradually began to circulate, such as—

Gwen might be a descendant of the Caslana family!

Caslana, a surname that for most new-generation Valkyries existed only in history textbooks and the praise of Kallen Caslana, the greatest saintess in Destiny's history, seemed to have suddenly stepped out of the books and come to life—

Due to the rebellion and lack of ambition of the previous generation of the Caslana family, the Caslana name was no longer as prominent in Destiny's combat sequence as it was decades ago.

Although Siegfried, who had run away from home years ago, returned to Destiny for Cecilia, he didn't do so through the normal channels. Moreover, his ultimate goal was Cecilia, and his public rating was only A-rank. Consequently, his reputation was not very high, even inferior to that of the A-rank elites gathered in the Snow Wolf Squad.

And Siegfried, who was already somewhat unkempt, encountered a rumor spread by the developer of a sonic weapon after he had won the heart of his beloved, which made many people's first impression of him "Madam Cecilia's husband" and "That rumored... man."

After the Second Honkai Outbreak, Cecilia died in battle, and Siegfried completely turned into a decadent uncle. Not only did he not do his job properly, but he also drank frequently. The most people mentioned him when discussing the deceased Cecilia.

And after Siegfried defected from Destiny, although his name did not become taboo, the older generation would not seek trouble by mentioning this traitor.

Now, the name Siegfried only existed in the memories of some older people, and the surname Caslana seemed to have entered the books, becoming a symbol of power and glory, rather than living individuals.

The connection between the currently popular Gwen and this legendary surname added a touch of legend to Gwen.

After all, even excluding Saint Kallen, whom everyone should remember, there were quite a few Caslana family members whose names were recorded in history books.

Does this mean that another figure who will be written into history has now appeared?

With the emergence of such claims, the discussion about Gwen in the community reached a new level.

And thanks to the positive force exerted by unseen hands in the community forums, coupled with Gwen's effort and diligence, which had been praised countless times in the community as only comparable to You Lan Dai Er, Gwen's rapid growth did not attract any jealousy or envy—

At least, there were no popular sayings in the community like "Gwen is so strong, isn't it all thanks to the Caslana bloodline in him? I could do it too!"

After all, compared to bloodlines, young people prefer to believe that effort and sweat can yield results—

And the effort and sweat put in by Gwen and You Lan Dai Er were visible to everyone.

Therefore, perhaps everyone guessed that they also had great talent, but they wouldn't spread any rumors out of envy or jealousy.

And as Gwen's popularity in the community grew, even some older generations who didn't pay much attention to these young people's topics gradually heard the rumor.

These included not only the unworthy collateral branches of the Caslana family mentioned by Otto but also some people closely related to the Caslanas, such as the Schariac family—

"Anna, I recently heard some colleagues mention a child named Gwen. They say you're quite close to him?"

Looking at her daughter, who sat opposite her on the sofa with a confused expression after being called out by her, Angelica Schariac, with a face that showed no wrinkles due to her well-maintained skin, asked with a gentle smile.

"Uh..."

Instantly, Anna, who was still wondering why her mother had called her, froze—

Why did Mom hear such a rumor!

Anna's heart suddenly pounded faster, her gaze flickering away from Angelica's stare as she mumbled, "Mom, don't listen to the rumors outside...

It's just that I was Gwen's instructor for a while, so I'm more familiar with him.

Plus, he has a good relationship with Bianca, so we interact a bit more.

What you heard must be just rumors spread by those seniors and brats!"

As Anna spoke, her previously vague tone became more confident, as if that were the absolute truth.

Anna wasn't sure if her loss of composure with Gwen that day was due to love, friendship, or camaraderie, but she knew that when her mother asked her that question just now, her heart had been flustered and chaotic, and she hadn't wanted to answer.

"..."

Seeing Anna like this, Angelica, who had been through it all, could tell that her daughter, if not experiencing a crush, at least had some feelings for him.

"Really?

Anna?"

Although she figured her daughter wouldn't reveal her true feelings looking like this, Angelica couldn't help but ask.

"Really!"