The Grand Elder's Fury

February 11, 11:00. Three Valkyries on a search-and-rescue mission walked into a hospital.

"Captain, this hospital was already confirmed fully evacuated. Is there still a need to search?"

"Headquarters said that last night, a machine in this hospital was activated. Someone injured nearby might have run inside. As long as there's a possibility of survivors, we shouldn't give up!" The captain's tone was stern.

"Yes, Captain!"

The three entered the hospital with their equipment and soon found the only machine still running.

"This... this is Lady Cecilia! And next to her... is that her weapon?"

"Don't touch it. Lady Cecilia's weapon can corrode its user. Only a Valkyrie as powerful as her can tame it. Contact Lady Theresa!"

February 14. Siegfried had barely regained the ability to move when he heard the devastating news. It struck him like a thunderbolt.

"Theresa, tell me—what the hell happened!" Siegfried grabbed her shoulders and shook her violently.

"Grandfather said she released the Sania's Sacred Blood to kill a Herrscher and save people. But... he said that after the Sacred Blood Liberation, even the Black Abyss White Flower couldn't turn things around." Theresa, tears still clinging to the corners of her eyes, trembled as she relayed Otto's conclusion to Siegfried.

Siegfried's strength drained from him, and he collapsed into a chair.

"Siegfried! I know you're hurting. Kiana lost her mother—do you want the one who stays by her side to be a broken father?!"

As if Theresa's voice was too loud, the door opened. Kiana cautiously poked her head in, then quietly walked over to Theresa.

"Auntie, you're crying. You're so grown up—crying isn't good, you know." Kiana put her hands on her hips and spoke very seriously.

"Mm. Kiana is the bravest. From now on, I'll learn from you." Theresa bent down and gently stroked her head.

Kiana looked at Theresa, then at Siegfried, her pretty eyes blinking.

"Auntie, why is it only you and Dad? Where's Mom?"

Theresa felt as if her heart was being torn apart. She clenched her teeth, forcing back the tears that threatened to burst forth.

"Your... your mom... she... went to a... very... very faraway place... on a mission... it'll be... a long... long time... before she comes back."

"Oh. Then I'll go back to my room. I'll sleep nicely. Maybe when I wake up, Mom will be back. Auntie, remember to praise me a lot in front of Mom." Kiana trotted back into her room.

Theresa could no longer hold it in. She rushed into the bathroom, covered her mouth with toilet paper, and tears poured out like a flood.

February 15, afternoon. Schicksal HQ, Cheng Lixue's home.

She was resting with her eyes closed when she sensed someone approaching. From the sound of their footsteps, the visitor was extremely anxious—almost frantic.

Cheng Lixue didn't want her door to be shoved open roughly, so she got up and opened it herself. The moment she met the visitor's eyes, her own went wide.

"Master! You made it back safely from South America—that's wonderful." Her master, Fu Hua, who had been missing for over a month, suddenly appeared before her. How could she not be excited?

Fu Hua's first glance landed on the empty left sleeve of her disciple's uniform. A wave of guilt and remorse surged through her.

Cheng Lixue noticed Fu Hua's gaze and smiled calmly. "I'm fine. The Overseer said I'll get a new one in a few days—maybe even better than the original. Please, sit. I'll make you some tea."

Fu Hua immediately raised a hand to stop her. "Lixue, don't bother. It's because I couldn't return sooner that..."

Before Fu Hua could finish, Cheng Lixue cut her off. "Master, you were missing for over a month. You must have run into a formidable enemy. If even you think they're formidable, then of course they had to be eliminated completely."

Though her guess was mostly correct, she had already made excuses for Fu Hua without hearing a word. That attitude only deepened Fu Hua's guilt.

"Hm? Lixue, your body..."

"As expected of Master—you saw it at a glance. After I was injured back then, the captain used the Zeroth Rated Power of the Black Abyss White Flower to heal me and Siegfried. This is the result. According to the examination, I've theoretically broken through the limit of my lifespan. A blessing in disguise, I suppose. It's just a pity about the captain... sigh."

Recalling the sight of Cecilia's body, Cheng Lixue's heart sank again. But before Fu Hua could think of how to comfort her, Cheng Lixue pulled herself out of her grief.

"Mm..." Her expression gradually turned awkward and hesitant.

"What's wrong?"

"Master... are you actually much older than me? Because I've seen you and the Overseer—it's like you've known each other for a very long time. I didn't think much of it before, but now that I've broken through my lifespan limit... maybe you have too?"

(Not by much. A mere fifty thousand years.)

Fu Hua nodded. "You guessed right. Otto and I... have indeed known each other for a very long time."

"Grrr—" Fu Hua's stomach growled, completely ruining the mood. She had come straight from South America, and after hearing about Schicksal's brutal battle, she hadn't stopped for a moment before reaching Cheng Lixue's room.

"You haven't eaten yet. I'll make you something." Cheng Lixue turned to leave.

"Wait. Since when does a disabled person take care of an able-bodied one? I'll handle it myself."

"Yes." Cheng Lixue's eyes dimmed. If she could cook for Fu Hua, at least it would mean she could stay a little longer.

Fu Hua smiled knowingly. "Lixue, the kitchen is this way, right?"

"Yes... ah, Master, you..." Cheng Lixue suddenly realized something.

"Mm. I'm free for a while. I'll be here. Let your master take care of you for now."

Watching Fu Hua walk into the kitchen, tears glistened in Cheng Lixue's eyes.

February 16, morning. Some unknown underground chamber.

"That's the whole story. As for the Sania's Sacred Blood, I think I've explained it clearly enough within the scope of your understanding." Enoshia looked at Sirin before her, speaking as gently as she could.

"So, from the moment she unleashed the Sacred Blood, she was doomed to die?" Sirin stumbled backward, and Bella quickly caught her.

"That's Schicksal's conclusion. In everyone's eyes, she's indeed a dead woman. Don't get worked up just yet—since I'm telling you this, naturally there's a way to let her live again in another form. But for it to succeed, we first need a Data Space."

At that moment, on the plains of Siberia, a white-haired young beauty knelt in the snowy expanse, staring blankly around her. If any Valkyrie saw her, they would be utterly astonished.

Because her appearance was almost identical to Cecilia's.

"Why... am I... here..."