Huh? I'm fighting a Herrscher, is this for real?

A while earlier, outside Babylon Tower, Siegfried and the other two were still fighting desperately, but the number of Honkai Beasts was simply too great, and the trio gradually began to run out of steam.

"Phew... these things just won't stop coming. Salome, let's see who can kill more." Nicholas bared her shark-like teeth, panting as she spoke to Salome.

Salome, however, looked utterly exasperated.

"You idiot Nicholas, our mission is to not let a single Honkai Beast slip through. Who wants to compete with you?"

Nicholas was about to retort at Salome's lack of fun when a sudden disturbance erupted. Siegfried immediately ordered the two to take cover behind him.

Walter Yang stood high in the sky, releasing only a fraction of the Star of Eden's power. In an instant, hundreds of Honkai Beasts were reduced to ashes, leaving the three below staring in stunned disbelief.

The trio's hearts tightened when Old Yang revealed his identity. They were well aware of the hostile relationship between Anti-Entropy and Schicksal. Coupled with the power he had just displayed, they clenched their teeth as he strode toward them step by step.

They knew full well that in their current state, they were no match for this First Herrscher.

To their surprise, the leader of Anti-Entropy stopped a few meters away from them and extended his right hand.

Back to the present, at Schicksal HQ, on the floating island.

Otto was watching a data space where a past version of himself and a past Kallen frolicked and chased each other, a trace of melancholy washing over him.

"Lord Bishop, Siegfried reports that the Anti-Entropy leader, First Herrscher Walter, has appeared near Babylon Tower."

At the sound of the name Walter, Otto immediately recalled the humiliating experience in 1955 when Walter Joyce's friendship punch had left him reeling.

He pressed his left hand to his face and said darkly, "What's the situation with Anti-Entropy? Tell Siegfried to hold Babylon Tower at all costs."

"According to Siegfried's report, they haven't engaged in battle with Anti-Entropy. They claim they've come to assist in investigating Babylon Tower. Given the urgency of the situation, Siegfried has agreed to a temporary cooperation and allowed them entry into Babylon Tower."

"They're already inside? That headstrong fool Siegfried!" Otto was about to flare up when something occurred to him, and the corner of his mouth curled up involuntarily.

"Tell Siegfried I understand the situation. His judgment was correct. Fighting the First Herrscher would only result in mutual loss, with no benefit whatsoever. Let us accept Anti-Entropy's goodwill..."

Jessica Browning, a B-rank Valkyrie, was rescued by a Valkyrie when attacked by a Honkai Beast. Wanting to save more people like them, she chose to join Schicksal. Fortunately, her Honkai Energy resistance far exceeded the norm, allowing her to become a Valkyrie. After accidentally witnessing Cecilia sparring with other Valkyries, she became one of her many admirers and has looked up to her ever since.

But unfortunately, her wish was only half-fulfilled. Though she became a B-rank Valkyrie, she never got to fight Honkai Beasts and save more people as she had hoped. Instead, she was always assigned to guard the headquarters.

In a way, she was also very fortunate. After all, in a world ravaged by Honkai disasters everywhere, Schicksal HQ could be considered the safest place. Here, at least, there was no risk of sacrifice.

"Sigh, I've been here for years. No use dwelling on it. Better just continue my patrol." Jessica patted her cheeks and resumed her duties.

Just then, a flickering light from a laboratory behind her caught her attention. She clearly remembered that this lab housed something extremely important—nothing could go wrong.

Jogging into the lab, she saw two glass cabinets, with a purple gem lying quietly inside one of them. Jessica breathed a sigh of relief, then smiled faintly. This material, which looked like ordinary glass, was said to be able to withstand a nuclear strike. Even if the entire floating island were brought down, the contents inside wouldn't be damaged. How could anything happen? She was just being overly sensitive.

It was said that this gem could unleash power on the level of a Herrscher. Jessica wasn't a simpleton. Though she longed to fight on the front lines, she had done well in her academic courses. She knew exactly what "Herrscher-level" meant.

"A Herrscher's strength surpasses even an Emperor-class Honkai Beast. In other words, even an S-rank Valkyrie might not be its match." Her teacher's words echoed in her mind. Every time she saw this gem, she couldn't help but mutter to herself.

"Even Lady Cecilia might not be able to defeat it... just what kind of existence is that?"

Suddenly, the laboratory door closed on its own. Then, all the lights on the ceiling began flickering in alternation. As a Valkyrie, she didn't panic at the unexpected situation but immediately chose to report it.

Yet no matter how she tapped at the computer, the screen remained pitch black. Her radio crackled with nothing but static.

Then, a pair of delicate hands reached out from the computer screen, gripping both sides of the monitor. With a pull, a figure leaped out from the screen.

"Hey, how do you feel?" Enoshia, still in her Corrupted Elysia form, looked at Jessica, who had slumped against the wall, and waved with a smile, greeting her.

If Elysia had greeted someone like that, they might have thought an angel had come to their side. But with Corrupted Elysia, in such an environment, even the most beautiful smile only seemed chilling to others.

"This is Schicksal HQ! You..." Though terrified, Jessica trembled as she stood up, drew her pistol, and aimed it at Enoshia.

"I know. If it weren't Schicksal HQ, I wouldn't have come." Enoshia chatted casually with Jessica as she unhurriedly walked up to the Conquest Gem, reached out, and lifted off the glass cover. The defense system that Schicksal claimed even an A-rank Valkyrie couldn't bypass didn't even trigger.

"Put that down and surrender immediately, or I'll shoot!" Jessica swallowed hard, forcing herself to sound calm, though she knew her pistol was likely no threat.

"Not bad professionalism. Do you know who I am?" Enoshia said playfully, scanning the room. Aside from the Conquest Gem, everything else looked impressive, but unfortunately, she couldn't tell what any of it was for. So she decided to stop here and avoid unnecessary complications.

"Even if you're a Herrscher, I won't be afraid of you." Jessica gripped her gun tighter.

"Oh? Pretty sharp, guessing I'm a Herrscher just like that. But then again, it makes sense. Against Schicksal HQ's defense system, not many people who aren't Herrschers could pull this off."

Hearing this, Jessica felt her blood run cold. Only one thought remained in her mind.

"Huh? Me, fight a Herrscher? You've got to be kidding me."

Enoshia said no more. With a single strike, she knocked out the already incapacitated Jessica.

"Leaving something this important guarded by just a B-rank Valkyrie? Did you think she was Finality Ki? Schicksal is way too overconfident in its systems." Enoshia dragged Jessica aside, took the Conquest Gem, and blatantly flew out of Schicksal's base.