Hua

Aboard the Hyperion, Murata Himeko calmly issued orders to the Valkyries while watching the Honkai Energy concentration map on the screen.

"Team 1, proceed to Point A."

"Team 2, proceed to Point B."

"Major Himeko! An Emperor-class Honkai Beast reaction has been detected! Please issue further orders." The C-rank Valkyrie in logistics, who was constantly monitoring the data, spoke to Murata Himeko after noticing the change in the Honkai Energy index.

"An Emperor-class Honkai Beast? As expected, this is a large-scale Honkai outbreak on the Herrscher level. Use the satellite to locate and investigate detailed images of that area." Himeko furrowed her brow as she spoke.

"Yes, Major Himeko. According to the satellite data analysis, this Emperor-class Honkai Beast is highly similar to the Emperor-class Honkai Beast that appeared in India in 2012. It caused the deaths of two A-rank Valkyries and seriously injured twelve Valkyries at the time."

"Its codename is Ganesha, named after the son of Shiva and the goddess of the mountains in Indian legend."

"Based on the reaction at the source of the Honkai Energy index, Ganesha appears to be pursuing someone. According to satellite images of its route, the suspected survivor in Changkong City has been fleeing from it for at least ten minutes."

Several images of roads destroyed by Ganesha appeared on the screen. Viewed from above, they looked as if someone had dragged a paintbrush across them, leaving several black lines. The destructive power of an Emperor-class Honkai Beast was obvious.

A survivor? Could it be that little guy? The possibility that Su Qing'an might still be alive instantly shook Himeko's composure.

Even though she understood that, given a man's resistance to Honkai Energy and a boy's combat ability, surviving the Honkai Infection caused by the outbreak would have been nearly impossible, let alone remaining alive under Ganesha's pursuit...

Yet Murata Himeko, that calm and decisive commander, still spoke impulsively.

"Leave this Emperor-class Honkai Beast to me."

"Major Himeko, as the captain of the Hyperion, you are the axis of this operation. Given that headquarters has already notified us of a previous Herrscher-level Honkai Energy reaction, I don't recommend that you personally take the risk."

Himeko knew who had spoken. As one of the few A-rank Valkyries at St. Freya Academy, the girl's excellence was beyond doubt. Having reached A-rank in such a short time, her combat aptitude, breadth of knowledge, and unflappable composure all ranked among the best of the A-rank Valkyries.

If that was her opinion, even Murata Himeko, as the captain, could not ignore it. Besides, the instant she had spoken, she had realized that something was wrong herself.

Personal feelings must never affect one's judgment of a mission. That was a Valkyrie's most basic quality. If she issued the wrong order or made the wrong judgment, everyone aboard the Hyperion would have to bear responsibility for her actions.

However, considering the actual circumstances, the lack of available personnel and combat power left them with very few candidates capable of dealing with Ganesha.

Setting aside the existence of a Herrscher and her identity, the battle-hardened Murata Himeko was indeed the best choice.

"Major Himeko, let me handle that Emperor-class Honkai Beast." As if she had long understood the captain's dilemma, the girl made the suggestion without changing her expression.

Her tone and expression were somewhat stiff and earnest, yet she was so composed that it was as if she were not applying to face an Emperor-class Honkai Beast, but merely telling a street vendor that he had given her three extra coins in change.

Her unassuming words revealed not confidence in her own strength, but a kind of disregard.

Not arrogance, not confidence, not fearlessness.

When Himeko heard the girl's words, she seemed to already see the corpse of the Emperor-class Honkai Beast lying on the ground.

She still makes people feel so reliable and inspires such trust. Even though I'm so many years older than her, whenever I talk with the girl, I unconsciously forget the age difference entirely.

To be honest, Himeko had never seen through the girl. Everything about her was unbelievably perfect, whether as a Valkyrie or as the Class President.

The girl seemed to maintain a sense of distance from everyone. Yet Himeko would occasionally see her alone at St. Freya Academy, in the state closest to her true self. The emptiness and bewilderment in those pure, sea-blue eyes when she gazed at the sky had left a deep impression on Himeko.

But setting all that aside, the girl's presence made Himeko feel much more at ease.

Even so, an outstanding A-rank like the girl still faced the risk of death against an Emperor-class Honkai Beast. Ordinary B-ranks might only become burdens if they joined the battle, which left Himeko unable to avoid worrying.

But the situation left her no time for further hesitation.

"Then I'll leave it to you, Hua." In the end, Himeko nodded and said this.