The Boy and the Ditz Each Stab the Other in the Back

As long as you are all safe and sound, what I am facing is nothing, besides..."

As she spoke, Durandal suddenly paused, smiled, shook her head, and said no more.

Even if it was just for Siegfried, she was prepared to sacrifice herself to the tiger; now she was just taking another step in that direction.

That big bad guy!!

No matter the cost, I will defeat [Welt White] and bring you back, sister!

Kiana, not accepting all of this with a clear conscience, looked at the White Plum Mark between the golden-haired Valkyrie's eyebrows and spoke slowly and deliberately, with utmost seriousness.

Although she felt unfamiliar and hostile towards Durandal not long ago, after truly learning everything, Kiana's feelings for this strongest Valkyrie have completely transformed into guilt and closeness, and even the previously unfamiliar word "older sister" has become familiar.

"Okay, then I'll be waiting for you, Kiana."

Meeting the White-haired Girl's caring gaze, Durandal's smile brightened.

"And..."

With that, Kiana took a deep breath, her eyes suddenly hardening. "No matter what happens in the future, you will always be my sister!"

She never hesitated to assume the worst about Welt White.

In exchange for them and to quell Welt White's rage, Durandal paid the price of her freedom.

Having read countless fanfics, Kiana could easily imagine what kind of outrageous things a Valkyrie like Welt White would force Durandal, the strongest Valkyrie, to do after obtaining all of her.

Thinking of Durandal's possible fate, Kiana felt a pang of heartache and wished she could once again wield her sword and fight Welt White for another three hundred rounds.

Kiana, you will always be my sister.

Unaware of how many stories she had experienced in Kiana's heart, Durandal was simply moved by Kiana's genuine feelings and couldn't help but hug the girl tightly again.

Seeing the two girls' deep sisterly affection, Fu Hua and Bronya momentarily forgot about the shadow of [Welt White] and showed gentle smiles on their faces.

"Um... Captain Hen might be in danger right now."

With one hand nervously clutching her collar, Seele's soft skin curved into a sinister shape as she spoke, her voice weak yet shattering the warm atmosphere.

"Oh, right, Hen!"

Finally recovering from the shock of Durandal's words, Kiana panicked instantly.

Although I trust the boy's caution, the destructive power of [Welt White] is truly astonishing, and the force with which he shattered Mount Tai Xu in one blow was indeed unexpected.

In this situation, the boy's life would be in grave danger.

Realizing this, Kiana and the Sea of Quanta group immediately took action, and Durandal, adhering to the principle of helping others to the end, did not leave.

Even Schariac, who tried to maintain his aloof image, joined the search for the boy after being persuaded by Fu Hua in just a few words.

After a long while, when the group finally dug through the hundreds of meters deep mountain ruins and found a protective shield supported by the power of Star of Eden, the scene that appeared made everyone fall silent.

Perhaps due to the low oxygen levels beneath the rubble, or perhaps due to the immense pressure from the landslide, both the boy and Wendy inside the protective shield fell into a coma, and...

Wendy held the boy tightly in her arms, as if trying to protect him from falling rocks, or as if they were on their deathbeds and wanted to cherish each other's last warmth.

"Kiana..."

Seele tried to defend the boy, lest the white-haired girl suddenly bristle.

"Great! Hen and Wendy are both safe and sound!"

But faced with this situation, Kiana breathed a huge sigh of relief and a genuine smile appeared on her face.

Having always considered Wendy a close friend like Bronya and Seele, she naturally wouldn't easily doubt her.

Besides, in such a perilous situation where she was on the verge of death, how could she possibly be too harsh on the boy and Wendy?

Even if the two were in a somewhat intimate posture, it must have been for the purpose of dealing with disaster, and there was absolutely nothing sordid about it!

Bronya: "..."

Although this development is quite good, she felt that this white-haired girl was becoming more and more embarrassing.

Later.

Shortly after returning to the World Serpent Base, Durandal encountered a long-haired man wearing a white mask in a passageway near the dormitory area.

"White!?"

Upon seeing the man appear, Durandal's body tensed up immediately.

"How does it feel to reunite with your daughter, Durandal?"

Naturally sensing the girl's nervousness, Shi Hen still asked with a light smile.

Kiana is my sister!

She corrected him loudly, Durandal gaze towards the man filled with anger.

"It doesn't matter, I'm just here to collect what I deserve anyway."

Shi Hen gently shook his head and said.

"What you up to?"

Involuntarily taking a step back, Durandal's eyes immediately became wary.

"You should think more about what you can do, Durandal."

With a light laugh, Shi Hen slightly raised his chin, his eyes, filled with arrogance and shimmering white light, said, "Or is it that the strongest Valkyrie of Schicksal intends to break her promise?"

"You..."

In a fit of anger, but meeting the man's confident gaze, the struggle in Durandal's eyes ultimately subsided. "When do you want to do... that kind of thing..."

As she spoke, the girl's voice gradually weakened, and by the end, it had already disappeared into the air.

Having just experienced the happiness of recognizing Kiana, Durandal did not want this wonderful moment to end so soon.

Moreover, she understands the importance of keeping her word.

Touching her slightly burning brow, Durandal's gaze quickly hardened, like a Saintess about to sacrifice herself for world peace.

"Do you need to make any other preparations?"

Shi Hen immediately countered with a question.

"You..."

Anger surged again on her face, but facing the man's seemingly matter-of-fact gaze, Durandal took a deep breath to suppress her shame and indignation. "At least... give me some time to clean myself up, right?"

As she spoke softly, the girl's face and neck turned completely red.

"... Do Valkyrie of your Schicksal take a bath before cooking?"

Shi Hen couldn't help but ask with a smile.

"Cook...?"

Upon hearing this, Durandal was immediately stunned.

"Otherwise, what did you think it was for?"

Shi Hen immediately countered with a question.

If Kevin can't enjoy the family's traditional cuisine, what's the point of him bringing Durandal back?

Durandal: "..."

He offered to spare Kiana and the other Herrscher on the condition that he would leave her with that mark; this guy just wanted her to cook!?

Could this guy be any worse?!

In an instant, the girl even felt like tearing down the entire World Serpent Base.

"Remember to put your heart into your cooking; I don't like things that are just done casually and perfunctorily."

Turning around and waving his hand, Shi Hen walked away at a leisurely pace, saying, "Also, be careful not to blow up the kitchen."

Bang!

The only response to the man's words was a deafening, muffled thud, and... the complete collapse of a section of the base's tunnel.

Chapter 148 The Boy and the Penguin's Backstabbings

In the World Serpent Base, in a secret room undetectable by any detector, two men with white hair sat facing each other, their faces serious, as if discussing a crucial matter that would determine the future of humanity.

In fact...

"The Eighth Honkai Outbreak has ended. Hua has successfully reconciled with the Herrscher of Knowledge and has been reborn with the Herrscher's power."

Shi Hen said seriously.

"I know."

Kevin answered calmly.

From the very first moment he saw the Herrscher of Knowledge, he had already seen through the other's proud yet innocent personality and foreseen this kind of ending.

"The Phoenix Incinerator was given to a Herrscher by your Nth generation granddaughter."

Shi Hen continued.

"It doesn't matter."

Kevin's expression remained unchanged, as if he didn't care at all about his old friend's whereabouts.

"Himeko has submitted his resume to join World Serpent for the 162nd time, and he even tried to get it sent to your office through the back door."

Shi Hen said in a deep voice.

"... You can decide for yourself."

Kevin replied casually.

Even though he knew that Himeko was related to the Herrscher of Erosion from the Previous Era, since she had already been reborn, he had no intention of interfering too much in the girl's life.

This was the only explanation he could give to Sakura.

"..."

Upon hearing this, Shi Hen paused for a moment before letting out a long sigh. He pointed to the large table of brightly colored dishes in front of him and said, "So, Boss Kevin, are you really not going to give it a try?"

"No need."

Kevin answered in a cold voice, his expression still as indifferent as an iceberg, but his speaking speed was noticeably faster than when he answered the previous questions.

"This is a token of your affection from your Nth-generation granddaughter."

As elders, responding to children's expectations is the most basic courtesy.

Shi Hen explained in a very serious tone.

"..."

Kevin silently stared at the maskless boy before him, offering not a single word of reply.

"... I finally managed to persuade Durandal to do this, Kevin, can't you just give me the honor?"

After a long while, as if he had finally given up, Shi Hen sighed helplessly.

Upon hearing this, Kevin nodded almost imperceptibly and picked up a spoon from the stew in front of him.

Watching Kevin finish the small bowl of stew without changing his expression, Shi Hen's face immediately showed a hint of curiosity. "Boss Kevin, what do you think?"

In order for Durandal to complete this dish, he and the World Serpent paid a heavy price.

For example, the detached villa that World Serpent had allocated to Durandal is completely gone...

Although the World Serpent's base is built in the deepest, darkest underground, thanks to the advanced technology of the Previous Civilization, the living area of the base looks no different from the surface. Even the sky and sunlight can be perfectly simulated using mimicry devices.

In this context, the residences allocated to important personnel by the World Serpent were naturally quite luxurious.

After completing the cooking, the strongest Valkyrie invited him to have dinner together.

Faced with this malicious trap, he naturally did not fall for it. He immediately packed up a table of dishes and the dining table in Durandal's room and threw them into the Stigmata Space. Before the girl could completely lose her temper, he turned and left, his actions swift and decisive.

As for the fact that the strongest Valkyrie demolished the house in a fit of rage, that had absolutely nothing to do with him.

Well, that's what Shi Hen thinks anyway.

"Hmm..."