The Sacred Selene Empire's "Immortal Blade" mixed mobile fleet, under Durandal's command, was the first Imperial military unit to withdraw from Colony World XIII—No. 638059 (Naruto Universe)—after the planetary expansion campaign.
As the vanguard formation that spearheaded the operation, the "Immortal Blade" fleet was not an occupation or garrison force. Its specialty lay in reconnaissance, rapid infiltration, and flexible mobility operations.
Occasionally, it could also act as a diplomatic escort for Imperial missions.
Thus, when the campaign transitioned into a slower, attritional phase—Imperial Navy main fleets spreading across the starlit void for decisive engagements, Imperial auxiliary armies building planetary infrastructures, and administrative departments mapping habitable and resource-rich worlds—the fleet's task naturally came to an end.
As for the Ōtsutsuki Clan, diplomatic engagement was unnecessary.
All relevant intelligence had been gathered. The scouting mission complete, the mobile operations concluded, the "Immortal Blade" fleet—having fulfilled its duty across the first half of the campaign—had no need to remain and compete with the Imperial subject legions for deployment honors.
After performing forced landings on several life-bearing planets that had been seeded with Chakra God Trees and enslaved by their respective Ōtsutsuki overseers, the fleet, having achieved excellent operational results, formally withdrew from the command structure of the XIII—No. 638059 Expansion Directorate.
It has now returned to the Honkai Dimension.
The "Immortal Blade" fleet's organizational structure was temporarily frozen.
The ships entered drydock; crew returned to port; auxiliary troops were dismissed for leave; subservient soldiers went home for family visits.
At Dockyard G-2047, near the vast stellar gateway port close to the Holy Capital's Honkai Supercontinent, the scene was filled with bustling energy and joyful chatter.
Ground crew and servitor mecha took over maintenance and re-equipping duties, while demobilized personnel discussed promotions, ennoblements, academic advancement, or vacation plans.
"Hey, Jack, how are you spending this rare vacation?"
"Going home to get married. This conscription's over, and it's about time I find myself a wife. The old man's been nagging me nonstop. According to him, if I kick the bucket, the title sure as hell can't pass to him, can it? What about you, Hamm?"
"Me? I'm planning to visit a trade world—buy a few exotic beasts or demi-humans to liven up the estate. My little sister says a house full of AI servitors lacks soul."
...
Standing by the high platform railing near the port's outer boundary, separated by the airtight field shield, a gray-haired immortal in blue and white combat attire and a black waist belt opened her turquoise eyes after resting briefly. Her bright yet composed face showed a hint of wistfulness.
Even though she had been mentally prepared, seeing the horizon flicker with countless shimmering lights still stirred Fu Hua's calm heart.
For years, she had either secluded herself in cultivation or trained troops at the barracks. Her most recent departure from the capital had been when she hurried to join Durandal's fleet—without even getting the chance to appreciate the splendor of the Imperial Capital.
Now, returning in triumph alongside the fleet, having personally slain seven or eight of the Ōtsutsuki clan's ancient monsters—from Ōtsutsuki Isshiki onward—she had exercised her Taixuan of Eminence, Ki, and a host of newly developed martial techniques dozens of times.
She had fought to her heart's content; her spirit was at ease.
With this light mood, Fu Hua gazed down upon the sprawling majesty of the holy capital, whose magnificent structures stretched endlessly to the horizon.
Under the reflection of the void's luminous sky, it glowed softly in hues of green, blue, white, and gold—like a radiant, multifaceted jewel shimmering in the sun.
Its skyline lights and streams of hovering vehicles filled it with vibrant life—an eternal city that refused to sleep.
"There are countless paths in life; all depend on human will."
Lifting her head toward the artificial sun that illuminated the capital with gentle brilliance, Fu Hua murmured, "Captain Himiko... this must be the flourishing world you sought so hard to realize. Thank you for all your guidance. If only you could see it now."
(P.S.: Himiko — Fu Hua's captain and mentor during the Previous Era's Fire Moth organization, and the alternate-timeline counterpart of Current Era Himeko.)
"We'll drink together, I'll go shopping with you, attend banquets and dances... And you won't have to worry about being pressured into blind dates or finding a man anymore. The kind of strong, valiant men you like—there are plenty across the Empire."
Unknowingly, Fu Hua had said quite a lot.
Perhaps she was reminded of the days in Fire Moth, of Captain Himiko's awkwardness whenever teased by her subordinates for never finding a man. The thought made Fu Hua's lips curve in a faint, nostalgic smile.
Indeed, back in Fire Moth, there had only been the stoic ice block obsessed with Dr. Mei, a few bloodthirsty lunatics, gentle scholars softer than most women, and one or two immature boys still growing up.
Unfortunately—they were all gone.
It was a mix of nostalgia and joy, tinged with sorrow and pain that would never fade, no matter what.
"If everyone had survived into the Imperial Era, how would it have been? Would they, like Kevin, make driving away the Honkai and slaying Finality their mad obsession, choosing destruction over compromise? Or would they, like me, swear allegiance to Finality itself, preserving humanity through surrender?"
Fu Hua couldn't help but wonder.
But there were no what-ifs.
This prosperous age might not be perfect, but it fulfilled her wish nonetheless.
If she were to name her purpose in life at this moment—was it for Empress Selene? For the people of her home world? For the Empire's citizens? For the Capital?
Perhaps it was all of them, and yet none at once. To go with the flow—to move forward without struggle—was also a kind of life philosophy. Why force change when peace was enough?
At least, she was content now.
The only unfortunate thing was that Empress Selene probably wouldn't let her retire so easily.
Her robe fluttered lightly as she turned her gaze away from sentimental thoughts, standing with her back to the colorful starlit sky.
"So, Lord Cú Chulainn—you've been standing there half the day. Is there something you'd like to discuss?"
"Haha. Miss Fu Hua, I just saw you brooding here alone. How about heading to the spaceport's training grounds for a little unrestricted sparring match?"
At some point, Cú Chulainn had changed out of his usual Hunter attire—tight blue bodysuit and light power armor—and now wore an unbuttoned checkered shirt that clashed wildly with the setting. A few loose blue bangs framed his carefree grin as he gave a thumbs-up, flashing his bright white teeth.
"Sigh..." Fu Hua pressed a hand to her forehead, looking pained. "Lady Scáthach's teachings... perseverance and inner strength are fine virtues, but still..."
As for the beginning of their friendship—it started with a fight.
At that time, Fu Hua had been part of a covert infiltration unit, descending as a Foreigner into the Type-Moon world, while Cú Chulainn fought as the Lancer of the Fuyuki Holy Grail War.
As the first Foreigner to land a serious hit on him, Fu Hua quickly drew his attention. They clashed several times afterward. When the merged Type-Moon meta-world, the Throne of Heroes, and even the Root itself came under Selene's dominion, Cú Chulainn, restless as ever, was among those Heroic Spirits who chose to incarnate physically into the mortal realm.
The Empire's auxiliary army contained many such incarnated Heroic Spirits, known collectively as the Hunter Corps.
Naturally, he requested to serve in the unit with the most friends—the mixed mobile fleet "Immortal Blade" under Durandal's command.
From that day on, whenever Fu Hua wasn't eating, sleeping, or hunting Ōtsutsuki, she was sparring with Cú Chulainn. His idea, every time.
According to private discussions between Fu Hua and Durandal, it was likely because Fu Hua's manner of scolding and "disciplining" him reminded Cú Chulainn of his former master Scáthach—though Fu Hua was gentler—thus his tireless enthusiasm and fondness for her company.
"No, thank you." Fu Hua waved her hand dismissively. "I'm waiting for Durandal."
"Ah? Well, can't be helped then. Miss Fu Hua, I'll be on vacation in the Imperial Capital's subsidiary aquatic star system—Planet VII. If you want to spar, you're welcome anytime."
Scratching the back of his head regretfully, Cú Chulainn materialized his crimson magic spear, slinging it casually over his shoulder like a fishing rod. Muttering to himself as he waved goodbye, he walked away. "What a rare woman... Still better than dealing with that nagging purple-haired old hag—oh? Hey, if it isn't Saber and her tomboy!"
Grumbling to himself, he ran straight into the Round Table Knights, led as always by Artoria, cloaked and armored.
"Humph! Spit, spit! Who're you calling a tomboy, you damn spear-throwing idiot!" Mordred exploded instantly. "And if you keep badmouthing my teacher, I'll tell Scáthach exactly what you said!"
"...Kids these days are impossible. Call you a woman, you don't like it. Call you a man, still not right. Even 'tomboy' doesn't please you."
"Ahhh! I'll duel you, you jerk!"
Ignoring Mordred and Cú Chulainn's bickering, Artoria—now standing tall, nearly matching Fu Hua in height—stepped forward. She accepted a formal invitation from her adjutant, Agravain, and handed it to Fu Hua.
"Coach, you're invited to visit Planet Camelot."
"This is?" Fu Hua blinked slightly, taking the invitation embossed with the White-Clay City crest. Then, with a soft smile, she said, "You've achieved full enfeoffment standards already? Congratulations."
"Yes. Her Majesty Selene's decree has arrived. Camelot has been rebuilt."
The light in Artoria's blue eyes could not conceal her joy as she nodded with a bright smile.
"The new Planet Camelot, reconstructed entirely according to my memory of the Age of Gods' Britain, has now been incorporated into the Empire's noble fief system. Only the final investiture ceremony remains to complete all formalities."
So what if it wasn't the original one? Her life's wish and obsession had always been to save Britain. On this new Camelot, she would rebuild the everything with her own hands, gathering the descendants of the original Britain from the Type-Moon world. Those willing to follow her could immigrate freely.
"Please also deliver one to General Durandal... and General Pandia von Lorraine."
After a moment of thought—and prompted by her adjutant—Artoria decided to extend invitations to her fellow commanders, even if she had only met Pandia once.
"Of course. I'll make sure they receive them."
"Thank you. Lady Fu Hua, the Round Table Knights welcome the Valkyrie Corps to Camelot."
With impeccable poise, she bowed in gratitude, then lifted Mordred by the collar and handed another invitation to Cú Chulainn before boarding the shuttle beside her. From her eager movements, it was clear she couldn't wait to see her new homeworld.
"To personally fight alongside those you once entrusted your life to—and fulfill your dream blade by blade... Compared to that, Fu Hua, you've been far too relaxed."
Fu Hua paused for a long moment, staring at the three invitations in her hand.
"Perhaps... I should too..."
Once the thought surfaced, it refused to leave.
"Even if it's an illusion—even if it's self-deception—I should at least try to recreate those beautiful memories with them: the Golden Courtyard, the Australian Dome, the Mu Continent..."
For someone usually as serene as still water, a sudden flame of resolve ignited within her heart. It was something to strive toward, wasn't it?
She wanted a fief too! She wanted to petition Selene for one of her own!
And deep inside, a far bolder, almost blasphemous idea flickered.
Empress Selene—who ruled all laws and commanded all powers—surely that included the Authority of Life and Death itself...
"Hey! Old fossil! You finally get a day off and now your brain's all scrambled? Hey, I'm talking to you!"
At last, Fu Hua snapped back to reality as a furious Senti appeared before her, travel-worn and brimming with righteous indignation.
"Oh, great! You ancient relic—you ran off to play while I got dragged back to cover for you! Do you have any idea how much Kiana, Li Sushang, and Susanna mocked—"
Before Senti could finish her rant, Fu Hua's attention drifted away—because Durandal had just returned, accompanied by Rita in her palace maid attire.
"Durandal, is this about a new mission?"
"Huh?"
Caught mid-tease by Rita, Durandal's face turned pink. Seeing Fu Hua's blazing, battle-ready expression, she blinked in confusion—it was... unsettlingly intense.
"Not yet. The fleet's on rest orders. Her Majesty granted us leave. Didn't Kiana invite us to her governorate for a visit? I was just about to tell you."
Though she didn't quite understand what had gotten into Fu Hua, Durandal still reached out and took her hand gently.
"In Natasha's words—work is endless. Balance is what matters most. Come on, let's relax at Kiana's place for a while. Once we're recharged, who knows—you might not get another break for a long time."
"Let's go. Don't keep Kiana waiting. By now, Mei and the others should've returned too..."
...
Meanwhile, at the frontier of the Astartes' First Dark Angels Legion's expansion campaign, on an as-yet-unnamed world—
Amid the cold, infinite void, a support detachment composed of Imperialis Auxilia and Valkyrie units was gliding silently into orbit.
At that moment, clusters of radiant light flared beneath the steel belly of a monstrous warship.
Several large landing craft departed from the inner decks, their plasma thrusters igniting as they descended toward the planet's surface.
Amid the roar of atmospheric friction, fire trailed along their armored hulls, trembling from reentry turbulence. From within one of the landing craft came a lazy, mature female voice:
"Sigh... Raiden Mei, serving alongside a hardheaded woman like you is the worst mistake of my life."
Inside the cabin, Natasha Cioara sat cross-legged, her sleek figure wrapped in a tight black-gray combat suit beneath a black-and-crimson cloak. From under a hood decorated with eye-like metal ornaments, her rose-red eyes reflected the striking violet-haired warrior seated across from her.
"It's like money—there's always more to chase, but never enough. The missions never end." Raven spread her hands helplessly.
She truly didn't understand why this Miss Raiden refused to simply go on leave. The fleet's objectives were already accomplished. Their Astartes fleet commander had approved shore leave. Yet Mei had insisted on accepting several planetary administrative assignments on the return trip.
Such petty provincial missions—really? What a workaholic.
Why bother filling the KPI so completely?
Slacking off would be far more enjoyable.
And now—responding to some merchant distress signal? Really?
"According to the report, this world hasn't even reached the space colonization stage. How could a bunch of primitive natives overpower a merchant group so badly that they suffered catastrophic losses and had to send a distress call? Even for the smallest merchant caravan, that's absurd."
Normally, small merchant teams would guard every newly discovered planet zealously, draining every last drop of value before handing it over to Imperial authorities. Sending for help meant they'd already lost control of the world—and all profits with it.
Raiden Mei only gave the seasoned mercenary a brief glance.
"According to the analysis from the intelligent servitor, it was jealousy. The leader of this merchant group envied his brother's recent fortune. Out of greed, he overexploited this planet. Then—perhaps drunk or showing off—he was captured during a native uprising."
"Oh?"
A flicker of realization crossed Natasha's rose-colored eyes. Her expression turned serious as she spoke softly. "Mei, you'll regret taking this mission. This sort of assignment... isn't suited for the Valkyrie Corps."
"What do you mean?"
But Natasha offered no explanation.
Some truths were better left unsaid.
As a mercenary who had once served the World Serpent before joining the Valkyries, Raven knew exactly what could be spoken—and what must remain hidden.
Her rose eyes seemed to glint blood-red for an instant as she murmured cryptically:
"Mei... there is no empire that is truly holy."
...
Elsewhere, within the territories newly claimed by the First Legion, ripples of super-spatial transition shimmered across the void as a newly refitted armed merchant frigate emerged from warp.
On the bridge, the projection display revealed a vast primordial continent and sapphire-blue ocean below.
At the helm stood a young man with tousled brown hair—not dressed richly, but smiling with open warmth and sturdy confidence. His gaze gleamed with expectation as if already envisioning a successful voyage.
He activated his communicator and spoke cheerfully:
"Lord Rimuru Tempest..."
—
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