"The situation is already very clear. There's no need for any further explanation—let's begin the battle!"
"What a passionate welcome ceremony."
At the gates of St. Freya Academy.
Mei and the others had already drawn their blades. When they finally saw the white-haired boy return, before they even had time to question what had happened last night, they noticed two extremely obvious kiss marks on Elias' face.
Eden and Aponia each held onto one of Elias' arms. That unmistakably flaunting posture was practically a public announcement to the girls.
'I am your new opponent.'
In that case, there was nothing more to say.
It was about time to start fighting.
"Cough, cough. Mei, Kiana, calm down a bit."
"Sorry, Elias. I can't really do that right now. But don't worry. After I knock the two women beside you flat, my mood will definitely calm down."
"Uh, that's not what I meant."
Elias couldn't help but let out a helpless, wry smile.
Still, this was within his expectations. A battlefield between the Previous Era group and the Current Era group was something he had already imagined long ago, even without any ability to foresee the future.
But he wasn't worried at all.
Because there was absolutely no way this fight would actually break out.
After all...
"Everyone, please calm down."
The moment Aponia spoke, everyone's raging emotions were instantly doused as if by a basin of cold water. They were forcibly "calmed down." Fu Hua pressed her forehead and sighed, wearing an expression that said she knew it would end up like this.
With this giant moth that was practically invincible against humanity present, any kind of situation could be brought under control. After all, the ability of [Discipline] was simply far too broken.
Kiana and the others felt their movements, and even their emotions, being restrained. They immediately stared at Aponia in shock.
"First, let us introduce ourselves. We are the Fifth and Sixth Flame-Chasers of Fire Moth, bearers of the [Discipline] and [Gold] Signets—Aponia and Eden. We are also your future teachers."
"Five–Six–What?" "Huh?!" xN
The amount of impact packed into that single sentence was overwhelming. Flame-Chasers from the Previous Era just like Fu Hua, and on top of that, teachers. Everyone's gazes simultaneously turned toward the Judah launcher.
Theresa.
You're the one who brought the enemies inside, aren't you?!
"Cough, cough. Miss Eden and Miss Aponia are already our academy's music teacher and psychology teacher. P-Please try to get along well with them... and Miss Eden is already a board member. I can't go against that either..."
Theresa said awkwardly. Although she barely maintained a smile on her face, cold sweat was pouring down her back. If possible, she really wanted to leave this place as fast as she could and run far away.
"Auntie, how could you do this!"
"Kiana, didn't you say during yesterday's call that it'd be better if I came back this morning?"
"Huh? Th-This is my fault now?!"
Kiana was instantly dumbfounded. She stared at Theresa in disbelief as Theresa tried to shift the blame onto her.
How could this possibly be pinned on her?
Sure, she did say she hoped Theresa would come back later so she could finish her homework. But she never said to bring back two brand-new powerful enemies! Auntie, how could you betray the organization like this! When we get back, I'm going to eat all your snacks!
"Theresa, isn't making someone a board member a bit inappropriate?"
"Wuu, Himeko, I didn't have any choice either. Miss Eden gave too much!!"
"How much?"
"Seven thousand..."
"Seventy million? That's not really—"
"Seven hundred billion!!"
That terrifying number made everyone suck in a sharp breath. They looked at Eden with shock-filled eyes, thinking that this Flame-Chaser from the Previous Era actually possessed money-based superpowers.
Eden said calmly, "No need to be surprised. Just a small sum. I hope we can all get along well in the future."
It could only be said that money wasn't omnipotent.
But in the end, it was still universal.
Fu Hua: "This is even more outrageous than in the Previous Era."
Although Eden and Aponia were not Flame-Chasers specialized in direct combat, in many aspects they were even more frightening than combat-oriented Flame-Chasers.
The former's art and wealth could influence society and even the era itself, while the latter's [Discipline] could restrain almost anyone in the world. It could only be said that troublesome opponents had increased.
Fu Hua was feeling very uncomfortable right now.
Things had been exposed far faster than she had anticipated. She hadn't even taken the stage yet, and two heavyweight "companions" had already arrived... they really did look heavy. Their shoulders must be sore on a daily basis.
Back then, the reason she had been willing to enter the world, aside from aligning with the history of the Previous Era that Elias had described, was actually because of a small personal reason. Fu Hua truly didn't want to stay in the Elysian Realm anymore.
Over fifty thousand years, Mobius had already researched methods to freely grow bigger and smaller, and Griseo had also grown into a "big" girl.
Now, the average among the female Flame-Chasers was at least D-cup level. Even Pardo and Sakura were not to be underestimated.
Only she herself remained completely flat.
Fu Hua: (For me, the Elysian Realm has already become hell. By the way, is it just my imagination? Why do Kevin, Kalpas, and Su all seem bigger than me? It has to be an illusion, right.)
Actually, maybe not. It was like how the one with the biggest chest in Hu Tao's gacha pool was Thoma.
Just as Fu Hua was lamenting the unfairness of fate, letting out a deep sigh and preparing to leave, Eden and Aponia had already blocked her path. The overwhelming presence of the two of them was almost pressing right up against her face.
"Long time no see, Hua."
"Eden, Aponia, do you need something?"
"Nothing much. It's just... Hua, you wouldn't want the matter you knowingly kept quiet about to be found out by Ely and the others, would you?"
"..."
Fu Hua's face instantly darkened.
Very good. The opening line after such a long reunion was an extreme east–style threat. Back then, why didn't that Planet-class Honkai Beast just sink this place altogether.
"It was Misteln who made me do it!"
Fu Hua decisively chose to expose a teammate.
What is a teammate?
Good fortune doesn't necessarily have to be shared, but misfortune must definitely be shared together.
Aponia and Eden immediately showed expressions of realization. No wonder they had forgotten about such a formidable enemy. That explained why Fu Hua would do something so out of character as withholding information.
"It seems we'll need to find some time to have a talk."
"...It does seem so."
Fu Hua let out a slight sigh of relief. When she hadn't seen Ely's figure earlier, she had already understood that she had indeed overestimated the sisterhood between these three. Very well then, there was still room to play.
Although Eden and Aponia had been added as opponents, looking at it positively, it also meant she had gained two accomplices. The consequences of withholding information were no longer that severe.
...
Several days later, inside the Valkyrie dorms.
The addition of Eden and Aponia had indeed brought considerable changes to the academy, but all in a positive direction.
The treatment of the Valkyries had been greatly improved. Equipment, facilities, and various developments no longer needed to worry about funding. Although strategic weapons like battleships were difficult to purchase even with money.
However, those were things Elias could directly construct.
Under Theresa's dumbfounded gaze, he constructed several Moonlight Throne–class battleships, as well as a Fire Moth mech corps capable of grinding Schicksal's Aesir series into the ground.
But when Elias returned to the dorms one day, he discovered that Eden and Himeko had become drinking buddies... or rather, drinking rivals.
The two stunning mature women were sprawled together, surrounded by piles of empty bottles. Though they kept muttering that they could still drink more, it was obvious they were completely drunk.
"How did these two end up like this?"
"Uh, because if you think about it carefully, there's actually no need to decide victory through combat."
The key point was that Theresa had begged them to stop destroying the training room every single day. Although the academy was rich now, repairs still couldn't keep up with how fast the girls were tearing it apart.
And after witnessing Fu Hua's strength, everyone unanimously decided that directly clashing head-on with the Flame-Chasers was a bad idea. Eden, for her part, was more than happy with this arrangement. She was very clear about her own combat capabilities.
Beating S-rank Valkyries wasn't a problem, but if the enemy were a Herrscher, then the odds could only be said to be seven to three.
As for not comparing brute force, then what should be compared instead? At the time, Eden and Himeko, both fellow drunks, resonated with each other. Under everyone's stunned gazes, they began a drinking contest. And the result was...
Eden: La la~ la la aaah~~
Himeko: "Wuu... I still feel like I lost."
Although Eden loved drinking, her alcohol tolerance wasn't particularly high. Himeko had barely managed to drink her under the table, but after the songstress burst into song while riding the buzz, Himeko still felt that she had lost.
An ultimate rich woman, queen of art, goddess of music, plus an unparalleled beauty that hadn't aged a bit in fifty thousand years. The radiance of this golden Flame-Chaser was simply far too dazzling.
As for the other one, Aponia...
Mei: "So who's going up?"
Rita: "This one... is really hard to deal with."
Kiana: "I don't want to. Sister Aponia is just too big. I can't compete..."
Bronya: "Comparative analysis of enemy and allied combat power. Our side's probability of victory is zero. Even Future Form Bronya still shows a clear gap compared to Miss Aponia."
Although the Valkyrie dorms were filled with beautiful girls who had both figures and looks, compared to Aponia, it was the difference between apples and watermelons. This was not an opponent that could be overcome.
Mei and the others faced a formidable enemy. Despite having a face that looked pure and free of desire, she possessed a body filled with sin. That terrifying I-class weapon seemed capable of suffocating someone to death.
"Miss Aponia, may I ask if you have issues with shoulder soreness?"
"Hm? I do indeed. How did everyone know?"
"So she's a natural airhead too..."
Because the gap was simply too obvious, everyone couldn't help but compare this giant moth to a certain flat immortal. After that, they all revealed subtle expressions.
It could only be said that this was a sad story.
"Pffthahaha, Class Monitor, why is the gap between you and Sister Aponia so huge? I heard you haven't changed at all in fifty thousand years. Hehe, I've grown a bit recently though!"
A certain suicidal paramecium laughed toward the sky, hands on her hips as she puffed out her chest to show off her growth.
"..." xN
The girls all retreated in unison, looking at the paramecium with pity, as if they were staring at a talking corpse.
Mei: "Let's make something good for Kiana tonight. Even if it can only be placed in front of her grave..."
Bronya: "Bronya once had a friend called Kiana. Later, she died."
Rita: "As expected of Kaslana blood."
Sirin: "Bella, is this person about to die?"
Bella: "I sense a very terrifying killing intent brewing."
"..."
Fu Hua silently removed her glasses and then smiled as she looked at Kiana, saying nothing more.
"!!!"
At that moment, the paramecium's survival instinct made Kiana sense the threat of death. Without hesitation, she opened a portal beneath her feet, planning to flee on the spot.
However, the Immortal Phoenix's hand was already pressing down on her crown, grabbing her head and lifting her off the ground until her feet dangled in the air.
"S-S-Sorry, Class Monitor! I shouldn't have mocked you for not growing at all in fifty thousand years. Please spare my life, okay? I-I'll never say your chest is small again!"
"Kiana..."
Fu Hua's smile grew a little gentler. The hand gripping Kiana's crown tightened slightly, as if it were about to dig in.
"Waaah, Elias, save me!"
"Eh~ Kiana, this time I can't save you either."
Elias looked at his paramecium with pity. If you don't court death, you won't die. Compared to saving her from Fu Hua's hands right now, he felt it would be better to charge the Imaginary Tree again in the future.
"N-No, don't! I don't want to die yet!"
"Kiana, are you prepared to repent? Ki Impact!!"
The immortal pats the head, Ki Impact splits the skull!
Aaaahhhhh—!
Looking at Kiana, whose soul seemed to be drifting out of her mouth, Elias sighed and shook his head, inwardly lamenting that when the crown of one's head gets lifted, no mouth is innocent.
After disciplining the death-seeking Kiana, Fu Hua flicked her sleeves and left directly. Before departing, she even cast a gaze filled with deep resentment at Aponia's lethal weapons... Elias felt as if he had heard the sound of back teeth shattering.
(Actually, if I used my authority, it's not like I couldn't help Hua change her fate against the heavens, but...)
A white flower of creation appeared in Elias' hand. Before the cellular manipulation authority of the Herrscher of Rebirth, let alone a flat board, even something concave could be turned into a watermelon.
However...
(Somehow, it feels like if she weren't flat, then Fu Hua wouldn't be Fu Hua anymore. So... I should probably forget it.)
Elias dismissed the thought of changing Fu Hua's fate. After all, if the Immortal Phoenix weren't flat, would she still be the Immortal Phoenix? No. That Fu Hua would be soulless.
"Mm... huh... what happened?"
At the same time, the sound of Kiana's crown being split by Ki Impact also caused the drunken Eden to wake up slightly.
The songstress groggily rubbed her eyes and instinctively reached out to grab her wine glass again.
"That's enough, Eden. Stop drinking. Even if you're a fusion warrior, you can't drink from morning to night like this. Who was it that told me before that fine wine is the permanent erosion of the flesh in exchange for momentary satisfaction of the soul?"
As Elias spoke, he used his authority to restore Eden's condition, also adjusting her body, which wasn't actually in any serious state.
"How about I help you quit drinking in the future?"
"Uh, my dear Elias, you can't deprive me of one of the greatest pleasures in my life."
"Eden, I can use [Discipline] to help you."
"Thank you, but no need!"
Eden shuddered all over. A life without alcohol was that really something a human should live? She thought that it seemed she really would have to restrain herself a bit in the future.
If Aponia truly planted a [Discipline] that forbade drinking, then even wanting to drink unconsciously would be impossible.
"By the way, Eden, have you never considered stepping onto the stage again? With your current abilities, you could surely become a star of the era in a much shorter time than in the Previous Era."
"Mm, I haven't really thought about that yet. But starting anew in a new era and continuing to shine does sound like a very appealing choice. What do you think, Elias?"
"I support it with all my heart. After all, what I love most is seeing you shine brightly on stage while singing, Eden."
Elias said without hesitation. Although he wanted to monopolize Eden's singing voice, he would never allow himself to do that.
A star was meant to shine dazzlingly in the sky. Locking her inside a jewelry box would be far too wasteful. And Elias was confident that being a star of the era was not Eden's limit.
If she were to board a train like Welt in the future and head toward the sea of stars, then perhaps she could even become a singer renowned across the universe.
"Since Elias says so, then alright. I'll make my comeback after some time. Let me think about which song I should use as my debut in this era, or perhaps I'll compose a new one."
Eden said with a smile. She already had such intentions, and Elias' words only strengthened her resolve.
"I'm really looking forward to the day you conquer this era, Eden. Oh right, then I'll give you a suitable gift."
As Elias spoke, he took out a Core.