This time, besides confronting Otto to find the real Kiana's whereabouts, Theresa also brought Ryn to Schicksal to apply for his S-rank Valkyrie evaluation.
Otto didn't refuse and also requested that Mushoku Kika be promoted to S-rank Valkyrie as well. Ryn and Kika's promotion ceremony would be held together.
However, Ryn only found out about his promotion to S-rank Valkyrie when he was caught sleeping in class by Theresa, who then smacked him out of the window with the Oath of Judah, and then told him the news.
Because Kika is a battlesuit output specialization-type Valkyrie, whatever rank of battlesuit she's equipped with, her strength will be several ranks higher than the battlesuit's rank.
Otto knows the strength of every Valkyrie very well, so the people of Schicksal never question his decisions. Therefore, Mushoku Kika, whom Otto recommended, had her S-rank Valkyrie promotion secured. But Ryn's...
Because Ryn was recommended by Theresa, and it was heard that Theresa had caused a scene in the Overseer's office at the time, most Valkyries didn't have a very good first impression of Ryn. So when Ryn and Kika came to Schicksal for the S-rank Valkyrie investiture ceremony, they were blocked by the Valkyries.
As soon as Theresa, Ryn, and Kika got off the aircraft, dozens of fully armed Valkyries were already waiting outside.
"My, it seems everyone is very welcoming! Even the welcoming ceremony is so grand."
Looking at the "enthusiastic" Valkyries, Ryn was already prepared to deal with all kinds of challenges.
"I'd rather this end early so I can go home and sleep... *yawn*~"
Kika was still sprawled on her beanbag sofa, not wanting to move. Kika had whined and gotten Ryn to upgrade her sofa, so now it could fly around like a mount.
The Schicksal Valkyries, seeing the two who didn't seem to care about them at all, became even more annoyed.
The Valkyries chose the A-rank Valkyrie with the highest reputation among them—Tool-Character A—as their representative.
Tool-Character A walked up to Ryn's group and said coldly:
"There are a total of XXX Valkyries in all of Schicksal, and only four S-rank Valkyries, three of whom are active. And now you two, whom we've never even heard of, are being promoted to S-rank. Although this is the Overseer's order, we have doubts about your strength! We need to have a basic understanding of your combat power before we can trust you with our backs!"
We advised the Overseer, but Lord Otto told us to test your strength ourselves."
After speaking, Tool-Character A released her Field, pressing down on Ryn and Kika. And then, the other Valkyries also pressed their Fields forward together.
"Oh, so you want to fight."
Ryn's smile gradually faded. Although the aircraft hadn't landed yet, Ryn could see from the air that the Valkyries were coming on strong.
He had wondered what kind of challenge it would be, but he didn't expect the Valkyries to be so direct, asking to test their strength right away.
Perfect, Ryn was itching for a fight. Ryn stretched his muscles and then beckoned to them with his finger.
"Come on, one-on-one. I'll take on all of you!"
"Sigh, your defenses can't possibly block my shots anyway. Can't we just move aside?"
Kika also summoned her exo-armor "Sabayon", its cannon barrels suspended in the air and aimed at them. As for Kika herself, she squirmed a bit, found a more comfortable position, and continued to lie down.
Ryn and Kika also released their Fields, beginning to overpower the Valkyries' combined Field.
Comparing Fields with him, a complete Herrscher, Ryn said he could do it with his eyes closed. The moment Ryn released his, he immediately pushed back the Valkyries' Field, and in terms of presence, Ryn and Kika could even overwhelm them.
Seeing that their Field and presence were mercilessly defeated, Tool-Character A waved her hand, ending the farce, and then looked at Ryn and Kika with satisfaction.
"No, your strength is not for us to test. We just heard that there was a handsome guy among the new S-rank Valkyries, so we came over to take a look. Just now was just a test of your S-rank presence, and you weren't intimidated, you even dared to fight back! And you crushed our Field! In this aspect of the Field, I, Tool-Character A, acknowledge you!"
After speaking, Tool-Character A boisterously put her arms around Ryn and Kika's shoulders, leading them towards the training base.
The other Valkyries also followed behind the three of them noisily, and a few Valkyries ran off to chat with Theresa.
Theresa didn't stop any of this. These people would be Ryn and Kika's comrades-in-arms, and Ryn and Kika had to earn their recognition personally, not have Theresa or Otto demand it for them.
Because the relationships between Valkyries are built on strength, forged in blood and tears, and tempered by life and death...
Even Theresa had once earned her S-rank Valkyrie rating and reputation through her own strength.
However, after the Second Honkai War, Theresa had been holed up in St. Freya High School, and had thrown away all her strength and reputation...
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Entering the training base, even before reaching the training room, one could hear the shouts of Valkyries training and the constant sound of punching bags being hit.
Just from the training atmosphere of the training base, St. Freya High School had already lost completely...
Ryn subconsciously looked at Theresa. Theresa also knew why Ryn was looking at her and turned her head away in embarrassment.
"What, is the training intensity at St. Freya High School very lax?" Tool-Character A asked curiously.
"The academy mainly focuses on teaching and educating, imparting knowledge and cultivating character, so the practical combat training is slightly inferior to that of the headquarters," Ryn explained.
"Hahaha... that's right," Theresa quickly chimed in.
"Is that so... It's fine, once you become S-rank Valkyries at headquarters, you can enjoy such high-intensity training every day! Sweating freely, having a perfect physique like mine, that's what a Valkyrie is! Let's work out, Valkyries!"
After speaking, Tool-Character A struck a pose, showing off her strong and beautiful muscles to Ryn and the others.
Moderate exercise attracts the opposite sex, excessive exercise attracts the same sex. Ryn really wanted to say, sister, you've overdone it with the exercise... we fight Honkai with Honkai, not by strangling Honkai Beasts with our muscles...
Kika imagined her small and delicate head, connected by a slender neck, to a body of a demonic muscleman. Oh my... Kika shivered.
"Hehe, Miss Tool-Character A, you must be joking. Lord Ryn, Lady Kika, Rita has been waiting here for a long time."
Rita, dressed in a maid outfit, smiled and greeted everyone.