For the entire morning, we continued sweeping the city, but to our dismay, more bombs had appeared in places that we had searched previously. But that was only the beginning of our worry, as the Honkai concentration around us started to rise sharply, passing the safe limit of 10HW and quickly approaching 50HW. Mind you, 100HW is already considered a minor eruption, so such an increase is all but normal.
With the situation quickly spiraling out of control, I contacted Headquarters to ask for assistance.
-"Oh? My dear Eno, did you miss me?"-Otto looked at me with a touched expression.
-"Have you read the report I sent you yesterday?"
-"About those Honkai bombs? I read it."
-"The situation has worsened. The city is experiencing a sharp rise in Honkai concentration; we might have an Eruption on our hands."
-"I see. How do you plan to respond to it?"
-"Evacuation. The bombs are good enough of a cause; we can make it into a terrorist attack. At the same time, I request deployment of available Valkyrie Squads and assistance from nearby Schicksal bases."
-"A proper response. Good, as a Bishop of Schicksal, I approve your emergency request and declare Nagazora a crisis area. A response team made up of squads from Headquarters and the Far East Branch will be created and placed under the command of Enoch Schariac."
-"I also ask for approval to use Divine Key."
-"Granted. The Key of Creation will be at your disposal."
-"Thank you."
-"I'm just doing my job."-Otto smiled.-"Bianka is about to return, and with her merit, she is all but certain to rank up, so let's treat this response as your own rank-up test."
With that, our transmission ended. The girls around me looked at me, waiting for orders.
-"Maria, you are our point of contact with local agencies and government. Have Amber give you all required credentials and proof. Angelia, take charge of local Valkyrie teams, organize them into a cohesive army, and lead the evacuation. Bronya, you are in charge of comms; make sure the entire response team can hear and work together."
-"Yes, Lord."
-"Mhmm."
-"Bronya will not fail.
-"Hey! What about me?"
-"You… As Kaslana, I hope you can work with Angelia and deal with any Honkai beast that might appear."
-"Sure!"
With orders given, I instantly deployed my Azure Knight: Orion and disappeared from the spot, directly teleporting high above the city. Standing directly on the solidified void, I started to deploy a sword formation covering the entire city. Deploying such a great formation took a serious toll on me, forcing me to be solely focused on it and fully utilize the Imaginary Energy I could access.
It took me almost an hour to complete it, during which not only did the evacuation of the city start, but the closest Schicksal reinforcements also arrived. With the formation deployed, I could now clearly perceive the situation in the city, and I was glad that we declared this a crisis area.
The Honkai concentration rose to about 80HW, causing zombies to emerge en masse, but that was only an appetizer. The number of bombs I could find instantly surpassed three hundred, each already in a triggered state, radiating their Honkai energy to the environment. Touching them now would only make them explode, so disposing of them now might be troublesome.
-"This is Hyperion, respond, Crisis Command. Over."
-"This is Crisis Command. Over."-I responded to the new transmission.
-"Crisis Command, the Far East Branch responds to the urgent deployment orders. Five A-Rank Valkyrie Squads and eleven B-Rank Valkyrie Squads under the command of Major Murata Himeko are awaiting orders. Over."
-"Hyperion, join the evacuation efforts; the current priority is to save as many people as you can. Arrange the responsibilities with Evacuation Coordinator Angelia Schariac. Over."
-"Understood. Hyperion out."
As I was to end my communication, another transmission arrived.
-"This is battleship Kreios, respond, Crisis Command."
-"This is Crisis Command. Over."-I repeated while looking at a battleship two-thirds similar to Hyperion, but one size larger.
-"Crisis Command, on orders of Overseer Otto, the battleship Kreios is assigned as a mobile base and airborne command for prospective S-Rank Squad Immortal Blades, with the Vice-Captain of Immortal Blades, Enoch Schariac, appointed it's captain. On board, one S-Rank, nine A-Rank, and then B-Rank Valkyrie Squads await orders. Over."
-"Kreios, I, Enoch Schariac, accept the Overseer's appointment and hereby assume the role of Kreios's captain. Comms Officer Bronya is to assume the position of my adjutant on the bridge. The Crisis Command now is reassigned as Kreios. Acknowledge. Over."
-"This is Hyperion. Roger, Kreios. Out"
-"This is Evacuation Coordinator. Roger, Kreios. Out"
-"This is Liaison Coordinator. Roger, Kreios. Out"
-"This is Adjutant Bronya. I accept the assignment. The new call sign for Kreios's forces is Astraeus. Acknowledge. Over."
-"This is Astraeus. Roger, Adjutant. Out."
-"This is Kreios, Roger, Adjutant. Astraeus, join the evacuation efforts and begin the sweep of Honkai. Over."
-"Understood. Astraeus out."
-"All Stations, the Honkai concentration has risen to 100HW. Hereby, the crisis is elevated to Minor Eruption. Proceed accordingly. Kreios out."
With this done, I teleported to Bronya's side and took her with me to the Kreios bridge. When we appeared, an announcement, 'Captain on the bridge', sounded, and all personnel present saluted.
-"At ease."-I acknowledged them.-"Bronya, cooperate with Bridge AI to assist the forces on the ground. I approve the use of Type 1, Point Defense and Close-In Weapon Systems, weapons at your own discretion; prepare Type 2, Deck Guns and Tactical Missiles, to be deployed on command."
-"Bronya understands."
-"Captain."-One of the bridge personnel called out to me.-"There is a package for you from Bishop Otto."
-"Bring it here."
Soon, a 2.5m box was brought before me, covered with insignias of Schicksal and Schariac. It was filled with countless layers of protections and seals, showing the importance of whatever was kept inside. I quickly completed the verification to open it, and soon, the box opened to reveal a mostly white lance. Taking it into my hands, I couldn't help but smile; it was as if I was meeting an old friend again.
The lance also appeared to respond, with white and black particles appearing around it, floating to my side as if trying to greet me. Then, the lance started to change, becoming much slimmer and shorter, turning from a heavy lance into a short spear. Its new form felt natural in my hands; it was perfect for me.
And it also appeared at a perfect moment, as a much greater mass of Honkai suddenly appeared on the edge of the town, rising rapidly to the dreaded 1000HW. This reading meant only one thing: a real Honkai Eruption had just started.
Teleporting back to the center of the city, I could see that the entire sky was covered by dark clouds and streaking red and purple lightning, heralding the arrival of the 3rd Herrscher. On the northern side, a pillar of Honkai energy erupted into the sky, spiking the Honkai concentration even further.
-"All Stations, abandon the current objective and retreat to the southern side of the city. Valkyries and Squads ranked B or below are to establish and defend a perimeter. Battleship Hyperion is to command and assist the defending force. All S-Rank and A-Rank and above Valkyries are to eliminate approaching Honkai. Battleship Kreios is to assist them; I approve the use of Type 2 weapons in coordination with forces on the ground. Over."-I instantly relayed new orders.
After listening to confirmations of 'order received', I rushed forward to where the Herrscher was born. But as I approached the location, I grew more and more worried. The epicenter of the eruption was inside the Chiba Academy, and as I wasn't aware of where Mei was, I started to get anxious. Ignoring all the wandering beasts and zombies, I rushed through the destroyed corridors and streets, praying that she was all right.
In my blind search, I reached the school roof, where I could see Mei. She seemed mostly fine, with only minor injuries on her hands and arms. I teleported to her side and called out to her.
-"Mei! Thank god, you are fine."-I tried to touch her arm, but she took a step back.-"Mei?"
She kept her head lowered, not speaking even after I called to her a few more times. Then, she suddenly lunged forward, her hand like a peerless blade, piercing through my armor and into my flesh. With my attention solely on making sure she was all right, I couldn't react in time, understanding what happened only when I felt pain.
-"Mei..?"-This time, my call worked.
-"That weakling is not here."-She answered in a calm, almost emotionless voice.
-"You…"
-"Human."-She interrupted me.-"I'll give you a chance. Be mine."
She walked to me and touched my face, making me look up at her.
-"Be mine, and I'll make you king of this world, second only to me."
-"Mei…"-I looked at her in pain, unsure whether it was due to my wound or headache.
-"Do you care so much about that weakling?"-She noticed my expression.-"Don't worry, she is still alive. Let's make a deal. I can see that you are quite strong, so fight me. You win, you can have that weakling and me; I win, you are mine."
Hearing that, I let out a long breath and closed my eyes. When I opened them again, all the worry disappeared; only focus and conviction remained.
-"Good eyes."-Mei nodded after seeing the change, then she leaned down and captured my lips in an overbearing kiss, as if trying to subjugate me before the battle.
Feeling her lips on mine, my brain crashed, leaving me standing still there, frozen in shock. Mei soon released me and, seeing my state, was even more satisfied than before. Before I woke up from my daze, she cut off a lock of my hair, tying it to a blade that appeared in her hands.
-"Ready?"-She asked when I moved again.
-"Yes. Enoch Schariac, Inheritor of the School of Yìxué. Please advise."
-"Heh."-She scoffed at my actions.
Suddenly, thunder fell where she stood, covering her in red lightning. When I could see her again, she had changed into what most consider the enemy of humanity. Her school uniform turned into a black-and-white, form-fitting dress, exposing much of her skin while retaining a regal feeling; her long legs, almost fully visible, were covered by white thigh-high stockings, with black high-heeled boots on her feet.
Her arms were covered by asymmetrical black gloves, with the right one reaching beyond her elbow and additionally covered by a few pieces of red armor. Her fair neck was covered by a high black collar, accenting her beautiful face even more. But most noticeable of all were two red oni-like horns that grew from her forehead. With her ankle-length hair flowing freely behind her, and bright, almost glowing eyes looking at me with an unconcealed wish to conquer and dominate, she truly looked like a queen.
She slowly took a blade out of the scabbard she held in her left hand, causing two giant armored hands to appear over her, holding a blade at least twice my height, and a purple double aureole behind her, a sign of the divine. The person who now stood before me was not just Mei; it was the god of thunder, the 3rd Herrscher.
-"Mei Raiden, Herrscher of Thunder."-She still reciprocated my courtesy; then, she disappeared in a flash.
Holding the Key of Creation in my right hand, I created a sword in my left and met her charge head-on. When we clashed, the building under our feet crumbled, sending the rubble into the air in a plume of debris. I felt my arms go numb from her lightning, causing me to quickly push her back and make some distance between us.
But with such an advantage, she wouldn't let just me go, instantly charging back at me. With no advantage on the ground, I quickly flew into the air, gathering my sword formation into a much smaller but tighter form around us. It must have been quite a fantastical picture, tens of thousands of swords flying in the sky over a crumbling city, but I didn't have time to appreciate it.
Mei, not to be undone, summoned her lightning to strike everything around us, not skimping on utilizing her Authority of Thunder. The clash between swords and lightning turned the sky into a field of broken crystal shards crackling with residual electricity. And in the middle of it, our two figures exchanged strike after strike, not pulling back any punches.
In such intense combat, I had to focus on neutralizing Mei's lightning first, before I could have any hopes to strike her. So I used all the shards around me as a net, twisting and bending the thunder she summoned to pass through it, creating a Faraday cage around us. Thanks to that, I finally managed to construct the formation within it, confining her inside.
Thanks to it, our situation slowly started to reverse; each clash inflicted damage on both of us, but with Key of Creation, I could sustain the battle of attrition; she could not. Soon, both of us were worn out, my armor mostly destroyed, with the azure cloth turning almost red. She had much fewer visible injuries, but the aureole behind her appeared dim; even the lightning on her blade was much less vibrant.
Knowing that she couldn't continue like that, she rushed into the sky, breaking through my formation and entering the clouds above. Rising her hand, she gathered all the lightning that remained, ready to deliver her final strike.
Not to be outdone, I also started to gather my power, using all the shards around me as a grand formation that I arranged during our fight. Soon the air around me turned into a starry sky, countless 'stars' twinkling with power to destroy anything in their path. Gathering all that power into the Key of Creation, I waited for her attack, and she didn't disappoint me.
With a slash that could shatter space and sever time, she unleashed her full power, destroying all in her path. And I met that with all the power I could summon, all of it focused in a single spear, capable of piercing even the immutable fate. Two of us clashed high in the sky, cracking the space around us and destroying the whole northern side of the city.
When the void around us mended and the dust settled, revealing us standing still in the air, everyone observing the battle had their hearts in their throats, anxiously waiting to know the outcome. But we didn't care about them; both Mei and I had our eyes only on each other. In such a tense atmosphere, an unexpected sound of a missile suddenly appeared, sounding right by us.
With her power depleted, Mei couldn't move in time and could only watch as the rocket closed in, but just as it was to strike her, I used the last bit of my strength to teleport in front of her, using my shattered sword to block it. In shock, Mei watched with widened eyes as I was enveloped in an explosion, shielding her from most of the damage.