When the hot air hit her, Mei recovered from her shock and caught me, who was flying back due to the impact. She held me carefully, giving me time to heal with Power of Creation while watching me with a strange light in her eyes.
-"Human. Why did you do this? Don't you want to defeat me?"-She didn't show much reaction on her face.
-"Cough, cough… I want to, but I don't want you to die or be harmed."-I answered her between my coughs.-"Defeating you with such an ambush would be disgraceful."
As we spoke, more rockets flew at us, but all were shot down by Mei's lightning as she quickly started to recover.
-"Then aren't you afraid that I'll kill you while you are in this state?"-Her eyes looked into mine.
-"You wouldn't."-I shook my head, color returning to my face.-"I saw it in your blade; you look down on such actions. You want to conquer me, and only doing it directly will be worth this conviction."
-"Heh, hum… No, Eno, you truly know how to make me happy."-She showed a shallow smile, the first real emotion since the meeting on the roof.-"Let's say that our fight was a draw."
-"A draw?"-I stood up from her embrace, Mei still helping me up.
-"Yes, a draw."-She leaned closer to my ear.-"So, as we agreed: I'm yours, and you are mine, my Consort."
After saying that, she looked down at the mechs that appeared on the roofs and streets at some point.
-"How about celebrating our union with their lives?"-The sky darkened once again, with sounds of thunder echoing around.
-"Sure."-I nodded, swords once again reappearing from the void around us.-"I've been displeased with them for a long time. Leave your back to me."
-"Then don't you dare not keep up."-She charged forward in a flash of lightning.
I just smiled as my swords rained down on the enemies.
-"Battleship Kreios, deploy the Tier 2 armaments."-I ordered on the transmission.-"Destroy all the Anti-Entropy forces. Over."
-"Roger. Battleship Kreios engages the enemy. All allied forces are to retreat from the battlefield to the
defense perimeter. Over."
-"Roger. Astraeus, out."
-"Roger. Hyperion, out."
When our communication ended, countless eruptions appeared everywhere in the city; each shot from the Kreios's secondary battery could easily destroy a small house, let alone the main battery created with fighting Judgment-class Honkai beasts in mind. If I were to give Bronya twenty minutes, she could level this city in its entirety.
-"Giving them a taste of their own medicine?"-Mei's voice appeared in my communicator, something she achieved by controlling electric current.
-"They don't deserve any of our real effort, do they?"-I shrugged.-"Let their destruction be truly worthless."
-"Well said."-Mei fully agreed with my sentiment.
The one-sided massacre continued for a few minutes before all the enemy forces ceased to be. When that was done, Mei appeared by my side, looking at me to make a decision about what to do next. I looked at the destroyed city below us, seeing the fires burning and the Honkai corruption birthing beasts every second.
Even though we evacuated most of the people, many of them would suffer from Honkai disease in the near future, while this city would become a scar that won't heal for years to come. I knew that while the Herrscher Mei wouldn't care about those, human Mei definitely would. Even if all that wasn't her fault, she would blame herself because that was the type of person she is.
So I tightened my grip on the Key of Creation, beginning a new communication with our forces.
-"All Stations, prepare for a cleanup operation to commence in fifteen minutes. Battleship Hyperion is to deploy on the western side of the city, Battleship Kreios on the eastern side, and I will act from the northern side. All Valkyries are to deploy in the defense of the perimeter on the southern side of the city. Prepare for the city sweep. Over."
-"This is Hyperion. We confirm the order to deploy, but the Honkai corruption…"
-"I understand your doubt, Hyperion, but my order stands. Over."
-"Roger. Hyperion, out."
-"Roger. Kreios, out."
While waiting for the others to prepare, I quickly started to set up a new formation and gather my own power.
-"Would you mind lending a hand?"-I turned to Mei.
-"What do you need me to do?"-She raised her eyebrow.
-"Can you use your lightning to destroy all the Honkai beasts on the ground together with two battleships?"
-"You ask me, a Herrscher, to fight Honkai?"-She blinked a few times, unsure if she heard me right.
-"Are you a slave to Honkai?"
-"Of course not?"-She denied instantly.
-"Then do you wish to destroy this world?"
-"I don't care about such things."-She crossed her arms, appearing displeased by my questions.
-"Then you and them are not on the same side. Even if you don't consider you and me to be allies, I consider you a friend, so asking a friend to help isn't strange, is it?"-I smiled.
-"What a quibble."-She rolled her eyes, but smiled nonetheless.-"Sure, but I'll only deal with the beasts; don't count on me when it comes to the Honkai Energy everywhere."
-"Perfect. As for the Honkai, that's why I'm here."
When the ten minutes passed, I gave the order to start clearing the enemies. With two battleships and a Herrscher, even wiping out a city's worth of Honkai beasts was an easy job, not taking them even three minutes. But when they ended the bombardment, the new beasts started to be born, so before that could happen, I started my part.
Bringing the Key of Creation in front of me, I held it with both my hands and closed my eyes. Tightening my grip, I felt my blood seep into the black and white spear, causing red veins to appear on its surface. As my body was being hollowed, I raised the spear above my head and started to chant.
~"I am the black from the abyss, I am the white descending from the heavens, born before creation, existing after annihilation; I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life to the thirsty. Divine Key · Black Abyss and White Flower, Zeroth Rated Power — Holy Lance's Welwitschia!"
With the last word of the chant, I threw the spear high into the sky, piercing the clouds to reveal the blue sky. With the rays of the sun reaching the destroyed city, a miracle started to happen. Slowly, countless white petals started to fall to the ruined ground, and from all that destruction, white flowers started to bloom on the ruins, absorbing all the rampant Honkai Energy before it could create more Honkai beasts.
In the refuge camp defended by Valkyries, a similar scene was happening: white flowers blooming around the lost and terrified people. When touched, those flowers would heal their injuries, absorbing their Honkai energy before the sickness could take root in the process. Even the Valkyries would have their wounds healed; those suffering from the Honkai corrosion felt their bodies relax and repair slowly.
Before long, the whole ruined city turned into a sea of white flowers, creating a beautiful image; but that beauty was paid for with blood. With my body already bruised and battered, now that the Key of Creation could no longer sustain it, I almost fell to the ground; had it not been for Mei catching me, I wouldn't have been able to stay up.
-"Fool."-She looked at me with reproach.-"Don't harm yourself for something so useless."
-"It's not useless. I'll heal, but you'd blame yourself for this tragedy, so suffering a little to prevent it isn't a problem for me."
-"Sigh. Do you have some hero syndrome or something?"-She sighed in exasperation.
-"Hero?"-I tried to stand up, but she didn't let me go, forcing me to lean on her.-"I once wanted to be a hero, but after some time I understood that heroes can't save everyone. So I'd rather be a villain who can save those important to me than a hero who watches friends sacrifice their lives for a greater cause."
While I spoke, some vague memories appeared in my mind, but they disappeared as quickly as they came.
-"Whatever. Stay still; I'll take you back."-Mei didn't waste more words on me, just disappeared from the spot with me in tow.
She reappeared on the deck of Kreios, causing not a small scare for the people on board. But Mei remained calm, helping me stand even when the deck guns were pointed at her.
-"Stand down."-I ordered.-"She is not an enemy."
-"Are you sure?"-Bronya asked, not fully believing my words.
-"I am. I'll take responsibility for everything she does."
-"Understood."
-"Let's go to the bridge."-I looked at Mei.-"I need to arrange some things to fully resolve this situation."
She nodded and helped me all the way.
Mei didn't stop helping me even on the bridge; she would stand no further than a step from me, as if making sure I wouldn't leave. After giving some orders to Hyperion and the Valkyries on the ground, I opened a secure line to Otto to give my report and consult him on the next steps.
When the screen appeared before us, I was greeted by Otto siting behind his usual desk, with his assistant Amber standing behind him. But aside from the two, I could also see Bianka and Rita sitting on the side.
-"Bishop."-I greeted him properly, as this was official communication.-"The crisis was resolved."
-"Good job, Eno. You showed us truly a marvelous sight; no, I believe that this whole event will become a major turning point in the future of this world; won't you agree, Miss Herrscher?"-Otto smiled and turned to Mei.
-"I don't care, human."-Mei didn't show any respect for Otto.
-"Oh? Then what does Miss care for?"
-"You don't need to worry about those. If I care about something, I'll take it myself."
-"Then allow me to make a bold assumption that you care about our little Eno. But you see, he is young, so you can't just take him away, and, for better or worse, I'm his official guardian. Even if I approve of your relationship, you need to wait a few years so that he can grow up."-Otto showed an expression of a worried father.
-"Bishop!"-Bianka looked at him with visible displeasure.
-"Old man!"-I also couldn't help but get annoyed at his behavior.
-"What are you implying, human?"-Mei looked at him with a dangerous gaze.
-"Well, what I'm trying to say is that our little Eno has many admirers; some even have similar wishes and plans as you."-He looked at Bianka, causing her to avoid his and the camera's gaze.-"So, as a father, I while I can't make a decision for him, I hope that her can grow safely, surrounded by his loved ones, no matter how many he manages to charm. As such, I wanted to advise you that sometimes fighting everyone alone isn't the best choice."
-"So, you want to convince me that I should join you to keep Eno safe?"-She crossed her arms.
-"Exactly. I believe that you are aware that Eno won't let Honkai destroy the world without fighting against it, and I doubt he would like being confined by you somewhere far away, so instead, it'll be better for you to fight by his side, keeping him safe that way, and, along the way, your relationship could grow even closer as partners."
-"It's not her place to fight alongside my deputy."-Bianka looked displeased due to what Otto implied.-"I alone am enough to keep him safe."
-"Heh, what are you, human?"-Mei looked at Bianka provocatively.-"Where were you when he needed help? Who did he turn to? You? I don't think so."
-"And why was he put in such a situation? Don't you have some self-awareness? How can he be safe if the greatest monster is by his side all the time?"-Bianka fired back without a second thought.
Mei narrowed her eyes, displeased by being called a monster.
-"Ehem, can you both calm down. Bianka, I trust Mei; she won't harm me. Mei, please don't argue with Bianka; she is an important family member."-I tried to calm them down.
-"If I may."-Rita spoke up.-"Lady Bianka, Lady Mei, I believe that your behavior will only make Lord Eno displeased if you continue. Rather than fight each other and cause him to seek some other confidantes, wouldn't it be better if you calm down and try to win him over while ensuring no 'homewrecker' approaches him."
-"Rita?"-I looked at her in disbelief.-"It this how you see me?"
-"Indeed."-Mei nodded after hearing Rita and turned to Otto.-"I agree, human. I'll join you, but I have my own requirements. First, I need to be by Eno's side; second, I won't accept being under her; and third, you won't interfere in my relationship with him."
-"I can agree to it, but with minor adjustments. As you are not a Valkyrie, you need to undergo training and rise to A-Rank before you can be appointed as his squad mate. As for not being under Bianka, this is somewhat hard, as officially Eno is her deputy. But Eno is Captain of Kreios, meaning Bianka is higher in the Operational Chain of Command as Captain of Immortal Blades, but falls under him in the Strategic Chain of Command, so if you were to be appointed as vice captain of the battleship, your rank would be equal to Bianka's in the SCC. Is that enough?"
-"Sure, it sounds ok."
-"Then the issue of training. I suggest you train in the Far East Branch; this way, Bianka and you won't meet during the operation, forcing you to follow her commands, and with Hyperion present, you'll be able to learn how to act as a Vice-Captain there."
-"How long will I have to train?"
-"Give or take two years; that's how long it took Bianka to earn her A-Rank from the start as a Trainee Valkyrie."
Mei considered everything for a moment, and then agreed to his arrangement.
-"Good."
-"Perfect."-Otto smiled and clapped his hands.-"I'll have Kiana and Bronya be your squad mates during the training; their special abilities will complement you well."
-"Whatever, I alone am enough."-Mei was sure of herself.
-"Then, Eno. I once again congratulate you on a job well done. From now on, Amber will lead the rest of the work to restore the city and help the refugees. I'll give you a week to bid your farewells, and after that you are to return to HQ with Kreios."
-"I understand."
-"Eno!"-Bianka called out to me.-"Please take better care of yourself."
-"This… I'll try."
-"Lady Bianka, boys are famously bad at caring for themselves. This is something you, as his partner, will have to help him with."-Rita advised her, not forgetting to send a slight jab my way.
-"This…"-Bianka looked troubled, as she was one who usually was looked after by me and Rita.
Hearing that, Mei showed a cocky smile, knowing that she already held an advantage over her 'enemy'.
-"Don't worry, Lady Bianka, as your maid, I'll help you take care of Lord Eno."
-"Thank you, Rita."-Bianka thanked her friend, not catching the glint in Rita's eyes.
Mei, on the other hand, noticed that something was wrong and narrowed her eyes, observing the maid, unsure whether she was an enemy or just playing around.
Looking at them and Otto, who was clearly enjoying this situation, I couldn't help but sigh, knowing that my future wouldn't be peaceful.