Shencheng Pharma… so you are hiding something.
Otto stared at the terminal showing the same cold message over and over: Unable to connect.
Rita and her entire squad had been out of contact for far too long.
He had first assumed Honkai interference — after all, a Herrscher signature had briefly flared up in Sky City… only to vanish moments later. And still, no contact.
Then even Durandal, Durandal, cut off communications shortly after approaching Sky City's borders.
That ruled out accidental interference.
This was deliberate.
A city-wide jamming field — the work of Shencheng Pharma, the local giant controlling Sky City.
A false benevolent front… and a rotten core underneath.
"'Free medical disposal services for Honkai-affected regions across the world'…"
Otto let out a low chuckle. "Free? The most expensive things in life are always labeled free."
They were experimenting on the entire city. He was almost certain.
But he wasn't worried.
Durandal was already on-site. It would only be a matter of time before she tore through whatever scheme these amateurs had prepared.
Yet…
That so-called Second Herrscher who had reappeared with an absurd 20,000+ HW Honkai output still hadn't surfaced again.
Should I wake Su up early?
These recent Herrschers are far too abnormal…
Herrscher #3 and #4 had been manageable at around 3,000–4,000 HW. Even the original Second Herrscher — with six cores — had barely exceeded 6,000 HW.
But this new Second Herrscher had appeared with triple that output.
Things were spiraling into the absurd.
And what of my old friend…?
Otto suddenly thought of someone lying dormant beneath his feet.
Someone whose strength would be essential soon.
He rose from his chair and walked toward the deepest chamber of Headquarters — the one sealed for the Immortal Red Kite.
The Awakening
Every door slid open automatically as Otto approached, granting him entry to the dim, silent room where a single life-support pod stood.
Inside slept the woman who had once cut down Herrschers like weeds.
But today, she remained still — unmoving.
Otto frowned.
He wasn't the only one watching.
From a dark corner, unseen eyes observed silently… then disappeared as quietly as they came.
"Old friend… you don't intend to sleep for twenty years straight, do you?"
He sighed softly.
Beep—
He froze.
That sound came from the pod.
She's waking up.
"Excellent—"
CRACK—!!
The reinforced glass exploded outward.
Fluid splashed across Otto's suit as shards scattered across the floor.
She stepped out, dripping with nutrient solution, expression unreadable.
Otto didn't mind the mess at all — only the fact that she was finally conscious.
"My old friend, you've returned. Though your method of waking up… mm, quite the surprise."
He brushed the liquid off his coat with a smile.
She didn't respond.
Again, Otto wasn't surprised. Waking from deep-repair stasis was disorienting; most needed time to regain clarity.
He walked closer.
"Well then, since you're awake, let's—"
BANG—!!
Her fist buried itself into Otto's abdomen, sending his body shooting backward like a ragdoll.
He crashed into the wall hard enough to bend the metal.
"Immortal Red Kite… what are you doing?!"
His artificial body registered no pain — but the deep dent forming across his abdomen told him the blow wasn't held back.
"Why?"
"What happened in the illusion of the Featherdust?"
"Did the Fourth Herrscher do something to you?!"
Questions flooded Otto's mind.
But Hua gave no answer.
She only advanced.
And struck.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Heavy blows hammered his face and chest.
His consciousness flickered — his current body couldn't maintain processing.
Everything went black.
The Red Kite Takes Flight
The next moment, the Immortal Red Kite stood amid a room of unconscious guards, shattered walls, and screaming alarms.
BEEEP— BEEEP—
The entire HQ trembled with emergency sirens.
But Hua paid them no mind.
She stepped onto the outside deck, the cold night wind whipping her long hair.
Her gaze locked onto the faraway city glowing faintly in the darkness:
Sky City.
I'm coming.
"Take off."
A weapon case unfolded beneath her feet — transforming into a makeshift flight platform.
With a burst of speed, the Immortal Red Kite tore into the night sky, vanishing in a streak of red light.
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