In the tranquil and peaceful café, the group leaned back, enjoying the leisurely afternoon after their meal. But such tranquility is always fleeting. A piercing alarm suddenly shattered their momentary peace, echoing throughout the academy.
"This is the Far East Branch Intelligence Department. Alert: The Far East Branch has entered First-Class Combat Readiness! Headmaster Theresa Apocalypse and all members of the Divine Authority Squad, report to the Hyperion immediately!"
"Repeat! The entire branch is at maximum combat readiness! Lady Theresa Apocalypse and all members of the Divine Authority Squad, report to the Hyperion immediately!"
Silence fell over the café as everyone turned to look at the four Valkyries at the window-side table.
"What are you waiting for? Let's go!" Snow pushed her chair back and sprang to her feet, casually hoisting the Headmaster out of her seat as she did so.
"Miss Aria, today's dishes were excellent. See you next time," Snow called out to the Store Manager, pushing open the door as the group raced toward St. Freya Academy's airfield. There, the Hyperion already awaited their arrival.
-
"Adjutant, have you made contact?"
"I'm sorry, Lady Theresa. The Honkai energy concentration in the area has risen to levels that interfere with long-range communication. We can't establish contact."
"The last message we received indicated that Major Himeko's squad had entered the Judgment-class Honkai Beast Chiyou's body. We've lost contact with the Shenzhou Branch since then."
On the bridge of the warship Hyperion, Theresa paced near the communications officer's station, occasionally glancing up to ask for updates after learning of the recent incident involving her longtime friend.
Outside the bridge window, clouds streaked past at high speed as the Hyperion raced toward the coastal region of Shenzhou where the Judgment-class Honkai Beast Chiyou was located.
"Stay calm, Theresa. Panicking now won't help anyone," Snow said, turning to the Valkyrie beside her. "Intelligence Officer, what's the satellite reconnaissance showing? Can we get visuals on Chiyou?"
"According to the latest satellite imagery, the Judgment-class Honkai Beast Chiyou has surfaced and is slowly moving toward the Shenzhou coastline." A highly magnified satellite photo was projected onto the bridge's main screen.
A colossal Honkai Beast, resembling a giant pangolin, was advancing toward the mainland. Its immense bulk generated a small tsunami that surged ahead, striking coastal cities like a vanguard.
"Projected landfall location? Estimated time?"
"Based on calculations, Chiyou is most likely to make landfall at Canghai City in Shenzhou. Approximately one hour until impact!"
"Has the local government begun evacuation procedures?"
"Yes, Canghai City authorities are conducting an orderly and rapid evacuation of citizens. Shenzhou's government has always been highly efficient in disaster relief efforts."
"We can't expect the local government to evacuate an entire metropolis of a million people in just one hour. Even the most efficient mobilization efforts have their limits."
"Theresa? Stop pacing! What's the Hyperion's heaviest firepower? We need to lure Chiyou away and force it back into the open sea." Seeing the Headmaster still pacing anxiously in circles, Snow reached out, grabbed her by the arm, and pulled her into the Captain's seat.
"Himeko... Oh, please be safe..." Theresa prayed for her friend before rattling off the Hyperion's armaments with practiced ease: "The Hyperion's heaviest firepower consists of six 430mm electromagnetic railguns on its flanks and secondary 270mm electromagnetic railguns. As an aircraft carrier primarily designed for Valkyrie deployment, the Hyperion lacks more powerful cannons."
"According to current satellite imagery, Chiyou's body has already surpassed the effective range of the Hyperion's 430mm railguns. To repel or even eliminate this colossal Honkai Beast, which now stretches hundreds of meters in length, we don't need an airborne warship—we need Schicksal Headquarters' floating fortress." Theresa's expression grew increasingly anxious.
"Calm down, Theresa. The firepower you're describing is what would be required to completely annihilate a Honkai Beast's body. We can't do that—Himeko and Kiana's squad are still inside..."
"Then what should we do?" Theresa asked, frowning at the image of Chiyou on the screen.
"Have you forgotten, Theresa? All Honkai Beasts have Cores," Snow said, a curious smile playing on her lips as she looked at Chiyou.
"We simply need to destroy this colossal beast's Core. And right now, Himeko and her team, who are moving inside Chiyou's body, are our best guides."
"Of course, a Honkai Beast this massive likely has more than one Core... It probably has a primary Core supported by several secondary Cores to maintain its bodily functions."
"Find them, destroy them one by one, paralyze its mobility first, and then concentrate our firepower to eliminate it."
"Intercepting Chiyou in the outer sea of Shenzhou is crucial for the Far East Branch. Minimizing casualties and maximizing political influence over Shenzhou—both are of paramount importance," Snow said, tapping the screen.
"But we have a problem, Snow," Theresa interrupted.
"What problem?"
"Our firepower might be able to breach its thick armor, but the railgun needs to cool down... We can't sustain continuous fire. The Hyperion's reactor can't supply enough energy, and the gun barrel can't withstand prolonged overheating—and we only have the Hyperion."
"What? This problem... there are plenty of solutions on the battlefield."
Snow opened the satellite-monitored battlefield situation map, zooming in on a particular area. Three massive aerial warships were hovering at a distance from Chiyou. Unlike the Hyperion, these were genuine Arsenal Ships, and their decks bore a horizontal S-shaped insignia.
"Anti-Entropy warships... Snow, are you suggesting we might be able to persuade them to join us in eliminating the Judgment-class Honkai Beast Chiyou? After all, we only have ideological differences; we're both organizations fighting against the Honkai—" Theresa's eyes lit up, and she jumped up excitedly.
"No... I mean—we should directly board those three warships..."
"I'm going to hijack their ships—" Snow said, her expressionless gaze fixed on the three warships, the words hanging in the air, silencing the entire bridge.
"...Do you even know what you're saying, Snow?" Theresa asked, glancing at the blonde girl beside her, her expression conveying incredulity, as if questioning Snow's sanity.
"Those are three Anti-Entropy Arsenal Ships, undoubtedly armed with countless tactical mecha... That's an entire army... no... three armies, Snow!"
"My dear Theresa... why would you assume I couldn't crush an entire army...?" Snow's azure eyes deepened into an abyssal blue, radiating regal authority and unyielding arrogance.
"—I alone can tear through an entire army."
The declaration was audaciously arrogant, yet the unwavering confidence behind it made it sound almost self-evident.
"Fine... I agree. But! We should still attempt peaceful negotiation first," Theresa sighed, her gaze fixed on Snow's profound, abyssal blue eyes.
"That's your prerogative—" Snow replied, glancing at Theresa before closing her eyes and falling silent.
The Hyperion continued to streak through the clouds at breakneck speed—carrying its Overseer and High-Ranking Lord (not really).