— Divine City Pharmaceuticals, Industrial District Entrance
"Waaaah—! Big Sis Kagura!"
The moment Kagura stepped out from the research building of Divine City Pharmaceuticals, a white blur flew at her and clung tightly to her.
"I'm so glad you're okay! I was really worried! Aunt Himeko wouldn't let me go in after you, saying we had to trust you and all…"
Kiana tackled Kagura with a powerful hug, squeezing her tightly.
"Ugh, I hate just sitting around doing nothing while someone I care about is in danger! I was so scared something might've happened to you!"
"Um… huuuh?"
Caught off guard by the sudden hug, Kagura tilted her head, stunned and a little confused.
"Kiana… Kiana? Are you okay? Why are you so excited all of a sudden?"
"Because going in there alone was crazy dangerous!" Kiana pouted, rubbing her cheek against Kagura's face like a clingy cat, her body snuggling a bit too enthusiastically.
"After you went in, we were attacked by wave after wave of undead and Honkai beasts! If it weren't for the nano-shields you gave us, we might've been in big trouble!"
"Ahaha… is that so?"
Kagura chuckled awkwardly as she gently patted Kiana's head and slowly peeled her off.
"Honestly, it wasn't quite as dangerous as you think. I mean, at the end of the day, it's just a research facility…"
"Kiana, that's enough," Himeko walked up, her tone light as she ruffled Kagura's hair with a warm smile. "I told you—I knew Kagura would be fine."
Still, there was a hint of relief in her eyes.
"But… judging from how aggressive the undead got earlier, I was starting to get worried too. I'm glad you're safe. Your right hand… is it okay?"
She had noticed the bandage wrapped neatly around Kagura's right hand.
"Oh, this?" Kagura lifted her hand with a smile. "It's nothing serious. Just a small price to pay for victory. And I owe Rita for the patch-up."
She turned to look behind her.
There stood Rita Rossweisse, bowing slightly with a serene smile on her face—elegant, graceful, as though untouched by chaos.
"Thanks to Miss Kagura," Rita said, "I was able to walk out of that place unharmed. I'm truly grateful to you all."
"Vice-captain! I was so worried about you!"
Alvitr, one of the "Immortal Blades" who had been waiting with Himeko and Kiana, rushed forward.
"If something had happened to you, Lady Durandal would've killed me!"
"Eh? Is… is she really that terrifying?" Kagura blinked in surprise. "Is your squad captain the kind of person who would just explode like that?"
"Alvitr is just joking," Rita replied smoothly. "Lady Durandal is pure-hearted and kind. She would never harm her subordinates."
Then, her eyes gleamed mischievously.
"Which is why… I usually take care of that sort of thing instead. Yes, that's how it works."
"Kagura, what exactly did you find down there?" Himeko's tone turned serious. "And what was that strange pulse we felt earlier? Why did the 'Death Weavers' suddenly crumble to ash?"
It was clear both she and the others had sensed the effects of Kagura's earlier snap.
"World Serpent was conducting city-wide human experiments using Honkai disasters," Kagura said plainly.
"They replaced the contents of medical vaccines with an agent that activates Honkai energy in the body, in hopes of awakening the dormant Stigmata fragments within human genes."
"When those Stigmata fragments began to show signs of power, Divine City Pharmaceuticals intensified the disasters to push people to their limits and force a survival-of-the-fittest selection process."
"Those strong enough would awaken as Stigmata users—potential defenders against Honkai.
The weak, however, would become undead… or even twisted into Valkyrie-hunting 'Death Weavers.'"
Her golden eyes narrowed.
"Aunt Himeko, Miss Kiana… that's the ugly truth behind Divine City Pharmaceuticals, World Serpent, and the Honkai catastrophe in Sky City."
"I see…" Himeko looked down, her expression dark. "That's… horrifically literal natural selection."
"As expected of those World Serpent scumbags," Kiana growled, clenching her fists. "We have to wipe out that inhuman organization!"
"You're right. No matter what, such a group cannot be allowed to exist," Himeko agreed.
"What do you think, Kagura?"
"World Serpent… has already been eliminated by me," Kagura stated firmly, each word clear and absolute.
"There is no more World Serpent in this world. Everything tied to it has been reduced to ash—erased from existence."
"...Eh?"
Himeko stared, dumbfounded.
"Wait, what?!"
Kiana's jaw dropped.
"Huh?!"
Even Alvitr and the others were left in stunned silence.
"Oh, come on. Don't look at me like that."
Kagura waved her bandaged hand casually.
"I simply used the power I possess—the authority to rewrite reality itself. It's incredibly powerful, yes, but also dangerous. That's why I only use it when it truly matters."
"Wait, seriously?" Himeko and Kiana exchanged disbelieving glances.
"World Serpent… really doesn't exist anymore?"
"Yes. The power I wield—the Infinity Power—allows me to erase any designated target from this world, completely and utterly."
Kagura nodded without hesitation. "That's the reality."
"Incredible… almost impossible to believe."
Rita finally spoke, her voice laced with awe.
"If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would never have believed that such power could exist in this world. It's… it's like something out of mythology."
"Well then—since it's all over…" Himeko took a deep breath, exhaling in relief. "Let's head home."
'RUMBLE—!!'
Just then, the thunderous roar of engines echoed across the sky.
A fleet of warships descended from above, cutting off all escape routes.
Schicksal's forces had arrived, surrounding Kagura and her group in every direction.
"Schicksal?!"
Himeko's expression hardened.
"Why are they here all of a sudden…? Don't tell me—?!"
Her eyes flicked toward someone behind Kagura, and in a heartbeat, her calm turned into fire.
She spun on Rita, voice sharp and full of fury.
"Rita! Is this your doing?! Did you lead them here?! Just after Divine City Pharmaceuticals was dealt with, now you're targeting Kiana?!"
Rita shook her head calmly.
"No, Miss Himeko. Please believe me—I had no part in this. The moment I was captured by Divine City Pharmaceuticals, I lost all contact with Schicksal."
"Tch… like hell I'd believe that—!"
'THUD!'
A sharp impact silenced the tension as a figure landed before them.
She had radiant blonde hair, clad in a blue-and-white Valkyrie battlesuit with exposed shoulders.
In her hand was a massive, ornate white lance, brimming with divine authority.
The very air around her shifted—her presence overwhelming.
Far beyond any ordinary Valkyrie.
One by one, more Valkyries and Schicksal mechs descended behind her, forming a tight encirclement.
Rita's calm faltered.
Her eyes widened, disbelief and emotion mixing on her usually composed face.
"Lady Durandal…?"