"This level of power... as expected of the Holy Sword!" Chen Tiannuo marveled at Excalibur's strength as his consciousness exited the Warframe.
"Now I can perfectly control Void Energy too. Double the joy." Chen Tiannuo was delighted. He returned Excalibur to the Arsenal, sent a copy of the data to Theresa, and went back to his dorm to rest.
"So, this is the Warframe from his world? It's really strong..." Theresa muttered in surprise as she read the report.
'I'll take him along to clean up Honkai beasts in Changkong City later. It'll be a good test run for him.' Theresa thought to herself.
...
A few days later.
Chen Tiannuo was training his physical body in the gym. After all, his real body couldn't compare to a Warframe in terms of strength or defense—he still had to train.
Suddenly, his communicator buzzed with a message from Theresa: "Chen Tiannuo, come to the office. I've got a mission for you."
"Got it, be right there."
'Finally, a mission!' Chen Tiannuo thought excitedly. Missions used to be routine, but now that he hadn't been on one in a while, he was actually feeling restless.
He arrived at Theresa's office and asked, "Principal, what's the mission? I'm bored out of my mind stuck in the academy."
"You'll be coming with me to Changkong City to clean up Honkai beasts. That's the mission," Theresa replied calmly. "Just don't drag me down."
"Heh, relax. You've seen what my Warframe can do. Plus, my Warframe can level up through combat. It just gets stronger and stronger," Chen Tiannuo revealed another secret.
"Huh? You never told me that!" Theresa looked shocked.
"Guess I forgot. No big deal, now you know." Chen Tiannuo chuckled awkwardly.
"You forgot something like that?" Theresa gave him a suspicious look. "Whatever, I won't argue with you. We leave soon. Go get your gear ready."
"Alright!" Chen Tiannuo was thrilled—his Warframe could finally get some real upgrades.
...
On the helicopter, Theresa glanced at Excalibur and asked, "Chen Tiannuo, where's your real body? Still at the academy?"
Chen Tiannuo transferred his consciousness to the Warframe and sat down across from her. "Didn't I tell you? I can transmit my mind directly. No auxiliary machinery needed."
"You did mention it..." Theresa frowned. "But isn't your Warframe solid? How do you enter it? I thought it was remote consciousness transfer or something."
"That's how it used to work. But after our systems got hacked by an enemy, we started using full direct-link methods."
"You got hacked?" Theresa looked incredulous.
"Yep. A dark part of our history. Let's not talk about it. Anyway, we've arrived in Changkong City." Chen Tiannuo looked down at the city and instantly transferred into Excalibur, leaping out of the aircraft.
"Hey!" Theresa grabbed the door of the chopper. "You didn't bring a parachute!"
"It's fine. My Warframe's OP." Chen Tiannuo replied as he landed smoothly with Excalibur.
The communicator buzzed with Theresa's voice. "Chen Tiannuo, head straight for Qianyu Academy. The Honkai energy concentration there is highest—it may be Herrscher-level."
"What about all the Honkai beasts along the way?"
"Clear them as you go."
"Got it."
"Hehehe, my EXP! I'm coming for you, damn it!" Chen Tiannuo charged into the horde of Honkai beasts, cutting his way toward Qianyu Academy.
Excalibur summoned the Exalted Blade and cleaved his way through. Nothing survived behind him.
"Tch, I should've built my Sentinel too. Would save me the trouble of gathering materials myself." Chen Tiannuo grumbled.
After just over ten minutes, he arrived at the academy's front gate.
"Hey! Can you hear me, Principal? I'm at the gate of Qianyu Academy. Where are you?"
"I'm on the first floor of the teaching building. You check the fourth and fifth floors—I'll take the second and third."
"Alright. Be careful." Chen Tiannuo didn't mind; with a Warframe, he could cheat death by diverting energy meant for leveling up to reboot the frame.
"You too. Stay safe," Theresa replied before ending the call.
Chen Tiannuo looked at the central staircase but chose not to use it. With a wall jump followed by a bullet jump, he landed on the fourth floor.
"This is still the fastest way up." Chen Tiannuo nodded with satisfaction and began checking each classroom.
...
In the last classroom on the fifth floor, Chen Tiannuo spotted a girl. He didn't approach immediately—instead, he called Theresa.
"Principal, I found a female student in the last classroom on the fifth floor. She might be the new Herrscher you mentioned."
"Alright, I'm on my way. Don't engage yet." Theresa cut the call and quickly made her way to the fifth floor.
Chen Tiannuo stood inside the classroom, watching the girl kneeling on the ground. Something felt off.
"Chen Tiannuo, which classroom?" Theresa asked as she reached the fifth floor and glanced down both hallways. Which side is 'last classroom' anyway? That guy never explains anything clearly...
Chen Tiannuo stepped out and called, "Over here, don't rush."
Theresa hurried to his side. "What's the situation inside?"
"There are a lot of dead students, and one girl who appears to be a Herrscher," Chen Tiannuo replied.
"Let's go in together." Theresa entered the classroom without hesitation.
The girl knelt in the center of the room, crying out in pain.
Theresa walked up to her and said, "It hurts, doesn't it? Your body's been corroded by Honkai energy, but a fragment of your consciousness still remains." She unfurled the Oath of Judah on her back and drew a long spear. "Let me end your suffering."
With those words, Theresa thrust the spear into the girl's heart. The weapon pierced her body, drawing a splash of crimson.
"Watch out!" Chen Tiannuo saw the vines on the ground suddenly shoot toward Theresa. With a quick dash, he sliced through the vines and pulled the stunned Theresa away in time.
"What?!" Theresa was in disbelief.
"I knew it wouldn't be that easy." Chen Tiannuo felt like he was back doing old contracts—there was always a tough enemy waiting at the end. He gently set Theresa down and asked, "You alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." Theresa shook her head. "Good thing you were here, or I wouldn't have made it." She glanced at the spiked vines and guessed they were probably poisonous.
The girl used the vines to stand up and said, "So you really came to eliminate me. I knew you would."
Her voice grew deeper. "Why is it always me who suffers? My mom always hated me—one little mistake and she'd scream. My classmates avoided me, bullied me..."
She went on, "But now, all those disgusting people are dead. And I've gained power that surpasses everyone. I'm the chosen one!"
"Her heart's already been consumed by the Honkai..." Theresa said grimly.