Within a pure white space, the figure of a blonde girl stood with her back to Imhotep. No matter what she did, she couldn't get a single response... And what was even stranger was that no matter how she moved, the blonde girl always kept her back to her.
"Go do what you're supposed to do."
Just as the girl was about to give up, the golden figure suddenly turned her head and looked at the white-haired girl. It was a face she knew all too well.
The golden figure pressed her right hand, which was emitting a strange light, against the girl's chest and pushed hard.
"Go fulfill the unfulfilled wishes of those who came before."
-
"Hah... That strange dream again..."
The white-haired girl woke up at her desk, her brow furrowed.
"Ma'am... This is the report brought back by that cat-like creature."
Gray Serpent pushed open the large door and stood before the girl's desk with a stack of intelligence reports.
"Thank you for your hard work, Gray Serpent... Just leave it on the desk. I'll review it in a moment."
-
"Hmm... The second test plan is being executed in Nagazora City. If possible, strike a deal with the leader of World Serpent, hand over the position of Schicksal Overseer to Theresa or Snow, and hold the succession ceremony at the Old Schicksal Headquarters to reunify Schicksal..."
"Huh? Lift all wanted orders and bounties on Siegfried, and restore his legal status and seat in Schicksal? Also, gift a hot spring dojo in Europe and an Old Imperial Research Institute to Welt Joyce and Dr. Einstein..."
"Tsk tsk, 'Father,' you're really thinking far ahead... Or is this your apology?"
"It's quite typical of old man Otto. According to his plan, he's not afraid of being hung up and beaten to death..."
Imhotep pursed her lips, looking at the file reports that had been cleaned out by the two old unlucky bastards who were overjoyed by their own misfortune, and nodded thoughtfully.
-
"Any new reports from the spies inside West Schicksal, Gray Serpent?"
She looked up at the most reliable intelligence officer present, Mr. Gray Serpent...
"Yes. Yesterday, that strange creature called Capoo caused a great deal of chaos within Schicksal. Overseer Otto publicly announced that he only woke up this morning. The test originally scheduled for 10:00 AM was delayed until noon due to his absence, but in reality, the plan was executed ahead of schedule."
"S-rank Valkyrie Durandal and the Second Herrscher, Kiana, had a nearly two-hour live combat duel on the Schicksal training grounds last night. The Schicksal Overseer expects to have completed the data collection on her; the Eye of the Deep has also relayed a message from Sire Kevin: Miss Bronya has accepted a gift from a God and become a Herrscher, and a former Hero has also returned from history."
"Furthermore, Otto had a secret meeting lasting several minutes with the Second Herrscher you are very concerned about, Miss Kiana Kaslana. However, the room was soundproofed and shielded, so the contents are unknown, and Miss Kiana herself seems unwilling to reveal much."
"It must be about Siegfried and Cecilia, or Durandal... That's nothing to worry about."
The young girl waved her hand, not caring about this point...
"What about Capoo?"
"According to Jackal and Raven's ideas, he has slipped back into the Schicksal base, my lady."
"Heh, I hope that Siamese cat named Stan won't be left with any psychological trauma..."
-
A white-haired girl amidst the yellow sand stepped forward, her eyes fixed on the distant Schicksal Base where alarms were blaring.
The mechs and constructs of World Serpent deactivated their cloaks and camouflage, advancing to surround the Schicksal Base.
-
"What is this... A father-daughter reunion? Or a grandfather-granddaughter one?"
Looking at the Immortal Blades Valkyries beside her, armed with various weapons and boarding the base's outer walls, and at "Kevinna Kaslana" standing in mid-air outside the Schicksal Base, Durandal, wielding Black Abyss White Flower, smiled self-deprecatingly.
The blade of Shamash ignited, its scorching heat melting the yellow sand into glass. The sword-wielding warrior stood before the Schicksal Immortal Blades Squad, surrounded by numerous mechs and World Serpent constructs.
"We meet again, Bianca Durandal Atagina. I have come to fulfill my promise, and I hope you are prepared."
"Before we seek the truth, let me witness your martial prowess and resolve..."
-
She's strong, stronger than any opponent I've ever faced, whether in actual combat or the virtual simulations Schicksal creates from memories of our enemies; she's enough to be called the strongest. Durandal thought as she looked at "Kevinna Kaslana" floating in mid-air.
This woman is even stronger than the last time we met. Did she break through? Or was her battle against Raiden Mei and me last time just a casual stroll...?
"Forget it. Wolf or tiger, we'll see after we fight!"
Durandal plunged Black Abyss White Flower into the ground and looked up at the white-haired girl in the sky.
"Hey, Ms. Kevinna, are you sure you want to fight with a Divine Key here? There are still innocent people around, you know."
"Hmph... You certainly have no shortage of clever tricks. Very well, as you wish."
The white-haired warrior extinguished her Flame Sword, deactivated its Great Sword form, and sheathed it at her waist. She began to loosen up her elbow as Durandal activated her Valkyrie Battlesuit and lunged toward her.
"Too naive! Weapons are sometimes just a warrior's limiter."
Imhotep threw out a straight punch of her own without dodging or flinching against the blonde Knight Princess's oncoming fist, and the two fists collided with brutal force.
"Hmm? Interesting..."
The figure expected to be sent flying did not appear. The seemingly fierce and violent power struggle between the fists felt to the Little Sovereign of World Serpent only like the soft, powerless sensation of punching a pillow.
"Heh... You're right, Old Ancestor of the Kaslana family. Weapons are indeed sometimes just a limiter for warriors."
After abandoning the Knight's Lance, a fierce weapon that fought steel against steel and prioritized maximum lethality over refined skill, Durandal displayed an unexpected fluidity in her hand-to-hand combat.
"Receive, Neutralize, and Release... If we're using the terms of our era's Shenzhou, that's how it should be phrased. I wonder if you've ever seen it, Old Ancestor."
Bianca struck a standard Shenzhou martial arts pose, ready to receive the white-haired girl's next attack.
"Hmph... I'm curious who taught you that."
Imhotep's eyebrow twitched as she stared at that familiar stance...
"Hua, huh? That's not surprising at all..."
As Durandal's expression twisted, the Sire of World Serpent landed on the ground and struck a similar pose...
"Uh... Old Ancestor Kevin, you know this too...?"
The blonde Knight Princess carefully eyed the woman whose movements were perfectly executed, suddenly feeling a mountain of pressure.
"Just a technique from a comrade... I know a bit about it. What is it, though? If you won't attack, don't blame me for making the first move..."
As her words fell, a fast punch shot toward the Knight Miss's face. Durandal instinctively tried to use the same technique to block the punch, but she was just thrown straight out...
Right before the two fists were about to collide, Imhotep's fist, with its master slightly turning her body, shifted from its original angle, transforming from a fist into a palm and wrapping around the blonde Knight's punching arm...
Grip tight, stand firm, power from the waist...
And so, a Kaslana human cannonball flew out...