"Lord Overseer, the Third Honkai Eruption has occurred within Nagazora City. Raiden Mei has become the Herrscher of Thunder. K423 was lured to the city's edge by Cocolia's people and is currently en route."
In the Overseer's office at Schicksal HQ, an old friend we've accompanied for quite some time now sat comfortably in his office chair, listening to his secretary's report.
"Amber, help Cocolia's side block any news about Nagazora City. Don't let Theresa find out."
The Overseer of Schicksal, Otto Apocalypse, had been aware of Cocolia's movements from the very beginning of her plan.
ME Corp, a company under the banner of Anti-Entropy – many might not know this, but for Otto, who controlled the vast majority of global resources and possessed technology far surpassing most, it wasn't much of a secret.
He wouldn't target the company either; after all, it served as a primary source of income for the Anti-Entropy organization.
Regarding Anti-Entropy, aside from that old friend whom he still regarded with caution, Otto didn't really consider the others particularly difficult to handle. The main concern was pushing them too hard, lest the Alliance Leader decided to go all out against him.
The destruction and chaos caused by a Herrscher rampaging without restraint would be immense.
"Now then, our knight is about to go rescue her princess. This crucial part of the story can't end so soon. After all, once the knight saves the princess, some time is still needed for the feelings between them to properly blossom and grow, isn't that right?"
Otto's face was wreathed in smiles. In fact, he almost always wore a smiling expression, making people think he was very approachable. But no one could ever penetrate that smile to see the emotions churning within his heart.
"Lord Overseer, Cocolia's side has already dispatched personnel to deal with the Third Herrscher. K423 currently lacks transportation and must deal with Deadwalkers and Honkai Beasts along the way. Under these conditions, reaching the target location might take another five to six hours, including necessary rest time."
"The Third Herrscher isn't so easily captured. Even an ordinary high school girl with an immature mind and limited knowledge, upon mastering the fundamental force of electromagnetism, renders many of humanity's technological creations effectively useless against her."
"All we need to do now is sit here and wait for events to unfold."
Otto continued watching the images transmitted from multiple surveillance feeds displayed on the screen before him.
All the monitoring equipment Otto had prepared was focused solely around Kiana and Raiden Mei.
Cocolia, on the other hand, was entirely preoccupied with dealing with the Third Herrscher, paying little attention even to Kiana's situation.
As for the snake lurking deeper still, it had already withdrawn from Nagazora City the moment the plan began, refraining from any surveillance or interference for the time being.
Consequently, someone far beyond the scope of the plan, perhaps even outside the destiny of this world, was completely overlooked by everyone.
The pale white long blade in Xin Yu's hand reverted to the shape of a cross. However, this time, the originally glittering golden cross seemed to have lost its color, becoming dull and grayish-white.
As for Xin Yu himself, his already white hair, like that of an old man, turned an extreme shade of gray-white. If it previously conveyed a sense of decay, now it felt like a blankness stripped of all color.
The result obtained at this cost was that all the Deadwalkers in the surrounding streets had turned to dust.
Xin Yu walked forward in silence, heading towards his home. He didn't know if his disciple was still alive. The man hadn't even mastered the basics of the cultivation technique. Subjected to such intense energy erosion, if his luck was good enough, he might have had a sudden enlightenment and broken through to the Qi Refining stage. Then he wouldn't need to fear the current level of energy erosion.
If his luck wasn't good enough...
Xin Yu could only hurry. If not for the terrible condition of the roads – collapsed buildings, wrecked cars strewn across the path, damaged pavement – even a bicycle couldn't pass unhinded. Some areas required long detours, while others could only be traversed by climbing.
As for why the roads were damaged, with uneven elevations...
Xin Yu looked at the monster before him – overall white, with pinkish-purple markings, standing three or four stories tall. He didn't stop walking; he simply drew his blade once more.
Ōno Nao lay collapsed on the ground for a full ten minutes before he gradually came back to his senses. Trembling, he leaned against the wall and pushed himself up.
When he looked outside, he saw empty streets – perhaps not entirely empty, as many sets of clothes remained scattered on the ground.
"I... didn't die?"
Once his ability to think returned, Ōno Nao began to ponder. Under these circumstances, most people in the city had died. Why hadn't he?
The most fundamental difference between him and a normal person was the cultivation technique his Master had taught him.
Ōno Nao silently recalled the mnemonic chant his Master had imparted. It still felt as obscure and difficult to understand as before, even giving off a strange impression of classical and vernacular Chinese haphazardly pieced together.
But he could clearly feel an energy coursing through his body! Yes! This was the Spiritual Power (Línglì) his Master spoke of!
This energy flowed throughout his being, clearly perceptible, distinctly noticeable! Ōno Nao could feel that his physical body far surpassed its previous state. Although untested, he sensed that if he faced his past self, he could knock him down with a single punch.
This was the feeling of power!
Ōno Nao almost couldn't resist shouting aloud to vent the excitement bubbling within him, but he quickly clamped his hand over his mouth, stopping himself.
Because in the very next second, he saw a massive monster, easily five stories tall, walking slowly in the distance. Wherever it passed, roads crumbled, and buildings collapsed. Its sheer, imposing presence was like a monster from a tokusatsu show brought to life.
Ōno Nao had initially planned to wait inside the building for his Master to arrive so they could meet up safely. But under the current circumstances, staying here was impossible.
No choice but to go outside.
Ōno Nao immediately took a detour and ran out through the back door.
As he ran, he felt his body lighter than ever before, as if all restraints had been cast off, far more effortless than his former self.
However, the excited Ōno Nao failed to notice faint purple markings subtly glowing on the surface of his skin.