Afternoon.
The green mountains were like a sea, and the setting sun was like blood.
The transport plane that had taken Bronya back to St. Freya Academy first returned to the Changkong Garrison Department.
Kiana and Mei were both tired and were sleeping in the transport plane, while Theresa was still sulking because of what Yunduo had told her about Bronya, saying she would go back and have Otto punish those hateful Valkyrie Squads.
Yae Sakura did not board the transport plane; after saying goodbye to Theresa, she seemed to have more plans.
Under the warm sunset, a thin veil seemed to wrap around this shrine maiden who had returned to the world of the living.
The orange-yellow light reflected on her side profile, and her exquisite lips were as pure as falling cherry blossoms.
She held her spirit blade and pursed her lips slightly in apology, saying, "I'm sorry. Yesterday, I thought that Mimic Herrscher could be saved, so I stepped in to stop you. I didn't expect it to not only delay your plans but also lead to even more trouble."
"I accept your apology, but you did save Theresa after all, so we're even."
Yunduo waved his hand, gesturing toward Theresa, who was lying on Kiana's lap reading a manga.
Now, her pink donkey ears had also retracted; they would only reactivate when she used that unique power.
The two of them chatted casually for a bit, and the transport plane was soon about to take off.
Looking at the unfamiliar lonely city, Yae Sakura felt as if she had traveled through five hundred years of time. Her warm gaze fell upon Theresa: "Please take good care of her. Although she possesses no weak power, she doesn't seem to know how to use it very well. Moreover, she is far too gentle, which might bring about other disasters. I hope you can directly intervene when she shows an inappropriate level of kindness."
"I will. I've never been one to be soft-hearted," Yunduo nodded, knowing Theresa's personality. "But what about you? Do you want to come back to St. Freya Academy with us?"
"I... I won't go. I still have many things left to do. I want to take another look at the world she once saw."
Yae Sakura shook her head gently, declining Yunduo's kind offer.
A minute before takeoff, Yunduo thought of the item he had received as a reward from the Challenge Space: memories of sakura. He murmured the name and pulled that eternal cherry blossom petal from his pocket.
Speaking of Yae Sakura, one naturally thinks of cherry blossoms. This petal was probably meant for her.
"This is for you, consider it a parting gift. It's of no use to me," Yunduo said, handing the petal to Yae Sakura.
"This is... thank you for the gift. May we meet again if fate allows."
Yae Sakura thought it was some kind of accessory and accepted it politely, but the moment her fingertips touched the petal, she was suddenly stunned.
"Then it's settled. Goodbye."
After Yunduo finished speaking, he boarded the transport plane and took off with the others, heading home.
Meanwhile, the instantly frozen Yae Sakura remained where she was, her eyes fixed on the departing group.
In her mind, a mechanical voice transmitted the memories of the Challenge Space's existence to her.
In addition, a special voice prompt rang out:
"Ding! Special item detected: memories of sakura!"
"Special Challenge Mission unlocked. The challenger needs to go to the St. Freya Academy Challenge Space to take on the challenge."
"Upon successful challenge, a unique special reward can be obtained."
In Yae Sakura's memory, the pale face of the little girl buried deep in her mind smiled sweetly:'Sister, when the cherry blossoms bloom next year, let's go see them together...'
"Sakura, Rin..."
Yae Sakura's lips murmured, seemingly drowning in the abyss of memory. Her fingertips trembled unnaturally, and even the blade at her waist let out bursts of humming. Her entire mental state was extremely abnormal.
"Big Sister, what's wrong with you?!"
Suddenly, a voice of concern mixed with anxiety woke Yae Sakura from her stupor. "I... I seem to have had a dream. Someone in the dream told me I need to carry out a mission," Yae Sakura's eyes cleared, and she lowered her head in embarrassment. "That person... just who are they?"
"What? Big Sister, you're having those strange dreams again. They're all fake."
"No, it's not. This time I'm certain—"
"She has a way to save Rin. I must go to St. Freya Academy immediately!"
"Save her? Rin clearly already..." that youthful voice said in dumbfounded shock, "It's been five hundred years. Could it be?"
"Resurrection. My Rin."
...Meanwhile.
Schicksal's elegant maid followed the group and arrived in Changkong City.
Watching the departing transport plane, she let out a long sigh: "What a sly little kitten, always one step faster than me."
A helpless Rita then looked toward the Valkyrie Squad in the corner, who were so terrified they didn't dare say a single word.
"So, you took it upon yourselves to provoke a Schicksal S-Rank Valkyrie and even mistreated her friend?"
"Hiding the existence of a Mimic Herrscher without authorization, showing contempt for a fellow Schicksal Valkyrie, and failing to follow Valkyrie regulations."
"Tell me, what should I do with you?"
Rita's cold voice echoed within the shattered Changkong Garrison Department base.
Before her, the Blue-haired Captain and all the Valkyries in the base behind her stood in silence.
No one dared to speak, and no one dared to argue.
They had long understood that in this incident, being able to keep their lives would be enough; nothing else mattered.
Any one of these numerous charges, if taken out individually, might not be fatal.
However, as long as the first charge was provoking an S-Rank Valkyrie, the subsequent charges would be infinitely magnified!
In terms of military rank alone, S-Rank Valkyries were at the highest general level, any one of them being a Brigadier General or Major General.
For the crime of insubordination, being shot on the spot would not be an exaggeration.
"Forget it. After all, you are also my Schicksal's Valkyries. In a while, a new Valkyrie Squad will come to take over the mission. You shall go to the Honkai Front to dedicate yourselves forever."
Rita lightly pronounced their fate.
The Honkai Front was the front line of the fight against Honkai Beasts; almost no Valkyrie could walk out alive.
Coupled with the fact that there was no time limit, this was undoubtedly a result no different from a death sentence.
"...Understood." The Valkyries fell silent.
"Never mind, I'll go take a look at where that Mimic Herrscher was. You all stay here for now."
Rita didn't care about these people whose faces were as pale as wax; she slowly walked toward the location of Chiba Academy.
An hour later, she observed the man-made traces all the way and finally arrived at Chiba Academy.
Suddenly, Rita blinked her eyes, and an inexplicable light flickered in her pupils.
"What a show. I was wondering why I couldn't see any buildings," she said slowly.
Before her eyes, let alone Chiba Academy, there wasn't even a slightly level building left.
It was as if a god had descended and swung a divine sword, the power of a single strike leveling all buildings within a kilometer, without even a single weed remaining.
Let alone a Mimic Herrscher, it would probably be hard for even a Paramecium to survive.
This kind of power was simply not something an ordinary S-Rank Valkyrie could possess.
Rita believed she couldn't do it; even the current ceiling of human power couldn't reach this level.
Where exactly was her limit?
Perhaps no one knew except for herself.
It seems I need to hurry to St. Freya Academy.
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