A massive, pitch-black Great Sword, engraved with luminous emerald-green runes, descended, piercing through Paventi, the Emperor-class Honkai Beast blocking the Singapore Branch's path, pinning it firmly to the ground, rendering it immobile. A purple-haired figure landed beside the sword, having descended alongside it from the sky.
Kyuusyou watched the Valkyries before her, prepared to sacrifice themselves to protect the survivors and non-combat personnel. She shook her head and sighed.
"A race endures through individual sacrifice, and a civilization achieves greatness through collective sacrifice—such a nostalgic sight... It feels like stepping back into the past."
"Ha—but it seems your goddess of fortune still favors you... let's save your lives for later. It's not your time to die yet—"
The purple-haired Valkyrie turned, gazed at the pinned Paventi, took a deep breath, clenched her fist, and unleashed a powerful punch.
The shockwave shattered the Emperor-class Honkai Beast before her, sweeping away all Honkai Beasts and Zombies along the street. The Valkyrie descending from the heavens had carved a path through their desperate situation, while the dark clouds overhead parted at just the right moment, allowing sunlight to stream onto the street.
Standing in the sunlight, the purple-haired Valkyrie watched as the Singapore Branch members stared at the cleared street with wide eyes and gaping mouths, their faces etched with disbelief. She shook her head and began her mission report.
"This is Major Houraiji Kyuusyou, Vice-Captain of the Divine Authority Squad. The Emperor-class Honkai Beast that emerged in the New Zealand Region has been eliminated. Target One remains undetected. Additionally, I've located a team of Valkyries and survivors from the local branch, including injured personnel. Request immediate deployment of a Medical Transport Craft from the Nibelungen to evacuate them."
"Can you still walk?" Kyuusyou asked, her gaze sweeping over the battered team before her. "I'll take you to a more open area. A Medical Transport Craft will come pick you up." Her words snapped the Singapore Branch members back to reality.
"Uh... who are you, ma'am?"
Miss Wilde, the temporary leader of the group, was pushed forward to negotiate with the purple-haired girl before them.
"Houraiji Kyuusyou, Vice-Captain of the Divine Authority Squad, A-rank Valkyrie, Far East Branch."
"A-rank...? Cough, cough... I'm Wilde, an A-rank Valkyrie from the New Zealand Branch, currently unaffiliated with any squad."
Upon hearing Houraiji Kyuusyou's self-introduction as an A-rank Valkyrie, the Valkyrie's lips twitched violently.
"Oh, I'll probably be promoted to S-rank in a few days... After all, I just single-handedly wiped out an entire street of Honkai Beasts and Zombies right in front of you... Oh, and a big fat white pig as well."
Kyuusyou, twisting her wrist as she walked through the rubble-strewn street, noticed the Valkyrie's thoughts and explained with a nonchalant expression.
"A big fat white pig..."
The Valkyrie's lips twitched even more violently.
"Uh... what about your captain? She must be an S-rank Valkyrie too, right...?"
"Boldly speaking, she's an S-rank Valkyrie. The Divine Authority Squad is more accurately the Divine Authority Force now... kind of like Schicksal's Valkyrie Assault Squad from way back when, or the Immortal Blades currently stationed at Headquarters. We have multiple combat groups composed of subordinate squads. We're the ones currently rescuing survivors from your Branch and local civilians."
Kyuusyou shrugged and kicked the upper half of a zombie crawling out of the ground onto the wall, continuing her explanation:
"These types of Schicksal armed forces—written as 'squads' but actually full-fledged forces—are all led by S-rank Valkyries. As for why you haven't heard of us before..."
"Our captain has a special status and prefers to keep a low profile. Besides, the Schicksal Overseer himself isn't one for ostentation. So, normally, all our operations are carried out independently under the guise of our subordinate A-rank Valkyrie Squads. We only deployed everyone because of the Great Honkai Eruption in New Zealand."
"That's the gist of it. Just don't talk about it everywhere later. You might get a chance to meet our captain someday, but she's not here right now."
"Uh... you still haven't told me your captain's name...?"
Wilde paused, scratching her head.
"Oh, right... S-rank Valkyrie, Schicksal Cardinal—Snow Apocalypse. Yes, that Apocalypse..."
"You get what I mean, right? Sigh, forget it. Why don't we just recruit you too? You're an A-rank Valkyrie anyway, and you showed excellent leadership skills just now."
"What do you say, Miss Wilde? Interested...?"
Kyuusyou turned to the Valkyrie beside her, extending an invitation.
"...Leader, huh? I've never actually led a team before."
"Ha—there's always a first time. Besides, I can tell you have a natural talent for it."
"Talent... I understand. In that case, I accept your offer. But first, I need to see this temporary team I led through to the end."
Wilde glanced back at the exhausted members behind her. A Medical Transport Craft from the Nibelungen had just landed in the open space before the group.
-
"See you soon, Lady Kyuusyou," Wilde said, nodding to Kyuusyou as she directed the remaining mobile members to escort the last of the wounded onto the transport aircraft.
"See you soon. Oh, by the way, have you seen a green-haired Valkyrie who uses a wheelchair? Her name is Wendy, and she's also from your Branch."
"Miss Wendy... I've heard her story, but she wasn't among the members I gathered. Given her unique circumstances, I specifically asked every Branch member we rescued, but they all said they hadn't seen the esteemed Miss Wendy..."
Wilde shook her head with concern.
"I hope nothing's happened to Miss Wendy."
"Let's hope so..."
Kyuusyou waved goodbye to Wilde as she boarded the last transport aircraft. Turning her gaze toward a massive tornado suddenly swirling in the distance, her face paled instantly as she activated her comms.
"Damn it! It's that cheerful wind Valkyrie!"
"Divine Authority Squad, this is Acting Commander Houraiji Kyuusyou. All units, report your status immediately!"
"Special Operations Squad A here. We've completed cleanup and rescue operations in sectors A1, A2, and A3. We received a distress call from Lieutenant Kiana of the Hyperion's Far East Fifth Squad and are en route to provide support."
"This is Special Operations Squad B. We've also completed our personnel rescue and evacuation mission and are currently engaged with Anti-Entropy's Titan Troops. We estimate the battle will conclude in 15 minutes."
"This is the Nibelungen, Intelligence Support Squad C. We've detected a high-intensity energy reaction at Kiana Squad's location! Four Anti-Entropy aerial battleships have decloaked in the airspace near the warship!"
The intelligence from the warship unveiled the true scale of the battle—