Honkai Simulator: Start with Confessing to The Herrscher of Finality

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In truth, life at Schicksal Headquarters wasn't entirely dreadful.

It would have been even better if her training instructor weren't Durandal.

On the second day after arriving at Schicksal, Kiana encountered the legendary young Valkyrie on the training grounds, who approached her directly.

"Let me introduce myself, I am Bianca 'Durandal' Ataegina. You can simply call me Durandal."

"From today onwards, your diet and training will be personally overseen by me until you achieve A-rank Valkyrie status."

Undoubtedly, this was special treatment.

Even Rita didn't receive such privileges. Durandal's announcement instantly made Kiana the envy of many.

Kiana couldn't help but feel fortunate.

She was no stranger to the name of Schicksal's strongest Valkyrie and promptly responded, "I'll definitely give my best effort."

However, shortly afterward, she found herself completely exhausted.

On the training field, Ana handed Kiana a saline solution and nutrient supplement after she finally managed to catch a brief break.

Her gaze held a hint of mischief as she said, "Durandal is incredibly skilled but equally demanding on herself and others. So far, no one has been able to match her training intensity."

"Prepare yourself for a challenging time ahead."

Kiana nodded, sensing the gravity of the situation.

In just three hours today, she was required to run twenty kilometers with a two-hundred-kilogram load, dodge fifty-kilogram lead balls under increased gravity, and sprint while tethered by a rope to a speeding jeep...

She couldn't help but admit that compared to this, Saint Freya's training seemed like child's play.

However, what provided some solace to Kiana was knowing she wasn't alone in this rigorous regimen.

A girl named Wendy, apparently younger than her, underwent the same exercises alongside.

Unaware that Wendy was simply included by Durandal to avoid wasting resources, Kiana assumed Wendy was there to accompany her.

Despite herself, Kiana glanced at Wendy quietly consuming her nutrient supplement nearby.

This girl, not yet sixteen years old, posed quite a challenge to Kiana. Whether it was the intensity or duration of training, Wendy matched and sometimes even surpassed her.

While Kiana relied on sheer determination to push through, Wendy's performance stemmed from consistent practice, making these exercises as routine as eating or drinking for her.

Taking a deep breath, Kiana stood up and approached Wendy.

Wendy looked up, asking, "Can I help you?"

"Hi, my name is Kiana," she said. "You're really impressive, but this Miss here will definitely outshine you someday."

Kiana acknowledged Wendy's abilities, although Wendy herself didn't require such validation.

"Oh," Wendy replied, "outshining me holds little significance; I'm not the strongest."

As she finished speaking, Wendy couldn't help but glance at Durandal and Xia Chen engaged in combat nearby.

After three hours of training Kiana and Wendy, Durandal had challenged Xia Chen to a duel.

Without using his Mark-IV armor, Stigmata, or Herrscher Authority, Xia Chen managed to maintain a stalemate with Durandal for twenty minutes without her Moon Essence form.

This outcome left the Valkyries of the Immortal Blades astonished.

Xia Chen's progress was remarkably swift, far exceeding everyone's expectations, including Wendy's.

During her time at Schicksal Headquarters, Wendy had barely communicated with Xia Chen. She understood that focusing on personal matters wasn't appropriate now; instead, she needed to seize this opportunity and become stronger.

Wendy had already challenged all Imperial Rank Honkai Beasts in the Memory Battlefield, only occasionally failing against the Glorious Knight, but otherwise achieving complete victories.

Currently, the only thing separating Wendy from becoming an S-rank Valkyrie was one final assessment.

Feeling ignored, Kiana unconsciously puffed out her cheeks, but realizing they weren't close acquaintances, she didn't feel comfortable saying anything.

Then, murmurs reached them from nearby:

"Wow, it's already over twenty-five minutes."

The battle between Durandal and Xia Chen had surpassed 25 minutes. It's worth noting that even the captain's single assault round typically wouldn't last five minutes. At 25 minutes, Xia Chen had successfully countered all of Durandal's attacks thus far.

Despite knowing that Durandal was undoubtedly holding back, his performance was still impressive.

On the training ground, both combatants gradually came to a halt.

"There's not much point in continuing this fight; your progress has been remarkable," Durandal sighed. "In this match, I..."

"No, I lost." Xia Chen replied with a slight wry smile, "Thank you, Captain Durandal, for showing restraint. Truthfully, I've been running out of strength for quite some time now."

He wasn't exaggerating.

Even without her armor, Durandal's attacks were incredibly challenging to fend off. She fought more like an Honkai Beast, at least on par with an Imperial Rank.

Achieving this level without utilizing Stigmata or Authority powers was truly commendable.

Durandal's gaze sharpened slightly as she responded calmly, "Very well, let's consider this as your S-rank Valkyrie assessment then. You have passed, and I will report it to Amber."

Clearly, given Xia Chen's demonstrated prowess, conducting a separate S-rank Valkyrie assessment would be unnecessary.

Unlike A-rank Valkyries, S-rank Valkyries do not require extensive knowledge reserves; exceptional combat capabilities suffice.

Xia Chen was slightly taken aback, not expecting Durandal to make such a statement. Nonetheless, he expressed his gratitude, "Then, please allow me to thank you, Captain Durandal."

At first glance, the difference between S and A-ranked Valkyries seemed merely a title distinction. For Xia Chen, achieving S rank didn't appear to have any significant impact.

However, as a symbol of Schicksal, reaching S rank meant he could access more resources from Headquarters and even directly influence Valkyrie affairs.

Without going into specifics, if Ana were to be stationed at Coral Island now, he could openly oppose it, ensuring his opinion would receive considerable attention.

Xia Chen exited the training ground with Durandal.

He grabbed a nutrient supplement to replenish his energy; battling Durandal had nearly drained him completely.

In contrast, Durandal remained energetic as she approached Kiana and Wendy.

"Rest time is over; let's continue our training."

Wendy stood up, her eyes reflecting a longing gaze towards Durandal.

She too yearned for such strength. Wendy never doubted her own talent, believing her current inferiority to Durandal stemmed from not working hard enough.

Kiana hesitated, wanting to say something but ultimately kept quiet upon seeing Wendy's determination.

Wendy was younger than Bronya, and Kiana couldn't afford to lose face in front of such a junior member. It was just how much importance she placed on her reputation.