Honkai: Strijder (Honkai Impact 3 Male MC)

"This is your so-called strongest trump card? Using the Honkai energy-activating bombs from the Stigmata experiments to prematurely boost your Honkai beasts?"

"Is there a problem?"

"...Did you consider what to do if those two vessels transform into Herrschers?"

"I'm counting on them becoming Herrschers! If they enter that state, it means the core's power is fully unlocked. The specialized signal device I've modified is practically a laser cannon: once they're within range, it'll automatically lock on and fire, channeling the gem's power through the quantum pathway and illuminating the beacon for our master! If it works, Herrschers or not, our master could deal with them single-handedly. And if it fails, that's for Schicksal and Anti-Entropy to worry about. They've been hiding so well; it's about time we got a glimpse of their real power."

Jackal crushed the remote, saying it as if it were only natural.

Gray Serpent was silent for a moment, then thought about it. It actually made sense, leaving him without anything to argue.

"Then that's it. Keep moving. We're nearing the designated range, and Raven's signal is close by. Seems like we might avoid the trouble of searching."

...

"Hiss—"

Einstein inserted a syringe into Raiden Mei's neck. The pale blue liquid automatically flowed in, quickly fading away the Honkai energy contamination marks on her body, relieving her pain and putting her into a peaceful sleep.

Tesla supported Wendy and was about to do the same when Wendy raised her hand and gripped Tesla's wrist.

"What... what is this medication?"

"A Honkai energy suppressant. It temporarily reduces the activity of Honkai energy within you, cutting off the Herrscher core's absorption of external Honkai energy, ensuring your safety."

"Inject Seele and the others first!"

Wendy groaned in pain but, seeing the unconscious Seele and the others on the cabin floor, insisted firmly.

She was a Valkyrie. Even after being disabled for so long, she remained a warrior against Honkai, used to enduring pain and capable of it.

But Seele and the others were different; they were just regular kids, constantly at risk in this environment.

Tesla paused, then shouted in exasperation:

"What the hell are you whining for!? There's plenty of the suppressant to go around! Besides, your condition is the most dangerous here!"

Bang!

As the two argued, a foot kicked open the thick steel door of the vehicle.

Raven twisted her neck, snapping the Honkai suppression bracelet overloaded by the surge in Honkai concentration.

Now unrestrained, Raven was once again a skilled operative of World Serpent, an all-round ace assassin. 

The S-rank Valkyrie candidate Rita outside the car was tricky, but if Raven wanted to leave, she couldn't stop her.

With her back to the kicked-open door, Raven turned and rubbed her wrist, looking quietly at those in the vehicle:

Seele and Rozaliya lay nearby with Honkai contamination marks on them, visibly unwell. Raiden Mei lay unconscious after being injected with the suppressant. Tesla and Einstein stood by, one with a red mechanical glove, the other with a few drones, glaring at her with a mixture of anger and alarm.

In the driver's seat up front, Cocolia and Raiden Ryoma, neither particularly resilient to Honkai energy, had also fainted during the surge, likely in no better condition than Seele and the others.

Yet the most striking figure of all was Wendy's gaze. 

Despite the pain evident on her pale, sweaty face and her disabled state, she leaned against Tesla, her sharp, warning eyes communicating a readiness to fight at all costs.

"..."

Raven opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something but, in the end, said nothing. She merely turned and jumped out of the door.

'I'm sorry; in the end, we're just not on the same side.'

Raven sighed silently, stepping onto the snow, meeting the bright smile of Rita.

The two of them, with similar maid attire, equally slim waists, and graceful figures, stared at each other, the only thing between them the falling snow.

Raven adjusted her wrist; Rita slowly raised her scythe, ready for a confrontation.

"So, there's no way you'll let me through? I was only feeling a bit stuffy inside and thought of stepping out for a bit of fresh air. I'll be right back."

"Apologies, but I received orders to protect everyone's safety. If Miss Raven were to leave, how could I still protect you?"

"No room for negotiation? I could even pay you, you know."

"A tempting offer, but as a maid, I must fully execute the orders of my master. It's a pity! You, of all people, should understand."

Rita chuckled softly, looking Raven up and down, even nodding in appreciation as if admiring Raven's maid attire. 

It was unclear whether she was complimenting Raven's figure or Seele's skill in sewing the outfit.

Raven glanced down at herself, feeling exasperated.

After more than half a month, she'd actually gotten used to this maid outfit. If it weren't for Rita's reminder, she wouldn't notice anything weird.

If she were to meet with her other colleague with these outfits, while she didn't know what Gray Serpent would have thought, Jackal would certainly laugh nonstop for three days and nights.

Still, without other clothes to change into, Raven had no choice but to keep it on.

It was solely because there was nothing else to wear and had nothing to do with Seele's once pricking her fingers while repairing it or with the time Rozaliya and Liliya had once praised her for looking nice in it...

'Damn! Why are these random things so easy to remember?!'

Raven's face darkened. She stopped wasting time and directly lunged at Rita, who was waiting with a calm smile.

Clang!

The heel of her shoe struck the ivory scythe handle, the impact clearing the swirling snow around them in a several-meter radius.

"Not bad strength!"

Rita felt her slightly numb palm, narrowing her eyes.

"Tch! S-rank candidate, huh? Come back and face me once you've removed the 'candidate' part!"

Raven spun around and delivered a powerful kick, sending Rita flying several meters back.

Seizing the advantage, Raven unleashed a flurry of fierce strikes, moving as swift as wind and thunder. Rita, initially caught off guard, could only parry the blows in a hurried retreat.

Raven merely found the encounter bothersome, but Rita felt a genuine shock.

'What kind of monster is this? Unarmed, with no special armor, yet matching me—who's equipped with Valkyrie gear—blow for blow?'

Blocking Raven's onslaught, Rita couldn't help but reflect on how missions involving high-level power struggles always seemed to be out of the ordinary. Even this small, seemingly harmless maid turned out to be an exceptionally dangerous opponent.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The sound of repeated collisions echoed hundreds, even thousands of times within seconds, signaling that the pace of their clash had reached an almost surreal level.

The flowing wind and falling snow were constantly disrupted by the shockwaves, and with both of them as beautiful, graceful young women, the scene formed a strikingly fierce yet mesmerizing image.

"Ha!"

Finally, Raven's slightly older age and extensive combat experience gave her an edge. She found an opening and landed a solid kick on Rita's waist, sending her flying across the snowy field. Then, Raven turned and bolted.

No way was she sticking around to find out when Sigurd's Swarm might show up to deal with her. The current moment—when the Swarm had no time to block her—was her only chance to escape.

Raven's maid-outfit-clad figure quickly disappeared into the depths of the snowy field.

Rita hurried back to the car, brushing the snow off her clothes with a grim look. She didn't chase after Raven.

It was one lone Raven versus a whole vehicle full of people—including four key Anti-Entropy operatives and the bearer of the "Gem of Desire." The priority was obvious.

"I made a serious error. I'll need to intensify my training when I return."

Gazing at the now-empty snowfield, Rita murmured, a touch of frustration in her voice.

Raven had merely taken advantage of her reckless determination and Rita's initial carelessness. In a true fight to the death, Rita was confident her Valkyrie armor would give her the upper hand.

But regardless, they were now one person short, which was an immediate black mark on this mission. Who knew how Lady Hera and Lord Sigurd would assess her performance?

With a quiet sigh, Rita turned back toward the car to check on the others.

...

Inside the car, only Einstein, Tesla, and Wendy remained conscious. The rest had been injected with the Honkai suppressants, allowing them to survive the intense Honkai contamination but also sending them into a deep sleep.

Wendy, clutching a syringe, refused to inject herself, despite Tesla's desperate attempts to convince her otherwise. Wendy's response was firm:

"Everyone else is incapacitated, but, thanks to an unusual turn of events, I've at least temporarily regained some mobility. If the situation becomes critical, I'll be the last line of defense!"

"You're this close to becoming a Herrscher!"

"I won't. I can still suppress the 'Gem of Desire.' If it comes to that, I'll use the suppressant."

"F****!!!"

Tesla's profanity spilled forth, but Wendy knew it came from concern, so she wasn't offended. Instead, a soft smile played on her pale face.

Then, she turned to Rita at the door and frowned.

"You didn't stop her?"

Wendy's question made Rita avert her gaze, momentarily speechless.

Even in Schicksal headquarters, Rita had heard Wendy's name.

A super-genius, the likes of which hadn't been seen in a century, Wendy was six years Rita's junior yet had become an S-rank candidate earlier. Had she not volunteered for the "Gem of Desire" implantation experiment, which left her disabled, she would likely be fighting alongside Durandal as an S-rank Valkyrie by now.

In front of such a "senior," Rita's failure left her feeling as remorseful as a schoolchild caught making a mistake in front of her elders, uneasy and at a loss.

"Forget it; it doesn't matter. That attack was aimed at my 'Gem of Desire' and the 'Gem of Conquest' within Mei. They won't give up easily. From now on, protect us well. The real danger might have only just begun."

"Yes, ma'am!"

Rita responded seriously, fully bracing herself.

In headquarters, she was considered an elite, and she'd always thought herself top-tier. Who'd have guessed that her first field mission would be such a letdown?

I, Rita Rossweisse, also have my pride!

Just then, behind Rita, the sound of orderly footsteps filled the snowy silence, echoing in the direction Raven had escaped.

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