Honkai, why do you only throw me into high-level battles?

 Meanwhile, at Schicksal HQ.

"Overseer, a massive tsunami has emerged east of the Philippines, rapidly approaching the islands!" Amber reported urgently. "Satellite readings confirm high concentrations of Honkai energy within the wave!"

"What?!" Otto was stunned. A Honkai Eruption at this time? So suddenly? Why hadn't there been any warning?

The bad news continued to pour in. "Overseer, a thick cloud layer has formed over the Philippines, likely a Honkai-related phenomenon. Our satellites have lost visual contact."

"Tsk…"

"Overseer, the Oceania branch reports a major earthquake one minute ago. Epicenter and magnitude unknown…"

"Why are we getting a report from Oceania? What about our Valkyries in Southeast Asia?" Otto asked, his face darkening.

"Overseer…" Amber hesitated. "Communications with Southeast Asia are largely down, except for parts of Indonesia, due to the Honkai energy interference. Oceania, being further away, is less affected and able to report."

"My, my, quite the spectacle. Clouds, tsunami… could it be the Fourth Eruption already?" Otto frowned. "What about Rita? Can we reach her?"

Amber tried contacting Rita, then shook her head. "Rita is also unreachable, but her last reported location was Singapore. She should be safe for now."

"Is that so?" Otto mused. "Wasn't she the one who activated a fourth-generation battlesuit a few minutes ago? It seems she sensed the danger sooner than us, being closer to the epicenter, and took appropriate action…" This coincidence led Otto to an incorrect, yet logical conclusion. "Continue. What other bad news do you have?"

"Yes," Amber continued. "The Japanese branch reports Honkai Beast energy signatures near their coastal waters. Numbers and threat level unknown…"

"Hmph, not surprising, considering their proximity to the affected area," Otto chuckled dryly, issuing his first command since the disaster began. "Tell Theresa to prepare her Valkyries and students for defense. HQ won't be able to spare much support in the short term."

"…Yes."

"Anything else?"

Amber quickly checked the database. "Satellite imagery shows the cloud cover over Manila stabilizing, no further expansion."

"Heh, so that's the extent of the bad news…" Otto smiled faintly, rising from his seat. His voice was calm and firm. "Relay my orders."

"Yes, Overseer!" Amber snapped to attention, pulling out her tablet.

"First: Appoint S-rank Valkyrie Rita Rossweisse as supreme commander of the front lines, granting her full authority to handle this incident."

"Second: Order all Valkyries in the Eastern Hemisphere, excluding the Japanese branch, to provide immediate and unconditional support to the Philippines, under Rita Rossweisse's command. The Japanese branch is to defend their assigned territory and await further instructions."

"Third: Order the Oceania branch to dispatch personnel to Southeast Asia to relay these orders via physical communication to our isolated Valkyrie units."

"Fourth: Place all Schicksal HQ Valkyries, with Immortal Blades as the core, on standby, as general reserves for this Honkai Eruption, ready to deploy at any moment." After more than a decade of recovery and development since the Second Eruption, Otto had full confidence in Schicksal's strength.

Noticing Amber still waiting, he asked, "Amber, what are you waiting for?"

"Um, Overseer…" Amber hesitated. "Should we recall Durandal from her simulation training and assign her to this suppression mission?"

"Oh, you mean Durandal?" Otto chuckled, having already decided on this matter. "The Herrscher of the Void project is crucial to Schicksal's future, and cannot be jeopardized. Even a simulation run is of utmost importance and shouldn't be interrupted by such unforeseen… trifles. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand." Amber never questioned Otto's decisions. Otto, pleased, nodded. "Good. Issue the orders."

"Yes!" With every command, Schicksal sprang into action.

Immortal Blades HQ.

"A Honkai Eruption in the Philippines? Wasn't there just an incident there?" Alvitr, also having received the orders, said with a wry smile. "Poor Jell… I wonder how she and Team Snow Lotus are doing?" She shook her head, snapping herself back to focus. "No time to worry, Alvitr. Work to be done!"

She checked the roster, meticulously fulfilling her role as the "ultimate support."

"Good, almost everyone's here." Alvitr sighed in relief, having finished the headcount. She still had much to do, including contacting logistics about the EOS's maintenance.

"Wait, Alvitr, we're missing one!" a Valkyrie exclaimed, suddenly looking around frantically. "Has anyone seen Yuno?"

"What?!" Panic spread amongst the Valkyries. Could that little ancestor please not cause trouble at a time like this?

......

"Overseer, we have a situation at the Fourth Airdock. A Valkyrie is attempting unauthorized departure and requesting clearance." Amber reported.

"Oh? A disobedient Valkyrie? How unusual…" Otto had a bad feeling. "Could it be…?" The answer was all too obvious.

As expected, Amber confirmed, "Confirmed as C-rank Valkyrie Yuno of Immortal Blades."

"…I'll handle it." Otto, his composure cracking, hurried towards the airdock, a sense of panic in his steps.

"It's already hard enough hiding such a major Honkai Eruption from Bianka. If something happens to her protégé now…" Otto thought grimly. Incurring Bianka's wrath would create all sorts of problems.

He had to bring Yuno back, no matter what. He felt utterly exhausted dealing with all this.

As he activated the nearest available body, Yuno was struggling with a shuttle's controls.

"Ahem…" Otto announced his presence, then asked gently, "Miss Yuno, what are you doing?"

Yuno stopped and turned to face the Overseer she despised. "Anna's in danger. I have to save her."

As a survivor of Nagazora and the Third Eruption, Yuno was acutely sensitive to the word "Honkai" and cherished the few sources of warmth left in her shattered world.

Her friend was in mortal danger, yet Schicksal HQ had ordered everyone to "stand by"? The order enraged her, prompting her to act alone.

However, she had underestimated the difficulty of escaping the heavily secured floating island without authorization. Seeing Otto, she decided to be direct. "Give me clearance to leave." Vines began to coil around her arms, a clear threat.

She didn't like this creepy, smiling man and had no qualms about using force. "Just as long as I don't kill him," Yuno thought innocently.

"Uh…" Otto, sensing her dangerous intent, quickly said, "Even with my authorization, the area is saturated with Honkai energy. Communications and navigation are likely down. How will you reach Manila? How will you find your friend in that chaos?"

Otto's words struck a nerve, silencing Yuno. She had never been to Manila.

"It doesn't matter. I'll follow the map. I just need to land in the general area," Yuno said after a moment, having found a simple solution. "I'll just eliminate all the monsters. Then Anna will be safe. Finding her won't be a problem."

"..." Now it was Otto's turn to be speechless. Such brute force logic… But then, he briefly considered Yuno's combat capabilities… It might actually work? No, she was too unpredictable, he had to stop her. Rita wouldn't be able to control her on the battlefield!

"Hmm… it seems Miss Yuno is quite confident in her abilities?" Otto said, his expression calm and his smile gentle.

Yuno just stared at him, her confidence unwavering. Why else would other Valkyries avoid her?

"Well, then, I can't let you leave." Otto's tone shifted.

"Why?" Yuno finally asked.

"For your own good, and for your friend, Anna." Seeing Yuno fall into his trap, Otto continued smoothly, "After all, both Anna and you are my Valkyries. As your Overseer, I have a duty to protect you, don't I?" Anna, if she were here, would have questioned his concern, considering the fate of countless Valkyries in his labs. But Yuno, unaware, just glared at him, impatient with his rambling.

"Alright, let me be brief…" Sensing her impatience, Otto raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Miss Yuno, consider this: in a high-Honkai environment, engaged in intense combat… what do you think are the chances of you losing control?"

"..." The question was a critical hit, deflating Yuno's fighting spirit. She had no confidence in that regard. Her strange constitution was a curse, a constant threat she couldn't control. Perhaps she had been too impulsive…

Otto pressed his advantage. "After all, you intend to help your friend. But if you lose control on the battlefield, you'll only endanger her further, won't you?"

"..." Yuno clenched her fists, then said reluctantly, "You're right…"

"Such a good girl," Otto said, not the least bit annoyed by her earlier defiance. "Come on, let's go back." He extended a hand.

But Yuno stubbornly refused. "I don't trust you." She glared at him. "I don't have proof, but I know you've been using me." Her logic was flawed, but her distrust was clear.

"…Alright, then how about a compromise?" Otto, resorting to appeasement, said, "When Durandal is available, I'll allow you to join her on this mission." He smiled gently. "With Durandal's strength, even if you lose control, she can subdue you—my apologies if that sounds harsh, but I'm sure you understand." He looked at her sincerely. "This is the best outcome for you, for Anna, and for everyone. Don't you agree?"

"…You're right," Yuno conceded, seeing no better alternative. "But I still don't trust you," she added stubbornly. "So I'll stay with you until Captain Durandal returns. Then I'll leave with her!"

"Very well, it's a deal," Otto agreed readily. He had no intention of deploying Durandal; it was an empty promise. But he hadn't lied—Durandal simply wasn't "available."

Confident in his manipulation, Otto turned to leave, unbothered by his new temporary shadow.

Yuno, oblivious to his deception, was pleased with her small victory and happily followed, anticipating Durandal's return. Together, they could protect Anna. And that was all that mattered… This poor girl, despite her struggles, only desired simple things.