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

"This is Rita Rossweisse. I've arrived in Manila. As an S-rank Valkyrie, I'm assuming temporary command of all Schicksal forces in the Philippines and surrounding areas. Time is limited. All Valkyrie units in this region are to report their location, personnel count, damage assessment, and enemy activity immediately."

Lin Wei had said they only had ten minutes, so Rita wasted no time. Retreating behind Team Snow Lotus's defensive line, she assigned two Valkyries from the logistics team to assist her, utilizing Lin Wei's makeshift communication system to contact nearby allies.

Within two minutes, nine Valkyrie teams responded, expressing relief at re-establishing contact. The influx of information overwhelmed the communicators, forcing Rita to assign another Valkyrie to assist.

Through rapid exchanges, Rita quickly assessed the situation.

Of the six Valkyrie teams originally stationed in the Philippines, only two, besides Snow Lotus, had survived the initial onslaught. The others had been wiped out.

The surviving teams were both stationed further inland. They had attempted to reinforce the coastal regions but were now surrounded, caught off guard by the rapidly deteriorating situation.

Rita's call was a lifeline. The news of an S-rank Valkyrie's arrival boosted their flagging morale. They quickly transmitted their coordinates and issued urgent pleas for help.

"How… how could this happen?" The Valkyries of Team Snow Lotus, hearing the devastating news, felt a mix of relief and grief.

"Understood. I'll dispatch reinforcements as soon as possible," Rita assured them calmly, then proceeded to gather reports from the remaining seven teams—reinforcements from Malaysia and Indonesia.

Unlike the local teams, these reinforcements were well-equipped and had proper transport. However, lacking communication and intelligence, they were operating blindly, engaging the Honkai Beasts wherever they found them.

"..." Rita felt a chill. If she had arrived any later, these seven teams would have also been surrounded.

"…Thank goodness." Lin Wei had been right. They couldn't afford to fight alone; it would only lead to more unnecessary deaths, both Valkyrie and civilian.

Rita's mind raced. She pulled up a detailed map of the Philippines, marking the locations of her team, Snow Lotus, and the seven reinforcement squads.

She also marked the locations of the three annihilated teams, then, after a moment's hesitation, blacked them out. There was no time for sentimentality; difficult choices had to be made.

"All units, the following orders are now in effect…"

Rita issued her commands: the seven reinforcement squads were to disengage and regroup, six of them forming two rescue teams for the trapped Valkyrie units, while the seventh squad would advance towards Manila, clearing out stragglers and establishing a flanking position to support Snow Lotus.

She marked two fallback points on the map, forming a line with Manila, and relayed it to all units. After completing the rescue missions, they were to retreat to these points and establish a defensive perimeter. All territory beyond this line, and any survivors within it, were to be abandoned.

"Understand this: our priority isn't rescuing people or reclaiming territory, but containing the Honkai Eruption, preventing its spread," Rita said firmly, afraid these young Valkyries would act recklessly. "Hold your positions and await reinforcements. As long as we maintain a stable defense line, once our forces arrive, we can reclaim lost ground and achieve victory!"

The Valkyrie teams acknowledged her orders and began to mobilize, coordinating their efforts and fulfilling their duties. Schicksal's scattered forces began to coalesce, slowly turning the tide.

"Haa…" Rita sighed, having done all she could. Now, all that remained was to hold on and wait.

"I'm just the second-in-command of Immortal Blades. This is a bit much…" she muttered, glancing at the time. It was well past the ten-minute mark.

Rita's expression remained calm, but her crimson eyes flickered with an unreadable emotion. After a moment, she sighed and opened a communication channel. "Mr. Lin Wei, my tasks are complete."

The next second, the connection was lost, replaced by static. Rita shook her head silently, turning back to the battlefield.

......

"Pant… pant… pant…" Anna, clutching the semi-conscious little girl, huddled in a partially collapsed building, trying to catch her breath. She barely dared to breathe, afraid of attracting the Honkai Beasts roaming the streets outside.

"Damn it, still nothing." She tried her communicator again. It was her only source of comfort, but it had been damaged beyond repair during their escape.

"Sigh, I wonder how the captain and the others are doing…" Giving up on the communicator, Anna stared at the crumbling ceiling, lost in thought.

The escape had been far more difficult than she had anticipated. Unarmed, she couldn't fight the Honkai Beasts, only evade them, like a rat scurrying through the shadows.

Every step had been a struggle, demanding constant vigilance, draining her stamina, made even harder by the little girl in her arms.

"Wenwen, Wenwen? Wake up. Don't sleep…" Anna rubbed the girl's feverish cheek, whispering in her ear, "Just a little longer… we'll be safe soon…" She had repeated these words countless times, but she didn't know where safety was, or if they would even reach it.

The girl's condition was worsening. The high fever persisted, her consciousness fading. Anna, desperate, could only try to keep her awake with words. "Wenwen, Wenwen… I have some yummy treats. Wake up, or I'll eat them all…"

Did it even work? Anna didn't know. But she had no other options.

"Pant… pant… don't sleep… just a little longer… we're almost there…" Anna reached for a bottle of water, a precious find during their escape. She carefully opened it, resisting the urge to gulp it down, and used it to moisten the girl's dry lips. After giving most of it to the girl, she quickly drank the rest, then tossed the empty bottle aside.

"Time to move!" Though exhausted, she knew they couldn't stay here. She cautiously peeked through the window, then darted out, running through the rubble, before ducking into another building, concealing herself once more.

This was how she had survived so far.

"If the Immortal Blades saw me like this, they'd laugh their heads off!" She used these thoughts to keep herself going.

"Mmm…" The little girl stirred. Had she woken up?

"Waaah… Daddy… Mommy… don't go…" the girl whimpered. "I'll… I'll be good… I won't eat snacks… I'll eat my vegetables…"

"Big brother… where are you… I'm… I'm scared…"

Anna's hope turned to fear. She touched the girl's forehead; the fever was worse.

"Oh no, she's delirious!" Panicked, Anna accidentally stepped on a shard of glass.

The crisp "crack" froze her blood.

Without hesitation, she grabbed the girl and jumped through a nearby window. The next instant, a Honkai Beast crashed through the wall, roaring, just missing them. They landed hard on the open road.

Anna didn't look back, just ran.

Two Honkai Beasts, alerted by the noise, gave chase. Anna easily outran them, but there were too many in the area. The commotion attracted more and more.

"We're done for…" Anna stopped, a bitter smile on her face.

Surrounded, with nowhere to run, the snarling beasts closed in, eager to tear her apart.

"Clang!" "Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!" Suddenly, a metallic sound echoed from above, followed by a rain of black spears, impaling the leading Honkai Beasts. The pinned creatures formed a wall, blocking the others from reaching Anna.

"What's happening?" Before Anna could react, a black chain wrapped around her waist, pulling her into the air. Startled, she then relaxed, realizing she was being rescued.

"Thank goodness…" she thought. The ascent slowed, then she began to descend. Before panic could set in, an arm caught her, pulling her into a warm embrace.

"Phew, just in time…" The familiar voice sent a wave of warmth through her. She turned and saw his face, so close to hers.

"Lin Wei? What are you doing here?" Anna was overjoyed. She never expected to see him here.

"Of course I'm here for you, silly girl…" Lin Wei dismissed the now deactivated black cross, holding her securely on the drone. He gently brushed her hair aside and whispered, "It's alright now. I'll take you home."

His simple words struck her heart like a hammer. A wave of emotions overwhelmed her, and she burst into tears, clinging to him.