Honkai: You're telling me this difficulty is from Honkai Impact 3?!

Bianka watched Theresa and Quinn's battle from the side. Although she spotted several opportunities to jump in, she was more interested in observing Theresa's impressive combat form.

She had already learned so much in just these few short minutes!

Whether it was a spear or a sword, Theresa wielded both weapons simultaneously with no awkwardness whatsoever, as if they were one and the same—or even a single weapon.

Quinn wasn't the only one who fought as if her weapon was an extension of her own body; Theresa did too.

At this thought, Bianka couldn't help but glance at the stationary cross. It held six other, entirely different weapons... Does that mean Senior Theresa is proficient in at least six other types of weapons?

Compared to her, my own skills with "rudimentary" martial arts and spear techniques were just...

I really do have so much more to learn...

Quinn's massive frame had become a liability. As she dodged a series of attacks, Theresa finally found an opening and decisively thrust her spear toward Quinn's shoulder.

Quinn took the blow head-on. The pale pink, crystal-tipped spearhead, glowing faintly, pierced straight through Quinn's shoulder armor.

Quinn immediately froze. She reached out with her other hand and steadied the shorter Theresa, helping her land smoothly.

"Thank you for your hard work!" After landing, Theresa looked up at the spear piercing Quinn's shoulder and sheepishly hid the sword behind her back.

Even though they had agreed to use the shoulder as a substitute for a weak point, she still felt she had been a bit too rough...

"It's nothing. It is my honor to be of service to you all." Quinn bowed slightly, then reached up and pulled the long spear from her shoulder as easily as one might hold a pair of chopsticks.

Before returning it to Theresa, Quinn examined the spear closely.

"This material doesn't seem to be metallic... Was it forged from some kind of amorphous mineral?" Quinn asked as she handed the spear back.

Theresa paused, seeming to choose her words carefully. "I don't know what it's made of either, but Grandpa said the materials came from our enemies. They were probably harvested from Honkai Beasts..."

Honkai Beasts... Indeed, the spear's primary color was very similar to the carapace seen on Honkai Beasts.

But the most crucial part of the weapon was the few crudely processed cores embedded in it.

They were made of a material not found in Quinn's database.

Could they be Honkai Beast cores? Quinn hypothesized, based on the fact that they "came from the enemy."

"Alright, let's end the test here." Theresa slotted the two weapons back into the cross and closed it. "Next up is training time."

"I'll be the main attacker again," Theresa instructed the other two. "But I won't be using my full strength this time. If you two can't keep up, I might just get sent flying~"

Theresa spread her hands, about to jokingly add, "but that's impossible."

But before she could, Bianka stood up straight, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

"I won't let you down, Senior Theresa!"

Bianka's earnestness startled Theresa, and the joke died in her throat.

Wait, why is she using honorifics?!

"Uh... alright..." Theresa scratched her head. She really had trouble dealing with someone as prim and proper as Bianka.

She was just so used to unreliable people... Grandpa was completely unpredictable, and Aunt Kallen's way of speaking was... unique. Mei and Bronya would try to be serious, only to be led astray by Kiana. Shu's micro-expressions were a little too much...

Even Fu Hua had a black-bellied side to her! [A Japanese term, haraguroi, for someone who seems nice but is secretly manipulative or sadistic.]

Suddenly meeting someone even more straight-laced than Fu Hua... Theresa felt as if she'd been put in an invisible straitjacket, making her completely uncomfortable.

As for Rita... she maintained her usual cheerful smile, as if no one had ever seen her lose her composure.

Theresa did have some experience dealing with that type.

The good news: she had experience.

The bad news: that experience came from dealing with Otto.

So, yeah, she was completely out of her depth!

Under their watchful eyes, Theresa dejectedly shouldered the cross and prepared for battle once more.

Bianka stood behind Theresa, full of fighting spirit. She felt she could finally try out the moves she had just learned from watching Theresa!

Quinn replaced her shoulder armor and then, as Theresa's expression shifted slightly, installed a close-combat weapon module.

Rita caught the change in Theresa's expression and silently put some distance between them. Only Bianka grew even more excited upon seeing Quinn arm herself.

"Ready—Begin!"

The second round began. Bianka charged in! Bianka was taken out by Quinn in a single blow!

This time, Theresa hadn't even deployed her cross. She had retreated after a brief initial clash, leaving only the charging Bianka on the front line.

In just one move, both Bianka and the techniques she had just "stolen" were utterly crushed by Quinn.

After a three-second cool-down on the ground, Bianka sprang back to her feet before Theresa could even ask if she was okay.

"Again, Senior Quinn!" Though she'd been defeated in an instant, the passion in Bianka's eyes burned even brighter.

Theresa retracted her hand and silently ceded the front line to Bianka.

The third round of combat...

Bianka charged in! Bianka exchanged two blows with Quinn!

Bianka went down!

This time, Bianka lay on the ground for a full ten seconds. She wasn't contemplating why she could only last two moves against Quinn, but rather wondering how she ended up at the very front.

"Bianka, maybe we should take a break..." Theresa wiped the sweat from her brow. Although the three fights had ended quickly, they had taken a significant toll on everyone's stamina.

Now was the perfect time for a rest...

"No, I can still try harder!" Bianka flipped back to her feet. Quinn nodded in approval and respectfully assumed a fighting stance.

Theresa could only continue to carry her heavy cross, providing cover for Bianka alongside Rita.

The fourth battle—

Bianka, without hesitation, chose to charge in again! Bianka traded five or six punches with Quinn! Bianka remembered she was made of flesh and blood!

Bianka went down!

Theresa and Rita checked Bianka's injuries. After confirming they were only minor, they breathed a sigh of relief and prepared to rest.

One minute later...

"Again! Senior Quinn!!"

The fifth round began under Theresa's incredulous gaze!