The otherworld gate.
After driving the modern army back, Wendy and Angelina quickly set up magical traps throughout the passage, sealing off the entire corridor.
At the entrance, they also deployed an anti-technology barrier with an effect similar to a powerful microwave weapon. Any electronic device that entered the barrier would be destroyed immediately.
Even military-grade electronics with protection against high-powered microwave weapons wouldn't work.
After all, the anti-technology barrier had been created specifically to target modern human armies. It only imitated a high-powered microwave weapon, and without special isolation shielding, it would still be destroyed from the inside.
There was originally also magic that targeted nuclear weapons and the chemical reactions inside conventional weapons—an effect that could turn everything from bullets to nuclear warheads into duds.
That spell belonged to super-tier magic that altered the rules of a certain area.
They couldn't use it right now.
Out of disgust toward the technological civilization of humanity in the Honkai world, Sirin had created a large number of spells designed specifically to counter technology.
When facing a magical girl using Sirin's spells, human firearms and other conventional weapons might be less effective than charging in with a kitchen knife.
Angelina and Wendy stood on a hillside, observing the modern troops emerging from the gate once again.
This time, the modern troops that appeared were no longer just the Far East's army—soldiers from several other major nations were present as well.
Among them, Angelina saw a familiar national flag in the allied force.
Her own country really did love stirring up trouble everywhere!
Still, she understood. With so many resources in another world, given humanity's greed and ambition, there was no way they would give up.
It was an entire world's worth of resources!
The multinational modern army's tanks and armed helicopters malfunctioned the moment they came out of the gate. Tanks stalled in place, and the helicopters' entire fuselages began to wobble before crashing to the ground.
Before they could figure out what was happening, huge numbers of Flame Archangels appeared in the sky, mixed in with Dominion Angels whose passive ability could increase allied defense. They launched an attack on the modern army.
On the ground, Rangers and Archers stood on high ground, drawing bows and picking off modern soldiers with precise shots.
After suffering several hundred casualties, the modern army retreated back through the gate.
Then they began sending out small squads to probe cautiously, little by little.
With his back against the walls on both sides of the gate passage, Itami led his team, took out a phone, and tossed it onto the ground outside the gate. The screen, which had been lit up, instantly went black.
After glancing at the tanks jammed at the passage exit, he turned to the blue-haired girl beside him. "Lelei, do you know what kind of magic this is?"
Lelei shook her head. "I've never seen magic like this. It seems to have been developed specifically to target the technology of your world. A very large area nearby is covered by this magic."
"Targeting our technology?"
Itami was shocked. That goddess was way too bugged!
How much time had even passed? And she'd already come up with magic specifically meant to destroy their electronic equipment.
Or did the goddess have been watching in secret for a long time, studying human technology, and creating this kind of magic?
If that were the case, at least it would make sense.
What he feared was that this kind of anti-technology magic had existed long ago.
If magic targeting electronic devices had existed long ago, it meant the goddess had already observed and understood their world long before, and had even made preparations.
As for why this gate connecting the two worlds had appeared, humanity still knew nothing.
In any case, the possibility that humans had created this gate was very small.
The more he thought about it, the more terrifying it became.
At this moment, Rory returned from outside. "The guards' patrols are very lax. As long as we're careful not to be discovered, we can get through the defensive line."
Lelei: "That's not right. With how cautious they are, if their target is us, there's no way they'd let us pass so easily."
Remembering what the blonde goddess had said—our opponents aren't you—Itami frowned. "Their target might not be us."
Rory: "Your world has gods too?"
Itami let out a sigh. "I don't know. In my understanding, it shouldn't, but I can't be sure about something like that."
Every country had its myths. Whether the gods in them truly existed, he didn't know.
Rory: "On the continent now, more than one goddess has descended. The vast majority of human and demi-human nations have chosen to submit to the newborn gods."
"What about the countries that don't submit?!"
One of Itami's teammates asked.
Rory: "They were wiped out. Even for nations that submit, the royal nobles could still be exterminated. The newborn gods really hate those royal nobles, as well as humans who do evil."
Hating evil with a passion?!
Itami pondered. If that was the case, it could explain why the goddess was hostile toward them!
The upper echelons wanted the other world's resources!
Even though for ordinary commoners at the bottom, their arrival might mean a better life in the future.
But to the gods at the top, they were invaders—here to seize this world's resources.
The higher-ups had repeatedly tried to send people to negotiate with the two goddesses guarding the gate.
But without exception, before anyone even saw them, they were killed by the guards.
The goddesses' personalities gave the impression of arrogance—disdainful of communicating with them.
Clearly, the goddesses understood exactly what they wanted. By holding the gate and refusing to let their main force in, they had perhaps already made their stance clear.
There was nothing to talk about.
That was indeed the truth. Angelina, who came from a military background, had long been sick of the hypocrisy of humanity's upper echelons.
They lacked the capability, yet insisted on putting on airs—talking prettier than they sang—then loved to find a pile of excuses to brush things off in the end.
If she had time to waste talking nonsense with those people, she might as well play with her junior.
"Little sister Wendy, do you know something?"
"What is it, big sister Angelina?"
Wendy was curious.
"After we become Herrschers, our life-form changes—from carbon-based life to Honkai life. Our lifespan also changes from short-lived to immortal, and there's no need to reproduce."
"But we still retain human physiological desires."
As she spoke, Angelina reached out, took Wendy's small hand, and interlaced their fingers.
Hearing that, a faint blush appeared on Wendy's delicate face as she lowered her head.
This is still an exam world—doing this isn't good, right?!
But big sister Angelina is being so serious!
If I refuse, will that be bad?!
"Wendy, I…"
"You…"
Wendy held her breath, her eyes full of anticipation.
"I'm really sleepy. I want to sleep."
"???"
Huh?
Wendy's eyes went wide.
That's the physiological desire you meant?!
If you want to sleep, then go sleep!
Why say all that weird stuff to me?!
You made me misunderstand!
However.
Seeing Wendy's adorable reaction, a pleased smile tugged at the corners of Angelina's mouth.
Little sister Wendy was still too young!
This was something she'd learned from a senior. That senior had even used it on her before.
With little sister Wendy's reaction, there might actually be something there!
This kid is way too easy to take down!
Some things don't require an answer—you can tell the answer just from someone's face and reaction.
Angelina considered herself straight, but after becoming a Pseudo-Herrscher, she had lost that kind of worldly desire toward the opposite sex.
She'd heard this was a normal phenomenon after becoming a Herrscher.