"Command: Reconstruct, Analyze."
On the vast, azure ocean, Ashara pressed her hands together, her eyes closed. Relying on the spatial knowledge she had crammed on the plane, she struggled to open an exit into the unknown space.
Streams of blue data materialized, enveloping her and radiating an intense aura of Honkai energy.
However, this was already the fourth hour.
Elysia sat on the hovercraft, holding her pink bow. Unlike the other special operations soldiers, she did not have a worried frown on her face. Her beautiful pink eyes reflected the blue streams of light, like the Milky Way in a starry sky.
This was the first time she had seen a Herrscher, other than herself, who was willing to help humanity.
It was truly incredible, even difficult to comprehend.
It was just that, while this Herrscher compatriot of hers was trying hard, she didn't seem very proficient in using her own abilities.
But many people were helping her.
"The data collection is finally complete. Thank you, Vill-V."
"It's nothing. After all, this is all I can do right now."
Fu Li and Vill-V sat together. For the past few hours, they had been working hard to collect data. Finally, by leveraging their understanding of past Herrschers of the Void, they managed to figure out the Honkai energy data of this new one.
As long as Ashara could understand a fraction of it, she could open a rift in this space, allowing them to enter and eliminate the source.
Seeing Ashara's lips turn pale as she still struggled to do something, Fu Li reached out and patted her shoulder, gently persuading her.
"Ashara, sharpening the axe doesn't delay the chopping. Stop for now. We've already collected the data. It will be more efficient if you try again after you've understood this."
"Is that so? I understand, Boss."
Hearing this, Ashara stopped. Using Honkai energy at such high intensity for several hours straight, while not enough to cause a total collapse, had inevitably left her somewhat weakened.
It was time to do some mental work and conserve her strength.
Looking at Vill-V, who was crouched in a corner, constantly running calculations on a satellite computer, a worried look flashed in Ashara's beautiful eyes.
Vill-V's current body was a mechanical life form created by her ability. Therefore, she could clearly sense Vill-V's current mood.
'Why?! Why can't I do anything?!'
Anxious, worried, yet powerless.
When faced with a profound and unknown field, even a genius like Vill-V couldn't grasp and understand it in a short amount of time.
Therefore, the only hope now rested on her. She had to give it her all!
Having made up her mind, Ashara went to Fu Li's side and, like an extremely diligent student, began to frantically tax her brain to comprehend this complex knowledge.
Meanwhile, in Nagazora City, Far East.
Under the night sky, the once-brilliant neon lights were now consumed by raging flames. The bustling metropolis was in ruins, filled with the sounds of screams and cries.
Puddles of blood on the road reflected the desperate faces of the dead. When the Deadwalkers stepped in them, blood spattered, sending out crimson ripples.
Few people dared to venture onto the streets. The occasional few who appeared would be caught by the Deadwalkers during their desperate flight, their screams cut short as their bodies were torn apart.
The only ones who reacted to this were the increasingly excited monsters and the people trembling ever more violently inside the surrounding buildings.
Black Deadwalkers and white Honkai Beasts, one black and one white, were freely harvesting the lives of the survivors.
The Honkai was like a tide, mercilessly devouring humanity.
The Far East's Self-Defense Force had collapsed after four hours of difficult resistance. The only remaining force with the ability to fight back belonged to The MOTHs.
And even with Fu Li's special training, these soldiers, due to the absolute disparity in numbers, were forced to hole up in their branch headquarters and await reinforcements.
JD-003.
In Shelter No. 3, a facility built by The MOTHs at great expense, Cocolia, the director of the W Magic Troupe, was hiding with the orphans.
As a group composed of former soldiers, when the airport was attacked, she had just been preparing to use her military experience to find a safe corner when they were found by a squad of heavily armed special forces.
They claimed that, due to their connection with Fu Li, the entire W Magic Troupe was classified as a level-one protected asset. The moment the Honkai Eruption occurred, a special team had been dispatched to escort them.
Although Cocolia was surprised at the time, she knew the situation was grave and didn't question them, following them to the shelter.
However, what she saw along the way completely shattered her worldview.
First, there were the unknown monsters she saw on the road, and then the "Basic Honkai Knowledge" leaflets that the Far East branch was distributing to survivors—all things she had never heard of before.
And most critically, even with the protection of the adults, some of the younger children had still died at the hands of the Honkai Beasts.
"No... we have to do something..."
Thinking of the faces and laughter of those children, Cocolia hardened her heart. She looked at her biological daughter, Anna, and stroked her head.
"Anna, as my daughter, you must protect these children. They are all your family."
"And the rest of the magic troupe members! All former soldiers, step forward! We cannot be cowards hiding behind others. In times like these, we must play our part."
"Bring your military ID and medals. We are going to request weapons from the people here. We will fight to protect our children!"
---o---
Author's Note:
PS: I should mention here, Cocolia and Anna are alternate universe counterparts, not the Cocolia and Herrscher of Ice from the Current Era.