The wind inside the barrier calmed slightly; the chaos outside was muffled, as if the world itself were holding its breath.
Himeko, voice tense from the Hyperion: "We've detected a massive energy interference at your position! What the hell is that? Durandal is minutes away!"
Wendy, seeing the scene, hesitated. Tears glistened in her turquoise eyes. "Why… why are you helping me so much…?"
At that precise moment, a dark figure descended from the sky like a comet: Durandal. Fitted black coat with shiny accents, short flowing cape, black military hat, brown leggings, and reinforced dark boots. Eos Gloria, her lance, in hand. She landed with controlled impact that cracked the rock, the air vibrating with her presence.
"Herrscher of Wind located." Her voice cold and professional. She looked at the barrier and then at me. "You are the anomaly from Nagazora. Mikael von Lindeman. And this appears to be your doing; you emit the same energy as this barrier."
Before she could say or do anything else, I dissipated the barrier with a subtle gesture of my hand. The dome vanished into black particles that dissolved in the air.
In a calm voice I said: "Don't misunderstand me. I just wanted to make sure untimely subjects didn't ruin this moment."
Durandal narrowed her eyes, evaluating me with clinical attention. Eos Gloria still on guard, but not pointing directly. "Explain yourself."
I took the initiative: "Anti-Entropy planned to capture Wendy. The barrier blocked communications and prevented their mechs from interfering. Wendy is not a threat by choice; it was a failed Schicksal experiment. She deserves a second chance."
Theresa over comms, nervous: "Durandal! Listen to him! We can reason with her!"
Durandal lowered the lance slightly after a second of silence. "Five minutes. Prove your theory. If you fail, I will intervene."
Kiana stepped forward. "Wendy! Come with us! You're not alone!"
Mei: "We can help you control that power… together."
Bronya: "Bronya promises to seek medical treatment. For your legs… and for the pain."
Tears fell freely. The ethereal turquoise wings slowly disappeared. Wendy descended, knees on the ground, exhausted.
"…I don't want to hurt you."
Durandal observed the scene, her expression softening imperceptibly. "I will personally escort her to the Hyperion for secure containment and medical evaluation." She looked directly at me. "You will come too. I want a full demonstration of that barrier technique… and answers."
Suddenly, Bronya froze. Project Bunny vibrated violently, its cannons turning toward Wendy under a remote override. Cocolia had activated the chip.
—Error… system… overload detected…
Kiana and Mei turned in alarm. "Bronya!"
Looks like they won't give up, huh… During the months of training, I had noticed a crucial detail: although my Cursed Spirit Manipulation didn't allow me to directly absorb users who controlled Honkai energy (Valkyries, Herrschers, etc.), it could drain a significant portion of their circulating Honkai energy, especially if their rank was lower than mine. The Honkai energy flow triggered by the chip was, technically, raw and external energy.
Bronya, still classified as a B-rank Valkyrie, posed no problem. I extended my hand toward her and activated the technique with surgical precision: "Absorb."
A black and cold flow surrounded Bronya before heading toward me —it wasn't her natural stigma, but the excess Honkai that Cocolia had remotely triggered through the chip to force the overload—. The energy flowed into me in a dark sphere, dissipating the overload before it could take full control. At the same time, I used basic Uzumaki to fuse minor spirits and create a temporary containment cage around her, in case any residue remained.
Bronya gasped, losing control almost immediately. Project Bunny stopped vibrating and returned to neutral position. "…Bronya… is fine. External signal interrupted. Honkai energy stabilized." She looked at her own body, then at me with an expression rare on her: genuine surprise. "Subject Mikael… drained the overload directly. Bronya… thanks you. Debt recorded."
As they carefully escorted Wendy —without brute force—, Himeko spoke over comms: "You did it! Anti-Entropy's battleships withdrew upon detecting Durandal… Good work!"
[System:]
[Main Mission Completed: Save Wendy from Anti-Entropy. Reward: +1 ticket]
[Secondary Mission Completed: Prevent Cocolia from controlling Bronya or stop her when controlled. Reward: +50 points.]
[Additional reward for containing Durandal: improved barrier comprehension]
[Legacy System activated. Welcome, Host: Mael.]
[Updated Stats:]
General Level: 2
Equivalent Rank: A (Special)
Cursed Energy: 4500/4500
Unlocked Skill Templates:
→ (Suguru Geto) Cursed Spirit Manipulation (Level 10 – Maximum: Instantly absorb Honkai beasts weaker than the user).
→ Ten Shadows (Level 3 – 300/1000: Summon Shikigami capable of interacting with Honkai energy).
Passive Abilities:
→ Honkai Block (automatic neutralization and conversion).
→ Partial drain of Honkai energy in users (effective against A-rank and lower).
Weapons in possession: N/A
Special Traits: N/A
Keys: 250
Tickets: 2
That's right, I obtained the Ten Shadows technique right after completing Cursed Spirit Manipulation. Apparently, every time I complete a template, the system grants me another at random.
As we boarded the Hyperion: I reflected on the significant changes. Wendy alive and with a real chance of recovery, Mei with us, Bronya stable and now aware that I can counter her chip when necessary… Durandal intrigued, but not hostile. Though Cocolia surely already knows someone blocked her control. And Otto will be analyzing every part of this. I managed to avoid the ME Corp assault arc and Wendy's subsequent death, as well as Bronya's coma.
The Hyperion sailed the Pacific back to St. Freya, engines humming at a steady rhythm. The interior was unusually quiet: Wendy resting in the infirmary under soft but monitored containment —light sedatives and Honkai wave monitors—, guarded by two Valkyries, medics, and Bianka Ataegina herself —better known as Durandal—.
[System:]
[New Main Mission:]
[Evaluation with Durandal: Reward: +100 points → Ten Shadows Level 4 (400/1000) – New shadow: Great Serpent.]
Right after arriving, I walked through the metallic corridors toward the main training room. Durandal had "invited" me as soon as we landed to a full demonstration of my capabilities, no excuses. Her tone had been cold and professional, but there was something in the way she pronounced my name —a minimal pause, almost imperceptible— that made me stop a second longer than necessary.
Upon entering, I found her already there, standing in the center of the wide room with reinforced walls and a floor marked by countless battles. She wore her Valkyrie Gloria battlesuit: fitted black coat with bright teal stripes, short flowing cape, black military hat, brown leggings, and reinforced dark boots. Her blonde hair fell loose to her waist, fading into light pink tones at the ends, framing light blue eyes that evaluated me with surgical precision. Tall and athletic, her figure projected an imposing presence: elegant, but ready for the charge, like an elite officer on a battlefield. The lance Eos Gloria —black, sharp, with turquoise green and gold details— rested propped on the floor beside her.
"You're on time," she said without preamble, voice calm but authoritative. Her eyes lingered on me a second longer than strictly necessary, as if measuring not just my power, but something deeper. "Show me that barrier. And explain how a civilian with a 'special talent' from Nagazora obtained that power."
I smiled slightly. "I'm not exactly an ordinary civilian. And for the full demonstration… it will need a personal touch."
I formed a complex seal with both hands, channeling cursed energy with an additional feature I had recently obtained thanks to my new barrier comprehension: a self-imposed binding vow. The rule was simple but absolute: the barrier will not dissipate until the music I choose finishes completely or I cancel it. No one will be able to leave while it plays, and the sound will resonate only inside, amplified and clear.
The dark dome expanded rapidly, covering the entire room in a veil of cursed energy that muffled the outside world and created an isolated, almost theatrical space.
She inspected the edge with the tip of Eos Gloria. The cursed energy sparked against the lance's core, but it didn't yield. "Interesting. It selectively contains Honkai, blocks external signals… and also projects audio. It doesn't depend on a battlesuit or a stigma..." Her fingers paused for an instant upon contact, evaluating the very texture of my power.
"It's an inherent ability," I mentioned. "I absorb and control entities and Honkai energy… Plus unconventional energy. This barrier won't fall until the music ends or I cancel it. It's my rule."
*The music begins to resonate inside the dome. (Playing now: "MAMMAMIA" by Måneskin.)*
The heavy bass and guitar riff thundered with force, filling the enclosed space with provocative, rebellious energy loaded with attitude.
Durandal frowned slightly upon hearing the first chords, but showed no major surprise; only curiosity. Her light blue eyes shone with genuine interest —a gleam that, for an instant, seemed less clinical and more… personal—. "Then let's do a practical demonstration." She raised the lance with elegance. "A sparring match. No restrictions. I want to measure how far your potential goes… while your 'soundtrack' lasts."
The combat erupted to the rhythm of the song, as if the space itself had been designed for that spectacle.
Durandal charged with inhuman speed —a black and lethal blur—, Eos Gloria thrusting a stab that released burning waves to the beat of the initial verse. I dodged by millimeters, summoning my shadows for the first time in a real duel. Applying the powers directly to my body, I activated Divine Dogs: predator-sharp senses, clawed gloves. I blocked her thrust with a quick counterattack, sparks exploding to the bass rhythm.
Durandal raised an eyebrow, genuine surprise breaking her stoicism. "Energy weapon creation? Intriguing..."
She retreated and charged again, downward throw generating a massive fire wave. I summoned Nue: the spectral bird descended with electric wings, lightning crackling to the riff rhythm. I channeled its power over myself: ethereal wings sprouted from my back, short flight and explosive speed. I soared, diving down while launching lightning that forced Durandal to spin and block.
The impact pushed her back a step —coat slightly scorched—, and for a second, our eyes met amid the chaos: hers intense, unwavering.
I summoned Toads to flank her: prehensile tongues trying to catch her lance. Durandal broke the grip with an explosive spin, releasing massive fire to the explosive chorus rhythm, but her stance adjusted —enjoying the challenge.
Summoning high-rank Honkai beasts, the Emperor emerged partially, charging with brute force. I reinforced my body with massive cursed energy: I leaped toward her, exchanging direct blows in a frenetic dance of sparks and burning waves.
Durandal blocked the Emperor's charge with a precise thrust, stopping it, but I was already on her: combo of claws + residual electricity + brute force. She spun, counterattacking with a throw that sent me against the wall. I rolled, summoning the spectral Chariot to cover me, and returned to the attack with a fused barrage.
*The music stopped abruptly*
With the song's final riff fading, the music ended. The barrier automatically dissipated into black particles, fulfilling the binding vow. The sudden silence in the room contrasted with the residual rock echo.
Durandal stopped Eos Gloria inches from my neck. She breathed calmly, but a blonde strand had fallen over her face, giving her a less perfect, more human air. "Enough. I've confirmed your potential… and it's superior to expected." She lowered the weapon with elegance, and for the first time, her gaze lingered on me not as an evaluator, but as if seeing something worth observing more closely. "You are unpredictable, Mikael von Lindeman. Schicksal will watch you closely… but also protect you, as long as you prove to be a valuable ally."
Theresa burst into the room, panting. "Durandal! Don't kill him, please!" Upon seeing both of us unharmed (only sweat and minor marks on her forehead), she sighed in relief.
Bronya appeared at the door, Project Bunny floating beside her. "Bronya confirms the medical data. Also… thanks again for the previous intervention."
Kiana and Mei arrived running. Kiana, eyes shining: "That was epic! You have to teach me those weird summons!" Mei, worried but serene: "Are you okay, Mikael-kun? That was… impressive."
[System:]
[Evaluation with Durandal completed. Reward: +100 points → Ten Shadows Level 4 (400/1000) – New shadow unlocked: Great Serpent.]
As we left, with the image of her light blue eyes still fresh: Durandal —Bianka Ataegina— is not just the strongest; she is disciplined, honest, and protective to the extreme. Intriguing… and perhaps something more. Wendy has a real future. And with Ten Shadows at Level 4, the fusion in my body feels increasingly instinctive. I'm one step closer to facing major events. But Otto must already be planning his next move, analyzing every detail.
—End of Chapter 5—