Chapter 75: Counterattack Schicksal

After finishing one giant rice ball, Serenade - now sharing Kallen's gluttonous nature - found herself still hungry.

She immediately grabbed another, then glanced at Yae Rin and Hokushin Mei nearby, who had barely eaten a third of their portions.

"Mei, you've fully mastered controlling the Honkai energy within you, right?"

Though Far East tradition forbade speaking during meals, Serenade cared little for such customs. She'd follow traditions she liked, but who cared about the rest?

Besides, she was here now.

Serenade was the most important one. Yae Sakura and her sister, along with Mei, were all Serenade's disciples. As for Kallen... First, she wasn't from the Far East, and second, she was more like a guest.

So naturally, Serenade could do whatever she wanted.

"Yes, I can control everything now," Hokushin Mei replied promptly to Serenade.

"What about the power of the Stigmata and your weapon?"

Serenade had also given Mei Stigmata and a weapon, but... she hadn't provided any 5-star ones. After all, compared to the Yae Sakura sisters, Mei's relationship with her still fell short.

"I've mastered those as well."

"Excellent. You may now be considered a master."

Serenade nodded in satisfaction at this response.

"Master, but I feel my strength is still far from sufficient..." Mei looked at Serenade with panic, unsure why her master suddenly declared her ready.

Though Hokushin Mei now possessed the strength of an A-rank Valkyrie, compared to her master, Serenade felt it was still far from adequate.

"I've taught you everything I can. The rest depends on you. Sakura and Rin are in the same boat..."

Getting Hokushin Mei to A-rank Valkyrie level was about as much as could be achieved in such a short time.

To reach S-rank Valkyrie would require far too much time, along with luck and fortuitous opportunities. An A-rank Valkyrie was already considered skilled enough to be considered a master.

After all, who knew how long it would take for her to reach S-rank...

"I understand. Thank you for your guidance, Master."

Hokushin Mei glanced at the Yae Sakura sisters, who nodded in agreement, indicating their understanding.

Being considered a master didn't sever the master-disciple relationship. Serenade remained her master, but it simply meant her skills had reached a certain standard.

Compared to just a few months ago, Hokushin Mei was undoubtedly many times stronger.

Not only had she completely mastered the Honkai energy within her, but she also had new weapons and the power boost from Stigmata.

[Main Quest (2): The Path of Teaching (Completed)]

"Let's eat!"

Upon hearing the main quest completion, Serenade continued eating her rice ball without missing a beat.

"Yes, Master!"

Hokushin Mei's original strength was already quite good, and her talent was exceptionally strong. In just a few short months, Serenade had brought her power to a qualitative leap.

However, most of that potential had now been exhausted. To reach S-rank, who knew how much more time would be needed?

So there was absolutely no need...

With Hokushin Mei's graduation, this world's third miko disciple had completed her training...

The main quest required three Valkyrie disciples to reach C rank. However, both the Yae Sakura sisters and Hokushin Mei graduated with A-rank Valkyrie strength, far exceeding the minimum requirement.

In addition to the basic reward of 300 Crystals, Serenade earned a staggering 3000 Mentor Badges.

Each A-rank disciple is worth a thousand?

Mentor Badges primarily served to exchange for Crystals and Ai-chan Exclusive Coins.

The Crystal exchange rate was 1, yielding 3000 Crystals.

For Ai-chan Exclusive Coins, the rate was 5, resulting in only 600 coins.

Exchanging for Ai-chan coins clearly offered poor value.

Serenade's current currency balance stood at: 5770 Crystals, 700 Ai-chan Exclusive Coins, and 115 million gold coins.

After some thought, Serenade exchanged all her Mentor Badges for Crystals. The Crystals count jumped from 5770 to 8770.

Seeing the total nearing 9000, Serenade couldn't help but smile with satisfaction. No pay-to-win here, she thought, these Crystals are truly hard to farm.

Next, Serenade turned her attention to Main Quest Three.

Main Quest (III): The Choice of Departure

Quest Description: Please select one task from the following three options to complete.

PS: Only single selection allowed - no multiple choices!

Option 1: Leave the Far East with your three disciples and Kallen, traveling to the Shenzhou mainland... to live incognito and quietly endure five centuries.

Reward: 100 Crystals, Authority to Leave This World

Option 2: Due to the Herrscher's battle months ago, Schicksal has detected the presence of the Herrscher and Kallen. They've dispatched a Valkyrie Corps to the Far East. The host must defeat this Valkyrie Corps.

Rewards: 300 Crystals, 100 Ai-chan Exclusive Coins, Permission to Leave World

Option 3: With overwhelming force, defeat the Valkyrie Corps in the Far East... Then... advance to Europe and counterattack Schicksal's headquarters. Strike them with devastating power, catching them completely off guard.

Rewards: 2000 Crystals, 1200 Ai-chan Exclusive Coins, 3x Ai-chan Lucky Spin, Permission to Leave World

Warm Tip: Due to the Honkai World's unique nature, there's a chance you'll return to this world again - it could be five hundred years from now, four thousand five hundred years ago, or even fifty thousand years past.

Ai-chan Exclusive Quest: Truth and Deception

Quest Description: As Valkyrie Sixth Serenade Kallen, have you ever considered visiting Otto?

Quest Requirement: Meet with Otto and make him believe you're this world's Kallen. Maintain the deception for at least three minutes.

Quest Reward: 300 Ai-chan Exclusive Coins

-

"Multiple-choice questions? An Ai-chan exclusive quest? Counterattack Schicksal Headquarters? Are you insane?"

Serenade had initially thought there was only one main quest, never expecting an additional Ai-chan exclusive mission.

Moreover, the task description contained quite a lot of information...

According to the main quest's description, Schicksal had already dispatched the Valkyrie Corps to the Far East.

First, regarding the main quest, Option 1 suggests immediately leaving with everyone and heading to Shenzhou.

This way, under the protection of Red Kite Immortal's domain, Schicksal—having previously suffered losses at the hands of the immortal—wouldn't dare cause trouble within Shenzhou's borders. It would be relatively safe.

But... how could Serenade possibly act like a cowardly turtle?

As a proud SSS-rank Valkyrie, abandoning her "home" without even fighting? Unthinkable!

It's just a Valkyrie Corps, right? If Kallen isn't afraid, why should I be?

Absolutely not!

Thus, Option 1 was immediately rejected.