Chapter 97: The Black Dragon of Honkai

Schicksal Headquarters.

The headquarters stood as a prime example of Church-style architecture, with a central tower reaching over ten stories high since the 15th century. Surrounding buildings ranged from seven to eight stories tall, encircling the central structure like stars orbiting the moon.

Schicksal Headquarters embodied the organization's dominance. It was Europe's undisputed leader, serving as the spiritual pillar for the continent's people.

At this moment, atop the headquarters, a massive black dragon—tens of meters long—hovered in the sky, as if summoned from myth itself.

The black dragon radiated pure evil, its presence alone enough to subjugate all living creatures. Those weaker than it could only tremble in fear, utterly incapable of resistance.

Its colossal body resembled a prehistoric beast or a lion, with wings so vast they could blot out the sun. The snake-like head bore multiple sharp horns, the tail coiled like a lion's, claws curved like a falcon's, and scales covering its body like a serpent's...

Like the Eastern dragon, it was composed of body parts from the most powerful animals in the Western imagination.

Since different cultures revered different creatures as supreme, the designs of Eastern and Western dragons naturally diverged.

Yet both shared a common concept: dragons were superlative beings formed by combining the strongest parts of other creatures. However, unlike the Eastern dragon's status as a Godly Being, Western dragons were universally seen as embodiments of evil.

Once confined to myths and children's tales, these dragons now appeared at Schicksal headquarters.

Yet no one mistook it for a divine manifestation. The moment the black dragon materialized, its malevolent intent radiated like a beacon.

When Schicksal's core personnel—Valkyries, priests, and knights—detected Honkai energy emanating from the dragon, they instinctively recognized it as a Honkai Beast.

An unprecedented... dragon-shaped Honkai Beast.

Had higher-ranking officials, such as the archbishop present, seen the creature, they might have recalled ancient records about the Demon God-like Honkai Beast that had plagued Shenzhou four millennia ago.

This was the calamity that threatened human civilization.

As expected, the black dragon approached with malicious intent.

The dragon's aura forced all B-rank and lower Valkyries to collapse to the ground, unable to resist.

Next, the massive black dragon flapped its enormous wings and swooped down from the sky.

As the black dragon descended, people realized it was even larger than imagined, comparable in size to the Light Giant.

When the black dragon reached a hundred meters above the ground, it opened its massive jaws and unleashed a stream of flame.

The Schicksal soldiers below were instantly incinerated by the magma-like dragon breath. Only a small number of powerful Valkyries survived.

Facing the dragon—a creature existing only in legends—all soldiers trembled with fear, too terrified to resist.

After all, their enemy was a legendary dragon. Even elite soldiers were ordinary humans, easily losing morale. Once soldiers lost their spirit, defeat became inevitable.

-

Seeing the demoralized soldiers, a nun wielding a spear stepped forward.

"Soldiers, that's just a Honkai Beast—a massive beast resembling a dragon! Think of all the Honkai Beasts we've captured and slain! It's merely stronger than the others. There's no need to fear it.

After all... we are Valkyries, hunters of Honkai Beasts!"

"If you still consider yourselves warriors—true Valkyries—then don't cower before it. Join me in slaying this colossal Honkai Beast!"

The nun's method of boosting morale wasn't particularly effective, but... it undoubtedly had some impact. Leaving aside the other soldiers, all the Valkyries and Knights present were no longer afraid.

They simply tightened their grips on their weapons, reinforcing their resolve.

Indeed, they were Valkyries specifically trained to hunt Honkai Beasts. No matter what form their opponent took, they shouldn't feel fear.

Yet at this moment, they suddenly missed their former captain Kallen.

If Kallen hadn't betrayed the Valkyrie Corps, hadn't betrayed Schicksal, she would have been the most suitable person to face such a massive Honkai Beast.

With the Oath of Judah in Kallen's hands, she had hunted one massive Honkai Beast after another.

"It's coming again! Warriors, prepare!"

At that moment, the black dragon flew toward them once more, its dragon breath never pausing as it unleashed a straight stream of fire.

The black dragon's breath could sustain for over ten minutes in a single blast, requiring only a few minutes of recovery before launching a second or third salvo.

While other dragons couldn't manage such feats, the black dragon had absorbed massive amounts of Honkai energy. Theresa had transformed it into a half-dragon, half-Honkai Beast, birthing within its body a crystal reminiscent of a Pseudo-Herrscher Core.

Of course, this wasn't a true Herrscher Core. More accurately, it should be called the "Honkai Dragon Crystal."

This crystal allowed the black dragon's magical elements and Honkai energy to coexist harmoniously, even enabling it to replenish its magical essence using Honkai energy.

Do you think it's just any ordinary black dragon?

In truth, it's a black dragon fused with the essence of a Honkai Dragon.

As the black dragon approached once more, spewing its dragon breath, Valkyries and knights scattered. When the beast drew near, ranged warriors unleashed their attacks.

Guns, spears...

Bolts of terrifying energy streaked toward the advancing black dragon.

Yet... as the dragon with the highest defense among its kind, its physical and magical resistance proved formidable. Enhanced by Honkai Beasts' properties, it became even more formidable.

Most attacks glanced off its dragon scales completely. Only A-rank Valkyries' strikes could breach its defenses, though even these dealt minimal damage.

When ranged attacks proved futile, the black dragon closed the distance. Valkyries trained in close combat leapt onto rooftops, then vaulted higher until they matched the dragon's altitude.

Weapons forged from Honkai Beasts' remains thrust downward...

But the black dragon suddenly flapped its wings, unleashing massive tornadoes that swept across the battlefield. The swirling winds snatched mid-air Valkyries from their trajectories.

Remember - this black dragon was no ordinary creature. Though a member of the black dragon lineage, it wielded extraordinary elemental power.