Declaring Death

"The sky's getting darker and darker. Is it going to rain?"

A few minutes earlier, Linburg City.

Durandal, investigating Jian Yun's whereabouts, instinctively paused while passing the banks of the Danube River. Looking up, she saw only endless, hazy gray fog.

This wasn't unusual. Besides being Austria's third-largest city, Linburg was also the nation's largest heavy industrial center. Due to pollution from industrial emissions, the sky here had long lost its clarity, perpetually shrouded in gloomy weather.

At this moment, apart from a few gathering dark clouds, the sky looked no different than usual.

Yet, even knowing the local climate, she felt a persistent unease. Ever since arriving in the city with the Immortal Blades, she'd had a faint sense of impending crisis, as if some beast that shouldn't be woken slumbered beneath the city.

As a warrior, Durandal trusted her instincts. If her gut told her there was danger, it inevitably meant a fierce battle lay ahead.

"Perhaps... we really did find the right place this time."

However, her mission was to capture Ren. This feeling, therefore, actually corroborated Otto's plan.

While she was momentarily distracted, a squad member responsible for reconnaissance hurried over, handing her a tactical tablet.

"Lady Durandal, the target has appeared."

Nodding slightly and taking the tablet, Durandal quickly cleared her mind of extraneous thoughts. Opening the data file, she saw several recently taken photos.

The photos showed a young girl, appearing only seventeen or eighteen, high school age. Yet Durandal knew this seemingly unremarkable high school student controlled the entirety of The Obsidian Concord's physical assets. According to Schicksal's fragmented intelligence, the funds she handled just last month approached one hundred billion.

Taking a deep breath, she put away the tablet and gestured to her team member. "Let's go. I'll go talk to her."

Following the team member's directions, Durandal soon arrived outside a factory. However, upon arrival, she found only Valkyries lying scattered on the ground.

These squad members, originally tasked with reconnaissance, weren't primary combatants, but as members of the Immortal Blades, they possessed at least A-rank strength. Yet now, they all lay silently here.

"Still breathing."

After checking her team members' condition, Durandal breathed a sigh of relief. She looked towards the factory and noticed the main gate, which should have been tightly shut, was now open just wide enough for one person to slip through.

Clearly, the target had discovered Schicksal's investigation long ago. Since she hadn't resorted to lethal force, it meant she didn't want to completely sever ties. Leaving the passage open intentionally indicated she wanted to negotiate.

"Clever."

Making this assessment, Durandal directed her remaining team members to evacuate the injured while she herself slipped through the gap into the factory.

To her surprise, the factory interior wasn't crowded, nor did it smell of machining oil. There was only an empty room, and a girl leaning against the wall.

"Hello." Seeing Durandal enter, the girl actually offered a friendly greeting. If Durandal hadn't known she had just incapacitated her team members, she might have mistaken her for a harmless, ordinary girl.

"You knew we were looking for you?"

"Yes." Half a year had passed, and Jian Yun was no longer as timid as before. Even facing Bianka Ataegina, there was no trace of fear in her expression. "He said you'd come sooner or later."

"'He'? Are you referring to Ren?"

"Yes."

"Since you know our identity, you must also know he's a Herrscher. You don't seem heavily contaminated by Honkai Energy, meaning you haven't become one of the Herrscher of Dominance's puppets. Even so, do you choose to oppose me?"

Durandal's perception was keen; she confirmed the girl before her was entirely ordinary. If she could persuade her, it might save a lot of trouble.

"You should know that Herrschers are enemies of humanity."

However, Jian Yun simply shook her head, replying calmly, "I don't know what a Herrscher is. I only know that when I was at my lowest, he was the one who pulled me up. In contrast, my own kind wished they could grind me into the dirt."

She looked up, pleading earnestly, "So, could you please leave? He isn't a bad person. On the contrary, since The Obsidian Concord was founded, countless people have received help, countless desperate lives have found salvation."

Durandal knew Jian Yun was right. Although Schicksal couldn't trace The Obsidian Concord's exact structure, the businesses exposed indeed fit the definition of charitable organizations.

The pharmaceutical company based on Heliopolis Life Sciences had been providing free medical care to Honkai infection victims for half a year. The manga and film industries led by Obsidian Concord Entertainment consistently produced works filled with hope. Many desperate unemployed individuals had also found refuge within The Obsidian Concord.

In a way, Schicksal provided protection from the top down, while The Obsidian Concord nurtured civilization from the bottom up. Working together, resisting the Honkai didn't seem impossible.

But unfortunately, Otto's orders were to bring Ren back at all costs. Although she didn't know exactly what Ren was needed for, as a Valkyrie, obeying orders was her duty.

Moreover, Linburg City was Otto's carefully prepared trap for Ren. Although only the Immortal Blades appeared to be present on the surface, in reality, apart from those sent to delay Kiana, almost all available Valkyries had been mobilized here. Such a massive force could easily overthrow any nation in the world.

"I'm sorry, we need to find him. If you cooperate willingly, perhaps things will be easier."

"...I see." Understanding Durandal's resolve, Jian Yun lowered her head in disappointment.

Just as Durandal prepared to move forward and restrain her, the sound of machinery suddenly filled the empty room. The next second, over a dozen fully armed mechs materialized in the previously vacant space.

"Cocolia's Quantum Mech Swarm?" Having fought Anti-Entropy for years, Durandal instantly recognized the technology deployed in these mechs. "No wonder someone with no combat ability could take down so many Valkyries."

Combat erupted instantly. A continuous stream of mechs surged from underground. Only then did Durandal realize the entire city probably sat atop The Obsidian Concord's mech factories.

"But no matter how numerous, they are meaningless against absolute power."

Wielding the Abyss Flower, Durandal's strength far exceeded the understanding of ordinary Valkyries. With a single charge, she obliterated vast swathes of mechs into scrap.

However, operating non-stop, the factory had churned out a terrifying number of mechs. Durandal destroyed them quickly, but they appeared even faster. Furthermore, while these mechs posed little threat to her, they were absolute killing machines against regular Valkyries.

Soon, the entire industrial district became a battlefield between mechs and Valkyries. As the mech numbers steadily increased, the Schicksal squads visibly faltered.

"Leave. He isn't here," Jian Yun remained, patiently urging them. She cherished the peaceful time Ren had brought her and didn't want to break it if possible.

"Tch." Durandal frowned. Dealing with Jian Yun wasn't actually difficult. Even with numerous mechs, a single decisive blow could solve the problem.

The only issue was that eliminating the mechs required a large-scale attack. The Abyss Flower was a Divine Key governing life and death; fully unleashed, it could silence every mech in the city.

But doing so would inevitably engulf the city's residents and the mobilized Valkyries as well.

While Durandal hesitated, a golden stream of light suddenly emerged from her waist, coalescing into a golden figure before her eyes. Before she could even make out the figure's appearance, it appeared behind Jian Yun with blinding speed.

"Bianka, leave this to me."

The moment the figure spoke, Durandal recognized the voice. Her expression shifted in alarm, a terrible premonition rising in her heart.

"Wait, Overseer—"

Before she could finish, she saw the golden-haired man holding a dark purple syringe. Before Jian Yun could react, he plunged the needle into her neck.

Jian Yun, merely an ordinary person, her pupils instantly dilated. Then, as Durandal watched, the color gradually drained from her face.

Thud.

The girl's body crumpled to the ground. Deep purple patterns began to spread from the injection site.

Having accomplished his task, Otto's lips curled into a satisfied smirk. His form then wavered, melting into a pool of golden liquid before reforming into a familiar cube.

It was the Void Archives.

"Hm, thanks for distracting her. You're not needed here anymore. Continue with your mission."

"No! You shouldn't have done that!" Witnessing the Void Archives commit murder, even knowing it was technically on her side, ignited fierce anger within Durandal.

She knew Jian Yun bore her no ill will; their conflict stemmed solely from differing stances. She could have defeated her, but she shouldn't have been killed like this.

However, the Void Archives, being merely a Divine Key, cared little for Durandal's opinion. "What are you talking about? You're carrying out his mission, and I'm carrying out his mission. Is there any difference between us?"

Ignoring Durandal's drastically changing expression, it floated leisurely towards the now-infecting Jian Yun, stating playfully, "Alright, this should be enough to lure out that annoying bastard."

Controlling Jian Yun's body, it took out a communicator from her pocket and, using her identity, sent out a mass message.

[Linburg City under attack. Herrscher of the Void captured by Otto. Kiana gravely injured, condition unknown.]

"Okay, now we just need to wait—"

The Void Archives, satisfied with its accomplishment, hadn't even finished speaking when Jian Yun, who should have been dead, suddenly shot up her hand, grabbing its cubic body firmly.

"Kiana... where?"

Startled, the Void Archives tried to struggle but found itself completely immobilized. Then, to its horror, it saw a crack appear on its supposedly indestructible Soulium body.

Realizing the situation was dire, it immediately tried to save itself, attempting to revert to liquid form. But no matter how hard it tried, it remained stuck in its current shape.

The Void Archives shifted its focus, abruptly realizing the hand gripping it no longer belonged to Jian Yun, but to a gray-haired young man.

He kept his eyes closed, then opened them as if releasing a long-held breath.

"...She's not here." After a brief silence, the young man's voice gradually became clear.

"You finally appeared! Otto wants to make a deal with you!" The Void Archives, realizing the main target had arrived, quickly spoke, but found to its despair that the young man wasn't even looking at it.

Crack!

"Wait!"

Amidst a sharp shriek, the Void Archives' body crumbled piece by piece, finally exploding into countless golden fragments that slowly dissipated into the air.

Witnessing this scene, Durandal felt her breath catch. Sweat began to bead in the palm gripping the Abyss Flower. Her throat felt dry as she struggled to utter the name.

"Ren."