Perseverance and Hope

Unlike most Valkyries, Rita was… different. Her methods were unorthodox. She prioritized results, not methods.

If necessary, she wouldn't hesitate to kill a few to frighten the many. She had no qualms about taking a life.

Her restraint wasn't due to compassion, but pragmatism. She knew that in this situation, such brutality would be counterproductive.

The survivors were already on edge. One person's panic could trigger a chain reaction, turning the crowd into a mindless, terrified mob.

Their rationality had been overwhelmed by fear. Using force would only transform that fear into hatred – hatred directed at her and the other Valkyries.

The panicked sheep would become rabid wolves, making the situation even worse. She would be forced to choose between a massacre and a humiliating retreat.

Her goal wasn't to escalate the situation, or to make unnecessary sacrifices. She simply wanted to restore order, to calm the panicked crowd.

Yes, she pitied them.

Just as she didn't care about methods, she didn't judge these terrified people. She saw them as people in need of protection.

It seemed contradictory, but that was Rita. Unpredictable, enigmatic.

You never knew if her polite smile hid a murderous intent, or if her apparent ruthlessness masked a hidden kindness, a secret lifeline.

She'd chosen to fight fire with fire, using a greater, more immediate fear to shatter their panic, forcing them back to rationality, to obedience.

It had worked perfectly.

Riding the Knight-class Honkai beast, she'd herded the "sheep" back into their "pen," crushing their spirits in the process.

With the initial phase complete, she'd casually disposed of the now-useless beast and presented herself, all smiles and polite conversation.

"We won't stop you if you still wish to leave," she said, her voice smooth and deceptively gentle, a subtle threat hidden beneath the polite words. "However, there are many more… creatures… like that one, outside. Without our protection, your safety is… uncertain. Choose wisely."

She stepped aside, allowing them a clear view of the massive Honkai beast corpse, its size still imposing even in death. The sight silenced the crowd.

This was her strategy: shock and awe, establishing dominance, then offering a seemingly generous choice.

The survivors were too afraid to even breathe, lest they awaken the monster, or anger the seemingly gentle, polite, almost subservient devil before them.

Yes, a devil. That's what she was to them now. This tall, elegant girl with golden hair, one eye hidden behind a stray lock, was no different from a demon, or a vampire, those creatures of the night often depicted as elegant, aristocratic figures.

"Rita…" a Valkyrie from Snow Lotus approached hesitantly, her expression troubled. Wasn't that a bit much?

"You're just in time. I'll leave the rest to you," Rita said, smiling. Her role as the "bad cop" was over. It was time for the "good cops" to take over.

She turned and left, the front lines needing her attention.

The survivors, relieved by her departure, were still lost and confused, their tears flowing freely. The other Valkyries quickly moved in, offering comfort and reassurance.

"Give them something to do. Keep them busy," Rita instructed the Valkyries through the comms. "Organize some to clear the rubble, search for survivors. Have others assess the damage to our supplies. I don't know how much we have left after all that…" She sighed. "Secure what's still usable and distribute it carefully. Tell them reinforcements are coming. Ask them to be patient."

"Yes, ma'am! But, Rita…" A Valkyrie looked at the massive crowd, her voice filled with doubt. "We don't have enough people to manage all this!" She was from the recently arrived reinforcement squad.

"Human civilization hasn't survived this long solely because of Valkyries," Rita replied calmly. "Do your best. They'll figure it out. They want to survive. Sometimes, it's good to have a little faith in… strangers."

"Yes, ma'am."

"One more thing." Rita paused, her tone serious, drawing the attention of all the Valkyries within comms range. "Those who were particularly agitated earlier… they might be suffering from severe Honkai corruption. It can affect their mental state."

Most survivors of a Honkai eruption were exposed to some degree of corruption. Some showed symptoms immediately, others after a period of incubation. The Valkyries were well aware of this.

"Just in case, identify those with severe symptoms. Discreetly. We don't want to cause more panic." She paused. "Isolate them. I'll deal with them later…" She didn't elaborate. These girls were warriors, not executioners. Explaining the grim reality would only distress them.

"Yes, ma'am!" The Valkyries accepted her orders and began carrying out their assigned tasks.

"Well, that's one problem solved," Rita sighed, feeling the exhaustion creeping in. She'd been fighting and commanding non-stop since arriving, her energy reserves depleted.

Despite her exceptional talent and S-rank status, she was still human. She got tired, she got hurt.

Sometimes, I wish I had Durandal's stamina… she thought wryly, then pushed aside her fatigue and headed towards the perimeter. She'd pulled most of the Valkyries back to the stadium. The outer defenses were likely vulnerable again.

Just hold on a little longer… until reinforcements arrive…

"Rita!" The Valkyrie stationed at one of the few remaining high points contacted her, her voice filled with panic. "Another tsunami! It's coming!"

"What?!" Rita's mind went blank for a moment, then she sprinted towards the observation point, her speed unmatched.

Manila was in ruins. Without the tall buildings obstructing her view, she saw it clearly – a massive wall of water, towering over the horizon, blotting out the sky.

Anti-Entropy! A wave of fury washed over her.

All her efforts, all their sacrifices… meaningless.

Like a sandcastle on the beach, washed away by the tide.

She finally understood Lin Wei's rage in Singapore. Having your hard work so casually destroyed… it was infuriating.

"Rita, what do we do?! This one is even bigger than the last! There are more Honkai beasts in there…" The Valkyrie beside her was crying, her voice filled with despair. "We can't hold them back! We don't have enough people!"

Rita remained silent.

She knew.

If Durandal were here, she could handle it.

But it was just… Rita.

What can I do? She felt a wave of helplessness, a sense of defeat she'd never experienced before. Her mind drifted.

…

"Ragna, I don't understand." A young Rita had looked at the elegant woman, dressed like a maid, happily pruning a wilting potted plant.

"What is it, Rita?" the woman had asked, her smile warm and inviting. "Ask away!"

Little Rita had hesitated, then asked, "Why… after seeing so much death and destruction, so much suffering… why can you still smile?"

Ragna had paused, considering her words. "It seems you haven't finished your question, Rita."

"Ah! I… yes…" Little Rita had lowered her head, embarrassed.

"It's alright. Ask anything you want." Ragna had wiped her hands and gently patted Rita's head. "Facing challenges, overcoming them, then facing new ones… that's how we grow." She'd puffed out her chest, her smile bright. "And sharing that experience with those who follow… isn't that what a 'senior' is for?"

"Ragna…" Little Rita had hesitated, then asked, her voice small, "So many people die in every battle, and we lose so much ground with every victory… is it really a victory? If being a Valkyrie means fighting like this… then what's the point?" She'd lowered her head, her voice filled with despair. "How can you smile, knowing we're fighting a losing battle?"

She'd expected a comforting answer, but Ragna had remained silent.

"Ragna?" She'd looked up, seeing the troubled expression on her senior's face. "Did I… say something wrong?"

"No, Rita. Your question is excellent. I'm just… surprised you're asking it so early." Ragna had crouched down, meeting her gaze. She'd taken her hand. "That question… haunted me for a long time. I didn't understand why I was fighting…"

"Then…?"

"Then, with the Overseer's guidance, and after many more battles, I realized… 'victory' is a luxury. Many of our battles are… meaningless."

"But…?" Little Rita had been confused by her answer.

"But I also realized that searching for 'meaning' or 'victory' is just… wanting a specific outcome. But life… doesn't always offer clear outcomes." Ragna had held up the wilting plant. "Why do you think I'm pruning this flower?"

"Because… it will bloom again next year?"

"Then why not prune it after it blooms?"

"But… it won't be as beautiful if we don't prune it now…"

"You're right." Ragna had smiled. "You're pruning it because you believe it will bloom again, that the new flowers will be just as beautiful, aren't you?"

Little Rita had felt a flicker of understanding, but she couldn't quite grasp it.

"Flowers wilt, then bloom again. The sun sets, then rises again. We don't despair when the flowers fade, or panic when the sun sets, because we believe."

"Because we believe, we prune the flowers. Because we believe, we sleep soundly at night." Ragna's voice had been filled with a quiet conviction. "Victory or defeat… they don't matter. What matters is that we believe victory will eventually come. That is hope. And with that hope, we can endure, no matter how difficult the journey."

"But…" It's so painful… Little Rita hadn't had the courage to voice her fear.

"A senior's duty is to pass on that hope to those who follow, so they can pass it on to the next generation, and so on, fighting on, until we finally reach that… 'victory.'" Ragna had squeezed her hand, her smile gentle. "Rita, you will be a much greater Valkyrie than I ever was. So, believe in yourself, and never give up hope. That is what gives… meaning… to everything."

"I believe in you, Rita."

…

"Rita, what do we do?!" The Valkyrie's panicked voice brought her back to the present.

Rita took a deep breath, then looked at her, her voice gentle. "Are you afraid of dying?"

"Huh?" The Valkyrie was taken aback by the unexpected question. She hesitated, then, unable to lie under Rita's intense gaze, mumbled, "Yes…"

"Such an honest girl." Rita smiled, stroking her hair, just as Ragna had done. "Don't worry. I'm with you."

"Huh?" The Valkyrie looked up, confused, but Rita was already speaking into her communicator, her voice firm.

"This is Rita Rossweisse. Previous orders rescinded. New retreat orders. All combat-capable C and D rank Valkyries, escort the injured and the surviving civilians to the rear lines."

"B-rank and above, split into two groups. One group will clear a path for the evacuees."

"The other group will join me here. We'll buy them time…" She paused, her voice filled with emotion. "We are in Manila, the front lines of Schicksal's defense in the Philippines. If we fall, the entire defensive line will collapse, endangering the other Valkyrie squads and the millions of civilians behind us. We have to give them time to react."

Her voice was filled with steely resolve. "Even if only one of us remains, we will hold the line!"

After a moment of silence, the Valkyries responded, their voices echoing her resolve.

Somehow, even with less than twenty of them, it sounded like a roar.

Rita looked at the approaching tsunami, blotting out the horizon, then up at the ominous, dark clouds.

Will the sun… rise again?

I'll have to leave Bianka to someone else's care… she thought, a pang of regret in her heart. I wonder if she'll adjust… if she'll be disappointed…

Durandal, carrying Yuno, was streaking across the sky, a blue meteor racing towards Manila. Would she arrive in time?

Meanwhile, in the ruins of Manila's city center, a small group was arguing.

"No! I won't allow it!" Anna yelled, her voice filled with anger.