Kiana was just about to square off with the Honkai beast when the sound of another beast came from behind. Without thinking, she pulled Mei into her arms. A sharp blade tore across her back, and she collapsed into Mei's embrace.
Two Honkai beasts closed in from both sides, their massive forms blocking the street from front and back.
Just as they struck toward Mei, a barrier formed in front of her, deflecting the blow. Sparks of electricity surged around her, and her eyes turned sharp.
Herrscher of Thunder stepping in for the carry!
The Herrscher controlled lightning itself, hurling bolts that struck down the Honkai beasts. They only lasted a few seconds before vanishing completely.
At the bridge of a ship in the sky, an adjutant reported to a woman in formal military dress, "Extreme Honkai reaction detected ahead. Honkai beasts in Changkong City are converging on the source! Major, we can still retreat if we move now…"
"Cut the chatter. Looks like we hit the jackpot. Full Level 1 combat readiness, initiate the operation!" barked Major Himeko Murata.
The Herrscher of Thunder held Kiana in her arms, muttering to herself, "To go this far for a coward… Kiana, you really are something else."
She glanced at the spot where Chen Tiannuo had vanished. "That human's power… quite interesting."
Chen Tiannuo had already regained consciousness from the explosion-induced dizziness. Well, it was Void Energy, after all.
He noticed the Herrscher of Thunder looking his way and felt a little uneasy. His body definitely couldn't handle a full-on lightning strike from her.
This is ridiculous, Chen Tiannuo thought. I haven't even gotten my Warframe back, and I'm already up against someone this overpowered?
As the ship drew closer, the Herrscher took note of its silhouette. "Annoying insects… dare to fly above me?"
She gathered her power and launched a lightning shockwave at the ship. The crew deployed all shields in haste, but they still couldn't fully neutralize the blast.
"Tch. Bring the warship down to the Herrscher's altitude," Himeko commanded.
"Wait… are you going to use that!?"
"We don't have time for anything else," Himeko said, running to the prep room. "I'll leave things here to you."
"Yes, ma'am…" the adjutant nodded.
Elsewhere, Chen Tiannuo exited the Void. Might as well test the waters now. Worst case, I'll just run back into the Void.
"Oh? The little rat shows himself," the Herrscher sneered as she saw Chen Tiannuo appear.
"Who are you calling a rat!" Chen Tiannuo shot back. "You oversized fluttering moth."
"Tch, what a smooth talker." The Herrscher didn't care to argue further and casually sent a lightning strike his way. "Begone."
Click. Chen Tiannuo didn't dodge into the Void. He wanted to gauge her current strength—she should still be in a weakened state. He might be able to match her.
The lightning didn't pierce through the Void Energy. Chen Tiannuo noticed the wings near Mei's back—her energy seemed to gather there. The Herrscher must be channeling through them… Destroy those wings, and Mei should revert back… maybe?
Without hesitating, he gathered energy at his chest, locked onto the Herrscher's wings, and under the cover of the lightning flashes, fired a transparent burst of Void energy straight at them.
The Herrscher, not even taking Chen Tiannuo seriously, had treated him as mere warm-up before the real fight. But to her shock, his focused blast of full-body energy obliterated her energy source.
"What?!" The Herrscher of Thunder shot him one last glare. "Human, I'll remember you!"
Chen Tiannuo chuckled. "Heh, I was hoping you would."
The Herrscher seemed about to respond but then… fell silent.
Up above, Kiana and Mei dropped from the sky.
"Holy crap!" Chen Tiannuo leapt into action, Void-blinking to them. Grabbing one in each arm, he jumped again, returning to solid ground.
The moment they landed, Chen Tiannuo collapsed. That energy outburst? He was definitely going to need several days to recover.
Back on the warship, Himeko had already suited up and reached the bridge—only to witness the energy wave from Chen Tiannuo's attack knock the Herrscher unconscious?
She immediately ordered her crew to retrieve the trio.
Once aboard, she had them taken to the infirmary—each of them had sustained numerous injuries.
Chen Tiannuo didn't object. I'm obviously going to end up joining them anyway. Plus, they're all gorgeous girls. The place I came from? Barely had any women. Drove me nuts.
"What's your name?" Himeko asked gently. Without armor support, releasing that kind of energy… he must've been through some kind of experiment.
"My name is Chen Tiannuo. You can also call me Tenno," he replied, recalling the days aboard the Orbiter.
"Where are you from?" Himeko asked again.
"That… I'm not sure." The system had transmigrated him, and his body carried Orokin blood (which apparently made you ageless?). What am I supposed to say—that I'm from the Moon? Chen Tiannuo kept a blank expression.
Only a name, huh? Power that strong… does he not want to say more? Never mind, let's get him to the academy first. Himeko thought, and offered, "Would you like to join us? I'm a teacher at St. Freya Academy."
"St. Freya Academy?" Chen Tiannuo tried to recall. His memory of Honkai's factions was hazy at best. He had been in stasis within Warframe's universe for who knows how long. The only thing he did remember clearly was all the beautiful girls.
"A global combat force dedicated to fighting the Honkai. We train warriors, known as Valkyries."
"Valkyries?"
"Most of them are female, hence the name."
"Sure. It's not like I've got anywhere else to go."
"Pleasure working with you."
"Likewise."
Himeko extended her right hand. Chen Tiannuo took it.