Honkai Diary: Start With Picking Up A White-Haired Treasure

"And this is your so-called ultimate trump card? Using the Honkai Energy detonator from the Stigmata experiment ahead of schedule to empower your Honkai Beasts?"

"Is there a problem with that?"

"...Have you considered what happens if those two carriers become Herrschers?"

"That's precisely what we want! If they transform into Herrschers, it means their cores' full power will be unleashed. The signal device I've specially modified essentially acts like a laser cannon—once within range, it can lock onto its target and channel the gemstone's energy into the quantum channel, illuminating the beacon for our Lord! With success, mere Herrschers would pose no threat; our Lord could handle them effortlessly. And even if we fail, it becomes Schicksal and Anti-Entropy's problem. They've been hiding too deep; seizing this opportunity allows us to gauge their true capabilities."

With these matter-of-fact words, Jackal crushed the remote controller in her hand.

Gray Serpent fell silent momentarily, realizing how surprisingly logical her reasoning was, leaving him speechless.

"Well then, no further issues. Let's proceed as planned. We're nearing the designated area, and Raven's signal indicates proximity, sparing us the trouble of searching."

"Hissss—"

Einstein inserted a syringe at the back of Raiden Mei's neck, and a pale blue liquid automatically flowed in. Soon, the Honkai Energy corrosion marks on her body faded away, followed by the alleviation of her painful distress as she peacefully slipped into unconsciousness.

Tesla lifted Wendy next, ready to administer the same treatment.

But suddenly, Wendy reached out and grabbed Tesla's wrist.

"What is this... medication?"

"It's a Honkai Energy inhibitor. It temporarily suppresses the activity of Honkai Energy within your body, cutting off the Herrscher Core's absorption from external sources, ensuring your safety."

"Give it to Seele and the others first!"

Wendy let out a stifled groan amidst intense pain but, seeing the unconscious girls lying on the train floor, firmly insisted.

As a Valkyrie, even though she had been disabled for a long time, she remained a warrior against Honkai. She could endure suffering, having grown accustomed to bearing it over years.

However, Seele and the others were different; they were just ordinary children, constantly at risk in such conditions.

Tesla paused before erupting irritably:

"What the fuck are you blabbering about?! There's enough of the medicine for everyone! Besides, your situation is the most precarious!" Tesla roared back.

"Bang!"

As they argued, someone kicked open the heavy steel door from outside.

Raven twisted her neck, snapping the Honkai Energy suppression bracelet that had malfunctioned due to the sudden surge in energy concentration.

With this restraint device disabled, Raven reverted to being a highly trained member of the World Serpent—a versatile ace assassin. Rita, the A-rank candidate waiting just beyond the vehicle, might pose a slight challenge, but she couldn't stop Raven if she chose to leave.

Facing away from the kicked-open door, Raven turned around, rubbing her wrist and calmly observing those inside:

Seele and Rozaliya lay on one side, their bodies marked by traces of Honkai Energy corruption, their conditions perilous.

Raiden Mei was unconscious after injecting herself with the suppressant.

Tesla and Einstein stood ready, one wielding a red mechanical glove, the other brandishing several drones, both visibly alarmed yet enraged as they kept watch over her.

In the cockpit up front, Cocolia and Raiden Ryoma—both lacking significant resistance or adaptability to Honkai Energy—had already succumbed to unconsciousness during the impact, likely no better off than Seele and her sister.

But the most striking gaze belonged to Wendy. Despite her face pale with pain and sweat beading on her forehead—despite being disabled even before this moment—she leaned against Tesla, her sharp eyes conveying a determination to go all out.

"..."

Raven opened her mouth as if to say something but ultimately said nothing. Silently, she turned and jumped down through the train's open door.

Sorry, but it seems we're not meant for each other after all.

With a silent sigh, Raven stepped onto the snowy ground, meeting Rita's radiant smile head-on.

Similar maid outfits, similar slender figures with long legs; their gazes locked upon one another, interrupted only by swirling snowflakes.

Raven shook out her wrists while Rita slowly raised her scythe, poised for battle.

"Can't you just let me pass? I'm feeling a bit suffocated inside there; I just want to take a walk outside. I'll be right back."

"My sincerest apologies, Miss Raven, but my orders are to ensure everyone's safety. If you were to leave like this, how could I protect you?"

"No room for negotiation? Actually, I could pay you."

"A tempting offer indeed. However, as a maid, it's my duty to faithfully carry out my master's orders. How regrettable! Surely you understand where I'm coming from?" Rita smiled pleasantly and glanced up and down, seemingly appraising Raven's maid outfit with an appreciative nod. It was unclear whether she admired Raven's appearance or Seele's sewing skills.

Raven looked down, feeling exasperated.

More than half a month had passed, and surprisingly, she'd grown accustomed to wearing this maid uniform. If not for Rita's reminder—though who knows about Gray Serpent, Jackal would undoubtedly laugh nonstop for three days straight upon seeing her like this.

However, since there were no alternative clothes available, Raven couldn't simply tear off the maid outfit.

It wasn't because of any sentimental attachment; neither did it have anything to do with Seele pricking her finger while mending it, nor Rozaliya and Liliya complimenting how good it looked...

'Damn! Why do I remember these absurd moments so vividly?!'

Raven's face darkened, wasting no more time as she charged directly at Rita, who remained composed and poised.

"Clang—"

The heel of Raven's boot struck the long shaft of Rita's moonlit scythe, sending gusts that swept away falling snow for several meters around them.

"Not bad power!" Feeling her hand slightly numb from the impact, Rita narrowed her eyes.

"Tch! An S-rank candidate, huh? Come back and fight me once you've dropped the 'candidate' part!"

With another kick, Raven sent Rita flying several meters backward.

Capitalizing on this advantage, Raven unleashed a relentless flurry of punches and kicks, swift as wind and fierce as thunder. Caught off guard momentarily, Rita could only hastily defend herself, forced steadily backwards.

To Raven, this was merely bothersome, but Rita was genuinely astounded.

What kind of monster is this? Without any weapons or specialized armor, how can she match me even when I'm equipped with Valkyrie Armor?

As Rita parried blow after blow, she marveled inwardly: missions involving high-level power struggles were truly extraordinary. Even a seemingly harmless young maid turned out to be an exceptional anomaly!

"Boom!"

"Crash!"

"Crash!"

The sounds of impact echoed hundreds upon thousands of times within mere seconds, indicating their clash had reached an unimaginable intensity.

With swirling winds and drifting snow continually disrupted by the shock waves, combined with both combatants being beautiful, delicate girls at the peak of youth, it painted a peculiar yet magnificent scene.

"Hah!"

In their fierce exchange, Raven, with her advantage of combat experience from being slightly older, found an opening and kicked Rita squarely in the waist, sending her flying deep into the snowy wilderness. Then she turned and bolted.

No way was she sticking around—how could anyone predict when Zeke's swarm would be free to deal with her next? With the bees temporarily occupied elsewhere, this was her only chance to escape.

Raven's maid outfit swiftly vanished amidst the snow-covered landscape.

Rita sprinted back toward the vehicle, brushing off the snow on her clothes with a grim expression but not pursuing further.

On one side stood Raven alone; on the other, an entire carload of people—including four Anti-Entropy Enforcers and the host of the Gem of Desire. The importance of each group needed no explanation.

"A major mistake. I'll have to intensify my training once we return," Rita murmured discontentedly as she gazed at the now-empty snowfield.

Raven had merely capitalized on Rita's initial carelessness, exploiting her recklessness by risking everything. In a true life-or-death struggle, Rita confidently believed that she, clad in Valkyrie Armor, would emerge victorious.

Nevertheless, losing even one person meant partial failure for this mission. She wondered how Hera-sama and Sir Zeke would evaluate her performance afterward.

With a soft sigh, Rita approached the van door, intending to check on the others' conditions.

In the vehicle, only Einstein, Tesla, and Wendy remained conscious. The others had been injected with Honkai Energy inhibitors to survive amidst its high concentration, but they had fallen into comas as a result.

Wendy held an injector, refusing to use it on herself despite Tesla's frantic pleas. Wendy's response was firm:

"They're all incapacitated, but I'm fortunate enough to have regained some mobility, at least temporarily. If things take a turn for the worse, I'll be our last line of defense!"

"You're fucking turning into a Herrscher!"

"No, I can still suppress the Gem of Desire. If it becomes uncontrollable, I will inject myself."

"Wha...the fuck?!" Tesla cursed vehemently, but Wendy understood her concern and didn't get upset. Instead, a gentle smile curved across her pale face.

She then turned toward Rita standing by the door, frowning slightly.

"You couldn't stop them?" Wendy asked.

Rita's gaze shifted, unable to respond.

Even from Schicksal Headquarters, Rita had heard of Wendy's renowned name.

This super-genius they hadn't seen for over a century was six years younger than Rita but had become an S-rank candidate earlier. If not for her participation in the Gem of Desire implantation experiment, which left her disabled, she would likely be standing shoulder to shoulder with Lady Aureoledale as an S-rank Valkyrie by now.

How should I put it? Facing such a distinguished "senior," making this mistake filled Rita with frustration. She felt guilty and helpless, like a schoolchild caught committing wrongdoing before their elders.

"Never mind, it's not important anymore. That wave of attacks targeted both the Gem of Desire on me and the Gem of Conquest on Mei. They won't stop here. We must stay vigilant; perhaps the real danger has only just begun."

"Yes ma'am!" Rita responded earnestly, her focus intensifying.

At Headquarters, she was considered elite, always believing herself among the best. Never did she expect to embarrass herself so quickly on an off-site mission.

Rita Rossweisse also values her dignity, you know!

Just then, from behind Rita, in the direction where the Raven had departed, a steady chorus of numerous footsteps reached everyone's ears.

******

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