In Delta's view, human nature was exceedingly simple.
When faced with something they could not control—something powerful enough to threaten them—they would instinctively fear it and seek to eliminate it as quickly as possible.
And once they managed to tame it, they would exploit and squeeze it without restraint until its value was completely exhausted.
After hearing the explanation, Houraiji Kyuusyou did not press further.
Fear could be used to create chaos, but it could also become a shackle that maintained order.
Changing the subject, she asked, "Are the monsters in this world hard to deal with?"
"Mm." Delta nodded. "Their mechanics are complex, their resistances varied, and their health pools are absurdly high. After all, they were created specifically for our training."
"..." Houraiji Kyuusyou was momentarily speechless before complaining, "They really went to a lot of trouble."
Delta remained indifferent. "Going to other worlds—using the gaming terminology you're familiar with—it's like entering a dungeon."
"Fine." Houraiji Kyuusyou shrugged. "So how do we get there?"
"Follow me."
Delta reached out and gently took her hand. The two of them transformed into a streak of light and flew toward the elven capital.
The capital of the human kingdom was actually closer to the teleportation array, but Delta disliked dealing with humans, so she chose elven territory instead.
Most of the time, her activities in this world were centered around the elves' great forest.
The reason was simple. She liked the pure aura of nature there, and she liked those beautiful female elves as well.
Three minutes later, they arrived at their destination.
An exquisite ice-blue palace came into view, surrounded by towering walls that guarded it tightly. Beyond the walls stretched a lush, verdant forest.
Landing at the palace entrance, Delta led Houraiji Kyuusyou straight inside.
The patrolling elven women they encountered along the way merely glanced at them calmly before continuing on as if nothing were amiss.
Their guardian deity never lacked female visitors. They had long since grown accustomed to it.
The one who came most often was a goddess named Raiden Mei, who controlled lightning.
She was said to be a succubus, capable of entering the palace with her tail.
Rumor had it that several of the elf maids responsible for attending to their guardian deity had been utterly exhausted.
Passing through the grand hall, walking along a long corridor, and pushing open a heavy door, the two entered a spacious chamber.
At the round table in the center of the room sat a white-haired young girl. She wore an ice-blue gown, like a princess stepped out of a fairy tale of snow and frost, her bearing cool and noble.
Kiki lifted her head and smiled gently at the two of them. "You're here."
"Mm." Delta nodded, then pulled Houraiji Kyuusyou along and took a seat.
Another Kiana! Houraiji Kyuusyou thought silently as she looked at the girl beside her. This is the third Kiana I've seen. This one feels mature and steady, with an even better figure. Though that outfit is a bit too revealing.
Kiki caught her gaze and smiled. "Here to take on a mission?"
Delta replied, "The mission to clear the Kabane world."
The monsters of the Kabane world were similar to zombies. Unlike ordinary zombies, however, Kabane had an extremely high Honkai energy conversion rate. Once transformed into Honkai creatures, killing them would cause them to drop Honkai crystals.
"That world, hmm!" Kiki said.
"Is there a problem?" Delta asked.
"No." Kiki smiled faintly. "Your mother also enjoys dealing with apocalyptic worlds like that."
"Is that so?"
"I won't waste words. I'll send you over." Kiki stood up and stretched lazily, then waved her hand casually.
The scenery before Delta and Houraiji Kyuusyou shifted abruptly. In the next instant, they found themselves standing within a vast forest.
The Kabane world.
It was already evening. The sky was filled with countless stars, dazzling in their brilliance.
"That's world travel just like that? I thought we needed a teleportation array." Houraiji Kyuusyou's eyes widened in surprise.
"If you're strong enough, you don't need one," Delta replied.
She took out a Honkai crystal from her personal storage and was about to use it when Houraiji Kyuusyou suddenly said, "Something's approaching."
A rumbling roar similar to a train in motion, accompanied by the screech of grinding steel, shattered the stillness of the wilderness.
They turned toward the source of the sound.
At the edge of the horizon, a massive structure composed of steel and steam pipes was slowly advancing.
Its exterior was covered in heavy armor, and thick black smoke billowed from the chimneys atop it. It resembled a steel behemoth crawling across the earth.
"There are still humans in this world?" Houraiji Kyuusyou asked.
"Whether there are humans or not has nothing to do with us." Delta clenched her hand, and the purple Honkai crystal dissolved into particles of light, dispersing into the air.
"A Honkai energy crystal?" Houraiji Kyuusyou looked at her in confusion.
"A research product from Grandma Mobius," Delta explained. "Honkai creatures transformed by this kind of energy won't gain much additional strength. Most of the Honkai energy will simply condense inside their bodies into Honkai crystals."
"Oh..." Houraiji Kyuusyou nodded in understanding. "So what do we do next? Hunt monsters and level up?"
In the forest, she spotted several staggering figures. Their skin was an unhealthy gray, bulging blue veins protruded along their necks, and their eyes were hollow red.
"Those are... Kabane?" Houraiji Kyuusyou narrowed her eyes. She could clearly see the faint red glow emanating from the metal-encased hearts in their chests.
"We still need to wait a while before harvesting them," Delta said. "For now, we can test their current strength."
She raised her hand. Several wind blades sliced through the air with a sharp whistle, instantly cleaving multiple Kabane in half. The membrane protecting their hearts was as fragile as paper beneath the blades of light.