In the laboratories of Schicksal Headquarters, the Queen of the Void, suspended in her life support pod, had once again opened her eyes. Facing the fervent little devotee of the "God" once more, she intended to carry out the so-called Divine Decree and deliver Judgment upon this filthy human world.
Within her aloof golden eyes, a flicker of contempt and loathing now burned...
"Humanity has become impure once more—"
Draining every last trace of Honkai energy from the life support pod, a voice brimming with majesty and scorn echoed through the now-empty laboratory—
Though not Babylon, the Tower Reaching the Sky that defied the gods on the Snowfield, Schicksal's Headquarters here surpassed even that. It was an archipelago floating high in the heavens, a kingdom built by humanity in the sky.
"Bella, my Bella, return to my side. I have been waiting for you... I have always been... Return to me, in your true form—"
The Dragon Master called out to the Dragon Girl, her heart linked to hers. She awaited her response, she awaited the Dragon's return—
-
"Your Grace?"
Benares, having transformed back into her true dragon form, cautiously observed the blonde Goddess beside her, suppressing her inner anxiety and quietly awaiting her command.
"It's still lacking a certain flair..." the Goddess mused, scrutinizing the dragon before her. "But it'll do... Go on, then—"
With a wave of her hand, the Goddess signaled the Dragon Girl to depart.
"I get the feeling you're thinking something rather impolite about me..." Benares muttered under her breath, turning to leave. But Snow's voice called out again—
"Impolite? Not at all! Just wondering if you'd like to recite a few lines for your grand entrance?"
"Lines?" Bella tilted her head in confusion, waiting for the Great God before her to elaborate.
"Yes, yes, lines! Like—'I am Deathwing, the Destroyer, the End of All Things, unstoppable, unyielding, I am the Cataclysm!' Something like that."
The blonde Goddess's voice carried a hint of excitement as she regarded Bella with newfound interest.
"Great God, please don't confuse the game with reality! I'm Benares... not Neltharion, for heaven's sake!"
"But you're both dragons, right? You could just play the part, right?" The blonde goddess tilted her head, stroking her chin thoughtfully.
"My primary colors are white and blue, right, Your Grace?" Bella tried to emphasize the differences between herself and the infamous Deathwing.
"Mhm, mhm," the goddess nodded in agreement.
"And Deathwing's main colors are black and red, right?" The Dragon Girl began to coax.
"Yep, yep," the goddess nodded again.
"Black and white, red and blue... those are clearly clashing elements!"
"? Aren't red and blue, and black and white, classic ship pairings? Oh, right, ship pairings..."
The blonde goddess seemed to have an idea, proposing again:
"Why don't I create a Deathwing for you? You could team up... and call yourselves the Black and White Terrors!"
"Your Grace, if you can't come up with a name, you don't have to! Besides, I already have the Queen!"
The Dragon Girl, a staunch devotee of pure romance, flatly rejected the possibility of a third party entering the picture. As if! she thought. The rivals vying for my Queen's attention are already too numerous. How could I possibly tolerate another nuisance weighing me down, hindering my goal of eliminating all competitors?
"Fine then—go find your Queen..."
The golden-haired girl's enthusiasm vanished instantly upon having her suggestion rejected. She slumped listlessly back onto her Throne, while the Dragon Girl ceased her entreaties. After bowing slightly to the figure on the Divine Throne, she swiftly departed the space known as Asgard.
...The vast Palace fell silent once more.
"Wendy... Wendy? My Apostle, can you hear me?"
The girl lounging languidly on the Divine Throne seemed to recall something and murmured softly, calling out to the joyful Wind Maiden.
Do not interfere too much in the Schicksal War... my Agent. I have already personally written the script for that conflict—
Ah... well, then. When everything is about to conclude, you may go and play a bit... but mind your boundaries.
-
Aboard the St. Freya transport ship, Theresa, who had been defeated by Durandal, rallied her strength and stood on the bridge of the Hermes. Here, the advantages of her Emperor-class Honkai Beast genes and Kaslana lineage were on full display—
You can't kill me. I'll be up and fighting again in no time, and maybe even start a rebellion while I'm at it.
"Himeko, have you made contact with Kyuusyou and the others yet?" the white-haired nun asked her close friend.
"Not yet. The mission Headquarters assigned them this morning seems to have put them in full comms blackout. We can't reach the Nibelungen." Murata Himeko shook her head at Theresa, indicating that contacting the Divine Authority Squad was likely impossible for the time being.
"Damn it... I should have realized something was wrong sooner. Why would Grandpa suddenly deploy all the Divine Authority Squad's divisions at once? Even Headquarters' Immortal Blades rarely mobilize their entire force." Theresa slammed her fist into the bridge's railing, leaving a dent. A previously overlooked detail suddenly struck her, and she asked urgently, "Himeko, what about Muninn? Have you found that silver-haired Herrscher girl?"
Himeko shook her head at Theresa, who looked as if her heart and lungs had stopped working.
"That little silver-haired girl disappeared with Kiana... Theresa, are you suggesting she was also captured by your grandfather?"
"Isn't that obvious...?"
Theresa froze, her anxiety clouding her judgment. She hadn't fully grasped the immense power required to abduct Muninn.
"Are you serious?... That Herrscher isn't some half-baked amateur like Raiden Mei. Based on our private conversations with Kiana and the others..."
"That girl is a fully realized Herrscher, just like Wendy. Kidnapping her silently... is that even possible?"
Himeko stared at Theresa with an expression that screamed, You're being ridiculous.
"Uh..."
"Let's just forget about where that silver-haired brat ran off to... Even if she was kidnapped by Headquarters Valkyries... don't forget she has a sister."
"Thought is far more elusive than memory. We should be worrying about Kiana instead... Tch, just when that troublesome girl was finally starting to mature, the Lord Overseer couldn't wait any longer, huh?"
The red-haired Valkyrie spat, glaring at Theresa.
"Grandpa... Hmph! All units, target Schicksal Headquarters Third Airport! Today, the Far East Branch rebels!"