[Durandal][SS]
[Star Knight: A power that surpasses the Kaslana and Schariac family Stigmata, and even the power of Honkai itself, undergoing an unknown transformation after fusing with other energies.]
[Glory of the Valkyrie: The combination of innate talent and acquired experience, refined through countless trials, capable of discerning the opponent's and one's own situation, and imbuing the weapon in hand with an extremely powerful amplification.]
[Name of Ataegina: Originally an obscure surname, but gained the glory of salvation due to its owner. When acting with the goal of salvation, receives a significant correction.]
This character card, Takatsuki copied it from Durandal when he was in the Type-Moon World. Given their relationship, she naturally wouldn't refuse such a request.
Looking at the character card in his backpack, Takatsuki could only say one thing.
As expected of my wife!
Directly SS-rank, which shows how highly the system evaluates Durandal. Of course, it's also possible that Ai gave her mother a backdoor.
However, Ai is currently in slumber, so this possibility is relatively low.
It can only be said that the several enhancements Takatsuki gave Durandal integrated some of her abilities.
The so-called Glory of the Valkyrie seems to be a skill formed by integrating Knight Does Not Die Empty-Handed, Infinite Martial Arts, Magic Power Emission, and Durandal's own terrifying talent.
After checking his system, Takatsuki immediately equipped his wife's character card without a second thought.
This was his only SS-rank character card; why would he leave it to gather dust? Plus, it was his own wife.
Looking at the remaining 4 cost points, which were only enough to equip one more A-rank character card, he considered equipping Kishibe Rohan's character card.
Ever since he got White Snake, Heaven's Door had been gathering dust.
The main reason was that A-rank character cards could no longer keep up with the power level, and his daughter hadn't opened a backdoor for him to draw those cost-effective A-rank characters. The current A-rank cards were all cannon fodder with supernatural powers, so Takatsuki naturally disassembled them and threw them into the warehouse, planning to use them to stack up a high-level ability.
After dealing with the character cards, Takatsuki looked at the task his daughter had left him.
[Solo Trial: Find the Source of Life]
"???"
This thing is even more outrageous than finding a Stellaron. At least a Stellaron doesn't have conflicting names, but a name like 'Source of Life' has too many possible concepts.
"Forget it, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it."
Takatsuki did not forget what his daughter said: this trial mission would seal his system, so he simply put it aside and would deal with it when he was ready.
On the initial interface of the system, a new function appeared. This function was very simple and direct, consisting of only three words.
Throne of Heroes!
After clicking into Throne of Heroes, there was a series of new user guides. After clicking through them, Takatsuki generally understood the setting of this Throne of Heroes.
As mentioned before, the system opened up a space, binding Throne of Heroes to its own system, and because of this, Throne of Heroes itself is not recognized by the world.
Therefore, there is only one way for it to allow Heroic Spirits to reside: to sign contracts with those who can become Heroic Spirits.
The mission of Throne of Heroes is also like this.
Takatsuki's current authority is only one: to create contracts and to travel to past eras to find those qualified to sign contracts.
However, this travel is directional; he can only go to times when those people are about to die, and he cannot interfere in any way.
"Tsk, how can I sign a contract if I can't interfere…"
The Throne of Heroes is still very empty, with only one Heroic Spirit inside: Medea.
However, because this Medea is merely a possible facet of the Heroic Spirit Medea, she is incomplete and requires some time and energy to be fully restored before she can act.
It's also worth mentioning that…
The Heroic Spirits of the Type-Moon World are merely records existing on the Boundary Record Belt, which is to say, copies.
Their true souls have long gone to other places.
However, Takatsuki's Throne of Heroes is not like that; it can truly accommodate the souls of the deceased.
After understanding the new functions of the system, Takatsuki blinked, looking at the ceiling.
He really didn't want to get up at this moment.
It wasn't that he wanted to lie in bed, but that he knew he would have to face Mei after he got up.
And he didn't intend to hide what he did in that world.
"Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die."
Takatsuki originally had this intention, after all, things had come to this point, and he had no other choice but to enjoy himself.
And now, tomorrow has arrived, and so has sorrow.
Run away to recruit Heroic Spirits?
That's impossible.
There's no escaping. This situation is different from last time. This time, the fault lies with Takatsuki, and what's coming will come eventually.
Taking a deep breath, Takatsuki climbed out of bed.
When he went to the Type-Moon World, it seemed that it wasn't his main body that traveled; anyway, when Takatsuki returned, his clothes were still the same as before he left.
Somewhat dazed, he changed his clothes and then pushed open his bedroom door.
"Good morning, Takatsuki. Wait a moment, breakfast will be ready soon."
Mei, who had just come out of the kitchen carrying a plate, saw Takatsuki and greeted him with a smile.
"Good morning…"
Oh no, the guilt is even worse.
Looking at the busy girl in front of him, Takatsuki then looked at the others yawning or stretching on the sofa in other corners.
Wait…
I'll talk about it when the others aren't around…
…
Schicksal.
"Ugh…"
Durandal woke up on the floor again.
"I'm back?"
Looking at the familiar ceiling and then at the quilt wrapped around her, Durandal knew that she had moved around in her sleep and fallen off the bed again.
But with her physical fitness, this small height wouldn't even cause her pain; she fell almost every day.
"A dream?"
Durandal, having just woken up, was not yet fully conscious. She instinctively reached out to her side, retrieved a bottle of mineral water from the golden doorway, drank it in one gulp, and then fully registered what had happened.
"It's not a dream!"
Looking at the familiar room, Durandal's brain completely cleared.
Just then, a white cat jumped from the side onto Durandal's shoulder, rubbing its pure white fur against her cheek.
"Yuki."
Durandal hugged the cat, a gift from her daughter, to her chest. Along with the golden doorway she had just seen, everything proved that her journey in that world was indeed real.
And the truth of this world that she knew was likewise real.
However, she had already prepared herself mentally and made a plan. At least for now, she wouldn't confront Otto. Instead, she would continue as usual, carrying out missions and constantly growing stronger, accumulating strength for a potential future need.
But then again…
Touching the ring on her ring finger, Durandal found a pair of fingerless gloves in her room and put them on to cover the ring. As usual, she changed her clothes and headed to the training room.
Even though it had been almost a year since she had been there, this place was where she had lived for several years, so it didn't feel unfamiliar despite the long absence.
She opened her terminal and glanced at it. There had been no missions recently, and it seemed that the world was very peaceful everywhere, with no Honkai events occurring.
Drinking Rita's brewed black tea, which she hadn't had in a long time, Durandal suddenly spoke, "Rita."
"Rita is here, Bianka-sama."
When they were alone, Rita called Durandal by her given name. Whether it was her imagination or not, Rita always felt that Durandal had changed a lot.
She had a feeling as if she hadn't seen her in a very long time.
But they had just seen each other yesterday…
"I'd like to go to St. Freya Academy."
Rita nodded after hearing her. "Understood. I will apply to the Bishop. There are no missions recently, so it shouldn't be difficult to get approval."
"Mm, thank you, Rita."