NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 110: Our Queen
"Captain, we've encountered some unknown personnel blocking our path." The voice from the comms didn't faze Durandal. She simply frowned slightly, and asked, "Any casualties?"
Alvitr looked at the small girl in front of her, who was as quiet as a doll. She was wearing an ill-fitting white dress. The loose collar drooped to one side of her body, sliding down her small shoulder towards her armpit.
As if hearing their conversation, the little girl blankly raised her head, rubbed her sleepy eyes with her fingers, before letting out a big yawn.
Seeing her actions, Alvitr was tense, afraid that she would suddenly attack. However, after the little girl had yawned, she didn't move anymore. She just stood there in a daze, completely harmless.
But, Alvitr clearly understood that, although the little girl looked harmless, whenever her teammates tried to bypass her, a powerful force would descend, sending anyone who tried to break through flying.
"No casualties yet. She's a small girl. She hasn't actively attacked us. Her objective seems to be to just block our path." After briefly explaining the situation, Alvitr continued, "She can use some kind of invisible force. Whenever we try to leave, we're attacked."
After listening to her subordinate's report, Durandal shook her head. "Since she doesn't intend to hurt you, then stay there for now. After I'm done here, I'll personally come to you."
She didn't blame the Immortal Blades for being stopped by a little girl. Although she was strict with herself, she was extremely tolerant of others. That was also why she was extremely popular with the Valkyries.
"Captain, their target is definitely you. Please be careful." As her biggest fan, Alvitr felt a little worried, but with Durandal's strength, there was no need for her to be worried. She could only temporarily turn her attention to the little girl in front of her.
Just then, one squad member seemed to have tested the range of Griseo's powers. While her teammates created a diversion, she immediately began to run in the opposite direction. As long as she could successfully break through, it would mean there were limits to Griseo's attacks.
A golden light flickered in Alvitr's eyes, and the escaping squad member was sent flying back by an invisible force.
There was no way that he would let them escape. Although Ren, who was maintaining the balance between the multiple Herrscher cores, couldn't be everywhere, fortunately, he had placed a Herrscher of Thousands core in Alvitr beforehand. Every single action of the Immortal Blades squad was under his watch.
At the place where the meteor had fallen, Kiana's falling figure was getting closer and closer. Durandal, gripping Black Abyss White Flower in her hand, took a deep breath before abruptly thrusting it into the ground.
In an instant, tree seeds began to grow and sprout, countless branches began spreading, and the massive tree trunk that had formed directly tore open the city that had been made of steel and concrete, forming a towering tree.
A blinding white light shot up into the sky. The power of creation extended towards the sky, like a mother preparing to catch her falling daughter. Just like Cecilia many years ago, she used soft branches to catch the falling Kiana.
The unconscious girl didn't notice anything, quietly lying on the branches. Durandal stood beneath the tree, her gaze turned towards what was behind her.
Mei, who had been running with all of her might, had finally arrived. She hadn't even caught her breath before raising her katana at Durandal.
"Let go of Kiana." The information she had received earlier echoed in her mind. Ren had given her a detailed description of the cruel experiments that Kiana would be facing, and he had naturally exaggerated the details. And because of that, Mei didn't hesitate at all, and had directly challenged Durandal.
As the strongest Valkyrie, Mei was naturally familiar with Durandal's battle records and title. Even so, after being provoked by Ren, Mei was now desperately trying to prove herself.
More importantly, Kiana seemed to have made new friends, and that person would become a member of The Obsidian Concord. To get Kiana back, to bring her back to her side, Mei had to be stronger than them.
That masked man was right, only with strength could she protect the person that she valued, and so, she began to fight.
The blade pierced through the flowing light, instantly attacking Durandal. Honkai energy surged through her entire body, transforming into electromagnetism under the amplification of the Crimson Impulse armour. A faint electric current constantly stimulated Mei's body, making her even faster, as fast as lightning.
However, Durandal simply frowned slightly. Black Abyss White Flower blocked Mei's attack at a precise angle. Then, the lance thrust out, forcefully pushing Mei's attack back.
"I've only been ordered to bring Kiana back, Raiden Mei. You cannot stop me." Even under Mei's relentless assault, Durandal's tone remained calm and unhurried. However, this calmness further provoked Mei.
When she had lost to Kalpas before, Mei hadn't felt that the difference in their strength was that large, but now, facing her constant barrage, Durandal's breathing wasn't even ragged.
This made her very afraid. She wasn't afraid of losing. She was afraid that, after losing, Kiana would leave her. She was afraid that, after losing, Kiana would have to endure those tortures.
"I won't let you take her away!" The Crimson Impulse armour's output was pushed to its maximum. The powerful Honkai energy had even begun to erode Mei herself. A touch of madness appeared in her light purple eyes. It was the same madness that she had seen in Kalpas.
Injuries? I don't care!
Erosion? Doesn't matter!
I need faster, stronger, and deadlier attacks.
Finally, under Mei's desperate assault, Durandal took a step back, but that was all.
She seriously nodded, and replied, "If that's the case, then let's have strength decide the outcome."
In an instant, a boundless Honkai energy surged out. Durandal's aura continued to rise. It was the pressure of absolute strength. The power of divine authority and kingship began to materialize, gradually converging into a huge phantom knight.
"It's over." The supreme power spiraled upwards. The knight, holding a massive greatsword, looked down at Mei, and raised its greatsword.
At this moment, Mei truly understood what the pressure of death felt like. She finally understood that the disparity in their strength was not something that could be overcome with sheer will.
However…
"Some beliefs cannot be stopped, even by death."
Thunder roared, and lightning danced wildly. An ultimate lightning flashed in Mei's eyes. She screamed, and roared, swinging her final attack towards the descending greatsword.
There would always be inextinguishable lightning that dared to face the radiance of kingship.
The electric light flickered, and the phantom knight disappeared like a broken dream.
The exhausted Mei was standing behind Durandal, still maintaining her attack stance, but tears flowed down her face.
Durandal raised her lance, and Mei collapsed.
She lay paralyzed on the ground, not even having the strength to move. She desperately watched as Durandal walked step by step towards Kiana.
"I can't do anything."
At this moment, she desperately yearned for power.
"Kiana…" In despair, she kept praying, praying for everything to change, praying for someone to save them.
「Welcome to…」
Ahem, almost repeated the wrong lines.
「We are failures, abandoned by the masses. We are outcasts, forgotten by the gods. We are the watchers in the world's darkness.」
「We are—The Obsidian Concord!」
Throughout the city, the people hidden beneath their hoods raised their heads, murmuring the same prayer. Some were arrogant and unbridled like Kalpas, some were gentle and quiet like Griseo, some were just ordinary girls next door, and some were crazed believers.
「Kiana-sama, our Queen, our salvation and glimmer of light, we've come to welcome you.」