The autumn breeze by the sea was cool. The Oceania Schicksal Branch, located near the sea but not directly on it, was surrounded by lush forests, with large patches of golden hues signifying the approaching winter.

Three girls, currently in stealth mode, silently appeared in the woods on the outskirts of the base. They observed this small urban base hidden among the mountains, each with different emotions.

Kiana took a deep breath, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. After a moment of contemplation, she spoke, “Sin Mal, this is the first time we’re fighting side by side. So don’t lag behind!”

“…You finally called me by my name?”

“Hehe! Well, at least for now, let’s not argue while we’re on a mission.”

“Hmm. I rarely agree with you, Kiana.”

After a brief conversation, the two girls seemed to have a mutual understanding. Sin Mal had a somewhat arrogant demeanor, and Kiana wasn’t much different. Despite their bickering and disagreements, their bond ran deeper.

When it came to important matters, a signal of reconciliation from either side quickly dissolved their conflicts. Kiana and Sin Mal were already so familiar with each other’s abilities that, once reconciled, a sense of security emerged.

“As long as this girl cooperates, there shouldn’t be any problems!” They both thought simultaneously.

At this moment, Bronya’s clear voice came through their earpieces.

“In three minutes, all external communications and internal networks of the base will be completely cut off. At the same time, the Titan forces will become visible, splitting into four groups to attack from the east, south, west, and north main lines. We will maintain stealth mode and infiltrate the base from the northern route. Repeat your orders.”

Sin Mal was the first to respond, “I will maintain invisibility throughout. I will first occupy the X1 high point, utilizing my throwing weapons’ speed and destructive power to quickly destroy buildings A1 to A7, disrupting the internal command system and energy supply of the fixed weapons. After that, I will hide at the X2 high point, ready to provide long-range support.”

Kiana followed, “My mission is to directly advance to Building A8, destroying areas A8 to A16 head-on. This will eliminate their aerial power and create chaos inside, making the Valkyries of the base run around in confusion.”

Bronya remained silent for a moment before saying, “…I didn’t expect Kiana to actually remember the orders.”

“I’m not really that stupid! This mission is important to Sig, and I’ll give it my all!”

Kiana replied with an eye-roll.

While she usually didn’t bother with complex thinking because Sigurd could handle everything, this time, she needed to step up and help Sigurd.

It seemed that Sigurd’s teachings had worked, at least in making Kiana use her brain when necessary.

Bronya chuckled silently and summarized, “Sin Mal’s actions are crucial and will ensure our safety. Kiana will face the most pressure, dealing with the Valkyrie units in the inner area. I have equipped your armor with 1,200 drones for support, and if necessary, use them to clear the way or cover your retreat. As for me, I will head straight to points B1 to B6, where the target may be located. Once located, I will withdraw. Our objective is the gemstone, not the complete destruction of the Oceania Branch. Understand?”

“Yes!” They both replied.

As time passed, when the three-minute limit was reached, many lights inside the Oceania Branch suddenly lit up, and the formidable Titan forces appeared. Intense artillery fire erupted from all directions, and from the beginning, it was clear that the battle was heading towards a fierce confrontation.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

…

“What’s going on!?”

“It’s- it’s the robot forces! Anti-Entropy is attacking us!”

“Damn! Is this a retaliation for the Mediterranean incident? This is bad; test the communication systems!”

“Captain, the communication is down! External communication and the internal command system are both down!”

“As expected! Last time, they disabled the headquarters’ network, and now it’s our turn, isn’t it?”

“Captain, what should we do?”

“Don’t panic! We were prepared for this. Follow the emergency scenario plan A and act according to the default commands!”

“Yes!”

…

Inside the base, after a brief period of chaos, most Valkyries and combat personnel quickly took their positions, forming tightly-knit defensive lines.

Large groups of Valkyries split into four directions, heading to confront the Titan forces’ attack.

As the Valkyrie captain had said, all branches had prepared for Anti-Entropy’s counterattack, and their morale remained unshaken despite the unexpected turn of events.

However, soon, a series of explosions echoed not only along the four main lines on the outskirts but also within the base itself.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

“What’s going on?”

“The signal center, and also- the third energy core! This is bad; organize a retreat!”

The main Valkyrie forces heading to the frontlines branched off to guard crucial areas as they rushed back.

As the leader of a seven-member squad, Leinas was a seasoned A-ranked Valkyrie. She quickly took her position near the nearest power station.

“Attention! This power station supplies 27% of the base’s weapons and logistics facilities. Stay alert, don’t let even a mosquito get through!”

“Yes!”

After issuing the order to hold the position, Leinas watched as her team members each occupied defensive points, and she breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Suddenly, a piercing whistle echoed in her ears.

Whoosh!

Bang~

Boom! Boom! Boom!

In the scorching storm of flames, Leinas stiffly turned her head and saw a slender, pitch-black spear rising slowly from the flames, then shooting up into the sky and disappearing.

“What is… this thing?”

Even Leinas, who considered herself a battle-hardened warrior, had never seen an attack with such speed.

Its penetrating power was also terrifying; the outer walls of the power station were sturdy enough to withstand the impact of giant Honkai Beast, but under that spear, they were pierced like paper.

Leinas had no doubt that if she were the target of the attack, she would already be dead without any chance to react.

“Attack source is likely at the nine o’clock direction. Ellie, Shana, and I will track it. The rest of you, inform our allied forces that the enemy has an unconventional penetrating weapon that is extremely difficult to evade or defend against. Be cautious of commanding officers being singled out for assassination!”

“Yes!”

The power station had already exploded, so Leinas quickly abandoned her defensive mission. After giving new orders, she fearlessly rushed towards the direction from which the spear had been launched.

Several other squad leaders from the defensive teams made similar decisions.

Soon, dozens of elite Valkyries gathered at the edge of a tall tower in another area but found no trace of the attacker.

“No traces of a launching device. It’s likely an attack by hand.”

“Damn! We’re too late!”

“What do we do now?”

“Do a carpet search. If we spot anything suspicious, sound the alarm and engage. We can’t allow that kind of attack to persist; otherwise, it will be extremely disadvantageous for us.”

“Agreed!”

The Valkyries quickly dispersed, moving through various possible concealed locations, searching for Sin Mal’s whereabouts.

War was not a solo performance but a strict combination of organizational rules and the subjective initiative of frontline personnel.

Aside from initial decisions and force composition, the level of training and the determination of frontline personnel were the decisive factors in warfare.

Clearly, the Valkyries had excelled in training and made decisive decisions.

However, Sin Mal had already completed her destruction mission and was heading at full speed to the next vantage point, which was no longer within their search area.

This search was destined to be in vain.

Meanwhile, in another area, a massive logistics transfer center, a girl in black armor suddenly appeared in front of the main gate.

The Valkyrie who had just run out looked at her with suspicion.

“Is this a new technology from the branch? Or… the enemy?”

Before she could make a judgment, the petite girl began to raise her right arm in a preparatory gesture.

With only her eyes visible through the light blue visor on her sealed helmet, she spoke with a mischievous smirk.

“Hehe… lovely ladies, don’t blame me for being rude! Take this!”

Bang!

As she threw her punch, the sturdy wall shattered, and a corner of the towering building, over a hundred meters high, disappeared.

“Enemy attack! Enemy attack!”

“Where is the enemy… Huh? So small?”

Among the already well-developed Valkyries, Kiana’s petite stature stood out.

However, the collapsed corner of the building and the shattered concrete debris on the ground spoke of her extraordinary destructive power.

“I don’t like to fight cute girls, but if you insist on standing in my way today, don’t blame me for showing no mercy!”

“Be careful! Don’t underestimate her just because she’s small. Take her down!”

“Yes!”

The Valkyries attacked with lightning-fast speed, their punches and kicks like bullets.

But Kiana had been living under the firepower of the semi-ruin armament for these past few days!

Those powerful artillery attacks had awakened her latent combat genes.

With daily high-quality nutrition supplements and several months of devilish training, she was no longer the same as before.

Add to that the incredible boost from her black armor, and this battle was… quite easy.

Bang!

The Valkyries attacking her were quickly repelled, crashing into various buildings and structures, unable to get up.

Kiana struck a martial arts pose with a grin on her face and beckoned with her fingers.

“Anyone else want to come at me?”

“Charge!”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The Valkyries moved quickly, but according to the information that Sigurd had researched about the Valkyries, under these conditions, Kiana’s performance was already close to that of Cecilia.

With the basic qualities of an S-rank Valkyrie, even though there might be differences in consciousness, experience, and intelligence, when facing other Valkyries, she still had a crushing advantage.