The elevator stopped on the tenth basement floor. The moment Bianka stepped out, her entire heart trembled.
Running away, appearing in a place like this wearing only a coat—these were things she had never dared to imagine before. But now, she was doing them.
Bianka had to take several deep breaths before she could control the weakness in her legs. Hyper-aware of her surroundings, she scurried nervously toward her quarters.
If Rita is okay, she'll definitely be there...
The entire tenth basement floor was deserted, as quiet as a ghost town.
Bianka darted through the empty city. Thanks to her daily morning runs for the past month, she quickly reached her small villa.
Fortunately, the key was tied to her identity credentials. Bianka subconsciously ignored the fact that this would instantly reveal her location the moment it connected to the network. She opened the door and quickly slipped inside.
The familiar surroundings helped Bianka relax a little, but she quickly composed herself, patting her cheeks and rubbing them forcefully until they were slightly red.
She sniffed the air. There was no scent of Rita. Bianka's heart sank.
It wasn't because she couldn't find Rita; it was because this meant something had happened to her...
Refusing to give up, Bianka searched the entire villa. Finding nothing, she prepared to bolt out the door again. The rush of wind from the opening door reminded her, and she slammed it shut, hastily threw on a simple set of clothes, and dashed out for the second time.
If she's injured... where would Rita be treated?
The seventh basement floor!
Bianka's mind had never felt so clear. She decisively returned to the elevator and pressed the button. The doors slid open instantly. Without a second thought, she stepped inside and used her credentials once more to head to the seventh basement floor.
Compared to the ghost town above, the cold, metallic environment of the seventh basement floor felt even more chilling.
Bianka anxiously searched for the infirmary, but she had never been to one before. Realizing that running around aimlessly would get her nowhere, she had no choice but to slow down and begin checking each room carefully.
Just then, a voice laced with keen interest and a hint of frivolity echoed through the hall, making the hair on Bianka's arms stand on end.
"Hahaha... Interesting!!"
I've been discovered?!
But after instinctively ducking into cover, Bianka realized the voice wasn't directed at her.
Peeking her head around the wall, she saw a giant screen broadcasting a live feed.
On the screen was a well-built young man. He looked a bit battered, but it couldn't hide the intense pressure he exuded. A single glance was enough to make Bianka feel as if she were facing a formidable enemy.
"One sword is the pinnacle of speed, the other the pinnacle of force. Speed and slowness combined, unpredictable... I can see the swords' paths, but I cannot see where they will land, nor when..."
"They have me completely trapped in their rhythm, leaving me scrambling to defend. Fast? I'm not faster than the 'Wind-Clearing.' Heavy? I'm not heavier than the 'No-Landing.'"
"Either sword alone wouldn't have broken my momentum so easily, but combined, they are even stronger than before!!"
"This is rhythm, this is combination... Two completely opposite styles can create such an unexpected technique... Hahaha, congratulations! You're one step closer to saving everyone's lives!"
Bianka, who had been about to turn and leave, froze. She turned back, looking at the person on the screen in disbelief.
"You still have... three swords left, but you need to win four more rounds. Haha, come on, show me more!"
Three swords? Actually, there are only two left here.
Bianka couldn't help herself. She walked into the room, which she now recognized as Otto's office.
She approached the screen, but her attention was drawn to a document on the desk. She looked down and saw two words that made her breath catch in her throat.
[Herrscher]
That... is a Herrscher? Bianka looked up in a daze. For a moment, she felt like she was dreaming.
Why was there a Herrscher here? Who was fighting it? And why did the place where they were fighting look so familiar?
"Bzzzt—" A sharp burst of static crackled, followed by what sounded like Himeko's voice from a nearby communicator.
"Overseer, all survivors on the outskirts of Jieyang Mountain have been evacuated. However, Rita and Quinn are too close to the battle's center. We can't get close enough to rescue them."
The tone was concise and grave. Bianka raised a hand and clutched the fabric over her heart.
How could this be...? Rita didn't come back? She's still on that battlefield?
"We've tried to contact Rita and Quinn, but Rita is no longer responding, and Quinn's life support systems are critically low on power. We're running out of time!"
Critically low power, unable to communicate, near the center of a battlefield...
Bianka looked up, her gaze fixed on the figure on the screen who had begun to fight with his bare hands, punching with his left and pushing with his right.
A Herrscher!!
He said he would kill everyone... so where would he start?
Rita...
Bianka stumbled back a step, turning to leave immediately and head back to the front lines. But as she turned, she came face-to-face with a grim expression.
It was Otto.
In that instant, Bianka's breathing stopped.
Otto stood in the doorway, his face dark. His gaze, like he was looking at a tool or a corpse, made Bianka's whole body tremble uncontrollably.
"Why did you run?" Otto asked coldly, his voice devoid of any emotion. It was like a casual question, yet it felt like a gun pressed to her forehead.
"I..."
"Are you afraid?" Otto sneered. Those three simple words carried a clear implication: "Of course you are. I knew it."
"Heh..." Receiving no answer to either of his questions, Otto let out a contemptuous scoff and walked straight past Bianka, returning to his seat. "Go back to where you belong."
The place where she belonged... was it that darkness, or...?
"Overseer, we may need support," Himeko's voice crackled from the communicator behind her. "We're going to attempt to push into the battlefield."
Otto was silent for a long time, as if making a difficult decision.
"Understood... Kallen and Theresa will provide support with the Last Stand Serum." (this the final name i chose)
The Last Stand Serum? That drug with the extreme side effects? Kallen-senpai and Theresa-senpai... are going to use that?
Bianka suddenly clenched her fists.
"Overseer... let me go!" she blurted out, her voice a mix of apprehension and determination.