HI3: I Don't Want to Be a Valkyrie

"It's not the real Oath of Judahs... Just consider them weakened replicas!"

Naturally, Serenade heard Kallen's astonishment. She turned to look at Kallen and offered an explanation.

Although these two Oath of Judahs indeed came from supply drops, they were only four-star versions that had never been strengthened...

A four-star Oath of Judah that hadn't reached full potential couldn't be considered a true divine key; it was significantly weaker compared to the genuine article.

Only the Oath of Judah wielded by Valkyrie Theresa was the true, fully upgraded five-star version. Perhaps... that Oath of Judah still possessed a shred of the divine key's power.

"Replicas... But..."

Even after hearing Serenade's explanation, Kallen remained visibly shocked. Though... Otto had mentioned to her before that he wanted to replicate a few weapons based on the Oath of Judah.

However, due to limitations in technology and materials, they hadn't officially attempted the replication process. Yet now, someone had already managed to copy the Oath of Judah.

Although these two Oath of Judahs were inferior to the one Kallen used to possess, she couldn't shake off a feeling of unease.

This mysterious duplicate of myself before me remains utterly enigmatic.

It was time for battle, so Serenade didn't engage with Kallen.

After throwing out both Oath of Judahs, the Fox God's Black Fox Flame was completely blocked, causing no harm to Serenade, Yae Sakura, or the others.

When the Fox Flame subsided, Serenade didn't recall the Oath of Judahs but left them standing before Yae Sakura, Kallen, and Yaerim.

Then, she charged towards the flaming Fox God ahead.

Twilight Nocturne

Serenade reached the Fox God and delivered a kick infused with icy elements to its fluffy neck. The Fox God's flames were completely neutralized by Serenade's ice, causing no damage to her.

However, the Fox God merely shuddered at Serenade's kick, unlike before when it had been forced back several steps.

But this was a four-fold attack, and the remaining three strikes swiftly followed...

The Fox God let out a pained cry and extended a claw, trying to grab the small creature beside it.

But due to speed alone, the Fox God's claw couldn't catch up to Serenade.

"Black Moon... Tide of Darkness... Repent!"

After her barrage of attacks, Serenade waved her hand, and the sky that had been raining fire suddenly darkened, leaving only a full moon hanging high above.

It was still daytime...

This audacious illusion that stole the very sun from the heavens left everyone on the scene utterly astounded...

However, this wasn't truly a celestial deception, but rather... merely a mirage within the small confines of Yae Village, akin to grasping at mirages in the desert and moonlight on water.

As the sky darkened, Kallen and the identical-looking Serenade's lips twitched... into a slowly spreading smile. Her body then split into two shadowy figures, weaving through the Fox God's form.

Once she emerged from the Fox God's neck, appearing behind it...

The layers of Raveen Mark etched upon the Fox God... began to harvest its essence, causing damage. Ice immediately began to encase the Fox God, freezing both the flames on its body and the fire within the ice itself.

And so, an enormous fox ice sculpture materialized amidst the now-ruined Yae Village.

Serenade turned to look at the Herrscher of Corruption standing nearby and realized... even frozen, the fox spirit maintained its arrogance without a trace of another expression.

"Serenade-nee, watch out!"

"What?"

Yae Rin's voice suddenly rang out. Serenade hastily turned...

She saw that the once-frozen fox spirit had broken through the ice, furiously lunging towards her again.

But... Serenade unexpectedly smiled.

As the fox spirit was mere inches from colliding with Serenade, she still hadn't moved. Just when Yae Sakura and the others watching from the side could no longer restrain themselves from intervening, Serenade finally sprang into action.

Sixth Serenade's body crouched slightly, one hand on the ground for support. With her other hand, she grabbed the crow mask draped casually over her left shoulder and, with a fluid motion, donned the mask.

"This is my stage!"

The Chunni maiden's voice rang out, and in an instant... a giant phantom crow, bearing a colossal crucifix, materialized above the Fox God's head—the Raven-feathered Cross.

"It's night-time!"

No sooner had the Raven Cross appeared than Night Serenade released its power, instantly immobilizing the Fox God. In the next instant, the cross's vast freezing force struck, encasing the Fox God in ice and suspending it in mid-air. A ten-meter-tall monolith of fur and bone, the fox spirit was helpless as Sixth Serenade, now transformed into a shimmering specter, began to weave between its body.

Trapped in the void, the Fox God could only passively endure the full force of Sixth Serenade's Ultimate Skill: Night Carnival.

After nine frenzied assaults, the Night Carnival ended, and Sixth Serenade landed gracefully on the ground, removing the crow mask from her face. The frozen Fox God descended from the sky, its life extinguished by a single, devastating blow.

"Next, it's your turn!"

Serenade glanced at the little girl standing nearby, who had fallen under the control of the Herrscher of Corruption.

In a flash, she transformed into two shadowy figures, appearing before the girl and seizing her by the neck.

"Go on... kill me... heh... if you dare. Even if you manage to kill this girl, it won't affect me in the least. I'll just move on to another body."

The girl's red eyes fixed on Sixth Serenade, her face twisted into a deranged smile.

-

The little girl hadn't attacked. Although her body had been altered by the Herrscher's Honkai energy, it was... simply too frail.

Given the strength she had displayed, the herrscher was no match for Serenade. So... why bother attacking?

"You think I wouldn't dare?" Serenade's gaze remained cold as she stared at the Herrscher of Corruption before her. This was the best moment to deal with her—once she fully escaped the box's seal, she wouldn't be so easily vanquished.

The Herrscher of Corruption was like a virus—perhaps not the most powerful (she couldn't compare to the Herrscher of the Void), but certainly one of the most tenacious and difficult to confront.

Because... she had no physical form. She was a mere virus, capable of splitting and multiplying.

If not for her having been tricked into the box last century, given the Herrscher of Corruption's abilities, she would never have ended up in this sorry state.

Just as Serenade was about to force out the Herrscher of Corruption from the little girl's body...

"No, Serenade!" Kallen couldn't help but call out, stopping her.

Even so, perhaps sensing Serenade's murderous intent...

The Herrscher of Corruption hadn't expected the person before her to actually disregard the girl's life and act directly. She hastily vacated the little girl's body.