As a symbiotic being, I raise children amidst the chaos.

Meanwhile, in the bishop's office on the other side, Otto sat upright at his desk. His deep eyes were fixed on the detailed report about the Second Herrscher, Sirin, in his hands, his brows furrowed in thought.

He interlaced his fingers and rested them on his chin. "How interesting. Since returning to Earth, the Second Herrscher has merely been holed up near that Tower of Babel..."

Otto murmured softly, seemingly surprised and puzzled by the contents of the report before him. However, just as he was immersed in his thoughts, several golden feathers drifted down like snowflakes.

Immediately afterward, a woman in a brown trench coat appeared behind Otto without warning. "It seems you're troubled by something..."

As a voice rang out, the mysterious woman slowly walked to Otto's side. She glanced at the report in Otto's hand and said, "How strange."

"Not at all. As long as you show yourself, all problems will be solved." Hearing that familiar voice, Otto quickly turned around, a bright smile instantly spreading across his face.

Those emerald green eyes reflected the woman's image, and his tone was as if he were seeing a long-lost friend. "Long time no see, my old friend, you've finally come..."

Meanwhile, inside the Anti-Entropy base, in a slightly oppressive conference room, Siegfried sat irritably in a chair, tapping his fingers incessantly on the table.

Those sharp eyes were fixed on the direction of the Tower of Babel, eagerly awaiting the latest news from those outside.

Time ticked by, and finally, a staff member rushed into the conference room and reported loudly, "Report! After repeated confirmation, it can be confirmed that the figure that appeared in the sky above the Tower of Babel is indeed the legendary Second Herrscher!"

"What's strange is that, so far, that being doesn't seem to have shown any obvious aggression."

Upon hearing this news, Siegfried's already tense nerves did not relax; instead, they became even more serious.

Just as he was about to get up and go to the Tower of Babel to find out more, a sudden, urgent notification sound came from the terminal on his wrist.

Siegfried glanced quickly at the information displayed on the screen, then abruptly stood up. "Hmph, Second Herrscher, stay right there and don't move. I'm coming to settle accounts with you!" With that, Siegfried turned to walk out.

However, just then, a clear voice rang out at the door, "Wait, Mr. Siegfried, please wait a moment. I have something here that I believe you will find very interesting."

Before the words were even finished, Einstein strode slowly into the room. He was clutching a thick report in his hand, a smile on his face.

"We have completed the preliminary analysis of the Soul Steel sample you brought back earlier."

"Moreover, during the research process, we made some unexpected discoveries." As he spoke, Einstein walked to Siegfried's side, gently handed him the report, and continued.

"These new discoveries are closely related to the Kaslana family... and may solve many long-hidden mysteries."

--------

"How can we say we have no clothes? We share the same garments with you." On a floating island in the headquarters of Destiny, the tranquil atmosphere was broken by a series of melodious zither notes.

"The king is raising an army; let us prepare our spears and shields, and fight together against this foe." However, at this moment, the music abruptly stopped. Cheng Lixue slowly stood up and walked lightly towards the door. As she gently opened the door, a figure came into view.

A woman in a trench coat stood quietly in the living room, her gaze fixed on a painting on the wall.

This woman was none other than the legendary figure who protected the land of China—the Crimson Iris Immortal, and also Cheng Lixue's beloved master, Fu Hua!

"Master...you've come..." Cheng Lixue murmured softly, her voice as gentle as a spring breeze across a lake. Seeing her master staring intently at the painting, Cheng Lixue stepped forward and quietly came to her master's side.

"This painting is based on the old house I lived in when I was a child." Cheng Lixue tilted her head slightly, looking at her master, a faint sense of nostalgia in her eyes.

"Really... It's really well painted." Fu Hua murmured softly, then slowly stretched out her fair hand and gently stroked the painting in front of her.

"This painting reminds me of your grandmaster's appearance... Alas, so much time has passed since we last parted."

Upon hearing the words "Grandmaster," Cheng Lixue's delicate body trembled slightly, and her already lowered head drooped even lower. After a brief silence, she continued, "Master, please enjoy the show. I will go and brew you a pot of hot, fragrant tea." With that, she turned to leave.

“There’s no need for such trouble, Lixue…” Seeing this, Fu Hua moved gracefully and arrived at Cheng Lixue’s side in the blink of an eye. Her lips parted slightly, and the corners of her mouth turned up, forming a faint smile.

"Your playing is a little disordered today, but there is no need to worry or be afraid. Your teacher is back and will protect you."

After speaking, Fu Hua's figure vanished instantly like a phantom, leaving only a few shimmering golden feathers that slowly drifted down and dissipated in the air.

Cheng Lixue stared blankly at the doorway, her once bright eyes now appearing somewhat dim and lifeless, as if she were lost in thought.

"The flowers have bloomed so early this year..." In the Taixu Mountain, Fu Hua stood quietly, gazing up at the azure sky, murmuring to herself involuntarily. A faint trace of longing appeared in her beautiful eyes.

Winter has passed and spring has come; it's another new year. Li Xue, that child, has grown up so quickly. Master Chen, how much longer must we wait?

Meanwhile, in the Schicksal organization's training room, Salome and Nicholas stood back to back, vigilantly watching what lay ahead. Just moments before, they had successfully defeated a powerful Honkai Beast together.

The phantom of the Honkai Beast flickered with light and then slowly dissipated into the air. Immediately afterward, a crisp electronic notification sounded in the training room: [Congratulations, you have passed the ninth simulation training.]

Upon hearing this sound, Salome and Nicholas simultaneously let out a heavy sigh of relief, their tense nerves finally finding some relief.

However, Nicholas frowned and muttered to himself, "No... this is far from enough. If we only have this level of strength, we'll probably just become a burden to everyone!"

Salome, standing nearby, nodded slightly in agreement upon hearing Nicholas's words. She couldn't help but recall the events surrounding Sirin, which she had witnessed firsthand.

The thought of that scene made Salome tremble involuntarily, and she murmured in response, "Yes, that suffocating sense of oppression... even more so than the Captain..."

"Hey, isn't that Nicholas and Salome...?" Just then, a gentle voice drifted over, instantly attracting Nicholas and Salome's attention.

The two turned their heads simultaneously, their gazes like two bright beams of light, shooting straight towards the direction from which the sound came.

Not far away, a graceful and beautiful woman was warming up, stretching her limbs. Her long, white hair, cascading down like a waterfall, swayed slightly with her movements.

Her fair skin glowed translucent in the sunlight, and her deep, captivating blue eyes, like the ocean, gazed at them with a smile. This woman was their captain, Cecilia.

"Captain!!!" Nicholas and Salome exclaimed in unison upon recognizing the person who approached. Their eyes lit up with surprise, and then, like two joyful little birds, they eagerly ran towards Cecilia.

"Long time no see!!!" Before he even got close, Nicholas couldn't contain his excitement and shouted loudly. His body trembled slightly with excitement, and his steps became increasingly rapid.

Salome, standing beside him, was equally overjoyed. Her petite figure followed closely behind Nicholas as they rushed toward Cecilia.

In the blink of an eye, the two arrived in front of Cecilia, and without hesitation, they opened their arms and rushed into Cecilia's embrace.

“It has indeed been a long time, Nicholas, Salome~” Cecilia gently stroked their hair and murmured softly.

After a while, Cecilia gently pushed the two away, then gracefully stretched her body and slowly said, "If you have time now, could you train with me for a bit?"

"Training?" Upon hearing this word, Salome and Nicholas exchanged a glance, a hint of confusion on their faces. They tilted their heads, looking at Cecilia with some bewilderment.

Seeing this, Cecilia smiled slightly, then released her hands. She stretched her shoulders and gave a big yawn, explaining as she did so.

"Yeah, I haven't been exercising properly lately, and I feel like my body is starting to rust..."

"Also, I need to get back into battle shape by tomorrow, but don't go easy on me just because I've just recovered~"

At this point, Cecilia picked up a long spear, then her smile vanished, and she looked at the two men seriously. Instantly, the latter felt a powerful sense of oppression emanating from Cecilia, striking them heavily in the chest.

"Honestly, even though they weren't made with Honkai energy, they still have this kind of oppressive aura." At this point, Nicholas and Salome simultaneously picked up their weapons, with the former continuing.

"Captain, your strength hasn't diminished in the slightest..."