Starting from the Collapse World, I became the behind-the-scenes boss

And clearly, she was right.

Therefore, the only ones who are wrong are those who have awakened their Holy Marks.

"???"

Shihen felt that there was something wrong with his perception of the world.

While Stigmata technology is related to Fusion Warriors, the two are completely different things.

The limit for a Fusion Warrior is Kevin, and the limit for a Natural Stigmata... theoretically, it should be him.

In his perception, the Holy Mark within his body had been fully developed, and there was no longer any hidden power.

Even if he maximized the power of the Stigmata, he could only contend with the Herrscher for a short time, and was far inferior to the Fusion Warrior.

But why do Jackal and Raven agree that the Stigmata can rival the Fusion Warrior?

Is it a difference in perception between him and the cadres, or is it something he overlooked?

Looking out the porthole of the lounge at the underwater airport, Shihen fell into deep thought.

Chapter Twenty-Five: The Third Squad

Somewhere in northern India.

Just two days ago, this was a thriving urban area where hundreds of thousands of people lived, creating a home that, while perhaps not luxurious, was enough for them to call home.

But at this moment, regardless of whether the buildings that once stood here were exquisite or dilapidated, they are now nothing but ruins and broken walls.

The white herd of beasts walked among them, occasionally letting out loud howls, as if announcing that they had become the new masters of this place.

However, if you look down from above, you can see that the city has not yet completely turned into a dilapidated gray, and a small area at the southern end still retains vibrant colors.

A ring of green-painted armored vehicles surrounded the outside, with green dots representing moving troops inside. Further back, there was a conspicuous patch of white – hospital gauze drying in the sun.

At the very back was a colorful expanse, the temporary shelters for refugees, a chaotic mix of colors yet full of life.

In this same city, the two colors are locked in a fierce confrontation, neither willing to back down, like two fighting bulls, each straining with all their might to tear the other apart completely.

Throughout history, across the vast expanse of the world, the confrontation between collapse and civilization has often been like this: one retreats while the other advances, leaving no room for maneuver, and the only outcome is the defeat of one side.

Standing on the deck of the floating warship, Lena was somewhat stunned by the sight before her.

The resilience of humanity and civilization is always truly astonishing.

The wind howled high above, whipping up the Valkyrie's long, brown hair and making her cheeks itch slightly.

"Lena!"

A shout came from behind her. Lena turned around and saw a woman with waist-length black hair walking towards her against the strong wind.

"Hima!"

Upon seeing the woman, Lena couldn't help but smile.

"I knew you'd be here."

With a smile, Hima sat down next to Lena.

The deck of the airship was not equipped with any protective railings or similar features. If an ordinary person were standing on the deck of a moving warship, they would probably have already been sent flying into the air and into freefall.

But for the two well-trained Valkyries, walking on the deck was no difficult task.

In some cases, they even have to ride drones at high speed to the battlefield.

"I still prefer to observe the battlefield with my own eyes compared to a projection screen."

Lena smoothed a few stray strands of hair from beside her ear to prevent them from patting her companion, and explained with a smile.

Although the view is clearer through a screen, and there's even shipboard AI to help annotate details, she still prefers to see it for herself.

Only in this way could she truly appreciate how close she was to the battlefield, so close that it seemed she could leap right up to those monsters.

Although this is indeed the reality most of the time.

The airship is a steel fortress built specifically for combat; it never hides in the back.

"Yes, it does look different from what it looks like in the bridge room."

She also leaned slightly out to look down at the scene below, and Hima's tone carried a hint of admiration.

At this altitude of one thousand meters, everything on the ground is as small as an ant, and buildings are about the size of building blocks.

A sweeping glance can take in the entire battlefield, giving one the illusion of being in complete control.

Looking at the points of light that lit up everywhere, black smoke rose up and turned into a thin line. Hima was silent for a moment, then spoke: "The first squad launched an attack three minutes ago."

When faced with a large-scale Honkai disaster, the Valkyrie forces usually do not send out just a small squad.

Multi-team coordinated operations, supplemented by artillery barrage, are the normal way people deal with the Honkai in this era.

What era are we living in? Who still wants to have a fair 1v1 duel with Honkai Beasts?

Just like now, the regular troops were deployed to the battlefield three hours ago in an effort to disperse the Honkai Beasts, reduce the number of enemies as much as possible, and create opportunities for the Valkyries to attack.

After all, the Valkyries are human too, not monsters who can fight for seven days and seven nights without rest after drinking a few bottles of potions.

Normally, a three-person team that can eliminate twenty Honkai Beasts in a day is already considered to have achieved remarkable results.

How much longer do we have?

Lena asked, her tone as calm as a lake in the early morning.

“The estimated time given above is ten minutes,” Hima replied in the same calm voice, “but if the first squad is lucky, the time will be even shorter.”

It is said that a single move affects the whole body.

Multiple Valkyrie squads gathered together, forming a massive war machine where the completion of one gear would trigger the operation of the next.

"That's it."

Lena sighed, her voice rising and falling.

"This time the target is Ganesha, the new Emperor-class Honkai Beast."

Hima said, her voice involuntarily sinking.

Lena remained silent.

“A day ago, the Seventh Squad encountered Ganesha, and not a single one of them survived.” Hima continued, seemingly oblivious to his surroundings. “According to the intelligence department’s analysis afterward, Ganesha’s armor was too sturdy, and the Seventh Squad’s firepower was insufficient to break through its defenses.”

For some, the new Emperor-class Honkai Beast means new research material.

But for top-tier Valkyries like them, new monsters mean mystery, the unknown, and death.

Every piece of information about the opponent's abilities requires the Valkyrie to pay the price of her life.

"I'll do it."

Lena finally spoke, her tone gentle yet firm.

"Well, I believe you."

Hima nodded.

"I will definitely do it."

Lena reiterated, her brown eyes shining brightly.

"Lena..."

Looking at the determined girl, Hima was somewhat lost in thought.

“I am the best heavy gunner in the third squad, so I can definitely do it.” Lena said in a slow and heavy voice, as if explaining or declaring, “I will definitely bring everyone back.”

For the Valkyrie, every sortie could be her last, because you can never predict what you will encounter.

Some people leave and never come back, leaving their place vacant until a new person fills it.

But no matter how well the new team gels, the void left by the past will always remain and will never disappear.

Having been a Valkyrie for eight years, Lena was already used to this kind of thing.

Even so, she never chose to accept it, but instead fought against it to the end every time.

Because she was the best heavy gunner in the third squad, and had been in charge of the squad for four years...

"team leader……"

Hima couldn't help but call out this name that she hadn't used in a long time.

Having worked together for many years, they have long been accustomed to addressing each other by their first names.

“Hmm.” Lena responded softly, glancing at the signal flare rising below, then dusted herself off and stood up. “Let’s go, Hima, the first squad has found Ganesha.”

The first squad has completed its mission; now it's the third squad's turn to fight.

Chapter Twenty-Six: The Raven's Second Defeat

As the transport ship sailed away from the port, the energy shield that had been raised earlier kept the seawater away, ensuring that the ship remained dry even when it was in water nearly 100 meters deep.

On the deck, looking at the energy shield overhead that protected the floating warship like an eggshell, Shihen couldn't help but exclaim, "What amazing technology!"

Although he himself could use Honkai energy to create similar effects, he still couldn't understand how the machine did it.

After all, he was just a pure combatant who couldn't even pilot a mech.

"That's nothing. I've heard that Anti-Entropy also has an underwater city. That's truly spectacular."

The raven curled its lip, feeling a deep sense of superiority over the boy's Liu Grandma's behavior, which resembled that of someone visiting the Grand View Garden for the first time.

She's a mercenary who's seen the world.

Jackal... Oh, sorry, the jackal is still huddled in the lounge.

As a researcher, Jackal didn't possess the same strength as Shihen and the others; staying on the deck meant he might fall off at any moment.

"Has Sister Natasha been there?"

Shihen asked, somewhat surprised.

At this point in time, Abyss City is still an unreleased map. Even Destiny doesn't know such a place exists. The World Serpent actually... well, everyone knows that Anti-Entropy is a branch of the World Serpent. If I keep marveling, it'll just be padding the word count.

"No."

Frankly speaking, the raven's pride was not diminished at all.

Shi Hen: “…”

What are you so proud of if you haven't been there?

bang——

As the transport ship broke through the sea, bright sunlight streamed down, giving people a sense of exhilaration, as if the clouds had parted and the sun was shining.

At the same time, the energy shield was retracted for energy conservation purposes, and a strong wind suddenly blew in, making the hems of the two people's clothes flutter.

"Ah, it's been so long since I've been in the sun."

Stretching lazily, the raven's sinful aura trembled, asserting its presence and causing the boy beside it to instinctively look away.

The mercenary queen may look young, but she actually has a very voluptuous figure.

"Oh dear, are you embarrassed by that? Many assassins love using their femininity as a weapon, you know~"

Noticing the change in the boy's gaze, Raven couldn't help but tease him, even deliberately shaking the two mounds in her chest.

She felt like she was okay again.

Feeling even more embarrassed, Shihen couldn't help but take a half step back and said, "Those people are not qualified to use tricks on me."

Even with his eyes closed, he could still wreak havoc in the underworld.

For those who haven't mastered Honkai energy, the terror of someone like Shihen is simply unimaginable.

In the primitive era before the development of science, those who awakened the stigmata were equivalent to gods walking among humans.

Of course, this only applies to those who have developed their Stigmata to a certain extent.

As fellow Stigmata Awakeners, Shihen is already able to arm-wrestle with the S-rank Valkyries of Destiny, while a certain coward is still only hiding in the toy box.

"And what about me, your older sister?"

With a giggle, the raven moved a little closer to the boy.