Welt's Fortress floated atop the ocean surface, six meters high, constructed from dense, ultra-strong alloy materials for unparalleled resilience. Countless heavy-duty weapons mounted throughout its structure instilled dread upon sight.
From humanity's perspective, this was a marvel, an insurmountable natural barrier—an invincible military stronghold beyond comparison.
However, to giant Honkai Beasts, the six-meter height merely required a gentle leap after emerging from the sea.
As the first wave of Honkai Beasts, lured by the worker bees' sonic signals, surfaced and prepared to make landfall, they were met with a surprise courtesy of human technology.
Countless machine guns spat blue flames, while numerous missiles nearly blanketed the sky. The Titan force stationed at the forefront simultaneously activated their shoulder-mounted cannons, sending thousands of glowing projectiles plunging into the ocean.
"Shw! Shw! Shw!"
"BOOM!!"
The deafening explosions shook the heavens, sending towering waves hundreds of meters into the air before cascading down as fine rain, creating multiple rainbows in their wake.
It was a spectacle of cataclysmic proportions, akin to boiling the very seas. The surging tides generated massive plumes of steam, sweeping across vast distances. Within moments, the damp sea breeze lost its salty scent, replaced only by the pervasive heat spreading outward.
"Shhhhhh—"
As the barrage subsided, waves carried fragments of bone-white Honkai Beast debris, slowly dragging them back into the depths. It wasn't just a small area; it seemed as if the entire ocean was littered with shattered remnants. No living behemoths remained on the surface.
The first wave of Honkai Beasts' landfall ended futilely.
"That's... That's Anti-Entropy?"
"What kind of firepower is this?!"
"Were they playing house with us all these years?!"
For a moment, numerous Valkyries were stunned, panicked, even terrified. Then, countless cheers erupted across the scene.
"Yes!"
"Absolutely incredible!"
"As allies, there's nothing more reassuring than that!"
"Anti-Entropy rocks!!!"
But this was merely the beginning.
A second wave of Honkai Beasts soon emerged from the seafloor, larger in scale and more terrifying in number.
Greeting them was another intense volley of fire, once again rendering their assault fruitless.
Then came the third wave, fourth wave, fifth wave... The firepower displayed by Anti-Entropy was utterly astonishing. The worker bees and Eins fighter swarms dominating the sky showcased unparalleled strength for their era. Coupled with occasional nuclear detonations from worker bees, the lethal efficiency far surpassed imagination.
But there were simply far too many Honkai Beasts.
The Valkyries had lost count of how many waves they'd repelled. Just as their eyes threatened to be blinded by the flashes and ears deafened by the roars, the first Honkai Beast finally scaled the Fortress, its ascent eased by countless fallen comrades' corpses.
Though this brave warrior was instantly torn apart by a barrage of fire, it marked the beginning of close-quarters combat.
"Sisters, grip your weapons tight—it's time to show our allies the might of the Valkyries!"
"Long-range support, fall back; defensive formation, standby! Dagger Squad, clear out the small fry for our allies and maintain Titan robot formations!"
"Charge!"
The smoke of war enveloped them now. Battling Honkai Beasts is what Valkyries do—no one would retreat. At least, not amidst such valorous atmosphere; the vast majority chose to stand firm.
Agile Valkyries darted between the ranks of Titans, engaging the Honkai Beasts climbing onto the Fortress with devastating precision.
The Titan forces and aerial units provided excellent coordination, either covering or jointly attacking alongside the Dagger Squad's Valkyries, effectively keeping the number of landed Honkai Beasts minimal.
This intense standoff persisted for several hours.
Eventually, weapons overheated, energy reserves depleted, and even flesh-and-blood bodies succumbed to exhaustion.
In short, the front line slowly retreated, allowing more Honkai Beasts to swarm onto the platform uncontested.
"Rotate Dagger Squad members! Long-range units, maintain maximum sustained fire—no gaps!"
"Yes, sir!" × N
Similar scenes unfolded across every sector of the Ring Fortress, which enveloped the entire East Shenzhou Sea—and beyond.
Valkyries could be rotated out, but the Titan force had already committed all available units, leaving no room for relief. Despite constant maintenance by worker bees, energy depletion, weapon overheating, and mechanical damage were inevitable.
The intensity of their firepower gradually weakened as more Titans began engaging those colossal beasts in brutal close-quarters combat. The spectacle was awe-inspiring, yet casualties skyrocketed, and the rate at which they inflicted harm noticeably slowed.
The Valkyries surged en masse toward the frontline.
"For humanity!"
"Kill!"
With pent-up energy from hours spent on standby, the Valkyries took over the primary role previously held by the Titan force.
Swiftly, they pushed back the retreating battle lines, creating opportunities for the Titans to regroup and reorganize their formations.
This unprecedented spectacle unfolded before not only the crew of the Hyperion, but also countless ordinary people worldwide.
Indeed, Zeke had broadcasted the scene live on screens across the globe, allowing all humanity to witness this epoch-making battle that would challenge their worldviews.
"Is it really wise to do this? Won't it cause widespread panic?" Hera pressed her fingers against her temples, looking genuinely distressed.
Zeke sat in a chair he'd instructed Hera to fetch earlier and leaned forward, observing the ongoing battle below.
"The technological advancements and resources of the previous civilization far surpassed ours without question. If even they failed, why should you believe Schicksal and Anti-Entropy alone can protect our homes from Honkai?"
Hera fell silent, at a loss for words.
Could she tell Zeke that from the start, she had no real interest in these matters? That phrases like "defeating Honkai," "saving the world," and "fighting for humanity" were merely empty slogans meant to rally support and amass resources—all for reviving Kallen?
With a mild glance, Zeke understood Hera's true nature well enough; he wasn't about to waste breath arguing with her. The deed was done, and what came next was no longer within Hera's control.
Beside them, Welt maintained the Fortress's stability and output capacity, his weariness evident despite his gentle smile. "Actually, I agree that it may seem hasty. But since the timing is right, revealing the truth to people sooner isn't necessarily wrong."
"Huh? You, the conservative Anti-Entropy Alliance Leader, approving of such actions? Weren't you always fond of playing the lone hero?"
"My past self was indeed too immature. Honkai isn't just a disaster for one person or a few; it threatens the entire world and all humanity. We're all on the same ship. Only by uniting our strengths, pooling all our wisdom and power, can we possibly create miracles even the previous civilization couldn't achieve!"
"But what about the ensuing panic, disorder, and chaos afterward?"
"This isn't a social gathering, writing poetry, painting, or playing music—it doesn't allow for elegance, calmness, refinement, or gentleness. On this path, there will always be nefarious forces resisting the idea of equality and unity—when faced with such opposition, violence and bloodshed may become inevitable."
Welt adjusted his glasses, and the warmth on his face gradually faded, replaced by an unwavering determination.
Hera was taken aback.
"Welt, you've truly changed. The old you would never have spoken with such coldness."
"Can one mend the Heavenly Rift through compromise? Given the state of the world and the hearts of its people, for the sake of a greater cause and a more beautiful future, I am prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice."
"And what if you're wrong?"
"Zeke will correct me, as will millions upon millions of people who'll inform me of my right or wrong—though at least for now, I believe my path is true. If I'm mistaken... it's still better than idly watching the world succumb to Honkai's grasp."
"That's quite..."
Shaking her head, Hera gazed intently at Welt's resolute profile, a fascinated smile curling the corners of her lips.
Suddenly, she found herself anticipating the outcome: With Zeke's capabilities and Welt's resolve, what kind of world would they ultimately shape?
Would humanity fracture, or could they indeed create an unprecedented force?
If they succeed, Kallen would likely appreciate such a world, wouldn't she?
The profound indifference deep within Hera's eyes softened momentarily.