The colossal sky battleship, the Moonlight Throne, with its gleaming silver hull, hung suspended in the vast expanse of outer space, just beyond the Human Empire’s borders. Its immense mass was effortlessly defied by an advanced anti-gravity system.
This mysterious sky battleship, once merely a legend, had been brought into existence by Qiweiya’s divine power. She had imbued it with the formidable abilities of the first four Herrschers—gravity, space, lightning, and wind—making it the undisputed pinnacle of divine craftsmanship in this era.
Beside this magnificent vessel, a smaller battleship, the Hyperion, drifted. Fully automated, its arsenal consisted primarily of laser weaponry and an array of built-in tactical mechs. It was, after all, merely a subordinate craft, a consumable item created by Qiweiya.
Within the Moonlight Throne’s main control room, Qiweiya sat in a pose reminiscent of an EVA commander, chin propped, her gaze coolly fixed on the floating magic-tech screen. “Now, we will launch our rescue operation with the utmost speed,” she declared. “We’ll split into two teams: one aboard the Hyperion, the other on the Moonlight Throne. From both vessels, we’ll deploy mechs to infiltrate and locate any traces of the elf tribe. Find those captured elves, and rescue them before they are… *re-educated*. Understood?”
Kiana’s expression was one of profound exasperation. “While I truly want to say ‘YES,’ Lady Qiweiya, seeing you so serious…” she began, “it would be far more normal if you just omitted those ambiguous terms.”
Bronya pointed to a small red dot on the holographic map. “Bronya believes it would be more efficient to directly target the auction houses suspected of elf trafficking,” she stated. “That way, we could identify the buyers and simultaneously rescue any elves who haven’t yet been sold.”
Mei raised her hand, standing. “But how exactly should we divide into teams?” she inquired.
Qiweiya clapped her hands sharply. “This is precisely the point! We shall form three teams, allocated by combat prowess!”
Mei asked, a hint of unease in her voice, “Why three teams? Logically, given our numbers, it should only be two!”
Qiweiya adjusted the rimless glasses that had materialized on her nose. “Naturally, as the one with the greatest combat strength, I constitute a team of one,” she explained. “Mei and Bronya will work in tandem, while Kiana will operate independently, given your familiarity with Gungnir’s dual modes.”
Kiana rose from her seat, a look of indignation on her face, and approached Qiweiya. “Don’t even *think* about going off on a solo adventure again!” she exclaimed. “Wasn’t that operation millennia ago enough to worry us sick? Is it truly that you don’t want us by your side…?”
Mei moved to Kiana’s side, gently calming her agitated spirits. “It’s alright, Kiana,” she reassured. “Let me try this time. I’ll make sure Lady Qiweiya doesn’t act on her own.”
Kiana, seeing the resolute glint in Mei’s eyes, sighed and settled back into her seat. Mei then turned her gaze to Qiweiya. “Though I don’t understand why you’re unwilling to act alongside us, this time, you absolutely *must* take one of us with you! Otherwise, we will not partake in this elf rescue mission. It was humans who harmed you in the past, and frankly, we have no desire to meddle in their current conflict with the elves. However… your will is paramount to us! But this once, you *must* bring one of us along. Otherwise, let the war between humans and elves ignite; we will not intervene!”
The three Valkyries watched Qiweiya, who had, at some point, lowered her head. After a brief silence, Qiweiya looked up, her face clouded with a somber expression, and spoke in a low, resonant voice, “What if I *insist* on involving myself in the affairs of humanity?”
“Then we Valkyries will stop you, Lady!” they declared in unison.
“Excellent~ You truly are admirable!” Qiweiya chuckled darkly. “I *will* rescue those elves! As for you all, you can simply languish here, slowly gathering dust!” With those words, Qiweiya vanished from their sight. Mei immediately turned to Bronya. “Bronya, where is Lady Qiweiya now? Find her, quickly!”
Bronya swiftly operated the Moonlight Throne’s advanced tracking system. “Lady Qiweiya’s origin signature has been detected within the Human Empire’s city of Panruoan!”
Kiana urgently pressed, “Then pursue her at once! Humanity’s schemes against Lady Qiweiya are likely still unfolding. We must find her before they can inflict any harm!”
“Bronya understands!” A flicker of emotion entered Bronya’s usually monotone voice. Under her precise control, the Moonlight Throne’s spatial barrier enveloped the Hyperion, and both colossal vessels warped away in tandem.
Under the pale moonlight, Qiweiya reappeared at the battleships’ former position, observing where the Moonlight Throne had just warped away. “You are all still too young,” she murmured to herself. “Do you truly think I wouldn’t understand the very battleships I created? Since you’re unwilling, then I shall proceed alone! Your absence won’t hinder my progress in the slightest… for I am the strongest god in this world! You have all underestimated me.” Only then did Qiweiya truly depart from the sky.
****
“Thump!” Kiana’s fist slammed against the specially crafted metal table, her teeth gritted in frustration. “Damn it! Lady Qiweiya completely fooled us!”
Mei gently took Kiana’s hand. “Don’t be so agitated,” she soothed. “Lady Qiweiya cares for you deeply; she would be heartbroken if you were to get hurt.”
Kiana, her cheeks flushed, pulled her hand away. “But we still can’t pinpoint Lady Qiweiya’s location! What are we to do if something untoward happens to her?”
“Bronya calculates that our only course of action now is to quietly await a stronger origin signature from Lady Qiweiya,” Bronya stated. “Then, relying on our innate connection, we can pinpoint her exact coordinates.”
Mei sighed deeply. “This is our only option for now… truly, such a worrying Mother God.”
Kiana gritted her teeth, angrily slammed the table a few more times, then let out a frustrated grunt before rising and storming out of the main control room.
Mei watched, a worried frown on her face, as Kiana departed.
Bronya offered a reassuring word. “Sister Mei, there’s no need to worry. While Kiana can be as unpredictable as Lady Qiweiya, she would never act recklessly during such a critical juncture.”
Mei rubbed her temples, a headache beginning to throb. “I certainly hope so… Also, dispatch the Titan Mechs to search for Lady Qiweiya’s trail. And, while they’re at it, rescue any elves they encounter.”
Bronya looked up at Mei, then nodded, her fingers already remotely controlling the Titan Mechs aboard the Hyperion. “Bronya has already deployed six Archon-class, sixty Godfather-class Titan Mechs, and twelve hundred standard Titan Mechs equipped with Berserk Mode to conduct a comprehensive search of the Human Empire.”
Mei nodded, a hint of apology in her voice. “Thank you for your hard work, Bronya. For now, all we can do is wait here for developments.”
Mei clasped her hands together, a silent prayer forming in her mind. ‘May the Creator God protect her. I only hope Lady Qiweiya can be found safe and unharmed…’