Collecting Titles In The Apocalypse

Dante regretted saying that, but he couldn't bear watching Agent Black lose the fight while the people inside the headquarters couldn't come up with a decision.

"W-who are you?" The headquarters commander looked at him in surprise. She just noticed him. How was there a stranger inside their headquarters?

"Eh—uh…"

Dante found himself stuttering. Wondering how he would answer that. Who was he? He was just a bystander, wasn't he? 

Ahem!

Manager Sai came to his rescue, clearing her throat. Everyone's attention was caught by her.

"He's a newbie. He came with me."

"I-Is that so?"

"Yes. Regardless, how dangerous will it be if we allow Agent Black to use it?" Her gaze landed on the headquarters commander.

"About 70-80 percent, Miss Sai. Agent Black hasn't reached the required stats to use the second level of the battle suit Valkyria. If we allow her to use the second level, there's a big chance she'll lose her life. On top of that, it isn't certain whether she can activate the second-level power of it. I'm sure the higher-ups won't allow it."

Everyone saw a frown on Manager Sai's face. It seemed the situation was truly not in their favor. 

"But if nothing is done, she'll be killed, won't she? So what's there to worry about?"

Eh? He again? The headquarters commander looked bewildered by Dante's additional remark. He's very talkative even though he was just a newbie!

Suddenly, everyone heard Manager Sai's resolute voice.

"Let's do it. I'll take responsibility for whatever happens. Give her permission! Unseal the level two Valkyria Battlesuit."

"B-but…"

"Do it!"

Under Manager Sai's unwavering gaze, the headquarters commander couldn't find a word to disagree.

"Alright, everyone! Let's do it! Increase the level of the Valkyria Battlesuit!"

Dante wasn't sure if he'd feel happy or not. But looking at Agent Black who was willing to sacrifice her life just to defeat the Demonic Tuna, he couldn't help but cheer for her and pray that nothing bad would happen to her.

And if something bad were to happen, he would grieve and mourn for her for the rest of his life. Even though she wasn't related to him. Such a person who was willing to sacrifice her life for the goodwill of others was a person worthy of respect in any form.

At Manager Sai's command, even the headquarters commander could not refute.

On the battlefield, Agent Black's figure was all tattered. Bruises and cuts could be seen on the exposed parts of her skin. Her breathing looked heavy. But even though she looked haggard, you could see her unwillingness to give up.

From the broken building, she came out, staggering. Dragging with her the broken weapon. Even her suit looked damaged. 

Looking at her enemy, Agent Black noticed an expression that resembled a grin on the Demonic Tuna's face.

This bastard is looking down at her. She bit her teeth, hardening her jaw. Although she hates to admit it, this opponent was very strong. So strong that her attacks seem useless against it.

Not caring about her thoughts, the Demonic Tuna raised one of its limbs. A fin that resembles a scythe grew on it. It was very deadly as a weapon. It could even cut a building in one slash. Not only that, the Demonic Tuna also used it to cut her beam. It was the reason why her beams could not seriously injure it.

The Demonic Tuna's expression turned into a mocking grin. It understood that its enemy was on the brink of defeat. There was no need to pity her. The next attack will end her life.

Kekeke!

The Demonic Tuna laughed internally.

Under the mask, Agent Black widened her eyes. The next thing she noticed was the Demonic Tuna charging toward her at an incredible speed.

An explosion stronger than before, happened. Smoke and dust rose into the sky. And it could be seen that the ground where Agent Black was standing formed a large pit. The already broken building behind her broke once more.

Everyone in the control room looked like they had eaten very awful food with the expression on their faces.

Even Dante looked at the monitor with wide eyes.

"Are we late?" One of the staff muttered.

From the cloud of dust and smoke, piercing rays of blinding light suddenly shot out in all directions. It was followed by a long miserable groan.

KUURRRKK~!!!

A figure was thrown away and crashed on the wall of a tall building.

Everyone gasped in disbelief when they noticed who it was. The figure was no other than the Demonic Tuna!

Its body was embedded into the wall of the building, looking like a lizard.

When the smoke and dust subsided, standing in the middle of the pit was a figure. It was Agent Black. But there was something different in her from a moment ago. Her damaged armor a while ago was now brimming with toughness. Its black luster was smooth and shiny. Dante also noticed the design of her armor looked more aggressive and powerful.

It seemed the armor itself had undergone an upgrade in an instant.

"It's a success!"

"Hurray!"

Suddenly, the staff inside the room cheered loudly.

"So this is what Level 2 Valkyria looks like?" Dante voiced out his thoughts unintentionally, mesmerized by the armor's new form.

"Battlesuit Valkyria is…"

From beside him, he heard Manager Sai start explaining about the Valkyria battlesuit. According to her, it was a specialized armor specialized in fighting against demonic creatures such as the Demonic Tuna. However, not all people could use it. Only the chosen few people with high aptitude in heavenly energy known as Qi.

"Q-Qi?" Dante mumbled in disbelief, repeating her words.

He heard about it many times, in web novels, in manhua, and anime. He also heard it from some movies, especially Chinese movies. However, there was also one time in the past when his grandfather talked about it. He mentioned that all people had inner Qi. At that time, Dante just laughed and didn't take it seriously, thinking his grandfather watched too many Chinese movies.

"It's an essential element needed to activate the power of the battlesuit. Without it, you cannot wield it." He heard Manager Sai say.

"Do all people have Qi?" Dante asked.

"Yes. All people have Qi but not all can activate it. According to our research, only a few gifted people can activate their Qi."

While they were discussing their eyes also didn't leave the monitor. The battle between Agent Black and the Demonic Tuna continued. At this point, Agent Black's weapon also underwent a complete repair. It even looked more powerful than before.

The battle continued and it could be seen the advantage was in favour of Agent Black. Not only did her armor and weapon change form, but her strength and speed also underwent a complete boost.

It was Demonic Tuna's turn to get beaten black and blue.

Suddenly, everyone heard a loud howl. From the rubbles, the Demonic Tuna stood up and screamed. Ripples appeared in the space around it.

"No way, it's the Howling Phase!" One of the staff shouted. Her voice carried fear.

"What is the Howling Phase?" Dante asked curiously. He was ignorant to all of these after all.

Unexpectedly, Manager Sai didn't respond to him. There was a frown on her face. Instead, she urged him to watch the battle.

Around the Demonic Tuna, something comes out from the ground. Dante squinted his eyes and noticed they were bones.

One after another, animated bones come out from the ground. They crawled and then stood up like a fallen warrior ready to fight again. Of course, Dante knew about the undead. But these animated bones didn't look like Skeleton Soldiers. No matter how he looked at them, they didn't resemble human skeletons.

"What are they?!"

"Bonefish Warriors."

He heard Manager Sai mutter the words.

"Eh?" Indeed. They looked like fish skeletons. But these fish skeletons also had limbs like the demonic tuna. They could walk on the land.

Anyway, there were so many of them, gathering around the Demonic Tuna. About 2 hundred Bonefish Warriors were now ready to attack their foe.

KAKAKAKA!

For some reason, after the Bonefish Warriors came up, the Demonic Tuna produced sounds that seemed like laughing sounds.

Dante's hands were sweating at this point. 'Will Agent Black be fine?'

Perhaps noticing his agitation, the manager said, "Heh! It's not only the Demonic Tuna who have companions."

"Eh?" Wondering what she meant, Dante looked at the monitor again and saw some shadows coming from behind Agent Black. It turned out those shadows were the reinforcement troops the organization sent to back up Agent Black.

They finally arrived!

Agent Black calmly aimed her weapon, which was then bigger than before. Seeing that, the Demonic Tuna frowned.

KAAAH!!!

At its shout, the Bonefish Warriors around it rushed forward.

Seeing it, the troop commander of the reinforcement troop ordered his men.

"Fire!!!"

From the military vehicles, rattling noises and heavy bullets came raining.

Seeing its warriors obliterated one by one, the Demonic Tuna looked furious. Its body turned darker and expanded. Its size grew bigger and its body was then covered by muscles.

Dante looked stunned, "Muscle Tuna!?"

That Muscle Tuna was suddenly hit by a blinding beam before it could fully transform. The next moment, its upper torso disappeared.

Silence descended in the control room. Dante froze like a statue.

Manager Sai pressed her eyeglasses with a finger and said. "Never underestimate the power of the Level 2 Valkyria Battlesuit…"