Honkai: Man(Sludge) From Future

Raiden Mei had expected the life of a Valkyrie to be more of a hassle.

In practice, however, she didn't find the training all that difficult. She quickly adapted to the intense regimen and seamlessly integrated the new techniques into her combat style.

Sometimes, Raiden Mei would even go to Theresa for advice. Theresa was more than happy to chat with her, often using the opportunity to ask for news about Kiana.

She herself didn't dare approach Noldrei.

"Mei, a talent like yours is truly being wasted," Theresa would often say. "Anyone in history born with a natural Stigma was destined to walk the path of a Valkyrie. Compared to those who need artificial Stigma implants, you are uniquely gifted."

Theresa was always trying to recruit Mei, but Raiden Mei had little interest in taking such an active role.

She was perfectly happy coasting along as she was. Why would she want to join the cutthroat competition among the Valkyries?

"No, thank you, Headmaster Theresa," Raiden Mei replied. "Besides, aren't plenty of people joining the fight against the Honkai these days?"

"That's not quite it..." Theresa sighed. "Come with me and meet two people. You'll understand then. They've been hiding out here recently to get some peace and quiet. It seems there's some serious trouble brewing with the Schicksal Valkyries."

Curious, Raiden Mei followed Theresa. In a private training facility, she saw two familiar, yet somehow distant, figures.

Durandal and Rita.

"Mei? How did you find us here?" Durandal asked, looking warily over Raiden Mei's shoulder, as if afraid a whole crowd would pop out from behind her. "Please tell me no one else knows we're here."

"Um... I came alone," Raiden Mei replied, a little confused. Why was Durandal—the idol and spiritual pillar for countless Valkyries, who wielded Schicksal's highest authority—looking like a startled kitten that had just spotted a predator?

"Mei, would you like some tea?" Rita offered, having already prepared some hot tea nearby. They often enjoyed a cup during their breaks. Of course, there were also energy drinks to replenish their stamina, but no matter how much the flavor was altered, they were never as fragrant as her brewed tea.

"Aren't you... supposed to be at Schicksal HQ?"

Durandal and Rita exchanged a glance, both offering a helpless smile.

"I don't even know how to begin explaining it," Rita said, gently placing a teacup in front of Mei. "Lady Durandal has always been at the pinnacle, admired by all Valkyries. So, as her 'fans,' they desperately need to know what their idol thinks about the current state of the Valkyries."

Rita continued, "They ask if Valkyries are still needed to fight. They've split into several factions that argue endlessly, each demanding to know which side's conviction is the 'right' one. They want to know if Lady Durandal supports the Transformationists, the Ethnic Purists, the Universal Humanists, the free-wheeling Libertines, or the conservative Schicksal Loyalists."

"Each faction has its own principles and justifications. For the foreseeable future, it's become difficult for the Valkyries to leave Academy City. The goal is to keep the movements of these Honkai-energy-wielding individuals confined within the city."

"Unlike in the past, when we were deployed to fight all over the world, having so many Valkyries gathered in one place has naturally led to conflict. Lady Durandal became so overwhelmed by it all that she had no choice but to bring me here to hide. At the very least... the atmosphere on the campus run by Headmaster Theresa is still relatively good. It's the place least affected by the chaos outside."

Rita's brief explanation laid bare Durandal's troubles. It was clear the Valkyries desperately needed someone to act as their ideological anchor.

The situation was a tangled mess of various factions, not to mention that many of these Valkyries were being courted by their home countries, who used cultural, ethnic, and religious ties to win their loyalty.

With Overseer Otto having stepped back, the Valkyries were adrift in anxiety, acting without aim or purpose. They didn't even know who their enemy was anymore.

They only knew that everyone around them seemed to be trapped in endless arguments, either with others or among themselves.

"Mei, I suggest you just stay hidden here. It's for the best," Rita advised. "We A-rank Valkyries are already losing control of their thinking. And don't even mention asking Lady Durandal to take action against them. Do you really think she could do something like that?"

Mei could see the distress on Durandal's face. She genuinely seemed to be terrible at handling these kinds of situations.

"Indeed," Mei said. "Even the Diet of the Far East breaks out into fistfights during sessions. It's even worse for these Valkyries, who are already naturally intense and hot-headed. They've been under immense pressure from their combat training for so long. Now that all that pent-up energy has been released, it's terrifying."

Hearing Mei's words, Theresa nodded vigorously. "Exactly! It's that much of a mess. My grandpa just washed his hands of it all; I can't even find him. So, Mei, if you can go back, maybe see if he's willing to come out and manage this situation."

I think he's more likely to just let things run their course.

Mei could already picture a bloodbath with Valkyries fighting each other.

"I'm not sure," Mei said. "Noldrei isn't the type to listen to reason. Or rather, his idea of 'listening to reason' is probably very different from what you imagine. If possible, I'd suggest Durandal go and talk to him. She's Kiana's older sister, so her words carry enough weight. Not to mention, Durandal, you possess the Kaslana family's Stigma."

"However, if you want to... uh, I mean, if you really want to solve this problem, Durandal... then I suggest you go to Noldrei and ask for a 'pony' identity."

Raiden Mei's expression was odd, and her words made everyone else's expressions turn strange as well.

The three of them—two adults and one much shorter one—stared at Raiden Mei in utter shock, completely unable to comprehend how she could say something so utterly bizarre.

What did she mean, ask for a "pony" identity?

Did she mean what they thought she meant?

Durandal was finding it hard to keep her composure. "Are you saying," she asked urgently, "that I need to become a pony, too?"

"He's actually not a bad person," Raiden Mei began, choosing her words carefully. "Aside from when it's necessary, he mostly doesn't interfere with what others do. But... a person's willingness to accept their body changing at will... that seems to be a sort of... benchmark he uses to determine if you're one of his kind."

Durandal!

I know you can become the most exceptional pony of all!