Chat Group: Starting by Swapping Bodies with Elysia?

Having been thoroughly re-educated by the Elysian Re-education Beatdown™ and the Triumvirate's corrective fists, Bronya was now a model student, readily accepting the weighty responsibility of her mission.

Originally, her primary motivation had been rescuing Seele.

But now, Seele was already out… Though this Seele felt… off, and a part of her felt strangely disappointed.

In Bronya's carefully crafted plan, she was supposed to emerge from Elysium after mastering her ultimate technique, swooping in like a hero to rescue Seele from the Sea of Quanta, basking in Seele's admiring gaze. 

That's how the script was supposed to go!

But her Taixu Sword Qi wasn't perfected yet.

Having been thoroughly "nerfed" by both Seele and Kalpas, Bronya had become more cautious. But feeling Seele's eyes on her, she quickly made up her mind.

How could she back down in front of Seele?

Even if this Seele was… different, possibly not the Seele she knew, even just for that "Bronya Onee-chan," she felt obligated, and capable, of upholding her pride as the older sister.

Besides, after her training in Elysium, she was much stronger now.

Though she probably still couldn't beat that Tuna and the other violent maniac in Elysium, feeling the power coursing through her, Bronya was confident she could handle almost anyone else.

Which meant—there were only two people she couldn't beat! And the maniac was stuck in Elysium. As for Tuna… though they were close to Schicksal HQ, according to what Bronya had learned from the Anti-Entropy duo, the Tuna was practically always flying around the world dealing with major Honkai outbreaks 360 days out of the year.

There were no major Honkai outbreaks on the British Isles. There was no way Tuna would be there.

Reassured, Bronya settled into her seat on the small transport headed for Europe.

"Seele, you didn't have to come with Bronya."

At Seele's own request, she'd joined the mission. Looking at Seele sitting across from her, Bronya sighed.

"While there shouldn't be any danger, if something does happen, Bronya might not be able to protect you."

Regardless of whether this Seele was the real Seele, based on her appearance and Bronya's own feelings, she still treated her with the same care and concern.

(Hmph! Does Seele need protection from a bootleg Onee-chan like you?)

Dark Seele fumed internally. What does she mean, 'might not be able to protect'?

Can't Seele protect herself? And even if she couldn't, there's still me!

Don't underestimate us, you 'high-quality imitation'!

The real Onee-chan would never say something like that!

That being said—they had come along because they were worried.

If it had been the powerful 'genuine Bronya,' Seele might have simply been reluctant to part. But this 'imitation'… You weak, pathetic imposter… Don't think you can act like Onee-chan and actually pull it off!

North America, where Anti-Entropy was based, wasn't too far from the British Isles. During the journey, Bronya, unable to contain her curiosity, started chatting with Seele.

As they talked, memories surfaced, confirming Bronya's suspicions. From Seele's words, she pieced together how Seele had escaped the Sea of Quanta.

Jiang Qiao… it was that guy! Bronya's face remained impassive, but internally, she was seething. So it was you! That explains everything! That sneaky jerk took Bronya's body without permission!

Not only did he take it, but he used it to rescue Seele!

And she'd been stuck in Elysium, diligently honing her skills, dreaming of the day she could return and save Seele.

She was furious, but there wasn't much she could do. After all, she had made a deal with that jerk, and Jiang Qiao had promised to bring Seele back. She'd just wanted to show off her newfound power and skills in front of Seele, to have her own hero-saving-damsel-in-distress moment.

Ugh, couldn't he have at least told me? I wouldn't have trained so hard in Elysium! The thought of her grueling Taixu Sword Qi training made her wince. That time could have been spent playing… ahem, researching game development!

But what truly made Bronya grind her teeth wasn't just that he'd rescued Seele without telling her, it was that—from Seele's description, it sounded like he'd done exactly what she'd planned to do!

Even without the full details, Bronya could picture the scene: a 'cool and heroic Bronya' descending from the heavens. That was supposed to be my moment!

Nearly exploding with rage, Bronya almost blurted out the truth, but stopped herself.

Could she really tell Seele that the cool and heroic Bronya who rescued her wasn't actually her, but that this Bronya was the real Bronya?

Wouldn't that be admitting she was inferior to that jerk, Jiang Qiao?

No! Absolutely not! The great Bronya, the online queen, the legendary Silver Wolf, could never admit to being less 'Bronya' than that imposter!

Her pride wouldn't allow it. Bronya reluctantly abandoned her plan to expose Jiang Qiao's deception. Yes, that cool and heroic Bronya was Bronya!

Though it galled her, she couldn't deny the warm glow of Seele's admiration. Even knowing it wasn't her actions that earned it, she felt a vicarious sense of satisfaction. Besides, that jerk had been using her body. So, technically, she wasn't lying! That was Bronya!

Yes! Let this beautiful misunderstanding continue! Consider it payment for using my body without permission.

But despite basking in the reflected glory, the thought that her 'first' heroic moment had been experienced by Jiang Qiao, not her, still rankled. A new plan began to form.

She'd take the credit, but she wasn't letting him off the hook!

Bronya had a new mission—she would show Seele, through her actions, what the real Bronya was capable of. She would "Make Bronya Great Again!" She was confident that with Seele's sharp observation skills, she'd eventually realize that she, the real Bronya, was the best Bronya.

This way, even without exposing Jiang Qiao's deception, she could still achieve her goal. Heh, Bronya is a genius! She preened internally, proud of her brilliant plan.

To achieve this, she needed two things. First, authenticity—she was confident she was more 'Bronya' than that imposter could ever be. Second, power—Herrscher power.

This power, inherited from Mr. Welt, was hers to wield just as much as it was Jiang Qiao's!

After her rigorous training in Elysium, though she still couldn't beat Tuna or that violent maniac, catching up to Jiang Qiao shouldn't be a problem, right?

Having not witnessed the full extent of Jiang Qiao's abilities, Bronya had a slightly inaccurate assessment of his strength. Even if you are strong using someone else's body…

…this is Bronya's body. Bronya is the master of this body!

There's no way the owner would lose to a temporary user… right? Well, not anymore!

She touched her chest, feeling the familiar pulse of the Herrscher core. A small smile played on her lips.

Thanks to her Taixu Sword Qi mental training and Honkai control practice, she had effectively fast-forwarded to the stage after completing her future Valkyrie training and the initial Herrscher of Reason trials. In other words, she could now wield the full power of the Herrscher of Reason.

This power was undeniable, this power was real… this… was the true Herrscher of Reason!

As Bronya reveled in her newfound strength—

…

On the British Isles—

"Dr. Magi, please come with us."

Rita, dressed in casual attire, calmly addressed the elderly man clutching a canister. "If possible, Rita would prefer not to resort to violence against an elderly gentleman like yourself."

"Never!"

Dr. Magi, though breathless, was resolute. "I will never let this Herrscher core fall back into Schicksal's hands!"

He had once been a cold, ruthless scientist. As Otto had mockingly pointed out, in the past, Dr. Magi, as the lead researcher, had been even more eager and zealous about the 'Herrscher experiments' than Otto himself, the one who commissioned them.

He had personally sent countless innocent Valkyries to the operating table, the incubation tanks, watching as young lives withered before his eyes.

Even as the piercing screams of those girls drove his lab assistants to request transfers, Dr. Magi remained unfazed, even demanding more test subjects from Otto. Like… a demon.

This continued until his own granddaughter was sent to the operating table.

Dr. Magi watched helplessly as his granddaughter, Lin, a Schicksal A-rank Valkyrie, the sweet girl who had once smiled and said, "Grandpa, starting today, I'm a Valkyrie! I'll work hard to protect humanity, just like you!"… that kind, loving child… cried out in despair, "It hurts… help me… Grandpa…"

And he could do nothing but watch as she was reduced to ashes by the Gem of Serenity's power.

From that moment on, the weight of his past sins crushed him.

Determined to prevent the Gem of Serenity from harming any more girls, under the influence and guidance of a certain faction, one day, he used his position as head of Schicksal's Third Lab to steal the Gem and flee, pursued relentlessly to the British Isles.

"In that case, Rita will have to resort to force."

Looking at the old man, Rita sighed.

Due to her unique position, she'd heard about Dr. Magi—but honestly, she'd always kept her distance. Though she played the role of Otto's enforcer, she was, at heart, a kind person. She couldn't bring herself to like someone who harmed her fellow Valkyries.

Apprehending Dr. Magi wasn't even her mission. She'd been sent to the British Isles by the Overseer to search for the Second Divine Key. But with Magi's arrival, she had to intervene.

Though her past encounters with Herrschers had been… less than stellar, Rita was an S-rank Valkyrie, specializing in anti-personnel combat. Dealing with an ordinary, elderly man like Magi shouldn't be a problem.

She raised her hand to knock him unconscious, but a sudden sense of danger made her dodge back, her scythe deflecting a shot, sparks flying. Looking up, she saw a mechanical skull-faced figure holding a still-smoking gun.

"Raven, he's yours."

A raspy voice spoke, followed by a lazy, almost bored female voice:

"Yeah, yeah, I know."

"Don't go!" Rita tried to intervene, but a flurry of raven feathers blocked her path. She could only watch helplessly as Grey Serpent, that masked World Serpent agent, led Dr. Magi away. Raven, cloaked and hooded, remained.

"What are you doing here?!" Rita raised an eyebrow at Raven, who simply shrugged. "What, you surprised to see a World Serpent agent? This is kind of our thing, you know?"

Though she'd been enjoying her paid vacation, she couldn't just stay in Elysium forever. With 'Elysia' possibly joining Elysium soon, no longer needing to babysit the 'crown prince,' Raven had been recalled by the perpetually understaffed World Serpent.

"Come on, Rita. Let's not do this. We both know how this ends. It's a stalemate."

"Not necessarily."

"Tch…" Looking at Rita brandishing her scythe and activating her battlesuit, Raven clicked her tongue. If only my Seven Thunders of Retribution hadn't been… misplaced… this girl wouldn't be so cocky.

Though their exchange was far from friendly, Rita seemed to agree with Raven's assessment, losing her desire to fight.

—If they continued, she'd have to resort to that, and she really didn't want to give Raven the satisfaction.

Having fought Raven before, Durandal knew they were evenly matched. Even if she had a slight edge, it wasn't enough for a decisive victory. She'd have to use that… And Raven would never let her live it down.

"What is World Serpent planning?" Rita, now aware of World Serpent thanks to Jiang Qiao, thought of Dr. Magi being led away by Grey Serpent and decided to try and glean some intel.

"Beats me."

"?"

"Don't look at me. I'm just a grunt, even if I am an agent. I'm not privy to the big plans," Raven explained, shrugging. "But Jackal is here too. My guess is… something to do with the Stigmata project."

"Don't ask me for details. I don't know them. But it's definitely nothing good."

"…"

"…Do you know where the Second Divine Key is?"

"Nope."

"…Are you sure you're an agent?" Rita glared at Raven, starting to lose her patience. Are you messing with me? Maybe I should just beat it out of you…

Raven sighed internally.

Her position within World Serpent wasn't exactly enviable right now.

She'd been assigned to 'Elysia' to… well, babysit the 'crown prince' and make sure she didn't cause too much trouble.

The result—two attempts, zero success.

If it weren't for her connection to the 'crown prince,' and World Serpent's chronic lack of manpower, they would have reprimanded her severely.

Before, she could at least get some information out of Grey Serpent, using their close relationship. But now… Grey Serpent treated her like a security risk. "Just do as you're told! Don't ask questions!"

If even Grey Serpent was like this, forget about Jackal, who she barely knew.

"Well… I do have one little tidbit."

"Spill it!" Rita snapped, clearly at her wit's end.

"Jackal brought the Rod of Underworld." Raven's voice was serious.

—The Rod of Underworld, a piece of cutting-edge World Serpent tech. Not only were its components rare, but it was also incredibly difficult to manufacture. There weren't many in existence.

But its effect was undeniable—specifically designed to counter Herrschers.

One hit, and a Herrscher's Imaginary singularity would be sealed, reverting them to their human form!

"Pfft, what's the use of that?" Rita rolled her eyes.

Do I look like a Herrscher?

There wasn't a single active Herrscher in Schicksal! Well… except for maybe Ana. But thanks to Jiang Qiao's interference, Ana was blissfully unaware of her own Herrscher nature, happily mentoring newbies.

And her Herrscher powers, with the core removed and various countermeasures in place, were practically nonexistent.

"Heh… it's useless to us, but…"

Raven didn't elaborate, simply giving Rita a knowing wink.

Rita's eyes widened in realization.

Oh, so it's for him!

Nice!

She imagined Jiang Qiao being zapped back to his original form, a sweet revenge for him turning her beloved Rita into a refrigerator. [Reference to the fridge incident in the game] A giggle escaped her lips.

Serves you right for messing with me! Now it's your turn to suffer!

"You haven't told him about this, have you?" Rita asked, a worried expression on her face.

This kind of thing only worked on unsuspecting targets. With his cunning, if he knew in advance, it wouldn't work.

"Not yet."

Raven, seeing Rita's expression, knew they were on the same page. A small smile played on her lips.

She hadn't forgotten that slap.

Every night, as she lay in bed, she relived that humiliating day.

Elysia? So what if she's Elysia!

She might be untouchable in Elysium, but out here… payback's a bitch!

She'd already decided. Once that 'pink menace' fell for the trap, she'd get her revenge!

Suddenly, Rita asked shyly,

"Say… do you happen to have another one of those Rods of Underworld?"

Her initial thought had been revenge, but now… A weapon that can revert a Herrscher to their human form with just one hit?!

This… this is a reputation-boosting artifact! With this, I wouldn't have to fear any Herrscher!

The memory of her previous humiliating defeats against Herrschers made her eyes burn.

I, Rita, an S-rank Valkyrie, reduced to a mere punching bag… how embarrassing!

The thought of wielding the Rod of Underworld, dominating Herrschers left and right, made her mouth water.

"Nope."

"…Oh."

"By the way, whose body is that guy using now?"

"Hmm… based on the intel from Anti-Entropy, it seems they've sent the Herrscher of Reason."

"So, it should be Bronya Zaychik."

"Achoo~"

Bronya, having just disembarked from the transport, sneezed and instinctively hugged herself.

Is it this cold on the British Isles?

Wait… I'm a Herrscher. I shouldn't feel cold.

Then who's talking about me… Seele? But she's right here.

Could it be that jerk, Jiang Qiao?

*Pfft, It's just my imagination.

Whatever!

The silver-haired girl, her face alight with excitement, looked at the scene before her.

Gem of Serenity! Bronya's coming for you!

Prepare to witness the power of the true Herrscher of Reason!