Chapter 173: Volume 3, Chapter 42: The Doll's Judgment
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Ever since receiving the Herrscher of Dominance's invitation, Rita had been led along by its manipulations. At least, on the surface.
Following the guidance from the invitation, she witnessed one tragic accident after another.
However, these incidents barely stirred any emotions within Rita, who was accustomed to life and death situations.
She grew increasingly convinced that despite the Herrscher of Dominance's title implying control over others, its influence on humans seemed minimal. Otherwise, it wouldn't resort to such methods.
Despite her extensive experiences, even Rita couldn't suppress her rising anger.
As if enticed, the young girl arrived at a small town in Australia.
The town, sparsely populated with only a few households, surprisingly featured a grand and newly built cathedral at its center.
Its very existence felt peculiar.
Rita knew this was a trap; clearly, something unknown awaited her inside the cathedral.
Yet, she had no choice but to enter.
As Schicksal's Valkyrie, taking necessary risks was part of her duty. If she sought safety above all else, she wouldn't have become an S-rank Valkyrie.
Nevertheless, she took a precautionary measure by placing a tracking device nearby. This gadget allowed for real-time monitoring of her location, ensuring that she couldn't vanish without a trace.
Rita wasn't concerned about the device being discovered or destroyed; as soon as it landed, its signal had already reached Schicksal Headquarters.
With that, Rita entered the cathedral.
The imposing structure, sizable from the outside, revealed an even more extraordinary interior once inside.
Stepping through the doors felt like entering another world altogether.
"Heh heh heh, we have a guest, a guest indeed."
Before the girl's eyes appeared a doll, blindfolded and dressed in black tight-fitting attire. Its limbs moved unnaturally, causing a chilling effect on anyone witnessing it, rapidly draining their sanity points.
It resembled a peculiar performer from a theater or circus, with a shrill voice echoing in Rita's ears.
"Who are you?"
Rita observed the doll without immediately taking action. "What's your purpose in luring me here?"
She couldn't sense any Honkai energy within the doll.
Perhaps it did exist but seemed trivially insignificant.
"Heh heh heh, of course to invite you for a performance."
The doll's exaggerated voice still grated on Rita's ears.
Suddenly, she cried out, "Quick, quick! What's the next segment?"
"I know, I know." Another identical doll appeared. "Next is verifying the audience's admission qualifications."
Rita narrowed her eyes and then spotted a colossal Titan emerging within the theater.
"Anti-Entropy?"
A hint of contemplation flashed in her eyes. "As expected, you're not just dealing with Schicksal; Anti-Entropy is causing trouble for you as well."
However, the doll did not respond.
The Titan technology was exclusive to Anti-Entropy. Following conventional logic, it would seem more plausible that Herrscher of Dominance collaborated with them. Nonetheless, Rita's familiarity with this organization led her to suggest they were causing trouble instead.
This wasn't the time to dwell on uncovering the truth.
Although ordinary Anti-Entropy armor posed no significant threat to her, Rita meticulously dismantled them, turning them into scrap metal.
Soon after, the armor reassembled itself.
"Hm?" Rita's gaze narrowed slightly, noticing an unknown spherical core within the armor.
"A crude imitation, perhaps? No, at least its exterior appears perfect," she observed quietly while looking at the doll. "These standard Titans can be easily replicated, but they hardly pose any challenge to me."
With her scythe firmly in hand, Rita swiftly shattered the core.
Instantly, the Titan became scrap metal.
"Heh heh heh, how about this?"
Rita's pupils slightly contracted. "So Schicksal has been deeply infiltrated by you."
Before her eyes appeared a Demi-God Machine.
Schicksal's Demi-God Machines were developed to counter Anti-Entropy's Titans. However, aside from their use at Headquarters, these machines had not been seen elsewhere, indicating impeccable secrecy measures.
Yet, the Herrscher of Dominance had 'manufactured' a Demi-God Machine.
This implied that there must be agents of the Herrscher of Dominance within Schicksal's Headquarters as well.
The Herrscher of Dominance's plans against Schicksal began earlier than Rita had anticipated.
Fortunately, the most basic Demi-God Machine was designed only to match ordinary Titans, making it relatively easy for Rita to deal with.
Efficiently dispatching them, she calmly stated, "If you have anything else, bring it all out now. My time is quite valuable."
"Heh heh heh, alrighty then, the actors are already itching to perform, heh heh heh."
Its voice remained consistently grating and unpleasant.
Accompanied by cacophonous sounds, numerous Honkai Beasts and Zombies emerged, resembling an overwhelming army intent on crushing the entire theater.
However, Rita frowned as she realized how incredibly weak these creatures were. This was not normal.
If the Herrscher of Dominance had infiltrated Schicksal, it would undoubtedly be aware of her capabilities. These adversaries could be effortlessly dealt with even by an A-rank Valkyrie, hardly enough to hinder her.
The weaker the enemies appeared, the more vigilant Rita became.
Then, she observed the doll creating another version of herself—feeble yet identical to Rita.
She pondered thoughtfully, "So all these creatures were just to gather information about me."
"Like 3D printing, hmm, indeed quite unique," Rita mused.
"But..."
Rita swiftly destroyed this replica of herself, stating, "Without power, they're worthless."
"Oh really? What about now?" The doll snapped its fingers, summoning an identical 'Rita' once again.
This time, the counterfeit's strength was noticeably stronger than before.
A flicker of surprise crossed Rita's eyes.
It could still strengthen further...
Before understanding the reason behind this, she dared not make any rash moves.
However, amidst Rita's silence, the doll suddenly exclaimed, "The show is starting, starting! The audience has taken their seats, performers get ready."
Rita's eyes flickered with confusion, and then she witnessed countless identical dolls appearing one after another, standing in the spectator area.
"Judgment time, judgment time!"
"Oh oh, I know this person!"
"Rita Rossweisse, Schicksal's maid, seemingly graceful and elegant on the surface, yet truly the most ruthless and cunning at heart."
"Heh heh heh, deceiving friends, colluding with Otto to create calamities, constantly shifting allegiances, thick-faced and treacherous."
"Ai ai, poor Valkyrie Durandal, so deceived by Rita. Poor Kiana, still unaware of her true origins even now."
As the dolls spoke one after another, revealing details about Rita,
her eyes began filling with fury.
"If you think you know me so well, have you considered that I always prepare contingencies?"