Chen Tiannuo returned to his dorm and collapsed onto his bed. He activated the system.
"Host, is there something you need?"
"System, did something go wrong with my body? Why did I suddenly pass out?"
"Hold on, I'll run a check…"
The system's scanner whirred on:
[Physical functions normal]
[Soul entity normal]
[Detecting previous Quantumization of body]
"???"
"So, I fainted because I was Quantumized?"
"Probably due to the Drifter effect. When you entered the Void without accumulating Void Energy, Quantumization occurred… likely because you and it merged into one," the system explained.
"Merged?" Chen Tiannuo pressed his hands to his body, feeling subtle improvements. Tactical instincts flashed in his mind.
"So… it disappeared?" he asked, his emotions mixed. "It willingly merged with me?"
"Yes," the system confirmed.
"Hmm…" Chen Tiannuo didn't know what else to say. Gone is gone., he thought, shrugging mentally.
…
"Mei, do you really think Tiannuo's okay?" Kiana asked between bites.
"He's probably fine. Even if he isn't… there's not much we can do," Mei sighed.
"I want to get stronger fast—so Himeko and the others don't have to work so hard," Kiana said, eating faster.
"I hear that!" Theresa's voice from the door startled them. "Kiana, I'll train you then!"
"Huh? Theresa!" Kiana straightened up in surprise. "Alright!"
"Get ready for hellish training," Theresa said, hands on hips.
…
Theresa escorted Kiana to Theresa's Special Training Room.
Kiana changed into the B-liner Battlesuit and asked, "Theresa, are you serious? This just looks like a bodysuit!"
"This is Stigmata Corps' third-generation Valkyrie Battlesuit. Only B-rank and above can equip it. If you master the B‑liner, you'll get stronger—but even an A-rank Valkyrie takes at least three months to fully adapt."
"Three months… that's long! But I want to get stronger now!" Kiana pouted, though she realized it wasn't unreasonable.
"Don't worry. With this training room, it's totally achievable. Now, get ready."
"Alright! Time to show you how awesome I am!" Kiana said confidently.
…
In the dormitory
Mei and Bronya were playing games when a knock sounded: "Knock knock!"
Mei got up to open the door. "Who is it?"
A hooded man said, "Sorry to intrude. I'm Theresa's newly appointed secretary-general."
He bowed slightly. "Director Theresa requests Mei to come to her office."
Bronya stood up. "I am coming too!"
The hooded man's tone turned chilly. "Hmm… suspicious brat. If you'd just obeyed, you wouldn't need to get hurt."
He gathered energy and Mei collapsed instantly.
"Well… then I'll have to take you by force."
"Mei‑nee!" Bronya's Project Bunny 19C appeared with a Heavy Particle Cannon ready.
A beam fired—yet when the smoke cleared, the hooded man stood unharmed.
"Impossible..." Bronya gasped.
"Bunny, charge again!"
"You're wasting my time, goodbye!" The hooded man struck Bronya against a wall.
Chen Tiannuo, resting downstairs, heard the explosion and immediately ran out, alongside Fu Hua.
The hooded man hovered above the unconscious Bronya. "If not for Cocolia's repeated pleas, I'd have killed her already. Tell your mother to thank her..."
He lifted his foot to crush Bronya's skull—but Chen Tiannuo retreated from the void, snatching Bronya away.
"Tsk! Stigmata Corps uses male Valkyries now?" the hooded man sneered dismissively. "Come then, Valkyrie! State your name."
Chen Tiannuo's lip twitched. He'd always thought men were called Valkyries, not realizing this group used the same term.
"My name's none of your business." Chen Tiannuo felt Excalibur resonating. He instantly linked to the Warframe; Excalibur materialized in blue glow, and he merged with it.
"Oh? A frame you're so naïve?" The hooded man manipulated gravity, increasing local g to tenfold.
Chen Tiannuo slowed momentarily, then adapted—Excalibur's enhanced frame easily overcame the increased gravity.
The man unleashed wave after wave of Air Blades toward Chen Tiannuo.
He dodged them effortlessly, as Fu Hua attacked from behind. Chen Tiannuo charged forward as well.
"Is that all you got?" He let a few blades hit, losing barely a dozen shield points thanks to the maxed frame.
Chen Tiannuo and Fu Hua flanked the man.
"Bah… not that impressive." He scoffed as Chen Tiannuo drew the Exalted Blade.
"What—?!" The man's face twisted as Mei regained distance, rescued by Fu Hua.
Captain Tenno didn't wait for his enemy's full power. He dashed, blade raised, and slashed the man's body in a clean line.
"What...?" The hooded man was severely wounded from the swift strike.
Not yet dead, he was cut down further by the Exalted Blade.
Energy dissipated instantly.
"Impossible..." He died, still furious.
"Ridiculous," Chen Tiannuo muttered in disdain. "Still waiting for your ultimate move?"
He de-linked from the frame and ran to Mei and Bronya.
"Bronya? You okay? Let's go to medical." Chen Tiannuo scooped up Bronya in his arms, motioning to Fu Hua. "Captain, bring Mei to the infirmary too."
"Understood." Fu Hua followed.
Bronya lay limply in his arms. "Thank you," she whispered weakly.
"It's okay—but don't speak yet," Chen Tiannuo noted the blood at her mouth. "You're coughing up blood—must be internal injury. Let's get you checked."