After burying Yuna, Ryn and Theresa conducted a thorough inspection of Chiba Academy.
Having slain every Honkai Beast they encountered, the trio rested on the rooftop.
Nagazora City had once been a bustling metropolis, its streets illuminated day and night, teeming with crowds. Now, nothing remained but the skeletal remains of buildings.
"Tsk, not a soul in this vast place. It's eerily quiet," Ryn muttered, shaking his head in dismay.
Theresa rolled her eyes at him. "Want to stir things up? Just go for a stroll among those Dead Soldiers or Honkai Beasts."
"Never mind. When will our reinforcements arrive?"
"In three hours. After that, the main force will arrive and set up camp here. Your future practical training will involve hunting Honkai Beasts in Nagazora City."
"Alright, let's get back to it then. We'll kill all the powerful Honkai Beasts and leave the weaker ones for the students to practice on. Judah, let's go!"
Ryn tossed away his empty soda can and leaped off the rooftop. Judah, understanding his intent, tucked Theresa under her arm and followed suit.
"Damn you, Ryn! I haven't even finished resting yet!"
Theresa shouted in protest, but obediently finished her drink in Judah's arms, preparing for battle.
After all, it was the Principal's duty to resolve students' problems and handle dangerous situations! She couldn't let a student like Ryn steal all the glory.
In the end, Ryn and Theresa didn't kill many Honkai Beasts because Judah had snatched them all...
Judah truly lived up to her reputation as an Anti-Honkai God-Slaying Armament driven by a Herrscher Core. Her thirst for battle was ingrained in her core programming. With the Authority of restraint combined with Soul Steel materials, Judah sliced through the Honkai Beasts as easily as cutting through melons.
But halfway through her rampage, Judah stopped. She retracted all her chains and stared intently in one direction.
Noticing Judah's unusual behavior, Ryn walked over and patted her shoulder, asking, "What's wrong? Is something off?"
"There should be a Herrscher over there, but the energy signature feels strangely familiar," Judah said, pointing in the direction she was staring. Her senses detected an abnormal concentration of Honkai Energy emanating from that area.
The Eleventh Divine Key, the Oath of Judah, was a near-omnipotent weapon that could transform into different forms and gain new functions according to its wielder's will.
Judah's ability to detect the unusual Honkai Energy emanating from afar was due to her Pursuit Mode, which could detect targets within a 200-kilometer radius. It was through this mode that Judah had previously detected the unusual Honkai Energy emitted by the Pseudo-Herrscher Yuna, allowing Ryn and Theresa to immediately confirm their target.
"Let's go check it out. Judah, be ready to support Theresa at any moment."
"Shut up! This Principal is perfectly capable! I don't need any help!!" Theresa retorted, clenching her tiny fists in frustration.
But the next moment... Judah first patted Theresa's head and gave her a gentle smile, then tucked her under her arm like a child.
"Aaaah... This is too much!" Theresa shrieked in exasperation.
Judah, however, paid no heed and continued to carry Theresa at a breakneck pace.
Ryn realized that Judah still treated Theresa like a child, just as she had before her Divine Awakening. Even after her awakening, Judah continued to care for Theresa like a child, though the form of her care now manifested differently in her human and cross forms.
The three didn't get far before Judah signaled Ryn to slow down. She then handed him a chain, preparing for battle.
"The target's position is shifting, closing in on us at incredible speed."
"Five kilometers... four kilometers... two kilometers. I can see the target. They've entered attack range." Judah sensed the approaching aura and reported the enemy's movements to Ryn and Theresa.
Ryn watched the pink light streak toward them, already forming a pseudo-Herrscher black hole in his hand. But before he could complete it, the light had already arrived, stopping just ahead.
The light gradually slowed, and Ryn saw a sight he couldn't believe.
It was a stunning girl with pink hair, dressed in a simple shrine maiden outfit. But at her waist hung a katana. Even more astonishing, long, upright pink donkey ears—no, fox ears—stood atop her head.
"Holy shit, Yae Sakura!" Ryn exclaimed in shock.
Unlike Ryn's outburst, Theresa's first reaction to seeing Yae Sakura was as if she'd spotted a fatal attack. She instinctively prepared to interrupt or dodge.
Damn it, has playing Karen Sakura Dies Twice all day left me with a fixed impression?
Theresa shook her head to clear her thoughts, then gripped the spear formed from Judah, ready to strike at any moment.
But Yae Sakura stopped before Judah, making no move to attack the three of them.
When she charged forward, her face was alight with joy. But after she approached Judah, she tilted her head, studying her intently. Now, her expression was one of utter confusion.
"??? You're not Kallen???" Yae Sakura's head was swimming with questions. She had clearly sensed Kallen's powerful aura, which was why she had rushed over. When she first saw Judah, she had thought she was seeing Kallen, but upon closer inspection, it was completely different!
"I am not Kallen. I am the Oath of Judah. It's been a long time, Yae Sakura..." Judah reached out a hand and gently caressed her cheek, watching Yae Sakura's stunned expression.
Kallen Kaslana's longing for Yae Sakura had not faded in five hundred years. It was deeply etched into the Oath of Judah, which had always been by Kallen's side.
Feeling the deep love and longing emanating from Judah, Yae Sakura's eyes turned red. She remembered Judah's oath—it was Kallen's weapon...
"It's been so long... Judah..."
Yae Sakura's deep emotion at seeing the Oath of Judah was matched by the agony of the evil little fox within her.
A dark-furred Fox Demon materialized beside Yae Sakura, baring its fangs at Judah before turning to her and snarling, "Damn woman! Even in death, she won't leave you alone! She's not Kallen! Have you finally given up after seeing this? Kallen is dead! Only I can stay by your side forever!"
The Fox Demon glanced at Ryn and Theresa with disdain. The newly born Herrscher had mysteriously vanished, but without a Herrscher present, she was now invincible!
Little did she know that Ryn had concealed his aura. Unless touched or actively using his Authority, no one could detect his Herrscher status through mere perception.
As for Theresa... without Judah, she was now utterly helpless.