Didn't you go to Teyvat to earn money to support me?

“The underground river is a complex karst underground pipeline system formed mainly by dissolution. In other words, this kind of geographical phenomenon can only occur in carbonate distribution areas,” Bronya said softly. “But this is Tallinn, where there is very little rainfall and the climate is dry. Even with a little elementary knowledge, you know that this kind of landform should not exist here.”

“I think only Liang’s country would teach these things in elementary school…” Hei Xi felt like her eyes were about to explode.

"So this underground river shouldn't exist at all. The people of Destiny didn't think of this. They might think that the ancient people of Talin dug it themselves, but think about what this tomb was for. The ancient people of Talin dug it so deep to seal the giant serpent. Would they need to dig an underground river that could connect to the outside world? Just to make it easier for later people to rob the tomb?"

Speak like a human! I don't understand!

"This underground river was dug by that Honkai Beast itself. It never truly fell into slumber for over a thousand years; it simply used this place as its lair. This underground river is the passageway it left behind over the millennia," Bronya stated decisively. "Because civilization has changed, the new era is no longer an age where it needs to act. This Honkai Beast from the previous era should have lived a solitary life in seclusion forever. But Schicksal found this relic in the historical records, or rather, it set its sights on the Divine Key within it. Thus, it smelled the scent of humans and began its killing spree again. Schicksal thought it was forced into a thousand-year slumber, but in reality, it has always been awake; it is by no means weak."

"Wait, my dear sister Bronya, is this even possible?" Blackie looked incredulous. "If that's the case, why are we waiting for the two of them to fight? Shouldn't we run away?"

Chapter 152 And so came the men's final curtain call.

"Of course it's possible. In fact, Bronya feels that the Schicksal group has never considered things from the perspective of the Honkai Beasts. The Divine Key isn't some kind of treasure; it's a weapon specifically designed to fight Honkai. In front of the Honkai Beasts, it's an incredibly sharp knife."

"A knife?" Hei Xi shuddered, vaguely realizing what was going on.

"And with such a knife stuck in its body, do these people actually think it's a treasure that sustains its life? It's clearly a seal, a curse, a backup plan," Bronya said in a low voice. "That's a Judgment-class Honkai Beast. Perhaps it was because of that Divine Key that it was forced to fall into this state. For 50,000 years, such a knife has been stuck in its body. How could it possibly be dormant? It's being tortured every moment."

"And once that knife is taken out..."

------------

Rita watched as the enormous Honkai Beast fell, its nearly forty-meter-long upper body crashing heavily onto the exploration platform, its scales shattered, and blood flowing like a river.

It was only at this moment that it finally broke free from the stone wall, but that was because the rock that had trapped it had been destroyed by modern weapons. The tomb was already teetering on the brink of collapse under repeated bombings, let alone the giant snake whose front had been blasted to pieces.

“If possible, I really want to keep them alive,” Clyde said regretfully. “However, with a Honkai Beast of this size, it’s impossible to hide it from everyone unless a research institute is set up on the spot.”

Rita infused the tattered scythe with Honkai energy, activating the nanomachines and restoring it to its original state. She stood near the snake's head, her blood-stained face expressionless.

"What is the purpose of living this long?" Rita said softly. "You are an illegitimate child of the previous civilization. This era has its own set of challenges, and even the Honkai Gods no longer favor you."

A genuine Judgment-class Honkai Beast couldn't possibly have won so easily. Legend has it that a Honkai Beast of that level, when fully grown, could even devour an island, but Rita felt it was easier than defeating a transnational superhuman criminal organization. Emperor-class Honkai Beasts had appeared on the Siberian battlefield before, and Rita even felt that facing an Emperor-class Honkai Beast wouldn't be much less stressful.

It is no longer favored by the Honkai God; it is a beast from a bygone civilization, abandoned and forgotten.

"What's your name?" Rita suddenly asked. "I know that Honkai Beasts of your level possess intelligence comparable to humans. What's your name?"

But the giant serpent didn't reply. It struggled and sprang up, stretching its neck out wide, its marble-like jaws gaping open as if it could swallow a train. Its eyes flashed with intense rage. Honkai beasts are supposed to be emotionless, but it still used its last strength to pounce on Rita, as if to unleash all the resentment of being abandoned, the resentment of fifty thousand years.

But it was ultimately impossible for it to hit. Rita leaped onto the snake's head, slamming the scythe into its skull, and then ran. The blade sliced ​​through the scales, which were as hard as steel, leaving a trail of purplish-black blood and a brilliant golden flash!

She ran towards its vital spot, the scythe almost cleaving the snake in two, then she swung the blade! She shook off the blood! With a powerful thrust, the tip of the scythe plunged deep into the wound! This strike hit its central spinal cord!

"Goodbye." Rita exerted force with her wrist, and the scythe hooked onto something inside it like a barb, then pulled out a white nail as if it were a nail being driven in!

No, it wasn't a white nail; it was a pure white, beautiful, and noble knight's lance.

"The Key of God!" someone shouted ecstatically! All the surviving staff members witnessed this scene and shouted uncontrollably!

Key of God!

Rita reached out and grasped the lance. The moment she touched it, she felt an extremely terrifying Honkai energy that was resisting her and resisting her control.

Rita didn't take it seriously; it was normal. Divine Keys choose their masters. Either you and the key are compatible, or you have enough power to control it. If you don't meet either of these requirements, a weapon of this caliber won't obey your commands and might even corrupt you. It's incredibly discerning.

The moment she drew her lance, the snake's final lunge froze, as if its entire body had been rapidly frozen by the low temperature, remaining stiff and upright with its gaping maw. Then, the aura of Honkai energy weakened, and it crashed heavily to the ground, its last gaze fixed defiantly on Rita, who was soaring high into the air.

It's like someone who dies with some lingering resentment.

Rita looked at the white knight's lance in her hand. Her scythe instantly transformed into a nanobot matrix that returned to her clothes, forming a rose. Then, she freed her hands to hold the lance and injected Honkai energy into its outer surface.

Although the lance did not acknowledge her as its master, Rita had no intention of making the Divine Key recognize her as its master. She was merely using this method to prevent the Divine Key from corrupting her. Then she inserted the lance into the restraints on her back, looked back at the snake's corpse, then at the crowd, bowed slightly, and lifted her skirt in a gesture of respect.

"Gentlemen, to prevent a surprise attack from the Shaniat family, Rita must take her leave now. For those comrades who perished in this Judgment-level Honkai Beast chaos, Schicksal will provide the highest level of compensation. Although it may sound a little hypocritical for Rita to say this, the Valkyries of Schicksal will remember your bravery," Rita said softly.

She pulled a box of cigars that smelled of her body from her pocket and tossed it to the member closest to her.

"Does Lady Rita smoke?" someone laughed.

“No, Valkyries are unlikely to become addicted to anything, and Rita doesn’t like this kind of behavior that affects a maid’s elegance.” Rita smiled sweetly, “Prolonged smoking leads to bad breath that’s hard to get rid of, which Rita can’t stand.”

"Lady Rita carries this thing with her at all times?"

“Let’s celebrate our victories at any moment. Rita has heard that men enjoy this kind of hearty tobacco when they celebrate,” Rita said. “Most people in this world probably wouldn’t believe that you fought a Judgment-class Honkai Beast. This will be a legend you can boast about for the rest of your lives.”

The men burst into laughter. Being praised as legendary by such a beautiful girl was indeed very pleasing, and since this girl was their boss, one of the world's top S-class Valkyries, it was even more pleasing.

"Ah, Lady Rita is such a polite girl. I hope my future daughter will be like Lady Rita."

"Stop talking nonsense, are you going to smoke or not? If not, then smoke!"

"How could that be! This is a cigar personally bestowed upon me by Lady Rita! I don't even smoke, I'm going to frame it and hang it up when I get back!"

"If your wife knew that this was a cigarette from Lady Rita, she'd whip you to death with a belt!" The men joked with each other, brandishing their fists.

Rita watched this scene with a smile, carefully guarded her lance, and turned to walk towards the tomb's entrance, preparing to quickly leave through another secret passage. But the moment she pushed open the catacombs' door, she suddenly found herself unable to move.

The men, who had been laughing just moments before, fell silent in an instant; the world descended into absolute stillness. Invisible nanomechanicals flowed across Rita's exquisite maid outfit, coalescing in her palm into the shape of Aphrodite. Her breathing stopped, but her heart pounded wildly. Then she looked down and saw blood slowly trickling down to her feet.

Chapter 153 The Perfect, Elegant, and Charming Maid

Rita remained facing the door, without turning around.

She had to remain calm, because she knew she was the only living person in this tomb. In that instant, the fallen giant serpent had killed everyone there, ordinary people and Valkyries alike; everyone within its sight had been dissolved by its venom.

The air was thick with the stench of blood and the sound of dripping liquid. Even without turning around, she knew she was in a living hell. But she remained frozen, knowing that the snake would attack the moment she turned.

She made a fatal mistake.

Every Valkyrie who joins Schicksal and learns some of the secrets of the Honkai is warned never to underestimate any creation related to the Honkai, and if it is an enemy, to ensure its death. This is because no one can imagine the immense vitality of creatures that have come into contact with the Honkai, nor how those creatures survive.

She finally understood why this snake, despite being a Judgment-level Honkai Beast, was so powerless. They had always thought that the Divine Key allowed it to survive until now, but in reality, the Divine Key was a seal, suppressing its immortal destiny!

The ancient Tarlin people probably didn't take the Key of God for this very reason! They knew it couldn't be killed, but she foolishly kept it as a treasure... She finally understood, but it was too late.

“Anna, Pandora.” Rita’s voice was cold and calm, sending chills down your spine. “Don’t come any closer. Just stand there.”

Upon finally arriving at the massive tomb 150 meters underground, Shen Liang and his companions immediately spotted the maid standing before the tomb's entrance. Facing them, she held a sickle, her eyes lowered, resembling a Buddhist about to face death.

Anna, who had been racking her brains trying to figure out how to resolve the feud between Tianming and Shen Liang, saw Rita. Feeling a little guilty, she still mustered up her courage to go up and offer some words of comfort. "Um, Miss Rita, don't you remember me? I am..."

Then Shen Liang grabbed her.

Anna turned around in surprise, only to see that the boy's expression was very unpleasant.

"Bronya, Seele." Shen Liang looked at the two little girls who had hidden far away to avoid the commotion, "Come here with me."

Bronya and Seele no longer cared about the plot involving killing and stealing treasure. Black Seele picked up Bronya, whose leg power system had run out of power, and ran towards Shen Liang.

The moment they met, Hei Xi was about to quickly explain what had happened underground, but Shen Liang simply waved his hand and said coldly, "Let's go."

"Huh?" Anna was suspicious instead, looking left and right. Shen Liang had come all the way here with such a powerful aura, demanding an explanation and even preparing to kill and rob treasure, but he just left the moment he saw Rita?

But Rita, upon hearing this resolute voice, revealed a barely perceptible smile.

“What a clever child, but the Shaniat family wouldn’t do that. You’re not a Shaniat child,” she said softly.

"What do you care who I am?" Shen Liang said coldly. "I am Pandora Schariac, and all you need to know is that I am Pandora Schariac. We'll talk about the rest later... if you're still alive then."

“Although we started the war, it wasn’t just for our own benefit. Sometimes, we were just working for different masters,” Rita suddenly said. “We didn’t kidnap your sister. Come to think of it, we’re actually not enemies.”

"Is there any point in saying this now?"

“Yes.” Rita reached out and pressed her hand on her briefcase, where she kept a weapon she had never used: a W-54 miniature nuclear warhead. She smiled. “You go, I’ll buy you some time.”

"I never intended to stay."

“So that’s the point,” Rita tossed the white lance to him from afar. “Take it with you, leave it to fate or keep it for yourself, it doesn’t matter. But in any case, humanity’s hope cannot be left here.”

Shen Liang accepted the Key of God. Anna's shocked gaze darted back and forth between the two men. Her Shaniat family's brain capacity was completely inadequate to comprehend what had just happened. The treasure that Shen Liang and his group had been longing for was actually the Key of God, and yet they had obtained it so effortlessly, without a fight or even a quarrel. Such harmony and courtesy made Anna unable to help but wonder if Shen Liang was truly the reclusive young master of the Shaniat family, who had lived in seclusion for many years.

"Goodbye." Rita gave an elegant bow, watching the six figures, large and small, fly away quickly. Then, her flawless smile gradually crumbled.

A flawless maid...

nonexistent.

Everyone is afraid of death. She had already pushed herself to the limit by managing to persuade Shen Liang and the others to leave while suppressing her murderous intent. She was only in her early twenties… She hadn't expected to face death so soon, but when things happen, they just don't make sense…

But you can't shake.

She couldn't possibly tremble before a Honkai Beast. How could she possibly tremble? A Valkyrie of Schicksal, a flawless maid, one of humanity's strongest… she naturally possesses a dignity that humanity cannot defile!

Honkai energy permeates his entire body! Strengthen! Strengthen! Strengthen!

"Come on, Judgment-class!" Rita swung her scythe backward, smashing the hundreds-of-tons-heavy Gundam tomb door to pieces! The flying meteors obscured the Honkai Beast's vision, and she leaped into the air, dodging the giant serpent's massive tail whip!

As the tomb collapsed, Rita stared at the giant serpent's body. The serpent had only revealed its true strength after the seal of the Divine Key was removed. Its physical recovery speed was faster than a child blowing up a balloon. Its vast Honkai energy reserves could kill all living beings in the tomb with just one burst. In just five minutes, its injuries had been almost completely healed. It was clear that it had focused on strengthening its self-healing and immortality abilities!

Rita took a deep breath and looked directly into the giant snake's eyes.

"Round Two."

----------

The group ran wildly through the darkness. As they ran, the underground passage that Destiny had dug collapsed. The battle that followed was extremely fierce, and even the rock strata could not withstand the impact of such intensity.

Shen Liang wished he could stuff his sisters into the teleportation screen, but at this moment he could only keep the teleportation screen open to avoid being hit by falling rocks, and then fire at the falling rocks in front of him at any time to blast away all obstacles before continuing to escape.

"Pandora!" Anna's face was pale, but her voice still trembled with anger. "You didn't tell me, you didn't tell me... Rita was going to her death!"

"So what if I tell you! A Judgment-class Honkai Beast! Can you even hold a gun?! You think you can help?" Shen Liang roared, "Only if you escape and tell Destiny to send troops here at all costs will Rita's death have any value!"