Honkai, why do you only throw me into high-level battles?

Time rewinds slightly.

Mindanao, Philippines.

"Anna, let's go. It's time to wrap up."

Under the night sky, Captain Jell, with her short, light blue hair, pats Anna on the shoulder and points towards the transport plane in the distance, ready for takeoff.

"I'm sorry, Captain. I caused you trouble..."

Anna looks disheveled and worn out. The Honkai energy engine in her Elf series firearm has severely overheated. She grits her teeth, diligently trying to repair it.

"I was too reckless this time..."

Her voice is calm, yet tinged with confusion, suppressing deep sorrow and self-doubt.

"No, you did well. You have a strong sense of justice. Everyone appreciates it."

Jell smiles gently, comforting her, and points towards the makeshift survivor camp nearby. Five or six survivors lie there, unconscious, rescued by Anna from the small town that has now been reduced to rubble.

"But next time, remember not to act alone. It's not good to abandon your post as the Deputy Captain."

Anna's hands pause. As a member of the Schariac family, she could have used better equipment, but her pride had made her refuse.

Now, that pride feels like a joke.

"I'm not a qualified Valkyrie..."

Anna looks up at the overcast sky. The air is heavy and oppressive. She feels defeated.

"I'm sorry, Captain. You can go back first. The mission is complete. I want to be alone for a bit. I'll return to the squad later..."

As if aware of her continued recklessness, Anna forces a smile of apology, but her lips remain stubbornly pursed, a hint of pleading in her eyes.

"...Alright, you have my permission."

Jell looks at Anna with some heartache. This girl, so cheerful when they first met, has become quiet and withdrawn. She can't help but soften.

After a moment of thought, she takes the nearly broken weapon from Anna's hand, giving her own still-functional equipment in return. She smiles, encouraging her,

"You're the Deputy Captain of Squad Snow Lotus, an elite A-rank Valkyrie. You need to keep your spirits up."

"..."

Anna remains silent.

Jell understands the conflict in her heart. She sighs.

"Someone always has to die. From the moment we became Valkyries, she, I, we… we were all prepared for it."

Anna looks up angrily, but Jell instantly glares back, scolding her sternly,

"But not by actively seeking death like that!"

Recalling Anna's impulsive and dangerous actions, Jell decides to be blunt, no longer caring about her pride.

"You're right, Anna Schariac, a young lady from a prestigious family! You may have passed the A-rank Valkyrie assessment, but you're not a qualified Valkyrie!"

Anna's face pales.

......

Anna Schariac grew up at Schicksal HQ, receiving the most orthodox Valkyrie education from a young age. Surrounded by stories of heroic Valkyries, both past and present, seeds of glory and mission were sown in her heart. She yearned to become a Valkyrie, enduring the strict training without complaint.

After achieving her dream of becoming an A-rank Valkyrie and joining Squad Snow Lotus, her mood plummeted like a rollercoaster.

Although time has passed, and everyone seems to have forgotten, that incident remains a thorn in Anna's heart, causing sleepless nights and nightmares.

The gap between reality and her ideals was too vast, leaving her disoriented.

She doesn't even dare to contact her friends at HQ, afraid they'll see her struggles and worry.

Despite this, she strives to adapt to life here, to the humid and rainy climate, to her duties as Deputy Captain, and to become a true, qualified A-rank Valkyrie.

But life here is completely different from what she had imagined, from the stories she had heard.

"Is this mission considered complete?"

After another emergency mission, Anna avoids the other Valkyries celebrating their return. She finds a secluded corner to question Captain Jell.

"Yes, our squad's mission is complete. The local government has taken over. Other rescue teams will arrive later. Like the previous times, Schicksal doesn't need to intervene further."

Captain Jell seems to understand what Anna is thinking.

"Don't worry, the Honkai here has been dealt with. The residual energy is dissipating quickly. We don't need to do anything more."

"...But we didn't do anything. Durandal defeated all the enemies."

Anna has had enough of this life.

"We haven't actually done any work, have we?"

Every time, it's the same. An alert, an emergency deployment, arrival at the scene, then waiting. A blue meteor descends, eliminating 80% of the threat, then leaving as quickly as it came.

Their real work is just cleaning up the remaining enemies, rescuing survivors, and handing over the scene to the local government, presenting the fact that "Schicksal has fulfilled its duty"—

A fact that has almost nothing to do with them.

Then, back at base, they receive a hefty bonus from the government...

"Is this the work of a Valkyrie?"

Anna asks, confused, a suppressed anger brewing within her. She feels no sense of accomplishment in these "missions." This life feels absurd.

Time and time again, it's always the same. Anna feels she has had enough.

Is this what an elite Valkyrie squad is supposed to be?

"Our mission is to assist Durandal in testing new battlesuits. This is a direct order from the Overseer."

Jell also feels like her life has been muddled lately, but she doesn't dislike it. She takes Anna's hand and walks towards the transport, smiling.

"At least the disaster is resolved, and the team isn't in danger. That's a good thing."

The other Valkyries are already on board, waving cheerfully, celebrating the mission's success and their safe return.

"..."

Anna looks at their relaxed expressions, thinking that perhaps she's being too serious.

I'm still not good enough. Anna sighs, thinking of the golden-haired figure that descended like a meteor.

Why is Durandal always so dazzling?

I wish I could talk to her...

Anna thinks, feeling lonely. If Durandal were here, what would she do?

Never before has she felt the gap between herself and Durandal so clearly. That once familiar figure now seems incredibly distant.

So, Anna continues to endure this agonizing life.

Until one day, the thorn in her heart is pricked again, igniting her suppressed anger and discontent—

"An obituary? What obituary? Why is there an obituary? Our squad is perfectly fine. Why would there be an obituary sent here?"

Anna, sweating profusely in the training room, hears a notification. She opens it, puzzled.

She grabs a towel, wiping her sweat as she walks out, reading the information. The girl in the photo has a sweet smile. Wait, have I seen her before?

Such a pity. Anna feels regret for the loss of a comrade, not thinking much of it.

Until she sees the details, her expression stiffens. She remembers the day she arrived, something she had deliberately forgotten.

"Captain?"

Anna rushes to Jell's room. She sees her taking freshly baked cookies out of the oven.

"Ah, Anna, you're here! Come try some cookies."

Jell greets her warmly.

"No, thank you..."

Anna shares Jell's hobby. Usually, they would discuss new recipes together, but today, she's not in the mood.

"Did you receive..."

Anna swallows the rest of her sentence. She knows that Jell, having fought alongside that Valkyrie, would feel more pain than she does.

"Yes, I received it."

Unexpectedly, Jell only stiffens slightly, then speaks calmly,

"The mortality rate of the Third Research Institute… it's well known within Schicksal. I was prepared for it."

Although her tone is calm, her gaze drifts towards a small photo on her desk, her voice a murmur,

"She's finally free..."

"Free? Do you know what you're saying? She was our comrade!"

Anna shouts. An A-rank Valkyrie's hearing is excellent. Jell hears her clearly.

Her anger isn't directed at the Captain, but she doesn't know why she's angry. She just is.

Angry, and then she understands—she's angry for them! They didn't deserve this!

"Sacrifice and death are inevitable. As Valkyries, sacrificing for Schicksal, for humanity's future, is our duty, isn't it?"

Jell shakes her head, pushing aside her thoughts. She offers Anna a cookie, smiling.

"Here, try one. It's sugar-free. You won't gain weight."

Anna wants to slap the cookie out of her hand, but years of training make her restrain herself. The others will see!

She speaks, her voice trembling,

"Captain, don't you feel any sadness?"

Jell retracts her hand, putting the cookie back on the plate. She speaks in a normal tone,

"Perhaps I'll be next? It's better to save your energy for other things."

"You… you're unreasonable!"

Anna storms out, slamming the door.

"..."

Silence fills the room. Jell says nothing, just picks up a cookie and nibbles on it, murmuring,

"Adding some sugar would make it taste better. Why do they like it sugar-free?"

"Valkyries being afraid of gaining weight… how unreasonable..."

......

Soon, the squad notices the awkward atmosphere between the two captains.

"Captain, Deputy Captain, are you..."

"It's nothing. The mission is important. Let's go."

Jell smiles, dismissing it. They have received another order, to suppress a Honkai eruption on Mindanao.

Everyone boards the transport, arriving at the disaster scene. Under the dark, cloudy sky, the small town of 100,000 is engulfed in flames. Honkai beasts roam the streets. Newly risen zombies stagger into the fire, emerging engulfed in flames, then collapsing, slowly extinguishing.

Amidst the cacophony of screeches and cries, the screams of the surviving humans are barely audible.

"According to plan, secure the perimeter and wait… Damn it! Stop her!"

Jell was assigning tasks when she sees Anna, looking at the life detector, jump from the transport without hesitation, shouting "There are survivors!" Jell is furious.

"Damn it! Change of plans!"

Anna knows her actions are impulsive, a violation of protocol, suicidal even.

But she doesn't care. She has had enough!

All the grievances and frustrations feel suffocating.

Now, she just wants to vent, to fight!

To save those innocent lives, to reclaim the glory of being a Valkyrie!

So, like Durandal, she cuts through the sky, descending from above!

This feeling of freedom is so exhilarating…

Anna thinks as she falls, then pulls her parachute, slowing her descent. The heat from the inferno below feels like it's scorching her hair.

So impulsive…

Anna smiles wryly. It's too late for regrets.

She checks her position and the life detector, then cuts the parachute, drawing her greatsword. Using the momentum of her fall, she slams it down, shattering an unsuspecting Chariot-class Honkai beast.

"Not as good as the Knight's Lance..."

Anna spits out the dust, quickly getting to her feet, drawing her dual pistols and taking down a few flying Honkai beasts. She then holsters them, drawing her blade and fighting her way through the encirclement.

Being proficient in multiple weapons is a basic requirement for an elite Valkyrie.

Fight, fight!

This is what a Valkyrie should be doing, eliminating the Honkai, protecting humanity, isn't it?

We're not worthless expendable resources!

We're not insignificant side characters!

Anna vents her fury. Before her, zombies and Honkai beasts fall.

Fighting, venting, releasing...

Her anger subsides, but her sorrow intensifies—

What are we, really?

Disheveled, Anna cries silently.

"Is anyone there?"

She kicks open a half-closed door, shouting. The life detector was destroyed in the earlier fight.

No response. She moves to the next house without hesitation.

"Is anyone there?!"

Still no response.

As if to prove something, Anna grits her teeth and persists.

Her equipment starts to break, her body grows tired, but she finds nothing, finally giving up.

Perhaps our fight really is meaningless?

Exhausted, Anna begins to doubt herself.

This world is so different from what I had imagined…

Was I wrong all along?

"Captain, I see her! The Deputy Captain is over there!"

Anna hears a familiar voice calling from afar. It's one of her squadmates.

"Ha... I've caused so much trouble..."

Anna drags her weary body towards the voice. She still hasn't found the answer.

"Ah! Watch out!" x2

Anna sees a Knight-class Honkai beast charging towards the Valkyrie who called out. She's only B-rank, she can't defend herself!

Captain Jell swings her greatsword, forcing back smaller Honkai beasts, rushing to help, but it's too late.

Damn it!

Seeing her squadmate about to die, Anna is filled with regret and self-blame. It's all because of my recklessness!

"Thump!"

A blue lance descends from the sky, pinning the Knight-class Honkai beast right in front of the Valkyrie, who had already closed her eyes, waiting for death.

A blue streak of light approaches. A golden-haired girl picks up the collapsed Valkyrie, gently handing her to Jell.

"Sorry, I'm late. Leave the rest to me."

Durandal's voice is crisp and efficient, filled with confidence and composure. She nods to Jell and Anna, pulls out her lance from the Honkai beast's corpse, her blue and white battlesuit shimmering. She leaps forward, charging towards the inferno.

In mere moments, the flames subside. The streak of light rises again, flying towards the next battlefield.

"Seeing Durandal in action is truly something else..."

With the crisis averted, Jell looks at Durandal's departing figure, sighing in admiration.

She had seen her from afar a few times, but never this close. The impact is overwhelming.

"..."

Anna also watches Durandal leave, silent. Her thoughts are different from Jell's.

Perhaps what I'm striving for isn't wrong after all?

Recalling that figure, descending like a god, Anna thinks.