Before the transport aircraft had fully stabilized, several squads of Valkyries had already dispersed and descended from the air, carrying multiple signal pylons.
These pylons were not only structural columns for setting up camps, but also functioned like radar to scan surrounding conditions. They could even assist long-range missiles with precise targeting. In this era, when satellites had yet to cover the entire globe, such measures were a necessary strategic method.
Zzz—
The plastic-steel signal pylon had just been driven into the ground when flames suddenly ignited from below as it pierced the blackened surface. The pylon gradually melted into a pool of white slurry.
It seemed the pylon had only served as a detection probe.
High temperatures still lingered beneath this land.
Even inside the aircraft cabin, the searing heat outside could be felt.
The black hole had absorbed the flames on the surface, but it had not absorbed the fire that had seeped deep underground. Thus, the blazing flames of the Judgment of Shamash still scorched the shallow layers of earth.
Seeing this scene, the logistics Valkyries could only wipe sweat from their brows as they spread foundation sand across the surface.
Watching the bustling construction site, Reanna Brigantia turned and stood respectfully at the cabin door, addressing Bishop Otto. "Lord Bishop, the surrounding area has been confirmed clear of abnormalities. You may disembark."
"We have encountered neither attacks from Anti-Entropy nor local military forces, and we have received no clues left by the advance Valkyrie squads."
Otto rose gracefully from his seat and spread his right hand. "Mm, Reanna. It seems our friends from Anti-Entropy have run into quite a bit of trouble."
Otto looked at what had become the ruins of Schicksal's North American branch base. Ever since contact with the stationed Valkyrie forces there had been lost, he had also lost control over intelligence in North America. He had only just learned of the base's condition moments ago.
The destruction of the North American branch was both beyond his expectations and yet entirely reasonable. After all, that man Welt losing control of Herrscher power due to emotional agitation was perfectly in character for him.
Although he had learned that Planck had clashed with Katerina, Otto did not believe that a mere university professor could withstand the Key of Destruction alone. Welt's assistance must have been involved.
"Proceed with post-disaster operations according to the original plan. The Silver Squad will take Team A to the designated location to apprehend Anti-Entropy members and interrogate them about the whereabouts of the Divine Keys and Welt. The rest will search for clues."
Otto paid no attention whatsoever to Katerina's fate. He only cared about the whereabouts of the two Divine Keys.
"Lord Otto..." Worried about Katerina's safety, Reanna naturally wished to go as well. There was still a Herrscher over there. Although the Silver Squad consisted entirely of experienced A-rank Valkyries, five entire Valkyrie squads had already been wiped out here, including another S-rank Valkyrie who carried two Divine Keys.
In the end, however, Reanna closed her mouth. After a century, she understood well what kind of person Bishop Otto was. To achieve his objectives, he would never hesitate to sacrifice Valkyries.
If it were Otto in the future, he might have said something to win her trust after noticing her concerns. But at this point in time, he had no such idle interest.
Valkyries were merely tools. He had never intended to form bonds with them.
Even if they inherited Kallen's will, they were not Kallen.
When necessary, Otto would discard them without hesitation.
Within this vast stretch of ruins, nothing remained. No rubble, no living people, no corpses—there were not even any Honkai Beasts.
There was only scorched earth and spherical craters.
The Valkyries from Schicksal's transport vessels descended from the sky one after another, surrounding the ruins and commencing a carpet search.
The progress was slow. Flames beneath the earth erupted from time to time. Even the most advanced Valkyrie battlesuits could not withstand such temperatures.
"Even the Judgment of Shamash could not prevail?"
Otto murmured to himself. From the scorched earth before him, it was not difficult to deduce that Katerina had indeed unleashed the Key of Destruction's Zeroth Power. However, the results did not seem to have reached the expected level.
If it had been completely unleashed, the entirety of New Jersey should have been reduced to eternally burning wasteland.
Just as Otto was contemplating how Anti-Entropy had relied on Welt's authority to resist the unsheathed flames of Shamash, a masked Valkyrie hurried over, holding a card.
"Lord Bishop, we found this!"
Otto accepted the card. A crescent smile curved at the corner of his lips, and interest flickered in his eyes. "Heh... it seems our friends from Anti-Entropy are quite enthusiastic."
On the card were written the words: "Magic Theater Invitation. The greatest time magician of this century presents to you the most astonishing performance—Vill-V."
Otto casually tossed the card upward. Reanna caught it and flipped it to the back, only to see a chibi-style workshop and Vill-V's smiling face. "An invitation? It doesn't say where to find her."
"Isn't it obvious? Since it doesn't say, that means from the very beginning... we were already inside the Magic Theater."
Click! The sound of a clock striking the hour rang out. Accompanied by the clang-clang of a swinging pendulum, a black curtain suddenly descended from the sky, enveloping the heavens and dragging the entire world into a nocturnal stage.
Searchlights abruptly lit up around the former site of Schicksal's North American branch base, illuminating the entire perimeter.
The Valkyries stared in shock as the ruined base before them began to slowly reassemble beneath the pale yellow glow, accompanied by flickering, aged lights, as if a classic film were being played in reverse.
The ashes on the ground transformed back into fragments of rubble, spinning and piecing themselves together like puzzle pieces, gradually reconstructing the outer walls and internal structure of the buildings.
Exposed steel frameworks rose once more like trees, straightening and intertwining to form a sturdy skeleton.
Cracks in the walls gradually vanished. The surfaces smoothed out, returning the base to its original appearance.
"Welcome... to Vill-V's grand Time Magic Show!"
Standing atop the rebuilt Schicksal North American branch base, Magician spread her arms wide in exultation.
"The curtain call has already concluded. Now, let us reverse time and revisit this... magnificent magic performance!"
Piu!
A beam of light pierced straight through Vill-V, yet no blood spilled. The ray struck the black curtain behind her, but nothing happened.
Thin smoke rose from the barrel of the small pistol from the Previous Era in Otto's hand. He was not surprised.
What did surprise him was that an identical beam of light shot back, striking directly into the muzzle of Otto's gun and detonating it.
"Oh? Not technology from this era."
Otto shook his intact soulium arm lightly. "It seems Anti-Entropy's gains from the ruins... are far more substantial than our intelligence suggested."