Volume 2, Chapter 31: Ana and Raiden Mei

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Neither Xia Chen nor Ana were overly attached to city life.

For Xia Chen, training was ingrained deep within him, although spending time with Ana didn't bother him at all.

As for Ana, she wasn't one to indulge lazily either.

Even during her vacation, she desired to continue her basic training. It had become part of her Valkyrie genes; even when off-duty, Ana couldn't simply relax and enjoy herself without feeling restless.

Part of the reason was Wendy's intense pressure.

However, an even greater source of stress came from Xia Chen himself.

Having successfully challenged the Glorious Knight twice in succession, Xia Chen's reputation soared among the Valkyries.

At its core, the military values strength, and several Valkyries harbored secret affections for Xia Chen. Similar to how many Valkyries idealize Bishop Otto as their first love.

She couldn't blame Xia Chen for being exceptional; rather, his prominence only affirmed her excellent judgment.

However, safeguarding such admiration is akin to protecting wealth—it requires strength to deter others' covetousness.

After all, the essence of the military is rooted in violence.

When they reappeared on the training ground, Raiden Mei and Fu Hua, who were already present, couldn't help but show surprise.

"I didn't expect them to return," Raiden Mei expressed, somewhat puzzled.

To most people's thinking, skipping one day of training isn't significant. Especially for someone like Xia Chen, with his formidable abilities, even if he took multiple days off, maintaining a strong performance during training sessions would prevent any criticism.

In the end, within the military, power reigns supreme.

Fu Hua pondered for a moment before saying, "Perhaps this consistency is what keeps him so powerful."

"However, he was right earlier—exercise merely maintains physical condition from declining. To advance further, additional factors are needed."

As Fu Hua finished speaking, she noticed Raiden Mei's gaze had turned somewhat peculiar.

Her eyes were fixed on Ana.

"Uh, you mean?"

"I want to challenge her."

Raiden Mei didn't hide her desire for conquest, stating, "I'm currently no match for Teacher Xia Chen. Sparring with him only serves to undermine my confidence without any other benefits. So I'm seeking another opponent."

Fu Hua found herself caught between laughter and tears, saying, "That sounds dismissive of the other Valkyries."

Don't underestimate other talents just because of Durandal's presence.

Ana was also sixteen, nearing seventeen years old, already an A-rank Valkyrie, undeniably gifted herself.

Raiden Mei approached Ana confidently.

Ana, in turn, met her gaze unflinchingly, recognizing the girl's unabashed ambition but showing no fear.

With minimal exchange, they stepped onto the training field.

"Hokushin Ittō-ryū Master, Raiden Mei. Please grant me this duel."

"Ana Schariac."

After introducing themselves, their clash began.

The morning training ground wasn't crowded; Xia Chen, Bronya, and Fu Hua tacitly became spectators.

Raiden Mei excelled with the katana, embodying Hokushin Ittō-ryū's emphasis on swift movements, strikes as fast as lightning. In contrast, Ana lacked a family martial tradition and relied solely on standard combat techniques and firearms learned from the Valkyrie Squad.

Regardless of which style she employed, Ana demonstrated exceptional proficiency.

However, her biggest issue lay in mindset rather than technique or fundamentals.

The two swiftly engaged each other.

Ana initially planned to maintain distance and shoot with her firearm, but Raiden Mei's speed was too great.

The amplification from the Mark-III Valkyrie Armor rendered short-range gunplay nearly ineffective. In no time, Mei's katana neared Ana's chest.

Nevertheless, Ana had her countermeasures ready.

Stepping back, she lifted her foot and directly kicked Mei on the wrist.

They exchanged blows evenly, neither gaining the upper hand.

On the sidelines, Fu Hua couldn't help but ask Xia Chen, "Who do you think will win?"

"Although I hope Ana wins, based on what I'm seeing now, it seems Raiden Mei has a slight advantage."

Xia Chen's keen observation noted that Ana was relying on her experience and stamina to maintain this narrow edge. However, she struggled to capitalize on this advantage due to her choice of weapon.

In close-quarters combat, firearms were inherently disadvantaged, especially against the amplified capabilities provided by Valkyrie Armor, rendering them almost useless.

Despite being a princess of the House of Shaniyat, there were no distinctive martial arts passed down within their lineage; their bloodline primarily excelled against Honkai entities. Compared to others, Ana lacked significant strategic advantages.

Moreover, her fighting spirit...

To be honest, despite being an A-rank Valkyrie, Ana's determination seemed somewhat lacking.

However, Fu Hua shook her head. "I don't think so."

"Hm?" Xia Chen felt intrigued.

"Just watch and you'll see."

Following Fu Hua's advice, Xia Chen observed as Ana, with a flushed face, faced Mei's attacks and responded with increasingly fierce counter-moves.

As Fu Hua predicted, Ana emerged victorious.

Though exhausted, gasping for breath, she had worn down Raiden Mei's stamina through relentless engagement. Finally, when she spotted a flaw in Mei's technique, Ana seized the opportunity to secure her win.

Xia Chen promptly handed Ana a prepared nutrient solution and saline water, while Bronya did the same for Raiden Mei on the other side.

"Thank you."

Taking a deep breath, Ana walked towards Raiden Mei.

"You're incredibly strong; I'd say you already possess the capabilities of an A-rank Valkyrie." With a serious expression, she continued, "I want to apologize for my past behavior. I used to believe Saint Freya couldn't produce powerful Valkyries, but now I realize how narrow-minded I was."

Indeed, whenever Ana spoke about Saint Freya before, there was a clear tone of disdain in her voice.

The primary reason for her initial perception was Durandal's influence. Durandal had openly criticized Saint Freya as too lax, and news of her refusal to enroll spread widely.

As Ana admired Durandal greatly, coupled with the fact that Saint Freya indeed hadn't produced any notable students, it led to her previous misconceptions.

Raiden Mei inadvertently responded, "But I still lost."

"No, you should say you haven't won yet," Ana corrected her. "Consider how long you've been with Schicksal compared to me. I grew up within its ranks since childhood, utilizing only the best resources provided by Schicksal. Honestly, even though I won this time, it's somewhat embarrassing given our circumstances."

She acknowledged Raiden Mei's strength.

With a sweet demeanor, Ana offered, "If you're willing, I can help you join the Immortal Blades."

"That's not necessary." Raiden Mei shook her head.

Her situation was unique after all.

Both girls naturally took a seat nearby to rest and soon engaged in conversation, appearing quite friendly.

From the side, Fu Hua observed Xia Chen, "I wasn't wrong, right?"

Xia Chen pondered, "Is this due to a change in mindset?"

Recently, Ana had been extremely anxious. Losing as an A-rank Valkyrie against a B-rank would undoubtedly carry immense pressure.

However, this stress seemed to fuel her, unleashing greater power instead.

In gaming terms, Ana had activated 'Anger Buff'.

Fu Hua nodded and resumed her training.