Hello everyone and welcome back for another dose of my story.

I hope that you have liked it so far.

We are getting to the start of the Gratitude Arc. And boy, I have so many ideas as to how I'm going to play it. Hehehe~

Disclaimer: Honkai Impact belongs to Mihoyo and its own writers. With luck, they won't sue me for writing this, yadayada...

Enjoy!


Kiana's head felt with an audible thud on the living room table.

"Finally! It's finally over!" She felt the sudden urge to cry in relief but she was too tired to do that.

"You made it, Kiana-chan," Mei congratulated with a small smile on her face. Despite her tiredness, Kiana suddenly hugged the black-haired girl, startling her.

"Eeep?!" She squealed at the unexpected contact.

"Aaahhh…! Kiana sighed in relief. "I need to charge my energy with Mei-senpai's love!"

"Subject Idiotka just finished a sheaf of simple math exercises," Bronya commented from the kitchen while serving herself a glass of water.

"I am not an idiot, Bratnya!" Kiana remarked, separating from her senpai. "And those exercises were too hard!" She yelled. Despite her words, Mei didn't have the heart to tell her that in fact, those were quite easy.

"Girls. Please, don't fight," like usual, Mei calmed them down before a discussion could take place. "Bronya-chan, please be nice to Kiana. She really made her best to finish her work."

"Understand, Subject Mei."

"Ha!"

"And Kiana-chan, there's still plenty to study," she pointed with her gaze towards the pile of books laying on the table. "Don't get distracted."

Kiana deflated at her statement. Mei shook her head at her friend's dejected expression. "Come on, Kiana-chan. Remember, if you pass your exams, I'll make a cake just for you." Hearing that, while not recovered at all, Kiana just groaned before straighten herself on her seat.

"Okay, Mei-senpai…"

"Now, let's take a break before we start with history."

"No!" Kiana yelled and slammed her head against the table, this time harder.

"Kiana-chan?!" Mei was surprised at her self-harm action.

"No! History is boring and confusing! It makes my stomach churn whenever I think about it!" Kiana whined. Her senpai made a troubled expression hearing her distress. "Let's rest for a moment. Pretty please?!" She pleaded, doing puppy eyes.

"I-well…" Kiana's begging eyes intensified. "Okay, Kiana-chan. Let's take a rest," Mei said giving up at such menacing tool. She made a mental note to train against such a powerful gaze.

"Yay!" Kiana chirped.

"Is the topic of history too complicated for Subject Kiana?" Bronya asked making her way to the table with a glass of water in hand. The silver-haired girl paused for a second, surprised that Bronya didn't call her using her favorite pet name for her.

"History is too boring and confusing at times. I mean, the teachers explain jumbo-dumbo about something complicated that happened way long before us, and once you get the hang of it, they have to add another and complicated stupid thing that is happening at the same time!" Kiana complained while agitating her hands to prove her point.

"Kiana-chan, history isn't that complicated at all. You just need to see it from another perspective, that's all." Kiana grunted. "I wish I could do it like you, Mei-senpai. But it's so hard to read several boring lines and listen to even more boring lectures!"

"The Bronya may have a solution for Subject Kiana's trouble," Bronya cut in before Kiana could start a tirade about how much she hated history, along with math and science.

Mei perked up hearing this and Kiana cocked a brow at the younger girl's lack of mock. "What do you have in mind, Bronya-chan?"

After taking a sip of water, Bronya answered materializing a green Homu helmet with a black visor on her hand.

"Would Subject Kiana like to have a living tour using VR?"


Many times, Hestia had drilled into his head to never underestimate an opponent. A basic rule that people tended to oversee, whether out of arrogance, confidence, or just a laid-back attitude. Adam liked to believe that he followed this rule, while not down to the last letter as to act like a paranoid mad man, at least to be cautious enough to not be stabbed on the neck or the face. Or both…

Saying this, he should have stayed on edge from the mere beginning…

FFWOOOSHHH!

"Crap!"

…and would have avoided being almost stabbed for the twentieth time in the last bloody five minutes!

"Come on!" Theresa yelled as she prepared another lance from the damn golden Divine Key next to her. "Is dodging all you're capable?"

Another person in Adam's position would have snarled at the mocking from the child-look-like-Principal and tried to beat her down, but Adam knew better that it was a terrible idea.

Again, he stepped back and rolled to his side, barely dodging, again, two spears where he previously was.

"If you are only-!"

BANG!

Theresa easily blocked a rubber bullet with a new spear's pole. Sensing something approaching at great speed, she jumped back casually with a spin as a tendril with razor blades stroke down the floor. Swiftly, Theresa brought down the golden spear, trying to dig it in the strange extremity. Her student acted fast, retreating his extremity just in time, though it was still grazed by the tip.

"HOLY FUCK!" Adam screamed holding his left arm with a short slash on it. The arm was morphed and covered by tendrils yet he hissed in pain, keeping his eyes on the Principal. She frowned at his crude language but didn't stop her assault.

"{That shit burns! It's worse than Shamash's bullets!}" It growled. "{It didn't hurt as much as back then with Siegfried.}"

"{The 11th Divine Key. "The Oath of Judah". Hestia and Siegfried mentioned that it has the power to nullify different types of energy, including Honkai energy,}" it informed with a critical voice.

"{No shit! Didn't know that until she whacked our asses with the damn golden cross!}", it yelled. Adam hissed again when the slash started to throb. He distracted at the feeling, costing him as another spear grazed his cheek. Adam choked a scream of pain.

As to why he was sparring with her? Well, long short story, he wanted to measure how strong and skillful the Principal was. For training and check out if she could suppress him in case he went wild during his stay at St. Freya.

Now… he started to regret his brilliant idea.

"{She has distance advantage. Proceed to close the distance between her and you. Perhaps CQC techniques may result efficiently.}"

Adam knew that despite the advice, the Principal was one the best Valkyries in the whole world and a veteran from the Second Impact on top of that.

His chances of giving a good fight were 5% at best.

"{Still, if you went all-out, you may do something interesting~,}" it purred. Adam knew it was at the idea of mayhem left behind if he went all-out.

In another situation, he would have considered the idea. But right now he was training with Theresa. It wasn't a fight to the death.

Adam ignored its snort. He gritted his teeth at the burning sensation on his arm and check. He knew it was a bad idea, but what he had to lose anyway?

When Theresa threw her next spear, Adam ran to her and missed the spear by a hair's breadth.

"Oh~ Decided to fight now?" She taunted playfully. He ignored it. Getting within her range, Adam tried to slug her at the side. Swiftly, Theresa took out another spear and parried the attack effortlessly. At this, he transformed his other arm into a pole and sweep her legs. He succeeded, but she used the momentum and rolled back, not before taking another spear and threw it in his direction. Adam twisted his body a bit, spear digging in the floor.

Adam covered his legs in thick layers and pounced in her direction. Theresa raised a brow at the action. She slashed with another spear once he was in her range, but was surprised when thin tendrils shot from his chest and brought him down before her weapon could grace him. He shifted his stance on the floor with his hands, trying to kick her but failing when she blocked it with her bare hands and sweep his hands with the spear in a flash.

He barely rolled to the side and jumped back as she almost stroke him down.

"That's an A-rank Valkyrie for you," he thought with rapid breathing. He felt how his wounds started to mend back but there was still that burning sting sensation on them. It felt like his system was fighting against some poison-sap.

"Nice reflexes, Adam," she commented. "For a moment I thought you were the kind of guy who preferred to ram over things than smart fighting."

"Well, this isn't one of those scenarios, Principal." He started to ponder what could work against her. "For a second I thought I had you."

"She is quick and too strong despite her size. I doubt the whips could work against her and she may bat my ass away if I try to charge her using the shield."

"It was a good attempt, but it would be hard to take down the cutest girl in the world with just that!" Theresa yelled as she spanned on her feet. "I thought you could only use your tendrils from your arms and legs?"

"What can I say?" Adam shrugged. "I'm full of surprises."

"I could try to separate her from Judah using spikes from the ground, but her reflexes are too quick. She could pin me the moment I'm on air." His options didn't look promising. "Not to mention that those spears sting like hell."

"True. I expected a brat or a playboy trying to get in my students' pants when they informed me about you." He knew she was referring to Hestia and Siegfried. "I didn't expect a too serious if not grumpy young man attending my school."

"Hey! I'm not grumpy! I'm just professional," he remarked.

"Maybe try to bat her away while using the full armor? Shit is taxing but it could help."

"Let's continue. I think I've given enough time to catch your breath," she said as she leaned forwards. Adam cursed and prepared himself for what was to come.

In a blink of an eye, Theresa closed the distance and started to lunge with her spear. Adam dodged to the best of his skill but Theresa proved to be quicker than him. Multiple slashes started to take place on his body as the seconds passed. Adam knew she was taking it easy on him because the cuts weren't large or truly deadly, but the Honkai imbued on the spear tip was taxing to heal himself. Sensing that his body started to waver, Adam decided to throw precaution out of the window and covered his entire body into a light set of armor. He grunted at the taxing it put on his mind and body, but braced himself against it and in a sudden motion, caught Theresa's weapon and threw it away with her still grasping it.

She landed in an acrobatic motion and proceeded to rub her sore wrist. "Ouch!" She yelped. "That was quite rude of you!"

Adam didn't respond, focused on keeping the armor on. He would have preferred for the armor to be thicker but he didn't want to press his luck or go ballistic for just training, it was the best he could do for the moment.

Knowing that every second counted, Adam kicked off the ground and got within Theresa's range. He brought down his fist on the floor and as expected, she dodged, but instead of sidestepping, she jumped back, creating some distance between them. Smart because his strike made the floor shook for a second. It would have been effective if Theresa wasn't an experienced Valkyrie.

"He is pretty strong," she thought, though.

He threw many jabs and kicks at her, which she evaded with simple steps and countered with a certain grace. Adam snarled mentally at his lack of landing hits and slow speed. The armor made his moves slowly in favor of increasing his defense. Frustrating but necessary with all the damage he was taking.

As he jumped back and prepared to slash with a whip, his head throbbed and for a second, his eyes went blind.

"Fuck!"

In the next second, his feet were swept and he fell on his back with an audible thud. Adam left a choked yelp, surprised at the sudden action and how his armor came undone without his command, not to mention the tip of a golden spear close to his jugular.

"I yield," he said in surrender.

Theresa nodded and threw back her spear without looking back. Adam admitted it looked quite neat as it landed in the Oath of Judah and the Divine folded back, saving the whole other set of spears inside it.

Adam started to get on his feet and was a bit surprised that the Principal offered him a hand. He took it gracefully. The toll on his mind and body left him a bit dizzy.

"Good match," Theresa commented.

"Considering that you swept the arena with my ass, I'm surprised you didn't smith me at the mere beginning," he snorted playfully. Theresa scowled a bit at his crude language.

"Language aside, I'll admit I'm quite surprised that you managed to hold on your own against me."

Another young and brash person would have reacted vexed at her words as if she was showing arrogance at her display of skill and prowess against a student and offering patronizing compliments. Adam knew better than her words were quite true. She was a veteran warrior while he was still a student.

"Thanks for the compliment, Principal. I'll admit I had some aces down my sleeve, though I doubt they would have been helpful at all," he answered back humbly and gave a respectful nod. Theresa blinked at his gesture as if she was surprised at it.

"Something the matter?"

"O-h, oh, no! It's just…" The Principal thought her next words for a second before answering. "For a second I thought you were going to react, hhhmmm, how do I say it?" She pondered with a thoughtful expression.

"Like a sore brat whining about losing?" He added. He shook his head at Theresa's surprised expression. At his guess or words? He didn't know.

"We are just training and I'm not a person who fancies about who losses or wins." Half true. He actually enjoyed it when he bashed Siegfried's head on trunks or whatever hard surface they were on. Not to mention he was grateful that Theresa took it easy on him. She was a veteran and the Principal who supervised the training for the next generation of Valkyries. Also, the Oath of Judah was quite effective against him, with armor or not, he'll have to keep an eye on it.

"Well…Those weren't my exact thoughts, but they are close enough," she commented.

He started to check how extensive the damage was. Adam lifted his arms. On them were many cuts and slashes that were either bleeding or already closing themselves. The same could be said about his torso and legs, the training clothes presented many tears on them.

"Definitely I've to keep an eye on Judah. The damn thing even pierced with the armor on," he thought gravelly.

Taking note of his actions and current state, Theresa yelped with a pitched voice.

"Sorry! I should have taken it easier with you. Let's go to the infirmary! There we can patch up your wounds." She cursed at herself for not taking note of his extensive injuries sooner.

Adam cocked a brow in surprise. "I'm fine, Principal. This is nothing."

"How this is nothing!" She yelled back in worry, pointing at his bleeding wounds. "I don't have time for your macho-idiocy! Let's go to the infirmary this instant!" She said with urgency and anger. Adam almost obeyed but thought better of it.

"If I go to the infirmary like this, and someone sees me, people will question how I healed like nothing for the next day," he replied. His words had merit, as he previously had seen students with injuries even after days from training or missions. Even with Stigmas, their human bodies couldn't fast-heal like it was nothing to the next day.

Theresa paused for a second before she shook her head. "I can say you used an experimental medicine to patch you up. Come on! We have to move or you'll faint any time soon!" She tried to take Adam by the hand but he took a step back.

"Principal, it is fine!" He insisted. Knowing she wouldn't relent, Adam focused a bit of his power, and instantly, thin tendrils covered his injured body. "Look!" Thanks to the boost, his already enhanced healing, the cuts and slashes stopped bleeding and closed at astonishing speed. His legs buckled a bit but managed to stay on his feet.

Theresa saw bewildered the scene. Like him, she possessed an enhanced healing thanks to her Honkai genes. What surprised her was how the injuries mended back together and how some of his blood went back inside his injuries, before these closed and left not even a scratch, only blood traces.

Not to mention his lack of pain and discomfort when it happened. Even she winced when it happened. The healing factor didn't come with a painkiller effect.

"Just like new!" He didn't add that he felt like vomiting his insides. He had dealt with Shamash's rounds and even Queen-bitch attacks. While they felt nasty, they didn't affect him this bad, being at the receiving end of Judah felt like total shit. He guessed that its sealing ability was too effective against him.

"If luck is on my side, she won't be using it against me," he thought. He was about to give his thanks to Theresa for sparring him for today and take his leave but she had other ideas as she took his hand with a strong grip and started to move out of the training arena. He knew they were going to the infirmary despite his healed state.

"Principal, I'm fi-"

"You're coming with me to the infirmary and that is final!" She glared with authority.

In another circumstance, Adam would have kept insisting that he was already fine, not to add it looked embarrassing to being pulled out by the child-looking-Principal to the infirmary, but he decided to keep his mouth close, less he infuriated (further?) the already vexed Principal.


Thankfully, good luck was on his side as both of them made their way towards the infirmary without onlookers or ran into someone.

Although his luck ended just when the nurse, a nice black-haired young woman with glasses, asked him to take off his clothes to examine his injuries. Adam protested saying he was fine. The nurse smiled warmly, thinking he was flustered or embarrassed to show his body in front of them. She reassured him that she would keep under confidence whatever she saw or was said in the room. Theresa said the same. After cursing mentally like a drunk sailor, he reluctantly took off his torn shirt.

The warm look on the nurse was replaced by bewilderment and horror when she saw how his body actually looked without clothes on it. At the corner of his eye, he saw the same look on the Principal's face. Quickly, she started to examine his scarred chest, looking for injuries. He didn't like the nurse's tone when she informed Theresa that he didn't possess any injuries on himself, save for few traces of blood.

Adam almost cursed out loud when the nurse asked him about the disturbing tattoo on his back. He played it off saying that it was his Stigma and its healing properties, and even he knew that she saw through his bull, but Theresa ordered her to keep secret what she saw before leaving.

After that, he thought it was his cue to call it a night and be on his way towards the dorm, but Theresa asked him to accompany her to her office.

"Adam, please take a seat." He sighed but followed her words as she took hers. He would have preferred to stay on his feet if it wasn't for slight vertigo he started to feel.

Seconds started to pass. None of them said a word. The silence was tense for both of them. For her, she didn't know how to approach him without sounding rude or being imposing.

"How are you feeling? Do you feel some aches?" She asked with a gentle but cautious tone. She knew if she went straight to the point, either he would lie or close himself to her. She needed to handle this carefully.

"I feel fine, Principal," he answered. His toes clenched as his stomach protested. He took a deep breath. "Just a bit winded. The training took a toll on me," he replied.

"Is that so?" He nodded. "Then, would you mind telling me if that paleness of yours is natural?" She asked rhetorically. He knew what she was referring to, feeling cold sweat starting to break on his temple.

"Aside effect of overusing my powers, Principal." He felt bile bubble up and slowly making way upwards. He took another but slower deep breath after answering. It was quite effective as it calmed down.

Again, the office fell in awkward silence.

"{Hey, man. I think I know what she's trying to do?}"

"You do?" He asked incredulously. Usually, it suggested the boldest if not brashest ideas and actions in the wrong situations. Some of them were helpful, on certain occasions, but still, he kept his guard up.

"Then pray and tell me, what she's after?"

"{Considering that she saw you topless and she kind of knows what's up with you; maybe she's trying to know how to ask you about yourself and stuff.}"

To his surprise, Adam found merit in his words. Despite all the time he has been in St. Freya, aside from the initial tour, Theresa and he barely interacted at all, save for her occasional show up at dinner or when she was reprimanding Kiana at the dorm.

"You think so?"

"{If you think about it, no person at your age should have that many scars on their body, not to mention the awesome powers and mainly the relationship you have with Siegfried.}"

According to his mentor's words, he had to run away from Schicksal after its Overseer crossed him. He never entered in details, but Adam bet it had something to do with his strained relationship with Kiana. And considering that Siegfried left behind his own daughter years before, for him to show up suddenly out of nowhere while claiming to know Siegfried, well, Theresa somehow had the right to know what was the deal between the two. After all, she was Kiana's godmother, according to the human hoover words.

Based on the previous line, maybe it wouldn't be bad to share something with her. She has proved to be loyal to Siegfried and hasn't called out Schicksal to capture him.

That counted for something.

"Okay. I'll bite. First of all, is this office not tapped?"

"W-What?"

"Is the office secure? Are you sure no one else is going to hear us?" Adam asked with a serious voice. He needed to be precautious less the wrong people heard him.

Theresa was startled ad his abruptness yet she recovered swiftly and answered by pushing a barely perceptible button next to her.

"The office is now safe. I made sure to install this in case of someone else hearing." Adam nodded in approval. Despite her young and naïve appearance, Theresa was prospective.

"I have a hunch that you want to ask me something. Is that right?" Theresa blinked, surprised at his correct guess before she nodded. "Okay, first of all, I'll try to answer your questions as much as I can. If they became too personal or dig where you shouldn't I'll decide where to draw the line. Sounds good?"

Theresa again nodded. "Fine, but I have to say, you're being too direct with all of this." He shrugged. "Perhaps, but the talking skills were never my strong suit. And Siegfried really trusts you despite your relationship with the Overseer. I'll take my chances." Her lips pursed for a second before nodding in acceptance. She knew what kind of man was her grandpa after all and some of his schemes. A hard fact that took her some time to admit to herself.

"Thank you, for trusting me."

Adam didn't think it wise to tell her that he was taking this chance due to Siegfried's trust in her. If it wasn't for Siegfried's trust and Hestia backing him up, he would have kept his mouth clamped down, no matter what.

He nodded. "Okay. Shoot."

"For how long have you been traveling together with Siegfried?"

"Almost eighteen months, more or less."

"Did he pick you up?" Adam almost snorted at the question.

"No. I was working and Hestia contacted him to watch over me while she was taking care of some things on her own."

She looked unsure for a second. "A-are you… his child?" Adam choked for a second before answering with some heat.

"Hell no! And you have to be kidding me. He was deeply in love with his wife." Theresa nodded and sighed in relief. Adam wondered how much of a messy-flirter-drunk-asshole Siegfried was during his earlier years for Theresa to have that kind of idea.

"That's good. Then, next question. Your powers-"

"Got them one day while I was running away from a Knight. Quite useful when the damn thing cut across my body." He answered sharply. Either a personal friend or even sister in all but blood of Siegfried, he wasn't going to share or open that can of worms. It was his business, no one else's. She took the hint to not ask further about the matter.

"What were you two doing during those months?"

Adam looked at her intensely. Theresa didn't have to know what they did for a living back then. She didn't wither under his hard stare, though.

"Many things that I don't think SHE will like us to discuss," he replied firmly. "What I can say is that there were good and difficult times." She made a complicated expression, looking like she wanted to know more, but like her, he didn't waver. She continued with a new question.

"Did- Did he ever speak about Kiana?" She asked with a slight stutter. He was a bit surprised at the question, not expecting it. He guessed she was looking out for Kiana's sake.

"A couple of times. Sometimes he had a pensiveness look on his face during certain dates."

There was a melancholic expression on her face as he said this, the memories of better and bright days when things were easier back then.

"So, only a couple of times then…" She said with a dejected tone. Adam didn't like her tone. He had a feeling that she misunderstood his words. "He mentioned Kiana out of the blue. And when he did it, he didn't look fine. I thought it was for the best if I avoided the topic," he explained.

Siegfried could be a pain in the ass (most of the time), but even he didn't deserve to be taunted of what he had left behind just to rub salt on the wound. Not to mention, it wasn't his business and place to but in. If Siegfried wanted to not share his thoughts about the matter, it wasn't his place to force him. After all, people have secrets they don't want to share, no matter what.

Theresa's eyes widened a bit when Adam defended Siegfried. She had the feeling that despite the vexing he showed when she asked if he was his father, Adam cared about her (not friend, no, nu-huh!) best's friend husband in his own way.

"Would that be all, Principal?" Adam asked, snapping her back from her thoughts. She almost nodded before refraining. There was another thing that had been bothering her for a time.

"Just one more thing, Adam," she said. He raised a brow. "I'm sorry to say it until now, but, thank you, Adam." His eyes widened at her words, caught off guard. "Thank you for being there when my airhead of a niece was in mortal danger, and thank you for protecting her even to the last minute," she thanked him with a grateful tone.

"P-Principal, you-"

"I saw the footage after your fight with the Herrscher back on the Hyperion," she interrupted him. "Despite the strange and dire circumstances, you protected my niece and the life of an innocent while sustaining grave injuries." Much to his raising bewilderment, Theresa got up from her seat, walked next to him, and gave a deep bow.

"Thank you, Adam."

As the seconds passed and Theresa remained in her position, so did the bile bubbling up in his stomach. Adam didn't know what to do or say. He didn't expect any of this.

"Y-You are welcome, Principal." The bile slowly crawled up through his gullet. "May I go back to the dorms now?"

Theresa straighten up and nodded. With a poker face, Adam nodded and took his leave, closing the door behind him

"He must feel awkward when it comes to praises," she commented after some seconds. "Despite being serious and having a no-no sense attitude, he gets easily flustered." She smiled, at least she let him know her thanks for saving her niece. "He should spend more time with people around him, it would help him how to not get easily flustered."

Outside of the Principal office, a bit far from it, under a tree and the solace of the night; Adam barfed his lunch. He cursed at how effective the Oath of Judah was against him plus the drawback from overusing his powers. Nevermind the discomfort he felt when he saw the gratefulness in Theresa's eyes for saving her goddaughter, or when she brought the fact that he protected her with his own body.

Gratefulness for saving a life, when in fact, he just wanted to change an old long memory…

"…how disgusting…"

Adam didn't know if he thought it or was one of the voices. He pushed the thought back as he continued throwing up with another bitter taste in his mouth.


"A big rock here, another rock there, and guess what? A rock with a dog's face on it!" A brunette-haired girl complained as she saw a bunch of rocks and debris through the screen.

"What are you doing, Orimoto?" A black-haired man with a gruff voice asked as he was filling some reports in his computer.

"Campbell-senpai! Why do we have to do all this boring stuff?" She whined. The man grunted and massaged his temple in slight annoyance at his companion. "For the last time, call me Irving. Calling me with my last name makes me feel old!"

"But you're old Campbell-senpai!"

"Tch!"

Orimoto Rika was a young Valkyrie who recently graduated from St. Freya. Since she did not have great fighting skills, she decided to enter the reconnaissance and scouting division in the thought of at least helping those who can be the main defensive and offensive lines.

For his part, Irving Campbell was a man in his thirties working in the same division as Kaori. He was more of an expert in data processing and analysis than an explorer, but HQ rather had him on the field than in a small office.

For the past month, he and his partner have been stranded on the outskirts of what was once a beautiful and colorful city, now a desolate ruin with high rates of Honkai radiation all around. A depressing scenario for rookies who recently graduated from the academy, but for him, it was just one more scenario of so many he had seen before. Cold and cynical, perhaps, but he had learned that it was better to emotionally distance himself from such scenarios, or else become a sea of nerves and depression. He didn't feel like seeing his therapist so soon, thank you very much.

As in other cases, the city had been quarantined, surrounded by different teams of investigators and Valkyries to guard the area. Normally, a small team of investigators and Valkyries would be sent to the site to collect data, but with the event that occurred a few months ago and knowing who the cause was, several of the investigators were grateful not to be sent to the site, regardless of the boredom complaints from the Valkyries.

He was relieved that the Supervisor did not contradict the use of drones to investigate the area.

"This is so boring!"

He huffed when his companion whined. He thought for a moment to chastise her, but he knew it would fall on deaf ears, so he opted to just shake his head, ignoring Orimoto's whining, and resumed to analyze the new data the drones were just delivering. As time passed, Campbell was so engrossed in his work that he didn't realize Orimoto was standing next to him and tapping his right arm. He guessed that it was almost time for dinner and he has forgotten about the time.

"Okay. You can go to eat dinner, Orimoto. Just make sure to save some for me," he dismissed with a nod of his head. He didn't say it to her face, less the teasing from her escalate, but he was thankful that his companion had the heart to save some food for him. Sleep with an empty stomach felt like a kick in the gut, literally.

"It isn't time for dinner yet, senpai," she answered.

"Then? What is it?" He kept his eyes on the screen computer and typing while he asked. Immediately he came with the idea that she was just tired or annoyed. He didn't have a problem with her taking a break. Sometimes the work was stressful.

"Well, one of the drones has just stopped working, Campell-senpai."

Her words didn't bother him in the least. "Perhaps the radiation was too much for the unit or most likely, one big piece of debris fell on it." It was something that commonly happened with the research drones. Along with the paperwork one had to fill to report it and ask for a new drone.

"But Campell-senpai. That can't be right," she remarked. Campbell sighed but didn't stop typing. "And why is that?"

"The missing drone was one of the new ones. Faster and tougher to endure high Honkai radiation," Orimoto stated. "It shouldn't have stopped working at all. At least, it should have sent a notification that it was trapped or something."

Hearing her words, Campbell stopped for a moment working. He thought about it for a second before answering.

"Send one of the new units to investigate the lost drone. If you find something strange, tell me about it."

From the corner of his eye, he saw Orimoto nod and went back to her workplace. Campbell sighed and resumed his own work.

"Sometimes she goes overboard when it comes to something out of the ordinary," he thought. He didn't fault her for it though. Sometimes, even he wished for something out of the routine. Heck, he would even wish for an Emperor Class to just appear and-

"What the fuck I'm thinking," he slapped himself at the suicidal thought.

After ten minutes of working in silence, Orimoto called again for his attention.

"Campbell-senpai?"

"Yeah?" He asked from his seat as he stretched his arms and hands.

"You… You have to see this," she sounded nervous.

He sighed and got up from his place. He guessed that she may have seen something ugly or disturbing. Something common when you explored the aftermath of an Outbreak Zone. He had his own share of seeing corpses in many states. He hoped that the image wasn't going to be too much for her.

"What did you find?"

"I used one of the drones to investigate the missing one as you said and I found this." On the screen, there was the up-close picture of a street with debris scattered on it. In the middle of the place, there was a single medium-large gray drone laying on the ground.

At first glance, it appeared as if a bunch of debris just fell on it and incapacitated it, but just like Orimoto said, the new units were designated to withstand more radiation and endure greater blows. And even if it was shot down, the thing should have sent a notification to her.

"How did you know it was missing?"

"W-well, I was a bit bored, so I started to check the many sights they offered to pass the time and, you know how boring this can be, so I thought that they should be watching something curious and... Hahaha!" She laughed nervously.

He glared at her for a second. She squirmed a bit under his narrowed eyes.

"Bring the drone closer. I want to see why it stopped working."

"Y-Yes!"

The unit came closer and Campbell's and Orimoto's curiosity piqued when they saw that the drone was in perfect conditions, save for one little detail.

"Where is the battery?"

Every drone has a small Honkai battery that allowed the units to operate for long periods. The batteries used to be located at the top of them.

"Did someone take the battery?" Orimoto asked.

"More like someone took a chunk of it," Campbell commented. There were marks at the top of the carcass. The place where it was located, looked like someone bite it out.

"Who could have done it?"

"Or what?" Orimoto blinked at the question.

"What do you mean, senpai?"

"As you said, the unit should have sent a notification that it was in trouble. And I doubt a strike from a big piece of debris should have left something like resembled a piece of candy being chunked."

Both of them fall silent as they pondered their thoughts.

For her part, Orimoto was a bit nervous and thrilled that they have found something interesting. It was refreshing to feel a sudden rush of adrenaline aside from her senpai's reprimands. That, and at least she would have something interesting to tell to her friends once she went back to HQ.

On his side, Campbell was considering alerting their supervisor about their findings. For one part, it could be dismissed as simple overwork and stress or being ridiculed and reprimanded for wasting time. (His boss was a total ass.) But it didn't sit well with him what they founded.

"Even if someone was here, they would be smart to not tamper or destroy one of our drones in the first place. It would alert us of their presence." He started to ponder more ideas until Orimito called for him again.

"Senpai! Look this."

Campbell stopped thinking and moved his eyes to Orimoto's screen. She brought up close the drone to the ground and next to the dead drone, there were traces of something black and slimy. She moved the drone a bit to the side and both of them noted that there was a trail of the same unknown substance.

"Orimoto, follow it. Let's see where it leads," Campbell commanded with a serious tone. She obeyed and the drone started following the traces. As time passed, both researchers were surprised that the mysterious vestiges followed for almost two miles. As the drone kept following the traces, Campbell noted that the drone was making its way towards what appeared to be a large academy, nearby the heart of the city.

Thirty minutes later, Orimoto threw up her stomach contents next to her console while Campbell called HQ in a close fit of panic.


In the beginning, there was darkness. All was formless and empty. Time and place didn't exist. An abyss of eternal darkness. Nothing stirred in the abyssal darkness.

NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING -

Then there was light.

Then there was warm.

Then it became aware of itself.

Then it gazed at the light

And then…

IT screamed mutedly with great horror and pain at the vast light coming from above.

IT felt so tiny, so insignificant and worthless before the Almighty Light.

IT felt so weak…

IT needed to move away from the light's gaze, away from its burning light, away from its powerful presence!

IT learned something new; Fear…

AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY!

AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY!AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY!

IT crawled until it took refuge where the light didn't burn, where the loving embrace of darkness protected IT. IT felt safe. IT felt protected. IT felt loved. IT felt…

Hunger…

IT shuddered as this new feeling ran through itself.

Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. . Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry.

IT felt hungry, so hungry and so weak as IT felt falling back in its original state. The Nothingness.

Safe. Disappear. Safe. Disappear. Safe. Disappear. Safe. Disappear. Safe. Disappear. Safe. Disappear. Safe. Disappear. Safe. Disappear. Safe. Disappear. Safe. Disappear. Safe. Disappear. Safe. Disappear. Safe. Disappear. Safe. Disappear. Safe. Disappear. Safe. Disappear. Safe. Disappear. Safe. Disappear. Safe. Disappear.

Then, there was something in the air and then, IT didn't felt hungry or weak like before.

Something lingered around IT. A sea. Something dense and light at the same time. Waves with energy coming in ITS direction. As each wave passed through IT, IT felt grow in size and less sleepy.

From its hiding, IT felt the All-Mighty Light moving away. Its intensity lowering. But despite that, IT didn't dare to move out from its safe den.

IT was correct, as IT felt the All-Mighty Light coming back. It was a cycle of coming and going as time passed. And as it passed, IT felt itself get stronger with each passing cycle. But, despite that, IT didn't dare to move. The All-Mighty Light was always watching, always making itself known.

Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait.

And then, ITS food, the great and violent Sea of Substance, started to slowly calm down, almost as if it disappeared.

With this, IT learned a new feeling; Anguish.

How long would the waves continue moving, until they calmed down and disappeared once The Sea dried?

How long IT would last before The Nothingness claimed IT?

And, how torturous the transition from the Hunger to The Nothingness would be?

As these thoughts grew with each passing cycle, so did ITS anguish.

Fear. Pain. Hungry. End? When? How? Sleep? Fear. Pain. Hungry. End? When? How? Sleep? Fear. Pain. Hungry. End? When? How? Sleep? Fear. Pain. Hungry. End? When? How? Sleep? Fear. Pain. Hungry. End? When? How? Sleep? Fear. Pain. Hungry. End? When? How? Sleep? Fear. Pain. Hungry. End? Fear. Pain. Hungry. End?

Then; one cycle it felt something.

Hollows. Moving above the Sea. Sailing thought its Great Vastness.

It wasn't the only one, though. Within few cycles, a lot of The Hollows started to make their presence known. Moving through the Sea boundless.

And with this, a new feeling was born within IT.

It was not jealousy, it wasn't admiration, and it wasn't curiosity.

No.

It was so pure and so intense.

Rage…

So much that for few cycles, IT forgot ITS fear and horror towards the All-Mighty Light.

How did they dare?! How did they dare to invade the Sacred and Vast Sea which IT feed on?!

INVADERS! UNWORTHY! HOLLOW! DESTROY! DEFILERS! INVADERS! UNWORTHY! HOLLOW! DESTROY! DEFILERS! INVADERS! UNWORTHY! HOLLOW! DESTROY! DEFILERS! INVADERS! UNWORTHY! HOLLOW! DESTROY! DEFILERS! INVADERS! UNWORTHY! HOLLOW! DESTROY! DEFILERS! INVADERS! UNWORTHY! HOLLOW! DESTROY! DEFILERS!

Then one day, against ITS instincts, against the great fear that rooted IT in ITS hiding place…

IT crawled away from ITS den and faced the All Might Light above the Sea in defiance and...

IT felt its warm and powerful presence, IT felt its gaze upon IT, IT…

No Fear…?

It shuddered with a new feeling; Happiness…

No Horror! No pain! No Fear! No Horror! No pain! No Fear! No Horror! No pain! No Fear! No Horror! No pain! No Fear! No Horror! No pain! No Fear! No Horror! No pain! No Fear! No Horror! No pain! No Fear! No Horror! No pain! No Fear! No Horror! No pain! No Fear! No Horror! No pain! No Fear! No Horror! No pain! No Fear-!

ITS newfound celebration was cut short when IT felt one of the Hollows nearby.

NO MORE INVADERS! NO MORE DEFILERS! I- I WILL END YOU!

IT shuddered and with a great force, IT lunged at ITS sworn enemy!

The Fear, the Pain, and Horror fueled ITS new determination to End the Hollow.

Using all ITS whole being, IT tried to crush the Hollow. The Hollow tried to free itself from ITS grasp, but IT was stronger and faster!

Feeling a fissure on its cold and hard skin, IT forced ITS whole being through its weakness. And as IT did so, ITS rage and determination grow when IT found a piece from the Sea!

I WILL END YOU, DEFILER!

Crush!

With a single and powerful bite, the Hollow one suddenly stopped. With this victory, IT shuddered again in happiness. IT managed to kill a Hollow one! Finally!

And it was so much ITS happiness that IT shuddered and…

More. Consume More. Hungry. More. Pain. More. Expand. More. Sea. More. Consume More. Hungry. More. Pain. More. Expand. More. Sea. More. Consume More. Hungry. More. Pain. More. Expand. More. Sea. More. Consume More. Hungry. More. Pain. More. Expand. More. Sea. More. Consume More. Hungry. More. Pain. More. Expand. More. Sea-

Light.

There were many lights around IT. So many like the Hollow that had a piece of the Sea… But, in the distance, among the Sea, there was another light. A big and powerful star, but not as powerful as the All-Mighty Light.

Then, It had an idea…

IF I CONSUME THE STAR; I COULD EAT THE ALL MIGHTY LIGHT!

With a new purpose, IT ignored the other Hollows as made ITS way towards the Star.

Soon, very soon IT would consume it!


As usual, critics and reviews are welcomed to improve this story.

Have a nice day!