A shadow stalked the Imaginary Singularity. It scaled the strange realm, a shattered Escher painting of classrooms, hallways, gardens and paved open spaces. Fragments of a long since broken past. Signboards with advertisements for the up-and-coming cultural festival. Posters advertising Student Council elections. Recruitments for cultural clubs. Through this refuse of forgotten landscapes, the shadow moved. Chunks of the ethereal landscape hovered in a sea of hazy purple, strange geometric shapes at the limits of one's sight. The shadow leapt up several stories only to reach a garden filled with blooming Sakura. Then they would slide down hovering hallways at a decline before leaping off the end and into a classroom filled with absent chairs. The walls of these rooms were painted with the ashen outlines of long forgotten students.
Radical level Honkai beasts blurred into being, wingbeats filling the air with an alien buzz. The shadow did not slow. It slipped between the Honkai beasts, katana cutting each one down, movements economical and brutal. Those that survived the first strike died when crushed underfoot with inhuman strength. The smell of ozone filled the classroom. The ambient lighting, tinged purple by the sky above, flickered with sparks of electric blue. Fragments of the Honkai beasts hung in the air. The shadow drank in the Honkai. Let them suffuse it.
The shadow tore the door out the frame and continued their hunt. They could feel where the centre of the Imaginary Singularity was anchored. Destroy the anchor and the singularity would collapse. That dominated the shadow's mind. More beasts manifested in the hallway outside the classroom. A Ballista level Honkai beast with two Cavalier's trailing behind. The shadow sprinted forward. The Ballista lifted its forearms up and readied to launch the explosive gripped tightly. The shadow slid under the arms and slashed in a vertical crescent, severing both limbs. A hard kick sent the beasts bowling into the Knights. The shadow stepped back and kicked the payload where it still hung in mid-air. The explosive detonated upon striking the Honkai beasts, leaving nothing but fragments of silicon flesh and fading magenta light. The shadow walked through the magenta graveyard. It tasted the power and hungered for more.
Nothing would stop the shadow.
Benares winged its way through the hazy skies. The shattered remnants of a school and its surroundings hovered in the fragmented reality. Beyond the limit's enormous polygonal shapes in shades of mauve pressed out from the mists. The visuals were a surreal experience for Dragon and rider. Kiana clung to the back of Benares, hair whipping behind her as the two looked for their target. Kiana knew that the Imaginary Space was tied to a central entity. Something that had taken on the role of anchor for the Eruption. Normally it would be a Herrscher. Now something else wore that crown. It's strength and capabilities were an unknown.
A flock of Radical level Honkai Beasts sprung up from the rafters of a fragmented building. Benares inhaled before ejecting several fireballs. The swarm were turned to ash. Gliding through the cloud, Dragon and rider chose to hover and look over the scenery carefully.
"Do you see anything?"
It was a strange question to pose. Not the question itself. But the fact that Kiana was interacting with the Judgement level Honkai beast so casually. So calmy. Deep down Kiana trusted Benares implicitly. She could not justify this fact at any rational or explainable level. Only that Kiana felt kinship and trust. Benares would protect and serve her until all life had been spent.
The Dragon rumbled. Nothing that could be considered language. Kiana hummed in agreement. The pair dove toward their destination, Benares doing a quick wingover and allowing Kiana to jump off before looking for a safe place to perch. Mid-air Kiana drew deeply on her void powers. She had woken up feeling better than she had in many days. Her body was still fatigued and already the Honkai was beginning to sap her strength. But that didn't matter. The singularity needed to be closed, the Honkai energy within it absorbed and those beyond Nagazora saved. This was Kiana's responsibility. Kiana's civilian outfit flickered out of existence. In its place Kiana wore her Void Drifter combat battlesuit. At the last second, she flared her Void powers, negating gravity and landing on feet and one hand, an ARC Serratus pistol clenched in the other. Benares landed at the back of the courtyard and waited patiently. Its vast bulk would only hinder their collective movement in such tight confines. Kiana drew her other pistol from the void and faced her foe.
Fragments of the corridor exploded in all directions. Gravity was casually disregarded as the pieces flew in all directions, forming a halo around what had once been a floating corridor flanked by flowering Sakura. Fluttering pink petals, all that now remained of the trees, formed a great cloud, obscuring the vicious struggle contained within. The shadow jumped between chunks of the remaining structure, reorientating their gravity to land adroitly before kicking off toward the next piece. The Emperor level Honkai Beast hovered in the centre of the devastation. Its roughly humanoid form was constructed from stretched and warped diamonds in hue of white, grey and near black with magenta highlights. Orbiting about what constituted a chest was a ring of manifest Honkai energy. With a simple flare the ring had obliterated the corridor.
The shadow landed near the Honkai beast, braced its legs and launched itself forward. The beast's reaction time was impressive. Though the shadow flew quickly, the beast still managed to coalesce a ball of pure Honkai energy together and hurl it forward in reply. The shadow lashed out electromagnetically, snagging a nearby chunk of corridor and pulling themselves toward it, flying out the way of the blast. The energy ball exploded, brilliant purple-white light searing away all vision. The shadow pushed electromagnetically against the debris, adjusting course and accelerating toward the beast. The last thing the creature saw was the shadow, backlit by the explosion, katana drawn and held ready to strike.
Kiana flipped backward and out of the constructs swirling legs. The thing reminded her of a dancer, gliding about the area in graceful violence, sharp limbs lashing out like they were tassels, the sword a prop it used to accent the lethal pirouette. The Imaginary Construct had a steampunk design, dark black metal tinged with dingy brass, it's chest a banded hollow sphere, the Honkai power source glowing purple through the gaps in the metal. A tarnished gold greatsword crashed down where Kiana had been moments ago. A quick zeistrom blink teleported her out of striking range. The enerstrom summoned in her wake, a black sphere limned in pulsating gold light, pinned down the Imaginary Construct. Kiana focussed her attacks on the core. Twin ARC Serratus unloaded, bullets crashing against the exterior metal structure of the construct. Any immaterialised bullets she used shifted back into reality before they reached the construct. Kiana assessed that the creature had the ability to warp reality locally.
The construct swept the greatsword in downward angle, Kiana slipping under the strike and continuing to fire. She sprinted across the wide courtyard, putting as much distance as she could between the construct and her. The creature was so strong that melee engagement would be fatal.
Something slammed into Kiana's back with enough force to send her flying. The blow would have shattered the spine of any regular human. Kiana tumbled across the ground. The looming shadow was all the warning she had. Kiana used another zeistrom to blink across half the courtyard. A glassy shadow had struck Kiana, a translucent twin of the original construct, the blade held in hand just as physical and deadly as its twin. Kiana sprinted toward Benares. The dragon read her Queen's mood, crouching and flaring its wings. Kiana jumped, landing atop Benares head, and gripped tight as the Dragon ascended. The original material construct slammed it's greatsword into the paved courtyard. A golden analogue clock appeared around the blade. From it sprang a glassy sphere, hemmed in light warping crystal triangles. Benares was caught within, sound dragged out into a low hum, light creeping as though being dragged back toward its source, all motion and movement frozen. Kiana's mind could only howl in slow motion as the echo construct leapt into the air and swung its blade in a powerful downward arc. It caught the Dragon on the side of the neck and sent her tumbling through the air. Benares overshot the lip of the floating fragment, sailing through the air before crashing into what had once been the front entrance to the school, the paved thoroughfare flanked by tall blooming Sakura.
Benares slid along the tiles before crashing into the building façade. Kiana tumbled off the Dragon's neck. Her body ached all over and her vision swam. Something loomed large. A shadow with murder in its eyes.
The shadow cut through the shield of the Sanctuary level Honkai beast. Raikiri channelled and focussed the shadows latent electrical talents, the superheated edge carving up silicon Honkai beast flesh as though it were wet paper. With their next swing the beast was diagonally bisected. The shadow absorbed the energy, their body now thrumming with Honkai. The shadow knew they were getting close. They could feel the pulses of Herrscher energy and Honkai energy clashing. A few vertical leaps and they would arrive.
A reverberating roar carried across the silent landscape. The shadow look upward. A Dragon was hurtling toward them. The shadow gauged the angle and distance before casually taking several steps back. Just as they reached the right point the Dragon slammed into the paved tiles and skated along before crashing into the building. A figure with flowing silver hair wearing a black and white combat outfit fell off the Dragon. The shadow sheathed their blade and calmly walked over. Kiana groaned and pulled one eye open.
"Mei… chan?"
The shadow dragged Kiana up by the collar of her skirt and slammed a fist into Kiana's face. The blow sent the woman flying backward. Kiana cried out before landing in a heap. The shadow hauled Kiana to her feet again and balled their fist.
"Mei! Stop!"
The shadow backhanded Kiana across her other cheek.
"Please! Stop!"
Mei's other hand grabbed Kiana by the collar and effortlessly lifted her. There was 9 cm's difference between the two. Enough for Mei to leave Kiana's toes scrabbling against the ground.
"Stop," Mei hissed. "You dare to ask me to stop?"
Mei brought Kiana in so close their noses nearly touched. Kiana had no choice back to look Mei in the face. What she saw chilled her blood. Mei was covered head to toe in Honkai burns, shimmering in shades of unhealthy white and crimson. Flickers of errant lightning crackled over her body. Blood leaked from the corners of her eyes, nose, mouth and ears. Mei's expression was pure, unbridled rage, unfiltered by any composure or self-restraint. Shocking still were her eyes. The hue of her irises was different, now in shades of electric purple. The pupils had turned crimson with a ring of glowing white about them.
"You dare to ask me to stop? How about every time Principle Theresa asked you to stop? Every time that Bronya said your plans were foolish? What about Major Himeko? How many times did she try to teach you and you would not listen, would not stop? Or Fu Hua? Always showing us the right way."
Mei drew Kiana in further still.
"You are a greedy, self-absorbed and arrogant bitch."
The Herrscher tossed Kiana to the ground. Kiana didn't have the strength to pick herself up. Mei took another step forward, boot beside Kiana's head, glare pinning the girl in place.
"I feel we have had similar conversations before. You spit in the face of everyone that has ever sacrificed themselves for you. We love you and yet you show nothing but contempt."
"Mei, it isn't—"
"Himeko died to save you! And your response is to throw away your life! You have barely recovered and still you throw yourself into the fray. You told me about Fu Hua. She gave up her existence for you. To protect you. You repay that by wilfully ignoring our desires and love for you."
Mei gestured toward Benares.
"Benares is DYING because of and time and time and time… again we make these sacrifices because we love you and your sheer arrogance says you can keep going. You don't repay our sacrifices; you sneer at them and use them as yet another platform to propel you forward. You don't deserve friends like us. You don't deserve the chances you have been given."
The Herrscher pointed a single contemptuous finger at Kiana.
"The greatest sin. The true crime is that you hide so much of this bullshit behind a foolish grin and insincere façade. You play the idiot, pretend to listen and then destroy yourself. You greedily take up anything offered to you and use it as fuel for your next escapade. Time and time again you take on burdens without talking to us. Because you can abuse the love and trust everyone has for you. Such hubris that you alone can do what needs to be done. Sacrifice yourself because your arrogance and weakness demands that you alone do it. Such selfishness that you will spit in our faces. It isn't your responsibility. Your mission. Or anyone else's. You are your own worst enemy and ours too."
Mei sneered.
"You don't deserve the blood and life spilt for you. I'm glad the Major is gone. This would break her."
Kiana had no words. All she could do was lie in pain on the ground. Mei sneered.
"Stop the act. We both know you cannot feel a thing."
Kiana's façade slipped for a moment, the more mature and calculating persona rising. It was smothered just as quickly.
"You cannot begin to grasp how much you mean to me. To anyone. Stop being so foolish. Your courage is what gives the rest of us courage to face down the unknown. But temper that with the wisdom to know your limitations."
Mei chuckled, blood trickling from the corners of her lips.
"Not that I'm listening to that life lesson right now."
Mei knelt and pulled Kiana up in the same motion.
"Mei," Kiana asked hesitantly.
"My body. Who knows," Mei guessed the question. "Maybe another hour or two. I cannot feel anything anymore. Like twins we are. But if I'm here I might as well do one final thing."
Kiana's shoulders shuddered. Mei rolled her eyes.
"Oh, stop that. It's not over yet. And if I do die then remember these words. Value your own life and find value in saving others without destroying yourself. Promise me that much."
They sensed it. Herrscher and Herrscher looked toward the heavens. The Imaginary Construct had found a way down, its heavy form slamming into the paved tiles and sending chunks of mortar scattering about the thoroughfare. Mei drew her katana and threaded a small measure of power through it. The rest she used to reinforce her body; electrochemical bonds strengthened as tightly as she could manage. The core inside of her felt ready to crumble at any moment. Now was not the time to work in half measures. Lightning crawled across the blade and lit up the edge. Kiana summoned her pistols from Void Space and switched into a long-range kata.
The twin Herrscher moved as one. They had done this before. The dance was familiar. The mood sombre. The need to survive quickened blood. Mei was upon the construct in a heartbeat, katana lashing rapidly, superheated edge catching and knocking back the opposing greatsword. Mei made no attempt to meet the construct with brute force. Instead she guided the blows away from her, forced the enemy to overextend. The construct coupled strength with speed, defending with its free arm and lashing out at Mei. A surprise punch sent Mei tumbling several times over. She kipped onto her feet, looking at the greatsword as it swung downward. Kiana was beside her, void flechette knocking the blade aside.
'More. I need more.'
The Honkai burns grew brighter. Lightning now crackled over Mei constantly. Her eyes glowed brighter. Mei was a thunderclap. One moment she was crouched before the construct. Next she was behind the creature and swinging her blade in a wide horizontal arc. The superheated blade bit into the constructs body. The creature suddenly accelerated, greatsword weaved in a series of rapid diagonal slashes, Mei countering each one, the heavy blade crashing into the ground. The construct ended with a forward kick. The Herrscher was sent flying again. This time she knew what would happen. Electromagnetic limbs lashed out and grabbed at the surroundings, reorientating Mei, letting her face the foe that had suddenly skated over. Katana met greatsword, Mei using her forward momentum to grab the blade with her free hand and flip over the construct, katana slashing down and biting into the protective sphere surrounding the core.
Kiana had not been standing idle. She sprinted parallel to the conflict, eyes lining up the shot careful. Several immaterialised rounds were shot at the free hand. One hit, enerstrom orb appearing and drawing the appendage away from the body.
"Mei!"
The opportunity was not wasted. Mei switched her Herrscher power from physical defence to pure offensive power. Raikiri glowed so bright as to burn an afterimage in Kiana's eyes, katana swinging down in a powerful two handed strike and severing the metal arm at the elbow joint. The Imaginary Construct slid backwards in hastened retreat. Mei gave it no chance, harassing the construct with each step, blade hissing as it scorched particulate matter in the air, strokes met by a steadily slowing greatsword. Kiana was suddenly upon the construct, the Herrschers moving in synchronisation. A void flechette was summoned, quick stabs and broad swipes complimenting Mei's economical and perfectly directed slashes. With another thunderclap Mei was behind the construct, the Herrschers flanking and going for the kill. Kiana used a broad slash to knock the greatsword wide, Mei springing forward and shattering the spherical cage, Kiana landing the finishing blow as she shattered the pelvis with a forward stab.
The construct loss cohesion, chunks of metal crashing to the ground, greatsword landing point down as though it were a grave marker. The school entrance was quiet save for the panting of the two women. Mei dropped to one knee, breathless no matter how much she gasped, limbs shaking. Her mind was focussed on the words Kevin had told her. The same conclusion she had come to in the ME lab. She needed to absorb the energy of the singularity and forge a true Herrscher core. Honkai beast after beast she had slain, soaking in their energy and feeling it corrupt her body. It still wasn't enough. Perhaps the remnants of the construct would be enough to reach that critical mass.
"Mei" Kiana called out.
Mei realised that her thoughts were accelerated. What had felt like minutes was barely a second in reality.
"I'm fine," Mei lied. "Just need to get my breath back.
[Quite the hypocrite]
'If she thinks I am unwell then Kiana will no doubt do something reckless or stupid if the opportunity presents itself. A lie for her sake.'
[We share the same mind, remember?]
Mei growled at the intruder. Yet another intruder she didn't want. Kiana walked over and knelt; hand pressed against Mei's forehead.
"You're burning up. We'll close the singularity and then get back to the camp. Something in those medical supplies should help."
Mei made to brush off Kiana's arm, only to end up and all fours.
"I'm the one that's closing the singularity. You cannot handle all the excess Honkai energy."
Kiana hooked an arm under Mei's and started pulling the woman to her feet.
"Don't be an idiot. You look worse than me. Let's just—"
The Imaginary construct stirred. An analogue clock appeared around its corpse, orange hands winding backwards. Time turned to glass. Neither Herrscher could respond, their bodies caught in the temporal wake, a single second stretched out to eternity. The shattered form of the construct rewound the ending of its existence, body drawing back together, severed seconds flying back and forged anew. Mei's accelerated mind worked in overtime. She could see what was happening yet lacked the power to fight back. The Honkai energy in her body shrieked at the utter powerlessness.
'No. Not this. Not again. NOT AGAIN.'
The construct picked up it's greatsword. Time came to halt before turning in the right direction. Kiana eyed off the approaching entity.
"Sorry," was all she managed.
A zeistrom blink shifted Kiana to the opposite side of Mei, back to Benares and arms spread wide. Herrscher energy expanded out, drawing the constructs attention away from Mei and toward Kiana. A golden haze suffused the air. Mei stumbled forward on hand and foot. Kiana gave Mei a sad smile before flaring her power. The Void Impact slammed temporary gravity and physical force into the construct, crushing it under the raw might of the Herrscher of the Void. The creature faltered, falling to one knee and bracing itself with the greatsword. Kiana collapsed to the ground, Honkai burns covering half her face. The construct picked itself up slowly, lingering void energy slowing its movements. Even with that would-be fatal attack the entity persisted.
Mei had snapped once already today. That self-same feeling returned. This time the raw emotional energy was absent. Instead was a sensation she could not adequality describe. A rimefire flame that scoured everything else away. Electromagnetic force drew Raikiri to hand. The air was still suffused with Herrscher and lingering Honkai energy. Mei claimed that as her own. Her core would not last. It mattered not. This was her path and it could not be faltered from. The woman's body was held together by electromagnetic force alone, Herrscher power keeping her stable and cohesive. Her movements were directed by that self-same power rather than nerve impulses. Mei felt the world through her electromagnetic impressions than light that struck failing eyes.
The Herrscher was upon the construct, blade tearing a white-hot chunk through it's back. The construct spun around, bladed feet looking to trip and disembowel. Mei leapt over the spin, anticipating the punch and catching it, tethering herself to the metal of the construct and laying into the entity. There was nothing graceful nor composed about the attack. Mei clung with one hand and landed blow after blow. Chunks of cherry red severed metal sprayed from the construct. The entity finally used it's greatsword to lever Mei away from its body. Landing adroitly, Mei sized up her next angle of attack. A harsh kick to the gut sent her flying backward. She struck the tiles and rolled several times before catching fingers on the mortar and arresting her movement. Mei felt a second construct's presence The entity felt less coherent that the original. An echo that served the purpose of assisting its maker. Mei restored the electrochemical bonds in her body, pulling bones together, knitting muscles and closing ruptured blood vessels. What was curious were the Honkai emanations she felt from Kiana's direction. The girl was up to something. Mei could only imagine it would involve the idiot aiming for a pyrrhic victory. Mei had to keep their attention away from Kiana lest she attempt her plan. Mei flared her Herrscher power.
The two Imaginary constructs flew forward, moving to flank Mei. The original arrived first, looming over Mei, greatsword flying down in slow motion. Mei rolled out the way before kipping onto to her feet. With her 360 degree vision she deftly dodged between the attacks. Neither greatsword nor limb found any chink in Mei's defences. Blades swung in from either direction, Mei jumping and turning her body horizontal to slip between the gap. Landing on her feet Mei rushed forward and attacked the echo. She moved faster that the construct, Raikiri tearing into its body, glassy fragments disintegrating upon contact. The original tried a pincer, Mei pulling herself up electromagnetically and landing a safe distance away.
Another pulse of Honkai and Herrscher power drew Mei's attention away for a split second. To her augmented senses Benares was swimming with unfamiliar power. Kiana leant against the Dragon, her concentration fixed upon the beast. In that moment Mei realised what the girl was doing. The shiver of surprise was all the two Imaginary constructs needed. The echo was upon Mei, greatsword smashing her into the ground. The original stood over Mei, knowing this time she had no time to escape. The blade swung do—
Beyond the shattered tiles was a sea of images. Snapshots of a past that had been lived as best was possible. Memories unspooling inside a fading mind. Kiana slumped against a wall of tall windows, back pressed against the structure, body atop a broken hallway of black and white tiles extending a few metres in each direction before falling off into nothing. Past the tiles was that anarchic sea of circling memories. Kiana couldn't help but smile at some of them, sigh at others and finally weep at the more recent. It seemed sad to end it all here. But this was as far as Kiana Kaslana…
…
…
No. K423. This was as far as K423 would make it.
"Just a little bit longer and you'll be mine," a voice swimming in spite observed.
Each footfall was a tinny dirge upon the tiles. A reaper come to collect their due. The Herrscher of the Void walked out from the shadows of K423's mind and into her consciousness. Those hateful gold eyes looked hungry. They bore into K423. The mind of K423 that lay within the corridor of mirrors and the mind that hung on by a thread in the real world.
"I won't let you," K423 rasped.
"It doesn't matter what you want. Just as you were awoken before, so to again will I use you as vessel for my vengeance," the Herrscher exalted.
K423 lifted the ARC Serratus cradled in her hands and pressed it against her chin.
"No. Not this time. Never."
In reality, K423 mirrored her motions. She would die by her own hand physical and mentally.
"Fu Hua isn't here to hold me back. I don't have any reason to remain. You'll take over and kill everything and everyone I love. This ends here."
The Herrscher sneered. But there was nothing she could do. Fu Hua had steeled her pupil's mind against threats external and internal. She would not fall under the influence of the Herrscher before she ended it. With a relieved sigh K423 eased her index finger onto the trigger. It would be nice to rest. She was so tired. So very tired. Rest would be good. Leaving before her friends hurt. She wouldn't see them anymore. At least she wouldn't hurt them anymore.
'Please.'
The softest of voices reached both occupants of the hallway. As one they looked up.
'Please. Save her. Save my Queen.'
The voice was so beautiful it made K423's heart ache. She knew that voice. Somehow, she did. Love. Love with such depth and commitment that K423 felt her attachments pale in comparison.
"Bella."
The Herrscher looked out into the kaleidoscope of memories. Different ones spooled by. Ones that did not belong to K423. Or maybe they did. Images of a silver haired woman with shining eyes and wings of brilliant hue. Of gliding through the dark between worlds. Fighting against innumerable insects. The silver haired girl wept when she was unable to protect that which she valued most. Her heart was shattered by a tenacious insect. That pain had broken the Herrscher free from her delusions. For the briefest of moments, she had considered staying her hand. Perhaps she could find happiness.
That was a lie.
The Herrscher's wrath had been absolute. Up until the end she carried that fury. Always in her mind was the one true friend she had ever known. All this time her friend had waited. When at last the Herrscher had reawakened so too had her friend, her guide and loyal companion. Back to her side the Dragon had flown.
Now that friend lay wounded only metres from K423.
"Bella. My Bella," the Herrscher whispered.
"Bella!" she implored.
The Herrscher turned to K423. No contempt. No hate. No violence. Her face was pleading. Those eyes that K423 hated glistened with empathy.
"Please."
That was a word K423 never thought she would hear. It was enough to rouse her. To keep holding onto that last thread.
"Save her. I beg of you. Save my Bella."
The Herrscher looked down at her hands.
"She never betrayed me. She never lied to me. She only loved me. She tried to protect me, and I did not listen. I failed her. Please save her!"
Those words shook K423 to her core. The Herrscher was the embodiment of hubris and contempt. She looked down upon all things. To speak of her flaws and failings resonated with K423. The two of them strove so hard to be strong, to achieve their goals and often glossed over their weaknesses. Theirs was a kindred personality, though the pair were so loath to admit such a possibility that neither could ever consciously conceive of such a thing.
"Why?" K423 whispered.
That word cemented K423's resolve.
"A trade," the Herrscher offered. "I will tell you how. If you do this then the Honkai and Herrscher energy within you will be transferred to Bella. You will buy yourself some time and my Bella will be saved."
"Fine then," K423 sighed. "How do I save Benares?"
The Herrscher approached K423 and knelt.
"Cup your hands," she instructed.
K423 did asked. The Herrscher cupped her hands beneath and gently pressed them against K423's. There was a dissonance. The thoughts within her mind fluttered and shivered. The Herrscher did not reveal this knowledge to K423. Instead she opened up gaps within K423's mind. The kaleidoscope circling the tile hallway filled with memories. K423's. The Herrscher's. Sirin's. K423 knew her name, knew that name, knew their name. These memories belonged to both. K423 recalled something that had once belonged to her.
A glittering gemstone appeared above the pair of cupped hands. It shone with hope and a promise that would be fulfilled.
Kiana wrenched her eyes open. In the background she could hear Mei fighting against the Imaginary Construct. It mattered little to her. She had a promise to complete. With painfully slow movements Kiana looked toward the injured Dragon. By now Kiana's vision was scorched with Honkai burns, scars of white obscuring her sight. She could still make out the beast. Kiana rolled onto her side. Shuffle by agonising shuffle, Kiana crawled over to the beast, each movement taking an eternity. When she arrived, Kiana lacked even the energy to keep her head up. One arm reached out. Pressed against the hard skin of the Dragon. No. It wasn't the Dragon. It wasn't Benares. To Kiana's mind she knew her as Bella. That image was fixed in her mind. As the Herrscher had demonstrated, Kiana focussed all her will on shaping the energy that bubbled within, that flowed through the Herrscher Core's beside her heart. Honkai and Herrscher energy coalesced together. Compressed. Coalesced. Compressed. Coalesced. Tighter and tighter the energy was interwoven and shaped. A new gem formed. One that mimicked the Gems within Kiana. It resonated with those cores. Sung the same primal tune. The death knell of humanity. Or it's salvation. The white lines on Kiana's withdrew. The burns on her body faded. With each breath Kiana felt a little stronger. She pushed herself up onto her knees and leant against Bella. The power was incandescent within her hands.
"I command you," Kiana ordered.
Herrscher and Honkai energy merged into a gestalt matrix of power. A pseudo-Herrscher core. That Core Kiana pressed against Bella. It sunk into the flesh and with it a soundless gong filled Kiana's mind.
Her friend had returned. The Dragon shimmered, form disassembling in sheets of Honkai laced light. Where once the great Dragon had lain was a woman with long dark silver hair, arresting sky-blue eyes and wings of incandescent light. The woman's eyes shifted to Kiana. She took a moment before realising who knelt before her. The woman rolled over and onto one knee in humble genuflection.
"My Queen," the woman said with unreserved reverence.
"Bella," Kiana addressed her loyalist subject.
A heavy crunch and the sound of shattering tiles broken the moment. The pair looked toward the sound. Mei lay unmoving on the ground. The echo construct had beaten her senseless. The original Imaginary Construct loomed large. The blade swung do—
"NO!"
'How far have I come? From a frightful girl fleeing as the Herrscher of the Void pursued me. To someone willing to fight my best friend. A child flitting between memories of my past in an attempt to decide my future. Someone willing to become a Herrscher to restrain the person I admire the most. Searching through a city nearly bought to ruin for answers. Fighting against an insurmountable foe and making that first choice to value my own goals over the innocent around me. Returning home, to where it all started, in desperate desire to find a cure for what ails myself and my best friend. Meeting those who decided my future, forging a path with someone who serves me loyally and realising that I will cut away without hesitation that which impedes my path. Innocence or guilt do not matter to me. Now in these final moments I say what should have been said to that which I value the most. Perhaps one day she will understand them. Though I do not hold my breath.
I am willing to become that which I originally detested. This is my path and I will tear down the foundations of this world. The unsung world order that has existed for centuries will quake in my passage.'
[So we are ready then?]
Mei's Twin walked out from behind the legs of the Imaginary Construct. The girl still wore her favourite sun dress and sandals. Long black hair streaked out behind her. Mei had to admit she liked the look of that long, loose hair. It was something she might embrace again. The Twin's crimson eyes bored into Mei.
[We do not look the same anymore. Your eyes are no longer mine]
'Were we ever alike?'
[I suppose not. But at the same time… I guess we will never truly find out]
'I will. Though you will not be around to see it.'
[Pity. I did want to see this world burn. Tell me, Mei, will you mourn my death?]
'Not even for a second.'
The Twin laughed. It was the first and last genuine laugh Mei would ever hear from the girl. She liked that laugh. It was something else she would take.
[You'll have to give it all up. They will treat you as a pariah. The three great powers will be aligned against you]
'So?'
[They will pit friends against you. That is their modus operandi]
'It will no longer work. I will cut down whoever need be to achieve my goals.'
[You would become a monster? History will be unkind. You may never be forgiven. Even she will likely turn against you]
'I do this because she has to turn against me. That's the only way she can grow. Enough with your needling. You know my answer.'
[Apologies. I simply wished to drag out my last few moments]
The Twin walked out of Mei's fixed field of vision.
[Let this world hear the rumble of thunder that is our death]
The sound of a greatsword cutting deep into flesh filled Mei's ears. The Twin was no more. Mei let go of that. Ever since their fight in Arc City Mei had been holding tightly onto the power in her chest. Only now did she let go of what she had taken. It was different this time. Mei was saturated in Honkai and Herrscher energy. Her body was held together by sheer force of will. Mei let go of that. The Imaginary Singularity around her wasn't simple coincidence, its appearance a reflection of the Herrscher of Lightning. It mirrored her memories and origins. Mei let go that. The core within Mei exploded. Shards pierced flesh. Electrical phoenix fire consumed bone. The pulse of sound swept away debris and dust. The Herrscher of Lightning died.
The greatsword stopped. The burning light that shrouded the corpse faded. Crimson lightning crackled over the body lying on knee and hand. The figure's details came into focus as the lightning settled. Long hair spilt over her back and to the knee, striking horns sprouting from her brow, black transitioning to bloody red. She wore clothes of black and white with red highlights, legs in white stockings ending in red boots, a black half-skirt covering her left leg. Hovering over her back were four crimson yugake armoured gauntlets, each holding a crackling lightning katana.
The blades were perpendicular to the greatsword that clattered against them, holding the black back only centimetres from the figure's spine. As the figure rose so did the floating blades. Crimson lightning haloed the woman. The woman opened her eyes. Her pupils were crimson, a ring of glowing white about them, irises electric purple with small spots of electrical white fading in and out of them. The echo rushed the woman, holding it's transparent greatsword aloft. The woman was too fast. In the yawning gap between seconds she summoned a katana to her black gloved hand. With a single swipe the construct was cut down.
The Herrscher of Thunder examined the Domain of Sanction katana and nodded to herself.
Floating blades pushed the Imaginary Construct back. The creature slammed it's greatsword down and summoned the analogue clock. The Herrscher of Thunder ignored the temporal effects and approached the construct with an expression of contempt. Lightning crackled along all the blades. The four katanas each severed a limb. The Herrschers personal strikes were akin to flashes of lightning. As time wound back the construct fell into a shattered heap. The Herrscher reversed her grip and slammed the katana into the Honkai core. Power flowed up the blade and into the Herrscher of Thunder. She drank in that power and in doing so consumed her past. Forever would the Herrscher's eyes be fixed forward. This was her choice and her immutable future. The Imaginary Singularity collapsed in on itself, reality shimmering and blurring out as the three living occupants were deposited a familiar school rooftop. The Herrscher favoured the moment with a smile. They stood atop Chiba Academy. Where it had started. Where Kiana had reached out and saved her. This was an appropriate place.
"Mei… chan?"
Kiana's question drew the Herrscher from her musing. Kiana lay on the ground, her body propped up by an unfamiliar woman with piercing blue eyes and glittering wings of light. Mei walked toward the pair. The strange woman shifted ever so slightly. The Herrscher could read the caution and approved. There was nobody they could trust at the end of the day. The Herrscher, upon getting the new woman's silent approval, pulled Kiana to her feet. Something tickled the Herrscher's senses. A figure landing on the lip of the building.
"Have you made your choice?" Kevin asked.
Kiana looked between Kevin and the Herrscher.
"Mei… what is he talking about?"
The Herrscher drew Kiana into a gentle and unreserved embrace. Kiana began to untangle herself. The Herrscher stroked Kiana's long silver hair affectionately. She drew away the bangs to look Kiana in the face.
"I'm sorry."
With fingers on either temple it was easy for the Herrscher to channel a jolt of electricity. Enough to knock Kiana unconscious. By now the Herrscher had guessed who the new attendant was. Benares caught Kiana and gave the Herrscher a wary look.
"The Hyperion is on route," the Herrscher explained. "You should be able to sense its approach. Take Kiana to it. They will look after her. Give her the treatment she needs. She will be amidst allies."
Benares nodded. She shifted to her draconic form, deposited Kiana between her wing joints and kicked off into the air. With the distraction gone the Herrscher gave Kevin her full attention.
"I have a question to ask," the Herrscher addressed the head of the Serpent.
Kevin was expressionless.
"What is STIGMA?"
"The only hope for humanity."
The Herrscher shook her head. She had bought enough time for the final piece on the board to arrive. Amarant, puffing from all the exertion, pulled herself up the ladder leading to the Chiba Academy roof. The corners of her mouth were stained with bile.
"How do you keep managing to injure yourself, deadweight?"
Amarant dropped to one knee and caught her breath before giving the Herrscher a knowing wink.
"Just motivated to serve you, dear customer."
Kevin's attention shifted. Amarant withered under his gaze. The Herrscher pointed to Amarant.
"Connect to the satellites and bring up the statistics I need."
The guide's smile was a guilty one. She pulled out her phone and tapped in some commands. The Herrscher continued with further orders.
"Nagazora was once in the top ten most populous cities, excluding the Tokyo wards, in Japan. What's the average of these top ten?"
"Roughly 1.8 million."
"I've met the children of the Roost. The few survivors with Stigmas. Though to be accurate they are still failures. Outside of Nagazora they would die. If we have 12 as the partial success rate let us be incredibly optimistic and make the full success rate half of that. Even six. I'm sure given time you will achieve such results, Kevin. Amarant, finish some calculations for me. What would that make the success rate with a population of 1.8 mil?
"0.0000031772% success rate"
"Total population of the planet in 2016?
"7.47 billion."
"It's fair to assume anybody under 5 or over 65 won't survive the Stigma process. The adjusted population?"
"6.167 billion."
"Multiply 6.167 billion by our success rate."
"19,593."
The Herrscher shook her head again.
"You want me to join an organisation with such a pitiful success rate? You are not selling your business case. I might also point out that you come from the failure that was the past. Not one single venture of the Previous Era succeeded. I am being asked by someone who has never once succeeded to then bet everything on a pitifully low return on investment."
The Herrscher raised an eyebrow.
"I am willing to work with any and every organisation that is honest with me. That forwards the goal of saving Humanity. Anti-Entropy, World Serpent, even the contemptable Schicksal with its cancerous leader and pathetic enforcer. But I will never work for any of you. Your methods are sloppy and your goals flimsy."
The Herrscher regarded Kevin with unflinching conviction.
"If you wish my assistance then give me reasons to believe it will be worth my time."
Kevin turned his back to the Herrscher. The negotiations were over. The Herrscher cocked her head to one side.
"You are not calling your dog's off?"
Kevin flew into the air and disappeared from sight. Amarant looked the Herrscher up and down. There was a crackle of crimson lightning and the Herrscher was no more. Standing in its place was Mei in her scorched and scored civilian clothing. She walked over to Amarant and looked down at the woman.
"You were late."
"My apologies. Not all the Honkai beasts in the area were accommodating. So, what about the small cadre of soldiers zeroing in on us?"
Mei's smile was bloodless.
"If you knew they were coming why are you standing here as a normal person?"
The seconds ticked by. Amarant finally chuckled and nodded once in understanding.
"You begin to grasp things, dear customer."
Mei drew the twin Blaze Destroyer pistols from her jacket and handed them over. Amarant thumbed the activation sensor and grinned at the sound of the whirring up reactor. Mei paid the woman little heed. Her attention was fixed elsewhere. An all-too-familiar build up crackled atop the rooftop projection of the access stairwell. Mei ran toward it and then leapt as high into the air as she could manage. At her apex she saw Raven crouched on one knee, the 3rd Divine Key held steady and aimed toward a distant object. No assumptions were necessary. In the distance flew Benares and Kiana in her care. Raven's smirk was one of victory. Mei looked forward to wiping that off. The 3rd Divine Key crackled, a stream of lightning projecting from the barrel of the rifle. Mei lifted a hand and caught the blast. Lightning crawled across her fingertips. In a heartbeat she absorbed the discharge. It was kin to her own power. Mei landed beside the surprised Raven. She grabbed the woman's trigger hand and squeezed. It only took two seconds for the joints to pop and another one for the finger bones to crack. To Raven's credit she didn't scream in agony. Mei moved so quickly the World Serpent mercenary couldn't act. Her foe now stood behind her.
"Don't cross me again."
Mei grabbed Raven's hood and hauled her bodily off the rooftop. Her screams carried up from beyond the edge of the building before cutting off suddenly. The thump of gunfire ruined Mei's moment to gloat. She casually strode toward the fray. Amarant had hidden herself partly down the rooftop stairwell, pistols spraying the area with hellfire and keeping the enemy on the rooftop at bay. Ten odd World Serpent operatives in cloaks and black battle armour were attempting to swarm their position. Mei jumped and landed beside one. The oprerative didn't have a chance to act. The sweep severed arm from shoulder, the Raikiri blade's superheated edge glowing electric blue. Shifting her grip, Mei swung horizontally and beheaded the woman. The blade fortunately cauterised the wound.
The rest of the operatives had little time to act. Mei closed ranks and cut them down one after another. Her movements were precise and calculated. Limbs were severed, chests torn into, muscles shredded. In this whirlwind of cold violence spun Mei. Not a drop of Herrscher power was used. Only the Hokushin-Itto-Ryu training burnt into Mei's mind. The paragon sword master demonstrated her skill when fighting humans.
A cry of surprise caught Mei's attention. One of the operatives had chosen to sneak up the stairwell from below and catch Amarant off-guard. Amarant dropped her pistols and drew the 12th Key in a quick thrust. The blade caught the man in the throat and went straight through the spine. With that concern sorted Mei went about giving those operatives still living a final mercy. She wasn't about to leave them suffering. For too long. By the time she was finished Amarant had joined her.
"That tall man with silver hair. He gave off the impression he did not like your decision."
"I admit for a moment I thought I might die."
"If that were the case I would have stepped in, dear customer. After all you are yet to pay me."
Mei's expression as she examined the injured yet wily guide was thoughtful.
"I wish to retain your services indefinitely."
Amarant looked at the hand offered.
"I don't trust you," the guide warned her.
"The feeling is mutual. That's why we will work well together."
The guide shook Mei's hand. The first to join her. Mei detailed her plans.
"Four things. First, we return to our camp to clean up and rest. Second, I explain to you my plans for ME Corp and the future. Third, you drop the act and tell me EVERYTHING. Fourth, we compare notes and, I quote an old friend of mine, decide how to 'tear this fucking world apart'.
END OF SEASON 01