Aranea wanted to drop to her knees in reverence. A Flame Chaser had deigned to personally greet them. There was no greater honour than this. She licked her lips nervously and glanced to her left. Her new benefactor did not look as awed. The Herald's brow was furrowed in a displeased way.
"I do not recall her in any of your reports," the Herald muttered.
"I am unfamiliar with the Great One that blesses us with her presence," Aranea replied, eyes returning to the Flame Chaser.
"Don't be shy," the Flame Chaser called out, "Come in, come in."
The Flame Chaser with her long lustrous pink hair and sparkling eyes made an approaching motion. Aranea was first forward. She moved without question. Why would someone question the orders of a God? The Herald sighed, pressed a finger against her temple and followed behind. Aranea wondered if her simple robes were appropriate in the presence of a Flame Chaser. The Herald looked more appropriate, in her Orochi Cuirass and black haori jacket with crimson inner lining. The wizened monk was close behind, in a plain brown samue and grey haori worn over top. His humble clothing would hopefully be appropriate like hers. Reluctantly at the rear was somebody who clearly wanted to be anywhere but a 50,000-year-old bunker housing the simulations of 13 legendary warriors in the bowls of World Serpent's home base. The scientist glanced about nervously. Strange artefacts were set into one wall, another had complex digital readouts displaying the state of the Elysian Realms activity. A war room lay tucked in one corner, holographic maps and data flickering. At the back of the hall was a curious rotating object, the light bending around it in ways that sent ripples of faint nausea through the skull. And lounging on a leather chair in a pleasant looking lounge was what appeared to be a pink haired fey. Her blue eyes danced with amusement.
"You have met the Flame Chasers or heard of them from one of their compatriots," the Herald said in a low voice to Aranea. "So what anomaly am I looking at?"
"Nobody spoke of the thirteenth," Aranea replied. "Only that she existed. To have the privilege to be greeted by one of the Thirteen herself-"
"-You can stop gushing."
The former World Serpent Agent nodded slowly. The Herald was still wincing. She clearly did not approve of this new development. On unsure feet Aranea made her way across the floor before dropping to one knee, head bowed low in reverence.
"You were here before," The Flame Chaser said.
"I was, oh Great One. The Herald asked me to guide her to this sacred place again."
The heels of the Herald clicked up beside her.
"The quasi-religious reverence is… ahh no nevermind."
The Herald looked over the Flame Chaser. A flicker of her usually irreverent temperament bubbled up.
"Well since I've no name or information on you, I guess Miss Pink Elf will have to suffice."
The Flame Chaser huffed; cheeks puffed in what anybody would struggle to admit was not the cutest expression imaginable.
"That isn't my name," she pouted.
The Herald read the clear body language.
"What the hell else do I call you then?" the Herald muttered, her headache clearly growing
Aranea's head whipped up. She couldn't help but gape. Such rudeness to one of the Gods. They had cut down the previous Heralds. For one to be so brazen only courted disaster.
The Flame Chaser laughed into her hand.
"You are confident. But you are not like the others."
The Herald was silent. Her gaze never flinched
"You are a Herrscher," the Flame Chaser observed.
The Herald kept her eyes on the Flame Chaser. Tense seconds passed. Finally it was the monk that spoke.
"Oyashiro-sama. If she meant us ill then we would already be dead."
"You think there is such a power gap?"
"Yes."
"I agree," the scientist chimed in. "All records I've recovered from the Previous Era indicate that the Flame Chasers were genetically augmented super-soldiers without peer. They fought and defeated every Herrscher."
"Not every Herrscher," the Herald pointed out.
The Flame Chaser hummed in agreement.
"No. We didn't defeat the final one. But that is why we are here. To give the next generation a chance to walk in our footsteps, see what we did, act much as we did and avoid the mistakes we did."
The Herald massaged her temples. Aranea watched her benefactor closely. It looked as though she were disregarding the Flame Chasers words. Instead, she clicked her teeth. Sighed slowly.
"I wonder if any of these Flame Chasers know who they are teaching. Do they even care what World Serpent represents and their modus operandi?"
The Herald stood straighter and took a deep breath. Before she could speak the Flame Chaser had bounded off the couch and over to the group of four. She circled around, nodding to herself as though approving of something and coming to a decision.
"You aren't like the others. Not at all. This will be interesting. I'm Elysia. No 2 of the Thirteen Flame Chasers and the cutest of them all."
"Furude," the Monk said with a polite bow.
"Dr Orr," the scientist replied awkwardly.
The Flame Chaser offered a hand to the Herald. The Herald weighed up the offer before cautiously accepting. The Flame Chaser shook twice before twisting gracefully to stand beside the Herald. With one hand behind the Herald's shoulder, the other gripping her hand, the Flame Chaser propelled the woman forward with deceptive strength. The Herald stumbled before catching her footing. She was swept forward in Elysia's graceful guidance. They quickly crossed the wide hall and stopped before the curious rotating mechanism slowly rotating above a plinth.
"I can talk about the Elysian Realm all day," the Flame Chaser offered, "Or you can experience it for yourself. Go on. Try it. You can trust me."
The Flame Chaser's eyes crinkled at the edges when she looked to the Herald. Looked into and through the Herald. Aranea did as the Flame Chaser ordered and approached the portal. Stared up at the enormous structure. She had gazed in wonder upon this sacred record of the Gods many times. It still sent shivers down her spine. Contained within were the memories and experiences of the Thirteen. Those that sought to cast the Honkai down from the throne. Those that had defied fate and shaped something out of the ashes. They had been the Moths to chase the Flame that was possibility.
The two men approached cautiously, standing beside Aranea and looking up at the portal.
"So what do we do?" the scientist asked.
The Flame Chaser turned on one foot to address the gathering, taking a step back though she maintained her grip on the Herald's hand.
"This portal represents the conceptual entrance to the Elysian Realm. All you need to do is relax and let it guide you. The memory link will connect your consciousness with a collection of our memories. Then you will see."
The Flame Chaser raised her free hand and tapped a finger on her lips, a musing expression on her face. It morphed into a wise smile.
"I wonder whose memories you will synchronise with best."
Aranea knew what was to come. Lines of complex code scanned across her vision. She let the strangely warm sensation envelop her mind. The synchronisation began, psychic link scanning her mind and determining what set of memories aligned best with her neuropsychological profile. Darkness invaded Aranea's vision. Her last conscious moments were filled with the sibilant hiss of serpents.
Desiccated soil crunched beneath Dr Orr's feet. He took a moment to gather his thoughts. Thoughts. Were they his? A strange overlay. Tingling that began at the fingertips and rose up to the inside of his eyelids. Blue static rippled out over his body. Then the synchronisation was complete. A blasted hellscape greeted him. What once might have been a city of verdant green and soaring architecture was now a stripped-down blasted husk. Many of the buildings showed signs of recent structural damage. Windows blown in. Walls shattered and superstructures compromised. The ground was devoid of all moisture. Even the air was a furnace. With each gasp Dr Orr wondered if the water of his body were being leached away. His lungs ached. It was becoming a struggle to breathe.
Warning markers appeared in his optical contact AR. Heat. Biological. Nuclear radiation. Small spots of nuclear fire still burned. The scientist started to put the pieces together. He loped over to lingering remnants of what might have once been a restaurant. Calculated the height of the detonation via the angle of the paint scorched along the inner walls when compared to the window sill. Dr Orr stepped back and gave the restaurant a second glance over. All that remained of the pedestrians were their ashen silhouettes on the cracked pavement.
New warning markers. Now motion and Honkai radiation. Tracking vectors appeared in his AR. Dr Orr whipped around, scanned the barren street and dropped one hand to his hip. Three Cavalier level Honkai beasts dive bombed the scientist. Dr Orr dove to one side, landing on the fractured pavement and rolling to a graceless heap beside a burnt-out car. The blasted city was like nothing he had ever imagined. Reports on the destruction of the Honkai had always fascinated him. It was part of the reason why he and his twin had joined Schicksal. Or at least she had joined Schicksal and he had floundered until Raiden Ryoma.
"How *pant* the *pant* hell is this *pant* possible?"
Dr Orr stared at the scrapes on his hands. Holograms could simulate various environments. But to imitate reality with such fidelity was… impossible. The swooping Honkai beasts returned. Scrambling onto his feet, the man dashed across the street and into a narrow alleyway. The afternoon sun barely pierced the darkness between buildings. Not that there was much left either. Rubbish was atomised. Fire escapes and dumpsters were melted slag. Whole buildings torn down, walls collapsed onto the street, the contents of the homes left to burn in the scorching heat. Fires crackled where once mortar shells might have landed. Or worse. Dr Orr had no field experience. Just reports. And reports were not enough.
The man wasted no time dashing down the alleyway. He knew that his twisted pursuers would not give up so easily. Those fears were confirmed when a faint alien shriek rippled outward. Risking a glance over one shoulder revealed the washed out grey and magenta forms of the three buzzing Honkai beasts flying down the alleyway rapidly. Dr Orr fumbled with the weapons at his hips. Finally managing to draw a pistol, his warm grip activated the Positron Accelerator, the weapon interfacing with his AR vision. Skidding to a halt, Dr Orr grasped the pistol firmly and aimed, predictive AI taking into account various factors to determine where the shot would land. Taking low, gulping breaths, Dr Orr lined up the Honkai beasts with his targeting reticule and pulled the trigger. The pistol flared and crackled, the first blast hissing past the beasts. Keeping his cool, Dr Orr lined up again and fired again. This time the shot made the mark, tearing the wing off one of the Cavalier level beast. It fell out of the sky, crashing into the bitumen and rolling into a wall. Feeling emboldened, Dr Orr was faster with his next few shots. He lacked accuracy, tactical awareness and grace. Technology made up for his ineptitude. All it took was for one shot to hit and the beast was obliterated.
The final beast landed at Orr's feet and began fragmenting into ripples of magenta Honkai energy. Dr Orr sighed. Wiped the sweat from his brow. Checked the weapon. Field trials of the PRI-ARM had been conducted already. It was different when you held the very thing you had helped create. Gave perspective. Insight.
"There are a thousand tweaks I am going to make when we return to Nagazora," Orr muttered.
The man stowed away the pistol and leant against the wall. It was still warm from the blast. His body started shaking. Adrenalines aftershocks. A few long, deep breaths helped settle nerves.
"Someone fought in this," Dr Orr whispered, "They survived this."
It took a few minutes, but eventually the man pulled himself together. He had read Aranea's reports of the Elysian Realm. Yet again the difference between concept and experience.
Furude slid between the group of evolved undead with preternatural grace. He reconstituted a Type-97 hand-grenade and continued his withdrawal. The explosion rocked the silent warehouse. Wooden pallets shredded. Windows blown out via concussive pulse. What little lighting that had once existed failed. In the flicker of long deceased fluorescent tubes the man moved. A trio of kunai manifested in one hand, hurled with precise movements to enter the ocular cavity and exit via the occipital lobe. Quick. Clean. All undead cleared.
A flicker of motion. A shadow with intelligence. Fear. This was a living quarry. Furude wondered who this was. The person whose life he now walked within. Someone that lived and killed in the shadows. Murdered when necessary. Dead was dead. Whatever need be done. Survive or die.
Amber light. A katana manifested. A clean slash. The target fell. They clutched at their throat. Bubbling noises. Eyes stained with tears. Furude looked down at the man and gave a slight bow.
He liked this memory.
The world is a symphony. Slivers of rough glass running against one another. Screeching and screaming. Amidst the symphony of Azathoth there were sweet sounds and notes. Music so gentle on the ears that one could lift their hands and conduct the very instruments if your will was great enough.
Standing beneath the autumn boughs was a girl in simple grey robes with magenta trousers beneath. She had discarded her sandals to walk on the soft grass barefoot. It felt pleasant to the touch. The Elysian Realm was so close to reality that one could easily become confused. The acolyte cared not. Here was the realm of the Gods and with the Gods would the sanctified one commune. In the lap of this golden forest was a shallow valley. A soft sloshing stream flowed down the middle, simple houses and businesses dotting either side. This was a home. A place where people lived comfortable and uncomplicated lives.
Honkai beasts were quick to turn the soft grass crimson slick. Aranea let the song suffuse her. Fill her with joy. Wonder. Purpose. Domination. One hand lifted in a practiced motion. The song was within Aranea and Aranea within the song. Threads of Honkai energy pulled the song into sheet music. Like a conductor directing her symphony, Aranea let fingers dance in the air and pull all along in her tune. The beasts were now her musicians to do as she pleased. The Gods had fought these monsters. Aranea had taken that fight and turned it upon itself. That had been the goal of the Flame Chaser that had chosen her. Singled out her. Filled her with purpose. The changes. The surgery. The death and rebirth. Now the enemy was ally. The Honkai were notes that Aranea wove in a gentle song. A dirge for her foes.
The village had been cleared of humanity. In minutes the Honkai would consume themselves in agony.
It was a sweet symphony as the girl walked barefoot through grass, blood and death.
A blade should not phase directly through physical matter. Or pseudo-matter. Or whatever this all was. Mei didn't care. What she cared about was the Sanctuary level Honkai beast that was bull-rushing her. In the dark alleys of this nameless city the Herrscher of Thunder was not fairing well. The beast passed right through her.
"What the ac—"
Physical force struck Mei and hurled her into the wall. Bricks and concrete dust rained down. Cough and wincing at the pain in her ribs, Mei picked herself up and tried to spy her invisible foe. Only the single Sanctuary level beast stood out. Growling in anger, Mei drew her Domain of Sanction. Or at least tried to. The weapon would not leave its scabbard. Mei tugged hard on it twice. Then had her hand pass straight through the blurred flickering hilt.
The Honkai beast did not wait for the duel to commence. It loomed high over Mei, lance thrusting down. She dove to one side, rolling across the bitumen floor of the alley and up onto one knee. This was an old fight and Mei knew all the tricks. A quick shield bash followed. Mei leapt up and gripped the top lip of the shield to haul herself over. She was over the head of the creature before time froze. Mei's mind froze. Then it all rewound. Mei was on her knee on the floor. Future and present crashed together. Tried to mix like oil and water. The shield interrupted, sending Mei tumbling backwards and into a groaning pile.
"I am really getting sick of this."
Lightning haloed Mei. The pain from earlier returned stronger than before. She pushed back against it and focussed her intent. Electricity coalesced around Mei's right arm. This time she didn't avoid the lance, instead meeting it with a quick swipe, shattering the weapon with a knife hand before driving her fingers through the beast's chest.
Panting harder than was reasonable, Mei watched the Honkai beast disintegrate into magenta fractals. Her face was far hotter than it should be. Reaching up, she withdrew with blood soaking her hand. A quick check revealed eyes, nose, ears and mouth all bleeding.
A low alien bellow broke Mei's confused observation. Two Chariot level Honkai beast had caught her in a pincer maneuverer from either side of the alley. They began their rapid charge. Mei knew the appropriate response, reaching out and pulling herself electromagnetically toward the fire escape above. Until the metal structure flickered and crackled like television static. Then winked out of existence. Mei landed her on her back. Kept her cool and electromagnetically gripped a dumpster before hurling it toward one of the beasts. The metal object hit the beast. Knocked it backwards. Then the dumpster was back in place and the beast still charging forward. Mei's headache turned her vision white. The beast crashed into the dumpster, sending it rolling up and over Mei. The girl had experienced many things. Being pined under several tonne of steel was a new one. With her diaphragm crushed she lacked the ability to scream. Hissing static filled her ears. She tasted broccoli, mochi and the nuclear fusion on her tongue. Smelt blood, wet detritus and a child's crying as she had more blood drawn for testing. The alley was like the negative of classic photographs. And gravity had long since given up on holding her arms in place. The Herrscher of Thunder was powerless. Capable only of staring wordlessly as the other Honkai beast lifted its huge forearm and brought it crushing down on her head.