[AUDIO TRANSCRIPT LOADED]

"It has come to our attention that the Honkai are getting more difficult to handle. Our mechs, despite their constant upgrades and improvements, are starting to become much less effective. The decrease is only minor, but even minor factors can be a liability in the long run."

"Is this...something to be alarmed about? We can always make better machines based on the data..."

"The problem here is what will happen if we no longer have enough resources to manufacture more of these robots? The natural resources on this planet are NOT limitless. Not to mention the fact that we use those very same machines to fight Schicksal. We cannot simply recycle robot parts."

"I...I see your point."

"Are you implying that we need to find an alternative to the mechas, then?"

*silence, slight noises of multiple people breathing in anticipation of an answer from the first speaker*

"Unfortunately, yes."

"B-But the only other alternative is-"

"This is only a proposal. I just wanted to let you all know about this situation, because if push comes to shove...

...we might have to do it."

[END OF AUDIO]

The creature's "blood" stained your faded white armor with splotches of black as the excitement of the battle died down. You were once again alone in the laboratory as silence returned.

You barely had any idea about where you were, much less yourself, so what were you supposed to do now? You couldn't think of anything else other than killing more of those creatures if you had the chance as you raised your hand and looked blankly at the pistol. It too was stained, having been baptized with your first few kills.

But then a faint voice interrupted your thoughts.

"Hello! Hello! Can you hear me?"

You are surprised by the sudden appearance of a holographic display in front of you. It seemed to be coming from your chest, displaying the image of a woman with some random numbers and data that you didn't understand.

"Hello, Valkyrie 342. I am Artificial Intelligence for Communications and Heuristics 4N. An incident has occurred here at Schicksal Research Facility O-108, and I have been tasked with reviving you under orders from the Overseer," she says to you.

You look suspiciously at the dark green-haired woman's face, projected onto a holographic screen via the holoprojector on your armor's chest.

"You...are our last Valkyrie."

Valkyrie 342? Was she referring to you? You slowly tilt your head in slight confusion. The terms she used were weird as well. Her name was incredibly freaking long. What the hell was a "Valkyrie"? And just who was this "Overseer" she spoke of?

"It took me a while to download myself into your battlesuit's systems after I finished installing the compatible armor pieces I could salvage from the nearest armory... not to mention the installation process for myself LOL. I don't know who made this thing but I have to say, it's much more advanced than the one's I'm...familiar...with..." she continued. You noticed her face slowly change from a somewhat relieved expression into a shocked one. It seems she noticed your redecoration of the lab.

"I-Is that...Honkai blood!?" she asked with a shocked and terrified tone. You looked down at your stained armor with a look of curiosity on your face. So that was the name of these creatures? "Honkai"?

You couldn't help but swear in your mind that you heard this word before.

The woman somehow took notice of the corpses strewn around the room, looking upon the carnage with muted shock before speaking again, "Wait a minute... 342? Did YOU do this?"

You looked back up to the woman as you pointed to yourself.

"Yes...I'm talking to you."

You could only say a soft "Uhhh..."

The woman gave off a long sigh.

"Well...that's one way hell of a way to deal with Honkai zombs. Looks like I don't need to instruct you on how to fight, thank God. Anyway, I have orders from the Overseer to make sure you survive and to extract you from this facility...somehow. Now let me check your vitals before we get going."

More data appeared on the holographic screen. A diagram of the human body appeared, surrounded by words and numbers. The image of the body filled with a yellow-orange color.

"Weeell aside from a slightly high heart rate, you look ready to go, 342. It looks like your missing the helmet though. I can't use my AR features without that on. It's just right there on that stand."

You looked around the room until your eyes rested on a helmet placed on a mannequin head near some broken monitors. You walked over to it and placed the pulse pistol beside it before you slowly picked it up.

"According to the data I was given about your battlesuit, the helmet came along with it. It was missing some armor, so I had to replace it with some pieces that slightly fit. Sorry if it looks kinda weird."

The helmet had a large, tinted, inverted triangle-style visor with a breathing apparatus/gas filter and what looked like ventilation systems on the sides. The some of the grayish armor on the upper part seemed to bend into two slightly backward bent horns. Apparently this was the repaired portion of the helmet.

As you brought the helmet closer to your face, you noticed an odd little black scribble on the upper left of the visor that resembled a horizontal, reverse "S". You tried rubbing it off with your thumb, but to no avail. Maybe it was part of the replacement armor anyway.

You shrug as you face the back of the helmet to you before putting it on. The inside of the helmet was dark and stuffy, although you could see out the visor. Shortly after, the inside lit up. The breathing system activated. Now the stench of the room was no more! An HUD appeared on the screen, showing your estimated health and a small screen on the upper left. The woman's face appeared shortly after.

"Now that's better! I've already mapped out a route to the nearest elevator. Thing is...I think we're gonna be having a little resistance on the way."

A devious smile appeared on your face before you picked up the pistol.

"Ah well, I suppose that'll help. Though to be fair, I think you're gonna be needing some better guns."

A blue line appeared on the floor in front of you that led out the door the Reaper zombies came through.

"Let's get going, Valkyrie."