A/N: We've finally made it into Void Drifter Arc, from hereon, the story will start to take a different turn. I also have already established most of the context of the story for entirely new readers or readers not familiar with HI3 so we will be able to focus more on the actual story. Consider the Schicksal HQ battle arc the "Prologue". Going forward. I plan to slow the pace down and take time to explore the characters as everything felt cluttered and rushed during the Schicksal HQ Arc, I aim to change that part of the story now to make it more impactful and to look into the daily lives of the character. You will find that most of the dialogue will be replaced or entirely different from the original story as now that I've gone off-course into my storyline, there is no longer a need to keep repeating the lines of the original story like the encounter between Fu Hua/HoV and Otto or Murata's rest before the fight against HoV. I also hope to improve my combat scenes too so look forward to that.

Sorry for the long A/N, this will be a big turn in WDYSIYM and I hope to improve the quality of writing from hereon to deliver you the best writing to keep up with the ideas I have.

Also to clarify some things, italic words aligned usually indicate the change in settings for those who did not know and lines are generally scene changes or perspective changes.


Chapter 4: The Abyssal Heart, What do you wish for?

(Hyperion, 29,000ft above the Pacific Ocean)

Roughly three weeks have passed since the battle of Schicksal HQ, and the Herrscher of the Void, Kiana Kaslana had gone missing and so is the A-Rank Valkyrie of the Far East Branch of Schicksal, Major Murata Himeko was declared MIA as well. While she is presumably KIA, her body has not been recovered and therefore the Hyperion and the Far East branch are still trying to look for the brave Valkyrie who put herself against the great enemy.

A large shadow cast over the tides of the cerulean ocean as the Hyperion crossed the sea with great velocity, the sun's light pleasantly shone on the crew aboard the flying battleship and there could be seen a clear blue sky just right above them, an irony and an interesting juxtaposition to their current stressful predicament.

In a certain section of the battleship, there was a lone room reserved for the Captain of the entire ship. But if one were to step inside, one could see that it was no different from any other living quarters with basic functions and furniture. The figure laying on the bed looked anything but normal as the little white-haired girl slowly sat up with an exasperated sigh full of anxiety and dread, she knew there was a long day ahead as she scanned her surrounding. Her memory finally caught up to her as a feeling of despair welled up in her chest.

The brave young Valkyrie shook her head to rid of the negativity as she hopped to her feet. "I can't keep sitting around forever." The girl said with determination as she walked out of the room.

Her liveliness and bravado did not conceal the exhaustion in her body however, eyebags were visible, and her shoulders slumped despite her best act to keep lively, occasionally, she would be distracted and would stare blankly ahead as she walked down the corridor of the Hyperion.

She eventually reached the bridge of the Hyperion where she saw a familiar face and she smiled sweetly at them.

"Good Afternoon Dr. Einstein." The girl greeted with a soft and angelic voice as she came up to the blue-haired woman.

"Good Afternoon Madam Theresa, Did you just wake up?" Einstein replied as she turned to the Far East Branch commander.

"No, I've been up for a while now... how are you doing?" Theresa asked in return as she walked over to the controls and looked over them.

"We still haven't found any trace of either Himeko or Kiana," Einstein explained as she sighed, Theresa had only barely recovered, but ever since she woke up, she would check every day and continue to stress over finding the two, even if she tried to mask her anxiousness, it wasn't hard to see that was impatient.

"I'm sorry, I must sound impatient... I'm just really worried." Theresa admitted with a sorrowful tone as she noted Einstein's quick reply.

"I understand your feelings, Madam Theresa, but your health is just as important, please take care of yourself better. The two will be fine." Einstein lied with a solemn tone. She knew it was just blind hope at this point, perhaps Bronya or Mei wouldn't know, but Theresa would know as much as them that surviving in the Imaginary Space is impossible... but if there was a slight chance that Murata Himeko made out by some miracle, they had to locate her.

"How is Mei doing?" Theresa asked with a tone of concern.

"She is still recovering, she should wake up soon. The forced extraction of the Gem of Conquest left a deep injury in her heart, it took more than a day for our specialist to fix that wound... we're unsure if she would make a full recovery, we can only hope." Einstein replied with a sense of bitterness.

Theresa nodded in affirmation as she sighed in sorrow. "I see..." She said with concern.

"And where are Bronya and Dr. Tesla?" Theresa asked as she glanced around the bridge, noticing that they were absent. The two made it through the battle, still awake, the same could not be said for herself. She was practically useless in the fight and was knocked out after confronting the Herrscher... it took her days to come to terms with the news about Himeko.

"They are busy with some repairs of the Hyperion, do you need to see them?" Einstein asked.

Theresa shook her head.

"No, I wouldn't want to bother them at the moment... I'll talk with them later then," Theresa replied with an understanding voice as she swiped the holographic screen before her.

"How long until we reach Southeast Asia?" Theresa asked as she looked at the current destination of the Hyperion. After being chased away at Europe where Schicksal HQ was located, the Hyperion continued its route toward its branch in the Far East, they have stopped occasionally at various regions to set up networks and intelligence-gathering posts to begin their search for their two missing allies.

"We should arrive later today, why don't you go get some rest until then? I can take over the ship commands for now. I'm familiar enough to pilot this without the need for your supervision." Einstein suggested.

"No. I should help, I shouldn't be sitting around doing nothing now should I?" Theresa asked.

"Your health is going to be the thing that needs the most help, I hate to admit it, but we lack any fighting capability right now. Miss Bronya and Miss Mei are both B Rank Valkyries, the Selene is going to take some time before it can be fired again, and most of our mechanized units from Anti-Entropy are gone or are devastated. You are now our Ace card." Einstein reasoned logically in a stern tone.

"What are we going to do if you're not in peak condition? I'll ask for you once trouble arises, so please go rest."

Theresa hesitated for a moment as she withdrew her hand from the controls and nodded with a light smile although with a hint of reluctance.

"I understand... I'll leave it in your hands then." Theresa then smiled as she slowly walked away from the bridge and back to her room.

As Theresa walked back to her room, she couldn't help but be filled with thoughts yet once again. Why did this all happen?

Is it because I chose to forgive him? Is it because we're just that powerless?

Why are we always the ones to suffer for someone else's wrongdoings?

Why am I always the one who is never hurt?

Why must I live in constant fear for my loved ones?

Theresa quickly wiped a tear falling out of her eyes as she hurried into her room, Einstein was right, she needed a place where no one could see her.

"I'm so damn pathetic." Theresa thought as she locked the door and immediately sat down in the corner and curled up, hugging her knees as she burrowed her face into her lap and dived into her misery.

"Pathetic." Theresa weakly muttered.

"Why do you never care?" She questioned no one because even if the man was in front of her, she wouldn't even want to hear the answer.


(Overseer Sanctum, Europe)

In another corner of the world, the recipient of her question sat at his desk. He had just finished dealing with all the reports after the battle and other various work such as issuing new commands to the branches, giving an explanation to the Valkyrie as to what happened and dispatching forces to quell Eruptions across the globe.

As the blonde-haired man stretched his hands and turned his gaze towards the window of the evening sky, surprisingly, he was just as anxious as his granddaughter was, being often distracted after his work and staring blankly ahead.

His trance was interrupted by a knock on his office door as he turned his attention towards it, the facade of a fool quickly reappeared in that same instance.

"Who is it?" Otto asked with his usual polite and nonchalant tone.

"It is Rita, Grand Overseer." The young Valkyrie's voice replied from beyond the door, her tone carried a sense of grace and beauty like a noblewoman.

Otto then quickly shifted and sat upright. "Come on in." He then ordered with a kind tone as an empty and polite smile spread across his face.

He greeted the young girl with light blonde hair, on this occasion, she was dressed up like a maid. It was an interesting choice of fashion nonetheless as she was always adamant about keeping up the manners of a maid.

"I bring reports about the Immortal Blades," Rita said as she bowed respectfully toward Otto.

The Immortal Blades were Schicksal's strongest squad of Valkyries led by the Ace S Rank Valkyrie, Bianka Ataegina Durandal herself. They were dispatched to quell the Honkai eruptions and help out other Schicksal Valkyries stationed throughout the world.

Otto leaned forward attentively. "I shall hear the good news then." Otto then replied pleasantly as he gave Rita his attention.

"It is thanks to your precise coordination that the Immortal Blades were able to mobilize fast and destroy the Honkai efficiently. We have cleared out most of the Honkai beasts present in Europe and the Middle East. Unfortunately, our African branch wasn't as well-defended and suffered more losses than others... There is no news regarding the Far East Branch, but words say that they are left defenceless." Rita explained.

Otto took in the information and nodded, things were better than before as he remembered where each eruption happened, he could direct the Valkyries there faster before it could cause great damage... if he had to make a comparison, he was able to halve the losses of Schicksal's Oceanic branch.

"May I ask how you were able to determine the Honkai beasts' locations, and even what to expect from some of the locations?" Rita asked with a curious tone as she smiled at him, hiding away a hint of skepticism.

"Ah, that. It's fairly hard for those unfamiliar with reading Honkai energy, but there is a certain pattern to it that I will need to elaborate on in a more complex manner later on." Otto explained. Most of it was bullshit which he would definitely not explain later on as Rita nodded and seemed to accept the vague answer.

"How are the other factions doing?" Otto asked as he diverted the topic.

"Anti-Entropy is in the same situation as the Far East. Most of the eruptions did not occur in America because the Herrscher was awakened closer to Europe so it isn't too obvious, but there is a severe lack of combat personnel from Anti-Entropy... we could push further into their territory if you were to order it." Rita suggested.

"No, we should focus our resources on the Honkai for now, It would take years for them to recover anyways so we don't have to worry about them for now," Otto replied as he rubbed his chin in thought.

"Are the Immortal Blades still needed in Africa and the Middle East?" Otto asked as he looked up at Rita.

"I would say that there is only a need for me and Master Durandal for further operations in Africa and the Middle East, any more is just further protection, why do you ask so?" Rita asked with curiosity.

"Then let's do it this way, have your squad go aid the Far East. I still need the Far East branch in the future and having them crumble now is of no use to me either." Otto then ordered as he leaned back into his chair in a relaxed manner.

"...I understand," Rita replied as she bowed.

"Is there anything else you'd need of me?" She asked.

"..." Otto paused for a moment as he pondered how to explain to her. He eventually decided to tell her because he trusted Rita's ability to not question.

"I need to go AWOL briefly for a personal task, Amber will take over me. If Durandal asks so then ask her the same, I will return shortly." Otto then explained.

Rita looked at Otto with a slight sense of surprise before she nodded in understanding. "I understand, I take that is all your order?" She asked.

"Yes, you are dismissed." Otto nodded in satisfaction as Rita turned around and left.

The moment the door closed, Otto let out a sigh of exhaustion as he put a palm to his face and glared down at nothingness.

"Why am I even doing this..."

"It's cute how hard you're trying to not do it even though you're clearly going t-"

"Shut up."

Void Archives interjected but was immediately cut off by the man.

"(I swear the god, this thing is getting more annoying by the day. If I could have another wish aside from reviving Kallen, I'd wish this was gone from my head.)"

"How mean. You know even if you put yourself in brackets, I'm still in your he-"

Otto silenced the First Divine Key. This thing had never been helpful. Not when he needed it most and now it's nothing but a nuisance. One of these days, he'll leave it to Kevin like an orphan.


Beyond the door, Rita walked silently away from the Overseer's Sanctum. While it wasn't entirely new for the Overseer to request to go AWOL, she could never shake off the skepticism she held in her heart. Something about the Overseer had changed, whether for better or for worse.

Just like that day at the battle, he is using his resources to help others... Even if he puts on a cover and says that it is for an ulterior motive, is it?

It seems that the Overseer had mistaken her for a tight-lipped woman who would never question him.

That might be the first miscalculation and misjudgment in his life... but first, she has to find out, what he's looking for before she comes to any hasty conclusion. So for now... she'll play along.


(Arc City, Shenzhou)

In a desolate corner of the metropolis, in a street devoid of life and only ruins. There could be seen a young girl with twin-braided white hair stumbling around, she was covered in dirt and grime and she looked like she hadn't had a proper meal for days nor had she slept a peaceful night for weeks. Despite her wretched state, she would glance at a crowd and immediately flee before anyone could come and show her pity.

"This is all my fault." Kiana thought as she dragged on weakly, trying to find a place to rest.

"I hurt everyone, I killed my teacher." She lamented with eyes devoid of light, like a walking husk without a soul, merely living for the sake of living. If she could only drop dead now, how nice it would be... but there were people who would be sad if that happened... so she'll keep trying for however long her foot will take her.

All around her is the consequence of her existence, she is the harbinger of all doom, dust and debris that filled these parts of the once expansive metropolis, the glorious light of the center of the city masked away the filthy survivors living in these ruined lands ravaged and devasted by the beings she summoned to this world.

"Would it be better if I just died now?" Kiana thought as she loathed herself. She loathed herself for being weak. She loathed herself for being naive. She loathed herself for ignoring the signs and deceiving herself into a fantasy of love and wonder. This is the burden of being a monster... No, it is not a burden... this is the sin of being a monster.

There is no one to hate but herself... no one... no one...

There is one, even though she was half-conscious at that time, she could remember his face etched clearly into her mind. The blonde-haired man and his venomous green eyes stared up at her corrupted mind with a wicked smile.

"Otto Apocalypse... killing you will be the last thing I do," Kiana vowed solemnly as she clenched her fist in anger and punched the nearby wall.

"Hahaha! Well said!" A maniacal laughter suddenly cried out in her mind, causing Kiana to recoil in pain as she groaned and clutched her head.

"Why don't we do it now then?!" Sirin asked with glee.

"Tch... Get out of my mind!" She yelled and slammed her head against the wall repeatedly, causing it to bleed, ruining her white hair before she slumped against the wall and began to sob in anguish and anxiety.

"Why is this happening to me?" Kiana thought as she cried.

"What did I do wrong? is it because I exist?" Kiana asked as she burrowed her face into the ground and covered her ears from Sirin's taunts and jeers.

Kiana began to lament her lost days, the life she once led, the happiness she once felt, and the love she once shared. Everything felt unreal, everything felt like a nightmare, she just wished someone would kill her so she could wake up back to paradise where everyone was waiting. Death. Death is always such a distant concept to everyone, no one understands what grief means until it comes into their life and breaks it apart mercilessly. Then they are left with nothing to cope with but a forever eternal feeling that the world was always a lie. That everything they see now is false.

"Kiana, you have to stop doing this..." A soft and kind voice called out to her as Kiana saw a light feather fall in front of her sight, she felt a palm touch her shoulder warmly and for a brief moment, Kiana calmed down before her face turned back into a scowl of fury and anger.

"Not you again... you damned hypocrite... what do you want?!" Kiana yelled as she flung the warm and caring hand away and glared up at the red eyes that looked at her with worry as well as a mix of regret and sorrow.

"...Kiana you have to listen to me... you're only putting yourself at a greater risk like this..." Fu Hua reasoned as she tried to calm down the girl.

"YOU THINK YOU CAN TALK ABOUT RISK!? WHY DOES IT MATTER TO YOU!?" Kiana retorted as she grabbed the girl's shoulder and slammed her against the wall as she snarled at her once best friend.

"You... YOU! YOU!" Kiana tried to form words as tears fell down her cheeks before she lost her strength and crumbled back onto her knees as she gripped her heart in pain."

"Why... why?! WHY?!" Kiana asked as she punched the ground in anger.

Fu Hua stood before Kiana, speechless as she tried to say anything but couldn't say anything to appease the girl.

"Kiana... if the Herrscher reawakens... all the people in this metropolis will be killed." Fu Hua tried to appeal to her humanity and reminded her of the losses.

"WHY WOULD YOU CARE?!" Kiana retorted as she panted heavily.

"Why...? Why do you care?" She repeated.

"I... I have a duty.." Fu Hua tried to reason as she gave out the most sincere answer she had.

"A duty to make my life miserable like this? And you even have the guts to come and laugh at me?" Kiana asked in disbelief as her gaze remained fixated on the ground.

"I made... a mistake.." Fu Hua admitted bitterly as she looked down with regret.

She was wrong in choosing to trust Otto Apocalypse. To betray Kiana. To adhere to her old ways instead of adapting to the new. She did not believe in her friend and that is what has led to this tragedy. This sin, she will live with it until the end of times.

Kiana started to chuckle as she heard Fu Hua's reply.

"Hahahaha... hahahahaha... a mistake... you've got to be kidding me," Kiana said as she cackled in insanity, tears falling out at the same time.

"My life is like this because of a mistake?" Kiana questioned in disbelief.

"Why am I the one to pay for your screwups?" She asked, Kiana didn't even have the energy to be angry at this point, as much as she hated to admit it, she just wanted to vent.

"I... I'm sorry." Fu Hua admitted.

"Sorry... sorry.. sorry.. sorry.. what is your sorry going to do?... Auntie Himeko is... She's... because of me... and you." Kiana replied as she started to break down again.

"Hey watch out!" A voice yelled, interrupting the two of them as they looked around before noticing a Honkai beast in the air, it was a Seraph, preparing to attack Kiana.

"I can't dodg-" Kiana thought as the beast's beam of Honkai drew closer before she suddenly felt herself being picked up, before Kiana had noticed it, someone had flung her over their shoulder and was running away with her from the beast.

"Run to the mechs! They'll deal with it!" An unfamiliar young masculine voice yelled as a group of hooded individuals carried Kiana away towards god knows where.

"Wait, where are you taking me?!" Kiana asked in a panic as she realized that some stranger had just picked her up.

"Calm down miss! That thing is dangerous!" The voice replied. "If we were trying to kidnap you or something, would we be fighting a Honkai beast for you?!" He reasoned as Kiana listened and eventually calmed down, allowing the group to scoop her away into the night as the beast chased after them.

They were fairly fast and agile despite their opponent being a Honkai beast, although it was a Seraph and Kiana could beat it fairly easily, she was in no condition to be fighting.

"Over there!" One of the voices at the front yelled as the group turned a corner, the patrolling mech was immediately in sight as soon as they turned the corner as the individual sped past it by its leg, Kiana looked back at the mech which turned to them briefly before turning back ahead, shooting a fire rocket at the Seraph Beast.

The group kept running through alleys and deserted streets before slowing down as they panted heavily, the one carrying Kiana eventually laid her down against the wall as he pulled his hood down and Kiana got a better look at him, it was a young adult male, no older than thirty with an unkempt and spiky hairstyle, there were numerous scars across his face but he had a well-kept appearance and a fairly strong-defined jawline hat made him look dependable and powerful like an older brother.

"Um.. hello?" Kiana asked meekly as she looked at the group, who revealed their faces to her one after another.

"Hello.. welcome to Nameless Street." The man replied. "You're not a native around here.."

"Hmm let's see... my name is... Let's go with Raiden." The man greeted as he extended his hand for a handshake.

Kiana hesitated for a moment before she took it as a show of polite manners. "Hello. Mister Raiden. I'm Kiana.." She replied.

"Who are they...? What is Nameless Street?" Kiana asked as she looked at the rest of the group, there were two other young boys and a young girl, it was quite a diverse group from what Kiana could tell, one of them looked like a foreigner, and the other two looked Asian descent.

"Hm... well, they're a diverse bunch, here we have Masaru Seto, he's Japanese and his English isn't very good," Raiden replied as he pointed his thumb to a young man in the back with black hair and black eyes.

"Oh that's okay, I can speak Japanese as well," Kiana replied

"Hooh.. educated are we..." Raiden commented with a smug and teasing grin.

'Good for you, princess." He grinned as he then pointed to the others. "Behind me here we have He Yun." He pointed to the young girl with black hair.

"And here we have Johann." He pointed towards a young man with blonde hair.

"Nameless Street is a refugee camp, after the eruption, a lot of the outer skirts of Arc City were abandoned and left defenceless, so we, the community had to relocate and gather together to live," Raiden explained.

Kiana felt a pang of guilt as she heard this, as if seeing the result of her action wasn't enough, here were people affected by her.

"Oh... okay... why don't the city help you guys?" Kiana asked with worry and guilt.

"Classes... it's complicated. But we do the best with what we have." Raiden explained as he gently lifted Kiana.

"You don't have a place to stay, do you? look at you, famished and dirtied. Why don't we go and get you fed up?" Raiden suggested as he turned around and signalled for Kiana to follow after him.

"Um, it is truly okay?" Kiana asked meekly as she hesitated.

'It's fine Kiana, we need more people around here anyways, if you're willing to work for your part, then we can help you as well, so let's get along, okay?" Raiden asked as he turned his glance around and reassured her.

"Oh.. okay..." Kiana nodded submissively as she followed after the four of them in silence.

"But man that was some dangerous stunt we pulled. Those city officials don't like us." Johann commented as he stretched his arms into the air in a relaxed and playful manner.

"I don't think they'll mind... I mean, things did improve since they sent out some sort of protection for us... we can only hope it gets better." He Yun commented.

"You're making it sound so dark, you'll get our new member all depressed if you keep saying "hope hope hope," Johann replied as he shrugged.

"They're just being laid-back." Seto suddenly said to Kiana.

"Huh? Oh.. okay." Kiana flinched at suddenly being called out.

"Please don't feel left out, it happens at first. You'll come to enjoy it here eventually... these guys are good kids." Seto reassured with a light smile, he seemed aloof and shy but he was very friendly and open. He reminded her a lot of Fu Hua.

"Mhm... I... Yes, thank you." Kiana replied gratefully as she looked down at the floor, she still felt guilty.

"So... a new ship sail?" Johann asked as he grinned smugly as he walked slower to look at Seto.

'Trying to pick up a new princess?" He cocked his head in curiosity as he tried to see Seto's expression.

"This joke is expiring." Seto casually retorted with a tired sigh.

"That's because you just emit protagonist vibes bro." Johann cackled.

"And you're comedic relief." Seto shot back.

"...Well, that isn't far off... but hey, I make things fun!" Johann replied in defence.

"That's how you make every newcomer feel left out, people need time to adjust." Seto retorted as he glanced around, they were approaching the camp as more light could be seen and there were sounds of activity.

"You'll just make it cold and dead before anyone can adjust." Johann shrugged.

"Well... a balance is good, right?" He Yun interjected.

"What?" Johann and Seto replied in unison.

"I was just thinking that if... being too chaotic is too much... and too silent is too little.. then you're both, kind of... good together?" He Yun explained.

"I'd rather spend a day with the Honkai than with him," Seto replied.

"Cold!... You know the more you deny me the more I'll mess with you?" Johann asked with a devious grin.

"And that's why nobody likes you," Seto replied.

"...ouch."

"Alright kids, quit the banters, we're here," Raiden announced as the group of five reached a barbed wire fence surrounding a large area, inside was full of tents and there was a large campfire that could be seen, there was a singular gate and there was someone at the post.

"Jiang Shen, we're back," Raiden spoke in Mandarin as he went up to the gate.

"So... how many people live here?" Kiana asked as she turned towards the camp.

"Around seventy, there are many refugee camps scattered outside Arc City. Raiden said that the outer skirts were abandoned, but it was more like a minority since they did fit as much as they could in without disrupting order... so we don't blame them all that much except hope for better support." Seto explained.

Raiden then waved at the four of them as he led them into the camp.

"Welcome kids! Nameless street!" Raiden said as he spread his arm gleefully as if presenting a masterpiece.

"There is one newcomer here," Seto replied.

"Cold!"

From the depths of Kiana's mind.. a woman smiled in relief. "For now... it seems... she will be fine." Fu Hua uttered softly in a warm tone.

In the meanwhile...

At the top of a tall skyscraper overseeing the grand metropolis that is Arc City, there was a hooded figure standing at the very top, his long blonde hair fluttered and swayed in the wind and his green, emerald-like eyes gazed down at the world below. He watched the millions of lights of the great city filled with life, and the wall of light separating it and the devastated world outside. This was the result of his work

For once, he had bore witness to not just the ruins of a civilization, but the people living in the consequences he created.

This was the dystopian world he created for his utopia.

But the state of the city was not the main focus at this moment, something terrible was about to happen and it was because of him.

He couldn't overlook it, but why couldn't he overlook it? he had overlooked everything for five centuries in both worlds. But for this occasion, he couldn't.

Why? What was so different? Why couldn't he be him anymore?

Was he even him? Or was he someone else? Does he even have the wish he once had? Does he even have the right to chase after that wish?

Does that wish even exist anymore?

...No.

It has to exist.

It can not exist

Because he only exists because it exists.

One cannot go without the other...

"I found her." a childish voice spoke out from his mind.

"Then let us hurry... This is the adult's fight." He then replied as he leapt off the edge of the skyscraper and headed for the direction where the white-haired girl was.


(Nameless Street, Arc City)

Kiana was resting in the room given to her by the people of Nameless Street, for a moment, she felt transient peace as she hugged her knees and leaned back against the wall in contemplation...

Should she be allowed to live? To find a new life here?

No... she was a walking time bomb.

So long as she was the vessel of the Herrscher of the Void... She cannot stay anywhere.

But how would she ever stop being the vessel? She wanted so desperately to live and to talk more to these people... yet at the same time...

Her death may bring them peace.

"..." Kiana stayed there, frozen and deep in thought for several minutes before a sudden tremor interrupted her.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!" A voice suddenly called out from outside the tent and immediately, dread and fear filled up Kiana's heart, she immediately picked up the nearest weapon she could find, a metal bat and rushed outside the tent.

The moment Kiana was outside, her face immediately paled as her eyes widened in fear as if perhaps to confirm her worst theory of being a walking disaster. In the middle of the camp that she had become familiarized with, several dead bodies lay strewn about, recently killed by the monster standing looking over them.

A cold violet gaze flared down at Kiana as the figure of a black humanoid with rock-like crystal armour stood there, Its claws and fist, flesh with the blood of its victim. It was a monster Kiana had never seen before, but from its aura alone, Kiana could tell it was beyond what she could fight and was even more impossible for her newfound friends.

The monster inched forward slowly, stepping on the corpses of its slain foe as it made its way towards Kiana, cutting down anyone who got in its way as Kiana's anger started to boil.

"EVERYONE! EVACUATE FROM THE CENTER AND SEEK COVER!" A strict and stern masculine voice yelled out in an authoritative tone as Kiana saw the familiar figure of Raiden rushing forward with an assault rifle in hand.

The monster simply stopped as it glanced over at Raiden and watched him without moving as he unleashed a hail of bullets at its body, the 5.56 bullets all bounced off like rubber.

"What... the.." Raiden looked at it in disbelief and shock and Kiana watched as in the next instance, the creature dashed at Raiden with unbelievable speed and threw its sharp claws at him.

Raiden's quick reflex saved him however as he ducked out of the way in time but was then immediately with the monster's legs, kicking him in his guts as it launched him flying across the camp, impaled by the sharp spikes on the monster's leg.

"RAIDEN!" Kiana yelled as she turned around to see Raiden flying past her, but before she could rush to his aid, she felt the ominous presence creep up to her neck and Kiana turned her glance over her shoulder as she met the monster's violent, hateful eyes inches away from her face.

"I'm dead-" Kiana thought to herself before the monster suddenly fell a knee, accompanied by a loud clanging of metal.

"HE YUN! TAKE KIANA AND GO LOOK AFTER RAIDEN!" A black-haired male ordered, the panic in his voice was evident as Kiana was swiftly picked up and carried away.

She watched Seto swing down at the monster's leg with a large sledgehammer, causing it to lose its balance, but the monster recovered quickly as it tried to turn around and grab Seto.

As it turned its head around, it was immediately struck across the head from the side by Johann, who was wielding a makeshift nailed bat, the blow caused a bit of its crystals to fall from its face.

"TAKE THAT YOU FOUL BEAST! HOW DARE YOU COME HERE!" He taunted it in anger, frustrated by the loss of his people.

Those who were watching realized that they damaged the creature and felt hopeful, but Kiana knew those were nothing to it. The disparity between them and the beast reminded her of that dreadful week.

"WHY ME!" Kiana yelled in her mind as she cursed her fate.

"GET OUT OF THERE!" Kiana yelled in fear as she struggled out of He Yun's hold.

"GO HELP RAIDEN!" She ordered the girl before turning her gaze back, Kiana felt her heart fall to the pit of her stomach as she watched the beast grab Johann by the head and threw him to the ground, rolling across the cold hard floor with a thud as his weapon flew further behind him.

"SETO!" Kiana yelled out in warning and dread as the monster turned to the side and grabbed Seto's arm, he squirmed for a brief moment before the monster moved its arm to his neck and reeled its other arms back as it choked him, its sharp claws aimed and ready to punch through the young man.

"NOOOOOOOO!" Kiana yelled as she stumbled when she tried to rush towards Seto, tears streamed down her face as she tried to muster the strength but is appalled and disgusted at her powerlessness.

When Suddenly, a feather appeared before Kiana and a loud tremor roared through the air as the monster dropped Seto and stumbled backwards from a devastating strike that crushed through a bit of its chest armour.

"Fu Hua…" Kiana whimpered in relief as she watched the brave warrior save her friends.

"Kiana, take them out of here, I will deal with this." Fu Hua ordered as Kiana quickly rushed to fetch both Johann and Seto before moving out of the way toward He Yun.

Fu Hua then turned her attention back toward the monster. "Sirin was holding me back… is this her doing? I have never seen something like this before." Fu Hua contemplated as she got into a guard stance and engaged in combat with the monster.

Fu Hua immediately trapped it into her dreamscape and battled with it, she unleashed a pillar of flame towards the beast, causing it to dodge as weaved through her attacks.

"I can't use that anymore…" Fu Hua contemplated as she tried to find an opening to deal a decisive blow towards the beast, her powers were limited, if she used too much, she won't be able to guard Kiana later.

The monster would keep dodging Fu Hua's flames until the two of them ended up in a narrow alleyway where its movement would be restricted. Fu Hua used this moment to rush at it and winded up a decisive blow with her fist, she struck the beast square in its face as she crushes its head apart before returning to reality.

Fu Hua panted heavily as the beast stopped moving, its sentience destroyed as she sighed in relief.

"It's done.." She said in relief.

crack

A sudden noise brought Fu Hua's attention back when she was just about to turn away.

A series of noises like the sound of twisting a broken doll resounded from the beast as it slowly shook, its body twisted and turned like a toy before its eyes suddenly lit up again.

"What..?" Fu Hua looked at it in disbelief. "I destroyed its Sentience!" Fu Hua exclaimed as she gritted her teeth for another fight.

But to her surprise… she couldn't tap into its mind...

"It's dead…?" Fu Hua's eyes widened in shock and dread, she is nothing but the Fenghuang Down right now, she cannot fight something that cannot be controlled by it.

"Kiana.." She muttered weakly as she looked back at the tent in fear.

"Run."

At the same time, a hooded figure landed on top of a ruined three-story apartment complex, looking at the carnage that occurred below. He then saw the familiar figure of the beast he once encountered and he gritted his teeth in both annoyance, frustration and fear.

"I guess coming here was correct." He remarked as he stood up and jumped off the apartment complex.

"Give me a boost." He ordered no one.

"I got you." A childish voice replied as the mark on his arm glowed up in a golden light. And light a flash of lightning or a shooting star, his fist descended on the creature, followed by a shockwave, unleashing clouds of dust in every direction.

"Looks like she's not here.. regardless.. this is my problem." The man commented as he pulled his hood back, revealing his long blonde hair and green eyes, glaring at the giant beast more than twice his size.

"The taller they stand, the harder they fall," Otto said coldly to the creature in front of him as he walked towards it, clenching his fist.

Inside the tent, Kiana, He Yun and Seto were tending to Johann and Raiden, Seto looked outside briefly and saw the stranger who was defending them from the beast.

"How are they?" Seto asked as he walked over to He Yun.

"Raiden's been impaled in multiple arteries…" He Yun replied weakly with a sense of sorrow and distress. "There's signs of brain damage in Johann.." She added.

"….Fuck.." Seto cursed as he punched the ground in anger.

"Is there nothing we can do?!" He yelled in frustration.

"We don't have any equipment… I've already bandaged up Raiden.. but.." He Yun sobbed as she wiped her tears while being comforted by Kiana.

"I'm sorry… this is all because of me," Kiana explained with guilt and sorrow, she bore a gaze at the group, afraid to look at any of them.

"Enough of that." Seto scolded angrily when he suddenly realized that the sound of fighting had stopped, he lifted the tent cover to see what was happening but was immediately met with a figure in front of him.

"Hello, may I see?" Their presumed benefactor asked, as Seto nodded and let the man in, he noted that he was a very handsome individual that looked European.

"Are you able to help?" Seto asked as the man kneeled next to Raiden and Seto.

Kiana felt a bit of hope as she tried to look up, but she regretted the moment she did as her face immediately turned pale blue.

Otto looked over the figure and noted that they were both too heavily wounded for his remaining energy to heal via Abyss Flower, with a solemn sigh, he thought of his last option.

"Are you able to heal them?" Otto asked hopefully

"Only one." The childish voice replied.

"What? why only one?" Otto retorted in confusion and anger.

"You've used up too much influence over probability."

"What the hell does that mean?" Otto questioned angrily as he furrowed his brows in anger.

"Alright ask this, what are the chances an asteroid lands on us now?"

"Uh, most likely not?" Otto replied.

"What are the chances some higher dimensional being suddenly appears and saves them?"

"What are you implying?" Otto questioned

"There needs to be met a certain criterion before I can intervene to a much greater degree. Otherwise, the Herrscher of the End would've descended first, not last."

"So you're telling me I can only save one or the other?!" Otto asked furiously, he didn't like being limited.

"Yes, I apologize for my lack of usefulness." The childish voice replied.

"…Fuck's sake." Otto groaned in irritation, how would he tell these guys the news? To tell them to ditch one for the other?

"…I can heal only one of them," Otto admitted with a regretful tone.

"…What? why?!" He Yun yelled.

"It is all I am capable of at the moment," Otto replied without an explanation.

"DON'T BULLSHIT ME!" Kiana suddenly yelled as she rushed over and grabbed Otto's collar, her face contorted in anger and grief.

"YOU!" She shook him as she clenched her fist tight until her knuckles turned white.

"Kiana.. calm down.." Seto said with a pained tone.

"SETO! HE'S TELLING US TO CHOOSE ONE!" Kiana exclaimed in anger.

"KIANA!" Seto yelled in return as tears streamed down Kiana's cheeks. She slowly let go of the man as she ran out of the tent.

"I apologize, she's.." Seto tried to explain to Otto.

"No need to… I am regretful I cannot offer you a miracle that would save both of them." Otto reassured as he walked back and kneeled.

"..No, it's enough.. just one of them is enough... I don't want to lose both." Seto replied.

Unbeknownst to the grieving group, one of the severely wounded men had woken up moments ago, he opened his eye groggily as he spoke in a tired and raspy voice. "Johann…." he said weakly.

"..Raiden!" Seto and He Yun yelled in a panicked tone as they rushed over to his side, distressed.

"I heard… please.. help Johann," Raiden explained.

"But.. but what about you?!" Seto as...d.

"Haha... I've already had too much… But Johahn.. he's a good kid, hasn't had... Seto, don't fight with him too much..." Raiden said as his breathing started to become panicky and disorderly.

"Hurry.. or I'll climb back from hell if we both die.." Raiden chuckled weakly as He Yun sobbed and held her chest.

"RAIDEN!…. THANK YOU!.. FOR HAVING BUILT THIS PLACE FOR US'" Seto yelled in gratitude as tears poured down his face, he finally gathered his strength.

"Sir.. please, save Johann." He said stuttering as he finished his sentence and crumbled to the floor.

Otto nodded with regret, he felt a slight bit of sympathy, but he decided to ignore it and moves his hand over to the blonde-haired kid, His mark glew again as the blood on the kid's forehead receded slowly before his wound closed up. Moments later, he started to breathe, and at the same time, Raiden turned his glance over to Johann with a weak smile as the light in his eyes finally died out.

Seto and He Yun finally broke down in tears as Otto left the tent and walked outside, immediately, Kiana grabbed and threw him to the floor.

"We're gonna fucking talk." She snarled at him with hatred and resentment. Clenching her fist until it dripped blood.

Kiana led Otto to a place outside of the camp and Otto walked behind her with uncertainty, after they had gotten far enough, he turned to Kiana and asked.

"So what did you want t-" Otto was in the middle of asking when he was immediately struck in the face by Kiana's fist, causing her to fall to the ground as she pounced on him.

Kiana repeatedly assaulted Otto, punching his face violently and ruthlessly as she cried out her tears of frustration.

"WHY ARE YOU HERE AGAIN?! WHY MUST YOU MAKE ME SUFFER LIKE THIS?!" Kiana yelled in fury as she cried her heart out.

"JUST WHEN THINGS WERE FINE! YOU ASSHOLE!" Kiana grabbed him by the collar and yelled in his face.

"….I." Otto tried to retort but failed.

"I, I, I, IT'S ALWAYS I" Kiana yelled in fury as she slammed him back against the ground.

"WHY COULDN'T YOU HELP THEM?!"

"…I don't have the powe-?" Otto tried to reply but was once again cut off.

"YOU DON'T? OR YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO FUCK WITH ME?!" She accused as she spat at him with every word.

"…Why am I even here?" Otto questioned as his mind phased out of Kiana's brutal protest.

"For what reason? do I have to feel responsible?" Otto asked.

"…I've had enough of this."

"Just stop."

"This is tiring."

"I don't want it."

The moment Otto returned to his senses, he saw a face full of tears before him, sorrow, guilt, anger, frustration and confusion.

"I… had the wish to live… but now.." Kiana whined weakly.

Otto closed his eyes and thought of what he could say to appease the girl, but was speechless.

"Do you remember what Himeko told you before she died?" Otto asked.

"…..Why would you know?" Kiana asked.

"I know all my valkyries and how they think.. you have a promise to fulfill do you not?" Otto questioned.

"…" Kiana didn't reply, she was too tired to, on one hand, she didn't want to let Himeko's sacrifice go to waste.. but on the other.. she just wants to give up.

"Go and tell her one day, that you did what she wanted of you," Otto reassured solemnly.

"…Don't act like you know her.. you damned man." Kiana cursed.

"Murata Himeko is alive." Otto interrupted.

"Huh..?" Kiana looked at him briefly with shock and surprise.

"No… no.. you're lying.. you're lying!" She yelled in fury as disbelief filled her mind.

"Whether I am lying or not, live and figure it out yourself." Otto simply retorted.

"Phoenix, I know you're there." Otto then called out suddenly as Kiana paused for a moment before a feather appeared and the white-haired girl manifested in between them both.

"I figured.. we can talk about the details later… are you able to keep this girl safe? if another one of those things appears?" Otto questioned as Fu Hua turned silent and looked at him bitterly, biting her lips with regret and anger.

"….You already know the answer." Fu Hua snorted.

"Then you should know what I intend to offer," Otto replied.

"…" The two remained silent.

"I will do the guarding duty," Otto suggested said bitterly as if he just said the worst thing he had ever said in his life.

"Hah. HAH! YOU?! YOU!?" Kiana suddenly chuckled and yelled.

"YOU SAY YOU WANT TO BE MY COMPANION?!" Kiana cried in anger as she glared down at him.

"..You have no other choice, you have to protect these people, yourself, and eventually find your teacher." Otto then replied as Kiana flinched. "Tch…." she growled and furrowed her brows.

"You damn…" Kiana grumbled before becoming silent.

"…Fine... I have no choice do I?" Kiana looked away to the ground and asked angrily but for some reason... Kiana wanted to give this a shot... Why was it? this person had wronged her in every way possible.. what was different this time?

"…Otto Apocalypse… what kind of you, are you right now?" Kiana asked as she turned to glance at Otto briefly.

"Don't understand" Otto simply retorted, disgruntled.

"Forget I asked." Kiana retorted coldly as she walked away, leaving Otto lying on the ground.

"What kind of I, am I?" Otto chuckled with a sense of disbelief as he took a moment to gaze upon the starry sky before him, the calm vernal wind of the approaching wind gently caressed his cheeks and ruffled his hair as Otto let out a sigh of exhaustion.

He leaned his head back in a relaxed manner as he took in the calm moment and closed his eyes, finding the answer to his questions. He remembered the past anxiety-filled week he had. It's been centuries since he had felt that way. The restlessness of not knowing what's going to happen, of not knowing whether he still had control, of not being reassured that his people were going to be...

But this heart shouldn't be here anymore.

Was it because of what the monster said to him in the Void Space?

"I will kill you and bury all you love into the abyss." Otto had recalled the monster's words.

Is it because of that? No, being threatened was one thing, but being concerned for this girl's well-being was another... Perhaps if that monster never appeared, he would have trusted in his own knowledge that the world would be consistent and things would happen the same way.

But no longer can he bet on his past memory. This finally took his weakness and laid it bare out for him to confront.

"Just who is Otto Apocalypse?"

"It's something I've asked for the past week. Nothing feels real anymore."

"Those things are my problem... but they would've never been in the past."

"…It's so damn tiring to think about."

"It was so much simpler when all I had to worry about was saving her."

"….Why do I keep doing this?"

"For whose's sake?"

"…..I don't want to think anymore."

"...Firstborn" Otto called out weakly in a tired voice.

"Yes?" The childish voice replied.

"Erase my memories."


A/N: okay and that will be chapter 4 and the setup of Arc City. The pacing is a bit off because slowed down a bit and hastened at the end because it is getting late and I need to sleep.

I don't think the interaction between Otto and Kiana was as impactful as I wanted it to be, which is why I will revise it later today and fix some writing inconsistencies as well.

Originally the story was to take off after one week but I realized that wasn't nearly enough time to form Nameless Street so I decided to up it to two weeks or even three. I haven't been able to locate the inconsistency yet but I will get onto it later along with the revision.