"Ah? Ceci? You're still up?"
Mei walked out onto the balcony of their dorm. It had been a few weeks since they were all brought to St. Freyja. Kiana had been separated from them for a few days now, going on assignments given to her by Theresa. Because of this, Cecilia had gotten back into a habit that she once mentioned.
"Are you… waiting for her to get back?" Mei asked, clutching her nightgown.
"Huh? Oh, Mei-senpai, I didn't notice you there." Cecilia wiped her eyes.
"Ceci, are you…?"
"Huh? No, I'm fine."
Mei frowned and walked up to the girl, wiping some stray tears at the edges of the girl's eyes.
"I said I'm fine," Cecilia said, gently moving her hand from her face.
Mei stood behind her silently as Cecilia went back to looking at the Moon.
"I've… forgotten what it's like to feel like this," Cecilia began.
Mei tilted her head slightly at her words. "Waiting for your sister?"
"Yeah. Ever since our old man died, Sis has been disappearing from time to time. I never know what she's doing but she always comes back… hurt. Or worse. You don't know how many times I waited, sick in bed. Both from worry and from something else," Cecilia said, gripping the balcony railing tightly. "I know she's strong but… there's always that lingering fear that, Kiana won't come back"
"Ceci," Mei said.
"Welp, that's kind of a mood killer, right, Mei-senpai? The moon is beautiful, you know. But here I am… moping," she replied.
"Ceci," Mei said, placing a hand on Ceci's shoulder.
Cecilia turned around to face her.
"It's not a mood killer. It's normal to be worried. Especially for the people you love. But don't worry about Kiana. She'll be back. She always comes back. I might not have known her as long as you but…" Mei smiled. "She'll always be back for you. And me too."
"Huh?" Cecilia raised an eyebrow.
"I'll always be here for you, by your side. So please, don't think that just because your sister isn't here, that you're alone. Bronya is here. And I'm here too. No matter what, Ceci. We'll always be together. I can't really imagine my life without you in it anymore, after all," Mei said with a gentle smile on her face.
"Thanks, Mei-senpai. Geez." Cecilia felt her cheeks grow hot as the light of the Moon slowly graced Mei's delicate features. "A cute girl saying something like that to me. You're really pushing my limits, aren't you, Mei-senpai?"
[Mei. Are you ready?]
"Huh?"
Mei blinked. Ah, that memory.
[Mei, are you alright?] Theresa asked.
"Sorry, Principal. I was just remembering something," Mei replied.
[Now's not really a good time to be losing focus, Miss Raiden.] Kriemhilde said.
"Right, sorry," Mei said, taking a deep breath. She gripped the handle of her katana tightly. "I'm ready." A strong tone reverberated through her voice.
[Alright then. Anyway, the Hyperion is ready. I can't believe how fast those two and their teams worked on this. They managed to fix all the damages Grandpa's valkyries did on her. So all in all, we're ready to fight when Kiana and Himeko give us the signal.] Theresa said.
[I never thought I'd be raiding another laboratory. Another Schicksal laboratory involved with the Second Herrscher at that.] Kriemhilde commented.
[Right. The Second Herrscher and labs never really went well together, did they? But wherever you find Schicksal Labs doing Herrscher research, I guess the Herrscher of the Void was never really that far behind.] Theresa said.
[In any case, they should be calling us at any minute-]
A flash of orange light in the distance caught Mei's attention. She subconsciously clenched her jaw when she saw a plume of smoke rising into the air.
[It looks like… they ran into some trouble.] Kriemhilde said.
[That it does. Whatever, this is Kiana we're talking about. They should be done in a few minutes. Which gives me enough time to remind you. Mei, the heart bomb has been surgically removed. We figured leaving it inside might… complicate things later down the line. However, this means that the Third Herrscher might awaken at any time so don't overexert yourself.] Theresa said. [I can't afford losing you to the Honkai too.]
Mei nodded. "Thank you again for that, Principal."
[Mah! Don't call me Principal anymore. I betrayed Schicksal and am no longer in charge of St. Freya. I'm just Theresa now.] Theresa's voice said somberly.
"No. Even if you betrayed Schicksal and got kicked out, you're always going to be the Principal to me. It's been two years since you admitted me but I'm always going to be grateful. You took someone like me in. Someone who was a Herrscher. It's because of you that I'm able to stand here as a Valkyrie today.
"Because of you, I'm no longer afraid of it. Back then, after I awakened and Ceci calmed me down, I was afraid of what would happen. I used to be afraid of my Herrscher power rampaging out of control. But now, thanks to you, the Major, and Kiana, I can keep walking forward. I'm not afraid anymore. I'm going to use this power to protect everyone I love," Mei said.
[Two years… Time flies by so quickly. But I'm glad.] Theresa said.
"Glad?" Mei asked.
[You're the only one who turned out normal. I'm glad you didn't pick any of Himeko or Kiana's weird quirks.] Theresa said.
Mei smiled and a small laugh escaped her lips.
[Sorry to interrupt your heartfelt conversation just now. But… the barrier is changing. We still don't have contact with Tesla's group but all readings indicate that they're currently engaged in their own situation.] Einstein interrupted.
[You heard her, Theresa. It's your call now.] Kriemhilde said.
[Fine. I got it. Mei, get to your station. Everyone, let's move!] Theresa ordered.
The Schicksal Mechs went down faster than they had expected. However, the trade off for this easy penetration was a swarm of Honkai beasts that had begun converging on their location. Mei hopped off one of the ledges of the Hyperion's deck and landed on the landing strip.
[Mei, we'll be counting on you to take care of the beasts that make it onto the deck. I'll be covering the ones near the bridge while Einstein remains on standby. Kriemhilde will be here to provide air support as needed.] Theresa informed.
"Got it, Principal. Just leave everything to me."
Mei took off, running headlong into the swarm. She clicked her katana out of its sheathe. She slid to a stop. She widened her stance and focused all of her senses.
"Mei, sharpen your senses. In the heat of battle, one cannot allow themselves to be fooled by what is in front of them. Instead, use all of yourself to feel for what is truly there."
Her father's words rang inside her mind. Mei flicked her katana from its sheath, firing it at intense speeds. The hilt slammed into the head of a Cassiel, staggering it.
She shot forward, grabbing the handle and slashed upward.
Landing in between the two remaining Cassiel, Mei dodged both their attacks.
A momentary flash of silver appeared as Mei swung her blade ferociously.
She gracefully sheathed her blade. As the handle clicked onto the scabbard, the two Honkai beasts around her exploded in a violet shower of fragments.
[Honkai Energy signatures detected.]
Mei straightened herself. She pressed a finger up to her ear, activating her battlesuit's HUD. She narrowed her eyes when she saw a massive floating, white figure. Its trapezoidal body coupled with its rotating diamond wing-like blades hovered above the deck of the Hyperion.
"A Konungr. I better make this quick." Her heel shifted and she vanished from her spot.
The Konungr, having noticed her presence, slammed its diamond wing blades into the deck.
Mei dodged as the first spike erupted from below her. However, her charge never wavered.
She zipped across the deck, moving in a zigzagging pattern. Each successful dodge brought her closer and closer to the Konungr. In one single sweeping arc, Mei delivered a fatal blow to its midsection as she shot right past it.
The Konungr howled in a warped tone. It swiftly turned, rapidly spinning its wing blades to try and slice Mei in half.
However, the smaller girl was faster. Jumping into the air, Mei sheathed her blade. The wing blades on her skirt fanned out, projecting small thrusts in order to keep her afloat.
[Exceed Mode initiated.]
Honkai energy began to gather within the scabbard of her katana. Mei drew the blade with such ferocious speed that it generated enough light and heat to tear her surroundings apart.
A white energy wave slashed across the air, slicing through the Konungr and slicing deep into the floor of the Hyperion's deck.
Mei landed on the ground. She looked at the corpse of the Konungr, watching with some relief as its body began to fade into pink lights. "Mei, here. The starboard side of the deck is all clear. Going to head to-"
[Mei, I got the port side but we have a problem.] Theresa said.
"I… don't like the sound of that," Mei replied.
[Indeed but you're the closest person there so here's the situation. The lower levels have been hit and we've detected a fire spreading through the cabins. Our crews are there working to extinguish the flames but that level is being besieged by Honkai beasts. I need you to-]
"Got it. Bronya and Wendy are still down there. I'll handle it, Principal," Mei said.
[Thanks, Mei. Go. We got it from here] Theresa said.
Mei nodded and took off, heading to the lower level of the Hyperion's deck.
Another shockwave slammed into the ship, almost knocking Mei off her feet. She turned her head into the direction of Schicksal's main base. She could clearly see it from the underbelly of the deck which led to the cabins. A plume of smoke followed by a collapsing tower. All that carnage and destruction down there was being caused by Kiana and Himeko.
Mei gripped her katana tightly. "I need to get there before the fire spreads."
As she rounded the corner, Mei was besieged on all sides by Honkai beasts.
Quickly drawing her sword, she was able to take out two of them.
Mei ducked underneath the swipe of another one and countered with her own, killing it immediately.
She jumped back as a Chariot slammed its massive paw into the ground before her. Mei landed on the wall, crouching before shooting forward like a suddenly uncoiled spring.
Her sword was swung with a silver flash, and the Chariot's top half began to slide off before hitting the metal floor with a satisfying slap.
This dance of carnage and blades continued as Mei fought her way to the entrance of the cabins.
"There's no time to wait for support," Mei said, impaling a zombie with her katana. She forced the blade through its entire body, cutting it down. "This is Mei to all support staff in the cabins. Evacuate all non-combat personnel and injured down to the lower levels. I'll buy some time."
Mei had to rely on the fact that her orders had been heard clearly. She stood in front of the door, watching as more Honkai beasts began to spawn. Angels flew onto the bottom of the deck en masse.
"These things never stop. And I won't get any backup for a while. Looks like, I have to rely on myself here. No one's here to save me this time." Mei gripped her katana tightly. "Even still, I can't stop here. Not until I get her back. I can't let her down. Not after all the times she's saved me."
Mei charged into the fray, cutting down Honkai beast after Honkai beast in her wake.
Each swing of her sword was accompanied by the sound of a shell cracking and the wet squelch of meat being torn open.
Pink fluid sprayed all over the metallic floor, followed by the occasional splashes of bright red blood.
However, even with these wounds that Mei sustained, she kept on pushing.
Giving up wasn't something she was going to do now.
Resigning to fate would be an insult to all those years she spent in St. Freya. An insult to the people who needed her.
Images of Cecilia, Kiana, Bronya, Himeko, and Theresa came to mind.
And, more importantly…
It would be an insult to myself if I give up here right now! I won't squander her faith in me! Their faith in me!
Mei let out a battle cry. Her sword arced across the air with such speed and ferocity that it left visible distortions in the air, like her sword had completely cut through, leaving nothing behind but a vacuum space.
In an instant, all the Honkai beasts that had swarmed around her were instantly sliced to pieces.
The white paw of a Chariot came out of nowhere.
Mei spun her body, narrowly avoiding its sweeping attack. While in mid-air, she planted her foot on the chariot's face and jumped into the air.
She raised her katana over her head and brought it down, splitting the Honkai beasts in half completely down the middle.
As the beast before her crumbled to the ground, Mei gripped her blade tightly and panted.
"I feel so… tired," she said breathlessly.
"But even still…"
A small uncharacteristically cocky smirk appeared on Mei's face when she saw more Honkai beasts beginning to climb onto the ship.
"Why is it… now of all times, all I can think of is you?" she whispered.
Without even hesitating, Mei penetrated the front of their ranks, causing them to scatter in confusion.
I like how you, at the end of every mission, would come to my room and kick the door open, all the while saying "Mei-senpai! I'm home!"
Her katana slashed through the air, cutting down more honkai beasts in her wake.
Then, you'd jump onto the chair or bed next to me and yell about how hungry you are…
Mei stabbed her sword into the head of a zombie before pulling it out and decapitating it with a single stroke.
And then, I would always rub your hair and say "Welcome home."
All of these things… they're all things I love about you.
Mei swiped the blood off her katana before turning around.
"Great, Storm Thegn too." She spat some blood onto the deck.
She rushed back into battle.
You're not just some Kaslana heroine. You're not just a clone of your older sister and the Second Herrscher.
Mei mercilessly sliced into the Honkai Beast's carapace. Her eyes widened as its shadow changed. She jumped back, narrowly avoiding its massive lance appendage.
To me…
Mei shot forward once more, peppering it with a multitude of slashes.
You're lovable and kind… You're an idiot I would never let go of… so that's why…
[Exceed Mode Activated]
"No matter what! No matter how many times I have to break my body! Even if I have to sell my soul to the Herrscher inside of me, I'll always come and save you, Ceci!" Mei delivered the coup-de-grace, slicing through the Storm Thegn's entirety in one slash.
Its top half slowly began to slide off its body and hit the floor with a mighty thud.
Mei's chest heaved up and down as she tried to catch her breath. The Honkai Beasts were showing no signs of stopping. However, she didn't mind. If this was what she had to go through to get her back, then Mei would gladly face down even Kiana for Cecilia's sake.
[Miss Raiden! We've evacuated the Lower Decks but our sensors are picking up another swarm heading your way!]
"Understood. I'll keep them from breaching the Lower Decks. Tell the Principal that the Honkai Beasts are swarming the lower half," Mei replied.
[Roger!]
The link cut off and Mei widened her stance once more. She rushed forward into the heat of battle.
There's no end to them! They just keep coming. At this rate, we'll never be able to-
"How laughable. To think you'd be struggling this much. How can you ever hope to save her if you can't even overpower these small fry?"
Mei slashed a Honkai beast in half. Her brow furrowed, recognizing the voice almost immediately.
It had been a while since she heard her haunting her mind. It was the same in Nagazora. It would be the same here it seemed. Mei let out an annoyed sigh.
"Oh? How rude. I'm here to keep you company and you have the gall to be annoyed," the voice said.
"3rd Herrscher," Mei said. She unleashed another flurry of slashes at her target.
"Hmm? At this rate, you'll die here before you can even reach her," the Third Herrscher said.
"Shut up! There's no way I'm dying here! Not before I can see her!" Mei said. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end. She moved, ducking underneath the thrust of a Templar's lance. A cut appeared on her cheek, causing blood to flow down her face.
Mei countered by darting closer and slashing a cruciform at its torso.
The Templar fell over, bleeding from its midsection.
Mei panted heavily as more Honkai beasts closed in on her.
"Strong words from someone who's about to die. But words mean nothing if you can't even back up your own conviction," the Third Herrscher replied.
"Are you just here to make fun of me before I die?" Mei asked, wiping the blood off her face.
Mei heard an annoyed scoff inside her head. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a translucent shadow appear. The shadow's features were completely identical to hers. She hovered above her, just out of Mei's sight.
"No. For once, I'm inclined to help you so… I'll lend you some of my strength," the Third Herrscher said.
"What are you-!?"
Mei's eyes widened in surprise when she felt a sudden influx of strength. Her perception of the world slowed. As if on instinct, she dodged an attack from a Chariot. Mei ground her teeth together as she spun in the air, unleashing a circular wave of lightning.
The lightning instantly bisected every Honkai beast around her.
She landed on the deck.
"You…" Mei looked down at her hands, noticing violet lightning crackling around her body. She closed her hands tightly. The aura around her body grew brighter.
"It would be pathetic for us to die here. Not only that but I have a score to settle with that girl so I refuse to let anyone but me kill her. That is why… Raiden Mei, I will help you. For once, our interests align with one another's," the Third Herrscher said, floating in front of Mei.
"I won't let you kill Cecilia," Mei said.
"I am aware. But… you can't really refuse me, can you? After all, I am the only key you have to getting her back. Without me, you're just dead weight compared to everyone else," she said.
Mei clenched her fists, glaring at the Third Herrscher. "Say what you will about me." Mei walked through her, refusing to give her another look.
"Aw. You were more fun when you were nothing more than a useless girl following your two friends around. But whatever, this works out for us. After all, helping you will help me," the Third Herrscher said.
Mei glanced over her shoulder, giving the Third Herrscher a side-eye.
"You…"
"Don't give me that look. I know you better than anyone. After all, I am…"
"Of course, you are…"
"You."
"Me."
[Mei, we're about to pass through the barrier. Get back to the bridge immediately.] Theresa's voice came in through her comms link.
"Eh? Already? Roger," Mei replied.
"..." The Third Herrscher suddenly turned her head in the direction of the labs. She floated silently in the air, not facing Mei.
"What's wrong?" Mei asked.
"Something's off. I can't put my finger on it," she said.
"Whatever. I need to get back to the bridge," Mei said, turning around and walking through the door.
A white-haired woman clad in a black dress and shoulder cape observed the screen calmly. Behind her, a pair of metallic doors slid open with a hiss.
"Lord Otto."
Otto walked inside the room, greeting Amber with a wave. He stopped just short of his chair and placed his hands on his hips. The monitors that allowed him virtually unparalleled access to all of Schicksal's cameras. His eyes turned to one.
"It looks like Rita and Fu Hua are having trouble."
The footage showed Rita being thrown into a pillar violently. The camera continued to produce a live feed, showing Rita darting out of the way as a wave of fire sliced the pillar in half.
"And how goes our little project in the Helheim Labs, Amber?" Otto asked.
"It is proceeding as planned. As you have predicted, all variables are in play," Amber replied.
Otto crossed his arms and stared at the static screen of the camera that labeled Helheim Labs. His gaze then turned to the series of screens that depicted various angles of the Hyperion.
"Theresa and her friends have arrived, it seems. Hmm, Amber prepare an evacuation order but keep the S-Ranks here. Direct Edelweiss to Fu Hua's location. It seems we'll need more backup if we're to keep distracting… that," Otto narrowed his eyes when he saw the dark patches on Kiana's skin.
That… form is almost the same as the one Kriemhilde and Siegfried took during the Second War. How… interesting. How come it never showed in any of the previous studies or tests? Otto wondered.
"The order has been prepared," Amber said.
"Good. For now, hold it. I'll let you know when to broadcast the signal," Otto said.
"Understood, Lord Otto," Amber replied, bowing.
"Now, Theresa. How will you fare with this?" Otto wondered, crossing his arms and looking at the screens.
[Theresa. We have a visual of Helheim Labs. But…]
This was the first thing Mei heard when she entered the bridge. All around her, the personnel of the Hyperion worked rapidly, piloting the ship and automating the defenses against the Honkai Beasts. She saw a video screen display of Kriemhilde in her ship.
"But what?" Theresa asked.
[The barrier's been weakened to all hell. And it seems that the lab has sustained some heavy damage.] Kriemhilde said.
"What? Heavy damage?" Mei asked, walking up to Theresa.
Theresa placed a hand on her chin. "Doctor Einstein, any luck reaching Doctor Tesla, Kiana, and Himeko?"
[Not on my end no. Though, if the lab has sustained heavy damage, we can assume that Tesla's group went on ahead and pushed forward. In any case, we can't be too sure either. The number of Honkai beasts is only growing and we must prepare for our worst-case scenario.] Einstein replied.
Theresa bit her thumb.
"How strange. You there. What's the status on our approach?" Theresa asked, looking at one of the operators.
"It's as Madam Kriemhilde says. The security barrier has gone down completely and we're getting no readings from the lab as we approach it," the operator said.
[What are you thinking, Theresa?] Kriemhilde asked.
"It's too strange. Why are the barriers down? Even if the main power core has been disabled, they still have to deactivate the auxiliary cores to completely take it down. It's like they took it down on purpose," she replied.
"You think… this is a trap of some sort?" Mei asked.
"I can't be too sure. This is Grandpa we're dealing with after all," she said. "In any case, Hilde, do a quick fly-by and report whatever you can find. Meanwhile, we'll begin preparation for a breach-"
"Madam Headmaster! We have a problem!" one of the operators yelled.
"What is it-"
Theresa's words were interrupted by a bout of extreme turbulence. The Hyperion rattled violently in the air, causing everyone inside to stumble and grab onto something to keep from getting knocked over.
[Theresa? What's going- Can't- Signal is-] Kriemhilde and Einstein's communications links cut out, leaving nothing but static.
"Damn it! Status report now!" Theresa yelled.
"We're detecting strong dimensional fluctuations! These readings are off the chart! At this rate, the Hyperion will-!?"
The interior of the Hyperion began to wrinkle and warp. Dark shadows began to wrap around the Bridge.
"What's going on- Ah!" Mei felt something drawing her in.
"Huh? Mei!" Theresa turned around and reached out to grab Mei's hand, only for her to grab nothing but air.
Mei helplessly fell through the darkness. She closed her eyes, waiting for whatever fate awaited her. However, the pain and agony she expected never came. Instead, she felt a familiar pair of hands on her body. A nostalgic warmth that brought peace and calm to her mind.
"Mei-senpai…"
Mei opened her eyes. She was outside. The… deck of the Hyperion? And… Her eyes widened in surprise.
"C- Ceci!?" Mei gasped.
"Yes, it's me," Cecilia said, smiling warmly at her.
"Are you okay? Did they… do anything to you?" Mei asked.
"I'm… good. In fact, I've never felt better. I feel like I've been given a second life," Cecilia said.
Something was wrong. Mei felt it. Instinctively, even if that smile was meant to disarm her emotionally, she couldn't shake the feeling. There was something eerie about her smile. It was as though it was a prelude to something horrific and nightmarish.
"C- Cecilia?" Mei said with a worried tone.
Her eyes widened in horror when she saw Cecilia's blue eyes turn into a poisonous shade of gold. Her once warm sky-blue eyes were now pits of molten gold with a cross-hair design spinning lazily at the center.
Cecilia's battlesuit began to change form. Orange particles of honkai energy littered the air as it shaped her clothing. A black fur collar appeared on her neck and shoulders with the golden emblem of the Kaslana family, which now hung mockingly as its centerpiece. On her head was a white and orange star-shaped hairpin. The White Comet's suit transformed into a white and black, backless combat dress with a reverse V strap connected to the fur collar.
Her left arm was covered in a long black sleeve that connected to a black glove with an orange palm while her right hand was covered in a single black glove. She had three wings made of light on her right side while three helical lances floated sinisterly on her left.
"You… You're not…"
"I'm so happy."
Mei watched in stunned horror as she spoke.
"I was so happy to see you next to me when I awoke. Now…" Cecilia gently stroked Mei's cheek and leaned in.
"It's time for us to become one, my other half. My Gem of Conquest…"
However, before Cecilia could do anything, a burst of violet lightning sliced across the air, causing her to drop Mei to the ground.
Cecilia flew back a short distance. She felt warm liquid trickle down her cheek and she raised her hand to touch it. She brought her finger up to her mouth and licked it off.
"Well, we did say we were prepared for the worst-case scenario but even this is bad by my standards."
Mei turned to the translucent specter next to her.
"As of right now, that girl has been completely taken by the Honkai. As of right now, she is the most dangerous existence on the planet," the Third Herrscher said.
"Yeah… she is extremely dangerous. But it's because of that that I can't let her go. I won't abandon her like she didn't abandon us at Nagazora," Mei said, standing up.
"..."
The Third Herrscher smirked. "Hmph. Very well. If you're going to fight a Herrscher, you're going to need Herrscher-Grade power as well, right?"
Mei gripped her katana tightly. Her eyes shifted from their usual warm violet to an electrifying hot-pink. A violet streak appeared on her bangs. A series of markings appeared on her left arm, resembling Lichtenberg marks. Her arm glowed brightly. Five diamond-shaped wings made of pure electricity appeared on her left.
"Don't let me down, Mei."
"Ceci…" Mei glared at the Herrscher before her. She sheathed her katana and dropped into a battoujutsu stance. "No matter what, I'll never leave you behind because… I know for a fact that you'll never give up on me as well!"
As if in response to Mei's resolve, thunder boomed violently overhead.
Yes, I am using Mei's original Herrscher form for this. Also, Befall is the next chapter followed by more Rita and Fu Hua vs Kiana and Himeko. Hehehe, I've been waiting for this moment for a while. I just have to wait a little longer. Anyway, see ya'll later.