Honkai of Fate
(September 9, 2024. Author's Notes: Rewritten and updated some parts of this chapter.)
Chapter 2: Babylon Labs
The Tower of Babylon, a schicksal research facility that is located in Siberian Tundra. The second largest Honkai Energy Research Center in the world, it also houses the planet's third largest Honkai Reactor File. The place has a total of 50 floors, reactors are placed in the bottom twenty floors, while three research divisions are located in the other thirty. The three divisions are known as; Advanced System Lab, where it focuses on integrating Honkai Energy with the human physiology. Results of these are the things known as a Stigmata. The Weapon's Division, as the name suggests, uses Honkai Energy to make weapons and equipment for field operations by using theories that are proposed by the Energy Division…
"So in other words, the Weapon's Division is like a Magi's workshop in a way." Shirou said as he look at the notes he wrote yesterday when he came to this place.
Lastly, the Energy Division. This division focuses on theoretical research related to Honkai and supports the other two divisions if needed.
"This world is strange…" Shirou muttered silently. "I got transported into a different world from mine, is all that I can definitely think of as an answer." Shirou thought to himself. "And this Honkai Energy… Is it like prana in my world? And if it is, does it work the same as prana?" Shirou asked in his head.
Ever since Shirou got transported into this place called "Babylon Labs", he's been asking questions about this place in his mind. Confusion was evident since this was the first time he ever heard of such energy.
Right now, Shirou is sitting in one of the cells that was given to him by one of the research staffs. Although Shirou wasn't really a child that was sent to this lab, the researchers thought he was just another one of the kids who got damaged in the head from all the researches that happened to them, needless to say; Shirou couldn't escape.
Shirou sighed deeply as he leaned back on his bed. "Kiritsugu, what should I do in this situation?" He muttered to himself. His cell door suddenly opened and revealed Sirin.
"Hey Shirou." Sirin called for him. "It's lunch time already, let's eat." She announced as she entered Shirou's cell with the food given to them by the researches in her hands.
"Ah… It's that time already?" Shirou asked as he sat on his bed and Sirin did the same thing.
The started eating their food in silence and peace, not bothering to talk since there wasn't much to talk about. Sirin can't help it but be at peace whenever Shirou is around, it's almost as if there was something different from him than the other kids that she met and befriended. It was something that is so close to pinpoint, yet something so hard to tell about him that it's completely a headache to figure out.
"NO! PLEASE, DON'T TAKE ME! NO! NO! NO!" A cry from another kid was heard as Sirin and Shirou were eating.
Shirou got out of sitting on his bed and went out of his cell, but just as he was about to be completely out, Sirin grabbed his hand.
"Don't, Shirou." Sirin stopped him. "They won't listen. They only care about the results."
Shirou tried to escape Sirin's grip, but to no avail. "But Sirin! They need our help! They just can't take the others while we do nothing about it!" Shirou struggled to escape her grip again. "Let go of me! I need to protect them!"
"Shirou!" Sirin shouted as she tightened her grip on him. "It's not worth it… They just won't ever listen. That's how they are."
At that point, Shirou just gave up as it was too late. The other kid was already taken by the researchers and Shirou slumped and stared down on his cell floor.
As silent went on inside Shirou's cell, Sirin spoke.
"I hate them."
Shirou looked towards Sirin as she continued to speak.
"They experiment on us as if we're just toys for them to break, inject us with the Honkai, and throw us away as if we're just garbage in their eyes." Sirin gritted her teeth, anger searing out of her character.
"I despise them. "We serve a divine purpose", they said, "We're perfecting the so-called Stigmata for Schicksal Valkyries", they said, "Orphans like us should feel grateful", they said…"
Sirin struck Shirou's cell wall hard. "Like hell I would feel grateful for that!" Sirin's eyes started to drop tears, both in anger and sadness.
"I just want to go home…" Sirin said as she wrapped her arms around her legs, balling herself together.
Shirou felt sad at hearing Sirin's words and complaints. He wished that he could help her and not just her, but the other kids that are suffering as well. He knew that if he didn't, the kids here would lose their childhood and have nothing more but terrifying memories as a child.
Then he decided. Shirou walked towards Sirin and grabbed both of her hands with his own and balled them together.
"Then we'll find a home!" He declared. "Once we get out of here, we'll find a home! One where everyone can laugh and enjoy the fun things that we missed!" He announced to her, making the mood between them lighten up a bit.
However, that mood didn't last long. Sirin shook her head at him. "We can't, Shirou. We can't even escaped this place, we got no other place to go. It's just useless to think about it."
Shirou couldn't help but frown, however he didn't give up.
"Then, if we all feel sad and in despair, how about we sing a song to lighten the mood?" Shirou said as he looked at Sirin with light.
"A song?" Sirin asked.
"Yeah! Ever heard of the song "Twinkle, twinkle, little star?"" Shirou asked.
"I heard of it, yes." Sirin confirmed.
"Then let's make a song out of that! Let's change the lyrics so that we only know about it!" Shirou said as he stopped holding Sirin's hands as he started thinking of the lyrics.
"Let's see… how should we change this song's lyrics to the ones that we only know about…? Hm…" Shirou was a bit lost in thought.
"Shirou, I don't think that this is necessary-" Sirin was about to speak, but got cut off by Shirou.
"I know! How about like this?" Shirou then started as Sirin listened carefully.
Shirou smiled at Sirin as he started to sing.
"Twinkle, twinkle, shining star."
"I'll follow you wherever you are."
"Shining bright, our guiding light."
"You're always there to bear our fright."
"Up above, countless, worlds apart."
"You always were our burning spark."
"Silent cries, friendly smile."
"You're always there in our time of dire."
"Twinkle, twinkle, shining star."
"I hope to see you wherever you are."
As Shirou finished singing, he smiled at Sirin again and waited for her to speak.
Sirin was speechless to say the least, not because out of shock, but because she felt warm inside her heart. It felt nice, calming, and… joyful. She couldn't help but smile a bit as well, making Shirou smile even more in please.
"Why are you smiling like that, you dork?" Sirin asked as she stood up.
"You liked it, didn't you?" Shirou asked as he got behind Sirin.
"Hmph! It's not bad, I guess." Sirin said with a pout.
Shirou couldn't help but laugh in a good manner as he heard Sirin's praise. "Hahaha! You liked it! I'm glad that you did, Sirin!" He smiled brightly at her again.
Sirin grabbed his cheeks with one hand and squeezed him a bit out of embarrassment. "AGH! S-Shut it, you stupid dork! Yes, I liked it, you idiot!" She said with a hint of blush on her cheek. "Jeez… Seeing him smile like that is making me all flustered… Why is that…?" She thought to herself as she let go of Shirou's cheeks.
Sirin sighed again as an alarm sounded, signaling them that lunch break was over.
"It was a good lunch, Shirou. But it's time for me to go back to my cell." Sirin said as she exited Shirou's cell.
"Oh, sure thing. Be safe for me, Sirin." He kept his bright smile on his face as he said farewell to her for now. "Just remember our little song whenever you feel sad, okay?"
Sirin's blush grew a tiny bit. "F-Fine… I'll remember it. I'll even sing it to the other kids. I'm a better singer than you anyways!" She said as she closed Shirou's cell door.
Shirou giggled a bit. "Sure thing, Sirin. Whatever you say." He said as Sirin left to go back to her own cell.
Night came up a lot quicker than Shirou would have expected it. Is it because of his cell not having even a singular window other than his cell door having multiple holes as an air vent? He didn't bother asking it out loud because he knows the answer already.
He went asleep for the second time that night.
Next morning came along in a flash, the day didn't start off at a great start as another child was taken to be tested and experimented on.
"NO! PLEASE! NO! NOT ME! SIRIN, DON'T MAKE THEM TAKE ME!" The girl with blue eyes and black hair called out to Sirin as she was being taken away.
"Bella! No, don't! Don't take her, please! Bella!" Sirin cried out to her friend, Bella as she was being pulled away by a researcher.
"Ugh! Shut up! Subject 238, let go of Subject 213 this instant! She's serving a divine purpose, don't get in our way!" The researcher shouted as he pulled on Bella's arm again.
Just as Sirin was about to let go of Bella because of her failing grip, Shirou came in and grabbed the researcher's arm, making Sirin's eyes go wide.
"S-Shirou…?" Sirin asked in confusion.
The researcher looked at Shirou with wonder. "Subject 320, what the hell do you think you're doing?" The researcher asked in a stern and strict voice.
Shirou's eyes didn't falter as he stared back at the man with resolve and a fierce fire in his eyes. "If you're going to take this girl to test on her again, don't."
The researcher scoffed. "Then what do you propose to be done?" The researcher asked. "Subject 213's tests are to be started at this time of day. There is no other options to refute this decision."
"If you're going to experiment on this girl, then don't. I will not repeat it again." Shirou said with a seething anger in his voice. "Take me in as a test subject instead."
Sirin couldn't believe what she was hearing. Shirou, the friend she made, was standing up for another person that he doesn't know about. Yet he didn't even shivered to the idea of being experimented on if it means to not have Bella be the one to be experimented on.
"S-Shirou, wait! Please no! Don't take him as well! He doesn't need to get involved in this, please!" Sirin tried to argue back Shirou's decision but it didn't work. She tried to grab hold of the researcher's arm.
"Shut it, Subject 238!" The researcher shouted as he smacked Sirin out of his arm and looked at Shirou.
"Sirin!" Shirou shouted in worry for his friend as Sirin stumbled down to the floor.
"Subject 320, we will accept your proposal. We won't test on Subject 213, but you will have to come with us to fill in for her to be tested instead." The researcher said to Shirou.
Shirou nodded his in acceptance. "I understand. I'll fill in for Bella's test if it means that she doesn't have to suffer."
With that said and done, Shirou was forcefully taken by the researcher's hand and started walking towards the elevator.
"N-No, please!" Sirin shouted as she got up and grabbed Shirou's hand. "Shirou, you don't have to do this! Please don't go! You'll just get hurt if you do! Please stay! Don't leave me!"
Shirou grabbed Sirin's hands and closed them together. "It's fine, Sirin. I'll be alright." Shirou assured her. "I've faced an experience that's more terrifying than this. It's alright. I'll be fine." With that, Shirou let go of Sirin's hands and walked towards the elevator where the researcher was waiting for him.
"N-No…! No Shirou, don't go! Please!" Sirin shouted again as she got up.
"It's alright, Sirin." Shirou gave her a small smile as the elevator door closed and went up towards the Advanced System Lab.
Sirin's hands balled into fist as she started banging on the elevator's door in anger and sorrow.
"Why…?" She asked to herself. "Why?! Why?! WHY?!" She banged on the elevator doors with her fists.
"Why does it always have to be this way?!" Tears started to fall from her eyes as she knelt on the floor with her arms all slumpled.
"Shirou…" Sirin said his name quietly. "I hope you come back safely…"
The journey upwards the Tower of Babylon towards the Advanced System Labs wasn't something that Shirou really was looking forward to. The silence between him and the researcher is extremely and completely intense that it was nerve-racking for Shirou, but he kept his calm demeanor while the both of them were going upwards.
"I promised to be a Protector of Humanity…" Shirou started to think to himself inside his mind. "I want to be a Protector of Humanity, I promised that to Kiritsugu." Shirou silently balled his fists. "But to think that there are humans like this, experimenting on poor children like it's nothing…" He felt disgusted of the thought- no, the reality that he was facing right now.
"You can't save everyone, Shirou. But always remember that you can save those who are in deep need." Kiritsugu's words for him replayed in his mind as he stopped balling his fists.
Shirou sighed silently and let out a small smile on his face. "Yeah… The old man was right. I can't save everyone, but I can save those who I can." Shirou looked at the elevator door as it stopped and opened. "And I said to him that I will protect those who are human in my eyes and not just in the eyes of the people."
"Subject 320, get moving." The researcher said as Shirou followed him outside the elevator.
"And right now, these people are not humans in my eyes!" Shirou thought in his mind one final time as he entered the Advanced System Labs with the researcher.
As Shirou entered the Advanced System Labs, he saw multiple people wearing doctor clothes, with face masks covering their mouths, and white gloves. Lots of equipment were spread neatly and tidily on multiple trays on a small cart. Syringes filled with Honkai inside, small Surgeon Knives, a needle and a ball of thread, and a small pair of scissors were all the equipment that Shirou could see with his eyes and his child body.
One of the doctors, one that Shirou had assumed to be the Head Doctor, approached the researcher and they proceeded to talk.
"Ah. Director, it's good to see you." The Head Doctor shook the researcher's hand as he turned his face to look at Shirou. "This isn't Subject 213, director. Our next test is supposed to be on her for today." The Head Doctor said as he turned to the researcher. "Was there a problem on the side of Subject 213, director?"
The researcher shook his head. "No, Head Doctor. There wasn't anything wrong with Subject 213. It's just that…" The researcher placed his hand on Shirou's shoulder. "Subject 320 here insisted for him to be the test subject for this test today in place of Subject 213, and I accepted it." The researcher finished his sentence as he let go of Shirou's shoulder.
"I see, director." The Head Doctor acknowledged. "Then if that's the case…" He then turned towards his assistants. "Everyone! Get the tools that are needed for the experiment on Subject 320 here! I don't want to hear any complaining! Move! Move! Move!" The Head Doctor commanded every one of his assistant and they all started moving with haste.
The Head Doctor then turned towards the researcher. "I'll take it from here, director. This kid is in my hands now. Please rest assured that this will be a complete success this time."
The researcher nodded slowly. "I hope to see the results later, Head Doctor. Do not disappoint me." With that, the researcher left the Advanced System Labs.
"Come over here now, child. Do not resist. You are doing this for a divine purpose." The Head Doctor said to Shirou as he led him towards an examination bed in the middle of the room.
Shirou laid down on the examination bed in the middle of the room. It would be a lie if he said that he didn't felt nervous. This was the first time he would be experimented on after all. Kiritsugu had told him before that there are Magi who researched other Magi because of their unusual abilities and about the mysteries of some Magi held dear to them. This time wasn't any different than those words that Kiritsugu had told him. The only difference was that he was in another world, with people who fight this Honkai thing that Shirou doesn't know that well yet.
"Head Doctor!" A female assistant called. "Here are the items that are needed for the test of Subject 320." The female assistant then handed over everything to the Head Doctor needed on two steel trays on a small cart.
"Ah. Thank you, Felicia." The Head Doctor thanked his female assistant as he observed the items that are on the steel trays.
There weren't much any difference from the items that Shirou saw on the other tray earlier when he first entered, the only differences were that there was much more syringes that are filled with Honkai Energy than the earlier tray, five in total, along with two small crystals that didn't have any color in them.
"Sir, are you sure this is enough Honkai Energy to be used?" The female assistant asked. "These are two dormant Herrscher Cores, Head Doctor. Five syringes filled with Honkai Energy isn't probably going to work properly with this test." The female assistant informed.
"Hm… You are probably right on that, Felicia." The Head Doctor said as he ordered to his other assistant. "Hey you! Yes, you! Grab another five of Honkai Energy filled syringes! We can't afford to fail on this test!" With that command and the other assistant went over and grabbed the syringes and gave them to the Head Doctor.
"Good." The Head Doctor praised his other assistant. "This experiment is to test if more than one Herrscher Core is possible to be infused or transplanted on the human body. We can't fail on this experiment. We might be able to gain more information along with a new power on our side."
The test then started as Shirou was injected with a general anesthesia on his neck and fell asleep on the spot of where he was. The assistants of the Head Doctor moved quickly as they started to apply the necessary equipment to measure Shirou's status during the experiment. A singular huge monitor was showing Shirou's heart rate, Honkai Energy rate, mind rate, and his compatibility rate during his test.
WARNING: GORE! SKIP THIS PART IF YOU DON'T LIKE READING ABOUT GORE!
"We will now begin the test." The Head Doctor said as he cut a vertical and horizontal line on Shirou's body, exposing his all in circulatory and respiratory system organs that are on his chest.
Shirou's heart was still beating and his lungs were still inflating and deflating as the experiment went on. The Head Doctor worked extremely fast as he cut a vertical line on Shirou's heart, making blood spill out and opening it slightly before the head doctor placed the two dormant Herrscher Cores inside, once that was complete, the Head Doctor started to sew Shirou's heart together, making the bleeding stop and the heart beating properly again.
The compatibility rate and the heart rate of Shirou were all going wild as Shirou's heart tried to keep him alive, when the Head Doctor injected Shirou with a syringe that was filled with Honkai Energy, the sewed wound from Shirou started to heal because of the Honkai Energy, acting like a Honkai Beast's regeneration as pink vein-like pattern appeared.
"Fascinating…" The Head Doctor said, but he continued on with this test as he normal does. He started to inject another one of the syringe that's filled with Honkai Energy on Shirou's heart and a another pink vein-like pattern appeared as it did. The monitor showed Shirou's Honkai Energy rate rising up and for some reason his mind rate and compatibility rate as well.
The Head Doctor then went ahead and injected Shirou's heart and lungs with more Honkai Energy, four syringes were used in total, the compatibility rate, mind rate, and Honkai Energy rate were rising up as well during this process.
"This is truly fascinating!" The Head Doctor shouted in joy. "In my years of being a doctor that runs these experiments and tests, I have never seen this happen before! This young boy is a subject than I have never expected to encounter! His compatibility with these two dormant Herrscher Cores is unbelievable! His Honkai Energy just keeps on rising as well, and his mind rate is always on stable despite it rising a few many times!"
Inside Shirou's mind…
Shirou opened his eyes after he was knocked unconscious by the general anesthesia that was used on him. He really wasn't expecting this is where he would end up though.
"Where… am I right now…?" He asked himself as he took a look around.
The place that he was in was an unfamiliar place for him. The grass was blue, flowers of red, yellow, white, and black were everywhere, and the place that he was standing on right now were surrounded with golden flowers that had the shape of the scabbard of King Arthur, although, Shirou doesn't know who or what the image was, all he knows was that it looked like to be in a shape of a scabbard.
Everywhere he looked, swords were around. Sharp, shiny, swords everywhere. When he looked up in the sky, there was a green aurora going in one direction, as if it was guiding him.
There were also two gigantic spheres that looked like two suns circling around each other very closely. One was the same auburn red color as his hair with a gold middle and it was glowing brightly, wherever the auburn red sun spun, the sky would turn amber with orange clouds as if it was the sunset of the sky. The other was colored royal blue with a gold middle as well that also glowed brightly, however unlike the auburn red sun, wherever the royal blue sun spun white and yellow stars can be seen in the sky as if it was nighttime.
In this world of endless cycle of sun and moon, Shirou felt calm and powerful, almost as if this was the place that he truly belonged to. He followed the green aurora on one direction and soon came to a stop when he saw two figures standing before him.
The figure on his left stared at him blankly, but his gaze was burning like the sun. His hair was the same color as his but it has hints of golden orange flowing down on his hair with a pair of amber eyes. His top clothes were primarily in a dark red color with gold markings, the jacket that he was wearing was color red with gold markings of what seemed like to be a sword on his right chest and magic circuits running through the left side, along with a few black marks that seemed like a flame where his wrists ended. On his hands were combat gloves that exposed his fingers and the back side of his hand. His shirt under his jacket was black, but a huge red mark of Shirou's command seal can be seen in the middle of it, not that Shirou knows what his command seals looked like anyway. He also wore a pair of black combat pants with pockets on both his knees, waist, and back side. He lastly wore a pair of black combat shoes that has its laces tied into a knot.
The figure on Shirou's right gazed at him and Shirou gazed back at him as well. The figure's eyes glowed and soon a gold ring with sharp points that burned with a gold and auburn red flames at the tips appeared on around the figure's neck, leaving only the front of his neck exposed. Dragonic wings of auburn with black markings appeared behind his back along with black dragon horns on his forehead.
He raised his left hand and a katana appeared. The blade was 32 inches long, colored black on the blunt side while colored auburn red on the sharp edge and flaming designs were engraved on the blunt side of the katana that was colored gold. The katana guard in a circular shape with the markings of Yin and Yang on it while the edges of the guard were gold. The handle of the katana was wrapped in black, small auburn red diamond shapes can be seen on the places that the black wrap didn't covered.
"So you're the one…" The figure on Shirou's left spoke as he raised his katana to point at him.
"Well, he seems to be weak for now. But he has potential." The figure on Shirou's right spoke with a calm voice.
The figure on Shirou's right was staring at him intently, try to examine him, but his gaze was warm. His hair was royal blue but hints of golden yellow was flowing down from his hair with a pair of golden eyes. Unlike figure on Shirou's right, the one on his left wore a royal blue yukata with starry patterns that's colored gold yellow along with a white flowing streak that seemed to look like an aurora that is tied up on his waist with a gold yellow ribbon. His pants were white and only had pockets in the front, while his shoes were a pair Japanese wooden slippers.
The eyes of the figure on Shirou's right glowed as well and he raised his right hand and the same blade that the figure on Shirou's left appeared in his hands with some differences. The blade in his hands right now was colored white on the blunt side while it had a royal blue color on the sharp edge, it was the same 32 inches in length, but it had starry patterns on the blunt side that's colored gold. The katana guard was the same as the one that the figure on Shirou's left had, but the handle had a white wrap with royal blue diamond shapes on the places where the wrap didn't occupy. A pair of royal blue angelic wings with white markings appeared behind his back as well.
Shirou was about to speak and ask why the figures both looked exactly like him, but he suddenly felt like he was being pulled as he blacked out.
Back inside the Advanced System Labs…
The Head Doctor was panicking a little because Shirou's ratings became unstable.
"Curses…" The Head Doctor said before turning to his female assistant. "Felicia, get a suppressor, quick! We need to inject the boy with it as fast as possible! His Honkai Energy is becoming unstable, we need to hurry!"
The female assistant followed the Head Doctor's command very quickly and soon came back with a suppressor, which is a syringe that's filled with a clear liquid inside. "Here, Head Doctor!"
"Thank you, Felicia!" The Head Doctor then quickly injected Shirou's neck with the suppressor fluid and Shirou's ratings on the monitor calmed down. "Phew… That was a close one." The Head Doctor said as he sat on his chair right beside the right side of the examination bed where Shirou was laying down.
"Sir, the boy's readings are all back to stable. Should we continue with the test?" Felicia asked the Head Doctor.
"Yes, we should." The Head Doctor answered. "I promised the director that I will not disappoint him this time." He looked at Shirou still laying on the examination bed "And right now, we got ourselves quite a fine test subject."
Another hour or so has passed by ever since Shirou got taken to be tested or rather, experimented on. After that time has passed, the researcher that took Shirou came back to check on him.
The elevator door dinged and the researcher came in.
"Head Doctor, how is the expirement-." The researcher was stopped mid-sentence by the female assistant of the doctor, Felicia.
"Shh. I'm sorry, director. But please be quiet for now. The Head Doctor is just about to finish." Felicia said as she pointed towards where Shirou and the Head Doctor was located.
The Head Doctor was just about finished his experiment on Shirou and was just sewing up the cuts that he made on the young auburn haired boy's body.
As soon as the sewing was finished, the same same phenomenon happened like earlier as the sewed up parts of Shirou started to heal from the Honkai Energy like he was a Honkai Beast, which shocked the researcher, as it healed the cut extremely quickly.
"Fascinating…" The researcher muttered beneath his breath as he didn't expected for the young boy to heal so quickly from the wound.
Shirou's golden Magic Circuits along with his new Honkai Energy Circuits started to activate and glow for a moment before it disappeared and Shirou started to open his eyes slowly as he woke up.
When Shirou turned to his right, the Head Doctor was there smiling at him, while the researcher that took him was still in a little state of shock.
"Is it… over…?" Shirou asked as he sat up and placed his feet on the floor to stand up.
"It is over, young one." The Head Doctor said as he helped Shirou up and both of them walked towards the researcher.
"It is finished, director!" The Head Doctor said enthusiastically. "The experiment was a complete success! The results should be printed out soon and will be delivered tonight!"
The Head Doctor then walked towards the researcher and whispered something. "Director, this young boy has much potential and secrets to be unearthed! I suggest to call the Overseer quickly once the results have been printed out."
The researcher nodded his head in acknowledgement. "Very well, Head Doctor" He then proceeded to take Shirou's hand and went inside the elevator with him.
After a few minutes, the elevator let out another dinging sound before it opened up.
Sirin, knowing the sound and understanding the situation, got out of her cell when another was escorting her.
"Hey Subject 238, get back here!" The staff said as he chased after her.
Sirin was rushing and running so fast that she didn't even bothered to take all the stairs as she jumped dumped down when it was just a few steps left and continued to rush towards where the elevator was located.
When Sirin arrived at the elevator, she was finally feeling relieved as she saw Shirou unharmed and still looked the same way as he was taken earlier.
Sirin didn't care about the situation, she rushed towards Shirou and hugged him tightly. "You're alive…! You're really alive! You're safe! I was so worried, Shirou! Please don't do something like that again!" Sirin cried as she kept on hugging Shirou with a tight grip.
"I'm back, Sirin." Shirou said in a soft voice as he hugged her back. "I'm back now. Please don't cry anymore."
A few moments after that encounter between the two, both were escorted back to their cells and their cell doors closed and another alarm was sounded, signaling lights out for the whole of the Tower of Babylon.
Inside Shirou's cell…
Shirou was laying down on his bed while being lost in his thoughts, wondering about the place that he just saw when he was taken to the Advanced System Lab.
"I wonder what that place was…" He muttered to himself. "It was so beautiful… and felt like… I belonged there…" He said to himself as he closed his eyes.
"No matter… I'll probably be able to see that place again soon. But for now, let's not bother on those kinds of things." He then closed his eyes and went to sleep during the night.
What Shirou didn't know however, was that the two dormant Herrscher cores in his heart started glowing as he slept, and deep inside his soul, those two same dormant Herrscher cores were interacting with the scabbard inside of him along with the newly added Honkai Energy that was injected in him.
Avalon glowed brightly, its gold light surrounding the two dormant Herrscher cores, giving them a new color. The left one gained a color of auburn red with a gold glow in the middle, it started to burn brightly like the sun as the core's flames became hotter. The right one gained a royal blue color with the same gold color in the middle as the other one, it let out a burst of energy and started glistening with small star particles. The Honkai Energy worked its magic and started to activate the two Herrscher Cores inside of him. The Herrscher Cores then let out a pulse, a weak pulse, as it was just activated.
In the Advanced System Lab…
The huge monitor in the Advanced System Lab portrayed a man with green eyes, long blond hair with a short bang and tied into a ponytail wearing purple jacket with a frilly white shirt inside.
"A child that is extremely compatible with two dormant Herrscher Cores, you say?" The blonde man question.
"Yes, Overseer." The researcher answered. "During the experiment, the Head Doctor said that Subject 320's body is compatible enough to be able to wield two dormant Herrscher Cores inside his body. The results that are printed out and are sent to you should contain all the detail, Lord Overseer."
The blonde man then let out a hum as he read through the test files that was given to him. "It seems you are correct, director. I want you and all the other staffs in Babylon Labs to continue on with the required tests and experiments, but whatever you do, always keep an eye on Subject 320 and Subject 238, understand?"
"Understood, Overseer Otto. We will." The researcher said as he bowed his head. The call then ended there and then.
The weather was cold that night and it soon came to an end as the sun came rising up again for everyone, signaling another day to continue on their own duties inside the Tower of Babylon.