Chapter 4: Second Honkai War III

Babylon Labs, Research Personnel Medibay, Private Room B

Shirou awoke in the real world with a gasp, looking around his surroundings again. "You're awake! Are you alright, Shirou? Do you feel any discomfort anywhere? This is the second time you've passed out around us, you know! You're making me worry about you!"

Theresa was sitting at his bedside, crossing her arms. "Honestly, you're a Human-Honkai Beast Hybrid like me, and yet I'm not as reckless as you! Is this how an elder sister—wait, that's too sudden—Ahem, I mean, a senior student feels when they have to take care of their junior…? I suppose I'll be seeing a lot more of this at St Freya when it finishes constructing…" the self-proclaimed "World's Cutest Valkyrie" muttered with a pout. "Wait! I've gotten off topic… Since you've woken up, I've some urgent questions for you, mister! First of all, what's this I've been hearing about you making some copy of MY Judah—!"

Theresa was interrupted by the door of the Medibay private room opening. "Madam Theresa, Shirou's blood samples have finished— oh, I see the boy has woken up, at a fortunate time. His medical results have just finished their analysis. Shall we review them now?" Dr Einstein walked in and closed the door behind her, holding out a datapad to the Valkyrie.

'Please give it over, Dr Einstein, I want to read the results for myself!" Taking the datapad, Theresa began scrolling through text while Dr Einstein began to read out from her own personal datapad. While this was all happening, Shirou was glancing back and forth between them in confusion.

"Let's begin, then. According to the full-body medical scan taken, Shirou's body is indeed a mix of human and Honkai beast DNA. Unfortunately, the DNAs that were detected are not registered in Anti-Entropy's database and I lack access to the Schicksal database. However… it seems that Shirou's body contains the genes of not just one, but two different Honkai beasts."

"Huh? Two!?"

"The scan detected effects of the Honkai DNA giving him increased physical resistance and an ability to withstand more extreme heat and cold temperatures compared to baseline humans. No visible signs of increased regeneration capability. But as for other abnormalities…"

'So different Honkai Beast genes cause different effects on the body? I was expecting Shirou to have some super strength and regeneration like me…' Theresa thought to herself. "Dr Einstein, didn't Siegfried mention not being able to run after Shirou at some point? And why did he and your Sovereign tell me an absurd story of him copying Judah—"

"I was getting to that. There is a foreign energy present in Shirou, something I've never seen before. This energy is traveling in a pseudo-nervous system consisting of 27 channels spreading throughout the body. With further observation, these channels are converting Shirou's life force into the foreign energy, but his Honkai beast genes are also passively absorbing Honkai energy from his surroundings and turning that into more life force that he can convert… so it's become a self-perpetuating cycle."

At that moment, Shirou (who had been listening to Dr Einstein's description of his Honkai beast genes and their effects on his body), quickly spoke up. "Ehm, Dr Einstein, may I explain what I can about this energy you found? I don't remember much, but I can still give some information."

"Hmm? Go ahead, Shirou. It's your body after all."

"Thanks, Dr Einstein. The 27 channels you found in my body are my Magic Circuits, originating from my soul. They weren't activated when I first gained consciousness, but are a more recent change to my body after I 'opened' them with a mental trigger for the first time. Here! I'll demonstrate for you!"

[Trace. On.]

Yet again, in Shirou's mind, an image of a sword was unsheathed.

Blue circuit-like lines appeared across the redhead's body, fading to light purple at the very ends. Glowing vibrantly, they lit up the faces of Dr Einstein and Theresa.

"Fascinating." On her datapad, Dr Einstein was furiously dictating notes. Meanwhile, enduring the minor heat from opening his circuits with a wince, Shirou continued speaking.

"The 'foreign energy' you found… I call it prana. Using it, I can perform an ability called Structural Reinforcement, where I fill in gaps in a molecular structure with prana to make it stronger. Mr Siegfried saw me use it on my muscles, increasing my strength and speed, so I could reach Sirin faster after that giant bomb exploded." Shirou grimaced as he recalled the site of the SILVER BULLET's impact.

"But that's not all you can do with this… prana… you called it? You are able to create copies of weapons with it." Staring intently at Shirou, Dr Einstein explained her reasoning. "While you were unconscious, I had taken small blood samples from you. Siegfried and Welt also brought back two swords they said had been produced by your power, swearing that they saw you make a copy of the Oath of Judah and its chains. In analysing your blood, I detected traces of your 'prana'. The two swords you produced have also been slowly degrading in sharpness and durability since you passed out, giving off the exact same prana energy."

Seeing Dr Einstein's face, Shirou already knew he couldn't hide it anymore. Raising a hand, he Traced a training sword copy in his hand. "Ah, yes… this ability is called Projection, or Tracing. Using an image in my mind as a blueprint, I can create a temporary construct made out of prana in the real world. The higher the quality of the image, the higher the quality of the construct, making it more durable and last longer."

At the sight of him seemingly making the sword from thin air, Theresa gasped excitedly. "Amazing, Shirou! Your power… It's almost like the First Herrscher! Maybe you could even counter him–"

"Ah no, I can't do that, I think…" Shirou quickly cut in, awkwardly scratching his head, while also seeing a certain Anti-Entropy scientist glaring daggers at Theresa's back. "My power is mostly limited to bladed weapons, and right now I'm also too weak and drained to create anything too powerful." Dismissing the Traced training sword, a spear with a few chain links appearing in its place.

"With my current reserves of prana, I can only partially recreate one Spear of Judah… my Magic Circuits are practically empty right now. I doubt I can copy Mr Welt in creating a giant robot hand, let alone an entire giant robot." Theresa was staring at the copy of her weapon's spear to reply. Dr Einstein, on the other hand, was more calm. "That is all we have to speak of about your speculated abilities, then. Now, we should move on to another topic…"

"What is your relationship with the Second Herrscher?"

Far Side of the Moon, Palace of Selene

A Judgement-class Honkai dragon quickly approached the ancient ruin in the middle of the Moon's largest crater. As it landed, the beast transformed; becoming a silver haired girl with a side ponytail. Slowly, she approached her waiting Master.

"My Queen, your loyal servant has done your bidding. The humans have countered the additional meteors you sent against them by blowing them up in orbit. I request permission to cease merely observing and let me attack their bases personally–"

Without turning around, the Herrscher of the Void spoke. "No, Gudako. Continue as you have been. Stay vigilant and keep an eye on them, particularly for any signs of the traitor."

Jerking her head up, Gudako's face was of dull confusion. "Keep an eye on them? Pardon your servant's rudeness, my Queen, but should we not press the advantage and strike now? I can gather more rocks from the moon's surface and–"

One orange eye with an elaborate cross-shaped iris glanced back in response. "Do you doubt my judgement, Gudako? You think you know better than your Queen?"

"Ah, my sincerest apologies, my Queen. Please forgive your foolish servant… I will accept any punishment–"

"Enough. I do not mean to scare you, Gudako. You should already know we are fighting a villain who leads a gullible flock of sheep: the Schicksal Overseer. His cunning and deception will now doubt twist the common rabble against us." Walking closer to her servant, the Herrscher of the Void placed a hand on her servant's shoulder, bidding her to rise.

"By futilely throwing more rocks at him, we only waste our energy, and if we go down to face him unprepared, that man will merely throw waves and waves of cannon fodder at us, until we are weakened and he will strike from behind." Slowly, Gudako stood, deferring to her Master, her Queen.

"Cheating, lying, never fighting fair… I may have granted you a new life, restored intellect and Herrscher power, but that is not enough should you squander them and be defeated by their tricks, just as I was against that traitor. We must grow stronger… And with knowledge comes power." The ascended Void Queen waved her hand around them, gesturing to their ancient surroundings.

"With the help of GOD, I have finally understood the inscriptions of these rocks: they contain all sorts of knowledge from the Previous Era. Maths, physics, chemistry, strategy… And even things about Herrschers, about us. We must arm ourselves with this knowledge… And I think I have an idea on what to do next." In her mind, images and diagrams were visualised, a particular book standing out prominently.

"Sun Tzu, the Art of War: Divide and Conquer. We must plan and destroy them one bastion at a time. And we shall start with that irritating traitor…" Cupping her dragon's chin, the Herrscher of the Void spoke.

"So, Gudako, you can help me with something."