Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

[A month before the events of Amphoreus…]

“INTRUDER ALERT! INTRUDER ALERT! ALL PERSONNEL, EVACUATE TO DESIGNATED SAFE ZONES! SECURITY STAFF, CONTAIN AND APPREHEND!”

Caelus’ feet pounded against the steel floor of the Herta Space Station as he and Dan Heng rushed through the Supply Zone and towards the Storage Zone, alarms blaring above them as an automated voice rang out.

“Caelus, Dan Heng, we just received reports that the intruder has entered the Secluded Zone,” A female voice rang out over a communication device in Dan Heng’s hand, “How close are you two?”

“We’re entering the Storage Zone now!” Dan Heng reported, “Have Mr Yang and March meet us there!”

“We’ll corner this intruder and take back what was stolen, don’t you worry Asta!” Caelus yelled, rushing to the elevator and unlocking it so they could use it to get to the Seclusion Zone. Once it arrived, the two young men rushed in as Caelus hit the button to get them to the Seclusion Zone.

“You’ve been down there before, what should we expect aside from a thief that somehow got past security and stole tech one of the researchers here was making for the IPC?” Dan Heng asked, readying his spear.

Caelus grimaced thinking about the last time he was down there and sighed, “Well, if they are going where I hope they aren’t, we’ll have Swarm bugs to deal with thanks to… Someone.” The name of the person who did it was on the tip of his tongue, lost to whatever happened.

“So creations of Propagation…” Dan Heng said, frowning, “We’ll deal with them the best we can.” The elevator would soon reach the Seclusion Zone and end of the track for it, the doors opening rather quickly after. The two didn’t hesitate and bolted out towards the lift down to the main area, the lift slowly lowering to the ring from which they would gain access. Dimly lit and swarmed with bugs, the two had a fight ahead of them but they made do.

Caelus for one was glad that he didn’t have to face these things alone this time as he switched from his bat to the Lance of the Architects to try and take heat off of Dan Heng as he used his Imbibitor powers to help clear the path. The two would soon reach a lab area within the ring that was used to reach lower and as Caelus jumped over the equipment and through broken glass to reach the lower level while Dan Heng used the stairs, he thought he saw a smiling doll of someone he knew from Penacony. In that moment, things seemed to glitch and what looked like Mara Struck appeared around the two. Caelus grit his teeth and switched his stance, they didn’t have time for these games and as such began to use his bat once more, swinging wildly as each one was impaled by a fully unleashed Imbibitor Lunae’s spears. When each Mara Struck fell, they seemed to glitch and vanish like nothing was there. Caelus would look back to where he saw the doll only to see it gone. “We need to get there yesterday,” Caelus remarked before running off like it was life or death. Den Heng didn’t argue nor ask, if Caelus was this serious, then it was likely really bad. And he would see that was true when they reached the main room and found the intruder there, sitting on one of the crates with a gleeful look on her face. “Sparkle!” Caelus growled, readying his bat.

“Well if it isn’t Grey Hair and a friend!” Sparkle laughed with glee, “I was hoping for Herta or even Asta. I won’t complain with you here.”

“Hand over to the device you stole,” Dan Heng demanded, “Don’t make this a fight you can’t win.”

“Tell me,” Sparkle said, completely ignoring Dan Heng, “Do you know what it is that I stole?” Before either of the two young men could speak, she would answer, “A Spatial-Temporal Disrupter. Now why would the IPC commission a Genius to make that, hmm? Surely you know why Grey Hair.”

Caelus would think for a bit and then remembered what he learned on Penacony, his face growing pale. That weapon was dangerous enough, would the IPC really have conscripted a member of Herta’s station to look into making such a thing like this? Either way, the answer was clear, “... A weapon…”

Dan Heng looked at Caelus in shock. The Trailblazer seemed so shaken and so sure. Sure the IPC wasn’t great but they weren’t that evil, surely. The Masked Fool’s laughter filled the air and told him everything he needed to know.

“Well done!” Sparkle said, clapping in a very condescending manner, “You are smart after all. Now then, if this is turned into a weapon, just think of what it could do. Render foes to their weakest, warp entire peoples to a place they cannot survive, WIPE AN ENTIRE PLANET FROM THE TIMELINE!” She would grin as she began to reach for something behind himself, “I’ve taken the liberty to delete everything related to it, including anything that would lead to its rediscovery and I’m getting ready to dispose of the device itself.”

“So you expect us to think you’re acting out of the goodness of your heart?” Caelus asked sharply.

Sparkle pulled out a button, “That would be the most fun if you did but I don’t care if you did or not.” Before anyone could act, she would press the button, causing an explosion that ripped a hole in time and space practically right on top of Caelus and Dan Heng, leaving Sparkle safe to watch the show. She would watch with glee as the two struggled to not be pulled in only to fail and fall into it. “Because in the end, it wouldn’t have mattered in the long run, the show ends the same~” She would laugh before hearing footsteps as the rift sealed itself, the owners rushing into the room and revealing the owners as Welt Yang and March 7th. “Bit late to the show, it’s already over~”

“Mr Yang, I don’t see Dan Heng or Caelus anywhere…” March said, readying her bow.

Welt Yang would step forward, “Where are they? Tell the truth or I can promise you no pleasant end.”

Sparkle would laugh, finding it hysterical that it was Welt Yang asking her that. “Wouldn’t you like to know…. Herrscher.”

Welt Yang acted almost instantly, trying to use the power of his cane to subdue Sparkle, only for the area around her to seemingly glitch before she vanished, her echoing laughter and a single mask as the only traces she was ever there. The man’s blood ran cold, thinking back to the Masked Fool’s words. How could she of all people know that about him, a secret not even Himeko knew. His thoughts would end as March stepped forward before looking at him.

“Mr Yang… Why did she call you ‘Herrscher’?” She asked, “And does it have something to do with where Caelus and Dan Heng are?”

“I wish I knew the answer to the second question,” Welt Yang said, “However, the first is a long story… One I’ve kept closely guarded for years.”

Caelus would let out a grunt as he awoke, feeling both rain that was coming to an end and cold concrete beneath him. Pushing himself up, he’d become aware of the sounds of a bustling city, bright lights breaking through the dark of night. Disoriented, he’d get to his feet and looked around for Dan Heng, hoping he was near. Before he could say a word, he’d hear something behind him, drawing his bat and aiming at the source of the noise only to find Dan Heng, the powers of Imbibitor Lunae slumbering once more.

“Looks like you’re alright,” He’d say, walking over to get a closer look at his friend’s state.

Caelus would sigh and lower the bat, “Thank the Aeons it’s you… I was worried it was someone else.” Caelus would look around once more, “Any ideas where we are?”

“Before I answer that, did you just wake up?” Dan Heng asked.

“Uh… Yeah, I did, why?”

Dan Heng frowned, “Then that rift might have spat us out at different points in time, which explains why I woke up alone in a different location, with the rain just starting. As for where we are, I did some looking into it once I got my bearings and made sure my Vidiyadra form wasn’t showing.” He would look around as he said, “This place we’re in is called Arc City, on a planet known as Earth. I couldn’t tell you when but… I’m willing to bet it’s in the past.”

“What makes you say that?” Caelus asked.

Dan Heng would look at him, as if to ask if he was serious, before saying, “Well for one, my beacon can’t connect to the Astral Express’ databank. And two, I thought I overheard a conversation someone had about the Sovereign of a group known as Anti-Entropy. That being a man named Welt Yang.”

“That… Mr Yang never said anything about that,” Caelus remarked, shocked to hear.

Dan Heng shook his head, “You’re right, he didn’t. But if it has no effect on his role on the Astral Express, then why should he?”

“Fair point. So what do we do?”

“Try to figure out how to get back to Herta’s Space Station,” Dan Heng said, “And in the process, not reveal the future to Mr Yang should we run into him, assuming this is the past. I rather not risk the flow of time.”

Caelus nodded, “Smart plan. Where to first?”

Dan Heng would point to the largest building in the skyline aways from where they were, “We head there. From what I’ve come to suspect, that place has a rather large databank and if we can access that, we can see if we can’t learn more about our situation.”

“Well then, let’s get going,” Caelus said, leading the way to the building, with Dan Heng following closely. As the two of them made their way through Arc City, they didn’t know that several forces of the world had their eyes already drawn to them, new faces to a world, universe and time not their own. Very soon, as they worked to get home, they would be drawn into the conflict of the world started by the rebirth of the world’s foe weeks back: The Honkai Eruption known as The 3rd Impact.

Chapter Text

“So if we are in the past, how far back do you think we are?” Caelus asked as the duo walked through the winding streets of Arc City.

“Can’t be sure till we learn more,” Dan Heng replied, “If we could find a picture of Welt Yang, we might be able to know for sure.”

Caelus nodded, “It’s still weird not referring to him as Mr Yang…”

Dan Heng would go to say something before a voice rang out loudly amongst the crowd, cutting him off.

“Mommy! Look!” A young girl in her mother’s arms said, pointing upwards.

Dan Heng and Caelus would look up as well, wondering just what was above them, only to see a girl in a white sweat jacket jumping the large gap between the buildings, landing on the other building with ease.

“Was that…” Caelus asked.

Dan Heng nodded, “Yeah, someone just jumped over a large sidewalk. Seems like they’re heading towards the build we are as well.” The two would walk till reaching a crosswalk where they could look towards the target destination, only to see explosions dot the rooftops that were closer to the building. “Come on!” He’d yell, deciding to try and go to help whoever was in that area, Caelus following close behind. Once the two found a way to reach the rooftops, they would begin to try to parkour their way to the building after her, stopping as the gaps got too big for them to cross. By that point, a large gust of wind would rush out from the top of the tower as a bright light shot into the sky, violet in hue. The two would watch in silence as the light continued to ascend before vanishing as it reached the moon. Within seconds, the sky would be covered in bright violet light before it faded, leaving an aurora in its place.

“What in the world…” Caelus gasped, not sure what exactly happened.

“It really is something, isn’t it?”

Dan Heng barely had seconds to react, summoning his spear Cloud-Piercer and using it to knock away a javelin that was aimed right at Caelus. Standing behind them, in white and lavender armor and a flag in one hand, was a young woman that merely smiled seeing this.

“It seems the mysteries of you two just grow,” The woman said, “Not only are you two not of this world, but you’re also fast enough to block my attacks, a feat not many non Valkyries can do. Even Valkyries tend to struggle with that as well.”

“Who are you?” Dan Heng asked, though his answer would come from someone else.

“Hare,” Another woman in a black cloak said as she landed on the building’s edge behind Caelus, “You’re not supposed to be here.”

The white haired woman, Hare, would merely keep her smile, “I couldn’t help myself Raven. With these two here, I had to come to see what led to them being in this world and what they are. They aren’t mere humans after all.”

The two would seem to converse, or at least bicker, as the two Trailblazers tried to find a way out as mechs would start to converge on the location, closing off escape routes. Despite this, Caelus would soon spot a way out, and a plan would soon come to mind. It shouldn’t be too hard to do, just adapt the escape plan from the Belobog Guardsmen for this.

“Three of a kind…” Caelus would soon whisper, his body tensing up as if he was about to move.

Dan Heng would take mere seconds to realize the plan and nodded, “Two pair.”

“What are you two whispering about there?” Hare asked, noticing both the whispers and the fact that the two looked ready to run.

“ACE!” The Trailblazers said in unison, Caelus’ lance appearing in his hand as Dan Heng used his Cloudhymn Magic to cover the two of them, using it to form a dragon that circled around the two as his friend broke open a way forward using said lance. Raven and Hare would brace for the water made dragon to hit them only for it to shatter into water droplets, revealing the Trailblazers running off across the rooftops before jumping down into an ally.

“Damn it!” Raven swore as she darted after them, “Hare, return to your post! I’ve got these two!” Hare would try to protest but Raven was already gone.

“Okay, so what now?” Caelus asked, weaving through the crowd of the main street, “Not like we can duck into a Cavern of Corrosion like we did at Belobog!”

“And our pursuer knows these streets better than us…” Dan Heng said through gritted teeth. He would soon spot one of the highways leading out of Arc City and an idea came to mind, “We split up and meet at that roadway up there!”

“You sure about this?” Caelus asked, looking a bit worried.

Dan Heng nodded, “Of course! I’ll meet up with you!” And with that, he turned off into an alleyway as Caelus remained in the crowd. Dan Heng had no idea who their pursuer would follow but he hoped that them splitting up would at least give them time to gather their senses and regroup. Moving deeper into the alleyway and onto a back path obscured and hidden to most, Dan Heng would stop running and tried to use this time to catch his breath… only for an arrow to impale into the ground before his feet, causing him to summon Cloud-Piercer to him.

“You should have kept running,” Raven said before dropping out of the shadows, bow in hand.

Dan Heng would enter a fighting stance, “We have no need to fight, we only wish to help who we can and return home.”

“Unfortunately for you, thanks to Hare and what you two have displayed earlier, you and your friend are wanted by the Sire of World Serpent,” Raven said, “Come quietly and there will be no need to fight anyway.” She would watch Dan Heng enter a fighting stance before sighing, “Steadfast and firm… Fine then, I’ll bring you in by force!” She would quickly fire off three arrows before darting at Dan Heng to attack with her claws.

The arrows were the easy part, no need to worry about dodging them when he could parry them, it was the swift strikes from Raven herself that were the hard part as she was using the arrows she fired as cover. However, she had a pattern to a degree, and Dan Heng was quickly noting the tells she had and using them against her to defend himself better. However, this only made Raven fight even harder, even dirtier, to try and bring him in without much more of a fight. Unfortunately for her, Dan Heng wasn’t going down without a fight and some serious wounds. He was a skilled fighter, one that could adapt to his foes given time thanks to both his Cloudhymn Magic and training he got in the Cloudlancer arts, it was made a bit easier. He did notice that his Cloudhymn Magic seemed almost weaker, not that it mattered much as in the fight he stuck to making copies of Cloud-Piercer to use against Raven, countering her arrows till he had her in a corner. He would then hold his spear before him, the alleyway seeming to fill with a mist as the sphere within Cloud-Piercer began to glow a bit. “The truth of life and death, revealed in an instant,” Dan Heng said, as if reciting a mantra or an activation phrase.

Raven could tell that whatever Dan Heng was about to do would be bad and began to charge at him, claws bared and ready to strike.

“This sanctuary, is but a vision…” Dan Heng would say soon after, before going in for the attack, “Break!” The two attacks would clash and hit their marks, Raven’s claws raking across Dan Heng’s side and drawing first blood while Raven’s own side took a massive blow. If she were to describe it, it was like she got hit by an S Rank Valkyrie.

Raven would stumble as she looked over at Dan Heng, seeing him return to his fighting stance as if the wound she inflicted was nothing, as if he wasn’t even bleeding. Such fortitude and strength, barely flinching, what was he? He surely wasn’t a Valkyrie, males with the Honkai resistance needed for it were extremely rare. Not to mention Hare had stated that he was not of this world and that he was no normal human, if that at all. All she knew was another blow like that would do her in and allow him to escape, something she could not allow. Reaching into her cloak, she grabbed both a mask and a canister, chucking the canister at Dan Heng almost immediately. The moment it got close, the canister clicked open and began emitting a gas everywhere.

Dan Heng would breathe in a lot of it as he stumbled back to try and recollect himself to try and counter, only to begin hacking and gasping, feeling like his throat was closing and making it hard to breathe. Cloud-Piercer would vanish as he fell to his knees, all strength sapped in the moment. “What… what is this….?” He gasped out as Raven approached him.

“A gas primarily composed of a compound we use to capture Valkyries,” Raven said, “Strips them of their strength and abilities for the most part. Though I added a bit of my own knock out stuff as even without those, they can be a pain to capture.” She seemed to smile under her mask as she knelt down, “Down worry, I’ll make sure that wound is treated and Jackal doesn’t go overboard on experiments, should Sire allow her to run any on you.” With that, she reached a hand out to grab Dan Heng as his vision blurred and everything went dark, only feeling a clawed hand before he passed out, a single thought crossing his mind as he did.

“Sorry Caelus… Looks like I’ll have to find you later…”

High on the elevated roadway rushing to the spot he said he’d meet Dan Heng, Caelus ran, out of breath but determined to make it there. His left leg, which he had twisted trying to escape from the biomechanical spider-like creatures chasing him, screamed in pain but he still pushed through it. Unfortunately, it would give out as he stepped on a bit of uneven ground, causing him to fall onto his side. Getting up, he would hear the sound of mechanical legs quickly moving towards him, causing him to look back and see two of those creatures scurrying towards him. Gritting his teeth, he would push himself to his feet as he called his bat to him, ready to fight with everything he had. Just as he went to turn to face the creatures, one would jump to try and pin him only for a flash of purple mixed with blue to streak across the sky like lightning, cutting the creature’s front legs clean off, leaving it unable to support its weight and causing the humanoid form of the main body hitting the ground with a crunch behind Caelus. Almost immediately after, Caelus would see a young lady with dark purple hair tied in a ponytail standing before him, a katana-like weapon in hand.

“Acheron…?” Caelus muttered, feeling like he had seen her before, “No… You can’t be–”

“Leave this last Death Web to me,” The young lady said, looking back at him and causing that feeling of familiarity to only grow. She would then turn her attention to the remaining biomechanical creature, which she identified as a Death Web, and get into a fighting stance. The Death Web charged the young lady, who showed no signs of flinching though her stance seemed to change, whether it was due to nerves or something else, Caelus couldn’t say. The moment the creature tried to strike the lady, she kicked backwards, moving out of the way as doubles seemed to appear and she tossed a disk of electricity at it. Then, with a flick of her wrist, it seemed like the Death Web was sliced up instantly as the blade in her hand crackled with blue energy before she quickly cut through it several times, finishing it off. She would sheath the blade in its scabbard on her back before turning towards Caelus. As much as she had similarities to Acheron, she was much younger than the Self Annihilator and there was a light in her eyes that Acheron had not. “Are you alright?” She’d ask as she walked over to Caelus.

“Ah… Yeah,” Caelus said, keeping his bat on hand in case it was needed, “My leg hurts but it’s not the worst pain I ever felt.”

The young woman smiled ever so slightly, “Good… I was worried that I wouldn’t get here in time. Given your clothes look fine, I’ll assume that the pain isn’t because of the Death Webs, correct?”

“Yeah, that would be,” Caelus said, “I twisted it trying to get away from them.”

The young lady’s eyes would widen, her expression soon shifting to a stern lookas she asked, “You were running on a twisted leg?! What were you thinking?!”

“I told someone I was going to meet them here,” Caelus explained, “I wasn’t going to let those things catch me and stop that.” He would look around and frowned, “Though… It seems like he didn’t make it…”

“And he won’t be,” A familiar voice to both of them said from atop an expressway road sign, causing both of them to enter a fighting stance as they looked up, finding Raven looking down at them with a smile.

“You,” The young woman said, voice dripping with venom.

“Good to see you too… Raiden Mei,” Revan said, “I see little Miss Herrscher isn’t with you. I take it someone recovered her from her fall before you could.”

Raiden Mei gritted her teeth, her grip on the blade’s handle tightening. She wouldn’t say anything but it was clear that Raven’s words cut deep.

Raven merely smirked and looked at Caelus, “Your friend is now in the custody of World Serpent. I’ll see to it that he’s treated better than the Herrscher was so don’t worry. I can’t promise you’ll see him again though.”

“Where is Dan Heng?” Caelus demanded, his blood boiling as his voice reflected the rage within, "What have you done with him?"

“I’m not at liberty to say,” Raven answered, “Maybe if you join World Serpent–” She cut off herself off as she saw Caelus’ bat turn a bluish-white color, cracking with energy as the young man jumped into the air to hit her with it. It would barely miss her as Raven fell backwards off the roadway and into the darkness of the city below, vanishing.

Caelus would land soon after, his left leg flaring up in pain great enough that he fell to a knee and his bat vanished. Anger and fear rose within him, anger at that woman for what she said and fear that something bad might happen to Dan Heng as a result.

Raiden Mei would run over, her initial instinct to scold and ask if he was nuts pushed aside to check on him. She knew exactly what caused Caelus to act as he did as she had seen it before in someone very important to her, someone she wanted to find and reunite with once more as well. Fresh memories of her failing to stop the strongest Schicksal Valkyrie from taking her away to who knows where resurfaced and a bitter taste filled her mouth. Frowning, she swallowed the pain and moved to help Caelus up, “Come on… Let’s get you out of here…”

Caelus would look at her as he let her help him up by the left arm, “What about Dan Heng…?”

Placing his right arm on her shoulders, Raiden Mei would smile, “We’ll get him back, somehow. I know some people who can help, one of whom is waiting for me back at the transport. She’ll look at your leg and we can go from there.”

“And the Herrscher that woman mentioned…” Caelus said, “You’re going after her again?”

Raiden Mei was silent as they began walking along the road to the transport, “Yeah… I am. She’s very dear to me and a close friend. Actually… She’s as important as the world to me in fact. If not more so…” There was more to say but she didn’t want to upset him by doing so.

Caelus would look down before saying, “Then… if you find a lead for her, let’s go find her.”

“What about…”

Caelus smiled, “Dan Heng’s just as strong as me, he’ll be able to take care of himself. Besides, this isn’t the first time we were separated in a place we don’t know, we’ll find each other again. Your friend might be in danger, and someone of that importance should be found as fast as possible.” As much as he was worried about him, the truth was that Dan Heng was just as strong, if not stronger than him. He could handle himself if need be and could talk himself into a situation that he could use to his advantage till they could reunite.

Raiden Mei gave a pained smile, not wanting to put her friend above Caelus’ but getting the feeling that Caelus wouldn’t back down from his stance, “Thank you… Uh… Might I ask your name?”

“Caelus,” Caelus said with a small smile.

“Nice to meet you Caelus,” Raiden Mei said, “And don’t worry, we’ll achieve both our goals, you’ll see. Some way, somehow.” With that, she followed the road out with Caelus, reaching the transport just as the moon began to reach the horizon, hoping that her promise would be kept. Her doubts and fears rose as she thought about it, making her worry she wouldn't be strong enough. Still, she swallowed those fears once more, she had to be strong and push forward to do this for herself and Caelus both. After all, it was the only way to find Dan Heng for Caelus as well as the one girl she held dear to her. She who saved Raiden Mei with and became the most important thing in her life. The one and only Kiana Kaslana.

Chapter Text

“So what you’re telling me is that a Masked Fool snuck onto my space station, stole something that could bend and rip into space-time, and then detonated it after wiping any info of and related to it thus sending two of the Astral Express to somewhere unknown in both fields?” A puppet that looked like a young girl asked a pink haired scientist. The Master Control Zone was bustling as usual despite what had happened hours ago, and not even the presence of Welt Yang and March seemed to distract her.

The scientist bowed, “It would seem that way Madam Herta. My deepest apologies for not being able to catch her.”

The puppet, Herta, crossed her arms before saying, “Well then that’s one problem I no longer need to worry about.”

“P-pardon…?” The scientist asked, a bit shocked.

“Yes it will have the IPC breathing down our necks but ever since Caelus and Screwllum came to me with an issue regarding a past Genius, I’ve been wary of projects they ask those here to do,” Herta explained, “Can’t have them tricking and trapping another into making a weapon, no no no.”

The scientist would look confused, “Another weapon? But wouldn’t this help with researching the past and the Aeons?”

“It could indeed Asta,” Herta said, “But, it can just as easily be weaponized. The fact that it was turned into a bomb that caused a space-time rift just a few system hours ago is proof enough. And what of the risks if it was done on a larger scale?”

“I never thought of that, I apologize Madam Herta,” Asta said, bowing a little.

“You needn’t apologize, I was tight lipped on the matter for a reason,” Herta said, “If the IPC knew that I knew of their…” She scoffed, “Well really, what could they do to me?” She would then turn to Welt Yang and March, “Which now leads us to your dilemma, in which two of the Astral Express’ crew have been displaced in time and space.”

“You can help us, right?” March asked nervously.

“Of course I can but that will require knowing where they ended up, which could be anywhere in time,” Herta said, “And that’s the tricky thing. Space can be easily solved as I can make a trip to them, drop one of your anchors, and wait for them to return. Time adds another variable and time travel isn’t an easy trick.”

“So… If they were sent to another time…” March muttered.

Herta crossed her arms, “Before you fret, no, they won’t be stranded. If you think a Genius like myself wouldn’t be able to figure out a way to bring them back then you don’t know me.” She would then look at Welt Yang, “That said, Mr Yang seems to have an idea.”

“Hmm? Oh, yes, but it hinges on one thing,” Welt Yang said, having been pulled from his thoughts by Herta addressing him.

“And what, pray tell, is that?” Herta asked.

“That they are in a world or universe connected to the Imaginary Tree,” Welt Yang responded.

March would look confused, “Imaginary Tree? What’s that?” Just then, something clicked in her head, “Wait, is this related to what you told me and Caelus on the Loufu, back when we were helping investigate Loucha?”

Welt Yang would nod, “Yes, it is. You see back where I’m from, we had made the discovery that there are two halves to existance, the Imaginary Tree and the Sea of Quanta. Our universe, much like where I’m from, rests amongst the Imaginary Tree’s branches and leaves, of which there are a multitude of others, similar and different.”

“So your idea lies in the hopes that they were displaced to another leaf or branch of that tree, is that correct?” Herta asked, “And if so, how does this help us?”

Welt Yang would look down a bit before saying, “Because of where the Imaginary Tree can be found, that being Imaginary Space. If we can open a portal to it, we could in theory create a path for them to follow back to us.”

“Thus eliminating the need for another spatial-temporal device,” Herta added, “A clever idea but unfortunately, connecting to this… ‘Imaginary Space’ will be extremely hard. After all, how can we make a portal to something we don’t know how to access?”

“I may have an answer to that,” Welt Yang said, “However, I would like to ask that it be kept between the four of us.”

Herta nodded, her only acknowledgement to the man’s request, “Go on.”

Welt Yang would hold out his hand and from it slowly appeared and rose a bluish-grey crystal that radiated a strange energy. “This might be able to help,” He would say.

“This… This is no mere gemstone, is it?” Herta asked, “It’s certainly no Cornerstone either. Too small and the energy signature is different.”

“It’s a Herrscher Core,” Welt Yang said, “Mine to be exact. The power that comes from it can be traced back to Imaginary Space in some way. It could help you find a way to it.”

"How interesting..." Herta would think before nodding, “Very well then, take that core of yours and meet me in the Simulated Universe room. There we can begin working.” And with that, the puppet seemed to go inactive and the Herrscher Core would return to where it had come from.

Welt would give March a concerned look before going to where Herta asked him to, leaving the girl with Asta, both unsure of how things would go on their end and hoping things for Caelus and Dan Heng were going better.

“So you’re telling me that after finding Kiana, she ran off to stop World Serpent’s plot only for Durandal to take her away after?” A red haired woman asked Raiden Mei as their ship flew away from Arc City.

Raiden Mei would look upset as she nodded, “I couldn’t stop her from doing so… I wasn’t strong enough to save Kiana…”

“At least we know she’s alive,” The woman said with a sigh, adjusting her glasses, “And you shouldn’t beat yourself up. You did save someone after all. Speaking of, how is our guest?”

“Last I checked, Caelus is getting situated in the room you set aside for him, Dr Tesla,” Raiden Mei reported, “He also asked me to bring him anything he could read to learn about our current mission and what is going on.”

Tesla would cross her arms, “It’s like that boy was living under a rock… How could he not know what a Herrscher is? Or even the Honkai for that matter.”

“He said he’s not from around here…” Raiden Mei said, “Could this mean this world? And if so, how is such a thing possible?”

“That’s… a long story…” Caelus said upon entering the room.

Tesla would look at him, “Ah, good, I was going to see you myself in a bit. Saves me the time.” She would cross her arms, “Now then, can you explain this story? Long or short, I don’t care. Just don’t leave out any important details.” Caelus would nod and began to recount the events leading up to him meeting Raiden Mei, making sure to explain things for Tesla so she could understand. When he was done, Tesla would frown, “So you and this Dan Heng are displaced in space and, if Dan Heng’s assumption is correct, time as well.”

Caelus nodded, “Yeah. He came to that thought upon hearing something about the Sovereign of Anti-Entropy, Welt Yang.”

This would catch Tesla’s interest, “I take it from where you’re from, you know someone with that name?”

“That’s correct,” Caelus said, “If they are the same person, then that could help us figure out where we are temporally.” Tesla nodded and pulled up an image of Anti-Entropy’s Sovereign on the monitor for him. Despite the different attire, Caelus recognized him immediately. It was Welt Yang, albeit younger than he knew. He didn’t seem as tired or worn and his hair had yet to start to grey, in a way it was like looking at a different person yet unlike how he thought Raiden Mei was Acheron till he got a better look, nothing could shake him from the feeling. This man and the one he knew as his senior on the Astral Express were the same man. “That’s him,” Caelus said, “That’s the Welt Yang I know, albeit he’s older than he is in the picture.”

“So that means you were displaced temporally and spatially as well,” Tesla said. She would scratch the back of her head with a sigh, “Well, it does explain some things but I’m surprised Welt Yang never told you about the Honkai or what a Herrscher is considering he is one himself.”

“It likely never had an impact on his current role as of my time so he never brought it up,” Caelus said, “And him being a Herrscher… Is that why he can make black holes?”
Tesla shook her head, “That’s primarily related to his Divine Key, the Star of Eden. Which also tells me he also has that in your time as well. Good to know wherever he goes to meet you and Dan Heng he’s not unarmed.”

“Uh… What’s a Divine Key?” Caelus asked, “I don’t think I read anything about that while in my room.”

“I can explain it later,” Raiden Mei said, “I did want to go over the reading material you got with you, just to make sure it helped catch you up for the most part.”

“Alright,” Caelus said with a nod before Tesla cleared her throat.

“WIth that sorted, you said you wanted to help us find Kiana, correct?” Tesla asked.

Caelus nodded, giving Tesla his full attention, “That’s the Herrscher that woman taunted Raiden Mei about, right?”

“She is,” Tesla said, “We’re to find her and help her find a way to reign in those powers before the Honkai can hijack her mind again. We got lucky that she was able to be freed from it and was even able to use her Herrscher powers to save Arc City.” She would pause before saying, “That said, before you can help us, we need to test your Honkai resistance. If it’s not high enough, no battlesuit will do you any good.”

“That’s because I’d be susceptible to Honkai poisoning, right?” Caelus asked.

Tesla nodded, “Yep. And it’s a risk I won’t take.”

Caelus would think before nodding, “Alright then, let’s get these tests done.” The testing of Caelus’ Honkai resistance was a lot less painful than he thought it would be, with the most stressful test being the controlled exposure to raw Honkai Energy, which was to be carried out with Caelus in a secure room that would contain the energy and then filter it out once the test was done. For Raiden Mei and Tesla, this wasn’t too dangerous, a simple thing they could shut down if Caelus showed signs of Honkai poisoning, which at the amounts of the test could be treated with little fear of his life. For Caelus, this test made him actually scared. Not because of the Honkai poisoning factor, but because of the Stellaron within him. What would happen when the energy of the Stellaron interacted with the Honkai? Would it be fine or would the Stellaron go haywire like it did on the Herta Space Station after he first woke? If it went haywire, how would they be able to stop it? Tesla likely would have no idea on how to do so! He would turn to back out, only to find that the testing room had been sealed. Sure, he could protest but he felt like there was no turning back. Steeling himself, he would brace for whatever the test would be.

Outside of the room, Tesla would be preparing the final bit of preparation for the test, noticing that Raiden Mei had a worried look as she watched Caelus through a window. “Concerned for our new friend Miss Raiden?” She’d ask.

Raiden Mei frowned, “Is there no better way to test his resistance than this?”

“This room is designed to make a Honkai Cascade nigh impossible,” Tesla said, “The room has filters designed to make sure a steady level of Honkai enters the room and can release a gas to neutralize it all if need be. And because he’s not a Valkyrie, this won’t impact his fighting ability for his home.” She would sigh as she finished the calculations needed for the test, “Frankly it’s more humane than what Schicksal was doing at the Tower of Babylon prior to the 2nd Eruption.”

Raiden Mei would freeze, both at the reference to the 2nd Eruption, also known the world over as the 2nd Honkai War, and at what Tesla said Schicksal did prior to it. Schicksal had said that they had stopped the Herrscher of Void alone yet Tesla’s words implied that she knew more about what happened than what was officially told. Normally she wouldn’t believe such things but after finding out that the Schicksal Overseer had done something to turn Kiana into the Herrscher of Void, anything was possible. She would turn her gaze to Caelus once more, “I… I just hope you’re right…”

Tesla nodded as she pressed a button, activating the speaker in the room Caelus was in, “I’m about to start the test. If you notice any purple lines on your body or your vision begins to blur, show 4-2-3 with your hand and I’ll shut off the test and administer a treatment, got it?” She would wait till she saw Caelus give a thumbs up before pressing the speaker button again, “Starting test now.” And with that, the room began to fill with Honkai Energy.

Caelus would feel unnerved as an eerie purple light filled the room but that was the least of his worries as his whole body began to tingle. That tingle would turn into a burning feeling that got worse and worse until it somehow stopped. This alone would freak him out as he checked his body as much as he could to find the purple lines but found none. His vision wasn’t going bad either so it didn’t seem like the Honkai was doing much to him. Was the initial reaction just his body interacting with an energy he’s never been in contact with before? Or did the Stellaron save him by canceling out any poisoning he may have gotten from the energy? It didn’t matter in the moment, not that the answer could be obtained now. Turning towards Tesla, he would give her a thumbs up to let her know he was alright. The test would end and a new gas would fill the room, replacing the eerie light. After a bit, the speaker in the room would turn on.

“Hate to do this but I may need to run the test a few more times,” Tesla reported, “The readings were… odd the first time. If the end result remains consistent, you’ll be able to fight alongside us.”

Indeed, the end results of the tests were consistent, with Caelus’ resistance scoring high across the board, surprising Tesla. After the tests were done and she had the results, she would contact teh Hyperion to confer with her partner. “You don’t understand mophead,” Tesla said to a hologram of a young woman about half a foot taller than her with light blue hair that was combed back neatly, “This kid’s Honkai Resistance is higher than anything I’ve seen! Even Joachim’s Honkai Resistance isn’t as high and he’s a Herrscher!”

The woman would cross her arms, “Could it be he’s from another world in which the rules of the Honkai are different? You did say he wasn’t from this world or time.”

“Doubt it,” Tesla said, “He had no idea what Honkai was until recently. It’s most likely that he's insanely lucky like those that became MANTISes in the Previous Era.” She would cross her arms as well, “So what’s the plan?”

“I’ll inform Madam Theresa about our otherworldly friend’s resistance to Honkai and his situation,” The woman said, “When we reconvene once we’re done here, it’ll be her call on if he joins the Far East Branch’s Valkyries for his duration here. Till then give him what gear you can and arm him. See how he does and report back.”

“On it,” Tesla replied, “You take care of things on your end.” Tesla would sigh as the hologram vanished, soon turning her attention behind her as she heard footsteps approaching, soon seeing Caelus in his new Battlesuit walk into the room. “I see the Battlesuit fits you nicely.”

Caelus’ Battlesuit wasn’t grand or anything. It consisted of his white shirt, a dark blue-grey short sleeved long coat with a white hoodie, sparse orange detailing and armor shoulder pads, pants of the same color, and combat boots that reached up to his knees. If one didn’t know how Battlesuits were designed or even what they were, one would think it was anything but one. “Yeah, it certainly does” Caelus said, adjusting his gloves, “I’ll admit, I wasn’t sure about the whole Battlesuit thing when you mentioned it but this is honestly rather comfortable.”

“In addition to keeping you safe from the Honkai, it should also help you blend in a bit better,” Tesla said before sighing, “And don't worry, I'll have your usual clothes carefully washed and stored till it's time for you to go. Now all that’s left is a weapon. Our current available options aren’t the best… Actually we left the Hyperion with enough gear for me and Raiden Mei. We do have some basic pistols, a few extra blades in case she neeed it, a chakram, and–”

“Actually, I do have a weapon I can use,” Caelus interjected, his mouth moving before his mind, “Ah… Sorry Dr Tesla, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

Tesla would cross her arms, “I wouldn’t say a baseball bat isa great weapon in this case… Unless you have something else you can use?”

Caelus nodded and the Lance of the Architects would appear in his hand, startling Tesla, “I have this. I don’t know how well it’ll do against the Honkai but it’s something.”

Tesla would be baffled by how Caelus was able to do that as it wasn’t related to the powers of the Herrscher of Void yet he still called the weapon to him from nowhere. Clearing her throat, she would say, “Indeed, that would be useful though I do want to study that lance if you don’t mind. I don’t intend to try and decipher everything about it, can’t even do that with the Divine Keys, but if I want to see if it can’t help me figure out how to replicate what it does with our own tech. If I can, this lance can be a backup in case something happens to the one I make for you.”

Caelus nodded and handed the lance over, “Alright. Just be careful with it, the Lance of the Architects was entrusted to me by a… guardian being of a place I’ve been to for doing all I can to save it. If anything happened to the lance…”

“Don’t worry,” Tesla said as she took the lance, “I’ll be as careful as can be– egk!” The moment Caelus let go of the lance, she found it hard to hold, even with both hands. The Lance of the Architects was incredibly top heavy and the fact that Caelus could one hand it astounded her. The short handle and large spearhead almost reminded her of the Abyssal Rose but the heat radiating from it seemed akin to the Judgement of Shamash but to a lesser degree. Regaining her composure and noticing the boy’s worry, she would straighten herself up, “N-no worries, I was just caught off guard by its weight.” After adjusting her glasses, she would gesture to the hallway, “In the meantime, you can use the Plasma Lance we have in the weapons’ hold. Raiden Mei can show you where that is.”

Caelus nodded, “Alright, thanks.” And with that, he left to go find the Valkyrie, leaving Tesla wondering just how strong Caelus was.

Within the “throne room” of the World Serpent base stood Dan Heng, no longer dressed in his usual attire but a similar outfit that was primarily colored black and grey with some green within small details. Surrounding him were other members of World Serpent, the only one he knew being Raven. And standing before them all at the throne was the leader or Sire of World Serpent, known as Serpent or, to those that knew his true identity, Kevin Kaslana.

“Do you understand what you’re doing by taking this action?” Kevin asked, seeming to glare at the Vidyadhara before him.
Dan Heng would keep his gaze low as he responded, “I do.”

“You will forsake your friends and all you cherish to walk this path?” Kevin asked.

“For the sake of this world, I’ll do what I must,” He said, his voice sounding almost hollow to those that were listening closely.

Kevin would close his eyes before looking at Dan Heng, “Well then, from this day forth, you shall bear the alias ‘Dragon’. Welcome to World Serpent.”

Dan Heng would look up for the first time since he entered the room, his expression unreadable, “Thank you… Sire.”

Chapter Text

Dan Heng would stare at Kevin for what felt like hours after being given the name ‘Dragon’, the silence breaking as the leader of World Serpent spoke up.

“Now that you have your alias, I want you to get used to this place as it will be your home,” Kevin said, “And then after, I want you to get to training. You will be going up against Herrschers and possibly Valkyries, I need you to be ready.”

“Understood,” Dan Heng said plainly.

At that, an android holding an umbrella spoke up, “And what of you Sire?”

“I will be leading our forces in North Africa,” Kevin said, “The Valkyrie Durandal has taken the Herrscher of Void, who stopped our test of Project STIGMA in Arc City, there.”

Dan Heng’s attention would be caught by the name Project STIGMA. It sounded important and if it was being tested then they must be getting close to implementing the project. However, one thing stuck in his mind, the girl he and Caelus saw jumping over the sidewalk to a building and the explosion above the city. If that was related to this Project STIGMA, did that mean that this Herrscher of Void knew something about the test he didn’t? From what he knew from Raven, the Honkai was a thing of destruction, and the Herrschers were that on a greater scale. Yet the actions of the Herrscher of Void confused him as she didn’t attack the city, in fact seeming to act to defend the city. He would be lost in thought long enough for the meeting to end and for Raven to tap him on the shoulder, snapping him to reality.

“You alright Dragon?” Raven asked, seeming almost worried.

Dan Heng nodded, “I’m fine. Just… tired still.”

“The past day has been a rollercoaster for you so I can understand,” Raven said, “And apologies for the hunt, I had to perform my duty and bring you in. I will say, I wasn't expecting the gas to wear off as fast as it did, but it did give you the chance to avoid being Jackal’s lab rat.”

Dan Heng nodded, not really sure how to respond, “If I was in your place, I’m sure I would have done the same. And thank you for vouching for me, if not for that, I might have still ended up as one.”

Raven scoffed, “For however long that would be till you break out. You have the strength to do so.” Her side would flare in pain as she spoke, remembering the blow Dan Heng delivered before she pulled out the gas canister. After a bit, she would look at him, “You need to train, right? Shall I show you to the training room?”

The Vidyadhara would consider it before shaking his head, “I’ll join you there in a bit. I wish to get used to this place first.” Raven would nod and leave, allowing Dan Heng to his thoughts alone. Feigning loyalty to this group would be a taxing challenge but if he could learn more about this world and maybe a way home, then he would endure. But for now, he had to try and reach Caelus. Turning on his heels, he would hurry through the halls of the main World Serpent base, doing what he could to avoid detection as he made his way to a secluded entryway to a room that had stairs leading upwards within. He had stashed his normal attire and beacon there after changing into the Battlesuit he got upon joining so as to not risk losing them. However, when he entered the room and looked, they weren’t where he hid them. Sounds from above drew his attention, leading him up the stairs. About halfway, he felt a tingle through his body, setting him on edge. Reaching the top, he found a large room with what looked like a lounge and bar on one side and a command center on the other. Before him was a pedestal with floating metal panels rotating around a small, violet sphere. As he walked closer to the pedestal, he would feel the gaze of someone on him, causing him to summon Cloud-Piercer as he whipped around to see who it was, finding a young woman on a balcony above him. 

The young woman’s hair was a soft pink color, her side bangs long enough that they stopped a bit above her shoulders with the rest tied up in a ponytail. Her outfit was far more colorful than anything seen in World Serpent so far, with white and purple breaking up the blacks within its design, which seemed to be used to highlight the white and purple, much like the minimal gold detailing. Something almost missed was that her ears were pointed, just barely poking out from behind her bangs and her eyes held both mystery and sincerity, giving a feeling that while she may hold things back, she would never say things she never meant. “My my,” She said as she walked to the stairs to head down to Dan Heng, “I wasn’t expecting a visitor~”

“Who… Who are you?” Dan Heng asked, relaxing a bit as the woman approached, “And what is this place…?” He wasn’t sure about this woman but at the same time, there didn’t seem to be any malice in her actions so far.

“Oh? Kevin never told you?” The woman asked, a bit surprised, “Then you must have stumbled upon this place by accident.” A smile would soon follow, “Well, no matter, you’re welcome all the same.” She would place a hand on her chest as she said, “My name is Elysia, second of the 13 Flamechasers. And this is the Elysian Realm.”

“Elysian Realm?” Dan Heng asked, “Flamechasers? I thought this room was part of World Serpent’s main base.”

Elysia would merely let out a giggle, the questions confirming her original thought though she still was wondering if he was feigning it as well, “Kevin really didn’t send you here, huh?”

“No… He didn’t,” Dan Heng said, already figuring that this Kevin was the Sire of World Serpent, “I stored my belongings from before joining downstairs and was looking for them when I found this place.”
Elysia would put her finger to her chin, “Your belongings that were stored downstairs…?” Soon she would snap her fingers, “Oh! That must be the stuff that Klein found!” 

“Klein?” Dan Heng asked as Elysia began looking around, stepping past him as she did.

“Klein?” The pink haired woman called out, “Klein, would you be a dear and come out?”

There was the sound of small footsteps from the command center before a rather small, green haired lady walked out. She had a white patch over her right eye and a belt with a green snake eye over her left shoulder that wraps around to her book by her waist side and on her head, is a black and gold headpiece in the shape of pointed ears. To Dan Heng she looked no taller than Diting and for a second he thought he saw a stinger-like tail behind her. The small lady looked up at Elysia, “If this is in regards to Dr Mobius, she has requested not to be bothered, least of all by you.”

Elysia giggled, “No no, nothing of the sort. At least not now.” She would gesture to Dan Heng, “This young man was looking for his belongings, which I think you had brought up earlier Klein.”

Klein would look at Dan Heng, “Ah, I was wondering why that was there. Do you want it all or is there a certain item you require?”

“Just my be– My phone please,” Dan Heng said, correcting himself to help Klein understand what he wanted easier.
Klein would think before hurrying back to the command center and digging around. Soon after, she would hurry out to Dan Heng and Elysia, the Vidyadhara’s phone in her hands. With a few hops, she would soon float over to him and hand it over, “Here.”

Dan Heng would be taken back by her floating but smiled as he took his phone, “Thank you.” He would soon try to message Caelus, asking where he was and if he was alright, only to get one thing in response.

[Message could not send]

Dan Heng would frown, his hand tightening around his phone. As much as he knew Caelus was strong enough to handle most things, if he couldn’t send messages to him, he couldn’t be sure that World Serpent was upholding their end of the deal. If his friend had been turned into a lab rat by Jackal…

Elysia would notice the look on Dan Heng’s face and frowned before placing a hand on his shoulder, “I have a friend that’s really good with tech, she might be able to help you connect with your friend.”

“You think so?” Dan Heng asked, “Where can I find her?”

Elysia would point to the floating plates, “She’s deeper in the Elysian Realm, along with the other 12 Flamechasers. It may take a bit to find her though, no guarantee that she’ll appear first.”

Dan Heng would think before asking, “What is the purpose of the Elysian Realm?”

“To carry the unfinished story of the 13 Flamechasers so the current heroes of this world can learn from us,” Elysia said, “The journey to learn it is not easy, not many who have come here make it to the end.”

The Vidyadraha would nod before pocketing his phone, “Alright. I don’t know how far into the Elysian Realm I’ll get but I’ll take the journey.” 

Elysia would smile and lead the way to the deeper parts of the Elysian Realm, where the Flamechasers could be found, the floating panels arranging themselves into a doorway to the rest of the Elysian Realm. Dan Heng would follow, hoping that Caelus was safe and promising that the moment he could, he would go find him whatever the cost.

Meanwhile in the training room of the Helios, Caelus would be sparring against the mechs within, wielding the Plasma Lance with skill and precision. It was interesting using a new lance but it wasn’t entirely bad. It gave him the chance to practice moves and it was interesting being able to ‘throw’ foes using the lance. It also let him know that using this lance instead of the Lance of the Architects didn’t stop him from accessing the Preservation path and powers that came with he got from Qlipoth’s gaze. Eventually he would reach the end of the training session and would hear Raiden Mei clapping as she walked in.

“Well done,” She said with a grin, “You really know your stuff in a fight. From what I saw, I’d wager you’d be an A Rank Valkyrie on graduation.”

Caelus would rub the back of his head and smile, “Thanks. A lot of my moves here were adapted from what I saw Dan Heng used.” He would then twirl the Plasma Lance in his hand before putting it in the ground, tip first, “That said, it took me some time to get used to the weight of this lance.”

“Is it heavier than you’re used to?” Raiden Mei asked.

“No, it’s far lighter than what I’m used to,” Caelus said plainly, “Honestly I was worried that it wasn’t made with the best quality material or would be flimsy when I picked it up.”

Raiden Mei would stare at Caelus, not sure what to say or think. The lances Valkyries use were on the heavier side. Even the Plasma Lance made by Anti-Entropy was fairly heavy. If Caelus was saying it’s lighter than what he was using, exactly how heavy was the lance he usually uses and how strong is he? Her thoughts would be swiftly cut short as she and Caelus received a call from Tesla.

“Caelus, Raiden Mei, a Honkai Outbreak has been detected near a small town in Austria. I’m having one of my drones get closer so I can see what Honkai Beasts have appeared.”

“Take it we’ll be going to deal with it, huh?” Caelus asked, picking up the Plasma Lance.

Tesla would be quick with her answer, “Correct. While the Valkyries of Schicksal would normally handle them, we’re not only entering the area but with how the Overseer is acting…”

“It’s best we deal with it now,” Raiden Mei said.

“Indeed. We can’t let them destroy the town and innocent lives. Caelus, you and your Battlesuit will be getting a field trial. Raiden Mei, you take point once on the ground. Get ready to jump, we’re nearing the drop point.”

“Roger,” Raiden Mei said before the call ended. She would look at Caelus, “This way.” She would lead him to the hanger door of the Helios before opening it, the wind whipping into the hanger and around them. “You’ve ever jumped from a moving aircraft before?”

“I fell from maybe 100ft in a Dreamscape and was fine,” Caelus said, “Does that count?”

All he’d get was a confused look from Raiden Mei before she would regain her composure, “These jumps won’t be from all that high so as long as you have a landing strategy, you’ll be fine.” She would then go to explain some other things about these jumps, not entirely paying attention to Caelus, who was peering over the edge of the hanger’s edge.

The Trailblazer would spot something below that looked like a Honkai Beast from what he read in regards to Honkai Beasts and his impulse control went out the window. Turning on his heels, he’d face Raiden Mei and say, “Well, see you on the ground.” He would then kick off of the hanger before the Valkyrie could say anything, heading straight down towards the ground. Sure enough, there were Honkai below them, a number of them aerial at that. Using those Honkai Beasts as footholds, he would break his fall and deal damage to the beasts as he worked his way to the ground. As he reached it, Caelus would grin as he got ready to stab into the ground with the Plasma Lance. “Blazing lance…” He said, flames swirling and dancing around the lance, “FORWARD!” Thrusting the lance forward, both it and him were wreathed in flames as he rocketed to the ground, the flames erupting into a pillar of fire upon hitting the ground. When the flames dispersed, Caelus would be standing there as if it was nothing, lance at the ready. The Honkai Beasts there would soon notice him and go on the attack, allowing Caelus to get a good idea of what he was facing. The majority of them were Archangel type Honkai, namely the ones known as Cassiel, which he had used as footstools before landing, with a good number being the Honkai Beasts that gave the Templar class its name. Both would be a challenge, namely because Cassiels were known to give melee fighting Valkyries a hard time and the Templar had the recommendation that A Rank Valkyries attack in groups. However, Caelus was effectively an unranked Valkyrie that fought worse and was used to taking out flying foes with melee attacks thanks to his time on Jarlio-V. Quickly charging into the fray, he would use his skills to work on getting the upper hand. He’d quickly learn that he had put himself in a tough spot though it also forced Caelus to adapt faster. Cassiels liked to swarm when they attack and they wait for openings, something that can be countered with timing as with it, one could easily counter them. In his case, he could impale them as they attacked him and then throw them into another Cassiel or a Templar. On the topic of the Templar, he found out fast why they were to be attacked in groups, the Honkai Beast hit hard and their shields took a lot of blows for them. However, Caelus was still more agile than them, even if not by much, and with the help of the shields from the Preservation Path, he was able to skirt most of the damage and escape to counter attack. It was still a challenging fight, having to balance dealing with the two types of Honkai Beasts. However, as he fought, he would find himself about to be attacked by a Templar only for it to be cut to shreds like the biomechanical creature that chased him in Arc City, revealing Raiden Mei behind it as it fell. “Joined the party now, eh?” Caelus asked with a grin, impaling a Cassiel and throwing it at another that was charging.

“I’m sure you know how stupid that move of yours was,” Raiden Mei said sharply, “So I’ll save you the lecture.”

“Yeah, it wasn’t smart considering I didn’t know what I was dealing with…” Caelus said, “Though I tend to leap without thinking so…”

Raiden Mei would glance at Caelus, remembering how Kiana would do that back when training at St Freyja Academy. However, she would break away from her thoughts and readied her blade, “Think you can handle the Templar while I clear out the Cassiel?”

Caelus grinned, “Leave it to me.” With that, he darted forward and started by impaling and throwing a Templar at a nearby tree. He was surprised by how easy it was, and it only made him even more confident. Thankfully, with Raiden Mei handling the Cassiel, Caelus’ task with clearing out the Templar wasn’t too hard though he still had some close calls. They really did attack for the kill and if not for the shields of the Preservation Path, he might have lost a leg. Imagining what might have happened if those beasts succeeded in taking out anyone made him cringe. After thinning out the numbers a great deal of the Honaki Beasts, the two would receive a call from Tesla.

“Caelus, Raiden Mei, stay alert!”

“New Honkai signature?” Raiden Mei asked.

Caelus would glance her way as he took down a Templar, “I hope it’s not a Herrscher… Don’t know if I’m ready to take one on.”

“It’s an Outbreak Caelus, not an Eruption,” Tesla replied dryly, “The Honkai signature just detected is an Emperor Class and closing in on your location!”

Raiden Mei would immediately get herself ready for whatever it was only to have to jump back as a tree slammed into the ground right where she once stood, having been thrown from somewhere. The moment she realized what it was from she spotted the Honkai Beast right as it quickly closed the distance. “Caelus, it’s approaching on your right!” She called out, only to watch the Judgement Class Honkai Beast send Caelus through several trees. It was then she got a good look at it, recognizing it from the records of the 2nd Eruption. “Emperor Class spotted!” Raidem Mei reported to Tesla, “It’s an Assaka! Caelus may be down as well!”

“Dammit! I wasn’t expecting to encounter one of those again. See what you can do but retreat if you have to! Make sure you recover Caelus as well!”

“Roger,” Raiden Mei said, readying herself for this fight. Admittedly, it would be easier if she still had the 3rd Herrscher backing her but since she lost it against the Herrscher of Void, she only had the residual power it left behind to use. Lightning crackled around her as she charged in, dodging the Assaka’s attacks as she did. The Emperor Class Honkai’s attacks were easy to spot and see coming but they hit hard as seen by what happened with Caelus. She flinched thinking about what would happen if she was caught off guard. Lightning fast slashes tore into the Honkai Beast, purple blood spraying out from it as Raiden Mei tried to keep moving to make sure she wasn’t caught. Unfortunately, the Assaka was faster than she thought it might be and caught her off guard. It slammed its fist into the ground in front of her, sending her backwards and leaving her open to an attack. But before it could slam its fist into her, a familiar voice rang out loudly.

“Blazing lance…. FORWARD!!” 

Right then and there, Raiden Mei saw Caelus shoot over her from behind like a comet or fireball and countered the Assaka’s attack with his own, flames erupting from where his lance hit and shattering the armor of the Honkai Beast’s arm.

The Trailblazer would land in front of Raiden Mei and slide back a bit from the force of the attack. His Battlesuit was tattered and torn, primarily the coat in which the armor shoulder pads had shattered, and it was clear that he had taken a beating from when he landed after being sent flying. As he got into a fighting stance once more, he would wipe away the blood running down from the corner of his mouth before yelling, “That the best you have?! I’ve been hit harder by things far smaller!!” He would look back at Raiden Mei as she readied herself to fight once more, “You ready to finish this?”

“More than ready,” Raiden Mei said, lightning once more sparking around her, “Try and break more of the armor and draw its attention, I’ll handle the rest.”

Caelus grinned and charged in, “On it!” The heavy hitting lancer pressed the attack as Raiden Mei began her assault by using her speed to quickly attack the areas with the broken armor, intending to try and cleave through it. The two working together made the battle easier but they were still on the backfoot for most of it. Right as Raiden Mei was able to cleave through one of the arms, the Assaka would grab a downed tree and swung it at her to try and crush her, only for Caelus to jump in the way, using the Preservation’s shield to block the attack. “Guh… Finish this!!” He called, prompting Raiden Mei to dart out of the way of the attack and jump into the air.

As lightning crackled and gathered around her, she would focus it into her blade and with a loud yell, slashed the air ahead of her, sending a blade of lightning at the Assaka and causing a loud clap of thunder when it hit. Raiden Mei would land and watch as the Assaka fell, its body breaking apart soon after, before dropping her blade and falling to her knees, the finisher move having drained her. Looking over at Caelus, she’d see that he was in a similar state as he walked over, worn and without much energy left. Sighing, she called Tesla, “Dr Tesla… Honkai Outbreak has been dealt with and the Emperor Class Honkai has been eliminated. Requesting leave in the nearby town as well as medical supplies and civilian clothes for Caelus. His Battlesuit’s been damaged…”

“Request granted,” Tesla replied, “You two deserve it after all that. I’ll have a drone bring you the medical supplies and civilian clothes for Caelus. You can send your weapons and his Battlesuit back with it.”

“Roger…” Raiden Mei sighed before sitting back on her heels.

Caelus would sit down on the ground and smile, “Well Raiden Mei… This went better than it could have, huh? I have to admit, that last move was impressive… Can all Valkyries do that?”

“Some, yes…” Raiden Mei said, “It takes a lot of training and aptitude for Honaki use but it’s possible.. Also Caelus?”

“Yeah?”

“Call me Mei,” Raiden Mei said, “There’s no need for friends to use my full name all the time.”

Caelus would blink in surprise before smiling, giving her a nod as he said, “You got it Mei.”

Chapter Text

“So you’re telling that if I join the Far East Branch for the duration of my time here in this world, I wouldn’t be called a Valkyrie but instead a Chevalier?” Caelus asked as he and Raiden Mei walked through the streets of town they had saved. His wounds from the fight with the Honkai had been treated and he had changed out of his battlesuit in a new outfit, which consisted of a black, white and yellow t-shirt that almost looked like it could belong to a school uniform, black pants and his original shoes.

Raiden Mei, who came out of the fight mostly unscathed, would smile, “They are effectively the same as Valkyries, just under a different name.”

“Fair but Valkyrie sounds cooler,” Caelus said, his voice showing a hint of disappointment.

“If it helps, they are also called Knights as well,” Raiden Mei added, “Caelus, A Rank Knight. That has a nice ring, no?”

Caelus would think for a bit before saying, “It’s better than ‘Caelus, A Rank Chevalier’. Seriously, who comes up with that title?”

Raiden Mei would shrug, “As far as I know, both titles have been around since the founding of Schicksal. In the end, only the Overseer would know.”

“The Overseer…” Caelus muttered before looking at Raiden Mei, “The current one is the prick that caused all this, right? Though given the reports I’ve read, I guess prick wouldn’t exactly fit… Cactus maybe?”

Raiden Mei would merely give a nervous chuckle, “Well… I don’t know if I’d call him that but you’re not wrong. He was the reason Kiana became the Herrscher of Void, which caused us at the Far East Branch to defect to save her and in turn that brings us here.” She would look around and frown, “That said… It does feel odd resting like this, knowing that Kiana might still be in danger because of Schicksal.”

“I’m sure she’ll be fine,” Caelus said, “We just need to find a trace of her Honkai signature and we’ll go get her. And if need be, I’ll face any Valkyrie Schicksal throws at us to buy time for you and her to escape.”

“For as strong as you may be, I doubt you could stand against Durandal,” Raiden Mei said with a slight smile.
Caelus merely beamed, “You never know.” He would then sigh, “But still, best not to find out if we can help it.” He would then stop as he spotted a fast food chain with the face of a yellow bunny with a wide grin and pointed teeth on its sign and the name of the place next to it. “Homu… Burger?”

Raiden Mei would stop and looked at it, “Ah, that’s a fast food place that uses the mascot Homu, the yellow bunny on the sign. Homu is a really popular game character as well, in part because of how cute it is, so it appears in a lot of places. I don’t even think I can list all the things its appeared in.”

“Meh… I’ve seen cuter,” Caelus said.

“Don’t let Bronya hear that,” Raiden Mei said, “Homu is one of her favorites.” She would smile soon after, “Tell you what, why don’t I get us something to eat from Homu-Burger and while we eat, you can tell me a bit about where you’re from?”

“You’re not worried about knowing things you shouldn’t?” Caelus asked, his momentary confusion at hearing Bronya’s name fading fast though it could still be seen lingering in his eyes.

“Dr Tesla already told me about the situation,” Raiden Mei said, “And as far as we know, as of now the only possibility is that you know Anti-Entropy’s Sovereign. Besides, a lot can happen between our time periods.” She would wait as Caelus thought before nodding in agreement before going to order food for them both. Once she got it, she and Caelus would go find a place to sit as the Trailblazer began to tell her a bit about his time and where he was from, starting with a bit about the Astral Express. “So wait…” Raiden Mei would ask as she ate, looking at the grey haired boy sitting across from her, “The faction you’re a part of is called the Nameless?”

“Well, technically that’s the name of everyone who follow the Path of Trailblaze,” Caelus said, “Though if we’re talking about the faction I belong to, it’d be the Astral Express which was made for Trailblazers. Though I guess it would be a faction within a faction if you count the Nameless as one.”

“I see…” Raiden Mei said, “It’s an odd name for a faction, I’ll admit.”

Caelus would take a sip of his drink before saying, “It makes sense though.”

“How so?”

“Those on the Trailblaze visit many worlds, learning about their history and people,” Caelus explained, “We may end up involved in important events, playing a part in saving the day, but we are merely a nameless face when compared to the focus of the stories that come from those events. The stories we tell because of them don’t focus on us, but the people of the world. They made the strides to change and make history, we Nameless merely offer aid if they need it. For example…” He would hold a hand out towards Raiden Mei, “In the case of the stories we learn from this world, and those me and Dan Heng will bring home with us to tell, they will not be about us. They’ll be about you and your friends, as it should be. To aid without praise, traveling to tell stories and make connections, that is the Trailblaze. That is the duty of a Nameless.”

Raiden Mei would think for a bit before smiling as she continued to eat, “It sounds like a thankless duty. Yet I get the feeling it isn’t entirely.”

“You’d be correct,” Caelus said, “We do get thanks from those we help but history will tend to forget the Nameless. In fact, there’s a world of dreams where I’m from founded by a former Nameless. Yet that info was lost to time after he passed, remembered by only a few. Now that legacy has been handed down to me and my friends, we Nameless that continue the journey.”

Raiden Mei hummed a bit at the idea of a ‘world of dreams’, “I hope one day I may see it. Say, aside from Dan Heng, who else travels with you on the Astral Express? Can you tell me about them?”

“I can do one better, I can show you,” Caelus said, pulling out his phone. As limited it was in functions now, its camera and image gallery at least still worked. He would scroll through a few before finding a selfie he and March took on Penacony before they returned to the Loufu for the Wardance, placing it on the table soon after so Raiden Mei could see, “The girl in the photo with me is March 7th, though I often shorten it to March. She’s a bit of a mystery as she was found frozen in a special type of ice and thawed out on the Express on March 7th, which she took as her name and birthday as she didn’t remember anything of her past.”

“She seems like a cheerful girl from the photo,” Raiden Mei said with a smile.

Caelus smiled and nodded, “She is. She actually joined the Express be for me, and was one of the first people I met after I was found after… well I guess waking up for the first time…?”

“Let me guess, lost memory as well?” Raiden Mei asked.

Caelus rubbed the back of his neck, “Yeah… Though I did remember my name. In anycase, she’s been a great friend and helped me through a lot of things.” He would then swipe to a new photo, this one being a photo that showed both Dan Heng and Welt Yang. He would then point to Dan Heng and say, “That’s Dan Heng, the one I’ve arrived here with.”

Raiden Mei nodded and pointed to Welt Yang, “And is this the Welt Yang you know?”

“Yeah,” Caelus said, “I don’t know if he’s the same one as the one here as I’ve not asked him much about his past.”

“They certainly look the same,” Raiden Mei said, “Minus the outfit and greying hair of course.”

Caelus nodded, “He did say across the universe I may meet people with familiar faces though the paths they take may be different.” After finishing that statement, he would pause as he looked at Raiden Mei, still seeing Acheron within her. He wanted to speak about her but held his tongue, “That said, that may be the case with the Welt Yang I know.”

“Maybe,” Raiden Mei said, looking at the photo, “Can you tell me about Dan Heng?”

Caelus nodded, “Yeah! He was the other one that found me with March before I joined the Express. Actually when I woke up, he was about to give me mouth to mouth… March pushed him away once she saw my eyes open though.” He would chuckle, “Since then, he’s done everything in his power to keep me and March safe. For as distant as he can seem, he’s really kind and studious. I can’t tell you how many nights I’ve stayed up studying things in the data banks, talking it over with him. To think he can pull it off without being tired…”

“There’s a fondness in your voice when you talk about him,” Raiden Mei said, “It’s there when you speak about March and Welt Yang but it’s a bit more noticeable now. Might I ask, what is Dan Heng to you?”

“What is… Dan Heng to me?” Caelus repeated, as if to kick start thinking about it only for a smile to appear on his face seconds later as he answered, “That’s easy, he’s a brother to me!”

“I see, so it was familial in origin,” Raiden Mei said.

“It’d be hard for it not to be, the Astral Express and those traveling on it with me are like a family to me,” Caelus said. He would go to swipe to one last photo to show the remaining two Astral Crew, Pom-Pom and Himeko. The moment it came on screen, he’d hear the sound of a cup clatter against the table and looking up he’d see Raiden Mei looked pale, her face looking like the worst news hit her, sorrow ever clear as tears began to well up in her eyes. “Mei, are you okay?”

“That… That woman…” Raiden Mei said, her expression turning to that of a calmer sorrow, “She looks like my teacher.”

“Your teacher?” Caelus asked, “The one who taught you at St Freya Academy, right?”

Raiden Mei nodded, “That’s correct. Her name was Himeko Murata.”

Caelus’ eyes would go wide when he heard that, the connection made. In all the reading materials he got when he boarded the Helios the first time, he had gotten a report that listed a ‘Himeko Murata’ as MIA, with no picture to show who she was. Despite what he was told by Welt Yang, he didn’t even consider that it would be someone that looked just like Himeko. He honestly felt really dumb now and even considered putting his phone away until he heard Raiden Mei speak.

“What is she like? Can you tell me about her?”

Caelus would look at her and smiled a bit, “Yeah… Maybe it’s a twist of fate but she’s also named Himeko and she’s extremely kind. From the first time I met her, she was ready to take me under her wing, giving me a home on the Astral Express without question. She’s extremely protective if any of us is in danger and is never hard to reach if we need someone to talk to. Honestly… Not being able to reach her now… It’s a bit isolating. I can’t help but wonder how worried she must be, waiting to hear word that we’re okay…”

“She sounds like my teacher,” Raiden Mei said, “Himeko… Teacher took me, Kiana and Bronya in when she found and saved us in Nagazora. We actually lived with her during the early days of learning at St Freya Academy. She was strict but never forgot to be kind, and there was much love when she spoke to us outside of class.” She would look like she was on the edge of tears as she said, “Those… Those were happier days…”

Caelus would be silent before asking, “What… What happened to her?”

“I… I wasn’t fully awake for it,” Raiden Mei said, “I was still recovering from the wounds inflicted by the Herrscher of Void when she took over Kiana. But… The Hyperion was attacked by the Honkai Beast Benares, a Judgement Class that was the 2nd Herrscher’s loyal servant in the 2nd Eruption, when Himeko went to fight it in a special Battlesuit. But before she could land a serious blow… She vanished into Imaginary Space. We would find out that she was pulled into it by the Herrscher of Void for a final confrontation. No one knows what happened in the fight except that it ended with Kiana being freed from the Herrscher and Himeko missing. Dr Tesla suspects that if she used the serum made to deal with her Honkai poisoning on Kiana, then she likely didn’t make it. But there’s no confirmation…” Her expression darkened a bit, “I can only imagine what Kiana must feel… Knowing that even though she wasn’t in control, she could see it all unfold.”

“I see…” Caelus said, looking down, not sure what to say. He wasn’t the best with words most of the time and didn’t want to misspeak. Eventually, he would find something to say, “I’m sure… that she’s proud of all three of you, and will still be as you continue towards the future you wish to create for you and the world.”

Raiden Mei would smile a bit at this, “Thank you. Hearing that… it helps, even in a small way.”

Caelus would smile before turning as he heard footsteps coming up from behind.

“I was wondering where you two might be,” Tesla said as she walked over to them.

“Are we needed back at the Helios?” Raiden Mei asked, a bit surprised to see her here.

Tesla shook her head, “No, I did want to talk with Caelus though.”

“What about?” Caelus asked.

“Well, your Battlesuit is just about mended and the analysis on your lance is going well,” Tesla said, “I do want to run some tests regarding the abilities you have as it may help with the lance.”

“Alright, I can do that,” Caelus said with a nod.

Tesla smiled, “Good. Now then… Got any food for me?”

“Given I hopefully ordered enough for Caelus’ appetite, I think I have more than enough,” Raiden Mei said with a small chuckle.

“And if not, one of us can always run in and get more,” Caelus added with a grin.

Tesla would smile as she sat down to join them eating, the three of them enjoying the momentary peace.

Meanwhile, within the Elysian Realm, Dan Heng would be in the midst of combat in the 7th section of the Deep Sequence. He wasn’t expecting a gauntlet of battles segmented into different areas but it was, in a way, familiar thanks to him taking on the Simulated Universe and Divergent Universe with Caelus. Despite this, it was the foes that were giving him trouble. It was giving him a chance to fight Honkai Beasts in a safe and controlled environment but if this was a record of the heroes of the past, were the beasts he was fighting records of how they were back then? And if so, were they just as bad now? Even if they weren't, it showed him that he needed to change how he fought in order to keep up and fight the Honkai effectively. How would be the big question and one he was lucky that he was here for as it gave him the chance to figure it out safely in the midst of combat. Luckily, much the simulations back home, he did get aid in the form of buffs while he did this in the form of Signets. Aside from the mystery signet he got from Elysia upon entering, he found himself in possession of one of Reverie, Helix, and Deliverance, as well as two of Vicissitude. Each one gave different buffs that he still was trying to understand though he at least figured out the general idea of the Signets of Vicissitude, don’t get hit or the buffs they grant would weaken. Easier said than done with some Honkai Beasts but in the end, he was able to put down all the waves of Honkai in the segment of the Deep Sequence though he didn’t get another Signet right after. It made it seem like something was off, or at least that something was different. The Twilight Woods around Dan Heng were silent, nary any movement save for him, or so it seemed. Soon the feeling that he was being watched fell upon him and soon a voice would be heard from behind him.

“Nice to meet you, successor.”

Dan Heng would turn around and look behind hit, soon spotting a young woman with long ash colored hair standing there, despite having not being there before.

“My name is Hua,” She said, her gaze locking with Dan Heng’s, “And I wish to help you familiarize yourself with the Signets of Vicissitude.”

Chapter Text

Dan Heng stood and stared at Hua, a look of familiarity and also uncertainty of who this was written clearly on his face. It felt like in the deepest parts of his memory, of Dan Feng’s remaining memories, as foggy as it is, there was someone much like the woman who stood before him. It was then a name came to him. “Marshal Hua…?” He muttered, just barely audible to the Flame-Chaser before him.

“Is there something wrong successor?” Hua asked, looking rather concerned for the Vidyadhara.

Dan Heng shook his head, “No, it’s fine. You just seemed familiar somehow… Like a memory long gone yet still present.”

“Is that so?” Hua asked, “I do not think we have met before.”

“I’m certain that we have not,” Dan Heng answered, “For as long lived as I am, I would not have been alive when you Flame-Chasers were active. Even if I was, it would have been impossible for me to have been here to begin with.”

“‘Long lived’...?” Hua asked, confused and almost intrigued, “Were you genetically altered as well?”
Dan Heng shook his head, “No, I was born with the long life I have.” It was odd saying that he had been born given his nature as a Vidyadhara. Rebirthed may be more accurate, even if the elders that tricked Dan Feng into his fall ruined it in order to try and use him again. Still, it sat oddly with Dan Heng to have said that, even if it was to hide the truth. However, Hua’s words would strike curiosity in him. If she was asking if he was genetically altered as well, that must mean that she, or people she knew, was in turn. Or at least the original Hua was.

“I see,” Hua said, “I wonder if it has to do with Honkai exposure before birth…” The ashen haired young woman would think before shaking her head and refocusing, “Successor, before I give you your next Signet, might offer words after watching you fight?”

Dan Heng placed a hand on his chest and he nodded, “I welcome them.”

“You have the skill to fight with a spear such as yours yet your fighting style hinders you when fighting against groups,” Hua remarked, reiterating what Dan Heng already knew. However, it was what she said next that caught him off guard. “I also sense that you have what you need to make up for that shortcoming, yet you do not use it. Why?”

Dan Heng would take a breath, preparing his answer. “If I tell you, it never leaves the Elysian Realm, staying between us and any other Flame-Chasers that may learn of it.”

“Including Klein?” Hua asked, knowing that she existed outside of the Elysian Realm.

“If it is needed, yes.”

Hua nodded, placing a hand on her chest in turn, “Then I swear that no other soul save for those you deem should will ever know.”

“Along with my long life, I was born with power and a form I do not wish for many to know,” Dan Heng explained, “In this form, I exhibit a few draconic traits so to speak, and the power I wield is shown in full. This power, or at least part of it, is known to those like me as Cloudhymn, granting us the ability to use water to fight and even control the rains.”

“So you are not the only one with this power?” Hua asked.

Dan Heng would nod, “Yes, though most like me need to train to be able to use it. My power is unique as its might may only be wielded by one, though an incident caused by elders manipulating one to perform a sin to my kind, my power was severed in twain between me and another. In a way now, we are two halves of what should be a whole. The other, who was born with half of those powers, calls upon it in correlation with the aspect of creation, its healing might at her fingertips. I, on the other hand, call upon it in correlation to the aspect of destruction, power aimed for combat and a goal to destroy whatever I use it against, whatever the cost. When I use it though, it is to protect that which I hold dear, that which I cannot bear to lose.”
“So this power you wield is a complicated one,” Hua said, “The way you describe Cloudhymn, a force one needs to train to use, is similar to forces I have heard of while training before becoming a Flame-Chaser. If you allow, I may be able to help you utilize it in this form without needing to unleash the other.”

“I would welcome it,” Dan Heng replied, bowing his head respectfully, “If it helps me fight against the Honkai and find my friend, then I will learn anything and everything I can.”
Hau took a fighting stance, “Then prepare yourself successor, for I will not go easy on you. If you are able to learn and best me, then you will receive an extra Signet from me.”

The fight between the Vidyadhara and the Flame-Chaser was one that challenged them both. Hua learned just how adept Dan Heng was in single combat, both with his spear and without as when she disarmed him, he countered with his own form of martial arts before forcing her to wield Cloud-Piercer herself by using his Cloudhymn Magic to create a water made copy to continue the fight. It was then that she saw more of the Cloudhymn Magic being woven into his fighting style, with it starting with other Cloudhymn copies of Dan Heng’s spear being sent flying at her and evolving to even seeing what almost seemed like puddles on the ground wherever he stepped as he dodged her attacks. For Dan Heng, when disarmed he thought that he could gain the upperhand by having her focus more on combat with his spear than her own martial arts by using a Cloudhymn copy of it, only to find himself woefully unprepared for how well she could fight with it, making him realize that she was trained in any martial combat and used her martial arts to help bolster those skills. It made him use even more of his Cloudhymn magic, just to try and gain the edge, even when he reclaimed Cloud-Piercer. Each blow invoked memories of Dan Feng, cloudy and hazy yet ever present, like a sparring session he once had before. Just when he thought he might get the edge, a blow to the gut would send him staggering backwards, leaving him open to more. The power that Hua had couldn’t be understated and he couldn’t help but feel that he was in over his head. She held back power yet at the same time, as he dodged a strike aimed at his head, her gauntlet just narrowly missing scraping across his face, Dan Heng could see that she wasn’t pulling any punches. She was treating it like a ‘fight or die’ scenario, forcing him to fight the same as that was the only way Hua knew how to train him to fight the Honkai.
Eventually, the fight would reach its end as Hua left her fighting stance seeing Dan Heng’s heavy breathing as he tried to catch his breath. “That is enough for now,” She said, “You’ve done well.”
“I feel… I feel like I tried to fight an emanator and lost…” Dan Heng weakly said, falling to a knee as he used Cloud-Piercer to brace him, “Are all Flame-Chasers this strong…?”
“A number of them are stronger,” Hua said, “We were altered and trained to fight Herrschers after all. I only rank 12th amongst the 13.”
Dan Heng would look up and nod as he pushed himself to his feet, an audible groan of pain coming from him as he did due to how sore his body was from the fight. “Well then, I guess I have a long way to go if I am to compare. However, I am certain this fight will help me against the Honkai.”
Hua would nod as the portal to the next section of the Elysian Realm opened. “Take this Signet with you as you go deeper successor,” She said, handing him another Signet of Vicissitude before giving him another, albeit different looking, “As you now have three of my Signets, I grant you a Nexus Signet. I’ve chosen this one as I feel it will fit you better though if I chose right, only you will be able to tell.”

Dan Heng nodded as he took both Signets and went through the portal, finding himself in a room that was empty space for a small shack that looked almost like a shop stand. He wouldn’t get very close to it before a young lady with ash brown hair along with cat ears and tail to match dropped from a tree in the section and hurried over to the shop, giggling to herself. Her attire seemed to consist of a black bra, a white hood with cat ears on it, a black and purple mini skirt with black shorts with a myriad of assorted accessories, among which one looked like a cat’s paw.

“Hehe… If I stock this then I’m sure to make coin!” She’d say, not noticing Dan Heng approaching from behind, “Oh I can see the Shiny Silvers the successor will leave here alrea–”

“Excuse me, are you one of the Flame Chasers?” Dan Heng asked, startling the girl and making her jump like a cat would when startled.

“Ah! S-successor, boss, I wasn’t expecting…” She would stammer out, trying to regain composure as she looked at Dan Heng, “”We weren’t going to meet till later but…” She frowned before sighing with a smile, “Ah well, we’d meet anyway.” She would strike a pose before saying, “Welcome successor to my humble shop! My name’s Pardofelis, though everyone just calls me Pardo or Felis. My Signet is that of Reverie!”

“Pardofelis…” Dan Heng muttered, “And you’re the Flame Chaser that bears these signets, right?” He would hold out the Signet of Reverie to the cat girl Flame Chaser, who seemed to purr seeing it.

“That’s exactly it!” Pardofelis said, her teal and light blue eyes shining as she snatched it from his hand, “Let me see which one you picked!”

Dan Heng would be shocked by this, “Why?”

“I’m going to run a special deal for you,” Pardofelis said as she inspected the signet, “Spend at least 450 Shiny Silvers at my shop and I’ll give you the remaining two Signets of Reverie needed to unlock one of the Nexus Signets as well as one of those!”

“So all Signets have a Nexus Signet?” Dan Heng asked, “Hua gave me one after I earned the third Signet of Vicissitude.”

“Ah, so you met Hua first, huh?” Pardofelis purred, “And yes, all Signets do! And if you have a Nexus Signet, you can get Enhanced Signets that are locked to that specific Nexus Signet as well. I might even have one for the Nexus Signet in stock for the one you have!”

“And these Shiny Silvers… Are they the coins I’ve been getting for defeating foes and clearing these segments of the Elysian Realm?”
Pardofelis would turn to Dan Heng and pose, showing off two of the Shiny Silvers she had mentioned between her fingers, revealing them as the coins Den Heng had collected, “Correct! As for how you’ve gotten them, clearing the segments, or floors as some call them, yes. As for getting them for beating the foes here, that’s thanks to the Signet of Reverie you got. Not useful for combat directly though so I’m surprised you picked it and didn’t go after another of Reverie after.” She would toss the Signet back to Dan Heng, who caught it with ease.

“It was the first Signet I claimed outside of Elysia’s and I was a bit confused as to how it all worked,” Dan Heng admitted, “As for going after another, I would have if one appeared. After my first Signet of Vicissitude, it was the only portal that appeared after.”

“Ah, so you must have caught Hua’s eye and she wanted to meet you then,” Pardofelis said, before humming as she thought. WIth a snap of her fingers, she would say, “Amending my previous deal! Simply spend 200 Shiny Silver and I’ll give you two more Reverie Signets and the appropriate Nexus given you’re close to the end of your first run.”

“How do you know that?” Dan Heng asked, shocked that she could tell.

“The final challenge portal is right there,” Pardofelis said, pointing to the lone portal a bit farther away from the shop.”

“Ah… So it is,” Dan Heng muttered before walking to the shop to see what Signets were there. They were all organized neatly by the type of Signet, with descriptions for the ones in stock to give Dan Heng an idea of what they did, making it easier for him to understand what they do. “So Signets of Helix affect one’s weapons…” He’d say softly as he worked on his choice, "Decimation’s buffs scale off stamina lost, Infinity boosts entities summoned and Deliverance affects one’s ‘Ultimate’, which makes me wonder if it’ll work should I… Only one way to find out.” He would pick out two Signets of Deliverance that boost damage once the ‘Ultimate’ was activated, easily pushing him past the threshold Pardofelis set for him with enough for one more Signet if he desired. He would scan the Signets of Vicissitude that were in stock, soon spotting an Enhanced Signet, which he had enough for with two Shiny Silver to spare. Dan Heng bought that last and got ready to leave when he heard Pardofelis’ voice.

“Don’t forget your biscuit,” She said with a smile as she sat on the counter of her store.

“Biscuit?” Dan Heng asked, his eyes scanning the counter before he spotted what looked like a cookie sandwich with a cream or frosting filling, which was used to make a cat paw on top.

“You looked like you’re running on fumes,” Pardofelis said, “That biscuit will bring back some of your stamina. No cost, just one per person per shop visit!”
Nodding without a word said, Dan Heng picked up the biscuit and took a bite, finding it incredibly sweet. It almost reminded him of the sweet sugar that Berryphesent Skewers were dipped in and like the Flame Chaser cat girl said, it did restore his stamina. “Thank you Pardofelis, it’s much appreciated.”

“Ah don’t worry about it, it’s just what I do for the successors of the Flame Chase,” Pardofelis said, stretching, “Oh yeah, here’s the Signets I promised ya.” She would give them to Dan Heng with her tail as she said, “The normal ones boost damage based on the cumulative amount of Shiny Silver collected, not just what you have on hand, and the Nexus works similarly.” A yawn escaped her lips as she added, “I’d give you the other Nexus but it’s kinda pointless now…”

“Well, I’ll have to try it next time I unlock one of Reverie’s Nexus Signets,” Dan Heng said with a smile, moving towards the final portal as Pardofelis drifted off to sleep. Once he was through, he found himself in the final part of the Twilight Woods. There, standing before him, was a large draconic lion beast that soon bore its teeth as it lunged at Dan Heng. The Vidyadhara quickly dodged and got in a few hits where he could before the beast shot flames into the air that rained down around him. He didn’t even have time to get ready for his next move before the ground erupted in flames, scorching him. Even if he wouldn’t physically be hurt, it still felt like he was being hit and burned by the hellfire the Stellaron Hunter SAM was known for. However, fire had a weakness, and ever since he bought the Signets of Deliverance he had a plan but he wasn’t expecting to do it now. Water seemed to come from nowhere, being pulled up over the edges of the battleground, every step Den Heng made when moved out of the way of an attack seemed to echo the sound of someone landing in a puddle or shallow pool of water. Waves would crash with the flames of the beast, shielding him from more damage as he prepared himself for what he was about to do. As he did, he thought back to the source of this power. He already confronted the cause of his troubles, both himself back before they left the Loufu the first time and the Preceptor behind it all when the Express returned for the Wardance and yet a part of him was still hesitant. Hesitant to use the power that caused others to see him not as who he was, but instead Dan Feng. Focusing the power to let it free, he turned his thoughts to his friends, those who saw him as himself, the Nameless known as Dan Heng. Caelus, March, Welt Yang, Himeko, Pom-Pom, Lady Bailu… And so many others that supported him, reinforcing the one thing that he had always put forth, he was not Dan Feng. That person was his past, yes, but he was no more than an ethereal dream now, even more so as he had charged so much. He would no longer be afraid, he would use this power to protect his friends as they all blazed a path forward. Waters converged on him, spiralling upwards and around him, a water-made dragon soon joining the spiral as the beast charged, trying to stop whatever Dan Heng was doing, but it was too late. “Cloud-faring dragon… RISE!” Dan Heng yelled, the spiral condensing into a shell of water around him as the water-made dragon rose high into the air before diving down into the shell, causing an eruption of power and sending the water shell shattering as Dan Heng stood there, his teal eyes glowing faintly as the power of Inbibitor Lunae settled. Within a blink, Den Heng shot forward towards the beast, dodging the flames it spewed in response to his attack with ease before delivering a series of strikes similar to Hua’s, but with his own flare. Using his Cloudhymn more freely, the beast he could only assume was of the Honkai struggled against the water-made dragons sent at it along with the Cloudhymn copies of Cloud-Piercer the Vidyadhara sent to skewer it. It was a cruder fighting style than Dan Heng usually used in this form, if only as it was new to him, but it was still effective, showing what he had learned from Hua in their spar. However, with his stamina running low, he had to end it now and as such, Dan Heng rose into the air as another, larger water-made dragon spiraled around him. “Awaken dormant scales…” He said softly before sending the water-made dragon at the draconic lion with a single sentence, “Delve-hidden moon, world-cleansing dragon!” The water-made dragon launched itself at the beast and crashed into it, ending the fight as the powers of Inbibitor Lunae went dormant once more and Dan Heng landed on the ground. With the beast defeated, the portal leading out to the lobby of the Elysian Realm would appear and open up, allowing Dan Heng to leave. When he returned to the lobby, he found Elysia waiting for him.

“Hi~” She said cheerfully, “Looks like you succeeded in your first run of the Deep Sequence~! How was it?”

“It was interesting,” Dan Heng replied, “It definitely gave me an idea of what you faced back then and what I may face now. I also met two Flame-Chasers, Hua and Pardofelis.”

“Really~? How lucky~!” Elysia clapped her hands together, “Usually visitors only meet them one at a time. I wonder if they both were drawn to you or if it was merely luck.”

“Hua seemed to take an interest in me,” Dan Heng said, “I just happened upon Pardofelis after.”

“I see,” Elysia muttered, “I guess she was restocking the store.” She would go to say something only for Klein to speak up.

“Elysia, could you come here?” The ELF asked from the command center, “There is something I need to talk to you about.”

“Coming~” Elysia said, leaving Dan Heng to head over.

It was then Dan Heng heard footsteps behind him that stopped halfway up the stairs. Turning and moving to them, he found none other than Raven standing there.

“I was wondering where you had gotten to,” She said, smiling under her hood, “And don’t worry, I won’t tell Sire. We used to initiate members here so if you want to train here instead, I won’t stop you.”

“Thank you…” Dan Heng said, a bit unsure of what to think of the kindness.

“Don’t, I just know that what we have can pale in comparison to this,” Raven said as she turned around to leave, “Just don’t let Grey Serpent catch you here.”

“Understood,” Dan Heng replied, “I’ll be careful.”

“Good,” Raven said with a wave of her clawed hand, “Now, I’ve been called to help Sire in North Africa. After that, I’m going to Nagazora to check on a few things there. I’ll see you when I get back and I hope you’re ready for anything when I do.”

Dan Heng seemed to smirk as Raven left, “I’ll do what I can.” When she disappeared from view, the Vidyadhara would turn to prepare himself for his next run through the Elysian Realm’s Deep Sequence.

Chapter Text

March didn’t know how long had passed since Dan Heng and Caelus vanished, or since Welt Yang had gone to work with Herta. It had all blurred together in her worry, pushing her to not sleep and simply wander the halls of the Herta Space Station. What made things worse for her was that Himeko was still away with the Express, likely fetching the passenger Ruan Mei had for them. What she wouldn’t do for a hug and reassurance that everything will be alright from the motherly redheaded leader of the Nameless. This was the first time she was separated from both Caelus and Dan Heng for a long time and it was terrifying. Yes, she’s gone on trailblazing missions without one or the other before, and even went off on her own without them but they were always easy to reach, to contact if she needed them or wanted to check on them. However, no matter how many messages she sent to them now, they never reached them nor did she get replies. She had to wear a cheerful mask that made it seem like she knew everything would be fine, it was the only way to move forward. After all, Herta was working on the problem, she would surely be able to get Dan Heng and Caelus back. Yet a part of her was screaming that they were gone for good. That she would never see their smiles again or be able to feel the warmth that came from being there. The bright, radiant energy from Caelus and the calm, gentle aura of Dan Heng… She never noticed until they were gone just how much comfort both brought her, and how with them gone it felt like a part of her was ripped away. Pulling out her beacon, she would send Caelus a message, getting the same error message as before. “Caelus…” She said softly, her own mental strength beginning to give as panic began to set in, “You always answer quickly when I text you, no matter where you are… Why aren’t you answering now…?” She knew the answer yet her mind clashed with itself, a small fragment desperately crying out that he would answer at some point, which only fueled her mind’s spiral that she would never see him or Dan Heng again. Her hands trembled and her breathing quickened before it felt like it was harder to breathe, her legs soon feeling like they’d give out from under her. Fear was overwhelming, gripping her to her very core until a mechanical yet gentle voice reached out to her from behind.

“Miss March, are you alright?”

March would snap back to reality, realizing that she was in the hallway leading to the Master Control Room, though her breathing had yet to return to normal and her legs still felt off. Turning, she would find member #76 of the Genius Society, Screwllum, looking at her. Despite his unmoving face, she had the feeling that he was worried for her wellbeing. “Oh, Mister Screwllum, I didn’t see you there. I hope I’m not in your way.”

Screwllum's gaze would remain on her as he studied March, who did her best to hide the fact that she almost had a panic attack. “Question: Due to your elevated breathing and state you were in prior to my speaking, is it safe to say that you were about to have a panic attack?” The mechanical humanoid eventually asked in a gentle manner.

“Ah… Was it that obvious…?” March asked, sounding disappointed that she couldn’t hide it. So much for the brave face she was putting up.

“It is hard to hide symptoms of one when it gets as close to happening as it did for you,” Screwllum remarked, “Madam Herta has filled me in on the situation when she requested my aid, I am well aware of how it may be impacting you. Suggestion: Please seek out one of the counselors on the station or a trusted figure to talk things over. While they may not be able to help or understand, it is better than bottling up how you feel. Contacting Miss Himeko is also advised if those do not work.” The mechanical tone of voice mixed with the logical suggestion didn’t take away from the intent behind his words, how it was clear he only wished the best and was trying to help.

“Thanks Mister Screwllum,” March said, smiling a bit, “I think I’ll try that.” She then looked towards the doorway to the Master Control Room and sighed, before stepping aside, “I’ll get out of the way for you. Madam Herta and Mr Yang should still be in her office.”

“Thank you,” Screwllum said, bowing to her slightly before beginning to walk, only to stop as he felt March gently take hold of one of his sleeves.

“Just… Just promise you’ll bring Caelus and Dan Heng back… Okay?” She asked, almost seeming like a lost child in the moment as tears seemed to form in her eyes.

“Affirmation: I will do everything in my power to do so,” Screwllum said, his mechanical voice as gentle as ever, “Both I and Madam Herta. Rest assured, no solution will be untested.”

In that moment, March could have sworn she saw a smile from him, even though his face was unchanging. She let go of Screwllum’s sleeve and with a shaky voice said, “Thank you.” With that, she left to do as Screwllum suggested as a few tears rolled down her cheeks.

Screwllum would give pause before continuing on his way. He made quick strides to Herta’s office, entering it as soon as he reached it where he found both Herta and Welt Yang. “Madam Herta, I have arrived as requested.”

“Ah, Screwy, good,” Herta said, the office’s puppet turning to him, “Now that you’re here, we might be able to make some good progress faster.”

“Madam Herta, if I might ask, is my power really worth the study of two Geniuses?” Welt Yang asked, readjusting his glasses.

“While I could study this ‘Honkai’ alone, Screwy here has a twofold purpose,” Herta explained, “During the first tests, I thought back to the idea you proposed about where our two missing Nameless were and thought it sounded familiar.” Her gaze would return to Screwllum, “So I asked Screwy to check the records of the Genius Society.”

“As Madam Herta speculated, the Imaginary Tree you referred to has been theorized to exist by Genius Society #1, Zandar One Kuwabara,” Screwllum said, “Not only that, but his theory is nearly identical to how you described Mr Yang.”

Welt Yang would cross his arms, “I’m not surprised that the Genius Society has theorized about it given it was discovered in my time. And the second reason?”

“He’s the most trustworthy Genius I know,” Herta said, “If anyone is to help me, it’s him.”

“I am honored that you think so, Madam Herta,” Screwllum said as he walked over to the screen showing the currently accumulated data. After looking over it, he spoke again, “Observation: Based on this data, Mr Yang radiates a small amount of Honkai energy but you’ve also recorded spikes in its levels. Is it safe to assume that this is from the use of the powers you reported him to have?”

Herta nodded, “Yes, it was. I wanted to try and see if the power he used could help with identifying the connection between this ‘Honkai’ and the Imaginary Tree.” With a smile, she’d look at Welt Yang and say with a small laugh, “To think, if this succeeds, I will have proven the theory proposed by Genius Society #1. How fate spins its tales. Now then, would you be so kind as to give a demonstration of your Herrscher powers for Screwy here?”

Welt Yang nodded and looked towards the large open space in front of the Simulated Universe. He would go through all of the machines and tech he knew about to figure out which one to make this time, soon settling on one of the old favorites. With an outstretched hand, he would focus on the machine he wanted to make, its specs ruching through his head. His eyes would begin to glow red as Honkai energy began to radiate from him more and more. Within a flash, a blue wireframe in the shape of a large mecha, big enough to fit a single pilot within, would appear. It looked like a new asset loading into a digital world for the first time and soon after, the wireframe would be replaced by metals of various kinds. The mecha would be a steel blue color with white lining on the details, with blue lights shining from various parts. Welt Yang let out a breath as his eyes stopped glowing, lowering his hand as he looked over the creation, the common Anti-Entropy mecha known as the Titan.

“It amazes me still to see it in action,” Herta remarked, “I wonder if you could make me some more puppets with that power of yours." She glanced towards Screwllum, "What are your thoughts on it Screwy?”

“He created a mech out of pure energy, as if pulling it from thin air,” Screwllum said, “And in doing so, the levels of Honkai energy he radiated spiked.” He looked at the Titan standing in the room before saying, “In addition, the mech is made of various metals, some alloys I can identify and others I cannot. I assume this is a mech from your homeworld Mr Yang?”

“That it would be, Mr Screwllum,” Welt Yang replied, “This is a common mech of a group on my homeworld known as Anti-Entropy, a group I once was leader of. The mech is called a Titan and while it seems basic, it is effective on Honkai Beasts Templar class and below.”

“So in addition to the creation of energy and Herrschers, the Honkai also can create creatures you refer to as Honkai Beasts and even have a means to classify them,” Screwllum said, “Further analysis may be needed.”

“For that, we would need to find Welt Yang’s homeworld for that, assuming that the phenomenon is still active there,” Herta said, “There are some things of note that I found in the Honkai energy itself and the similarities to what we know as Imaginary Energy but given what I’ve learned, it’s of no concern.”

“Question: If Honkai energy has similarities to Imaginary Energy, could we not just use that energy to achieve the same goal?” Screwllum asked.

“Welt?” Herta asked, turning her gaze to Welt Yang.

“In theory it is possible however back in my world, something similar, if not Honkai Energy itself,  was used in tests by a man trying achieve the impossible,” Welt Yang explained, “In these tests, he never achieved the correct results till he tried replicating those tests with the Herrscher of Void. That Herrscher, as he learned, has complete control of Imaginary Space, of which would better access to the Imaginary Tree.”

“Because of this, I want to try using this Honkai Energy to try to replicate this Herrscher of Void’s power,” Herta said, “Being I can replicate the powers of Remembrance, I think I can do that as well. It’s just a matter of collecting the Honkai Energy needed for it.”

“If we collect enough, there is a chance we could condense it enough that it crystallizes into a synthetic core,” Welt Yang suggested, “I’ve worked with two who’ve created a synthetic core of sorts before. We’d just need the equipment and means to contain the Honkai energy so it doesn’t harm anyone. It can be rather toxic to those without the resistance to it.”

“Noted,” Herta said, turning her head to Screwllum, “Screwy, could you run a few more tests on Welt’s Herrscher powers while I get everything needed ready?”

“Of course Madam Herta,” Screwllum said with a nod before Herta’s puppet went dormant. Upon hearing Welt Yang chuckle, he would turn his attention to him, “Might I ask what caused you to chuckle?”

“Oh nothing…” Welt Yang said, “I was just reminded of an old friend…”





Tesla would sneeze loudly as she talked with Einstein via holocall, rubbing her nose a bit soon after.

“Are you alright?” Einstein asked, worried about her colleague.

Tesla nodded, “I’ll be fine mophead. Now, about my request…”

Einstein sighed, “The data on both the Judgement of Shamash and Abyss Flower we got from the Soulium fragments Seigfried brought back from the moon during the Second Eruption, right? Why do you need it?”

“I want to see if I can use the data of both to try and create a lance that replicates Caelus’ lance, which I’ve been studying,” Tesla replied, “You should have gotten the data I’ve obtained from it already.”

“I did but haven’t been able to look over it yet,” Einstein replied with a sigh, “But from the sounds of it, is it safe to say this lance might be on par with the Divine Keys?”

“Hard to be sure but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was,” Tesla said pulling up the data to show Einstein as they talked, “The handle and guard of the lance is made from a metallic alloy I can’t even figure out and the lance ‘blade’ is made from crystal or gemstone that’s likely harder than anything we know. That’s not even taking into account the heat it gives off.”

“From what you’ve shared, it doesn’t give off a lot but this is still more than Shamash when not in use,” Einstein said as she looked over the data, “And the heat that was recorded here… I assume you had Caelus use it recently?”

“In the Helios’ training rooms, yes,” Tesla nodded, “I wanted to know just how hot it could burn as if Caelus can handle that, it’ll give me an idea of how powerful I could make it. From what you can see…”

“It’s close to Shamash’s temp when in base claymore mode,” Einstein finished, “Now I see why you wanted the data on it for this lance… I take it Abyss Rose is merely because this weapon is a lance as well.”

“That and it can help figure out how to structure it should I use a synthesized Honkai crystal as its power source,” Tesla said.

“Taking full advantage of his Honkai Resistance, huh?” Einstein asked, crossing her arms.

“That and it’s likely the only way I can give it the power to even possibly match that lance he already has and I’m not even sure how well that’ll do on the Honkai yet,” Tesla answered.

Einstein would be quiet before saying, “Alright, I’ll send over the data. But save the crystal synthesis till you return to the Hyperion.” She would press a few buttons to send to data to Tesla before shifting in place, “Now, any updates on your search? Madam Theresa is growing worried.”

“Nothing so far,” Tesla said, “We’ve stopped at a town in Austria so we could restock on some supplies. However, I have expanded my drones’ search net farther. As of now, they can scan for Kiana’s Honkai signature for anywhere from here to Japan to give an idea of how big the net is.” Tesla would smile brightly, full of confidence, “We’ll bring her back mophead, so don’t you and Madam Theresa fret!”

Meanwhile, somewhere in South Africa, a girl with white hair tied in twin braids wearing a white and orange bodysuit trudged on hot desert sands far away from the Schicksal base she had escaped from. Panting and out of breath, her body felt heavier with every move as fatigue threatened to overwhelm her. As she continued on, a cold, empty void emerged within her heart and grew with every step she took until she felt it could almost swallow her whole. The voices of others echoed in her mind, conflicting and clashing as she did her best to push onwards. From where she was, the journey seemed endless but she had no choice but to go on, she couldn’t go back after all. Yet, even with the weight of everything on her shoulders, a name remained in her memories. One that helped her stay on her feet and urged her to turn back. There was a time when a special someone was always by her side, who must be desperately searching for her now. Questions soon swirled in her mind: Where would she be now? Where would she go?

“Mei…” The girl muttered, trying to muster up the strength to keep moving as she felt water run down her cheeks. She didn’t know if they were beads of sweat or tears formed of her longing but it didn’t matter as she closed her eyes. For reasons she couldn’t explain, there was a sudden longing to return to a place she hadn’t been to in years. The place where it all began and where the fates of her and Mei became one, never to part, the place where they first met: Nagazora. With the last bit of strength she could muster in the moment, she opened a rift in space and walked towards it. She wasn’t sure if it would lead where she wanted but it was the first step on her journey back. Back to her beloved Raiden Mei.

Chapter Text

Weeks had passed since the Helios left the small Austrian town, and since then, the trio have done what they could to keep busy. Raiden Mei would be sorting some papers and keeping to herself as she half listened to the conversation between Caelus and Tesla. Months had passed since the Great Eruption and the Battle of Schicksal, and the inability to locate Kiana after finding her in Arc City has been weighing on her. Continuing her work, her attention would turn slightly to the conversation Tesla and Caelus were having.

“... aside from that, I think with the data I got on this ‘Path Energy’ you give off while fighting I can easily make the new weapon for you,” Tesla said with confidence, the hologram showing a chart on the data in question. Each amount had an icon that marked it as a path, Destruction being marked by a star with solar flames arcing from it, Preservation being a tower shield, and Harmony being a chorus singing.

Caelus would look at the chart with a look of mild surprise, “I’m surprised you were even able to detect any Path Energy, never mind be able to identify that I drew power from three Paths.”

“I admit it wasn’t easy however when looking over the combat data from your training sessions compared to the mission you went on, there were several odd energy signatures,” Tesla said, “The challenge was refining the sensors to be able to pick it up with the level of tech we have currently. But I did it!” She beamed with pride at that, knowing she was able to program the current tech of Earth to detect this new and alien energy.

“It’s not just that…” Caelus said, “The power of the Paths have felt weaker since I arrived in this time, something I’m only noticing now that I’m in combat more.”

“Weaker?” Tesla asked, “But you seem plenty powerful with what you can tap into. Are you saying that normally you can tap into more than what has been detected?”

Caelus nodded, “Yeah. Not only that but it almost feels like the connection is weaker. It almost feels like something’s interfering with my connection with them…”

Tesla would think before saying, “That leaves two theories. One, you being temporally displaced is hindering your connection and two, something about this world or solar system is, as you said, interfering with the connection. This is assuming you are from this dimension of course, which seems likely as you can still draw power from them.” It was then that a thought would hit her, one that made her think about how strong Caelus truly was once more. Shaking those questions out of her head, she would pull up her plans for the lance she would make Caelus on the holodisplay to show him. “In any case, this is what I had planned for your lance,” Tesla said soon after, “It’ll be made using highly durable and incredibly strong metal alloys, data from two Divine Keys albeit not to the degree I would like, and a planned synthetic Herrscher Core as its core to power the flames it’ll give off. Assuming we can successfully synthesize one, that is…” She would pause before continuing, “Even still, with the Path Data, I should be able to make it durable enough for use with the Destruction and Preservation Paths. Harmony will be trickier but I think I can manage. As for the lance’s name… I’m thinking Lance of Valkyria. That has a nice ring to it, no?”

Caelus would look over the weapon info with as critical of a mind as he could. In all honesty, he barely understood any of it and suspected that the only one who could was either Tesla’s colleague or a member of the Genius Society. It did sound like she was doing all she could to make it as close to the Lance of the Architects as possible so he could use it effectively. And the plans did show what he assumed were the Divine Keys in question, with the design drawing from the Abyss Flower and the firepower from the Judgement of Shamash. “Honestly a lot of this kinda goes over my head,” Caelus eventually said, rubbing his head a bit, “But you look like you have a pretty good idea on what you want to with it so I’ll trust you on it. That said, I do really like the name.” A noise would draw his attention away from the holodisplay, his gaze falling on Raiden Mei as she worked to clean up after she knocked something down while organizing papers. “Mei, are you okay?” Caelus asked, worried about his friend.

Raiden Mei would look up and nodded with a forced smile, “Yeah, I’m fine. Don’t worry about it.”

Tesla would sigh as she placed her hands on her hips, “You’re thinking about Kiana again, aren’t you?”

Raiden Mei would pause for a bit when the question was asked. “... Yes,” Raiden Mei said, sorrow filling her voice as she spoke.

“Look on the bright side, at least she’s not in the hands of Schicksal or the World Serpent,” Tesla said, trying to lift her spirits. A few hours ago, Anti-Entropy was informed that the Schicksal labs in South Africa were raided by the Serpent. Not much was known about the battle or how it went but everyone was sure that the Herrscher of Void escaped. The knowledge that Kiana wasn’t in the hands of either allowed them to breathe a sigh of relief but it wasn’t long before the sense of apprehension returned. The red haired scientist would shake her head before saying, “It’s just us three in here right now. Do you want to talk about it?”

Raiden Mei was silent before finally speaking, “... Kiana… She’s… changed… I can’t describe how she’s changed. Did she grow up? Become more mature? It just doesn’t feel right. She had always been loud and restless. From the day we first met, I never knew she could be quiet or patient. She was a trouble maker but I found that reassuring. But something changed when I met her again in Arc…” Thinking back to that moment and hearing Kiana say she couldn’t go back, the look on her face sank, as did her voice, “She’s… quiet…. Too quiet… I can’t even… recognize her.” She would pause before looking down, “Even now, she’s probably out there alone, enduring pain that we could hardly imagine… I just wish I could find her…”

Tesla would rub her head before speaking, “... Don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s bad for health. And we’re doing everything we can.” Glancing around as she tried to think of something to say, she would eventually speak as she looked at the files, “Erm… Just let me clear the desks. I need to make another run to the intel room.” As she went to leave, she turned around and took one last worried glance at Raiden Mei.

Caelus would look from the door Tesla left through to Raiden Mei and walked over to her, “We’ll find her soon, you just have to have faith that–”

“It’s not soon enough!” Raiden Mei said, practically biting the Trailblazer’s head off in doing so and knocking several files onto the floor in the process. The brief anger subsided as quickly as it appeared, leaving her downcast look once more, “It’s been 4 months since the Battle of Schicksal Caelus… Four months that Kiana’s been alone. She had to have witnessed the ruined cities and devastation caused by the Honkai, both from the Herrscher of Void and other Honkai attacks… I can’t help but wonder… Does she blame herself for those killed in that Honkai Eruption? Is she trying to take on this burden alone…?” She shuttered as she thought of it all, the words Kiana told her back in Arc City echoing once more.


“No… I can’t go back Mei. I’m sorry… I can’t go back… I can’t put you all in danger again…”


Raiden Mei would be silent afterwards, wishing to forget it but this was all she had. She felt like a stone, cold and dead, sinking into the abyss waiting at the bottom of an icy, dark lake. And what’s more, for the first time since meeting Kiana, she felt like that girl had become a stranger. Before she or Caelus would speak more, there was a loud thud as Tesla rushed back into the room.

“Mei, Caelus, pack your gear. Let’s go!!” She said in an urgent and commanding voice.

“What happened, Dr Tesla?” Raiden Mei asked as she and Caelus turned to the red haired scientist.

A small smile appeared on Tesla’s face, if only because she had good news, “We… We found her!”

The news made the noise around Raiden Mei go silent, the words taking a bit to sink in. They had found her, they found Kiana! Relief washed over her but also fear. Fear that she’d never see the Kiana that she once enough knew again, as well as the fear that this reunion wouldn’t last. Still, hope would begin to grow and she hurried to make sure her gear was ready for when they arrived where Kiana was. As she did, she would swing by her quarters to grab some things only to spot a thin box on the desk in it. She had got it back in the Austrian town she and Caelus had saved and while she meant to save it for when they returned to the Hyperion, something told her that then would be too late. Grabbing the box, she would go to find Caelus, spotting him leaving his quarters soon enough. “Caelus!” She called out, “Wait up!”

Caelus turned to see Raiden Mei hurry over, “What’s up? Do you need me to grab something before we go?”

“No, nothing like that,” Raiden Mei said before giving Caelus the box, “I wanted to give this to you.”

Caelus would take the box and carefully open it, finding a necklace with a jade dragon-like charm on it. “What’s… What’s this for?” Caelus asked, a bit surprised.

“I wanted to give this to you when you were officially made a Schicksal Knight of the Far East Branch but I figured now would be a good time to do so,” Raiden Mei said, “I thought it might go well with your Battlesuit.” She would frown a bit, “And I also wanted to apologize for snapping at you… You were only trying to help.”

Caelus would be silent for a second or two before saying, “Don’t worry about it, you were worried and stressed. If our roles were reversed, I’d probably be the same.” He would grin as he said, “Now then, let’s get ready to go. So long as we fight side by side, not even a hundred warriors could stop us! We'll overcome anything!”

Raiden Mei’s eyes widened at these words as even with them being different, the feeling behind them stirred a memory from months ago. It was as if she saw an echo of back then through what almost could be a mirrored soul.


“Mei! We’ll get the strength of a hundred warriors if Mei’s around!”

“... You really are like her…” Raiden Mei muttered under her breath, the echoing memory digging at wounds yet to heal, and worsening the longing that left a hole in her heart.
Caelus would catch that Raiden Mei seemed to speak and grew worried, “Is everything okay?”

Raiden Mei would frown ever so slightly, looking at Caelus with a gaze that mirrored that of someone he knew. One that stared passed him, locked in a past filled with sorrow. “Yeah…” Raiden Mei said before going to walk past him, “Let’s make sure we’re prepared for what’s to come.”

Caelus would glance back at Raiden Mei as she walked past him in the hallway, worried for her. For the first time in a long time since he met her, he saw reflected in her the face of an old companion through a dreamscape once marred by Order. The moment he saw the look on her face before she walked off, he saw Acheron. And it scared him, making him fear what was to come, what could be going on in her mind to make her look at him like that. Almost as if in a response to that moment, the skies around the Helios would darken and thunder rumbled lowly, an omen of the storm that would soon arrive.

“So this is the Herta Space Station?” A mysterious young man asked as he walked through the hallways of the space station, the metal of his armored heel clicking against the ground. The young, pale blonde man wore high tech armor, not on par with that of SAM but in its own right just as deadly. An intruder to the station, he had been able to get onboard with a phase flame he had stole from another, not that he remembered their face, and now was planning his next move. “Heh… That Genius Herta should really up her security…” He said with a smirk as his armor seemed to activate, orange bolts of electricity jumping along both it and the 6 floating blades that detached from his armor in that moment, “No matter… It’s far too late. I will do as the Destruction wishes… And leave naught but cinders of this place!” Setting forth once more on his trek to find the master control room of the station, he would grin, “It’s only a matter of time… before I receive THEIR gaze.”

Chapter Text

“And that is all the changes done to the room currently to safely contain the Honkai Energy as we synthesize this Honkai Crystal,” Screwllum said as he finished explaining to Welt Yang the changes that had been made to the room that once held the Stellaron now within Caelus. As he did, there were several Herta puppets working to finalize the changes while Herta used the one in her office to continue analyzing Honkai Energy. “To ensure safety, the only ones allowed in this room during that time will be you, our resident Herrscher, Madam Herta and myself,” Screwllum said, “As it stands, we do not have the time to test Honkai Resistance safely nor the time to figure such methods out. Conclusion: To ensure a speedy creation of the Honkai Crystal as part of our plan to recover Caelus and Dan Heng, this is our best course of action.

“I understand,” Welt Yang said, “And I appreciate the care being placed in this. I will admit, using the room that once housed a Stellaron is smart. It was already made for containment and just needed to be altered to contain something else.”

“Of course,” Screwllum said, “Madam Herta believes that doing this will ensure the safety of the Space Station.” He would look at the puppets working before looking at Welt Yang, “Mr Yang, would you check in with the Herta puppet in the Seclusion Zone. Madam Herta is looking to have the lowest area of the zone act as a back up, in case the Honkai Energy is too much for this room to contain. Afterwards, please report to Madam Herta both the status of the Seclusion Zone and this room. I will stay behind to make sure all systems are functioning at optimal levels.”

“Of course, whatever you need of me to get my fellow Nameless back,” Welt Yang said before turning and leaving the room. Walking through the stored Curios to the hallway outside and into the main area of the Storage Zone. It was a circular area with walkways that circled around an elevator shaft, one that if one missteps they could fall. That was rare of course thanks to various things. Welt Yang had always enjoyed this fact, finding the tech remarkable. When he left Earth, it was getting to a similar point though not exactly there yet. Between the creation of the Hyperion 11 and the ship that he and Void Archives used to get this far in the cosmos, dimensional travel not included, the tech of Earth was improving at a fairly decent rate now that the Honkai was no longer a threat to the Earth. Still, as he reached the elevator to head down to the Seclusion Zone, Welt Yang couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought of Tesla and Einstein exploring the space station and their reactions. He couldn’t help but feel that Tesla at least would get along with Herta. It made him wonder how they were doing now, and if they were trying to figure out a way to find him.

The elevator jolting as it descended into the lower zone brought him out of his thoughts, making him take notice of the dimming lights. He had been down here multiple times, the most recent being the reason for all of this, but this was different. The air felt different, like something bad was about to happen. Not to mention, with work being done in it, the lights should be on. The elevator would reach the floor with a shutter, putting him on edge even more. Stepping out the moment the doors open, he would scan his surroundings, readying himself to summon forth his cane if needed. With the only real light coming from the Blue, the darkness worked to play tricks on the mind. Shifting shadows mimicking movement, making it seem like something was in the darkness, the eerie silence not helping one bit. Welt Yang was used to things like this but even still, it unnerved him. The lights of the elevator behind him turning red and shooting upwards didn’t help as it meant that something was extremely wrong, that a containment breach or worse had happened down here. The clicking of heels from the darkness drew his attention from the elevator, the sound coming from a Herta puppet walking out of the darkness before crumbling onto the ground, showing severe damage on its back. Welt Yang would go to check on it only for it to look up at him the best it can, its face cracked and damaged from the fall.

“RuN…” It could barely say, its voice distorted, “RuN…!”

“What in the– URK!!” Welt Yang barely had any time to react before 6 blades impaled his torso from behind. The warmth of blood spilling from the wounds evoked a familiar feeling, making him remember when he was impaled by the 2nd Herrscher’s Subspace Lance. Yet at the same time, it was different, there was a searing heat from the blades, which moved subtly to keep the wounds from being cauterized, not to mention that there were six of them. The moment his mind caught up to the moment, Welt Yang hacked up blood, alerting him to the severity of them. As his mind searched for a solution, the clack of armored heels could be heard from behind. Looking back at the source with what little movement he could manage, his eyes would widen as for a second he thought he saw a familiar and unwelcome face staring at him. Yet the armored blonde haired man wasn’t Void Archives, even if they looked similar, the shoulder length hair and his eyes being red instead of green being the big indicator. Not to mention that with the high tech armor and the way his eyes seemed to glow, the blonde looked like a cyborg. “W-who are… you…?” Welt Yang forced out, his mind racing to a solution he had used years ago to try to escape death now like he did then.

The blonde haired man chuckled, “I’d tell you but… You’ll be dead soon anyway. Still, I came to bring Destruction to this place, who would have thought I would get the chance to kill a Nameless of the Express. I wonder if destroying that will bring THEIR gaze to me… Something to think about if the destruction of Herta and her space station doesn’t.” A devilish grin would cross his face and with a gesture, the blades impaling Welt Yang would heat up.

Welt Yang didn’t have much time, and the solution was a gamble. The last time he did it, the Herrscher Core held over 300,000 souls ready to hide him and he certainly wasn’t in a position like this. Not to mention that the Herrscher Core had changed since he last had it so that might make the attempt harder. The increasing heat of the blades wasn’t helping but he had no other choice. Even if he couldn’t return immediately, he had to try. So he would be able to protect March, the station, Himeko and most importantly… So he could return home to his friends and son. He had seconds to act as energy gathered in the blades and would gather as much Honkai Energy as he could. Too much would lead to a cascade but not enough would make the gamble impossible. Right as both energies reached their peak, Welt Yang’s brown eyes flashed red for mere seconds before the Honkai Energy suddenly dispersed as the blonde made his move.

The blades released their energy as they moved swiftly through Welt Yang’s body, which seemed to disintegrate as a red wireframe ran along his body. When it was gone, all that was left was the Core of Reason as it clattered on the ground. The blonde man let out a frustrated sigh, “Must have overdid it with the energy…” He would walk over and picked up the Herrscher Core, “Surprised that this survived when everything else didn’t. Must be one strong gemstone…” He would look it over before scoffing, “Beh… Nothing worth my time. I don’t even detect any energy I could use.” He would use the phase flame to send the blueish grey gemstone somewhere else. He didn’t know where exactly it was, but he was certain it was floating in space outside of the station. He then looked up at the elevator shaft as the floating blades shifted around him. Yes, the containment breach protocols had been activated but he wasn’t going to let that stop him. He was going to reach the Master Control Room or the station’s core one way or another, and he never cared before about the corpses left in his wake. With help from the blades as platforms, he began his ascent up the elevator shaft, his goal in sight.






“Alright Asta, what’s the problem?” Herta asked as she walked over to the pink haired scientist, March following close behind after seeing that Herta took control of the puppet in the room.

Asta would turn to look at the duo, her gaze falling on Herta as she spoke, “Madam Herta, I’m terribly sorry to interrupt your work in your office–”

“None of that, the puppet in my office is still running the analysis,” Herta said, “What was so important that you had to call me here?”

Asta nodded and pulled up the alert on the master control holoscreen, “Containment breach protocols have been enacted in the Seclusion Zone. The cause is unknown.”

Herta would think back and frown, “The last time those went into effect was when Ruan Mei was here. Why would they be in effect–” The space station shook as the echoing of a distant explosion could be heard, followed by alarms blaring.

“We’ve got attack alerts lining up across the board!” Asta called out, springing into action, “Working on pinpointing the attack location now!”

“Lady Asta, this is Arlan!”

Asta would waste no time in responding, “Arlan, where are you? What’s going on?”

“A lone intruder ascended the elevator shaft to the Storage Zone! He then damaged the elevator before entering the zone proper and attacking anyone in his sight!” Arlan reported over the comm system, “I’m heading in to try and subdue him!”

“That might explain the containment breach protocols going into effect in the Seclusion Zone,” Herta remarked dryly.

“Do we know what this attacker looks like?” March asked, growing worried.

Asta would pull up the security footage of the Storage Zone on the holoscreen, revealing the attacker to March and Herta, which was the blonde man that attacked Welt Yang. The blonde fought with cruel efficiency, not caring for the damage he caused. The pink haired scientist would gasp as it soon showed Arlan run in to fight, the white haired boy being able to hold his ground but it didn’t seem like it would last so long as he fought alone.

Herta would frown upon seeing the attacker, “Asta, begin the evacuation and activate Defense Protocol: Swarm. Also, have the designated puppets head to my office ASAP. I may have to pull out that card.”

Asta’s eyes would widen before nodding, “Understood Madam Herta.” She would quickly take control of the growing chaos in the Master Control Room as she activated the protocol. As she did, she would seal the Stellaron Containment Room the moment the Herta Puppets within the room left in order to safeguard Screwllum.

Herta swiftly turned on her heels and began walking towards the exit, “Miss March, you’re with me. We’re going to help Arlan.”

March was caught off guard by this but quickly ran after her, “R-right! Of course Madam Herta!” The two hurried through the hallway to the elevator where Herta pressed a button on the pad to try and call the elevator to the zone. When the door opened, they two would be greeted by a hardlight platform.

“Seems like the elevator’s too damaged to come up,” Herta said, walking onto the platform, “Luckily I had this installed just for this possibility.”

“That’s good,” March said with a nervous laugh as she followed her onto it. Once both were on the hardlight platform, said platform would begin its descent and the duo would ready their weapons for the fight. As they did, March would look at Herta, “Um… Madam Herta, if I may ask, what is Defense Protocol: Swarm? Is it in case the Swarm attacks the station?”

Herta would let out a chuckle, “I can understand why you would wonder that and while it would be useful for it, this protocol is a bit different. You know how my Puppets, so long as I am not in control of one, are autonomous within their programmed limits, correct?”

“I think so…” March said, “The one you’re using now was doing something else before it stopped suddenly and went to Miss Asta…”

“Well Defense Protocol: Swarm is basically an attack command that instructs them to swarm the threat till it is no more,” Herta said smugly.

“But doesn’t that run a risk for you as well Madam Herta?” March asked, still a bit confused as she did her best to wrap her head around it, “What if this causes all your puppets on station to be destroyed?”

Herta shook her head, “I have already accounted for that. That probability is why I gave Asta the second command. Should need be, I will use my Mirrors and those Puppets to bring my true self here. While it could be dangerous to the station, it may be needed.” The Genius would then smile, “It’s been a good while since I had a reason to show my true strength.” She then turned towards the upcoming exit into the Storage Zone, hammer at the ready “Get ready, the fight begins.”

Sure enough, right as the hardlight platform stopped at the Storage Zone, a Herta Puppet would go flying past them as two others ran in the opposite direction, weapons at the ready. Herta and March would charge out after the two puppets to find Arlan creating distance between him and the foe as the blonde tore through the puppets. The white haired boy wouldn’t notice them till March shot an arrow at the blonde.

“Madam Herta! Miss March!” Arlan said, concerned that they were there, “What are you doing here?”

“Helping you of course!” March replied, readying herself for another attack.

Arlan went to protest only to hear the blonde laughing, drawing his attention to him and forcing him back into an attack stance.

“Well look who it is!” The blonde said, holding his hand out toward Herta, “The Genius Herta, come to die. And with her she brought another Nameless to die as well! What a lucky day.”

“Another… Nameless…?” March asked, her confidence shaken hearing that.

“At least he seemed like one,” The blonde said, “Or have the pass thing you have on your outfit become a collectible?” He laughed and readied his next attack, “The look in that man was priceless. I hope you all give me similar ones as I rip you to shreds.”

Herta looked unimpressed, “For someone trying to be scary, you certainly fail at it. You can’t even confirm that the one you killed was a Nameless.” Her head tilted a bit, “And for all that grandeur you seem to hold yourself with, you really aren’t anything close. That armor and hairstyle? I haven’t seen anything like that since the last Amber Era.” After a pause she would add, “Well... The hairstyle I’ve seen more recently, though that man wore it better. Probably because he had long hair instead of the shoulder length mess you have. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were–” Before she could say anything else, the blonde charged at her to attack only for her to block it with her hammer. Right at that moment, three automated Herta puppets would jump up behind, weapons drawn to impale him.
Noticing that she was trying to keep him busy, the blonde quickly turned his attention behind him so one of his floating blades could cut through the puppets and stop the attack. This, however, made him open as right when he was about to attack Herta, she hit him with an uppercut with her hammer that sent him into the air.

Arlan was quick to follow up, charging forward and jumping into the air before hitting the blonde with a downwards slash and sending him into the platform below. “March, now!” He yelled as he landed.

March nodded and pulled an arrow made of seven-phased ice out of nowhere before taking aim at the blonde as he got up to recover from the two attacks. “Check out this awesome move!” She loudly said before letting loose the arrow, which struck true and froze the blonde man. “Alright!” She said, “Now we’ve got you! Give up or–” Before she could finish her sentence, a surge of energy occurred around the foe before the ice shattered and he was able to fight once more. “Aw man…” March frowned, “I really thought it would hold longer…”
“So even with your low path energy you still can break out of that ice,” Herta said, “Seems that armor does more than reported.”

“Shut up…” The man’s eyes glowed as his voice shook with anger.

Herta was, as expected, unphased and unamused, “Did I touch a nerve? If you really thought you were an unknown to me, then you really have underestimated me. Of course, the only thing that is really worth mentioning is that you’re just a second-rate replica of a more interesting, if not dangerous, man.”
Arlan would look at Herta, “Madam Herta, you know who he is?”

Herta gave Arlan a side glance, “Only a name and account of one survivor that was on that station years ago when a certain man was here.” Her gaze returned to the man, still as dismissive as ever, “I honestly thought they were joking when I heard someone made a lookalike of that man. One look at you though and I see they weren’t. They got the eye color wrong though, his were green.” She then tilted her head ever so slightly as she said, “To be honest, I think you’re nowhere near the level of dangerous as Void Ar–”

Before she could finish, the man darted forward to try and smash her head in, though missed thanks to how flexible the puppet was, to which Herta used to her advantage. “Don’t you dare compare me to him!!” The man screeched as he used the floating sword to block an attack from Arlan as another went after March only for her to shoot it off course, “I AM SUPERIOR TO HIM IN EVERY WAY!!”

“And yet you don’t unnerve me or anything,” Herta said, the puppet she controlled bending in ways unnatural to human beings to dodge the now wild attacks, “You don’t even make me wonder what his next move will be. Frankly… You’re not even as interesting as him, so understand that this time I’ve spent humoring you in this fight is just pity.”

This made the man even madder, his attacks growing wilder as the blades attacked all three of them, “How… HOW DARE YOU! I am to be the next Lord Ravager! I will bring worlds to their knees!! I AM AUSTERITY DOMINIA!! I AM DESTRUCTION!!”

Herta would step back before spinning and hitting Austerity  dead in the face with her hammer, sending him flying before he caught himself on the ground with the help of his blades. Herta would stabilize the puppet before speaking, “You are not Destruction. You are a child throwing a temper tantrum. And I wouldn’t hold your breath about getting Nanook’s gaze. THEY have never given a thought to the Annihilation Gang or those like them, so your brand of destruction will not impress THEM.”

“Even if destroying this place won’t get their gaze, I won’t stop till I get it!” Austerity Dominia said sharply, “Even if I have to tear this place apart by hand or even destroy multiple factions!” Right as he was about to make a move, a seven-phased ice arrow would hit him from behind and destroy a bit of the armor on the side of his body. He watched as it clattered to the ground before looking towards March, who looked like a deer caught in headlights. “I think I’ll start by ripping apart the remaining Nameless!!” He scowled before lunging towards her.

“NO!!” Quick on his feet, Arlan got in the way as lightning coursed across his body and blade as he parried the main attack from Austerity Dominia though the blades still went for their attack only for March to stop them. Arlan knew he wouldn’t be able to hold the clash for long but seeing Madam Herta moving in to assist, he felt confident that he could hold the man off long enough for March to escape. “G… Get out of here March!” He commanded, “Escape, now!”

“Head to the place where his journey started!” Herta added, swinging her hammer down at the man, only for his blades to get in the way, “We’ll be fine, just go! Get to that spot and wait for us!”

March would be conflicted and confused as she watched Herta and Arlan fight off Austerity Dominia long enough to allow her to escape. And the place Herta told her to go, where was that? Who was she referring to? As she turned to activate the lift’s hardlight platform, the answer came to her: Caelus. The place where Caelus’ journey started, where he joined the Express and started his journey on it. The moment the hardlight was activated, she got on and made sure she was heading to the Supply Zone. She knew where to go and knew why it was picked, because it was wide open, giving more room to move and fight. Her retreat wasn’t an escape, it was the first step to regroup, though she also had a sinking suspicion she was being used as bait as well.

It wasn’t long before Austerity Dominia broke free of the fight against Herta and Arlan in order to charge up the elevator shaft after March, sending Arlan and Herta flying to do so. While Arlan was able to catch himself before he got seriously hurt with his sword, Herta wasn’t so lucky as her puppet hit a sign at speed, causing the back to cave in as it went limp.

“Madam Herta!!” Arlan yelled as he got himself collected and ran towards the puppet only to hear the footsteps of another coming from behind.

“I’m fine, stop yelling,” Herta said, having taken control of another puppet, “Please remember that these are puppet bodies and not my actual one. I can merely jump to another if I need to.” She would then look around at the puppets carved up and the one that she controlled till a few seconds ago, “That said… I am running low on other puppets. I may have to take action in person. How... annoying really.”

“How are we going to go to where you sent March?” Arlan asked, wincing as his body suddenly registered the damage he had done to himself during the fight. His abilities had always been self destructive but he always did his best to temper their use so he could keep fighting for long periods, but the fight with Austerity Dominia pushed him to the limits and the fight wasn’t even truly over.

“You really don’t think I’d have no other way to reach the other floors if the main elevator’s in the state it is in and there’s a time crunch?” Herta asked as she began walking towards a wall on the other side of the circular platform, “Really now, that’s a compromise in security.”

“Ah- I’m sorry Madam Herta, I never meant to imply that you didn’t have anything in place-” Arlan said, feeling like he dug himself a hole with the prior question.

The puppet gave him a quick glance as she said, “You were merely worried for Miss March, but I would not have sent her there without a plan.” She would then return her gaze ahead as she said, “Screwy, are you there?”

“Yes Madam Herta, I am here. After your puppets left, the door was locked and sealed. I assume there is an attack of some kind?”

“The assumption is correct,” Herta replied, “Arlan, March and I are trying to deal with it now. I need you to tap into the station’s systems and find Welt Yang.”

There was a pause before she heard Screwllum’s voice on the comm system, “Statement: Welt Yang is not on the space station. Even when tuned to detect Honkai Energy, the station’s systems cannot detect the recorded Honkai Signature of Welt Yang.” As if he knew that Herta paused her actions to unlock the hidden corridor, Screwllum would quickly add, “However, the systems do detect a small Honkai Signature a few clicks off the side of the Railway Platform. Cause is… unknown.”

“Monitor it,” Herta said, unlocking the corridor, “And let me know if the signature grows stronger.”

Arlan would peek into the corridor and look at Herta soon after, “This leads to the Jefferies Tubes, right?”

Herta nodded, “They also lead to a service elevator few have access to. These are mostly used by my puppets nowadays. We’ll have to hurry to catch up with them.” Arlan gave a nod, made sure his sword was secure on his back and got to work getting to the Jefferies Tubes to begin the climb as Herta thought about the news Screwllum told her before following Arlan.

At the same time, the hardlight would reach the Supply Zone, allowing March to get off and enter it proper. She had only gotten a few steps away from the door as it closed behind her, only to hear something cut through the metal off it. Turning her head slightly, she saw one of Austerity Dominia’s blades impaled in it before another impaled itself in the door, startling March and letting her know that she needed to run. Stumbling a bit before taking off in a sprint through the hallways, she heard the sound of the blades carving through the steel door before a loud clang as the section carved out hit the ground, followed by maniacal laughter. “Ha… Ha… H-how’d he get up so fast?!” March huffed as she kept running. Glancing back, she saw the foe closing the gap fast and knew that at the rate things were going, she wouldn’t make it to the Railway Platform in time. “I need something to stall him…” She muttered, her mind racing as she ran, “I could use my Seven-Phased Ice but if he gets closer that could backfire… I need a means to– Oh!” Just ahead, on her left, was a Memory Bubble. She remembered Caelus telling her about it and that it was made of Memoria. It was a long shot but if her time in that academy on Penacony taught her anything, she had a knack for manipulating Memoria so if she was lucky she might be able to use it to push Austerity Dominia back. Just as she started to hear the armored footsteps getting closer, March’s fingers brushed against the Memory Bubble and in a flash her eyes gained a reddish tint for a second as she, almost on instinct, waved her right hand back towards Austerity Dominia, barely giving him a glance as well. In that moment, 5 pale jellyfish-like creatures made of Memoria appeared out of nowhere and attacked Austerity Dominia, causing him to stop to fight them off as March kept running.

“Alright!” March cheered upon seeing the Destruction Pathstrider held back, “It actually worked! Shame it used up the Memory Bubble but I’m sure Madam Herta will understand…” She would refocus on the path ahead, running with all her might to get to her destination before Austerity Dominia caught up with her again, “Now to get to the Railway Platform… Best see if using Seven-Phased Ice will help keep the distance between us–” She would glance back as she heard the Destruction Pathstrider yelling out before the sounds of him running began to echo behind her, “S-starting now!!” With a wave of her hand, a thick wall of Seven-Phased Ice formed to black the way as she rounded the corner near the Spare Parts Warehouse. From there it was a straight shot, minus a few turns and a room she’d have to navigate through. She just needed to keep distance between her and the Destruction Pathstrider. Her feet pounded against the metal floor as she made another wall of Seven-Phased Ice by touching a section of the wall as she passed. The sounds of the armored foe rushing through the hall and the sound of the wall of ice shattering did worry her but she had gotten so close, she couldn’t give up. Bursting into the room at the end of the hall, she quickly created as many barriers of Seven-Phased Ice as she could to make getting through hard to do. She slid on the metal floors as she tried to turn without losing speed, fatigue from running so much starting to set in. She could hear ice shattering behind her and laughter echoing as well, and she hoped that she would get there in time. However, as she ran down the stairs, her worst fears were confirmed.

“I FOUND YOU NAMELESS!!”

March whipped around fast enough to create her shield, blocking the dive attack from Austerity Dominia in the nick of time. Even still, with the attack being pushed, March’s shield wasn’t likely to last long even with all the power she put into it. Her legs felt like they were going to buckle, she felt trapped and if her shield failed, she would likely be cut to shreds. There had to be something, ANYTHING, she could do to stop his attack yet nothing she could think of would work. She couldn’t get her bow, her ultimate move was tied to it and the only thing with Seven-Phased Ice she could think of could hurt her as well as save her. Her back was against the wall and she was terrified of dying her, never seeing Caelus and Dan Heng again. Her greatest wish was about to be snatched from her and in the moment that terrifying thought crossed her mind, the red tint from earlier appeared in her eyes again for just as long as before, only this time the jellyfish-like creature that appeared as a result was blood red. The moment it appeared, it flew at Austerity Dominia and slammed into him at full force, sending him flying as March collapsed and caught her breath.

The creature didn’t last long as Austerity Dominia cut through it but before he could attack, Arlan would come out of nowhere and try to attack from above. “Even with all the damage you did to yourself, you still were able to reach me?” He asked with a smug smile, “And you thought you could actually hit me?”

“Grrh… Nope,” Arlan said with a grin, “I’m only making sure you’re distracted.”

“What are you–”

Before he could finish his sentence, Herta appeared next to him and swung in place as her hammer appeared in her hand, spinning as she soon hit him out from under Arlan and sent flying with the only thing heard from her being “Kururing!”

“Madam Herta!” March called out as she got to her feet, “Arlan! You two made it!”

Herta would glance back at March and smiled a bit, “Of course we did. I hope you didn’t think I would send you somewhere with no back up.”

March would call her bow to her with a smile, her confidence returning, “No way! I was just worried you two wouldn’t make it!”

Austerity Dominia would laugh as he got up, “So, you got me to a wider space to fight, this won’t change anything!”

Arlan’s body crackled with electricity as he got ready to fight again, “You’re right, we’re still going to win!”

Herta nodded before looking at Arlan and March, “Be aware of your surroundings and keep moving. Don’t give him a chance to reach you!”

“Right!!” March and Arlan said before beginning their attacks. March would fire two shots before running off to another location for her next attack, giving Arlan a shield as he charged headfirst into battle.

Herta would run in to back up Arlan but her mind would still wander to the news about Welt Yang, and the Honkai signature just outside of the Railway Platform. All she could do in the moment was to fight with all her might to defend her space station alongside Arlan and March, hoping that they would last long enough for backup to arrive or for them to defeat this Pathstrider. However, just barely out of sight, the fight prevented her from seeing the soft, bluish grey light shimmering past the window of the platform, glowing brighter with each passing second, signalling the approaching return of the First Herrscher.

Chapter Text

Welt Yang would open his eyes to a soft breeze, finding himself standing in a grassy field with a blue sky overhead, daisies scattered about the field. The pain of being impaled remained like a lingering echo despite himself showing no signs of it. Not only that, but despite not recognizing the field he now stood, he knew where he was. “So… This is the Core of Reason after its metamorphosis…” Welt Yang said, “It’s calmer… Peaceful, a reflection of what I hope the future may be.”

“It’s certainly worth fighting for then, don’t you agree?” A voice from behind asked.

Welt Yang would grow tense hearing the voice, as familiar as it was. To complete the metamorphosis, the last Herrscher of Reason consumed the 300,000 souls within and in doing so unlocked the full Authority of Reason. There shouldn’t be anyone but him in the Core of Reason now, and he was too far from the Cocoon of Finality for it to be related to the Honkai. Not to mention the voice didn’t sound like the Final Herrscher nor PROMETHEUS but instead… himself but younger. Turning, he would find himself face to face with what looked like his younger self, at the age he was when he inherited the Core of Reason from the First Herrscher of Reason, Welt Joyce. “You…” Welt Yang muttered, “Who or what are you?”

The young Welt smiled, “Does it matter? If it sets your mind at ease, I am merely a part of you conjured up by your mind while within the Herrscher Core. If it helps, please call me Joachim.”

“If that's true, why would it be me when I first accepted this core?” Welt Yang asked, still untrusting of the news.

Joachim smiled, “After Penacony, I would have thought that answer would be clear. However, if it’s better suited…” In a blink, Joachim changed from looking like Welt Yang did when he accepted the Core of Reason to how he did during the Second Eruption, “I can look like this, or even you currently.”

Welt Yang frowned, “If I hadn’t known better, I’d say you’re merely a trick of a Memokeeper. However, no person aside from me knows I can hide my being in this core. Madam Herta may suspect it as I have mentioned I remade my body once but that is a secret she wouldn’t share.”

“In addition,” Joachim added, “Even if a Memokeeper breached the Herrscher Core, they would not gain access to our memories. After all, our state of being is unchanged, even within here. You know that all too well having hidden in here twice prior.”

Welt Yang would adjust his glasses, “I do. So, if you are a part of my mind manifested here, why?”

“Our foe is something we’ve not faced before,” Joachim said, “Yet at the same time, there are similarities to what we’ve encountered prior.”

Welt Yang closed his eyes and thought before nodding, “Yes. That Pathstrider’s face looks like Void Archives, makes me wonder if it’s a case akin to Loucha and Otto or if this Pathstrider was somehow made in that man’s image.” After a pause, Welt Yang would add, “In addition, the blades he uses seem similar to those of the Valkyrie Helia’s second Battlesuit. However I doubt there is a connection there.”

Joachim nodded, “The Pathstrider caught us off guard, forcing us to hide in here for a time. And as we speak, likely causing mayhem on the Station, maybe even in combat with Madam Herta and March.”

“Which means it’s all the more vital that I not waste my time here,” Welt Yang said firmly, staring down his ‘inner self’, “This isn’t like the Second Eruption or Sea of Quanta. I need to return as soon as possible.”

Joachim’s eyes narrowed before he asked, “Do you think you can stop him?”

“I am Welt Yang, Herrscher of Reason,” Welt Yang said firmly, “The 1st Herrscher and a Herrscher of Humanity. The day I accepted this core, I made a promise I do not take lightly. I will fight in the name of the world, whatever that world may be.” With that, Welt Yang’s form in the field would flicker as Honkai Energy gathered, signalling that he had begun to remake his body.
As this occurred, Joachim would smile as he too faded, “Then go, 1st Herrscher, and fulfill the will of Finality. Fight… For all that is beautiful.”

Floating out in space, the Core of Reason’s light would grow brighter and Honkai Energy gathered before a faint wire frame of Welt Yang’s body began to form around the core with it at the center of his chest. As this happened, Welt Yang couldn’t help but remember the day he received the Core of Reason. Maybe it was because his ‘inner self’ took the form of himself back then or maybe because of what he said before this moment but nevertheless, he had. The wireframe grew brighter, more solid as both the memory went on and Welt Yang gathered more Honkai energy, which seemed to surge as he did. Bit by bit, Welt Yang’s body was remade and restored completely using Honkai Energy as a result, though his eyes remained closed.

“Welt… The German word for the entire world… I love that name. What about you?”

“Then… From now on, you will bear this name and become the new Welt…”

“This Herrscher Core… and the mission to protect the world…”

“I’ll leave them to you, Welt.”

Right as the memory ended, his body was fully restored and Welt Yang’s eyes shot open, glowing red as Honkai Energy surged as if he was a newly awoken Herrscher, the energy visibly crackling in the space around him. From where he was, he could see the battle unfolding on the Railway Platform of Herta’s Space Station and knew he needed to get there as soon as possible. Summoning the Star of Eden to his hand, Welt Yang made his way towards the station, ready to end this threat by any means necessary.

March let out a cry as one of Austerity Domina’s blades slashed upwards at her in an attempt to knock her bow out of her hand as the Pathstrider countered one of Arlan’s attacks with his fist. The battle against the Destruction Pathstrider hadn’t been easy, far from it as it seemed like he always had the advantage even when March, Herta and Arlan pressed their attacks to try and prevent an opening. The Railway Platform had Seven-Phased Ice and small puddles of blood scattered about due to the fight. Even Herta’s puppet wasn’t unscathed, with chips and cuts in its body visible, though thankfully the damage didn’t keep her from being able to fight. However, the more this dragged on, the more likely it was that they were going to fail.

Austerity Dominia soon grabbed Arlan’s blade, forcing it down away from his body before delivering a powerful punch to the young man’s gut, causing him to hack up a small amount of blood. He then ripped the blade away from the Security Officer before kicking him away. “What’s the matter?” Austerity Dominia asked with a sadistic grin, “You were doing so well before now. Don’t tell me that’s all you have.” He soon tossed the greatsword back at Arlan, as if to throw him a bone or even merely toying with him. The sword would land blade first in the floor near Arlan’s head as he got up, causing him to fall backwards before recollecting and rearming himself. “That’s more like it…” The Destruction Pathstrider said before hearing his floating swords clashing with something, turning his head to see Herta struggling to hit him with her hammer as a floating blade blocked her swing. “This again?” He asked, taking hold of the hammer, “It only worked last time because I wasn’t wise to your tricks.” Austerity Dominia would then toss Herta aside as three of the floating blades went after Arlan, cutting off any means to attack him or defend the others. With a flick of his hands, he would send the other three at March, who had only just gotten ready to fight once more after being knocked back, before charging at Herta once more. The blades flew at her faster than before and would hit their mark if not for three blue beams of light streaking through the sky from the right, hitting the blades and sending them flying till Austerity Dominia called them back to him. Looking to where the beams had come from, he saw what looked like blue wireframes of dematerializing cannons, something that confused him only for that to turn into anger as he countered Herta’s attack with one of the blades, severing one of the puppet’s arms and making it impossible for her to use the hammer. “The cannons were a nice trick, shame they seem to be one use,” He said with a grin, “You’ve only delayed the inevitable. Once I’m done here, I will–”

“KNEEL!”

Austerity Dominia’s body was forced to the ground as well as the three blades near him, feeling as if gravity increased tenfold.

Herta backed away from the gravity well in confusion before looking back towards where the Astral Express usually would be, only to see Welt Yang standing in the air there, the Star of Eden in his hand glowing a bright, deep crimson as he glared at Austerity Dominia with cold, red eyes. Before she could say anything, she would get a message over the comms from Screwllum.

“Madam Herta, I advise you get yourself, Miss March and Security Officer Arlan to the room connected to the platform and seal it! Honkai energy readings from Mr Yang are higher than initially thought possible and rising. Conclusion: If any of you three remain in that room any longer, the deadly effects of Honkai poisoning that Mr Yang described will take hold.”

Herta didn’t even bother to respond to her fellow Genius, quickly getting to work moving to the room, “March! Help Arlan fall back into the room so we can seal it!”

“A-ah right!” March said, stumbling as she ran to Arlan, glancing at Welt Yang as he began to walk towards the foe. Once she reached Arlan, she would get one of his arms over her shoulder and hurriedly walk up the incline to the room in question where Herta waited.

“Quickly now!” Herta said, using her remaining arm to usher them inside. As she watched March and Arlan get in, she would notice violet lines slowly creeping up Arlan’s arm and, upon sealing the room so no Honkai energy would get in, called for a treatment to be made, even a temporary one, as fast as possible. It was only after that did she turn her attention pack to Welt Yang.

Austerity Dominia would struggle to get up or even move as he heard Welt Yang reach the ground and walk towards him, the steps measured and deliberate, just slow enough to invoke fear, as if his eyes now glowing red wasn’t enough. The Destruction Pathstrider would growl as he tried to find a way to break the hold on him, soon commanding three of the blades that were free of the gravity well to attack Welt Yang.

Welt Yang would kick backwards and seemed to glide back as the Star of Eden stopped glowing, causing the gravity well to cease, and the wireframe of a floating mech with a shield on one arm and a cannon on the other appeared. The mech only appeared long enough to knock the blades off course with the shield before disappearing, but by that point, Austerity Dominia was already taking advantage of the gravity well being no more. With a wave of his hand, Welt Yang created more of the cannons he used to save March, a special cannon from his homeworld made by the prior Herrscher of Reason within her first minutes of obtaining the power: The Key of Reason. The moment that the cannons appeared, they opened fire on the Destruction Pathstrider to try to hit him and take him out, though his agility proved to make that a challenge. Even still, with the amount that Welt Yang had made, it only was a matter of time better one hit its mark, forcing Austerity Dominia to be launched backwards a foot or two as the cannons stopped firing.

“I… I killed you…” He growled as he pushed himself back to his feet, “How are you alive…? And how do you have this power?!” The silence from Welt Yang only made him angrier, causing him to charge forward as he sent his blades to destroy the cannons, “ANSWER ME!!” He would try to land a punch on Welt Yang, only to miss as the man stepped out of the way. Austerity Dominia’s blades would make short work of the cannons that were made but more kept appearing with each one’s destruction.

Welt Yang said nothing as he kept dodging Austerity Dominia’s punches for a time before creating a gravity well that lasted long enough for three Key of Reason cannons to blast him, allowing Welt Yang to get some distance. Once he did, the Star of Eden would glow once more as Welt Yang said in a cold tone, “You know not the weight of this power…” Before Austerity Dominia could act, a Synthetic Black Hole would open to the left of him, threatening to pull him in as the Herrscher of Reason said, “Pathstrider of the Destruction, witness the stars shatter before you!”

Austerity Dominia would struggle to break free but he was slipping, being pulled into the black hole as his arm went over the event horizon. In a desperate bid to escape the singularity, he sent one of his flying blades at Welt Yang, trying to break his focus on the black hole, only to realize too late what this would do. The Herrscher of Reason closed the black hole and dodged, causing the singularity to snap into nonexistence, severing the Destruction Pathstrider’s arm just below the shoulder, the last point to have crossed the event horizon before it closed. Oil and blood spilled out of the wound onto the floor as Austerity Dominia grabbed his wound, screaming out in pain. He could feel the wires and tubes that were cut in the severing through his fingers, as well as the blood and oil.

Welt Yang would keep his cold gaze on the foe before him, his glowing red eyes not leaving the foe as he scanned him and the area around him for threats and to plan. “Now that you’ve faced the power of Reason, surely you must see that you’re outmatched,” He said coldly, “I suggest you surrender so we can turn you into the proper authorities. If not then… Brace yourself for gravitational disintegration.”

Austerity Dominia looked up at Welt Yang with anger in his eyes, yet he wasn’t just seeing the Herrscher of Reason. No, before his eyes flashed the image of a man with long blonde hair, piercing green eyes and a white suit, standing before him looking disapprovingly at him as he held in his hand a golden flaming greatsword, blood splattered the floor before Austerity Dominia. Why was he remembering this memory he buried so deeply, what about Welt Yang made it resurface? Why was his power so similar, no, why was it the exact same as that man’s? It angered him, infuriated him and blinded him with a rage that burned hot at his core. He had done everything to prove he was better than HIM, so why is this man, a man he already killed, giving him so much trouble? It was more than he could take, and he wanted nothing more than to tear Welt Yang to shreds. “You… You BASTARD,” He spat, the floating blades taking aim at Welt Yang once more as Austerity Dominia stood up. His blood covered hand moved from his wound and he entered a fighting stance, “I’LL RIP YOU TO SHREDS!!” With that, the blades shot forward to try and cut the Herrscher of Reason to shreds as he charged in to deliver a powerful punch.

Almost as if he was expecting it, Welt Yang created multiple Key of Reason cannons in an instant before having them fire on both the blades and Austerity Dominia. With the Destruction Pathstrider blinded by rage, it made it easier to land the hits as the cannons’ blasts tore through the blades this time and dealt considerable damage to the foe before he launched himself at Welt Yang. The Herrscher of Reason barely moved back as streaks of black energy shot from the Star of Eden, piercing Austerity Dominia and sending him back to the ground. The moment Austerity Dominia started to stand, the red coloring of the Star of Eden turned blue as Welt Yang held it up, energy crackling around him and the Divine Key. “Star of Eden, Zeroth Power. Quasi Black Hole.”

A new, far bigger and stronger singularity ripped open behind Austerity Dominia, pulling him into it along with several panels of the floor and what lay beneath. The Destruction Pathstrider couldn’t believe someone this strong existed, he had always thought that blonde haired man with the golden greatsword was the apex of strength yet here someone was effortlessly surpassing him without even trying. To think the Genius Society had someone like this in their corner… He really had underestimated that Nameless. Yet as he fell into the black hole, a smile appeared on his face as he knew this wouldn’t change anything. Defeating him wasn’t the end of the threat, to the Genius Society or the Erudition. In the end, they would fall to the Destruction, a fact set in stone from the moment the blades of the Destruction took aim at them both. In his last moments, he was happy that even if he lost, his foes would lose the war.

The black hole would close soon after Austerity Dominia was within, past the event horizon, allowing Welt Yang to let his guard down. What remaining Key of Reason cannons dematerialized as the Herrscher of Reason closed his eyes and let out a sigh. Upon opening them, they were no longer glowing red and were their normal brown color, his gaze once more kind. Readjusting his glasses, Welt Yang glanced around to survey the damage from the battle. In addition to the damage to the Railway Platform caused by the Quasi Black Hole, there were scorch marks from the Key of Reason cannons and he could see that where he had been standing early on in the fight had a glowing, violet substance he knew as Honkai Residue. “So the Honkai levels from the fight had reached a point where it began to condense…” Welt Yang said, “To think I would be the cause of such a–...” He cut himself off as he heard footsteps coming towards him and upon turning, he found the Herta puppet that had been in the fight prior to his arrival. “Madam Herta,” He said, “I apologize for the damages caused by my battle.”

“Compared to the damages that would have occurred should you have not stepped in, this is paltry,” Herta said matter of factly, “Not only that, but you’ve given us a more solid means to procure Honkai energy for the crystal synthesis. That is what that purple residue is, correct?”

“Yes, that is,” Welt Yang said, “Now that the fight is over, I do not suspect that it’ll bring the Honkai Energy dangerous levels but I would air on the side of caution.”

“Noted,” Herta said, gesturing with her only remaining hand, “I’ll make sure those that retrieve it wear protective gear.”

Welt Yang nodded, “Good. Now, about March 7th and Arlan–”

“They were sent to the medical ward the moment we got off the platform and the room sealed behind us,” Herta said, “Surprisingly, March 7th has no signs of Honkai poisoning. Arlan, however, showed signs of it. Don’t worry, with what we know about Imaginary energy and the samples of Honkai energy we’ve obtained prior, I’m certain we can create a treatment that’ll make it so that it has little effect on his life.”

“If anyone could make such a thing, it would be a Genius,” Welt Yang said with a smile. Letting out a sigh, he then asked, “That aside, might I be able to head there now? I wish to check on March 7th myself.”

“Go right on ahead,” Herta said, “Honkai levels are normal so who am I to stop the hero Herrscher?”

Welt Yang would let out a small chuckle as he looked down, feeling unsure about being called a hero. After a bit, he walked past Herta to head to the medical ward, passing Screwllum as he did. The two exchanged glances but no words were said.

“Come to see the aftermath yourself Screwy?” Herta asked as her fellow Genius approached her.

“I kept an eye on the Honkai energy levels during the fight,” Screwllum reported, “They far surpassed the estimations we had to cause what Mr Yang described as a Honkai Outbreak. Conclusion: We have vastly underestimated what this Honkai is.”

“Not surprising,” Herta said, “The Honkai is a force we have no real means of understanding currently. Even I underestimated the power of Reason.” Herta would look out at the battlefield as she said, “I watched the battle closely, saw moments that Welt Yang would have been hit in and yet he had a counter for what was thrown at him. Cannons, a floating mech, black holes… The power to construct and deconstruct anything understood to a nigh perfect degree… Even with all the power he showed, I suspect he was holding back to keep the damage minimal. The power of the 1st Herrscher…”

“Madam Herta?” Screwllum asked, curious about what was on her mind.

Herta turned around, “Screwy, get in contact with trusted Genius Society members. Ruan Mei, Stephen, whoever… Just make sure we can trust them for this. I want to start seriously studying the Honkai using what we have left over from this. That outburst of Honkai energy this far into the cosmos will likely serve as a beacon, one which could get the attention of even more of the Honkai. After all, assuming that the Cocoon of Finality is not the only ‘Will of Honkai’, then the power of a Herrscher will draw one of them towards us. I want to know we’ll be able to overcome this with ease and I need the aid of those we can trust so this info does not fall into the wrong hands.”

“Understood Madam Herta, I will get in contact with them,” Screwllum said, placing a hand on his chest as he spoke, “Though, if I may, a question.”

“And what may that be?” Herta asked, crossing her arms.

“You said something about ‘the power of the 1st Herrscher’,” Screwllum said, “Question: Do you feel that we would not be able to stand against one?”

Herta closed her eyes and took a breath before opening them as she spoke, “I don’t know. Today I saw a fraction of the Herrscher of Reason’s power, and it was far more than I expected. We’ve been told the power of the 2nd Herrscher, the Herrscher of Void, and how that Herrscher could be a threat to the world alone. They may even be Emanator level in regards to power.” Herta would turn and peer out into the starry blackness of space as she said, “Makes you wonder how powerful the 3rd Herrscher was, considering each one is stronger than the last…”

“We’ve arrived,” Dr Tesla said as Raiden Mei stared out the window of the Helios at a vast landscape of water that held a flooded city within its grasp. Standing next to her was Caelus, who looked out at the scenery before them as he glanced worriedly at Raiden Mei, their earlier encounter’s ending not leaving his mind.

Raiden Mei’s hand was pressed against the glass as she stared out the window. Her mind raced with countless thoughts, but silence was the only thing that filled the air before Dr Tesla continued talking.

“This is where the Herrscher energy reactions were detected.” Dr Tesla finished, frowning as she turned to begin the landing process for the Helios, leaving Caelus and Raiden Mei in the room.

Raiden Mei watched the flooded city get closer in silence as her mind soon reached one thought, one question. She pulled her hand from the window as she asked one thing, knowing she would not get her answer now, “Kiana… Why… Why did you come to Nagazora…?”