Almost at the same time as the fiercely raging "Schicksal civil war" in Kolosten Town, on the other side of the world—in North America—stood Anti-Entropy Headquarters.
Anti-Entropy Headquarters was not a traditional commercial office tower. Instead, it resembled a massive fortress, rising over a thousand meters high and covering nearly an entire city block.
It was the largest single ground-based artificial structure in the world.
Aside from Schicksal's floating Mediterranean island headquarters, even Schicksal's major regional branches paled in comparison. This was the center of the entire American continent.
Its exterior was ink-black, narrowing toward the top and widening toward the base, gleaming with a heavy metallic sheen. Its irregular polygonal structure radiated an overwhelming sense of technology.
Unlike Schicksal's religious aristocratic centralization, Anti-Entropy placed greater emphasis on "democracy." They had not relocated the surrounding buildings for security reasons. Instead, they preserved them, developing alongside the city in mutual benefit.
As a result, the public in the Americas took pride in working for Anti-Entropy. With such public support—and compared to Schicksal's feudal landlord aristocracy—it was little wonder that since the North American branch's rebellion, Schicksal had struggled to extend its influence here.
The dark-toned city center stood in stark contrast to the bustling metropolitan area around it. Neatly arranged shop signs, streams of vehicles, and endless flows of pedestrians all reflected the city's prosperity.
This was the heart of the American continent, a world-class city gathering elites from across the globe. It was one of the world's major financial, economic, and technological centers, as well as a key site for international corporate and consortium investment and development.
If there was one discordant note, it was that every passerby today wore a worried expression. Not a trace of joy could be seen.
On the massive crystal display screen embedded in the building's exterior wall, a news anchor was broadcasting updates regarding Honkai Beast tides in disaster zones around the world.
There was no real need for the authorities to conceal such matters. A Honkai Eruption was not petty theft, nor a government scandal. It was a natural calamity—one that could very well affect the entire globe. To attempt concealment would be absurd.
As the anchor connected live with an on-site reporter, the scene abruptly shifted. The thunderous roar of gunfire erupted through the broadcast, followed by a sky ablaze with firelight.
Rough shouts from soldiers, agonized cries of the wounded, chaotic footsteps, the hydraulic whine of mechs preparing to advance... and faintly woven among them, countless beastly roars that were distinctly inhuman.
In the next moment, the camera jolted. A pale-faced female reporter appeared on screen, beads of sweat dotting her forehead. Though still composed, a trace of panic lingered between her brows.
"This is the Third Honkai Disaster Zone in New Zealand. As you can see, the area has entered full wartime status. The frenzied Honkai Beast tide has caused heavy casualties among the stationed forces. Reinforcements—"
Before she could finish—
Whoosh—!
The reporter instinctively raised her arm to shield her face. Amid violent camera shaking and the explosive crack of sonic booms, dozens of low-flying fighter jets streaked past overhead.
Then came an earth-shattering roar. From within the blazing defensive line engulfed in flames, several thick violet-red beams shot upward from the Honkai Beast horde.
Boom! Boom!
"Oh my God!"
In the reporter's scream, several jets that failed to evade in time were instantly reduced to burning cascades of metal and fire.
"Watch out! Get down!"
Explosions, screams, curses, and the crashing detonation of falling aircraft wreckage filled the audio feed in an instant.
Faced with the tragedy unfolding on screen, some emotional viewers covered their mouths with both hands, tears welling in their eyes.
But more people remained numb. Indifferent.
In this far-from-beautiful world, Honkai Eruptions had seemed ever-present since their birth. Scenes like this were no longer rare.
Looking on the bright side, the impact range this time was relatively limited. It could not compare to the devastation of the Second Honkai Eruption, nor even to the recent eruption on Coral Island that had affected global climate patterns.
This latest sign of a Honkai Eruption did not appear confined to any single specific region. For now, it had not caused large-scale civilian casualties. It was the stationed forces in each disaster zone who bore the brunt of it.
Distance dulled empathy. Especially when it involved people of different nations and regions—particularly in the Americas, which had largely avoided catastrophic Honkai disasters.
If the sky were to fall, organizations like Schicksal and Anti-Entropy would hold it up. What could ordinary people do?
Life went on. Bills still needed paying.
Would lamenting here bring the dead back to life? And more importantly—what if they were late for work and lost their bonuses?
As long as the Honkai disaster did not unfold right before their eyes, life continued. And so did work.
Even Anti-Entropy could not change this reality. After all, their alliance-style governance system—was it not reminiscent of a corporate board of directors?
As above, so below. Compared to Schicksal's feudal aristocracy, the Americas were undeniably a gathering place for major corporations and capital magnates.
After all, ever since capital entered this world, every pore of its body had dripped with blood and filth.
Of course, it was difficult to declare one side better than the other. At best, it was merely a comparison of which was less terrible.
Inside the Anti-Entropy headquarters building, several uniformed staff members stepped into an elevator. It began ascending smoothly.
The floor indicators lit up and dimmed one by one as the elevator traveled toward their assigned work level.
Official closing hours had already passed. Most Anti-Entropy employees had gone home.
"These are troubled times. Disasters are getting more frequent. Every disaster zone is requesting additional Titan mechs. The production lines are already running at full capacity, and we're short-handed. Just got off work and we're called back again."
"Tell me about it. Schicksal doesn't seem to have made any concrete moves yet. Then again, their Archbishop just stepped down..."
"Stop complaining. Who can we blame? If anything, blame Honkai. Sigh. The new workload targets just came down from above... Judging by the numbers, looks like we're pulling an all-nighter."
Taking advantage of this brief lull, they chatted idly.
Ding!
"Hm? What was that?"
"System glitch?"
"Call maintenance. What are they even doing?"
Midway up, the elevator suddenly halted for a moment. Just as they assumed it was a system malfunction, it resumed its ascent.
None of them noticed the pair of crimson eyes silently watching them through the transparent glass panel above the elevator.
Soon, they reached their work floor. Through the opening doors, the massive Titan mech production workshop within the building came into view.
The workshop spanned multiple levels—a veritable world of metal. Hardened steel plates filled every gap, and exhaust pipes lined the walls like the teeth of a comb.
Taking out their personal magnetic cards, they swiped them at the access control panel—both clocking in and unlocking the electromagnetic security doors.
In the locker room, they removed their business suits and changed into gray protective work uniforms, donning helmets as they inspected the tools in their hands.
Until one of them suddenly said—
"Hey... look at this."
Pointing at the operation console with its dust cover already removed, one of them said uncertainly, "Has someone tampered with this?"
"Did the previous shift forget? The supervisor hates anything that doesn't follow the operation manual. Wait—where's the standby—"
Suddenly, a cold voice sounded from behind them.
"Execute."
Clang—slash!
A blood-soaked head fell to the ground. Scarlet blood poured out, a shocking sight.
With Akame's movement, the hum of power weapons echoed almost simultaneously from every corner of the workshop.
Vrrr—!
Cloaking paint failed. Amid bursting sparks, the shattered guard Titan mechs revealed themselves before losing power and collapsing.
In the blink of an eye, dozens of members of the Imperial Assassination Unit appeared around Akame.
They wore uniform black hooded cloaks over standard-issue light close-fitting power armor.
Some held power swords. Others wielded power claws. On the backs of their orichalcum-forged claws were two bolter barrels.
This model of power claw integrated twin-barrel bolters. Both the model and ammunition were specially supplied for the Imperial Assassination Unit.
Though classified as light equipment in terms of size—far inferior to the Astartes' heavy bolters, heavy armor, and greatswords—it was sufficient. And lethal enough.
They stood silently around her, cold as reapers, guarding Akame like stars encircling the moon—ready to strike at any moment.
"As per Dr. Stylish's instructions and the captain's orders—whenever you see this type of interface, insert one."
Akame activated the scanner mounted near the corner of her eye and approached a nearby control platform. Inch by inch, she scanned the structure of the Titan mech manufacturing workshop before inserting a long violet crystalline device.
In addition to communications and thermal imaging, the scanner functioned almost like X-rays, capable of penetrating objects and "seeing" their internal structure.
Every member of the Imperial Assassination Unit was equipped with one. It was also the reason they could see through the Titans' cloaking paint.
All scanned structural data would be recorded, uploaded to the individual soldier's central system, then stored and ultimately transmitted to the Imperial Science Bureau.
And that violet crystalline USB-like device? Beyond data extraction, its other critical function was—an electronic virus.
"Judging by the time, it's when we agreed to begin. Korra and the others should be ready as well. Don't hold back. Create chaos—the bigger, the better."
In the next instant, alarms blared throughout the entire production workshop.
Rapid footsteps thundered down the corridor.
"Hey! What's going on? Who are you? There—"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Before the security personnel bursting through the door could finish speaking, cold bolter rounds—heated under the propulsion of high-energy explosives—shot from their barrels at speeds the naked eye could not track, aimed directly at heads and chests.
The immense kinetic force and searing heat carried by the bolter rounds tore through black uniforms in an instant, meeting flesh and bone with brutal intimacy. Their pitiful bulletproof vests offered no resistance.
Splurt!
As the rounds ripped through and shredded human skin and muscle, scarlet blood and torn fabric sprayed outward. They did not even have time to scream before, amid flashes of fire, they were reduced to scorched meat.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Almost simultaneously, countless fireballs erupted from top to bottom across the Anti-Entropy headquarters building. Thick smoke billowed as shattered sections of its dark exterior crashed down with deafening roars.
Piercing alarms split the sky as numerous Titan mechs stationed on platforms outside the building disengaged their cloaking systems and exited dormancy.
"Terrorist attack? Dangerous experiment?"
Countless pedestrians stopped in their tracks, staring in shock at the explosions tearing through Anti-Entropy Headquarters.
At that very moment, in a Grade-A office tower across the street from the Anti-Entropy complex, more than a dozen black-robed figures stood quietly by the windows, observing.
Their garments were peculiar, distorted with strange shimmering colors that flickered in and out, rendering their forms hazy to the eye.
"Anti-Entropy—a global organization founded with the purpose of opposing Honkai. Its predecessor was Schicksal's North American Branch."
"Formed in 1957 by senior researchers who defected from Schicksal's North American Branch. Based in North America, it stands as the second-largest human power openly rivaling Schicksal."
"This is the intelligence Her Majesty transmitted to me. All Anti-Entropy research data is our mission objective. Any thoughts?"
Click.
The leading black-robed figure wore high-heeled armored boots. She turned around and removed her hood, revealing a cold, ice-blue face of striking beauty.
It was none other than Esdeath—the Imperial General and head of the Imperial Assassination Unit's Special Jaegers Unit.
In response to Esdeath's question, Kurome answered without hesitation, "Traitors."
Under Selene's reformed Imperial rule, the words traitor and betrayal carried the gravest of weight. They were crimes despised by the populace.
And the standard was unapologetically double.
Naturally, after years within the Imperial Assassination Unit, Kurome's personality had grown even more extreme than her sister Akame's.
"If they are traitors, then there is no need for mercy."
Esdeath grasped the double-headed aquila ornament at her chest and gazed into the distance, bloodthirsty intent flashing in her eyes.
"Unfortunately, Dr. Stylish personally requested Anti-Entropy's experimental data. We will wait a little longer."
The small ornament Selene had given her would greatly suppress her Herrscher fluctuations—as long as she did not use her Herrscher authority on a large scale.
Esdeath extended her hand toward the Anti-Entropy headquarters building, curling her fingers as though grasping it whole.
"Come now. Begin."
...
Kolosten Town. Inside the light curtain. The church.
Within the church's main hall, surrounded by crystalline formations, a holographic projection of the entire Hyperion floated in the air.
"Theresa, Kiana... if you can stop me, then fight with everything you have."
Golden hair, blue eyes, long hair tied into a single ponytail, dressed in fitted white attire—Otto glanced at the image before him. A strange smile flickered across his exquisite soulium face.
"It is time to fulfill our promise, old friend."
Lowering his head, Otto murmured softly. To an outsider, it seemed like he was speaking to himself.
But he was not.
He turned and looked toward the illusory tree behind him, radiating golden streams of light—as though speaking to someone standing there.
"..."