The asphalt fractured like glass under pressure. From the cracks emerged a Ganesha, a young Emperor-class specimen rising up. The colossal boar, over twelve meters long, was covered in organic-metallic armor, streaked with pink veins that pulsed with the toxic glow of Honkai. Curved tusks like scythes gleamed under the purple light of the eruption; its wide snout accumulated power with a low, ominous hum. Each step was a minor earthquake, releasing corrosive waves that cracked the pavement and saturated the air with lethal radiation. The roar—a guttural grunt mixed with electronic distortion—made bones vibrate and froze blood to the marrow.
The destructive wave hit me like an invisible wall. Grade 1... bordering on semi-special. Its Honkai energy is dense. One mistake and I'm dead. My pulse accelerated, not just from fear, but from that dark excitement I was already starting to recognize: the hunger for power.
The wounded Valkyrie—short brown hair, torn and blood-soaked white battlesuit, clearly a B-rank recruit from Schicksal—tried to stand, her weapon trembling in her hands.
"Run! It's too strong for a civilian like you!"
I ignored her. My expression remained serene. If I run, she'll die. And maybe more innocents. Besides... I can't just run and let people die like that. I'm not a hero, but if I can prevent someone who doesn't deserve it from dying, I will.
I summoned all my accumulated spirits. Four zombies emerged from black shadows like staggering puppets, purple eyes glowing with blind hunger. The spectral Chariot—a armored rhino-gorilla with curved horns—charged head-on, roaring in ghostly echo.
They formed an improvised barrier. The Chariot struck first against a foreleg with a metallic crash that sent Honkai sparks flying in all directions. The zombies flanked it, clawing at lower plates with corrupted nails that left smoking furrows. But the Ganesha swung sharply; its pink lines intensified. It began to roll in place, building speed like an apocalyptic armadillo, the ground trembling under the friction.
Then it launched: a destructive whirlwind that crushed the Chariot in an explosion of black smoke and scattered the zombies like leaves in a hurricane.
I didn't wait. I channeled cursed energy to reinforce my body: muscles tensing like steel cables, veins pulsing under my pale skin. I leaped with supernatural agility, landing on the Ganesha's back just as it straightened, snarling with primal fury.
I struck with fists infused with dark aura, piercing a weak plate near the core. The impact released a black explosion that spread through the armor like corrupt veins. The boar howled and shook violently to throw me off.
[System Alert: Honkai overload detected. Imminent internal damage.]
Burning pain coursed through my veins, like acid burning from within. It hurts... more than I expected. But it won't stop me. The Honkai energy flowed into me, converting to cursed at a frantic rate, though the excess overwhelmed me.
The Ganesha counterattacked: it reared up on its hind legs, maw glowing intensely, and fired a condensed purple laser—a river of plasma that carved the ground and exploded nearby. I barely dodged it. The shockwave hurled me into the air, shredding nearby vehicles in a rain of twisted metal.
I rolled across the cracked asphalt, crashing into an overturned car. Blood welled up in my mouth; my vision blurred for a moment.
I spat blood. Reserves at 30%... It wasn't enough... but I weakened it. Its core is exposed.
The reformed spirits returned with renewed fury. The Chariot pierced a hind leg, making the colossus limp. The zombies climbed the pink armor, clawing deep furrows. Enraged, the Ganesha started another roll—a destructive ball that pursued me directly, crushing everything in its path in clouds of dust and debris.
I dodged by millimeters an impact that sank the asphalt into a crater. I used zombies as bait to buy time. The boar changed direction, tusks gleaming. I jumped high at the last second, landing on its back again, hand extended toward the glowing core.
"Exorcise and Absorb!"
A black vortex swirled violently around the Ganesha. The beast, in final panic, released an area explosion: it reared and slammed the ground with its full weight, Honkai shockwaves destroying nearby buildings in a rain of debris and purple fire. I was hurled again, my body hitting the ground with brutal force, blood splattering the asphalt.
But I held the technique. The massive form collapsed with a final choked grunt, dissolving into a gigantic dark sphere that flowed into me: a torrent so cold it burned, filling my reserves to overflowing.
[Honkai Beast (Emperor-class – Grade 1) successfully absorbed → Cursed Spirit: Controlled Emperor]
[Cursed Energy +300 → 500/500 (limit increased by massive conversion)]
[Secondary mission completed: Defeat a Grade 1 threat → +200 template points]
[Passive ability improved: Honkai Resistance (reduces overload damage by 50%)]
[Template Progress: 400/1000]
I gasped on the ground, body trembling but alive. The pain dissipated quickly thanks to the new resistance, leaving only a residual buzz. This... is what I needed. The power grows. But so does the risk of losing control.
The Valkyrie approached limping, eyes wide in astonishment.
"Impossible! How did you defeat an Emperor alone? Who are you? What... what kind of power is that? It's not a battlesuit!"
I stood, wiping blood from my mouth.
"Just someone who hates seeing innocents die."
In the distance, purple thunder lit the sky: Raiden Mei, in full Herrscher form, devastating infested zones.
The Valkyrie looked that way.
"The Herrscher of Thunder... The city is lost. We must evacuate."
"We'd better move," I said, offering her my arm. If I'm not mistaken, Schicksal should arrive soon. Maybe I should contact them... but carefully. I must not seem like a threat.
Amid smoking ruins, Schicksal helicopters appeared on the horizon like metallic shadows, rotors cutting through the dust- and residual radiation-laden air. Searchlights swept the ground.
The team landed nearby. The leader—short blonde hair, impeccable maid uniform with military touches—descended first: Rita Rossweisse.
Her red eyes scanned the area, stopping on me.
"Report: peripheral zone of the Eruption. Any remaining civilians?"
The wounded Valkyrie straightened.
"Miss Rita... this man saved me. He defeated an Emperor-class alone. His power... it's not standard."
Rita smiled politely, but her eyes were sharp as blades.
"Interesting. Please board the auxiliary craft. Principal Theresa wants personal reports on anomalies."
Rita Rossweisse... she's close to Otto. This accelerates things more than planned, and I don't know how good that can be...
During the flight, I watched Nagazora in flames from the window: Mei's thunder echoing distantly. I must get stronger; right now, I'm barely Grade 1.
The helicopter landed at a temporary base. They took me to an improvised medical room. They tended to the Valkyrie and me. Afterward, Rita "interrogated" me gently, serving tea with impeccable elegance.
"Name and origin."
"Mikael von Lindeman, foreign orphan," I replied. Personally, I think the name sounds noble and elegant, credible; with no records in this world, no one would question it.
Rita observed closely.
"Your power absorbs Honkai Beasts. It's not a known stigma. The Overseer will want details."
Otto, huh. I'd prefer to talk to someone who doesn't want to control me.
Rita laughed softly at my serious face.
"Principal Theresa will arrive soon. She handles special operations in the Far East branch. She might offer you a contract as an external agent."
[System Notice: New missions available]
[Join Schicksal (Theresa) as an external contractor and reach Template Level 5 → +100 points]
[Join Schicksal directly (Otto) and reach Template Level 5 → +100 points]
[Join Anti-Entropy and reach Template Level 5 → +100 points]
[Join World Serpent and reach Template Level 5 → +100 points]
[Join no faction and walk your path alone → +500 points]
Definitely not Otto. Anti-Entropy is still weak and Cocolia is with them; World Serpent, radical and inaccessible. Going solo... tempting for the points, but risky: no resources, no allies, adrift. The best is Theresa: access to training, proximity to the protagonists, relative freedom.
Hours later, a small but authoritative figure entered: Theresa Apocalypse, nun's habit and serious expression.
"Well! The 'mysterious hero' who defeated an Emperor alone." She crossed her arms. "Rita informed me. What exactly are you?"
Well... Let's say I control a type of energy that neutralizes and absorbs Honkai energy, and thanks to that I can control Honkai beasts.
Theresa frowned.
"Sounds dangerous... but useful. You can't join St. Freya directly—it's exclusive to Valkyries—but I offer you a contract as an external agent: training, resources, and missions under my direct supervision. In exchange, you'll fight the Honkai and report everything directly to me."
Perfect. Access without unnecessary restrictions. I can train and keep an eye on Otto from the outside. Maybe even help him and prevent him from causing a disaster.
"I accept. I'll be in your care, Principal."
Theresa smiled.
"Great! Welcome as a Schicksal contractor. But remember: Grandpa Otto is the big boss. Don't cause trouble."
Rita, from the door, added:
"Lady Durandal, our strongest Valkyrie, has been informed of your 'anomaly.' She might evaluate you personally soon."
Durandal... the strongest at the start. Intriguing. It will be interesting to meet her.
[System Notice:]
[New main mission: Establish contact with the main protagonists as an external contractor → +50 points]
[Secondary mission: Save at least 50 civilians in upcoming operations → Extra progress]
As I prepared for transfer to the main Hyperion, I looked at the horizon. In the future, I'll have to face gods, Herrschers, cosmic entities that want to eradicate humanity. But... I don't know if I can do it, I don't even know what I should do after joining Schicksal.
In the shadows of Schicksal HQ, a tall figure reviewed reports: Bianka Ataegina—Durandal—, intrigued by the new talent who defeated Emperors alone.
—End of Chapter 2—