Months later, Theresa gathered us on the Hyperion's bridge. The air was thick with palpable tension: the constant hum of monitors, the metallic smell of the ventilation systems, and the slight tremor of the hull under distant storms. Floating holograms projected maps of New Zealand and the Oceania sector, with a pulsing red zone marking our target.
"You've been assigned the mission to recover the Gem of Desire, located in a disabled Schicksal branch in Oceania," Theresa announced, her firm voice echoing in the room despite her small stature.
I nodded, feeling the weight of the mission in my chest like a cold pressure. This is the opportunity. With my new power, I can alter fate: save Wendy... and protect Bronya from what's coming.
The journey to the site was turbulent: the Hyperion shaken by violent storms that struck the hull with muffled booms. I gripped my seat as we discussed strategy. Kiana joked to lighten the mood, Mei prepared equipment with surgical precision, sharpening and calibrating her weapons, and Bronya calculated trajectories on her tablet, her expression impassive under the bluish screen light. The Gem of Desire had been lost long ago in that abandoned branch; a dangerous artifact, capable of transcending human limits... or destroying us.
Upon arrival, we descended into a desolate landscape: rocky beaches battered by salty winds that prickled the skin, ruins of Schicksal facilities overgrown with vegetation and thick fog that smelled of ozone and Honkai corruption. During the search, we faced waves of staggering zombies —glowing purple eyes— and low-rank Honkai beasts (Grade 4-3), their guttural roars echoing in the mist.
"I request to absorb them," I said to the group, extending my hand. Each absorption was a cold and addictive flow of cursed energy: black aura enveloping the creatures, dissolving them into spheres that flowed into me, expanding my reserves with a dark pulse. Every 10 beasts increases template fusion by 1, depending on the level: 10 Grade 2 or lower = +1. Grade 1 = +1. Special Grade = +10. Steady but somewhat slow progress.
Finally, we found a girl in a wheelchair under the filtered light of the clouds. She had short hair in a deep turquoise tone and large, timid eyes. She went by the name Wendy. Himeko identified her immediately: an A-rank Valkyrie, candidate for S-rank, victim of a failed experiment three years ago in which the gem was implanted to try to stabilize her power.
Wendy lowered her gaze while her wheels screeched on the wet ground. She told us how the gem, stabilized in her tibia, had stolen her ability to walk, confining her to the island's silence. Bronya approached, with Project Bunny floating protectively.
—Bronya also lost mobility due to experiments. But now, with the exoskeleton and Bunny, Bronya walks... and flies.
Kiana offered her a candy with a wide smile, Mei adjusted her chair gently, Bronya promised medical help. I remained skeptical on the surface —smiling, nodding—, but internally calculating: I know what's coming. The accumulated hatred toward Schicksal will awaken her as the 4th Herrscher of Wind. She'll try to flee so as not to hurt us because of our kindness.
As we advanced along muddy paths toward the extraction point —wind whistling through ruins—, we arrived. Wendy suddenly stood, eyes glowing in intense turquoise, ethereal wings unfolding.
—Himeko, from the Hyperion's command room, panicked upon seeing the HW (Honkai Waves) readings going off the charts. "Critical readings!" Himeko immediately reported the incident to Schicksal.
—Hypocrites! I hate you all! —she shouted.
I quickly summoned a group of armed zombies: some with sharp katanas, shadows dancing; others with bows, arrows whistling. I surrounded her, distracting her. Wendy was briefly in shock: She never expected someone capable of summoning controlled Honkai beasts. Instead of fighting, she fled flying in a gust of wind that whipped the terrain.
Himeko: "They'll send an S-rank Valkyrie to stop her, now she's been classified as the Herrscher of Wind. They don't want to take any risks." The girls protested, convincing Himeko that they could reason with Wendy. «40 minutes until the S-rank arrives. Do what you have to do.»
«Thank you so much, Major Himeko!», Bronya thanked, voice neutral but relieved.
We had 40 minutes before the S-rank arrived: Durandal. I need to buy time to prevent Anti-Entropy from intervening and ruining everything.
We tried to follow her before the S-rank Valkyrie arrived —Durandal from the European CG, according to Himeko.
I'll soon meet Durandal. But first, save Wendy without complications and prevent Bronya from losing control.
—Himeko reported over communicator: «Bad news. Satellites detect 5 battleships flying over the Pacific.»
«Anti-Entropy?», Mei asked, wind whipping her hair.
«If you encounter Anti-Entropy, abandon the mission. I'm not losing anyone», Himeko ordered.
Just after, Kiana shouted: «Wendy, there you are!»
«Why are you following me? Do you want to die?», Wendy asked, winds swirling around her. «I spared you because you were kind. You don't know who you're dealing with.»
«Wendy, come back! Schicksal has deployed an S-rank Valkyrie to capture you and Anti-Entropy is coming», Kiana shouted.
«S-rank? Herrscher level? I want to check if I can take one of them», Wendy said.
Kiana proceeded: «Hey! Don't be so arrogant! You'll have to get past me first! I was careless before. Not even Herrschers are rivals for me if I get serious.»
Wendy, anxious: «I won't fight or hurt you. Let me go», and she flew away again.
—Himeko: «Did you find Wendy? Durandal arrives in 12 minutes. Anti-Entropy battleships are approaching.»
—Theresa interrupted: «Don't worry about the S-rank Valkyrie or Anti-Entropy. I'll transmit your position on an open channel; Anti-Entropy will intercept the message and divert to ambush her. Selling out one of our own doesn't sit well with me, but it'll do Durandal some good. I hope it buys us more time.»
«Great! It's our turn!», Kiana announced. We moved in search of Wendy, facing waves of Honkai beasts along the way.
As we advanced, Himeko and Theresa discussed over communicator:
—Theresa: I spoke with Durandal.
—Himeko: And?
—Theresa: I have her coordinates.
—Himeko: I guess I can give her a star for honesty.
—Theresa: I have no choice. We need to buy more time for Kiana and the others.
—Himeko: But exposing her location to the enemy? Durandal is supposed to be our ally...
—Theresa: Ally? That annoying brat isn't my ally! She gave me a really hard time! We'll still have to deal with Anti-Entropy. Durandal can weaken them a bit.
—Himeko: But you're giving Anti-Entropy an advantage.
—Theresa: Oh. But Durandal is all-powerful, you know.
—Himeko: You really don't like her, do you?
I was quite enjoying this situation. According to canon, Durandal is strict and disciplined, always scolding for laziness... including Theresa.
Another wave of beasts intercepted us. We fought together; I decided that, when the moment came for Bronya to lose control, I would test my new abilities.
In the months at the academy and practice missions, I had completed Suguru Geto's template: full access to his original techniques, plus two new template types and an inventory for weapons. The new type allowed obtaining unique qualities from Jujutsu Kaisen characters (Six Eyes, Toji's physique, etc.) via gacha with tickets —I obtained one upon completing Geto; perhaps more in the future—. The inventory stored weapons no larger than myself, with a shop to exchange real weapons for keys and buy cursed objects from JJK. Curious: similar to the gacha and shop in Honkai Impact, but pure chance, no duplicates.
It's not much but, after all, we're just in the early chapters of the game: a long tutorial.
After absorbing nearby beasts, I observed the group: it still seemed comical to me how Kiana summoned giant cat paws to strike enemies.
Theresa spoke again: «KYAAA! We have a problem!»
«What's wrong, Theresa?», Kiana asked.
«I received a message from Durandal. She's finished with Anti-Entropy. She asked about the ambush, since only I knew her position.»
Mei interrupted: «Here we go again with the lesson that lying is wrong...»
«Think of something smart to tell her, quick! Otherwise she'll come to scold us all day!», Theresa said.
Himeko: «Oh, then I'd better avoid your office when she arrives.»
Theresa: «Hey, Himeko! You're not getting out of this! So, any excuse for Durandal?»
«I wish she doesn't find out that Major Himeko is a drunk who spends all day slacking off», I said casually.
Himeko: «Looks like you're thinking out loud again, Mikael.»
Mei suggested: «Principal, tell her we have an Anti-Entropy mole in Schicksal.»
Theresa: «We can't. It would create a big internal problem.»
Bronya: «Bronya believes we can tell her: Anti-Entropy started this Honkai incident to lure and ambush an S-rank Valkyrie; she was the target from the beginning.»
Theresa: «Fine, but it's obvious that if they wanted that, they would have prepared with everything.»
Kiana shouted: «Hey, I have a brilliant idea! I noticed Durandal took the Gold Coast route, by the sea. We'll tell her Anti-Entropy was on vacation and ran into her.»
Himeko: «That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard in my life.»
«I support Kiana's idea», I said, smiling slightly. Kiana is so funny. Her personality reminds me of Naruto Uzumaki at the start: impulsive, loyal, comedic.
Theresa: «But in fact it might work... Let me try.»
Seconds later...
Himeko: «How did it go? She's coming to bother us, right?»
Theresa: «She bought it. People say she's honest and frank; if you ask me, she's an idiot.»
Kiana: «I think Durandal is reasonable. Maybe we can be friends. Wait, did you just call someone an idiot?»
I tried to hold back laughter at the absurdity.
Soon after, we found Wendy on a windy cliff. «It's clear you don't know when to give up. I'll have to teach you a lesson.»
«Hey, that's my line», Kiana replied.
Mei: «Wendy, trust us. You're not yourself; the Honkai is clouding your judgment.»
«Wait, Kiana. Bronya wants to talk to Wendy», Bronya said.
«No! Stop! I don't want to talk to you, Bronya!», Wendy replied.
Bronya continued: «Bronya remembered a little sister named Seele at the orphanage. Wendy reminds me of her. Seele was strong and kind, like Wendy. Seele was corrupted by the Honkai, but she fought hard and recovered...»
Wow, they're similar: same hairstyle, timid but with a sadistic dual personality.
Discreetly, I formed a one-handed seal and recited softly. Knowing that Wendy would likely surrender, but Cocolia wouldn't allow it —she'd control Bronya to force the kidnapping—, I deployed a barrier: similar to Kenjaku's in Shibuya, a translucent dome of dark cursed energy, invisible to normal eyes but palpable as pressure. It allowed entry to Valkyries, blocked Honkai beasts/mechs and, mainly, external communications.
I need to buy time until Durandal arrives.
[System Notice:]
[New main mission: Save Wendy from Anti-Entropy. Reward: +1 ticket]
[New secondary mission: Prevent Cocolia from controlling Bronya or stop her when controlled. Reward: +50 points.]
—End of Chapter 4—