[Siberia, ancient battlefield of the Second Honkai War]
The eternal ice began to crack with a deep and sinister crunch, as if the tundra itself groaned under invisible pressure. Sharp fragments flew in all directions, gleaming under the pale light of the Arctic sun. From the enormous iceberg that had remained intact for decades emerged a colossal dragon of black scales, with impeccable white armor and icy blue details pulsing with residual Honkai energy. Its eyes glowed with contained fury as it roared with deafening force, a sound that vibrated the air and raised snowstorms around it. It raised its massive wings, breaking the last icy chains that imprisoned it, and took flight toward a known direction, its imposing figure gradually vanishing into the snowy horizon, leaving only echoes of its roar and a steaming crater in the ice.
"Eh? Are you coming back to defend your queen?" Otto Apocalypse watched the live transmission from Siberia, with a serene and calculated smile. The holographic screen showed the awakening of the enormous dragon —Benares, the Judgment-class—.
(Outskirts of Schicksal Headquarters)
—Deploy the defensive satellite network!—
—[To all Valkyries, prepare for a level 1 battle]—
—[A revolution is approaching!]—
(Moments after Kiana's capture)
Theresa, face pale but eyes burning with determination. "Ai-chan... inform Himeko to prepare for battle immediately. Objective: Schicksal Headquarters."
"I'll also transfer Bronya to the Hyperion. Prepare the operation; we don't have much time."
Watching from the shadows, I began to think: It seems the revolution has begun. It's time to prepare. I must find a way to max out my template level and obtain Mahoraga; only then will I have a chance against the Herrscher of the Void.
Wait a moment... Benares will appear soon; maybe if I manage to absorb Benares, my template level will increase enough. After all, Benares is a Judgment-class. That puts it at least on the same level as Jogo, the special-grade volcanic curse.
(Helios transport, 300 meters from Schicksal Headquarters)
—Himeko; tense voice over comms: "We're in the headquarters airspace. If we had the Hyperion, it would be easy to breach their defenses."
—Theresa: "We can't send the Hyperion until we have that..."
—Himeko: "It's been years since we came here. HQ has prepared a welcome party for us."
—Theresa: "How did they react so fast?"
—Himeko: "Theresa, we have an unknown transmission."
In front of Theresa, a huge holographic screen appeared.
Otto, sitting calmly with one hand supporting his head, spoke casually: "What do you plan to do with those toys, Theresa? Everyone has a rebellious phase; I don't want to criticize your immaturity."
—Theresa: "You're as gentle as ever, Grandpa. However..."
The front of the Helios began to glow with intense blue. A concentrated energy beam shot toward Schicksal Headquarters' barrier. The barrier shuddered violently and, as the glow faded, a huge breach was revealed in its structure.
—Theresa: "...I've already made a decision! This time I won't submit to you."
—Himeko interrupted: "Detecting Honkai signals right ahead."
Theresa: "What? This zone should be protected by the headquarters defense network. Oh no, the shields are starting to fail and the cannons are still cooling!"
As the Honkai beasts began striking the shields, one of the Templar-class beasts was sliced in half. Himeko, in her Scarlet Fusion battlesuit —fitted red armor with black and neon blue details, red hair tied waving in the wind, fierce expression— and her greatsword Schiffschneider in hand (broad and heavy blade with a glowing Honkai edge), stepped onto the Helios deck.
"It's time for the Far East branch's ace to make her entrance. Looks like we're not the only uninvited guests."
—Theresa: "I'll handle the helm. Help clear the deck, Himeko."
Minutes later...
On the Helios deck, as dozens of Honkai beasts were eliminated, a huge shadow appeared over Himeko.
—Theresa: "Watch out, Himeko! Multiple Honkai energy spikes around us!"
"Shit... what the hell is that?"
An enormous figure landed on the Helios deck with an impact that shook the ship. Right in front of Himeko, Benares —the Judgment-class dragon— roared with deafening force, wings extended and icy breath freezing the air around it.
Himeko gripped Schiffschneider's handle. Benares charged first, tail whipping like a lash that split the air with a sonic boom. Himeko rolled to the side, the metal deck deforming under the impact. She counterattacked with an upward slash, clashing against the white armor in an explosion of sparks and steam. The dragon retreated a step, roaring furiously, and fired an icy blue energy beam from its mouth —a torrent that froze part of the deck in black ice.
Himeko jumped high, Schiffschneider glowing intensely, and descended with a downward strike that cracked an armor plate. Benares counterattacked with wings, generating an icy wind storm that hurled Himeko against the railing. She held on, panting.
The dragon partially took flight, tail striking again while launching Honkai ice projectiles. Himeko dodged, charging her sword for a quick combo —slashes that left smoking furrows in the armor—. Benares roared, landing with force that shook the Helios, and charged directly, maw open for a devastating bite.
Himeko blocked with the blade, muscles straining, but the impact hurled her backward. She stood limping. "Theresa... something's wrong with this dragon. This thing seems to get stronger as we fight."
—Theresa: "Its Honkai energy levels are rising."
Then, Benares' details and blue glow began to darken. It unleashed a deafening roar, purple lightning began surrounding it, and the color of the glowing details on its body shifted to intense purple.
I, who had been hidden on the Helios all this time —observing with Six Eyes the Honkai flows like a living map—, stepped onto the deck with a new appearance. Now I wore a tight black blindfold over my eyes (to contain the constant glow of the Six Eyes), long loose hair styled like Geto in his "awakened" phase, and my common trench coat transformed with metallic and cybernetic details in dark purple tones —reinforced edges, pulsing cursed runes, pants and boots with protective plates glowing with Honkai-cursed energy.
I walked calmly toward the battle, slight smile on my face. "Looks like you need help, Major Himeko."
[System:]
[Critical Event: Defeat Benares]
[Reward: → +400 template points.]
Theresa: "Mikael? What are you doing here? I'm sure I sent you with Bronya and the others."
—Mikael, get out of here! —Himeko shouted—. This isn't a game!
I didn't respond with words. I formed a complex seal, interlacing my fingers in an ancient ritual formation.
—Binding Vow: Rhythmic Confinement.
A dome of absolute darkness expanded from my position, covering the Helios. Thanks to my Six Eyes, I could see Benares' Honkai flows as if they were silk threads; I knew exactly where its core was weakest.
*Playing now: "Welcome To The Jungle" by Guns N' Roses*
(The iconic and wild riff by Slash, Axl Rose's raspy voice, and primal rhythm will fill the space, marking a welcome to the absolute chaos of the battle.)
I quickly summoned Ganesha and the rest of the absorbed Honkai beasts. In a moment, dozens of spatial tears and shadowy pools appeared on the deck. From them emerged my cursed spirits: staggering zombies with katanas imbued in dark cursed energy, three-meter spectral Chariots charging with curved horns, armored Templars with spectral lances, and finally the colossal Emperor-class Ganesha emerging with its own roar that shook the Helios' metal structure, ready to ram.
Benares, sensing the threat, turned its massive head toward me, purple eyes glowing with instinctive recognition —cursed energy against pure Honkai.
I used the Six Eyes to analyze: unstable Honkai flows, vulnerable core in the chest, wings as primary weak point. I reinforced my body with massive amounts of cursed energy and used Divine Dogs' claws on my hands along with Nue's wings for aerial mobility.
I ordered Ganesha to charge head-on. The colossal boar advanced like a living tank, white armor pulsing with pink lines, curved tusks glowing as it accelerated. Benares roared and responded with its own charge, wings extended for momentum. The clash was cataclysmic: Ganesha impacted the dragon's chest with a boom that deformed the Helios deck, sending shockwaves that staggered Himeko. Benares retreated several meters, armor cracked at the impact point, but immediately counterattacked with a tail whip that hurled Ganesha into the air, crashing it against the railing with a metallic crunch.
Ganesha stood roaring, smoking armor, and charged again. This time, Benares opened its maw and fired a torrent of purple electric energy. Ganesha took it head-on, armored plates sparking, but kept advancing, ramming the dragon's flank and piercing a section of armor with its tusks. Benares howled in pain, partially taking flight to gain height and counterattacking with a rain of frozen projectiles that Ganesha blocked with its body mass, partially protecting the deck.
I dodged the projectiles with Nue flight, summoning zombies to flank and distract the dragon in the air. Benares whipped its tail again; I blocked it by summoning a Chariot as a living shield, which absorbed the impact and counterattacked with curved horns. I tore the lower armor with a claw combo, draining residual Honkai that I converted into pure cursed energy.
The dragon, enraged, dove down. I used several Toads: prehensile tongues entangling one wing, pulling it down with force that shook the Helios. Ganesha took advantage, charging a third time and crashing into the entangled wing, breaking plates and forcing Benares to land awkwardly.
Himeko, panting: "Impossible... How are you controlling so many Honkai beasts?!"
Benares unleashed a massive purple lightning storm.
I fused several minor spirits, creating a massive black vortex spinning violently —Uzumaki—. I fired it directly at Benares' left wing. The impact was devastating: the dragon's armor flew into a thousand pieces and an electronic pain howl tore the air, the torn wing smoking.
Himeko watched, unable to move. She, one of humanity's strongest warriors, was witnessing a young "civilian" manipulate the fabric of reality with the ease of an orchestra conductor.
But the dragon didn't surrender. It charged with a massive bite. With my Six Eyes perception, I dodged by millimeters and took the opportunity to drive my shadow claws into its wounded flesh, near the exposed core: "Exorcise and Absorb."
Benares resisted, roaring and triggering an area explosion of purple energy that shook the deck. I held on with claws dug in, ordering the rest of the beasts —including a battered but standing Ganesha— to restrain it. A horde of Cursed Beasts pounced on it, immobilizing it. It was an energy carnage: the Honkai's ultimate predator was being devoured by the Sorcerer's insatiable hunger.
Finally, the dragon collapsed, dissolving into a massive dark sphere that slowly integrated into my hand, a shiver ran through my nerves and I felt briefly euphoric.
The enormous barrier began to disappear...
*The music stopped*
[System:]
[Judgment-class (Benares) absorbed → +400 template points]
[Critical event completed: Defeat Benares] [Reward: +400 template points.]
[Ten Shadows → Level 10 (Max). All shadows have been unlocked.]
[Cursed energy +5000]
[You have reached the current cursed energy limit 5000/5000]
[System notice: 300 excess template fusion points. Excess template points will integrate into the next template the user obtains.]
[New template slot obtained: Do you wish to obtain a new random skill template?]
—No—
Himeko and Theresa froze. My presence no longer felt human; it was a column of cursed energy so dense that the air around my feet began to distort.
Himeko looked astonished. "You... Defeated it."
I smiled as I recovered. "What can I say? Now we're ready to face Otto."
—End of Chapter 7—