Honkai: Star Rail — Kamen Rider!

The blade that could split atoms itself, under Sora's steady pressure, slid slowly into her body.

Does it hurt?

No.

It did not.

Though part of her body still resembled flesh and blood, it had long since begun to shed the constraints of mortal tissue.

Audience with an Aeon. Resonance with a Stellaron. The call of a path…

Titanironia now stood only one step away from ascending to Aeonhood, from reclaiming her dominion over the Path of Propagation—

The last step being the ritual of godhood itself.

Which was why, to her now, the molecules and atoms that made up her physical form no longer held any particular meaning.

Even if the connections between her cells had begun to fray, she could still use her own power to gather them back together into her current form.

But…

But—

The sensation in her heart was something she could not fathom.

This inexplicable emotion—even with all her overwhelming power—remained beyond her complete understanding.

Beneath the vast curtain above lay the full reach of her perception; this was the cradle that would soon birth her.

And so she could see clearly what was happening across the planet.

The ships were fleeing through the ruptured breach. Across the world, outside of this place, there was no other sign of life.

But it was precisely the events on this ground that left Titanironia unable to comprehend.

Except for this inexplicable man before her—

Every other being here, every moving life, could be called her own fragment.

Those who looked so much like her were her own copies.

And even the enemy fighting them were clones made using her own genetic material.

The root of all of them… was herself.

Thus, by all reason, both sides ought to be united now, pushing forward her vow.

So why?

Why were they fighting each other?

It was as if children she had loved and trusted all this time had suddenly turned against her, baring their fangs.

Until now, Titanironia had always believed that the clones made from her own genes would understand, would support her cause.

[Then why do you stand against me?]

Do you not wish to be my companions?

Do you not know loneliness?

That feeling when the whole world, apart from yourself, is empty and desolate—do you not find it terrifying?

In answer to her silent question, the Fyrefly squad responded not in words but in action.

They moved in perfect sync.

When one was struck and exposed to a fatal gap, about to be taken down—

another would instantly dash in, breaking the enemy's attack and pulling her clear.

A brief glance between them. No words. Then back-to-back again, charging the copies once more.

Their coordination was fluid, their strikes precise—every move aimed at the most effective counters.

Titanironia watched these gene-clones in battle… and felt, inexplicably, a sense of distance.

Those who opposed her now looked more like true companions—shoulder to shoulder, watching each other's backs, never letting one be alone.

And all of it… was to shield Hoshigaki Sora from the copies' assault.

Which only made her gaze upon him more intently.

They are all moving for him. All to protect him.

So, that being the case…

Titanironia released her grip on the blade. At once, the sword slid through her body unimpeded.

The barrier that had been blocking Sora also vanished in the same instant.

The sudden change caught him off guard, his body sliding forward without control.

Shhk!

The sound of steel piercing flesh was painfully clear in Sora's ears.

In the next heartbeat, his sword had gone clean through, and he collided into her embrace.

The blade emerged from her back without a drop of blood.

It was as if Titanironia had sought her own end—letting Sora skewer her through.

This abrupt shift stunned everyone on the field.

Shunji and the Fyrefly squad all turned toward them at once.

Could it be… that it was over?

No.

From this close, Sora sensed immediately that something was wrong.

For she was making a move none had expected.

She spread her arms wide—seeking to draw Sora into her embrace.

[If I make you my companion… they will become my companions again.]

They had attacked her only because this man, who knew all her secrets, stood against her.

Thus, all she needed was to make this discordant element hers.

They followed him—so turning their leader would be enough.

Even if Sora had once rejected her… even if that rejection left her to endless solitude—it did not matter.

He simply could not yet understand that beauty, and so had met her with malice.

She still loved him. She loved all the clones born from her genes.

She wished to turn everyone into her companions. The rejection had only been born from ignorance of what was "good."

She believed that, in the end, the galaxy would hold no loneliness at all—

only her companions, everywhere.

And in that moment—

[That will be the most perfect, the most harmonious universe.]

Titanironia's arms closed toward him.

Sora's instincts screamed. He kicked her square in the chest.

His long blade came free in the same motion, and he vaulted into the air.

And now—Titanironia moved at last.

Since Sora had brought her to this remote ground, she had not once taken a step.

But now, for that perfect and harmonious, loneliness-free universe, she began to walk forward.

Her body began to shine with the luster of pure white jade.

From behind her, the light condensed into snowy wings.

But from within those wings extended countless fine tendrils, spreading in all directions.

Where they touched grass or trees, transformation was instant—the swelling ranks of the copy-army appearing across the field in the blink of an eye.

The Glamoth Iron Cavalry tensed, dodging the tendrils that reached for them.

None of them knew what they might become if touched.

But these tendrils… followed.

Titanironia kept her gaze on the surroundings, and walked steadily toward the Stellaron ahead.

Once, she had met these beings with hostility.

Now, she had realized—simply turn all hostile beings into companions, and there would be no malice. No sorrow.

All that remained was to finish the final godhood ritual, to spread her creed through the galaxy.

Silver-white tendrils lashed across the ground—others tore through the air.

They ripped the sky, reaching for the black-clad figure above.

…Why does this feel like I just dropped into the Amazon?

Sora couldn't help the image flashing through his mind at the sight.

But joke or not, his face was deadly serious.

The tendrils moved like spirit serpents—fast, strong, eager to coil around him.

His eyes tracked them in an instant, reading every movement.

And he took in the entire battlefield.

Hotaru now had no combat strength at all, shielded behind the Glamoth Iron Cavalry.

But this fight had already become too dangerous. They could no longer spare the focus to guard her.

It wasn't time for them to face this power yet.

The fight had split into a gulf—copies they could still handle before, but now even they were barely keeping up.

Sora twisted midair, landing in front of the Iron Cavalry line.

He locked the sheath to the guard—then drew again.

[Bujin Sword Victory!]

Scarlet moonlight traced a full circle in his hands, the power gathering at the tip.

With a single slash, emerald blade-qi radiated outward from Sora's position.

Copies within its arc were cleaved clean in two, falling like wheat.

The tendrils hidden among them were likewise severed.

But the halved copies… rose again in seconds, surging toward them once more.

The scene was like a tide of zombies, endless and unbroken.

"How the hell are we supposed to fight this?" Shunji blurted, unable to stop herself.

This unkillable copy-army was even nastier than the galaxy's worst infestations.

"Fall back. This isn't a fight you can win anymore."

Sora's eyes were fixed ahead—on Titanironia, now touching the Stellaron.

Staying here would only get them killed.

So he covered the Fyrefly squad's retreat.

And Titanironia's fingers met the Stellaron.

The curtain in the sky sealed itself whole once more. The reverse-flowing rain and the curtain of water above seemed to find their mark, pouring into Titanironia.

In an instant, she was wrapped within—beginning the final godhood ascension ritual.

And elsewhere, as the retreating Hotaru ran, a sudden burning pain bloomed in her abdomen…