I Am Honkai

Rumble—

"Borrowing force?"

Amid thunder and lightning, a towering figure crashed to the ground, stepping out from the dust and debris. His entire body was covered in knotted muscles; his broad shoulders and sturdy frame exuded an imposing aura. His face was firm and unyielding, naturally commanding respect without anger.

Budo raised his head, a flicker of contemplation flashing through his eyes.

That direction? To the west… Europe—territory overseen by Alex, the leader of the Schicksal organization in that region.

"Based on the preliminary observation and judgment, this woman named Raiden Mei seems to have a strong will. She doesn't appear to be the type of coward who would abandon her comrades and focus solely on escaping to save her life."

"…But why did she flee so decisively?"

As he spoke, Budo glanced toward the bustling metropolis dozens of kilometers away. Through his electromagnetic senses, he could detect that Robert and Kevin had already started fighting in earnest. A fiery storm had erupted from the central city district, and the two clashed with remarkable synergy, driving their battle all the way to the ocean.

Budo had the ability to fuse his Imperial Arm with the Gem of Conquest, granting him a unique form of "electromagnetic surveillance" over vast areas. Through this, he could intercept communications and monitor his surroundings on a grand scale.

This power was reminiscent of Observation Haki from the world of One Piece. Although it lacked the various additional abilities like hearing the voice of all things, precognition, or animal empathy, its range was much broader—akin to Enel's "Mantra."

At critical moments, Budo could concentrate his mind to enhance the precision of his observations, enabling even finer detail to be captured.

Having been blessed by Selene, Budo's lightning-wielding abilities—derived from the Imperial Arm, Thunder God's Rage: Adramelech—were elevated to new heights. While he was not a true Herrscher born of the Great Eruption, he could be considered a pseudo-Herrscher tied to the End.

As Budo's gaze lingered on the two clashing figures, his attention momentarily focused on the shorter silhouette. Two hypotheses formed in his mind.

From Raiden Mei's desperate flight toward Europe, it was either that she was carrying out a crucial mission entrusted to her by her comrades, or that she and this Kevin Kaslana individual lacked any real sense of camaraderie.

The longing and concern in Raiden Mei's eyes for someone or something could not be faked. Likely…

There was something—or someone—in Europe of immense importance to her.

But these were merely Budo's speculative deductions based on the information at hand. He acknowledged the possibility of error—unless this young girl turned out to be a seasoned actress capable of fooling even him.

Selene's allocations had divided the world into three major war zones based on longitude.

From west to east, these territories were as follows:

• The European and African continents were under Alex's jurisdiction.

• The Asian continent and Oceania fell under Budo's command.

• The American continents were jointly managed by Leiva and Esdeath.

"The so-called Herrscher traitor that His Majesty mentioned… Was it a defection? Or coercion?"

Recalling the amused expression on Selene's face when she spoke those words, Budo began to understand. There might be more to this matter than it appeared.

Given his understanding of His Majesty's usual personality, it seemed entirely plausible.

"Hmph. Whatever the truth may be—whether it's a countermeasure by the rebels or just my overthinking—it'll become clear after I bring her down and interrogate her."

Boom—!

Budo raised his head coldly, his thick gauntlets exploding with a sudden burst of energy. Blinding blue lightning arcs surged outward, accompanied by waves of blistering heat, as he threw a devastating punch toward the figure soaring in the sky.

"Thunder Spine!"

With a thunderous roar, an electric arc as thick as a water tank erupted, rising high into the sky. It expanded, forming a forest of azure lightning thorns that surged toward Raiden Mei.

Boom—!

Dirt, trees, artificial lakes, bridges, highways—everything in the path of the lightning was incinerated by its destructive power.

A steel bridge spanning the artificial lake was severed in two, its collapsed half melting instantly upon contact with the arc's intense heat, transforming into a viscous, orange liquid.

What remained was a terrifying scorched trench over fifty meters wide, carving a path through the earth. The lake water within evaporated under the searing heat, leaving nothing behind.

Bang!!

The thunderous explosion sent shockwaves rippling outward. Street trees bent and swayed like wheat in a hurricane, creating waves of debris as the powerful energy spread.

"Once, twice, and now thrice! Why must you keep standing in my way?!"

Flying out of the crater created by her crash, Raiden Mei's eyes flashed with a trace of ferocity.

She twisted her wrist and swung her sword.

Her cold, murderous intent condensed on her brows, and violet-red lightning burst forth. Behind her, the purple thunder annihilation halo glowed brightly as her scarlet ghost hand brandished a massive blade.

"Ah—!"

Flaws in her personality and the painful trials of her life had become fertile ground for the Herrscher's persona to take root and grow.

After regaining the power of the Herrscher, Raiden Mei—under the influence of its might—had gradually become more obsessive, more extreme.

But there was one thing about Raiden Mei that would never change.

Joining World Serpent had never been her choice. Everything she had ever chosen was for the sake of one person.

From leaving Nagazora City to her journey through Chiba Academy, St. Freya Academy, and now the World Serpent—Raiden Mei had endured so much. The Herrscher of Thunder's power had been lost, reclaimed, and lost again. But through it all, everything she did was for the sake of one person.

"Kiana! I will find you!"

She would never back down!

Bang!

As the blade and gauntlet collided, the thunder of their clash reverberated through the air.

"As I thought, our powers stem from the same source. Simply unleashing lightning energy is inefficient for either of us."

Budo's gaze was as cold as a winter wind as he scanned the battlefield. His eyes settled on the bruises visible on Raiden Mei's body.

He spoke icily:

"Fists and feet would be more effective."

Despite being struck by lightning multiple times, Raiden Mei remained seemingly unscathed. However, the heavy punch Budo had landed on her earlier had objectively caused significant damage.

In the next moment, Budo's figure flickered as he appeared beside Raiden Mei. He crouched and delivered a resounding slap to the ghostly armor she had instinctively raised to block, giving her no chance to react. Immediately after, he followed up with a powerful kick.

Bang!

A dull, heavy impact resounded. The tall woman with long, dark-purple hair was sent flying, crashing hard into the ground and rolling as she carved out a long trench in the earth.

"Guh—hah!"

Pain shot through her entire body without exception, leaving Raiden Mei momentarily dazed.

But she did not allow herself to dwell on the agony. Standing once more, she swung her sword and pressed the attack.

Her instincts warned her of how dangerous her actions were, yet she refused to retreat.

Because, in this situation, it was clear: if she could not defeat Budo, she would never be able to pass him and reunite with Kiana.

Buzz—Boom!!

Suddenly, a brilliant burst of violet-red flames erupted from Raiden Mei's body. Blood dripped from the corner of her mouth as she raised the Key of Castigation, Divine Punishment, high above her head.

Crackle!

Beneath her feet, countless arcs of electricity formed concentric ripples. Lightning, crossing and intertwining, gathered at the tip of her blade, generating searing heat that ignited a forest fire around her.

Budo's eyes narrowed as he slowly raised his elbow.

He was methodical and unhurried, but Raiden Mei would not let a single opportunity slip by. Thunder was her namesake, and the North Star One-Sword Style was the ancient martial art passed down in her family.

While this technique was ineffective against the massive bodies of Honkai Beasts, when facing humanoid enemies, the swordsmanship inherited by Raiden Mei could grant her a significant edge in combat.

Well, with Budo standing over four meters tall, he should still qualify as humanoid. Probably… maybe… hopefully.

Without wasting a word, Raiden Mei gripped the Key of Castigation tightly and entered her starting stance. In the next instant—whoosh!

She transformed into a streak of lightning, charging at Budo, each strike aimed directly at his vital points.

Clang!

The long blade clashed once more against Budo's arm guards, ringing out over the ravaged battlefield. Raiden Mei remained cold and unyielding, the violet-red lightning in her ghostly, emotionless eyes crackling like an ominous specter.

Faster! More relentless!

It was as if she had gone mad. The long blade in her hand, along with the massive sword wielded by the ghostly armor behind her, slashed wildly.

A web of blades unfolded before Budo, each stroke gleaming with icy brilliance. Sparks flew as the sword clashed repeatedly against his arm guards and heavy armor.

Amid the swirling dust and debris, two figures—one large, one small—flashed through the air, locked in a deadly dance.

It was a fighting style driven by pure desperation, abandoning the North Star One-Sword Style's core principle of "ending battles swiftly and without injury." Instead, it had transformed into a savage technique of slaughter.

"Heh… interesting."

This was a laugh.

On Budo's rugged, steadfast face, a faint smile crept in. It was a smile of approval—or perhaps satisfaction.

"With such a death-defying spirit, you are no coward. As an opponent, I acknowledge you."

As a seasoned veteran of countless battlefields, Budo was unafraid to use ruthless strategies in pursuit of victory. After all, as the saying goes, "All warfare is based on deception."

But when faced with an enemy who demonstrated such determination and resilience, Budo was equally unreserved in offering his recognition and praise.

With that, he suddenly stepped forward, his motion akin to the pressing of a hydraulic machine. His iron fist, empowered by the twisting force of his waist, swung out in a devastating arc.

Boom—Crash!!

In that instant, the shockwaves compressed the air so forcefully that even the surrounding grass and trees were flattened, unable to lift their heads. The terrifying force coalesced into a tangible shockwave that blasted outward.

Raiden Mei's pupils dilated to their absolute limits as the impact hurled her body violently through the air.

The explosion's shockwave annihilated everything in its path, leaving destruction in its wake. High above, a massive mushroom cloud formed, a testament to the overwhelming power.

Retreating to regain her balance, Raiden Mei felt as though that blow had struck directly into her eardrums. Her internal organs churned, as if her entire body had been rearranged.

Her left arm, which had gripped the Key of Castigation during the clash, now hung limp and numb. She had completely lost all sensation in it, as if it no longer belonged to her.

This kind of sheer physical strength…

"Huff… huff…"

Breathing heavily, Raiden Mei began to reevaluate her situation.

Her current opponent was a terrible match for her. Both of them were highly resistant to lightning-based attacks, leaving her with no choice but to rely on physical combat.

However, Budo's combat experience was far too advanced. He seized major opportunities while ignoring minor ones, creating a defense so seamless that it was almost impenetrable.

Her attempts to stab at the weaker connection points between the helmet and the power armor were all blocked. Budo even redirected her strikes with minimal effort, guiding them toward the most reinforced areas—his shoulder plates and chest armor.

At this rate, leaving aside the overwhelming disparity in raw strength, her stamina would undoubtedly deplete long before his did.

In the next moment, lightning flashed, and a shadowy figure lunged at her with a thunderous punch, stirring a vortex of wind in its wake.

Danger!

Raiden Mei didn't have the luxury of composure—she rolled desperately to the side.

Whoosh—!

The air wailed as Budo's arm guard tore through it, moving so quickly that it ignited the air itself. Even though it barely missed her face, Raiden Mei instinctively held her breath.

The tip of her nose stung with an almost searing heat, as though fire had scorched her airway, and it made her want to cough.

But before she could recover, a massive, heavy gauntlet seized her upper body and lifted her into the air.

Raiden Mei's delicate features turned a shade of blue and purple. Her legs kicked frantically, but it was futile. As Budo tightened his grip, the Honkai-infused cube embedded within her power armor began to activate.

Buzz—Buzz!

"You… cough cough..." She barely managed to squeeze out a few words before a crushing sensation overwhelmed her.

Her Honkai energy reserves rapidly dwindled, and all that remained in her mind was the pain of suffocation. Her vision blurred into nothingness.

"…Kiana…"

Meanwhile, in Europe, in the town of Korosten.

As Durandal and Kiana followed Selene into the radiant spatial portal, Selene turned back. The iridescent glow faded, and her serene eyes softened with warmth and tenderness.

Her gaze fell upon a petite girl with ashen gray, curly hair lying collapsed amidst a field of flowers. Selene then looked toward the gentle girl kneeling beside her, who held a pristine white lance in her hands.

This girl had short, shoulder-length hair, dark with a faint blue tint. Her eyes were like the ocean, her skin as pale as snow, and a red stigma mark was visible on her chest. She wore a white blouse paired with a blue vest and a short, pleated skirt of alternating light and dark blue tones.

Seele Vollerei—a gentle, soft-spoken girl who appeared as fragile as she was kind.

"[Abyss Flower], come here," Selene suddenly commanded, stretching out her hand.

In an instant, [Abyss Flower] trembled faintly in response to her call. In a flash of white light, it left Seele's grasp and flew to Selene's hand, eliciting a surprised cry from the girl.

"Ah! Bronya-sister!" Seele exclaimed in panic as she leaned forward to hold onto Bronya.

"S-Selene… sister, but…" Kiana hesitated, her mouth slightly open as though she wanted to say something.

"To save her does not require such a troublesome method. It's not difficult at all," Selene replied calmly.

Healing light glowed at Selene's fingertips, a warm white radiance that spread upward from the ground, enveloping Bronya's overtaxed body.

"The authority of the Herrscher of Death isn't meant to be used the way you've been using it."

In just an instant, Seele noticed with delight that Bronya's condition began to stabilize. The older girl was showing signs of waking up. It was so unreal, so miraculous, that Seele couldn't help but stare in a daze.

"Bronya-sister! It's wonderful—you're okay!"

"All right, let's go," Selene said after completing the healing process.

Amid Durandal's complicated gaze, Selene gripped [Abyss Flower] tightly and nodded slightly toward Kiana.

And then—snap!

The spatial rift sealed shut as Selene disappeared with Durandal and Kiana, leaving behind the stunned crew of the Hyperion.

Watching her commanding officer finally leave, Alex let out a long sigh of relief. Without hesitation, he began barking orders to his subordinates to bring the command equipment back into position.

Hands clasped behind his back, Alex approached Theresa, whose petite frame resembled that of a child. He raised an eyebrow, barely holding back the sarcastic remarks threatening to spill out.

"Well then, Theresa Apocalypse, esteemed Overseer of Schicksal. It's time to get down to business."

"Come with me. Sanguinius has already landed at the floating islands in the Mediterranean that serve as Schicksal's headquarters. Resistance remains, but if you want to avoid unnecessary casualties, you'd better go and persuade them yourself."

"I understand."

Theresa's childish face remained serious as she responded with a rare air of gravity.

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