Chapter 27: 23. And So It Starts
St. Freya
The quiet hum of the stove filled the air, accompanied by the soft clatter of utensils. Mei stood in the small kitchen of the Valkyrie dorm, her violet eyes fixed on the sizzling pan in front of her. The warm aroma of eggs and butter wafted through the air as she tilted the pan, ensuring the omelet cooked evenly.
The dorm was unusually silent. Kiana and Bronya were off somewhere—Kiana likely dragging Bronya into another one of her impulsive ideas. Mei had declined to join, choosing instead to enjoy a rare moment of solitude. She didn't mind. The quiet gave her time to think, though she wasn't sure she wanted to.
As the edges of the omelet began to curl and brown, her mind wandered, unbidden, to a memory she had buried deep but could never forget.
---
Nagazora. The Third Eruption.
The streets were chaos. The once-bustling city had turned into a nightmare, its vibrant life replaced by the lifeless groans of zombies and the guttural roars of Honkai Beasts. Shadows loomed large over crumbling buildings, and the air was thick with the stench of smoke and decay.
Mei could still feel the ache in her legs as she and Kiana ran through those streets, their breaths ragged and hearts pounding. Each step was a gamble—one wrong move, one missed shadow, and it could have been their last.
"Kiana, watch out!" Mei had screamed as a massive Honkai Beast lunged at them, tearing through the building that was in front of them.
Kiana's reaction was instinctive. She shot at the beast with her gun, stunning it momentarily. But her victory was short-lived. Another beast appeared behind her, claws gleaming as it slashed through the air.
"Kiana!" Mei's voice cracked as the claws connected.
Kiana staggered back, blood spilling from a deep gash across her right arm. Her weapon fell from her hands, clanging against the asphalt.
"Fuck!" Kiana had hissed through gritted teeth, her knees wobbling as she clutched her arm. Despite the pain, she had forced a smirk. "I'm fine, Mei. Just a scratch."
But it wasn't fine. Mei had seen the way Kiana's arm dangled, nearly useless. She could still recall the metallic tang of blood in the air, mingling with the acrid scent of the Honkai.
The Honkai Beast charged again, its glowing eyes fixed on Kiana. Mei had acted without thinking, stepping in front of her fallen friend. Her hands trembled as she faced the creature, knowing she had no weapon, no plan—nothing.
Then it happened.
A surge of energy, wild and uncontrollable, exploded within her. It burned through her veins like liquid lightning, consuming her thoughts and drowning her fear. Before she realized what was happening, her outstretched hand crackled with electricity, and a jagged bolt of lightning shot forward.
The Honkai Beast didn't stand a chance. It disintegrated in an instant, reduced it and the surroundings to nothing but ash and smoke. The surge of power left Mei gasping, her heart racing as she stared at her trembling hands.
"What... what was that?" she whispered, her voice barely audible over the pounding in her ears.
But there was no time to process it. More Honkai Beasts emerged from the shadows, their numbers overwhelming. Mei's legs felt like lead, her body trembling as the power within her surged again, threatening to break free.
The energy bubbled inside her, screaming to be unleashed. It was primal, she felt it start to consumer her, replace her. She clenched her fists, trying to suppress it, but the sensation was suffocating. Her breath came in short, shallow gasps as the Honkai Beasts drew closer.
And then... they stopped.
Mei blinked in confusion as the creatures turned away from her, their intimidating forms now fixed on something in the distance. Without hesitation, they abandoned their pursuit, retreating into the ruins as if drawn by an unseen force.
The relief was short-lived. Seemingly sensing the threat leaving, the energy inside her calmed down, leaving her legs weak and her vision blurred. The last thing she saw before darkness consumed her was Kiana's worried face.
When Mei woke, it wasn't long before she found herself staring into the stern eyes of Himeko Murata. The Valkyrie's crimson hair framed her face, with a expression that she couldn't exactly grasp.
"You're awake," Himeko had said, her voice steady but serious.
Mei sat up slowly, her body aching. Kiana was beside her, her arm wrapped in bandages, her eyes filled with relief.
"Where... where are we?" Mei asked, her voice hoarse.
"Safe, for now," Himeko replied. "But we need to talk."
The words that followed had changed Mei's life forever.
"There's something inside you, Mei," Himeko began. "Something powerful and dangerous. It nearly woke up and took over back there. We could sense it's energy -even if it was only a fraction- from across the world"
Mei's chest tightened. "What do you mean?"
Himeko's gaze was steady, her tone firm but gentle. "You're the host of a being called the Herrscher of Thunder. It's a part of you now. And if you don't learn to control it, it will control you."
The following explanation made Mei want to just die. Herrschers? Godlike beings that could destroy continents, reshape the world to it's will and one is living inside her?
After that conversation, along with some convincing from Himeko, Mei had made a decision. She wouldn't run from this power. She would train and ensure it never hurt anyone—especially not Kiana.
That's why she agreed to join St. Freya. To train and learn to control the Herrscher within her. Kiana, as stubborn as ever, had insisted on coming too, saying something about Theresa and her search for her father.
---
The soft hiss of the sizzling omelet brought Mei back to the present, though her mind felt like it was moving through molasses. She flipped the omelet with finesse, her hands steady even as her thoughts churned beneath the surface. The memories of Nagazora clung to her like a shadow.
Her chest felt tight, the air around her pressing in with an almost physical weight. She gripped the spatula tighter than she realized, her knuckles whitening. Why now? she thought, her brow furrowing. Why am I thinking about this now?
The feeling crept in slowly, like the first hints of a storm. It wasn't a loud or sudden realization, but a gnawing unease that made the fine hairs on her neck stand on end. A faint pressure settled at the back of her mind, cold and persistent, and it refused to go away.
Her breath hitched, the rhythm of her cooking faltering. She set the spatula down on the counter, her hand trembling despite her efforts to steady it. The room, that was filled with the comforting sounds of crackling oil and the faint hum of the stove, felt unnervingly quiet.
And then, without warning, it hit her.
It was as if the world had turned against her in an instant. A crushing, invisible force slammed into her chest, driving the air from her lungs. The pan clattered to the floor, the omelet landing with a muted splat. Mei's legs gave out beneath her, sending her sprawling onto the cold tiles.
Her breath came in shallow gasps, each one feeling harder than the last. The sound of her own heartbeat pounded in her ears, a relentless drumbeat of terror. Her vision swam, dark spots creeping into the edges of her sight. Her hands clawed at the ground, desperate for anything to anchor her to reality.
"No..." Her voice was a whisper, trembling as the word escaped her lips. She squeezed her eyes shut, but it did nothing to block out the overwhelming sensation of dread. "No, no, no. This... this feeling..."
It was suffocating, like being submerged underwater with no hope of surfacing. Every breath felt like a battle she was losing, and her heart raced wildly, as if it were trying to break free from her chest.
The oppressive weight grew heavier, pressing down on her with unrelenting force. Her arms trembled as she tried to push herself up, but her muscles refused to cooperate. She collapsed again, her cheek pressing against the cold floor.
"What's... going on?" she gasped, her voice barely audible over the cacophony of her own panicked breaths. Her thoughts were a mess, fragments of reason drowned out by the primal scream of her instincts telling her to run, to escape—though from what, she didn't know.
And then it hit her, a chilling realization that froze her to the core. This was the same feeling, the same soul-crushing dread she had felt back in Nagazora. The oppressive weight of Honkai energy, so overwhelming it had nearly broken her then, was unmistakable.
Her fingers dug into the floor, trembling violently as her mind raced. Why now? What's happening? Her breathing came in ragged bursts, her throat tightening as if she were choking on her own fear.
Her stomach churned with a sickening sense of déjà vu. She could almost see the ruined streets of Nagazora in her mind, the screams of the infected, the relentless approach of Honkai Beasts, Kiana nearly dying. Her hands curled into fists as she gritted her teeth, trying to fight the oppressive sensation.
"I need... to move," she whispered to herself, her voice shaking. But her legs were useless, trembling too violently to hold her weight. She could feel the energy pulsing in the distance, a relentless, pounding rhythm that felt like it was coming straight for her. It's the same as before,
Her mind screamed at her to find Kiana, Bronya, she needed to tell someone, but her body betrayed her. Her muscles refused to respond, leaving her trapped in her own fear. The room around her felt smaller, suffocating, as if the walls themselves were closing in.
Something was wrong. Horribly, terribly wrong.
It was happening again.
Another Eruption
...
The sound of splintering wood and a loud crash echoed through the hallway of St. Freya's dormitory, followed immediately by Kiana's familiar, sheepish voice.
"Oops... my bad!"
Bronya stood a few feet away, arms crossed and her face as blank as ever, though the slight twitch in her eye betrayed her frustration. She sighed, pointing at the newly formed hole in the wall that now framed Kiana's outstretched arm.
"This is the third time this month." Bronya said flatly, her tone carrying more exasperation than usual. "Why must Subject Kiana continue to act like an over-enthusiastic wrecking ball?"
Kiana grinned, pulling her arm free with a loud pop. She rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. "Come on, Bronya, it's not that big of a deal. I was just practicing my moves! You gotta admit, the spin kick was awesome, right?"
Bronya's blank stare didn't waver. "Bronya is unimpressed."
Before Kiana could respond, a small figure stormed into the room—Overseer Theresa. Her crimson eyes scanned the damage before narrowing in on Kiana. "Kiana Kaslana! What have I told you about destroying school property?!"
Kiana winced, holding up her hands defensively. "It wasn't on purpose! I was just—uh—fine-tuning my reflexes?"
Theresa raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "Fine-tuning your reflexes doesn't require turning the dorms into your personal training ground!"
Kiana shrank back slightly under Theresa's glare. "I'll fix it, okay? I promise."
Bronya interjected, her monotone voice carrying just a hint of snark. "Subject Kiana's promises to 'fix it' are as reliable as her ability to go a day without causing chaos."
"Hey!" Kiana shot back, pouting.
Before the argument could escalate further, hurried footsteps echoed down the hall. All three turned toward the source of the noise, their expressions shifting to confusion as Mei came into view.
Her hair was slightly disheveled, and her face was pale, her wide eyes filled with panic. She looked like she had just run a marathon, her breath coming in quick, uneven gasps.
"Mei?!" Kiana rushed forward, concern etched on her face. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"
Mei didn't answer immediately. She stopped in front of Kiana, placing her hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath. Her trembling hands reached out, grabbing Kiana's shoulders tightly.
"Kiana," Mei said, her voice trembling with urgency. "I feel it again."
Kiana blinked, confused. "Feel what again? Mei, what are you talking about?"
"An eruption," Mei whispered, her grip tightening. "It's happening again. In Nagazora."
The words sent a chill through the room. Bronya's usually impassive face shifted, her eyes widening slightly as she knew what this meant, while Theresa's expression turned serious.
"What do you mean, Mei?" Theresa asked, stepping forward. "How do you know this?"
Mei turned to Theresa, her face pale and her voice shaking. "I don't know how, but I can feel it. It's the same as before, the same oppressive feeling, the same overwhelming energy. Something's happening, or it's about to."
Theresa's sharp eyes studied Mei carefully, her mind racing. She wanted to dismiss it as stress or coincidence, but the sheer dread on Mei's face made it impossible to ignore.
Kiana placed her hands over Mei's, her grip firm but gentle. "Mei, are you sure? Are you absolutely sure it's happening again?"
"I'm sure," Mei replied, her voice resolute despite her trembling body. "It's coming, Kiana. I can feel it. Something terrible is going to happen in Nagazora."
Theresa's lips thinned into a line, her mind already working on a plan. She nodded decisively and turned on her heel. "Stay here. I need to make a call."
Kiana frowned, taking a step after her. "Wait! What are you going to do?"
Theresa didn't look back as she hurried down the hall toward her office. "I'm contacting Himeko. She's in Nagazora right now. If what Mei says is true, she needs to know immediately."
Bronya watched her go, her expression unreadable. She glanced back at Mei and Kiana, who were both visibly shaken.
"You should sit," Bronya said, her voice calm but firm. "In the state you are in, standing will do you no good."
Kiana led Mei to a nearby bench, guiding her to sit as she rubbed soothing circles on her back. "Don't worry, Mei. If something's happening, Himeko and the Valkyries will take care of it. Just like before. And once were strong enough, we could even be the ones out there."
Mei didn't answer, her gaze distant as she tried to calm her racing heart. But the feeling wouldn't leave her—the oppressive weight of the Honkai's presence, growing stronger by the second.
---
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---
Himeko sat slouched in her chair on the Hyperion's command deck, her fiery crimson hair falling over her shoulders as she scrolled through reports on a tablet. The dim hum of the ship's systems provided a steady backdrop to her increasingly foul mood.
Her sharp crimson eyes darted to the clock on the main display. 16:25. She exhaled sharply, tapping her finger impatiently against the armrest.
Her irritation had been building all day. She had spent the morning preparing to confront the Night Runner—finally identified as Kenji Aoyama—only to find his apartment door locked, the lights off, and no sign of him.
"Damn brat," Himeko muttered under her breath, her tone laced with annoyance. She had been ready, mentally and physically, for this pivotal moment. Instead, she'd spent the entire day waiting like some overzealous stalker.
Her mind flashed back to her own irritation earlier when one of her researchers awkwardly informed her that they'd tried to wake her up multiple times that morning.
"Should've gone in my battlesuit and banged the door down when I had the chance," she grumbled, flipping through yet another report. The researchers had verified Kenji's routine down to the minute, but today of all days, he decided to deviate.
A sudden chime pulled her attention to the monitor in front of her. A communications request popped up, the name Theresa Apocalypse displayed prominently on the screen.
Himeko raised an eyebrow. She hadn't expected Theresa to contact her so soon. Most likely, it was just another check-in about her progress on finding the Night Runner. She tapped the screen, accepting the call.
"Theresa," Himeko greeted, her voice tinged with exhaustion. "If you're here to ask about progress—"
"Himeko!" Theresa's worried voice cut her off, loud and panicked. The younger overseer's expression was unusually grim, her wide crimson eyes darting nervously.
Himeko immediately straightened in her seat, her casual demeanor evaporating. "What's wrong?"
"Do you have any spike in Honkai energy readings in Nagazora?" Theresa asked, her words tumbling out quickly.
Himeko frowned, her sharp gaze narrowing. "Not that I know of. Wait—hold on."
She turned to one of her lead researchers nearby. "Run a diagnostic on Honkai energy levels in the city. Anything unusual?"
The researcher, startled by her urgency, quickly pulled up a series of graphs and data points. After a few tense moments, he turned back, shaking his head. "Negative, Captain. Everything seems within normal parameters."
Himeko turned back to Theresa, her expression still wary. "Everything's fine on our end. Why are you asking? Did something happen?"
Theresa bit her lip, hesitating. "It's Mei. She—she felt something. A sudden dread, like during the Third Eruption. She's convinced another eruption is going to happen in Nagazora."
Himeko's crimson eyes sharpened, her irritation forgotten as a cold seriousness settled over her. "Another eruption?"
Theresa nodded, her voice lowering as if the words themselves carried weight. "She's certain. And you know how sensitive she is to Honkai energy after what happened during the Third Eruption. She described the same oppressive feeling, like something big is coming."
Himeko's fingers clenched around the armrest of her chair, her mind racing. Mei's sensitivity wasn't something to dismiss lightly. If she was feeling an impending eruption, there was a high chance something was brewing.
"Alright," Himeko said. "I'll keep a close eye on things here. If anything—"
Before she could finish, the ship's alarms blared, loud and urgent, cutting her off mid-sentence. The command deck was bathed in red light as emergency alerts flashed across every screen.
"WARNING: HONKAI ENERGY LEVELS SPIKING."
Himeko shot to her feet, her heart pounding. "What the hell?"
"Captain Murata!" a nearby technician called out, panic in their voice. "Massive Honkai energy spikes detected across Nagazora! Levels are rising exponentially!"
Another researcher's voice joined in, their tone equally frantic. "Captain, these readings—this is an eruption! There's no doubt about it!"
Himeko's eyes narrowed, her fists clenching. "Damn it."
Theresa's voice crackled over the comms, now laced with urgency. "Himeko, what's happening? What's going on?"
Himeko turned back to the monitor, where the graphs showed an unprecedented surge of Honkai energy, each spike higher than the last. "It's happening, Theresa. Mei was right. This is an eruption."
Theresa's face paled, but she maintained her composure. "I'll mobilize reinforcements immediately. I'm sending Valkyries your way. Hold out until they arrive."
The call abruptly cut off as Himeko's attention was drawn to a massive explosion below. She rushed to the observation deck, her boots echoing against the metal floor.
Through the expansive window, she saw a plume of smoke and fire rising into the sky. The shockwave rattled the Hyperion, and the city below descended into chaos. Honkai Beasts swarmed the streets, their monstrous forms wreaking havoc on everything in their path.
Himeko's jaw tightened as she turned away from the scene, her resolve hardening. "Get my battlesuit ready," she barked, her voice firm and commanding.
---
---
---
The bustling mall hummed with life, its brightly lit halls filled with the chatter of shoppers and the rhythmic clatter of footsteps. Kenji weaved through the crowd, a small basket in hand, his gaze occasionally flicking to his phone as he checked his grocery list. The time read 16:30, and the weekend rush was already in full swing.
"Milk, eggs, bread..." he muttered, scrolling through his notes. "Maybe some bagles, too. Can't forget those."
His body moved on autopilot, navigating past families, couples, and teenagers huddled around the latest tech displays. His mind, however, lingered on the events of the previous night. He had pushed himself hard during patrol, maintaining 35% of One For All longer than ever before. Yet, to his surprise, there had been no lingering soreness when he woke up that morning.
"That doesn't make sense," he thought, gripping the basket tighter. "I should've been wrecked after last night. My muscles, at the very least... Maybe I'm getting used to OFA faster than I thought?"
Lost in his thoughts, Kenji barely noticed as he climbed the central staircase of the mall, heading toward the grocery section on the upper floor. The polished glass railings reflected the vibrant neon signs, and the faint scent of freshly baked pretzels wafted through the air. For a moment, everything seemed normal.
Then, his Danger Sense flared.
It started as a single, sharp pulse at the back of his mind. A warning. He froze mid-step, his hand instinctively gripping the railing. His eyes darted around, scanning the bustling mall below, but everything looked... fine.
"Calm down," he whispered under his breath, shaking his head. "Just have to find where the danger is coming from—"
Another pulse. Then another.
Two. Three. Four.
The signals intensified, stacking on top of each other until it felt like his mind was being bombarded from all directions. His heartbeat quickened, and his grip on the railing tightened so much that it started bending.
Danger from everywhere.
Kenji's chest heaved as his breathing grew shallow, his usually sharp instincts now overwhelmed by the sheer volume of warnings. His vision blurred slightly, and he stumbled forward, clutching the railing to keep himself upright.
"What the hell is this?" he thought, his pulse pounding in his ears. "This has never happened before... What could—"
A firm hand gripped his shoulder, pulling him out of his spiraling thoughts.
"Hey, kid, you alright?" a man's voice said, low and concerned.
Kenji turned his head slowly, his eyes wide and unfocused. The man—a middle-aged mall-goer with a shopping bag slung over his shoulder—frowned, leaning closer.
"You look like you're about to pass out. Should I call someone?"
Kenji opened his mouth to respond, but his voice wouldn't come. The overwhelming flood of his Danger Sense drowned out everything else. It was all-consuming, a cacophony of alarms in his head.
Before he could answer, a loud blaring alarm echoed through the mall, cutting through the background noise like a knife.
"ATTENTION: HONKAI ERUPTION DETECTED. PLEASE EVACUATE TO DESIGNATED SHELTERS IMMEDIATELY."
The automated warning repeated across the mall's PA system, accompanied by bright red emergency lights flashing along the walls. Every monitor in sight lit up with bold crimson text:
EMERGENCY ALERT: HONKAI ERUPTION DETECTED. HEAD TO SHELTERS IMMEDIATELY.
Screams erupted from the crowd as panic swept through the mall like wildfire. Shoppers dropped their bags and bolted for the nearest exits, their faces twisted in fear. Children clung to their parents, their cries lost in the chaos.
The man who had been holding Kenji's shoulder froze for a split second before muttering a curse and taking off, his bag abandoned on the floor.
Kenji remained rooted to the spot, his mind struggling to process what was happening. The cacophony of his Danger Sense, the alarms, the screaming—all of it blurred together into a deafening roar.
And then, the ground shook.
A thunderous explosion rocked the mall, the force of it shattering nearby glass displays and sending a massive shockwave rippling through the building. Kenji stumbled, barely catching himself on the railing as debris rained down from above.
CRASH!
A massive chunk of the mall's upper structure caved in, slamming into the ground floor with a deafening impact. Dust and debris filled the air, choking the screams of those trying to flee.
Kenji's eyes widened in horror as he watched the devastation unfold, his breath catching in his throat.
"What the hell is happening?!" he screamed internally, his thoughts a chaotic mess.
All around him, the mall descended into chaos. People shoved past each other in a desperate bid to escape, their faces pale with terror. The sound of distant sirens echoed faintly through the mall, signaling the approach of emergency response teams.
Kenji's instincts screamed at him to move, to act, but his body felt like it was encased in lead. The weight of his Danger Sense pinned him in place, paralyzing him with its unrelenting pressure. 'I need to Move!'
And the Eruption had finally begun.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone