In a cold, sterile laboratory, several researchers in white coats hovered over a fainted green-haired girl, her body lying limp on the research table.
The harsh fluorescent lights cast an unforgiving glare on the scene, highlighting the cold efficiency of the room.
The girl, a young and aspiring soldier, had trained hard since birth to one day become a protector against the horrors of the Honkai. Her compatibility with Honkai energy had marked her as a valuable subject for experimentation.
One of the scientists, his face a mask of indifference, glanced at her and muttered, "Is this test subject no good?"
"She just fainted," another responded without emotion. "She can still be used. Leave her for now."
The room was filled with a dispassionate silence as the researchers continued their work. One of them, operating a console, noticed something unusual and called out, "Wait a minute, the brainwaves of this test subject are a bit strange."
His voice immediately drew the attention of the other researchers. They all crowded around the monitor, their eyes scanning the data with keen interest.
"I'll take a look," another scientist said, peering at the screen. The lines on the panel jumped erratically, revealing the strange activity in the girl's brain. "Even in a fainting state, her brain is still highly active..."
A more senior scientist, whose voice carried the weight of authority, made a decision. "Give her a dose of Honkai beast essence."
Without hesitation, one of the researchers injected a substance into the girl's body. The vial glowed with a dazzling green light as the essence was forced into her veins.
"This phenomenon needs to be recorded," the senior scientist ordered, earning nods of agreement from the others. They watched closely, hoping to observe a reaction, but after a few minutes, their interest waned as the girl remained motionless.
"Get the next subject," one of them said casually, as if they were dealing with nothing more than lab rats.
Another girl was brought in, her face pale with fear as she was strapped to the table. The researchers wasted no time in injecting doses of Honkai serum and Honkai energy into her body.
"No, inject another dose of 5HW," the head scientist instructed.
One of the younger researchers hesitated. "What if she dies?"
"If she dies, then we'll get another one," the head scientist replied coldly, dismissing the question with a wave of his hand.
The girl body convulsed under the strain of the honkai energy present in her.
The previous girl was unconscious, but her mind was still active, trapped in a nightmarish limbo where she could hear the researchers discussing her fate.
She can somehow sense the new girl body got pierce by needles, the Honkai energy coursing through her veins, but was powerless to stop this madness.
Memories flooded her mind—memories of her parents, who had died in a Honkai eruption. She had vowed to become strong enough to protect others from suffering the same loss.
***
In a dimly lit cell, the girl awoke slowly, her body aching from the experiments. The room was small, the walls and floor cold metal. The only furnishing was a small iron bed with a thin, white blanket. The air was heavy with despair.
"Thinking about the past again?" a voice broke the silence. Bell, another young girl, sat in the neighboring cell, her voice soft with concern.
Hikari, the green-haired girl, rubbed her temples as she sat up from the cold floor. "It's hard not to," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
She looked at Bell through the narrow bars that separated their cells. "What about you? Are you holding up?"
Bell sighed, her eyes filled with sorrow. "I don't know, Hikari. It's been two days since they took Bella... I'm scared."
Hikari's heart sank at the mention of Bella. Bell and Bella were twins, and the three of them had become close friends during their time in the Tower. Hikari, three years older than them , so both of girl come near her to take comfort.
"They'll bring her back," Hikari said, though she wasn't sure if she believed her own words. "We have to stay strong, for Bella."
But two days passed, and Bella never returned. Bell lay lifelessly on the ground, her spirit crushed by the loss of her sister. Hikari could only watch in helpless rage as she bit her lip hard enough to draw blood.
---
Meanwhile, in a grand tower located in South America, Jason, along with four other world leaders, monitored the progress of the experiments.
They were the ones funding this inhuman research, using children as experimental subjects to further their twisted goals.
The tower was a fortress of cruelty, where the value of human life was measured only by its usefulness in advancing scientific knowledge. The children who were brought here were no longer treated as humans; they were mere tools, disposable if something went wrong.
---
A week later, the head scientist entered the laboratory again. His eyes gleamed with a mix of ambition and indifference as he ordered Hikari and Bell to be brought in. This time, they were injecting them with something more potent—the honkai beast essence, combined with the core of a Legion.
Hikari was strapped to the table first. The main core was placed in her body as she was more compatible. Bell was strapped next to her, her face pale and trembling.
"You don't have to do this..." Hikari whispered to scientist, though she knew it was futile.
The scientists connected them to various machines, injecting large amounts of Honkai energy into their bodies.
The pain was unbearable. Hikari's body screamed in agony as she felt the energy tear through her, transforming her from the inside out.
She heard Bell's terrified screams turn into something unnatural. Hikari's vision blurred as she saw Bell's body swell grotesquely before bursting apart, splattering the room with blood and gore.
Hikari's mind went blank as a deep, all-consuming rage took hold of her. In the darkest corner of her consciousness, a voice whispered,
"Do you wish to destroy those who have wronged you and your friends?"
It was the voice of Yui, the Outer God, who had been lurking in the shadows of Hikari's mind. As if something had snapped within her, Hikari's body absorbed the vast amounts of Honkai energy being pumped into her. Her power surged beyond control.
"Sir, the energy readings have crossed the average Herrscher mark!" one of the scientists shouted in panic.
"Shut it down! Shut everything down!" the head scientist screamed, but it was too late. The machines around Hikari sparked and exploded, unable to contain the raw energy coursing through her.
A blinding light erupted from Hikari's body, engulfing the entire lab. The world outside experienced a flash of intense light, and when it faded, the entire eastern side of South America and part of the Atlantic Ocean had been erased from the map.
Hikari floated in the air, her eyes glowing with an unearthly power. The Herrscher had awakened, and with it, a force capable of reshaping the world—or destroying it entirely.
****
The world trembled as Hikari, the newly awakened Herrscher unleashed her rage.
She floated above the ruins of what was once a vibrant city, her green hair flowing like a tempest in the winds of chaos. Her eyes glowed with an otherworldly light as beams of pure, destructive energy shot out from her body, obliterating everything in their path.
Buildings, landscapes, even the ground itself disintegrated wherever her wrath struck, leaving nothing but scorched earth and ash in her wake.
The very air around her crackled with energy, and alongside her, three enormous beasts, each one a twisted manifestation of Honkai energy, roared in unison, echoing her fury. Their forms were monstrous, with jagged crystal scales, fangs that could tear through steel, and eyes that glowed with the same destructive energy that radiated from Hikari.
Meanwhile, across the world, Bronya was analyzing the catastrophic event unfolding in South America.
" A new Herrscher has awakened," Bronya reported.
The holographic map of the world displayed the epicenter of destruction, with real-time satellite images showing the devastation.
In the control room, the atmosphere turned icy as the reality of the situation sunk in.
Scientists, soldiers, and strategists watched in horror as the satellite feed zoomed in on the epicenter, revealing the figure of herrscher amidst the ruins.
"What's the energy reading?" Mei asked, her voice steady but laced with urgency.
Bronya hesitated for a fraction of a second, something she rarely did. "The energy level is 750% higher than the highest recorded reading."
The room fell silent as everyone processed the magnitude of Bronya's words. It was as if a bolt of lightning had struck them all at once.
Some of the personnel had their mouths agape in shock, unable to fully comprehend the scale of the disaster.
Mei's mind raced as she considered their options. The stakes had never been higher, and there was no time to waste. "Prepare the announcement," Mei instructed, her voice cutting through the tension like a knife.
"Squad 7's main elites are to deploy to South America immediately."
As the command went out, the elite members of Squad 7 sprang into action. Kevin, the stoic leader of the squad, was the first to respond.
Kevin this time was in training room when he heard Mei announcement.
"We're moving out," Kevin announced, his voice commanding and decisive. He quickly gathered his gear, ensuring that everything was in place.
The rest of Squad 7—each member a master of their craft—joined them, their faces set with grim determination.
They boarded the helicopter that would take them to the disaster zone, the tension in the air palpable. The roar of the helicopter blades was deafening, but inside, the squad remained silent, each member lost in their own thoughts.
As they flew over the Atlantic Ocean, the destruction became more and more apparent. The ocean waters churned violently, affected by the massive energy ripples emanating from South America. Dark clouds gathered, crackling with lightning as if the very sky was reacting to the apocalyptic power being unleashed below.
Kevin glanced out of the helicopter's window, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon. "We're close," he said, more to himself than to anyone else. His voice was calm, but inside, he could feel the immense pressure of what lay ahead.
The helicopter couldn't go any further. The energy levels were too high, and the turbulence too extreme. Without a word, Kevin and the others leaped out of the helicopter, free-falling through the sky. In perfect synchronization, they activated their their powers and other dawn their armour, propelling themselves toward the heart of the devastation.
As they neared the continent, the sheer scale of the destruction became clear.
What was once a thriving region was now a wasteland, scorched and broken. The air was thick with the smell of ash and burning, and the ground was littered with the remnants of what had once been buildings and infrastructure.
Kevin, Elysia, and the other five members of Squad 7 descended towards the epicenter, their bodies glowing with the energy they were harnessing in preparation for the battle ahead. The atmosphere was heavy with tension, the kind that comes before a storm.
They landed on the ground with a soft thud, the only sounds the distant roars of the Honkai beasts and the crackling of energy in the air. The earth beneath them trembled, as if in fear of what was to come.
"Stay sharp," Kevin said, his voice low but commanding. He raised his weapon, scanning the area. "The Herrscher and her beasts could be anywhere."
Elysia nodded, her eyes narrowing as she focused her senses. "The energy is concentrated just ahead... It's overwhelming."
As they advanced cautiously through the ruined landscape, the epicenter of the disaster came into view. There, amidst the devastation, stood Hikari.
Her presence was almost surreal, a stark contrast to the chaos around her. Her green hair glowed with an eerie light, and her eyes were filled with a mixture of pain, rage, and something deeper—something that chilled the hearts of the Squad 7 members.
Then with a flash of light she appeared in front of Kevin and everyone.
Kevin heard a notification in system which make her eyes widen.
A/N~ You all will definitely love next two chapters worth of fight.