Chapter 72: Everyone, Please Enjoy Major Himeko’s... "The Final Lesson"
Chapter 72: Everyone, Please Enjoy Major Himeko's... "Final Lesson"
『Pink Fairy Miss:』 "So stylish!" A pink comment floated across the screen.
This was Elysia's most direct compliment to Himeko
『Pink Fairy Miss:』 "Up until now, probably only Major Himeko dares to talk to the Herrscher like that, right? Hmm, she's the first, and she won't be the last. That's why I love humans so much..."
『where did the little lab rats hide?:』 "When you say 'love,' do you mean courage? Hehe~ Don't be too happy yet, we all know what kind of side effects that weapon has."
Following Elysia's pink comment, a golden comment appeared from Mobius.
But, as the battle between the Vermilion Knight: Eclipse and the Herrscher of the Void continued,
the storyline developed in a way that was unexpected to her.
["——!!"]
The clash of swords and spears, the overlap of light and shadow.
The warrior standing in the vortex swung her greatsword.
["Why...! You're just an Insect!"]
The Herrscher of the Void's figure appeared on screen.
Her tone was filled with confusion and unwillingness.
The spear shot out with lightning, smoke entwining death.
But the storm raised by the Flame Sword turned everything to ashes.
It was only at this moment that the Herrscher of the Void finally realized the key issue.
["——! That gem... is inside the armor!"]
["Damn it——! I'll use all my power to tear you apart!"]
The Herrscher of the Void's face twisted with anger as she completely forgot everything.
On this battlefield, it was just her and the prey she had to kill.
Thus, she didn't realize that there was another pair of eyes always watching her.
["System control, ready. Output control, ready. Orbital control, ready."]
["Target locked. Distance error adjusted."]
["...We won't waste the opportunity you created for us. —Firing."]
With Einstein's narration, the screen suddenly turned pitch black.
As the darkness passed, the Herrscher of the Void was suddenly pierced by countless beams of light!
["——!?"]
A massive beam shot out from the cannon, sweeping with a rain of light and striking the Herrscher of the Void's body.
The secret weapon aboard the Hyperion fired its full-powered shot at the Herrscher of the Void.
And it hit perfectly.
["What... what is this!?"]
As the Herrscher of the Void finished speaking, she let out a painful scream.
["Ahhhhhh——!"]
The Honkai energy scattered.
The Honkai energy inside the Herrscher of the Void's body frantically escaped from every part of her body.
No, it wasn't scattering—it was turning into something else.
It turned into intense light, into high heat, quickly flowing out from her body.
["How could this— my body—"]
The Herrscher of the Void's voice was filled with confusion.
Her body was being torn apart.
The photon currents struck the Herrscher of the Void as if trying to peel away every single one of her wings.
This was the greatest "civilian invention" in human history, proposed by Edison and developed through research in the 20th century.
It was Anti-Entropy's ultimate weapon, the most powerful Honkai energy conversion device on Earth.
After over 50 years of secret development, it had now made its presence known to the world.
This was the weapon created by humans, carrying their ideals and will—this was, the Moonlight Throne!
As the words appeared, a golden comment floated across the screen.
『where did the little lab rats hide?:』 "Hmm? Moonlight... Throne?"
[Because of your livestream content, where did the little lab rats hide?:] "You must be surprised. You've received 840 crystals!"
As the system notification chimed in Hokuto's ear, he realized something...
That Mobius, unlike Elysia and Fu Hua, was different.
As one of Fire Moth's lead scientists, she had access to many cutting-edge technologies from the pre-civilization era.
The Moonlight Throne, clearly, was one of them.
Although it couldn't be confirmed yet whether this technology existed in the timeline of Elysia and the others,
it was certain that Mobius now knew that current civilization possessed the Moonlight Throne technology.
And knowing Mobius' style... she wouldn't have kept any secrets, right?
Hokuto focused on the golden comment for a moment before returning his attention to the plot.
At this point, the Herrscher of the Void, having been hit by the Moonlight Throne's blast, had entered a weakened state.
Although she was a Pufferfish Herrscher, and with a little advantage, she would expand. But in such a weakened state, she knew to retreat into the virtual space.
Thus, as the black hole appeared,
The Herrscher of the Void turned into a beam of light and disappeared from the Hyperion...
And with her retreat, both Tesla and Einstein immediately responded.
["The Herrscher of the Void has escaped into the virtual space! Although we dealt immense damage, she managed to escape!"]
["...Was the forced activation too much of a stretch? There's nothing more we can do now. Everyone, quickly return to the battleship. Immediate... evacuation."]
With the retreat order given, Chapter 9's final battle concluded.
When the mission completion screen popped up, the game didn't give the option to proceed to the next chapter...
『Pink Fairy Miss:』 "Hmm? Wait, does this mean we'll have to wait for Kiana's ending to be revealed in the next chapter?"
Clearly, Pink Fairy Miss was confused by the ending of Chapter 9, which only had 21 stages.
The Herrscher of the Void was weakened by the Moonlight Throne's shot, but Kiana had not been rescued yet? And Einstein had already ordered an evacuation.
So, would the Herrscher of the Void continue to control Kiana for a while longer?
『Your Great Inventor:』 "No, no need to wait until the next chapter."
Hokuto sighed as he looked at the two buttons at the end of Chapter 9.
He clicked the first one, and the game immediately showed a CG of Himeko sitting on a bench with the Shariac Holy Blood test tube.
The background music played the same melancholic tune heard in the consciousness space earlier...
["Hyperion, lower deck corridor."]
Himeko leaned against the railing outside the medical room as injured people hurried past her.
She subconsciously covered her wound.
Blood, unable to be suppressed.
["...This time, it really got out of hand."]
No one responded to her words. Only the test tube glimmered with faint light, illuminating a face full of scars.
Suddenly, the alarm sounded again!
The sharp beeping sound made the already chaotic corridor even more disordered.
But in Himeko's eyes, the world remained calm.
["...Alright, I need some fresh air."]
She straightened up and walked in the opposite direction of the crowd.
Time seemed to stop in that moment.
["Even though they're all still kids, I quite like this place."]
["There's still a long road ahead, right?"]
["Good luck, everyone..."]
People with weapons, people wrapped in bandages, people carrying the injured, people moving parts—
The people of Hyperion, the Far East Division, Anti-Entropy—
People Himeko had met, and people she hadn't—
The people who remembered her, and those who didn't—
One by one, they brushed past her.
["I really want... another drink."]
This CG segment ended with Himeko's words.
In this moment, her inner conflict and struggles were laid bare, just before the "Last Lesson" took place.
Hokuto sighed, then clicked on the final CG at the end of Chapter 9.
"Welcome, my viewers, to the Honkai short film 'The Final Lesson'"
『Pink Fairy Miss:』 "Is it finally starting? I've been waiting for this for so long."
『my favorite sister bronya:』 "I hope Himeko will be okay..."
『where did the little lab rats hide?:』 "I'm really curious, how will the Herrscher die in the end? Too bad, I can't study it myself."
With the click of the play button, the game screen transitioned to the playlist.
As the portal arrived, the bold introduction to the animation appeared before the audience's eyes.
["Even if the black clouds cover the sun, I will burn the sky and guide you home—"**
As the animation played, the first thing that appeared on screen were bubbles floating up in the liquid.
Then, the camera pulled back to reveal an eye with a slight golden hue...
The buzzing sounds mixed with the warnings from the communicator.
The camera switched again, showing Himeko in the elevator, staring at the test tube...
Suddenly, the elevator shook, and the red warning lights flickered.
In the midst of the 'beep beep beep!' alarm, Himeko tightened her grip on the test tube and raised her head to look ahead.
"She's here?"
As the alarm on the Hyperion sounded, the animation cut to the outer perimeter of the battleship.
At that moment, the roar of a giant dragon echoed from afar. As the sound grew louder, the Benares, the Dragon of Chaos, which had appeared several times in Chapter 9, showed up on screen.
Although this dragon was smaller compared to the Hyperion, its body was unusually robust, and its scales were incredibly hard. The battleship's automatic turrets couldn't even scratch it.
Soon, Benares roared and grabbed one of the battleship's cannons, throwing it out with a violent motion.
The elevator doors in front of Himeko opened.
She put away the serum she was holding, picked up Surtr Muspellsverd, and headed toward the command room.
What awaited her, however, was the cannon thrown by the dragon!
But facing this attack, Himeko wasn't panicked. Instead, she smiled confidently.
The 'boom!' of the collision sent dust flying, enveloping the Hyperion's command room.
Then, with another powerful impact, the cannon was flung away, crashing through the air and directly hitting Benares in the face!
This sudden blow made the dragon rear its head and nearly topple over.
But that wasn't the end of it!
As Benares's face was shrouded in shadow, a fiery red figure appeared in the sky!
With a mighty strike from the heavens, it slammed Benares onto the Hyperion's deck.
In just a single blow, Benares collapsed on the deck, unable to move!
『Pink Fairy Miss:』 "Wow! Himeko knocked down that huge thing with one blow! She's amazing!"
After Pink Fairy Miss's comment, Himeko gripped Surtr Muspellsverd tightly.
With the power of the Gem of Haste activated, Surtr Muspellsverd glowed with fiery light.
As the faint light filled the blade, Himeko raised her weapon high, preparing to deliver the final blow to the dragon!
However, just as she swung the blade, a peculiar light suddenly illuminated the space!
Then, with the ground cracking, Himeko looked up and realized she was now in a strange, illusory space.
["This..."]
Himeko raised her head and looked into the distance.
She could clearly sense that this place wasn't the real world, nor was it a virtual space made up of data.
The truth was clear...
『where did the little lab rats hide?:』 "Didn't expect her to be directly transported to virtual space? Hehe, things are going to get pretty tough now~"
A golden comment floated across the screen.
The sender was none other than the well-traveled Mobius.
As one of Flame Moth's top scientists, she naturally understood such a space, which could only be reached through the Herrscher or a Divine Key.
She also understood that, in this space, the Herrscher's powers would be amplified.
["Hehe... hahaha!"]
A light chuckle echoed from afar.
The animation then shifted to the Herrscher of the Void, who was stepping down into the void.
She stood with her hands behind her, looking down at Himeko, her gaze regaining the arrogance of her former self.
["You think you can escape?"]
In response to the Herrscher's provocation, Himeko gripped her sword and aimed it at her.
["Heh, I've been waiting for you!"]
["Ready to face death?"]
As the Herrscher of the Void raised her hand, Himeko suddenly found herself flying uncontrollably toward the Herrscher.
Then, an invisible force pinned her in mid-air.
The camera shifted to show the Herrscher of the Void's face.
She extended her hand forward, and Himeko was sent flying once again.
["Do your best, struggle."]
After saying this, the Herrscher of the Void raised her hand again. The ground beneath them suddenly revealed a purple, square block.
Himeko slammed into it, and with a 'crack!' the square began to shift, wrapping Himeko inside.
As the Herrscher of the Void waved her right hand, the four sides of the square rotated, and golden rings appeared around her. These rings eventually turned into lasers, beginning to slice!
This exaggerated and imaginative scene showcased the exquisite power of the Herrscher of the Void and her terrifying ability.
The golden threads transformed into blades and spears, piercing the square and destroying it into rubble. Himeko, still trapped inside, was left in a perilous state.
After completing all this, the Herrscher of the Void sneered.
["Is that all?"]
Then, the camera switched again to show Himeko, who was slowly rising up.
["Huff... huff..."]
At this moment, her armor was broken, and red lines had begun to appear across her body.
Even so, she still tightly gripped her sword.
["Is your attack over?"]
The camera shifted again to show Himeko standing up.
["Well then, it's my turn now. No objections, right?"]
As the words fell, the camera zoomed in on Himeko's face.
Her eyes had been severely corroded by Honkai energy, and they now showed signs of becoming like a Herrscher's.
Comments flooded the livestream chat, mostly from the heroic viewers.
『Your Great Inventor』 "So, this is what the interior of the space looks like? Incredible... what kind of secrets are hidden here?"
『Maintaining Elegance Is a Maid's Duty:』 "Major Himeko... she's a Valkyrie worthy of respect."
As for Otto and Rita, their reactions were more neutral. Since they were the direct planners and indirect participants in the battle, they already knew what was going to happen.
As the comments from the livestream viewers passed across the screen, the animation's camera shifted to the Herrscher of the Void, who was facing Himeko.
At that moment, realizing that her previous attack hadn't crushed this 'insect,' the Herrscher of the Void covered her face and let out a manic laugh...
["Die."]
As the Herrscher of the Void made her declaration, her powers created black holes in the air behind her.
With the further release of the Herrscher's power, the number of black holes in the air began to multiply.
Eventually, they surrounded Himeko completely!
Within the black holes, Asleikr Spears charged up. The pointed tips were aimed at the injured Himeko.
'Whoosh!'
Countless spears flew out of the black holes!
Standing firm on the ground, Himeko tightened her grip on Surtr Muspellsverd.
The sword blade, which had previously flown out, now returned under the Divine Key's command.
["Kiana, when you wake up, you will see that everything has changed."]
Himeko swung the sword, and the red light lit up the sky!
["You'll discover that this world is no longer beautiful. Those ordinary days will be gone forever."]
["But don't give up. Never give up."]
The camera showed Himeko's face illuminated by firelight, then slowly moved.
At that moment, the Divine Key in her hand began to glow with dazzling light.
The flames wrapped around it, and the intense heat seemed to radiate off the screen!
With the background music playing and the animation's camera shifted to show the Herrscher of the Void facing Himeko.
["Do you think you can escape?"]
The Herrscher of the Void used her powers again, creating virtual light columns that flew toward Himeko.
However, the light column barely took shape before Himeko cut through it with a single sword strike.
The force was so powerful that it sent the Herrscher of the Void stumbling, almost falling down!
In the dense smoke created by the shattered light column, Himeko emerged, charging with Surtr Muspellsverd in hand!
Faced with her Divine Key-like momentum, the Herrscher of the Void couldn't continue pretending to be calm.
["Ah!"]
As the Herrscher of the Void released her power, several Asleikr Spears transformed into fine swords and flew toward Himeko.
But Himeko did not retreat. She remained firm.
As Himeko rapidly descended from the air, the Herrscher of the Void let out a furious roar.
["Ah!"]
With the release of the Herrscher of the Void's power, she used almost all of her strength to create a dark, black hole-shaped spiral spike. The spike shot toward Himeko, who was rapidly approaching.
『Today's Performance Wasn't Perfect:』 "So fast!"
『Pink Fairy Miss:』 "Her attacks are unstoppable, but she's so brave."
["Ugh——!"]
Everything happened so quickly that Surtr Muspellsverd's blade collided with the black spiral cone.
The two Herrscher powers clashed, and the black spiral cone was cleaved in half.
However, Himeko's offensive was stopped, unable to push forward any further.
At the same time, the scene was replaced by a white light.
In this light, figures of Theresa, Mei, Fu Hua, and Bronya slowly appeared and faded away.
Finally, the white light revealed the back of a twin-tailed, braided girl.
["Aunt Himeko, I want to be the strongest Valkyrie!"]
The girl turned around and said this with a smile...
『Pink Fairy Miss:』 "Himeko... you're going to be fine!"
『Today's Performance Wasn't Perfect:』 "This is what a true Valkyrie looks like!"
As the light continued to fade, Himeko's body was no longer glowing, and her eyes seemed to have lost their shine.
Her smooth skin was now covered in scars.
But despite all of this, she knew that she had to push forward to the victory!
["Ah!!!"]
Behind Himeko, wings of fire burst forth.
This was the result of the Divine Key activating the Gem of Haste, symbolizing that, in this moment, she had reached the height of the Flame Herrscher.
As Himeko raised Surtr Muspellsverd for her final strike.
Eventually, the camera pulled back, showing the black cone still blocking Himeko.
With a powerful explosion, Himeko broke through the Herrscher of the Void's power and charged forward with unstoppable momentum!
At this moment, the Herrscher of the Void gritted her teeth.
["Damn!"]
As Himeko's body ignited in flames, her inner thoughts were conveyed to every viewer in the livestream.
["Kiana, lift your head, keep moving forward!"]
The pale light eventually enveloped the Herrscher of the Void, leaving her with no time to resist.
["Lift your head, and make this imperfect world into the way you wish it to be!"]
The light Himeko ignited eventually covered this virtual space.
["Live, Kiana."]
And with these final words, the screen faded to white once more...
End of Chapter 72