I Am Honkai

"What do you mean, 'huh'? I've introduced myself already. Where are your manners? What's your name? And that shorty beside you—what's with her fierce glare? Is she trying to scare me?"

With a gentle flap of her dragon wings, a crackling flash of lightning surrounded her. In a blur, Alyssa zipped right in front of Kiana, her gaze burning with intensity. The heated attention was so direct that it made Kiana slightly flustered.

"I'm..."

"Kiana, be careful..."

Stretching out her arms protectively, Theresa planted herself in front of Kiana like a hen shielding her chicks. Her vigilant eyes fixed on Alyssa, but her efforts were, frankly, laughable.

From Alyssa's perspective, Theresa's small stature (a mere 145cm) and short limbs made her attempts at protection almost comical. Despite the massive golden cross she carried—[Oath of Judah]—Kiana was still half-exposed behind her.

"Tch, this size... What a handicap. Did you grow up malnourished?"

A flicker of pity crossed Alyssa's eyes as she scrutinized Theresa, who, to her, seemed more like a child than an adult. With a glance, she took in Theresa's distinctive features: snowy white hair tied in a ponytail draped over her left shoulder, deep blue eyes, and a white, gold-trimmed nun's habit bearing the Apocalypse family crest.

Theresa's sharp glare locked onto Alyssa with surprising ferocity. However, to Alyssa, it reminded her of the cubs of wild beasts she had seen in the imperial palace—a look of fierce defiance despite their vulnerability.

Still, Alyssa's attention remained glued to Kiana. The more she observed, the more she needed to understand Kiana's connection to Selene. From Selene's complicated expressions when mentioning this world to her moments of emotional instability when talking about Otto—it all pointed to this world holding immense significance for Selene.

Alyssa might seem ditzy and unassuming, but she wasn't a fool. While she often avoided thinking too deeply, she wasn't incapable of insight.

"Who's this shorty? Move aside. I've got no interest in dealing with you."

"Who are you calling a shorty? You brat—" Theresa instantly bristled, gripping [Oath of Judah] tightly, ready to hurl it at Alyssa without a second thought.

Crack! Zzt! Boom!

Lightning surged as Alyssa grabbed the massive cross barehanded, her claws sinking into the divine weapon's golden casing. The [Oath of Judah] trembled under the might of Alyssa's raw strength, its constraints struggling to hold.

Using her other hand, Alyssa swiftly seized Theresa by the arm, yanking her forward with calculated force. The motion sent both Theresa and her weapon flying unceremoniously through the air.

Bang!

"Theresa!"

Kiana's shout rang out, but she didn't move. Alyssa's actions carried no malice, and her attack seemed more like a calculated toss than a true assault.

Dusting off her hands, Alyssa turned back to Kiana, who stood with an increasingly conflicted expression. Her voice softened as she posed her questions.

"Well then, now that the bystanders are dealt with, can you finally tell me? What's your name? Who are your parents? Do you have any siblings? And why does your body carry traces of my queen's power?"

A flurry of questions, fired off in rapid succession, left Kiana stunned. Her face paled as terror crept into her eyes.

Kiana misunderstood Alyssa's intent.

Why was Alyssa so insistent on confirming her identity? Why did she ask about her family and whether she had siblings? And what did she mean by "traces of the queen's power"? Who was this queen?

These questions spiraled into a dreadful possibility in Kiana's mind—a possibility she feared to even contemplate.

Her body trembled, a suffocating weight pressing on her chest. Dread and unease wrapped around her heart.

"Kiana Kaslana..." she murmured, the words falling from her lips like a curse. But the name wasn't about her current self—it was about the origin of all K—experiment subjects.

Memories of her identity as a clone, her tumultuous journey, and the burdens she bore all came crashing back. Her sense of self—built through bonds with Mei, Bronya, Theresa, and others—now felt fragile and hollow.

She had accepted her identity as K-423, embracing the path forward with courage, but the looming specter of being the "fake" Kiana Kaslana now filled her with fear.

Would this stranger strip away everything she had built? Could she face the real Kiana Kaslana, the rightful owner of her name?

As these doubts gnawed at her, Kiana faltered, clutching her face as tears welled up in her eyes. She felt as though she might shatter.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Alyssa, floating close by, noticed Kiana's anguish. Concern flickered across her face. Without hesitation, she descended, lightning dissipating, her violet claws retracting as she approached Kiana with a disarming sincerity.

"You okay? If this place isn't safe, I can take you somewhere else after I've dealt with my mission."

She reached out, her clawed hand now soft and human, offering Kiana support. Her gaze was warm, laced with genuine concern.

"Do you need me to deal with... them?"

"No... I'm fine." Kiana shook her head. As her hand brushed against Alyssa's, a strange warmth spread through her—a familiar, instinctive bond thrummed within her very core.

It wasn't just her Herrscher Core reacting; her very blood, flesh, and soul seemed to resonate with Alyssa's presence.

In the hazy distance behind Alyssa, Kiana thought she glimpsed a tall, silver-haired woman. Her heart clenched as she whispered

"Cecilia..."

The vision stirred something deep inside Kiana. Her voice cracked as tears streamed freely down her cheeks, her words breaking under the weight of her emotions:

"Mom... Cecilia... I'm so sorry."

Reaching up to wipe away her tears, Kiana forced a shaky smile. "I'm Kiana Kaslana. I'm also... K-423. Once this is all over... can I see her?"

Her voice was pleading, yearning yet filled with self-doubt.

"Of course," Alyssa replied, her tone firm and reassuring.

Dusting off the scorched dirt from her clothes, Theresa quickly returned to the scene. Just moments ago, she had heard a name she cared about most deeply.

"Kiana," Theresa spoke hesitantly, her brows furrowed, "just now, you said... Cecilia. Does that mean..."

At that moment, a soft hum filled the air—

A holy white light descended from the fading storm clouds above. Unlike the thunderous lightning earlier, this light carried no threat; instead, it evoked peace... even comfort.

In Theresa's memory, only one person had ever radiated such a sacred light.

"Cecilia...." she murmured, placing down her [Oath of Judah]. Theresa stared blankly at the ethereal beam of light, her mind awash with emotions.

Before Alyssa could turn to see what Theresa was staring at, the sudden sound of hooves striking the ground echoed sharply, followed by a commanding, authoritative voice.

"Apologies for the delay. Theresa-senpai..."

Descending gracefully from the skies was Schicksal's most powerful S-rank Valkyrie, Durandal.

"You—you—you're Durandal?! How can this be?"

Theresa stammered in disbelief, pointing at the figure hovering mid-air. Her thoughts tumbled chaotically as she tried to reconcile what she was seeing.

The imposing figure riding atop a jet-black steed—its body adorned with spectral blue flames, appearing as though it had galloped straight from the depths of hell—was nonetheless a vision of divine radiance.

Black and white, opposing forces entwined, blended seamlessly in this most formidable Valkyrie.

"Oh, this?" Durandal responded with a calm smile, gesturing to her gleaming, platinum-white Valkyrie armor accented by faint streaks of black. "I've gained new power... Theresa-senpai, what happened here? Where is Otto? And who is she?"

Surveying the devastation around her, Durandal's tone carried a hint of suspicion as her gaze fell upon Alyssa.

Her appearance stirred vague recognition. Durandal had seen something like it before, buried within the mission archives of Schicksal.

"Benares."

"Ah, so you know me?" Alyssa's azure dragon eyes narrowed as she studied Durandal. "And you... Durandal, was it? Why do you feel... familiar? So much like Her Majesty."

Another? Alyssa's head spun, unable to make sense of the growing pattern.

First, someone bearing an uncanny resemblance. Now, this?

Her mind raced, overlaying Durandal's golden hair and sapphire eyes with Selene's signature white hair and crimson gaze.

"No way!"

Like an internal explosion, the realization dawned on her, leaving Alyssa to clutch her head in disbelief.

"This—this—this—what is going on?!"

Shaking her head vigorously, Alyssa forcibly dismissed the notion.

No. No, it wasn't the same. Durandal's appearance and aura might evoke Selene, but the gap was insurmountable.

Selene's stature, overwhelming presence, and the sheer terror she inspired... no one could come close.

"I need answers."

Alyssa's sharp voice cut through the air. Her dragon wings unfurled as she rose into the sky, her expression unyielding. "You all, follow me."

"What do you mean?"

Durandal exchanged a brief glance with Theresa, then turned her steely gaze back to Alyssa.

"Bloodlines need verification. At the same time, I'm offering you a chance—to save yourselves."

Alyssa's tone was sharp as her glowing eyes pierced through them. "Come with me to see Her Majesty. When war descends, I will protect you and those you care about. I guarantee no harm will come to them."

"War?"

"Yes, war. A war to conquer this world. The fleets of the Empire will arrive soon!"

Alyssa's aura surged, spilling forth uncontrollable torrents of Honkai energy as she declared:

"But let me make this clear—if you are frauds, if your appearances are some illusion meant to deceive me—I will tear you apart, limb by limb, and obliterate you!"

"And as for Otto..." Alyssa's sharp glare turned downward. "He is Her Majesty's chosen prey."

"Have you caught him yet?" Alyssa's voice boomed with authority, carried on the currents of Honkai energy. Her words reached even the distant Hyperion, still retreating miles away.

Thud, thud, thud!

"Yes, Lady Alyssa, the target has been secured."

Through the swirling dust, the metallic clang of heavy steps echoed. A giant figure emerged from the haze, dragging a charred, barely recognizable Soulium body behind it.

It was Otto.

In an instant, Theresa and Durandal found themselves encircled by massive golden armored giants—silent and imposing.

Theresa's small stature barely reached their thighs. The imposing figures were clad in ornately engraved golden power armor, embellished with dual-headed eagle motifs and the imperial crest.

Each giant bore a massive greatsword radiating faint violet light, a testament to their sharpness. Even Durandal hesitated, her lance held tightly in hand.

What unnerved the pair most was the palpable suppression of Honkai energy.

"Why... do they possess the power of the Herrscher of Binding?"

Signaling a detachment of these Sisters of Silence to pursue the fleeing Hyperion, Alyssa turned her attention back to the others.

"These are the Imperial Palace Guards. Their purpose is none of your concern. Now, come—I must confirm your truth."

...

Meanwhile, deep beneath the World Serpent's Ritual Grounds, shadowy corridors twisted and turned, leading to a forgotten sanctuary.

Here, the memories of the Thirteen Flame-Chasers, the last of the MOTH Fusion Warriors, were preserved.

Once a sanctuary of legacy, the oppressive air of finality hung over this place as an unwelcome visitor entered.

"Relics of a bygone era—your end has come. The mistakes she failed to rectify, I will not repeat today."

The declaration echoed coldly through the corridors, marking the arrival of Selene herself.

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