I Am Honkai

The mountainous bulk of the massive warships partially obscured the sunlight, casting fragmented, dim shadows over the area. This was the temporary ground command post of the First Astartes Legion, the Dark Angels.

Most of the Astartes warriors, along with the auxiliary troops and servant armies, had been dismissed, busily attending to their respective tasks.

Selene and Durandal stood just ten paces apart, silently locking gazes. Durandal's expression shifted with a blend of emotions.

"You... already know?"

Durandal sighed as she placed the heavy Imperial Codex onto the makeshift campaign table.

Selene's sudden question had caught her off guard, but Durandal understood all too well what it referred to. Family matters were best understood by one's own family.

Still, how did Selene know? Durandal had only recently regained her memories.

"What do you mean?"

Kiana's startled voice broke the tense exchange between Selene and Durandal.

Once again, it was that unsettling feeling.

Even though Kiana had come to terms with her true self, her past, and had completed her journey of self-discovery, why did it always feel like this?

Time and again, it was as though everyone else knew the truth while she remained the last to find out.

Her sudden movement was so forceful that crystal-clear tears flew from her eyes. In this moment, the Herrscher of Flamescion looked so vulnerable.

Her childhood memories had all been fabrications, her name belonged to "her" standing across from her. Faced with "her," Kiana felt as though no amount of strength could sustain her resolve.

Kiana stared blankly at Selene, the woman she felt compelled to repay for a lifetime's worth of debt standing right in front of her. Only now did she realize she couldn't hold back the tears brimming in her azure eyes.

Why was this?

Was it guilt and remorse toward the "real" Kiana? Was it the resemblance between Selene and her mother Cecilia that stirred such poignant emotions? Was it jealousy at Alyssa, who basked in Selene's warmth and affection? Or...

Perhaps it was all of these.

Following Selene's gaze, Kiana's eyes shifted between Durandal and Selene, before ultimately settling entirely on Selene.

"Kiana..."

Kiana's weary face was streaked with inexplicable tear marks as she gazed at Selene's serene expression.

Selene, still running her fingers soothingly through Alyssa's hair, seemed more gentle than ever. Her sharp, almond-shaped eyes softened slightly, while her silky, lustrous hair and flawless complexion radiated a calming warmth.

It was as though any unnecessary interference would shatter the fleeting tranquility she exuded.

Kiana tried to force a warm, natural smile.

But the result was far from what she intended—it was strained, self-deprecating, and pitiful, evoking an overwhelming sense of sympathy.

The strange atmosphere, as melodramatic as a soap opera, continued to unfold. By this time, Alex had quietly taken his leave, subtly guiding his officers and members of the Honor Guard to a position a short distance away.

Lowering their heads, they seemed engrossed in the study of the ground beneath their feet, as though it contained some profound secret worth examining closely.

Matters of the royal family were none of their business.

The less they knew, the better.

Selene shook her head and gently set Alyssa down before stepping toward Kiana.

In response, Kiana stared at her in disbelief as Selene extended her hand with practiced ease.

"Kiana, why are you crying? Why do you feel guilty toward me? In a certain sense, you and I are like sisters, born from the same source."

Hearing the soft voice suddenly mention her name, the experimental subject called Kiana instinctively looked up.

Facing Selene's scarlet diamond-shaped pupils, Kiana could distinctly feel the warmth of Selene's fingers against her cheek. Her pupils constricted sharply.

So gentle!

But the more tender Selene's actions were, the more guilt Kiana felt gnawing at her.

"You... don't hate me? I'm just a clone. I stole your name, your father, your everything..."

Kiana's porcelain-like face turned a faint shade of red, her ocean-blue eyes misty with unshed tears. Her expression reflected a mix of shock and disbelief, and her pale lips—pressed tightly together—betrayed her inner turmoil.

With the immense steel warships dominating the sky behind her, a resplendently dressed woman looked down at Kiana. Her faint smile softened the icy demeanor that otherwise made her seem unapproachable, like a queen who rarely descended from her lofty perch.

"I can only say that you've chosen the wrong person to confess to."

Selene's fingertips, slightly damp, gently wiped away Kiana's tears. With a subtle nod, she precisely controlled the power of Honkai energy, evaporating the tears completely without harming Kiana's delicate skin.

"I've already made it abundantly clear. Don't you understand yet? Sometimes, I can't tell if you're genuinely dense or just pretending to be."

Her elegant, soothing voice delivered cutting words, leaving Kiana bewildered. Am I an idiot?

"I am not the Kiana you speak of. While I do possess the bloodlines of the Kaslana and Schariac families, my name is Selene. Siegfried Kaslana and Cecilia Schariac are not my parents."

Before Kiana could react, Selene turned to Durandal, her expression serious.

"Durandal, should I address you as Bianka Ataegina, or as the true Kiana Kaslana?"

"Durandal is 'Kiana'?"

Hearing this, Kiana wasn't the only one stunned. Theresa and the others also gasped in disbelief.

The Hyperion crew, overhearing this revelation, were left bewildered. Their thoughts were in disarray, as if their minds had turned to mush.

"What?!"

At this moment, Kiana's mind was flooded with confusion.

Today felt like a dream—a surreal nightmare.

First, she had encountered the "true Kiana," whose appearance and demeanor bore an uncanny resemblance to her mother, Cecilia. Subjectively, Kiana had chosen to believe this revelation.

But then, Selene refuted it, claiming the real Kiana was none other than Durandal—the very person Kiana often clashed with!

Previously, Kiana's focus had been entirely on Selene due to her commanding presence. Now, having received a direct and definitive answer, she finally calmed down enough to reflect.

Only then did she realize: upon reuniting with Durandal, there had been an indescribable feeling—an instinctual sense of familiarity, as though she ought to have known her.

It seemed... plausible after all.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hide it from you. The timing wasn't right. My original plan was to tell you after finding our father."

Seeing that she could no longer conceal the truth, Durandal's tense shoulders slumped slightly. With a soft sigh, she spoke with straightforward honesty.

Although she didn't state it explicitly, Durandal's response plunged the scene into silence.

"....."

"Hey, hey, bird's-nest-head, this is one heck of a bombshell," Tesla muttered, lowering her voice as much as possible.

Einstein, meanwhile, adjusted her glasses and scratched her light-blue hair thoughtfully. Looking at the dazed Theresa, she gently poked her in the back.

"Miss Theresa, don't you claim to be Kiana's aunt? You were Cecilia's best friend and an S-rank Valkyrie of Schicksal. How could you not know that the real Kiana is actually Durandal?"

"Uh...."

Theresa was at a loss for words. She couldn't very well admit that she'd been too preoccupied with goofing off to notice.

Meanwhile, Alex and his subordinates discreetly retreated further, setting up a large array of command consoles and platforms. They appeared entirely focused on studying maps and directing the Empire's landing forces, ensuring they were too busy to pay any attention to the unfolding royal drama.

Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!

In the silence, the sound of clapping rang out distinctly. Selene narrowed her eyes, resting her chin on her hands as she tilted her head slightly. A faint smile played across her lips.

"Sisters being honest with one another—it's truly a delightful thing, isn't it?"

"Selene... Selene, big sister, may I call you that?" Kiana asked suddenly.

For reasons she couldn't quite explain, even though she now knew that Durandal was the "real Kiana," Kiana's attention kept drifting back to Selene. Her body instinctively gravitated toward Selene, as though something deeper connected them.

It felt as if their bond by blood was even stronger.

"Of course, you may. Though I bear neither the Kaslana nor Schariac name, the blood ties between us are undeniable. Surely you can sense it too."

After all, K-404 predates you, K-423. I, Selene, am hardly taking advantage here.

"Selene, big sister, who exactly are you?" Kiana asked, taking a deep breath.

"Hmm, sisters? Father and son? Mother and daughter? The original and the clone? All possibilities are on the table. Go ahead and guess. Why, if I were to perish, both of you could even have a claim to the throne."

Selene's crescent-shaped eyes sparkled mischievously as she tilted her head. Her cryptic words were as erratic as her tone, making it impossible to discern her true thoughts.

"Hiss—!"

Hearing this, Alex, standing at a distance, audibly sucked in a breath.

The throne? Did I mishear?

Should he step forward and offer counsel? Should he pretend not to have heard anything at all?

The matter of imperial succession was the ultimate death trap for someone like him, a military outsider. No matter how he looked at it, it was far too perilous for him to involve himself.

Selene continued, her tone calm yet brimming with certainty.

"As for the questions and terms you raised earlier, rest assured. 'To fight for all that is beautiful in the world'—such a noble slogan fits perfectly with my ideals. Without question, I will treat you all kindly."

"Unlike Anti-Entropy, which must be purged, and World Serpent, which must be eradicated, Schicksal is an organization I genuinely like."

Her words were cheerful, her smile gentle.

Suddenly, Kiana froze mid-thought.

Wait... Eradicate? Eradicate World Serpent?

"Mei!"

Locking onto the crucial detail, Kiana's voice grew three octaves louder.

"Eradicate World Serpent? Selene, big sister, could you explain what you mean?"

"Exactly that—eradication. World Serpent is the remnant of the Previous Era, and their existence tramples upon the progress of the current era's civilization. Moreover, they seek to annihilate me entirely~."

"That me—that is, me..."

"No problem. Are you planning to save Raiden Mei? Don't worry—I'll give the order to spare her life. But that's all I'll allow... Little Kiana, how do you intend to compensate me for this favor?"

Selene remained as relaxed and smiling as ever, her demeanor utterly unguarded.

"Thank you..."

"So then, Selene, what are Schicksal's terms for surrender?" Durandal asked next.

"Hmm, follow me, and we'll discuss the specifics of your surrender terms."

Without further explanation, Selene turned, leaving Kiana and Durandal staring blankly at each other. She raised her hand, and with a ripping sound, tore open a prismatic void in the fabric of space.

Selene stepped into the void first.

In that moment, her once-gentle and tender demeanor vanished without a trace. Her scarlet eyes, which seemed capable of piercing through one's soul, grew cold and unfeeling—terrifying in their icy precision.

The speed of her change in demeanor was startling.

Whether Selene's prior warmth was genuine or an act, perhaps even she herself couldn't be entirely certain.

The "real Kiana," Durandal, and the experimental clone Kiana—K-423—exchanged a glance. Then, at an unhurried pace, they followed Selene into the void.

Meanwhile, in the City That Housed World Serpent's Headquarters

Boom!

The frozen ground melted into slush.

"Insolent fool, you deserve to die!"

The crumbling glacier was consumed, devoured by surging lava, like a delicate piece of glasswork shattered and swallowed by molten tides.

A giant clad in master-crafted blue power armor raised his crimson greatsword high, the waves of molten magma surging toward him as if bowing in reverence to a king.

Crack-crack—!

"A human aiding the wicked—you are unworthy to wield [Judgment of Shamash]!"

Kevin's mocking words dripped with icy disdain. His face, sculpted as if from the very essence of frost, betrayed no warmth. Raising a hand, his body exuded a bitter chill, instantly freezing the ground around him.

Kevin was a product of Dr. Mei's Fusion Warrior program—a successful manifestation of its potential. His body had been infused with the DNA of Parvati, an Emperor-Class Honkai Beast capable of controlling ice and snow, granting him dominion over frost.

The roar of battle echoed through the air. The ground froze, the heavens burned, and before anyone could see how it began, the clash of these two extraordinary beings erupted like a scene from myth.

Their energy blasts collided midair.

Even the residual shockwaves of their clash caused the ground to collapse further. Skyscrapers crumbled into rubble, and the glass panels of the city's structures shattered completely. Surviving buildings near the edge of the pit groaned under the strain before collapsing in a cascade of debris.

Crash—!

With each successive collision, the buried defensive constructs deep beneath the surface were destroyed, their ancient stasis pods triggered into activation.

Boom—!!

"Judgment unleashed!"

With Robert's bellow, the molten sea devoured the ice fields, forming a towering inferno-like tornado akin to a leviathan born of flame and magma.

The fiery vortex coiled around the crimson crystal at the tip of his greatsword. Flames roared and blazed as the molten currents converged into the burning maelstrom. It was as if the birth of this firestorm heralded the wrath of the heavens.

The violent flames erupted outward, transforming into waves of searing heat that rippled from the red blade of [Judgment of Shamash], scorching the land and forcing it to crack and hiss under the intensity.

Simply standing within its proximity felt like nearing the surface of the sun itself.

The next moment, a fiery tempest engulfed the scarred earth.

Boom-boom-boom—!!

Everything was consumed by the flames.

Everything was engulfed in deafening thunder.

Explosions resounded one after another. Streams of fire flickered endlessly, the tides of flame cascading from the heavens to wash over the earth below.

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