I Am Honkai

At the same time as the "Schicksal Civil War" was raging in Korosten Town, another storm was brewing on the other side of the globe—in North America, at the Anti-Entropy headquarters.

Unlike a traditional corporate skyscraper, Anti-Entropy's headquarters resembled a massive fortress. Towering over a kilometer in height, it covered nearly an entire city block, making it the largest man-made building in the world.

Even Schicksal's local branches paled in comparison, save for the Mediterranean Floating Islands headquarters. This colossal structure served as the nucleus of the entire American continent.

The fortress was dark and metallic, its tapering polygonal architecture exuding a heavy technological aura. Unlike Schicksal's aristocratic and centralized theocracy, Anti-Entropy embraced a more democratic approach.

The organization didn't relocate the surrounding buildings for security reasons but instead chose to integrate them, fostering mutual growth with the city. This collaboration earned it public admiration, and many citizens took pride in working for Anti-Entropy.

This stark contrast with Schicksal's feudal "landlord aristocracy" was one reason why Schicksal struggled to reestablish its influence in North America after Anti-Entropy's rebellion.

The contrast between the dark tones of Anti-Entropy's central building and the bustling urban sprawl around it was striking. Neon signs blinked above rows of shops, cars streamed through glittering streets, and throngs of people bustled about, underscoring the city's vibrancy.

Yet, despite the city's liveliness, every passerby wore a look of unease.

A massive crystalline screen mounted on the building's façade broadcast news about Honkai Beast tides rampaging through disaster zones worldwide.

This wasn't something governments could cover up or censor. Honkai outbreaks weren't petty thefts or political scandals—they were apocalyptic natural disasters with potentially global consequences. How could anyone hide such events and expect the public to remain ignorant?

As the host handed over to a live reporter, the scene shifted. The roar of gunfire filled the air, followed by bursts of flame engulfing the skies.

Shouts of soldiers, groans of the wounded, the mechanical whirring of exosuits, and the primal roars of beasts all blended into a cacophony.

Suddenly, the shaky camera framed a pale-faced, nervous-looking female reporter with a faint sheen of sweat on her brow.

"This is the Third Honkai Disaster Zone in New Zealand," she began, her voice trembling slightly. "As you can see, the area is now in full combat status. The rampaging Honkai Beast tide has inflicted heavy casualties on the stationed forces. Reinforcements—"

A deafening boom cut her off. She instinctively shielded her face as a squadron of low-flying fighter jets roared past the camera.

The scene abruptly shifted again—a colossal Honkai Beast howled, and massive purple-red beams shot skyward from the tide, engulfing several jets in flaming wreckage.

"Oh my gosh!"

The reporter's panicked cry was barely audible over the cacophony. Cries of "Look out!" and subsequent explosions filled the audio feed. As the camera panned over the devastation, flames devoured the earth, while dismembered bodies and mangled machinery littered the ground.

Watching the footage on the crystalline screen, passersby reacted with a mix of muted sorrow and numb indifference.

Some covered their mouths, tears welling up, while others simply walked past, unmoved. In a world plagued by Honkai, tragedies like this were all too familiar.

To the people of this "less-than-wonderful" world, Honkai had always been a shadow over their lives, a constant backdrop to existence.

For the optimistic, at least this particular outbreak seemed relatively contained. It hadn't yet matched the devastation of the Second Eruption or even the recent Coral Island disaster, which had caused worldwide climate disruptions.

Still, this latest disaster tested the limits of military defenses in every affected region.

"Let the tall ones—Schicksal and Anti-Entropy—hold up the sky," they muttered, resigned to their everyday struggles. Life went on.

For those far from the disaster zones, survival meant worrying about mundane things like food, shelter, and work. Skipping a day on the job wouldn't bring the dead back to life, but it might cost them their paycheck.

Such pragmatism was deeply ingrained, even in Anti-Entropy-controlled territories. After all, while Anti-Entropy was more democratic than Schicksal, its governance resembled that of a corporate board.

Inside the Anti-Entropy Headquarters

Within the fortress, a group of uniformed workers boarded an elevator. As it ascended smoothly, the button panel lit up one by one.

This was well past standard working hours, and most staff had already gone home.

"These days are getting worse. Disasters are coming faster and harder. Every disaster zone is requesting Titan mech reinforcements, and the production lines are running at full capacity. But we're short on manpower—just got off work, and they're already calling us back."

"Tell me about it. Schicksal hasn't made any major moves yet, probably because their Overseer just resigned...."

"Stop complaining. Blame the Honkai. Anyway, the new production quotas came down from the top, and judging by the volume, we'll be pulling an all-nighter."

As the elevator ascended, they stole a brief moment to chat.

Beep!

The elevator suddenly jolted to a stop.

"What's going on?"

"System malfunction?"

"Get maintenance on this. Ridiculous...."

Moments later, the elevator resumed its climb, and they dismissed the odd interruption. None of them noticed the crimson eyes watching them from above the transparent glass panel.

When the elevator doors opened, they stepped out into the sprawling Titan mech production facility.

Metallic surfaces filled every inch of the space, pipes snaking along the walls like veins. The atmosphere was sterile and industrial, the air tinged with oil and machinery.

Swiping their personal ID cards to clock in and unlock the electromagnetic gates, the workers entered a changing room.

Donning gray protective suits and helmets, they meticulously checked their tools before heading to their stations.

"Wait, look at this." One worker paused, pointing at an opened dust cover on a control panel. "Did someone tamper with this?"

"Maybe the last shift forgot to close it? You know how the boss hates when protocol isn't followed."

"Wait, no! The night guard—"

Before he could finish, a chilling voice came from behind them.

"Obliterate."

Shing—! Splurt!

A worker's severed head hit the ground with a wet thud, blood pooling beneath it.

At that instant, the hum of powered weapons echoed throughout the facility.

The cloaking devices failed, sparks flying as the shattered Titan mech toppled to the ground, lifeless.

In the blink of an eye, dozens of Imperial Assassination Squad operatives materialized around Akame.

Draped uniformly in pitch-black hooded cloaks over streamlined powered armor designed for assassins, they wielded a mix of power swords and power claws. The claws, crafted from orichalcum, bore twin explosive-barrel attachments on their backs.

This specialized power claw—integrating dual-barreled explosive shotguns—was exclusive to the assassination unit. Though lighter than the heavy munitions used by the Astartes, it was deadly enough for its purpose.

Standing silently like grim reapers, they formed a protective circle around Akame, ready to unleash lethal attacks at a moment's notice.

"Dr. Fashion and the captain said to stick one of these into every interface we find."

Activating the scanner fitted near her eyes, Akame scanned the Titan production facility inch by inch, locating a control terminal. She inserted a slender violet crystal device into the interface.

The scanner functioned like an X-ray, capable of penetrating materials to reveal internal structures. Alongside its thermal imaging and communication capabilities, it allowed operatives to detect Titan mechs even when cloaked.

Every squad member carried one of these scanners, using them to map and analyze the facility's structure. The gathered data was uploaded to their individual command systems, eventually transmitted to the Empire's Science Bureau.

As for the violet crystal device? It had a dual purpose: data extraction and, more importantly, deployment of electronic viruses.

"The agreed-upon time has come. General Kurome and her team should be in position. No need to hold back—create chaos, as much as possible."

Suddenly, the facility's alarms blared, shattering the silence.

Hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway.

"Hey! What's going on? Who's there? We—"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The guards didn't even finish their sentence before explosive rounds, propelled by high-powered explosives, tore through their uniforms and flesh.

The powerful projectiles easily penetrated their body armor, detonating upon impact. Flesh and fabric shredded in an instant, blood and fragments scattering as their bodies were incinerated by the heat and kinetic energy.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

At the same time, explosions erupted throughout Anti-Entropy Headquarters. Fireballs lit up the structure from top to bottom as thick smoke poured out of shattered black exterior walls. The falling debris crashed down in a cacophony of destruction.

Amid the chaos, piercing alarms rang through the skies. On various external platforms, Titan mechs emerged from cloaking fields, reactivating from dormancy.

"A terrorist attack? Or a failed experiment?"

Shocked pedestrians stopped in their tracks, gazing at the burning headquarters in disbelief.

Elsewhere, in a nearby street within the building's coverage zone, atop a sleek corporate office building, a group of shadowy figures stood silently by the windows, observing the scene.

Their attire shimmered with strange, fluctuating hues that gave off a hazy, distorted appearance.

"Anti-Entropy—an organization established to combat Honkai, formerly the North American branch of Schicksal."

"It was founded in 1957 by a faction of high-ranking Schicksal researchers who defected. Today, Anti-Entropy stands as the second-largest human force after Schicksal."

"Our mission is to retrieve all of Anti-Entropy's research and data. Any thoughts?"

Click!

The leader of the group, dressed in high-heeled armor boots, turned and lowered her hood, revealing a striking face with icy blue eyes.

It was none other than Esdeath, the commanding general of the Empire's elite Hunter Division within the Assassination Corps.

Hearing Esdeath's query, Kurome responded without hesitation: "Traitors."

Under Selene's rule, treason carried the harshest stigma and penalties. Betrayal was not only a grave crime but also a behavior universally despised by the populace.

This mindset was deeply ingrained in the Empire, its double standards evident in how it dealt with dissenters.

Kurome, having absorbed years of Assassination Squad indoctrination, exhibited an even more extreme outlook than her sister Akame.

"If they are traitors, then mercy is unnecessary."

Esdeath fingered the twin-headed eagle insignia on her chest, gazing at the Anti-Entropy building in the distance with predatory intent.

"Unfortunately, Anti-Entropy's research data is Dr. Fashion's priority request. Hold back for now."

She extended her hand toward the distant structure, making a grasping motion.

"Let the games begin."

Meanwhile, at Korosten Town

Inside the barrier-enclosed church, the grand hall was filled with crystalline projections and holograms, including a three-dimensional display of the Hyperion airship.

"Theresa, Kiana... if you can stop me, then do your best."

Otto Apocalypse stood amidst the glimmering projections, his golden hair tied in a single ponytail, his fitted white uniform pristine. His refined, soulsteel-crafted visage displayed a chillingly serene smile.

"It seems it's time to fulfill our promise, old friend."

Murmuring softly, Otto lowered his gaze as though speaking to himself. Yet, in truth, his words weren't addressed to himself.

He turned, his gaze settling on the radiant golden hues emanating from the ethereal Tree of Imaginary Numbers behind him.

It was as if he were speaking to someone—or something—beyond human comprehension.

"...."

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