"The spatial curvature is fluctuating abnormally. I've never seen Honkai energy at such a high concentration!"
Tesla exclaimed, her heart pounding as she watched the ever-climbing numbers on the Honkai energy detector.
Moreover, the enemies detected by the Hyperion's radar were continuously increasing, while their mecha forces were steadily decreasing.
"What in the world is this?! Even a Herrscher is too much of a cheat!"
At this moment, a figure clad in crimson appeared before the mecha forces, wielding a large, blood-red greatsword. It was Himeko.
"I'll hold them off! Prioritize the safety of the wounded!"
With that, Himeko swung her sword, and a blood-red arc of light instantly cleaved through more than a dozen Temple-class Honkai beasts before her.
"Can the Hyperion still be activated?"
Himeko shouted while fending off the Honkai beasts.
"The port side armor has detached, the power room took a direct hit, and the shock absorption system is also damaged."
"It will take time to restore navigation. At the current conversion rate—"
Tesla frantically checked the Hyperion's current system data, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.
"Calm down! Just tell me how much longer!"
What's the point of saying so much if I don't understand it? I'm a combatant, not a civilian official!
"Three minutes! Just hold on for three more minutes, and we can get out of this hellhole!"
"Three minutes? Easy! Let me see the power of this Stigma!"
A white circular pattern appeared on the back of Himeko's hand. It wasn't particularly striking, just somewhat ethereal and faintly visible.
But… the moment this pattern appeared, Himeko felt all her strength surge significantly.
Furthermore, the previously uncontrollable power of the "Plague Gem" now felt like a part of her own body, obedient to her will and wielded with ease.
Simultaneously, her perception of surrounding energy also heightened considerably.
"Is this a Natural Stigma?"
Himeko clenched her fist, feeling explosive power coursing through her. She had never felt so strong.
"Honkai beasts, your end is nigh!"
Wielding the "Godfall Sword: Surtr," Himeko charged into the horde of Honkai beasts. She descended like a god of slaughter, leaving flames in her wake.
As for where this Stigma came from…
About ten minutes earlier.
"Teacher Feng, what did you need me for?"
Rita stood respectfully behind a man in the laboratory, offering a slight bow.
"Rita, I have a favor to ask. Please deliver this to Murata Himeko."
The man extended his hand and clenched it. A vial of reagent flew out from a golden spear and then slowly floated towards Rita.
"This is…"
Rita looked at the colorful vial in her hand with confusion. Even with her vast knowledge, she couldn't comprehend what it was.
"This is my Stigma."
"Teacher's Stigma?! You don't mean…"
Rita gazed at the vial in her hand with utter shock. For Rita, who rarely displayed surprise, to be so astonished, one could imagine how incredible this vial of reagent was.
"That's right. To be more precise, this should be called a Natural Stigma."
"May I be so bold as to ask, Teacher, what is your relationship with the woman named Murata Himeko?"
"Relationship… Does 'comrade-in-arms' count?"
…
"Huff… Huff… There are so many of them, I can't kill them all."
Himeko's breathing was slightly labored as she looked ahead. Honkai beasts and death gods continued to appear incessantly.
Suddenly, Himeko's expression stiffened. Sensing something, she swung her sword behind her, sending an Aether Lance flying.
A playful yet cruel voice echoed in Himeko's ear.
"Oh dear, you actually blocked it? The performance isn't supposed to go like this, you know ☆"
The chaotic sky was violently torn open, and the Herrscher's form, accompanied by lightning, materialized from within.
"Kiana…"
Himeko gazed silently at the familiar face. Unfortunately, the Kiana before her now was not the Kiana she knew.
"Finally, I've found you! The order may have changed, but it doesn't matter. You're all just nameless ants."
"Let's start with you, and kill you!"
The Herrscher of the Void flipped her wrist, and dozens of Aether Lances appeared out of thin air around her, their sharp points aimed at the woman below.
"Heh… I've been waiting for you, you bastard Herrscher!"
Himeko showed no fear, raising the Godfall Sword in her hand and adopting an offensive stance.
*Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!*
Dozens of Aether Lances rained down. Seeing this, Himeko let out a cold laugh. Instead of retreating, she advanced, swinging the Godfall Sword with all her might in a beautiful arc.
The scorching flames generated by the blade instantly engulfed several Aether Lances, burning them to ashes. However, a few managed to slip past and graze Himeko.
But such injuries had no effect on Himeko. She took a heavy step forward, her form seeming to teleport as she burst out of the smoke and appeared before the Herrscher of the Void.
"What!"
The Herrscher of the Void hastily controlled Aether Lances to block in front of her, but she underestimated the sharpness of the Godfall Sword. The Aether Lances were instantly severed, and the blade sliced across the Herrscher of the Void's body.
*Drip… drip…*
Blood dripped onto the scorching ground, dissipating into purple vapor.
"What, that armor…?"
The Herrscher of the Void frowned as she looked at the bleeding wound on her arm.
"You… you're bleeding… So even gods can get hurt?"
Himeko leaned on the Godfall Sword, mockingly looking at the Herrscher of the Void.
"Why! I should have killed you dozens of times by now!"
Upon hearing this, Himeko's lips curved into a slight smile. She raised her greatsword and pointed it at the Herrscher of the Void, chuckling.
"I'm truly sorry…"
"I'm just a bit… troublesome."
"Insolent human." The Herrscher of the Void was extremely displeased and angered by Himeko pointing her sword at her.
"Always shouting 'human, human,' aren't you tired of it?"
"I have a name… Remember it well, for the one you are about to face…"
"Is Murata Himeko!!!"
Swords and spears clashed, light and shadow intertwined. The warrior, standing amidst the vortex, wielded her greatsword.
"Why…! You're just an ant!"
Seeing that her invariably effective Aether Lances were struggling to injure Himeko, the Herrscher of the Void was utterly perplexed.
The lances crackled with lightning, and smoke swirled with death. Yet, the storm generated by the flaming sword turned everything to ash.
"!!!"
As if sensing something, the Herrscher of the Void looked at the red gem on Himeko's armor chest in surprise. She recognized it instantly as the "Plague Gem."
"That armor… it contains my gem!"
"Damn it—! Then I'll use all my strength to tear you to shreds!!"
The Herrscher of the Void's face contorted with rage. She had long forgotten everything else.
On this battlefield, it was only her, and the prey she was determined to kill.
Therefore… she failed to notice that a pair of eyes had been watching her the entire time.
On the Hyperion, Einstein, seeing the Herrscher of the Void enter a berserk state due to her rage, immediately began operating the console.
"System control, ready. Output control, ready. Orbital control, ready."
"Target, locked. Range error, adjusted."
"We won't waste the opportunity you've created for us."
Einstein looked at Himeko, who was fiercely battling the Herrscher of the Void on the battlefield, and decisively pressed the launch button.
Just as the Herrscher of the Void was about to attack Himeko again, a massive beam of light poured from the cannon's muzzle, showering down with light particles and directly striking the Herrscher's body.
"What… What is this!?"
"Aaaaaaaahhhhhh—!"
The Herrscher of the Void screamed in agony. The Honkai energy within her was escaping her body from every pore like a mad beast.
No, it wasn't scattering; it was transforming into something else.
It turned into intense light, into high heat, rapidly draining from her.
"How could this be—my body—"
The Herrscher of the Void felt her body being torn apart! The torrent of photons bombarded her, as if stripping away her every feather.
Once again feeling the threat of death, the Herrscher of the Void used all her strength to open a spatial gate and then vanished.
"The Herrscher has fled into the Imaginary Space!"
"Although it caused significant damage, she still managed to escape!"
Tesla pounded the desktop in frustration. Einstein rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought.
"Forced activation was too much after all… There's no other way. Have all personnel return to the ship quickly. Retreat!"
…
Hyperion, lower deck corridor.
Himeko leaned against the railing outside the infirmary. Wounded personnel rushed past her one after another. She subconsciously covered her own wound.
The blood couldn't be stopped. A wound inflicted by an Aether Lance wouldn't heal so easily.
Furthermore, even with the Natural Stigma, she herself lacked the ability to resist the Herrscher's core. The "Plague Gem" was like a maggot, continuously eroding her body.
Don't let her external injuries fool you; her body was already riddled with internal damage. The Natural Stigma had merely postponed her death.
She gazed at the syringe labeled "Godslayer's Spear" in her hand and let out a self-deprecating laugh after a moment of silence.
"This time… things have really gotten out of hand."
No one answered her words, only the serum flickered with a faint light, reflecting a face covered in scars.
*Beep—beep—!*
Suddenly, an air raid alarm sounded in her ears. The piercing siren made the already noisy corridor even more chaotic.
But in Himeko's world, everything remained calm. She took a deep breath, her gaze resolute.
"Alright, it's time for some fresh air."
Himeko straightened up and began walking in the opposite direction of the crowd.
"Even though they're all overgrown kids, I quite like this place."
"There's still a long road ahead, isn't there?"
"...Wishing you all… good luck."
People holding weapons, people wrapped in bandages, people carrying the wounded, people moving parts—
People on the Hyperion, people from the Far East Branch, people from Anti-Entropy—
Those Himeko had seen, those she hadn't, those who knew her, those who didn't, one by one, they brushed past her.
"I really wish… I could have one more drink."