Honkai Diary: Start With Picking Up A White-Haired Treasure

Wendy lay on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, her dark eyes devoid of light.

It wasn't supposed to be like this.

Driven by dreams of protecting the world, Wendy joined Schicksal and quickly became an S-rank Valkyrie candidate due to her exceptional talent. In theory, she should have become the dazzling girl standing under the sun, admired by countless other Valkyries.

However, after participating in the Gem of Desire transplantation experiment, she lost not only the ability to walk but even basic mobility. Now, forget charging onto the battlefield; leaving this laboratory was merely a distant aspiration.

The so-called Gem of Desire brought nothing but despair to Wendy.

She had become its vessel—a safe deposit box or perhaps no more than a container, stripped of value and disregarded by all.

Wendy felt utterly dejected. Compared to her colleagues who had sacrificed their lives during experimentation, she was indeed fortunate to still be alive. But how could such fortune possibly be acceptable for a young girl just entering adulthood?

Countless thoughts flashed through Wendy's mind, only to dissipate one by one.

She wanted someone or something to hate, but it was she herself who agreed to participate in the experiment, fully aware of the risks involved. Perhaps this outcome was simply her own doing?

She yearned to see sunlight again, but she couldn't move. The researchers claimed, for her safety...though in reality, it was likely for the Gem of Desire's protection, that she couldn't leave this room until the situation stabilized—a reasonable explanation with no room for argument.

She also longed to meet her most admired role model, Theresa. However, despite entrusting messages to the researchers, she hadn't received any response from Theresa yet.

Additionally, she wished to visit her hometown, hoping there might still be people who missed her. But with the Gem of Desire bonded to her, that too seemed impossible...

As Wendy sank deeper into loneliness and despair, unusual voices suddenly echoed outside the door.

"You're the Valkyrie assigned to guard here, right? Set up defenses outside; this is a top-secret area—no unauthorized entry allowed!"

"I've never heard of Bronie before, but our enemies are closing in. I'm here to notify you and assist with evacuations."

"What? So Anti-Entropy really has their sights on this gemstone? Damn it!"

"Which gemstone? According to orders, Bronie is only supposed to evacuate a girl named Wendy."

"The gemstone resides within her. Anyways—uh!"

Shriek!

The sealed door swung open as Bronya casually tossed aside the researcher who had provided iris scan and palm print access.

"You must be Wendy?"

Bronya approached the bed, studying the black-haired, dark-eyed girl lying there. A flicker crossed her eyes.

Wendy bore a striking resemblance to Seele—fragile and innocent, evoking Bronya's protective instincts for helpless young girls.

But she wasn't Seele.

Instantly, Bronya regained her composure.

Struggling, Wendy turned her head to see Bronya's Valkyrie armor seamlessly transform into a sleek, closed black bodysuit, accentuating the delicate curves of her slender figure.

"You're..."

"Wendy, correct?" Bronya interrupted, repeating coldly.

This was mission time; they were at a Schicksal branch base. Bronya believed there was no room for sentiment or delay.

"I-I'm Wendy. Who are you?"

"Get some rest; you'll feel better soon."

A syringe pierced Wendy's arm, making her eyelids grow heavy until she lost consciousness.

"Just as Zeke predicted—the Honkai Energy amplitude has decreased, and vital signs are stabilizing. As long as we avoid causing too much emotional distress, the gemstone should remain stable."

Before Bronya's eyes, the readings on the pale blue display gradually faded from red. After several moments, she finally relaxed her tense posture with a slow sigh of relief.

"Whew..."

Immediately following, Bronya pressed near the earpiece of her helmet to open the communication channel.

"Sin, Kiana, I've located the target. Bronya is currently at point B5. Following our plan, please provide cover for me."

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Chaotic loud noises erupted over Kiana's channel.

Her panting voice came through next: "Can't make it! I'm tied up here—there are a few really pesky ones, and I can't leave! Sin, help clear a path for Bronya. I'll figure something out on my end."

Bronya frowned slightly and asked, "Sin, how's your situation?"

"Not discovered yet. I can provide support."

"How's Kiana doing?"

"As she said, more or less. But she hasn't used her worker bees... I suspect she's just playing around," Sin replied mildly.

Kiana, panting, quickly countered, "Playing?! Yeah right! I'm saving my trump card for when it truly matters—to turn the tide at the right moment!"

Bronya nodded, offering some praise, "Kiana's approach is sensible. However, now is that critical moment. Go all out and extricate yourself swiftly. We don't want you stranded here after Sin and I have left."

"Got it! You two evacuate as fast as possible; I'll start causing chaos here too, drawing fire to help you."

Bronya considered briefly, deciding there shouldn't be any issues. She gave the command:

"Alright then. Sin, I'm handing over control of the remaining worker bees to you. First, create a breach for the Titan force, then engage freely to simulate a full-scale offensive. Afterward, regroup with me promptly. Kiana, stay safe. If things get out of hand, seek our assistance immediately."

"Yes ma'am!" responded Sin.

"I hear you loud and clear!" echoed Kiana.

At the southeast corner of the base, on the vast airfield, a massive cargo plane lifted off.

But this wasn't its own takeoff—it was being hurled into the sky by a girl clad in black armor.

Boom!

The force shattered the cargo plane into fragments as the blonde Valkyrie wielding her lance swooped down amidst them.

Clang!

Kiana gripped the tip of the lance with both hands and skidded back tens of meters from the immense impact, carving deep grooves into the ground.

Simultaneously, punches, kicks, and greatswords came at her from all angles.

"Yaaaah!"

With a loud cry, Kiana grabbed onto the lance's tip, swinging it along with its owner like a polearm to sweep aside several surrounding Valkyries. Then she swiftly leaned backward, narrowly avoiding a blue flying arrow.

The realm of A-rank Valkyries ran deep.

Most A-rank Valkyries had earned their promotion through experience and achievements, making them stronger than B rank but only to a certain extent.

However, there were still a handful of A-rank Valkyries who, through their innate talent and relentless effort, had surpassed conventional expectations for their rank long ago. These exceptional warriors were few, but each one was considered a strategic asset to Schicksal, akin to slightly less powerful S ranks.

The four currently surrounding Kiana were precisely this type of elite Valkyrie.

The weaker ones had already retreated, as the Oceania Branch's Valkyries realized that Kiana couldn't be defeated by mere cannon fodder. Those lacking sufficient offensive power couldn't even scratch her black armor; staying would only waste valuable combat resources.

"Huff...huff...huff..."

Kiana wasn't the only one panting heavily; so were the four elite Valkyries encircling her.

Both sides locked gazes, refusing to yield, creating an intensely tense atmosphere.