I Am Honkai

The moment their consciousnesses were pulled in, time and space twisted violently. It felt as though a thunderous explosion echoed in their minds, spinning their world upside down. Both Durandal and Kiana felt as if they were being dragged and guided by some invisible force.

They traversed through a strange space—an empty, boundless void with no tangible entities. Stabilizing their bodies was impossible.

But this place was all too familiar to Kiana. The Imaginary Space—it was the power that had once been forced upon her by her former self, the Herrscher of the Void, Sirin.

Following closely behind Selene, Kiana suddenly realized that she could no longer manipulate even a sliver of the Imaginary Energy she once wielded.

The Imaginary Space, which had once felt as natural as breathing to her, now seemed like a sycophantic, opportunistic traitor. It had shifted its allegiance without hesitation, throwing itself into the service of its new master, Selene. To Kiana, its attitude was cold and indifferent, as if it no longer recognized its former queen.

It felt as though an eternity had passed, yet also as if no time had elapsed at all.

Suddenly, the dim surroundings burst into brilliance. As their feet touched the ground again, stepping out of the kaleidoscopic and distorted Imaginary Space, Durandal and Kiana's eyes widened in astonishment.

A grand, gilded hall filled their field of vision. The towering golden architecture sparkled with a radiant glow, overwhelming their senses.

Their feet landed on smooth, gold-plated flooring that echoed faintly with their every movement. The sound was crisp, resembling the chime of jade and ice colliding.

Accompanying this overwhelming environment was the oppressive presence of highly concentrated Honkai Energy particles.

Even with their Kaslana family lineage, which endowed them with exceptional resistance to Honkai Energy, both Kiana and Durandal instinctively clutched their chests as they struggled to breathe.

"Cough cough…"

Despite their natural resistance to Honkai, the sheer density of Honkai Energy in this place was initially unbearable. They doubled over, uncontrollably coughing, their discomfort evident.

Selene watched them coldly, her expression indifferent.

"You wield the powers of the Herrschers and draw upon the strength born of Honkai, yet deep down, you still reject and despise it."

Standing by the half-open floor-to-ceiling windows, the divine ring of End behind Selene's head gradually faded from view. She wore a long robe of white and gold, her posture elegant and commanding. Arms crossed, her right index finger lazily swayed as she gazed thoughtfully at the two coughing figures.

After all, they were not ordinary people. It didn't take long before Kiana and Durandal adjusted to the extreme environment of such high concentrations of Honkai Energy.

"Honkai Energy is to me what oxygen in the air is to you, as ordinary as eating or drinking water. Not just you—everyone will need to adapt to it. From now on, it will become inseparable from every aspect of your lives."

Without turning her head, Selene spoke in a calm, distant tone.

"Feeling better?"

"Mm, thank you for asking. It was only temporary discomfort. We've recovered," Durandal replied, standing upright and stepping forward. She positioned herself five steps behind Selene's left side and followed her gaze out the massive, arched window hundreds of meters tall.

"Sister Selene, where is this?" Kiana asked hesitantly, taking her place at Selene's right-hand side.

"As you can see—outer space. Welcome aboard my flagship."

It was only then that Kiana and Durandal began to take in their surroundings more carefully.

The space they were in was a colossal golden palace with a high vaulted dome. Its structure was forged from orichalcum alloy and marble, with gold and red serving as its primary color scheme.

Through the enormous arched floor-to-ceiling windows, they could see the dark, starry expanse of the cosmos.

Earth floated in the distance, like a luminous blue marble, radiating vitality and beauty against the silent void.

But that beauty was now tainted by the scars of war. Pillars of blue flame encircled the planet, burning silently in the dark.

These were the thruster plumes of the Imperial Navy's warships.

Every ship bore the image of a twin-headed eagle with wings spread wide at its prow. The ships' main hulls tapered into a spear-like point, their sides embellished with ornate structures and sculptures, creating the impression of towering metallic beasts.

Their sheer size dwarfed even the floating islands that served as the headquarters of Schicksal in the Mediterranean. The floating islands combined could not compare to the scale of even one of these immense vessels.

As the view shifted closer, looking down upon the flagship Selene referred to, it became clear that the massive vessel was bristling with colossal killing machines.

For anyone with a fear of large objects or trypophobia, this scene might have been enough to drive them to madness. Conversely, for enthusiasts of massive structures, it was nothing short of paradise.

Plasma railguns with calibers exceeding 1000mm, multiple tiers of missile launch bays, massive thermite cannons, countless incendiary lance launchers, macro cannons, pulse close-in defense systems, and enormous rhomboid columns over 200 meters in diameter radiated a faint, film-like blue glow—these were fortress-grade Void Shield generators.

The massive platforms, resembling city walls, were dotted with blue indicator lights and covered in metallic, iron-gray armor with a polished sheen. Numerous towering white light beams soared skyward, as small- and medium-sized battleships painted in gold and black flew back and forth.

On the expansive hangar deck, rows of gleaming metallic behemoths stood like gods. Lined up in perfectly arranged gray and white formations, each of these titanic machines stood over 500 meters tall. They were the pinnacle of Imperial ground-deployment units—the Supreme-Class (Emperor-Class) Titans. There were as many as forty or fifty of them here.

The Supreme-Class Titans were the largest land-deployment mechs of the Sacred Selene Empire, derived from the Supreme Teigu wielded by Selene herself: National Defense Machine God – [Primus Imperator].

They were the mass-produced creations of Dr. Stylish, who had reverse-engineered part of the manufacturing process behind Primus Imperator.

Though their defensive capabilities, size, destructive power, and even agility paled in comparison to the original prototype in Selene's possession, they were more than sufficient for practical use.

Beneath the feet of these titanic machines, countless workers busily loaded and unloaded supplies using carts.

What astonished Durandal even more was that, surrounding the golden pyramid-like palace where Selene resided—this floating space fortress in the vacuum of outer space—there were preserved mountain forests.

Among the fortress's stark, brutalist structures of iron and steel, the area around Selene's grand hall had been transformed into a massive garden courtyard.

Artificial sunlight shone down, warm and radiant, while verdant trees swayed in the breeze. The air was alive with birdsong and the fragrance of flowers. Streams wound their way through the landscaped hills, their waters sparkling in the artificial light.

The garden even contained rare and dangerous species that had been captured and now frolicked in this artificial paradise.

Ancient trees, some hundreds or even thousands of years old, spread their vast green canopies, lending the courtyard a refined and elegant atmosphere.

On the crisscrossing paths, golden-armored giants and attendants moved about in orderly formations.

This fusion of cold, merciless war machines and the vibrant beauty of nature seemed completely incompatible, yet in this moment, they harmonized seamlessly.

Such an immense display of opulence and extravagance was, in many ways, a testament to the empire's overwhelming power.

Seeing all of this, a sense of melancholy unexpectedly welled up in Durandal's heart.

Whatever purpose Selene had for summoning them here, one thing was clear: she had succeeded in showing off her strength.

The overwhelming sight of the Imperial Navy's fleet, nearly filling their entire field of vision from orbit, was nothing short of breathtaking.

Any lingering sense of hope shattered. With a long sigh in her heart, Durandal conceded—there was no chance of victory.

"Selene… Your Majesty, did you summon us here merely to flaunt your military might and intimidate us?"

"Hmm? I suppose that was part of it," Selene replied with a light chuckle.

She extended her hand, and at that moment, a white dove flew into the grand hall, landing on her outstretched finger with a soft cooing sound.

"Impressive, isn't it? Just a small portion of my empire's assets. For your sake, I even refrained from using any large-scale destructive weapons."

"Now, what do you think?" Stroking the tiny head of the dove, Selene turned her gaze to them, her eyes slightly narrowed. "Well? Let's hear it."

"Selene-sister," Kiana hesitated, a faint blush spreading across her face as she fidgeted awkwardly. "If… if we agree to listen to you, what would you have us do?"

"Oh?" Selene raised an eyebrow in amusement, clearly intrigued by Kiana's bashful demeanor. She seemed almost entertained.

"What would I have you do? Why, whatever I feel like having you do, of course."

With a chuckle, Selene tossed the white dove into the air, allowing it to flutter away. Then, her expression shifted to one of seriousness as she turned to face them.

"All right, the introductions are over. Let's follow up on what little Kiana said and move on to the main topic."

"Thank me for showing you all this… well, never mind. There's no need for such formalities between us," Selene added, shaking her head lightly. She gestured for both of them to take a seat at a table on the balcony beside the floor-to-ceiling window.

After personally pouring red tea for Durandal and Kiana, Selene relaxed fully, sinking into the plush softness of the sofa.

"With my earlier actions, I've already fulfilled my promise. Even if you choose to remain silent from now on, by virtue of your familial ties to me, the empire's bureaucrats will never dare to make things difficult for you. This world will also enjoy the privileges granted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs."

According to Alex's report on Theresa's terms of surrender for Schicksal, the primary conditions were as follows: the empire must never indiscriminately slaughter civilians; instead, it must treat the people kindly and implement good governance.

How could one ensure that a conquered world wouldn't be oppressed by the imperial bureaucracy and would receive favorable policies from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Colonization?

In an imperial system, the answer was simple—establish a connection with the Empress.

With Selene's personal appearance and her display of kindness, many imperial officers had already witnessed this firsthand. Once the news spread, coupled with the administrative orders Selene would later issue, and given the bureaucrats' instinct for self-preservation, it was certain that this world would receive the highest level of preferential treatment under imperial law.

There were countless benefits to be gained from this world. Why cling desperately to a single tree and risk offending the Empress by acting greedily and ruining one's image?

Lightly sipping her red tea, Selene's fingers traced the smooth porcelain of the teacup. With a touch of amusement, she spoke.

"So, how do you plan to repay me? I am the Herrscher of the End. For this world that has brought me nothing but painful memories, I chose not to destroy it, but to govern it instead."

Since no outsiders were present, Selene saw no need for pretense. She spoke directly, without bothering with unnecessary pleasantries.

As for whether her "good governance" met their expectations, that was another matter entirely. For instance, the imperial legal code was undoubtedly harsher than the laws of this world, which might lack even capital punishment. The empire not only retained the death penalty but also employed various cruel methods of execution, along with heavy taxes and labor levies.

But as far as Selene was concerned, this was already the most lenient policy within the imperial system—she had not broken her word.

Under Selene's playful gaze, Durandal gave a bitter smile. "What choice do we have? If we refuse, Your Majesty Selene, would you destroy the world?"

"Yes."

Without a moment's hesitation, Selene swirled her teacup and smiled as she spoke. "As I've mentioned before, destruction was always my worst-case scenario."

"If you refuse, I will use the lives of the six billion people on this planet to force your compliance. Either you surrender, or I will kill them all."

Her warm expression and gentle tone were like a spring breeze, yet the words she spoke were as cold as death itself.

"Gulp—"

As her words fell, Durandal's entire body tensed, and she swallowed nervously, overcome with dread.

Durandal dared not doubt Selene's seemingly jesting words. If Schicksal truly resisted to the bitter end, Durandal had no doubt that Selene would carry out her threats.

Compared to a raging brute, it was far more terrifying to face someone who smiled while delivering death.

"…I hope you'll keep your word."

After a moment of silence, Durandal and Kiana exchanged glances. Then, as if made of gold and jade, Durandal knelt on one knee.

"I am Bianka Ataegina, Durandal, S-Rank Valkyrie of Schicksal…"

She lifted her head, her sapphire eyes trembling with a faint softness as she continued, "And Kiana Kaslana. I am willing to pledge my loyalty to you, Your Majesty Selene."

Selene reached out to help Durandal to her feet before turning her gaze to the hesitant Kiana.

"And you?"

"I…"

Kiana opened her mouth, but her hesitation lingered.

"Hmph. The sense of duty ingrained in the Kaslana bloodline," Selene sneered softly.

"You want to use your own strength to protect those who are suffering, to heal the wounds Honkai has inflicted upon the world. And you think my rule as a dictator is unsuitable?"

Even though Kiana was a clone—K-423—in some ways, she was more stubborn than Durandal, the legitimate Kaslana by blood.

Selene couldn't help but find this ironic.

She understood, though. While Durandal was the real Kiana Kaslana, most of her memories had been lost until recently.

During her formative years as a teenager, she had lived entirely under Otto's control. Compared to her younger sister Kiana, Durandal was far more pragmatic and adaptive. She had long grown accustomed to the centralized power structure of Schicksal and placed great value on order.

Kiana, however, had been rescued from Schicksal by Siegfried. Her worldview had been deeply influenced by Siegfried's ideals of the Kaslana family—saving others and becoming a hero.

During her teenage years, Kiana had traveled freely across the world, from Chiba Academy to St. Freya Academy. Compared to the oppressive and rigid atmosphere of Schicksal's headquarters, the environments Kiana experienced were far more open and liberating.

Afterward, she became entangled with Dr. Tesla and Dr. Einstein of Anti-Entropy, and under the influence of Anti-Entropy's loose and freewheeling alliance philosophy, Kiana developed a clear distaste for Schicksal's centralized authoritarian rule.

Indeed, Kiana possessed a steadfast will, lofty ideals, and an extraordinary personal charisma, but that did not make her a great leader.

On the contrary, she was still far too naive.

For the leader of a major organization—or even a nation—what was needed was not naivety, but realism.

Throughout history, idealists who became leaders often led their nations into political disasters.

"Sister Selene, why must you rely on force and authoritarian rule? Isn't there another way? Shouldn't relationships between people be different?"

Stubbornly shaking her head, Kiana raised her tear-streaked face, her voice hoarse as she questioned Selene.

"Without authoritarian power? Without force? Then what would you rely on?"

Setting the teacup on the table, Selene rose to her feet.

"Would you rely on love? On trust? On human self-discipline?"

Should we really continue believing that 'love can conquer all'?

For Herrschers, this was laughable.

Three Herrschers ago, someone tried this—their name was Cecilia. And they perished.

Two Herrschers ago, someone else tried it—that person was Otto. He succeeded, but Himeko perished.

One Herrscher ago, it was "Night Owl" Chen Tianwu, and both he and Ana Schariac perished together.

It should be understood—humans were far more complex beings than the simple Herrschers (excluding Selene).

"Is there a problem with that?" Kiana asked, her gaze filled with yearning.

"Impossible."

"Rely on trust? Rely on human self-discipline for governance?"

Reaching out, Selene pressed down on Kiana's snowy white hair, her face expressionless as she spoke.

"That is nothing more than a utopia from dreams."

"Do you know? The only lesson humanity ever learns from history is that humanity never learns from history."

"Love? I am not without feelings. Of course, I have love. Otherwise, would you two still have the right to stand before me?"

"But my love is reserved for a select few. As for the kind of 'love' you speak of—universal love?"

Universal love…

To save the world, World Serpent had sacrificed an entire major city, using its civilian population as experimental fodder. This reflected World Serpent's twisted ideology—one that justified opposing Honkai at all costs.

Was this the kind of universal love that sacrifices the few for the many?

Perhaps it was born from resentment toward the past era, or from sheer hatred of Honkai, but regardless of the reason—this is what Honkai truly was.

To save one group of people, another would have to pay the price in blood and suffering. This was the inherent contradiction in how Schicksal, Anti-Entropy, and World Serpent fought against Honkai.

"Heh… how unfortunate. I can't do it. Such 'love' is nothing but a nauseating excuse."

"But…"

"No buts!"

Selene pushed Kiana back into her seat, her tone brooking no argument.

Watching Kiana's dejected expression, Selene's demeanor abruptly shifted. Her refined features softened with a trace of admiration, and a faint smile crossed her lips.

This sudden change of tone left Durandal astonished. The speed at which Selene's expressions shifted was remarkable, almost reminiscent of Otto.

"Kiana, you know… My evaluation of you is this: you are a terrible leader, but you would make an extraordinary hero."

Selene did not wish to become someone who lived as burdened and exhausted as Kiana. But if possible, Selene hoped to have more individuals like Kiana under her banner—people with a "golden spirit" who inspired admiration.

As the saying goes, Kiana's story might not be a happy one, but she could make the world a better place.

"Although I don't agree with your ideals at all… Keep striving, Kiana. Do everything you can to make this world a better place."

Placing her hands firmly on Kiana's shoulders, Selene spoke softly.

The familiar words struck Kiana like a lightning bolt. She froze in place, her eyes wide, as tears streamed uncontrollably down her cheeks.

In that moment, Selene's figure overlapped with a vivid memory—an image of someone clad in crimson.

"Himeko-sensei…"

Wiping away her tears, Kiana abruptly stood, stepping to the balcony table and kneeling on one knee. Her gaze burned with determination as she declared,

"I, Kiana Kaslana, swear this, Sister Selene—I will show you the beauty of this world!"

"Very well," Selene replied with a nod, her tone composed. "As the Empress of the Empire, I look forward to your deeds."

Though Selene's expression reflected anticipation, her thoughts remained pragmatic.

The existing system and the worlds already conquered could not be changed—her empire was far too vast. But perhaps she could allocate Kiana a few administrative districts to experiment with, or allow her to reform newly conquered worlds on her own terms…

At that moment, it seemed both Kiana and Selene had momentarily forgotten something important.

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