The Rabbit and the Herrscher

In the heart of Manhattan, within the lofty heights of the Empire State Building, a regal seat sculpted from resplendent concrete graced the summit. Upon this throne, a man adorned in a lavish suit was ensconced.

"Hmm, one must confess, these garments possess an undeniable splendour," remarked the man, his gaze drifting thoughtfully between his current attire and the rugged, toil-stained vestments he once wore as a diligent construction worker.

"Now that I have cordoned off the metropolis of New York," he whispered to himself as he began his inner monologue.

'I shall now patiently await my destined awakening, as foretold by my deity. And then, I shall venture forth, to purify this world of its myriad impurities.' His inner monologue concluded as his gaze fixed upon the sun's gradual descent beyond the horizon.

With unwavering determination, the man, or rather, the Herrscher, declared, "I shall be the harbinger of purification upon this realm," his voice resonating with resolute purpose.

****

In the vicinity of Roseville, an ominous soundscape unfolded.

*GROWL* *THWACK*

The cacophony of the Honkai beast's guttural snarl clashing with the impact of Shroud's relentless strikes reverberated through the air. Beads of sweat trickled down his brow as he brought down yet another Honkai Beast.

"This situation is dire indeed," Shroud murmured, his gaze sweeping across the expansive horde that stood as an imposing barrier before him. "My reserves of energy may dwindle before I even draw near to the Herrscher."

As if getting pounced on by the Honkai beasts wasn't enough, *SHOOSH*

An arrow hurtled through the air towards him, yet Shroud adeptly deflected it using a metal pipe he had serendipitously stumbled upon during his journey to Roseville.

Seizing the moment, a scythe-wielding zombie charged recklessly at Shroud, executing a wide, arcing swing of her deadly crescent blade.

With a graceful and nimble manoeuvre, Shroud closed the gap between them, avoiding the scythe's lethal arc and dispatching the undead assailant by thrusting the metal pipe into her, bringing about her demise.

"Tch, their numbers seem inexhaustible," Shroud remarked with an air of irritation as he nonchalantly thwarted the assault of an approaching Chariot.

[It appears that summoning Ebor Nocturnal Nexus might not have been the wisest choice, at least for the present circumstances,] The Whisper mused indifferently as it maintained its watchful gaze within Shroud's Knowledge Sea.

'You don't say,' Shroud replied telepathically, his tone tinged with sarcasm, as he deftly blocked a fierce strike from a relentless Templar, which caused him to let out a grunt.

[You're aware that you possess the Overdrive function, a swifter means to dispatch this horde, correct?] The Whisper proposed, to which it received a firm and resolute "No" from Shroud.

'Don't joke around, Whisper,' Shroud retorted with a sober tone. 'You're aware that if I were to unleash the Overdrive mode, the entirety of New York City would be reduced to a desolate wasteland.'

****

Overdrive Mode:

Once initiated, the Nebuliths have the capacity to engage an Overdrive mode, enabling them to emit a continuous torrent of their Death Light beams, transforming into an unyielding instrument of cataclysmic power. This mode proves most advantageous when confronting vast swarms of adversaries.

****

Whisper's proposition did indeed carry logical weight. By utilizing the Overdrive function, Shroud could efficiently neutralize the encroaching horde within mere seconds. Nevertheless, several critical concerns rendered this course of action infeasible.

First and foremost, the perpetual discharge of Death Light beams placed an unsustainable burden on the Nebuliths' energy reserves, rapidly depleting their charge.

Secondly, the ramifications of the Death Light emission were far from trivial. The aura of death exuded by this formidable energy had the inadvertent consequence of unleashing cataclysmic destruction, akin to a nuclear aftermath, thereby rendering any area subjected to its radiance a lifeless wasteland.

"Where did we leave it earlier?" Shroud muttered to himself, his gaze scanning the surroundings urgently.

*Savage growl*

Without warning, another Honkai Beast lunged at him, causing Shroud to react with a slightly delayed but nimble evasion. In a swift, practised motion, he swung the metal pipe he held in his grip, swiftly dispatching the assailant.

"I could have sworn the van was parked somewhere nearby," Shroud grumbled in frustration as he continued his quest to locate it.

Yet, amid the debris-strewn road, where the dust of fallen Honkai beasts and zombies lingered like a grim fog, there remained no trace of the van that Shroud and his group had parked earlier.

In reality, however, the van rested just one block over, obscured by the strikingly similar appearance of the adjacent streets.

Frustrated by his fruitless hunt for the vehicle, Shroud's gaze fell upon an alternative mode of transportation: a motorcycle.

"I suppose this will have to suffice," Shroud conceded, abandoning his quest for the elusive van. He proceeded to deftly hotwire the motorcycle, eliciting the roar of its engine as it sprang to life.

"Alright, Autumn, you cannot mess this up," Shroud muttered determinedly to himself. He gripped the clutch, shifted the gear into first, cautiously twisted the accelerator, and then, with measured finesse, released the clutch—

—Vroom!

The motorcycle's engine roared akin to a dormant beast awakening from its slumber, it surged forward with surprising speed, but Shroud found himself inadvertently stalling it after it travelled a small distance.

"Okay, that was undeniably embarrassing," Shroud admitted, his frustration mounting as he prepared to restart the bike, only to hear a welcome voice of guidance.

[Put the gear in neutral,] Unable to endure the spectacle any longer, The Whisper intervened, offering much-needed instructions.

[Start the engine, Hold the clutch, Put the gear in 1, Lightly twist the accelerator, and slowly let go of the clutch as the wheels move.] The Whisper's precise instructions echoed in Shroud's mind.

With this guidance in mind, Shroud adeptly initiated the motorcycle's engine, gripping the clutch firmly. He engaged the gear first, cautiously applying a light touch to the accelerator. As the wheels began to turn, he gradually eased off the clutch.

The motorcycle responded smoothly this time, and Shroud found himself in control as he navigated the streets of Roseville. Along the way, he encountered the van he had originally sought, but he opted to disregard it, having already secured an alternative mode of transportation.

****

Back atop the Empire State Building once more...

"Hmm, I must admit, these pathetic humans exhibit a resilience greater than I had initially thought," the Herrscher remarked, sensing a significant reduction in the number of Honkai beasts moments ago.

Convinced that it was the work of surviving humans responsible for this, the Herrscher issued an authoritative command to the horde of Honkai beasts and zombies: "For now, all of you, gather up and march towards Roseville."

In dutiful obedience, the formidable assembly of Honkai beasts and zombies set forth on their march towards Roseville. However, the Herrscher remained oblivious to one crucial detail: among the destruction and chaos, there was only a solitary survivor—Shroud.

As the colossal horde departed, leaving the Herrscher alone atop the towering Manhattan Empire State Building, he closed his eyes, his visage a canvas of contemplation. However, this introspective demeanour soon transformed into a malevolent grin that twisted his countenance.

"Hahaha, my god finds favour in my actions thus far," the Herrscher chortled with malevolence, his voice saturated with sadistic glee.

"Perhaps I should continue this purification of the world, ridding it of the plague known as humanity. In doing so, my god shall surely bestow even greater power upon me." The Herrscher contemplated his next course of action with sadistic intent.

Yet, his jubilant expression was short-lived, for suddenly, a metal pipe descended with ruthless force, delivering a resounding THWACK! as it collided with the Herrscher's skull.

The cacophonous sound of blunt metal meeting flesh was followed by the harrowing scream of the Herrscher, filling the air with his agonized torment.

"AAAHHH!" The Herrscher's cry of agony pierced the air, his hands clutching his throbbing head as a painful goose egg began to swell.

"Who dares!" the Herrscher bellowed with fury, his eyes scanning his immediate surroundings, yet finding nothing amiss except for a tall, yellow, rabbit-shaped creature sporting an enormous, enigmatic grin upon its face. (pic here)

"Who are you?" The Herrscher demanded, his tone laced with authority, yet the peculiar creature paid no heed to the Herrscher's inquiries. Instead, it retrieved a bracelet from its possession, and uttered a single word— "Awaken."

To be continued...

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A/N: Hope you enjoy the chapter and feel free to comment. Your thoughts and criticism are valuable in helping me improve and stay motivated to write more.