3. A Fire Ignited

The hum of voices filled the mall's hollowed-out remains, broken only by the blare of distant sirens and the crunch of glass underfoot.

Kenji sat among the huddled crowd of survivors, dazed, barely aware of the blanket someone had wrapped around his shoulders.

All around him, civilians—some injured, some shell-shocked—were talking in whispers, their voices carrying the same undertone of disbelief, relief, and horror.

Everywhere he looked, he saw fragments of the chaos that had unfolded just moments ago: shattered storefronts, overturned tables, and glittering shards of glass blanketing the floor like fallen stars.

Paramedics were tending to the injured, and police officers ushered people out in careful lines, guiding them toward safety. But Kenji found himself rooted to the spot, his gaze drifting back to the heart of the destruction.

He could still see her.

The Valkyrie—the one who had arrived in the mall's darkest moment and torn through the Honkai Beasts with a strength he couldn't even comprehend—stood in the center of it all, speaking with what looked like a commanding officer.

Her red hair fell in waves over her armor, which was scratched and scuffed but nowhere near as battered as the mall she had saved.

She seemed almost calm, her posture relaxed despite the destruction around her, as if this was just another day's work.

Kenji's eyes didn't leave her. His mind kept replaying the sight of her, fighting with a confidence he couldn't imagine possessing, each swing of her sword precise, every movement fierce and unhesitating.

She wasn't just strong—she was everything he wasn't, everything he had never dared to dream he could be.

"You alright there, kid?" a voice asked.

Kenji jolted, glancing up to see an EMT crouching beside him. The man gave him a concerned look, eyeing the dazed expression on Kenji's face.

"Uh, yeah," Kenji mumbled, managing a shaky nod. "Just... processing, I guess."

The EMT nodded knowingly. "That's normal. Crazy thing to go through." He handed Kenji a bottle of water. "Drink. It helps."

Kenji took the bottle with a muttered thanks, twisting the cap off and taking a sip. The water was cold, grounding him a little, but his gaze drifted back to the Valkyrie.

She had finished her conversation and was now checking on a group of civilians nearby, offering a few words of comfort. He could see her face now—strong features softened with a hint of a smile as she reassured a trembling young girl.

Kenji's grip on the bottle tightened. Watching her, he felt a strange, uncomfortable mixture of awe and frustration.

She had been exactly what these people needed—what he needed—someone capable, someone strong enough to stand between them and the monsters. And yet, all he had done was hide.

He clenched his teeth, hating the sense of helplessness that gnawed at him. It wasn't just that he hadn't been able to fight; it was that he hadn't even dared to try.

Part of him knew that fighting wasn't his job, that he was just an ordinary person, a delivery guy with no business being anywhere near Honkai Beasts or battles.

But another part of him—a part he couldn't ignore anymore—felt the sting of inadequacy, the whisper of a question that had been growing louder ever since he'd first seen her in action.

What if you could do something?

The question lingered, unwanted and persistent, gnawing at the edges of his mind. What if he could be like her, even a fraction of what she was?

He glanced down at his hands, calloused from work but soft compared to the hands of a warrior. He had no power, no skill, no experience in battle. And yet…

He shook his head, forcing himself to look away. It was ridiculous. People like him didn't become heroes. That was for people like her—the Valkyries, the warriors who had trained their whole lives for moments like these. 

But even as he told himself that, his gaze drifted back to her, a spark of something unfamiliar flickering in his chest. She glanced his way for a brief moment, her eyes meeting his, and in that instant,

Kenji felt something he couldn't quite describe—a warmth, a reassurance, as if she was telling him, without words, that it was alright. That he was safe.

She gave him a small, almost imperceptible nod, then turned and walked away, her figure fading into the crowd of Valkyries and officers moving through the rubble. And with her, that spark inside him flickered, stubbornly refusing to fade.

"Kid, you alright to go?" the EMT asked again, standing and extending a hand to help him up.

Kenji nodded slowly, taking the hand and getting to his feet. His legs felt unsteady, the weight of exhaustion settling over him, but he managed to find his balance.

The EMT gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder, then guided him toward the exit, where the other survivors were being led away.

As he walked, Kenji stole one last glance over his shoulder, watching the Valkyrie's red hair disappear among the other emergency personnel.

The scene blurred as he blinked, a sense of emptiness creeping over him as he turned back to the exit.

He stepped out into the cool evening air, but the feeling lingered, heavy and hollow, like he'd left something behind in that ruined mall.

And as he walked away from the scene, he couldn't shake the thought echoing in his mind, growing louder with each step:

What if you could do something?

---

The streets were almost empty as Kenji made his way home, the evening air cool against his skin. Shadows stretched across the sidewalk, and the quiet that had once seemed peaceful now felt heavy, like something lurking just out of sight.

He kept his hands in his pockets, his mind replaying the chaos at the mall and the Valkyrie who had cut through the darkness with impossible strength.

As much as he tried to shake it, the thought kept nagging at him, tugging at the edges of his mind: What if you could do something? The frustration gnawed at him, mixing with a strange, irrational urge to be more than just another face in the crowd. 

He turned down a quieter street, the streetlights flickering as he walked. The feeling of unease crept up on him slowly, starting as a prickle at the back of his neck, then building into something heavier.

He glanced over his shoulder, scanning the empty road, but there was nothing there. Just shadows and silence.

Probably just nerves, he told himself, forcing his gaze forward. But he couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't alone. 

Then, he heard it—a faint, mechanical hum, like something buzzing through the air.

Kenji froze, his heart leaping as he turned, eyes darting around the street. And then he saw it—a small, hovering creature, its white, metallic body sleek and winged, with a single, glowing red eye fixed on him.

It looked almost mechanical, like a drone, but there was something distinctly alien about it, something that sent a chill down his spine.

A Seraph-class Honkai Beast. 

The creature hovered there for a moment, its single eye trained on him, as if assessing its target. Then, with a sharp, high-pitched hum, it darted forward, wings slicing through the air.

Kenji stumbled back, his mind racing as he tried to process what was happening. This thing had followed him.

It must have slipped away from the mall 'How the fuck did the Valkryies not destroy this thing?!' and for some reason, it was targeting him.

"Wait—no, no, no—" he muttered, backing up as the creature closed in, its movements quick and precise. He barely managed to dodge as it swooped past him, one of its wings slicing close enough to graze his arm.

A sharp sting cut through his skin, and he hissed in pain, clutching his arm as blood seeped through his fingers.

The Seraph beast circled back, preparing for another strike. Kenji's heart pounded, his mind blank with panic. He couldn't outrun it—it was too fast, too agile. And there was nowhere to hide.

Desperate, he reached for a loose brick from the crumbling edge of the sidewalk, gripping it tightly as he backed against a wall.

He raised the brick, waiting for the creature to come close again, hoping he could knock it out of the air. The Seraph beast hesitated, its red eye narrowing, and then it lunged.

Kenji swung, but the creature dodged with ease, darting to the side and slashing at him with one wing. Pain tore through his side as the wing sliced into his abdomen, the cut deeper this time, hot blood soaking his shirt.

He staggered back, his vision blurring as he pressed a hand to the wound, feeling the sharp, throbbing pain radiating from his side.

The beast hovered in front of him, almost as if it were toying with him, its wings shifting slightly, catching the dim streetlight as it prepared to strike again.

Kenji's breaths came in quick, shallow gasps, his mind scrambling for any kind of plan, any way to get out of this alive. But the weight of his own helplessness settled over him like a suffocating fog.

I'm going to die here, he thought, the reality of it hitting him with a cold, sinking dread. There were no Valkyries, no heroes around to save him this time.

It was just him and this creature, and he had nothing—no power, no strength, no chance.

The Seraph beast lunged once more, and something inside him snapped.

A fierce, desperate anger flared in his chest, stronger than his fear, drowning out the pain and panic. No. I can't die here. Not like this!

 He clenched his fists, the warmth growing stronger, tingling, then crackling, like sparks under his skin. A strange energy started building inside him, spreading through his veins with an intensity that made him gasp.

The feeling grew stronger, burning hotter, filling him with an energy he'd never felt before. His vision sharpened, his senses heightened, and in that moment, he knew he had to fight!

The beast closed in, its wing slicing toward him, but Kenji moved on instinct. His right arm suddenly having glowing red streaks all across.

Them fist shot forward, meeting the creature's strike with a force that surprised even him. He felt a shockwave ripple through the air as his punch connected, sending the Seraph beast spinning backward, its sleek body shuddering from the impact.

Kenji staggered, the energy inside him flaring and then fading, leaving him breathless but exhilarated.

He didn't know what had just happened, didn't understand the surge of strength that had filled him, but he knew one thing: he'd fought back.

He wasn't helpless anymore.

The Seraph beast recovered, its eye narrowing as it adjusted its position, preparing to attack again. But Kenji didn't back down.

He could feel that strange energy still simmering within him, a flickering power that he knew he could call upon if he needed to. 

The creature darted forward, wings slicing through the air, but Kenji was ready. He raised his fist, feeling the energy surge through him once more. With a shout, he drove his fist forward.

His fist struck the Seraph beast head-on, and this time, the impact shattered it into pieces, fragments of metal and energy scattering across the ground. Kenji stumbled back, breathing heavily as the last remnants of the creature dissolved into dust, leaving nothing but silence in its wake.

---

Kenji stared down at his hands, still trembling, his knuckles raw and tingling with the strange energy that had just coursed through him.

His mind raced, a whirlwind of disbelief and exhilaration, replaying the moment he'd stood up to that creature, the rush of strength that had come from nowhere.

"I… I actually did it" he whispered, his voice barely audible. He couldn't stop the grin spreading across his face, a mix of shock and joy.

He'd fought back. He'd faced down a Honkai Beast, a real one, and he'd survived. And not just survived; he'd won.

He could still feel the echo of that power within him, like a spark smoldering beneath the surface, waiting to be called on again.

A laugh bubbled up from his chest, disbelief giving way to something lighter, something triumphant.

'I did it. I actually fought back. I fucking did it!'

He clenched his fists, half-expecting the power to surge again, as if he could summon it on command.

He didn't know where it had come from, didn't know how he'd done it, but right now, he didn't care. 

He let out a shaky breath, still buzzing from the adrenaline, his heart pounding in his chest. "This… this is crazy." He was grinning now, barely able to contain his excitement. "I can't believe—"

A sharp, searing pain cut through his excitement, dragging him back to reality. He glanced down, and the blood staining his hand and shirt brought him back with brutal clarity.

The gash in his side was deep, each throb reminding him of the creature's attack, and his shirt was quickly soaking with fresh blood. His vision blurred for a moment, and he swayed, his knees threatening to give way.

"Right," he muttered, voice strained, "still bleeding out. Ahh shit."

He looked around, trying to orient himself, the initial rush of excitement fading into a new wave of urgency. He was losing blood, and fast.

Memories of the city flashed through his mind, and he remembered—there was a hospital nearby, just a few blocks down.

Without another thought, he pressed his hand harder against his side, wincing at the pain, and started down the street at a stumbling run.

The quiet streets felt surreal as he half-ran, half-limped through the empty sidewalks, each step sending a fresh jolt of pain through his body.

The euphoria from before was gone, replaced by a single, driving instinct to keep moving, to get help before he collapsed.

"Come on, Kenji," he muttered, gritting his teeth, focusing on the distant glow of the hospital's lights as they came into view. "Just a little further. You can make it."

He kept his hand pressed against his side, trying to stem the flow of blood, but he could feel the strength draining from him with each step, his vision blurring at the edges.

The excitement, the thrill of his newfound power, all of it felt distant now, replaced by a cold, creeping sense of vulnerability. Whatever had happened back there, whatever power he had tapped into, it wouldn't matter if he didn't make it to that hospital in time.

As he finally reached the hospital doors, he stumbled, nearly collapsing as he pushed through the entrance. The sterile, brightly lit lobby swam in his vision, and he could barely register the looks of shock from the people around him, the gasp of a nurse as she hurried toward him.

"Made it..." he managed to say, his voice weak, before his legs finally gave out, and everything faded into darkness.