Chapter 98 Herrscher of the Void

Outside the tower

Destobia paced relentlessly, her boots crunching against the frost-covered ground. The faint purple glow of the tower loomed behind her, its ominous silhouette towering over her.

"I don't know if Chief Orion Astra can make it out safely..." she muttered with unease in her voice.

"Oh, who is this beautiful girl? She looks so worried.

The sudden voice broke her train of thought, and she spun around to face the voice, startled.

Standing behind her was a soldier clad in full gear—a MOTH soldier, wrapped head to toe in a combat suit. A reflective mask obscured their face, giving them an enigmatic air.

"Who are you?" Destobia asked. "And how do you know I'm worried?"

The figure tilted their head, amused, seemingly thinking of a good response. Though no expression could be seen, their posture radiated a strange spring-like warmth.

"Do you know Chief Orion Astra?" Destobia questioned further.

The soldier crossed their arms, speaking with a calm but gentle voice. "I wouldn't say I know him, but… I believe those who return from there are always very strong."

"There?" Destobia echoed, her brows furrowing. Her unease deepened. What exactly was there, and why did this person speak of it with such weight?

The soldier made a "secret" gesture, not answering Destobia's questions, leaving her curious.

Suddenly, the ground shook. Destobia looked around in shock. The ground cracked, and she saw the sky darken.

"That's signs of Honkai!" she realized.

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Inside the Tower:

The endless spiral of stairs tested Orion's patience as he trudged onward, his boots echoing against the smooth stone. Twenty minutes in, there was no exit in sight, no sign of the ordeal ending. The air felt unnaturally still, as if the tower itself were frozen in time.

A smirk tugged at Orion's lips. "Ha..." he chuckled softly to himself, the sound breaking the oppressive silence.

This wasn't his first time dealing with an ordeal meant to break him. "Is this all you've got?" he called out, his voice ringing through the tower.

The tower seemed to answer. The stairs groaned as they began to shift beneath his feet, and the walls began closing in. The once-spacious tower began to rapidly shrink, threatening to crush Orion.

But Orion remained calm as he held the dark suitcase he'd been carrying and took out a dagger with his free hand, its polished blade gleaming faintly in the dim light.

The hand that held the dagger suddenly bloomed into a brilliant flame.

In the shadows, the Herrscher of the Void recoiled slightly, alarmed by the sudden flame. Before she could act, Orion thrust the flame-covered dagger forward, its searing energy surging outward like a crashing wave.

The walls groaned in protest before shattering into debris as Orion strode through the crumbled walls.

On the other side, a figure awaited him; her presence stood out among the dimly lit tower interior.

She floated, her black-and-white dress rippling like liquid shadow, and the violet energy swirling around her. Her icy gaze locked onto Orion.

Four cone-like spears hovered behind her, ethereal and pristine.

"Betrayer," the Herrscher of the Void intoned, her voice cutting through the air like a blade. "Why did you abandon the gift God bestowed upon you to stand among these insects?"

Orion met her gaze without hesitation, his expression as unyielding as the fire still burning in his hand. "I don't owe you an explanation," he replied flatly.

The Herrscher's lips curled into a cold smile. "Then you'll perish alongside them."

The spears shot forward with blinding speed, streaks of light that seemed to tear at the fabric of space itself.

Orion raised his weapon, meeting the attack head-on. The clash sent shockwaves through the room, but the strain on Orion's weapon was evident.

A jagged crack split across his dagger, and he could feel the unnatural pull of the spears' power—space itself bending, threatening to drag him into the void.

The Herrscher's laugh echoed eerily through the chamber. "How many more tricks will you waste before you realize it's futile?" She mocked, the spears now circling Orion like predatory birds. Their movements were erratic, unpredictable, each one poised to strike at a moment's notice.

Orion's jaw tightened. The odds were against him, but he wasn't done yet. The fire in his eyes burned brighter as he prepared for his next move.