Echoes of the Past

"He survived? But how?" Shroud exclaimed, his voice tinged with palpable shock. The notion that a mere rank being could withstand the formidable Death Light seemed utterly implausible.

"No, I absolutely refuse to accept that a Fallen rank could endure the power of the Death Light," Shroud declared resolutely. The weapon he wielded, meticulously crafted to obliterate even those of Zenith rank, couldn't possibly falter against a rank adversary.

Shroud gazed back at the formidable Nebulith tower, a brooding presence against the horizon, before whispering to himself, "Could it be that the essence of Honkai energy is of a lesser quality?"

His doubt lingered as he contemplated whether the very nature of the Honkai energy leaned toward inferiority, a characteristic that might explain the perceived weakening of the Death Light's potency.

Shroud's line of thinking bore a resemblance to a scenario where two identical electronic devices, boasting identical specifications, were simultaneously charged. However, one device received a standard-quality charge, while the other endured a subpar, low-quality charge.

Once both devices reached a full charge, they were subjected to a rigorous stress test, where they were assigned similar tasks. Invariably, the device that had endured the inferior quality charge either depleted its power reserves prematurely or performed abysmally.

This was a simple yet universally recognizable logic, something anyone could grasp from everyday experiences. A mere deviation from one's regular charger when charging a phone could swiftly manifest this discernible effect.

A/N: I highly recommend you don't do this, You will ruin your phone and even if you end up doing it it's not on me, I have given a warning.

Shroud pondered whether the issue lay with the Honkai energy itself, but just as he was deep in his speculations, a voice interrupted his thoughts. It was the Whisper, and it asserted firmly, [You are mistaken, Shroud. The problem does not reside with the Honkai energy.]

"Then what is it?" Shroud inquired, though he harboured several alternative theories, he opted not to delve into them all at once. Instead, he chose to lend an ear to what the Whisper had to offer.

[Some otherworldly entity seemed to have interjected the very moment the Death Light shattered the thousandth layer,] Whisper conveyed, its tone carrying a grim revelation.

There was a momentary pause as Shroud contemplated Whisper's words. He found this line of reasoning quite convincing and nodded in understanding. 'Could this otherworldly entity possibly be the deity the Herrscher spoke of?' Shroud pondered aloud, his thoughts meandering into deep contemplation.

"An otherworldly entity, you say. I think it would be safe to assume that this being was of Zenith rank," Shroud speculated. In response, the Whisper spoke, [Yes, I sensed a minor spatial distortion a while ago, along with a foreign aura belonging to a Zenith rank, but...]

"But what?" Shroud inquired.

[I partially saw an ethereal hand shielding the Herrscher, but those hands didn't feel genuine], the Whisper explained. Hearing this, Shroud understood its underlying implication. "It was a mere clone," Shroud concluded.

[Correct, a high-tier clone at that. Still, I must admit, it's rather unfortunate that this otherworldly entity is excessively cautious; otherwise, we could have inflicted significant harm upon it], the Whisper expressed, a hint of disappointment in its tone.

"I can't say I disagree, and considering I've vanquished such a formidable clone, I'm certain this entity isn't too pleased with me," Shroud remarked, sensing a watchful presence upon him.

[Well, at least that entity didn't actually lose their arms, or they might have descended into a frenzied state,] the Whisper added with an eerie undertone.

"I suppose," Shroud responded calmly. Had anyone else been in Shroud's shoes, they might have been overwhelmed by fear, realizing they had provoked a being of Zenith rank. However, Shroud had previously clashed with numerous Zenith ranks while still in the Nirvana rank, one rank below Zenith.

Therefore, though Shroud remained cautious, he knew that these beings couldn't directly manifest themselves in the lower world. Shroud was certain that the destruction of a mere clone wasn't significant enough to warrant their descent to the lower realm.

"So, should we investigate that?" Shroud inquired, gesturing toward the Herrscher.

[Yeah, I'm rather curious myself to see if it truly survived,] whispered The Whisper, a hint of sadistic anticipation lacing its words. [Although it's quite apparent that he is on the verge of crumbling into dust. Perhaps you can harness him as an energy source to charge Nebuilith.]

"Sometimes you truly repulse me," Shroud replied, his disgust palpable. Nevertheless, they proceeded toward the struggling Herrscher, who was now desperately grappling with the impending effects of the Death Light.

****

The after-effects of Death Light: Impending Doom

=>This Death Light possesses a unique characteristic—an undeniable aura of death. This ethereal quality was responsible for the unsettling sensation of impending doom that gnawed at those unfortunate enough to be bathed in its eerie glow.

Once exposed, the notion of death became an inescapable part of their existence. It seeped into their very being, initiating a gradual decay from within, much like an ancient tree succumbing to the inexorable passage of time, its once vibrant life force dwindling until only a frail and withered remnant remained.

****

*squeak* *squeak*

Shroud approached the Herrscher cautiously, maintaining a close yet safe distance. The Herrscher's dwindling life force was painfully evident, like a candle flickering on a tumultuous, wind-whipped night.

Even in the face of his imminent demise, the Herrscher, upon noticing Shroud's presence, gazed at him with a hostile glare. "Y-You bastard," he hissed venom from his words. Yet, Shroud remained stoic, unaffected by the bitterness that emanated from the dying Herrscher.

Without wavering, Shroud addressed the fading Herrscher, his voice measured and inquisitive. "Are you inherently antagonistic toward humans, or do the beings of Honkai harbour some greater objective?"

"You think I will tell you?" The Herrscher taunted Shroud, to which Shroud simply replied, "Not particularly." He remained unruffled by the Herrscher's words. To Shroud, the Herrscher was nothing more than another adversary he had defeated.

*grunt*― A guttural grunt broke the silence. Shroud raised an eyebrow in curiosity. '?' he observed silently.

The Herrscher's grunts grew louder as he shifted, directing his gaze squarely at Shroud, his breaths turning laboured.

*Heavy breathing* The Herrscher's voice trembled with a mixture of anger and despair. "You, you came out of nowhere, attacked me, and even after surviving your assault, I'm still facing my demise," he lamented, while Shroud silently observed the Herrscher in his final moments.

"Do you truly believe I would accept this fate?" The Herrscher roared in fury as a small surge of Honkai energy coursed through him. In response, Shroud swiftly assumed a defensive posture.

*Cough*― Coughing out a mouthful of crimson blood, the Herrscher remarked, "It appears my body is so ravaged that I can't even muster the strength to move, and this meagre amount of energy is clearly insufficient for a potent attack."

With bloodthirsty eyes fixed upon Shroud, the Herrscher summoned a sinister, bloodied smile and spoke, "I suppose I'll resort to summoning a formidable Honkai beast with this energy. Although I'm not familiar with that weapon of yours, it does appear to require some time to fire again."

The Herrscher then directed his remaining arm, the left one, towards the sky. As if the very fabric of space obeyed his command, a swirling wormhole began to form, birthing a translucent, enigmatic creature.

With an expression brimming with delight, the Herrscher succeeded in summoning an immensely powerful Honkai beast: Opaque Shadow. (pic here)

As the creature's form fully emerged from the wormhole, a remarkable transformation unfolded. Its once translucent body now revealed a mesmerizing starry void within, a cosmic expanse contained within the creature's very essence.

****

Opaque Shadow: A quantum-type Honkai beast that gracefully traverses the skies. While airborne, conventional attacks exert only minimal influence upon it.

Its colossal frame possesses the ability to eclipse the sun, casting the entire vicinity into a shroud of darkness. Within this obscurity, a legion of small Honkai Beasts concealed within its form emerges in abundance.

Utilizing its immense form to obstruct sunlight, Opaque Shadow ensures ample room for the small Honkai Beasts dwelling within, allowing them to thrive in the protective shade and strategically shaping the battlefield to their advantage.

****

"Hahaha, it appears I won't be departing this world alone. I pledge to drag you along with me to the afterlife, you wretched rabbit," the Herrscher exclaimed, his sanity slipping away.

The prospect of witnessing the beast rend the smug rabbit before him filled him with morbid anticipation, craving a gruesome spectacle before his own demise.

As the Herrscher's mad laughter echoed, the beast began to take notice of the Herrscher's grievous condition and the presence of the yellow rabbit. It dawned upon the creature that it had been summoned by the Herrscher with the explicit intent of eliminating the rabbit.

*GROWL!*

A fierce growl emanated from the Opaque Shadow, which caused the entire vicinity to be succumbed into an eerie darkness as the colossal form of Opaque Shadow eclipsed the sunlight. Within this shadowy shroud, a horde of small Honkai Beasts concealed within the creature's body emerged in droves.

The massive Honkai beast issued a signal, directing the small Honkai Beasts' attention toward the smug rabbit. With fierce determination, they charged towards Shroud, only to come to an abrupt halt in mid-air, their collective form freezing as they appeared disoriented and bewildered.

However, it wasn't just the small Honkai Beasts; Opaque Shadow, too, became acutely aware of an anomaly, and an eerie tranquility descended upon it. Observing the Honkai Beasts abruptly halting their advance, the Herrscher's prior expression of glee shifted to one of confusion and seething anger.

"What are you wretched beasts doing? Attack him!" the Herrscher commanded, attempting to spur them into action.

As the Herrscher issued his directive, both the Opaque Shadow and the smaller Honkai Beasts began to move toward Shroud in a disciplined manner. The Herrscher smiled, thinking his victory was assured, but his grin faltered as he bore witness to an unimaginable spectacle.

"What the hell?" The Herrscher uttered in utter disbelief, unwilling to accept the bewildering sight that was unfolding before his eyes.

The Honkai beast he had summoned, having closed the gap to a mere ten meters from the rabbit, abruptly collapsed to the ground and prostrated itself before the rabbit.

*Growl* *growl*

The Honkai beasts continued to emit faint growls, their unmoving forms resembling statues as they waited with unwavering patience for Shroud's command.

As Shroud contemplated the peculiar sight before him, a thought crossed his mind: 'Are they showing deference to me?' These creatures, with their distinctive and starkly different appearance from regular Honkai beasts, may look unique, but they still emit the unmistakable aura of Honkai energy.

[Interesting, these beasts are rather unique, or should I say, familiar?] the Whisper pointed out, prompting Shroud to inquire further, "How?"

[Their aura exudes the same desolate sensation, don't you think?] the Whisper remarked, causing Shroud's eyes to widen.

He gazed at the Honkai beasts, who remained obediently kneeling on the ground, before issuing a command. "Rise up," he said, and in response, the Honkai beasts gradually lifted themselves from their prostrate positions.

Shroud extended his palm, signalling Opaque Shadow to approach. Comprehending Shroud's unspoken command, the Opaque Shadow drew nearer, allowing the small Honkai beasts to retreat within its body.

Placing his hand upon the Opaque Shadow, Shroud closed his eyes, focusing on sensing its aura. Initially, the aura bore semblance to that of a regular Honkai beast. However, with time, Shroud began to detect the desolate aura mentioned by the Whisper—an aura he found disconcertingly familiar.

When he finally opened his eyes, a flood of memories and images from the past flashed before him. He uttered a single word, his voice tinged with awe and realization, "The Abyss."

Shroud stood in reverence as he discerned the very same desolate aura of the Abyss emanating from this creature. His ears involuntarily perked up as he alone heard a distant echo.

"My child, that place (The Abyss), it yearns for you. The divine spirits have already woven your path(The Duke of the Abyss). And...they are watching over you."

As Shroud delved into his introspective world, captivated by the discovery of the desolate aura, and the Whisper delved into its analysis of the creature, the Opaque Shadow's attention was fixated on something entirely different—the figure within Shroud's shadow.

Within that shadowy realm, the beast perceived an enigmatic figure, one that resembled Shroud, yet was vastly different. The aura surrounding this figure exuded refinement, potency, and an undeniable majesty that enthralled the beast. It gazed upon this ethereal presence, utterly bewitched by its presence.

*growl*

With a gentle growl, the beast began to emit a radiant glow, which abruptly snapped Shroud out of his reverie. In a bid to remove his hand, Shroud was met with a dazzling spectacle as the creature's body liquified, flowing into his bloodstream.

At first, Shroud attempted to resist the intrusion, but as he experienced the warm sensation of the liquid coursing through his veins, he halted his resistance. He could sense his body strengthening with each passing moment.

As the liquified Honkai beast fully integrated into Shroud's being, he became acutely aware that he was on the cusp of breaking through, poised to ascend to the rank.

*Phew*

Shroud let out a sigh of relief as he thoroughly assessed his transformed state. He could sense an immense power coursing through his veins, far surpassing the strength he had felt at the rank.

Meanwhile, the Herrscher was forced to witness the entire sequence of events, all while his own body continued to crumble under the relentless aftereffects of the Death Light.

"I cannot believe that I, the Herrscher of Reason, would fall to a mere child's toy cosplayer. This is absurd!" The Herrscher spat out its final words as its form dissolved entirely, leaving behind nothing but a small rock where it had taken its last breath.

To be continued...

****

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.

So, what are your thoughts on the Quantum-type Honkai beasts showing reverence towards Shroud?