Puzzle Pieces

A Few Hours Ago...

In a dimly lit room filled with the hum of advanced technology, several figures huddled around a console, their faces illuminated by the glow of screens.

"Gray's intel confirms she's in Arc City," one said, tapping a display that showed a map of the city.

"K-423 frequents Honkai beast incursion sites. She might interfere with our experiment," another voice added, concern lacing their words.

"A pest... We don't have time for her. Our site has returned from the Sea of Quanta and ordered us to begin. Focus on ending the Schicksal raids. Their agents are in Shenzhou. Don't let them interfere."

"There's another problem."

A pause. "Hm? Don't tell me you can't handle a pest?"

"It's not that," the voice hesitated. "The problem is Herrscher of Blade, Shin Watanabe."

"...Herrscher of Blade? I thought he was killed by the Herrscher of Void. Seems we were wrong."

"That's right. Our drones spotted him flying here."

"I see... That complicates things."

Silence fell over the room, broken only by the whir of machinery. After a moment, she spoke again. "I have an idea..."

"Don't get in the way!" I shouted, summoning swords that whirled around me like a deadly cyclone.

With each slash, I launched a blade toward her. She dodged and parried effortlessly, her movements fluid and precise. The clash of our weapons echoed through the stormy night, sparks flying and illuminating our fierce battle.

She met my gaze with a cold smile. "Good~ Keep up."

Tch...! She's buying time... The Honkai energy I'm sensing is getting stronger and stronger...!

I have to finish this now.

I stepped back after another clash and summoned a circle of swords around the rooftop.

"Oh? How flashy... but I can do that too!" she taunted, throwing a barrage of red feathers that knocked my swords to the ground. "But really... Are you a Herrscher? You seem very easy to kill."

Her eyes widened as she looked around. 

Where did he–

She started scanning the rooftop frantically.

"Looking for me?" I whispered in her ear, causing her to spin and slash at the empty air, hitting only a sword.

"What...!?"

"What did you say again? 'Easy to kill'?" I laughed. "What a joke..." I reappeared in front of her. She lunged to strike but realized it was just another sword.

"What's going on...? He keeps vanishing..."

Suddenly, I was behind her, my arm wrapping around her neck. "Caught you..." I said, my eyes glowing as I manipulated the fallen swords, transforming them into chains that bound her legs and brought her crashing to the ground.

"Tch...! What did you do!?"

"Oh, it was nothing really, just switching places with the swords."

"Switching places? So that's why you summoned so many swords from the air..."

I twisted her body to face me, pressing the blade against her neck. "Now... Tell me who you are and your affiliation."

She smirked. "Oh? Playing truth or dare now?"

I tightened the blade's proximity to her neck.

"Hehehe, getting angry, aren't we? It's just fun to rile you up," she teased, pausing. "You're the first to pique my interest like this. You have great potential. Even as my prey, you've turned predator."

"Answer my question."

"I see you're not one for small talk. I'll keep that in mind... You may call me Raven, a member of the World Serpent."

"World Serpent?"

"Oh? You don't know about us? That's surprising... We're well known to Schicksal and Anti-Entropy. We're a faction dedicated to saving this world."

"Hmph, that Honkai energy I'm sensing... Tell me what it is."

" Sorry, but that's not part of our rules. You only asked who I am and my affiliation."

"Oh? So you choose death? What are you planning?"

She smiled, refusing to answer. I shook my head, standing up and turning to look at the Schicksal Valkyries fighting the Honkai beasts earlier.

"It seems they're done with the cleanup, but... Why is there snow and ice around that bridge area?"

I turned back, but Raven was already poised to slash.

How did she escape?!

 I parried her attack and kicked her back. She used the knockback to her advantage, backflipping off the building.

What!?"

I ran to the edge and saw her gliding away with some device.

"What a cheeky woman."

[2 Days Ago... on Rita's side] (A/N: This is before Shin confronted Raven at the rooftop building)

Rita listened intently to the comms, her eyes scanning the snowy landscape as she moved swiftly through the remnants of the battlefield. The voice of a Valkyrie came through, slightly breathless with excitement.

"Adjutant, I've reviewed the data from Heliopolis," the voice said.

"Alvitr? Echelon 3, am I right?" Rita replied, her tone calm and composed.

"Yes! I'm squad technician Alvitr! They say you know every Valkyrie by name. I just found out it's true! They also told me it's a great privilege to fight alongside you... but you're often on solo missions. You can't believe how many of us wanted to be on the same mission as you!"

Rita allowed a small smile. "You flatter me. Enough with the hierarchies. Please, just call me Rita."

"Oh, yes, Miss Rita... Oh, NO! It's not right. Captain Durandal would be really cross if she heard me say that."

"Hmph. Will she? I'll deliver your generous compliments to our Captain."

"Kyaa, no, please! That won't be necessary!" Alvitr quickly cleared her throat, "Ahem, let's focus on work. Heliopolis sent us Honkai-related medical records for the past five months... we have over 4000 individual files categorized under 35 Honkai Incidents."

Rita nodded, her mind already processing the influx of information. "Good. Let's begin analyzing the data. Every detail matters."

A few pieces of information in a hologram open in front of Rita as she navigates around.

Rita's eyes narrowed as she processed the information. "Thirty-five incidents? Interesting... What about K-423?"

Alvitr's voice crackled through the comms. "An entry from two months ago. Multiple beasts at an overpass south of the city. A victim claimed to have seen a girl fighting the beasts but was later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress. I don't think it was PTSD. This victim probably saw her."

"Well done, Alvitr."

"Heheh, thank you, Adjutant Rita. Everyone flatters me by calling me the best tool of Echelon 3."

"Oh dear, best tool? That isn't very nice... ahem. Anything else?"

"No, I mapped descriptions of K-423 to the records but got nothing. She probably never went to the hospital. No medical records, no shopping records. Even city-wide surveillance records gave nothing. Is she a ninja?"

"She can avoid cameras and hide among people, but if she stayed in the city... someone should have seen her and maybe even taken a picture. The clues you've found prove this much."

"...but finding such data from every site and page on the web will take months!"

"Hmm, Alvitr, have you heard about the underground intel market that monitors every single data stream on the web? I'd check that market if I were looking for clues."

Probably... The Grey Serpent's territory... Hmmm, it'll take two days to find Miss Kaslana's footprints.

And Now... The Present Where Kiana is Surrounded by Rita's Subordinates

Kiana stood surrounded by Valkyries, her stance defiant. Rita stepped forward, her voice calm and poised. "A pleasure to meet you, Miss Kaslana... or should I call you Herrscher of the Void?"

Kiana's eyes narrowed. "Rita Rossweisse? I remember you. The HQ Auditor who oversaw the St. Freya Valkyrie exams several months ago and partnered with Shin on a mission."

Rita inclined her head slightly. "I'm deeply honored. I didn't expect you to remember me... Though you needn't mention a dead person's name."

Kiana's gaze fell momentarily before she looked back up.

"You must have had a hard time drifting on the streets. The Overseer cordially invites you back to HQ."

"I'm not going with you."

"You're unstable, and you're attracting Honkai beast attacks upon this innocent city. Only Schicksal can help you. We'll treat you and ensure you won't hurt anyone else."

"I don't want to repeat myself."

Rita sighed, her expression hardening as she shifted into a combat stance. "What a stubborn little girl."

Before she could advance, several swords fell from the sky, landing beside her with a metallic clang. Rita glanced upward, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.

A sword in the sky?

Rita touched her earpiece. "Alvitr, can you hear me?"

"Yes, Adjutant Rita! What can I do for you!?"

"Can you take a look at the sky and see what's going on?"

"The sky? I can do that, but... what about K-423?"

"Don't worry," Rita replied, launching herself toward Kiana with her subordinates. "We've got her covered already."

ita lunged first, her scythe slicing through the air with deadly precision. The other Valkyries flanked her, moving in perfect sync. Kiana backflipped, narrowly avoiding the initial strike, and drew her pistols in one fluid motion.

Blazing gunfire erupted from Kiana's weapons as she fired at the advancing Valkyries. Bullets sparked off armor and weapons, forcing her attackers to scatter and regroup.

Rita's scythe whirled, deflecting the incoming shots. "You're quick, but you'll need more than that," she said, her voice steady amidst the chaos.

Kiana landed gracefully, her eyes scanning for openings. She rolled to the side as another Valkyrie lunged at her, delivering a swift kick to her attacker's side and sending her sprawling.

 "I'm not going with you, Rita."

"Stubbornness won't save you," Rita retorted, swinging her scythe in a wide arc. Kiana ducked under the blade and countered with a volley of shots, forcing Rita to leap back.

Rita frowned, touching her earpiece. "Alvitr, report."

"Adjutant Rita, there are two individuals fighting on the rooftop!"

"Can you recognize their faces?"

"I can't be sure, but the guy wielding a sword looks familiar."

A sword? There are many people who use swords... Hmm... Probably from Alvitr's experiences.

"Alright, take a picture and I'll look at it later."

"Roger!"

Rita refocused on Kiana, who was panting along with the Immortal Blades members. 

"Looks like you're having a hard time dealing with something, huh?" Kiana taunted.

"That's right," Rita replied calmly. "So I suggest you make it easy, Kiana."

"Heh... you wish."

Rita sighed, signaling with a wave of her hand. "I see... Aesir mechas, initiate siege."

From the sky, several Aesir mechas descended, landing with a resounding thud. Each held a katana, their eyes glowing with mechanical precision.

Kiana's eyes widened, her grip tightening on her pistols. "More of you? Fine. Bring it on."

The Aesir mechas moved in unison, their katanas slicing through the air as they advanced. Kiana fired her pistols, her shots ricocheting off their armored bodies.

Rita advanced with them, her scythe spinning in a deadly dance. Kiana dodged and weaved, her movements growing more desperate as the mechas closed in.

Rita's voice cut through the chaos. "You're outnumbered and outmatched, Kiana. Surrender now."

The clash of weapons and the roar of gunfire filled the air, the battle intensifying. Rita's scythe met Kiana's pistol in a shower of sparks, the force of the impact sending both fighters skidding back.

"You're resilient, I'll give you that," Rita said, her eyes narrowing.

Kiana panted, her gaze unwavering. "I have a question for you, Rita. What do you think is more important? Catching me, or saving this city from disaster?"

"Catching you will save this city from disaster, dear," Rita replied, her grip tightening on her scythe.

As Rita lunged, Kiana used her wormhole ability, teleporting out of the attack and reappearing behind her. "It's not easy to catch me now. Believe what you will, but I'm not the reason Honkai Beasts are attacking this city."

Kiana stepped closer, pulling something from her pocket. "Take this and find out what Heliopolis is up to for yourself," she said, handing Rita an injector and a keycard. "Also... I'm not leaving. Stopping the disaster means more to me than making it out alive."

Kiana began to walk away, but paused, glancing back over her shoulder. "I know you've got no reason to trust me, but the choice is yours anyway."

With that, she disappeared into the shadows, leaving Rita standing there, clutching the device.

Approximately 21 hours after the fight with Kiana...

Rita sat silently, scrutinizing the evidence Kiana had given her: a standard Schicksal injector and a keycard engraved with the Heliopolis logo. The keycard likely opened security doors, but Kiana's words lingered in her mind, leaving her with an unsettling mix of confusion and curiosity.

The most perplexing revelation, however, was Shin.

15 Hours Ago...

"Adjutant Rita! Reporting!"

"Alvitr, report."

"I'll be sending information about the male and the one he was fighting on the rooftop."

"Send it."

Seconds later, Rita received the image and opened the mail. Her eyes widened in shock. "Alvitr... Is this true?"

"H-Huh? Yes, Adjutant Rita!"

"...Shin."

"H-Huh? You know this person, Adjutant Rita?!"

"Yeah, a long time ago..." Rita's mind raced. How is he alive? I thought he was killed by the Herrscher of the Void.

She glanced back at the evidence from Kiana, her thoughts a whirlwind. The pieces didn't fit, but she had to find the answers. Rita knew she couldn't ignore this any longer.

The mystery of Shin's survival and Kiana's warnings were intertwined, and she had to uncover the truth, no matter where it led.