Before the Storm

"Overseer, Kika has successfully apprehended the target. However, there's an additional unidentified individual with her. What are your orders?"

"Unidentified target? Who is it?" he inquired.

"Shin Watanabe."

"Shin Watanabe? Hehe... That's intriguing. So, this is what Rita and Kika were discussing—a male Valkyrie admitted to St. Freya with a rare stigmata," he mused. "Detain him... but ensure my granddaughter is unharmed. Let her go." He instructed, "And bring him to me, Durandal."

"Understood."

Meanwhile, from Theresa's perspective...

Kika still held Theresa and Shin in her grasp using her robots. Suddenly, a hologram communication flickered to life in front of her.

"Kika, Release Theresa immediately... Keep Shin restrained," Durandal commanded.

"Understood," Kika replied in a monotone voice, releasing Theresa while maintaining her grip on Shin. With a mechanical movement, she stepped away, leaving Theresa on the ground.

Struggling to rise, Theresa activated a hologram with a swipe of her hand. "Ai, relay a message to Himeko: Prepare for battle at once." 

"Target: Schicksal Headquarters."

Also, ensure Wendy is transferred to the battleship Hyperion for her safety. Guard her at all costs... Time is of the essence!" With determination, she managed to stand, albeit with a noticeable limp. 

"Kiana, I'm on my way!"

Back to Shin's perspective.

As consciousness slowly returned, I found myself lying on the cold, hard floor of an unfamiliar room. With a groan, I pushed myself up, my head throbbing with confusion.

"Where... Where am I?" I murmured, trying to make sense of my surroundings.

A cell?

A voice cut through the silence, coming from beyond the bars of the cell. I turned to see Kika standing there, her demeanor impassive as ever.

"You're awake."

"Kika... What's happening? Why am I here?" I questioned, struggling to grasp the situation.

"You're currently held at Schicksal HQ," she replied evenly.

"Schicksal... HQ...!? But why am I in a cell?"

Kika's expression remained unreadable as she responded, "That's not something I can answer."

"What about Kiana? And Theresa?"

"Kiana... lost control. As for Theresa, I left her as instructed by Durandal."

"Kiana lost control...?" What does she mean by that?! "Kika! Let me out of here!" 

"I cannot."

"Why not!? If you said is true then I have to be there!"

"Orders are orders," Kika replied stoically. "And my orders are to keep you detained until further notice." 

As tension filled the air, footsteps echoed down the hallway, drawing our attention. Kika immediately straightened, her posture rigid as someone approached.

"Overseer Otto," Kika greeted respectfully, bowing as the man approached.

Otto Apocalypse. A name I had heard before, a name synonymous with power and authority within Schicksal.

"This must be the male Valkyrie you were talking about, huh?" Otto remarked, turning his gaze to me.

"Yes, that's him," Kika confirmed.

Otto then directed his attention to me, "I forgot to introduce myself," he said, offering a slight bow. "My name is Otto Apocalypse, leader of Schicksal."

"Then... you must be Principal Theresa's grandfather."

"Oh? So you even knew that? Hehehe... How embarrassing," Otto remarked, acknowledging my deduction.

"What do you want from me!"

"As you can see, everything is in chaos right now, St. Freya is attacking the HQ, and Subject K423 has awakened the Herrscher of Void inside her."

"Subject K423? Herrscher of Void? Stop spouting nonsense and get me out of here!"

Otto sighed, "What a loud dog barking," he muttered under his breath before addressing Kika. "By the way, Kika, go join Fu Hua and Durandal and assist them."

"As you wish, Overseer Otto," Kika responded obediently before walking away."

"The Valkyrie should be on high alert right now," Otto continued, his gaze shifting back to me. "I want to conduct more research on you, with your rare stigmata, but for now, we're in the midst of a war. Once this is all settled, I'll be sure to examine you thoroughly."

With that, Otto walked away, leaving me alone in the cell with my thoughts swirling.

"What the hell..." I muttered, frustration and apprehension coursing through me. "I need to find a way out of here."

I attempted to channel my honkai energy into my hands, intending to break free from the cell bars, but to my dismay, I felt a wave of weakness wash over me as soon as I made contact.

"Argh! What the–"

"That's very unfortunate, huh..." Tsurugi's voice echoed in my mind. "Hey, let me propose a deal."

"If you're suggesting taking over my body again, forget it."

"Tch, how stingy... and here I thought you trusted me now."

"I do trust you, but not in this situation."

"The Herrscher of Void, huh... That must be Sirin."

"You're familiar with her?"

"Fufu~, Of course, ~ She's the Herrscher that triggered the 2nd Honkai Eruption."

"Hah... Alright, I'll go talk to Major Himeko... For now, escaping is my priority."

"And how are you gonna do that?"

"Brute force."

I channeled my arm with honkai energy again, this time maximizing its power. Gritting my teeth, I grabbed the cell bars and forced them until a satisfying snap echoed through the room.

"I did it..!" I exclaimed as I broke free from the cell.

Just then, an alarm sounded throughout the facility.

"Alert! The barrier around HQ has been breached!"

"Good... Time to take advantage of this chaos," I muttered to myself as I rushed out of the cell.

However, my escape didn't go unnoticed. A few Valkyries spotted me.

"Shit... Isn't he the prisoner!?"

"Get him!"

"Great... Just what I needed."

As the Valkyries closed in, their blades gleaming in the harsh light of the facility, I took a defensive stance. "Come on then," I muttered under my breath

The Valkyries charged forward, their movements swift and precise. I dodged their initial strikes, narrowly avoiding the sharp edges of their blades.

With honkai energy coursing through my veins, I countered their attacks, delivering swift blows of my own.

"I have no time for this!" I assumed a combat stance. With a burst of speed, I lunged forward, incapacitating the Valkyries with precise strikes before they could react.

There's more of them... I know... but I have to move forward! 

my muscles straining as I sprinted through the corridors of Schicksal HQ.

Dodging obstacles and evading any Valkyries that dared to confront me, I focused solely on reaching the nearest exit.

Suddenly, I came face to face with a familiar figure standing in my path.

"Major Himeko!?"

She turned to me, "Shin! There you are!"

"Major Himeko... Kiana... I heard what happened to Kiana."

"Good, I don't need to explain. Let's leave."

Suddenly, several robot mechas dropped down, blocking the entrance.

"I believe I can't let you leave just yet."

That voice!

I turned to see Kika in her Valkyrie suit, standing before us.

"Kika Mushoku..." Himeko muttered her full name.

"You know her, Major Himeko?!"

"Yes, she's an S-rank Valkyrie of Schicksal, a user of the Nexus system. She specializes in using the outer armor called 'Sabayon'."

"It seems you've done your homework, Major Himeko. Now, hand Shin over to me," Kika demanded.

"I believe there's been a misunderstanding... Mushoku Kika," Himeko replied calmly. "Since when did you, a mere Valkyrie, give me orders?"

"Hmph... So it has come to this." Kika readied her cannons.

"Major Himeko, let me handle this," I interjected, stepping in front of her.

"Shin, are you sure?" 

"Yes... I want to confront her. Please, allow me."

"Look at you, acting cool." Himeko smiled at me before turning to the mechas blocking our path. "You have 10 minutes."

"Roger."

With determination, Himeko rushed forward to engage the mechas, creating an opening for us to escape.

I stepped forward to confront Kika, determination burning in my gaze.

"Shin, you do realize I'm stronger than you, don't you?"

"Yeah... And that's exactly why I'll have to give it my all!"

With a swift motion, I raised my left palm into the air. "Come... Sakura no Kokuu," I commanded, striking my left palm with my right fist. As if summoned by my will, the sword materialized in my hand, and I assumed a fighting stance.

"Heehee... Don't bore me," Kika chuckled.