Final Advice

"Unidentified heat signature approaching from aft at 4200 km/h!" the operator's voice crackled through the speaker. "1000m... 800m... 500m... Wait! Target confirmed on monitors! Benares!"

As the elevator doors slid open, I stepped out and noticed a small aircraft plummeting toward me.

"Oh? Is that a gift?" I murmured, quickly unsheathing my purple katana and slicing through the aircraft, leaping outside in one fluid motion.

Benares roared loudly, preparing to unleash a torrent of lightning from her mouth. Anticipating the attack, I blinked onto her head and struck. Her head, however, was tougher than I expected. Instead of slicing through, my blow merely knocked her down.

I landed smoothly, ready to strike again. But suddenly, my surroundings shifted.

"Where... am I?"

"This is Imaginary Space," Tsurugi's voice resonated in my mind. "The origin of the universe, where the laws converge. Time here defies common sense, and the mechanics of this place cannot be calculated."

A sinister laugh echoed through the space. I turned slowly, watching as she descended from the air as if walking down invisible stairs, her eyes fixed on me.

"Do you think you can escape?"

My eyes widened, and then I broke into a grin, laughing. "Escape? Who's escaping? Escaping where...?" I looked down, gritting my teeth. "AND WHY?!"

I took a stance, readying myself for the confrontation.

"One-Blade Sakura..." I murmured, as Honkai energy enveloped my body, doubling my physical strength.

"Interesting yet futile," the Herrscher remarked, aiming her palm at me. With a flick of her wrist, I was yanked towards her, stopping abruptly as if colliding with an invisible wall. "Struggle all you want, worm," she sneered before forcefully pushing me away.

I slammed into the wall behind me with a bone-jarring impact, the force of the blow knocking the wind out of me. As I gasped for air, a cube materialized and began closing in, crushing me against the wall.

"Argh! That was too sudden... I can't breathe...!"

"I have to... get out... or I'll die... in this cube!"

Die...? Ahhh right... I'll die...

Suddenly, the Herrscher altered the size and shape of her spears, thrusting and slashing at the cube trapping me. The force of her attacks shattered it, and I collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.

"Hmph... Pathetic," the Herrscher scoffed, turning away. But then a sword whizzed past her, forcing her to spin around, eyes wide, as she summoned a territorial void space to shield her back.

I struggled to my feet, breathing heavily. "Hah... I'll die at this point... but who cares." I smirked at her. "It's cool."

I sheathed the purple katana in the air and raised my arms, unsheathing a crimson katana. The world around me shifted to black and white, blood trickling from my eyes and down my cheeks.

My hair grew longer, turning white, and my eyes shifted to red.

"To defeat a Herrscher... you need Herrscher-level power..." My wounds began to heal as my St. Freya uniform transformed into a red haori over a pink kimono.

The Moon ring on my hand cracked and broke.

[Warning: The Honkai will completely unleash the Honkai energy stored within the body.]

[HW: 5000... 6000... 8000...]

[9000.]

"Impossible... You're a Herrscher?!" the Herrscher exclaimed, eyes wide with shock.

"Ahh... right... No one knew about the Herrscher of Blades... Haha... Alright... Let me show you what these blades can do." I snapped my fingers, summoning swords around me.

"Are you done attacking? If so... It's my turn now. I hope you don't mind."

The Herrscher laughed, then glared at me. "Die."

Spears multiplied, and dimensional holes appeared all around, surrounding me. With the crimson katana in hand, I swung it horizontally, causing the wormholes to crack and shatter.

Kiana, everything will change once you wake up... The world won't be a pretty place anymore, but with everyone on your side, it will be fine.

The Herrscher and I clashed in close combat, her form blinking away as I relentlessly pursued her.

Life as you know it will be replaced by something else.

The air filled with the sounds of clashing swords, metal striking metal, and blades everywhere.

But Kiana... Don't ever give up.

"You pathetic human... insect!" she spat, summoning two rectangular cubes beside me, binding me in place. With another cube in her hand, she transformed it into an arrow. Before she could release it, the swords around me sliced through the cubes, and I shattered the arrow with a swift slash.

With a determined dash, my eyes widened as I confronted her head-on again. Her eyes widened even more in surprise as she struggled, blinking away whenever I got too close.

"It's my chance... I can do it now!" I thought, my speed increasing with every step.

"Kid, remember to use the HSN-b46 that you stole from that old hag!" Tsurugi's voice echoed in my mind.

"You don't have to tell me twice...!"

I can't imagine Major Himeko doing this with her fragile body... That's why... Major Himeko, treasure yourself more... and live.

I stepped back, hurling my crimson katana toward the Herrscher.

She sidestepped, grinning as she prepared to open a wormhole in front of me. "Die, insect."

But her grin faltered as I disappeared, only to reappear behind her, having switched places with the crimson katana.

He switched with the katana that he threw!?

She slowly turned her eyes over her shoulder behind.

The injection was ready in my hand.

But a wormhole opened behind me, a single spear emerging from it.

"I win...!" I shouted, plunging the injection into Kiana's neck. At the same moment, the spear struck me, piercing through my side.

Pain radiated through me, but I held on, watching as the serum began to take effect.

Kiana... You can still end this story the way you want...!

Just then, life flashed before my eyes, transporting me back to a tranquil beach scene. (A/N: Chapter 44)

"Haahhh... Another day draws to a close," Himeko remarked, her gaze drifting to the sky. With a warm smile, she turned to the group. "Let's raise a toast, everyone!"

In harmony, the group lifted their glasses, sharing nods of agreement.

Mesmerized by the serenity of the moment, I couldn't help but smile as I looked at them - Kiana, Mei, Bronya, Fu Hua, Himeko, and Theresa.

Sorry... Looks like this is it for me.

The Herrscher knocked me away with force as the serum began to take effect, purging the Honkai erosion inside her. With a piercing scream of agony, the Herrscher writhed in pain.

My vision blurred as the Imaginary Space slowly dissipated.

Surrounded by a sea of white and blue, my body returned to its normal state, the Honkai energy dissipating.

Thank you.

...

...

The sound of the sea filled my ears, a soothing melody that echoed through the empty expanse. Waves crashed against the shore with rhythmic consistency, their gentle roar a comforting lullaby. 

Each wave carried with it a whisper of tranquility, a reminder of the vastness of the ocean and the boundless possibilities it held. As I listened, the worries and troubles of the world faded away, replaced by a sense of peace and serenity.

The serene rhythm of the sea was abruptly interrupted by the sound of a footstep in the sand, followed by a voice that pierced the tranquility.

"Hm... Interesting."