If one were to describe the life of Thomas Platinaburg in a single phrase—
"Smooth sailing" would be the most fitting.
Born into a wealthy family, he had enjoyed privilege and comfort from birth. Groomed with refined manners and education, he achieved remarkable success in the field of investment, amassing enormous wealth and influence. By his early thirties, he had already been promoted to the rank of Director.
He had never once experienced failure, walking the path of success his entire life.
With no blemish on his record, he was convinced that one day he would stand above all as the Chairman of Academy City.
But he never imagined that the day would come when trouble would arrive right at his doorstep.
Boom!!!
A blinding flash devoured all vision, followed by a deafening roar. A torrent of violent energy slammed down upon the structure, and the once-imposing building crumbled like a fragile toy, reduced to ruins in an instant.
The once-splendid headquarters of the Board of Directors was now nothing but rubble.
Moments ago, Thomas Platinaburg had been a distinguished man in a fine suit. Now, he was sprawled amidst the debris, gasping like a dying dog.
Step. Step.
From the sky, Selene descended slowly, her feet resting on floating violet light discs. She walked toward him at an unhurried pace. "You've had everything go your way for too long, haven't you? To think you'd dare to stir up trouble on my turf. Quite the nerve you've got, Thomas."
"Cough... You... who are—"
Selene raised a finger toward him, lightning flickering at her fingertip.
"W-wait! Plea—!"
She ignored his plea.
With a flash, the gathered energy burst forth.
Boom!
When the smoke cleared, Thomas Platinaburg had been vaporized on the spot.
Her first kill—yet Selene felt no fear or panic. Instead, it was as if she had merely crushed an insect. She was calm—eerily calm. "I just killed someone? Why do I feel no fear at all... maybe even a little satisfaction?"
Woo! Woo! Woo!
The wailing of alarms snapped her back to reality.
"Time to disappear."
With a faint whoosh, Selene vanished into the night.
...
One day later.
As usual, Selene sat up lazily from her bed, stretching slightly.
"The announcement should be out by now..."
She yawned softly, stepped barefoot onto the woven carpet, and switched on the television.
The familiar newscaster's voice filled the room. "Breaking news: Yesterday, the residence of Academy City Director Thomas Platinaburg suffered a terrorist attack, resulting in his tragic death. The Board of Directors has expressed deep concern..."
No mention of Selene—no suspects, no images from the scene. Aleister had handled the cleanup perfectly. All that was left for her was to inherit his position.
"Well, I should at least show some appreciation."
Selene promptly contacted Aleister, informing him that she would increase the monthly Honkai Energy supply quota—as a token of gratitude for his assistance.
"Now then... it's time for a cleanup."
...
School District 2, Schicksal Research Institute.
After receiving notice, the heads of all major research divisions had been waiting in the conference room for some time. When Selene arrived, the meeting began immediately.
"I'll be blunt," Selene said. "I'm very displeased with the data theft incident yesterday. I didn't purge this institute because I still had a sliver of trust in you all. But you've disappointed me."
"So, I've decided... to give everyone in this institute a little 'safety lock.'"
Before they could react, Selene unleashed Honkai energy, expanding it into a shimmering field that enveloped the entire institute. "Since I am the source of Honkai Energy, it's only natural that I can control it."
With the Schicksal Research Institute's expansion, it was inevitable that it would grow larger and attract more skilled researchers.
But as any new power rises, it inevitably threatens the old—touching vested interests, and by extension, the darkness of the world.
And in that darkness, loyalty was always the first to be tested.
Projects like human enhancement serums, advanced military weaponry, and high-yield explosives promised astronomical profits. Trusting in the moral integrity of scientists? Not a chance.
Before such overwhelming temptation, Selene had no faith in their loyalty or ethics. Using Honkai Energy to ensure obedience was the only option—and only then could she rest easy.
This kind of control required far more intricate work—it differed greatly from simple psychological manipulation. It wasn't about influencing a few people for a short period, but rather exerting long-term, large-scale control over many individuals at once.
Selene, in her characteristic mischievous fashion, named this technique: "Mental Seal." It preserved a person's intellect and initiative while subtly altering their will.
In essence, it was a barrier—one that continuously projected subconscious suggestions onto everyone within it, gradually instilling loyalty to Selene. Like the old saying about a frog in warm water, the longer they remained under its influence, the deeper its imprint became. Combined with cutting-edge medical technology beyond contemporary science, overwhelming displays of power, and increasingly generous material rewards...
By then, they would be fully bound to Selene—unable to separate themselves. Anyone who opposed her would be opposing their own livelihood. Selene wouldn't even need to act—they would take care of her enemies for her.
Using the list of spies she had acquired the previous night, Selene gave her first order: "Dismiss everyone on this list."
Whether it was due to the Mental Seal's influence or the pressure of her presence, the others, though uneasy, obeyed without protest. "Yes, ma'am."
Under Selene's control, the meeting continued, approving several new development plans for the future.
Afterward, Selene left the conference room—not to return to the School Garden, but to stay at the institute for a personal experiment.
It was common knowledge that electricity was the foundation of modern civilization—its primary and nearly irreplaceable source of energy. Humanity's dependence on electricity rivaled its dependence on oxygen. Without it, civilization would remain shrouded in darkness.
Electricity, one of nature's most fundamental phenomena, arose from the repulsive and attractive forces between charged subatomic particles such as electrons and protons. It was, in essence, one of the four fundamental forces of nature.
That was precisely Selene's next goal—to control and master the conversion of Honkai energy into electricity. Part of this was preparation against potential mental-type espers; an electromagnetic barrier could effectively block abilities that read minds or emotions. After all, Selene had no intention of letting anyone peek into her secrets.
The other reason was purely for power—electromagnetism had immense potential. If mastered, it could significantly enhance her combat capabilities.
...
In the laboratory, the sound of crackling electricity echoed nonstop.
Under the guidance of several researchers, Selene conducted one electromagnetic experiment after another.
Boom!
She looked down at her blackened palm. "Still the wrong form of energy output?"
One researcher explained, "From an electrical perspective, the phenomenon is caused by the directional movement of electric charges."
"From an energy perspective," another added, "electricity is the transfer or conversion of energy. Matter is made of atoms, atoms of nuclei and electrons. The nucleus is positively charged, electrons are negatively charged, and their charges are equal in magnitude but opposite in polarity..."
"In theory, your process should be correct. So what exactly went wrong?"
Suddenly, a black-haired researcher, around thirty years old, clapped his hands in realization. "Ah! I see the problem now."
"We've been overthinking it! You're a Gemstone, aren't you? Honkai Energy itself stems from your innate ability. You don't need these calculations. Try not to think about the formulas—just imagine generating lightning."
Selene blinked. "Oh, right. Why am I overcomplicating this? I just need to think it into existence."
Without hesitation—zzzz... crack!
Blue lightning arced across her body, dancing wildly with sharp popping sounds. Metal objects throughout the lab began to tremble, defying gravity as they floated toward her.
An invisible pressure filled the room, a tingling numbness spreading across everyone's skin. The air carried a pungent burnt scent—the smell of ozone produced by the breakdown of oxygen molecules. It was a clear warning that the environment was no longer safe.
"E-Everyone out! It's too dangerous here!" someone shouted.
Selene, however, reveled in the sensation—the raw, untamed might of nature coursing through her veins. The power of thunder and storm itself rested in her grasp.
Zzz! With a thought, the lightning faded away.
Turning toward the researcher who had spoken earlier, Selene asked, "What's your name?"
He replied excitedly, "Shuji Matsuzaki, ma'am."
"Good. I'll remember that name. From this moment, you're promoted to project supervisor."
Hum... hum...
"That's your reward. Oh—and one more thing. Go coordinate with the enhancement serum division." As she spoke, Selene conjured a glowing Honkai Cube, its light a mesmerizing shade of violet-red, and handed it to Shuji Matsuzaki.
"This is raw material. Don't worry—it's been specially processed. As long as you don't do something stupid like swallowing it whole, there'll be no side effects. How you use it is up to you."
Without another word, she vanished, leaving only the faint ozone scent and lingering heat in the air—a silent testament to the power she had just unleashed.
The others, though envious, said nothing. One by one, they left the lab to return to their duties. Soon, the laboratory fell quiet once more.