Rumble—!
"Using my force against me?"
Lightning crackled as a towering figure descended with thunder, smashing into the earth. He stepped out from the dust, muscles knotted, broad-backed and bear-waisted, his stern face imposing even in stillness.
Budo raised his head, a trace of contemplation flashing through his eyes.
That direction? West… Europe. That was the territory overseen by Alex and the Schicksal organization.
"From what I've observed so far, this woman called Raiden Mei possesses a relatively firm will. She doesn't seem like the sort to abandon her comrades and flee for her life like a coward."
"…But why did she retreat so decisively?"
As he spoke, Budo glanced back toward the metropolitan area dozens of kilometers away. Through electromagnetic perception, he could sense that Roboute and Kevin had begun to truly clash in earnest—tearing up a firestorm from the Central City all the way to the ocean with uncanny tacit understanding.
By merging his Teigu ability with the Gem of Conquest within himself, Budo could utilize "electromagnetic waves" to eavesdrop and conduct wide-range environmental surveillance.
The ability was somewhat akin to Observation Haki from the pirate legends—minus the bizarre auxiliary effects such as hearing all things, foreseeing the future, or affinity with animals—but with a far broader range, closer to Enel's "Mantra."
At critical moments, by concentrating his mind, he could push his observational precision to an even higher level.
Born from Teigu · Thunder God's Rage · Adramelech's lightning control, and further blessed by Selene with the Gem of Conquest, Budo was not a true Herrscher born from a Honkai Eruption. Rather, he was a pseudo-Herrscher dependent upon Finality.
Watching the two figures already boiling mountains and evaporating seas, his gaze lingered briefly on the comparatively smaller silhouette. Two conjectures formed in Budo's mind.
Raiden Mei's desperate rush toward Europe—either she bore an important mission entrusted to her by her comrade, or she and that man called Kevin Kaslana had no camaraderie whatsoever.
The intense longing and concern in Raiden Mei's eyes for someone or something could not be faked. Most likely…
There was something in Europe that mattered greatly to her.
Of course, this was merely a deduction based on known intelligence. He could not rule out error—unless that young girl was a seasoned actress who had deceived even him.
Selene's deployment had more or less divided the world into three war zones along longitudinal lines.
From west to east: the European and African continents under Alex's command; the Asian continent and Oceania under his own; and the American continents under Liver and Esdeath.
"The Herrscher traitor Her Majesty mentioned… defected? Or forced?" Recalling the faintly amused expression on Selene's face when she had said it, Budo sensed there was more beneath the surface.
Knowing Her Majesty's usual temperament… it was entirely possible.
"Hmph. Whether this is the rebels' contingency plan or merely my overthinking—it can be resolved by beating her down and interrogating her."
Boom—!
Budo lifted his head coldly. His heavy armguard detonated with a thunderous crack as sky-blue arcs erupted with searing heat. His fist shot toward the graceful figure flying through the heavens.
"Thunder Bone!"
With a deafening blast, lightning as thick as water tanks surged from the ground, rising high and forming a forest of sky-blue thorns that lashed toward Raiden Mei in the sky.
Rumble—!
Soil, trees, artificial lakes, bridges, highways—everything along its path was incinerated by thunder.
A steel bridge spanning the artificial lake was severed at its midpoint. One half collapsed. Under the extreme heat, it resembled a slab of cheese—melting into orange-red molten liquid the instant it made contact with the arcs.
A scorched trench more than fifty meters wide carved through the earth, forming a blazing corridor. The lake water within was forcibly vaporized by the searing heat.
Boom!!
Lightning exploded outward. The terrifying shockwave swept across the land. Roadside trees swayed like wheat under a hurricane, waves rolling in layers.
"Again and again—why do you keep standing in my way?!" Raiden Mei rose from the crater, a flicker of ferocity flashing in her eyes.
She twisted her wrist and swung her blade.
Her brows froze with killing intent. Purple-red lightning detonated around her. Behind her, the violet calamity halo blazed brilliantly, and the crimson oni arm wielded the massive blade.
"Ah—!"
Certain flaws in her personality, the hardships of her past—these had all served as fertile soil for the growth of a Herrscher persona.
After regaining her Herrscher power, under its fermentation and influence, Raiden Mei had inevitably been affected—growing more obsessive, more extreme.
But there was one thing about her that would never change.
Joining World Serpent had not been her wish. Yet Raiden Mei had never truly had a choice. Or rather, every choice she made was for one person.
From Nagazora City to Chiba Academy, from St. Freya Academy to World Serpent—she had experienced much. The power of the Herrscher of Thunder had been lost and regained. But everything she did was for that single person.
"Kiana! I will come find you!"
She would never retreat.
Bang!
Blade met armguard—thunder colliding with thunder.
"As expected. Our powers share the same origin. Pure lightning output is inefficient against either of us."
His gaze as cold as a winter wind, Budo scanned her injuries and spoke indifferently, "Fists and feet are more practical."
After so many lightning strikes, Raiden Mei still looked largely unscathed. Yet that earlier heavy punch had inflicted tangible damage.
In the next instant, Budo flashed to her side. Dropping low, he slapped aside her raised oni armor without giving her the slightest opportunity, then lifted his leg and kicked.
Thud!
A dull impact resounded. The beautiful woman with long violet-black hair was sent flying backward. She slammed into the ground and rolled, carving a long trench through the earth.
"Guh—!"
Pain wracked her entire body, leaving Raiden Mei momentarily dazed.
But she refused to dwell on the pain. She rose again. She swung her blade. She attacked.
Her biological instincts screamed that her actions were perilous—yet she never chose to flee.
Because at present, it was clear: unless she defeated Budo, she would not be able to pass through and see Kiana.
Vrrr—boom!!
Suddenly, a brilliant purple-red flare burst from Raiden Mei's body. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. She raised Domain of Sanction straight toward the sky.
Crackle crackle!
At her feet, countless arcs formed concentric ripples. Interwoven lightning converged at the tip of her blade. Terrifying heat ignited the forest in a roaring blaze.
Budo's eyes narrowed slightly as he raised his elbow a fraction.
He moved unhurriedly—but Raiden Mei would not waste even the smallest opening. Lightning was her name, and Hokushin Itto-ryu was the ancient Far Eastern sword style passed down through her family.
Though such techniques were ineffective against massive Honkai Beasts, when facing a humanoid enemy, Raiden Mei's inherited swordsmanship could provide immense support in battle.
Well… Budo stood over four meters tall. That should still count as humanoid, right? Probably… maybe… hopefully…
Without a word, she gripped Domain of Sanction and assumed her opening stance.
In the next instant—whoosh!
Raiden Mei transformed into a streak of lightning and met Budo head-on, every strike aimed at his vital points.
Clang!
Blade and armguard collided once more across the ravaged land. Raiden Mei's expression remained cold and resolute. Purple-red arcs flickered within her eyes—demonic, merciless.
Faster. Harsher.
Like someone driven mad.
The blade in her hands and the oni blade behind her both swung desperately, weaving a net of slashes before Budo. Brilliant arcs of steel crisscrossed. Edges clashed against armguards and heavy armor, sparks spraying.
Within the dust, one large and one small figure flickered and clashed in rapid succession.
It was a style born of mortal combat—entirely abandoning Hokushin Itto-ryu's ideal of ending battles swiftly and without injury. The "without injury" had vanished, replaced wholly by techniques of slaughter.
"Heh… interesting."
A faint smile surfaced on Budo's resolute face—whether in approval or satisfaction was unclear.
"With such resolve to die, you are no coward. As an opponent, you have earned my recognition."
A seasoned general of countless battlefields, Budo did not shy from vicious stratagems when pursuing victory. War was deception.
But against an enemy possessed of determination and perseverance, he would not withhold acknowledgment or praise.
Thus, he stepped forward abruptly. Like a hydraulic press, his iron fist twisted with the force of his waist and swung.
Rumble—crash!
In that instant, the vibrating air pressed grass and trees flat. The terrifying force condensed into a tangible shockwave that shot forward. Raiden Mei's pupils dilated to their limits as her body was blasted away.
The explosion's shockwave swept aside everything in its path, even forming a mushroom-cloud shape in the sky.
Borrowing the force to retreat, Raiden Mei felt as though that kick had struck her eardrums directly. Her blood roiled, her organs seeming displaced.
Her left arm, which had borne the blow through Domain of Sanction, remained numb—utterly devoid of sensation, as though it no longer belonged to her.
Such pure physical strength…
"Haa… haa…" She panted heavily.
By now she had reached a conclusion. This opponent was a terrible match for her. Both possessed high resistance to lightning—pure electrical output was ineffective. It came down to physical combat.
But her opponent's experience was far too seasoned. He ignored the trivial and focused on the crucial, defending flawlessly.
Her thrusts toward his head and the relatively weaker joints of his power armor had all been blocked. Worse, Budo subtly redirected her strikes toward the thickest shoulder and chest plating.
At this rate, let alone the vast disparity in raw strength, she would exhaust her stamina before he did.
In the next instant, lightning flashed. A black shadow rushed in, a heavy fist hurtling toward her, stirring a vortex in the air.
Danger!
With no time for dignity, Raiden Mei rolled desperately.
Whooo—!
The air wailed. The high-speed sweep of his armguard ignited the atmosphere itself. Even though it merely grazed her cheek, Raiden Mei found herself instinctively holding her breath.
The tip of her nose burned as if fire had surged into her airway, forcing back a cough.
But in the next moment, a heavy gauntlet seized her upper body and lifted her into the air.
A bruised purple hue spread across Raiden Mei's delicate features. Her legs struggled uselessly. As Budo tightened his grip, the Honkai Cube embedded within his power armor began to activate.
Vrrr—!
"You… cough…"
She managed only a few strained syllables before feeling the Honkai energy within her body draining rapidly. Suffocation overwhelmed her senses. Her vision blurred…
"Kiana…"
...
Elsewhere, Europe—Kolosten.
As Durandal and Kiana stepped through the brilliant spatial portal opened by Selene, Selene turned around. The colorless glow faded, and warmth and tenderness returned to her pure eyes.
Her gaze passed over the small, light-gray–haired girl lying in the flower field, then settled upon the gentle young woman kneeling beside her, holding a pure-white lance.
Shoulder-length black hair tinged with blue. Eyes like the sea. Snow-white skin. A red stigmata mark upon her chest. A white top and blue vest above a light-blue skirt.
Seele Vollerei —a girl who looked soft and gentle.
"Abyss Flower, come here." Selene extended her hand.
Instantly, Abyss Flower trembled lightly, responding to Selene's call. Amid Seele's cry of surprise, it transformed into a streak of white light and flew into Selene's grasp.
"Ah! Bronya-nee!"
Deprived of the healing tool, Seele clutched Bronya, her upper body jerking upright in panic.
"Se… Selene-sister… but…" Kiana opened her mouth as if to protest.
"There is no need for such trouble to save her. Nor is it difficult."
A healing radiance blossomed at Selene's fingertips. Warm white light rose from the ground, enveloping Bronya's exhausted body.
"The authority of the Herrscher of Death is not meant to be used the way you employ it."
"Mm…!"
In an instant, Seele saw signs of Bronya awakening. The suddenness felt unreal, leaving her staring in astonishment.
"Bronya-nee! That's wonderful—you're alright!"
"Enough. Let's go."
After finishing, Selene held Abyss Flower and gave Kiana a slight nod, while Durandal watched with a complicated gaze.
Then—snap!
The torn rift sealed itself. Selene vanished with Durandal and Kiana, leaving behind a stunned crew of the Hyperion.
Seeing their superior finally depart, Alex let out a long breath of relief and swiftly ordered his subordinates to bring the command instruments back.
Hands clasped behind his back, he approached the petite figure resembling a young girl.
"Well then, Archbishop Theresa Apocalypse," Alex said, forcing down the urge to complain. "Time to handle proper business."
"Come with me. Sanguinius has already landed at your Schicksal Mediterranean floating-island headquarters. Resistance still persists. If you wish to avoid unnecessary casualties, you'd best persuade them personally."
"Understood."
Despite her childish appearance, Theresa's small face remained solemn as she answered seriously.