The Hyperion was damaged, and Himeko, to buy time for Tesla to repair the ship, resolutely faced the enemy alone.
Himeko panted heavily. Suddenly, a Dead Soldier appeared behind her.
A flash of cold light streaked by, and blood dripped down her cheek, instantly evaporating into a crimson mist.
"Oh my, you actually blocked it? Not following the script won't do, you know ✰," said a mocking voice.
"Kiana…"
The Queen let out a taunting laugh. "Finally, I've found you all! The order may have changed, but it doesn't matter—you're all just nameless ants. Let's start by killing you."
"Heh…" Himeko gave a cold chuckle. "I've been waiting for you, you damned Herrscher!"
Himeko leaped forward, gripping her greatsword tightly and slamming it down with force.
Flames roared like a ferocious beast, charging toward Sirin.
Sirin was momentarily stunned. "What? That armor?"
"You're bleeding? So even gods can get hurt?"
"Why? I should've killed you dozens of times by now!"
"Sorry about that. I'm just a bit… hard to deal with."
[When a god bleeds, that's when They're pulled off Their pedestal. This round's secured!]
[Awesome! Himeko's killing it!]
[It looks like Himeko's condition is improving. Maybe she can turn the tide!]
— —
"Powerless human!" Sirin glared down at Himeko with fury.
"Human this, human that—don't you get tired of it? I have a name, so remember it well!" Himeko pointed her sword at the Second Herrscher. "The one you're facing is Himeko of the Infinite Tower!"
Sword clashed with spear, light intertwined with shadow. The warrior standing amidst the vortex swung her greatsword.
Sirin's conjured spear crackled with lightning, smoke swirling with death.
But the storm of the Flame Sword reduced it all to ashes.
Seeing this, Sirin became certain of one thing. "That armor has my gem! Damn it! I'll tear you to pieces with all my power!"
The Herrscher's face twisted with rage. She had long forgotten everything, unaware that a pair of eyes was always watching her.
From the darkness, a voice commanded, "Fire."
A massive beam of light shot from the cannon, a torrent of radiant rain striking the Herrscher's body.
The Hyperion's hidden weapon unleashed its full power against the Herrscher.
And it hit its mark precisely.
"What? What is this?!"
With a cry of agony, Sirin felt her Honkai energy scattering.
"How?! My body!"
Sirin's form was being torn apart!
This beam was born in the 20th century.
Proposed by Edison and developed through research, it was humanity's greatest civilian invention, Anti-Entropy's ultimate weapon, the most powerful Honkai energy conversion device on Earth.
At this moment, it declared its existence to the world—the "Moonlight Throne"!
Left with no choice, Sirin opened a dimensional portal and vanished on the spot.
Though she sustained heavy damage, she used her spatial abilities to escape into Imaginary Space.
For now, this was all they could do. The Hyperion's crew immediately began rescue operations.
Himeko leaned silently against the railing outside the medical bay, watching as people rushed past with the wounded.
Instinctively, she covered her wound.
But blood kept flowing from it, unstoppable. Himeko gave a bitter smile. "This time, I really messed up big."
Beep—!
Beep—!!
The alarm blared again. Himeko looked at the "God-Slaying Spear" in her hand, straightened up, and began walking against the flow of people.
Time seemed to freeze in that moment.
"These kids may never grow up, but I really like this place. You all have a long road ahead."
"Good luck."
At this point, the audience was clearly the most tormented.
They had no idea what fate awaited Himeko.
Perhaps because of Himeko's role in Honkai: Star Rail, they still held a sliver of hope.
But every camera angle and foreshadowing suggested that Himeko's time was running out.
Pain, torment, darkness, twisted emotions…
This was the raw reaction in most viewers' hearts.
[I kinda don't want to keep watching. There's a knife coming.]
[The stench of that knife is practically spilling out.]
[My heart's too soft for knives. With all these flags raised, I can't take it anymore.]
[By the way, who's responsible for this bloodbath? Step forward!]
[@I Love Drinking Himeko's Coffee, step forward!]
[@I Love Drinking Himeko's Coffee, step forward!]
[@I Love Drinking Himeko's Coffee, step forward!]
[…]
— —
After recovering, Sirin made her comeback, sending Benares to attack the Hyperion while transferring Himeko into Imaginary Space.
"Hahaha…"
Sirin descended the steps from above. "Did you think you could escape?"
"I've been waiting for you." Himeko curled the corner of her mouth slightly, her eyes devoid of fear.
"Are you ready to face death?"
Sirin lightly raised her right hand, and Himeko's body moved uncontrollably, slamming heavily into the wall. "Struggle all you want!"
The scene was like a naive child roughly playing with their toy.
With her spatial powers, Sirin snapped her fingers, enveloping Himeko in a trap. Countless blades appeared behind her, slashing wildly, crushing, and finally, a spear pierced through.
Sirin gave a sidelong glance, not bothering to look further. "Is that all you've got?"
At that moment, a sharp blade came hurtling toward her.
Sirin immediately blocked, but upon contact, she had to teleport elsewhere.
She couldn't guarantee her safety if she took that hit.
From the rubble, Himeko emerged, dragging her greatsword. Her armor was in tatters, her skin covered in countless gashes, as if she were on the verge of collapse.
"Are you done attacking? My turn now. Any objections?"
"Hahaha…" Sirin's laughter abruptly stopped. "Die."
She opened countless dimensional portals, spears all aimed at Himeko.
Himeko's body erupted in dazzling flames, and for a moment, the audience couldn't tell if it was the weapon or the radiance of humanity shining through.
Himeko chose to face a god as a mortal, unwavering in her resolve.
At that moment, Himeko's monologue began in the background, gentle unlike ever before.
"Kiana, when you wake up, you'll find everything has changed. The world will no longer be beautiful, and those ordinary days will be gone forever. But don't give up. Never give up."
Sirin gritted her teeth. "Don't get cocky!"
The dimensional space formed a massive spear. Himeko swung her greatsword down with force, the two powers clashing as a blinding white light engulfed everything.
In the moment before Himeko lost consciousness, images of St. Freya's people flashed through her mind.
Theresa, Fu Hua, Mei, Bronya…
And the one who worried her the most, Kiana.
"Aunt Himeko, I'm going to become the strongest Valkyrie."
Flames burst from Himeko's back, forming wings. She raised her greatsword high once more.
At the same time, the background music began:
"♪ Never let you go, it's why I did them all ♪"
The flames broke through the shackles of space. Sirin's eyes widened, fear appearing in them for the first time.
"Kiana, lift your head and keep moving forward. Turn this imperfect story into the one you want it to be!"
"♪ For a chance at least, to live in your way ♪"
"♪ Love of you is my most cherished thing ♪"
"♪ So stay alive, bravely ♪"
"Live on, Kiana."