It was a very strange dream, like watching someone's entire life from a third-person perspective.
Though confused, Inaba Tsukiyo gradually became immersed in this person's story as the narrative unfolded.
She was a very upright, righteous girl, as if born to fight the Honkai, becoming a vanguard against it.
However, the justice she believed in was different from what she saw in reality, and it was precisely for this justice that she ultimately sacrificed herself in an action to protect the people.
Inaba Tsukiyo stared blankly at the sight of the girl's body being pierced by the Honkai Beast's spikes. Although she knew she would die, she had no regrets.
"This feeling is very strange, like my secret is being watched by others."
The moment the girl died, the entire world began to shatter, turning into a pure white space, and at the same time, a girl in a miko outfit appeared before her.
Although she wore a miko outfit, her clothes resembled a cheongsam, she carried a giant golden cross on her back, and two guns hung from her legs.
"Nice to meet you... future person. I didn't expect that I, too, would come as a Stigmata, as a power for a future warrior to protect this beautiful world."
"Beautiful... world? Do you really think this world is beautiful?"
This world, eroded by the Honkai? Is it truly beautiful? Even if beautiful things once existed in this world, with the human world, can this world still be called beautiful?
"Why not? Besides happiness and joy, humans must also experience sorrow, pain, and suffering. However, it is precisely because of these that this colorful world is formed. I have seen your memories; you want to protect the lives of those you cherish, and there is nothing wrong with that. I also have no right to judge your values, because the people I protect are the populace, and the people you protect are those you love most."
"...You saw it? Considering I've also seen your past, I guess we're even. So, can you tell me why you appeared here, Miss Kallen Kaslana? As the former strongest Valkyrie of Schicksal."
Kallen Kaslana, an S-Rank Valkyrie of the Schicksal organization, and the wielder of the Eleventh divine key—oath of judah.
As someone long deceased, why would she appear before her? Did she receive Kallen's Stigmata? That couldn't be, she had no connection to her whatsoever.
"Why I appeared, I don't know either. And why must there be a reason? Doesn't this just mean that we get along very well?"
Kallen familiarly patted Inaba Tsukiyo's shoulder, curiously looking at the mikazuki munechika at Inaba Tsukiyo's waist.
Kallen was skilled in the kaslana's Gun-Fu; as for swordsmanship, her deepest impression was still of the girl she loved.
Moreover, the miko outfit Inaba Tsukiyo was currently wearing also reminded Kallen of that girl, making her think of the girl named Yae Sakura.
"Sakura..."
A nostalgic glint flashed in Kallen's eyes, and the days she spent with Yae Sakura continuously replayed in her mind.
Though brief, it was indeed the happiest time in Kallen's life, only... their final outcomes weren't very good.
Suppressing the urge to cry, Kallen knelt down in front of Inaba Tsukiyo, her azure pupils looking directly into Inaba Tsukiyo's eyes.
It must be said that the height difference between Kallen, who was 170cm tall, and Inaba Tsukiyo, who was 138cm, was simply too great. If Kallen didn't kneel, she would either be looking up or down.
"Whatever I say now is empty talk. Since I appeared here, it means you can resonate with my power. Although I am not skilled in swordsmanship, I hope you can accept my power."
"I always feel like you're leaving a will, even though you're already dead. Don't look at me like this; I'm much older than you, who died at twenty-four."
It was always like this; every time, she was treated like a child because of her stature.
Although she could often get discounts at certain facilities due to her height, Inaba Tsukiyo didn't want such discounts.
"Hehe~ I know, I've seen your memories too. Although it's only a small part, I've also seen the secret about you coming from another world. And... Ugh!"
Kallen, who was about to say something, suddenly widened her eyes, and her legs began to fade, gradually spreading up her body.
"No time left? Seriously, I still wanted to say something properly. I don't even know when we'll meet again."
Kallen was a bit helpless, but she, who had already died, was already very satisfied to be able to converse with someone.
Opening her arms, Kallen embraced Inaba Tsukiyo, gently kissing her on the forehead.
This kiss caused a red, somewhat cross-shaped imprint to appear on Inaba Tsukiyo's back, and at the same time, this world rapidly collapsed.
Climbing out of bed, Inaba Tsukiyo wiped the cold sweat from her forehead.
This dream made Inaba Tsukiyo a bit unclear about how much time had passed. If it weren't for the alarm clock still ringing, Inaba Tsukiyo suspected she might have slept for a very long time.
Putting on her miko outfit, Inaba Tsukiyo prepared to go to the dojo again to help out.
However, this time Inaba Tsukiyo found that the once prosperous world had become exceptionally unfamiliar.
There was no roar of cars, no sound of people coming and going, only various low growls, just like the zombies she had seen in the previous world.
No, they shouldn't be called zombies here; they should be called Death Soldiers.
"What's going on? I just slept, why has the entire Changkong City become like this?"
Having had previous experience dealing with zombies, Inaba Tsukiyo didn't feel much about these Death Soldiers appearing on the street.
These Death Soldiers were different from zombies; they could run, and because of the Honkai Energy infection, they possessed greater strength than normal humans.
Before even reaching the street, Inaba Tsukiyo could hear the low growls of Death Soldiers on the street; at least the entire street was filled with Death Soldiers.
"This is really... why do I always encounter such things? Is this Changkong City also going to be quarantined?"
Undoubtedly, a large-scale disaster had occurred here, possibly a Honkai outbreak, causing millions of people in Changkong City to perish in this event.
Inaba Tsukiyo's situation was special, so she wasn't affected by Honkai Energy in her sleep, but even with this number of zombies, Inaba Tsukiyo found it very troublesome.
Changkong City map... Changkong City map... This is really, she had no complete map of Changkong City in her mind.
Although she had lived in Changkong City for several months, Inaba Tsukiyo's active time wasn't very long; Inaba Tsukiyo only remembered the locations near her residence.
"Let's move forward without disturbing the Death Soldiers. Although I can deal with them, it's too troublesome."
The surrounding buildings were severely damaged, and Death Soldiers were constantly patrolling the streets. Inaba Tsukiyo could only choose to advance through places like alleys.
"I wonder if I'll encounter any Honkai Beasts… While I'm curious about their strength, dealing with overly large Honkai Beasts is just too troublesome."
Even if she could defeat a several-meter-tall Honkai Beast with her swordsmanship, she wouldn't be able to handle multiple Honkai Beasts appearing simultaneously.
Walking cautiously down the street, as there were no alleys nearby, Inaba Tsukiyo could only stay on the unsafe main road.
She had previously investigated information about the Honkai, but Inaba Tsukiyo had never seen a Honkai Beast. She only knew that without a Valkyrie, ordinary armies would find it very difficult to deal with Honkai Beasts, requiring a huge sacrifice to defeat them.
"Hmm? This feeling… no way."
The street, which hadn't had many Death Soldiers, suddenly saw a Honkai Beast appear ahead. The Honkai Beast stood facing Inaba Tsukiyo, completely still.
This was very strange. This feeling was somewhat similar to facing those intelligent zombies in her previous world. Could these Honkai Beasts be related to that abnormal energy?
She couldn't figure it out, but this couldn't suppress Inaba Tsukiyo's strong curiosity.
The previously very cautious Inaba Tsukiyo approached the Honkai Beast step by step. Even as Inaba Tsukiyo drew near, the Honkai Beast showed no reaction. Even when Inaba Tsukiyo poked it with her sword, it remained motionless.
"Could this… be a statue? But who would be so bored as to build a statue in the middle of a main road? That's just asking for trouble."
She kicked the Honkai Beast's body with her leg. After realizing the Honkai Beast still showed no reaction, Inaba Tsukiyo suddenly had a bold idea.
Since there were no other Honkai Beasts here, dealing with this one herself shouldn't be an impossible task, right? It was a good chance to test just how strong Honkai Beasts really were.
The more she thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. Inaba Tsukiyo reached for the mikazuki munechika at her waist, used Magic Power Release to enhance her weapon and physical abilities, and prepared to draw her sword.
As she charged up, Inaba Tsukiyo didn't realize that a red mark behind her was faintly glowing.
[Clang!]
A single slash, without any fancy preparatory movements or shouts, just drawing the sword and then sheathing it.
However, the speed of drawing and sheathing the sword was incredibly fast.
After Inaba Tsukiyo sheathed her sword, a crack appeared in the middle of the motionless Honkai Beast's body. The crack then grew larger and larger, expanding to encompass its entire body.
[Thud!!]
The sound of a heavy object hitting the ground, like a deep rumble. This Honkai Beast, with its huge forelimbs, was so easily instantly killed by Inaba Tsukiyo.
"It feels… like it wasn't that troublesome after all. Was I too nervous?"
It felt like dealing with these Honkai Beasts wasn't as difficult as she imagined. Just one slash, without even using an ultimate move, and the Honkai Beast died. There was no need to be so nervous.
[Thud] * 3
No sooner had this thought appeared than three more sounds of heavy objects hitting the ground rang out.
In front of Inaba Tsukiyo and on both sides behind her, three more Honkai Beasts appeared, identical to the one with huge forelimbs she had just dispatched.
The eyes of these three Honkai Beasts' heads were now stained with vivid colors, as if they were angry.
"It seems… I've overdone it a bit?"
-----------------------
To read the next 40 chapters in advance, you can follow and support me on Patreon.
I'll be posting early chapters there so you can always stay ahead and never miss any new content.
patreon.com/SolyuraMT