The Next Morning, at the Imperial Bedchamber
"What… what's going on?"
Standing at the floor-to-ceiling window of her private dining room, Selene surveyed the imperial capital below, noticing something odd. From this vantage point, she usually overlooked the entire imperial city, but now it felt as if she were standing among the clouds.
"Sebas… truly gave me quite the surprise…" Selene muttered, a twitch at the corner of her mouth. "Does anyone know what happened yesterday?"
The head maid respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, yesterday, after your afternoon bath, you went to rest. Later, Lord Sebas instructed us to draw the soundproof drapes, as he was worried you'd be disturbed."
The maid was as shocked by the changes as everyone else but kept her tone calm. "I believe this… was all Lord Sebas's work."
"Summon Sebas," Selene said with a soft laugh as she indicated the servants to lay out her breakfast tray on the table.
As she waited, Selene settled comfortably into the cushioned sofa. Her feet rested on a polished stone floor covered with luxurious wool carpeting. Sebas's ambition was undeniably grand… but so was her empire, and now all these palatial complexes belonged to her.
As she pondered Sebas's vision, her train of thought was interrupted. "Your Majesty." Sebas arrived, smiling warmly.
Gesturing toward the chair opposite her, Selene said, "Please, Sebas, sit."
As the servants finished setting the table, Selene asked, "Sebas, how much of the imperial capital did you relocate? Was there any loss of property or harm to the people? And how have they reacted?"
This brought a renewed energy to Sebas, who rose immediately, taking out the World Chronicle as he approached Selene to explain.
In his grand plan…
First, Sebas raised the Central Imperial Palace, already one hundred meters above the average height of the capital, by another five hundred meters, reinforcing the foundation with the World Chronicle. He used it to expand the surrounding slopes to support the elevation.
Then, to build an expansive palace complex, he moved everything else—houses, walls, and districts—to the city's outer limits, over ten kilometers out. The multiple layers of city walls, once protective barriers, were divided and reshuffled. Gaps would eventually be filled and reinforced, all for symmetry's sake.
As for the people's reaction, Sebas assured her it was being handled: officials relayed the news, the Imperial Guards maintained order, and a campaign painted Selene as a divine, world-blessed ruler. These measures, combined with the undamaged property, only bolstered public devotion.
With the strategic expansions, Sebas had prepared vast spaces for new palatial grounds—groundwork for his ultimate gift to Selene.
"This is my life's greatest work," he said, beaming, "a palace complex that combines the styles of the world's most famed architectural wonders!"
Sebas's dedication stemmed from more than just loyalty—it was a matter of personal pride. He had long felt it an insult that Selene, the Empire's supreme ruler, lacked a palace to match her stature. And now, with Selene's approval, he could finally bring his vision to life.
The Imperial Palace complex would be called—Selene's Grand Palace! And the imperial capital—The City of a Thousand Palaces!
Of course, he had raised this matter with Selene before. Being an emperor demanded a fitting residence, not one marred with relics from the previous dynasty. The Schönbrunn Palace he had built for her in the North was luxurious but too modest for an empress of her standing.
In his blueprint, Selene's Grand Palace would amalgamate the architectural marvels of Schönbrunn, the Louvre, Versailles, and others, creating an unparalleled palace cluster!
"It will be truly magnificent…" Sebas continued eagerly.
"Do as you wish," Selene replied, "though the Grand Hall for audiences—make it more imposing. Western styles have grandeur, but they're not… monumental enough."
As she drummed her fingers against the table, Selene contemplated and added, "Why not reference the designs of the ancient Eastern palaces, such as the Epang Palace, Weiyang Palace, Purple Forbidden City, or Daming Palace?"
After all, the Empire's architecture blended Eastern and Western influences, with graceful oriental pavilions juxtaposed against grand Western arches and stained glass.
"Ultimately, Sebas, it's your masterpiece to craft."
"Understood, Your Majesty."
Once the palace complex was complete, the City of a Thousand Palaces would be the envy of all nobility. They might scorn the extravagance outwardly but secretly yearn for it.
"I humbly request permission to enlist all the Empire's artisans," Sebas said, bowing slightly.
"Granted," Selene nodded, signing the command. Human expertise would indeed be needed to refine and decorate the structural foundations prepared with the World Chronicle.
Taking the signed decree, Sebas hesitated briefly before speaking. "Your Majesty, may I suggest the Honkai Beast legions and the specialized constructs could also assist…"
"Indeed," she replied thoughtfully.
As Sebas exited, Selene mused over his suggestion. Now that they were safely within the Honkai Dimension, it was time to unveil these forces. The citizens, strengthened by ambient Honkai energy, would slowly grow accustomed to their presence.
"By now, the Honkai energy is already slowly fortifying the populace. It would be wise for them to adapt." Selene poured herself a cup of tea, smiling softly. "I do hope Budo isn't too startled upon his return. And Dr. Stylish… he needs to hurry with the production of Astartes warriors."
According to her mark, Mine's Holy Grail War had concluded. With her path to the Type-Moon Universe now clear, Selene's forces could soon prepare for a grand conquest.
"Yes… the Great Crusade has begun, and forming the Astartes Legion has become inevitable. A new era dawns."
One Year Later, at the Imperial Capital: City of a Thousand Palaces
"Oh my… this is beyond words. It's a divine residence! If I'm not mistaken, these are certainly the works of Master Sebas!"
Dr. Stylish, wrapped in his white coat, clasped himself dramatically.
At the Empress's command, he had spent the year in his northern laboratory producing thousands of Astartes soldiers. Now, an entire Astartes legion was complete. Dr. Stylish had also developed a formula for maximizing their success rates and efficiency while training the medical Astartes who could replicate the gene-modification surgery.
Additionally, with Selene's adjustments, the Honkai Dimension gradually strengthened the Empire's populace, subtly increasing the success rates and effectiveness of surgeries over time.
In ordinary circumstances, someone as outlandishly dressed as Dr. Stylish might draw the guards' suspicion, but not today. At his side, an imposing Astartes warrior stood silently, deterring even the city watch.
Dr. Stylish let out a dramatic wail, lamenting, "Why must I endure such heartbreak, Alex? Sebas pursues his beloved architecture while my fashion corps has been dissolved on Her Majesty's orders! My heart breaks!"
"Err…" Alex glanced down at the fashion scientist. His eccentric fashion corps had been infamously disturbing.
"Thank goodness for Her Majesty's wise decision…" Alex muttered. He recalled that Dr. Stylish once proposed turning the Astartes into models for his "fashion corps." If this plan had come to pass, Alex couldn't bear to imagine what would become of the Astartes' honor.
Had Stylish not been his chief physician, Alex would have gladly let him experience the wrath of an Astartes' iron fist.
"Compose yourself, Doctor," Alex sighed. "Her Majesty has called us. The Grand Crusade is beginning…"
"Yes," Dr. Stylish's eyes gleamed. "Other worlds are waiting. This is indeed the dawn of a new era."
"For the Empire! For the Empress!"
...
"Why?! Why is my art called an eyesore while his is praised?!" Dr. Stylish's exasperation spilled over.
"Alright, alright, Dr. Stylish, just move along," Alex interjected, ushering him onward and dousing his lament about Sebas's 'artistic freedom.'
Dr. Stylish merely huffed and threw a sidelong glance at Alex, who remained stony-faced. "Such an unrefined man," Dr. Stylish muttered dramatically.
The towering figure of Alex moved with heavy, echoing steps as he strode through the city gates into the imperial capital, his presence inspiring awe in the citizens and respect in the patrol guards.
The imperial capital's roads were meticulously arranged, each pathway deliberate, exuding a majesty that carried an air of solemnity. Rows of lush greenery and bright, fragrant flowers lined the main streets, interspersed with impressive statues, finely crafted fountains, and tall, symmetric colonnades. Regal crimson and gold banners flanked these structures, each bearing the imperial insignia of a gold, double-headed eagle encircled by laurel branches against a red field.
"Old Mr. Sebas is truly a refined artist…" Dr. Stylish muttered, admiring the disciplined greenery along the city's central axis.
Walking past endless salutes from patrols and imperial guards, Dr. Stylish soon reached the central avenue leading to the Grand Imperial Palace. Before him stretched a boulevard so grand it seemed endless, flanked by towering sculptures and imposing colonnades that conveyed both a powerful authority and a restrained elegance. The avenue spanned five hundred meters from end to end, connecting to four similar grand boulevards that stretched out to the eastern, southern, western, and northern city districts.
"Today's imperial capital… its majesty surpasses anything from years past." Standing on this central avenue, Dr. Stylish couldn't help but marvel.
Inside the palace's new Schönbrunn Garden, the entrance bore the imperial seal, symbolized by a golden double-headed eagle on either side, while crimson and gold silk tapestries hung above. The expansive garden spread out below the seal, featuring lush greenery, fountains, statues, pools, terraces, and floral displays all arranged into an idyllic paradise.
In the midst of the garden, Selene lay reclined on a soft woolen blanket on the grass, taking a momentary break. Since the completion of preparations for the Astartes Legion, Selene's workload had only intensified. Not even her ministers could alleviate her burdens, for she alone held the reins of three crucial tasks.
The first was processing and integrating information that Mine had returned with from the Type-Moon world, and transmitting her own records and legend-based modifications to stabilize the link between her dimension and the Type-Moon universe.
The second was constructing stable interdimensional pathways to several smaller worlds she had recently discovered.
The third, and most pressing, involved delegating a portion of her powers to those leading future conquests. With her dominion expanding, Selene could no longer oversee every campaign herself.
To this end, Selene had crafted twenty-one Honkai cubes, tokens containing her energy. Those who bore these cubes, upon Selene's permission, would hold partial access to her powers, allowing them to traverse and manipulate interdimensional portals at her command. Her plan was to eventually expand the Astartes into twenty legions. Although only Gensa, the Imperial Guard commander, and Alex, captain of the First Legion, currently bore these tokens, more would follow as Astartes expansion accelerated.
"Majesty… um, Majesty?" Selene's aide, Alyssa, called softly, rousing her from the drowsiness.
Selene opened her eyes slowly, rubbing them as she sat up. "Ah… Alyssa, what time is it? Are Alex and Dr. Stylish here yet?"
"Yes, Majesty. Commander Alex and Dr. Stylish have arrived."
"Oh, then let's go." Taking a warm towel from a servant to refresh herself, Selene rose. There would be no grand assembly today; true to her philosophy of "keeping big meetings small," only a select few would attend the Great Crusade briefing.
When Selene arrived at the palace's main entrance, the herald's voice echoed through the courtyard: "Her Majesty arrives!"
Those gathered below all knelt in unison, heads bowed. "Your Majesty!"
Selene seated herself on the raised throne and surveyed the attendees. Present were Great General Budo, newly outfitted in an enhanced Astartes body, Imperial Guard Commander Gensa, First Legion Commander Alex, the Science Bureau's Dr. Stylish, and General Leiva.
As for Sebas and Esdeath, they were preoccupied. Sebas was still coordinating the palace construction, an ongoing process despite the Astartes' assistance, due to the project's massive scale. Esdeath, meanwhile, was undergoing a transformation into a Herrscher of Ice, with Selene overseeing the complex process for stability and precision.
Selene scanned the room, taking in the ambition, fervor, and loyalty in their eyes—qualities she'd sown over a year of preparation.
Clearing her throat, she spoke with steely calm. "You know why I've called you here."
Each nodded in affirmation, already prepared for what lay ahead. Their patience for an expedition to conquer other worlds had long worn thin.
Selene's gaze settled on Alex. "The First Legion will be at the forefront of this campaign, Alex; you will lead."
Alex, hand pressed firmly to his heart, replied with unwavering conviction, "The First Legion's loyalty lies wherever Your Majesty commands!"
"I trust you." Selene extended a hand as a faint purple glow emanated, infusing Alex and the others with a vision. "These are images I extracted from one of our target worlds. I trust they'll prove useful."
"Viruses…?" murmured someone.
Seeing her commanders absorbed in thought, Selene descended the platform and approached the towering palace gates. As two guards opened the doors, a burst of light flooded the room, jolting the gathered officers from their reverie.
"Your Majesty…" they murmured, following her to the grand terrace.
There, Selene looked out over the vast formation of Astartes soldiers below. "Observe, this is my army."
Turning to Alex, she added, "Remember, I want only victory. Whatever the obstacles, your path is yours to manage. Do you understand?"
"Absolutely, Your Majesty."
Below, the Astartes, equipped with enhanced sight, spotted Selene atop the terrace with Alex at her side.
"Long live the Empress!" they cried. "For the Empress!"
"With the blood of our enemies, we shall honor the Empress!"
"In Selene's name, we shall burn the alien world!"
With the fervor rising among the Astartes, their thunderous battle cries filled the imperial square, an infectious roar of loyalty and determination echoing across the capital. They were more than prepared; they yearned to spread her glory across the stars, to bring Selene's light to countless lives.
Satisfied, Selene raised her right hand, amplifying her voice through Honkai energy. "Victory to Astartes!"
"Victory!" thundered thousands of voices in unison.
Target World of the Great Crusade
In a distant world, the people remained blissfully unaware of the horrors about to befall them. Or perhaps, had they known, they would not have resisted, as their world had already been overrun by monsters, forcing humanity into narrow enclaves behind "the Walls" to survive.
It was a world steeped in tears and despair.
Once vibrant and prosperous, it had been decimated by an apocalyptic disaster. Now, the ruins lay under a shroud of moss and ivy, rusted vehicles strewn across the streets, and buildings slowly reclaimed by nature.
A group of young girls, barely clothed and huddled in a decrepit hallway, stared across the river to the walled city beyond—the last human stronghold, a distant beacon of hope they'd been denied. These abandoned girls were merely children, cursed and discarded by society.
"Do you think we'll ever know what it's like… over there?" asked one girl.
"I don't know…" another replied quietly, as they leaned against a cracked wall, weary eyes fixed on the fortress across the water.
Suddenly, an ethereal violet glow began flickering down the abandoned roadway outside, dust shifting with an unseen force.
"Reporting: Target world reached. Hostiles located."
Meanwhile, within the walled city, in a nondescript police department building…
"You're the reinforcements?" The gruff officer, skepticism evident on his face, looked down at the youth before him. "Hah! Just a kid. You really think you can handle this?"
"Look, I'm here to help whether you think I can or not," replied the young man in a tailored suit, the ID in his hand reading "Rentaro Satomi, Tendo Civil Security Corporation." He yanked the ID from the officer's hand, his tone annoyed.
"Alright, up to the fourth floor…"
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