The air outside the mall was thick with smoke and panic, a far cry from the bustling normalcy Kenji had left behind just moments ago. His boots crunched against shattered glass as he staggered onto the cracked pavement, his breaths ragged and uneven.
If he would describe it, he would say that it looked like hell on earth. People screamed and shouted, their voices blending into a dissonant chorus as they ran in every direction. Fires blazed uncontrollably, casting an orange glow against the ruined buildings. Cars were overturned, their alarms blaring loudly. The acrid smell of burning plastic and metal stung his nostrils.
Nagazora was in chaos.
Kenji's Danger Sense buzzed constantly in the background, he knew that all of this was just the beginning.
"What the hell…" he whispered, his voice barely audible amidst the noise. His eyes darted around, taking in the destruction. Honkai Beasts-lots of them- roamed freely through the streets, attacking anything that moved.
His heart hammered in his chest, and a cold sweat dripped down his temple. He'd fought Honkai Beasts before—small groups, manageable numbers. But this? This was an eruption. He didn't need a Phd to know he was way out of his depth.
"My suit," Kenji muttered to himself, gripping his fists until his nails dug into his palms. "I need to get my suit fast."
But his legs refused to obey, rooted to the cracked concrete beneath him. For a split second, fear took over, locking him in place. His mind raced through a thousand possibilities, all of them ending with him as another casualty in this disaster.
Then, he heard it.
A child's cry, faint but unmistakable, cut through the noise like a knife.
Kenji's head snapped toward the sound, and his gaze locked onto a small figure trapped beneath a fallen streetlight. A young boy, no older than six, was pinned, his small hands clawing desperately at the ground as he sobbed for help.
The fear in Kenji's chest burned away, replaced by something fiercer—anger. Without a second thought, he ran toward the boy, adrenaline surging through his veins.
"Hold on!" Kenji called, his voice breaking through the boy's cries.
He dropped to his knees beside the child, assessing the situation. The streetlight was planted right above his leg, but it wasn't broken thankfully. 'Where are his parents?'. Kenji wasn't sure he wanted to know the answer to that.
He clenched his jaw, planting his feet firmly against the cracked pavement.
Taking a deep breath, he let One For All flow through him. The familiar surge of energy lit his veins like fire, crackling faintly as his muscles tensed.
With a sharp grunt, he grabbed the streetlight and heaved. Lifting it and throwing it to the side with minimal effort. The boy's eyes widened as the weight lifted off him, looking up at him with awe.
"You okay, kid?" he asked, panting.
The boy nodded, his tear-streaked face full of shock and gratitude. Kenji picked him up, cradling him carefully before scanning the area for a safe place.
Inside the mall—for now. He sprinted toward it, his Danger Sense buzzing faintly as smaller Honkai Beasts prowled the area. The boy clung to him tightly, his small hands trembling.
Kenji set the boy down in a closed down store, crouching to meet his eye level. "Uhh shit" he said, unsure of where to put the child. "Ok, stay here for now. Once the Honkai Beasts around here are gone, you run to the shelters. You know where that is?" He wasn't if leaving the child here was the right call, but the mall looked much safer than the rest of the city.
The boy nodded again, his lip quivering. Kenji forced a small smile, ruffling the kid's hair before stepping back into the chaos.
Just a few seconds after he had left the mall, he felt his Danger Sense flare, sharper this time. A guttural roar echoed behind him, and he spun just in time to see a Seraph descending from the sky, its gleaming claws poised to strike.
"Mother fucker!" Kenji dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack. The beast's claws tore through the pavement where he'd just stood, sending shards of concrete flying.
He scrambled to his feet, his heart racing. The Seraph turned toward him, its glowing eyes locking onto his form.
"Alright" Kenji muttered, shaking off the tremor in his hands. "I have to deal with you fast!"
He pushed One For All to 35% again and darted towards the beast. His movements were quick. The Seraph swiped at him, its claws slicing through the air, but Kenji ducked low and planted a solid punch into its abdomen.
The impact sent the beast flying into a nearby car, the vehicle crumpling under its weight. Sparks crackled faintly around Kenji's arm, dissipating as he dropped back to 25%.
The beast let out a guttural growl, struggling to rise from the wreckage. Kenji didn't wait. He lunged forward, his fist glowing faintly as he delivered a finishing blow to its head. The Seraph went limp, its form crumbling into ash.
Kenji staggered back, slowly getting his breathing back in control. His shoulder throbbed from a scrape he hadn't noticed, and his legs felt like jelly.
"Ok, thats one down." he muttered, his voice tinged with forced confidence. But as he turned to survey the streets, the world seemed to slow again.
In this split second, he saw around 20 people all around him all in danger. He couldn't get to them all in time. People were going to die. But this wasn't a time for him to second guess.
For every person he could save, there were more he couldn't reach. Screams echoed from every direction, and the streets were overrun with beasts and infected. Kenji clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. "Keep moving," he told himself. "Save as many as I can!". Activating 25% he rushed forward, a loud boom thundering throughout the chaos.
But as he sprinted toward the next scream, his trembling hands betrayed the fear still clawing at his chest.
---
The streets of Nagazora were a warzone. Fires raged uncontrollably, their orange glow casting flickering shadows across the crumbling facades of buildings. The stench of burning debris and the coppery tang of blood filled the air. Every corner Kenji turned brought a new scene of devastation.
Screams echoed relentlessly. Some were cries for help; others were cut short far too soon. The guttural growls of Honkai Beasts created a symphony of chaos that grated against Kenji's nerves.
He blitzed through the streets, weaving between abandoned cars and destroying some seraphs that he passed by, his Danger Sense flaring sporadically like a broken alarm.
A distant explosion rocked the city, sending a plume of smoke and debris into the air. Kenji barely flinched. He didn't have time to process the destruction. If danger sense didn't lead him there then he wouldn't waste his time. Every second counted.
Danger sense led him and as he rounded a corner, his eyes locked onto a group of people huddled near the remains of a bus stop. A young woman was shielding a toddler with her body, her face pale and streaked with dirt. Beside her, an elderly man clutched a cane, his frail form trembling.
And stalking toward them was a pack of Seraph-class Honkai Beasts.
Kenji's eyes narrowed. There were at least five of them, their grotesque forms illuminated by the flickering flames. Their glowing forms were locked onto the terrified group and they were about to strike.
Kenji clenched his fists. He drew a sharp breath, activating 35% of One For All in an instant. Sparks of red energy crackled around him, illuminating the area with a faint, menacing glow.
What happened next passed in 10 seconds
The Seraph-class Honkai Beasts turned their attention to him, their heads tilting in unison. A guttural growl erupted from one of them before it charged, its claws raised high.
Kenji's eyes narrowed.
With a single leap, he closed the gap, his speed creating a shockwave that rippled through the air. His fist connected with the Seraph's chest, the impact detonating with a deafening boom. The creature disintegrated instantly, its ash scattering in the wind.
The remaining four hesitated for a split second, their movements faltering as though they recognized the sudden threat. But Kenji didn't give them a chance to regroup. He dashed forward, his body a blur of motion as he delivered a devastating kick to the second Seraph, sending it crashing through a nearby wall.
The third and fourth couldn't move fast enough before Kenji appeared in front of them and crushing them both with his fists.
One left.
Kenji turned to the final Seraph, his glowing red aura intensifying. The creature, now alone, let out a shrill screech and lunged at him with reckless abandon. Kenji met it mid-air, driving his fist into its core with unrelenting force. The explosion of energy lit up the street, and the Seraph was no more.
The dust settled, leaving Kenji standing alone in the aftermath. His breaths were steady, though his chest rose and fell with the lingering tension of battle. He turned his gaze to the huddled civilians, who had watched the scene unfold in stunned silence.
"You're safe now," he said, his voice calm but firm. "Get to a shelter. Quickly."
The young woman holding the toddler stared at him, her wide eyes filled with disbelief. "You're… You're the Night Runner, aren't you?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Kenji froze, 'Goodbye secret identity' He thought to himself. The faint glow of red sparks still emanated from his body, undeniable proof of his identity. The whispers spread quickly among the group, their fear and awe palpable.
"The Night Runner saved us…"
"It's him! It has to be…"
Kenji's jaw tightened, but he pushed the thought aside. Now wasn't the time to worry about his identity. People are in danger. Without another word, he turned and sprinted toward the next sign of danger, leaving the civilians to process what they had just witnessed.
---
The streets were a battlefield, filled with shattered glass and the unmistakable stench of blood. Kenji sprinted through the chaos, his form like a blur as he rushed through Nagazora, 35% coursing through his veins. The red lightning crackling around him cast ominous shadows on the crumbling walls of Nagazora.
In every direction, the destruction was unimaginable. A bus lay overturned in the middle of the road, its windows shattered, its interior eerily silent. Bodies of civilians littered the ground, some crushed beneath debris, others torn apart by the monstrous Honkai Beasts. The cries of the living pierced the air, a desperate symphony of terror.
Instead of a look of fear or determination, the look on Kenji's face showed nothing but rage. 'Why is someone like me always the fortunate one?!'
Kenji vaulted over a collapsed lamppost, his Danger Sense flaring. A screech tore through the air as a Chariot-class Honkai Beast barreled toward him, its massive, mechanical frame ripping through the pavement like it was paper. Its glowing core pulsed menacingly, and its metallic claws gleamed under the flickering streetlights.
Without hesitation, Kenji leaped into action, activating 35% of One For All. His body surged with power, the red lightning sparking violently around him.
The Chariot swiped at him with one of its massive claws, but Kenji ducked low, his movements almost too fast to follow. He retaliated with an uppercut to its core, his fist crashing into the beast with the force of a missile.
The impact shattered the Chariot's, sending shards of glowing crystal and blackened metal flying in all directions. The beast's body convulsed before collapsing in a heap, the light in its form extinguished.
Kenji landed with a grunt, his boots skidding on the blood-slick pavement. He glanced around, trying to pinpoint another location given by Danger Sense. The air was thick with smoke and ash, making it hard to breathe, but he couldn't stop. Not now.
His attention is drawn to a nearby alley. A young boy, no older than eight, was cornered by a Seraph. The creature's grotesque form loomed over the boy, its claws dripping with fresh blood.
Kenji's stomach churned as he noticed the mangled body of the boy's father lying a few feet away. The man's lifeless eyes stared blankly at the sky, his chest torn open in a gruesome display. The boy clutched a small stuffed bear, his tear-streaked face frozen in terror as the beast inched closer.
"No!" Kenji roared. He pushed himself forward, the ground cracking beneath his feet as he propelled himself toward the Seraph.
The beast turned its head just as Kenji slammed into it, his fist hard as he uppercut the beast so hard that it was sent flying up. In an instant Kenji jumped up and sent a kick down at the beast, the impact creating a shockwave. The beast was sent flying into the street, it's body unresponsive.
As Kenji landed, he knelt in front of the boy, his hands trembling as he placed them on the child's shoulders. "You're safe now," he said, his voice softer, though his heart still raced. He moved the boys attention away from his fathers corpse "Theres no more monsters here. the shelter is just a few blocks south—"
But the boy didn't move. His wide, terrified eyes were fixed on something behind Kenji.
Danger
A low growl rumbled through the air, sending a shiver down Kenji's spine. Slowly, he turned his head.
A group of Chariot-class Honkai Beasts stood at the entrance of the alley, their glowing cores pulsating in unison. Behind them, more infected humans stumbled into view, their lifeless eyes filled with eerie determination.
Kenji gritted his teeth, standing protectively in front of the boy. His body ached from the constant strain of maintaining 35%, but he pushed the pain aside.
"I'll hold them off," he muttered, more to himself than the child. "I have to."
The Chariots charged, their massive frames shaking the ground with each step. Kenji surged forward to meet them, his fists glowing with red sparks. He struck the first beast in the chest, it wasn't enough to destroy it but sent it flying out of the alley. But the second Chariot was faster, its claw catching him across the shoulder.
Kenji cried out as the claw tore through his jacket, leaving a deep gash that bled profusely. The pain was blinding, but he didn't falter. He spun around, delivering a devastating kick to the second Chariot, sending its body flying through the building next to them.
The third beast lunged at him, its jaws snapping inches from his face. Kenji ducked, grabbing the creature by its head and slamming it into the ground with all his strength. The asphalt cracked beneath the impact, it tried to get up before he slammed his fist down, killing it instantly.
The zombies were still advancing, their grotesque forms moving with slow speed but the sheer amount of them made Kenji nervous, their distorted faces twisted in a grotesque semblance of rage.
Kenji's breath came in ragged gasps, the coppery taste of blood lingering on his tongue as exhaustion clawed at his body.
Behind him, the boy whimpered softly, clutching the tattered stuffed bear that was now stained with dirt and ash. The sound cut through the haze of pain and fatigue, grounding Kenji. He turned his head slightly, locking eyes with the terrified child. His small face was streaked with tears, his lips trembling as he clung to the only thing he had left.
Kenji's chest tightened. He needed to get him away, to the shelters. Clenching his fists, he forced his battered body to move, crouching low and scooping the child into his arms. The boy didn't resist; he latched onto Kenji with a desperation that made the vigilante's resolve harden.
"Hold on tight," Kenji murmured, his voice rough but steady. The boy buried his face into Kenji's chest, his tiny hands clutching at the torn fabric of Kenji's jacket.
Kenji exhaled sharply, focusing inward. Activating 35% once again as the energy crackling through his veins. Red lightning flickered around his body, illuminating the chaos in bursts of light.
With a deafening BOOM, Kenji launched himself into the air, the force of his leap shattering the pavement beneath him. The wind roared in his ears as the city blurred into streaks of color. He cradled the child tightly, angling his body to shield the boy from the brutal force of their ascent.
The boy clung to him, his face pressed against Kenji's chest, muffling his sobs. Kenji could feel the faint tremble of his small frame, a reminder of the fragile life he was protecting.
As they soared through the air, Kenji's mind raced. He needed to get the child to safety, but the chaos of the eruption made everything unpredictable. His Danger Sense continued to pulse, but the signals were scattered, fragmented by the overwhelming presence of Honkai energy. It made pinpointing threats a nearly impossible.
'There's a shelter nearby' Kenji thought, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon. He spotted the reinforced steel doors of a designated safe zone, its perimeter guarded by armed personnel. He adjusted his trajectory, angling toward it with a precision born of instinct and desperation.
They landed with a thunderous impact just outside the shelter's entrance, the force cracking the asphalt and sending a shockwave rippling outward. The sound echoed like a cannon blast, drawing the immediate attention of the guards stationed nearby.
"Contact!" one of them shouted, his rifle snapping up as he and the others trained their weapons on Kenji. Their faces were tense, their eyes darting between him and the swirling red lightning that still crackled faintly around his body.
"Hold your fire!" barked the commanding officer, stepping forward. His voice was steady, but there was an edge of caution as he observed the figure before him. Kenji's bloodstained clothes, the jagged tears in his jacket, and the sheer power radiating from him were unlike anything the guards had encountered.
Kenji straightened, his chest heaving as he locked eyes with the officer. "He's human," One of the guards confirmed. Kenji walked closer to them and he gently lowered the boy, cradling him as if he were made of glass. "Take him."
The officer hesitated for only a moment before stepping closer, his arms outstretched to receive the child. The boy clung to Kenji for a second longer before releasing his grip, allowing the officer to lift him into his arms.
"Please take care of him" Kenji said, his voice softer, almost relieved.
The officer nodded, his expression softening as he looked down at the boy. "We've got him. Thank you—"
The words died in his throat as Kenji turned away, his body crackling with renewed energy. With another thunderous BOOM, he disappeared, leaving behind a gust of wind that knocked the guards back a step.
"What the hell was that?" one of the younger guards muttered, lowering his weapon.
"Was that..." another began, his voice trailing off as realization dawned.
The commanding officer stared at the spot where Kenji had stood moments before, his grip tightening on the boy. "The Night Runner," he said quietly, his tone a mix of awe and disbelief.
The guards exchanged uneasy glances, their eyes flicking to the child, who had gone silent, his tear-streaked face buried in the officer's chest.
---
A woman cried out, her voice cutting through the cacophony of collapsing buildings and roaring Honkai Beasts. Kenji skidded to a stop, the soles of his shoes grinding against the cracked pavement. A Seraph-class loomed over her, its jagged claws raised to strike.
Kenji surged forward in a flash, his fist glowing as he smashed it into the creature's torso. The beast exploded into fragments of Honkai energy, its remains splattering against the walls. Without stopping, Kenji crouched beside the woman, her tear-streaked face pale with terror.
"Get to the shelter on 5th Street," he said, his voice urgent but steady. "Go now!"
She nodded shakily, stumbling to her feet and running as fast as her legs could carry her. Kenji turned back toward the chaos, scanning for his next target.
Further down the street, a small group of people huddled behind an overturned car as a Chariot-class Honkai Beast battered the vehicle, its claws tearing through the metal like paper. Kenji launched himself toward them, landing on the creature's back with a deafening crash.
The Chariot screeched, thrashing as Kenji grabbed its armored head and yanked it back with all his strength. Lightning surged down his arms as he drove a fist into its neck, shattering the beast's spine (or what counts as a spine) and sending it crumpling to the ground.
"Go!" he shouted at the group, waving them toward an alley. "Stick together and don't stop running!"
They hesitated, their wide eyes fixed on him in disbelief, before one of them grabbed the others and pulled them away. Kenji watched for a brief moment, ensuring they were clear, before the sound of a distant scream wrenched his attention away.
He sprinted toward the sound, his legs burning as he pushed 35% through his body, the strain threatening to tear him apart. His Danger Sense flared wildly as he turned a corner and saw another Honkai Beast—this time a Seraph—looming over a fallen man.
Kenji didn't hesitate. He slammed into the Seraph with a devastating kick, sending it flying into the side of a building. The impact cracked the wall, and the beast crumpled to the ground, twitching weakly before going still.
He crouched beside the man, his heart sinking as he realized the truth. The man's chest was still, his eyes staring blankly at the sky. Blood pooled beneath him, the fatal blow having come moments before Kenji arrived.
Kenji clenched his fists, his nails biting into his palms. He forced himself to look away, to move on. There was no time to grieve. Somewhere nearby, someone else needed him.
The cycle repeated itself. Every time he saved someone, another life slipped through his fingers.
A young girl trapped under a pile of rubble, her sobs drawing Kenji's attention. He lifted the debris with all his strength, freeing her just as a building across the street collapsed, crushing the family who had been running for safety.
A pair of teenagers cornered by infected, their terrified screams piercing the air. Kenji tore through the horde, his fists moving in a blur, only to turn and see an elderly man fall to a Templar's claws in the distance.
What hit him hard the most was when he went back to the mall to pick up the child he told to hide there. Only to find a pool of blood without the child anywhere in sight.
Each life saved was a tiny flicker of hope, but the growing pile of bodies cast an ever-deepening shadow over Kenji's heart.
Blood dripped from his wounds, his torn jacket hanging limply from his shoulders. His breaths came in ragged gasps, his vision blurring at the edges. But he couldn't stop. His every action being carried by rage and persistence.
He carried a mother and her toddler in his arms, the woman's desperate cries urging him on as they sped toward a nearby shelter. The walls of the building came into view, its reinforced doors wide open as armed guards waved people inside.
"Keep moving!" Kenji shouted, pushing himself faster. He set them down at the entrance, watching as the guards quickly ushered them in.
But just as he turned to leave, a massive shadow loomed behind him. He spun around to see another Chariot bearing down on him, its claws raised high. He threw himself backward, narrowly dodging the strike, and countered with a punch to its midsection. The beast staggered, and Kenji followed up with a series of strikes.
The Chariot fell, but Kenji didn't have time to savor the victory. More Honkai Beasts were already swarming the streets, their guttural roars echoing in the night.
For what felt like hours blurred together as Kenji fought, ran, and carried. His body was a machine, his mind running on pure instinct. But with every passing moment, the weight of the eruption bore down on him more heavily.
A young boy clung to his leg, his tear-streaked face buried in Kenji's pant leg. "Please," he sobbed, "don't leave me."
Kenji knelt down, his voice gentle despite his exhaustion. "I won't. You're safe now." He lifted the boy onto his back and ran, his legs trembling but refusing to give out.
Behind him, the fires of the city raged, and the distant cries of those he couldn't save haunted him with every step.
As he stood atop a building, surveying the chaos below, Kenji's hands trembled at his sides. His body screamed for rest, his wounds crying out for attention, but his resolve held firm.
His eyes drifted to a broken down café, the one he always went to during his lunch break. He saw a clock and realised that it was 16:50.
Only 20 minutes had passed since he left the mall, and in that 20 minutes so many lives were lost and Kenji's body felt like it was ready to give out.
"Just hold out." he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible over the roar of destruction. His eyes burned with unshed tears, but he refused to let them fall. "Hold out long enough... until the Valkyries arrive!"
---
-----
---
Himeko stood in the armory of the Hyperion, the room dimly lit by the crimson glow of her battlesuit interface. The suit hugged her frame, its sleek design both protective and a conduit for her considerable power.
Her fingers danced across the interface panels embedded in her gauntlets, activating the suit's systems. A low hum resonated through the room as the battlesuit powered up, its energy syncing seamlessly with her body.
"Suit integrity at 100%," came the crisp voice of the Hyperion's AI.
Himeko tightened the straps of her gauntlets, her crimson eyes sharp with focus. On the wall before her hung her greatsword, its massive blade gleaming ominously. She reached out, her hand steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins. The weight of the weapon felt familiar, comforting—a reminder of countless battles fought and won.
With a swift motion, she swung the blade once, testing its balance. The air around the weapon shimmered with heat as its dormant power awakened, a faint glow emanating from its core.
"Captain Murata," one of the bridge crew called over the comms, their voice tinged with urgency. "Honkai activity in Nagazora is escalating rapidly. Ground forces are overwhelmed, and reinforcements are still en route."
"I know," Himeko replied, her voice calm but carrying an edge of steel. "I'm heading down now."
She slung her weapon over her shoulder, the blade locking securely into place. With each step, her heels clanged against the metal floor of the armory. She paused at the exit, her gaze briefly falling on the tactical display showing the chaotic state of Nagazora.
Her jaw tightened as she took in the devastation. Fires raged unchecked, and the red markers of Honkai Beasts littered the cityscape.
Himeko's hand curled into a fist at her side. "This ends now," she muttered under her breath.
She stepped onto the drop platform, the wind from the open hatch whipping her fiery hair around her face. The Hyperion's engines roared above her, its position steady in the smoke-filled sky. Below, Nagazora stretched out like a battlefield on the brink of collapse.
With a final glance at the tactical readout, Himeko smirked faintly. "Let's see how tough you bastards really are."
She leapt from the platform, falling towards Nagazora like a flaming meteor. As she plummeted toward the city, the world around her blurred into a storm of heat and fury.
Himeko Murata had entered the fray.