Himeko sprinted through the streets of Nagazora, her greatsword sheathed and both arms cradling Kenji's battered form. The boy's body was unnervingly light, his frame limp in her grasp as if the last threads of energy had been ripped from him. She could still see faint cracks spiderwebbing across his skin, glowing dimly despite the healing that had begun before he passed out. Her eyes narrowed in concern.
The rhythmic pounding of her boots against the cracked pavement was almost drowned out by the distant hum of engines as the battleship finally descended. Its massive shadow loomed over the battlefield, casting long lines of darkness against the crimson sunset.
Valkyries were already mobilizing, dropping from the ship's loading bays and spreading out through Nagazora to secure the area. The streets, once filled with chaos, were now clearing as the remaining Honkai beasts were being wiped out.
As she approached, several Valkyries at the landing zone stopped and turned to look, recognizing the crimson-haired woman running toward them.
"Is that… Himeko?" one of them asked, astonished.
"She's carrying someone!" another called out, taking a step forward before freezing at the sheer intensity on her face.
"Is it a civilian?" one of the newer recruits whispered.
Fu Hua and Rita Rossweisse were among the first to respond, both of them hurrying toward her. Fu Hua's sharp eyes immediately scanned Himeko's form and the unconscious boy in her arms, assessing his condition with a mix of curiosity and alarm.
"Himeko—" Fu Hua began, but before she could finish, Himeko blew past her without stopping.
"No time for questions!" Himeko shouted over her shoulder, her voice firm and unwavering. "Gotta bring this kid to the medical bay!"
Fu Hua blinked in surprise, exchanging a glance with Rita before following close behind. Rita slowed her pace after a few moments, placing a hand on Fu Hua's shoulder. "I need to brief some of the Valkyries and coordinate their deployment," Rita said calmly, her tone measured as always. "You go with her. I'll join you once everything's settled."
Fu Hua gave a short nod and turned back, quickening her pace to catch up with Himeko.
…
The medical bay doors slid open with a soft hiss as Himeko burst inside, startling the doctors and medics within. The sterile white room erupted into activity as they scrambled to respond, frozen for only a split second by the urgency in her expression. She ignored their shocked stares, gently but urgently lowering Kenji onto the nearest examination table.
The doctors snapped into action, their professional instincts kicking in. They quickly surrounded Kenji, checking his pulse, blood flow, and vitals. Monitors blinked to life, emitting steady beeps as wires were attached to his chest and arms.
Himeko lingered for a moment, watching as the cracks on Kenji's skin continued to faintly glow. Whatever power he'd been using had pushed his body far past its limits, and even now, she wasn't sure if he was out of danger.
"Stabilize him!" one of the doctors barked, their voice tense but controlled. IVs were hooked into his arm, and one of the medics prepared a scan to check for internal damage. The room hummed with tense focus, the steady blip of the machines reassuring Himeko that they were doing everything they could.
Satisfied that Kenji was in capable hands, Himeko turned on her heel and stepped out of the medical bay. She let the doors close behind her with a soft hiss, walking a few steps before spotting an empty chair.
She slumped into it with a heavy thud, her shoulders sagging as she let out a long, exhausted sigh. Her entire body ached, the adrenaline leaving her system and allowing the exhaustion to finally hit her like a crashing wave.
The faint sound of approaching footsteps echoed down the corridor, but she didn't need to look up to know who it was.
"Looks like you and the boy were busy," came Fu Hua's calm, even voice. Her tone, as always, was steady, but there was a subtle undercurrent of curiosity and concern.
Himeko cracked a tired smile, turning her head to glance up at her. "You tell me. What started as a 'recruitment mission' ended up a full-blown eruption." She snorted softly, leaning back against the wall. "I'm so asking Theresa for a raise after this."
Fu Hua's lips twitched into a faint smile. "Speaking of Theresa." she pulled out a communicator. A faint hum filled the air as a holographic screen flickered to life, displaying the familiar face of Theresa Apocalypse.
Theresa's expression was initially tense, but the moment she saw Himeko sitting relatively relaxed, she visibly relaxed. "Himeko!" she exclaimed, her voice a mix of relief. "Considering how relaxed you look, I'm assuming everything worked out?"
Himeko shrugged, the hint of a grin tugging at her lips. "I guess you could say that." Her voice softened as her gaze drifted toward the closed medical bay doors. "The Night Runner—or Kenji—was… not what I expected."
Fu Hua, who had remained quiet, spoke up. "I saw that punch he threw at Ganesha in the sky. The shockwave shook the entire ship."
Theresa's eyebrows shot up in surprise, her expression incredulous. "Wait, you're telling me that those tremors—and the strong winds that even reached Saint Freya, were caused by one of his punches?"
Himeko chuckled at Theresa's reaction, shaking her head. "Yup. The kid's going to be a real handful."
Theresa pressed her lips together, looking thoughtful. "Hopefully, once he's healed, he'll agree to come to Saint Freya. A person with this much potential cannot be ignored."
"And the energy thing, right?" Himeko cut in, raising an eyebrow. "We're going to train him to control that, too?"
Theresa smiled knowingly, a playful lilt to her voice. "Correct. Aren't you excited, Himeko? Another student for you to mentor!"
Himeko let out an exaggerated groan, slumping dramatically in her chair as she placed a hand over her face. "You are giving me a raise," she mumbled, her voice muffled but firm.
Both Fu Hua and Theresa chuckled softly, the tension in the corridor finally easing.
"We'll talk about your raise later," Theresa teased before the hologram flickered and vanished.
Fu Hua turned her gaze back to Himeko, her expression softer than usual. "You did well today. Take this time to rest."
Himeko exhaled deeply, a tired smile spreading across her face as she closed her eyes briefly. "Yeah… I'll hold you all to that raise, though."
Fu Hua shook her head faintly, a trace of amusement in her otherwise stoic demeanor, before turning to leave. Himeko remained slouched in the chair, finally letting herself relax. For the first time in hours, she allowed herself to breathe—knowing that, for now, the chaos had settled.
Rita who had just finished briefing with the other Valkyries, saw that the conversation was over, so she just went elsewhere. Though she spared one glance at the medical bay door, where Kenji was being treated. She can't help but feel that this boy is going to be something interesting.
---
At St. Freya
Bronya, Mei, and Kiana were huddled together in their dorm room at St. Freya Academy, their eyes darting between the TV and the remote Kiana was frantically mashing. The channels flickered by in rapid succession, news broadcasts from different networks trying to cover the same breaking story. Outside, the evening sky was calm—a stark contrast to the chaos unfolding on every news feed.
"Come on, come on! There's gotta be something new!" Kiana muttered, her thumb jabbing the remote like it had personally offended her. Her face was scrunched in determination, but beneath her frantic motions was unmistakable worry.
Mei sat next to her, her hands clutched tightly in her lap, her posture stiff with anxiety. Her violet eyes were glued to the screen, searching for any scrap of information. "Kiana, stop skipping! We'll miss something important," she said, her voice tight.
Bronya, on the other hand, sat silently beside them. Unlike her usual composed self, she was unusually quiet, her expression downcast as she stared blankly at the floor. Her silver hair fell forward slightly, obscuring her eyes. If Kiana and Mei had noticed, they were too caught up in the news to say anything.
The TV cycled past a weather report, a cooking show, and a reporter at some unrelated city event—until suddenly, for a fleeting moment, a familiar scene appeared: a massive beast, clouds swirling ominously above it, and a blur of red and pink in the sky.
"Wait!" Mei shouted, her voice sharp enough to make Kiana jump. "Back! Go back to that channel, Kiana!"
"Ok, ok!" Kiana fumbled with the remote, nearly dropping it before quickly switching back. The news channel reappeared, and all three of them leaned forward, their faces inches from the screen.
The footage playing on the broadcast was raw, recorded on someone's smartphone. The angle was shaky, the person holding the camera clearly panicked, but the image was clear enough. The screen showed Ganesha—the massive Honkai beast—looming high in the sky. In front of it, a streak of red and pink light hovered for only a second before attacking. The light collided with Ganesha, and a shockwave erupted outward, shattering clouds, clearing the sky, and shaking the very ground beneath the camera holder's feet. The feed trembled violently, and the device went flying out of the recorders hand, the image spinning into static before the video cut off.
The news anchor's voice returned, smooth but tinged with awe. "This figure, is speculated to be the mysterious vigilante known as 'The Night Runner.' The same individual who has been seen patrolling Nagazora's streets at night, fighting crime for the past few months. However, this time, it appears he isn't wearing any masks. Despite the footage, we still have no information on what the man behind the mask looks like."
Kiana shot up from her seat, pumping her fist in the air. "Holy shit! The shaking and strong wind was from Kenji's punches?! That's so cool!"
Mei flinched at her outburst but didn't respond right away. Instead, she exhaled deeply, leaning back into the couch with a hand over her chest. "I just… hope he's okay," she murmured, her voice softer now. "There's been no word on his condition yet." The worry in her tone was unmistakable.
Bronya's shoulders tensed slightly at Mei's words, her hands curling into small fists in her lap. She remained silent, staring at the floor, her expression hidden beneath her bangs.
Mei, noticing the shift, turned to look at her. "Bronya?" she called softly.
Bronya flinched, her head jerking up as though she'd been caught off guard.
Mei's gaze was calm but firm. "You know our friend is the Night Runner now. So I hope you'll keep it a secret, okay?"
Bronya hesitated, her lips parting slightly as if to speak, but no words came. Instead, she lowered her head again, nodding faintly.
Mei smiled softly, misreading the hesitation. "Thank you, Bronya," she said, turning back to the TV. Her voice held quiet relief, unaware of the guilt that gnawed at Bronya's chest. It's my fault, Bronya thought, the words echoing in her mind. She was the one who had revealed Kenji's identity to Cocolia—a betrayal that had indirectly led to the eruption.
But no one knew that. Not yet.
Kiana flopped dramatically onto the couch beside Mei, stretching her arms above her head. "At least everything's calmed down now," she said cheerfully, her smile wide. "I'm sure Kenji's alright. After a punch like that? Like hell he would die!" Her tone was playful, but the others could tell that she was still worried for her friend.
Mei's lips twitched into a small smile, Kiana's energy infectious. But a thought nagged at her. "Hey," she said suddenly, turning to Kiana, "do you think Himeko is going to recruit him to St. Freya after all this? You know, like what she did with us?"
Kiana tilted her head, her expression turning thoughtful as she tapped a finger against her chin. "Hmm… maybe? That would be pretty neat, though. We'd get to see Kenji again, and he'd get to be a Valkyrie too!" Then a mischievous grin spread across her face. "Oh, wait… if he does go to St. Freya, isn't he going to be the only boy student here?"
Mei blinked, thinking for a moment before nodding. "I guess so…"
That confirmation only made Kiana's grin widen further. She rubbed her hands together like she was hatching a plan. "Oh, this is gonna be fun."
Mei sighed and placed a hand on her forehead, exasperation evident in her expression. "If he does go here, please don't harass him, Kiana." But despite her words, there was a hint of amusement in her voice.
"Nope! Kiana added brightly, leaning back into the couch.
Mei smiled faintly at her optimism but glanced at Bronya one last time, the quiet girl's distant expression leaving a lingering unease in her chest. Still, for now, she let it go.
Hang in there, Kenji, Mei thought to herself, a silent prayer for their friend's safety—and, perhaps, for what awaited him next.
---
The atmosphere inside the Anti-Entropy base was tense, heavy enough to choke the air out of the room. Researchers, scientists, and technicians sat frozen at their terminals, their screens still displaying the live data from Nagazora. The eruption, which was meticulously planned and prepared had been almost fully dismantled in less than an hour. Numbers flashed across the monitors showing rapidly declining Honkai readings, and a map of Nagazora pulsed faintly, now cleared of beasts.
No one spoke. No one dared. All eyes shifted nervously toward the center of the room, where Cocolia stood, her hands resting lightly on the edge of a large control console. Her face was unreadable, a calm mask that sent chills through the room. Everyone knew the cost of failure, and this… this was absolute failure.
A single drop of sweat slid down one researcher's temple as he adjusted his glasses. The silence dragged on until it became unbearable, every person in the room bracing for the explosion of rage that was sure to come. And yet…
Slow, deliberate clapping echoed through the room, breaking the silence like a glass shattering on tile. All heads snapped toward Cocolia, their eyes wide with disbelief as she smiled—a wide, unsettling grin. Her slow applause was mocking, deliberate, and the sound reverberated like thunder in the still air.
"Well done, everyone," Cocolia said, her voice low but dripping with satisfaction. The sharp contrast between her tone and the disastrous results sent a ripple of confusion through the room.
The head researcher, emboldened but wary, took a cautious step forward. "M-Madam Cocolia," he stammered, pushing his glasses up nervously. "Why… are you celebrating? We failed to capture the Night Runner. The eruption was a failure and-"
"Failure?" Cocolia cut him off with a light, almost amused laugh. She turned slowly, her unsettling grin still in place. "Who said anything about failure?" She gestured toward the monitors, where the live feeds of Nagazora showed smoldering ruins and Valkyries securing the area. "Yes, we didn't capture the boy, but we got something just as valuable didn't we?"
The researchers exchanged uncertain glances, unsure of where she was going with this.
Cocolia's gaze sharpened as she pressed a button on the console in front of her. The main screen flickered, the live footage disappearing. In its place appeared an image of a vial filled with a swirling, red liquid. The liquid emitted a small faint red glow, like lighting contained in glass.
"This," Cocolia said, her voice dropping to a softer, almost reverent tone, "Is a vial of The Night Runners blood. We managed to collect 7 vials to be exact." She placed a hand on the console, her nails tapping lightly against the metal as if savoring the moment. "It has traces of his energy. Far more potent than anything we have been able to analyse before. With this, we can begin our research into exactly is the energy that he is emitting."
The room fell deathly quiet again. No one dared move, no one dared breathe. Even the hum of the machinery seemed quieter, as though the base itself understood the gravity of Cocolia's words.
"Start preparations for research and analysis of The Night Runner or Kenji Aoyama's blood" Cocolia commanded, her grin now replaced with an air of cold authority. She gestured toward the red liquid on the screen. "I want nearly all our resources focused on this. Do not fail me. We are on the precipice of something… extraordinary."
Her voice softened as she turned back to the screen, the glowing vial reflecting in her calculating eyes. The smile that crept back onto her face sent shivers down the spines of everyone in the room.
---
Kenji drifted in an endless void of black—a darkness so vast it felt infinite, yet it was not the same void where he had met Elysia. This one was different. It felt heavier, quieter, like the depths of an ocean where no light could reach. Despite the emptiness, he felt as though he were floating, suspended on the surface of an invisible body of water.
His body was weightless, his limbs unresponsive, yet there was a strange peace to it all. He couldn't move, couldn't see, but he could hear—faint murmurs drifting to him like echoes across a vast distance. Words swirled around him, too muffled to make sense.
"…stable… for now…"
"…unbelievable recovery…"
The voices blurred together, soft and indistinct, before fading entirely. Silence rushed in, swallowing the sounds whole and leaving him in a void so still that it pressed against his ears. Kenji felt his mind slipping, teetering on the edge of unconsciousness, unable to tell if he was falling deeper or rising higher.
Then he heard it—new voices. Clearer this time, but distant, like whispers carried on the wind. Two people.
"̶͖̘̟̈̏̀̍̓̚W̸̤̏ͅh̸̢̙͚̅ė̶̛̲̺̲̍̆̋n̸̘̽̇͛̕̚͝ ̴͙͓̓a̶̳̜͔̹̿̉̃r̷͙̣̥̗͐̓̓̑̽͝ĕ̷͜ ̷̭͊̆̾̂̚̚y̵̫̟̺̲̎͒̓̈o̷͉̻̞͛̒͂̍ͅͅŭ̴̦̺̦̝͈̏̄ ̷̭͈͊g̶̨̠̲̊͊̾̀̌̚o̴̢͇̥̎̚̚͝ï̷̢̨̯̈́̎̆̈́̐n̸̢̘̘̣̤̿̈́́̕g̶̡͒̈́̋͠ ̵͈͒̈́̈t̵͕̯̙͑͆̿̂o̸͓̓ ̶̘͕̥̪̺̼̃̓̍̇t̶͇̃̈̀̎̕e̷͔̯̠͌̂l̶̡͖̦̰̠̫̍̈́͠ḷ̴͉̐̓̿͊͝͝ ̷͎̻̥̄h̷̩̓͗̽́́i̷̜̠̙̗̇̀̉́͆m̷̮͆?̴̨͚̬̼͂̒͋̐"̴̧̮̝̈̽
The words were fragmented, broken like static, but Kenji's unfocused mind latched onto them. His brow twitched faintly as his body drifted in the void, straining to understand.
Another voice, sharper and firmer, followed.
"̴̡̙̤̭̮̃I̶̩̦͜͝͝ ̷͉͈̞͈̆̍̿̓̈h̵͕̑̈́̍̋́̀a̸̺͛͐͐v̴͙̪͕͗͂̇̂̚e̴̗̥̰͛ ̴̳̱͓̮̟̔͌̓̔͌ͅĭ̷̧̘͙̇̅̓t̴̰̻̯̋̊̓͋̍ ̶̢̰̗͈͛̚u̵̧̩̮̦̒͂̊̈͠n̵̨͓͇͍͕̄̈̍͒̚d̵͓̬͚͈́̈́͛ę̶͕̤̱̥͂͜r̷̜̺̭̎͌͂̃̋ ̵̡̰̲̾̏̈͌͝ͅç̵̹̰̅̇͛̅o̶̬͙͇̻̍̓͌n̴̼͖̗̬̞̺̔̈t̵̳̑r̸̢͔̺͎̳̐̐͋͜o̶̡̻̓͝ļ̸̞̘̟͙̜̂!̴͓̥̜̓͐͒̾ͅ"̵̟͚̗̼͎̞̄̎
The echoes of their voices rippled outward, distorting as they grew fainter. The silence returned, heavier than before, but now something had shifted. The darkness around him began to brighten, faint at first, like a distant sunrise breaking through an eternal night. The brightness grew, creeping toward him, washing over his weightless body.
Kenji stirred. His fingers twitched. The light intensified, filling his vision, forcing him to squint even though his eyes weren't yet open. The void cracked, splintering like glass until it finally shattered.
With a sharp inhale, Kenji's eyes snapped open. The brightness from before dulled, replaced by a ceiling that was unfamiliar. His gaze darted around, taking in the sterile walls and faint hum of machines. He groaned softly, his voice hoarse.
"Am I dead?"