Honkai Impact 3rd: Yumeji Satsuki's lies

Kiana couldn't hide her admiration, her eyes sparkling like stars.

"I really respect you; I never thought you'd be this crazy, my friend. Even I, as a lady of stature, wouldn't dare to be so bold. One small misstep, and we'd lose everything, falling headlong into disaster. But honestly, I like your style. It's pretty damn cool."

Yumeji stood with his arms crossed, confidence in every word.

"If they attack me, wouldn't that just prove they're no better than animals?"

A small smile crossed Kiana's lips, catching the sarcasm in his words.

"A crowd of humans can be harder to handle than Honkai beasts, don't you two know?"

Bronya and Kiana chuckled, nodding as if they'd suddenly realized an obvious truth.

"You're right. Bronya admits defeat."

Bronya said, her gaze full of respect.

"Well, you're not wrong. It's the first time I've seen that sharp tongue of yours put to good use. Maybe you're not just the irritating pretty boy I thought."

"Is that supposed to be a compliment?"

"Haha, yes, it is."

I felt a retort stick in my throat, but knowing it wasn't the time, I just shook my head and let it go.

Despite his discomfort, Yumeji kept his eyes on the crowd, determined to make sure the plan didn't go off track.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the city, a striking blond man stood, bewildered.

Otto Apocalypse stared toward the square, where chaos was unfolding. He felt something lodged in his throat, words unable to escape.

"Kallen's been saved… and I haven't even moved yet?! Who is that kid?"

A nondescript subordinate beside him, noting Otto's reaction, asked cautiously.

"Should we continue with the plan, sir?"

Otto hesitated briefly, then shook his head, his face set with resolve.

"No, that won't be necessary. Go and lock them up."

He thought back on his original goal. Releasing the Honkai beasts had been merely a tactic to create an opportunity for him to save Kallen. But now that she was already safe, there was no point. It would only cause more trouble.

However, life rarely goes as planned. Just as Otto spoke, a Honkai beast unexpectedly broke free, catching him off guard.

"Damn it!!"

He hurriedly considered his options. But before he could act, the creature's claws were already reaching for a young girl standing nearby. Kallen, seeing the imminent danger, rushed forward to save the child. But someone else was even faster.

And that person was…

---

Back on Yumeji's side, Kiana didn't hesitate as she sprinted to protect the child.

"No one can just stand by and watch a child in danger, can they?"

She said, her gaze filled with determination. But a pang of emptiness hit as she realized Yumeji was nowhere to be found.

Kiana turned, her eyes anxiously searching, until she suddenly stopped.

"Yumeji!?"

---

Returning to the scene, Yumeji swiftly wove through the crowd, which had begun to break down barriers, moving to save Kallen. Even Kallen, though saved, still looked shocked, barely comprehending what had happened.

At that moment, a shadow emerged from the underground drain, coinciding with the spreading panic in the crowd. Yumeji shot forward just as the Honkai beast was about to strike.

"Ugh!"

A sharp gasp escaped as the beast's claws drove into his side. The searing pain nearly overwhelmed Yumeji; though it wasn't a fatal wound, it felt like the ground was spinning beneath him.

Blood began to flow from the deep wound in my side, and the dull pain made me grit my teeth to endure it.

I picked up the little girl hiding behind me with one hand and backed away from the enemy's claws.

My throat burned, creating an uncomfortable dry feeling, and after a few dry coughs, I spat out the blood stuck in my throat.

"Cough! Ah, breathing is easier now."

Immediately after, I felt a slight trembling beside me. I looked back and saw the little girl I had just protected looking at me with tears in her eyes.

"Brother... are you okay?"

The little girl spoke in a trembling voice, while placing her two small hands on my wound as if trying to stop the bleeding.

"....mhm~ I'm fine, little girl"

Wiping away the blood from the corner of my mouth with my sleeve, I held back my pain and smiled gently at the sight of the little girl I just met worrying about me.

"Thank you, for worrying about me. I'm much better now. Now, step back, and I'll take care of the monster in front of me."

I placed my hand on the little girl's head while crouching down to her height and wiped away the tears on her lovely face. Then, I instructed her to run away from the danger and turned around to face the Honkai beast.

"I made you wait"

I said with a grin on my face and curled up and rolled on the ground to avoid its swing of its arm aimed at me.

The enemy was a Chariot, a tough opponent when I had to fight without a weapon.

- Rooaarrr!!

As it roared and charged, I dodged and lured it away from the people.

As it roared again and swung its arm again to smash me like it was swatting a cockroach.

I deftly dodged to the side, causing it to miss and break the wall of a house behind me.

Seizing the opportunity, I grabbed a few bricks and skillfully climbed up and ran on its giant arm.

As it growled and used its other hand to swipe at my face like it was shooing away a fly.

I jumped up in one breath and threw a brick at it,

The brick quickly crumbled when it hit its face but it was enough to disrupt my vision, enough for me to knock it over with a headbutt while it was off balance.

-Bang!!

As it fell to the side, I jumped back to keep some distance and shouted loudly.

"Bronya, haven't you finished updating yet!?"

Bronya, who was in the rear, heard my call and quickly responded.

"Bronya is updating the weapon. The loading process is... 3, 2, 1. Loading complete."

As soon as her toneless words ended, our weapons were updated.

I opened my two hands, and the data that was loaded to me quickly materialized into a gun and a short sword.

Although it wasn't my favorite weapon, it was better than nothing.

Holding the M1911 tightly in my right hand and some unknown short sword in my left hand.

I charged forward to attack the Honkai beast that had yet to regain its stance due to my large body.

I stumbled a few steps due to the wound on my hip, but I still charged forward to fight.

Even so, things would probably be easier if I could use my skills here.

Ever since I arrived here, I quickly confirmed that I couldn't use the skills that I could even use in my dreams.

Although I didn't know why, I didn't have time to think about such things right now.

Fortunately, thanks to Fu Hua's rigorous training, my body and mind had become much tougher than before.

So I could still barely keep up with the Honkai beast's movements even while injured!

I read its every move by observing, dodging, and then seizing the opportunity to attack.

Compared to Fu Hua's fast and deadly punches, its attacks were too slow for me.

-Rooaaarrrr!!!

It roared angrily as it missed every time, then raised its two massive arms and slammed them hard on the ground, causing a small shockwave.

However, I quickly shot it in the eye, forcing it to stop and raise its arms to block the attack.

As soon as it covered its head, I fired five consecutive shots at its hind legs, causing it to start staggering to support its large body.

Immediately after, I added two more shots to its eyes.

When it raised its arms to support itself, its body couldn't hold on and fell to the ground.

Seizing the opportunity, I climbed on top of it and slashed it repeatedly with the short sword.

Finally, I stabbed the sword into its core through the gap between the fingers it used to cover its head.

I twisted the sword to crush its core, then the Honkai beast quickly datafied and disappeared