Honkai: Strijder (Honkai Impact 3 Male MC)

"At east 53°, altitude -1597, two targets are about to cross the border. Kiana, go!"

In the pitch-black abyss, Kiana received Bronya's command, a hint of resignation showing on her face beneath the black armor.

"Sure, sure. Leave the hard work to this lady while you sit safely in a protected space." Kiana muttered, pushing through the turbulent currents around her like a black arrow heading straight for her targets.

Soon, relying on the excessive strength of her black armor and her own monstrous power, she smashed the heads of two Honkai Beasts, rendering the two colossal creatures powerless as they sank into the seabed.

"Northwest, 12° deviation, 69 kilometers away, altitude 4553. We're all quite far from each other. It's up to you now, Sin Mal."

"Got it! Leave it to me!"

A black spear pierced through the water, leaving a vacuum trail and violently tearing through the target with precision.

"Kiana, move northwest. Sin Mal, move southeast. I'll notify you when you reach the target area."

"Yes!" ×2

Despite their individual quirks, when it came to executing missions, both of them were highly coordinated and didn't cause headaches like they usually did.

This somewhat relieved Bronya.

In deep-sea combat, despite the performance of the black armor allowing them to ignore high pressure, hypoxia, and almost any level of impact, it was still their first time. With Bronya's calculating ability, she still felt a bit inadequate.

Fortunately, these two little monsters were obedient, and there were also plenty of worker bees in the deep sea area. Otherwise, maintaining a defense line against the almost immeasurable swarm would be nothing short of a dream.

During a brief rest period, Bronya connected to the visual signal of the worker bees at sea and monitored the situation at the sea fortress.

By this time, the battle had become fiercer.

Titan mechs fell one after another, only to be repaired and standing up again by the worker bees.

But the machine's affairs weren't as eye-catching. What was truly worrying were the Valkyries who sacrificed one after another.

Some were trampled into pulp by huge Honkai Beasts, some were bitten to pieces and even swallowed by the beasts, and many died from the Honkai Energy erosion, losing their lives in the blink of an eye after unleashing attacks beyond their limits.

Many of these Valkyries even lost their heartbeat and breath during the charge; many were severely eroded and tended to become Zombies, tearfully killed by their comrades, entering eternal sleep with a peaceful smile.

The worker bees continuously transported Honkai suppression agents, saving some people, but they couldn't save everyone.

Each scene, each wail of despair and cry of anguish, made Bronya pause and unconsciously bite her lip.

"—Bronya, do we really need to stay here?"

Kiana's low voice suddenly came from the communication channel.

Bronya was taken aback; she almost forgot that their audiovisual signals were synchronized to ensure the complete transmission of combat information between the three of them.

She forced herself to calm down and said calmly, "Yes. The Honkai Beasts on the sea surface are blocked by the fortress, but those beneath the sea are not. We must prevent the Honkai Beasts from breaking through the defense line from the seabed. The importance of this mission is equal to that of the battlefield on the sea surface."

"The number of worker bees at the bottom of the sea has been increasing, and Schicksal Valkyries and Anti-Entropy Titan mechs in the sea are also almost fully deployed. The best we can do by staying here is just cleaning up a small part of the Honkai Beasts. Actually, isn't it okay to leave all of them in the hands of the Valkyries and mechs?"

"—Just focus on the mission and don't think too much!"

Bronya spoke coldly.

However, deep down, she somewhat agreed with Kiana's words.

"What do you want to do, Kiana?"

Sin Mal's questioning voice appeared in the communication channel, her voice is as cold as ice.

Kiana was silent for a moment, then said:

"I just think that the number of Honkai Beasts under the sea is actually very small. The current Valkyrie squad deployed by Schicksal and the Anti-Entropy Mech are more than enough to handle them. We might be more useful on the front lines."

"Don't forget Sigurd's orders!"

"What if he's wrong? What if he just wants to keep us in a safe place out of personal feelings?"

"..."

Sin Mal had no response.

Not just Sin Mal, Bronya felt the same.

They believed in Sigurd's abilities, yet they also believed that Sigurd might make such arrangements out of personal feelings.

His outward coldness couldn't hide his care and protection for them. Sometimes, this protection might override the main objective.

"Sin Mal, Bronya, you don't want to be treated by Sigurd as useless babies who can only do meaningless things in safe places, right? I don't want that. I want to be useful, not just for Sigurd, but for this world."

Kiana said.

Then, in the silence of the two, she directly connected to Sigurd's signal.

"What is it?"

Sigurd's cold voice echoed in their ears.

Kiana took a deep breath and then mustered up her courage to say:

"Sigurd, actually, we don't need to stay underwater, do we?"

"...What are you trying to say?"

"I–I want to go to the battlefield above the sea surface. With our Black Armor, we can do more—"

"Rejected. Continue with your mission."

Sigurd's voice is still cold, carrying an undeniable authority.

However, from this authority, Kiana confirmed her suspicions.

"Then tell me the truth, did you place us underwater to keep us in a safe place? Tell me , if we joined the battle above the sea surface, would we be able to make a difference or save anyone? I will trust your answer, you've never lied to me."

"..."

On the sea, in the air, aboard the Hyperion, Sigurd crushed a bee used for communication, his expression instantly darkening.

The only thing she needs to do is to clear out the Honkai Beast under the sea surface, what the hell is this drama! Clearly, the training he gave them wasn't enough! Sigurd wanted to rebuke her immediately, but couldn't speak the words.

He never lied to her? What a joke!

Where did that useless girl get such confidence!?

He's lied to her countless times!

Just like...

Just like...

Just like...

Sigurd wanted to recall a time he had deceived that idiot thoroughly. But upon careful reflection, besides occasionally joking and teasing her, he hadn't actually lied to her about serious matters.

Or rather, had he ever really lied to her?

A hint of confusion appeared in Sigurd's eyes.

Perhaps he was too tired, his memory a bit hazy. Why couldn't he recall any precedent that would allow him to confidently lie to her this time?

"Sigurd, let us go to the front lines. They need our strength more there."

"This war spans thousands of kilometers. Do you think you can make any significant difference?"

"At least we could save some people, even if it's just one or two. I don't want to just watch and hide underwater as if nothing is happening!"

"The Black Armor has its limits."

"I'm strong! We've all become very strong! Stop treating us like children. We can help, not just pretend to help!"

"Strong? The only reason why you are strong is because of the Black Armor I made."

"What's wrong with that? Strong is strong. Stop making unreasonable arguments!"

Kiana retorted firmly, her face slightly flushed, but she didn't back down.

Sigurd, holding a new communication bee, said one word.

"Denied."

"I deny your denial!"

"Denied."

"Sigurd, I'm begging you!"

On the Hyperion, for a moment, an eerie black aura emanated from Sigurd's body.

Welt and Hera looked over at him.

Sigurd looked up, his face gloomy, and said coldly:

"What are you looking at? Continue with your tasks."

He didn't voice a threat, but the threat was clear from his eyes and expression.

Welt and Hera silently looked away, one focusing on maintaining the battle line, the other continuing to monitor actions within Chi You.

'Hey! Aren't you his superior? Why so submissive?'

'Why don't you try to provoke him? Let's see if you are any better than me'

Sly Hera and resigned Welt exchanged glances, each remaining silent, choosing not to speak to Sigurd at this moment.

"Why are you so persistent?"

After a period of silence, Sigurd asked softly, the eerie black aura that surrounded him had started to fade, leaving him with a sense of helplessness.

Kiana bit her lip and said:

"I'm sorry."

"You haven't done anything wrong."

"I... I just don't want to do nothing when I have the ability to save them. Even if it means saving just one more life, that's what I want to do."

"...Fine."

Sigurd crushed the communication bee in his hand, simultaneously cutting off the connection.

Fuck!

Why couldn't he just firmly refuse?

Wouldn't this make him seem too easily swayed, like he'd give in the moment Kiana asked for something?

However, amidst the frustration, underlying worry, and restlessness, a voice in his heart softened his expression uncontrollably.

'That's just like her.'

As the voice in his heart said this, a small smile gradually appeared on Sigurd's lips. For a moment, his eyes were filled with tenderness.

Though in the next second, that tenderness vanished.

He began deploying some of the worker bees to ensure the safety of the trio. Meanwhile, as he gazed at Chi You's immense body, a new idea started to form in his mind.

<+>

Tn: If you want to see more chapter of this story, please go to my Ko-Fi1, just for $5 each month, you can read till the latest chapter.

Latest Chapter in Ko-Fi: Chapter 251: Transformation1

Link to the latest chapter: https://ko-fi.com/post/Chapter-251-Transformation-Z8Z41B2VD41

Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/hildegard1