I Am Honkai

"Extermination of entire bloodlines?"

Hearing this, Li Sushang froze for a moment.

Despite her youthful appearance, looking no older than eighteen or nineteen, Li Sushang was actually a native of 16th-century Ancient Shenzhou. She was the only daughter of Qin Suyi, the seventh disciple under the Immortal Phoenix Fu Hua, and Li Shen, the master of Yijian Manor.

During her sword training trials, she had a chance encounter with Otto Apocalypse. Later, Fu Hua—conspired against and grievously injured by her own disciples—killed Li Sushang's parents and burned Yijian Manor, having lost her memories.

Following this, Li Sushang accompanied Otto to Europe, joined Schicksal, and became an S-Rank Valkyrie. Thanks to Otto's assistance, she remained in stasis and lived until the present.

In May of 2017, Li Sushang was awakened after 520 years of slumber. As the last S-Rank Valkyrie of Schicksal, she was introduced to its current leadership by Otto.

Therefore, while Li Sushang appeared young, her mindset was rooted in ancient traditions, and she was no stranger to the brutal punishments of feudal society.

"What crimes did they commit to warrant such punishment, one that implicates their families…?"

Li Sushang frowned, her sword-like brows furrowing slightly. After a pause, she asked, "What is the Herrscher Host K-Experiment Project?"

She followed Kiana's pointing gesture and looked toward the source of the commotion.

At the far edge of the tarmac, a pile of mangled corpses lay in a heap, blood flowing across the metal floor, creating a slick, crimson mess that squelched underfoot as the Imperial Inquisition personnel walked over it.

In the midst of screams and gasps, another row of white-coated researchers was violently escorted forward by black-robed enforcers. Their pale, discolored arms hung limp—dislocated by force. The inquisitors shoved them to their knees without any gentleness.

"Execute them!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The cold, unfeeling voice of the inquisitor marked the command. Triggers were pulled. The firing mechanisms of their heavy bolt pistols struck primers, igniting propellant in oversized rounds.

The standard explosive ammunition could be replaced with ordinary ballistic rounds. Though less destructive, their larger caliber ensured brutal lethality.

Thud!

Amid gasps and cries from observing Valkyries and Schicksal personnel, the row of men, women, and even children was torn apart in a rain of blood and viscera. The flesh of their backs exploded outward, scattering in chunks as their bodies were shattered.

The supersonic pointed rounds tore through their clothes, ripping holes over 3 centimeters wide (standard bolt ammunition caliber 0.75 inches) as they pierced the skin. As the rounds traveled through their bodies, the immense kinetic force obliterated internal organs.

The exit wounds, expanded by shockwaves, grew exponentially larger, leaving their chests and abdomens utterly mangled. Their vital organs were shredded into a bloody pulp that sprayed across the platform.

Some of the blood, propelled by the force of the shots, even splattered ten meters away onto the nearby grass, staining the green surface red.

Mortal soldiers were summoned to move the corpses into neat piles. Meanwhile, another inquisitor meticulously compared their faces to records in a ledger, marking them off only after verifying the identities of both the victims and their families.

Once confirmed, the corpses were wheeled over to the side and fed into nearby incinerators.

Even the incinerators were custom-designed—equipped with filters to prevent the release of the foul stench usually produced when burning bodies.

"Next group!"

The Valkyries and Schicksal personnel who witnessed the scene reacted with horror. Some cried out, others were struck silent, and a few wept uncontrollably.

In contrast, the Imperial troops—Astartes and mortal soldiers alike—remained stoic. They observed the executions with a detached calm. Some auxiliary soldiers even chatted casually among themselves, laughing as though they were discussing mundane affairs.

To them, it was no different from slaughtering livestock.

"Their temperaments are still lacking," remarked an Astartes warrior from the First Legion, the Dark Angels.

"Take your time. There's plenty of opportunity to train them," replied another Astartes standing beside him. This one belonged to the Ninth Legion, the Blood Angels, his arms crossed.

"I think they're not bad, all things considered. Most of them haven't experienced large-scale warfare. Many likely haven't even seen blood before. At least they're not vomiting or running away. Combine that with their physical resilience, and their potential is high."

The "blood" they referred to was not just about witnessing gore.

Perched atop a large tank destroyer parked on the tarmac, a green-armored giant leaned on his elbow, propping up his chin as he interjected.

His power armor was green with black trim, featuring accents of red flame motifs. On his shoulder plate, a wingless drake, a symbol of the Western dragons, roared skyward. The black "ⅩⅧ" painted there revealed his identity.

He was a warrior of the Astartes Eighteenth Legion, the Salamanders.

"Indeed."

"Her Majesty specifically favored them, so naturally, they must have the qualifications to earn such favor."

Though standing on the same platform, mere steps away, it felt as though they were from two different worlds. Their perspectives on the matter could not have been more divergent.

As the Astartes warriors continued their conversation, an inexplicable tension settled over the platform. They hadn't used the internal comms of their power armor, nor had they lowered their voices. The Valkyries who overheard them exchanged glances, their expressions difficult to describe.

In response to Li Sushang's inquiry, Kiana lowered her head and let out a deep sigh, preparing to speak.

"The Herrscher Host K—..."

Fu Hua placed a hand on Kiana's shoulder, interrupting her. She shook her head, a bitter smile forming on her lips.

"A feudal, authoritarian empire… The Sacred Selene Empire… 'Sister Selene,' huh…"

As the thought crossed her mind, Fu Hua turned to look at Kiana with a complicated expression. "Perhaps Schicksal surviving with almost no bloodshed is thanks to you."

Surviving with almost no bloodshed?

Only a handful of people had been executed so far. Compared to the entrenched interests Schicksal had built over a thousand years, the casualties barely amounted to even one percent.

Fu Hua was well aware of the origins of the Herrscher Host K-Experiment Project. After all, her infiltration into St. Freya Academy as a student had been on Otto's orders.

Her mission? To monitor the condition of K-423.

Now, connecting the dots—Kiana calling Selene "sister" and the Imperial Army purging those involved in the K-Experiment Project—Fu Hua could make an educated guess as to the reason.

Even someone like Fu Hua, who prided herself on being rational, couldn't help but assume Selene's actions were in some way helping Kiana get revenge.

"Hmm…" Kiana only responded with a low hum, her mood clearly subdued.

"Hey, what are you two talking about?" Li Sushang, thoroughly lost, pouted as she looked between Fu Hua and Kiana. "Master Fu Hua, don't leave me out of this!"

"This conversation ends here. Knowing won't do you any good."

Fu Hua's tone left no room for argument. She turned away and walked toward the screen. Staring at the image of Kevin dissolving into light, she couldn't suppress a sigh, a trace of reminiscence in her voice.

"Ah…"

Especially when she saw the beautiful figure Selene had pulled from the Imaginary Space.

Aponia… It's been a long time.

"We were never heroes, just ordinary people walking our own paths," Fu Hua murmured softly.

She had simply followed in others' footsteps, walking a path she believed was hers.

Her voice carried a tremor almost lost to time—a fragile quiver rarely heard. "I never thought you would die…"

"That's reality!"

Standing motionless at the center of the platform, Alex spoke with conviction.

"That man—Kevin Kaslana—and this woman. Both must have accepted their deaths long ago."

"And—" Alex turned his head sharply, his expression cold. "Your tone suggests you have ties to World Serpent?"

The giant lowered his head to peer at her. "Tell me!"

"Perhaps…" Fu Hua's voice wavered. For the first time in a long while, uncertainty crept into her words, a trace of self-doubt. Finally, she spoke:

"But my comrades were not the Serpent."

Her comrades had either died in battle or faded away. The comrades she referred to were merely memories of Kevin Kaslana.

Now, in this era, all that remained was the Serpent—the Sovereign of World Serpent, sustained by his obsession.

Fu Hua had once shared Kevin's ideals, believing that sacrifices were inevitable in humanity's fight against the Honkai. Compassion, she thought, was ill-timed and would only bring greater catastrophe. For the sake of final victory, any cost was worth paying.

That was who Fu Hua had been—someone without a strong sense of self, burdened by the duty to protect humanity. She had always viewed herself as a soldier, delegating all decisions to those she considered wiser.

She would carry out the plans handed to her, indifferent to their reasons or outcomes, all in the name of future, hope, and victory.

This constant compromise brought Fu Hua tremendous pain. It wasn't until the birth of the Eighth Herrscher, the Herrscher of Sentience, that she was saved. Meeting Kiana allowed her to resolve the loneliness within and fill the cracks in her character.

Under Kiana's influence, Fu Hua began to reject Kevin's views. Her faith in Project MOTH's methods wavered. Perhaps Kiana's way—the way of saving humanity without discarding its humanity—was the correct path.

"Oh? Go on. I'm curious."

...

On the other side, in the Far Eastern region.

The gentle wind whistled through the air, sweeping across the empty sky and the scarred earth below. The once-scorching sea of molten lava had vanished.

Though it had yet to return to the tranquil water world it once was, the current state was undeniably a vast improvement over the abyssal hellscape that had preceded it.

In the sky, Selene stood atop a pale violet crystalline platform, finishing her restorative work. She nodded in satisfaction at the results.

The land below, though still scarred and riddled with jagged, uneven ravines, exuded a quiet desolation. Yet, in reality, Selene had compacted the crust to an unparalleled density. Unless someone planted a high-yield Honkai fission bomb deep into the earth's mantle, this region would remain stable for millennia—no earthquakes, no volcanic eruptions, no natural disasters.

Furthermore, the foundation was now solid, and the soil fertile.

Once natural rainfall cycles resumed, and waterways were dredged, canals built, roads paved, and reservoirs constructed, this region—born from destruction—would be an ideal foundation for a sprawling metropolis.

Behind Selene, the gathered Imperial generals exchanged varied glances. Eyes wide, they stared at each other, the atmosphere turning subtly awkward.

"Your Majesty, we've received a report—another sighting of World Serpent officer Gray Serpent has been confirmed."

"He didn't die. It appears the earlier report was inaccurate; the one killed was only one of his avatars," Robert stated gravely, his voice steady. "Two minutes ago, Leman Russ breached a vast underground labyrinth beneath the Far Eastern metropolis."

"Its scale is comparable to an entire subterranean city."

"Inside, our forces discovered vast cultivation vats for mechanical human-synthetic beasts, as well as large-scale production lines for pharmaceuticals, weaponry, and mechs. Sixth Legion warriors also captured a large number of research personnel within associated facilities."

As he spoke, Robert gestured, causing a transmission from the perspective of the Sixth Legion's Space Wolves to appear on the crystalline platform.

The violet crystal rippled, dividing into multiple screens.

In the first screen, walls riddled with bullet holes framed the sight of countless white-coated researchers walking with their hands on their heads. They were escorted from the depths by white-armored giants.

The second screen showed the interior of an enormous factory. Rows of dormant production lines displayed incomplete mechs in various stages of assembly. The most complete units had already been painted blue.

The model and insignia indicated that these were patrol mechs destined for export to Arc City.

The third screen, however, drew Selene's and the generals' attention the most.

Amid shattered laboratory equipment and pools of blood, a figure clad in black tight-fitting clothing and a hood lay quietly on the ground. His eerie mask was askew, revealing a single lifeless mechanical eye dimmed of its glow.

"An enemy with such extensive cybernetic modifications, Your Majesty, is not one we can capture or destroy quickly. We still don't know how many secret underground bases World Serpent has built across the globe."

Observing Selene's expression carefully, Robert continued cautiously, "The worst-case scenario is that he has hidden his true body in an unknown location, operating entirely through his avatars. Without deploying orbital weaponry, this will take time."

The simplest solution was straightforward: as long as he remained on the planet—whether in his true body or as an avatar, whether hidden in the earth's core or elsewhere—deploying orbital weaponry under an Extermination Protocol would achieve the goal.

The Extermination Protocol came in tiers. It wasn't defined by a specific weapon but by its intent: to achieve the objective using any means necessary.

The highest level would see the planet shattered into pieces—an option rarely used. The next level, "Cracking," would destabilize the planet to the point where no life could survive.

The lowest tier involved destroying the planet's biosphere—essentially "plowing" the surface. While deep oceans or mountains might provide some shelter, most life would perish.

"Maintain the current level of search and capture operations. Proceed steadily; no need to rush." Selene waved a hand dismissively, unconcerned.

Gray Serpent was more than just an officer of World Serpent—he was its true founder.

He wasn't even human. He was a byproduct created by Mobius during the Previous Era while testing new technologies.

No one knew where his true consciousness resided. Perhaps every avatar was a part of the true consciousness, each sharing all information with one another.

Selene intended to wait—to see whether Gray Serpent would awaken anyone… or recall anyone.

"Now, I need everything from you."

Turning her gaze, Selene shifted her attention to the captivating figure bound beneath the chains.

But it was merely memories, nothing more.

"Come now—let me see. Show me just how many convoluted schemes you Flame-Chasers concocted."

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