Well, the number of Herrsher is kinda arbitrary? From GGZ we know that there is not actually a limit for the number of Herrsher and what actually is a Herrsher is also arbitrary, since only those who are widely know get to be remembered.
For example Sakura is arguably the actual first from the current era, having become a Herrsher 500 years ago
Then there is the fact that the number of Herrsher of the previous era is also false
It kinda makes the numbering inconsistent and meaningless
As a bonus point in GGZ Jhana the "Herrsher of the ocean" is not actually a Herrsher yet is still classified as one.
Technically speaking, they didn't skip them/go out of order,
6th and 7th are Fire and Death respectively...
We didn't get them as WoH created the gems of Haste/Serenity that contained those Herrscher powers
(Both of which are in canon housed in Kiana now iirc)
Also how the HoBinding was skipped, as their power used by Otto instead
And the rest of the list is in order and consistent
Just because narratively we first meet the herrscher of Stars, doesn't mean he awoke before Sentience...this bit of the timeline is a bit vague iirc
The way I understood canon ( chapter 31 EX admittedly may make my guess invalid), only one instance of a Herrscher Core/ability can be created at a time, so when core/gem was formed a herrscher using the power of said core couldn't be born anymore...but if someone was compatible enough they could connect to the core and then become the herrscher
To me it seems that they kept the numbered order from PE, but weirdness (especially with the 4 gems) meant that the CE Herrschers didn't necessarily come in the order they were "supposed" to. First 3, 4 if you count Wendy, were in order, and Domination came when it was supposed to. Otto made Binding weird again, but Corruption also came when it was supposed to, so 10 and 12 were also in order.
Really its just the Gems that make the middle, elemental portion of the list wack.
This image is cursed. I always see hand merge with feet.
Wendy breakdown after she realize the experiment she undergo is pointless. All the justification is from the scientist themselves. I realize why otto is smirk when he told dr.magi hypocrisy. his loathing of humanity is always not decrease because theresa is exception. There never a protest about his order event when the result is always bad. The one who are protest is because they are his relative, event then he continue the experiment.
It also why he prevent fu hua to intervene because he want to see the beautiful example of humanity.
I have mixed feeling about this, but watched. By the way, please just kill off Danny, it's painful to read him. He is like what Browbeat just without powers.
I have mixed feeling about this, but watched. By the way, please just kill off Danny, it's painful to read him. He is like what Browbeat just without powers.
Taylor made a note in her head that a Sirin that was that cheerful was scarier than an angry Sirin. She quickly crumbled the literal note that appeared in her hands. Stupid Dream realm.
"The failure of the Previous Era! Don't get me wrong, it was genius, and it would have almost worked."
These words alone send a shudder down Taylor's back. To hear Sirin so nonchalantly praise a human achievement was a strong potent to just how wrong it went.
Project Stigmata is also the worst of Humanity in according to the lore (from Elysia), with Project Ember being the best. Too bad it all depended on Humanity, and Humanity sometimes sucked. It's basically Escapism and/or ignoring the problem and hope it goes away, something Humanity is really good at.
Kevin was also an asshole that managed to win the "most tragic past" contest and thought he knew better. He needed some serious Talk no Just dumped on his head, but we don't have anyone capable of that in this franchise except maybe Teriri. It's been leaked that she managed something next chapter.
Still, poor Wendy. (And poor Dean for having to witness a partial descend of a Herrscher meltdown) Such a happy character. She endured quite a shit ton of stuff before becoming a Herrscher. She shouldn't blame Bianka or Theresa though since they legit did not know the truth and believed whole-heartedly in what they were doing is for the Good of Humanity. I can't say for Bianka, but the tiny principal was also kept in the dark for a lot of things. Those doctors can totally be blamed through.
I am also surprised that Sirin was the one that went to comfort her. Maybe it's because she knew what it was like that made her the best candidate. Still, Gleeful Sirin is now confirmed a Bad Thing for the immediate area.
Now how big of a raging storm was Wendy conjuring? I don't think Taylor did a good job describing it and the Dreamscape was bare enough to not show its devastation.
I like to know that too. I am curious though on who pulled the trigger. Logic says it was Kiana since she supposedly is in control during that time. Logic can go on a vacation because Herrschers don't work with Logic.
There is of course also Lisa, and she has a gun. Not as loud of a bang as the DE, but still a gun. It was never specified how loud the bang was.
Reading this feels exactly like trying to parse Honkai Impact 3 for some coherent lore and actual explanation of the events the protagonists participate in, so, points for authenticity?
I wouldn't call the 13th Herrscher a lie, though. Just because the number is wrong doesn't mean that there wasn't somehow a Herrscher to defeat, even if it was done in the typical Honkai martyr "Let me die for your sins" fashion.
Now, here, 8 is Dominance instead of Domination from the Previous Era, and 9 is Flamescion, instead of Flame. Yes, Kiana counts as a Herrscher in her own right, independent of Sirin.
10 is Corruption.
Whether we see Binding and Death in this Era is an open question, because Death is sorta hanging out with Seele and Binding was used by Otto in concert with Dominance to bootstrap and yeet himself into the Imaginary Tree, but he wasn't considered a "True" Herrscher, whatever the fuck that means these days.
But Origin is almost certainly out, due to a few spoilerish circumstances you can find out by playing through the latest chapters.
and Binding was used by Otto in concert with Dominance to bootstrap and yeet himself into the Imaginary Tree, but he wasn't considered a "True" Herrscher, whatever the fuck that means these days.
Ah no. He isn't Binding. Otto simply imitated Binding with his Golden Cube of Cheat, though he did took Dominance's core for his Soulium puppets to act as distractions. Binding from the previous era is inside Oath of Judah, the massive cross of maybe-sentience that is capable of weird things if you take some of them event lores seriously enough.
My head canon is that's why Teriri can deal with that so well is because Judah is pissed someone tried to imitate it and showed it the real deal. Judah is the Best lol~
I like to know that too. I am curious though on who pulled the trigger. Logic says it was Kiana since she supposedly is in control during that time. Logic can go on a vacation because Herrschers don't work with Logic.
There is of course also Lisa, and she has a gun. Not as loud of a bang as the DE, but still a gun. It was never specified how loud the bang was.
Huh. I totally missed that. Was maybe a bit too hyped. Thanks.
Think her body somehow has acquired "shoot the immediate sudden surprise threat" instinct when Kiana was in the driver's seat? Either way, the way she said it make me think she definitely recognize the other party.
The only one I can think of that's likely messed up and recognizable by Taytay is Sophia… The question then is why shoot?
Herrscher of Rimestar is just what happens when Ana/the Herrscher of Ice absorbs the Herrscher Core from Owl/the Herrscher of Gravity. It's basically a dual-Core Herrscher just like Kiana isn't the Herrscher of the Void or Flame, but Flamescion due to possessing full Herrscher Cores for Void and Flames thanks to her Awakening during the whole Domination 'event'.
At least, that's what I believe is the case for Kiana. Not entirely sure where the Gem of Serenity aka Pseudo-Core of Death falls into things except I don't believe it's become a full Core yet.
It took Taylor a moment to regain her full awareness, shock still sitting deep. Nonetheless, she pushed herself to come back to the present, to the lights of the armored cars, the blaring of the sirens.
She had felt the vibration of the discharge caused by the hammer hitting the back of the cartridge, she had heard the ear-deafening roar of a high caliber bullet leaving the barrel, punching through the sonic wall.
Now, however, she could see what she, what they, had shot at. It was fairly hard to ignore the crying form of Tiergard after all. His mask's shattered remains, which laid beneath his form, were tainted with his blood.
Taylor knew what had happened, she could access the memory of the event, but there was a feeling of disbelief. A gun was supposed to shoot, and technically speaking she hadn't pressed the trigger, but still, it felt like a crossed border, like she was just thrown off a building.
Her intellect told her that a grazing shot, aimed purposefully to hurt but not kill, was fine. The mask was not quite unplanned, but the degree of injury was accidental nonetheless. It shattered because a piece stood out, it caught the bullet. An accident. It was fine, he would live.
She knew that.
It didn't feel that way. She knew that she should be fine with it, but seeing the mask explode, the shrapnel of it burrowing into the pale cheek, the bullet itself ricocheting into his jaw, the glass of his eyeholes shattering… It was different from cutting apart the beast Night has been, or smacking someone around with her grip. She had control. She had no control over the bullet.
She didn't bother calling out to Kiana, she could feel that while she was present, it was distanced, stressed and sad. Yet, she couldn't help the pain. She hadn't felt this alone since the locker. She got so used to the presence of others in her mind, that now, when her own thoughts echoed in her mind, it left her shuddering.
As if she broke through the surface of water, reality settled back to proper awareness. She became aware of the PRT troops watching her. She had to focus and make it through this. Then she would get answers.
Directing her gaze towards them, she raised an eyebrow at the visible recoil from Gallant. She opened her mouth to speak, but her speech stocked. She had nobody but herself right now. But she refused to leave without speaking. She wouldn't run. She wouldn't hide.
"Isn't anybody going to help him?"
She had tried to sound like her usual confident self, but swore she failed miserably. It seemed to kick the agents into gear however as they swarmed out and began what Taylor presumed to be perimeter security, while a few went to escort Night and Tiergart away. The heroes of the protectorate however approached her.
Naturally, she had realized they were there, but her focus had been diverted. Now, however, they forced themselves into it, and with that, what had occurred this morning came back, and with it, the sheer rage she had felt began to cook again. With a bit more force than intended, she asked before they could.
"Yes?"
Miss Militia eyed her, before lifting her hands in mock surrender. "We are only here to talk. We need to, really." Need, something about that word crossed her wires, but she bit her own tongue. Rolling her eyes, she gave a slight nod. Miss Militia inclined her head towards the destroyed shop.
Settling into a booth, none of the four capes made the first move. Abyss Flower had her eyes fixed on the Protectorate member, Miss Militia returned the gesture, while the Wards looked between them. Gallant decided to break the ice.
"Are you okay?"
She hadn't expected the question. She had expected inquiries about the shot, her costume change, and the fight. Not to be asked about her well-being. Yet… wasn't Gallant an Empath? Was he aware of Wendy's breakdown somehow?
Cautious, she decided to be honest. Trust goes with trust, and while she had issues with the Protectorate, she couldn't be sure the Wards could be held responsible for Shadow Stalker.
"I am frustrated and angry. Sad and confused about a few things."
She had to bite back the almost instinctive question of how he was feeling. But it felt good to speak plainly and honestly. And she was, not just because of Sophia, but also because of what had just occurred. Which made her feel worse. Had she really a right to be frustrated about something like that? That doubt only fed into it.
Miss Militia jumped on that bit of honesty, affixing a friendly, conversationalist tone that sounded strained to Taylor.
"I think we got that. Gallant has sensed it." She said it casually, but the affirmation of her suspicion put things into context for Taylor. The small hints of caution, as if she was a dangerous animal. Taking a breath, just to calm her rising ire, she took a moment to formulate her response. The temptation was there to act petulant, but she wanted this over with.
"An unfortunate side effect of my power. I am slowly growing to control it. So, you wanted to talk to me. About what?"
Miss Militia swallowed, not a nervous reaction, a natural one, before speaking her mind. "We wanted to talk about your behavior."
Another ping of irritation. The tone she took reminded Taylor of when she was spoken to by Blackwell, accused of being the problem. It was the tone one would take with a foolish child. Raising an eyebrow, she put emphasis on a single sound, an attempt to convey her sheer incredulity.
"Oh?"
There was one difference between now and then. She wasn't the one quivering. Not the one concerned, not the one afraid nothing would change.
Folding her hands together, Miss Militia tried her best at looking friendly and well-meaning. Perhaps it was because she had a currently very tainted perception, but it made her only look more like a used car salesman. She couldn't help but think she heard a note of annoyance from the woman.
"While we do appreciate all that you have done so far, we do, we have some… concerns. I think you will appreciate me being frank to you. You are starting a fight you do not know the scope off." She gestured around the destroyed shop. "And this is the result of that.This is a problem, I trust you understand?"
Looking around herself, Taylor tried to tie down her emotions, yet couldn't help but quip back."I can indeed see how an innocent girl on a date being accosted by three villains is a problem."
"That is no-"
"I get what you mean, but I'm also not about to take a beating for the sake of someone's fucking ego."
This seemed to get a rise, not from the experienced Heroine, but Vista. Slamming her gauntlet-clad hands on the table did produce an impressive enough sound at least."Yet you are allowing innocents to get hurt for the sake of your ego!"
"Which innocents? Nobody was hurt except those that were ready to suffer the consequences of their actions. Or are you talking about the shop? Oh, tell me, how much collateral happened because you wouldn't finish Lung in time?" She had not planned to sound mocking, but the poison of spite was strong.
"You-!"
"Vista, stop. Gallant, take her outside for a second." The only adult in the chat intervened, speaking loudly, with a sharp but tired voice. The two Wards gave her a curt nod, and moved out slowly.
As soon as they were gone, something changed in Miss Militia, as if she became more of a presence. She seemed slightly taller, drawing herself up. Leaning forward, she nearly matched Taylor for size. Their eyes met.
"You will not speak this way to Vista or Gallant again, Taylor"
This cracked Taylor's resolve for the first time, but before she could say anything, Miss Militia continued. "Yes, I know who you are. I wasn't sure before, but the fact that you react this hostile to us all of a sudden after the video was online, with your account being one of the few logged to have watched it, is the only explanation. No, I don't plan to tell anyone nor use it. The Rules stand."
Taylor grunted, before leaning back. "Alright, talk then." It was a guess, she could tell. But in this case, Miss Militia took a risk, and it was a hit. Lucky fucking her.
"Why are you so angry with us? I thought you would be happy to have Sophia punished."
The younger of the two couldn't help the laugh. "Punished? Yes, that would be nice. Properly punished. You want to know why I am angry with you? Fine!" Taylor bit out, not bothering to keep it any longer.
"I was nearly done with her, she wasn't my problem anymore, I didn't need to give a shit about her. Now? Because of your fuckup? There is a clearly mentally damaged and confused girl running around alone with a target on her back, possibly injured, in a city with goddamn gangs famous for forced prostitution and Neo-Nazis." She had slammed her hands on the table, standing up, trying to force understanding of her anger into the older woman.
"I want to see her punished, but I was raised better than that. So, my anger comes from the fact that your incompetence took my chance to hate her in peace.Why are you smiling?"
"Because this speaks well of your character."
Taylor couldn't help but snort. "Well, thank you, the fact that it is true speaks poorly of yours."
"Fair shot. How we handled Sophia is an object lesson in how to not do it. But that brings me back around to how to do things properly. What exactly do you think pissing off every gang in BB will do?"
"Change. That's what."
"Not positive change, things will only get worse if you continue to light that fuse."
Taylor inclined her head. "Perhaps. Perhaps it will be better. Perhaps it will change only the names of the infection."
The heroine shook her head. "No, it will be worse. Let's presume you manage to beat every Villain. Others will take their place. Worse people will take their place. It is the nature of a power vacuum. I hate the status quo as much as the next one, I do, but better the devil you know than the one you don't."
"Is that so? What if the current devil is unacceptable? Because the current status quo is that! The city is dying, poverty is rising. The so-called heroes rarely do something beyond preventing the occasional crime. How long has the PRT been active here? About 13 years? Things only ever got worse."
"You do not know-"
That. That was when Taylor's patience shattered. She could feel her Honkai react to her emotions, eager to leap to her command, to help her manifest her desired reality. She suppressed it.
"I do know. You have been here for a handful of years, I lived here for all my life. I have seen how good man lost their jobs and turned to crime. You…"
She needed to catch her breath, to collect her calm before she leaked the energy out.
"You presume that I want this shithole of a city to burn, I do not. But I am also done letting people push me around. I have not come out of one hell to land in another.I am done."
"We can't help you if you won't-"
"What in the world makes you fucking think I still want your help?! I would trust your fucking pet sociopath before I trust you! At least she was honest to me about how she is sees me."
With that, Taylor had enough. She stood straight up, Miss Militia made to follow, yet, she couldn't move. Instead, she was pressed down into the seat by invisible hands, before being made to look into Taylor's eyes, an invisible hand clutching her by the chin.
"Sit and look at me. I want to be clear. I am going to walk away now. You, and your mooks, and whoever the fuck else, will leave me alone. The rules stand to your benefit." She leaned down, just to whisper, with a degree of vindication.
"Don't make me break them."
She blinked away the moment she was outside, releasing the hold, yet, when she manifested on the roof, she felt someone take hold of her arm, trying to whirl her around. It was instinct, but she turned around with force, her superior strength easily overpowering whoever hold her, throwing them to the ground with a yelp.
Green eyes met.
"What the fuck is your problem?"
She was tempted to laugh sardonically at the midget, yet, she paused, considering just what she was doing. Her issues were with the Protectorate, and the Wards, yet, seeing someone so young… She took a deep breath.
"Not something you can help with."
"Weren't you the one that was all for mental health?"
"I am, but-"
"But what?"
But what indeed? Taylor wasn't sure. So, she switched methods.
"I don't think you have any right to lecture me on that."
"Somebody has to give you a wake-up call. So, what is your problem?"
"If you people didn't protect - Forget it. That is between me and your bosses."
"Protect who? Wait!"
The shout echoed over the roof as Taylor dispersed into another blink.
Her mindscape had changed. Where before it was a small, comfy looking space, it was now made of a mountainous area, winds howling between green hills.
They were in the Tai-something mountains.
Kiana was here, her usual casual clothes exchanged for a simple robe as she meditated beneath a tree.
"I am here."
Taylor's voice sounded harsh to her own ears, the frustration infecting her tonnage. Accusatory, angry. Hurt. Yet, she felt afraid of being angry at Kiana.
"Indeed, you are." Kiana sounded exhausted, but still kind. With a sigh, she rose from her meditation, and looked Taylor into the eyes. "I am sorry. That is something I want to make clear upfront. I invited Wendy because I thought you two would bond… I thought she wouldn't react like this."
Feeling herself taking a deep breath, Taylor nodded, trying to accept things."I just want to understand."
Kiana gave her a beautiful, almost serene smile, before it sharpened into something more dangerous. "And I will try to make it so. But… you also accepted a mission. So, we are going to do two things at once. You have decided to seek out combat, mortal dangers, and so, I will train you like I was trained. But I also owe you some answers. Let's start with the basics for both."
Before Taylor could blink, the white haired girl was in front of her, the palm of her hand moving towards her, while another was behind her back. She looked devilishly casual, a patient little smile on her lips, her eyes gleaming with something and her long hair suspended in the air behind her like a flowing river. It was as if moving fast enough that Taylor, even with her enhanced senses, couldn't begin to perceive it, was no more difficult than breathing to her.
The younger of the two could barely lift her arm to block the palm strike, yet, the moment it impacted, she realized she fucked up as she felt her bones break. It wasn't a cry of pain that left her throat, barely, her weakened sensitivity paying dividends. She cried out in shock.
She has seen images of broken bones, but to feel how the sheer unrelenting force traveled through her arm, destroying it along its way… It was awfully terrifying to have this caused by what amounted to a casual strike, like a swat at a fly.
Yet, once more before any reaction could be given, before Taylor could even begin to compute, a foot embedded itself in her midriff, robbing her of even the idea of breath, sending her flying on her back.
"You got some instincts. Not great, but workable. First lesson. Evasion. A Valkyrie may be able to tank much punishment, but only dumbasses take damage they don't need to without a plan. Get up. I will only answer your questions as long as you can get up."
Taylor groaned as she stood up, feeling her body reforging itself, broken bones mending together perfectly. She couldn't help the curse fleeting from her lips, and the annoyed look she shot Kiana was scathing.
"Shouldn't there be a difficulty curve or something?"
"Does Death have a difficult curve ?"
"Yes, it is called aging."
"That is more a bell curve, but you don't have that either. So. What do you want to talk about first."
Taylor paused, before deciding on the less personal, more abstract issue. She got into position, eying Kiana, focusing.
"What is a dream and why did Wendy call herself that?" She could barely finish the question before a foot went for her head, her only able to evade by a hair's breath. She didn't manage to evade, the follow-up arced foot that impacted her at neck height, pushing her face down into the dirt as Kiana stood on her before stepping off.
"Well, to begin basic. Honkai. It is essentially the universal basis. Quarks, just a step above that. There are two states to it. Inactive, which is what matter and reality is, and active, which is Imagination. Following that, you have Quantum, which is Reality aping Imagination, and Dreams, which is Imagination aping Reality. Herrschers are the near uncontested masters of the Imagination side of things, because we bring it into reality. Our presence literally makes reality less solid. Like… think the difference between earth and water. Water is a fluid and earth is a solid. Herrschers are essentially a water hose directed at a pile of earth. We don't turn earth into water, but we make it watery."
Standing up, Taylor coughed, snapping out of the way of a quick jab, before responding. "That makes sense, I suppose. So when Wendy said dream, she meant the Herrscher inside her. The capability to change reality?"
"Yes. The big dreams, don't blame me for the terminology, the Herrscher Dream and Humanity's Dream, are oddities, because they are sourced in a collective. Humanity's Dream was localized in a universe, the Herrscher´s Dream in the Quantum Sea. "
Kiana made a quick move forward, focusing on leg work, making rapid steps forward, side wards. Taylor's attention was drawn to it, and she tried to recognize a pattern. Left, right, right, left - Kick. Once more, she landed on her back.
"Good attempt at predicting me. Keep trying."
The praise did help Taylor's bruised ego slightly as she forced herself up. She knew that she couldn't dance around too much of the actual issue.
"So, what happened?" A kick, but this one slower, softer. Easily evaded as Kiana seemed to ponder with how to explain it.
"Wendy… didn't have it easy." Taylor ducked under a kick, only to get one against her chin, sending her to the knees. "It is difficult to convey the mentality of Valkyrie. We are outliers. For most, being Valkyries was a death sentence. The moment we went through with the transformation, we have signed our death warrant. Many saw death daily, and in some cases, that were those that were lucky. It is not -" She cut off for a moment. "It hurts to put down companions that were corrupted. Many wanted to believe in something."
Taylor dove to the side to evade an axe kick that would have caved her head in.
"Most people weren't aware of the Previous Era. Valkyries were. We were the glorious inheritors of an honorable task, those that would lead humanity into salvation. The Previous Era became almost mythological for some. It didn't help that Otto outright encouraged the reverence of Kallen, and that had a spreading effect. It varies naturally, but everyone felt a sense of… appreciation. They had fought to provide the way for us, and we owned them to make good on it. It made sense to most, and duty is an easy reason to believe in, as is Hope."
Taylor dodged through various punches and kicks, knowing that Kiana, despite her earlier statement, was holding back. Suddenly, a hand shot out and grabbed her by the throat, causing her to release a cry of surprise that was quickly cut off as she was reintroduced to the ground.
Taking a moment to catch her breath. Taylor thought about it. It made sense, she supposed. She could relate. She had been inspired by the heroes of the Protectorate, yet… right now, she felt hurt at how different they were from what she had thought they were. She couldn't imagine how someone who was ready to sacrifice their lives felt about that sort of thing. If she was to pull comparisons, from what she had heard of the PE, it was like the PRT. Wanting to find a way to safe keep, even if it costed the potential for betterment. If the Valkyries felt their inherited task was to pave the way to a better world…
"... It would hurt to see that goal cast away." Taylor spoke softly as she evaded a palm strike, feeling the air travelling, rippling.
"Yes. But it also felt like a betrayal. We were never given a chance, in genuine good faith, but still, we were allowed to cast our loved ones into the grinder. We were disposable pawns rather than inheritors. If World Serpent hadn't been around, if Kevin himself was not around still when the Middle Ages came and went, it would have been something else. But that was not the case. We were told lies. Simple as that. We weren't the ones that were supposed to succeed, we were tools for a dream not one of us wanted or knew about."
Taylor could tell Kiana was agitated, yet, could understand why. The swipes and kicks were getting faster, each cracking the air like a whip with sheer force.
"All our sacrifices, all our pain, was going to be used for something we didn't believe in. If from the start, Project Stigma was the goal, then we should have been told that. There would have been no need for Babylon, not for Wendy. Naturally, you can say that what the PE wants doesn't matter to us, it shouldn't matter to us. But wouldn't hurt to see idols mock your work, the work your family and friends died for? To see the same idols dishonor the sacrifices for their own goals?"
Kiana backed off, taking a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "And that is what it boils down to. Everything we lost in our war against the Honkai, we can lay at their feet. Because they treated us as disposable pawns rather than those that would come after them. Our entire approach to it was based on dishonest, incomplete information. People build their sense of worth, of purpose, on it."
There was a brief lull before Kiana advanced once more, but this time, Taylor could see what she was going to do. Dodging under a kick, jumping out of the way of a sweep, she managed to hold her ground for a bit, long enough to respond."I can imagine it. So Wendy…"
"Wendy's sole thing keeping her stable was the sense of duty. I can't speak of what was done to her, but things don't line up with the version we were told." Suddenly, Kiana had two guns in her hand, giving Taylor a wink before opening fire, bullets tearing through the air. With a pop, Taylor's knee gave in, and she yowled in surprise.
"She was a talented Valkyrie, one of the best and most dedicated. She was volunteered to an experiment by someone she trusted, but she took it in stride because it was one of the most promising leads to another powerful weapon against Honkai. Ultimately, I don't think they wanted to be brutal, but I can see it happening. The original experiment was a failure, but even according to them, they were committed. The Gem was only stable within her, and they supposedly couldn't remove it."
Kiana waited for Taylor to stand up, lifting one of the pistols at her before firing. This time, however, Taylor had managed to track where the gun was pointing. She was following her instinct on where it would go, and, with a triumphant smile, felt the bullet tearing through the air besides her ear.
She was promptly floored by the next three bullets shot in rapid pace, felt how they burrowed through her clothes and ripped through her flesh. One lodged itself in her airway, and instinct caused her to cough it up. It took only an instance to heal the new hole in her throat.
"I doubt that. From the technology I have seen not even a year after the events, the technology most likely existed. But regardless, there are only two ways I see events play out. Either the removal was indeed too complicated, meaning the scientists were under pressure since they just made an investment with an incredibly valuable resource they could not replace. They needed results. Or they could remove it, but didn't, and if they were willing to do that, I am willing to consider them being quite willing to do other things as well. Wendy was also quite heavily bandaged for an operation supposedly only involving her spine."
Attempting it once more, Taylor did better. She could swear that seeing where the bullets would travel, when they became truly dangerous, was becoming easier and easier. Dodge under one, twirl to the side, lean backwards, roll backwards. Taylor was growing comfortable with the pace, which, turned out to be a mistake.
"Neko Charm!"
She did not expect to be buried under a giant cat paw today.
Kiana had an infuriating smirk as the paw dissipated. "You are fighting people with powers. You got to expect the unexpected."
"That sounds like bullshit." Taylor forced out as she pushed herself up, her body knitting itself back together, broken bones moving back into place. Rolling her shoulders, she could swear that she could hear the joints pop. She started to turn around to face Kiana, but suddenly her instincts screamed. She barely managed to cartwheel to the side. It was confusingly comfortable to trust her instinct in this dance. And it felt like a dance as Kiana combined her previous methods of attacking.
She leaned under a sweeping strike, rolled out of the way of a kick, evaded another paw by blinking to the side. Hearing the sound of the guns being called forth, she took a running start towards one of the walls. One step up, two steps up, three steps up. A hail of bullet hit the stone wall beneath her, trailing her ascend. The moment she felt the first bullet enter her thigh, she vanished into another blink, reappearing on the ground before leaping towards Kiana.
...only dumbasses take damage they don't need to without a plan...
The white haired girl lifted the gun, eyes glinting as if she knew. Taylor mirrored her motion, lifting her hand in front of the barrel. The gun fired, and her hand exploded into chunks, but she bit on through it, forcing her blade to appear in her other hand before taking a swipe at Kiana.
The blade arced towards the throat, a blow that would have ripped stone apart.
It was stopped by two fingers, the rippling energy of a small barrier barely visible.
"Good enough, Tay-chan~"
After a moment, Taylor relaxed, standing straighter. "So, how did it end?"
"Project Stigma? That story I will finish later. I don't think I need to burden you with more of the past just yet. You also have a meeting with a certain Healer to look forward to."
Taylor froze. She had forgotten about Amy. Damn it.
AN
So, yeah, took a long ass time. Honestly, part of it was Writer's block, the other frustration with Honkai, another getting involved with some other writing projects. I could go onto a tirade about several things, but frankly, I just want to continue on. As it is, I don't plan to involve any more Honkai Characters till things have settled. I also plan to have a slight shift in tone to something more fun.
It's live!
God, I've been waiting for the update.
Yeah, Kiana's frustrations are understandable. But PE can be understood as well.
As always, instead of just a super power, Taylor gets to learn about the dark side of humanity in detail.
Definitely looking forward to the next chapter!
Yeah, not a single one of the factions can claim to be the unilateral good guys. Every single one of the sides made their own mistakes, sacrifices, poor choices, and hard decisions; and more often than not, those actions would eventually come to boomerang back around with interest.
But then, that's what makes Hoyo such brilliant writers. The choices the characters make are never really right, or wrong, but just understandable. Everyone's the hero of their own story.
Yeah, not a single one of the factions can claim to be the unilateral good guys. Every single one of the sides made their own mistakes, sacrifices, poor choices, and hard decisions; and more often than not, those actions would eventually come to boomerang back around with interest.
But then, that's what makes Hoyo such brilliant writers. The choices the characters make are never really right, or wrong, but just understandable. Everyone's the hero of their own story.
Yeah that was a really good chapter you can feel Taylor frustrations oozing through this. Miss Militia is probably feeling really confused right now, this hero is both moral enough that she couldn't stand seeing Sophia like this no matter what she did, at the same time on that is willing to tear apart the peace (in her view) for what she believes in.
Also that argument about villains constantly trying to get into BB, that falls apart once they have been drive away enough times. Like no one is dumb enough to go to Huston or LA if the villains suddenly disappear from their as Alexandria and Eidolon are there. But there will still be new ones popping due to fresh triggers.
As for New York well that's just a hot mess. since the Villains there as just as bullshit.
And oh boy PE and project Stigma that's a hot mess and a half, technically the one's in PE that developed that would have preferred if it was never used but Kevin did jump the gun and tired to use it in the 1400s before he was banished. But yeah the fact they didn't trust PE enough to fight and had a 'solution' they didn't use would be a massive blow to any modern Valks.
While a shorter chapter than ususally it was an emotional mess. (Also really good explanation of Wendy's breakdown)
But then, that's what makes Hoyo such brilliant writers. The choices the characters make are never really right, or wrong, but just understandable. Everyone's the hero of their own story.
I would say I agree with you, but frankly, I loathe anything past the beginning of Elysium with a passion in terms of technical writing so ehhh. The ideas are good, but much like with Kiana´s characterizations early on, it feels very flip flop in the actions taken by Kevin. I haven´t played the newst stuff yet, because my tablet broke and salt is real, so maybe the newest ones will reignite my faith.
Taylor is at the moment unsure which lesson she is supposed to take from this whole incident. But as the writer... Well, she is next up with Panacea....
Yeah that was a really good chapter you can feel Taylor frustrations oozing through this. Miss Militia is probably feeling really confused right now, this hero is both moral enough that she couldn't stand seeing Sophia like this no matter what she did, at the same time on that is willing to tear apart the peace (in her view) for what she believes in.
Honestly, for both MM and Taylor you can write the sentence "Are frustrated because they think they know better from experience." Neither of the two is correct outright because fighting crime and poor conditions is not a black-and-white issue on that front, but both also have strong reasons to think they are right.
I am surprised that nobody else pointed that out. What Taylor did was really fucking out of line. As in, Legit traumatizing for anyone that isn´t prepared to deal with it. As noted in a conversation I had about that scene, it would have made Sirin proud. Which isn´t exactly a good thing.
Which will probably end up in a lot of destroyed property. Hero or not, Honkai would affect the way she's thinking, and considering Taylor's own hangups, someone telling her what to do/how to act is far more likely to lead to a pissed off Herrscher doing her thing.
