AN: Wow! It's already Wednesday ? Time sure is moving fast.
Well, anyways, I back again to finally deliver the start of Volume 3!!
the world I have chosen this time is Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody or short called as Desu Machi!
The reason I chose this is because it has allot of concepts I can use to develop the exploration team.
And this world is not foreign with other worlds. It has Heroes, Demons, Demon Lords, Gods, Spirits, Fantasy races, Dungeons and many more!!
then now without further ado, I here by give you all the prologue of Volume 3
Please enjoy and tell me what you think and what are your expectations!
I'll try to answer it without too much spoiling how this volume will go.
PS: I added two Auxiliary Chapters for the Characters who appeared as of Volume 1. I'll update it later as I will add those who appeared from Volume 2.
PSS: Thank you Joldered for the power stone!
====== << START >> ======
Nagazora is collapsing.
The sky was dark, smoke rising, buildings falling into heaps, the streets wet with rain from the storm above. Raiden Mei sat at the middle of it all, her skirt and legs soaked from a puddle she hadn't even noticed, her hands resting limply at her sides. Distant screams came somewhere just out of reach. She didn't move. She couldn't.
Lightning and thunder flash through the sky as fire and smoke spread through the city. A figure appeared behind her with the crash of a bolt, someone she knew all too well in the worst way. Same face, same figure yet utterly different. She wore a jet-black dress with pinkish red arcs of lightning dancing around her body. Her long hair flowed freely down her back, her eyes sharp and merciless, glowing with electric judgment. Two prominent red horns on top of her head. It was her. The consciousness of the Herrscher of Thunder, the other Raiden Mei.
"Still clinging to those false emotions?" the Herrscher's voice was sharp, cutting through the silence like a blade. "Lying to yourself? Pretending to care?"
Mei's lips parted, but no sound came. Her mouth was dry, her body unresponsive.
"You saw how quickly they turned away. No one came to you when it mattered. They laughed at you, they condemned you. What you feel now… it isn't grief. It's indifference."
Mei flinched as the Herrscher's voice crashed like thunder. Memories came running back to her, The classmates, her so-called friends, their sneering faces, the joy they took in her pain. And then the moment their bodies dissolved into nothing.
"Stop...!" Mei croaked, her voice trembling as tears burned at the edge of her eyes. But the Herrscher only smiled.
"But you already know that, isn't it?" the Herrscher said, stepping closer, her heels clicking against the broken ground. "You didn't feel anything for them. No hate. No anger. Nothing. You just watched as they vanished, one by one, and you didn't feel anything."
Mei's throat tightened. Her words came out as a shaky whisper. "…You're wrong. I do care. I—"
"Is that what you keep telling yourself? Lies to make you comfortable?" The Herrscher tilted her head with a mocking smile. "But deep down, you've already known it."
"Stop…" Mei's voice cracked, tears blurring her vision. "I'm not you.... I won't be you…!"
Lightning split the sky, thunder rolling so violently the ground trembled under them.
"STOP LYING TO YOURSELF, RAIDEN MEI."
"No…" Mei whispered again, clutching her chest. Then louder, desperate: "NO!"
Her eyes flew open as she bolted upright, heart pounding like a war drum. The ceiling of her room came into view, dim lights turning on. The hum of the Astral Express engine filled her ears, grounding her in reality.
She sat on her bed, chest heaving, sweat dripping down her face. Wrapping her arms around herself, she tried to calm the shaking in her breathing.
It was just a dream… just a dream, she repeated silently, almost like a prayer.
But the tingle across her skin wouldn't fade.
And what unsettled her most was not the sound of her own scream but the way her other self's voice spoke makes scared and doubt herself.
—--
Noah sat in the navigation cabin of the Astral Express, carefully fine‑tuning the coordinates for their next jump. Their destination: a world of gods, demon lords, heroes and all sorts of races, codenamed DesuMachi. It had only been a month since Hikigaya Hachiman joined, and only a week since Raiden Mei stepped aboard the express, finally completing the lineup that once existed in the previous timeline.
After the chaos in Hachiman's world and the battle that cost him his life, if it could even be called that, the crew continued as planned. They traveled back to the home world of Kiana and Elysia, now officially logged as Honkai World in the Express's databank and Silver Rails Network, to meet up with Theresa. They spent several days there, explaining to her everything that had happened and Noah's suspicion that future Kiana, who somehow obtained the power of Finality, may have altered the timeline.
Theresa's expression of disbelief nearly made Noah burst into laughter, and he barely kept it in, that is until she spoke her next words.
"Are you sure we're talking about Kiana? The same girl who once flunked her history exam with a perfect zero? You're saying she could pull off a strategic timeline alteration? My stupid niece?" she deadpanned.
That time Noah couldn't hold back, and his laughter filled the room much to Kiana's mortified protest.
During this visit, Kiana was finally reunited with Siegfried. Father and daughter shared their long‑overdue talk, joined unexpectedly by Sirin as well. Their conversation drifted from Cecilia's memory to the uncertain fate of the real Kiana. Siegfried insisted she had already died, but both Sirin and Kiana disagreed.
"...And what makes you so sure your sister is still alive?" Siegfried asked, brows knitting together.
"It's weird and hard to explain," Sirin admitted, scratching her head. "But with my improved connection to the Void due to the element of my emblem being Quantum, I can feel traces of her inside the Kaslana Stigma."
Kiana leaned forward, nodding quickly. "Yeah! When Sis first told me, I thought she'd finally lost it. But when I dived into the Stigma myself… the real Kiana, she's still there still connected."
She drums her fingers on the table. "So we asked Captain, VA, and even AI‑chan to check. And they confirmed it, she really is alive."
Siegfried's cheek twitched at the mention of Noah. "…That's all fine and good. But let me ask something else. Are both of you seriously in a relationship with that boy now? And with those other girls too?"
Both Kiana and Sirin blinked at him, tilting their heads in confusion. 'Eh? Weren't we just talking about our sister? How did this suddenly turn into Captain?'
Kiana scratched her cheek awkwardly. "…Well, Alice, Anis, Ingvild and the maids team aside, yeah, we're together with him."
Siegfried's expression darkened, and with a sharp motion he pulled out Shamash. "That bastard! He is not satisfied with not just ONE but TWO of my daughters, now he's got a whole crowd of others?!"
"H-huh?!" Kiana and Sirin froze as Siegfried stood and stomped toward the dorms. "Papa, wait—where are you going?!"
Without looking back, he growled, "To your boyfriend. It's time I give him the 'talk'—the traditional way."
"Why does the traditional way include using Shamash?!" Kiana and Sirin cried in unison.
The usual rhythmic life at Saint Freya turned into chaos because of Siegfried's sudden 'talk' (Father‑and‑Son‑in‑law duel challenge) with Noah. Hajime and Hachiman, ever the opportunists, set up betting pools, while the ladies of the academy gossiped to their hearts' content as they watched the spectacle unfold. Sirin's and Kiana's faces burned redder than Kiana's own flames as they tried to hide from the embarrassment. When it was over, Theresa delivered a fierce Judas‑style lecture that left both combatants looking like scolded schoolboys.
Meanwhile, Hajime and Anisphia with Alice, Ingvild, Ophis, and Villhaze in tow, meet up with Saint Freya's R&D labs. There, they began upgrading their equipment for any coming Honkai threat. During those sessions, Hajime also encountered the history teacher Walter Yang. What began as discussions about man's romance (robots and machines) soon turned into mutual respect, which later formed the foundation for the strong connection between Anti‑Entropy and Saint Freya, after some revelations.
Elysia, accompanied by Lumine, set out to trace the remnants of World Serpent. Guided by her memories, they located the site of the old Flame Chasers base. Waiting there was Gray Serpent, who recounted everything that had transpired after her death. Later, Elysia entered the Elysian Realm, speaking to Kevin who was trapped within the Sea of Quanta. Though cold and distant, Kevin's demeanor softened at seeing her alive again. As the second of the Flame Chasers, she held authority, and Kevin agreed to abide by her will. With this reunion, World Serpent was effectively neutralized as now they are willing to follow her lead, and by extension, the Astral Express.
On a lighter note, the simulated Elysia inside the Realm grew extremely curious about Noah, whom her real self was now with. She even insisted on meeting him. Lumine, watching the two Elysias plotting together, could only sigh in sympathy for Noah, who would soon find himself dealing with two Ellies at once.
But such peaceful days could not last forever. The Third Honkai Impact had finally arrived.
Once the report came in, Theresa immediately rallied Saint Freya's Valkyries and deployed the Hyperion which, to their not really surprise, instantly recognized Noah as its captain. Together with the crew, they launched a joint operation in Nagazora. The mission was messy and brutal, but in the end they managed to save and evacuate thousands. Among them was a small child named Sora, rescued by Hachiman himself. With no family left, she clung tightly to him, refusing to let go until he finally relented with a sigh. "...Guess I'm stuck with you now," he muttered, patting her head, earning a faint smile from the girl.
Meanwhile, Noah somehow found what he called the 'perfect silver‑haired Russian wife' for Touya. After some negotiation and Noah slyly promising they would save her sister, the girl actually agreed, especially after finding Touya 'cute' and oddly her type. Kiana and Elysia, watching beside him, exchanged helpless looks. Seeing the mischievous grin on Noah's face, they couldn't help but pity their poor brother‑in‑law.
But the calm didn't last.
A violent surge of Honkai energy detected through the sensor, confirming the emergence of a Herrscher descent. Kiana, Sirin, Elysia, and Hajime rushed ahead, only to find the person they were looking for in the cruelest way possible: Raiden Mei, the last member of the crew they had been searching for.
Her consciousness was buried deep by the Herrscher in her. Cold and merciless, she declared herself humanity's herald of destruction. They tried everything, calling her name, reminding her of her humanity, pleading for her to stop. But 'Mei' didn't listen. Hatred clouded her eyes; she moved with the intent to annihilate humanity.
And then Hachiman did the unthinkable.
He reached her in his own unique way. Tapping on his new powers, he constructed and pulled her into a space like the Metaverse of his home world. There he saw everything: her lonely childhood, her fears, the sorrow she had buried. He didn't scold her. He didn't tell her to be stronger. He didn't try to fix her. He simply accepted her, all of her, as she was.
That was when Mei broke, tears falling freely as she cried, truly cried, for the first time in years.
After that, she made her decision.
Mei joined the crew. Not just to follow Hachiman and be with him, but to stand beside those like her: Kiana, Sirin, Elysia and Hajime. Herrschers who learned to live with their power instead of being ruled by it.
Noah's thoughts were cut short as the cabin door slid open.
"Thanks for the tea and snacks, Kii, Ellie," Noah said without looking away from the navigation panel.
Kiana pouted as she placed the tray on the side table. "Seriously, you're cheating with that Captain Tingle of yours again. We can't sneak up on you at all."
"Not even a blink," Elysia sighed dramatically, setting the teapot down. "You could at least fake being surprised. It's more romantic that way, you know~."
Noah chuckled as he entered the last commands and turned toward them.
Elysia, beautiful as ever, gave him a playful frown. Her mock glare only made her more endearing. Her laughter had grown lighter, her smile more natural ever since she reunited with her old friends in the Elysian Realm, she had finally laid her regrets to rest. The weight that once chained her was gone, replaced with resolve to fight for both the past she cherished and the present she had grown to love.
Kiana too had changed. After that 'night' where both she and Noah did the deed alone, much to Sirin's mortification watching the entire time from inside of hers and Kiana's shared mental space, she carried herself differently. The blaze in her was still there, brighter than ever, but now tempered. Her hair was tied into a high ponytail that gave her a more mature look, and a horn‑shaped pin rested on her head, a simple tribute to her mother, Cecilia Schariac.
"Oi, Captain," Kiana muttered, raising her brows, "don't go spacing out while staring at us like that."
Elysia giggled, leaning closer to whisper just loud enough for him to hear. "Or maybe you like what you see. Ufufu~."
Noah coughed into his hand, trying to compose himself as he walked over to join them, settling in as Elysia poured the tea, the fragrance of the leaves mixing with the sweetness of cookies on the table.
"Hm? This one's new," Noah said after biting into a cookie and raising his brow.
"Lumi's doing," Elysia replied with a grin. "She's been experimenting in the kitchen again."
"Not bad at all," Noah nodded, already reaching for another. "Where is she now, by the way? Lumi, I mean."
"With Hachiman and Mei," Kiana answered, brushing crumbs from her fingers. "She's helping them prepare for their 'First Steps' together."
"As expected of the crew's Guide. Always pointing someone in the right direction," Noah said with an amused snort. "What about our favorite magical girl, Sii?"
"Testing that experimental weapon Hajime and Anis are working on," Elysia said cheerfully.
Kiana shook her head as she bit into another cookie. "She's been on with it ever since she figured out how to exist independently and separate herself from me thanks to Hachiman. She barely even shows herself to me anymore."
Elysia gave an exaggerated pout. "Maybe she's avoiding you two because you and Captain keep… y'know."
Noah nearly choked on his tea, sputtering as he grabbed a napkin. "E‑Ellie…!"
Kiana's face went bright red. "E‑ELLIE!! Did you have to say it like that?!"
"Whaaat?~ Ellie doesn't know what you're talking about~. After all, she haven't done it after so looong time now~. So all Ellie can do, is to sulk at the corner as she wait for her turn and have Noah to remind her again~," Elysia sang sweetly, her eyes glancing mischievously toward Noah.
Noah groaned, wiping the table furiously, trying to hide the heat crawling up his neck. "Please don't drag me into this…"
Kiana covered her face with both hands. "Can we just at least once have tea without you teasing us?!"
"Anyway!" she blurted, forcing the subject to change. "Captain, are we ready to jump?"
"Ah, yes. Nearly… just a few more minutes," Noah answered quickly, thankful for the lifeline.
Elysia leaned back with a grin. "Hoho~ so we still have some time before the jump?"
"E-Ellie?" Noah gulped seeing at the seductive and mischievous expression of Elysia.
Elysia casually stood from her and sat on Noah's lap and pressed herself on him, wrapping her arms around his neck and whispering in his ears. "Nee, my dear Noah. Currently we are alone here with no one to interrupt us, so why don't you remind this pink elf about those times when you showered us with your love?"
Noah stiffed and blushed hard as he felt Elysia's softness, even Kiana was not spared, she blushed seeing her expression. Elysia let out a victory grin as she felt something pressing on her.
"E-Ellie, Kii is here you know?" he weakly said. But the grin on Elysia's face never left.
"She can join us later~ because for now it would be Miss Pink Elf's time~."
That day the wrap jump almost got delayed by hours much to the confusion of the crew and suspicions from Lumine and Sirin.
—-
Hikigaya Hachiman entered the Party Car, rolling his shoulders as his neck gave a sharp crack. They had just finished packing for the upcoming expedition that he, Mei, and Sora would undertake. Mei still looked a little worried not only about Sora's safety, but about herself as well. She acted as if everything was fine, but Hachiman, who had seen all of her, knew better. She was hiding something. He didn't press her, though. Instead, he tapped her forehead with his finger, a silent reminder that she didn't need to hide anything from him. Mei answered with a soft smile and a brief hug before slipping away.
"Oya? If it isn't our Hachi."
A familiar voice pulled him from his thoughts. At the counter, Hajime sat with Ingvild, while Villhaze manned the bar, preparing drinks.
"Yo." Hachiman slid onto the stool beside Hajime. Villhaze wasted no time, placing a steaming cup of coffee before him. He took a slow sip, savoring the perfect sweetness, and let out a long sigh of relief. "Thanks, Villhaze. You nailed it."
"You're welcome, Lord Hachiman." Villhaze's smile bloomed before she turned toward Hajime with a smug tilt of her lips. "See, your majesty? Even Lord Hachiman recognizes Villhaze's skill."
"Hmm, tell me that again once you can beat Noah's tea, Lumine's cooking, or Belfast's work ethic." Hajime deadpanned, eyes half‑lidded.
Villhaze's smile twitched as her teeth clenched. She knew she couldn't beat Noah in tea, Lumine in the kitchen, or Belfast in discipline.
"Sorry, but you've gotta add Raiden too when it comes to cooking," Hachiman added dryly, sipping his cup.
Villhaze slumped forward onto the counter, arms limp like a doll. "Uuu… so cruel…" she whimpered without tears, while Hajime snorted into his drink.
"Geez! Don't bully Vill‑chan too much!" Ingvild puffed her cheeks, glaring at the two of them.
"Milady!!" Villhaze cried dramatically, clinging to her.
The two men only shrugged, speaking in unison. "We're just telling the truth."
Ingvild sighed, stroking Villhaze's head as the maid hugged her waist tightly. "Honestly… you two are impossible."
"Oh, right! How's your prep for your 'First Steps' coming along?" Hajime asked casually, sipping his coffee.
Hachiman set his cup down with a soft clink, mentally ticking off the checklist. "We're good, I think. Lumine's been thorough with everything we'll need."
"Then you'll be fine. With our Guide helping, you'll have everything covered," Hajime replied, earning a small nod from Hachiman.
—--
Raiden Mei stood in the observation car, her eyes fixed on the endless stretch of stars beyond the window. The gentle hum of the Astral Express reminded her that this wasn't a dream. Her fingers absently brushed against the Astral Emblem on her chest. The nightmare from that morning still lingered in her mind, refusing to fade. She raised her other hand to her forehead, the same spot where Hachiman had tapped her earlier. Remembering the warmth of that small gesture, her cheeks flushed and a shy smile tugged at her lips.
"How do you feel, Mei?"
Mei jolted at the voice, as if caught doing something forbidden. She turned to find Lumine standing behind her, smiling gently.
"L-Lumine," Mei stammered, her face heating even more. "I-I'm fine, really. Just… wondering if I'll actually be any help to Hikigaya-kun… or if I'll just slow him down."
Lumine walked up beside her, hands resting behind her back, her eyes carrying a knowing glint that made Mei fidget. "I don't think Hachiman cares about that at all."
"It's just… I don't know if I can stay… me. With everything ahead." Mei lowered her head, voice tinged with worry.
The teasing glint in Lumine's eyes softened into understanding. "I know that feeling better than most."
Mei blinked, surprised by the sincerity in her tone.
"I used to feel the same," Lumine admitted. "Before I met Noah, Kii, Ellie, Sii, Achan, and Itztli during our own First Steps. Back then, I was drowning in guilt and doubt. Everyone expected me to carry the Abyss, to lead against those who had taken everything. And I… didn't believe I could."
Mei's lips parted, her voice small. "...What changed? How did you become who you are now?"
"I learned to forgive myself," Lumine said softly. "To accept the parts of me I hated; my failures, my sins. I stopped drowning in self-pity. I chose to be selfish enough to move forward on my own terms. That's how I found light again and became his Compass."
She placed her hand on Mei's shoulder. "This expedition isn't just some mission, Mei. It's a chance to figure out who you are, what you're holding onto, and who you want to become. Noah didn't choose this world just to toss you in and hope for the best. He chose it because he believes it will help you grow… even if it takes time."
Her gentle smile returned. "That's why we call it 'First Steps.'"
Mei didn't reply right away. She looked back out at the stars. She inhaled deeply, easing her out. The heaviness in her chest didn't vanish, but she felt lighter than before.
"No wonder you're called our Compass, Our Guide… You pointed me away from my self doubt."
Lumine blinked before letting out a chuckle.
"...Then I'll walk it. One step at a time," Mei added with resolution.
Lumine squeezed her shoulder. "That's all any of us are doing."
Finally after long hours of waiting, the Express gave a low whistle, signaling its next jump. The stars outside blurred and faded as the Trailblazing light wrapped around the train, carrying them toward their next destination.
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