Author's Note:
Hello my dear readers, those who know me know that I am a big fan of Type-Moon and that I have long been a fan of Arknights and MiHoYo.
Over the last week my younger brother has started playing Zenless Zone Zero and I've been delving into the lore of Honkai Impact 3rd.
One thing led to another and reading {Still Defiant! SI-OC [Marvel/DC]} convinced me to write this story.
Ps. I wasn't sure about posting this story, but I had a bad day, really bad. And I need some happiness or relief. Reality sucks sometimes, damn.
XXX
Story Title: Kaleidoscope Adventure (Marvel): Honkai, Void, Originium
Plot: One day, I don't know how, but I met Terminus, the Aeon of Finality. I made a pact with him, then I awoke in a crater, reborn as a Herrscher and gifted with the Power of the King.
By mistake, I almost started a zombie apocalypse in Russia. I am the first of many catastrophes that will hit this world, but I have decided that I will protect the world from those who come after me.
I don't know what the future will bring, but I'll try to be a hero, at least until the Avengers appear.
XXX
Story Arc: Welcome Herrscher of Reason
Episode 1: The Moscow Zombie Apocalypse
Chapter 1: A Hermit and His Toys
Plot: Many people imagine that a city full of zombies is one of the worst possible scenarios. But for a certain hermit this scenario is a golden opportunity. Unfortunately, boredom sooner or later reaches everyone.
XXX
POV Narrator
Near the east coast of North America, high above the ocean and in the clouds is one of the most advanced vehicles in the world.
Its name is Helicarrier, it is classified as an advanced flying command center that also functions as an aircraft carrier.
Such a vehicle can only belong to an extremely powerful, influential organization with enormous resources at its disposal.
Il Helicarrier appartiene allo Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division, in breve SHIELD.
S.H.I.E.L.D. is a United States extragovernmental intelligence and counterterrorism agency charged with maintaining national and global security.
Founded following the Allied victory over the Axis powers and HYDRA during World War II, SHIELD was organized to protect the United States from any possible threat.
With its advanced weaponry and extraordinary operatives, SHIELD is perhaps the greatest military power on Earth.
XXX
Inside the Helicarrier, on the bridge is Nick Fury, the Director of SHIELD, the chief of spies.
The place is filled with Logistics Agents working at various high-tech desks, receiving and sending orders via encrypted communications.
Nick Fury and his Agents are working to resolve two crises that have become top priorities for SHIELD.
The first crisis is the kidnapping of Tony Stark.
While traveling back from a demonstration of his latest weapon, the Jericho Missile, Stark was kidnapped by a terrorist organization, the Ten Rings.
This has given nightmares to many influential people in America.
Tony Stark may be a playboy, a billionaire, with a huge ego. But he is one of the three smartest men on the planet, being the mind that has allowed the US military to make huge strides in terms of power and efficiency.
The Jericho Missile is a weapon of mass destruction that can wipe an enemy army or fortress from existence with a single shot.
Such a weapon is just one of the countless masterpieces that Tony Stark has created over the years.
Each invention being better than the previous one and above all more dangerous.
Some people have speculated that Tony Stark in the future could create a weapon capable of bringing a nation to its knees. Just like Oppenheimer did.
Now, those people are worried sick that terrorists might force Tony Stark to create a weapon equal to or superior to the Atomic Bomb.
The second and most problematic crisis to resolve is managing the consequences of a mysterious attack that hit Moscow, turning 10% of the Russian capital into a crater.
Twenty-four hours ago, at the stroke of 1:00 PM, a gigantic explosion occurred that shook the entire city, causing massive damage and mass panic.
To prevent an escalation that could degenerate into the start of a Third World War, SHIELD has sent several agents to investigate what really happened.
Currently, Nick Fury is talking via a high-tech screen with one of his best agents, Phil Coulson.
"Colson, I ask you to repeat what you just said, I think I misunderstood your speech." Nick Fury asks, with a stern voice, not enjoying the jokes.
"My team and I had to evacuate, Moscow is overrun by zombies, the military is mobilizing to contain the disaster." Phil Coulson declares, trying to sound sane, despite his crazy words.
"Zombies, you mean the dead are rising from their graves and trying to eat the living?" asks Nick Fury, keeping an eye on his loyal agent.
The spymaster's eye is studying Colson's face for signs that he has been drugged or is being forced to say these words or is an impersonator.
"It's not a supernatural disaster, but something more horrific, a new biological weapon, an extremely effective one," Colson explains, flashing images of what's happening on the spymaster's screen.
The first image shows overcrowded hospitals filled with people of all ages and walks of life, the only thing they have in common are bluish purple streaks stretching across their skin.
The second set of images shows a crowd of "zombified" people, with sickly yellow eyes, bone-white hair, unnaturally pale skin covered in bluish-purple streaks.
"The unknown weapon that destroyed the heart of Moscow was not a simple explosive weapon, but an unprecedented biological weapon. I fear that there is a risk of pandemonium with the potential to spread throughout the world," Colson said, fearing what could happen if someone fails to manage the situation.
Nick Fury is silent for a second, digesting the information he just received.
'A zombie invasion has become a real danger. What will happen from now on, alien invasions, machine uprisings, the appearance of evil gods?' Nick Fury thinks, feeling as if his life is about to get a lot more complicated.
"Colson, stay at a safe distance, continue to use drones and hack public cameras, I want to know what's happening in Moscow." Said the SHIELD director, delivering the first orders to deal with this new crisis.
Nick Fury ends the broadcast with Coulson and begins to set in motion the organization that is SHIELD.
"I want the best experts in medicine, genetic engineering or any branch of science that can make The Walking Dead a real scenario." Nick Fury said, confident that there will be a need for an expert in viruses or rare diseases or biological weapons.
XXX
[After three months since the beginning of the crisis]
Moscow was the capital, the most populous city and the main political, economic and financial center of the Russian Federation.
Moscow used to be home to about a tenth of Russia's entire population: with more than 18 million inhabitants, it is the most populous city in the country, the second largest city in Europe in terms of population and area after Istanbul, and the nineteenth most populous city in the world.
All this information belongs to the past.
Nowadays, St. Petersburg has become the new capital of Russia, where a new government is being formed to replace the previous one that did not survive the disaster, nicknamed Explosion Z.
The entire city of Moscow is surrounded by ten-meter fortified walls and a small army of guards with the mission of preventing anyone from entering and especially leaving the quarantine zone.
Of the population of 18,000,000 people living in Moscow, only 50,000 managed to leave the city without being infected.
The remaining 17,950,000 inhabitants have contracted the mysterious disease, which has been dubbed Plague Z, becoming a horde of zombies that walk aimlessly throughout the city.
Moscow has become a city that belongs to zombies, where there is no room for the living.
And many people have accepted that it would be suicide to set foot in the city or try to conquer it, because whoever crosses the walls, sooner or later, becomes infected.
This belief is actually wrong, in this city that is teeming with infected people there lives a single individual immune to the disease.
His title is Herrscher of Reason and he has decided to live the good life in a city where no one can tell him what to do or stop him from using his powers for fear of a second virulent catastrophe.
XXX
The sky above Moscow is covered with dark clouds that promise rain or snow, an increasingly common weather phenomenon for this area.
The streets of the former capital of Russia are filled with abandoned cars, piles of snow, and garbage scattered on the ground by zombie animals who continue their old habits, despite their new infected status.
Of course, the streets are filled not only with snow and garbage, but also with an entire population of zombies.
A small grace, the density of the infected population varies from area to area and from time of day.
In the midst of this catastrophic scenario that combines a cold winter and a semi-successful zombie invasion, a person is calmly walking on the snow-covered sidewalk.
Not only is this person moving lightly through a city that is dangerous to the living, but he's pushing a shopping cart modified to travel through snow, which is filled to the brim with food, appliances, and... video games.
Stopping at an intersection to see whether it is better to take the left or right road, the individual looks up at the cloudy sky.
"The weather is only getting worse and the temperatures are getting lower and lower. Summer is coming for everyone, but winter will become the only season here." The individual said, knowing that the situation in Moscow will only get worse.
"The Honkai is a scary thing. Lucky for me, the Honkai doesn't hurt me and I don't have to worry about the cold." The individual said, choosing to take the road on the left that seemed freer from snow and cars.
The person who spoke is an adult male, 180 centimeters tall.
He wears black winter boots, polar camouflage pants with many pockets and a black mechanic's belt full of tools.
Among the hammers, wrenches, and nails, there are three items that stand out in his arsenal of handyman tools.
The first item is a circular jewel the size of the palm of your hand. The jewel is made of an elaborate golden frame, with an ice-like stone inside with an archaic symbol on it.
This piece of jewelry is attached to the left side of the handyman's belt.
The second item is a trinket similar to the previous jewel, but it emits a completely opposite aura. This trinket is shaped like a raindrop, with a silver frame and a circular red stone inside.
The silver and red trinket is attached to the belt, next to the gold and ice blue jewel.
The third item is a game console attached to the right hip, via a special case.
His upper body is covered by a purple turtleneck and a heavy black hooded coat that hides his face.
Behind the hooded man is a kind of gray and black robot, whose appearance can be described as a rectangular box with a pair of arms underneath.
The robot is carrying in its hands a grocery bag full of soda, snacks and an aluminum baseball bat.
"Another day, another walk for supplies." The individual mutters in a calm tone, treating the entire situation as if it were his usual routine.
"If you want to avoid going to Aviapark Shopping Mall for daily supplies, we could commandeer a vehicle and transport a larger amount of supplies." The robot suggests, displaying a cold, deep voice.
"It's not necessary, my walks are more of a luxury than a necessity." Moscow's only living being replies, as he continues to walk forward, calmly pushing his cart.
Until a dozen zombies started to notice his presence.
Infected people dressed as police officers, high school students and even a cheerleader stopped moving aimlessly, having a target after a long time.
"Warning, Honkai radiation infected have found you, options available: frontal attack or tactical retreat." The robot declares, floating forward, ready to assist as per its programming.
"Another day, another walk for supplies and another exercise session," the hooded individual comments, placing his shopping cart against the wall for safety.
"Pod 423, I won't need any war support, but turn on the music." Said the only living being in Moscow, pronouncing the floating robot's name.
"Got it. Starting music support." Pod 423 responds, starting to play the Devil Trigger music from Devil May Cry 5.
The individual lowers his hood, revealing a male face in his twenties, white skin, aquamarine gem-like blue eyes, snow-white hair kept short.
He bears a certain resemblance to Kevin Kaslana or Siegfried Kaslana, and could pass as a relative of theirs.
"I love this song! Judgment of Shamash!" exclaims the white-haired man, throwing his hands up in the air, as if he were at a party.
In his hands appeared a pair of futuristic black and white colored pistols with fiery red/orange power lines, as if he had the power of the sun inside them.
"My new name is Raphael Kaslana, I am the Herrscher of Reason and I am the world's greatest zombie slayer!" Kaslana exclaims, as if she were the star of a TV show, pointing her Divine Key at the infected.
The white-haired man pulls the trigger and in a second the two pistols fire two pure shots towards the zombies.
BLAST !
In an instant half of them were charred.
"It's too easy to get rid of these roaches if I use a Divine Key." Raphael comments, before running towards the zombies.
A high school zombie was kneed in the face, his skull shattered in one blow.
Raffaello without wasting time moved to the right, landing an elbow in the neck of a zombie policeman.
Then, he reaches out and shoots the gun at a fat infected person.
BLAST !
A charred body has been added to Raphael's list.
"I'm too good or you're too weak!" Raphael declares, jumping on top of an abandoned car to get a better view of the remaining infected.
The Herrscher closes his eyes for a second, when he opens them; his Honkai energy has kicked in.
The blue eyes have turned golden.
Around the Herrscher materialized a set of ten pure steel swords, two meters long and weighing one hundred kilos.
"I'm not Dante, I'm not EMIYA, but I'm good at imitating them." Raphael said, pretending to shoot zombies.
The ten swords rained down on the infected, piercing them in the chest, finishing them off with a single blow.
Only two people were left standing, Raffaello and an infected person dressed as a cheerleader.
"Sorry, beautiful, but you're out of date." Raffaello jokes, I get off the roof of the car.
The zombie charges at him, but Raphael responds with a single Judgment of Shamash strike to the head.
BLAST
A zombie cheerleader with a melted head fell to the sidewalk.
"The first cheerleader I meet is a late-stage Honkai infected. Cute uniform, rotting body, such a shame." Raphael mutters, quickly glancing at the headless zombie girl's uniform.
"The Winner is Herrscher of Reason! Final score, S rank!" Pod 423 exclaims, congratulating his owner.
"It's easy to get a score like that if you're on easy mode and have a Legendary rank item." Raphael replies, making Judgment of Shamash disappear.
With a calm, almost bored expression, Raffaello lifts his hood and goes back to pushing the shopping cart.
"Lord Kaslana, if Moscow no longer suits you, you may go and explore the outside world." Pod 423 expresses his reasoning.
"I think you're right, Pod 423, Moscow and the infected were interesting in the early days, when I didn't even know what world I was in or what I could do. But now I'm the uncrowned king of this place and I'm taking notes." Comments the Herrscher, having to agree with his mechanical assistant.
"Most of all, I'm getting tired of the almost daily snowfall and the snow getting into my boots. I've lost count of how many times I've had to use Judgment of Shamash to clear a snow-blocked road," Raphael comments, complaining about Moscow's bad weather.
According to Herrscher, between zombies and snow, snow is more annoying.
'I wonder where you would like to move, Stars? I would prefer somewhere warmer, maybe on a nice beach in a famous city.' Raphael thinks, starting to think about several things.
XXX
Half an hour later, Herrscher and Pod 423 arrived in front of the Lotte Hotel Moscow, one of the most beautiful and luxurious hotels in the former capital.
The five-star hotel shows clear differences from other buildings in the city.
Most noticeable of all, a wall of solid ice surrounds the entire structure, forming a barrier that prevents the infected from passing beyond.
The second difference, although less obvious than the defensive barrier, this building has remained immaculate and fully functional. As if the zombie apocalypse did not exist for this hotel.
'One of the reasons I didn't leave Moscow early was my investment in this hotel. First create the wall, find and exterminate the cockroaches inside, then go into the city to find components to build a power generator etc.' Raphael thinks, stopping in front of the ice wall that is so smooth it could be used as a mirror.
Raphael's reflection shows how his blue eyes turn gold.
Behind the Herrscher, a large white and blue robot materialized, resembling a knight straight out of a sci-fi gacha video game.
This robot has no legs, having no need, and can float in mid-air using its own systems.
Its large chest contains its power system and the components that make it work; a futuristic helmet-like head with a blue, circle-shaped visor.
Its arms are enormous and with powerful protective armor, its hands are large enough to hold an adult male.
Finally, a metallic tail resembling a spine emerges from its back.
This assault robot's designation is Project Bunny 19C, but Raphael prefers to call it Jarilo.
"Jarilo you know what your task is." Raphael said, crossing his arms and moving as if he were about to sit on an invisible chair.
Jarilo moves as planned, opens his enormous mechanical hand so that Raphael can sit on it, while with his left hand he lifts the shopping cart.
"Powers make everyday life easier." Raphael mutters, appreciating the small benefits of his Authority as Herrscher.
Jarilo begins to float upwards with his load, passing over the ice wall.
The large mechanical robot landed in front of the hotel's front door, putting down the shopping cart and the Herrscher.
"Thanks again for your help, see you next time I go home or at the night training session, if that happens." Raffaello replies, entering the hotel with the trolley, without turning to Jarilo who dematerializes from reality.
"Stars, I'm back home!" The Herrscher shouts loudly as soon as he crosses the threshold.
XXX
In the entrance hall, Raphael was greeted by a handful of robots, which can be described as metal cylinders with a propeller on top and a mechanical hand on the bottom.
These drones took care of picking up, sorting and depositing the supplies just brought, except those brought in the bag that Pod 423 holds.
"Glory to the Herrscher!" A woman's voice replies, taking charge of the welcoming committee.
'I still don't know if I like this greeting or not. But it certainly has a certain theatrical effect.' Raphael thinks, having heard the phrase hundreds of times, perhaps a thousand times, in the last three months.
In front of Herrscher is a young woman with long gray hair and golden eyes. This woman looks a lot like Stars from Honkai: Star Rail.
The woman wears a black high-necked dress with deep slits.
Her dress has a high collar and a deep neckline hidden by a lace-patterned fabric.
It has puffed sleeves that end mid-forearm in the shape of crow's feathers.
Inside these sleeves there appears to be white fabric that falls abruptly in front of her hands, which are covered in black gloves.
The dress also opens at the back, exposing the woman's shoulder blades down to the small gap in her back.
The skirt of the dress features a deep slit and is made of a flowing, flexible fabric that feels similar to leather when viewed closely.
For footwear, she wears dark thigh-high stockings with black lining under black leather thigh-high boots with heels.
In short, in front of the Herrscher is a woman who looks like Stars from Honkai: Star Rail, dressed as 2B, the female protagonist of Nier Automata.
Floating smoothly behind Stars is Pod 703, the Pod that takes care of assisting Stars.
"Welcome home, Raph, how was your walk? Did anything interesting happen? Did you bring me anything new?" the gray-haired girl asks, her attitude friendly, the opposite of her earlier welcome.
'Sometimes I find it hard to believe that Stelle is an android with its own artificial intelligence, even though I am the one who runs it and am registered as its Master.' Raphael thinks, carefully looking at Stelle's mannerisms and easy expressions, finding no sign of artificiality.
"My ride was refreshing. Nothing interesting happened, on the way back I had a fight with zombies." Raffaello replies, providing the usual answers to the usual questions.
"Of course you won." Stelle said, knowing that the Herrscher would not be in front of her if she lost.
"I found some things you might like." Raphael said, motioning for his Pod to deliver the package.
"A gift from Lord Kaslana." Pod 423 said, floating down to pass the shopping bag to Stars.
The gray-haired girl opens the bag and looks at the contents.
"Wonderful!" exclaims Stars, her eyes shining at the sight of the snacks, but especially the baseball bat.
Stars passes the bag to Pod 703, while she holds the baseball bat.
"I love it!" exclaims Stars, hugging the baseball bat as if it were an adorable stuffed toy.
The Herrscher watches this scene with an imperturbable expression.
"Glory to the Herrscher!" exclaims Stelle, as if it were an expression with multiple meanings like the word: aloha.
"Glory to Baseball!" exclaims Stars, raising the baseball bat high, pointing it at the ceiling.
This funny action made people raise eyebrows and ask questions.
'Terminus, the Aeon of Finality who gave me a new life, I ask you how come Lelouch Lamperouge gets CC; Shu Ouma gets Inori Yuzuriha; and I get an Elite T-Doll with a YoRHa upgrade and the likeness of a female protagonist from a gacha game?' Raphael thinks, starting to believe that his cosmic patron has a strange sense of humor.
Raphael, tired of standing, sits on an armchair near a small table.
"Stars, I want the latest news of the day, global first, then local." Raphael said, crossing his legs and looking straight ahead.
"Right away, Raph. Star TV will begin its daily newscast." Stars said happily, not letting go of his baseball bat.
Stars exits the hotel lobby, going to where the manager's office used to be, now a sort of storage room for show equipment and a wardrobe.
The gray-haired girl returns in a couple of minutes, wearing a professional and elegant black dress with an open neckline.
He carries with him a small luggage trolley carrying a cardboard box full of stuff.
Stars positions herself in front of Raphael with her back to a blank wall.
Pod 703 floats above Stars' head and begins using its hologram technology to perform a variety of functions.
First it acts as a spotlight, covering Stars with light, then it fills the empty wall with a hand-made orographic image that says: Star TV.
"First news, national politics. With the discovery of a certain dictator under suspicious circumstances." Stelle said, as he leans forward, to take something from the cardboard box.
'Stelle is a girl unaware of her own beauty, a problem for the future, an advantage for the present.' Raffaello thinks, enjoying this bonus from Star TV.
Stars pulling out of the cardboard box a sign with a crayon drawing on it showing zombies attacking in a group a certain politician who has governed Russia for years.
"On a slightly related minor note, the zombie secret service has gotten fatter in recent months," Stelle comments, putting down his crayon-painted horror poster.
"A new political party has appeared in St. Petersburg, led by a woman named Cocolia." Stelle said, as the topographic screen behind him changed.
A satellite photograph of St. Petersburg, then a photograph of a blond-haired, stern-faced woman speaking to a large crowd of people.
"Analysts show that there are good indications that Cocolia will become the new queen of Russia." Stelle declares, putting on her head a yellow crown made of cardboard.
'Cocolia, this name does not bode well. If it is not enough that I am in a variant of the Marvel world, there are also the Earth versions of the MiHoYo characters.' Raphael thinks, sure that when he leaves Moscow he will end up meeting many people with familiar faces.
"Latest news from France." Stelle said, continuing to talk politics, while taking out small French flags from the box.
"Jean Gunnhildr has won the election to become Mayor of Paris, she received 78% of the vote, an unprecedented landslide victory." Stelle said, waving the small French flags in her hands.
On the topographic screen appears the image of Jean Gunnhildr being appointed Mayor of Paris.
'Russia receives Cocolia, while France receives Jean Gunnhildr, if this is not a sign for us to move to Paris, I do not know what is.' Raphael thinks, determined to pack his bags quickly and go to the other side of the continent.
"Enough about politics, let's go see the latest news in America." Stelle said, as the geographic image of HER appears behind her.
Stars puts down her current accessories to pick up a magnifying glass and a hat in the style of the classic Sherlock Holmes.
"The search for Tony Stark continues, but even the greatest detectives can't find the missing genius, playboy, billionaire." Stars said, pretending to search left and right for Tony Stark, but to no avail.
Several dozen pictures of Tony Stark appear on the wall, along with red writings saying things like: missing, abducted by aliens, where is he?
'Maybe Stars shouldn't have mentioned Iron-Man. He's my favorite Marvel superhero, I'd love to go and save him and meet him. But I don't know where he is exactly and I could compromise the birth of Iron-Man. Tony Stark has to suffer to give birth to Iron-Man.' Raphael thinks, having mixed feelings about Tony Stark's situation.
Putting down her detective kit, Stelle picks up a model of a spaceship, a gift she received from Raphael a couple of weeks ago.
"The famous genius, Reed Richards has obtained funding to start his space project. Let's hope they don't end up bringing Martians to Earth." Stars said, moving the model spaceship as if it were flying through space.
'Even the Fantastic Four are taking their first steps, another sign that I can no longer keep my head down in this zombie city.' Raffaello thinks, trying not to get too far away from the program of Stelle.
XXX
For the next half hour, Stelle presented the news she found important or interesting, adding her own little spin.
"A beautiful show as always, Stars, some points made me think." Said the Herrscher, getting up from the sofa, wanting to walk and see some special rooms of the hotel.
"I'm glad you liked it, it took me a while to prepare all the material." Stelle said, putting her hands on her hips, trying to look serious and proud.
"What are we doing now, Raph? Free day? Lab day? Practice day out?" Stelle asks, wanting to know what the schedule for the rest of the day will be.
"We'll take inventory of everything we've collected in the last three months," Raphael said, wanting a general overview of his assets before making a move.
"No problem, Raph, I have a perfect memory, we'll finish taking inventory before tonight. But why do we have to do this?" Stelle asks, never having had to do anything like this before.
"I've decided that we're going to live in Paris, but I don't want to leave anything precious behind." Raffaello replies, going straight to the point.
"This is going to be a big change! I'm excited!" exclaims Stars, wanting to see what the outside world is like with her own eyes and not a screen.
XXX
Author's Note:
I hope you enjoyed this chapter. But I have a question for you.