Leaving the mysterious space for the real world, Hakuto's face showed surprise, blinking in confusion.
What's up with the real world?
He felt resistance like the Demon Slayer world's rejection of Honkai, but it was faint. A little push could break the thin barrier, bringing Honkai's concept and mechanics back.
The night he soared with Reverie, he wasn't just testing flight or admiring Tokyo's skyline—he was checking for a hidden world.
As Japan's global megacity, if Tokyo lacked people with special powers, Japan likely had none, ruling out spiritual awakenings.
An ordinary world facing Honkai's mechanics had one outcome—game over!
Joking aside, if Hakuto were an antisocial misanthrope, human civilization could declare GG.
Consciousness back in his body, Hakuto sprang up, donned comfy casual clothes, and began crossing.
His Target? the Honkai world!
The mysterious space's core resided in Hakuto's soul, so only he could freely traverse. Other Hakutos needed him as the axis to open portals.
A handy trump card.
When chased, escape to another world—nothing's safer.
Sadly, crossing and prep took time, useless in combat.
…
The Godslaying Spear, aka the Herrscher Kille, Schariac Holy Blood.
Developed by Otto from Cecilia's blood, a tiny dose could strip an Emperor-class Honkai Beast's energy control. A tailored shot could destabilize a Herrscher.
"Aaagh!"
All Honkai energy, including her core, spiraled out of control, raging forces clashing within, like an Emperor-class beast's impact ravaging her body.
Excruciating pain made Sirin scream, clutching her head.
Her once-proud, gilded diamond-cross eyes now flickered gold and blue.
Having regained Hakuto's memories, with the Honkai space's aid, the negative buffs from Honkai's consciousness on her Herrscher persona vanished.
Though Sirin still distrusted humans, she no longer sought to destroy civilization.
She'd once "liked" Himeko Murata—a fan's affection for a character.
Who'd have thought the Herrscher of the Void was herself? Now, with a chance to help Kiana save the Crimson Knight, Sirin would spare no effort.
But as expected, even sharing her Herrscher core fully with Kiana, their combined will couldn't tame the rampant Honkai energy, let alone open Imaginary Space to rescue Himeko.
On the Hyperion.
"No! Himeko!" Theresa watched Himeko plummet into the endless Imaginary Space, crying out in despair.
"Teacher Himeko!" Bronya, unlicensed and with a damaged emotional core, seemed to forget her settings.
The pitch-black space loomed like a beast's maw, ready to swallow the dedicated teacher.
The heterochromatic gold-blue-eyed, white-haired girl stared at the fading crimson figure, calling her name like a final hope.
"Hakuto!"
Their overlapping voices lacked the villainous bass or dual-tone BOSS effect, instead a unified cry from Sirin and Kiana.
The next second, a dark-haired youth appeared beside her without warning.
"I'm here."
His gentle words carried a soothing magic, calming Kiana's frantic despair.
Without a word, just a glance, Hakuto vanished.
Lacking the Void core, he could only use about 50% of its spatial authority elsewhere.
But in the Honkai Impact 3rd world, the proof was clear:
Since Sirin = Herrscher of the Void, and Hakuto = Sirin,
Therefore, Hakuto = Herrscher of the Void, and Sirin's core = Hakuto's core.
By world rules, they were one!
In the Honkai world, Hakuto could share Sirin's core, wielding its full power.
He could only use this power here.
Amid Theresa and Bronya's shock and awe, a pair of hands caught the broken figure—a stranger they didn't recognize.
Himeko's final burst of power reached true Flame Herrscher levels. The Godslayer Sword and Crimson Knight armor couldn't withstand that destructive force, shattering as she fell.
Himeko was nearly bare.
"This…" Hakuto frowned, scanning her.
No misunderstanding here.
Even for a once-favorite character, Hakuto felt no romantic stirrings. His lover could only be himself.
Having synced Kiana's memories, Himeko was his teacher too.
And right now, Himeko wasn't much to look at.
Her charred body cracked like brittle charcoal, her hair like wilted seaweed, the vibrant red faded, like burned-out kindling.
She clung to faint life, half a step from death's door.
Tesla gave Himeko the Godslaying Spear to counter the Plague Gem's Honkai erosion.
Instead, she chose to sacrifice herself, using the spear to suppress Sirin and awaken Kiana.
"She needs treatment now!"
The Honkai erosion was severe—she wouldn't last long.
Hakuto swiftly opened an Imaginary Space portal, reaching the unconscious Kiana, and, holding her and Himeko, opened a gate to the Hyperion.
No need to hide his powers. Without a Herrscher core, who could call him a Herrscher?
Every second counted, and spatial teleportation was the fastest way.
Hakuto saw the Hyperion's deck in full for the first time, though it was battered, sparks flying from some areas.
The culprit, the black-white dragon, had been felled into Imaginary Space.
"What—!"
Seeing the signature Imaginary Space portal, Theresa froze, halting her steps and brandishing Judas in a combat stance.
The Herrscher of the Void, injected with the Godslaying Spear, should have her powers sealed.
How could…!
Her thoughts cut off as she saw the dark-haired youth who saved Himeko emerge from the electromagnetic-edged portal, holding—
"Himeko! Kiana!"
Theresa dropped Judas, scurrying over on short legs, her face etched with worry.
Hakuto's sudden appearance raised suspicions, but someone who saved Himeko at the last moment couldn't be an enemy.
"Aunt… cough, Principal Theresa, Kiana's fine, just unconscious from rampant Honkai energy."
Having synced Kiana's memories, Hakuto nearly slipped with "Auntie," correcting himself just in time.
Honestly, it wasn't a big deal.
Kiana was Hakuto, so her family was his family!
But explaining transmigration was impossible, so a less direct address was safer to avoid startling Theresa.
"But," Hakuto's tone grew grave, "Teacher Himeko's condition is critical. Her body's nearly consumed by Honkai erosion, her vitality severely depleted!"
As he spoke, Bronya, Einstein, and Tesla—the Anti-Entropy duo—arrived. Raiden Mei, having lost the Conquest Gem, was unconscious.
Their gazes on Hakuto mixed surprise with wariness.
Seeing Himeko in his arms, even the usually composed Dr. Einstein's expression shifted.
"Whoa! She's still alive?" Tesla, in her black-and-white dress and lab coat, her red twin-tails bouncing, leapt up in shock.
Thwack!
Einstein's hand chop landed on Tesla's forehead, drawing a yelp.
"Sorry, my idiot colleague doesn't speak human," Einstein apologized sincerely to Theresa. "She means no harm, but Major Himeko's condition…"
"It's fine."
Theresa was mildly exasperated but too focused on Himeko's dire state to care.
Himeko's life hung by a thread, like a candle flickering in the wind.
Due to artificial stigmata erosion, even without the "Last Lesson," Himeko wouldn't have lasted long.
Driving the Plague Gem with a human body was literally burning everything!
"Medical team! Where's the medical team!?" Theresa shouted.
No way would she let her dear friend die like this!
White-uniformed Valkyrie medics rushed in, carefully taking Himeko to the Hyperion's medical bay.
Theresa started to follow, then remembered Hakuto, her short legs comically pivoting in place, a bit adorably clumsy.
Theresa, Bronya, and the Anti-Entropy red-blue duo fixed their gazes on Hakuto.
"Who are you…?" Theresa scrutinized him, certain she'd never seen this youth.
He'd called Himeko "Teacher," but St. Freya had no male students!
Bronya's expression showed she didn't know him either.
"Me?"
Hakuto paused, thoughtful. Publicly, there was only one fitting relationship with Kiana, right?
He exhaled slowly, offering a warm smile. "I'm Hakuto, Kiana's boyfriend."
"…" ×n
"Wha—!?"