A certain country, a certain province, a certain city.
Lying on an emergency stretcher, his vision gradually blurred from clarity…
When he opened his eyes again, the stabbing pain all over his body made him turn to the side.
He saw sunlight streaming through the window into the hospital room.
The difficulty in breathing made him want to tear off the oxygen mask on his face, but the pain throughout his body left him powerless to lift his arm. Turning his head, his gaze slowly focused, and he saw the solemn expression on the doctor's face beside him.
He could feel the heavy silence in the ward.
The lines on the monitor grew weaker and weaker. Childhood memories flashed by like slides. Was this… the end?
It's said that when people are about to die, they have a sudden urge to return home. But where was his home? Who were his biological parents?
His breathing grew more intense, his trachea making sounds like a broken bellows. Thinking back on his life, it seemed filled only with loneliness.
He had lived in an orphanage since he was young, with no memory of his parents.
From the orphanage to university, he had always felt out of place with others. He spent his life conforming, drifting with the current. He had many friends, but none he particularly cared for. Talking to them felt like completing a task. Aside from necessary contact, he preferred living alone.
He asked the lawyer in front of him to bring the property donation agreement and, using all his strength, signed his name.
He thought about how long it had been since he visited the orphanage director and the others. If he weren't about to die, perhaps he never would have thought of them for the rest of his life. Was this what they meant by "A dying man's words are kind"?
Hmph, even in death he was still alone. Truly, he was a cold person.
Closing his eyes, the strength in his body began to drain away. His final breath escaped, and his hand slid down weakly.
Finally, it was over…
"Huh?!"
Wasn't he already dead?
Lowering his gaze, he saw his own body being covered with a white sheet and pushed out of the ward.
Meanwhile, he was drifting upward, passing through the hospital roof, floating into the sky.
Suddenly, a streak of red light caught his attention—it came from the cube on the ring around his left index finger. It had changed from silver to red and was swelling.
"This looks so much like a Honkai Cube from Honkai Impact 3rd…"
Before he could react, the swollen "Honkai Cube" suddenly shot into his chest, enveloping his entire soul and transforming into a beam of red light that shot out into outer space.
...
Death is an end, but also a new beginning. Flowers bloom and fall, the cycle repeats endlessly.
Time passed quietly.
At the edge of a certain universe.
The light of a star began to fade, its fiery glow dissipating, leaving behind only silence.
A red-glowing meteor streaked across the still night, leaving a long arc in the dim sky, before plunging into the endless darkness.
Ripples spread across the dark starry sky. Soon the light vanished, and the silence returned.
Countless massive "bubbles" filled the space. Everything was silent. This was the rift between universes.
A tiny light shot out from one of the "bubbles," lingering in the starry sky. Suddenly, the light trembled as if guided, and rushed straight toward a "bubble" filled with an eerie red glow.
...
Schicksal, Siberia Labs.
Night shrouded this cold land. On the horizon stood a steel structure, looming like a giant prison. At the center of the building was a massive, split gear-wing emblem.
Schicksal is the oldest existing organization in the world fighting against "Honkai," established with the goal of eradicating it. It has existed since the 5th century AD, with a long history. Originating in Europe, its headquarters are located in Vienna, Austria, with branches all over the world, currently controlling most of Europe and Asia.
In its early days, the organization was structured within a religious framework, and its leader was called the "Archbishop," operating under a centralized system. After hundreds of years of development, much of its religious color has faded, but the leader is still referred to as "Archbishop."
The Siberia Labs is the largest in North Asia for Schicksal, established after the destruction of the Babylon Labs.
...
Inside a technologically advanced metal-structured laboratory, bright lights illuminated the space.
Countless figures in white lab coats moved quickly in and out, busy with their work.
In the massive cultivation chamber, nearly a hundred transparent cylindrical containers, each about three meters tall, stood in neat rows. Each was filled with transparent nutrient fluid, within which floated a small white-haired girl in white robes.
On closer look, each girl looked exactly the same.
Beep!
At that moment, the red light on one container marked with the number 404 turned green, and a cold mechanical voice sounded: "Maturation of experimental subject No. 404 completed. Ready for extraction."
"Extract subject No. 404."
Following the order, with the sound of machinery in motion, the container labeled 404 was moved out of the cultivation chamber.
"Subject No. 404 transferred. Ready."
The scene shifted. In a laboratory specialized for Honkai fusion experiments, container 404 stood alone at the center.
This lab was specially built, with extremely high Honkai energy isolation capability.
"404th Herrscher fusion experiment, commence."
"Experimental subject ID: K-404."
"Begin injection of Honkai suppressant."
"Injection complete."
"Honkai energy injection ready. Proceed?"
Standing in the control room, upon hearing the researcher's question, an older researcher in a white coat adjusted his glasses and spoke slowly.
"Proceed with injection."
"Yes, beginning injection."
With his command, the other researchers began their work.
The mechanical structure at the top of the transparent container shifted, accompanied by ka-ka-ka… sounds. Several mechanical arms extended, fixing the girl in place. Needles pierced her limb veins, injecting Honkai energy. The transparent nutrient fluid turned pale blue due to the suppressant.
Watching the fusion rate rise on the monitor, a glimmer of excitement appeared in the lead researcher's eyes.
"Honkai energy fusion complete."
The lab's cold mechanical voice echoed.
The researchers cheered.
"Sir, phase one is complete."
"Proceed immediately to phase two."
"But sir, shouldn't we make adjustments first?"
"Execute immediately!"
"Yes! Phase two Herrscher Core fusion preparation commencing."
Two researchers placed a sealed cube into the recessed slot beneath the container. With the sound of machinery unlocking, all the indicator lights in the lab lit up. All researchers exited the container room as the heavy alloy doors closed, initiating high-concentration Honkai energy isolation.
As phase one concluded, the mechanical arms returned to their original positions.
Though unconscious, the girl's body instinctively curled from pain, her eyes tightly shut, her breaths faint to the point of vanishing.
Standing in the experiment control center, the person in charge stared at the silver-haired girl on the monitor, eyes filled only with cold indifference. He glanced at the experiment log.
Experiment Log K-404: Phase one Honkai energy adaptation and fusion complete. After adapting to the Honkai energy in phase one, the subject's compatibility with the Herrscher Core has increased. Theoretically, fusion between the two should be possible…
"Sir, the Herrscher Core is ready."
Pulled from his thoughts by the researcher's words, the director replied, "Mm, begin phase two fusion!"
"Yes, commencing fusion!"
As the operator worked the controls, the screen showed the cylindrical container's liquid slowly thickening, turning purplish-red. Outside the cylinder, tangible Honkai energy particles began to form.
The experiment proceeded normally. Aside from the hum of the container's machinery, the entire chamber was silent.
As the fusion index on the monitor climbed higher, a nearby researcher grew excited. "Sir, we're about to suc—"
Crack!!!
Suddenly, the glass casing of the cylinder was covered in fractures. The metal structures above and below began to warp. The shattering noise cut the researcher off.
Inside, the silver-haired girl snapped open her eyes, now glowing gold. Her veins radiated an ominous red light.
"Warning! Warning! Honkai energy concentration exceeds limits! All personnel evacuate immediately."
Instantly, the lab's lights began flashing red.
In the control center, the director slammed the table. "Damn it! Not again!!"
The other researchers sighed. They had witnessed such failed scenarios hundreds of times before and were numb to them. Still, this had been the closest they had come to success—what a pity…
After a moment, the director spoke. "K-404 Herrscher Core fusion experiment failed. Seal the Herrscher Core. Stop Honkai energy injection. Activate Honkai energy storage. Release suppressant."
The cube in the recessed slot beneath the container closed, and the Honkai energy storage unit above began extraction. As the Honkai energy concentration thinned, the container became visibly clear, and the girl inside gradually "calmed" down.
"Honkai energy levels returning to normal. Alert lifted."
The alarms ceased, and the lights returned to normal.
"Dispose of it."
With that, the director turned and left.
Two researchers drained the transparent liquid from the container and lifted the girl, now devoid of any life signs.
Upon touching experimental subject K-404, the two researchers showed clear disdain. As if tossing garbage, they irritably threw her into the incineration disposal chamber, then turned and left without hesitation.
No one thought this strange. After all, this was just a cloned replica costing less than a thousand US dollars—lacking personality or consciousness, nothing more than an oversized doll.
This incinerator alone had already destroyed nearly a hundred such dolls.
What they didn't notice was that, not long after they left, a beam of red light entered the "corpse" behind them.
Lying in the disposal chamber, the girl slowly opened her eyes. In her diamond-shaped, crimson pupils flickered a trace of confusion…
...