"The Empress... Her Majesty?"
Hearing the middle-aged Imperial Guard's answer, the 'Cursed Children' following behind him looked up, murmuring in wonder.
Attracted by all things bright and shining—perhaps that was a woman's natural instinct.
Even for these little girls, the 'Cursed Children' infected by the Gastrea Virus, it was no exception.
In the world of Black Bullet, back in the outer districts beyond the Monoliths, such instincts had never had the chance to appear. The relentless pressure of survival left no room for curiosity or dreams.
At best, they could only watch from afar—staring across the sea toward the bustling human settlements within the protected zones, dreaming that one day they too might live there, no longer hated or hunted.
Now, within the Empire's prisoner camp, the burden of survival had eased. For the first time, the Imperial Guard overseeing them had led them beyond the high walls enclosing their camp—to witness the outside world.
Childish innocence being what it was, even the most well-behaved among them couldn't help but be captivated by the massive, ornate stained-glass window before them.
Before their eyes stretched a vast landscape: meticulously arranged lawns, marble-paved walkways inlaid with decorative stones, carved columns, and red banners embroidered with golden twin-headed eagles fluttering in the wind. At the far end of the open square stood towering statues of Astartes warriors, swords raised high.
Yet none of that held their gaze like the towering castle-fortress that loomed far above the outer walls, seemingly touching the heavens.
The wall before them bore the castle's largest stained-glass mural—its brilliance stealing every child's breath.
Its base tone was iron gray, dominated by the image of a white-haired woman clad in a robe of pure white trimmed with gold filigree. Her shoulders and arms were encased in intricate golden armor. In her hands she held a weapon—part axe, part scepter, part warhammer.
Her head tilted slightly downward, eyes closed. Behind her, a vast golden halo radiated countless lines of light outward, like a sun eternally shining upon the world.
In that moment, behind the girls stretched the wire fences and stone walls of the prisoner camp; before them lay the open expanse leading to the fortress' heart.
It was as if these 'Cursed Children' were stepping from darkness into light. Yet what awaited beyond that light... who could say?
The middle-aged Imperial Guard veteran leading them stood solemnly at attention before the glass mural, saluting with rigid formality. He held the pose for ten full seconds before straightening with reverent precision.
"Alright, girls, let's go. The time to change your fate has come..."
At last, his calm words drew the children back to reality.
"Remember what I told you—don't ask where you're going, and don't speak of what you see. Stay in formation. No noise. Otherwise... you will lose everything."
His tone carried both authority and concern.
The 'Cursed Children' known as An, Kofuku, and Lai were fortunate to have encountered such a comparatively kind and patient overseer.
Not that other Imperial Guards were cruel or violent toward these young captives—but few shared this man's warmth. Most simply followed protocol, detached and indifferent.
"Yes, Overseer, we understand."
Though the 'Cursed Children' had been abandoned by their parents and lacked formal education, the Empire's distributed learning materials—and the reverence their overseers showed toward the image in the glass—had given them some grasp of who this figure represented.
...
Thus, in silence, the group passed through layer after layer of guarded checkpoints. The closer they drew to the central fortress of the Southern Lake Barracks, the more gray-armored giants they encountered.
Along the way, An, Kofuku, Lai, and their companions crossed paths with many other groups of 'Cursed Children,' each led by their respective Imperial Guard overseers.
Among them were familiar faces—friends separated ever since they had been taken by Alex's First Astartes Legion and divided into different housing sectors upon arrival.
"..." They wanted to call out—but remembering their overseer's stern warning, combined with the suffocating atmosphere of this place, none of them dared to make a sound.
Within the brilliantly lit, gold-embellished grand hall stood several Astartes warriors gripping boltguns and chainswords. Each stood motionless, statuesque, radiating silent intimidation.
"Oh? The first batch of candidates has arrived already? Good. Let's not keep the Lady waiting." A sharp, nasal voice rang out as a palace chamberlain entered, dressed in the attire of a royal attendant.
"Then let's begin with you," he said, extending a finger toward the group beside the middle-aged Imperial Guard overseer.
"Yes, sir!"
After the chamberlain departed, the overseer led An, Kofuku, Lai, and their group to quietly await his signal.
Inside the central castle hall of the Southern Lake Barracks, there was no chatter, no complaints—only silence. Everyone waited.
No one knew how long it had been when suddenly—thump, thump—! The sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the hall, each impact far weightier than that of the gray-armored Astartes standing guard.
Instantly, the 'Cursed Children' turned their heads toward the source at the hall's entrance, curiosity and fear mingled in their eyes.
The Imperial Guard overseers, however, reacted differently—snapping to attention, posture straight as spears.
Somewhere along the way, within the Empire, the measure of one's identity, status, and strength had come to be recognized by size. The larger the frame, the higher the rank—and the stronger the power.
Likewise, the heavier the footfalls, the greater the might they suggested.
After all, even the fattest mortal couldn't possibly weigh over a ton—but an Astartes in full power armor certainly could.
Before long, a contingent of Astartes warriors clad in iron-gray power armor from the Second Legion marched in. Yet among that tide of gray, streaks of radiant gold gleamed vividly.
"The Royal Guard?!"
At the sight of those towering warriors clad in golden armor, their Honkai Energy-powered weapons gleaming with intricate craftsmanship, every Imperial soldier present felt a jolt of awe.
The Royal Guard—the strongest and most elite unit in the entire Empire—rarely appeared before common eyes.
Their duty was to remain ever at Selene's side, and most of them never left the Grand Palace.
Even the mortal soldiers of the Imperial Guard seldom glimpsed them—perhaps only when stationed around the palace perimeter during rotational duties.
For such a unit to appear here, in a simple recruitment event for a newly formed division of so-called 'Sisters of Battle'—surely, this was no ordinary occasion.
What kind of special importance did this new corps hold, to warrant the personal presence of the Royal Guard?
The thought passed through the minds of every soldier present.
As for the 'Cursed Children,' the towering figures of the three-meter-tall Royal Guard were enough to terrify them utterly. They trembled so violently they barely dared to breathe, afraid even a sound might incur wrath.
Then, as the Second Legion Astartes and the Royal Guard parted into two ranks, everyone realized that the golden warriors were escorting someone.
"Hmm... so these are the candidates Her Majesty mentioned? The ones I'm to select from?" came a soft, melodic voice.
Amidst the ring of towering giants, a small figure stepped into view—a girl no taller than a mortal, yet radiating an aura that silenced the hall.
Arisa.
Clad in a sleeveless white top trimmed with violet and gold, she looked almost ethereal—like a goddess descending among mortals. The moment she entered, all conversation ceased.
For the Imperial soldiers and Royal Guards, her presence was awe-inspiring—Arisa, the trusted attendant of Empress Selene, had personally arrived.
For the 'Cursed Children,' it was something far simpler: pure admiration.
Her voice carried a clear, gentle brightness. Her movements were were fluid and graceful. Silky gray hair shimmered faintly under the chandelier light, while her sky-blue eyes shone with clarity and warmth.
A feather-like ornament adorned her head. The white sleeveless top bore a purple four-pointed star at the chest, paired with black shorts and white thigh-high stockings that met violet high heels. Her black gloves were fitted with white armor plating, her fingertips tinted violet.
She was beauty and purity incarnate—unlike anything these children had ever seen.
"Yes, Lady Arisa," the palace chamberlain replied hastily, bowing low. "These are the ones Her Majesty specified."
The same man who had moments ago strutted about with arrogance now groveled like a lapdog wagging its tail before its master. The contrast was striking.
At those words, Arisa took a careful look at the first batch of 'Cursed Children' the Imperial Guard had brought—those deemed the most promising of the group. After a moment, she sighed and shook her head slowly.
"But... they're so small. How long will it even take to make a proper fighting force out of them?"
She had imagined that after some training, they would quickly become battle-ready—but what stood before her now were tiny, trembling girls barely past infancy.
Good heavens, how long would this take? Wouldn't it delay her grand ambitions to make a name for herself?
That thought—utterly lacking self-awareness—crossed Arisa's mind as she sighed again.
"Lady Arisa, Lord Sebas is still waiting for your report..." one of the golden-armored Royal Guards, sent by Sebas to accompany her, reminded gently.
In truth, Arisa could be considered a refreshing anomaly among the Empire's upper echelons.
Just think about it: Selene, Sebas, Budo, Liver, Esdeath, Kinshasa... what kind of people were they?
Tyrants, ruthless capitalists, iron-blooded generals, and sadists—each one a force of nature.
And then there was Arisa—a bright, cheerful girl thrown in among wolves. No, among abyssal beasts.
A husky in a pack of monsters.
Though Arisa was no stranger to killing, compared to the others, she radiated a kind of gentle warmth that made her far more approachable to the Empire's officers and soldiers.
Selene's brilliance was dazzling, yes—but like the sun, it burned too fiercely to look upon.
To most Imperials—even among the Astartes and Royal Guard—standing before Selene meant suffocating under the sheer weight of her presence. Every heartbeat trembled in reverence and fear.
True, Her Majesty sometimes displayed kindness and composure—but who could ever truly relax in front of the Empress?
"No, I can't let Sebas mock me. I'll pick out a few myself to present to the Queen—uh, to Her Majesty!"
Arisa puffed her cheeks slightly in determination. Sebas had insisted she wasn't suited for leading troops. That alone stoked her competitive streak—she had to prove him wrong!
"Next group! You, you, and you—come with me."
...
Meanwhile, elsewhere, Selene remained impassive as ever, buried beneath a mountain of memorials and petitions atop her desk.
Suddenly—
"Your Majesty, Dr. Stylish has arrived," a servant announced.
"Let him in," Selene replied without looking up, her voice calm yet commanding.
Tap, tap—
Moments later, she heard hurried footsteps. Looking up, she saw Dr. Stylish entering with the attendant, his expression brimming with delight.
After the servant bowed and exited, Dr. Stylish immediately struck an exaggerated pose, bowing flamboyantly.
"Your Majesty! I am pleased to report—our large-scale customization of the Honkai Particle Weapons is complete! Only the mass production of energy shields remains, and the Titan Division will soon achieve full combat readiness!"
"I see. Speak—what are your thoughts?" Selene said, setting aside her brush and closing the stack of reviewed documents before straightening, a trace of fatigue in her tone.
Hearing her invitation, Dr. Stylish adjusted his posture, his usual eccentricity giving way to professional seriousness.
"Your Majesty, using the Academy City technologies you provided as the foundation, the Imperial Science Bureau has simulated the operating structure of the Teigu: Romantic Battery · Pumpkin." He paused, then continued with growing enthusiasm. "Through countless refinements, we've derived an optimal Honkai Energy output formula. With it, even ordinary humans—so long as they can withstand the recoil—can wield these weapons without Your Majesty's direct guidance."
Selene nodded slowly. With both conventional and Honkai Energy-based weapon systems now in place, only the fleet coordination remained. Soon, the legions would be ready to independently conduct full-scale conquests across worlds.
"As for the energy shield and Titan Armor systems," she said, pausing briefly, "I can loan you two Teigu for reverse engineering—Twin Fates · Thanatos and National Defense Machine God · Shikoutazer."
Dr. Stylish's eyes widened in disbelief as Selene continued, her tone calm but resolute.
"The Titan Armor doesn't need to match the power of the Ultimate Teigu. Even if its destructive capacity is one-thousandth of that level, it will suffice—so long as it can be mass-produced. Scalability is what matters most."
"Your Majesty, truly brilliant!" Dr. Stylish exclaimed, overwhelmed. To be permitted to study the Ultimate Teigu was beyond his wildest dreams. His passion for research, which had waned slightly after perfecting the Honkai Particle Weapons, ignited anew.
Snap!
Descending from the dais, Selene snapped her fingers. In an instant, a pair of silver-white bracelets materialized in Dr. Stylish's hands.
"Teigu: Twin Fates · Thanatos," Selene said. "I acquired it from the Imperial Teigu Vault. Its function—providing shielding and amplifying energy output. It should serve your research well."
Then her gaze turned distant for a moment before she spoke again.
"On another note, Alex's First Legion should be nearing the full conquest of the Black Bullet world. Dr. Stylish—come with me. We'll see it for ourselves."