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Chapter 440 - 440 Walking Between Worlds

The Quantum Sea was a place like no other.

In the world of Honkai, it functioned much like the Quantum Realm in the Marvel Universe — a chaotic space of infinite void, connecting countless parallel worlds.

These alternate realities were known as "bubble universes" in the Honkai cosmology, and the Quantum Sea served as the bridge, the gap between them — a corridor of instability, flux, and possibility.

As for why Kagura ended up here, it was likely due to the device in the Marvel world being named Eye of the Abyss — the very same conceptual term used for the gateway into the Quantum Sea in the Honkai world.

That coincidence may have caused some kind of conceptual resonance.

And thus… destiny was set into motion.

Kagura's quirky habit of giving things dramatic names had finally "come back to bite her."

In short, while the Quantum Sea was undoubtedly fascinating, it was far from an ideal vacation spot.

It wasn't truly a world, but rather a transit zone between worlds.

As such, it was unstable… and very dangerous.

Strange, kaleidoscopic phenomena swirled in every direction.

The space was riddled with peril — even certain prophets and tricksters roamed its depths (like a certain snake or a certain "Master" doing infinite sit-ups from inside a coffin…).

"Kagura, you said earlier that you're a traveler from another world?" Himeko asked.

"Mm-hm, that's right!" Kagura nodded. "But Miss Himeko, you don't seem all that surprised to hear it?"

Supporting the still-weakened Himeko as they walked across the floating cube platforms of the Quantum Sea, Kagura couldn't help but drift into a random thought:

'Wow… Miss Himeko's chest is so soft. So big. AWSL…'

Totally distracted...

"Well… more than surprised, I'd say I'm just curious." Himeko smiled and gently stroked Kagura's long silver hair.

"After all, in my world, I've already seen people floating in the air, snapping their fingers to blow up armies of mechs, and reducing entire landscapes to scorched earth.

So one more weird thing? Not exactly shocking anymore."

"I'm not a weird thing!" Kagura puffed her cheeks, clearly offended. "I'm a sweet, gentle, and adorable girl, thank you very much!"

"Yes, yes, you are" Himeko laughed, ruffling her hair.

"By the way, Miss Himeko, do you have any idea how to get back to your world?" Kagura asked.

"Hah… now that's a tricky one." Himeko gave a tired smile. "This is actually my first time in the Quantum Sea.

I didn't come here on purpose — I fell in. So I really don't have any idea."

As she spoke, she looked up at the lone beam of light shining down from above — the only source of illumination in this eerie space.

"…Still, I have a hunch. If we keep heading in that direction, we might be able to find a way back."

"A hunch, huh…" Kagura followed her gaze. "Should I call that unreliable… or just plain superstitious?"

"Come on, don't be so stiff!" Himeko pulled her into a playful hug, rubbing her cheek against Kagura's. "This is a mature woman's intuition! You've gotta trust me!"

"Wah—!" Kagura was smothered by a very soft, very large distraction. "Okay, okay! Since this is your world, I'll trust you!"

"…Say, Kagura, I'm curious about your world too."

Himeko ran her fingers through Kagura's silky white hair, clearly enjoying it. "Can you tell me what it's like? Do you have something like Honkai in your world?"

"Ahaha… Well…" Kagura smiled softly. "My world is… a prosperous one. We don't have Honkai, but there are still disasters and hardships of our own. So, honestly, life isn't easy for us either."

"Oh? A flourishing world without Honkai…" A wistful look came into Himeko's eyes. "Still… I'd love to see such a place someday."

Hey—!! ヽ(●-`Д´-)ノ

You totally ignored the second half of what I said!

Crazy being like Celestial, Galactus exists in my world too, okay?! That's not much safer!

But when Kagura saw that longing in Himeko's expression, her heart ached.

Maybe… for someone like Himeko, endless battles and devastation were just part of everyday life now.

In her world, Honkai was an ever-present evil — born alongside human civilization and hell-bent on erasing it. It never slept.

Monsters ran rampant. Herrschers awakened…

Peace and order were luxuries only the strongest cities could afford.

Most places lived in constant fear of being overrun by Honkai beasts. In this world, war truly never ended.

By contrast, Kagura's Marvel world seemed almost peaceful.

Sure, there were supervillains and the occasional universe-ending threat like Thanos, but for the average person, daily life was mostly stable.

And thanks to Kagura's efforts, the world was now more peaceful than it had ever been.

So… from the perspective of someone like Himeko, coming from a world soaked in sorrow and chaos… what could possibly count as a real disaster anymore?

What hardship would even faze her?

With that thought, a quiet sorrow stirred in Kagura's chest.

'You Valkyries really have it tough…'

Fighting in a world so full of suffering — still managing to smile, still holding on to love and hope, still standing for the beauty of the world…

"…If you ever get the chance," Kagura said gently, "you're welcome to visit my world, Miss Himeko."

"Haha! Really? I can?" Himeko's eyes lit up with genuine excitement. "Though… it'd be a little boring going alone. If I go, I'm definitely bringing my friends along!"

But then… her expression dimmed a little.

Though she smiled, there was a flicker of worry and faraway memories in her gaze.

"Kiana… Mei… Bronya… Theresa…"

"I wonder how they're doing now… if they're safe…"

"Don't worry, Miss Himeko." Kagura placed a hand over her heart. "I believe in your friends. I'm sure they're not the kind to give up easily.

No matter what happens, they'll keep moving forward. I'm certain of it."

Hearing that, Himeko froze for a moment — surprised.

Then, like the big sister she was, she smiled brightly, pulled Kagura into her chest again, and ruffled her hair.

"You little rascal! Don't talk to your big sis like you're the grown-up!"

"…But… thank you, Kagura."

"Mmgh—!"

Just as the two were chatting, a terrifying low rumble echoed around them, and the space around them began to shake violently!

The Sea of Quanta was far from a peaceful place—Quantum-type Honkai Beasts lurked at every turn, constantly threatening the lives of any living being that wandered through.

Suddenly, clusters of blue-violet cubes rapidly assembled before them, forming monstrous silhouettes brimming with raw hostility.

Five humanoid creatures emerged—each wielding a long spear and clad in armored plating, resembling knight-like war machines born from chaos.

"Tch, Quantum-type Honkai Beasts…" Himeko clicked her tongue. "Be careful, Kagura. These things are silicon-based lifeforms—brutally strong and utterly hostile to humans.

There's no reasoning with them."

Despite still recovering from her serious injuries, Himeko didn't hesitate.

She raised the Godslayer Sword, gritting her teeth as she stepped into a battle stance.

"I'll try to handle them. Kagura, be careful. Watch your back and don't take unnecessary risks!"

To Himeko, combat was second nature.

She showed no fear—as if the life-or-death battle she had just endured was no different from brushing her teeth in the morning.

But just then, Kagura gently stepped forward and rested her hand on Himeko's trembling arm.

"Miss Himeko, leave this to me."

"Huh?" Himeko blinked in surprise. Then her expression grew serious. "Kagura, I don't know what your world is like or how powerful you really are…

but Quantum Honkai Beasts are no joke. To give you some context—even a top-tier battle tank would be shredded in a one-on-one fight."

"Don't worry," Kagura replied calmly, stepping between Himeko and the enemy. "You've just recovered from a near-death battle.

You shouldn't be pushing yourself like this. Let me handle them."

Himeko's brows furrowed with concern. "But—"

"Trust me," Kagura said with a smile. "I can fight. I'm stronger than I look."

Before them, the Quantum Honkai Beasts stirred—knight-class monsters, towering and armored, brandishing spears as they fixed their glowing eyes on the unarmed, silver-haired girl.

With guttural mechanical growls, they surged forward all at once, charging without mercy.

Pure malice. Pure aggression. Incomprehensible. Irredeemable.

Which meant only one thing—battle was inevitable.

[Space Manipulation – Sever!]

Kagura raised her hand.

A flash of blue light erupted.

The space ahead of her split open—sharp, unseen rifts tearing across the battlefield like invisible blades.

Shk! Shk! Shk!

The imposing knight-class beasts were instantly diced into clean, precise fragments and scattered into the void.

"Hmm… Looks like the power of the Infinity Stones still works here. That's good news," Kagura said nonchalantly.

But the battle wasn't over yet.

More Quantum Beasts began to form, their dark bodies twisting into existence before launching themselves at her.

"Hmph! No matter how many of you come, you're just cannon fodder!" Kagura grinned, confidence blazing in her golden eyes.

"This time, it's my turn to protect you, Miss Himeko!"

Shimmering blue butterflies danced through the air, scattering glimmering, beautiful light as Kagura battled the encroaching beasts.

Far away, hidden in the shadows, a pair of eyes quietly observed her.

[Oh? Interesting. She seems to possess the power to cross between worlds... This might just be our chance…]

"What… What are you planning to do?" a timid voice asked.

[What's the matter, Seele? Don't you want to leave this place? Don't you want to return to the real world… to your beloved sister?]

"Y-Yes… That's true. But…"

[No buts! That girl holds power beyond even the Gem of Desire!]

[If we can harness her abilities, we won't have to keep groveling before 'Serpent' any longer!]

[We could open the barrier that separates us from reality—escape this prison once and for all!]

"But… If that barrier breaks, the Serpent will be free… Seele doesn't want to hurt anyone…"

[Fool! Have you completely lost your mind, Seele? What could possibly matter more than our freedom?!]

The dark voice snarled as a purple-black scythe gleamed menacingly in the shadows.

[Don't you want revenge?]

[Don't you want salvation?]

[Don't you want to be reunited with everyone again?]

[Don't you want to escape this cold, lonely place where even your voice disappears into the void?]

[Go, Seele!]

[Fulfill our mission!]

[Our freedom is close!]

[And soon—we'll return to the real world… and find your beloved sister, Bronya!]

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