Honkai Impact 3rd: My Days as a Captain in Schicksal

"When did this happen?" Keng Huo's voice was filled with obvious anxiety, and he even started shaking his leg. "She left for Changkong City three days ago. Counting the time it took for her to infiltrate and locate her..."

“Four hours ago, Theresa contacted us saying that she had completed reconnaissance and location and was ready to begin the decapitation operation…” Himeko glanced at the clock, “but in these four hours, the tracker installed on the Oath of Judah shows that it has remained in the same place without moving an inch, not even a millimeter… and Theresa… has not responded since the initial contact.”

Keng Huo let out a deep breath, stood up, and paced back and forth anxiously: "Could they still be fighting?"

“You might not be familiar with Theresa’s fighting style… While the base of [Oath of Judah] serves a similar purpose as a portable weapon rack, Theresa prefers to use it to smash people…” Himeko carefully considered her words, “Besides, even if Theresa is fighting very seriously and uses the unfolded mode of [Oath of Judah], it’s unlikely she’ll stay in one place indefinitely… You know, a real fight can’t be confined to a small area like boxing…”

"So you came back for what?" Keng Huo felt his anxiety boiling over, and a sense of foreboding made him restless.

How long does a battle take? It varies from person to person, but generally, lower-level battles take less time, while higher-level battles tend to take longer.

Logically speaking, it's possible for an S-rank Valkyrie to fight a fully developed pseudo-Herrscher for a whole day and night, so it's indeed unusual for Theresa to be so overwhelmed after only being out of contact for four hours.

But that was four hours of silence, and the information hidden behind that was completely different.

Even in the most intense battle, the communicator would at least transmit some sounds of the battle, at the very least the Valkyries' groans and laughter as they fought, right?

However, Theresa's communicator was some distance from the locator of the "Oath of Judah." Although not far, it was well beyond the range that the "Oath of Judah" could use, and it was completely silent except for the occasional beast-like roar.

This is why Himeko rushed back to find Keng Huo.

"Send the newly recruited Valkyries back." Himeko's answer was swift and decisive, as if she had anticipated Keng Huo's question. "Then gather all the original personnel you can, and pilot the Hyperion..."

"Are you crazy?" Keng Huo replied to Himeko with suspicion. "The Dandelion we dispatched last time has detected a [Title]-class Honkai Beast in the center of Changkong City! And it's the [Honkai Crushing] type, with top-notch anti-air capabilities... If you're going to use the Hyperion to gather a large number of people for reinforcement, it's tantamount to directly engaging in a head-on battle with the Honkai forces in Changkong City!"

Honkai Beasts are ranked from lowest to highest as follows: Normal, Chariot, Crossbow, Super Crossbow, and Titled. Those above Titled have their own unique names and exist as separate individuals distinct from all other Honkai Beast types.

[Tank-class] Honkai Beasts are typically no more than five meters tall and can be killed by a well-trained elite squad or several squads working together. [Crossbow-class] Honkai Beasts, on the other hand, reach an astonishing length of around twenty meters. At this size, they require several elite Valkyrie squads to surround and kill them, as well as a certain amount of heavy firepower support to break through their defenses. [Super Crossbow-class] Honkai Beasts... reach a height of one hundred meters. Due to the huge size difference, even heavy firepower is ineffective against their Honkai energy shield. Multiple A-rank Valkyries must work together to surround and kill them. Furthermore, Honkai Beasts at this stage have mature anti-air capabilities, and even airships are not safe in front of them.

The higher-ranking [Title] Honkai Beasts are granted unique titles by Destiny due to their immense strength and unreplicable nature.

The title of this colossal Honkai Beast in Changkong City, which stands over 150 meters tall, is...

【Honkai Impact · Crushing】.

If a direct confrontation were to occur, it would require at least one S-rank Valkyrie leading three well-equipped squads of A-rank Valkyries to encircle the enemy, supported by eight B-rank Valkyries, plus a long-range heavy firepower barrage before the battle even begins, to have a high chance of defeating them. Moreover, the battle would take a very long time.

Because... it is one of the only two remaining Honkai Beasts in the world that can be called "Title" level, and its existence represents a deterrent force far exceeding that of super-powerful nuclear bombs in the human world.

Keng Huo understood Himeko's thoughts almost without much thought: if war were to break out, the Hyperion, capable of transporting a large number of people and possessing strong combat capabilities, would be indispensable.

"The Hyperion's shielding system cannot completely block the enormous energy it emits and radiates. I think it will be detected by that [Title]-class Honkai Beast even when it reaches the middle of Changkong City!"

“But the significance of an S-rank Valkyrie is worthwhile for both Schicksal and St. Freya Academy.” Himeko took a deep breath, as if making a decision. “I know that St. Freya Academy’s current combat strength is completely insufficient to support a war, but we cannot lose an S-rank Valkyrie… Right now, the only ship we have capable of fighting the powerful Honkai Beasts deep within Changkong City is the Hyperion…”

"Besides... if we send out a search and rescue team, I'm afraid we won't even be able to survive deep in Changkong City, let alone conduct a search and rescue operation. That's a pseudo-Herrscher that even Theresa couldn't handle... If we can't rescue Theresa, we'll be helpless when we face the threat of an enemy that is infinitely close to a Herrscher, or even reaches the Herrscher level, in the near future." At this point, Himeko sighed as if she were feeling utterly powerless.

In reality, Destiny's classification of S-rank Valkyries is not based on strength like in online games, but on the role they can play. As long as their combat power and command ability reach a certain level, they can be rated as A-rank Valkyries. However, no matter how high your combat power is, you cannot be promoted to S-rank Valkyrie.

Unless you possess a unique ability that cannot be replicated or mass-produced, or your combat power has reached a level that cannot be assessed by ordinary standards.

"If you want to engage in close combat, airdrop Valkyries to crush that [Honkai Crusher]. That [Honkai Crusher] will withstand the Valkyries' attacks and use an air cannon to throw the Hyperion, which isn't escorted by a floating cruiser, off balance. Then, it will use a leap attack to flatten the entire Hyperion into a pancake. A battleship without cruisers and destroyers is just a slightly tougher but more painful chicken. Besides, would that pseudo-Herrscher stand idly by? We don't know the pseudo-Herrscher's abilities yet. Judging from Theresa's disappearance, our previous estimates were probably wrong. That thing that was created... may have reached or even surpassed the level of a pseudo-Herrscher. Otherwise, there's no way to explain why Theresa went missing." Keng Huo sneered, seemingly mocking Himeko's recklessness.

"Or are you planning to open fire on the outskirts of Changkong City? And then watch that [Honkai Crusher] drive the Honkai beast horde out of Changkong City and flatten the Far East Island? Even if we manage to take down that [Title] Honkai beast in half a day, who will hold off the beast horde? Rely on our hundreds of Valkyries? We simply don't have enough manpower!" Keng Huo slammed the report he was working on onto the table.

Keng Huo sighed deeply: "The best solution is to send Valkyries skilled in infiltration to conduct an infiltration search. Don't we have any A-rank Valkyries skilled in infiltration at this time? B-rank won't do. That's the depths of Changkong City, the epicenter of this Honkai outbreak! The monsters around there are no weaklings like those on the outskirts!"

"The A-rank Valkyrie among us who is best at this type of operation is Fu Hua..." Himeko's expression was also not good, "but she received a secret mission from headquarters, and now we don't even know where she is..."

"No! I can't let the entire St. Freya Academy risk its very strength on a mission with an extremely low success rate! Doing so would most likely not rescue Theresa, but rather, with us losing an S-rank Valkyrie, we'd be officially at war with an A-rank Honkai eruption zone about to give birth to a Herrscher!" Keng Huo shouted, spittle flying. "This isn't a rescue! You're dragging everyone into the abyss!"

"Then come up with a backup plan!" Ji Zi slammed her hand on the table and stood up without backing down, her phoenix eyes wide open, her aura instantly rising.

The scene was once filled with the tension of gunfire.

"What about your backup plan?" Keng Huo seemed to have sensed something.

Himeko remained silent, her eyes fixed intently on Keng Huo.

"Why are you staring at me... I mean... you don't actually want me to go, do you? Your backup plan is to airdrop a lamb behind enemy lines?" Keng Huo's legs started trembling, and he began his signature rambling, "Can you be more specific? I'm a little scared... Wait a minute! Logically speaking, you should have gathered people and gone to Changkong City as soon as you got back, why are you here discussing this with me, a clerical worker?"

Keng Huo grew increasingly uneasy, even his gaze towards Himeko became strange: "Could it be that you've come to give your last instructions..."

"When Theresa went to rescue you, I provided her with technical support."

Himeko's casual remark shattered Keng Huo's pretense.

It was as if swords and spears flashed by.

Suddenly, Himeko felt as if her cheek had been cut. She subconsciously touched her face but found no wound at all.

Keng Huo removed his disguise and his eyes, which, even through his glasses, made Himeko feel as if she were being cut. Just being stared at by him made Himeko feel as if a blade was examining all the vital points on her body.

"You all know?"

“Maybe all of it, maybe not…it depends on how much you’ve hidden…” Himeko sighed. “But don’t worry, only Theresa and I know all the information…I know you’re very good at infiltration; the best proof is that you once infiltrated Schicksal’s heavily guarded research facility all by yourself…”

"Just because I can break a boulder with my chest doesn't mean I can split a monument with my bare hands..." Keng Huo sighed. "If I could, I'd really like to save her..."

"But she is the only one who is willing and the only one who is capable of helping you find Elisa."

Keng Huo opened his mouth, but found he didn't know what to say. Ji Zi had already blocked all his escape routes.

The two paths now before him are very clear.

First, risking his life to save Theresa.

Second, all the core members of St. Freya Academy will be mobilized to engage in a decisive battle with the Honkai forces in Changkong City ahead of schedule. Whether this battle can rescue Theresa is another matter. Theresa, whose fate is unknown, may even be killed by the aftershocks during the battle between the Hyperion and [Honkai Crushing]... The Hyperion's powerful energy cannot escape the perception of [Title] Honkai Beasts. Therefore, once the Hyperion penetrates deep into Changkong City, it will be almost like a package delivered to their door.

Without deploying the Hyperion, simply sending a large number of personnel for infiltration search and rescue is impossible. A large number of personnel would also mean a larger contact area, greatly increasing the possibility of engaging in combat with the Honkai forces. Any resulting unforeseen incidents would be uncontrollable. Moreover, the location of the "Oath of Judah" is deep within Changkong City—the source of this Honkai outbreak, "Chiba Academy." By the time the search team arrives on foot, Theresa will likely already be dead…

Actually, there is a third way: abandon Theresa, seek help and reinforcements from headquarters, and truly turn St. Freya Academy into a branch of headquarters in order to resist the Honkai army that will soon attack under the command of the Herrschers.

But this is obviously even more impossible; neither Himeko, Kōhō, nor anyone else in the academy would stand by and watch such a thing happen.

The more Keng Huo thought about it, the more he felt that Himeko's purpose might have been to persuade him to save Theresa from the very beginning...

"This is so troublesome... Let's be frank, just tell me your plan..." Keng Huo didn't really want to think anymore. He had overused his brain a few days ago and now he just wanted to be a lazy bum who didn't need to think.

"We'll pilot the Hyperion to the outskirts of Long Sky City, then send a core squad with you in an escape pod to airdrop into the mid-range area... If you're a skilled pilot, you might be able to go even further..."

Keng Huo took a deep breath and slowly said, "I have a better suggestion, would you like to hear it?"

"?" A hint of confusion appeared on Himeko's face.

"I'm not used to working with others. If I were to go, I could do it all by myself."

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"You only brought this little bit of stuff?" Himeko stared suspiciously at Keng Huo, who had swiftly returned to his dorm, donned his gear, and arrived at the hub port in just ten minutes. "That's a major Honkai disaster area. The number of suicide soldiers and the strength of the Honkai beasts in the center of Changkong City are incomparable to those in ordinary areas..."

The Keng Huo before her was not just poorly equipped, he was practically going out for a stroll. The only weapon he carried was the composite scalpel she had prepared beforehand, and his clothes were a tracksuit that practically blinded Himeko... Himeko didn't dare look any further, for fear of seeing Keng Huo wearing slippers...

"Please, I'm going to do infiltration, not go on a rampage..." Keng Huo waved his hand dismissively, "So you expect me to bring a cannon barrel?"

Having barely managed to suppress the urge to throw Keng Huo away, Himeko finally managed to utter a single sentence: "...It's best to be careful in everything."

"Relax, relax, I'm better at infiltration than you are," Keng Huo said, completely ignoring Himeko's words and instead looking at the Hyperion's interior with great interest. "Speaking of which, this is my first time boarding a ship, and I didn't expect to be a rescue team member instead of the captain... Wait, wasn't I supposed to be a trainee captain?!"

Himeko selectively ignored his words.

"There's someone I think you should meet." As the elevator ascended, Himeko said something meaningful, "I hope you won't get too excited when you meet her..."

"Who is it? Britney Spears?" Keng Huo absentmindedly picked at his ear, as if what he was about to do was not to infiltrate the dangerous Honkai Zone but to get a scrub.

"...It's the warship's AI, an AI system independently developed by the Schicksal headquarters..." Himeko carefully chose her words, "But its appearance...can you promise you won't get too excited later?"

"Beautiful as an angel or just as pretty as a flower?" Keng Huo blew the earwax off his fingertip. "Don't worry, my heart is as still as water. I can't possibly be tempted by mere beauty... Wait, you don't mean to say this AI looks like a tentacle monster, do you? If that's the case, I think I'd better avoid it a bit..."

Chapter Seventy-Six: I am... your brother...

"Captain on the bridge." But before Keng Huo could finish his complaint, a clear electronic female voice suddenly rang out, the elevator doors slowly opened, and the scene presented in front of Keng Huo instantly captured his attention.

"Wow, this is so cool! Will I be working in a place like this from now on?!" Keng Huo practically pounced on the captain's console, rubbing his face against the smooth crystal screen. "Warships! Cannons! The solitary yet strong figure on the bridge at dusk, that's the romance of a man!"

Keng Huo's loud shouts clearly attracted the attention of the drivers who were already in position, and in an instant, dozens of eyes were focused on him.

Himeko gritted her teeth and dragged the shameful guy off the crystal screen, but the guy, still struggling desperately, cried out, "Let me touch you just once more... just once..."

"Raise the isolation barrier..." Himeko's intuition told her that if things continued like this, the departure time would probably be delayed even further. She grabbed Keng Huo by the back of his collar with one hand and threw him behind her. "Hyperion, set sail. Destination: Changkong City. Reach it at top speed. Stop locations: A481.59, Z295.11, G231.25."

Keng Huo flew only halfway through the air before crashing into a newly risen transparent crystal plate. It stuck to the plate and slowly slid down, leaving a long mark like jelly that had been slapped against a wall.

This device is designed to isolate the captain, creating an absolutely quiet, soundproof environment for him to think strategically. Communication between the captain, the pilot, the fire controller, and other staff is conducted via text messages, as reading information is at least three to four times more efficient than speaking. During actual combat, this isolation panel also provides some protection.

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"Warship AI Ai-chan reporting!" Suddenly, a 3D projection quickly solidified on the side of the crystal screen, and a little girl with emerald green hair appeared in mid-air, holding a shorthand tablet and a pen in her arms, and winked playfully at Himeko.

Himeko's pupils contracted sharply, and her heart seemed to skip a beat. Before she could react, a gust of wind swept past her, and Keng Huo almost forcefully pushed her aside with a strength that was not that of an ordinary person.

Keng Huo's eyes widened, his hands gripping the 3D projection as if trying to grab the other's shoulders, but he could only grasp at air. The 3D projection rippled as if disturbed by a pebble.

The warship AI seemed startled. The 3D projection suddenly shrank, making it appear as if she had suddenly disappeared. A wall was projected beside her in 3D, and the warship AI, in a very human-like manner, shrank behind the wall, peeking out a small head in fear. Her big, nervous eyes stared intently at Keng Huo, as if she were looking at a mental patient.

"Elisa! What are you doing here!" Keng Huo's expression was a mix of shock, joy, or both. He stammered, "Where are you? Is this a projection? Are you at St. Freya Academy? I'm coming to find you now, why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"Captain...who is this perverted old man?" Keng Huo's behavior seemed to have greatly disturbed the warship's AI. A look of terror slowly appeared on the 3D projection's face. Not only did it turn into a chibi version, but a layer of goosebumps also appeared on its body in a very cartoonish way. It trembled and shrank behind the wall.

“It’s me! Keng Huo! I am…” Keng Huo kept reaching out to try to grab the 3D projection, but the 3D projection was running all over the bridge, making a racket and preventing Keng Huo from grabbing it. Keng Huo was so anxious that he almost had to stand on the crystal screen.

“I am…I am your brother! Don’t you recognize me? Elisa! It’s me! Keng Huo!”

"What Alisa! Ai-chan doesn't even know you! Get lost, you pervert!" Ai-chan's 3D projection seemed to have nowhere to go and flew behind Himeko to hide. Through Himeko's body, all that could be seen were two cabbage-like buns trembling. "Captain!! Save Ai-chan! Ai-chan is going to be captured by that weird old man and made into boiled cabbage and eaten!"