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

"Use your own hands to push this ugly world toward destruction!"

"This is your inescapable fate, this is your true destiny!"

"Yae Sakura!"

……

Theresa slowly woke up from her sleep, raising one hand to gently rub her temples. A slight headache made it difficult for her to concentrate.

"It's so cold... Strange... Why can't I remember again..." Theresa muttered, lifting her blanket and trying to get out of bed. "I seem to have been having the same dream for the past few days, but why... can't I remember what I dreamt about..."

But her knees buckled, and she collapsed helplessly to the ground as if she could no longer control her body.

Behind her, the stigmata composed of three tomoe was emitting a light that was clearly visible even in the bright morning sunlight.

"What?! You said Theresa fainted?" Kiana was terrified by the sudden news. "Wasn't her previous medical checkup fine, with no hidden problems?"

"Keep quiet in the infirmary, you idiot." Bronya placed her hands on the bedside and gave Kiana a sideways look as if she were a moron.

"But what exactly happened..." Mei frowned, equally puzzled. "Bronya, what did the medical staff say?"

Bronya took out her personal data terminal, whose program was directly connected to the medical equipment monitoring Theresa's physical condition: "Based on preliminary analysis, the cause should be the stigma on the headmistress's back."

"The essence of the Holy Mark can be seen, to some extent, as a database that records a vast amount of genetic information. This genetic information records everything about the Holy Mark's owner... everything you can imagine, in the truest sense..."

Bronya zoomed in on the scanned image of the stigmata and pulled up the real-time monitoring data: "At this moment, a large amount of abnormal information flow was detected in the stigmata on the headmistress's back, which is conflicting with the information flow in the headmistress's own consciousness, and what's even more serious is..."

"Are you familiar with rejection? It was once a difficult problem to solve in medical history. It's an inevitable result of foreign tissue entering an immune-active host; it's an immune process. We can use immunosuppressants to reduce or eliminate rejection. In other words, after a recipient of an allogeneic organ transplant undergoes a transplant of their own tissue or organ, the foreign tissue or organ is recognized as a 'foreign component' by the recipient's immune system, which then launches an immunological response to attack, destroy, and eliminate the transplant. The mechanisms of rejection mainly include cellular immunity and humoral immunity..."

"Stop, stop, get to the point! What exactly happened?!" Kiana yelled, clutching her head, as if she were listening to gibberish.

"Ultimately, Theresa's body perceives the Stigmata, which carries a large number of genes different from her own, as an external invader, marking it as something equivalent to a virus. Her body is resisting... or rather, trying to kill the Stigmata." At some point, Keng Huo had pushed his wheelchair up behind the three of them and said to them with a serious expression.

“…That’s right, the headmistress is probably struggling with that abnormal information flow right now, but at the same time, she’s experiencing organ rejection…” Bronya unconsciously fiddled with the ends of her hair, as if searching for a way to alleviate her unease and anxiety.

"Is Theresa in danger?!" Kiana exclaimed, still clutching her head in panic. "Could she become a vegetable?"

“It’s even more dangerous than becoming a vegetable…” Keng Huo chimed in, pushing his wheelchair to the other side of the bed and meeting the gazes of the three. “The defeat in the battle of consciousness streams will cause spiritual death. At the same time, the loss of consciousness will cause the body to lose its autonomy. At that time, the other consciousness stream within the Holy Mark will…”

"A cuckoo taking over someone else's nest..." Mei looked at Keng Huo in disbelief, "Could it be..."

“That’s right, that pseudo-Herrscher named Yae Sakura will be resurrected using Theresa’s body…” Keng Huo lowered his head, his wispy bangs obscuring his cold gaze fixed on Theresa. He whispered the last part of his sentence in a voice only he could hear, “Is this your purpose… Yae Sakura… But why…”

"Why have I never heard of such a thing before? Aren't Valkyries supposed to undergo Stigmata modification? Why..."

“The artificial stigmata of Destiny will be slightly adjusted according to the host’s own physical qualities, and this phenomenon rarely occurs. But the stigmata on Theresa’s back is a natural stigmata, which has not been adjusted in any way… It is not a stigmata that belongs to her…” Keng Huo sighed, feeling that the situation at this moment was somewhat complicated.

"So what should we do now?" Mei held Kiana back, who was on the verge of going berserk, and stared intently at Keng Huo. In her mind, Keng Huo always seemed to be able to find strange and wonderful ways to solve problems when faced with difficulties.

"...I don't know. This world isn't a computer game; there are no strategy guides. All we have are chances..." Keng Huo shook his head. "We can only try the most likely method..."

“If we can enter her consciousness and help her overcome the abnormal stream of consciousness within the Stigmata, suppressing or eliminating the stream of consciousness that is trying to seize control of her body, we will have solved the most pressing problem... As for the transplant rejection…” Keng Huo sighed, “Let’s leave that to the medical staff… Hopefully, they can resolve it before things get to the worst point…”

"Consciousness? That's such an ethereal thing, how can we possibly grasp it!" Kiana clutched her hair, as if she couldn't accept the reality before her.

“Bronya…maybe there’s a way…” Bronya, who had been silent until now, suddenly made a startling statement. The heavily armored bunny behind her appeared out of thin air, along with four metal helmets that clattered to the ground behind her.

"This looks familiar..." Kiana looked at the four Homu-shaped helmets with some suspicion. "Isn't this... something-or-other connecting device?"

“It’s the Houmu Virtual Reality Connection Device,” Bronya corrected. “Ultimately, virtual reality connection technology captures the user’s brainwaves, converts them into electronic signals, and then transmits and transfers them into different immersive virtual scenarios. Consciousness, from a scientific perspective, is manifested through fluctuations in brainwaves… If we use it to convert our own brainwaves into electronic signals, and then connect these four helmets to convert the headmistress’s current consciousness into electronic signals… that is, her brainwaves, and then use her helmet as the host, perhaps we can…”

"Infiltrating Theresa's consciousness?!" Kiana was utterly shocked. "Is that even possible?"

“That’s exactly how it works.” Bronya glanced at Kiana, as if expressing her displeasure at being interrupted.

“…Okay.” After a moment’s thought, Keng Huo surprisingly agreed to the solution. “Although it sounds a bit frivolous, it is indeed a method worth trying. Even if we spend more time thinking and might come up with a better solution, the time wasted in the process is irreversible…”

"Then it's decided." The three people opposite had already put on their virtual reality connection devices, and even Theresa's head was properly covered with a helmet. "Then I'll leave it to you, Teacher Keng."

"Huh? Wait! Where's my virtual reality connection device?"

"...You're just an ordinary person, you shouldn't get involved in the Valkyries' operations, it's too dangerous..." Kiana kindly advised, "We're going to war..."

"But this is a battle of wills! Let me tell you, my will is incredibly strong. With my imagination entering the consciousness space, wouldn't I be able to kill gods and Buddhas if they couldn't stop me? With a wave of my hand, I could create 100,000 heavenly soldiers and generals and 100,000 Sun Wukongs to crush that holy consciousness into dust, don't you understand?"

“Rejected,” Bronya’s heavily armed bunny extended a finger, shooting out a weak laser that sliced ​​open the outer shell of the device Theresa was wearing, revealing the complex circuitry and chips inside. “The virtual reality connection device has a security lock… The security lock prevents the user’s entire consciousness from entering the device, preventing the body from mistakenly believing it has died due to the realism of death in virtual reality, thus causing a synchronized bodily reaction… Bronya must deactivate this security lock to ensure that our consciousness infiltration operation is truly effective. If someone really dies inside, Teacher Keng, you will die too.”

"Didn't I already tell you? My willpower is incredibly strong..."

"...Please don't confuse a vivid imagination with a strong will." Heavy Bunny's fingertips unfurled several energy-state lines, connecting like spiraling genes to the chip on Theresa's helmet. This was Bronya rewriting the core program of the virtual reality connection device. "Besides, Teacher Keng has more important things to do..."

“When we infiltrate the principal’s consciousness, our bodies are immobile and unable to react to anything in the outside world; that is to say, even if there is danger in the outside world, our consciousness in Theresa’s dream will not be aware of it, so… Teacher Keng, this is when your importance is demonstrated…”

"So you want me to protect you from accidents..." Keng Huo shook his head. "Oh, I knew you couldn't do without me..."

"Please, Teacher Keng, tie up the principal carefully, and after you've finished this task, tie yourself up as well, making sure you can't move at all. Thank you."

"Hey! Is that how you all see your teacher?! You all better go and memorize the 'Standards for Being a Good Student and Child'!"

“Link start…”

"..." Keng Huo stared speechlessly at the three Valkyries opposite him who had all entered silent mode, and for a moment he didn't know what to say.

Keng Huo looked up at the sky and sighed, "I'm really not the kind of pervert who would take advantage of you while you're unconscious..."

After a long sigh, and seeing that Bronya was indeed not making any unusual movements, he slowly withdrew from his position: "No way? He really went in?"

According to Keng Huo's deduction, the slightly cunning Bronya was probably waiting for him to make a move on them so she would suddenly wake up and tell him that they hadn't even entered his consciousness space... but now it seems...

Keng Huo poked Bronya's soft little face with some confusion, then jerked the wheelchair lever backward. Only after confirming that the Heavy Bunny hadn't suddenly appeared and blasted him into near-space orbit did he feel relieved and boldly...

He stood up from his wheelchair.

"Hmph..." A sinister smile, like that of Hu Hansan, appeared on Keng Huo's face, and a sturdy rope had somehow appeared in his hand. "So what if you have Judas? You think you're so great...? I, Hu Hansan, will take it all back today, with interest, and tie you up so badly your own mother won't recognize you..."

But suddenly, Keng Huo swung the rope in his hand forward, blocking the opponent's claw attack, and at the same time, he nimbly leaped backward, dodging Theresa's fierce pounce that she was determined to win.

"Holy crap, so you guys were ganging up on me..." Keng Huo swallowed his words halfway through, no longer having time to joke around, because he couldn't help but take Theresa seriously.

What was brewing in Theresa's eyes... was a real, tangible killing intent.

Countless possibilities flashed through Keng Huo's mind in an instant, including Otto's order and Theresa's sudden betrayal, but he rejected all of these inferences one by one, until only one possibility remained.

Theresa's current situation is probably worse than he imagined. She is likely at a complete disadvantage in the battle of consciousness. The consciousness in that Stigmata can not only suppress Theresa in the consciousness space, but can even distract and control her body!

"Yae Sakura, huh... You've got a good plan..." Keng Huo stretched his arms, the bones creaking as they rubbed together. "Luckily, I was one step ahead and prepared..."

However, at this moment, Theresa was like a mindless beast, walking slowly on all fours in the small ward, her eyes blazing with predatory killing intent as she scrutinized Keng Huo from head to toe.

Keng Huo's left leg lightly touched the ground, while his entire weight was on his right leg. He subtly twisted his left leg, as if adjusting a misaligned tendon.

But Theresa, who was under control, seized the opportunity, suddenly opened her mouth, revealing four canine teeth that had exceeded the limits of human growth, and lunged at Keng Huo's left leg.

"Intelligence level beast..." A look of relief flashed in Keng Huo's eyes. His left leg suddenly twitched, turning into a phantom. He suddenly exerted force and stepped out of Theresa's attack path. His right hand skimmed the water like a dragonfly, his two fingers like a gun, making a sound of tearing through the air. He attacked Theresa's back with lightning speed.

But Theresa, in her frenzied state, reacted quickly. Her body twisted in mid-air with incredible flexibility, bending into a V-shape like a bent spoon, dodging Keng Huo's counterattack. She then flipped over in mid-air and landed on the hospital bed, lunging at Keng Huo once again.

Keng Huo had anticipated this, and without any regard for his image, he rolled over lazily, barely brushing past Theresa's body.

"Thump—" A dull sound came from where Keng Huo had just been standing.

Keng Huo stared in utter shock at Theresa, whose face was pressed intimately against the wall; the astonishment in his heart was beyond words.

"Are you here to act cute?" Even with the battle raging, Keng Huo couldn't help but want to make a sarcastic remark.

Theresa slid down against the wall, shaking her head groggily. The virtual reality connection device loosened slightly from the shaking, revealing a glimpse of pink, cherry blossom-like hair...

A pair of animal ears that looked very familiar.

Theresa seemed to realize only then that she was wearing something that greatly affected her balance on her head, and she impatiently reached out to grab it and tossed it aside.

Keng Huo suddenly realized a serious fact.

Bronya and the others... are still in Theresa's consciousness space!

If their consciousness transfer is complete... they should be...

Keng Huo glanced hopefully at the motionless Kiana and the other two, only to find that they showed no signs of waking up, and his heart sank.

"So, those three are now... trapped inside your body...?" Keng Huo subtly flexed his wrist, his eyes gradually sharpening, like two ferocious beasts locked in a deadly battle within a cage. "While I have indeed become stronger, this unexpected turn of events is troublesome..."

Theresa, who had returned to her beast-like four-legged walking state, stood motionless in confrontation with Keng Huo. Although she did not launch any further attacks, the canine teeth revealed in the corners of her mouth showed that she could not suppress her desire to attack.

As if declaring war, Theresa's hair stood on end, her facial muscles contorted into a ferocious and menacing expression, and she unleashed a piercing roar that could be heard throughout the entire floor, proclaiming her hostility.

"Waaaaah!"

"???"

Guess how a fox sounds? We searched through many videos and even found audio recordings on Guokr (a Chinese science website), and finally determined the sound of a fox...

The next two chapters or so will explain Keng Huo's current physical condition and the reasons behind it, because the next one or two chapters will need to shift the focus to the dream world.

Chapter Ninety-Three: The Great Rampage of the Consciousness Space

Mei felt as if she had passed through an indescribable barrier in a daze, and when she came to her senses, she was in a completely unfamiliar environment.

"Is this Theresa's consciousness space...?" Mei looked around in surprise. "Why... are all these ancient buildings from the Far East...?"

At this moment, Mei landed on a high platform surrounded by a burning ancient village. Collapsed houses, blackened beams, and blood-soaked corpses filled almost every place where one could stand.

"What's going on?" Kiana's equally surprised voice came from beside her.

Mei turned around and saw Kiana dressed as a country girl. She was immediately shocked. As if she sensed something, she looked down at her clothes and found that her clothes had somehow turned into a set of clothes similar to samurai armor.

However, this armor is slightly different from normal great armor. Instead, it is more similar to the domaru. Its main body is not covered by armor, but only by a waist belt made of rattan armor and arm coverings on both arms.

Mei stared in surprise at her attire. This inexplicable change made her feel uneasy. Apart from her usual scalpel being quietly tied around her waist, she was dressed completely differently from when she entered.

"Shouldn't simple thought extraction assume that it will extract the intruder's clothing? Why is it turning out like this?"

“Bronya can’t figure it out.” Bronya’s calm voice seemed to carry a hint of confusion. She looked at her white robe, plain and unadorned, with white, unadorned finger rings. “This is… a hunting robe? It seems so…”

"It looks like a plain outfit... no, what you're wearing looks more like... Shinto abstinence clothes?" Mei looked at Bronya's clothing in surprise, her mind a little slow to process what she was seeing.

"Clean clothes?" Kiana was clearly unfamiliar with this term.

"To put it simply... it's the attire of an Onmyoji..." Mei placed her hand on the hilt of her sword, looking around warily.

"Wait! That's... Kallen?!" Kiana suddenly exclaimed, as if she had discovered something, and ran down from the platform to help up a figure that had fallen below.

The figure being helped up was dressed in a nun's habit that seemed out of place with her surroundings; her white hair and blue eyes clearly indicated that she was white.