Honkai Impact 3rd AU: The Runic Anomaly

***

By day six, progress on Earth was steady. Vill was nearing completion of the ARK ship, and Hua's new suit had just been finished, ready for deployment once Mei completed Project SWARA. 

She along with Aurora managed to create a shell that could house the 5ths core, it wasn't harnessable just yet, but they were getting there.

Felis and Kosma had both gone through their MANTIS surgeries. The process was smooth and simple, and after their Honkai fusion, as expected, both gained different traits. 

Kosma ended up with pointed ears like an elf, four black and orange horns with two on the front and back of his head. 

The honkai beast he had fused with was Vishnu, the same one Thor did, but their traits were clearly very different, Mobius and Mei did try to give a theory as to why, but were stumped with so little data.

Felis however, gained a cat-like tail with a Honkai beast looking tip, she also gained two cat ears above her head, and from her own experience she said that the ears themselves made her ability to hear and balance stronger and that while sensitive she can sort of toggle them off and use the normal human ears. She had fused with

Kalpas hadn't had his surgery yet, mostly because the highest compatibility he had with a beast was 82% and that was not enough for them to risk it.

Other than these events, not much had really happened, the group that were training during this time didn't grow much, but Felis and Kosma did have to join them and the two were slowly getting used to their new abilities as MANTIS.

***

By the end of the week, the same day Thor and Aponia were to return, their worst fear appeared.

***ALERT, ALERT, HONKAI ENERGY CRITICAL***

***HERRSCHER IMMINENT–***

The 6th had appeared, and Thor was off-world, meaning their strongest combatants were Aurora, Kevin and Elysia in that order.

"Shit!" Mei was swarmed with pop ups of Honkai outbreaks, pings from the satellite and constant calls for reinforcements and logistics.

[Where are we Mei?] Kevin said through his earpiece as he was already on the field.

Mei looked left to Su, he nodded and got the information from the satellite,

"The Herrscher appeared over Paris!" Su shouted, he put a live broadcast up onto the main screen.

***

[Did you get that Kevin? Paris.]

"Got it Mei." Kevin lowered his hand from his ear as he looked at the team before him.

Aurora, Elysia, Eden, Sakura, Kalpas and Mobius. Felis and Kosma were sent with Hua and Himeko's teams, and were each to lead a Regiment of ELFs while Einstein and Vill took field command.

"The 6th appeared over Paris, its best we assume the entire city has fallen already." Kevin noticed Aurora clench her fists. Many of the others also did so, he could even feel Kalpas's anger behind his mask.

"Neither Thor or Aponia is with us for this, we're on our own in this battle." Kevin paused and only the low hum of the VTOL's engine and clanking of chains were heard.

Elysia, whose face was devoid of her usual playful nature then came up next to Kevin to address how they'll function, "Me, Kevin and Aurora will be the main force against the Herrscher." Kevin and Aurora voiced their acknowledgement.

"Next, Eden and Mobius will keep other Honkai off us as well as dealing with any that slip past Sakura and Kalpas who will be dealing with the brunt of the Honkai beasts. While Kalpas can't take on any Judgement-Class if they appear, Sakura is more than capable to pick up the slack…" 

While Elysia was briefing them, the pilot called out from the cockpit, "ETA 90 Seconds!"

The group hardened themselves both mentally and physically, they either beat the Herrscher here or Earth falls.

***

Three days earlier at the edge of the universe -

The woman bent her body backwards as his blade passed over her, her eyes flickered as a black tendril attempted to wrap itself around the blade but Thor pulled back and vanished appearing hundreds of metres away.

His eyes dropped to his hip, blood, she'd landed a hit on him at the same time he attacked her despite him having the element of surprise.

"You sure you don't want to talk it out?" He asked, despite knowing the answer.

The woman froze, but then she smiled creepily. "Talk? Yeah, we can talk…When I'm feasting on your flesh." She salivated while looking at him.

Thor frowned, 'Just great, she thinks I'm food now.' He sighed internally and focused back onto her. "You got a name?"

"Jyahnar." She said with glee.

"Not a Herrscher?" Whether or not that is better, Thor couldn't say. But what he did know is that he should end her as soon as possible. His form flickered once more.

Jyahnar held her hand outwards as tendrils wrapped and merged together forming a blackened blade of similar shape to Thor's own blade.

She raised it upwards as Thor's form reappeared and he swung his blade down, their weapons colliding as space ripples around them. Jyahnar is flung back hundreds of kilometres and Thor gives chase, a pink Honkai aura bursts from his body and he launches himself towards her.

Aponia meanwhile gazed at Thor's chase as the tendrils that surrounded the train and her barrier dispersed and all she could see and feel was flash of lights and ripples from their clash.

Deciding to protect the train as she knows she doesn't have the strength nor will to interfere in the conflict, but protecting the train from the elements is something she can do.

…

"Ghhhkk–" Thor thrusts his fist into Jyahnar's stomach, she hunches over and spits saliva, Thor taking advantage imbues his authority of death into his fist and digs deeper before Jyahnar is hurled towards a nearby asteroid.

As Jyahnar impacts the asteroid, it explodes as debris is sent flying, she regains herself just as Thor appears with his blade coated in an ominous black aura.

Quickly she brings forth absurd amounts of Honkai and forces it out creating a wall of energy, but Thor's blade cuts right through it, the tip of his blade just barely scratching her neck.

Launching herself back, she stares at Thor, not knowing whether to feel hate and anger or joy and ecstasy.

Her body already made its response, her smile twisted, Tendrils wrapped themselves around her body, enhancing her further.

Her power skyrockets and swirl portals of darkness surround her.

"More!" She jolts forward and charges at Thor's incoming form, meeting him in the middle, she glides over his blade and twists her body, flaying her arm out as her tendril acts as a whip striking Thor's cheek.

A devastating explosion of Honkai erupts at the point of contact and Thor is flung down to the planet below them.

***

Earth -

"Kekeke~ So many little toys to play with." The Herrscher released a thick black mist onto the city below.

People panicked and chaos ensued as everything started to slowly disintegrate into dust. Anarchy, people screamed as their bodies disintegrated as the Herrscher laughed.

"HAHAHA! It's like music to my ears~" Laughing maniacally, Honkai appeared in droves as the people that survived were hunted and killed in the thousands each minute.

Not too long later and the city has been completely turned into a land of death, "Oh, done already~? How disappointing~ Kekeke," With nothing left to do here she set her sights on another city as she ordered her army of Honkai to spread and wreak havoc in any way they can. "Now where do I go next?"

She felt a dense spot full of life not too far eastward. "Perfect." As the Herrscher vanishes headed for another city a VTOL arrives minutes later as 2 figures drop from it.

–BOOM–

The ground shook as the two landed and immediately got to work trying to contain the fleeing (To them) Honkai beasts. Sakura dashed off with immense speed quickly slaying any beast in her path.

Kalpas's aura exploded as he charged the larger Honkai like a rabid beast. "DIIIIEEE!!"

–DOOM– –CRASH– –BOOM–

With Kalpas and Sakura trying to contain the beasts, the VTOL sped off following the direction the Herrscher headed.

***