[HI3] Protocol Stigmata

Chapter 51 - Caged Butterfly

With each blast narrowly missing me, I closed the distance between us, Dodging and weaving through the onslaught of attacks, I focused on getting close enough to strike.

As I approached Kika, I could feel the intensity of her gaze.

She's serious!

I swung my sword towards her, aiming to catch her off guard.

But Kika was quick to react, deflecting my attack with her own blade.

The clash echoed through the corridor, the sound of metal against metal reverberating around us.

"Is that all you've got?" Kika said.

I gritted my teeth, pushing myself to keep fighting.

"Oi...! The battle just started!" Just as I prepared to engage in close combat, Kika suddenly disappeared from her position.

Huh!? She... vanished!?

"Behind you!" Tsurugi's warning echoed in my mind.

I swiftly turned around just in time to see Kika closing in, her cannons primed and ready to fire. "We're finished."

I braced myself, raising my sword to block the onslaught. The force of the impact sent shockwaves reverberating through my body. "That ends everything, Shin. Give up here and–"

To her surprise, when the smoke cleared, I was still standing, my sword held steady in front of me. "Huh!? You... managed to block that?!"

"Haha... I guess luck was on my side," I chuckled, relief flooding through me.

Kika, taken aback by my resilience, stared at me in disbelief. "Unbelievable."

"Kid! Stay focused!"

"You don't have to say that again!"

"Cannon... Switch to lasers," Kika commanded.

Her turrets transformed into laser cannons, and she drew her handgun from her waist, pointing it directly at me. "Now, I'm getting serious."

I closed the distance between us in an instant, catching her off guard.

For a fleeting moment, our eyes met before I spun around, aiming a kick at her back.

She reacted quickly, using her turrets to block my attack.

But I didn't relent. I pressed forward, engaging her in close combat, delivering rapid strikes and slashes while she attempted to keep her distance.

"He's fast!" Kika thought to herself, trying to evade my onslaught. "But I won't let him get any closer!"

She deftly maneuvered between my attacks, using her weapons to parry and create distance between us.

She's keeping up despite my speed?!

I grinned as I clashed with her, impressed by her skill. She is truly an S-Rank Valkyrie.

"Hey..."

Suddenly, she vanished from my sight.

"Where do you think you're attacking?" her voice echoed around me.

I swiftly turned around, just in time to see incoming lasers.

Ducking to the ground, I narrowly avoided them, feeling the heat graze my hair.

"Ugh... That was too close..."

I almost became bald.

"Shin," Kika glared at me.

"What?" I met her gaze with equal intensity.

"I noticed something just now."

"What kind of discovery have you made?"

"It's irritating me... You're not taking this seriously. Major Himeko gave you 10 minutes, right? And yet, you're only swinging your sword."

"Kika."

She fell silent, waiting for my response.

"I was wondering... Are you just following orders?" I thrust my blade into the ground and knelt down.

"Yes."

"Then... Does that mean you don't really care about Kiana... at all?"

"Orders are orders... Orders are absolute."

"Heh... Starting to sound like an A.I., aren't you?" I stood up, taking a deep breath. "I've got my answer."

I vanished from my previous position, leaving Kika bewildered as she scanned the area.

"What!? Where did he–"

"Right behind you."

Kika whirled around, realizing too late that she had been deceived.

"Huh!?"

I swiftly grabbed her head and forced her to the ground. "Kika, those who break the rules are scum, but those who abandon their friends are worse than scum... Remember that."

"Shin...!" Her turrets pivoted toward me, unleashing a barrage of fire as she teleported away from the ground, continuing to shoot while facing toward me.

I deflected and parried the laser bullets with precision.

"I'll eradicate you from this world...!" Her turrets began to glow brightly. "100%... Fire!" A massive beam of energy surged toward me.

"Kid...! Evade it!" Tsurugi warned through my mind.

"Hahh..." I assumed a stance, honkai energy enveloping my body. "One-Blade Sakura.."

"This kid...! When did he learn to manipulate his honkai energy like this?" Tsurugi mused within my mind. "By amassing all his physical vigor and stamina, and ignoring his survival instincts, he can unleash his full power. Then, with Doubling Physical Powers, he magnifies it, granting him tremendous strength." Tsurugi chuckled. "You and your brother..."

"He disappeared again!" Kika exclaimed, scanning the area frantically.

"Sorry, Kika... But right now, I have to rush and help Kiana."

"Shin!?" I swiftly incapacitated her with a blow to the back of her neck, causing her to slump to the ground, unconscious.

"I feel sorry for you, always bound by orders," I murmured, thinking of Kika's strict adherence to directives. Like a caged butterfly unable to spread its wings.

With a sigh, I hurried over to Himeko, who was perched atop the head of the mecha. "Are you finished, Shin?"

I nodded, determination coursing through me.

Himeko smiled. "Let's go, then."

"Roger that!"

"That took 7 minutes, by the way," Himeko's playful tone belied the urgency of our situation.

"You were actually counting on that, Major Himeko?!"

"Heehee~ Of course~ But really... We should go now."

Just then, a communication hologram materialized in front of Himeko as we continued our rush.

"Himeko! Where are you right now!?" Theresa's urgent voice echoed from the hologram.

"We're heading back to the Helios."

"Be quick! There are too many Honkai beasts!"

"What do you mean!?" Himeko's brows furrowed in concern.

"The increased Honkai energy within Kiana has awakened the Herrscher of the Void from within and summoned many Honkai beasts, including the Judgment-class Honkai Dragon, Benares, which has awoken from its slumber within the ruins of the 2nd Honkai Eruption."

"Benares," Himeko repeated gravely, her gaze turning to me. "Shin, double time now!"

I nodded in understanding as we accelerated our pace, urgency driving us forward.