Chapter 8:

The air inside the building was still thick with dust and tension, though it wasn't from any nearby Honkai beasts—it was from the two girls currently glaring daggers at each other.

"I swear if you call me 'idiot subject' one more time, I'm gonna—!" Kiana pointed furiously at Bronya, who simply stood there, arms crossed, wearing the same emotionless expression as always.

"Bronya merely states the truth," the gray-haired girl replied in her usual flat tone. "Idiotka becomes angry when confronted with reality. Perhaps idiotka prefers denial?"

"Y-You—! Says the one who talks in third person like some weird narrator reject!" Kiana snapped back, her eye twitching.

"This is how Bronya identifies herself. Unlike certain people who loudly insist they are not idiots while continuously proving otherwise."

Kiana's face turned red—not from embarrassment, but pure rage. She rolled up her sleeves. "Okay, that's it! Square up, bratnya!"

Mei, standing awkwardly nearby, looked between the two with concern... but also a bit of amusement. She sighed, rubbing her temple.

"Please, both of you—calm down," she said gently. "We don't want to make too much noise. The monster might hear us."

Bronya, ever composed, nodded immediately. "As expected of someone Bronya acknowledges. May Bronya call you Mei-nee-sama?"

Before Mei could even react, a blur of white hair slid between them like a cat defending its territory.

"Don't you dare call her that!" Kiana growled, shielding Mei with her arms spread wide. "She's mine! I met her first! Grrr—!"

From an outside perspective, Kiana's aggressive posture and hiss-like growl made her look less like a valiant protector and more like a fluffy white cat trying to scare off a mailman.

Bronya tilted her head slightly, her mouth twitching into that now-familiar blank emoji smile. (ᗜ ˰ ᗜ)

"Bronya believes idiotka may have contracted rabies. Mei-nee-sama, Bronya recommends we place idiotka on a leash for safety."

"You little—! That's it! You're getting the full Kiana beatdown deluxe!"

"Bronya fears being taught anything by idiotka. Bronya is not prepared to experience the depths of intellectual regression that might follow."

Kiana lunged, Bronya nimbly stepped back, and Mei quickly stepped between them with both arms out.

"Enough, you two! We're in a warzone, not a kindergarten!" Mei said, her voice somewhere between exasperated and tired amusement.

Kiana huffed and pointed accusingly at Bronya. "I'm watching you, bratnya…"

Bronya merely adjusted her sleeves. "Bronya acknowledges idiotka's threat. Bronya is… deeply terrified."

(ᗜ ˰ ᗜ)

“You!” Kiana snapped again, sparks practically flying from her eyes—but then, with a dramatic inhale, she calmed herself and straightened her back like a dignified soldier.

“Hmph! I’m mature anyway, unlike the brat over there,” she declared, turning her nose up and standing tall infront Bronya. She even puffed out her chest, just a little—still modest compared to Mei’s, but hey, she was proud of it.

“I and Mei have something you don’t,” Kiana said confidently, smirking at Bronya like she’d just won a chess match in one move.

Bronya glanced down at her own flat chest, then back at Kiana with a perfectly flat expression.

“There is no need to flaunt something that doesn’t come with a functioning brain to support it,” Bronya said without missing a beat.

“Is that so?” Kiana said, lifting her chin and standing even taller, practically beaming with pride now.

Bronya’s eye twitched slightly—just a bit, but it was there.

“A-Ahem, Kiana,” Mei cut in, her cheeks pink with embarrassment. “It’s not really… proper to, um, boast about those kinds of things…”

“Eh? Why not?” Kiana blinked and looked over at her, genuinely confused. “It’s true though, right? Besides, they’ve got their own presence! Gotta respect the effort!”

Mei coughed into her fist, visibly flustered now. “B-Because… it’s inappropriate to just… randomly bring that up, especially in the middle of… of this.”

“Huh? Aren't we talking about our height?” Kiana tilted her head, scratching the back of it. “Now I’m confused.”

Mei blinked. “Eh?”

Bronya slowly facepalmed. “Sigh… what did Bronya expect from idiotka…”

A few minutes passed.

Earlier, Mei had asked Bronya the reason she’d pulled them back into the building so suddenly. Now, Bronya stood by the dusty window, her expression calm and analytical as ever.

“Bronya calculated that, within minutes of Mei-nee-sama and Idiotka stepping outside, a horde of Honkai beasts would have crossed the street. Estimated survival rate for both of you: near zero,” she said matter-of-factly, as if reading weather data.

Mei blinked, taking that in, then gave a small, sincere nod. “Thank you for saving us, Bronya.”

Bronya tilted her head slightly, the faintest hint of softness in her voice. “No problem. Bronya is already fortunate enough to meet Mei-nee-sama.”

Kiana stood silently between them, inching ever-so-subtly closer to Mei’s side while glaring at Bronya with narrowed eyes, her lips pulled into a pout of pure suspicion.

Bronya, of course, ignored her entirely.

“Why did you come to this city, Bronya?” Mei asked, brushing strands of dark hair behind her ear as her eyes met the girl’s.

Bronya didn’t respond right away. She looked out the window again, her gray eyes distant. “To be honest with Mei-nee-sama… Bronya is searching for Bronya’s sister. Seele.”

“I see.” Mei smiled warmly and stepped closer. She gently reached out and patted Bronya’s head. “I’m sure you’ll find her soon.”

Bronya froze, her eyes widening slightly—not from surprise, but from something warmer… something she wasn’t used to. She looked up at Mei as if seeing her for the first time.

Standing just to the side, Kiana twitched.

“Guh… only this time I’ll allow it,” she muttered through gritted teeth, looking like she was physically in pain—but it was all an act. The pain wasn’t real. Just jealousy.

Very dramatic, very Kiana.

Then suddenly, she threw herself in front of Mei with a wide, toothy grin. “Alright! It’s my turn now, Mei! I’m searching for my missing stinky dad too, y’know! Pat-pat me too!”

Mei chuckled softly. “Of course, Kiana too.” She reached out and gave her a warm head-pat.

“Hehehe~” Kiana grinned even wider, basking in the attention like a cat in sunlight.

Bronya looked at her, unimpressed. “Idiot.”

---------------------------

High above the ruins of Ensburn, seated atop the broad,  back of the massive Emperor-class Honkai Beast, Jyahnar lounged on her throne. Her blue eyes lazily scanned the city, bored yet expectant, her dark blue hair fluttering gently in the wind.

Suddenly, her gaze shifted toward on the city.

she felt it—an unnatural spike of concentrated energy radiating from somewhere in the city. It tugged at her senses like a whisper promising something exciting.

But just as she narrowed her eyes, preparing to focus her attention on it—

Bzzt.

A translucent digital display abruptly blinked into view in front of her eyes, interrupting her line of sight.

“Hm?” Jyahnar muttered, her voice low and amused.

The glowing interface displayed her current state:

[Name: Jyahnar (27%)]

 [Honkai Energy: 26748HW / 32763HW]

A slow, delighted grin spread across her face.

Her progression had jumped again—fast. Very fast.She tilted her head, tapping her finger lightly against the armrest of her throne.

“As expected…” she murmured. “Everything I’m doing right now… it’s the correct path.”

She let out a small chuckle, eyes gleaming with pride.

The strange surge of energy she'd felt earlier? Tempting, yes—but now it no longer held her attention. Whatever it was could wait. She had bigger moments to savor.

Jyahnar flicked her wrist dismissively.

“Let the lesser Honkai beasts handle that anomaly.”

Her eyes lifted again—this time, to the sky. A glint far off in the atmosphere. A human weapon, descending.

A nuclear missile.

The humans had made their choice.

Jyahnar leaned forward slightly, her smile widening into a manic grin, one leg crossed over the other with regal confidence.

“To think they still believe they can hurt me…”

She could already imagine it: the explosion, the fire, the light—and then, nothing but smoke. And from within the ash, she would rise, unscathed.

The terror on their faces. The hopelessness in their hearts.

The despair that even their strongest weapon could do nothing.

Just imagining it made her shiver with excitement.

“Ah… how beautiful that moment will be…”

And as her laughter echoed across the shattered city, the sky above began to rumble.

---------------------------------

Far from the devastated city, 

Theresa's voice erupted like a thunderclap, echoing through the chamber.

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT, GRANDPA?!”

She stood with fists clenched, her small frame trembling with frustration as she glared up at the tall blond man before her.

Otto Apocalypse, dressed impeccably as always, sighed and looked away, his expression pained—not by guilt, but by helplessness.

“Theresa… even if you yell at Grandpa,” he said gently, “I can’t stop it. The missile's already been launched.”

“Then why don’t you do what you always do?! Use one of your damn schemes!” she shouted, eyes glistening. “Manipulate them! Blackmail them! Anything!”

Otto coughed lightly, adjusting his glove. “That was politics. This time... it’s another country. Even we can’t interfere in their decisions when they think they’re ‘saving the world.’”

Theresa slammed a hand down on the table. “It’s a nuclear missile, Grandpa—not a water balloon! Kiana’s still in that city! She’ll—” Her voice cracked. “She will be caught in the blast.”

Otto’s eyes softened. He stepped forward and placed a hand gently on Theresa’s head.

“Calm down. Trust Grandpa,” he said with a faint smile. “Kiana and her friends will not die.”

Theresa stared up at him, searching his face for any trace of doubt. There was none.

“…I trust you,” she finally said, voice quieter, but determined. “But I’m not just sitting here. I’ll do everything I can too.”

With that, she turned sharply and left the room.

The door slid shut.

Otto remained still for a moment, watching the empty hallway.

Then, his smile vanished.

His emerald eyes turned cold—sharp like blades of green steel.

“…How dare they.”

He pulled a sleek black phone from his coat and spoke into it with calm fury.

“Amber. Connect me to the so-called president of this country.”

A second passed. Then a quiet, composed voice replied

“Understood, Overseer Otto.”

The line clicked open. Otto's expression remained unreadable.

But inside, the fire had been lit.

--------------------------------

Kiana swung her bat with a sharp crack, the bat connecting with a zombie’s head and sending it tumbling to the ground. She exhaled heavily, wiping a bit of sweat off her brow as she turned back toward the others.

Behind her, Bronya floated slightly above the pavement, effortlessly gliding forward, her expression as calm and unreadable as always. Mei ran close behind them, her eyes constantly scanning their surroundings.

“Bronya calculates that by taking this route, we will encounter fewer hordes of infected and lower-class monster,” Bronya said in her usual monotone, arms crossed as she hovered beside a rusted street sign.

“You say that like it's a walk in the park!” Kiana snapped, slamming her bat into another incoming infected. “And how the heck are you flying?! That’s so unfair!”

“This is simply part of Bronya's combat system. Is Subject Kiana... jealous?” Bronya tilted her head ever so slightly, a faint smirk threatening her usually blank face.

“Grrr! I’m not jealous!” Kiana growled.

Mei chuckled quietly, used to their banter by now. But then her brows furrowed as a strange sensation crawled over her skin—like static before a storm.

“Kiana, Bronya… let’s take cover for now. We’ve been running nonstop,” Mei suggested, her voice gentle but firm.

“If Mei-nee-sama says so, Bronya has no objections,” Bronya replied as she descended gracefully to the cracked pavement.

The trio quickly made their way into a nearby apartment building, its doors already slightly ajar. Inside, dust hung in the air, furniture still half-packed, a coffee cup sat on the kitchen counter as if its owner had just stepped out moments before the world ended.

Kiana was the first to relax. She did a quick sweep of the rooms, checking behind doors and under furniture. Once confident it was safe, her face lit up.

“Finally—a real bed!” she exclaimed, sprinting into the main bedroom and throwing herself face-first onto the soft mattress. “Ahhh, I could die happy right now!”

Mei stood in the doorway, watching her fondly, arms crossed with a small smile tugging at her lips. Bronya, meanwhile, scanned the living room with clinical precision before taking a seat on a modest gray sofa, adjusting the cushion beneath her with a tiny motion.

(A/n: nuh uh this my-.....)

(Bronya/note: The author has already been imprisoned by Bronya.)