Herrscher of The Sea

Before the chaos unfolded, aboard the warship, the air was calm, filled only with the rhythmic hum of engines and the occasional chatter of the crew.

The captain, a grizzled man with years of experience etched into his face, stood on the bridge, gazing out at the endless blue horizon. His thoughts drifted to home, to the family he hadn't seen in months. Turning to one of his crew members at the navigation console, he asked, "How many days before we arrive at our motherland?"

The young crewman glanced at his monitor, tapping a few buttons. "At this speed, about two more days, Captain."

The captain nodded, his lips curving into a rare smile. "That's good to hear."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, worn pendant. Inside was a picture of his wife and daughter, smiling warmly back at him. He stared at it for a moment, his fingers brushing over the glass. "Just two more days..." he thought, holding onto the hope of reuniting with them.

Suddenly, the calm was shattered.

"Captain!" one of the radar operators shouted, his voice tense with urgency. "Something is approaching our warship!"

The captain snapped his head up, his eyes narrowing as he strode over to the radar console. "What is it? A ship? A missile?"

The crewman's hands flew over the controls, his face pale. "I… I don't know, sir! It's moving too fast. It doesn't match anything in our database!"

The radar screen displayed a single red dot, hurtling toward them at an impossible speed. Then, just as suddenly as it appeared, it stopped—hovering, unmoving, as if watching them.

The bridge was silent, the tension thick. The captain's grip tightened on the pendant in his hand. Whatever it was, it wasn't friendly.

"All hands on alert!" he barked, his voice cutting through the silence. "Prepare for potential contact! Get me a visual on that thing now!"

But before anyone could respond, the ship shook violently, as though something enormous had descended upon it. Screams and alarms erupted, and the chaos began.

The screen flickered to life, showing a horrifying sight. A massive, silicone-based creature had appeared on the deck of the warship, it form towering over the terrified crew. Its wings radiated an eerie glow as it moved with terrifying precision, striking down anyone who dared to approach.

Chaos erupted as the crew on the deck scrambled to defend themselves, their shouts and screams echoing through the halls of the ship. The captain, James, stood frozen for a moment, staring at the screen in shock. His mind raced, trying to comprehend the impossible.

"All hands, arm yourselves! Take up every weapon we have and fight that… thing!" James bellowed, snapping out of his daze. His voice carried a mix of authority and desperation.

"But, Captain!" one of the crew members stammered, his voice trembling. "This path has never had monsters before! We've sailed this route for years without—"

A sudden, violent shake rocked the ship, cutting the man off mid-sentence. James nearly stumbled, catching himself on the console as alarms blared around them.

The creature on the deck roared—a deep, bone-chilling sound that made the air seem heavier. It began to gather energy in front of its head, the glow intensifying into a blinding ball of light.

"Brace yourselves!" James shouted, his grip tightening on the console as he braced for impact.

A split second later, the creature unleashed its attack. A devastating beam of energy shot out, slicing cleanly through the warship's hull. The force of the blast ripped through metal, splitting the vessel in half. An explosion followed, sending fire and debris flying in all directions.

The deck was consumed in chaos. Crew members who couldn't escape the blast were caught in the destruction, their screams silenced as the ray obliterated everything in its path. The ship tilted violently, sections of it already beginning to sink as water rushed in through the gaping wound left by the attack.

James stood frozen, gripping the pendant in his hand as he watched the destruction unfold. His mind screamed for him to act, but for a moment, he could only stare at the carnage before him.

"The army is ready, sir!" one of the crew members shouted, sweat dripping down his face.

Captain James clenched his teeth, gripping his pistol tightly. His heart raced, but he wouldn't let his fear show. This was no time for hesitation. "All units! No matter what, take that thing down!" he roared.

The scene shifted. Soldiers in full gear stormed onto the battered deck, their weapons trained on the towering monstrosity. The air was filled with the deafening sound of gunfire as they unleashed a relentless barrage.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Countless bullets ripped through the air, slamming into the creature's body. But despite the onslaught, the beast remained unmoved, hovering ominously above the deck. Its silicone-like body absorbed the impact of the bullets without any scratch.

One soldier, desperate for a breakthrough, shouted, "Bring the anti-tank weapon!"

Moments later, a heavy weapon was dragged onto the deck, and the soldier loaded a specialized round. With a deafening *boom*, the anti-tank bullet shot forward, slamming into the creature's torso. For the first time, the beast reacted, its body jerking slightly as a small, glowing wound appeared.

The soldiers erupted in cheers. "It's not completely bulletproof!" one of them exclaimed, their morale surging.

Despite the injury, the monster remained eerily still, hovering in place like a silent judge. The soldiers continued their assault, firing every weapon they had. But even as explosions and gunfire rained down upon it, the creature didn't move, its glowing eyes cold and indifferent.

High above the scene, invisible to the soldiers below, Jyahnar hovered, watching everything unfold with a detached curiosity. She had commanded the Archangel to remain motionless, deliberately letting it take the full force of the humans' assault.

Her lips curled into a small, amused smile. "So, this is the power of humanity's weapons in this world," she murmured to herself. "Not bad… but not good enough."

Her gaze lingered on the soldiers as they fought valiantly, their hope ignited by the small victory of injuring the beast. But Jyahnar already knew how this would end. They were mere insects swarming against a force they couldn't hope to comprehend.

As the chaos unfolded below, a sudden thought pierced through Jyahnar's mind like a cold dagger.

"When… when did I become so against humanity?" she murmured, her brows furrowing in confusion.

For a moment, the distant screams of the soldiers and the booming gunfire faded into the background. Jyahnar floated above the battlefield, her expression blank yet troubled. She searched her thoughts, but no clear answer came. It wasn't like her to feel such deliberate hostility.

"Why does it feel like I want to destroy them?" she whispered, her voice trembling ever so slightly.

Then it hit her—a realization that made her shiver. "I've been influenced... by Jyahnar."

Her grip on the truth began to slip. The name wasn't just a title anymore; it felt like a part of her now. The way she thought, the way she felt—it wasn't just hers. Something deep within whispered that humanity was her enemy, that their destruction was inevitable.

"But…" she muttered, shaking her head slightly. "It doesn't matter. This isn't even my world."

Her uncertainty wavered, her thoughts twisting into justification. "Yes… yes, this is an unknown world. It's not my responsibility. These aren't my people."

And then, like a storm breaking free from its restraints, a dark certainty surged within her. Her lips curled into a manic grin, her eyes glinting with an unearthly glow.

"Yes, after all, I'm Jyahnar! The Herrscher of the Sea!" she declared, her voice reverberating with newfound conviction. The once hesitant tone now carried an overwhelming intensity. "I am Honkai! Mankind is my enemy! It is my sole purpose to destroy them!"

As she spoke, she noticed a subtle change in the panel at the edge of her vision.

[Name: Jyahnar (2%) → (5%)]

The percentage ticked upward, the glow of the numbers intensifying. Jyahnar's smile widened as she realized what was happening. The more she embraced this identity, the stronger she became.

Her laughter echoed across the ocean as she raised her hand, watching the soldiers struggle against the Archangel. They fought valiantly, but in her eyes, it was all so… meaningless.

"This is only the beginning," she whispered to herself, her voice cold and resolute. "Let's see how far humanity can fight before they fall to despair."

Jyahnar's grin twisted into something darker as she raised her hand, her voice cutting through the chaos like a blade. "Enough standing there. Attack them!"

The Archangel-like Honkai beast obeyed immediately. Its massive, glowing form shifted, and in an instant, it unleashed a devastating blast of energy. The soldiers, who had just started to believe they might have a chance, barely had time to react as the blinding light engulfed them.

The screams of those caught in the blast were silenced in moments, their bodies vaporized by the sheer power. Those further away watched in horror as the beast began to regenerate, its wounds closing and its silicone-like body pulsing with energy.

Jyahnar floated above it all, watching with detached amusement. But then she decided to take it a step further. Releasing the restraints on her Honkai energy, she let it flow freely, pouring into the air like a toxic miasma.

The humans who were still alive began to panic as the oppressive aura washed over them. Some fell to their knees, struggling to breathe. Others screamed in agony as their bodies began to change.

Purple lines of corrosion spread across their skin, creeping like cracks in shattered glass. Some succumbed almost instantly, their eyes glazing over as they turned into lifeless zombies, their bodies jerking unnaturally before attacking their comrades.

Others underwent even more horrific transformations. Their once-human forms twisted and evolved, their muscles bulging as their flesh hardened into grotesque, armored plates. These advanced zombies moved with terrifying speed and strength, tearing through anything in their path.

Jyahnar's laughter echoed through the destruction. "Beautiful," she whispered, watching the chaos spread.

Meanwhile, the Honkai beast began to change as well. The energy Jyahnar fed it caused its form to shift and grow, its body expanding and mutating. Its wings, once glowing and rigid, began to shimmer like water, flowing and rippling with every movement. Its glowing core pulsed brighter, and its features became more elegant yet more terrifying—a reflection of Jyahnar's own themes.

When the transformation was complete, the creature no longer resembled the Archangel it once was. It had ascended to something far more powerful: an Emperor-Class Honkai beast. Its size dwarfed the warship now, its aura so oppressive that even the zombies seemed to cower in its presence.

Jyahnar looked down at her creation, a cruel smile playing on her lips. "Perfect," she said, her voice calm yet filled with malice. "Now… let us see if there is anything left in this world that can stop me."

Bang!

A gunshot echoed through the air. The bullet raced toward Jyahnar, but before it could even touch her, it deflected harmlessly against an invisible barrier surrounding her. The transparent shield shimmered faintly, rippling like water where the bullet had struck.

Jyahnar's head tilted slightly, her cold, piercing gaze lowering to find the source of the attack. Her eyes landed on a lone figure standing amidst the chaos. It was none other than Captain James, trembling yet resolute, a smoking pistol clenched tightly in his hand.

"You…" James growled, his voice quaking with a mix of fear and fury. "You're the one who caused all of this!"

He raised his pistol again, firing shot after shot at Jyahnar. Each bullet ricocheted harmlessly off her shield, falling to the deck with hollow clinks.

Jyahnar let out a derisive snort, her expression one of mockery. "How pathetic."

She raised a hand, gesturing lazily toward James. The Honkai zombies around her stirred, they forms lurching forward as if in unison. "Deal with him," Jyahnar ordered coldly, her voice devoid of emotion.

James's eyes widened as the horde turned their attention toward him, their corrupted bodies jerking unnaturally as they moved. He stumbled backward, frantically firing his remaining bullets at the advancing creatures.

"Stay away from me!" he shouted, his voice cracking. The first few bullets found their mark, dropping one or two zombies, but soon his gun clicked empty.

James froze in terror, his hands shaking as he fumbled to reload. But it was too late—the zombies were already closing in.

"No, no, no," he stammered, his voice filled with desperation. "I can't die here! I have a family at home!"

Jyahnar's cold gaze locked onto him, her lips curling into a cruel smile. "So did all your crew members," she replied, her tone mocking and venomous. "But you... you sent them to their deaths without a second thought."

Her smile widened, taking on a sinister, almost devilish quality. "A captain should treat all his crew equally, don't you think? I'm simply being fair. And isn't it poetic? Your own former comrades will be the ones to end you."

James's face twisted in anguish and rage. "You... you devil!" he screamed, his voice breaking as he backed into a corner.

Jyahnar tilted her head, her expression one of dark amusement. "Devil? No," she said softly, her voice laced with mock reverence. "I am the Herrscher. The apostle of a god. And you, human, are nothing but an insect."

The zombies reached him then, clawed hands tearing into his body as he screamed in agony. His cries were drowned out by the relentless growls of the zombie.

James's last moments were filled with the image of Jyahnar floating above it all, her cruel, triumphant smile etched into his mind like the face of a devil.

(A/n: finally...)