Honkai Star Rail Starting With Judgement of Shamash

Time seemed to stretch, each second feeling like an eternity.

Through his heightened senses, Orion saw the world around him slow down.

His sharp reflexes and focused mind made the chaos unfold in slow motion.

He watched as the MOTH soldiers dashed around him, their movements jerky and frantic.

The brief flashes of light from their guns seemed to pulse in the air like strobe lights.

Behind him, he could see Destobia's hand reaching out, fingers twitching with the promise of something terrible to come.

Amidst the swirling chaos, a soft blue glow flickered in Parvati's mouth, its eerie light casting a strange reflection on the snow around them.

Snowflakes drifted down slowly, each one seemingly suspended in midair, as if time itself had decided to pause for a brief moment.

And then there was the attack—a wave of frigid energy, fast and unstoppable. It would freeze him solid if it hit.

He could almost feel the cold of it, creeping closer with each heartbeat.

"But if it can't hit, then no matter how powerful it is, it won't matter."

His body reacted to his thoughts. Muscles tensed, coiling like springs, as he shifted his stance, every fiber of his being preparing for the perfect charge.

His legs moved with precision, faster than the world around him. He had the speed to avoid the blast, but there was more at stake than his own safety.

The soldiers behind him, oblivious to the danger, would be left to freeze if he didn't act.

The thought burned in his mind. To save them, he had to move in a way that would put him directly in the line of fire.

And in that moment, Orion knew exactly what had to be done.

So, it was time to charge. 

The ten or so steps weren't far. Before the second snowflake hit the ground, Orion Astra was already in front of Parvati.

Could he block the incoming attack? The thought crossed his mind for a split second, but it was quickly dismissed. His body, human and limited in strength, shouldn't be able to face the full force of the strike. Still, he didn't hesitate.

All he needed was the raw power of his charge—the momentum, the force—and the will to act. His body tensed, and in one fluid motion, his clenched fists shot upward. A sharp crack echoed through the air as his blow connected with Parvati's chin, sending a jolt through the battlefield.

The force of the hit was enough to send Parvati's head snapping back. It's mouth opened in a silent gasp, and in that split second, the beam of energy it had been preparing veered off course, shooting into the sky. It missed its intended target, the soldiers, and the surrounding area entirely.

To the soldiers watching, Orion's movement was a blur—a shadow suddenly standing between them and danger. The next moment, they heard the unmistakable sound of impact as Orion struck.

"Covering fire! Help Captain Orion!" came the urgent cry.

The troops, their spirits lifted by the unexpected turn of events, rallied together in a seamless motion.

They quickly took their positions, forming a line and unleashing a barrage of gunfire.

The sudden attack forced the hidden Honkai beasts, waiting in the shadows, to reveal themselves, rushing forward in a chaotic, desperate charge, their growls filling the air. But the soldiers were ready now, their confidence renewed by Orion's fight.

"Thump, thump, thump!"

The MOTH soldier's firing helped keep the Honkai beasts from getting in Orion's way. Parvati finally reacted, raising its head to try to squash Orion like a bug.

Its huge head smashed down like a hammer, causing the ground under Orion to sink and crack outward. But Orion had already moved, acting so fast that it was hard to follow.

"Parvati's skin is really tough. You can't hurt this thing normally. You need to attack it from the inside."

Orion kept a clear head. While he was agile enough to attack Parvati multiple times, one mistake could mean facing its overwhelming power. Plus, the freezing aura around him meant he couldn't stay close to Parvati for long.

After missing the hit, Parvati curled up. It was hard to believe such a huge creature could form a perfect ball.

"Watch out and dodge those straight-line attacks!" Orion warned. Like him, other soldiers might not have the same reflexes.

If they didn't move in time, they'd be crushed without even a chance to react, leaving nothing but remains in the snow.

Parvati's black-and-blue body began rolling, and everything in its path—whether houses or buildings—was destroyed by the impact of this giant beast.

As it passed, it left behind icy blue tracks, making it harder for anyone to get close and shrinking the hiding spots for the MOTH soldiers.

Suddenly, Parvati hit something solid, which caused it to change direction.

"The stronger an object moves forward, the more pressure it puts on the side, making it easy to change course," Orion explained. He had timed it perfectly, placing something in Parvati's path.

A grenade.

Orion had gathered over a dozen grenades from the fallen MOTH soldiers, tied them together, and removed the pins, timing it just right.

Boom!

Though regular grenades rely on shrapnel, these were high-explosive ones, using the blast itself as the main force. While the explosion couldn't pierce Parvati's tough skin, it was enough to shift its course slightly. With the right angle and force, combined with Parvati's powerful momentum, the creature was launched into the air, creating a brief moment of pause.

"Now!"

Even though he only recently got his access back to the Creation Engine, it was enough to form an arm.

In an instant he partial manifested the arm of the Creation Engine slamming down on the creature

*Boom!*

The massive shockwave pushed the crowd back, and the swirling snow and wind covered the center, leaving the nearby soldiers unsure of what was happening. But they still saw Orion Astra charging forward.

"Commander Astra!"

When the fog lifted and the smoke cleared, they were stunned by what they saw. Orion Astra, the leader who had fought alongside them moments ago, now stood tall on Parvati's mighty body.

The sunlight streamed down at just the right moment, making him look like a hero from legend, wrapped in a golden glow.

Though he looked tired, it was enough to inspire everyone there.

Hope had finally begun to appear.