Chapter 9: Chapter 9 Abandoned Town
India, also known as the Republic of India is a country in South Asia with the largest population in the World and housing 1.27 billion people.
It was the birthplace of many religions, including Hinduism and Buddhism. The most important aspect of the Indian faith was the philosophy of nonviolence, but with the threat of the Honkai looming over the World, action must be taken.
With its population, India was prone to having a high rate of Honkai Honkai-related incidents and in a broader sense, Europe as a whole faced the same issue.
There were many theories of the Origins of the Honkai, a universal fundamental force, a test for civilizations to ascend higher, or a Higher Dimensional being that went insane from its loneliness and wanted to fill that void by embracing Worlds.
One thing is certain: the Honkai doesn't discriminate on who to target. As for choosing Herrschers Hosts, though, that is a completely different story.
The Honkai can not be reasoned with. It is a malevolent force intending to wipe out Humanity and it treats all things impartially.
Culture, aspirations, values, thoughts, compassion, love, desire, karma, sins...The Honkai will bring all those emotions and concepts into its termination.
Towns once filled with people bustling to make a living are now empty and lifeless as a corpse...An outcome that all things will decay one day and even the Gods will face the passage of time.
With the ship floating above the clouds, it slowly descended between them to camouflage itself and prepare to scout a suitable landing site.
"Rita prepare for landing," Otto called out to the Maid, and she complied. Within the cockpit of the plane, the Umbral Rose Maid pushed a single button and started maneuvering the control wheel to land quickly.
A sense of falling took over the plane's entire hull and it began its descent. On the outer layer of its white body, a transparent film began to take over making it invisible to the natural eyes. No one would expect an invisible plane to drop from above.
The clouds started to pass by the ship and what was soon to be clear to everyone's eyes on the plane was a sandy beach coast filled with lush towering trees being contrast to the azure ocean. Eroded rocks littered the edge of the beach symbolizing its long standing against the test of time.
It was the Karnataka Coast in the Lowlands of India. Situated on the west side of Karnataka and has an area of 4000 square miles. With another coastal plan to its north, Konkan, the western mountain range of Ghats to its east, the Kerala Plains to its south, and lastly its coast facing the Arabian Sea to the west.
Once the place was close enough to see the coast in its full glory, Rita drove the transparent plane to a nearby hill for extra camouflage, and with the infrared windowed screen noted there weren't any people she took the time to successfully land on the soil.
Otto's "eyes" reflected upon the scene of dilapidated decaying ruins, and the sun brightly blinded his eyes as he looked on through a window.
The Immortal Blades took off their seatbelts and started to prepare themselves for the upcoming mission...Weapons, supplies, etc started to unload on the metallic floor of the plane.
Bianka stretched herself to remove the rusty stiffness of being cooped up in a plane and soon pressed a button where a compartment revealed itself. In it was a long case fitting for a Divine Key.
She picked up Abyss Flower and took a glance at the blonde Doctor and the sudden cane in his hand...The Valkryie didn't question his absurd loadout as she was experienced in what type of hidden surprises her Overseer would have.
Time passed as in a moment suddenly the crisp sound of clapping filled the ship and within a moment, the Schicksal Overseer was the sight of attraction
"Good now that I have everyone's attention. For this operation, we'll investigate an abandoned town constantly emitting Honkai Energy activity. Thanks to your dear Vice Captain, Miss Rita, we safely landed on a nearby hilltop and will proceed to move out...Does anyone have any questions?"
A hand immediately shot up and the blonde beret-wearing Bianka asked simply, "Is there any info about what type of Honkai Beasts we'll be facing?"
"Very perceptive of you but assuming the location as you know we are in... It's likely Honkai Beasts associated with Indian Mythology. With your experience Miss Bianka you'll most likely be the common Archangel, Chariots, and Knights...But if multiple Emperor Class Honkai Beasts were to appear you'd need to focus on the modern slang of it...Lock in."
After his words, another arm waved into the air, and a gray violent hair Valkryie named Alvitr asked, "Overseer...I mean Doctor, I am curious who's the one naming the Honkai Beasts is it you or one of the Labs doing the naming."
"A little off-topic but interesting nevertheless...Most of the Honkai Beasts' naming scheme comes from the Previous Era, so most of such Beasts' records originate from there. If there's no such previous notation then one of the Labs of Schicksal or I take the liberality of doing so. The name of an Honkai Beast depends on its location, circumstances, and ability."
"I see...Thanks for the answer, Doctor. Sorry if it bothered you, I didn't expect you to give such a long answer."
"It's nothing to be concerned...After all, knowledge is sometimes meant to be shared." Alvitr nodded brightly after hearing such wise words.
Seeing as no one was following up any more hands, Otto took the liberty to exit the plane toward the metal door, and with a single push of a button the vivid sun started to encroach onto the Overseer's face.
A white staircase emerged from beneath the entrance door of the plane, accompanied by the sound of metal clinking as it touched the soiled ground. The blonde man gestured with his hand to highlight this striking entrance.
"Come along now, Immortal Blades. We have Honkai Beasts to exorcise from this beautiful ugly world.
...
The Immortal Blade Squad consists of their Captain, Adjutant/Deputy Captain, and the rest of the members with some staying back to watch over Homebase touching the ground with their booted feet.
Each of the Immortal Blade's faces was concealed by a blackened mask with yellow striped lines running across each face but it didn't dismay their sight.
Otto spread out his arms into the windy airs of India and his white-clothed figure contrasted with the soil of the place. In a louder voice, he gestured with open arms,
"Welcome to Murudeshwara - (ಮುರುಡೇಶ್ವರ) a town quite literally on the coast of the Laccadive Sea and home to the Third largest statue of the Hindu God, Shiva...
It used to be a bustling attraction, but since the Second Eruption of the Herrscher of Void, it has been abandoned because the number of storms, hurricanes, and other natural disasters from the sea started to descend rapidly on the town.
Still, some former townsfolk made a pattern of sneaking in at the brink of night to clean it. With the Sun up it's unlikely there are any people...But Shiva still stands on the Temple grounds."
Otto pointed to a massive statue of a four-armed God meditating on top of a hill its skin sparkling from the Sun's light.
It depicted one of the Supreme Deities of Hindu Mythology, Shiva the God of Time, Destruction, and Creation.
The Immortal Blades lingered on the statue, its eyes noting that, in the test of time, it still stood, but they still noticed the lingering crack and decay on its somewhat sparkling body. Their sightseeing was interrupted by the sky filled with purple-winged Beasts.
Archangels, the small and common Honkai Beasts littered the sky. They were weak in comparison to their peers but they were also the symbol of the disaster known as the Honkai descending from the Heavens and annihilating all that stands of Humanity.
"Let us commence this operation...Since I am just a lowly Doctor I'll have your Captain Bianka take the lead now." Otto bowed toward the crowd of Valkyries and departed to another area of the hill...For some reasonable developments.
Capitalizing on her Overseer's departure, Bianka stepped forward and started to speak her orders. The air around her started to shift from the go-lucky girl to a dignified Valkyrie ready to lead her squad to victory.
"Immortal Blades surround the town and don't let anyone in or out of the vicinity...If you encounter any Honkai Beast eliminate them on sight with your group. Logistics will stay behind on the ship and monitor the situation. If encountering any civilizations escort them out of the area and then proceed back to the Missions."
Saying her orders, Bianka shifted her gaze onto the last member to get off the plane, Rita. Their eyes locked onto one another and they soon understood each other's thoughts with a single nod.
"Rita and I will go into the Temple as the Assault Squad to deal with the Honkai Beasts deeper in. I trust in all of your abilities and strengths but I don't want any of getting wounded because of my actions...And my attacks."
"We understand, Captain but if you need any assistance be sure to call us..." Alvitr was the first to accept her orders and started to set up the Homebase. The other Immortal Logistic Team joined in as well to fortify their surroundings.
Computers, supplies, tents, and various other items were being set up quickly.
Bianka smiled at her squad working together and readied herself for the next move. She waited for a moment before her Adjutant came beckoning by her side.
The Umbral Rose Maid stretched out her hand and a scythe materialized into her grasp. It had a blackened sharp end and a white base with crimson thorns climbing up to the top forming a rose attached to a pure white blade...Its name was Aphrodite.
"Are you ready, Master Bianka?... We've been practicing this for a while but I am not sure if it's very practical in this mission after I could accidentally chop your leg off but I have a feeling that wouldn't work." Rita called out.
"Didn't you say you have trust in me, Adjutant?" Bianka said while adjusting Abyss Flower by her side and staring at the clear blue sky.
"Complete trust through this seems quite reckless." Rita tighter her grip on Aphrodite and was ready to swing.
"Well, what doesn't absolutely kill me just makes me stronger! Now!"
Rita swung her scythe with all her might toward Bianka's feet. The blonde Valkryie seized the opportunity to jump onto the momentum of its blade with inhuman accuracy and balanced herself right till the moment when Rita slashed toward the sky in a spinning motion.
The air crackled as Bianka flew through the air building up enough Power. Her Battlesuit, the Valkryie Gloria had a built-in function to absorb enough energy and friction to combust bright flames and the process was called Resolve.
A sudden firey warmth filled up her body as Resolve was soon fully filled up and within the air, she cocked back her right arm as the Abyss Flower started to engulf itself in flames. In a moment Bianka threw the flaming spear toward the flock of Beasts.
The Archangels in the sky flapped their wings and turned their body to the orange light in front of them inching closer until they witnessed hell descending upon their shells.
Erupito Magnifica!
A burst of flames combusted the sky covering the ground below with extinguishing light and fallen embers of the deceased beasts.
Bianka Atagnia, A-Rank Valkryie in name but an S-Rank in power...The Future Durandal, the one burden with a whole world within her. She is the Captain of the Immortal Blades and the one bearing the blood of those who have slayed those False Gods.
...
The Murudeshwara Temple was built on Kanduka Hill and one of its major attractions was The 20-storied monumental entrance tower simply called the Raaja Gopura. From its entrance two life-size elephant statues were standing guard at the steps leading into it and most of the temple was modernized with the current technology except for one place.
The Sanctum Sanctorum is a darkened place of the Gopura but still, it held its holy ground ever since calamity struck it and it has been abandoned until it received new residents not of the original townspeople but a Blasphemous organization
The statues in the Sanctum once whole and full of radiance were shattered to pieces...The main statue deity of the Temple, Sri Mridesa Linga was torn apart, and the figures who committed such an act were kneeling toward an abomination of a statue formed from the remains of the former main deity.
It was a beast comprised of countless eyes on its body, horns of elephants on its head, glowing purple strips along its body, and a mouth full of voracity...A False God in the image of an Honkai Beast.
The Church of Monsters, a Cult formed to worship Honkai Beasts.
Many of its followers bowed their heads onto the floor and listened intently to one of the Shepherds of the Church.
On the upper stage of the Sanctum stood a black-haired middle-aged man, his face had slight wrinkles and a slight sunken face due to the passage of time. Even at his age, he had a solemn smile and a passionate voice when preaching his "God"
"On the first day of the Universe, there was unending darkness, a still Primordial Void where chaos stood. The laws were unwritten and stars were filled with emptyness. Then on the second day, the Highest Being of Existence, Ourchas appeared and with his endless maw he proclaimed
'Let there be a feast'
Then after that, "He" devoured our existence and let our poor souls nurtured into his endless stomach. The rules of reality were born because of him and the stars glowed to their fullest. Let us pray to "Him"
All of the bowing masses lifted their head in unison, chanting loudly toward the unnerving statue.
"Praise be the God of Beginnings, the Inevitable Convergence, the Endless Devourer...Take the offering of our lifeblood for your sacrifice."
The Shepard soon took a large cup of dripping crimson, coated with caked blood and had the symbol of an endless maw devouring everything.
He lifted the grail toward the sky and it let out a sinister light. At the same time, a mark appearing on each of the grounded followers started to glow and blood started to drip out of the followers, from their noses, mouths, ears, and eyes into the chalice.
The followers didn't bat their eyes as their vision darkened and vitality was consumed. They were devoured as this was the only thing they had...Calamities descended from the Heavens and appeared in the form of vicious beasts. They punished humanity for their arrogance and spared those who were worthy of faith.
Seeing the chalice full of blood, the Shepard let out a warming smile and said tenderly.
"We are weakened by our mortal flesh, outcasted as foreigners and aliens for following our faith. If humanity rejects us then we will embrace our glorious evolution. Where we shed our mortal shells and ascend to reach our Lord's Divine Kingdom."
The Sheperd couldn't finish his words as the entire building shook and his preaching. His face shifted into displeasure as the chalice fell onto the floor.
"Guests of the unknown...What blasphemous is this to ruin our sacred offering? Let us bring offering to our one and only Lord...Bring the intruders here and rip out their hearts for."
Remarking on his words, the followers frantically shoot up from the ground like the living dead and enter the lift to go down the tower. They were like packed sardines as they descended down into the main entrance.
Seeing them leave Shepard's face twisted into that of vexation with a hand on his chin he pondered the situation.
"Did that information Broker, Gray Serpent sell me the wrong info...The place should be concealed and we've been avoiding the townsfolk who've gone to the statue but a normal person can't just shake an entire building. Have I been scammed by that Serpent...Truly can't trust anyone these days."
Inzalo placed his hand on his chest and prayed.
"Oh, Great Devourer give me strength."
With his prayer finished, he grabbed his right eye holding it tightly, and quickly plucked it out of its socket. He ignored the pain and the oozing blood dripping from the wound. The eye in hand soon crashed into a liquidy paste and soon condensed into Archangel made entirely of depraved blood.
It flew out of the window and through its "eyes" Inzalo could view from the sky. Within his sight, he saw a blonde-haired girl and honey blonde hair maid slaughter a horde of Honkai Beasts out in the parking lot.
"Schicksal Valkyries...How did everything start to go wrong? There is no need to panic...One must use all other options before going into a panic."
Inzalo started to descend further down and look for their home base or ship...What better way to use a tactical strategy than using this Archangel to blow up their allies and make them run back then buy more time to plan?
Before his eyes could see even further a sudden blazing pain wretched into his eye socket...He wasn't shot but instead, his scout was and if it had been damaged he would received the backlash of it because of the connection. A damage of 1/10 of it transferred to him.
His body creaked as his scout crashed into the ground. He breathed roughly feeling the effect of taking the backlash of the equivalent of jumping off a three-story high building.
With the amount of damage, the scout could see barely and he saw one last faint image before it disappeared.
A sudden pressure stepped onto his face...A blonde doctor stomped onto the scout and ended its life.
Seeing such a sight Inzalo launched his spitefulness into the wall and shattered the wall. He shook his knuckled hand and cursed to himself.
"Ourchas...Is this a revelation that you want me dead or a trial to prove my worth!?"