I Am Honkai

War is the father of all and the king of all; some he has marked out to be gods and some to be men, some he has made slaves and some free.

—Heraclitus

…

In the year 1030 of the Sacred Selene Empire Standard Calendar, the second expeditionary direction of the Astartes Punishers Legion, in an advanced technological universe.

Alternate World of the Britannian Empire, Area 11.

Boom boom boom!

Thud thud thud!

Crash!

Since Area 11 (formerly Japan) was conquered in Britannia's Imperial Year 2010, seven years had passed, and now, the district was once again engulfed in the smoke of all-out war.

Sounds of explosions from conventional weapons, Honkai-energy plasma weapons, and cluster energy weapons mingled with the thunderous battle cries of Astartes, Imperial auxiliary forces, and servant armies, creating a symphony of destruction. The relentless screams of power weapons slicing the air, the grinding whirr of chainswords and chainaxes, and the booming of bolt rounds filled the skies with a visceral, roaring "melody."

This time, the flames of war had not been ignited by resistance fighters unwilling to remain subjugated in the shadows of Area 11, nor by their long-time adversary, the EU Federation, but by true, otherworldly invaders!

Months ago, these extraterrestrial humans had emerged, launching a devastating attack on Britannia's largest naval and airbase on the African front, obliterating nearly the entire Britannian military force stationed there. Britannia suffered crippling losses.

Oddly enough, as if driven by some unknown purpose, these extraterrestrials—who claimed to be of the Sacred Selene Empire—shifted their assault towards the EU Federation. Their main invasion forces concentrated on the Afro-Eurasian World Island, while the Britannian homeland on the isolated American continent was, for the time being, spared from the havoc.

But Britannia was not a nation to take this lying down. After being dealt such a vicious blow, it naturally could not stomach the affront. They mobilized military forces repeatedly, attempting counter-attacks. Yet, despite their efforts, the ideal clashed brutally with reality.

Despite deploying the latest fifth-generation Knightmare Frames, including Sunderland models and various custom variants, Britannia found itself inescapably outmatched. They simply couldn't win!

After nearly six months of engagement, Britannia had uncovered information about the nature of these extraterrestrial humans, this self-proclaimed empire of otherworldly origin.

The invaders were indeed human—or at least 99% human-like. They boasted enormous physical strength; even those identified as common "auxiliary forces" possessed capabilities that made them formidable. Each could take on ten men with ease, shattering walls, splitting bullets with their blades, tearing through defenses with agility, speed, and ferocity unmatched by any Britannian forces.

As for the grey-armored giants—they defied all comparison. Like humanoid tanks, they regularly withstood and toppled Britannia's prized Knightmare Frames without breaking a sweat.

The weapons these giants wielded were essentially portable artillery; their shooting precision was near infallible, each shot delivered from almost improbable distances.

Whenever one of these giants took a position, they were like mobile artillery units, shelling aircraft from the sky, obliterating Knightmares, tanks, and occasionally gifting a bolt round or two to infantry soldiers below.

This left Britannian soldiers scrambling, baffled by their inability to match them. (Note: The Code Geass world has no nuclear weapons, and the equivalent of a "nuclear" device, the FLEIJA, has yet to be invented.)

While Britannia's leaders frantically debated how to handle these extraterrestrial adversaries, this so-called Sacred Selene Empire suddenly shifted gears. They abandoned their steady pace, launching frenzied attacks across the globe with indiscriminate intensity.

According to Britannian intelligence, their most probable conclusion was that: reinforcements had arrived; new orders had been issued; or perhaps an influential figure from this Sacred Selene Empire had arrived, or was about to arrive.

Their relentless offensives soon overwhelmed the EU Federation, wiping it out. The Afro-Eurasian landmass quickly fell to their advance.

In no time, the shadows of war began to fall upon Britannia's homeland and its colonies worldwide.

…

At this very moment, though it was high noon with clear skies—a perfect day for an outing—the Britannian colonial district of Area 11, Tokyo Settlement, was shrouded in suffocating tension.

Every airport operated at full capacity.

All exits out of the settlement were blocked with countless Britannians trapped in unmoving lines of cars, their families packed inside, nervously awaiting their turn to flee.

Beep! Beep beep beep!

The sharp blare of car horns joined the rumbling engines in a chorus of frustration.

The entire city seemed to quiver with a sense of dread.

War was here!

That was the feeling gnawing at the heart of every Britannian citizen. After the government's war alert just days ago, many had yet to fully process the gravity of the situation.

Yet, with news spreading rapidly, especially of the EU Federation's collapse, there was no longer any illusion. Every news channel warned of the impending war.

Many Britannians realized that Area 11 was no longer a safe haven and that only Britannia's homeland across the ocean could shield them from this threat.

However, as they packed their belongings and prepared to flee, the thunder of war rapidly closed in—far faster than anyone had anticipated. The Astartes were already at the gates.

Thus, Tokyo Settlement erupted in chaos, leading to the scene that now unfolded.

"Hurry, hurry!"

"His Excellency, Viceroy Clovis, has issued orders! Reinforce the western defense line!"

Clang!

At the perimeter of the Tokyo Settlement's Viceroy District, Britannia's most elite soldiers, members of the Knight Order of the Royal Guard, assembled.

These were the top machine pilots across the Britannian Empire, second only to those stationed at the Imperial Capital, Pendragon.

In most cases, they were assigned to protect members of the Royal Family, and here, their mission was to guard the Viceroy of Area 11, Third Prince Clovis la Britannia.

Seeing them all deployed was a clear indication of the dire state of Area 11.

"Your Excellency, Osaka, Yokohama, and Nagoya have all fallen…."

Within the Viceroy's grand hall, an austere space with towering walls, Clovis stood with his hands braced against the table, his handsome face marred by exhaustion.

"Really…? That means Tokyo is all we have left… It's only been two days, hasn't it?"

He staggered backward, a forlorn look in his eyes as he fell into a nearby chair, defeated.

From the live video feed on the Knightmare Frames' combat systems, Clovis could see clearly the city forests surrounding the western edges of Tokyo Settlement nearly scorched to the ground by flames of war.

The enemy was about to break through the city limits!

Knightmare Frames lay in ruins across the battlefield, littered like scraps in a junkyard. Each moment claimed more lives.

"For Selene—!"

Among those who broke through the defensive walls of the Tokyo Settlement, several gray-armored giants, armed with Honkai-powered greatswords, boltguns, and chainswords, began their onslaught on Britannia's battle lines.

With every step they took, an unstoppable wave of tanks, Titan mechas, and a vast array of Imperial auxiliary and Astartes soldiers surged forward, shattering the lines of Britannian defenses.

Under the fiery scene of thunderous explosions lay a ravaged landscape, littered with shattered, incomplete remains of the dead. The next moment, as countless soldiers marched over, there was truly nothing left of them.

"With the enemy's blood, we shall honor our Empress!!"

"Attack!"

In an instant, Boom!

Several fifth-generation Sutherland Knightmare Frames surged onto the front lines, roaring over their loudspeakers with the fury of Britannian soldiers.

"You scum! Die!"

As a superpower that had dominated the world through militarism and ruthless conquest, the Holy Britannian Empire was not short of soldiers who would fight to the death.

"Aaaarghh!"

One of them, maneuvering his Frame, lifted a custom-made Gatling gun, watching as the targeting light shifted from green to red, the gun's barrels beginning to rotate as the ammunition belt from the rear compartment rapidly fed into the gun.

Drrrrr-drrrrr-drrrrr!

Yellow-orange, large-caliber shell casings sprayed forth, piling up across the ground beneath the Frame's legs, quickly forming a thick layer beneath it.

Rat-a-tat-tat!

A barrage of intense gunfire sprayed out, the roaring machine gun's sound resounding across the field as a leading Astartes officer became covered in sparks.

Despite the lack of armor penetration, the heavy rounds scratched across his orichalcum composite power armor, melting the outer layers of paint and breaking away pieces of gilded decorative filigree.

The Empire's conscripted auxiliaries fared far worse. The conscripts rushing through a breached area were blasted into pulpy shreds, and the unfortunate vanguard couldn't even keep their shape, shredded into countless pieces by the storm of metal!

Even the Empire's auxiliary soldiers, despite their lighter armor, found it tough to survive such a rain of fire. Physically strong as they were, they were still flesh and blood.

After all, even the American Captain wouldn't survive a direct hit from a machine gun without taking some serious damage!

In the blink of an eye, hundreds were down, and more fell with each passing breath.

"Take them down!"

The iron-gray Astartes officer roared angrily, springing forward against the metal storm, bending his knees and leaping up. The destructive field surrounding his Honkai-powered greatsword unfolded.

Clang!

In an instant, the Knightmare Frame's head-mounted camera module, designed to collect intel, was severed. The Astartes officer thrust his hand forward, grabbing the mech's control module right as the pilot attempted to eject, fingers driving into the metal panel as he gathered strength and yanked.

Screech!

The control pod tore open with raw force, revealing the Britannian knight pilot inside, dressed in his tightly fitted suit.

"Ah! Go to hell!" Bang, bang!

Even knowing it meant death, the pilot showed no fear. He raised his handgun and fired continuously at the Astartes officer before him.

"...."

The Astartes officer remained silent, drawing his own bolt pistol with a swift motion.

Boom!

A massive round of explosive ammunition tore into the pilot, detonating internally to obliterate him and the cockpit in a shower of blood and viscera.

Blood splattered everywhere, mixed with severed limbs, fragmented flesh, and innards.

As the officer disposed of the lead enemy pilot, the Knightmare Frames charging alongside were similarly dismantled one by one. Their pilots were dragged out, only to be cleaved in half under the relentless chainsword blades.

The Astartes officer lifted his Honkai-powered greatsword into the air, his voice ringing out loud and clear. "Charge! For the Empress!"

"Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!"

Showing no fear of the carnage, the Empire's auxiliary forces and conscripted soldiers mixed among the Astartes erupted in a chorus of bloodthirsty howls, like beasts mad with the scent of blood.

"For the Empire! For the Divine Empress! For Selene!"

They surged forward with unnerving speed, closing in on the momentarily faltering Britannian front line.

"For Britannia!"

Realizing the line was crumbling, some Britannian soldiers tied high-explosive charges to themselves and flung themselves into the Imperial forces, detonating in clouds of blood-mist and fire.

With the Astartes distracted by the Knightmare Frames, Britannia's soldiers and Selene's conscripts clashed in a chaotic melee, where guns, knives, fists, and anything within reach became deadly weapons. Life spilled away in seconds, blending into a mountain of corpses.

Within moments, Knightmare Frames and tank reinforcements were decimated, and as the Astartes shifted their focus back to the foot soldiers, the slaughter began in earnest, the scale of the conflict tipping in favor of Selene's forces.

"No, no, no! I don't want to die… I want to go home!"

Quickly, panic erupted among the Britannian ranks. One soldier dropped his weapon, clutching his head as he broke down, sobbing as he fled back toward the settlement's interior.

Pointing his gun at the fleeing man, the officer bellowed, "Damn you! You're a disgrace to Britannia!"

"I told you, come back here right now! If you don't come back, I'll…"

Bang!

Before he could finish, an explosive bolt echoed across the field. The fleeing soldier barely registered the impact, feeling a strange warmth spreading from his abdomen as his hands grew sticky.

As his view fell downward, he caught sight of a lower half wrapped in viscera and chunks of flesh. "This… this is my body?"

Thud!

The shattered body crumpled to the ground.

The officer's pupils shrank. His instincts told him the enemy had him in their sights, "Damn it! Everyone, get d…"

Boom! Rrrat-rat-rat!

The officer's head burst open as a standard bolter round took it clean off. The hail of bullets that followed shredded what remained into a blood-soaked hive of flesh.

Standing at the edge of the front lines, the Astartes officer growled, "Tell the Commander, the northern city defenses are down, and we are advancing to the inner quarters."

Ashford Academy

"Hey, Lelouch, what are we going to do?"