Chapter 83: Trigger

Schicksal was a religious order that originated in western Europe since the 7th century, in english it is destiny. The foundation of the organization relied on the framework of religion and implemented centralized management. After hundreds of years of development, the organization's religious overtones have been drastically reduced, but the leader of Schicksal is still known as the "Archbishop". Influencing even royalty that would rule and be the monarch, amassing them huge political power.

That is until the divine maiden Aponia appeared in dreams of the archbishop, giving him a revelation that an apostle would return one day and give them true salvation. And henceforth, she stayed in the head church of Schicksal. Occasionally giving orders whenever she had leads on Ein. Her existence is very covert, only the archbishop is aware of her. And then the cycle continues with the next person in power.

And we see the archbishop prepare to raid the borders of the east. Soldiers in armor lined up in droves, wielding lances powered by honkai energy. It was crude, but effective nonetheless. "My fellow servants of god. We have been tasked... To find the apostle that will lead us to everlasting life and glory! The unfaithful wretches in the east will not stop our holy endeavor! We will persevere! Even if they try to stop us. The heretics will fall against our mighty weapons! Brothers and sisters! We shall be victorious!" He gave a speech as the knights and soldiers shouted, morale was an all time high. Schicksal has arrived at Shenzou, not caring about the repercussions and violated the borders, effectively declaring war.

They then started the manhunt for one person that they believed would give them salvation like fanatics.

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Ein was sleeping like a log, exhausted from emptying his energy reserves. The black capsules that he attempted to crack where he came from simply took too much effort from him. Then, an invisible wave of energy washed over him that encroached inside of his head. Normally, he would resist this and shrug it off, but his exhaustion coupled with his apparent weakness was a recipe for Aponia's power to invade his dreams.

He stood upon a plain that had the Sakura tree with flowers littered all over it. "Am I dreaming? This place looks quite good not gonna lie." He surveyed the surroundings and breathed in the refreshing air. But a pair of hands embraced him on his chest. "Ein-sama. I didn't lose hope, and waited for your return." A soft voice resounded on his ears, surprising him greatly.

"Who are you? Wait... You are Aponia." He looked at her visage and she wore a nun outfit. "I've got tons of questions for you. Who are you to me? And why do I have pictures of you and others with me?" His brows furrowed in confusion, wanting to know more about his past that might have been buried in ages past. As he saw futuristic gadgets and tech at the pictures.

"Sadly, this is only a brief meeting. I can only send a message, please know... That your maiden is elated and I will find you soon. Either by my own hands, or the others." She sent a worldwide comm that will be intercepted by the other chasers and they are going to be notified of his return.

"Wait!" He reached out to her but she turned into blue and yellow butterflies and promptly disappeared. "Damn, now I have more questions. I will stay here then, she did say she'll find me. Maybe make a beacon that will let her or the said others find my location easier." He then opened his eyes as the sunlight shone through his window.

He had a new objective, and he is at least going to accomplish the 1st one. Eating those weird beasts to regain his strength.

Patrolling the outskirts of the village and trying to find a sign of them, he walked briskly and made his way around. "Hmm, they're not appearing. Maybe they are active at night or something?" He then saw a butterfly that was trying to break out of its cocoon. "Cocoon... Argh!" He then had a headache as memories flood his brain like an unleashed dam. Like a film, that played. He remembered the woman with shaggy pink hair named Sakura, receiving an azure blade and asking him to protect her sister. A red head beauty that was with him since his younger years, strict and fierce. But loyal and loving, saying her goodbyes with tears in her eyes as she drew her last breath.

His eyes turned to slits as horns started to emerge from his head. Then his mind was filled with burning desire. A desire to consume and rip apart anything, filling his head with unchained savagery. His senses were hyperactive and started to feel the surroundings to a T. His teeth shone with dangerous light and he roared to the heavens. Making the world tremble at its core, his genes dominated his instincts to devour honkai beasts, courtesy of Vishnu's ability to cannibalize its kin. He entered a state of absolute survival with a one track mind.

Every intelligent life form looked at the skies as they heard a soul shaking roar. The religious prayed, while skeptics feared that large honkai beasts will ravage their lives and homes. But one thing's for sure, something is out there with unimaginable strength and ferocity.

Inside a lab, Mobius heard the blood curdling roar and it instead made her smirk. "Ahhhh... Aponia wasn't lying it seems. We have all the time in the world now, Ein. Fufufu~" Her cheeks flushed, she got excited to the core. At her awakening, there was a void inside of her. The memories of him and Klein by her side was the only thing left that kept her going, living day by day without a clear purpose. Denying his fate, waiting patiently for his return. Believing that he will return one day. She then called one of her lackeys, a cultist that worshipped the flame chasers.

"Oi. Search the whole continent of asia, he is there. That woman at least had the idea of telling us where he is. Go, now." Her voice impatient as the masked man bowed and quickly exited.

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Yae Sakura was the miko in training and was adept in the art of swordplay. She is a warrior and a figurehead that protects the village. Preparing for her early morning patrol, she donned her battle attire and took her blade. Ready for another day to slay the wretched beasts that lay waste in their lands. "She is still asleep at this time. I better let her rest more." She frowned upon thinking about her sister's condition. She was worsening and it wasn't looking good, shaking her head. Sakura focused on her duty as the miko and went out to seek potential dangers to the village. (pic here)

After doing her rounds around the perimeter, she heard an earsplitting roar that made her shiver. The ground shaked, as if it feared the ferocious sound. Steadying her legs and wiping the sweat on her brow, she decided to scout the source. "This is dire. I must check it warn the village for evacuation." Running swiftly to where she heard it, with her training since childhood. Sakura quickly arrived at the scene, witnessing a crater that made her blood run cold. A spine chilling crunch was then heard not too far.

She readied her blade and saw the silver haired young man crouching on the ground with one of the wretched beasts on his hand. To her horror, she saw him rip it in half with his bare hands and put it in his mouth. Biting it without effort, like eating a rice cracker in an afternoon break.

He then looked at her and his piercing green eyes locked gazes with her. Staring at her form and she was like a deer caught in the headlights. "Ahhh, it's not what it looks like you see? Te he~" The tension was lost and she fell to the ground, like a puppet that got its strings cut off. Taking a big gulp of air, forgetting to breathe for a moment, cold sweat on her back.

Earlier, Ein released a burst of honkai energy that attracted every single one of the silicon based menace to his location. Arriving quickly as he licked his lips and stared at the beasts like water presented to a parched man in the dessert heat. They all saw a human and attacked him at once, he then caught a seraph and ripped it in half immediately. Taking a bite at the thing like a delicious cookie.

His legs then stomped on the ground, cracking the earth. Launching himself with blinding speed and ripping them all one by one. A templar's lance got taken off of its torso and he stabbed it with it, skewering the beast. Shield and all and used the body as a makeshift bludgeon, hitting the others making their hard bodies explode and crumble from the force.

Ein then snatched a seraph in the air and threw it, turning the flying lifeform into a cannonball. Hitting a chariot at breakneck speeds, decimating the body as he went ham on the honkai beasts. Tearing them apart and blowing them away with tremendous force in just a few seconds. Killing the horde of enemies quickly.

He raised his hand and crushed the corpses into a dense sphere. Willing it to land on his hand, he opened his mouth and revealed dagger like teeth, crunching on the little treat he made. After digesting it in a blink of an eye, Ein gained his wits for a bit and took out tons of crystalized honkai energy from his inventory. "Finally, some good fucking food." Eating the crystals, nourishing his body as he started to feel better. "Ahhh, this takes me back." He took out some barbecue sauce and started to munch on the jellyfish. Reminiscing on his early days where he hunted honkai beasts to eat them.

After a few minutes, a girl then appeared and was shocked at the sight. 'Hah, 1st impressions are the most important yeah? I need to appear friendly.' He was too engrossed in eating his fill and was caught red handed.

"Stay back! What are you!? Are you a youkai!? Or perhaps an evil god! I'm not afraid of you..." She brandished her sword but was clearly scared of him. He sighed and massaged his temples, retracting the horns and sharp teeth. "Well, you are quite lucky to witness this great me. I guess my secret is out, yare yare. This wouldn't happen if I was a bit more careful."

He went close to her and she froze upon seeing his stern gaze. He observed her from head to toe and narrowed his gaze. Closing her eyes, she expected the worst and shouted. "Wait! At least spare my sister Rin! Please, that is my only request of you." Waiting for her demise, she opened one of her eyes and saw him thinking.

She then felt his hand on her left breast and he fondled it. "Hmmm, interesting... You are just the same, just like how I remember her. And with all the surprises right now, your heart is in tip top shape. You must be working out, keep it up, even young people can have heart attacks you know?" He gave a thumbs up and she choked on her words, sputtering gibberish. Freezing on the spot as he patted her head and gave a toothy grin. "Come on, let's go back to the village. We don't have all day, chop chop."

She stared at his back, leisurely walking back to the village. Gaining her wits, she went red like a tomato with embarrassment and rage. "I... I can't get married anymore. Get back here Einheri! You shall be rust on my blade!" He ran circles on her as she waved her sword around. Intent on cutting him down as he laughed at her plight. "Lighten up a bit, samurai. Nobody's gonna take you seriously with that get up, you look like a cosplayer!" She chased him around until she ran out of breath and glared at him with teary eyes.

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Thanks for reading guys, Aponia has triggered his memories and remembering cocoon gave him unpleasant memories. Anyways, I might update less because I'm thinking on how to progress, and love it or hate it. A certain blonde would be quite different here due to the Imaginary tree spawning an entirely new branch kekeke~ and 72 hour work weeks sucks ass.