Chapter: 11 Start of Stage

A/N: I just noticed that something wasn't right at the chapter luckily I written it in my folder.

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The city of Nagazora, once a beautiful place brimming with life, had been utterly transformed due to the sudden birth of the new Herrscher of Thunder. This calamity resulted in massive destruction, including the transformation of humans into zombies and animals into monstrous creatures.

Standing on the tallest building, Bronya stood at the top, watching the fight between a white-haired girl and the so-called Herrscher of Thunder. Seeing the Herrscher of Thunder trying to make the white-haired girl lose consciousness made her question the reason why she was doing that.

"Human! Why are you so stubborn? Just listen to me and join my side, so I can make an exception for you to be saved once I've destroyed humanity!" The Herrscher of Thunder shouted in frustration. A lightning strike behind her shook the entire building once it hit the top floor.

"Give me back my Mei-Senpai!" The white-haired girl shouted as she landed a punch across the pretty face of the Herrscher.

"You leave me no choice, Human," the Herrscher muttered as she raised one of her hands, and lightning struck the white-haired girl.

"No!" The white-haired girl shouted as her eyes turned golden, and countless spear-like objects orbited around her, striking the Herrscher and sending her flying.

"Tsk!" The Herrscher clicked its tongue but was surprised by the sudden change within the white-haired girl.

[A huge Honkai energy was detected. What's happening over there, Bronya?]

Hearing Cocolia's voice through the communication, Bronya looked at the Herrscher and the white-haired girl. She saw what happened to the white-haired girl, and the Herrscher was about to fall down the building, prompting Bronya to immediately save the Herrscher from falling as her Honkai Energy was already empty.

The white-haired girl's eyes turned back to blue, and she immediately caught the hand of the Herrscher.

"Mei-Senpai!" The white-haired girl shouted, looking at the Herrscher.

"Kiana-chan?" The Herr... no, Mei muttered and shouted in horror. "Kiana, let go of me before you fall too!"

"No, I'm going to save you!" Kiana shouted stubbornly.

"No, I'm an evil person who killed a lot of people," Mei shouted in frustration, tears falling down her face.

Mei gained the memories of her other self, that led a massive genocide and transformed everything in the city of Nagazora into zombies and monsters.

"Mei-Senpai!" Kiana shouted back, her eyes turning serious. "It's not your fault, Mei-Senpai. I know that you're not the person who caused that, but the other person that was residing within your body."

"But..." Mei hesitated as tears fell from her eyes.

"Shut up and listen to me!" Kiana shouted as she pulled up Mei. "I would never abandon the person I love!"

"Kiana-chan..." Mei muttered as she hugged the white-haired girl Kiana with a small smile on her face.

"Let's get out of here, Mei-Senpai!" Kiana shouted, pulling Mei along with her, leaving the entire building. Despite a bunch of zombies blocking their way, they easily defeated them and arrived at a safe place, meeting Bronya Zaychik, a girl tasked to catch the Herrscher.

[Bronya! What are you doing? Catch the Herrscher this instant!] Cocolia shouted in frustration inside the military base, as Bronya didn't want to follow her orders.

"I'm sorry, Mother, but I don't want to," Bronya answered, surprising Cocolia. "Bronya doesn't like the way Mother sacrifices a lot of humans for a single Herrscher to awaken. That's why Bronya is leaving the group. I'm sorry, Mother."

Hearing the unexpected answer, Cocolia was shocked to learn that Bronya would leave the organization.

"Bronya-Chan, let's eat. I prepared some food," Mei said, patting Bronya's head. Bronya nodded and sat next to her, earning jealous glares from the white-haired Kaslana.

"Pat my head too, Mei-Senpai," Kiana urged as she hugged Mei's left arm.

"Kiana-chan," Mei looked at Kiana with a dark smile as she saw Kiana playing with food. "Stop playing with your food, or you won't be able to eat my cooking."

Kiana's face turned purple as she pouted and ate her food quietly.

Suddenly, as if sensing something wasn't right, Bronya covered Kiana and Mei with giant robot hands as a huge spear pierced through the building they were residing in.

Feeling that its first spear attack hadn't harmed its target, the giant white beast with a purple line in its body stretched its back and attacked again. However, with the pendant of creation in Bronya's hands, she projected Project Bunny with a spear to counter it.

"TING!"

A loud metallic sound of their clash echoed throughout the whole place. Bronya suddenly realized she couldn't withstand such a heavy attack a second time and decided to focus on creating a barrier around herself.

Project Bunny's spear was destroyed while fighting the Giant Honkai beast and was thrown away, along with Bronya.

"Bronya-Chan!" Mei shouted in horror as she saw Bronya being thrown, destroying many buildings in its path.

Suddenly, the giant white beast pierced its spear into Mei, making her look at it with horror.

"I'm gonna get jealous, you know," Kiana said as she pulled Mei away from the spear and prepared to receive the upcoming attack from the giant white beast.

Kiana closed her eyes as if accepting her fate that she was going to die from the attack.

"Sorry to burst your bubble, but..." Suddenly, a manly voice was heard by Kiana, making her open her eyes. She saw a handsome guy with beautiful long silky black hair and caramel-colored eyes. "It looks like she's a friend of my dearest person, so, die."

Those were the only words Kiana heard as the giant white beast suddenly turned into a red mist and vanished from sight.

"Kiana-chan!" Mei shouted in horror and ran to Kiana, hugging her tightly and kneeling on the floor with Kiana.

Kiana was still shocked by the newcomer's strength, and her brain couldn't process what had happened to the giant white beast.

"Aron!" Bronya shouted as she jumped into the embrace of the newcomer, tears falling from her eyes.

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(Aron pov)

Observing the surroundings within the Sea of Quanta, noticed something unusual and turned to Seele. "Is that normal here?"

[Report: It is concluded that they are called Quantum Shadows. They are a type of enemy originating from the Sea of Quanta. In terms of appearance, most Quantum Shadows resemble various Honkai Beasts. Unlike Honkai Beasts, Quantum Shadows have translucent bodies through which a starry void can be seen. In many cases, there is a 2D round black object pulsing with sparks inside or outside the Shadow's body, while others lack this feature.]

Can I know all their details, Sensei?

[They have the ability to collapse and reappear everywhere, and you can only damage some of them using elemental attacks such as fire, etc.]

Thanks for the info, Sensei.

[Glad to help you, Master.]

Is it just me, or are you becoming more sentient?

[You're imagining it.]

See, you're gaining some sentience. I'm happy for you.

[You're imagining it.]

Aron chuckled at her response and turned his attention back to Seele. She had heard his questions and was now looking at the place he had pointed to. There, they saw a Quantum Beast spinning like a ball.

"This is bad, it's going to attack us," Seele said, her alertness evident as a scythe formed in her hands.

Aron, however, shook his head. "Nuh-uh." He nodded and raised his finger, generating a cero that he fired at the Quantum Beast, killing it instantly. Its soul flew toward Aron, and a black hole formed within his hands.

"What is that, Nii?" Seele asked, her curiosity piqued as she gazed at the black hole in his hands.

"Let's just say it's an ability I acquired while I was away. It allows me to devour my enemies," Aron explained, while Seele nodded, intrigued by his newfound power.

[Acquired skill "Quantum Element."]

[Quantum Element: The Quantum Element is an extraordinary power drawn from the Sea of Quanta. It enables users to manipulate space, time, and matter. Abilities include teleportation, time manipulation, fusion with other elements, creating quantum constructs, reality warping, and quantum resonance, granting profound versatility and control over the universe's fundamental forces.]

Seeing the acquired skill, Aron decided to store it inside his being, knowing that he already possessed the power of Origin.

"Seele, let's hold off on visiting my home and head to Bronya's location. I'll also introduce you to a friend I made while I was in another world," Aron suggested, aware that visiting his home would take time and choosen Bronya's instead of going home.

Seele smiled warmly, nodding her head, and wrapped her arms around his. Aron then opened a Garganta, creating a portal for the two of them to depart.

As they stepped into the portal, Aron couldn't help but wonder how Bronya and would react seeing the two of them.

"I'm glad we're leaving this place," the other version of Seele remarked, casting a shy glance at Aron's face, her cheeks tinged with a blush.

Feeling someone gazed at her, she noticed Seele giggling, causing her blush to deepen. She quickly turned away, feeling a bit flustered, and continued on her way.

Aron, seeing a complete copy of Seele except for her red eyes and red hair, was shocked. However, seeing her interact with the other person, he smiled and decided to remain quiet, as long as it didn't harm Seele.