At the heart of Schicksal Headquarters, steel clash and concrete shattered.
The three Valkyries—Himeko, Fu Hua, and Rita—were barely holding their ground.
Before them stood Kamen Rider Build: Black Hazard Form. Every movement was sharp, violent, and utterly devoid of reason.
Fu Hua narrowly twisted aside as a black-armored fist tore past her head, the shockwave ripping through the air behind her. She skidded back, boots grinding sparks against the floor.
Her eyes hardened.
Without hesitation, she activated Shadow Knight's Frenzy Mode. Orange energy flared violently around her armor as her aura spiked.
"His attack pattern has no rhythm," Fu Hua shouted.
"Then we have to keep pushing!" Himeko roared back, dragging her greatsword up into a blazing arc.
She charged.
Himeko swung first—her greatsword crashing into Build Hazard's guard with explosive force. The impact sent both of them skidding backward.
"Focus on holding him down!" Himeko barked. "I'll look for an opening!"
Rita vanished in a blur of silver, reappearing behind Build Hazard as her scythe lashed out in a crescent of violet light.
"Apologies," Rita said calmly, "but you are quite uncivilized."
The scythe carved sparks across Build Hazard's armor—but he didn't flinch.
Instead, he twisted mid-motion and slammed his elbow backward.
Rita barely managed to parry. The sheer force hurled her across the chamber, her heels carving trenches into the floor as she flipped and landed in a low crouch.
"Tch. Direct confrontation is… inefficient," she muttered.
Fu Hua was already moving.
She slipped inside Build Hazard's reach, her fists striking like flowing water—palms, elbows, knees—each blow precisely aimed at joints and balance points but they were easily block by the rider.
"His body reacts faster than thought," Fu Hua said grimly.
Build Hazard responded by grabbing her wrist mid-strike.
Fu Hua's eyes widened.
The Rider slammed her into the ground with overwhelming force, shattering the floor beneath her.
"HUA!" Himeko shouted.
Before Build Hazard could finish the blow, Rita's scythe wrapped around his arm, yanking it sideways.
"Release her," Rita commanded.
Build Hazard growled—an inhuman mechanical sound—and flung Rita away like a doll.
Fu Hua rolled free just in time, coughing as she forced herself back to her feet.
"Frenzy Mode won't hold much longer," she warned. "Himeko—now!"
Himeko had been waiting for that moment.
As Build Hazard surged forward again, she didn't raise her sword.
She dove.
Sliding beneath a devastating punch, Himeko reached both hands toward the Rider's belt.
Her fingers closed around the Hazard Trigger.
"Got it—!"
Build Hazard reacted instantly, clawing toward her—
—but Fu Hua intercepted, planting herself between them, arms crossed as she absorbed the blow with a guttural gasp.
Rita followed, scythe slamming down to pin the Rider's other arm.
"Do it, Major!" Fu Hua shouted.
With a final heave, Himeko tore the Hazard Trigger free.
The transformation collapsed violently.
Dark energy detonated outward—then vanished.
The black armor along with the Hazard trigger in Himeko's hand disintegrated into light.
Kouga's body fell forward, lifeless—
—caught just before hitting the ground.
Silence.
Kouga lay unconscious.
The three Valkyries staggered back, breath ragged, bodies screaming in protest.
Himeko took one step—
—and collapsed.
Rita steadied herself, brushing dust from her uniform as she raised her scythe, eyes cold.
"Allow me to deal the coup de grace."
Fu Hua moved instantly, stepping between Rita and both Himeko and Kouga.
"I've said it before…"
She planted her feet, aura flaring once more.
"…if you don't wish to become my enemy, then do not hurt them."
Rita paused.
Fu Hua continued, her gaze shifting briefly to Kouga's unconscious form.
"And beside. We don't know what other trick he had."
Rita looked at Kouga in silence for a long moment.
Then she lowered her scythe.
"Understood, Master Fu Hua."
"Then we'll bring them back to the Church…As prisoners."
Back aboard the Hyperion, tension filled the bridge like a held breath.
Theresa stood near the command console, eyes fixed on the tactical display as the battles outside continued to rage.
"Hyperion is ready to go. We will engage once Himeko gives the signal."
She then turned toward Mei, her expression softening just slightly.
"Mei, there's something I need to tell you."
Mei straightened, instinctively bracing herself.
"Your heart bomb has been disabled."
For a brief moment, Mei froze—then relief flooded her face. But Theresa's tone quickly grew serious.
"But this might cause the 3rd Herrscher's will to awaken. Don't push yourself too hard. You can't fully harness that power yet."
Mei lowered her head respectfully, her voice sincere.
"Thank you, Principal."
Theresa let out a small chuckle, waving the formality away.
"Just call me Theresa. I've betrayed Schicksal. I'm no longer the Principal of St. Freya."
She paused, guilt flickering across her eyes.
"Sorry. I got you involved in all of this."
Mei shook her head firmly, stepping closer.
"Don't say that. We've left Schicksal together. You're still our beloved Principal. You admitted me in St. Freya 2 years ago despite me being a confirmed Herrscher host. You are the reason why I'm standing here as a Valkyrie."
Theresa blinked, visibly caught off guard. A nostalgic smile slowly formed.
"Two years already? Time passed so quickly!"
Mei looked out toward the distant battlefield beyond the bridge window, her voice steady—resolved.
"I used to be afraid that the Herrscher might hurt more people… But I do not intend to hide any longer. I will use this power to protect people I love."
Theresa turned fully toward her, eyes soft.
"Mei…"
Before she could say more, the console chimed sharply. Einstein's voice broke through the comm channel.
"Sorry to interrupt. The barrier is changing, but we've lost contact with Tesla's team."
Theresa stiffened. For a split second, worry flashed across her face—especially knowing Kouga had been with them. She quickly pushed the thought aside and forced herself back into command mode.
"…Understood. Battle stations, Mei! We're doing this."
The Hyperion lurched as engines roared to life.
An operator shouted from the console.
"Sensors picked up a large number of Honkai readings around the Hyperion! Honkai Beasts have started converging on our location through the breach in the barrier!"
Theresa clenched her fists.
"What? Why do bad things keep happening at moments like these?"
Mei stepped forward without hesitation.
"I'll go take care of them!"
A familiar presence moved beside her as Yae Sakura followed.
"Then let me aid you."
Mei nodded firmly, determination burning in her eyes, and the two Valkyries turned in unison.
Mei and Sakura burst onto the Hyperion's deck, only to be met by a surge of distorted shadows.
Honkai Beasts poured across the metal plating—clawed limbs scraping, wings beating against the storm-filled air, their shrieks drowned only by the roar of the ship's engines.
Without hesitation, both Valkyries drew their katanas.
Sakura moved first.
Her blade flashed like moonlight, a single smooth arc cutting through three beasts at once. She flowed forward, each step precise, her strikes calm and lethal—heads severed, cores shattered, bodies dissolving into Honkai mist before they could even hit the deck.
Mei followed with lightning at her heels.
Purple arcs danced along her katana as she slashed downward, cleaving a charging beast clean in half. Another leapt toward her from above—Mei pivoted, blade thrusting upward as thunder cracked, skewering it midair before spinning to cut down two more from her flank.
The deck became a storm of steel and light.
Honkai Beasts swarmed, but each advance was met with flawless coordination—Sakura intercepting fast movers and aerial threats, Mei breaking through clustered enemies with overwhelming force. Sparks flew as claws met steel, explosions rippled as cores detonated, and the deck slowly cleared under their relentless assault.
Then the calm shattered.
A sharp alarm rang out, followed by the operator's urgent voice over the comms:
"The lower levels have been hit. Fires have been detected spreading through the cabins!"
Mei froze mid-strike.
Her eyes widened, blood running cold.
"…Oh no, Bronya is still there!"
Sakura immediately stepped forward, positioning herself between Mei and the remaining beasts.
"Mei, go to the Cabins, i can handle thing here."
Mei hesitated only for a heartbeat, then nodded firmly.
"Thanks you miss Sakura."
She turned and sprinted toward the access corridor, lightning trailing behind her as she leapt from the deck toward the burning lower levels—ready to face whatever Honkai horrors had invaded the cabins.
Behind her, Sakura tightened her grip on her katana, eyes sharp and unwavering as the remaining Honkai Beasts regrouped.
Calm as ever, she stepped forward alone.
"Come," she murmured silently, blade rising into stance.
Mei raced through the Hyperion's cabins, the air thick with smoke and heat. Emergency lights flickered red as flames crawled along the walls, warped metal groaning under the strain.
Honkai Beasts burst from shattered doors and ceilings, their twisted forms filling the narrow corridors.
Mei didn't slow down.
Her katana flashed again and again, clean, decisive strikes cutting through the creatures as sparks and violet light trailed each swing. A beast lunged from the side—she pivoted and severed it in one motion, then drove forward, carving a path through the chaos.
The operator's voice crackled through the comms:
"Lower decks evacuated! Careful! More Honkai Beasts are approaching now!"
As if on cue, more shadows surged in.
Mei grit her teeth, fighting without pause. Between strikes, she grabbed a nearby fire extinguisher and smashed it open, white foam blasting out as she swept it across the flames, forcing them back. Sweat ran down her face as she pushed onward.
Inside her mind, frustration echoed.
Is there no end to them!?
Then—
A familiar voice answered her thoughts, calm and chilling all at once.
"How tragic. You'll never hope to beat them. Strong words but words mean nothing in this fight. I'll lend you some of my strength."
Mei staggered for a split second as power surged through her body.
She stared at her hand, electricity crawling along her fingers, her breath catching.
"This... Herrscher powers..."
The voice returned, sharper now.
"There's a score I need to settle. I won't let her die here."A low chuckle followed. "Never expected the day would come when our interests align."
Mei straightened.
Lightning erupted around her blade.
With renewed force, she charged.
Every swing of her katana became overwhelming—Honkai Beasts were cleaved apart before they could even close in. Thunder cracked through the corridors as bodies disintegrated into light, one after another, until the halls finally fell silent.
The operator's voice rang out again, this time filled with relief:
"All Honkai energy readings have disappeared!"
Moments later, Theresa's voice cut in over the comms:
"We're about to pass through the barrier. Get back to the bridge!"
Mei exhaled, steadying herself. The lightning around her faded as she turned and sprinted down the corridor, leaving behind scorched floors and fallen enemies.
Without looking back, she headed straight for the bridge of the Hyperion.
Sakura and Mei stood on the bridge of the Hyperion beside Theresa, all three of them staring at the main screen as Schicksal HQ's barrier collapsed, layer by layer, until it vanished completely.
Mei narrowed her eyes, analyzing the readings.
"Defense barrier completely disabled. The Hyperion is almost over the laboratory."
Theresa folded her arms, unease creeping into her expression.
"Something's not right... Why did their defenses suddenly become so weak? It felt as though they did it on purpose."
Before anyone could respond, the Hyperion lurched violently. Warning alarms blared throughout the bridge as the deck tilted beneath their feet. Theresa, Sakura, and Mei struggled to keep their balance.
"What's happening?!" Theresa shouted.
Mei looked at the sensors, her eyes widening.
"Strong dimensional fluctuations detected in the immediate vicinity— AH!"
She never finished the sentence.
A distortion opened beneath her, and in an instant Mei was pulled downward, vanishing into a swirling portal.
"Mei!!" Theresa cried out.
Mei shut her eyes, bracing for impact—
But it never came.
Instead, she felt herself caught midair, held securely, almost gently. Warmth replaced the chaos, and a familiar voice reached her ears, filled with urgency.
"Mei-senpai... Mei-senpai!"
Her eyes snapped open.
The first thing she saw was a face she knew better than anyone else.
"Kiana-chan?!"
Mei instinctively grabbed her shoulders, searching her face.
"…Are you okay?"
Kiana smiled softly.
"I'm... good. I've never been better..."
As she spoke, her eyes slowly shifted to a glowing orange. Light rippled across her body as her White Comet battlesuit began to change, reshaping itself midair.
White and black armor formed into a short, fitted armored dress, thin yet reinforced, with exposed shoulders and a short skirt. A black elbow-length glove with pink, glowing strings covered her left arm, while her right hand bore a white-and-orange glove. Around her neck appeared a fur-trimmed black collar, adorned with a black-and-gold ornament. Black thigh-highs and yellow-accented shoes completed the new form.
As the transformation ended, the sky around them bled crimson.
'Kiana' continued, her voice filled with exhilaration.
"I felt as though... I've been given a second life!"
Mei stared at her, confusion and fear mixing in her eyes.
"Kiana-chan?!"
The smile widened.
"I'm so happy to see you beside me when I woke. Now is the time for us to become one, my other half!"
Suddenly, purple lightning tore through the air.
The Herrscher of Thunder emerged from Mei's body in astral form, wrenching Mei out of 'Kiana's' grasp and pulling her back.
"We're too late! The Honkai has possessed her! She's extremely dangerous now!"
Mei struggled against the pull, her gaze never leaving Kiana.
Her voice was steady—unyielding.
"But that is the reason why I'm not letting go of her."
The Herrscher of Thunder scoffed.
"Hmph... Fine. If we're going to fight a Herrscher, you'll need Herrscher-grade powers to win this fight. Don't let me down."
In a flash of thunder, the Herrscher of Thunder merged back into Mei. Her eyes flared violet as purple lightning surged around her, crackling with overwhelming force.
Mei stepped forward, blade steady, heart resolute.
"Kiana-chan... I will never leave you behind... because I know you'll never give up on me as well!"
Mei moved first.
Purple lightning wrapped around her katana as she lunged forward, blade flashing in a clean arc meant to cut straight through the Herrscher's chest.
The strike missed.
'Kiana' simply floated backward, her feet never touching the ground, head tilted slightly as if watching something amusing.
Mei pressed on.
She dashed, slashed, pivoted—each swing precise, each step reinforced by Herrscher-grade speed. Lightning cracked through the air as her katana carved afterimages of violet light.
Every attack passed through empty space.
'Kiana' drifted effortlessly between them, sometimes leaning aside, sometimes vanishing and reappearing just out of reach. Not once did she counterattack. Not once did she look threatened.
She was toying with her.
Mei gritted her teeth and leapt upward, bringing her blade down in a thunderous overhead strike—
'Kiana' blinked out of existence.
The blade crashed into nothing, lightning exploding across the ground.
For a brief moment, silence.
The Herrscher of Thunder's voice echoed within Mei's mind.
"Is she gone? Or did her powers go rampant?"
Mei straightened, scanning the space around her.
Then—
Two figures appeared directly in front of her.
Her breath caught.
One wore the familiar White Comet battlesuit, eyes calm, expression gentle.
The other stood in the sleek armor of Knight Moonbeam, gaze sharp, posture battle-ready.
Mei froze.
"…Kiana?"
Both moved at once.
White Comet dashed forward, fists glowing as she unleashed a rapid flurry of strikes. Knight Moonbeam fired twin energy shots, forcing Mei to twist and roll just to avoid being torn apart.
Mei barely blocked one punch, the impact rattling her bones as she was sent skidding backward. She flipped to her feet just in time to parry Knight Moonbeam's blade, sparks flying as their weapons collided.
She spun, slashing upward—
White Comet vanished and reappeared behind her, kicking Mei squarely in the back.
Mei crashed into the ground, lightning flickering as she forced herself up.
They didn't relent.
Blades, bullets, fists—two Kianas attacking from opposite sides, synchronized, relentless. Mei dodged, blocked, countered where she could, her breathing growing heavier with every exchange.
Finally, she saw an opening.
She feinted left, drawing Knight Moonbeam's fire, then turned and unleashed a full-powered slash infused with thunder.
The arc cleaved through both figures at once.
The two Kianas shattered into fragments of light and dissolved into nothingness.
Mei dropped to one knee, panting.
Then slow clapping echoed through the air.
'Kiana' appeared again, floating calmly before her.
Despite the Herrscher power surging within her, Mei was exhausted. Her arms trembled. Her breath came in sharp gasps.
In the next instant, 'Kiana' was in front of her.
A hand closed around Mei's throat.
She was lifted off the ground effortlessly.
Air vanished from her lungs as her vision blurred. Still, Mei raised a trembling hand toward her.
"Ki… Kian… na… Wake… wake up…"
For a heartbeat—
The orange glow in the Herrscher's eyes flickered.
Then it vanished.
Bright, familiar sea-blue eyes stared back at Mei, wide with shock. Tears welled up as the grip loosened.
Mei fell to the ground, coughing violently.
'Kiana' staggered back, clutching her head as a scream tore from her throat.
Small orange cubes began to form around her, vibrating violently as if resisting containment.
Mei forced herself to her feet and reached out—
But stopped.
The Herrscher began to laugh.
The cubes drifted behind her, merging, compressing, collapsing into a point of absolute darkness. Space itself warped as the mass transformed—first into a black hole, then into a massive eye.
An eye with an orange sclera, a white iris, and a black pupil.
From it erupted a dark red beam, tearing open a massive purple portal across the sky.
Mei stared upward, stunned.
"Wha… what's happening?"
Her answer came screaming out of the portal.
Honkai Beasts.
The first crashed down like a meteor, striking the ground where Mei stood moments before. The shockwave blasted her away, sending her tumbling across shattered terrain.
She struggled to rise—
Too late.
The Honkai Beast raised its lance and drove it downward.
Mei covered herself, eyes shut tight.
But the pain never came.
She opened her eyes.
The lance was stopped—held in midair by an invisible force.
A massive Anti-Entropy mecha unit reveal itself, gripping the weapon. It snapped the lance in half as another mecha slammed into the beast's shield, pinning it down.
A missile struck its face.
The Honkai Beast exploded in fire.
One by one, Anti-Entropy mechas emerged, weapons raised.
Mei stared in disbelief.
"This is… Anti-Entropy?"
Without hesitation, the mechas charged toward the Herrscher.
But she merely smiled.
With every step she took, a purple field formed beneath her feet, allowing her to walk through the air itself. Portals opened around her, summoning more Honkai Beasts as both sides clashed in violent combat.
Watching the battlefield burn, the Herrscher spoke—cold, absolute.
"Humans, your existence is a mistake. War, deceit, jealousy, greed. You once took everything from me. But today, I will devour everything. Because I am the Honkai!"
Anti-Entropy missiles streaked toward her.
She raised her right hand and snapped her fingers.
Portals swallowed every missile whole.
A purple energy orb formed in her palm. With a flick of her wrist, portals opened around the mechas—
And returned the missiles.
The sky burned.
Explosions erased the mechas in moments.
As the smoke cleared, something massive descended from the heavens.
A dragon-like Honkai Beast landed behind the Herrscher, wings folding as it loomed over the battlefield.
Mei stared at the destruction, at the Herrscher, at the monster standing behind her.
Slowly—
The Herrscher turned her gaze toward Mei.