Honkai, why do you only throw me into high-level battles?

The Valkyries of Snow Lotus believed their captain was in danger, requesting backup.

Rita believed Lin Wei had paid a heavy price to stop the tsunami, and Jell was encountering difficulties escorting him to safety.

But the reality was far different.

...

On opposite sides of the city, both Jell and the Chen siblings were nearing their limits, both physically and mentally.

Riding a motorcycle through a ruined city, dodging monsters, with a passenger's life in your hands, was incredibly taxing.

After racing across half of Manila, Chen Tianwu's adrenaline was fading, his focus wavering, his arms and wrists aching, stiffening, trembling with exhaustion.

He had to slow down, or they would crash.

"Brother, are you okay?" The little girl, clinging to him, felt his sweat soaking through her clothes. His own clothes were drenched, as if he'd just climbed out of a river. "Should we… rest for a bit?"

"No…" he mumbled, his voice hoarse with exhaustion. "We can't stop…"

He knew he was running on fumes, his strength gone, his body screaming for rest. If he stopped, he would collapse, and in this dangerous place…

I wouldn't care if I died, but what about Wenwen?

He pushed himself harder, forcing himself to stay awake, focused on the road ahead. He could only afford brief bursts of speed, weaving through the debris, dodging Honkai beasts, each near-miss draining his remaining energy.

It was a vicious cycle, his fatigue increasing, his speed decreasing, the danger growing.

The only thing keeping him going, besides his sister, was the map and navigation system Jell had provided. The distance to their destination was decreasing, a small, flickering flame of hope in the encroaching darkness.

"Just a little further… almost there…" he muttered, trying to encourage himself, and his sister. "Wenwen, hold on. We're almost home…"

...

The difference between a Valkyrie and an ordinary human was vast. Otherwise, how could they possibly stand against the monstrous Honkai beasts and the agile, unpredictable zombies?

And A-rank Valkyries were the elite, the best of the best.

That's why Jell had been confident she could draw away the Honkai beasts, clearing a path for Anna and Lin Wei.

That's why she believed Anna, despite her inexperience, could escape with Lin Wei.

That's why she'd made this sacrifice.

She fought, she ran, she evaded, doing everything she could to survive, to buy them time.

A burning torch, drawing the Honkai beasts to her, away from Anna and Lin Wei.

She'd lost count of how many she'd killed. Dozens? Hundreds?

She'd started counting at first, but she'd grown numb to it.

She just killed, and ran, eliminating any obstacles in her path, leading the monstrous horde away from the base camp, away from Anna.

It didn't matter where she went, as long as it was away from them. Wasn't that her purpose?

Her energy faded, her enthusiasm replaced by a cold, methodical efficiency. Even the constant roars of the Honkai beasts became background noise, like the wind, like traffic.

So, this is what it feels like… to be a weapon… she thought wryly.

"Anna, you were right. We're not weapons. We're not tools…" She knew Anna couldn't hear her, but she spoke anyway. "But look at this… damned world…"

"Bang! Bang!" She shattered a Honkai beast's armor with two shots, then the gun clicked empty.

"Tch!" She discarded the useless weapon, drawing her blade, charging forward, finishing off the beast.

"These endless enemies, this unstoppable Honkai, consuming our homes, turning cities into graveyards…"

"Screech!" A rare Chariot-Clas Honkai beast, drawn by the commotion, swooped down. She dodged, then sliced it in two.

"Everyone dies. No one escapes…"

She was almost surrounded, but she used a Honkai beast's claw as a springboard, leaping away, rolling to a stop, then running again.

"So, someone has to die, so others can live. That's our fate, as Valkyries."

The Honkai beasts roared, frustrated by her escape.

"Can't you be a little more creative?" she taunted them, watching them approach.

"We can't fight fate. We're just paving stones. But we embrace our fate. It's our only way to defy this… broken world…" She calmly cleaned her blade, waiting for them to catch up.

"So, Anna, if you hate this fate, then grow stronger, break free from these chains! And find out… if there really is a god… controlling everything, destroying everything!"

"And avenge all those who have fallen to this endless disaster!"

The Honkai beasts surged forward.

"You're so slow!" She turned and charged back into the horde, killing three more, their massive bodies tripping the others, creating a momentary opening.

If only I had a heavy weapon… she thought, then plunged back into the fray, taking advantage of the chaos, her twin blades a blur of motion.

To think… these mindless creatures are the ones destroying our world…

"Crack!" One of her blades snapped. Even the finest weapons couldn't withstand such relentless use.

Her expression hardened. She couldn't afford to be reckless anymore. She retreated, catching her breath, conserving her dwindling energy.

Even an A-rank Valkyrie had limits. She was nearing hers.

How does Durandal do it, fighting all over the world, all by herself? she wondered, her mind wandering. Why was the gap between them so vast?

If only I had some supplies… She looked at her remaining blade, its edge still sharp, but for how much longer? Would it break in her next fight?

And if her weapon was failing, how much longer could she last?

She felt a strange sense of peace, not fear, not panic, but… relief.

Is living… this tiring?

"Roar!" A Honkai beast's roar snapped her out of her reverie. The disorganized horde had regrouped, their anger renewed, and they were closing in. More were approaching from the distance. She would be surrounded soon.

"Damn it, they just keep coming…" She looked at the endless horde, calmly cleaning her blade, resuming her seemingly endless battle.

...

Chen Tianwu had also reached his limit. In every sense of the word.

The motorcycle was out of fuel. Honkai beasts were still visible in the distance. He was so close to his destination, yet he didn't even have the strength to run.

Will the reinforcements really come? he wondered, his heart filled with despair. Is this the end?

...

Jell, down to her last weapon, could no longer afford to engage the Honkai beasts directly. She dodged and weaved, her movements growing slower, her options dwindling.

Just a little further… she gritted her teeth. I can still fight… it's not over yet…

...

"Wenwen, take this…" Chen Tianwu pried his numb hand from the handlebars, pulling off the beeping communicator and placing it in his sister's hands. He pointed towards their destination. "Run! That way! Run!" He couldn't go any further. He just hoped his sister could survive.

"No! I'm not leaving you!" The little girl cried, grabbing his arm. "I'm still strong! I'll carry you!"

"Just go!" he yelled, pushing her away.

...

Jell had lost track of time, her mind numb, her body moving on instinct. She'd abandoned all strategy, simply running, fighting, surviving.

"Huff… huff…" She couldn't feel the pain in her lungs anymore. Have I… reached my limit? The thought brought a strange sense of peace, a faint smile touching her lips.

"Roar!" A Knight-class Honkai beast, scattering its lesser brethren, charged towards her, its lance lowered, ready to deliver the final blow.

"You… dare…?" Jolted awake by the threat, a surge of anger, of interrupted rest, coursed through her. She raised her blade, summoning her last reserves of strength, a final act of defiance.

"Clang!" The lance struck her blade, the impact like a speeding train, sending her flying.

She landed heavily, her body broken, her armor shattered, lying amidst the rubble like a discarded doll, silent and still.

...

The little girl, tears streaming down her face, clutched the beeping communicator, running away, looking back every few steps. She knew she would never see her brother again.

"Run! Don't look back!" he yelled, his voice weak, all his remaining strength focused on that single command.

I'm dying… he thought, a pang of regret in his heart. So close, yet so far.

But it's okay… Wenwen will live…

"Crash!" The sound of collapsing rubble interrupted his thoughts.

He looked up and saw a small, two-meter-tall Honkai beast, having just broken through a wall, charging towards his sister.

"Wenwen, look out!" With a surge of adrenaline, he leaped from the motorcycle, throwing himself in front of her.

"Slash!" "Ah!" A searing pain ripped through him, and he cried out, his vision blurring.

"Brother!" The little girl screamed, her face pale with horror. She felt warmth on her cheek. His blood.

"Run…" he whispered, but it was too late.

The Honkai beast raised its other claw, ready to strike.

"Clang!" Just as she closed her eyes, bracing for the inevitable, a silver figure appeared above them, its scythe intercepting the blow, then slashing downwards, pinning the beast to the ground.

"Why are you two alone here?" Rita, having followed the distress signal, saw only the injured siblings and the abandoned motorcycle. No sign of Lin Wei or Jell.

She quickly froze Chen Tianwu's wound, then asked urgently, "Where are Lin Wei and Captain Jell?"

"The… motorcycle…" Chen Tianwu gasped, struggling to speak, his vision blurring. "Map… marked… Lin Wei… in danger…" He lost consciousness.

Rita looked towards the distance, seeing the distant figures of Honkai beasts, her heart sinking.

She wanted to help, but they were too far away. How could she possibly reach them in time?