Mei: No One Understands Hokushin Itto-ryu Better Than Me!

Swordsmanship is a combat skill that emerged from the long development of human civilization. It is the art of fighting with weapons such as sharp blades. A master swordsman can injure people without divine weapons, even by throwing flowers or plucking leaves.

Sorry for the misdirection, this is a Honkai fanfiction, not a martial arts novel.

But it doesn't matter, everything can Honkai, right?

After thousands of years of development, swordsmanship has fallen into decline in modern society. Fortunately, in the chaotic and Honkai World, this traditional culture has been carried forward and developed.

I would like to give special praise to the Taixu Sword School of Shenzhou! However, I must criticize the Taixu Seven Swords!

Sorry for going off-topic again. If, I mean if, Linghu Chong had learned the Dugu Nine Swords and then encountered Dugu Qiubai, what kind of sparks would have ignited between them?

Wait, are these two works by the same author?

Without further ado, let's get to the main content—

After defeating the two Emiya family Heroic Spirits, Sachi, still in his Otherworld Hacker form, rode the rabbit with Wendy on the back, clinging tightly to him, afraid that Bronya might suddenly brake and throw her off.

Incidentally, Bronya's previous statement that Sachi rode on her during her transformation was incorrect. Sachi rode the Heavy-Duty Rabbit 19C, which transformed into a motorcycle, while Bronya transformed into various high-tech devices attached to him; it should be described as close contact.

Hmm, this feels even weirder.

Currently, three of the seven Servants have been defeated. At this rate, resolving this singularity and restoring St. Freya Academy to normalcy will be just around the corner, as long as the remaining Servants don't become too overpowered.

Fortunately, by looking at the map and activating the Honkai Vision, she found her next teammate after a bumpy ride, without encountering any Servants along the way.

Raiden Mei cautiously hid in a room in the dormitory building until Sachi called her from the doorway, at which point she carefully opened the door to confirm.

After experiencing a sudden and unexpected change, Raiden Mei's mind was unable to process what was happening. Her peaceful school life was disrupted once again, and the already fragile girl almost went crazy.

Thankfully, she is now reunited with her friends, which puts her at ease, but she hasn't seen the white fluffy ball she misses the most.

"Where's Kiana? Isn't she with you?"

"I haven't found her yet. I plan to find you first before looking for her, since your energy fluctuations are easier to identify. Come on, let's go find her together."

Oh, right, let me explain here. Although the Guidance Module thoughtfully provides the locations of the Servants and teammates, those are only approximate locations. You still need to open the Honkai Vision to find them one by one for the exact locations.

Furthermore, before the Herrscher of the Herrscher of the Void Core is activated, Kiana's reaction speed is indeed quite weak within the Honkai Vision. Mei and Wendy, needless to say, are practically invisible because the Herrscher Core is like a light bulb. As for Bronya, her Heavy Cannon Rabbit's energy reaction is quite unique.

Upon hearing the news that Kiana was missing, Mei's worries deepened. Suddenly, as if she remembered something, she grabbed Sachi's hand and asked urgently, "Did you see any strange people when you came here?"

"A strange person?" Yuki was taken aback for a moment, then realized that she was most likely referring to a corrupted Servant.

Just as he was about to answer, the continuously activated Honkai Vision warned him. Fortunately, he quickly switched to Nightshade Heavy Mist form (Q version, unable to fully transform without Yae Sakura), and pulled Mei to leave with the two little ones. But it was too late. Several crisscrossing sword energies cut a gap in the wall, and a black-haired girl walked in from outside.

When they saw the girl's face, all four of them were stunned, especially Mei, who could hardly believe her eyes.

Sachi glanced at Raiden Mei beside her, then looked closely at the girl on the other side who was pointing swords at them, and was a little confused for a moment. "Mei?"

Indeed, the girl in samurai armor bore a striking resemblance to Mei. However, she possessed an extremely strong aura of murderous intent, her presence completely different from Mei's.

Upon hearing Sachi mention her name, the samurai girl was a little surprised. "You know me? That's right, I am Hokushin Mei."

Mei: w(ﾟДﾟ)w

Fortunately:_( ﾟДﾟ)ﾉ

Bronya: (っ°Д °;)

Wendy: (°ー°)

Mei looked at Hokushin Mei in disbelief. "Kita-Tatsu? The founder of Hokushin Itto-ryu, Hokushin Mei? No, impossible. She was from the Sengoku period, she's long dead! It's just a coincidence of names."

I was a little confused, but after thinking about it for a moment, I understood what was going on.

"Guidance Module, tell me, if the Honkai Branch World collides with the Type-Moon Branch World, is it possible for Heroic Spirits from the Honkai World to appear?"

"When Branch World collide, the laws of the two worlds will temporarily be applicable; theoretically, this is possible."

Then it becomes clear that the person in front of me is the genuine Hokushin Mei from the Warring States period, who is also Raiden Mei's ancestor and grandmaster.

PS: The Hokushin Mei in this example is based on the Hokushin Mei from Honkai Impact 2, but they are not the same person.

Hokushin Mei noticed the Prototype Pulse Katana sheathed at Mei's waist and pointed her own katana at her. "Someone who resembles me, draw your sword. You just mentioned the Hokushin Itto-ryu, right? That's my swordsmanship. I feel a familiar feeling about you. Come and fight me."

P. S.: In Japan, swords and knives are not distinguished.

She then turned to look at Sachi and the others, "You are not allowed to interfere. The battle between samurai must not be disturbed by others."

Just as he was about to pull Bronya into transforming into the Otherworld Hacker again for a barrage of attacks to teach her a lesson that "sir, times have changed," Mei stopped him.

Mei's gaze was unwavering, her eyes burning with fierce fighting spirit. "Leave it to me, Sachi. If she really is that Hokushin Mei, then fighting her will greatly help improve my swordsmanship."

So you're not in a hurry to find Kiana anymore?

Mei drew her Prototype Pulse Katana from her waist and assumed the starting stance of the Hokushin Itto-ryu. "Hokushin Itto-ryu, Raiden Mei, reporting for duty."

Upon hearing Mei's name, Hokushin Mei was slightly surprised, but she also assumed the starting stance, "Hokushin Itto-ryu, Hokushin Mei, reporting for duty."

PS: According to the setting of Honkai Impact 2, after Hokushin Mei went into seclusion in the mountains, she changed her surname to Raiden.

The two men leaned down slightly, gripped the hilts of their knives with both hands, and observed each other's expressions without moving.

Wendy asked Sachi curiously, "Brother Xing, why aren't Sister Mei and that Hokushin Mei making any moves?"

Based on the memories gained from fighting Mei, and thus having a certain grasp of the Hokushin Itto-ryu- Mei style, Yuki guessed, "Well, how should I put it? In combat, it's all about striking first, but sometimes rashly making the first move might allow the opponent to exploit your weaknesses and cause you serious injury. That's how I understand it, but I don't know if that's true."

Mei hesitated to draw her sword, but sweat gradually beaded on her forehead. Her pupils contracted as she stared in astonishment at Hokushin Mei. Strong, far too strong! She had just mentally rehearsed her duel with Hokushin Mei dozens of times, but each time she had been beheaded within ten moves. This wouldn't do; she had to win!

Mei made up her mind. Purple arcs of electricity danced across her body as she gritted her teeth, enduring the pain of Honkai Energy erosion, and used the Herrscher power within her.

For some reason, not long after returning from Changkong City, she suddenly discovered she could use a portion of the power from the Gem of Conquest. Initially, she was frightened, thinking it was a sign that her Herrscher Persona was awakening. (Actually, it was during the OOO arc that she frightened her Herrscher Persona. Although her memories became hazy after the world was repaired, the power remained.)

But she waited anxiously for a long time, and there was no response at all.

Later, when she visited Sachi at the Oceania Branch, she mentioned this to Sachi, and Sachi just smiled slightly.

"Mei, this was originally your power, there is no need to be afraid."

Mei couldn't understand it. "My power? But I can't fight her..." She felt scared whenever she thought about the other self inside her.

Seeing Mei troubled, Sachi thought for a moment, then took out a coin and fiddled with it in his hand.

"Mei, we're like this coin, with two sides. Even the kindest person has a dark side. Light and shadow coexist. Without the solitude of night, how can the Rising Sun be highlighted?"

Mei still couldn't accept her Herrscher Persona. "That's true, but I can't accept that violent version of myself."

It wasn't that simple after all. Fortunately, he didn't lose heart. He gently held Mei's hand and transferred his body heat to her. "Mei, let me tell you a secret. You probably don't know this, but when I performed my first Bonded Weaponry with you, I gained your memories."

"Huh?" Mei was stunned for a moment, her face turning bright red. If that's the case, does he already know those things that absolutely cannot be known by others?

Seeing that Mei had misunderstood, he quickly explained, "It's just a general memory, not that detailed. I don't know your secrets."

Mei breathed a sigh of relief.

"Want to know what I saw in your memory? About another version of you."

"Huh?" Mei was stunned.

"That might be a memory you don't want to recall. Your father was framed by Cocolia and imprisoned. Those so-called friends who used to surround you left you. For a time, you felt abandoned by the world and despaired about life. So, before Kiana arrived, she was born in your heart as your former mask— the Thunder Queen, and the guardian who bore your negative emotions, which is your other personality."

Mei seemed a little incredulous. "What? She's mine..."

"Even our negative emotions are an indispensable part of our growth. A flower bud that has not experienced the ravages of wind and rain cannot bloom into a beautiful flower. Try to have a good talk with her if you have the chance. I believe she doesn't have much hostility towards you."

The memory ended there. Electricity surged through her body, crackling across the blade. Facing her ancestor, Mei swung her sword. "Excuse me! This strike will decide the victor!"

Author's Note—

To be fair, Herrscher Mei is genuinely good to Mei, no less so than Black Seele.