The City in Ruins

"My god, th-this... what happened here?!" Sheng Jiu stared out the window at Manila below the gunship, his face full of shock.

Manila, once a thriving city, was now shrouded in the shadow of the Honkai. Smoke and dust hung over the streets, and the buildings lay in ruins. The city's former glory was gone. The devastation wrought by the Honkai was horrifying to behold.

A pungent odor filled the air, and the smoke was so thick it was hard to breathe. Trees lining the streets had been ripped out by the roots and strewn across the ground, as if they were telling the city's story of suffering. Broken glass, twisted metal, and scattered bricks littered the ruins. Everything was in disarray.

The city's central plaza, once a place where people gathered and relaxed, had become a barren wasteland. Deep fissures crisscrossed the ground, like wounds in the earth, silently revealing the force that had nearly destroyed everything. Dust and debris from the Honkai swirled through the air. Sunlight streamed through gaps in the haze, casting streaks of mottled light.

People struggled through the ruins, exhaustion and despair etched on their faces. They covered their mouths and noses, trying to keep out the drifting smoke and dust, but their eyes still betrayed their uncertainty about the future. The Honkai had not only destroyed the physical world; it had dealt a devastating blow to people's spirits as well.

The group fell into an unusual, collective silence. Himeko looked back at their grim faces and spoke. "All right, don't be too upset. We can't prevent the Honkai from happening. All we can do is minimize the damage. That's the only thing we can do."

"The Honkai, huh... I'll defeat you for sure!" Kiana raised her little fist in indignation. Sheng Jiu handed her a lollipop. "We'll do it. Trust me."

The gunship soon landed at Manila's battered airport. Himeko led the three of them briskly to the temporary command post, where a second lieutenant greeted them and assigned their mission. "Major Himeko, please take a look. This is an aerial map of Manila. European Branch forces have already gone to the western district to conduct rescue operations, while the African Branch has been assigned the southern and northern districts. You'll search the eastern district."

"Understood. We'll enter the cordoned-off zone right away."

Outside the tent, missile launchers provided fire support against a target not far away. One missile after another streaked toward the area, and the massive explosions raised huge mushroom clouds. The sky had already turned bloodred. Manila had become a living hell.

The second lieutenant gazed at the scene outside and nervously clutched the crucifix pendant around his neck. "May the Lord protect us..."

"Hey, hurry up! Keep up, you lazybones! We're running out of time!" Kiana glanced back at the lagging Sheng Jiu, her face full of disdain.

"Good grief! You've got all your equipment loaded onto me! How am I supposed to run as fast as you?!"

"I don't care, I don't care! Don't you dare slow me down. We have to rescue everyone!"

The five of them soon reached the ruins of a small town. Heavy Trooper Bunny quickly cleared away a large section of collapsed wall. Beneath it lay a dirty red rag doll.

Yae Sakura bent down and sadly picked up the doll. "In this situation, even a healthy person would..."

"Hello! Is anyone there?!" Himeko shouted toward the ruins, but only silence answered her.

"Teacher Himeko, please step aside. Let Bronya take a look." Bronya slowly walked to the middle of the rubble and crouched down. Beside her, Heavy Trooper Bunny produced a device resembling a stethoscope and placed it on the ground to scan.

"Ten meters below us, there's a survivor. Female, between ten and twenty years old. She appears to be in shock," Bronya said gravely.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's get her out!" Kiana hurriedly grabbed a shovel and began prying at the rubble. Yae Sakura and Bronya picked up tools and joined her in clearing it away.

The noise of shoveling and digging soon attracted the Honkai Beasts nearby. Several Assault-type Honkai Beasts charged toward them. Himeko and Sheng Jiu exchanged a glance, drew their weapons, and rushed to meet the incoming enemies. "Keep going! We'll handle things here!"

The two teams quickly clashed. Sheng Jiu faced three ferocious Assault-type Honkai Beasts, while Himeko was locked in combat with several Clawed Soldiers with sharp foreclaws.

The three of them soon cleared most of the rubble covering the injured person. Only one final slab remained, as big as a small car. No matter how hard they tried, they couldn't budge it.

"Boom!" Heavy Trooper Bunny reached out with its huge claw and lifted the slab in one go.

A girl covered in dust appeared before them. Her eyes were tightly shut, and a long gash marred her face. Blood from the wound stained her short brown hair.

"First aid, quick!" Yae Sakura hurriedly called to Kiana.

Kiana fumbled to open the medical kit, then carefully wrapped a bandage coated in ointment around the wound.

Feeling the change around her, the girl slowly opened her eyes. When she saw Kiana, tears spilled down her cheeks. "...Help me... big sister... It hurts so much!"

Kiana hugged the girl tightly, her heart aching. "Don't worry, little sister. You're safe now. We'll protect you."

"Hey! How's it going over there?" Sheng Jiu asked without looking back as he cut down a Scythe Soldier.

"We've got the injured person out safely. Let's go!"

"Finally! I've been waiting for this moment!" Himeko swung her Sunfire Greatsword, slamming down on an attacking Clawed Soldier, then kicked away another one that was about to ambush her.

"Supernova—Slash!" Sheng Jiu switched the button to its second setting and swung Jueying. A smaller blade of energy shot out, slicing toward the oncoming Honkai Beasts. It quickly took out several of the beasts in front. While the rest of the group faltered, the five of them swiftly escaped with the injured girl.