Honkai's Thousand Laws, Kidnapping Kiana at the Start

Chapter 29: Corona

Fear, terror. Chris's eyes were wide open, the threat of death barging into his vision so directly and abruptly. Enveloped by death, he was like a stiff, dead insect, barely able to control his breathing.

Tears and snot could no longer be held back. Crushed by the overwhelming pressure, Chris revealed his ugliest side. He wailed silently, collapsing weakly onto the ground.

"Chen Tianwu, what are you doing? Hurry up and finish that guy off." A gang member, attacking from a distance with a mask on, also noticed Chris and shouted at the man holding a gun to his head.

"Tch!" Chen Tianwu clicked his tongue impatiently. He hated being spoken to in a commanding tone, but he didn't object to dealing with enemies.

Flames were burning fiercely. Chen Tianwu stood within the inferno, slowly placing his finger on the trigger. The scorching air licked at the two of them, accompanied by the man's desperate murmurs. His movement suddenly halted.

"Sister…"

"Sister…"

Gunshots, flames, ruins.

"Brother… save me… Brother, where are you?" A girl's voice echoed in Chen Tianwu's mind. His breathing hitched, and a wave of indescribable pain washed over him.

Chen Tianwu's frozen posture quickly drew the attention of his accomplices. After impatiently finishing off all the remaining police officers, the Thousand Fists Society's squad leader shoved him hard.

"It's this difficult to kill someone, you're such a waste. If the boss didn't value your reconnaissance skills, you'd probably be a corpse by now," the squad leader grumbled, cocking his gun and aiming it at Chris.

Bang—!

A gunshot rang out, but the bullet landed in an empty spot.

The squad leader stared at Chen Tianwu, who had pushed his gun away, in disbelief. Anger surged within him. "Kid, are you trying to betray us?"

Click, click, click.

The Thousand Fists Society members all raised their guns and aimed them at Chen Tianwu. He, however, remained nonchalant, merely saying softly, "This guy is a useful tool. The Fanghe Society guys are planning to use him as a scapegoat, so let's have him disrupt their plans."

Staring intently at Chen Tianwu, the squad leader repeatedly placed his finger on the trigger, then slowly released it. While this guy was sloppy and lazy, he did have some skill and was considered one of the smarter ones in the gang.

More importantly, the boss seemed to admire him greatly, even wanting to transfer him to a position outside of the Western countries. If that happened, his own position as a mere regional squad leader would be like a helpless chick at someone's mercy, someone who could be buried in a flowerbed without anyone knowing.

"Hmph!" He snorted, tacitly approving Chen Tianwu's actions.

After the Thousand Fists Society members dispersed to deal with the bodies, Chen Tianwu kicked Chris on the ground. "Get up."

Unfortunately, Chris's eyes were already unfocused, completely lost in his own world. Chen Tianwu frowned slightly and pressed the long gun barrel to Chris's face again.

"3…"

"2…"

Before the last number fell, a set of sharp teeth clamped down on the gun barrel. Chen Tianwu gasped, meeting a pair of eyes devoid of any emotion.

Despair? Sadness? No, nothing. Chen Tianwu couldn't find any emotion in those eyes. He was like a broken doll, like a corpse that had lost its soul's resonance, waiting to be pecked by circling vultures, waiting to be torn apart by hungry wolves.

Waiting to be controlled by puppet strings.

Faintly, Chen Tianwu seemed to see a hungry wolf, shrouded in black mist, let out an excited howl in those eyes.

"Hey, kid, there's still someone waiting for you to come home."

The voice was cold and calm. He didn't look at the stripped-bare Chris, merely gazing into the distance. No one knew if he was speaking to himself or to Chris.

The wolf howls, which had begun to grow excited, gradually receded. The ancient and long-standing hunter was captured by a black and white mark and gradually subsided.

But it hadn't disappeared; it was merely waiting for the next hunt.

No one noticed the black and white mark branded onto Chris's back, nor did anyone hear the sound of gears turning in the Theater of Domination.

The scattered pupils gradually focused. Life returned to Chris's eyes, even though they were filled with fear, even though his body trembled uncontrollably, even though he gagged from intense nausea.

Yet, like a child who had found their way home, he had a direction to move forward.

"Go and correct this wrong world."

Dusk. Accompanied by the sound of brakes, a white medical vehicle stopped steadily in front of Chris's house. Several figures alighted, all wearing matching blue medical uniforms and black leather shoes.

One of them rang Chris's doorbell.

A short while later, Corona, pale and listless, opened the door. Blown by the cool evening breeze, she almost collapsed.

Seeing Corona's poor state, the medical personnel responsible for the treatment quickly supported her and helped her back into her room.

After temporary first aid, Corona gradually recovered.

"Schicksal retired Valkyrie Corona. I am Euryca, in charge of your physical treatment. I must inform you that although we will provide long-term effective treatment, your body suffered severe Honkai erosion during your last battle and requires prolonged rest."

"…" Corona remained silent, occasionally glancing towards her brother's room. She had tidied it up meticulously, even buying a brand-new gaming setup. But as of now, she still hadn't seen the figure she longed to see.

"Chris…"

Seeing Corona's lack of cooperation, the support staff treating her felt helpless. Corona's body was on the verge of collapse. Even with Schicksal's medical team, her remaining lifespan was less than two years.

They had also reviewed Corona's records. As a rare A-Rank Valkyrie, Corona had fought on the front lines almost continuously since awakening at the age of 12. It was only a few years ago, after her parents' accidental death, that she decided to retire. However, by then, her Honkai corruption was already quite severe, requiring her to rely on special painkillers daily to maintain a normal life.

A Valkyrie with such outstanding dedication should have enjoyed a more preferential environment, but she had given up a better situation to care for her younger brother. To prevent her brother from knowing about her condition, she had even specifically chosen to receive treatment at night. But something had happened today, causing Corona's body to collapse again, rendering months of treatment almost in vain.

"Also, please stop using these special painkillers; they are not beneficial to your health," Euryca said patiently, putting away the candy-like painkillers from the box.

Chapter 30: Battle

The world has never been perfect; there is no pure, untainted land here, nor a haven for the soul. The past self was always immersed in a virtual world, like a seeker guarding the sacred mountain in their heart in solitude.

No worries, no anger, hands bound tightly, speaking of hating violence, but in reality, it was just cowardice.

In this chaotic land, violence has never been far away, always lurking, but someone shielded me from the wind and rain, built a place for me to live, and blocked all malice.

Family.

No matter what Kiana became, she was still the person closest to me.

"Go say goodbye to her. I have no other path to retreat."

Warm blood splattered onto Chris's cheek. Another gang member from the Fanghe Society died under his gun. His hands trembled, and his soul trembled.

He was afraid. Would the him who was now stained with blood still be the him who upheld kindness?

"Three days ago, a shocking shooting occurred in the Carloven district. A young police officer was attacked by gangsters during his duty and lost his life forever. This was a heinous incident. Local police immediately launched an investigation and, through clues, identified the perpetrators, carrying out their arrest the next day."

"However, during the transportation of the criminals, the police were attacked by accomplices of the gangsters. They not only took the criminals away but also caused the deaths of several upright police officers. Such vicious criminals appearing in our country is a disaster. All citizens are urged to pay close attention to the movements of the criminals and report them immediately in a safe environment. The police will dispatch immediately to carry out the arrest."

"Furthermore, according to information provided by the police, they have identified the relatives of the criminal suspects, and may be able to obtain some information from them..."

"Chris..." The phone in her hand dropped to the ground. The number saved as Chris had been dialed hundreds of times. The moment Corona saw the photo of the criminal on the news, she felt as if she had been struck by lightning, her mind going blank.

After a moment of daze, she quickly came to her senses. No one knew her brother better than Corona. She couldn't believe that Chris, who spent his days immersed in games, would commit such a murder. It was more likely that the police, to protect the local gangs, had targeted Chris.

Knock, knock.

Just then, a knock sounded at the door. A look of surprise appeared on her face, but after taking two steps, she immediately stopped. This was not Chris's usual way of knocking.

"Miss Corona, I'm your neighbor Locke. I just returned from a trip to Oaxaca and brought some local specialties..."

No response.

Slowly retreating back into her room, Corona, with a nervous expression, took a handgun from the closet. This was her auxiliary weapon during her time as a Valkyrie.

She hadn't used this weapon since retiring, but now—Corona gently caressed the engravings on the gun, the ones bearing her surname.

This was supposed to be her coming-of-age gift for Chris, but she had abandoned the idea when she realized Chris preferred anime. She hadn't expected that today, she would have to pick up this weapon again to protect her family. Corona said nothing, merely ejecting the magazine and checking the condition of each bullet, just as she had learned.

"Miss Corona?"

The neighbor's voice still echoed at the door, but how could Corona, a retired Valkyrie, not know who her neighbors really were?

A butcher who secretly sold dog meat on the black market claimed to have brought a gift. This kind of joke was no different from the city's gangsters gathering just to play poker.

As expected, after seeing no response, the room door was blasted open with crude explosives. A man in black kicked open the broken door and barged in.

Through the surveillance camera installed at the entrance, it was clear that the intruders were not police but gangsters.

In this city, the police and gangsters were no different; they covered for each other and colluded. Although Chris had never thought of these things, as his sister, she had to consider them. Even the factory where Chris worked was only after she had investigated it multiple times.

"Just grab her. That woman hasn't left the house at all, she must be hiding inside." Someone was shouting orders loudly, not caring if they could be heard. Corona knew very well that this meant they wouldn't leave any witnesses alive. "The Oaxaca State authorities have sent people to intervene. Those local police can't be relied on. Deal with anyone related to that guy first, to avoid any accidents."

Bang—!

A gunshot rang out, and a gangster's head instantly exploded. Corona gasped for air. Her body was severely eroded, especially after being hurt by Chris's parting words. She was almost on the verge of collapse.

Gritting her teeth, she took out a few 'sugar pills' from her pocket. These were painkillers that Chris had mistaken for drugs. Although the medical staff had warned her multiple times, she couldn't care about that now.

Bang—!

Another one fell. 1 versus 9, Corona had a huge advantage.

As the intense gunfight unfolded in Chris's home, the true law enforcement forces from Oaxaca State were also rapidly advancing. This was not only because the victim this time was a relative of the mayor but, more importantly, because the accused criminal was the family member of a highly decorated Valkyrie. Although ordinary people might not know what a Valkyrie meant, the true upper echelons were well aware of the power Schicksal wielded over half the world.

Cases involving Valkyries could not afford any mistakes.

Meanwhile, an unlicensed car was also approaching. If someone familiar saw it, they would surely recognize it as the car Chris drove to and from work every day.

He was driving alone now, the weapon given to him by the Thousand Fists Society placed on the passenger seat. His heart was pounding rapidly, keeping pace with his current speed.

Only extreme speed could shake off fear; Chris understood this well.

Chapter 31: Fire

Bang—

"Hoo... only one left." Panting heavily, her throat burned like fire. The Honkai patterns were spreading, tearing Corona's skin apart inch by inch.

She poured the entire bottle of painkillers into her mouth. Corona's vision was blurring. Even the potent painkillers couldn't suppress the pain in her body.

"Don't worry, don't worry. As long as I deal with the last one..." she kept telling herself.

But after that, she heard no more sounds. It wasn't until an intense heat swept over her, and flames licked at the door, that she realized the gangsters had actually set the place on fire, intending to burn her to death.

The surrounding flames crackled and popped, spreading rapidly. The entire living room was engulfed in fire. And Chris's room, the meticulously organized manga bookshelf that Corona had tidied up after he left, was also ignited, turning the sacred place he had protected into ashes.

"Chris, you need to grow up."

"Because today is your birthday."

The unlicensed car stopped on the road. The intense flames flickered in Chris's eyes, dyeing them crimson.

"Sister?"

He had never felt his voice so dry, his hands so weak, his sister, who he lived with day in and day out and who always meddled in his affairs, so important, or his breathing so difficult.

Chris had always believed that as long as he was fast enough, fear couldn't catch him.

But in this moment, he suddenly understood that no matter how fast he ran, he couldn't outrun death.

The next second, Chris charged directly into the sea of fire. The rolling flames immediately engulfed him, burning his skin. The house was already burnt beyond recognition, but in this home that held over 20 years of his memories, every corner was so familiar.

Gunshots, explosions, bullet holes, corpses – this was the symphony of violence, and the most direct 'gift' violence had bestowed upon Chris.

"Sister?" "Sister!"

Chris, his skin extensively burned, smashed open the final door. Smoke and intense heat consumed the entire room. He saw her.

The woman lying in the flames.

The last bullet was meant for him.

The last gift was for his closest family.

"To my dearest brother..."

Corona's farewell note left on her phone before she died, her deepest goodbye.

Even though his body was completely burned, Chris felt no pain. A dark, malevolent wolf prowled around him, snarling at the flames.

Chris picked up Corona and stepped through the fire, walking out step by step.

The sunlight outside was warm and bright.

How long had it been since Chris, who always stayed at home, felt such warm sunshine?

He didn't know.