Chapter 6

Footsteps sounded from outside the door. Before I could react, the door opened, followed by the cheerful voice of someone entering without permission. 

"Hey, so this is the kid?"

I looked up. A girl stood there, my age. Her hair was shoulder-length, a shiny brown under the room light. She looked at me with curiosity, as if studying me from head to toe. I was immediately wary. 

The girl approached, her hazel eyes looking at me with a strange glint that was hard to decipher. Her smile was sweet, but there was something behind her expression that made me uncomfortable. She sat on the edge of the bed without hesitation, leaning slightly closer to me.

"So, how does it feel to wake up from a nightmare?" she asked casually.

I remained silent, choosing to look at her without answering. To be honest, I was more disturbed by her approach. The distance between us was too close for someone who had just met. Moreover, her appearance was slightly... seductive. 

Her clothes were tight in some areas, and her perfume was overwhelming. I tried to focus, but the way she looked at me with a hint of temptation made me have to hold back. Before I could say anything, the door opened again, and this time Alexandria entered with a tired expression.

"I know you'd do this," she said, glaring at the girl.

The girl chuckled. "I just wanted to get acquainted." 

Alexandria sighed, then looked at me.

"How are you feeling?

I thought for a moment before answering, 

"Strange. I feel okay, but I shouldn't. Not after everything that happened." 

Alexandria nodded, then glanced at the girl beside me. "Stop disturbing him. He's not fully recovered yet." 

The girl raised her hands, pretending to surrender. "Okay, okay, I get it." 

I furrowed my brow. "Do you two know each other?"

"Of course." Alexandria sighed. "She—"

"Freya." The girl smiled broadly. "I'm Freya. Nice to meet you."

I still didn't know how to react to her, so I just nodded slightly. 

Then, Alexandria looked at me again.

"There's a lot you need to know."

I could sense the seriousness in her voice, so I focused. Alexandria began explaining everything: the world's destruction, the battle in my apartment, and Overseer Helix's role in all this. 

I listened carefully, but the more she said, the harder it was for me to believe. I grew up in the last bastion of humanity. 

Since childhood, I've been accustomed to news broadcasts. They always said the world's destruction was due to uncontrollable factors— natural disasters, pandemics, or things beyond scientific explanation. But what Alexandria said was different.

"Honkai isn't just a natural disaster. It's something created," she said.

I looked at her sharply. "What do you mean?"

"Overseer Helix is involved in all this. They're not just an organization protecting humanity like the media says. They're hiding something. They know more than they let people believe."

I fell silent. If what she said was true... then we've all been lied to this whole time. I swallowed hard, trying to understand everything. 

"So, you're saying the world's destruction wasn't an accident? That there's a conspiracy behind all this?"

Alexandria didn't answer directly. But her gaze was enough to give me the answer.

I clenched my fists. All this time, the media had only shown what they wanted to show. They filtered information, ensuring that people only knew half the truth. And I... was one of those who believed the lies. I let out a long sigh. This was all too much to take in at once.

Alexandria gazed at me intently, making sure I was still following every word she said. I swallowed hard, trying to digest the information that was becoming increasingly hard to believe.

"Overseer Helix has a grand ambition. They want to find the God's Net."

I furrowed my brow. "God's Net?"

Alexandria nodded. "A system they believe is hidden among dimensions. This network, according to them, is the key to understanding and controlling the Honkai energy. That's why they're so obsessed with researching the 12 Cores belonging to the Princeps."

I fell silent, trying to connect her words with my memories of the Princeps. The Princeps weren't just ordinary creatures. They were entities that emerged after the massive incident known as the Princeps Eruption Catastrophe, where Honkai energy exploded so fiercely that it destroyed human civilization.

The Valkyries—including Alexandria—managed to defeat some Princeps in the great battle. However, it seemed their fight wasn't over yet.

Alexandria continued, "At that time, the 12 Cores were found in the bodies of the defeated Princeps. No one knows for sure what their function is, but it's clear that the Honkai energy is centered around these Cores."

I tried to understand, but the more information she provided, the greater my fear grew.

"Then... what's the connection with our world being destroyed?" I asked, my voice slightly trembling.

"The distortion of Honkai energy has caused flora and fauna around the world to decay. At first, we thought the Scourge would only affect the environment. But that was wrong. Over time, we started to see something even more terrifying."

I tensed up.

"This energy comes from another dimension. And it's not just destructive. It can also change humans."

My eyes widened.

"At first, this phenomenon was seen in animals. Those who stayed in areas exposed to the Honkai for too long underwent horrific mutations. Their bodies changed, their organs were damaged, and eventually they became ferocious creatures that could no longer be recognized."

Alexandria took a brief breath before continuing. "And not long after that... the same phenomenon occurred in humans." I froze. "Humans exposed to high radiation from this energy started to lose control over their bodies. At first, it was just small changes, like skin turning blue or eyes turning black. But over time, their bodies could no longer maintain their original form. They transformed into monsters."

I felt nauseous. A picture suddenly appeared in my head, a human slowly losing themselves, their body changing into something that could no longer be called human.

I looked at Alexandria with full-blown fear. "That means... anyone can turn into a monster?" 

She nodded slowly. "If they're exposed for too long, yes."

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. 

However, before I could settle my thoughts, Alexandria spoke again. "The peak of this threat is the Princeps Eruption.”

I looked at her again.

"This disaster occurs periodically. Every time a Honkai energy explosion occurs in the sky, a large number of new monsters are born. For years, we've been trying to figure out the cause, and finally, we found the answer."

I swallowed hard.

"The Princeps... aren't creatures that just appear out of nowhere. They need hosts."

I widened my eyes. "Hosts?" I repeated in a barely audible whisper.

Alexandria nodded. "They can't exist without a human body they can control. And do you know who is most vulnerable to becoming a host?"

I shook my head slowly, fearing the answer she would give.

"Women with emotional wounds." 

A silence enveloped the room. I was still speechless. Alexandria continued, her voice softer this time.

"The Honkai doesn't just attack the human body. It also affects their minds and souls. Those with unstable emotions, who harbor sadness, anger, and hatred within themselves... have a higher chance of becoming hosts."

I swallowed hard.

"Slowly, the energy invades their bodies. Takes over every cell, every organ, every part of themselves. Until finally, they lose control over their own bodies. And when the time comes..." Alexandria gazed at me deeply. "...they transform into new Princeps.”

I couldn't breathe. The next eruption... occurred because humans turned into monsters themselves. I felt the world around me spinning. Suddenly, everything I knew felt like a lie. 

I sat still, letting every word Alexandria said hit me like a storm. I wanted to deny it, wanted to think that this was all just a baseless conspiracy theory. But the more I tried to reject it, the more it all made sense. 

This cycle of destruction... Eruptions that kept happening every 1-2 years... Humans turning into Princeps...

I clenched my fists. "So, this world really has no hope? We're just waiting for the time when all humans are wiped out or turned into monsters?"

Alexandria sighed. "That's what's been happening all along."

I shook my head, refusing to believe it.

"No... there must be a way to stop it. There has to be!"

Alexandria looked at me with eyes filled with exhaustion. "We've tried everything. But as long as the Honkai energy still exists in this world, this cycle will never stop."

I felt anger boiling in my chest. "Then, Overseer Helix? They really want to control this power? They know how dangerous the Scourge energy is, but they're still using it?"

"Not just using it," Alexandria said softly, "they want to create a new shell for humanity." 

I furrowed my brow. "What do you mean?”

"They believe that humans like us can no longer survive in this world. The world has changed. The laws of nature we once knew no longer apply. They want to combine science and mysticism, using the God's Net to create a new body—a body that's stronger, that can withstand the Honkai radiation. They want to create humans who are no longer vulnerable."

I laughed cynically. "So they want to create another monster?" 

Alexandria shook her head. "No. They want to create 'gods'." 

Her words sent shivers down my spine. I stood up from the bed, gazing at her sharply. "And you believe all that nonsense?"

"It's not about believing or not," Alexandria replied, her voice remaining calm. "This is the reality of the world we live in."

I shook my head. "No... This can't be accepted. They're sacrificing humans for their experiments. They want to play God."

Alexandria looked at me deeply. "And what do you think our options are? Waiting until this world is truly destroyed?"

I fell silent. Our debate was getting heated. I couldn't accept that this world was hopeless, that humans had to change into something else just to survive. But Alexandria saw it from a different perspective.

"Listen, I'm not saying Overseer Helix is right, but we have to accept the reality that this world is no longer the same." 

I shook my head firmly. "No! We don't have to accept all this! We can fight! We can find another way!"

"But how?" Alexandria countered. "We don't even know how to stop the Honkai! We don't know how to prevent humans from turning into Princeps! All we have are theories and empty hopes!"

I fell silent, my breath ragged.

"Enough."

Another voice cut through our debate. I turned and saw the girl who had entered with Alexandria earlier. She stood with her hands on her hips, gazing at us with an exhausted expression.

"You two are too stubborn. This won't solve anything."

I blinked, still filled with anger. 

The girl approached me and casually pulled my arm. "Come with me. You need some fresh air."

I wanted to protest, but somehow I didn't have the energy to continue the debate. Reluctantly, I let her lead me out of the room.

Alexandria didn't stop us. But before I left, she said, "There's one more thing you should know." 

I stopped in my tracks and turned to her.

 

"A woman close to the leader of Anti-Solaris once revealed something." 

I waited, my breath slightly held. 

"Overseer Helix has no qualms about treating humans cruelly. They use humans as experimental subjects to achieve their ambitions."

My eyes widened. I wanted to ask more questions, but the girl pulling my arm pushed me out before I could say anything. Alexandria's words kept echoing in my mind. Humans... as experimental subjects?

.....BERSAMBUNG.....