The sounds of dripping liquid echoed in her ears. It sounded like rain splattering on an umbrella, or the fluttering of a dove's wings. But when she opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was the metal-plated ceiling.

Himeko: ...Where is this place?

Himeko woke up at last and swooned as she struggled to get up, finding herself in a cell of Helheim Labs.

Himeko: ...Is this a prison?

She then remembers what happened. They are suddenly confined by a mysterious cube as smoke comes through the pipes, sealing them in and knocking them down on the ground and unconscious while the Gundams fight the Immortal Blade commandants.

Himeko: Of course, I was defeated and arrested. What happened next?

She nearly fell flat on the ground when trying to get out of bed. The sound continued to echo within her mind annoying her further.

Himeko: Gosh, this noise in my head... My body feels so clumsy and heavy... how long have I slept? I must get out of here... Theresa and the girls... They need my help...

She staggered to the door, but the noise in her head kept getting louder and louder. Exhaustion soon overwhelmed her. She collapsed and fell on the floor, only a few feet from the door. Himeko struggled to sit up, panting laboriously as she leaned against the metal doors.

Himeko: Huff... huff...

But then when she looked at the floor, she noticed a test tube in her hands. It was the same serum that was picked up from Dr. Magi in Singapore months back.

Himeko: A serum? Where did it come from? Was it you, Fu Hua?

Fu Hua: ...

She looked at the empty halls and saw the mirage soul of Fu Hua who was looking at her with no words after her death from the man who became mad and became a new person. She regrets everything, her blind loyalty to him, and even her trust in him that her home would be safe.

Himeko: ...You've changed a lot.

Fu Hua: ...

Himeko: So what can this prisoner do for you?

Fu Hua then musters her courage to speak as she finally begins to talk to Himeko.

Fu Hua: That tube contains an Honkai-neutralizing serum that will delay the Honkai corruption in your body... Find a safe place to use it. But, you will lose your Valkyrie powers after the serum neutralizes the Honkai within you.

Himeko: ...A gift? Thanks anyway...

Himeko surveys the serum as she pockets it away and is about to continue when Fu Hua drops the bombshell of bad news to her. This news made her stand up in shock.

Fu Hua: The Herrscher has awoken.

Himeko: *gasps*

Fu Hua: Leave this place, then head north. You will see a guard tower. That place is safe. You can hide there. There will be guards along the way, but nothing strong enough to stop you.

Himeko: I don't need to know that. Where are Theresa and the girls?

Fu Hua's heart stung by this as she has betrayed everyone, including Y/n who has placed his trust in keeping them safe in her hands.

Fu Hua: If you want to save your friends, then go around the tower. I will be waiting at the labs on the other side.

Himeko then looks down at her hand and checks her body knowing her condition is good. She then looked back to where Fu Hua was but she was already gone.

Himeko: Huh? Hey, don't leave me just yet...

There was no response. Nothing could be heard on the other side. Himeko forced herself to stand up and shoved the door open with every shred of her strength and then something surprising happened.

Himeko: Hmm, the door is ajar. Someone else probably opened it. No time for this.

She stuffed the serum into a pocket and quickly left Containment Bay 7. She then keeps herself out of sight of the drones patrolling the lab. She can see from her view the guard tower Fu Hua mentioned.

Himeko: Drone patrols, can't risk detection. I'll go around carefully. That building over there should be the guard tower that Fu Hua mentioned...

She then looks around and passes through the patrols smoothly and she searches up on one of the weapon boxes. She then finds a simple cleaver in the box.

Himeko: A Proto Pulse Cleaver... Grr... well, it's better than nothing.

She then hoists it as she begins to dispatch each one of the patrols by stabbing them into the power core without being spotted. After that, she then heads out to the tower while she looks at the Helheim labs.

Himeko: I've heard of the Helheim Labs before, but never expected to be here myself. This place sure creeps me out.

When she finally reached the guard tower she immediately busted the doors open as she prepped her cleaver on guard if any enemies jumped out of nowhere.

Himeko: ...! Is anyone there?

???: Hnnggh...

Himeko then suddenly loud muffles of screams as she tries to find the source. But when she got close to one of the cleaning room doors. The mufflings became louder and recognized the voice.

Himeko: That voice?

???: Hnngh hnngh hng hngh hnngggh!

She opens it up and finds Tesla, helpless and tied up along with burn marks on her cheek.

Tesla: Hnngh hnghhngh hgnhhgnh!

Himeko: Tesla?

They even gagged her with an intricate, black-colored scarf. Himeko tried not to laugh at this hilarious sight. Knowing Tesla's needed desparate help Himeko just talks to her gently.

Himeko: Calm down. I'll ungag you.

Tesla: Hnnggh...

Himeko removes the gag as she finally catches a breath.

Tesla: *catches her breath* That evil maid! I don't want to see her ever again!

Himeko: What did she do to you?

Tesla: She gave me a world of humiliation.

Tesla was so pissed her chair is rocking back and forth. She saw the rope tightly lock her arms and legs. The knot looks beautiful that she might ruin it if she untied it.

Himeko: ...Oh dear.

Tesla: She kept apologizing while tying me up!: "Ooooh... I'm so sorry, this might hurt..." What the hell?! Why would you tie me up if you were sorry at all?! The worst part was that she "kindly" applied some perfume to her hankie and then plastered it on my face! That's not funny at all!

Himeko: I'll untie you first...

After Himeko untied her, she told Tesla what happened before this, not mentioning Fu Hua being a ghost right now because it might complicate things.

Himeko: ...That's all I know.

Tesla: Now I'm worried about mophead... We're not in great shape either. I guess we can only head to that lab that somebody mentioned. We need to find a way to contact the Hyperion.

As the elevator stopped, Himeko and Tesla moved forward wasting no time on finding useful materials and information for future endeavors or to defeat HoV. By finding what Fu Hua wanted them to find.

Himeko: Fu Hua said that there's something in the lab that can save everybody. Perhaps it's something that we can use to defeat the Herrscher. Schicksal must have a fail-safe plan somewhere in case the situation goes out of control. Perhaps that's where the answers lie.

Tesla didn't said anything knowing she has got a good idea and good point. So she calmly exhales and types something to her gauntlet device.

Tesla: Alright. I don't think I can convince you. Just to be safe, I've set these coordinates to keep broadcasting an encrypted signal. I just hope that they can see it or even find it. But still, you know, right?

Himeko looks at her giving her and understanding look and Tesla regains her gloom.

Tesla: Alright, that's it. Let's go.

Himeko: 'Alright, Fu Hua. I'm gonna force you to tell me the truth...'

As they continue touring the lab to find what they needed. Tesla's getting tired as her breathing was rapid and sweat is forming all over her forehead and she adjusted her glasses.

Tesla: Huff... huff...

Himeko: Can you still walk?

Tesla: You've gotta be joking. I'm fine! Never expected you to keep fighting despite all those injuries.

Himeko: I can still handle enemies like these. Never underestimate the Assault Squad Valkyries.

Tesla: Assault Squad?

Himeko didn't want to say the history of her squad because it brought up bad memories of her past.

Himeko: I used to serve in the Assault Squad. I served as a Valkyrie for 10 years. I've lost count of the number of enemies I've killed. But that number is way more than this. Zombies, special forces, test subjects, Emperor-class Honkai beasts... The enemies just kept getting stronger, all trying to put me 6-feet under. But I always survived.

Himeko then looks at her sword and grips it tight, steeling her resolve to be a Valkyrie herself.

Himeko: Don't worry. We're just fighting something new, and like always... There's always a means of finishing them off.

Tesla notices her mood and her tone of voice lingers somber and gloom. She thinks she's having reckless tendencies which it was unhealthy, even for her.

Tesla: ...You know, your words don't sound very comforting at all.

Himeko: Hah...

Himeko shrugs it off as she tells Tesla to get back to work.

Himeko: We're close to the target. Let's go.

When they arrived, they see energy is continuously flowing down the tubes. There's even broken chambers and sparking electrical wires.

Himeko: ...This may not be a big place, but it sure is filled with secrets.

Tesla: I've found the lab's control hub. Let me take a look through this at least 10 minutes.

Himeko: Alright. I need a break myself.

Tesla did not respond. She was immersed in the data displayed on the screen. Himeko found a quiet place to sit down. She could hear the familiar voice in her ears.

???: You're really hurt.

Himeko: There you are, girl... Is this the place you were talking about, Fu Hua?

Fu Hua: No, not yet. Head to the bottom-most floor. You'll find the answers there.

Tesla: Hey!

Tesla's angry outburst suddenly snapped Himeko back to reality. When she turned around, Fu Hua was already gone.

Himeko: Huh?!

Tesla: What the hell is wrong with you? I kept shouting at you all this while. You were completely phased out!

Himeko: Phased out?

Tesla: Hmph. Must be all that fighting. It probably gave you shell shock or something. Forget it. Get over here! I found something awesome!

Himeko: Something awesome?'

She gets to the monitor where Tesla has found three pieces of information and the contents were good but it gets dark as it goes on.

[Log TBOS-2000-0106]

[SYSTEM: Success. There was an accident, but the Herrscher Slayer proved its worth in the 2nd Honkai War. Cecilia's blood seed is near completion. I just need that final piece to perfect the Holy Blood of Schariac.]

Tesla: Herrscher Slayer? I heard that Otto deployed that secret weapon during the 2nd Honkai War.

Himeko: Let's read on.

[Log TBOS-2014-0007]

[This frustrates me. We've spent 14 years on this. The last piece of the Holy Blood remains elusive. No progress has been made. Am I becoming too impatient? No. I've been patient for 500 years. The project to activate all 3 Gems is still on schedule. We can move on to the testing phase. But the entire project will be delayed if we can't recreate the Holy Blood. It didn't work.]

Tesla: Looks like he reached a bottleneck.

Himeko: He's found a solution by now, right?

Tesla: Let's keep looking. Make use of the time and push forward!

She then searched for more information or logs in the archives that the system had provided.

[Log TBOS-HV-0001]

[Dr. Magi is a true genius. He came up with the HSN-b46 serum that deactivates Honkai in vivo and dissipates it as heat. He wanted to cure the Valkyries of the Honkai... but I knew at first glance what the true value of the serum was. This is the "final piece" of the puzzle needed to complete the Holy Blood. Alas... the good Dr. Magi is no longer around. I would have invited him to share a glass or two with me.]

Tesla: Wait, Dr. Magi...?

[Log TBOS-HV-0438]

[After adding a calculated ratio of (HSN-f-032) and introducing the HSN-b46 serum into the Holy Blood sample, the solution turned bright red.

Experiment logs. Actual trials: 1.

There are 3 experimental groups: normal females, C-rank Valkyries, and female infected. All subjects are 18 years of age. Height, weight, and various other physios are within the global average.

Results: Normal females did not show any observable reactions after the injection of the serum. The Valkyries lost their ability to wield the Honkai.

Group 3 was the most interesting.

The infected zombies entered a state of pain and began to rampage. A few lost consciousness and we detected faint brainwave signals from the unconscious subjects. More testing is required to prove our hypothesis. However, we need plenty of resources to prepare the HSN-b46 serum. This shortage is hampering our progress.]

Tesla's patience is running out after reading these long logs and it makes her scratch her head from it.

Tesla: What an idiot! Can't this researcher just complete the study in one go? I want to know the final results! But I sense that we're close to what we're looking for.

Himeko: 'HSN-b46, why does that sound familiar?'

Tesla: This is the final log... I better see something useful!

But when they read it and played it, they were met with the first noise they heard in the tape, metals clattering on the floor as the breath of the person recording can be heard.

Tesla: What's wrong with this record?

[Log ▉ ▉ ▉ ▉ - ▉ ▉ ▉ - ▉ ▉ ▉ ▉]

[Haha... Whew whee! Guahahaha! Muahahaha...

Eureka! Injecting a Holy Blood serum mixture weakened an Emperor-class Honkai beast at observable rates Its body could no longer control its inner Honkai energy. The Emperor-class Honkai beast was then instantly reduced to ashes. Humanity's Spear of Destiny is finally complete! Everything is in place. K-423 has enrolled in St. Freya High School. My informant is in position. And now... Of course, the Spear of Destiny is now in my hands. I'll wait for the fruit of my labors to ripen and fall into my hands!]

The two girls are both disturbed by the recording it made. He knew what would happen in the future, he made Kiana his lab rat, made Fu Hua and Rita watch everything, and kidnap her. Everything has made sense now, but they were already too late to see it.

They want to blame the Celestial Being so badly for not doing anything, but can they blame them at all? They don't even know who to blame now anymore, but now all it matters is making the Spear of Destiny's serum.

Tesla looked at Himeko. She wanted to say something but failed to bring voice to those words. While she hesitated, Himeko decided to speak her mind.

Himeko: Can you make the Spear of Destiny?

Himeko stretched out her right hand that tightly held the red-colored serum. HSN-b46 was printed on the other end of the test tube.

Himeko: It's about time we make use of this.

Tesla: ...

They could find samples of the Holy Blood in the labs, but they didn't have the serum. If they could gather the materials and experimental records, Dr. Tesla might be able to make the Spear of Destiny. But...

Tesla: Not trying to be pessimistic here, but there's not enough of the serum in this tube. We only have 1 shot at this.

The alarm noise interrupted them as multiple Schicksal mechs started to drop down and annihilate them. Himeko stuffed the serum into Tesla's hands and turned around with her greatsword ready.

Himeko: I'll handle the enemies. You take care of this serum thing, Dr. Tesla.

Tesla: ...

Tesla looked on quietly as Himeko left. She could still feel the remaining warmth of Himeko's hand emanating from the test tube that she had given her. She could not lend a voice to those words. She knew that those words wouldn't change anything.

Tesla: 'Let's do it, people. I'll show you what we can do!' Hold this place! Don't let anyone bother me!

Himeko: 'These enemies came down from higher floors. I can't let them get any closer to Tesla!'

Himeko keeps killling mechs incoming towards them, and then she saw through that army was an entrance that leads down to who knows where. She then finally kills the remaining mechs coming at them and looked at the opened entrance.

Himeko: 'Is that bottom floor that Fu Hua was talking about?'

Tesla: Himeko? Are you still alive?

Himeko: Alive and kicking, missus.

Tesla: We're running out of time. Let's split ways. You check what's down there...

Himeko: But you-

Tesla: Just go! I don't have time to dally here any longer. Also, catch this.

Tesla threw down a small mechanical device towards her and Himeko asks.

Himeko: What's this?

Tesla: Backup parts for a Valkyrie battlesuit. I found it in the lab. All this fighting has totaled your battlesuit. Don't get killed down there. I won't have time to salvage your corpse!

Himeko: Don't you worry about me, just focus on making the serum!

Himeko leaves as Tesla watches and she begun to think of testing the serum.

Tesla: 'I think she's gone. Great. I can't have anyone looking at this test.'

Tesla put on her gloves and took out a syringe filled with a purple fluid.

Tesla: The time is now 15:44. The sample has been prepared as per the protocols. Commence testing phase.

She then injected the syringe's contents into her arm. She first injected a Honkai solution. Her skin quickly took on a deathly white pallor. Her veins gave off a discomforting, red glow that spread from her wrist and along her arms. Tesla knew what was going on, this is the first sign of human zombification.

But this was the first time she had seen it happening to herself. She did her best. Tesla was sure that she had not made any mistakes. If the experimental data was correct, then the fluid sample in her test tube would be the Spear of Destiny. But that wasn't enough. One more thing was needed to conclude the experiment. Any experiment would need this final step.

Tesla took out another syringe and took a sample of the other solution. Theories, no matter how perfect, are just scratches on paper until put to the test. There were no volunteers. Tesla had no choice but to test it on herself.

Tesla: ...Hnngh!

She injected the entire fluid sample into her thin arm. The capillaries did not change. Perhaps it would take a while for the reaction to take place. These few seconds were the most torturous moments that Tesla had ever experienced. It will be alright. Her theories are always right. She tried closing her eyes. She saw many visions in the darkness. She had closed her eyes for long enough. Tesla prayed as she opened her eyes.

Tesla: Huff... huff...

All she saw was a thin, frail arm belonging to a girl. There was nothing of note except for several blood vessels underneath her smooth and white skin. Tesla had never thought her arm could be so beautiful.

Tesla: Oh dear...!

She collapsed to the ground like a puppet being severed from its strings. She drew in large gulps of air and felt as though a great burden had been lifted from her. She waved her right arm excitedly like a girl who had just received a birthday present.

Tesla: It worked! That's right, mophead! I'm a true genius!!

Meanwhile, at the bottom floor of the lab. The flight of stairs seemed endless. And then it ended abruptly when she saw a light emitting in a room she saw.

Himeko: I guess this is the bottom floor. Alright, Fu Hua, I'm here...

The light shone and illuminated the outlines of the chamber. It was a somber sight, like a holy shrine housing a relic. It's a collection of battlesuits, the Blood Knight's true form Moonlight, the Shadow Knight's Limiter off form and the White Comet's true form Moonknight are all here.

Himeko: These are all 4th generation Godsbane battlesuits!

Himeko suddenly found more of battlesuits in the chamber, they are all colors of the 3rd Generation Gundams of Celestial Being: Exia, Dynames, Kyrios and Virtue. Himeko was shocked to recognize these battlesuits, but the others she didn't know about it but somehow felt connected to it.

Himeko: This is Y/n's Gundam Battlesuit, so it's a 4th Generation. But why is it built here among with the others? 'But also, why do I feel... sad seeing this?'

She pulled herself over the wreckage of the Aesir mech and made her way to the end of the corridor. There's one unique relic housed there, a bright red battlesuit was kept there in the middle of the Celestial Being Gundam battlesuit line-ups.

Himeko: I guess this is it. Was this the thing you wanted me to find, Fu Hua?

Fu Hua made her appearance and looked at the battlesuit in front of her, it was colored in red and black with orange accents.

Fu Hua: You finally made it here. This is what you need. Otto hid this secret here. This is his other trump card. A weapon capable of engaging the Herrscher directly, the prototype of the Godsbane-series battlesuits, Vermilion Knight: Eclipse.

She then touches it and Himeko saw it's equipment and gear. Fu Hua explains this battlesuit.

Fu Hua: But there's another name for it and it was considered the true name of this battlesuit if Y/n discovers about it- 

Fu Hua: Gundam: Astraea Type F.

The place starts to shake knowing the battle has escalated further.

Fu Hua: The Herrscher has awoken. This battlesuit is the only means we have to fight her. This used to be a relic from the Previous Era. After acquiring it, Schicksal used it as the basis to develop their modern Valkyrie battlesuits.

She begun hacking the system to grant authorization in the battlesuit, as she explained further her voic starts to feel horrified of what Otto has done.

Fu Hua: But Otto could not be satisfied, so he had a crazier plan. He integrated the Gem of Haste into this battlesuit to recreate the powers of the Herrscher of Fire. Adding it up the fact that this was infused with GN Particles that were seen and used before in the Previous Era and the present. In other words, the Gundams that Y/n used was seen before in the Previous Era and Otto has known about it.

Fu Hua: Before the test began, Otto ordered all S-rank Valkyries to use this battlesuit and fight the Herrscher if the plan failed. All of them failed, and ended up burning in ashes. I am in no place to use this. You are the only one I can count on.

Fu Hua looked at her in somber tone as she lets her show it in all of its glory.

Fu Hua: But I'll leave the choice to you, Major...

Himeko: Enough talk... I've already made up my mind.

Fu Hua: ...Then allow me the honor of putting the suit on you.

Fu Hua walked to the battlesuit and extended her hand.

[Access request verified. Initiate mental wave verification.]

[Verification complete. Privilege category: Zeroth-order Group: Konfident.]

[Request verified]

[Chamber seals, open. Switching to subject encasement mode.]

[Process complete. Solar energy reactor ignited. Power supply on.]

Fu Hua: Go. But be warned, wearing this battlesuit will allow the Herrscher Gem to corrupt your mind. I will do what I can to delay the corruption. But you alone will make the difference.

Himeko: As Himeko is about to suit-up, she asks Fu Hua that's been bothering her so much. From when she met her for the first time; it felt like it was a repeat of a past, until now.

Himeko: Who are you, Fu Hua?

Fu Hua: *eyes closed* A person like you. We both want to change the world for the better. But in Y/n's- my mentor's eyes, an immortal phoenix who wanted to change the world using armed force.

Himeko didn't comment anything and entered the battlesuit chamber. The light shone on her body, the world before her eyes slowly turned white. It felt like the first rays of dawn, saintly yet empty at the same time.

As she closed her eyes, the corruption is starting to enter her mind as multiple negative comments and denial are being planted into her head. They are formed into phantoms of her past.

Stop here. You've done your best. You've done everything you can as a mortal.

That girl was born a Herrscher. You can't change her fate no matter how hard you try.

You still have a great future ahead of you.

Fool! Why sacrifice everything you hold dear?

STOP! This is madness!

There is nothing but death. This is suicide!

She fight back when she faced these dark faces in her mindscape as her heart, body and soul ignited into bright fire and bright orange and silver GN Particles that bring not corruption, but her will and understanding of herself at this moment.

Himeko: Cut the crap! You done talking already?! I know what I'm doing. They'd do the same thing as well. If it can be done, then I guess I'll just have to do it. The girls are out there waiting for me. Our journey will not end here!

Fu Hua: That's it! You've defeated your inner demons. Your human form is now temporarily blessed with Herrscher powers. My mission with you has ended. I'm glad that I can be of help at the eleventh hour...

Her eyes glowed gold followed by orange lines flowing into her eyes. In reality, the suit is now being build on her. Attaching the E-carbon armor and the parts she got from Tesla started to form and merge with the battlesuit as it completes the Gundam Astraea F Battlesuit.

Fu Hua suddenly started to fade away like the ocean as she looks at Himeko one last time and gives her a farewell stance with her fist sticking to the opened hand and bowed.

Fu Hua: Major Himeko, many thanks for your lessons. Perhaps fate will bring us together again in the future.

She walks out of the chamber with her new battlesuit flowing with GN Particles from her GN Drive and looked at the ceiling. The Schicksal mech commander have invaded the room as she holds her new weapon, the Godslayer: Surtr.

Himeko: Thank you, Fu Hua.

Mech pilot: I will admit you have the guts to defy us, your comrades in arms. But looking at you right now, you are a weakling frail old woman with no allies to save anymore.

She didn't waste time as she runs towards it. Every step, she leaves trails of fire behind her steps as she made her first slash towards the mech she targets first. The mech's weapon is easily cut in half and left burning. The pilot was pissed and started to attack her as well. Himeko attacks and blocks them all with ease and burns them all together, when something will sneak attack behind her back, the sword bits come to life and attack the sneaking target, burning them to hell.

The mech was left kneeling to the ground and the pilot wounded but before he could even plead the sword was plunged through him and the power core. The massive machine became a pile of burning scrap. Himeko plunged her greatsword into the ground and exhaled with satisfaction. She could feel her heart pounding, her body had never felt so light before, and her injuries no longer ailed her. A reservoir of power welled up within her, waiting to be unleashed.

Himeko: Alright, boys and girls... Hope you don't miss me. Himeko's back in action!