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[Mission Planning Room – Whiteboard full of red string, half-eaten snacks, and a suspicious-looking rubber duck.]
Bronya (staring at the holo-map): "Operation Eclipse has a 68% chance of success, assuming no external interference."
Captain (arms crossed): "So we're doomed. Got it."
Writer (typing furiously): "Can we bump it to 70% if we give V a dramatic trench coat and emotional baggage flashback?"
V (not looking up from sharpening his blade): "I already am emotional baggage."
Bronya: "Your trauma doesn't improve our odds."
Writer: "It improves my script."
Captain: "Can we please focus on the plan and not whatever live-action soap opera this is turning into?"
V: "Plan A is infiltration. Quiet, clean, no mess."
Writer: "Boring. Plan B: we ride in on robotic wolves while screaming poetry."
Bronya: "Rejected. Again."
Writer (scribbling anyway): "Fine But I'm saving that for next week's filler episode."
Suddenly, the base lights flicker.
Then flicker again.
Then completely shut off.
Captain: "…Nope. Not today."
Bronya (already pulling up system diagnostics): "Power fluctuation. Likely from the generator room. Or... from Writer."
Writer: "That's offensive. I haven't touched anything this hour."
V (narrow eyes): "Define 'touch.'"
Writer: "…Made eye contact with the emergency outlet."
Bronya: "That counts."
A low mechanical hum rises. Then a squeak. A single floating duck-bot drifts past the doorway, glowing ominously.
Captain: "Why do we have a floating duck-bot?"
Writer: "For dramatic tension."
V (deadpan): "It's quacking Morse code."
Bronya: "It says… 'run.'"
Writer (scribbling faster): "Oh my god this is perfect Keep going Now we just need thunder and a betrayal arc."
Captain (grabbing the nearest flashlight): "We need backup power Not betrayal."
V: "Both are inevitable."
Just then, the wall screen flickers on—sideways—and shows a distorted image of a second V, wearing sunglasses and holding a latte.
Alt-V (grinning): "Yo. Just hacked your mission plan. Hope you like chaos."
Writer: "Alternate timeline V! I knew you existed!"
Bronya (sighing): "Of course he has a variant. This day was too normal."
Captain: "Wait, how does he have Wi-Fi?"
Alt-V: "Reality router. Found it next to your existential dread."
V: "…That was mine."
Suddenly, the floor tilts slightly.
A vending machine whirs to life and launches a single energy drink across the room.
Bronya: "I think the plan just exploded."
Writer: "Correction: the plan evolved."
Captain (half under the table): "From strategy to survival."
V: "At least the duck-bot's on our side."
Writer: "For now."
A siren blares.
Base System: "Warning: Timeline Drift Detected. Two Vs registered. Please delete one."
Everyone turns to V.
And then to Alt-V.
Alt-V (sipping latte): "I'm more fun."
V (drawing his blade): "I'm more stable."
Bronya: "Both of you shut up or I'm syncing your emotional databases manually."
Writer (grinning): "YES. Let's see who cries first!"
Suddenly the lights flicker back on.
The base hums with peace.
The duck-bot lands and gives a soft "quack."
Captain: "…Did we fix it?"
Bronya: "No The base just gave up."
V: "Wise choice."
Writer: "Now... who wants to help me test the prototype popcorn cannon?"
All (in unison): "NO."
[Lights go out again. Distant kettle whistle.]
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[V Room]
V slowly sat up on the bed, one hand pressing against his temple as a sharp wave of discomfort hit him.
V: "As expected… The aftereffects are worse than I thought. If I wasn't at minimum Level 4 right now, I'd probably be bedridden for a week."
He exhaled, eyes narrowed in thought.
V: "Though... pushing myself did help locate the second Divine Key."
He stood up, wobbling slightly before steadying himself. His fingers twitched like they were trying to reach for something intangible.
V: "Come to think of it, I don't even remember the name of the key properly… nor some of its abilities. That's gonna make things a lot harder."
A brief pause. Then he shook off the thought, heading for the door.
V: "I'll review everything later. Right now, I've got work to finish."
He glanced out the window.
V: "Good thing the Captain declared a week-long break. I've got four more days before everyone returns to the academy..."
V: "Might as well clean up the rats while I have time."
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[Industrial District]
In a dark, ruined area, both human bodies and machine remains were scattered across the ground.
Gunfire illuminated the shadows as a group of soldiers desperately tried to fend off an enemy.
But the figure moved like a phantom—dodging, deflecting bullets, and eliminating them one by one.
Eventually, the last few attackers collapsed to the floor.
A cloaked man stepped forward, face hidden by a blank white mask.
Wounded Soldier: "W-Why… Why are you attacking us?! We've got no quarrel with you! Who are you?!"
???: "You're here for the Third Herrscher, aren't you? That alone is reason enough."
Wounded Soldier: "How… How do you know that?!"
???: "Let's just say… I don't need to explain myself."
With a cold voice, he slashed down the final enemy and picked up the communicator from the corpse.
???: "You really should be focusing on more important things… Cocolia."
He crushed the device beneath his foot.
Removing the mask, it revealed a familiar face—blue eyes.
It was V.
V: "Connecting directly to their systems made things so much easier Too bad I have to grind endlessly just to get a new skill…"
He stared at the lifeless bodies and scattered machine parts.
V: "Better clean this up before phase two."
He ignited flames in his hand and set fire to the area.
The light reflected off his eyes as he watched the fire consume everything.
V: "Things are only going to get messier from here."
He replaced the mask, walking away from the scene.
-
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[Moments Later]
V: "That's the spot."
He held his hand up, energy swirling around his fingers until a massive spear of fire formed.
He hurled the spear.
An enormous explosion lit up the area as the spear struck a hidden barrier.
Smoke rose into the air.
As it cleared, a mechanical giant stood with a humanoid shape in front of it—sword in hand.
V: "Let's get started."
In response, the figure lifted its sword, energy condensing around the blade.
It slashed, sending a wave of destructive force at V.
V didn't flinch—he walked forward, step by step, the ground cracking beneath him.
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[Scene: Outdoor Restaurant – Afternoon]
Kiana: "This is sooo good!"
She happily shoveled food into her mouth, while Theresa sighed and shook her head.
Theresa: "Food's great, sure. But nothing beats my bitter melon juice."
Captain: "It's good, yeah, but... can you all keep it down? People are staring."
Kiana: "Why? We're just enjoying lunch, right?"
Captain: "That's exactly the problem! Look at those people glaring at us!"
Himeko: "Let them glare They're just jealous we're enjoying ourselves."
Rita: "Agreed Envy doesn't last long They'll leave eventually So Captain, open your mouth—ahh~."
Captain: "Wait, I can feed myself, you know."
Rita: "I know But as a maid, I insist on caring for you properly."
Himeko: "Hey now, maybe I should feed the Captain instead This dish is really good."
Rita: "Ara... Himeko-san, are you trying to steal my job?"
Himeko: "Just helping out You don't mind, do you?"
Rita: "It's fine I'll handle it Please relax."
Himeko: "No, no You need a break."
Rita: "I'm fine."
Captain: "Uhh… Girls…"
Rita/Himeko: "Please be quiet for a moment."
While the two women glared at each other, Mei and Bronya sat quietly, eating their meals.
Mei: (These dishes are interesting… I should try cooking some later.)
Bronya: (I wonder if they sell different Homu figures in London...)
Suddenly, an explosion rocked the air.
Kiana: "Wha—?! What was that?!"
Mei: "Look over there! Smoke's rising!"
Before anyone could react, Theresa's communicator buzzed.
Theresa: "This is Theresa speaking."
???: "Ah, my dear granddaughter I need you to gather all nearby Valkyries for evacuation procedures Also, collaborate with any A-rank or higher operatives to recover the object at the blast site."
Theresa: "Wait, wait! Recover what? And why evacuate? There's no Honkai signal!"
???: "Sorry, no time to explain Just know this—your mission is to retrieve the second Divine Key: The Key of Infinity Good luck."
Theresa: "Wait—Gramps?!"
Call ended.
Theresa: "What in the world…?!"
Kiana: "Auntie, what do we do?"
Theresa looked around, taking a deep breath.
Theresa: "Kiana, Mei, Bronya—evacuate civilians near the explosion site."
Kiana/Mei/Bronya: "Understood!"
Theresa: "Rita, Captain, you're with me We'll secure the Divine Key Himeko, contact the nearest branch for reinforcements."
Rita/Captain/Himeko: "Got it!"
Theresa: "Alright—move out!"
Everyone scattered into action.
As they ran, Theresa sighed internally.
Theresa (thoughts): (Why… Why does my vacation always turn into a mission?)