Honkai Impact: My Power Grows When Valkyries Fall For Me — Chapter 52

Chapter 52: Combat Simulation

At two in the afternoon, within St. Freya’s Third Simulation Training Ground.

Lucian gazed around the expansive hall with the wide-eyed wonder of a country boy visiting a grand city for the first time. What met his eyes were over a dozen sleek, silver-gray pods, all neatly arranged in silent rows. He had never seen anything quite like them before, but their futuristic design screamed ‘simulation pod.’

A colossal screen dominated one of the hall’s walls, currently dark and inert. Nearby, Theresa, Himeko, and several staff members in crisp white technician uniforms stood beside the pods, guiding students into them one by one.

“Lucian, what are you gawking at over here?”

A hand clapped onto his shoulder. Lucian didn’t even need to turn around; the familiar, energetic force could only belong to Kiana.

“Watching your test,” Lucian replied, turning his head. The sight that greeted him, however, rendered him momentarily speechless.

Kiana was clad in a full-body sensor suit, a skin-tight garment that accentuated every line of her slender, athletic figure. Trailing just behind her, Raiden Mei and Bronya Zaychik, dressed in identical attire, were also making their way toward him.

The suit was a uniform gray-white, clinging to them like a second skin. To use an appropriate, if slightly crude, metaphor, it was like they were wearing nothing at all—every curve and contour, save for the most crucial areas, was on full display.

‘…So lewd,’ Lucian thought, his gaze shifting away almost imperceptibly as he made the silent assessment.

Kiana, however, seemed completely oblivious to the subtle change in his expression. She struck a confident pose, planting her hands on her hips. “Hmph, this young lady is going to shatter the training record today! Lucian, just you wait and see!”

Mei, on the other hand, was a portrait of embarrassment. She tried to subtly cross her arms over her chest, a faint blush blooming on her cheeks that refused to fade. “This kind of clothing is indeed a bit… bold…”

Bronya walked over with Mei, her expression as calm and unreadable as ever as she stared at Lucian. Her legs were fitted with an external exoskeleton, a device to assist her with walking and running, which emitted a soft mechanical click with each step.

“The Bronya thinks Lucian is thinking about something bad.”

Bronya’s sudden, deadpan statement made Lucian’s entire body stiffen.

Kiana blinked, her expression a mask of confusion as she glanced from Bronya to Lucian. “Something bad? What bad thing?”

The blush on Mei’s face seemed to deepen. She gave Kiana’s arm a quiet tug, a silent plea for her not to press the issue.

“It’s about perverted things,” Bronya continued, adding fuel to the fire.

“…Huh?!”

Kiana froze for a second before her own cheeks began to visibly redden. She abruptly wrapped her arms around herself, glaring at Lucian with a flustered, accusatory expression. “You… you really are a pervert!”

“…”

Lucian’s eyelid twitched as he looked at the three girls before him. Bronya’s shocking pronouncements, Kiana’s direct accusation, and Mei’s increasingly crimson face had already begun to attract curious gazes from the surrounding students. He could hear the faint buzz of their murmurs starting to build.

“Sigh…” He pressed a hand to his forehead, shaking his head slightly. When he looked up again, his expression was back to its usual calm. He focused on Kiana. “What do you want to eat tonight? I’ll cook for you.”

The angry, shy blush on Kiana’s face froze solid. She blinked, then brought a finger to her chin and began to ponder. “Hmm… Let me think…”

“And Bronya, Mei, would you two like to come over to my dorm for a gathering tonight?”

“Huh? M-me too?” Mei asked, her eyes wide with surprise.

“Of course,” Lucian said with a gentle smile and a nod. “Mei is also someone important to me.” His words only deepened her blush, so he quickly added, “Besides, it’s more lively with more people. It’ll be the perfect chance to see if my cooking skills have gotten rusty.”

Bronya, who had remained expressionless, finally looked up at Lucian. “So, the Bronya doesn’t count as someone important?” she asked, her tone completely flat.

The question, however, caused all three of them to freeze simultaneously. The atmosphere, which had just begun to relax at the prospect of dinner, grew tense once more. Kiana’s and Mei’s gazes snapped back to Lucian, sharp and expectant.

A cold sweat began to form on Lucian’s back.

‘This girl…’ he thought desperately. ‘She’s usually so quiet, but at the most critical moments, she says the most shocking things. And she always picks such deadly timing…’

“Uh…” Lucian scrambled for words, trying to find a way to placate the suddenly sulking Bronya. Just then, a broadcast announcement echoed through the hall, breaking the deadlock.

“Next group of students for testing, please report to the field: Kiana Kaslana, Raiden Mei, Bronya Zaychik…”

It was Theresa’s voice, announcing the roster for the upcoming combat test. The announcement had, quite unintentionally, saved him.

Bronya’s eyes shifted from Lucian’s face toward the source of the broadcast. Kiana, too, was immediately drawn by the call to action, her previous thoughts forgotten. Her fighting spirit ignited. “Coming, coming! Watch this young lady show her skills!”

Mei let out a small sigh of relief. She shot a grateful glance in the direction of the broadcast, gave Lucian a quick nod, and hurried after the departing Kiana.

Lucian watched the backs of the three girls as they headed for the test preparation area and slowly released a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

‘Theresa, you are truly a master of timing. I really owe you one.’

He collected his thoughts and turned his attention to the massive screen on the training ground wall.

——————

Theresa stood before the control console, her small face set in a serious expression as she watched the large screen. Himeko stood beside her, arms crossed, her gaze sweeping over the three girls who had just entered their simulation pods. A hint of an amused smile played at the corner of her mouth.

Clearly, she had witnessed the little incident just moments before.

Himeko shook her head, a soft, helpless chuckle escaping her. She never would have expected her three newest students—not to mention her imposing Headmaster—to all show such an interest in one young man.

After a moment of thought, Himeko’s chuckle grew lighter, her tone laced with teasing. “This kid’s luck with women is quite something. I just wonder if he can handle it all.”

A trace of helplessness flashed across Theresa’s stern little face, but it was quickly replaced by professional seriousness. “Himeko, stop joking. The test is about to start.”

“Yes, yes, my esteemed Headmaster,” Himeko replied, reigning in her smile and turning her attention to the large screen as well.

At that moment, the virtual avatars of Kiana, Mei, and Bronya materialized within the simulated environment, each holding the weapons they had chosen beforehand.

“Simulated combat environment loading… Honkai Beast data generating… Countdown commencing. Ten, nine…”

As the personnel confirmed their readiness, a technician’s steady voice echoed from the console. Simultaneously, on the huge screen, the scene of urban ruins gradually sharpened into focus. Several ordinary, scythe-wielding Honkai Beasts shimmered into existence before the girls.

“Start!”

The moment the command was given, Kiana moved on pure reflex. She raised her twin pistols, and the crisp reports of gunfire echoed in a continuous stream, each shot accurately striking the heads of the Scythe Honkai Beasts ahead.

Just as she prepared to charge forward, a cannon blast roared from behind her without warning, grazing past her ear.

Boom—!

Several Honkai Beasts in the rear were blown to smithereens.

Kiana’s movements halted. She spun around, her voice laced with dissatisfaction. “Bronya! You almost hit me!”

Bronya calmly held Project Bunny 19C, the barrel of the massive cannon still emitting wisps of smoke. Her face was an emotionless mask. “The Bronya’s calculations show the probability of hitting Kiana was one percent. There was no risk of injury.”

“But you still shouldn’t fire so close to me!”

As Kiana and Bronya began to argue, Mei had already charged into another group of enemies, her tachi flashing. Her movements were swift and fluid, the katana drawing arcs of purple light through the air as it precisely struck the vital points of the Death Soldiers. Her actions were clean, decisive, and utterly efficient.

Hearing the dispute behind her, Mei’s brow furrowed slightly, but she didn’t let it slow her hand. If anything, she increased her clearing efficiency, attempting to create a better environment for her bickering teammates to provide fire support.

In the control room, Himeko watched the scene unfold and raised an eyebrow. “Unfamiliar with coordination, each fighting their own battle… a typical performance for newcomers who have decent individual skill but lack any team awareness.”

Theresa nodded, her small face showing no surprise. “Increase the difficulty a bit.”

“Understood.” The technician responded, his fingers flying across the console.

On the simulated battlefield, the terrain began to shift subtly. More hostile creatures started to generate. This time, it wasn’t just Death Soldiers; a hulking, tank-type Honkai Beast emerged from behind the ruins, its heavy footsteps shaking the ground.

“Whoa! A big guy’s here!” Kiana’s eyes lit up. Instead of feeling nervous, she grew even more excited.

She slid to the side, deftly dodging the Tank’s charge while continuously firing her twin guns at the gaps in its side armor, trying to find a weak point.

“Kiana, don’t rush in! Its charging force is immense!” Mei shouted, hurrying to close the distance and provide support.

Bronya’s Project Bunny began to charge up again. This time, however, she didn’t fire immediately. She calmly observed the battlefield, the cannon’s muzzle tracking the Tank’s movements.

“Kiana, three o’clock. Lure it to turn. Mei, seven o’clock. Prepare to flank and strike.” Her voice remained flat, but her instructions were clear and authoritative.

Kiana was momentarily stunned, muttering, “Why should I listen to you?” under her breath. Her body, however, had already begun to move, her steps and shots instinctively shifting toward the direction Bronya had indicated.

Sure enough, her movements attracted the attention of the Tank-type Honkai Beast.

Mei, without a moment’s hesitation, veered toward the seven o’clock position, her katana already beginning to gather a dangerous energy.

Just as the Honkai Beast was lured by Kiana, it turned, exposing a momentary weakness in its flank.

“Now!”

Bronya’s cannon blast and Mei’s powerful slash struck almost simultaneously, hitting both sides of the lumbering beast.

BOOM!

The massive body was instantly swallowed by a brilliant flash of sword light and a storm of explosive flames.