A/N: I'm Back!
***
[The 6th Honkai Eruption will probably go down as one of the most tragic events in human history, the current death toll sits just over…]
"Alright, listen up," Thor switches off the broadcast taking centre stage, "Due to recent events, humanity is down to just over 200 major cities left on the planet.
The Herrscher's abilities were far beyond anticipated, we lost the Philippines with the fourth, Africa with the 5th and now Europe with the 6th." The room fell silent.
"As it stands, by the time the 14th arrives, only we will be standing, and our odds are not looking good.
But, that is why today, we will be taking volunteers for the MANTIS program." Soldiers and researchers alike immediately started talking among themselves. Even Thor's group were surprised, Mobius most of all considering the survival rate sits below 26% as it is.
"Quiet. I must warn you, the survival rate is not high, no more than 30% at best, so think about it before applying, there is no shame in not doing so." He scanned the room noting that most of the soldiers had determination burning in their eyes, the researchers were sighing in relief.
"For those who do apply, through the efforts of Vill, we will be creating mech suits for you to pilot. Through your MANTIS enhancements you can achieve a full sync with the mech and pilot it against the Honkai, roughly being able to take on chariot-class with ease and put up a fight against emperor-class individually." With that, Thor took his leave, stepping down as the previously tense and heavy mood was now vibrant with hope.
***
With the sixth Herrscher down, Honkai outbreaks under control and a new flood of MANTIS's, the world saw hope for the first time since Thor's appearance with the fourth.
Production of mechs on a large scale began, variations created for both MANTIS and even for the ELFs, to give a kick to their combat potential. Remaining governments agreed to pool all their resources into MOTH. Economies now fully collapsed, MOTH took charge.
Cities were put under lockdown while Mei took the helm, designating strategic cities to gather the last two and a half billion of humanity, and took the entirety of Europe and China as their own. China became MOTH's main industrial powerhouse, Europe became a continental barracks to train, simulate and prepare for the future.
The rest of the group? Both good and bad. Su created a cure to Honkai sickness, but it required 1000 victims to save a single person. Eden truly became her moniker "The Angel of Strings." Her music gave comfort and hope to people, Himeko and Hua tagged along with her as she gave performances.
Himeko also gave in finally and gave her permission for Hua to undergo SWARA, but that would have to wait until Mei collected a group of volunteers beside Hua. Vill succeeded in creating a mech army to fight the Honkai.
Einstein was struggling on what to do concerning the ELF issue. With how they have gained not just sentience, but are in a near conscious state, for now she disconnected their hivemind capabilities until she makes a decision.
Kalpas and Kosma started their true combat training under Kevin and the recently MANTISed Su. Sakura wanted to do something for Rin during this time and went to ask Thor for ideas, but at that time he said, "Why don't I build her a theme park?" A shock to Sakura, but she agreed and Thor, with Vill and Pardofelis's help, created an entire theme park and opened it to the public a day after her, Rin and Thor spent a day there, a day of joy and smiles.
Aponia was being trained by Thor to better control her newly enhanced abilities after undergoing her MANTIS surgery. It turned out her power of Discipline was really compatible with the butterfly Honkai beast that appeared not too long ago.
Mobius and Klein along with a now MANTIS-competent Nuwa and Fuxi both performed the MANTIS surgery and took recruitment duties, but soon just Nuwa and Fuxi did the latter. Mobius scared people and Klein wasn't very enthusiastic with her tired dead stare.
The group mascot Griseo spent her days painting with Rin and Thor, and any other free time either with her parents or Kalpas and Kosma. The two seemed to be calm around the girl, Kalpas especially, even calling her and Rin "innocent little girls."
Aurora threw herself into Herrscher training under Alter and Elysia. Elysia was weirdly good at it as Thor commented one time.
Thor himself, the big boss of it all, was pushing himself way too much. After throwing Jyahnar into a stasis chamber, he became a ghost for a couple of weeks, always working on something or with someone, doing everything he could with every second of the day. His lovers had to one night drag him from Mobius's lab when she informed them of his actions. After that he's been better, making time to relax and be with them as much as he could.
And just like that, 8 months passed.
***
One night at main headquarters located on an island somewhere in the Pacific, Mei and a bunch of researchers were watching a screen showing multiple videos of what looked like body cam footage. "No ICHOR expressions detected, to think we armed them with Honkai weapons." A dissatisfied researcher clicked her tongue, seeing the vital signs go offline by the tens a minute.
Mei looked back and Himeko watched them, more specifically one of the body cam videos. Why? It just so happens that among them, one of them is tagged "Fu Hua."
Not too long after Hua received her SWARA treatment, she immediately pushed to get the MANTIS surgery, and now she, along with the batch of MANTIS's from before, were on a field mission in what was previously known as southern Africa. A report of multiple chariot-class Honkai from the 4th satellite made this the place to send these new MANTIS to.
"This is getting ridiculous, only a few of them remain, Dr. I think this batch should be deemed a failure." The same researcher from earlier voiced her opinion to Mei, the other two nearby researchers were tense seeing all the red "Confirmed dead" screens.
"Hmm?" Mei was alerted by a flashing window and brought it to main. She gave a small smile at what she saw. "A natural ICHOR… Finally and–Hua?"
Mei looked back to Himeko once more to see the redhead chuckling to herself with a few tears falling down her face.
So for the first time since Su, 6 months ago, Hua became the first to activate her ICHOR without needing the stimulus injection that many others did and the side effects that come along with it.
***
As the year was drawing to a close, MOTH held its traditional party. But unlike last year's, where MOTH was met with criticism and accusations by people who were now revealed as Honkai loyalists, a terror group that has tried to push back against MOTH through attacks, spies, sabotage, Honkai breaches and other despicable methods, most failed thanks to Thor and Elysia, as well as general protocols put in place.
The group themselves believed Honkai to be the God described in the Bible and saw the Herrschers as the Angel of Death sent down to deliver divine punishment, and that Aurora's lightning is lightning of retribution. Hence, she was branded a heretic by this "little" group.
But back to more important matters, the party was a success. Morale was kept high and to pick one little moment that shocked everyone, was that Thor came to the party with Mobius. Yes, the same Mobius that calls everyone lab rats or sends chills down people's spines with a glance.
Many called him a legend, others cried tears of blood, jealous that all the "Beauties" in MOTH were taken by a single man, though they were not too far off. Besides Mei, who is with Kevin, it was funny to say that Thor was one of the most popular men on the planet. Though Su was not far behind, with how women and men both were attracted to him, especially when you consider his back profile.
To say Su was embarrassed when Kevin, Thor and even Kosma teased him about the posts online, that eventually reached Elysia and well, she gossiped and you can guess what happened.
Amongst all the good that has happened in the recent months, only one thing stood out to them. There were no signs of the 7th eruption, no increase in ambient Honkai, no outbreaks, not even a Judgement-class Honkai beast. But they knew that something was bound to happen sooner rather than later.
***
A/N: Nice little chapter to come back with, you may notice I changed my style. It is mostly that I read through this fic in my time of wrist and hand pain, and I noticed that it didn't fit too well, so I dropped that stuff.
No I also found a way to spell check, its called having a friend who isn't dyslexic like me read through it, their also a Honkai fan so it works well lol.
Anyway, I'm back and want to enjoy writing some Depression Impact for my lovely readers.
Ciao