The Male Student (A Honkai Impact 3rd Fanfiction)

Chapter 58: Horde

The sound of clashing blades became ever so prominent within the battlefield that would determine his qualifications, with a mute child bashing through metal swords like paper, bones cracked and pale flesh flayed in wild abandon. A greatsword spun around the back of the mute child, scaring off his attackers for a second or two before he grabbed the grip of the blade and slammed it onto several undead. Lifting the blade, he used the flat sides of the blade to deflect the arrows shot his way, clanging noises clambering his ears at every hit. A lesson to learn for the audience came to be as he approached the targets, who side stepped, and jumped away when he seemingly got close, with more arrows flying in his direction.

Said arrows were quickly deflected away, as the mute squire continued his assault.

One does not need to wonder how this occurred.

Some time ago, but not too long ago

Max had vigorously trained for this moment for a week. Why not any earlier, was simply due to him recovering and being given free time to spend with his friends and family. Time that he well spent to make sure that nothing ever went entirely wrong in the world.

It still bothered him that he was, and still will be the only one with information of the outside world. Quite literally so. As the saying goes, gaze into the abyss, and the abyss gazes back. Such a thing would tug at him without end, even till that very day. His experiences, his untold story. . . All confined by a single disability.

That, and Otto enforcing his silence even further, but he would rather not remember such a memory at the moment.

Here he stood instead, clashing blades against Mei Raiden, the clings and clangs of metal reverberating through the gym as they were engaged in a friendly spar. Max tried his damnedest, but Mei, with her far superior swordsmanship, won out.

Falling down to the floor on his ass, he seemingly pouted, discontent with his loss. And yet, he then smiled. His loss was an absolute. And truth be told, he wouldn't have it any other way. When Mei offered her hand to him, he took it graciously, standing up to heave a silent sigh.

"Maybe I should have gone easier on you."

A head shake was her response, which was the least surprising reaction that day. She soon giggled.

"It's been three months and ever since then. . ." Why was it that it felt like three years' worth? With a note to self kept in the echelons of her mind, she pat the blonde's shoulder, a knowledge she knows that Max will need for his exam in just some hours. An exam to determine his worthiness to the Valkyries of St. Freya.

Also his mother. Apparently she had a custom made seat prepared in the examination halls, which sounds exactly something she would and could do. But all that effort just to watch his physical examination? Sounded a bit overkill.

Nonetheless, he smiled, a sigh before he glanced at the remainder of Squad V squabbling about something. Kiana was ever so passionate, yet in that distance, it seemed like she spoke animal noises and Bronya was just looking up at her with that same, unchanging, blank expression. Himeko seem liked she wasn't paid enough to be their guardian and hadn't had enough booze to compensate this madness.

Fu Hua just smiled.

And somehow that was more menacing than Max anticipated.

It was a familiar, almost daily sight. But at the same time, it felt foreign. Perhaps it was due to the many things he experienced for the past month. The Honkai veins spreading to his left eye and the fact he was able to converse, even if briefly in that 'form' scared him. In turn, he had a worried face, one not unnoticed by Mei, who squeezed his shoulder gently.

"Max? Please don't worry. You're going to ace the test, I promise you," Mei stated. Her worries were for a different reason, but the intent was there. And that much was enough for Max to snap out of his stupor and give her an assuring smile.

"Alright. Let's head to the exam hall."

. . .

And so there he stood alone in the field where he should be familiar with, his greatsword hanging behind him while multiple pairs of eyes stared in curiosity of the blonde and mute swordsman before them. Few were familiar, but one stood out amongst the rest.

A blonde woman with a streak of red, sitting less on a seat, and more like a throne, her clothes an entirely different department than the typical military uniform she wore. Instead of the typical brown military drab uniform that was standard wear for the time, it was instead a white shirt with a red. . . Was that a frill tie? He knew not the word for it. Her typical long pants were replaced with black tights, tied by two different belts that did not allow her shirt to pop out. All of that culminated into a white coat that she fashioned into a cape for. . . Style points?

"Go beat 'em up, hun!!"

Definitely style points.

Stepping onto the battlefield, Max felt his heart thumping out of his chest, followed by a nervous gulp. He knew not when it started, or what the traditions he had to go through for this occasion to pass by, and it was only when there was a tapped microphone somewhere his attention was taken away from his own self worth.

A cleared throat was heard, followed by the voice of the principal.

"Alright Max. Are you ready? Exam will begin on your mark."

On his mark. That was assuring to hear. Such words caused him to heave out a sigh, anxiety and sadness flowing out as he took hold of the grip of his sword. Holding it in one hand, he then raised up one hand, a thumb popping out from said finger; a thumbs up.

He was ready.

Now

He need not look at the result, as the sounds of hard things plopped onto the floor, followed by the thud of the bodies.

"First phase, complete."

'There were more?' His thoughts questioned, as he turned to face the center of the battlefield, only to be wide eyed at the large number of the white and pink flying figures, eyeing him intently as if he had sinned. However, he faced these before, and that alone was enough for him to prepare his greatsword once again, prepared to pass through no matter what.

And so, with an exclamation, he cut through one Archangel, narrowly avoiding the slash of a wing close by. Kicking the instigator away, he used the pommel to stun another one close by before grabbing its wing and slammed it down to the ground. Grabbing his waist, he internally cursed, realizing his lack of a firearm.

He should've asked for one earlier. . .

Ah well, he thought. Stabbing the slammed Archangel with his greatsword, he felt a strong force on his back, flinging him a good distance from where he once stood. Rolling on the ground, he quickly recomposed, grabbing his greatsword that flung beside him. It was there he noticed that there were more than just Archangels.

Jellyfish-like Honkai soon appeared in droves, with lasers aimed his way that glowed orange when it found its target, before firing a cuboid projectile. He swiftly dodged one, but another one slammed to his chest, knocking the wind out of him. Enough for him to stumble and fall on one knee. In a bid of desperation, he stabbed his greatsword to the ground and took cover with it while he recovered himself.

There were far too many of them. . . . What can he do?

Words: 1130

A/N: Well well well, guess who's back for a short while? Sorry the quality isn't as good as it can be, but I didn't want to disappoint.