Honkai Impact: The Serpent's Tale

Chapter 22: Dream, or Not?

What Alex had just witnessed was something he couldn't even begin to comprehend.

In fact, it was something he desperately wanted to get out of his head immediately as he struggled to find the words to describe how he was feeling.

The puppet easily noticed the boy's sheer terror and horror in his eyes as she let out a satisfied laugh.

"Are you scared? I wouldn't blame you. After all, you're still just a child. A child who for far too long has been taking on things way too far above your threshold. Now, it's time you finally realize just how outclassed you've been all this time."

The puppet snapped its fingers bringing forth a mixed group of zombies and mechs, this pack larger than the first.

Alex couldn't afford anymore time to process what he saw as he immediately went back into battle as he desperately tried to keep the pack back from a still downed Seele.

As the fight continued, Alex's stamina was completely in the gutter as he struggled to keep up with the few enemies left.

Not to mention that replica kept lingering on his mind, the haunting sight replaying over and over in his head like a nightmare as he began to get a headache.

He'd slay one more enemy leaving two left however by now he finally collapsed, falling onto his knees and a hand to his head as he panted.

'W-Why............why am I..........so scared right now.........!?' Thought the boy as right now, he somehow was more terrified than when he had confronted the Void queen back at Schicksal's Air Base.

As Alex looked up, he saw one of the zombie's scythe about to strike him down as it was far too late for him to move.

Thankfully fate decided otherwise as Seele would block the zombie and toss it away as she seemingly recovered from whatever was going on with her before.

"Alex are you okay!?" She asked.

All Alex could do was slowly nod however Seele could tell that the boy was far from 100% as she swung her scythe around and got ready for battle.

"Don't worry. Thank you for protecting me. Now, let me do the same." She said as she began to take on the rest of the enemies.

Even with Seele taking the reigns of this fight, the end to the numbers still seemed nowhere near in sight as it was just one after the other.

What didn't help was Seele's earlier issue of stamina came into affect again and with Alex clearly unable to back her up anymore, she was gonna have to tough this out as best and as long as she could.

As Seele slayed the last enemy of this group, she was panting heavily and using her scythe to hold her up.

'M-My time........is up......why isn't, she t-talking to me....' Thought Seele to herself, referring to the voice in her head that had been silent ever since they had first stepped foot on this center stage.

"Feeling exhausted now? Laboring to keep standing?" Asked the puppet with a smug chuckle.

"Who.......are you....? W-What did you do to the other me and.......Alex.....?" Responded Seele.

"I simply gave the boy a sight to behold. Safe to say he really took it to heart. As for the other 'you', why worry about her? She isn't you. She's never been you. She's one of us. She, belongs to us. You'll see that soon."

The puppet tone's was only getting more and more unhinged as it kept talking.

"I'm not letting you take her! I'll protect her! I will!" Stated Seele as the puppet sighed in annoyance.