Honkai Impact 3rd: Don't Die For Me/ Book 3 Paradise

Chapter 92 Alien

<Southern Vienna>

Sakura's forms were failing her. The Ten No Kitsunebi style proved ineffective against overwhelming strength. It had been a close fight on the rooftops but just as the sun started to envelop the world in strands of light the board state shifted.

'Disgusting.' Sakura commented.

The segmented spear, the weapon of the Petal was thrown aside. What remained was a pustule of flesh and silicon Honkai beast parts, barely taking human form. A mass monster, armored and pulsing with power.

First Form Cleansing Blade.

Sakura closed the gap between them. The roof tiles didn't register her weight as she cut the Petal from shoulder to shoulder. Her sword was the village's sacred katana. Its craftsmanship was superior to most of the blades of Japan and Europe. Such virtue allowed it to fuse with the Black Box, to become a divine key.

'Why can't I cut her?'

Sakura darted away. The slums had low roofs, and a single leap could clear several houses. The Petal caught up to her in an instant. Foxfire and her emerald flames shielded her from the blow, but she was still sent half a block away. Gravel and dust invaded her clothes. Discomfort and pain beseeched her mind.

'How?!'

She barely got to her feet before the Petal charged her like a bull. Blinding speed and dead impact sent Sakura flying once more. This time her flames acted quickly, cushioning her in mid-air. Sakura sat up just as the Petal bounded after her.

'I need to run!'

Sakura's thought was too slow as the Petal's monstrous body appeared beside her. A mad swipe was made and its crushing strength would surely spell the end of her. If only she could fight like before. If only she could fight like that time.

She pleaded for strength, though she had gotten stronger she had yet to reach the pinnacle.

'Please, Please Katsuki, grant me your flames once more.' Sakura thought. 'Grant me the strength to keep my promise. I'll make her happy. I'll make Kallen forget about you so please. Lend me the strength to fight that fox.'

As if responding to her desperation the platform of fire moved. It was swifter than light, so fast that it looked like Sakura was sitting on air for the briefest moments. The swipe missed and the stigma on the center of the back started to burn hot.

'Fight.' A voice came, but it wasn't Otto's voice. No, it was softer and younger, but it was familiar. In reaching for him, she found her.

"Rin?" Sakura looked around, eyes shifted from the battle.

The Petal jumped high once more but the platform of fire again dodged for Sakura. It was hot, the stigma of spirits burned so hot but there was no pain. Strange, her senses started to climb. She could feel the pores of her body breathing and exhaling air. Her hair, lashes, and every nerve of her body could sense all the directions that chaotic dawn wind blew. Below her all sound was revealed, she could hear the filthy chirps of roaches sliding over each other. She could hear the chittering of mice, looking for a place to shelter from the quakes. She could see, the Petal tensing, the muscles of the calves flaring in preparation to jump.

'It's so clear. I've ascended in the realm of the spirit.'

Sakura was in awe. Earthly desires escaped her for a moment. She was floating and the platform didn't need to move for her. The Petal leaped high once more but missed by a larger margin. Sakura simply twirled the side. As her Honkai level climbed, her hair grew, and she looked more and more ethereal as time passed. A fairy descending onto a mortal plane, she surpassed all maidens of the shrine.