Honkai Impact : The Imaginary Human(Honkai Impact 3rd x OC)

Separation

With the name "Cynthia" now settled upon the mysterious girl—evoking the serene glow of the moon that had always brought Lux a sense of solace in his loneliest moments—the group found themselves basking in a brief, fragile peace on the rooftop. But Kiana, ever the bundle of restless energy, wasn't one to let the moment linger too long.

"Time for an outing!" she declared with her trademark grin, pumping her fist in the air. Her eyes sparkled with mischief, though there was an undercurrent of something deeper—perhaps a need to escape the weight of recent events.

And just like that, they ended up at a familiar chicken skewer stall on the edge of the bustling town. Lux recognized it immediately; it was the same place he'd grabbed a quick bite. There wasn't much rhyme or reason to the choice beyond Kiana's growling stomach. Sirin, manifesting in her ethereal pseudo-body, joined in the meal without issue—her form stable enough to enjoy the simple pleasure of food. Cynthia, still adjusting to her new identity, nibbled tentatively, her eyes wide with curiosity at the savory flavors.

But the reprieve was short-lived. As the group finished up, talk turned to the future. Kiana was set on heading back to Anti-Entropy's base, where she could regroup and figure out her next steps. Lux, ever pragmatic, suggested Cynthia accompany her. "It'd be safer there," he reasoned. "AE has resources we don't."

Cynthia nodded quietly, her pink hair catching the fading light of dusk. With that decided, they boarded a bus heading in the direction Kiana had taken-a route that wound through quieter outskirts, away from the heart of the city.

The bus rumbled along as night deepened, the shadows outside growing long and impenetrable. Lux sat alert, his senses sharpened by years of evasion and combat. Cynthia, seated beside him, seemed to pick up on something too—her gaze flicking to the windows with subtle unease.

Then, it happened. Suspicious flickers in the encroaching darkness caught their eyes. Lux bolted from his seat just as gunshots shattered the quiet, bullets embedding into the cushion where he'd been moments before.

Overall Augmentation. Lifting power restrictions to Level 2.

Golden energy surged through him as he summoned his signature weapons—a massive greatsword and a cannon, both shimmering with imaginary essence. He leaped from the bus, landing gracefully on the road, facing a cloaked figure emerging from the shadows. She appeared human, young, with a feminine silhouette beneath the dark fabric.

"And who are you?" Lux demanded, his voice steady despite the adrenaline.

"Just a mercenary," she replied coolly, her tone laced with amusement. One hand was exposed, adorned with oversized pink-red claws of some metallic alloy—sharp, menacing, and giving Lux an instinctive chill. Her other hand remained hidden within the cloak, motionless but ominous.

Sirin materialized beside him in a swirl of void energy, her pseudo-body flickering slightly. Kiana, back on the bus, chose to stay close to Cynthia, her fists clenched in frustration—she burned to jump into the fray, but protecting the newcomer took priority.

The mercenary stood still, unmoving. Is she baiting us? Lux wondered.

"Sirin," he murmured, "keep it to ranged attacks. She's not alone. The bus driver didn't even hesitate to keep going—this was planned."

"Aren't you a smart one," the mercenary drawled, a smirk audible in her voice. "Sadly, just this much ain't enough."

In a blur that outpaced even Lux and Sirin's superhuman reflexes, she whipped out her hidden hand. Lux's sharp eyes caught a glimpse of a black rifle—its design sleek and ominous, blending seamlessly with her dark attire in the pre-dawn gloom. Unique, almost otherworldly.