Honkai Diary: Start With Picking Up A White-Haired Treasure

The autumn sea breeze was cool and refreshing.

The Oceania Schicksal Branch stood near the coast but not directly on it, surrounded by lush forests tinged with vast swathes of gold—the symbol of impending decay—that hinted at the approaching winter chill.

Three invisible girls silently materialized in the woods surrounding the base's outskirts, their moods varied as they surveyed this small urban fortress hidden among the mountains.

Kiana took a deep breath, feeling both excited and nervous. After gathering her thoughts for a moment, she said,

"Sin, this is our first time fighting side by side. Don't hold us back!"

"...Did you finally get my name right?"

"Heh heh! We're here to take care of serious business, so let's avoid arguing—at least for now."

"Hm. Rarely do I agree with you, Kiana."

After this brief exchange, a sense of camaraderie naturally emerged between them.

Sin had a proud demeanor, and Kiana wasn't far off either. However, after enduring hardships together amidst constant bickering, emotional bonds cannot simply be denied by mere words.

When it came to matters of importance, if either one signaled a truce, any perceived conflicts swiftly dissolved.

Kiana and Sin knew each other's abilities inside out. With their reconciliation, a sense of security washed over them.

As long as this goofball cooperates, we'll be fine! Both girls shared the thought simultaneously.

At that moment, Bronya's cool voice came through from beside them, also transmitted via headset.

"In three minutes, communication with the base and its internal network will be completely cut off. Simultaneously, Titan forces will reveal themselves and launch frontal assaults along four main routes: southeast, east, northeast, and north. We'll maintain invisibility and infiltrate the base interior via the northern route. Then... repeat your orders."

Sin responded first:

"I'll stay invisible throughout, capturing vantage point X1 initially. Leveraging the speed and destructive power of my thrown weapons, I'll swiftly destroy buildings A1 to A7, crippling the base's command system and energy supply for stationary defenses. Afterwards, I'll conceal myself at vantage point X2, ready to provide remote support at any time."

Next, Kiana replied:

"My mission is to directly charge building A8 and dismantle the area spanning A8 to A16 head-on. This will eliminate their aerial capabilities while sowing chaos within the base, forcing the Valkyries there to scramble frantically, unsure where to direct their support."

Bronya paused briefly before saying,

"...I never thought Kia would actually remember her orders."

"I'm not that dumb! This mission is crucial for Zeke; I'll give it my all!" Kia retorted indignantly.

She usually didn't bother thinking things through because Zeke had always been there to handle everything for her. But this time, she needed to stand on her own and support him.

It seemed Zeke's teachings were successful—at least, Kia now knew when to use her brain when necessary.

Bronya gave a silent smile before summarizing their plan: "Sin's actions are critical, providing us with maximum safety. Kia will face the most pressure, confronting the inner district's Valkyrie forces alone. To assist you, your armor has been equipped with 1,200 worker bees. Use them strategically to clear paths or cover your retreat if needed. As for me, I'll head straight for points B1 to B6, where our target might be located. Once found, we immediately withdraw. Our objective is the gemstone, not annihilating the Oceania Branch, understood?"

"Yes ma'am!" ×2

Time ticked away. At the three-minute mark, numerous lights suddenly illuminated within the Oceania Branch, revealing a formidable Titan force. Intense artillery fire erupted from all directions, launching the assault with full ferocity right from the start.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

"What's going on?!"

"I-it's robot forces! Anti-Entropy is attacking!"

"Damn it! Is this retaliation for the Mediterranean incident? No good—quickly test our communication systems!"

"Captain, we've lost contact! Both external communications and internal command networks have been disrupted!"

"Just as expected! They crippled Headquarters' network last time; now it's our turn?"

"Captain, what should we do?"

"Don't panic! We weren't caught unprepared. Follow Emergency Drill Plan A: default commands, execute!"

"Yes!" × N

Within the base, after a brief moment of chaos, most Valkyries and combat personnel swiftly took their positions, forming layer upon layer of seamless defenses. Additionally, large contingents of Valkyrie forces split into four groups to counter the Titan offensive.

As the Valkyrie captain had stated, all branches had prepared for Anti-Entropy's retaliation with simulations. Their morale remained undeterred despite the sudden crisis.

However, soon, continuous explosions echoed not only along the four main routes on the periphery but also within the base itself.

"Rumble!"

"Boom!"

"What's happening?"

"The signal center, and over there... it's the Third Energy Core! Damn, organize immediate defense!"

The main Valkyrie forces deployed at the front lines quickly diverted smaller units to protect critical areas.

As the leader of a seven-member squad, Lenas, an experienced A-rank Valkyrie, promptly positioned her team near the closest power station.

"Attention! This station supplies 27% of the energy for weapons and logistics facilities across the base. Stay alert; don't let even a mosquito slip through!"

"Yes!" x n

After issuing orders to hold their ground, Leona watched as her teammates secured key defensive points. She just managed to breathe a slight sigh of relief when suddenly, a piercing shriek pierced her ears.

"Whizz!"

"Bang~"

BOOMMM! In the scorching gale, Leona stiffly turned her head to see a slender, pitch-black spear slowly rise from the flames before shooting skyward and vanishing without a trace.

"What... was that?"

Despite boasting years of combat experience, Leona had never witnessed such a swift attack. The penetrative power was terrifying as well—the outer walls of the energy facility were hardened enough to withstand giant Honkai Beasts' assaults, yet they crumbled like paper under this lance. Leona had no doubt—if she had been the target, she would already be dead, unable to react in time.

"The attack originated roughly at nine o'clock direction. Ellie, Shana, and I will track it down. The rest, notify allied forces about the enemy's unconventional high-penetration weapon—it's extremely difficult to evade or defend against. Beware of targeted assassinations on command personnel!"

"Yes ma'am!"

With the energy facility destroyed, Leona swiftly abandoned her defense duty, issued new orders, and fearlessly charged towards the lance's launch point, disregarding personal safety.

Several other returning squad leaders made similar decisions.

Soon, dozens of elite Valkyries gathered near the edge of a tall tower for reconnaissance but found nothing.

"No traces of a mounted launching device; the attack likely came directly from someone."

"Damn it! We're too late!"

"What now?"

"Carry out a thorough search. As soon as any suspicious targets are spotted, quickly issue warnings and converge to attack them. We can't let those assaults continue unchecked; otherwise, the situation will become extremely unfavorable for us."

"Agreed!"

The Valkyries swiftly dispersed, scouring potential hiding spots nearby for Sin's whereabouts.

War isn't about individual displays but rather the combination of strict organization, rules, and the initiative taken by frontline personnel. Beyond initial strategies and deployment strength, what ultimately determines the outcome of a battle is the training level of the front-line forces.

Clearly, the Valkyries excelled in both discipline and decisive action.

However, after completing her sabotage mission, Sin had already rushed at full speed towards the next strategic high ground, which was outside their search area. This hunt was destined to be futile.

Meanwhile, in another region near a massive logistics center, a figure clad in black armor suddenly materialized before its entrance.

A Valkyrie who had just emerged saw this newcomer with apprehension.

"Is it new technology from our branch? Or...an enemy?"

Before she had time to assess the situation, the tiny girl began winding up her right arm, preparing for attack. Through the pale blue visor of her sealed helmet, one could hear her mischievous giggle.

"Heh heh... Sorry, pretty ladies, but I'm not holding back this time! Hah!"

BOOM! With one punch, the thick wall shattered explosively, leaving a conspicuous chunk missing from the majestic hundred-meter-tall building.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

"Where's the enemy... Hmm? She's so small?"

Compared to most fully grown Valkyries, Kiana appeared exceptionally petite. However, the collapsed corner of the building and the scattered rubble on the ground testified to her extraordinary destructive power.

"I hate laying hands on cute girls, but if you insist on standing in my way today, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

"Be cautious! Don't underestimate her just because she's small—capture her!"

"Yes ma'am!"

The Valkyries moved swiftly, their punches and kicks as rapid and forceful as bullets.

But over these past months, Kiana had been living under constant bombardment by half-Honkai Energy weapons!

The barrage of intense firepower awakened her innate combat instincts. With daily top-tier nutritional supplements and months of grueling training behind her, she was no longer the same as before. Coupled with the incredible enhancements provided by the black armor, this battle became...a breeze.

"Boom!"

The attacking Valkyries were swiftly repelled at even greater speeds, slamming into buildings and infrastructure, unable to rise again.

Kiana struck a pose inspired by Shenzhou martial arts, beckoning challengers with a crooked finger.

"If you dare, come at me!"

"Charge!"

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Zeke had analyzed the Valkyries' data thoroughly. According to Schicksal's central archive records, Kiana's current combat stats nearly matched those of Yue... ahem, Cecilia from years past.

With the foundational abilities of an S-rank Valkyrie, despite potential gaps in awareness, experience, intellect, and other factors, she still effortlessly outclassed the others.