Shashous.
That's what we call the angels we used to worship.
"Killers."
Now, you may wonder why I speak of angels as killing machines.
My name is Noah Kaslana. I am the son of a bloodline that has no future anymore.
The Shashous are angels, basically. Long version? They are artificial nihil organisms with terrifying energy levels. A.N.G.E.L. — Artificial Nihil Great Energy Lifeforms.
They were meant to be China's replacement for a conventional army. Japan's technology, funding from half the world, and one too many desperate prayers against the Honkai. That ambition birthed prototypes called the Eons — Emanators of Nothing. Some miscalculations turned them into the worst nightmares imaginable. We named those failures Kokoromi. They were sealed away in China's underworld, far from the light.
Then came the Soryu. "Angels" with dragon wings and crowns of bone that burst from their skulls like twisted halos. Humanity looked at them and saw salvation. Instead, we sent them straight off the planet — exiled to Mars — hoping the red dust would swallow our sins.
I know this sounds insane.
But I'm just getting started.
I have a sister. Her name is Kiana Kaslana.
Apparently, she's the host of the Herrscher of the Void — one of those imaginary entities whose sole purpose is the destruction of humanity. Herrschers don't follow the old rules anymore. Thanks to people like Elysia, some of the Current Era ones can still cling to their humanity. But the Honkai evolves with us. It doesn't need a blank slate. It can awaken as a second persona inside someone with high Honkai resistance, waiting for a moment of weakness... or a heart full of hatred.
Me?
I'm a soldier. Code 00999.
They put me through an experiment that turned me into something like a living weapon — Captain America with a vendetta. I'm captain of the 14th Division of the Angel Exterminators. It's a good job, if you know how to survive it. In most divisions, ten men die on a single extermination run. In mine? Zero. I train every member personally, using whatever files the Chinese military will actually hand over. It's exhausting. But it's the only way I know to keep my people breathing.
"I didn't know they were so unstable... I can't believe I've created this abomination. I hate them. I've never hated anything or anyone as much as I hate them."
That's what Dr. Allen told me once, voice cracking like he was confessing to murder.
Who the hell is Allen?
Dr. Allen Ainsworth is the man who made the experiment that turned me into this. He gave me the power to destroy the angels he helped birth. He gave me the strength to make people feel safe again. He gave me a purpose: kill everything he created.
...
"You say we play God, right, Kaslana?" Allen asked one night, calm as ever, a small smile tugging at his lips.
"Yes. Because of the things you made in that lab, Doctor."
"Yeah... but because of the things I made, you are the Noah Kaslana the world needs, boy."
"Yeah. But you only did it because you needed a soldier capable of beating those things, Allen."
"Mmm... You're right, Kaslana."
A long pause.
"But tell me something... If I had never made all those aberrations, who would Noah Kaslana even be? Would you still be the protector? The hero of humanity? Exactly. Nobody. If I didn't "play God" in that lab, who would have?"
...
To be continued...