The Games We Play: Deck of Cards c2

Kiana didn't know to act around her so-called 'partner'. The link she has with him is constantly telling her that he was extremely happy with her being here and that he was still in disbelief.

"So what are these?"

She asked him as the white-haired girl picked up a bronze-coloured card.

It was saying [Honkai] a small purple cube-like thing drawn inside the card. She knows what this is…its something like crystallized Honkai energy they used for valkyries.

"The loot."

He pulled out another card from his card holder and showed it to her.

It was a rusted knife.

"When a monster is slayed it drops something behind. In this case, we have [Honkai]. I still don't know the uses for these. But, my wildest guess is that I can use these to improve you most likely."

"...Improve…me?"

Her eyes widened as she remembered that she indeed has her Herrscher Powers… all of them!

But…she can't sense them anymore!

"...does this means I am a card as well?" She asked with a weirded-out look.

This was the first time she felt this weird!

"...Yes and no. The card is what allows you to exist here. Something like gates to your existence and how much you can bring from your universe."

"...On…I see…this is why I can't use my Finality form…"

She slowly nodded this made sense. And now she knows why she can't feel her Herrscher Cores.

"Finality… ah yes… very beautiful indeed." He said with a slightly dreamy tone.

This made her blush like a tomato. She felt that!!!

"...Y-You… what are you thinking!?"

"How beautiful is Kiana?"

"Gah!!! How can you say that with a straight face like that?" She pointed her finger at him.

And it only makes her blush even more because of what she felt…in other words, he is appreciating her reaction!

'Damn this connection! Is that a white dude tormenting me like this!? How can I be angry at him!? When I feel this!' Kiana neatly scratched her head at this. It's like she is being bombarded by positive feelings!

"Why not? It's the truth. All of your Herresher forms are beautiful they even represent your character. You have The Void form. That haughty Empress kinda look, then Flamescion which is like a Heroic form of yours, and lastly, Finality which is like that last ball dress mixed with godly touch for 'one last dance', kinda thing " He honestly explained to her.

"..."

The girl just wanted to bang her head into the steel wall. This was getting too much! Most of the time it's her who goes on offence but this…

She can't take these 'hits' like that!!!

"...Please…stop!"

"...*Snort* fine. As expected Kiana is cute."

Her ears turned red as she turned around and growled at him.

She looked like a cat whose tail has been stepped on.

"...You are a cheat! You know how to mess with me!"

"Mess? I am just saying the truth."

"...STILL… it's messing with me!" She crossed her arms and looked away while pouting at him.

The white-haired girl was here for just a few minutes but she feels like she is facing her hardest battle so far!

It's the emotional ones. Oh, she faced this before. The torments from Honkai and her Herrscher self. But…those were easy compared to this. Those were life-and-death situations. You know losing body to evil self kinda thing.

But this… this is affection-like battles… which are hard to fight…very hard to fight!

"...can we proceed with the dungeon?" Eventually, she just sighed and asked to move on.

"Sure. Let go."

For a second she smiled and the pair proceeded to walk forward.

~~~~~~Raynor~~~~~~

The teen was impressed with how athletic is Kiana! She was cartwheeling to sides, backwards, and shooting mid-flip!

While beautiful to watch he is still trying to figure out how can she continue to shoot those pistols without switching ammo cartridges.

Regardless after finishing a group of three in which Raynor killed two while Kiana killed three, they collected the Honkai cards.

"...How can you shoot so often without changing ammo?" He asked her curiously.

"Hmm? 'Changing ammo'? What is that?" She looked curiously at him.

"It's the ammunition in your weapons. It doesn't end?"

"Oh?"

She shook her head.

"It's Honkai powered. From my Valkyrie suit. When I am in my Herrscher form I feed my gun directly with an abundance of Honkai I generate. So… it's kinda pointless to change something which doesn't end."

"... Convenient."

She slowly nodded at him.

"Such small distractions could potentially kill a Valkyrie. No time to the waist for ammunition."

"...true."

As they proceeded they eventually arrived at crossroads.

"...I see… so it does get harder even if this is the first Honkai-based dungeon." He said with a frown. As he walked towards the steel wall and used his Holy Sword to leave a mark.

"...What do you mean?"

"My previous dungeon didn't have crossroads. So the difficulty is going up according to my 'Rank'..." He said to her while motioning to follow him.

"...Rank? Like level up? You have levels?" She asked with confused amusement.

"...Yeah. More like ranks by how many dungeons I passed."

"...Oh…neat… kinda interestingly… cool…" For a second she had an amused look before she decided to say something.

"You know… you know my story…right?"

"...Your story?"

She rolled her eyes.

"You know about my world, what I did and stuff like that? Yes?" The white-haired girl clarified to him.

"...Yes? How do you know that I know?"

"...Easy…well…" She looked like she is having a hard time explaining.

"...It was explained to me? What I am getting myself into."

"...Okay…so the system explained?"

"...Yes? Something like that….anyway!!! I wanted to say that I won't going to have a chance to play video games! But now I am part of it!"

"...Oh…you are Kiana from the end game?" Raynor had the look of realisation it was kinda obvious!

"...Ugh…don't say it like that!" She facepalmed when she heard that.

"...right...sorry…"

"... It's fine… anyway I was sealed with Honkai so… I thought that I won't be able to eat food and play games…after the whole thing."

He patted her head that moment… he even undid his fusion when he did that.

"Don't worry, I have a lot of games and food is not an issue."

At that moment she took a few steps away as her cheeks and ears were red.

"...You… you can't just say stuff like that so easily!"

He snorted with amusement when he heard that.

"I just did and will do it again. I am the one who can summon you anytime."

Her eyes widened with realisation.

"...Fine…fine…geez… are males always like this!?"

She said with a sigh. Raynor had a thoughtful look when he heard that.

'Her interaction with males is extremely limited by how the universe works in her world.'

"Nah. Not all. We are only like that with someone we like."

"...Gah! Jeez! How can you say with such a straight face!"

Once again he rolled his eyes and just snorted with amusement. She is so cute.

"That's just how we are built. You girls love to drop hints and stuff. While males can just say it out loud and straight to the point. Pretty sure that's what your old man said to you."

For a second, she had a thoughtful look.

"...I guess he did… I think I remember something like that."

At that moment she giggled as she remembered something.

"...What a cheat! You using his words against me!" She said with laughter as the girl then motioned to continue walking.

"C'mon! Let's go!"

As the pair advanced they had to deal with another two groups of fives. This led to Raynor getting 10 more Honkai cards. By this point, he has 19 of them.

And the pair were not even winded. More like Kiana looked like she was having a good exercising run!

"Oh…a dead end."

The girl said with a disappointed look.

"Not quite…"

As he said that he noticed how this wall looked.

"Hmm?"

"...this looks just like how I found your card."

One of her eyes went up. She got the realising look.

"A treasure room?"

"Yes."

With slow steps, he walked closer to the cell doors, they were slightly opened, this made him push the steel bar doors to the side.

They fully opened as he walked in. Kiana slowly followed him, as she doesn't like…whole thing walking into a cell.

~~~~~~Kiana~~~~~~

It reminds her how she was manipulated by Herrscher's side of hers. Showing her mother, manipulating her to go wild and causing the 3rd eruption.

So no… she will just follow him slowly and see what this is.

The cell was small with a bunk bed and that's it…at the end do the well cell there was a chest.

And that it… this made her sigh with relief.

Old habits… die slowly.

"Hmm, what did you find?" Kiana could feel something in the emphatic link she has with him.

"It's a Katana."

The Silver card glowed and turned into a familiar katana.

"I think I saw this before."

The white-haired girl said with a thoughtful look.

"Yeah, it's Raiden Mei's weapon."

That moment her eyes widened! Of course! But this was before Mei was a Herrscher!

After realising this… made a strange feeling rise in her gut.

'What is going…on… I am jealous!? Of him paying attention to Mei-senpai!?'

This was where she realised just how powerful is this emotional link. She doesn't want to share this… it's like her favourite food. The girl doesn't want to share it either! She very rarely does!

"You okay?"

"Um? Yeah. So…you know Raiden Mei as well?" She started to ask about the elephant in the room.

"Yeah? Kinda obvious…"

"Not really? You do know I know that you know about us from a game. But that's about it."

'And I know your absurd variants and world-ending business you do from time to time… so yeah… not telling about that.' she said to herself with a deadpan look.

"Fair. It's like a collectable game. You have to collect Valkyrie battle suit variants. And I kinda have all of yours, and the majority of Raiden Mei. I think I don't have her support-ish Valkyrie variant suit. But that is just a matter of time. I don't use those that often."

She hummed when he explained to her. It makes sense to some extent how her world would be portrayed to them.

"...So…. Your favourite Valkyrie?" Kiana asked him with a small smile.

The white-haired girl was placing a trap. The best part was…even IF he lies she will know! This is where he can't hide stuff from her!

"Depends on what you want me to favourite it."

She inflated her cheeks when she heard that!

"Your Favourite-Favourite!!!"

He slightly reeled back. Why she is raising her voice?

"...I would say your Finality form? Very versatile dmg dealer?"

She smirked upon hearing that.

"Well, that's a Herrecher not a Valkyrie but I accept the answer!" The girl puffed her chest before looking back at him.

"Any way that Katana while should be wielded by Mei-senpai we don't have her here. So…you can use it if you want to. I am not that good with Eastern Swords. I prefer double-edged ones."

"Or a large Claymore?"

His words made her slowly nod.

"Or that…"

"By the way, Flamescion is awesome as well."

She rolled her eyes while fighting back her blush. She didn't achieve that form to be praised like that! BUT, she accepts it, anyway!

"...Thanks…anyway let's go, this place gives me claustrophobia."

As the pair walked out they proceeded to walk back to the crossroads.

And take the other route.

A few steps later they encountered another group which they disposed of with a small amount of effort.

Though Kiana was…trying to impress. His words started to catch up to her. Mostly because she knows it's genuine stuff. The emphatic link doesn't lie.

It's like the ultimate lie detector and the thing is she can't even slip with this. Like she can't say about her meeting that being or that she has this link!

So it's a weapon just for her. This means she will abuse this as much as she can!

'Ugh… do I becoming obsessive to have him for myself!? It's only been a few hours…'

"Umm? What is it?" She asked him.

"...Welp… time is running out."

The moment he said that her world turned white!

~~~~~~Raynor~~~~~~

When Raynor opened his eyes. He saw the ceiling of his room. It was not dark anymore.

"Hmm…wow…I got my first companion!" The teen exclaimed as he quickly checked his card deck.

The very first card was Kiana's. Then the next one was the new Katana he got from the treasure chest.

Followed by 24 Honkai cards… that's a lot of the same loot…

Regardless, after checking his cards he walked out of his room to check if anyone was at home.

After remembering that their mother is working Raynor went to get a quick shower and then returned to dress up.

Though he summoned the companion 'duelling' desk and summoned his companion!

"...Hmm?" As the girl appeared she was confused for a second before she realised that this was just a normal room.

"...You summoned me to your room? Quite bold." Kiana said with a small smile as she proceeded to explore.

While the technology level similar-ish? Well, enough for her to understand what she is looking at.

Though technology is something she didn't care. What she cared about was the stuff around his room. The posters. She was looking for those female posters which she could roast him with.

But… well…

"...Perv… my pictures…"

"Hmm? What about your pictures?"

"...Now I realised that Herrscher clothing is far too revealing."

He snorted upon hearing that. Now that's just hilarious!

"Don't they are good for movement?"

She crossed her arms. Before starting to talk.

"Yes. But they are NOT meant for posters! Just look!" She pointed at herself in Flamescion's uniform.

"Just change the angle a little bit AND… you know the rest!"

The white-haired girl said with a deep blush. She was getting very, very embarrassed about this!

"...Oh cheer up! I am going to the kitchen. Want some sandwiches?"

These magic words made her ears perk up.

"Not fair…but-but yes! Let's go!"

~~~~~~Kiana~~~~~~

Kiana was in a dilemma. She didn't grasp before how deep was this game about her. But now she grasped it to some extent. Seeing posters about herself and seeing him playing in front of her…

Ugh…

It's on a phone…not a console or PC… so… he can play it anywhere.

This was an issue… well not really….

"...I am right here… you know…"

"Yeah. But I still need to do my daily missions. Still gathering resources."

She rolled her eyes but the girl still stuffed herself with a sandwich.

He made her six sandwiched. As if knowing that she eats a lot. That Kaslana's blood demands a lot of calories to run her 'engine'.

"Anyway! So what now?"

"Hmm now? I am going to school, and my power only works at night time."

"...Ugh…you don't expect me to come with you?"

"No worries, I will summon you AFTER I am done."

This made her extremely relieved! Hell, she can barely attend Valkyrie school not to mention a mundane one! That's worse than facing Emperor-class Honkai Beasts with basic equipment! She would rather do that!

Well not really but one gets the picture of how much she dislikes it!

"Anyway! I have to go."

She nodded her head swiftly before grabbing the sandwich and stuffing herself real quick.

"..."

He looked slightly baffled at how she is capable of doing that!

"And done. You can recall me. By the way, can you summon me when you are outside? Or is it crowded?" She asked with some curiosity.

"Nah? It's fine I live in a small town."

'...small town…how odd… I remember those used to exist at some point.'That moment she recalled that she was the reason small towns ceased to exist in the first place. Honkai eruption caused them to die off and the rest of the survivors rushed to big cities.

"...I see. Then can you do it? I want to see the town. At least some of it?"

"Sure." After saying she disappeared in a burst of bronze as Raynor was holding her card in his hand.

~~~~~~Raynor~~~~~~

Raynor looked at the card in his hand for a bit before stashing it away in his card holder.

After cleaning everything up he put the backpack on and walked out.

It was time to train again! Now he has a new book.

'Hold the horses! Can I make a very specific dungeon!? Can I make a purely magic book dungeon!? This way I could only get magic books!?'

As he realised that he could make very specific ones! Like just for weapons or armouries… or even something like a dungeon for templates?

Collecting all Round Knights powers would be a very curious thing to do.

He then recalled how his companion summoning window was a ripoff of Yu-Gi-Oh…

Maybe he could have a full-out Yu-Gi-Oh monster deck?

'Yeah…Blue Eyes White Dragon and Red Eyes Black Dragon are kinda iconic… having them as proper summons… hmm…kinda cool…

Damn…Arno will get a meltdown when he sees I can do this shit!'

As Raynor was thinking about this he eventually arrived at the school.

His deskmate looked quite bored, unlike him. He was very much excited about his current status quo. Yep, he did spend half of his night teasing his waifu! How cool is that!?

"...Ugh…why are you grinning like you finished Mass Effect Trilogy on Nightmare without any single death?"

"... That's very specific, but no…I can't do it. some of the stuff on the first Mass Effect is just too hard to finish without deaths."

"...Yeah, tell that to the Youtubers…" His blonde friend said with a resigned sigh.