The tide lapped at the shore; the moon shone faintly on the sparse stars. At this equatorial boundary, there was no autumn chill; the high Honkai concentration had killed all insects and animals, silencing the world.
Except for the occasional human skull unearthed by the waves, the vine-covered ruins held an almost idyllic quality.
On the rooftop, a fire crackled. Sakura knelt, brewing tea, while Ryan stood on higher ground, surveying the surrounding island.
Whether Honkai Beasts possessed intelligence and could use tactics was a key question for Fire Moth.
To date, data was scarce. But Ryan wasn't worried; he knew Honkai was impossible to track, but one thing was certain from the Previous Era:
It would use every means to destroy human civilization.
"Predicting its actions is impossible now; even my prior knowledge is useless."
Actually, future knowledge was still useful. Ryan knew the Herrschers weren't mindless destroyers. The Herrscher of Domination, for example, didn't simply destroy; she assassinated Mei, seemingly prioritizing targets.
Human resistance continually evolved; Honkai would adjust accordingly. It was intelligent, strategic; Herrschers could even plead for mercy, depending on their goals.
"Only the starting point is constant. Even if Herrschers and Honkai Beasts have emotions and personalities, they won't side with humanity. Therefore, they can't be described as possessing true personality or emotion."
Ryan inhaled deeply. This was terrifying. As long as its initial goal remained unchanged, possessing emotion and personality only made Honkai more dangerous.
It could strategize, feel fear, experience curiosity, learn, and adapt its tactics; it was far more formidable than a horde of mindless beasts.
"Ryan, what are you thinking about?" Sakura offered some rice balls, warm and clearly steamed.
"I'm thinking about Honkai's evolution. It's not a simple monster; it reacts to resistance and opportunity." Ryan lifted his teacup, avoiding complex terms like "Imaginary" and "Entropy."
Sakura, lacking research knowledge, analyzed from a tactical standpoint. "This is a war. Fire Moth is constantly developing weapons; the enemy will naturally fight back. It's a race to see who can stay ahead."
If it were that simple, I wouldn't be agonizing over this.
Ryan had long realized that the original annihilation scenario was based on his absence—a world without his Path, a world where he hadn't seized Herrscher power.
Even if he saved someone slated to die, Honkai's response would change, varying in intensity.
But Sakura wasn't wrong; a war wouldn't involve only one side's improvement. That would make Honkai look incompetent.
"Regardless, there's no turning back. I'll have to test my hypotheses; see how many of my dozen-plus theories pan out."
A dozen hypotheses??
Sakura raised an eyebrow, thinking Ryan was truly formidable, secretly contemplating so many possibilities.
"You clever people are so troublesome. Out of curiosity, what's your worst-case scenario?"
From her perspective, the ocean stretched before them, dark jungle behind. The damp sea breeze carried the scent of blood.
The Honkai Beasts on this island had been eliminated, just as before—mindless creatures, attacking humans on sight.
"Worst-case?" Ryan repeated the phrase, a wry smile on his lips, unable to explain to Sakura.
The worst outcome was the Previous Era's destruction; Honkai's adaptations weren't its limit. Humanity's civilization simply served its purposes: unleashing thirteen Herrschers, declaring game over.
The Post-Civilization Era offered no reference point because Elysia and Mei had laid the foundation, turning Honkai into a distillery.
"The worst outcome is that Honkai has no upper limit. All struggle within those boundaries is futile, unless…"
Ryan suddenly stepped forward, drawing his sword and slicing downwards, grazing Sakura's shoulder.
Crackle!
Two lightning bolts collided, exploding, shattering the building and the fire. The startled girl turned, seeing the lingering electric arc in the darkness—its origin point, another small island across the sea.
"Someone can transcend the confines of this world!"
Sakura didn't hear the rest of the sentence; the blast had thrown her into the air. She managed to regain her balance, grabbing onto a sturdy vine.
The electric arc persisted, a white streak across the ocean, heading into the distance. This surprise left her breathless.
Śeṣa was here, using the opportunity to launch a surprise attack. If Ryan hadn't remained vigilant, they would have been killed or crippled.
His hypothesis was correct; that Judgment-Class Honkai Beast had been here from the start, lying in wait for a fatal blow, like…
"It's hunting!"
A furious wind hit his face; Ryan found no excitement in Śeṣa's actions, only the accelerated heartbeat of someone approaching the truth.
Why was it hunting? Did it know Fire Moth intended to use them for Fusion Warriors, or was it targeting him specifically? And how did it know he was coming?
Uncertainties swirled in his mind; the battle had become less straightforward, but Ryan felt no fear.
Engage it, study it, kill it!
Bold hypotheses, meticulous verification. Ryan simply craved answers, launching himself upwards like a weed breaking through the soil.
Zap—
Another thunderbolt tore across the sea, obliterating the rocks and shipwrecks. In the flash of lightning, Ryan finally saw his enemy clearly.
A serpentine behemoth, over ten meters long, with a flat head and four massive arms. Its body was covered in green veins; black, viscous mud oozed where it touched the ground. An overwhelming aura of ferocity washed over him.
"In terms of Honkai energy, it's comparable to me. And this feeling…" Ryan's eyes twitched. He exclaimed, "It's been waiting for me?"
It hadn't fled, nor engaged Fire Moth directly; it had simply lain in wait. Before the Fusion Warrior project succeeded, only two could engage it in single combat.
Interesting.
Having rapidly ascended, Ryan plummeted like a charged comet, his descending form resembling a flying spear. Gripping his sword hilt, he swung downwards.
Purple Lightning Dragon Roar!
Crimson Blaze channeled all his energy, transforming into a roaring lightning dragon that swallowed the spear, causing 'Tuệ Tinh' to falter slightly.
BOOM!!
Sakura, having just reached the rooftop, shielded her face, witnessing the distant island light up like day. The spreading electric arc tore across the sea, obliterating trees. Even though Śeṣa conjured two shimmering lightning blades, its body was slammed to the ground.
Was that his full power?
Sakura didn't think too much; she grabbed her sword and ran towards the island. The previously silent island erupted; countless Honkai Beasts roared.
She couldn't join the main battle but knew her task was to hold off the smaller beasts and prevent them from draining Ryan's energy.
Electricity crackled, like the cries of a celestial bird. Ryan looked down at Śeṣa, forming a conclusion:
It possessed comparable strength but wasn't his equal.
Even with similar Honkai energy levels, Ryan's power surpassed Śeṣa's by a level. Seconds later, a lightning blade was pierced by his sword; the giant serpent spun wildly.
A sword cut through its tough hide. As Ryan landed, its massive tail lashed out.
Bang!
The air compressed, then exploded. Ryan slid, smashing through trees and rocks, his sword embedded in the ground, stopping just at the water's edge.
"Hm, its physical strength exceeds mine."
His figure flickered, reappearing over ten meters away, narrowly avoiding a lightning blade that sliced through the spot where he'd been standing, cleaving the sea and creating a plume of white steam.
Highly resistant, extremely powerful.
Ryan crouched, anticipating the approaching giant blade.
Using his aerial agility, he moved from stillness to rapid motion in an instant. The Honkai Beast's massive body couldn't match his speed and agility; once it closed the distance, it was Ryan's domain.
Śeṣa understood this and raised its remaining two arms, lightning orbs forming in its palms, slamming them into the ground without hesitation.
Boom—
Surging electricity and dust enveloped Ryan; he narrowed his eyes, raising his sword.
Dawn Thunder.
A brilliant flash, like the first rays of dawn, struck. The energy dissipated on impact, forming a towering electrical grid.
Quickly concentrating his energy, he blasted a hole through the roaring lightning and dust, crashing down onto the island, creating a massive crater.
"Faster and more cunning than I anticipated."
Ryan tilted his head. The giant serpent, which had been on the ground moments before, was now airborne, its massive form eclipsing the moonlight. It coiled into a ball, resembling a glowing lightning sphere, and roared as it plunged down.
Rumble… rumble… rumble…
A "tire track" undulated across the island, leaving molten trails in its wake, relentlessly pursuing its prey.
Ryan tilted his head, watching this massive "tire track" crush and break everything in its path, his expression turning serious.
This thing could suppress its aura and launch long-range assassinations. If I hadn't been sensitive to electromagnetic fields, I would have been hit. It also used its physical advantages to maximize its abilities.
The crushing speed was astonishing; its changes of direction were incredibly fluid, preventing me from directly counterattacking. It also used those Honkai Beasts and mutated creatures to drain my energy.
A very cunning tactic, proving Śeṣa possesses intelligence and is constantly learning from its games with Fire Moth.
"But you haven't learned enough!"
Cold air swirled; the Honkai Beasts attacking from the sea were being held back by Sakura's single sword. The "lightning wheel" pursuing Ryan slowed down; upon closer inspection, dark sand was accumulating on Śeṣa's body.
Ryan had mastered the Third Herrscher's Authority. He used electromagnetism to draw iron sand from the ground, coating the moving "lightning wheel" like chocolate. When Śeṣa slowed, he turned abruptly.
Compared to the moving Honkai Beast, Ryan appeared tiny, as if about to be swallowed whole. His expression remained unchanged as he tossed 'Crimson Blaze,' then raised his right fist high.
With all his strength, he struck the flat-bladed sword; electric arcs spread rapidly from his arm to the entire blade. A flash of light erupted as Crimson Blaze transformed into a laser, piercing through its chest.
It sliced through the night, penetrating Śeṣa, burying itself in the forest, leaving only a bluish-green streak, like—
Sky-Splitting Thunder!