When the arrow is fired, there is no turning back. All Ryan had to do was ensure this 'arrow' shot forward, relentlessly and resolutely.
Even if it meant death, sacrifice, and destruction, this responsibility was his to bear. He didn't even need Aponia to use her Discipline.
Marching toward End willingly, rather than being a group of cannon fodder puppets surrounding him—the latter might be more effective, but Ryan preferred the former.
Every person was in control of their own destiny. He was merely responsible for finding the path and walking at the very front.
Time was too short. The construction of Sea Abyss City was less than sixty percent complete, but construction was unnecessary now. Walking along the long corridor, they could see the harbor already piled high with supplies.
Honkai Energy engines, various military ordnance, and power armor—End marked the end of all projects. Whether finished or not, they had to be used. Anything to spit one last bit of defiance at the Honkai's face.
A giant screen above the harbor displayed blood-red numbers ticking down like a death warrant. No one dared to slack off for a single second, all working at the fastest pace of their lives.
After the loading was complete, Sea Abyss City would also withdraw. This might be the last day for these logistical personnel on Earth. Time was too short, leaving no time even to return to their hometowns.
Those remaining would primarily be MANTIS and ordinary soldiers who had already written their wills, mostly those who were alone and harbored deep hatred for the Honkai.
'They don't care about life or death anymore. After all, I didn't force anyone, not even using the Discipline Authority.'
Ryan stood on the deck, arms crossed, watching the busy scene with a sense of relief.
Numbers held no power against the Honkai. Too many people would only be a burden, but controlling the battleships and commanding operations still required non-combatants.
"Division Chief, have you made up your mind?" He turned to look at Edwin, the former head of the Far East Branch. The two were well acquainted.
"I'm the commander of the Hyperion now. Dr. Mei will be busy, so the battleship still needs someone to command it."
The man, with his gray hair and troubled, farmer-like look, took a cigarette from his mouth and smiled comfortably: "I'm old now. I won't be much use in the Sea of Quanta. Besides, I promised my wife I wouldn't go too far from her. Going into the Sea of Quanta is instantaneous, but the distance is probably immeasurable, isn't it?"
That was the distance between worlds, enough to make a person forget many things. At his age, memories became precious.
"You're staying because of hatred?" Ryan countered, then realized Edwin's wife had died in a previous Honkai incident.
"There's some hatred, but how should I put it..." All of Edwin's wrinkles bunched up together. He nodded toward an old man in a crisp military uniform in the distance. "Like that old man Heinrich, I've fought the Honkai for so long. Regardless of the outcome, I want to see the ending."
This reason was somewhat unexpected for Ryan, but after a moment's thought, he found it reasonable.
The veterans of Fire Moth were tired. They had fought the Honkai since they were young, moving from excitement to despair, and then finding hope in despair. It was like following a novel; they would be disappointed if they couldn't see the end.
"Then live to the end. I hope the ending I've written won't disappoint you."
"Hahaha, I've watched you go from a mortal to the clouds. I have faith in that. Go rest. I have to start my work, too."
Edwin took his aide and began confirming supplies with the documents. These tasks were usually done by Mei herself, but at this time, ordinary soldiers had taken over all the work.
There was little they could do, but they could at least ensure the main force was focused. No one had ordered this; it was entirely voluntary.
Twelve hours, thirty-five minutes.
Ryan looked at the ticking numbers again, continuing to watch the busy scene. He suddenly realized he had nothing to do.
The preparation had already begun. He didn't need to worry about the details. The same went for most MANTIS. They only needed to rest and step onto the battlefield in the most perfect mental and physical state.
There were no regulations on how to rest.
Some slept soundly, some returned to their rooms to revise their wills, some listened to music or watched movies, and some took the time to train a bit more. They did whatever they liked, adjusting their state in their preferred manner, awaiting the signal to deploy.
Not only Coleman and the others, but the Flame-Chasers had also scattered. Ryan stood for a long time, at a loss for what to do.
His mindset was already adjusted. His Honkai energy was full, and his body was ready for combat. Further training would be a waste of time.
The last few chapters of the novel. Should I go back and finish them?
Ryan considered it for a long time. It seemed the only thing he could do, but after two steps, he stopped. His entire head was filled with the subsequent plan. Seeking inspiration now would only distract him.
"Forget it. I'll just wander around. Even though I've never drawn a salary, I still need to fulfill my Commander duties."
He decided to do something meaningful, at least meaningful to others. Ryan walked onto the dock with his hands in his pockets and gradually found himself in an excellent state.
His mind no longer had to think about complex matters. He only needed to watch, engraving the human life before End into his memory.
The overall atmosphere was tense and fast-paced. Missiles were loaded into launchers, welding torches sparked, and mechanical arms bundled the remaining few battleships together, forming a kind of artillery platform. The bow of the Hyperion was opened, and a giant device was being loaded.
This was one of the gifts: the Moonlight Throne System. This device was spearheaded by Mei and developed by Vill-V. Its core function was energy transfer. It had been used in the original timeline, but the Herrscher of End's strength was too high, and its maximum output only managed to drain a few percentage points.
That Honkai energy was then sealed on the moon, causing some issues in the Post-Civilization era.
Knowing the result, Ryan had made some small adjustments, considering it another one of his prepared gifts. Here, he saw Vill-V directing the operation in a hard hat, accompanied by researchers like Seneh.
Ryan didn't approach to interrupt. He observed from a distance, seeing Vill-V's serious expression and lack of performance. He knew this wasn't the 'Magician,' 'Joy,' or 'Erotic Appraiser' personality, as those would surely add strange functions.
"A personality I haven't seen before. Looks quite reliable." Ryan thought, without a shred of doubt.
As the client, the design requirements were submitted, and Mei confirmed its completion. He simply had to trust them.
He turned and walked into the long tunnel, passing a convoy of trucks. The trucks were loaded with cylinders marked with the 'Radiation' symbol.
All remaining nuclear bombs and N2 explosives in the world were being transported here. Since the battlefield would be in space, these could be detonated without restraint. Fire Moth was taking every weapon of destruction they could think of.
"It's better than nothing. Adding a little color to the battlefield is a good thing." Ryan still didn't interfere with their work. He watched the vehicles speed past and then saw an unexpected person.
Dystopia was also wearing a hard hat, jogging behind a truck. She paused when she saw Ryan.
"Oh, why are you here?"
"Where else would I be? It's bad to disturb anyone during the final period. I'm leaving you all some private time." Ryan shrugged, his expression becoming strange again: "Why aren't you with Kosma? This is a rare opportunity."
"Uh, my psychokinesis can save a lot of time, so I came to help."
"I asked about Kosma," Ryan emphasized. He knew the two were involved. Now was the perfect time for a confession.
The girl's face visibly flushed. She pinched the corner of her uniform: "We need to leave some memories. If that silly boy rejects me, it'll ruin my mood. If he accepts, wouldn't that violate the Ten Taboos of Pre-War Preparation you issued?"
"When did I issue that?"
"Dr. Mobius said it was all your long-standing summary. Every warrior is studying it carefully, since you're the 'Undying Super Warrior,'" she replied.
What nonsense! And my nicknames are multiplying.
He took the pamphlet and flipped through it, finding that the contents were indeed things he had said—though many were just meaningless metaphysical ramblings.
For example:
Pre-war confession leads to guaranteed death.
If the confession is successful, proposing marriage or children leads to guaranteed death.
Absolutely no looking at family photos, nor showing them to others.
Never say lines like, 'I'm very lucky,' 'I will definitely return,' 'After completing this last task, I'm retiring,' or 'There's nothing to fear anymore...'
It really is what I said.That Mobius, she's scheming again. She wants to weld the door shut after getting on the train.
Ryan laughed, handing the booklet back to Dystopia. He wondered why the atmosphere was so strange, with everyone missing. It was all to avoid the death flags.
Everyone's mind was in turmoil during this pre-war period. Even the most rational person would believe in some kind of superstition. Of course, Mobius's intentions weren't entirely benevolent. She had gotten on the train and was now welding the door shut.
'Anyone who has feelings for me and wants to confess at the last minute has to worry about the flag. Even I am afraid of it.'
Ryan suddenly realized his subconscious was the same. That's why he didn't disturb anyone. If he accidentally said something like, "I'm invincible" or "You're safe behind me," he would surely blame himself when things went wrong.
"So everyone is hiding?"
"Not everyone. Dr. Mei and Kevin are together, and they scoff at the idea of death flags."
"Kevin is that brave?"
"Not quite. He read it, believed it, and has been keeping his mouth shut. I saw Dr. Mei drag him... drag him into the small room," Dystopia's face flushed even deeper, with a hint of envy.
Ah, so they're tempting fate. Well, even if Kevin falls, he'll have no regrets.
Ryan showed an ambiguous smile. He shouldn't interfere with the matters between Dystopia and Kosma. His responsibility was to save everyone while defeating End.
"By the way, Ellie is looking for you."
He had barely walked a few steps when a thought transmission reached him. He turned his head, and Dystopia was gone.
What in the world? If she was looking for me, why didn't she just stay put?
Ryan shook his head. He couldn't keep up with Elysia's mind either. He followed the passage deeper into the city.
Sea Abyss City was far from complete. Many areas were empty, yet soldiers were busy everywhere. Ryan kept track of the time as he walked and observed the dual states of the underwater city.
The soldiers were busy, working quickly. They had to complete preparations before the fleet departed and then immediately evacuate to the Sea of Quanta.
The MANTIS were idle. They didn't need to do anything but adjust their state. Since Ryan had given them plenty of confidence earlier, they were tense but not truly fearful.
Ryan saw people staring blankly at photos, people drinking heavily, and people with excellent mentalities who had set up lounge chairs to read quietly. And, of course, the battle maniacs of the [Annihilation] Team were also present.
They were doing push-ups bare-chested in the training area alleyway, sweat pouring over their solid muscles, laughing loudly as they slapped each other's chests.
What a philosophical atmosphere. At least Kalpas is learning to motivate his subordinates.
Ryan hid in the shadows, seeing one person in leather pants doing deep squats, his tank top soaked with sweat, tireless as a perpetual motion machine. The white-haired girl squatted nearby, yawning while holding a scarf.
The harmonious scene made Ryan smile knowingly. He quietly walked away, then paused and walked back the way he came.
"Wait, wasn't Kalpas not wearing his mask just now?"
He realized something. Even though Kalpas had his back to the alleyway, Ludicyna must have seen his face.
No way. She actually achieved that?
Kalpas's face was one of the Honkai's top ten unsolved mysteries. Even Ryan himself hadn't seen it. He grew curious. A mere gust of wind was all he needed to witness it now.
I'm just wandering around anyway. Might as well complete an achievement.
"Commander?"
The hand he had just raised instantly dropped. Ryan turned to see Klein.
"Why haven't you evacuated yet?"
Klein had undergone the Supremacy Surgery, but she was by no means a 'warrior.' Mobius's lab personnel were all supposed to retreat to the Sea of Quanta, a compromise to the 'Fire Moth Plan.'
"I'm organizing files. And the Doctor is looking for you everywhere."
Why is she looking for me, too?
Ryan was even more confused. The core of Sea Abyss City was the 'Gate' to the Sea of Quanta. The area was small and lacked living facilities. It was essentially a relay station.
"So, where is she?"
"She was in the lobby earlier. She probably thought you'd go there, but you're wandering around."
"I'm observing the human condition and boosting morale," Ryan defended himself, then gave a weary wave of his hand. "Forget it, I'll go find her."
After Klein's interruption, a clear murderous intent came from the end of the corridor. Kalpas had clearly discovered someone spying.
Tsk, is your mask an anti-karma device? I can't even see your true face without being interrupted.
Ryan muttered, turning his head as he reached the corner. He saw Ludicyna wiping Kalpas's sweat. The towel conveniently blocked half his face, and someone's eyes were wide as copper bells, forcing Ryan to withdraw his gaze.
Fine. I'll rip that mask off after I deal with End.
Having made his plan, Ryan took the elevator to the lowest level of Sea Abyss City. When the door opened, a deep blue light enveloped him.
A transparent rectangular structure stood in the center of the massive room. It looked like glass, confining a pale blue light that flowed like a liquid.
The matrix was the Gate. The Griseo Device digitized people, cast them into the sea, and reconstructed them at the coordinate point, completing the entire transfer process. It was like the 'Stargate' concept in science fiction, but this matrix was merely a conceptual object.
The Sea of Quanta had nothing to do with a 'sea.' It contained no liquid. When humans touched it, their bodies would vanish as if erased. It required high-intensity Honkai energy to counteract it.
Thus, this energy was essentially a poison comparable to the Honkai. Fire Moth was lucky to be able to transmit physical entities into the sea; utilizing the energy was impossible.
"Except for me, of course."
Ryan licked his lips. This was another great gift. Through the decryption and optimization of Venusian data, the valve was ready. He only needed to carve a hole in the boundary between the sea and the world's shell, and he could...
Wait, I'm here to find Mobius.
He stopped his thoughts, looking around, finding the entire hall empty. The device didn't need an operator anyway; everything was controlled by Prometheus.
"Is she trying to play hide-and-seek to pass the final time?"
Ryan checked the screen on the wall. Ten hours until End's arrival, five hours until deployment. He was about to use the Authority of Wind to save time when he saw a door crack open nearby.
It was the lounge. They would wait here before entering the sea. A faint sound came from inside.
Playing games, are we?
Ryan lowered his hand. He knew there was someone inside without using his Authority. He walked over and pushed the door open.
The room, large enough to hold over a thousand people, was pitch black. Ryan frowned slightly, wondering why they didn't turn on the lights. Just as he reached for the wall switch, a light illuminated the front.
A screen lit up. Ryan's hand froze in mid-air. It was playing a video, seemingly filmed with a phone, focused on a black-haired boy behind a desk. He wore glasses and looked rather delicate, expressionlessly flipping through a book.
"Hey, you're not really angry, are you? I'm the one who got beaten. Honestly, that's the first fight I've lost in years."
"You can't do anything with just aura. This requires skill."
"You're clearly European, how do you know Shenzhou martial arts? Su, come help me judge."
A third person appeared in the frame, a handsome boy. He looked confused.
"You two are enemies, aren't you? How are you so friendly all of a sudden? And Kevin, what are you filming?"
"I heard it's his birthday today, and he didn't get a gift, so I'm just showing off the new phone I bought. And we've made friends through fighting, haven't we? He's even helping me figure out how to pursue Mei."
"You're called Ryan, right? Can you tell me how you're going about the pursuit?"
Perhaps due to the noise, the black-haired boy put down his book. Maintaining a cold expression, he said seriously: "As long as you grovel long enough, you can wear down tungsten alloy. That's the most sensible approach."
Isn't that me? Kevin actually kept this footage?
Ryan lowered his hand, watching and smiling. This was shortly after he met Kevin. He could still remember the scene. Kevin was ostensibly reading but was actually trying to figure out how to resolve the conflict.
He had learned his skills and couldn't resist testing the old patriarch Kevin, only to regret it. Kevin was a rookie, all brute force.
He was here to join the winning side, not to make enemies. It would be terrible if Kevin hated him. So, he looked calm but was terrified inside.
"Back then, I never thought Kevin would become my little brother. Wait, there's more?"
Ryan was about to ask Kevin the point of playing this footage when the screen flashed, switching to a second clip.
The perspective of the video wobbled, as if passed to a passerby. The frame showed a school gate with 'Qianyu Middle School' written on the sign.
The black-haired boy stood straight in a black suit and gray shirt. Beside him, a girl in an oversized school uniform nervously shuffled closer.
"Senior Brother, p-please don't film. You already bought me a phone as a gift."
"I bought you a phone to film, otherwise what's the point?"
"But I'm not ready yet." The girl quickly brushed her bangs, leaning closer hesitantly.
"Hey, are you two going to film or not? I need to pick up my son," the woman holding the phone reminded them.
"Sorry, sorry. Starting now." The boy tugged her closer, pulled the girl to his side, then pressed down on her head, forcing a stiff smile.
The second clip ended, but that wasn't all. There were third, fourth clips, making Ryan either smile or feel uneasy.
The perspectives were different, and the cameramen varied, but Ryan was in every clip.
He saw the scene of him cooking with Sakura in Lion City. Suzuko must have filmed it secretly. Their knife skills were superb and synchronized. Sakura tossed an onion without looking up, and his blade turned it into granules.
He saw the birthday party in Hawaii. Everyone was in the frame, looking lively.
He saw Eden's concert, with him and Elysia sitting in the front row—clearly clipped from a news report. He also saw the white-haired, red-eyed 'girl' teasing a kitten on a street in Twilight Alley, throwing pebbles that made the filming Pardo shriek.
Some clips were simply surveillance footage dug out of the database: a hunter in a small town in the Northern Ice Field, figures walking the streets of Japan and the Peninsula, the footage of him charging into the Fire Moth headquarters and fighting Coleman, and even satellite footage of his battles with Herrschers.
Sometimes lightning flashed, sometimes storms raged, sometimes flames soared, and sometimes Constraint brought silence.
His footsteps had covered the entire world. He had fought over a hundred battles. But the editor was clever, interspersing mundane daily life with combat. One moment he was enjoying breakfast in a café, the next he was confronting a Herrscher with the force of a collapsing mountain.
Some things Ryan had forgotten. Some things he hadn't even noticed, and his blood pressure began to fluctuate wildly.
In the conference room, he leaned back, his gaze fixed on the chest of the nun beside him, looking surprised, as if wondering how she could keep it so steady on the table. In the morning, he emptied his trash can, and the scene cut to someone in rubber gloves meticulously pulling apart every crumpled piece of paper.
There were also 'famous quotes' like, "You have witnessed my full power,""I have no limit," and "March with me."
Damn it! How much embarrassing history did you all film without my knowledge? The last few clips were totally unnecessary!
Ryan covered his face in shame, finally seeing the footage freeze. This last frame was still fresh in his memory—a back view in a corridor, just hours ago.
It looked lonely, yet imposing under the stiff salute of the soldiers on both sides.
The lights came on. Ryan finally saw the full room. It was packed with people: Mobius, Vill-V, Dystopia, Himeko, Hua, Sakura, Aponia, Pardofelis, Eden, and even Kalpas . His gaze swept over them all, finally settling on Elysia in the center.
"Is this your Social Death Plan?"
Ryan muttered weakly. He had some glorious moments, but most were snippets of daily life.
No wonder everyone looked like, "You've been hiding this past." In a sense, he had truly suffered a social death.
"Hehe, collecting everyone's footage helped us understand you better," Elysia smiled slyly. Gathering all of Ryan's footprints from everyone's perspective was a massive undertaking.
A warrior, a strategist, a hero, a pervert, and attributes like a failed author, cross-dresser, lolicon, and milf-lover.
"But only by combining these things will you stop feeling so out of reach, like you're floating in the sky. Only then do we realize that all these years, you've been right beside us. Not just as the Commander, not just as the Savior, but as a real person." Mobius quickly stepped forward. Her face was slightly flushed, because she had also suffered a social death.
"This is a gift, the best gift before marching toward End. These things are all real. Even if the Honkai kills you and destroys civilization, some things 'He' can never erase," Mei said with a cool voice, pointing to her heart.
"Memories will live on with the soul. Your footprints will never disappear."
In this age of despair, simply preserving these seemingly meaningless images was a miracle, proving they held him dear in their hearts.
The word 'heart' is simple to say, but how difficult it is to execute. Social death is fine. I've never hidden who I am anyway.
He looked at the time. Five hours could be two movies, a good night's sleep, or half a novel. Instead, he had spent five hours watching his entire life.
As the deployment alarm sounded, Ryan asked himself, "One last question: Do I count as a Flame-Chaser of this era?"
The question was somewhat foolish. Isn't it obvious? If you're not a Flame-Chaser, what are we?
Just as everyone was unsure how to answer, Elysia took two steps forward, a sweet smile on her face:
"You lived in this era, did what you should do, and loved the people you wanted to love. I think what's more important than being a Flame-Chaser is—"
"Ryan is Ryan!"