The main broadcast was launched by the Far East Television Station.
As for other countries, they all simply rebroadcast the feed.
At the time, Elysia was sitting with Kiana, their phones placed side by side on the table as they huddled close to watch the live stream.
Though she didn't quite recognize the scenery shown on screen, Himeko told her it was from Ato's camp.
After all, Nagazora was fairly large—one of the major cities in the Far East—so the two camps were quite far apart. She guessed that the reporter probably wouldn't be coming over here.
The focus was on interviews.
Later, they'd also show some internal footage.
This had all been planned from the beginning.
Since they were going public, how should they do it? What should they say? Those were questions, too.
They couldn't just reveal every single detail, right?
So, the reporter was bound to gloss over some things and emphasize others.
But even that was enough.
"As we can see, the entire city of Nagazora has been completely surrounded by our elite forces."
"Though their numbers aren't large, their weaponry and equipment are all cutting-edge."
"Various nations have deployed troops here, making it a high-stakes operation that underscores the gravity of the situation."
"Of course, at the very core of this operation is our own Fire Moth team."
"Captain Ato is a seasoned veteran with exceptional skills."
"Let's go and get a word from him now."
You could see the reporter lady dressed in what looked like a hazmat suit, wrapped up as tight as a mummy.
In contrast, the soldiers around her, though undoubtedly burdened by their gear, didn't look nearly as bulky.
Why was that, you might ask?
Well, if they had specialized protective suits, more soldiers could technically get closer and engage in combat operations nearby.
But!
The military high command had decided against it.
Modern warfare was mostly about beyond-visual-range engagement anyway.
Swarming the area wouldn't accomplish much.
Besides, those hazmat suits were uncomfortable and restricted movement. Often in combat, even the slightest hindrance could mean the difference between life and death.
If it wasn't absolutely necessary, then why bother?
As mentioned before, if you just kept throwing lives at the problem, what would happen afterward? What would you do when there was no one left?
That's why, with Elysia and Kiana here on the front lines, willing to take on the Herrscher of Thunder, the other soldiers could operate a little more safely.
Their main task was even just containment—handle what they could, and prioritize survival when they couldn't.
The Honkai beasts and zombies that meant nothing to Kiana and Elysia were terrifying threats to ordinary humans.
Even if the higher-ups hadn't realized this, Elysia would have spoken up, and the military would have raised the point too.
Sometimes, sticking to your role was the best way to contribute.
Meanwhile, the live stream's comment section and bullet chats were going wild, flooding the screen so much that you had to adjust the transparency just to see anything.
What were they saying?
Still debating everything happening now.
Even with what seemed like clear evidence, some believed it, some didn't, some were on the fence, and some were still in denial.
They shared their opinions, nitpicking and judging.
Honestly!
Elysia and Kiana could also get a better sense of what the public was thinking from this. It reflected the general sentiment, like the tide of history—never a bad thing to keep tabs on.
"So! Why are there still people who don't believe it, even now…?" Elysia found it hard to understand.
Kiana just shrugged. "Because you can't wake someone who's only pretending to sleep."
…Fair point.
Right then, in the live stream, the reporter found Ato and started with her first question: "Mr. Ato, it's been said that everything the Sky Screen revealed about the Honkai is true. Is it also true that you, your troops, and the movements of nations worldwide are all because of this?"
"Yes."
Ato looked energetic, facing the camera.
"I've seen a lot of the discussions online. Before this, military discipline prevented me from speaking out. But now, things are different."
He gazed earnestly into the lens, as if addressing everyone, offering solemn advice.
"I can assure you all, the Sky Screen is indeed real, and the Honkai is a real threat. Our presence here in Nagazora is because the Third Herrscher is expected to emerge here."
"Since we know of her existence, taking preventive measures is our best course of action."
Ato , representing Fire Moth, had confirmed it all.
And Fire Moth was now the recognized authority on combating the Honkai.
So his words carried immense weight.
Online and offline, all the noise and chaos seemed to quiet down in that moment.
He had clearly told everyone, the entire world: The Honkai is real, Herrschers exist, and we are facing Honkai threats—not just now, but more in the future.
Please, be mentally prepared.
And then…for a few seconds, the bullet chats and comments fell silent.
Then, like a landslide or a tidal wave, they erupted even more fiercely than before.
Total chaos!
"It's actually real?! This is actually real?! Holy crap, it's real?!"
"I told you all along it was real. You're just dumb."
"Herrschers, the Honkai… heh, makes everything else feel pointless. Who knows when we might just be gone."
"Don't worry! If the Sky Screen is real, then didn't the videos show we won in the end? The Stellar Alliance, sailing the stars!"
"Who knows if I'll even be around to see it…"
"Before, they said it was just testing new projection tech."
"Test my ass!"
"I told you I'd seen zombies before, but no one believed me!"
"Oh man, I'm done for… I wonder if my Honkai resistance is any good? I'm kinda panicking…"
The reporter couldn't see the bullet chats, but she knew every word she and Ato exchanged was explosive.
Smiling, she played ignorant, becoming the audience's voice, and asked another question.
"From what I understand, Honkai sickness seems to be related to the Honkai. Is that true, Mr. Ato?"
"Yes, Honkai energy erodes the body, leaving behind purple, crack-like patterns. That's actually a sign the body is struggling to withstand it."
Ato answered seriously, "Put simply, what we call Honkai sickness is the body's rejection reaction after being exposed to Honkai energy."
"Although there are now drugs that can suppress Honkai sickness, the condition is irreversible. It can be delayed, but not cured."
He thought for a moment, then added a bit more.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
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