Before long, alarms blared throughout the Moth to Fire base. Countless people were jolted awake from their sleep and hurried toward the assembly point.
The Fourth Great Honkai Outbreak had erupted.
"Island of No Survivors"
The sudden alarm interrupted everyone's rest. Naturally, you were no exception. You quickly got up, changed clothes, and headed for the assembly point.
While riding the aircraft toward the Honkai outbreak zone, you learned roughly what had happened—the Fourth Herrscher had erupted on an island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean. She then moved north for a distance before stopping and forming a storm zone around herself. The storm was still expanding. Estimates showed that in twenty-four hours, it would affect the southeastern coast of Mu Continent, Central America, and the western coast of South America. Within thirty-six hours, it would cause significant destruction to coastal cities.
Satellites were continuously monitoring the Fourth Herrscher's position. Elysia, who was carrying out another mission, was being urgently recalled. At the same time, coastal cities that might be affected were being urgently evacuated. The goal was to kill the Fourth Herrscher before she moved again or before the storm caused major damage to those coastal cities.
Of course, there was also a special mission—head to the island where the Herrscher had emerged and rescue anyone still trapped there.
Yes, the nameless island within the storm had sent out a distress signal. Although direct contact was impossible because of the storm, there might still be people alive on that island.
Honestly, it was hard to imagine. A Herrscher-level Honkai outbreak had occurred on an uncharted, nameless island, yet people were still alive there and required a dedicated rescue team. The mission had even been assigned directly to the three squads led by you, Sakura, and Hen. It was as though the trapped people were someone incredibly important... huh?
An uncharted, nameless island? Your brows furrowed as you sensed that something was wrong, and a certain suspicion surfaced in your mind.
You hoped it was not what you thought it was—but your hand still involuntarily gripped the blade at your waist.
Sakura, beside you, wanted to comfort you, but she quickly realized something as well. Her lips parted, yet in the end, she said nothing.
The aircraft soon entered the storm zone and slowly descended onto the nameless island amid violent shaking. Fortunately, that genius, Dr. Mei, had joined them earlier, allowing the Research Department's Honkai Energy application and protection technology to reach a new level. Otherwise, you probably would not even have made it to the island.
You carefully disembarked from the aircraft and advanced slowly through the howling winds laced with Honkai Energy. While clearing out the inexplicably numerous Honkai Creatures on the island, you gradually moved toward the trapped survivors' safe house—well, the others did.
The instant you set foot on the island, the instant you saw its luxurious buildings, you understood. You had found it. Found that "island." You handed command of your squad to Sakura and planned to go "exploring" alone first.
No one objected, especially not the members of your and Sakura's squads. They had long grown accustomed to the excellent division of labor where "you and Sakura would break away from the team and rush ahead to slaughter everything, while they handled support, logistics, and civilian rescue in the rear."
The main reason was that the two of you moved too quickly, and your speed in clearing Honkai Creatures was so absurd that no one else could keep up. As a result, your squad members had developed remarkable independence. Your respective adjutants were practically taking over command from the two of you entirely.
In fact, this time, only you were leaving, and you had even properly handed command over to Sakura instead of simply running off. That alone was surprising enough. Both of your adjutants were deeply relieved—finally! They finally would not have to do extra work! You still ran off this time, but at least Sakura stayed behind! That was major progress!
Only Sakura knew what you intended to do, but she had no reason to stop you and did not intend to do so. She knew exactly how deep your hatred for "those people" ran. Thus, aside from reminding you to "be careful," she said nothing more.
As for Hen, it seemed to be his first time encountering a situation like this, so he was briefly surprised. But seeing that your squad members treated it as completely normal, he did not say anything.
So you left the squad. As usual, with a Blade Technique so swift that your movements were nearly impossible to see and a clean, one-strike kill style, you carved a path through the hordes of Honkai Creatures. The fierce winds seemed to have no effect on you at all.
The others sighed, "As expected of you," while immediately advancing along the path you had cleared. Although more Honkai Creatures soon blocked them again, they had drawn much closer to their destination.
After leaving the squad's sight, you began exploring the island.
You found many familiar places and familiar things—sealed rooms, fully equipped "entertainment facilities," anesthetics and psychotropic drugs... so many things, all horribly familiar.
Ah... those terrible memories surged up again. The anger and hatred you had long buried seemed ready to gather once more.
But when you saw those buildings collapse beneath the gale, those "entertainment facilities" destroyed, and the spilled drugs scattered across the ground and covered in dust, you could not help feeling a sense of satisfaction.
Then, thinking of the inexplicably large number of Honkai Creatures on the island, you almost laughed. So you bastards had a day like this too!
You even found yourself agreeing with this Honkai outbreak, feeling that it had erupted at exactly the right time. Scum like this only wasted air by staying alive in the world.
But then you remembered that among those who had become Honkai Creatures were people who, like you, had been persecuted and harmed. You could no longer feel happy.
"Captain, are you okay? The radar shows that you haven't moved for a long time. Did you run into some trouble?" Your adjutant's voice came through the squad comms. You came back to your senses and quickly replied, "I'm fine. Just taking a short rest."
"I see. Captain, you're very close to the destination. Could you check on the target's safety first? There may be a safe house, but you know how these monsters are..." Though somewhat puzzled, the adjutant did not dwell on it and instead made a suggestion.
You knew that your adjutant wanted you, the "vanguard," to see whether the people in the safe house were still alive. It would save the rest of them from making a wasted trip. They had encountered situations like this many times during previous operations. They would rush at full speed to a rescue site, only to find everyone inside dead—either because Honkai Creatures had breached the security doors or because no one had noticed the Honkai infection in time. He did not want this mission to end in another wasted trip. The wind was growing stronger, and even the aircraft crew had sent inquiries and urged them to hurry. If this continued, everyone might end up stranded here.
"Understood. I'll go right away," you answered immediately. "Thank you," he replied.
Your adjutant's words reminded you that there were still people alive here.
Ah... right. There were still people alive here. There was still scum alive, inside the safe house they had built for themselves.
"I'll go check..." you murmured. Those long-buried terrible memories surged back once more. Thinking of the people who had been harmed just like you, only to become Honkai Creatures together with that trash, filled you with disgust and revulsion.
You could almost feel the hatred and urging of those children who had suffered the same harm, telling you to act quickly.
And you merely whispered, "Don't worry... they will be saved."
If they were still alive.
You quickly headed toward the safe house, luring nearly ten Honkai Creatures along the way. In particular, you attracted several Assault Class Honkai Beasts. The rest were humans corroded by Honkai Energy.
Then, using your mobility to keep them at a distance, you led them to the safe house. Under the identity of "rescue squad captain," you persuaded those inside to open the protective door. Before they realized something was wrong, you jammed the safe house door firmly so it could not close.
They could clearly see the mass of Honkai Creatures charging toward them, yet because of you, they could not close the door. There was nowhere else to run. All they could do was beg you to kill the Honkai Creatures, or pray that you would enter the safe house so they could close the door.
Honestly, it felt wonderful to watch them panic and beg you so humbly. But you would not let them off that easily—when others had begged them, had they ever shown even the slightest shred of kindness, if any remained in them at all?
You merely wore a calm smile and watched them quietly. You even confiscated the weapons they intended to use for resistance.
Then you waited for the Honkai Creatures to arrive. When the Assault Class Honkai Beasts spun their wings, you dodged aside and used those sharp wings formed from Honkai Energy to destroy the safe house's door lock, utterly extinguishing those people's hope of survival.
After that, you simply flipped away nimbly and retreated at high speed. You waited quietly, watching the Honkai Creatures kill those people one after another.
"Reporting in. The target location has been breached by Honkai Creatures. There are no survivors inside." You pressed the squad comms button in front of them. Perhaps because the wind was so loud, you shouted loudly enough for those inside to hear.
"Understood. Good work, Captain... retreat quickly... the wind is getting... stronger... if we don't... we'll be..." Your adjutant's voice came through the earpiece in broken fragments. Clearly, as the storm became more terrifying, your squad's communications were becoming increasingly unstable.
You calmly killed the remaining Honkai Creatures and counted the bodies inside the safe house.
Thirteen. Not one more, not one less. Everyone who had still been alive inside was dead. To be safe, you gave every one of them another stab—this was to make sure they would not become Honkai Creatures, not for revenge.
Then you quickly withdrew and followed the radar to rendezvous with the squad.
"Good work." Sakura nodded at you without any sign of surprise. Knowing you as well as she did, she knew you had accomplished what you wanted to do. Now, all that remained was to leave safely.
Then you heard a burst of violent wind. After that came a warning from the aircraft crew, followed immediately by explosions. Then... communications from that side were cut off.
You realized that the aircraft you had arrived in had been destroyed. Judging from the suddenly stronger, more violent storm, you guessed that this was the Fourth Herrscher's work. Though helpless, you were now trapped on the island as well.
Not only that, but the concentration of Honkai Energy around you began to rise. Honkai Creatures started appearing one after another, their numbers growing.
After a brief discussion, you decided to return to the safe house and establish a defensive position there, doing your best to survive until the storm dispersed and rescue arrived.
You led the team swiftly back to the safe house along the route you had taken earlier and immediately began building defenses.
Many people were relieved. The safe house's location and overall condition were fairly good. Only the main door had been damaged, so as long as they held the entrance, they could probably last until rescue arrived.
Hen carefully inspected the bodies inside. He had to ensure that the corpses would not be corroded by Honkai Energy into monsters and ambush them in turn, or become additional enemies. That would be far too troublesome.
Although he saw the obvious wounds you had left on the corpses, Hen did not care. After all, "learning to finish off corpses while fighting Honkai" was common knowledge every soldier was required to learn. He even added two more strikes himself to prevent any body from "coming back to life," then threw the corpses outside one by one.
At last, through concentrated fire and the efforts of you and Sakura as you moved around clearing enemies, the nearby Honkai Creatures decreased significantly. The team members also used the available tools and materials to construct a defensive position at the safe house entrance. For the moment, they could finally catch their breath.
Perhaps because the threat of death had lessened somewhat, the team members even began chatting and joking with one another inside the safe house. The atmosphere became briefly relaxed. If not for the raging wind that had yet to subside and was only worsening, someone might have thought you were out on a picnic... well, perhaps not quite that exaggerated.
The main reason for that atmosphere was you and Sakura. Though the two of you always broke away from the squads you led, your strength was undeniably convincing. Your swift, decisive fighting style allowed you to quickly clear the surrounding Honkai Creatures, to the point that the people stationed at the defensive position had barely killed any Honkai Beasts.
Partway through, Hen wanted to take over for you and let you rest for a while, or move together with you in hopes of easing your burden—but he soon gave up.
There was no helping it. The two of you moved too fast. He simply could not keep up; his mobility was nowhere near yours.
Of course, neither of you could maintain such intense combat forever. So when night fell, you and Sakura stayed inside the safe house to rest. The others naturally understood. You had been responsible for their safety during the day, so when you rested at night, they naturally had to shoulder their responsibilities.
Someone even joked about whether they should leave some private space for the two of you. Naturally, that person received two flying pebbles and a punch—the stones had been thrown by you and Sakura, while the punch was a gift from his captain, Hen.
None of it hurt much, but his embarrassed expression still made everyone laugh.
After a simple meal of military rations and some playful banter, the team members gradually fell silent and took up their respective posts. Night had come, but Honkai Beasts would not rest because of it. They could not lower their guard.
You and Sakura leaned against each other and gradually fell asleep in a corner.
On the second day, the fierce winds did not subside. You and Sakura reduced both the duration and frequency of your excursions to clear enemies—the blade-like gale was too much for even you to endure for long.
On the third day, the winds became even more violent. Even the Honkai Creatures had decreased greatly, but the environment had become so harsh that you and Sakura could no longer go outside. You could only remain inside the defensive position and resist the attacks of the remaining Honkai Creatures.
On the fourth day, the fierce winds still raged, but the Honkai Creatures had vanished. It seemed that they were torn apart by the blade-like winds the instant they appeared. You had no choice but to use all available resources to seal the safe house door. At the same time, you began checking the remaining food, drinking water, and ammunition, while constantly monitoring the communications equipment to ensure you could contact the main force the moment the storm dissipated.
On the afternoon of the fifth day, the communications equipment connected. You learned that Kevin had killed the Fourth Herrscher the previous day, but the remaining storm had only begun to gradually disperse at dawn today.
At the same time, you received orders from above—rendezvous with the relief force, then quickly regroup and head to the western coast of South America for support.
A special Honkai Beast had appeared there, and it would require a large number of personnel to handle.
That Honkai Beast's codename was—Gabriel.
Gabriel
"They really won't let us rest... We only just got out, and now we have to rush to another battlefield."
A soldier sighed helplessly as he checked his equipment.
"That's how it is... Stop complaining. Check your ammunition reserves and the newly issued equipment. According to reports from the front, conventional weapons are ineffective against Gabriel. Only the newly developed Honkai Energy weapons can inflict meaningful damage. Inspect them properly. Don't let your own weapon get you killed."
Hen urged him from the side.
"Yeah, yeah... Captain, why have you gotten so naggy after having a kid? And wasn't this weapon not fully tested yet? Is it really okay to send us into battle with it?"
The soldier waved a hand, clearly annoyed by Hen's increasingly nagging words, while raising his doubts. That was also why he was moving slowly and hesitantly. A weapon that had not fully passed safety testing, powered by the same Honkai Energy as those monsters—there was no way that could put anyone at ease.
"Instead of worrying about that, you should think about how to stay alive later."
A companion beside him, who was adjusting to a new weapon, spoke casually.
"I heard there are so many Honkai Beasts over there that they're like a tide. Just a few squads can't handle them at all. If it weren't for that, the higher-ups wouldn't have ordered us to go immediately."
"Didn't they deal with the Herrscher? Why are there still so many Honkai Beasts?"
"Maybe they're the Fourth Herrscher's aftereffects? After all, this Herrscher appeared at sea. The Honkai Beasts we encountered on the island weren't as numerous as during the previous outbreaks. Maybe the Honkai Beasts that emerged alongside the Fourth Herrscher were hiding in the ocean, and now they're crawling ashore."
"When you put it that way, it does make sense."
The two chatted idly, their attention shifting away from their worries about the weapons in their hands.
Hen, watching them, relaxed slightly.
In truth, there was something else he had not said. This batch of weapons really were "prototypes." Even the higher-ups themselves did not know whether they would work. They had only discovered that conventional weapons could no longer deal effective damage to Gabriel, and their effectiveness against other Honkai Beasts had become minimal as well. They had no choice but to deploy weapons still in the testing phase—because there was one thing they did know: Honkai Energy weapons were far deadlier than conventional weapons.
In other words, their three squads, along with the several squads that would later be sent as reinforcements, were all "test subjects."
It was not that the higher-ups deliberately wanted to throw them away or intentionally send them to their deaths. They had simply... been pushed into a corner. They had no other choice.
After all, according to the information they had received, even the battle against the Fourth Herrscher had been won with great difficulty. Ordinary weapons could not even penetrate the massive storm zone around her, and after several days of effort, the storm had still swept across the coastal regions and even allowed the Fourth Herrscher to set foot on land.
In the end, if they had not somehow enraged the Fourth Herrscher and made her stop expanding the storm's range, instead using smaller but far more intense and concentrated wind clusters to snipe targets, the final outcome of the campaign against her might still have been uncertain.
Of course, even then, they had won with great difficulty. Several squads had become targets of the Fourth Herrscher's sniping, sacrificing themselves to draw her attention. Only then had they bought Kevin enough time to break through the storm zone around her and seize the chance to kill her.
Before you continue