Rift

Humans might have developed time machines long ago, but they only work in two situations.

One is when a person thinks, "I'll just sleep for 5 more minutes before getting up," and the other is when a holiday is over.

Happy times are always short, aren't they?

Old Man Time stole Yoshikage Kira's peaceful moments, and four and a half years seemed to pass in the blink of an eye.

"All units, abnormal Honkai Energy reaction detected. Prepare for combat."

'Is it here, the Herrscher of Rock?' Yoshikage Kira thought as he supported the Mu Continent with his squad.

"The Mu Continent's research capabilities are very strong; it won't be breached in a short time. Don't worry, Elysia," Elysia said, noticing Elysia's troubled expression.

"Mhm, thank you, Aili, but I have a bad feeling," Elysia replied, managing a weak smile at Aili's comfort.

"Apponia, Yoshikage Kira, the Mu Continent will be alright, right?" Elysia asked them expectantly, but only received silence from both.

They traveled in silence, but halfway there, the squad received a retreat order.

Before anyone could ask why, a video was sent.

In the video, the Mu Continent's armed forces were attacking a Herrscher, and many Fusion Warriors were cooperating to weaken its defenses.

Seeing the Herrscher only defending, everyone thought victory was within their grasp.

But in reality, the Herrscher was just charging up a big move.

The Herrscher extended its hand, and a black hole descended from it.

It grew larger as it fell, absorbing everything around it.

Nothing remained, neither structures nor living beings, only bones.

But the video wasn't over. As the black hole hit the ground and burrowed underground, something even more terrifying happened.

The ground trembled, then began to crumble apart. Finally, seawater rushed in, completely erasing any trace of human existence.

After watching the video, the previously silent atmosphere among the group became even more oppressive.

"Well... let's head back and discuss how to deal with this. There will be a way," Elysia said, unable to think of anything else to comfort them.

The group nodded in silence, looking at Elysia, who was from the Mu Continent.

They could all empathize with the feeling of their homeland being destroyed.

At this moment, Elysia didn't need comfort, but space and time.

"Mr. Yoshikage Kira, you knew the outcome for the Mu Continent, didn't you? Why didn't you... like the previous two times, before the Herrscher appeared..."

"What, are you going to accuse me? Accuse me of inaction.

Do you take me for a saint, expecting me to be responsible for those lost lives?"

"Yoshikage Kira, say a little less," Elysia tried to interrupt.

But Yoshikage Kira wasn't going to stop.

"I only know the Herrscher's abilities and the general location and time of its appearance. I know nothing else. Apponia can do that too by glimpsing a corner of fate, can't she?"

"But if you told us in advance, we could have prevented the Herrscher to some extent, couldn't we?"

"Changing fate too much isn't a good thing, Elysia."

"Besides, I don't care. Just like I didn't notify the Australia Continent before Himiko became the Herrscher of Flames, I don't care about their lives."

"Do you have to put it so bluntly, Yoshikage Kira?" Elysia's expression turned unusually serious as she looked at Yoshikage Kira.

"It's to prevent you from having any unrealistic expectations of me."

"I've never been a good person, nor do I have any intention of saving the world."

Calmly, as always, Yoshikage Kira stated the facts in a calm tone.

Unlike the others, Yoshikage Kira truly could disregard human lives and not care about others' well-being. They looked at Yoshikage Kira, seeing the true nature beneath his calm exterior for the first time.

"Hmph, a pointless argument. If the purpose of this team is for me to listen to your meaningless debates, then I quit."

Chiyou listened to their bickering and uttered a dismissive remark.

"At least this guy is honest, unlike some people who are sickeningly hypocritical."

After that, no one spoke another word until they returned to base.

The seemingly harmonious team relationship had developed a rift.

"It shouldn't be like this. There were better ways to solve this, why..."

"There's no 'why,' Elysia."

"It's just my nature."