Omen

As Chi Yuan and Cang Xuan marveled, Chi Yuan didn't notice that deep within her mind, the thing Xu Yanwu had left behind stirred slightly before falling silent again.

Of course, no one detected this fluctuation.

—Time Skip—

One year after the Quantum Computer was planted… By the beach.

"Damn it…"

Xu Yanwu slumped in his rocking chair, a pained expression on his face as he picked up a bowl of noodles heavily seasoned with various spices from the small table beside him.

"When is Chi You going to show up… This constant worry is making me miserable…"

"Slurp slurp—"

While complaining, Xu Yanwu ate his "otaku happy noodles" and continued to gaze out at the sea.

"The idea that a traverser's knowledge could make ancient times develop so rapidly is all a lie… In the end, I've used my brain less than I've fought…"

However…

Xu Yanwu clenched his fist and swung it towards the beach in front of him.

With a faint whistling sound, Xu Yanwu's palm swept downwards, leaving a subtle cut on the beach before him.

And from the direction of this cut extending into the sea, crimson blood began to well up from beneath the ocean's surface.

"My current strength… should be at the level of a complete Herrscher by now?"

A complete Herrscher's power is incomparable to the strength Kiana, that Stigma, could defeat Mei with when she first awakened.

Remember, Herrschers, as envoys of the Honkai, wield rule-level power.

Whether in metaphysics or science, these rules are the very foundation.

For example, the lightning of the Third Herrscher (electromagnetism).

For example, the flames of the Seventh Herrscher (controlling molecular motion).

And so on.

Once a Herrscher truly learns to wield their power, the consequences will be dire…

But just a while ago, Cang Xuan finally confirmed that Xu Yanwu's strength had also reached the Herrscher level.

Moreover, like Chi You, a crushing Honkai Beast, he had forcefully dragged himself to the Herrscher level through sheer physical prowess…

There were many reasons Xu Yanwu felt confident enough to fight Chi You.

For instance…

When Xu Yanwu first found his body, it became massive, allowing him to withstand Feng Bo's power.

Xu Yanwu, in his flamboyant way, called it the Greatest Child's Stretching Technique…

Incidentally, he was also developing the Second Child's All-Seeing Ears and Eyes, the Third Child's Iron Body, and so on…

"Man, I feel so strong I have no friends! I need to research something even more badass later…"

Xu Yanwu happily slurped his noodles.

"Uncle Xu Yanwu, why are you still lying there? Didn't we agree to accompany Ji Lin to the beach to relax today?"

"Pfft…"

A mouthful of chili oil sprayed from Xu Yanwu's lips, nearly choking him. The noodles in his hand accidentally spilled all over the ground.

"Ah! My otaku happy noodles!"

Xu Yanwu looked heartbroken at the noodles scattered on the ground, then angrily glared at the culprit who caused the mess—Danzhu.

Wow! A swimsuit, hehe…

To Xu Yanwu's surprise, Danzhu was standing before him wearing a red and black swimsuit, and it was a bikini!

"Where did you find a swimsuit?"

Xu Yanwu put away his lecherous expression and asked seriously.

"The current level of civilization doesn't have swimsuits, right?"

"Hmph!"

Danzhu proudly puffed out her small chest. "I made this myself! How can you come to the beach without swimming? What do you think?"

"…" Seeing Danzhu's action, Xu Yanwu really wanted to tell her not to puff out her chest so much since it was so flat.

However, his strong survival instinct curbed his tongue, and Xu Yanwu changed the subject.

"What about Chi Yuan and the others?"

Xu Yanwu asked, his eyes lighting up as if he'd thought of something.

"They've all changed into swimsuits! Ji Lin was a bit shy at first. I just came to bring you your swimming trunks…"

Before Danzhu could finish speaking, Xu Yanwu dropped his noodle bowl and charged out like a hungry wolf.

"Whoa, whoa! Uncle Xu Yanwu, where are you running off to! Even though Ji Lin and the others are in swimsuits, they're currently…"

Xu Yanwu hadn't even properly heard what Danzhu said behind him; he had already run off for a good portion of the way.

"Heh heh... swimsuits... Lianshan, that brat, didn't even call me. I'll definitely beat him up later..."

Thinking this, Xu Yanwu had already run to a high point, looking down at the beach where Chi Yuan, Ji Lin, Cang Xuan, and Lianshan were.

"..."

Xu Yanwu fell silent.

Of the four people below, Cang Xuan was wearing the same style as Danzhu, but in blue and white. Lianshan was normally dressed in loose swim trunks.

But what was going on with Ji Lin and Chi Yuan...

Were those swimsuits?

Why did they look like diving suits to me...

Looking at the "swimsuits" on Ji Lin and Chi Yuan, which didn't reveal an inch of skin except for their heads, hands, and feet.

Xu Yanwu immediately felt like he had been deceived.

And another thing...

Why were you fighting Honkai Beasts while wearing swimsuits? Although it was a one-sided slaughter now...

"Phew, I hadn't even finished speaking, Uncle Xu Yanwu, why did you run off?" Danzhu panted, chasing after Xu Yanwu.

Then Danzhu saw Xu Yanwu writing on the sand with a crestfallen expression.

"Uncle Xu Yanwu, what are you writing? Aren't you going to help Ji Lin and them?"

"Help with what... Lianshan hasn't even made a move yet, and he's still acting like a pretty boy in front of Ji Lin. What are those few Honkai Beasts worth..." Xu Yanwu waved his hand dejectedly. "I'm writing a menu... we'll eat those Honkai Beasts later..."

Danzhu's expression turned awkward. "Uncle Xu Yanwu, your appetite is still as good as ever..."

Even with Saint Marks suppressing Honkai Energy, Danzhu didn't dare to come into contact with Honkai Energy too recklessly. Occasionally eating Xu Yanwu's grilled Honkai Beast meat was already pushing it.

But Xu Yanwu and Lianshan, these two freaks, ate Honkai Beasts as easily as drinking water...

"Of course my appetite is good. By the way, when you said you wanted to relax, you meant coming to the beach to kill Honkai Beasts while wearing (swimsuits)?"

Xu Yanwu deliberately emphasized the word "swimsuits."

"Yes, yes! I don't know why, but recently the beach has had a lot of ordinary Honkai Beasts appearing from the sea. Although they're nothing to us, Honkai Beasts are still too strong for ordinary people."

Danzhu nodded. "So we came to the beach for a short vacation and to clear out some Honkai Beasts."

"...Appearing from the sea?"