My Honkai Star Rail: Reversing All Phenomena

"No need for formalities. Discussing the finest among mortals on a genius's turf is somewhat amusing."

Doctor Ratio removed his plaster head sculpture, a gesture that showed he had already struck Hua Yi from the ranks of idiots.

"Respect and worship—such positive emotions eventually turn into trouble. They once revered Herta and believed the Space Station would never suffer a Legion Attack, so when the Voidrangers appeared, they had very few effective countermeasures. Now they adore you, which is why the loss of a Path Product related to you has become several degrees more serious."

The Erudition Society Seems a Little tsundere Too

Hearing those faintly lecturing words, Hua Yi nodded calmly.

"It was merely the loss of a Key of Enlightenment. Since there were no casualties, the Space Station's response was indeed excessive. The Defense Department members were too eager to recover the item and acted discourteously toward Mr. Ratio. I apologize on their behalf."

Blind faith created trouble; arrogance bred disaster.

Doctor Ratio had personally witnessed Hua Yi's prestige within the Space Station, yet he sensed not the slightest arrogance from him.

It was as if he were not facing a scholar with considerable achievements in scientific research who had created the Seed of Erudition Rite, nor a hero who had turned the tide in disaster and halted the Legion's advance. He showed neither impatience nor any deliberate hostility toward Ratio.

"As I said before, my identity as a technical consultant for the Interastral Peace Corporation is merely a cover. I represent the Erudition Society more often than not. I assume you also know the Society's stance."

"I do. After news of the Legion Attack spread, the Erudition Society promptly sent an email to inquire about the situation and voluntarily offered assistance. Their conditions had nothing to do with Academic Achievements, Curios, Credits, or other assets. They chose to help in a time of need rather than kick us while we were down."

"I heard that the Society's condition was for the Space Station to acknowledge that the Genius Club was inferior to the Erudition Society. Are you sure that wasn't kicking you while you were down?"

"If Madam Herta had completely disregarded the lives of Space Station personnel, and the followers of Genius had received no protection from Genius, then the Club would indeed have been lacking when it came to caring for its subordinates—fortunately, Genius Miss merely deployed a few puppets and held the Safe Zone."

The Erudition Society was not an enemy of Herta Space Station. The two sides merely differed in philosophy; at their core, both were seekers of knowledge.

That email had not lied, Hua Yi could say with certainty. If the Space Station had truly been on the verge of collapse and requested aid, the Society would definitely have extended a helping hand.

Just as Doctor Ratio had come under the Corporation's invitation to visit and inspect the Space Station in person after the Legion Attack.

Even if some member of the Genius Club had fallen into hardship with nowhere else to turn, the Erudition Society would not coldly turn them away if they sought its help.

That would undoubtedly be a heaven-sent opportunity to prove that the Club was merely a disorganized rabble, while the Society possessed the ability to take in seekers of knowledge and provide every condition necessary for them to fully apply their learning.

However, if Nous, the Aeon of Erudition, looked favorably upon someone in the Society and caused them to passively join the Club, that would by no means be a disgrace within the Erudition Society. It would be an immense honor.

The Erudition Society seems to have a bit of a tsundere streak too.

Hua Yi wore a polite smile as he changed the subject.

"It is only that certain Society members occasionally send deliberately difficult documents to the Space Station, assuming they can reach Madam Herta's hands. They appoint themselves as question-setters and expect Genius to be the solver, but Station Master Asta is actually the one handling all their replies. Those Scholars are effectively making things difficult for an innocent girl. Please, Mr. Ratio, give such behavior a little correction after you return to the Erudition Society."

"...Understood."

It was not a perfunctory response. Doctor Ratio truly nodded.

Before arriving at the Space Station and meeting Hua Yi, he had never expected two sides from different positions to converse so harmoniously.

Ratio knew it was not because of himself. The key was Hua Yi. His words and actions were steady and measured, always maintaining proper boundaries. In such circumstances, forcibly putting on the airs of a professor or physician to lecture him would only seem stubborn and unreasonable.

"Those engaged in scientific research always find it difficult to believe something. Doubting it, conversely, is far easier. Experience tells me this is also the most efficient approach. Seeking with a mindset of denial is still a form of seeking, and it can likewise help me reach the correct conclusion—allow me to ask: do you think the Space Station has become better now?"

"Mr. Ratio thinks I am simply increasing my own workload, doesn't he? But if spending a little more effort can bring about changes that have not strayed from expectations, then the effort has its reward. That can hardly be called bad."

At that, Doctor Ratio fell silent for a moment before continuing.

"In the laboratory where the Key of Enlightenment was stored, the surveillance system was sabotaged beforehand, and the indoor fire suppression system was triggered abnormally. Other than that, there were no signs that the laboratory had been forcibly breached, nor had the hatch been opened during that time."

"Thank you for summarizing the clues, Mr. Ratio. I have already granted you a higher level of guest access. You may visit most areas of the Space Station, borrow books, or consult ordinary data files. Consider it both an apology for the Defense Department's offensive conduct and payment for asking Doctor Ratio to educate the Erudition Society's internal members."

"It appears the authority you actually possess far exceeds the rank of a Level IV Researcher. There are indeed some places I wish to inspect. I hope that by the next time we meet, the Space Station's second bout of unrest will have been resolved."

After letting Doctor Ratio leave the meeting room, Hua Yi tapped his earpiece.

"Has the Department of Applied Materials stored the Curio I mentioned, [Phase Flame]?"

"Yes, we have found it. Could the thief have used this flame Curio, which can achieve phase movement, to steal the Key of Enlightenment? That would explain why the laboratory showed no signs of outside breach, why the surveillance equipment and the Key of Enlightenment vanished so abruptly, and why the fire suppression system was triggered... But we preserve the Phase Flame through special means. It should never have left the containment chamber."

"The universe is vast, and wonders abound. The Phase Flame burns through countless worlds and has left Flame Descendants in many places. Though they have not reached the level of phase movement, they can still accomplish a lesser form of transfer. Besides, the Space Station only contains a spark of the Primordial Phase Spirit Fire—have the targeted precautions been put in place?"

"Yes. The devices that monitor spatial fluctuations have been activated at maximum power and are tracking data in real time. Once we detect an anomaly, we will immediately use the Curios to prevent Spatial Transfer."

"To some extent, the Phase Flame is an Energy Being. The Department of Astral Boundary and Flora has also researched it extensively. Work with the Department of Universal Matter and locate the transfer coordinates of the Key of Enlightenment. The Space Station's monitoring systems operate normally at all times, so any Spatial Transfer that could be carried out silently must be limited to a small area."

The reminders and arrangements were more than sufficient. The relevant departments immediately sprang into action.

"Mission guaranteed, Lord Hua Yi! This time, we definitely will not disappoint you."

"I have never felt disappointed in anyone at the Space Station."

"You..."

"Do your best."

"Yes!"

Hellfire's Scheme

The primordial phase fire had been created by Siskor, the twenty-ninth member of the Genius Club.

That Spider Genius lived for only twenty-nine short days, yet the inventions she created during her brief spider life accelerated the development of the entire Spider Civilization by thousands of years.

The spirit fire fused with Phase Transformation Technology shifted into another phase as soon as it was created. By the time it returned to Siskor's phase, the respected genius spider had already reached the end of her life and could no longer capture it.

Afterward, the Phase Flame continuously shifted between phases, burning through countless worlds and leaving behind Flame Descendants.

Duke Inferno Afrit was a child of the Primordial Spirit Fire, a member of the [Annihilation Gang] who believed in Destruction, master of the Eternal Fire Mansion, and supreme leader of the Fire Demon Clan of Energy Beings.

The Antimatter Legion had attacked Herta Space Station, yet failed to breach that museum-like vessel. They had not even caused a single death. The grand [Destruction] had its path of conquest blocked by [Wisdom] and had even become a mere foil for [Preservation]. It was undoubtedly a humiliating defeat.

At the very least, Duke Inferno felt he had to do something.

The elegant Fire Demon wore a suit and called himself a Conductor. Only after putting on gloves could he grasp his spiked baton.

He intended to exploit the panic following the Antimatter Legion's attack on the Space Station, sow discord, and make this so-called gathering place of wisdom collapse from within in all its ugliness.

He poured his consciousness into Hellfire, repeatedly making short-distance transfers. While Interastral Peace Corporation personnel frequently entered and exited the Space Station, he slipped past the defenders and waited for an opportunity.

But what did Afrit, remotely controlling the Hellfire, see?

There were indeed many injured people at Herta Space Station, but not a trace of panic. On the contrary, the place was brimming with vitality everywhere. Those receiving treatment in the Medical Department spoke of nothing but Lord Hua Yi's heroic deeds, their words animated and dramatic.

With the Space Station maintaining a high defense level and the Interastral Peace Corporation conducting surveillance over the nearby starfields, Duke Inferno had little power he could deploy.

He had originally planned to use a cluster of flame to play the Song of Destruction. During a period of panic, even the sudden disappearance of two or three insignificant people could create enormous chaos. With a little manipulation on that basis and proper use of base human nature, the Space Station's collapse would be nothing more than an expected development.

Yet the prerequisite of panic had not even been met!

The Antimatter Legion had failed to leave behind any fear. Everywhere, people were talking about a hero.

Perhaps making Hua Yi "disappear" would accomplish the goal in one stroke?

But Duke Inferno was an excellent schemer and remained cautious. He had not forgotten that Hua Yi had used the Flame Sword to block the horde of demons, and seemed highly adept at manipulating fire.

If he successfully used Hellfire to transfer Hua Yi away, the hero's disappearance would naturally throw the Space Station into turmoil. But if he failed, and the people here discovered a second wave of outside enemies, they would only become more united, which went against the Conductor's original intention.

Thus, Duke Inferno noticed Hua Yi's creation: the Key of Enlightenment.

Inanimate objects were always easier to obtain and manipulate. It could be used directly to create conflict between the Space Station and the Interastral Peace Corporation. Even failure did not matter; having its trail discovered was also part of the plan.

Since the hero's reputation was so great and his momentum unmatched, would the Space Station's true administrator with real authority truly feel at ease?

Would she not feel that her power and position were under threat?

"Lord Hua Yi, we identified the residual spatial fluctuations in the laboratory! That location is... Station Master's Office."

"What clumsy sowing of discord."

With a sneer, Hua Yi had already recreated the Seed of Erudition Rite in another laboratory and stored away two new Keys of Enlightenment.

"Could the hidden enemy possibly think this can provoke conflict between Station Master Asta and me? They think too little of us. Let us simply give the Key of Enlightenment to Station Master. Follow the coordinates I sent and retrieve the other key."

"Understood! We're heading over immediately!"

After instructing the Defense Department personnel, Hua Yi left one Key of Enlightenment behind, took the other, and headed straight to Asta's office.

Outside the hatch, the pink-haired girl had also been closely following the theft case and listening in on the communications. Seeing her lover arrive, she cutely wrinkled her nose and complained.

"Who exactly wants to drive us apart? That's so awful. I haven't even had time to return to my office and take a look for the past few System Times, and that person hid the item inside? Hiding in plain sight, huh—what's this box you handed me?"

"A Key of Enlightenment. The gift I promised you."

"Didn't you say you would give me the stolen one? Why did you make another one?"

Asta blinked her large eyes in confusion.

She had planned to carry the special gift from her beloved with her and treasure it in her little bag. If there were two, they would not fit at all.

"Because—"

Hua Yi took Asta's soft hand and led her into the office. Following the spatial fluctuations, he arrived before the desk, made a shushing gesture, then abruptly pulled open the drawer on the side of it.

There was nothing inside.

"The stolen key was already completely destroyed."

This had nothing to do with how much Hua Yi and Asta trusted one another. Once the Defense Department had traced the destination of the Spatial Transfer to the Station Master's Office, and every major department knew it, if Asta could not produce the Key of Enlightenment, the department heads would inevitably wonder whether the Station Master intended to keep it for herself.

The Conductor had laid one trap after another. Even if the hero of tremendous prestige and the Station Master who had managed the Space Station for so long had no rift between them, could those expert Scholars feverishly analyzing the Path Product remain calm once they completely lost their precious research material?

The final whereabouts of the Key of Enlightenment had become connected to Asta. Even if the weathered elders were willing to trust the Station Master's character, some impetuous young people would inevitably overthink things.

By then, even if Hua Yi restarted the Seed of Erudition Rite and made new Keys of Enlightenment for every major department to research, the young researchers—and even the group members from the Fan Support Club who chatted happily with the Group Owner hiding his identity—would complain about Station Master Asta. They would think she had indirectly taken possession of the Path Product and made their idol expend additional effort.

"Though it is a scheme with each link connected to the next, even if it developed exactly as expected, it would only create a few rumors. I could still erase the suspicions in people's hearts—you are rather petty, Duke Inferno Afrit."

As Hua Yi spoke his final words, a cluster of blue flames drifted down from the lighting tube and blazed fiercely in midair.

Halting Space, Seizing Hellfire

Dim flames formed the shape of a Fire Demon. Afrit, dressed in a suit, seemed to have personally arrived at the Space Station, proclaiming the truth of Destruction.

"The Interstellar Gods have departed, each following alien customs, with no heart to heed the insignificant masses. Only the wounded benefactor grants the worlds the firelight of [Destruction]. There will always be cowardly fools who seek to reject this grace and flee the bestowed wounds—run, by all means run. No matter where you flee, annihilation shall eventually arrive."

While Duke Inferno struck the pose of a loyal servant of the Aeon of Destruction and ostentatiously spoke of the Conquest and Annihilation he believed in, Hua Yi had already controlled Imaginary Energy into the form of oars, stirring ripples within the Path.

Another flame appeared. Unlike Hellfire, it was neither sinister nor fiercely intent on burning all things. It carried Warmth and Stability, yet was also an Indestructible Cage, completely surrounding the projection Afrit had condensed through remote control of Hellfire.

"So it is true. What you command is truly the power of [Preservation]!"

The destruction-worshipping Duke Inferno immediately recognized the unconcealed power Hua Yi wielded. He fiercely controlled the Hellfire to strike at the Preservation Cage, which appeared to be flame but was fundamentally entirely different.

Asta had already taken out her Portable Energy Cannon, shaped like a magic wand, and prepared for battle. Hearing the hatred-filled words of the Fire Demon, she could not help but freeze for a moment.

Though the girl knew full well that the fire wrapped around Hua Yi's Godfall Sword when he resisted the Legion Attack had been [Destruction] flame, seeing him so naturally command the mighty power of [Preservation] still gave her the strong impression that he was a Preservation Trailblazer.

Unless one's standing reached a certain height or one truly understood the corresponding Path, no one could distinguish Hua Yi's method of wielding power from that of an ordinary Pathstrider.

That brief pause did not delay the battle. Asta quickly judged that with Afrit's Hellfire incarnation already sealed within the Preservation Cage, recklessly unleashing Meteor Shower might not be able to bypass the cage and strike the powerful enemy directly, even though both were fire-element energy.

She decisively used Starry Sky Blessing to empower her lover, contributing in her own way.

Feeling the same power flowing from Asta as during their battle against the Doomsday Beast, Hua Yi extended his hand, intending to directly pass through the cage he had created and touch the Hellfire Afrit had split off.

An opportunity!

Duke Inferno, who had remotely controlled the flames and repeatedly failed to break through the Preservation Cage, seized that fleeting opening and immediately activated his Spatial Transfer Ability.

His earlier attempts to ram the cage using conventional means had been both tests and deliberate concealment of his true ability, all to make Hua Yi lower his guard at this moment.

Once he bypassed the flame cage formed by the power of Preservation, Afrit could envelop Hua Yi in Hellfire. Even if it exhausted all the power in that flame, and even if the consciousness he had sent became fuel, he would forcibly use Long-Distance Teleportation to exile Hua Yi into the boundless universe.

Then Herta Space Station would surely fall into chaos!

Hua Yi's fingertips did indeed pass through the Preservation Cage and touch the Hellfire, while Afrit did indeed push this divided flame to its utmost limit and activate Spatial Transfer.

Then nothing happened.

Or rather, the Spatial Transfer was forcibly halted. The Hellfire failed to spread across its target's entire body and was instead seized in Hua Yi's palm.

"No, this is not the effect of those Curios contained by the Space Station..."

"I have already encountered many things related to space: the Antimatter Legion's Baryon Channel, the Astral Express's Domain Anchor, and the Phase Flame collected by the Space Station. I cannot say I have completely deciphered each one or fully mastered them all, but I have developed a set of my own methods. Why would you think Degraded Spatial Transfer could affect me?"

"Impossible—you are not using another spatial force to stop the transfer. You destroyed the channel I constructed directly from within."