Thunderclap

At the World Serpent headquarters, in a space suffused with flowing light.

"Reporting, Venerable Lord."

The silver-haired youth sat upright in his chair, his eyes seemingly flickering with the rise and fall of time. The heroic brown-haired woman with hair reaching her waist gazed at him with reverence.

"The Third Eruption has officially descended upon Changkong City, Japan."

"Has it already been the third?"

Only after hearing the brown-haired woman's words did the silver-haired youth come back to himself from his thoughts.

His voice was incredibly deep and hoarse. It sounded nothing like that of a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old youth, but rather like an old man who had weathered countless vicissitudes.

"The Eruptions... they really are happening more and more frequently..."

"However, the stage has yet to be set. Now is not the time for the 'Serpent' to make its appearance."

"Jackal, remain still for now and wait for Schicksal and Anti-Entropy to make their moves."

"As you command, Venerable Lord."

The brown-haired girl had no objections whatsoever to the silver-haired youth's order. She gave a slight bow and withdrew from the space.

"..."

With the woman's departure, the space fell silent once more.

The silver-haired youth gazed ahead. After a long silence, he gently waved his hand, causing a light screen displaying a purple-haired girl in a school uniform to appear before him.

"Before I knew it, so much time had already passed..."

The youth's gaze had once delved into the abyss of the quantum sea, witnessing countless possibilities and the rise and fall of countless civilizations.

A mere resemblance in appearance could not stir the deep pool in his heart, which had lain still for countless years, in the slightest.

He had merely remembered that old acquaintance from back then.

"Mei... this time, I won't lose..."

"She still refuses to go to Changkong City?"

In a highly technological secret room, a person draped in an azure robe watched the scene of Changkong City on the screen and questioned the petite girl beside them.

Their voice seemed to have been processed by some kind of machine, making it impossible to tell whether they were male or female.

"Yes... she thinks she has wronged him and doesn't know how to face him."

Facing the blue-robed mystery person's question, the girl supported the back of her head with both arms and answered somewhat absentmindedly.

"It clearly wasn't her fault back then. She suffered so much too. I really don't know why she's so stubborn."

"Perhaps it's because she cares too much... so she takes all the blame upon herself."

"Is that so? In any case, I don't really understand this sort of thing..."

"Oh? Is that truly the case?"

There was a teasing note in the blue-robed mystery person's voice.

At this, the girl's expression stiffened slightly. In an irritated tone, she said, "You're even daring to joke about me now, 'Mister'!"

"I wouldn't dare."

Facing the girl's accusation, "Mister" chuckled softly and replied.

Seeing this, the girl pursed her lips unhappily.

"Speaking of which, what exactly is your plan? You've done so many things over the years. What on earth have you been plotting?"

"I wouldn't presume to call it plotting. I have merely followed the guidance of fate and done what I ought to do."

"Fate again? Ever since that day, you've been acting mysterious all day long. By now, even I can't see through you. Could it be that you really think you're the master of fate?"

"I am merely an insignificant mortal. How could I dare to be so presumptuous?"

With a hint of self-mockery in his voice, "Mister" raised his right hand.

"However, after he entrusted this power to me, my eyes began to glimpse a trace of fate's threads."

Looking at the purple diamond-shaped mark in his palm, "Mister" spoke in a distant, somber tone.

"Everything I've done over the years has merely been drifting with the current in the river of fate, striving to obtain the best possible outcome."

"Tch, putting on airs and playing tricks!"

The girl said this irritably, then turned and walked away.

"Hey, Porn Xuan, aren't you eating?"

In the convenience store at Senba Academy, Kiana chewed on bread as she asked the youth beside her.

"Well, I suddenly don't feel hungry anymore..."

Standing beside the Silver-haired Girl, Dong Moxuan said with an awkward grin.

He wasn't a Paramecium. How could he have any appetite for breakfast at a time like this?

Besides, the bread from the convenience store was hardly delicious. It was far inferior to the dishes Mei made herself.

"What a shame. You need to eat your fill before you'll have the strength to work."

Kiana really was hungry.

She had stayed up late playing games the night before and had nearly been late today, leaving her no time to eat breakfast.

She had originally planned to buy something quick at the convenience store after class to fill her stomach, but she had not expected the Honkai to arrive so suddenly.

"By the way, Kiana, that's already your third piece of bread. You're still not full?"

Because he was worried about Mei, Dong Moxuan was growing slightly impatient with Kiana's dawdling.

"You're a man, at least try not to be so impatient."

Kiana tossed the wrapper into the trash can and clapped her hands.

"Given Changkong City's size, without any transportation, we won't be able to get out for a while."

"Besides, I have a feeling this Honkai isn't that simple. It seems like there's something..."

Bzzzt...

A rumble of thunder accompanied by purple lightning suddenly rang out, drawing Kiana's attention.

"Huh?! Porn Xuan, it sounds like there's something on the rooftop!"

"Is... is there?"

Dong Moxuan naturally knew that Mei had caused the commotion, but all he could do now was play dumb.

"That feeling... Porn Xuan, I think whatever's on the rooftop might help us find clues about this Honkai, so we..."

Kiana paused, looking at Dong Moxuan as she began to think.

In the end, however, she still felt that it would be safer for the ordinary, utterly helpless Dong Moxuan to stay by her side, so she continued, "So let's go take a look together, okay?"

"Huh? I don't think we need to!"

Dong Moxuan was actually somewhat worried about Mei's condition, but a mysterious survival instinct still made him reject Kiana's suggestion.

"Hmph, why are you dawdling so much for a man? Don't tell me you're scared?"

"How could I be scared? It's just that we should be more careful at a time like this."

"Don't give me all that nonsense. Are you going or not?"

"...I'm going."

Since he really couldn't stop worrying about Mei, Dong Moxuan thought for a while before agreeing to Kiana's request.

He had definitely just been overreacting. He was only going to see Mei. What danger could there be?

"Now that's more like a man!"

Kiana patted Dong Moxuan on the shoulder.

"Then let's get going!"

With a cheerful expression, Kiana took Dong Moxuan by the wrist and headed toward the rooftop.