Torn Apart by the Snowstorm: Time Cutter

Finding Seele's location within just ten minutes is an extremely low probability event.

The speed of [Thousand Stars] was not enough for Su Qing'an to travel to every corner of the city in such a short time, even with the assistance of [Power] to expand the search range, he still could not do so.

The reason Su Qing'an was able to arrive at the last minute so coincidentally was due to the huge anomaly created by Seele entering the Quantum State.

That sense of alienation from the normal world was like a torch lit in the dark, too dazzling to bear.

This allowed him to instantly pinpoint the specific area and, even before his true form arrived, exert pressure from a considerable distance using his [power/aura].

As a result, Seele had just entered the Quantum State, was forcibly pulled out, and Xing Chen's will was also clouded until Su Qing'an stepped into the cockpit.

Su Qing'an smiled and gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with his fingertips. He then carefully tied the scarf around the little girl's neck.

Noticing that her coat was missing, he took off his own fleece-lined coat and wrapped the little one up tightly.

As the boy wiped the blood from her forehead with a tissue, he whispered:

"Was Seele worried that this experience would affect my and Hua's future, which is why she ran away from home?"

Su Qing'an looked at her stunned eyes, tears streaming down her face, and said softly:

"When I brought you back, I already anticipated this kind of future."

"I'm a useless person, which is why I came into this world in such a wretched state, but even so, there are things I want to protect."

The boy looked up at the man in front of him; the aura had dissipated, yet he remained silent.

Xing Chen had no intention of fleeing on the spot, because as long as the other party was willing, there was no possibility of him leaving.

In order to ensure that the resources the country has invested in him are not wasted, the man is determined to make the most of his value.

Death is no longer something to fear, and physical pain can never compare to the torment of doubting one's own personality. Therefore, he would not lose his basic judgment because of the meaningless trembling and shutdown of his body.

The man began to calmly analyze all the data about the other party.

First, the other party seems to possess mental abilities, something we've never encountered before.

This was a conclusion Xing Chen drew from the AI's database and his own speculations.

Following my body's first instinct, I felt at that moment that I was facing a species far High Command to myself.

Even monsters like the Herrscher can only create fear by squandering their power, leading people to similar conclusions.

But the boy in front of them had accomplished this without even showing himself. If this wasn't an ability related to mental will, then it could only mean that the other party was even more terrifying than Herrscher.

Xing Chen did not doubt that Su Qing'an was Herrscher.

This person is clearly intelligent and seems to regard Seele Fulei as an important person.

The Herrscher doesn't meet these conditions in this respect, and the conclusion that's even more terrifying than the Herrscher is utterly absurd.

Therefore, men definitely tend to analyze themselves in the former way.

Secondly, the opponent has the means to manipulate Honkai Energy and also possesses extraordinary physical abilities.

As Su Qing'an stepped into the cockpit, he simultaneously deactivated [Power] and [Thousand Stars].

Even so, after Xing Chen regained his will, the Honkai Energy sensing device mounted on his body still provided data on the changes in the surrounding environment.

The Honkai Energy spread in a regular, ring-like pattern silently dissipated into the air; this unnatural Honkai Energy could only be attributed to the opponent's actions.

Judging by common sense, the person in front of you most likely hasn't undergone any prosthetic modifications.

The observations from the prosthetic eye undoubtedly proved this point, but the other party's vital signs showed signs that were different from those of ordinary humans.

Preliminary assessment suggests that even in a purely human form, the opponent could demonstrate output power and speed comparable to that of their own prosthetic body.

The exact limits are difficult to measure, but this is abnormal enough.

Legend has it that there are indeed powerful martial artists in the world who focus on tempering their bodies and developing their own potential, thereby reaching the pinnacle of human potential.

In fact, Xing Chen can also see many related videos and analysis results in the intelligent database.

These things have existed for a very long time, dating back to more than a hundred years before the United Nations was established, and even among the vast sea of martial artists, no similar level could be found.

Because there is no precedent, it is difficult to understand this using the so-called martial arts.

Even so, Xing Chen trusted the judgment made by the central system of the intelligent system, and it was this trust that made him believe that they were currently in a complete dead end.

Entrusting one's life to the will of the other party is not a good choice, but that is the situation I am facing now.

If given the choice, a man would naturally not want to simply face death. His own value may be as insignificant as a feather in the eyes of all humanity, but the thought of striving for this ideal is another form of self-satisfaction.

If one were to die here, the slightest solace derived from this powerlessness over oneself would cease to exist.

But Xing Chen ignored all of the above and uttered those repulsive words indifferently:

"Seele Fulei is indispensable to humanity. If we lose her, the failure of that experiment could very well affect the continuation of civilization."

Even if this is a genuine confession from the man, he understands that such words are nothing more than unreasonable attempts to impose righteousness and morality on the other person.

Xing Chen knew perfectly well that this would be an unpleasant response for the other party, but he needed to use this to understand the specific level of threat and the other party's personality.

No one can understand what kind of impact such an existence, which transcends official understanding, will have.

This was especially true after the other side seemed to possess the ability to interfere with the Sea of Quantum. In just one minute, the impression Su Qing'an gave to the man was enough to overturn too many of his perceptions.

He was not worried that his words would negatively shift the other party's previously uncertain stance.

Or, if a human possessing this power changes due to verbal provocation, then it can be used to confirm the degree of instability in that person.

Provoking the other party also allows one's internal intelligence to definitively observe just how dangerous they are.

At the cost of... one's own life.

After the boy frowned, he continued:

"Have you prepared for the consequences that might follow after you save her?"

Just as Seele had said, Su Qing'an had long anticipated this day.

However, upon actually meeting the other person, the entanglements and beliefs that remained in his heart when he first took in Seele resurfaced.

He knew it would end in despair.

He understands what is right and what is wrong from the perspective of all humanity.

But as Su Qing'an pulled Seele out of the Quantum State again, he realized a fact.

That is, whether it's right or wrong.

Entrusting her to such a dark future was something I couldn't do.

Since that's the case, the only option is to follow one's own will.

That is, regardless of right or wrong, black or white, continue on the path you have chosen.

Su Qing'an was not particularly angry about Xing Chen's remarks.

He was a calm person by nature, and had already anticipated what the other party might say from the very beginning.

As the Soul Essence grew stronger, to the point where he could even remember the aura of his soul through his emotions, Su Qing'an was able to discern many things from the aura of the other person's soul.

Everyone carries their own hell on their shoulders.

Perhaps this phrase best describes it: like a campfire gradually dying out in winter, with only a few embers struggling to keep the embers burning.

Honkai Infection, human modification.

And this soul, gradually fading and withering away.

Perhaps, just as I initially imagined, many disagreements are simply about choosing different paths, and have nothing to do with pure good or evil.

But it's just a sigh; different perspectives determine everything.

From the other party's perspective, the details of Su Qing'an's demonstrated abilities were enough to arouse suspicion, so he judged that this was a test.

To put it more realistically, one's own level of danger determines whether or not one is qualified to negotiate with the other party.

The boy still doesn't White Seele's special qualities truly mean, and whether his own influence is enough to bring the two sides into a state of harmony and balance is an unknown.

But regardless of whether the other party is a subordinate agency of Moth to Fire or a project team invested in by the United Nations itself, one will inevitably have to come into contact with these forces sooner or later.

Since that's the case, then so be it.

The delicate, fragmented sounds of the wind and the cutting wind enveloped my entire body, and the full power of [Thousand Stars] was officially activated.

The Artificial Stigmata and [Stigmata] overlapping and intertwined behind them faintly emitted a dim light.

It was light that seemed to bloom and then fade away in a fraction of a second.

With almost no warning in the eyes of the outside world, the boy silently drew a clear trajectory with his fingertips as they fell into the void.

It was like a thin line suddenly appearing where the sea meets the sky, displaying a powerful presence.

[Time Cutter]

After Xing Chen's prosthetic eye successfully captured this scene, his mechanical right arm fell to the ground, the cut smooth as if sliced open by a sword.

The man silently turned around, the biting wind and snow behind him now silent.

That thin yet long line easily tore through the celestial Celestial Phenomenon. From his perspective, he could clearly see that for a fleeting second, a white line seemed to appear, obstructing the connection between all things.

Silently, the amusement park's facilities in the distance suffered a purely artistic act of destruction. A roller coaster track a hundred meters away quietly snapped, the resulting massive disruption extending beyond the dinosaur exhibit and haunted castle, like an invisible offensive faster than sound, stretching further into the distance...

As the snow continued to fall gently, the rumbling roar drowned out the whispering wind, and the line of snow vanished without a trace.

This is the [Time Cutter] that Su Qing'an unleashed with all his might in this state, without using the sword blade.

Compared to the initial battle where he cleaved the Living Doll, this sword strike now far surpasses that.

It only takes less than a second to control and unleash the Artificial Stigmata, which is currently still within the Stigmata's damage tolerance range. This combat style of using such intervals to unleash sword energy with full force is also one of his backup plans.

Of course, if there weren't only two souls in this amusement park, Su Qing'an probably wouldn't have used such a dangerous move.

The boy deactivated all his buffs and glanced at Xing Chen, saying:

"Seele Fulei is my family, and I will not hand her over to any power."

Su Qing'an did not choose to leave him in this heavy snow forever; he needed a mouthpiece, a mouthpiece to express his side's will and attitude.

The fact that Xing Chen wasn't killed reflects the attitude the boy showed.

Depending on the response given by the other party at that time, Su Qing'an will make a corresponding decision.

He wasn't too worried about the other party's attitude. As long as he stayed in Canghai City, simple violence would be completely ineffective against him.

Meanwhile, before the Third Honkai Outbreak occurred, the world's social structure and the Honkai before the Honkai Impact 3rd did not change significantly. Only after this Great Honkai 3rd, which affects the entire world, will many things be forced to the surface.

But now, no matter how important the experimental project the other side claims to be, they are unlikely to risk tearing apart the surface peace by turning against us.

The destructive power of [Time Cutter] is enough to declare a supernatural anomaly to the entire Canghai City. Under the current decision to strictly seal off the Honkai, Su Qing'an's daily life can still proceed steadily.

However, after the Honkai occurs, all the tragedies and conflicts will be fully unleashed.

When that time comes, where should I take Fu Hua and Seele?

The Moth to Fire seems to be the most fitting answer.

If that's the case, the boy hopes that the experiment concerning Seele is not directly related to it, otherwise it could easily cause a lot of unexpected problems.

Holding the silent little girl, Su Qing'an ignored the man behind her and jumped down.

Seele's awkward silence was broken by this person's completely abnormal departure route.

The girl's small hands nervously clutched the boy's clothes. The cold wind was hidden by her scarf and coat, but her dark blue hair was still incredibly messy, and her somewhat red eyes couldn't help but close.

But the boy landed smoothly and effortlessly as if by reflex, which made her breathe a slight sigh of relief.

Although Seele had long suspected that Su Qing'an was abnormal, the extent to which he was completely inhuman still surprised her.

Seele was initially upset when she saw Su Qing'an arrive. She felt she hadn't achieved the original ending and had ultimately dragged Su Qing'an, who should have been uninvolved, into the mess. However, the boy's response at that time acted like a shot of adrenaline, stopping her from dwelling on the matter any longer.

Even though she still couldn't escape feeling guilty and sad, Seele didn't intend to dwell on it any longer now that things had come to this.

The involuntary sense of security and warmth she felt in his arms gradually eased her mind.

Seele glanced at her coat, recalling her foolish act of leaving it in the smart car, and whispered two words to the boy:

"Coat."

Su Qing'an paused slightly upon hearing this, somewhat puzzled.

Seele hesitated for a moment, as if she felt her voice was too soft. She blinked, gazed at the boy's Adam's apple, and repeated herself:

"Sister Hua... the coat I picked out for Seele is still in that stupid smart car, Su Qing'an, could you please get it back for me?"

Su Qing'an's photographic memory allowed him to search for the corresponding image in his mind. He quickly recalled the tour bus that spun around the carousel, roughly understood the location, and then agreed:

"Good."

After hearing this, the little girl remained silent for a while. She began to feel conflicted about her current situation. Being held like this was quite embarrassing. She tugged at the boy's clothes and said:

"Seele can walk by herself. Put me down."

Su Qing'an glanced speechlessly at the still-bleeding wound on her forehead. Her pitiful face clearly showed signs of exhaustion; entering the Quantum State and her previous encounter had left her in a very poor state.

This child will probably be unsteady on her feet and fall down, and even if she falls, given her personality, she'll still try to be strong.

Therefore, the option to put her down will not appear until it is confirmed that her injuries are not serious.

He replied:

"No, I'm taking you to a private clinic later. Now you'd better behave."

Going to a private clinic is not as reliable as going to a regular hospital, but since Seele is also an Undocumented Resident like herself before, this is a last resort.

Money makes the world go round, so Su Qing'an wasn't worried about not finding a good clinic.

He actually knew a lot about medical theory, but he was still a little uneasy about doing it himself since he had never practiced it before.

At times like these, Su Qing'an inevitably recalls Satou Yunona was once Pseudo-Herrscher.

Yuno's powers are really convenient for dealing with such minor injuries.

Upon hearing this, Seele buried her head in Su Qing'an's arms and complained in a muffled voice:

"Seele, don't go to the hospital..."

Su Qing'an secretly felt a headache coming on. The reason why Seele was unwilling to go to the hospital was undoubtedly because it might have an atmosphere similar to a laboratory. At the same time, the long-term blood draws and medications she had been given had made her instinctively wary of such places.

But not going is not an option. Although it may only look like a scrape on the surface, it could be an injury inside the body that is not visible. Getting a check-up is the only thing to do.

If it were oneself or Hua, one could understand where the problem lay by using the sword's inner vision.

Unfortunately, Seele doesn't know the Void Sword Qi.

He had previously planned to teach her the Void Sword Qi, but since he was unsure and didn't want to test whether Seele's constitution, which frequently entered other dimensions, would be affected by this, the boy maintained a cautious attitude.

Su Qing'an said expressionlessly:

"Only children are afraid of going to the hospital."

The little girl poked her head out and protested stubbornly:

"Seele is not a child."

The boy remained unmoved.

"Then let's go to the hospital."

Seele was speechless and could only pout and remain silent in a huff.

The scene, for a moment, seemed rather comical.

On the other side, Xing Chen reported all the details of the mission to his superiors, then entered the incubation chamber and went into hibernation again.

The next time he regains consciousness will likely be after the Third Honkai Outbreak.

Clearly, none of them were thinking about taking responsibility for the vast amount of amusement park equipment that had been smashed by fingertips.