Long Time No See.

Indonesia.

As the world's fourth most populous country, it once had a population of 262 million.

The presence of hundreds of ethnic groups and over two hundred corresponding languages demonstrates the rich culture and long history of this region.

On the eve of the Great Honkai, about 87% of Indonesia's population practiced Islam, making it the country with the largest Muslim population in the world.

Today, apart from Yakarta, the capital, which survived most of the Honkai Phenomenon and was not significantly affected by the collapse, the rest of the region has been completely destroyed and turned into countless wastelands.

The entire kingdom has only a little over a million survivors, the vast majority of whom originated from Yakarta.

Most of the survivors in the remaining areas have now been taken to Yakarta, the only place not assimilated into the Honkai environment, by the Moth to Fire's branch there.

As a result, the population here has jumped from the original 500,000 to over a million after six months of continuous rescue work.

However, this population of one million was still far too small for Yakarta in the past.

This has resulted in many streets being desolate and deserted, even in the safe areas completely untouched by the Honkai.

The United Nations government's initial policy of suppressing public opinion, which had lasted for a full six months after the outbreak of the Great Honkai, was tacitly relaxed.

A once vast nation of hundreds of millions of people is now reduced to a capital city and a million inhabitants. Such a dramatic change, if not partially disclosed regarding the Honkai, might lead the public to imagine even more terrifying calamities.

As has been said before, true fear often stems from the unknown.

Once the true nature of their enemy is fully understood, public support on the right track can also become a source of assistance for the government.

This is certainly the most optimistic scenario.

The despair inherent in the Honkai environment is undoubtedly enough to overwhelm most people's nerves in the current state. Moreover, since the proportion of Muslims among the survivors is still not far from the original proportion of the entire country, it is now easier for extremists from different religious sects to clash.

Although the apocalyptic reality has been partially mitigated by various official comforting and propaganda tactics, the death toll, far exceeding that of the survivors, remains vivid and unsettling.

Yakarta is now like a lonely island in the ocean, surrounded by high-concentration Honkai zones that are inaccessible to normal humans.

This situation is similar to Venice, which was gradually swallowed up by the ocean due to the greenhouse effect in a few years, but the process is far faster and more despairing.

According to local AI calculations, if the defenses set up by Dr. Mei do not deploy, most of Yakarta will be embraced by the Honkai tide in about a year.

Three years from now, this land, once teeming with human footprints and history, will be reduced to dust beneath the Honkai.

This data has been hidden by the authorities, and the maximum three-year timeframe is designed to push the already stretched nerves of the survivors to their limits.

Even if they were unaware of this matter, the higher-ups could not simply choose to abandon it.

This involves over a million people, making it impossible for the authorities to carry out a large-scale population relocation.

Moreover, no one can guarantee where the next Honkai will occur. Such a laborious and resource-intensive approach, which is prone to unexpected setbacks, is not currently within the scope of consideration for the higher-ups.

Therefore, implementing Dr. Mei's proposed plan is the only way to save the city of Yakarta and the lives of its millions of inhabitants.

The construction of the defense line was bound to be a massive undertaking. While relying on a large number of Mechanical Force for basic construction, the construction of the defense line could be accelerated by leveraging the power of the people.

Therefore, the authorities did not hide this plan, but instead chose to publicize and appeal for it extensively.

If this plan is completed, not only will the current crisis facing Yakarta be resolved, but it may even be able to gradually reclaim its original homeland.

This was nothing short of a shot in the arm for the people who had once fallen into pessimism and despair.

By directing the public's energy and attention to this area, the possibility of riots can be reduced.

The residents of Yakarta were unaware that they only had one year to complete the pipeline rollout, and if they failed to do so within that year, their living area would have to shrink again.

This may not affect the actual safety of the people, but it will greatly slow down the process of reclaiming lost territory.

Even without knowing it, the level of crisis was already so urgent, and the sense of crisis created by the ten-year period officially revealed was quite intense.

Driven by this sense of crisis and the centripetal force of inner hope, the response to the official propaganda was remarkably positive.

Everything seemed to be slowly progressing in a positive direction, but the fluttering of a butterfly caused an undercurrent to surge beneath the surface.

At this moment, at the border between Yakarta and the Honkai Energy environment.

From Shiyu Qiluo's perspective, one can see the smoke and scenes of war burning amidst the vast city ruins.

Ahead of the border demarcation line lies a horde of hundreds of Honkai Beasts, while even more mechanical soldiers are fighting against them.

They were in a watchtower near the outpost, and less than three kilometers behind them was the still-under-construction arsenal.

The Honkai Beast seem to be consciously moving in this direction, intending to destroy these facilities.

This clearly further demonstrates the existence and activity of the Honkai Consciousness.

Based on years of research and observation of Honkai Beast, it can be basically confirmed that even Emperor-class Honkai Beast do not possess advanced intelligence.

The Honkai Beast is like the mechanical soldiers on the Honkai side. Although their forms of expression may differ, they are essentially cannon fodder that do not require advanced autonomous judgment.

If no other factors are present, it is normal for Honkai Beast to wander aimlessly within a fixed Honkai environment, given their nature.

Honkai Beast do possess the ability to search for humans, but this ability is not convenient enough to check specific population changes by glancing at a world map; rather, it resembles a purely sensory ability.

Therefore, the fact that a disciplined army is now coming to sabotage a designated target, even advancing into the heartland to distant regions to plunder and kill humans, almost certainly indicates that there is a manipulator behind it.

However, the three of them did not find it strange. After several Honkai Beast tides that led to sieges occurred on the Mu Continent half a year ago, such events had become quite common.

To be precise, Fu Hua and her team's mission was to kill enemies that even a large number of mechanical soldiers might not be able to defeat.

Simply put, it's a higher-level Honkai Beast.

The worst-case scenario is naturally the Emperor-class.

During their stay on a star, although they did not encounter Emperor-class Honkai Beast, they did encounter several special-type Honkai Beast that were not listed in the database.

Even though it's possible to vaguely discern which lineage the prototype belongs to, the original information can only be considered a dispensable reference. This indirectly increases the difficulty of the battle and adds considerable trouble.

Shiyu Qiluo adjusted the breadth of her vision. The Honkai Energy index that came into view fluctuated back and forth before finally settling on data that was normal for this scene. She sighed:

"Based on the usual pattern, it should end after a few more waves of Honkai Beast."

"But I still feel a little uneasy."

Fu Hua sat cross-legged to one side, gazing at the sword on her knees, its blade reflecting her face as clearly as a mirror. Her blue eyes seemed to shimmer with tiny arcs of light on the surface of a lake, revealing no specific emotion.

Half a year had made the girl's gray hair grow longer. A black hair tie tied it into a low ponytail that cascaded down her straight back. A few strands of fine hair clung to her neck, as if trying to extend into the depths of her neckline, contrasting beautifully with the undulating, snow-white skin inside.

She quietly wiped the blade and replied:

"The higher-ups must have also found this phenomenon strange, which is why they sent us to help guard the defense line."

Carole sat to the side, adding special coolant to the cannon muzzle as if it were second nature, and murmured:

"The Honkai Beast only come three times a day, and each time there are only a few hundred of them. It's like they're just having a picnic."

Shiyu Qiluo continued to monitor the situation on the battlefield; it was now her turn to be on duty.

She glanced at the rhythmic fluctuations of Honkai Energy and the damaged mechanical soldiers in the distance, and said worriedly:

"Yes, the fact that no Emperor-class have ever appeared proves that the other side is less interested in breaking through the defenses and more interested in pure harassment."

"The meaning is unclear," Carole muttered.

Fu Hua naturally shared the same worries as the others, and she said softly:

Let's wait and see.

There is an information gap between them and the instigators of this Honkai Beast tide.

The information gap that exists separates the truth from them into completely different realms, and crossing this gap requires numerous clues.

At least in the short term, there is no need to worry or fret about this.

These are principles that everyone understands, but humans are not precise machines, and we cannot control our emotions at will, so some complaints and grievances are inevitable.

The girl sheathed her sword and looked up at the outside world, where a migratory bird happened to fly across the clear sky.

Layers of intertwined clouds were set against a pale blue backdrop, obscuring the bird's wings. It flew alone into the distance, as if searching for a place to rest.

As the migratory birds slowly disappeared from sight and became black dots, she thought of something in a daze.

If only it were dusk now.

Imagine going back to autumn a year ago. The colors of the clouds were as complex as a heavily painted yet gradually layered oil painting. Countless rays of sunlight slowly descended on the golden avenue covered with ginkgo leaves. The still-young girl walked hand in hand with the boy on the soft ground, heading towards home.

And at that time, faced with that person's approach, perhaps I would have reacted differently... who knows.

She extinguished the memories.

Even during such a period of leisure, basic caution must be maintained during the task.

The more beautiful the past, the more desolate and cruel the present reality.

The girl gripped the sword hilt tightly, the emotions in her chest burning on their own... then quietly extinguishing.

Himeko is right.

Fu Hua has indeed changed a lot during this period. The six months she spent there not only honed her combat experience and willpower, but also broadened her horizons.

She now has a profound understanding of just how devastating the impact of the Honkai is.

The very foundation of civilization teetered on the brink of collapse under this calamity, like a reflection in water, seemingly on the verge of vanishing at any moment.

It might sound ridiculous.

But Fu Hua gradually realized that she shouldn't blame those in power who chose to launch the Honkai Fission Bomb, killing all the survivors in Canghai City and causing Su Qing'an to remain in slumber to this day.

Herrscher are dangerous; that's a stark reality.

The Honkai Fission Bomb successfully killed the Third Herrscher and the Fourth Herrscher, preventing even greater casualties, which is also a reality.

Su Qing'an is very important to Fu Hua.

But when viewed from a broader perspective, this importance to the individual and the concern for the entire world, and the lives of millions of people, seem insignificant.

She could argue that the official decision was arrogant, foolish, and a heinous act that ignored moral boundaries.

However, it cannot be denied that this approach has indeed eliminated many unexpected risks and unnecessary casualties.

While these past six months have broadened her horizons, they have also instilled in Fu Hua an unprecedented sense of bewilderment.

She wanted to protect the people she cared about.

She wanted to banish the Honkai and allow the souls of those who died needlessly in this calamity to rest in peace.

She didn't want to witness life slipping away, and watching the tragedy unfold only fueled her growing sense of powerlessness.

But no answer could be found.

Battle, battle, battle—the endless stream of missions and the myriad thoughts swirling in her mind were all weighing heavily on the girl's nerves.

Regardless of her inner thoughts, Fu Hua was like a drop of water in a river, drifting along with the current, moving forward and backward along the trajectory of the world.

She cannot escape this cage, nor can she break free from this framework.

Important people. Things I believe in. The tragedies I've witnessed. The suffering I've endured. The hopeless future.

Even though she has matured a lot, Fu Hua is still very green in many ways.

The girl's questions remained unanswered, yet she was so eager to understand them that she found herself in a state of turmoil, making it difficult for her to reach the Realm of Emptiness in a short time.

Perhaps only later will Fu Hua realize that some things are destined to remain unanswered.

Sometimes, the so-called answer is simply a choice.

Today's young girls are like blank sheets of paper just beginning to explore the real world; they need to find their own color among countless complex and diverse options.

This process is painful. To understand what colors belong to you, you must gradually understand by covering yourself with those colors.

But once you realize that the colors on your body don't belong to you, to continue experimenting you have to bear the pain of your skin and colors slowly separating.

Fu Hua is 16 years old this year, which is still a very young age.

But the hardships she experienced were completely different from those of girls her age, which shaped her worldview in a unique way.

The current strategy of Moth to Fire is ultimately influencing Fu Hua, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

If this had happened six months ago, mentioning the boy's body, which slumped like a corpse in the warehouse, would have only evoked a burning rage that consumed reason.

The anger still lingers, but it is also mixed with a lot of helpless sorrow.

Important people remain important, but many things have inevitably changed; this is the result of growth and the passage of time.

Whether it's good or bad is even more complicated and hard to say.

63 days.

The girl gripped the sword hilt tightly, silently counting the number in her mind.

Fu Hua realized that this was what it meant to be deeply missed.

Even if you've already secretly made up your mind to change yourself.

Make yourself excellent, strong, and less dependent on others for support.

Yet the longing cannot be erased from this process; it is as if these memories have been broken down into countless strands of silk, winding around the limbs and bones, gradually cutting into the marrow and blood, making them unforgettable.

She would often unintentionally think back to the past.

For example, when they first met, the boy's eyes revealed emptiness and confusion when he glanced into the distance.

For example, the faint smile that appeared when he looked back at himself.

For example, a pristine white shirt, arms and chest covered in scars, beautiful collarbones, and long, slender lower eyelashes.

There's also the cola on the table, the fairy tale books on the sofa, the diary in the cabinet, and the golden rose woven from ginkgo leaves.

Those feelings that were once in the hazy, ignorant, and budding stages were sealed away in the attic of my consciousness for half a year.

Fu Hua thought that she always needed to find answers and make choices about these things.

What will happen next?

I don't know; imagination often stops there.

But even without thinking, she could understand.

--I don't want to take a step back.

If it's with that person, then there's only one option: move forward.

If, when we meet again, he feels that he has grown a lot, that would be the best thing.

Unfortunately, the accumulation of the Tai Xu Realm still seems to be a long way off, and the [Sword God] Realm that Master Su mentioned can only be comprehended by being built upon the Tai Xu Realm.

Although she didn't know how Su Qing'an did it, Fu Hua didn't think that she, who was also in the third realm, could get entangled with Herrscher.

Even compared to the weakest Emperor-class Honkai Beast, she currently faces the risk of death without teammates to finish her off, and is undoubtedly still far from the feat of killing Ganesha with her fingertips from a sports car.

Master Su said that her talent was much better than hers. Even though Fu Hua knew that this person would not lie, she still felt that this conclusion was really unrealistic.

A sound came through the headset.

Fu Hua answered the call silently, and a familiar voice came through.

It's Himeko.

The woman remained silent for a moment.

The momentary silence traveled along the cerebral cortex, giving the girl's consciousness a cold, numbing sensation. The suffocating feeling that followed, along with Himeko's opening words, briefly robbed her of her body.

"Hua, your father just died from Honkai Infection."

Fu Hua closed her eyes; she had known this day would come.

My father's body could be on the verge of death at any moment.

Six months in advance, the girl had already made the necessary mental preparations and anticipated the outcome.

Fu Hua had no expectations for this.

Even though Su Qing'an had once cured her father, after gaining a deeper understanding of the Honkai Infection, she understood the final outcome.

But even so...

It's still impossible not to feel sad.

[Don't stay by my side forever, Hua. Staying tied down here will only weaken your resolve, so do what you believe is right.]

[Separation from life and death may be heavy, but it's also the most common thing; you'll have to face it eventually. But I don't want you to see me so weak before I die.]

[His frail, withered, and listless appearance is completely unlike that of a martial artist.]

A man's low sigh lingered in her ears. Fu Hua suppressed all her emotions and whispered:

"I see."

Himeko said:

"... I've already taken care of the formalities for you. You can come back anytime you want."

Fu Hua opened her eyes, colorless tears rolling down her cheeks and onto the sword sheath.

She took a deep breath, as if doing so would mask the strangeness in her tone:

"There's no need for that; it's against the rules."

"The construction of this arsenal has far-reaching implications. The Moth to Fire sent us here on a mission to prevent the recent strange movements of the Honkai."

"Besides, under these circumstances, it's already a common practice to simplify such trivial matters... So, let me finish this task."

"Thank you, Captain Himeko."

Himeko didn't seem surprised by the response; she said softly:

"I'll approve your leave when you come back."

"Good luck with your mission, see you later."

The conversation ended abruptly after the words were spoken.

Fu Hua no longer had the lingering thought to ponder why Himeko had informed her of this news during the mission. The only calm decision she could make was to extend the dark visors from her armor to conceal any external abnormalities and prevent her teammates from seeing her in tears.

She thought that personal feelings should not affect the mission.

This wasn't a rigid rule for Moth to Fire Fu Hua, but rather a rule she set for herself after deeply understanding the disastrous consequences of failure during a mission.

But inevitably, there will be times when you can't control yourself.

The girl looked at the pitch-black world she had created and thought to herself.

Take a few minutes to control your emotions and act as usual before the shift change. You can't let Carole and Qiluo worry.

It's alright, I can just be patient until the mission is over, she thought.

But immediately...

In a near-illusory sensory experience, the eyepiece was removed, and a magnificent light was reflected into the pupils.

Her cheeks seemed to be cradled in a pair of hands, the touch familiar and warm, evoking a sense of nostalgia.

After the blinding light faded, that delicate face came into view. Fu Hua stared into those dark eyes, losing the ability to think.

Su Qing'an continued to gently wipe the corner of her eye with her fingertips, brushing against her long eyelashes to wipe away the tears.

As the boy stared at the little girl, his eyes slightly red, his Mind Lake was filled with turbulent emotions.

He pursed his lips and said softly:

"Long time no see, Hua."