Sudden Changes in the Situation

This was the second week that the missionaries had left Yakarta for an unknown land.

Since the official plan has been implemented step by step, an unknown number of believers have remained hidden in the seemingly calm situation without revealing a single clue.

With such a significant information gap, the actions of the believers are gradually dismantling the official plans and the pilot opportunity that Mei fought for into a shattered dream.

The lives of over a million people teeter on the brink of collapse within this intricate web of events.

And at this moment.

A missionary, far from home, stood atop an ancient castle, leaning against its weathered walls, gazing at the clear blue sky with a gentle smile.

Even under the bright sunlight, those chaotic eyes could not reflect any light, as if there was no medium to transmit it.

Her entire body is a product of Honkai and humanity, maintaining a near-perfect human form while adhering to the principle that Honkai products are silicon-based organisms.

The missionary's actual combat strength is far inferior to that of the Pseudo-Herrscher of the later era, and her powers are not very useful in a purely combat sense.

However, if we only consider the limits of pure Honkai Energy control and the strength of her physical body, she can at most maintain her combat power at a level weaker than that of Emperor-class Honkai Beast.

In short, a team of A-rank Valkyrie from the later era has a high success rate in killing missionaries.

However, the above reasons must be based on the premise that someone knows all the information about the missionaries and has a detailed strategy for their elimination in order to eliminate them without large-scale casualties.

Clearly, no one in the Previous Civilization -civilization era could have known that, thanks to the Honkai Fission Bomb, the first Pseudo-Herrscher in history had already extended its deadly fangs towards the very foundation of humanity in the darkness.

The girl genuinely loathed humanity, but it wasn't insane or fiery.

Rather, it is a pure, innate, and even devout hatred.

Therefore, she has always appeared so peaceful and serene since birth; this is neither a disguise given by the Honkai nor an acting skill in a personal sense.

Even though her seemingly human-like white skin was covered with large, tattoo-like marks that constantly caused her excruciating pain, she still exuded a tranquil and gentle aura, like a saint from Christianity.

Missionaries are incomprehensible to normal human beings with their values and personality; this hatred is as natural as breathing or fish living in water.

Therefore, her hatred of humanity itself does not affect her judgment, nor does it evoke any of the emotions that should accompany it.

Hatred itself can point to her code of conduct revolving around the goal of destroying civilization, yet the methods she takes along the way are so precise, like a scalpel, that they avoid anything superfluous, because there is no extra emotion involved.

For example, she only stayed in Yakarta for about two weeks before leaving without hesitation. In the eyes of missionaries, whether the seeds they planted could take root and sprout was not really important, because she never stopped praising and spreading the sect along the way.

Looking at the rows of figures behind her, lined up like wooden stakes, she parted her lips and said:

"I believe that before everything is over, you will see interesting results."

"But to what extent it can be accomplished, you shall wait and see, Your Majesty."

The battle situation where Fu Hua was stationed turned into a huge meat grinder three days after Su Qing'an arrived, leaving her with no time or energy to wallow in sorrow and melancholy.

The days when three waves of Honkai Beast would attack every day, a routine as leisurely as eating a meal, were gone forever. The Honkai Beast deep in the wilderness was slowly making a large-scale advance towards this place.

While distant weaponry is sufficient to intercept 90% of the enemy forces in advance, the Honkai Beast that gradually advance to close range still require the use of mechanical soldiers for combat. Among them, the Honkai Beast with higher danger levels are dealt with by three-person teams.

This was the first time Su Qing'an understood that sometimes even overwhelming power cannot make everything go as planned.

He had always been defeated by overwhelming disadvantages, but he never imagined that even if he were truly unparalleled in the world, he would ultimately be unable to do everything within his capabilities perfectly.

Perhaps life is always like this; the so-called hardships often do not come from external pressures, but merely from the prison of the mind.

Su Qing'an had no choice but to agree to her request.

Even though it would mean seeing her struggling, tired, and even injured in the painting, he could only suppress his intention to take action.

His chances of protecting her might be dwindling, but the key to that lock was lost in the light and heat that overwhelmed the world.

When exactly did this lock land on his heart? As the boy patiently used the [Stigmata] to absorb the remaining Honkai Energy from her wounds and carefully bandaged them, he couldn't help but recall the past, and this question arose from that.

When all the emotions had dissipated to a mere spark, Su Qing'an looked back at the past scenes, only to feel as if a layer of gray glass separated them, its surface riddled with cracks, haphazardly slicing the trivial matters into a glaring shape, making it difficult to discern the reason why the young man had risked his life for them.

Then, a moment later, he realized that back then, he probably didn't need a reason to do certain things.

Perhaps it is still the same now, only it has become duller and less distinct.

It's like a clock that's stuck, or like the reflection of an incomplete moon in the ripples of an ancient well.

He once thought that if the bonds and emotions between people mostly stem from the initial connection and the memories of getting along afterwards.

For him, the death he experienced in the Previous Civilization may have laid the foundation for many of his fates.

But assuming there's another reboot, will he still consider someone to be truly special then?

Su Qing'an wasn't afraid of death; he was only afraid that he would become someone he no longer recognized.

Death itself is not frightening; the wear and tear caused by the journey is what is truly terrifying.

But as the boy sat atop the watchtower, gazing down at the chaotic battlefield, he returned to the question that had first arisen in his heart: when exactly did that lock land on his heart?

So much so that even the noise that could have ended with just a flick of the fingertips lasted for three days and three nights.

He thought it might have been when he first saw her curled up in his arms, crying; or perhaps when the immortal's [Thousand Stars] melody first resounded, its elegant notes lingering in his ears, and he said, "I'll teach you"; or perhaps when the ocean was bathed in the morning sun that day, and the girl softly agreed...

Perhaps it is all of the above, perhaps it is neither.

The ambiguity of emotions led to uncertainty about the answer, but if asked whether the question was important or not, Su Qing'an's answer was no.

Because even if the whole world could start over, he alone would not be able to restart.

The boy had no choice but to carry everything on his shoulders, and whether what lay ahead was the desolate silence of hell or a brand new journey remained unknown.

While Su Qing'an silently examined herself and tried to recall the past to awaken some things during the three days that followed, the military factory behind her was almost completed with its initial production line.

Next, all that's needed is to implement the design drawings and various plans provided by Dr. Mei, and then the partial route can officially begin to be laid out.

The core of the plan lies in a device capable of absorbing large amounts of Honkai Energy.

Following the Third Honkai Outbreak, such devices have been improved to be no longer as enormous and difficult to move as before, and the culmination of such extremely precious resources and technology has not yet been transported here immediately.

Only after the Honkai reactor built into the production line proves that the mechanical soldier assembly line can operate successfully will this device and the rest of the resources arrive here one after another.

The reason for this is that the decision to conduct the experiment in Yakarta was made after Mei overruled objections. The official idea was to first test the effects in areas where the Honkai outbreak was less severe, and then gradually implement the plan in Yakarta.

Yakarta may indeed be one of the few places where so many survivors still remain, but its strong religious atmosphere makes the presence of extremists all too common. In addition, residents with sufficient Honkai energy and who can pass the mental test have been absorbed into the Moth to Fire in the past six months.

Therefore, in the eyes of the authorities, although the problem here needs to be solved, it is not yet urgent.

A three-year buffer period is enough for technology to leap forward again, so in the eyes of some in the upper echelons, it's best to stabilize the situation by controlling public opinion for now, and perhaps a better solution will emerge after some time.

Mei, on the other hand, adheres to a style that prioritizes efficiency and is full of confidence in her solutions. She believes that getting things done directly and achieving the greatest results with the least amount of resources is the best choice.

Thus, with public opinion in Yakarta becoming increasingly difficult to suppress, her proposals eventually gained acceptance.

However, to avoid any unnecessary accidents, it is a basic precaution to ensure that each step of the project is correct before proceeding to the next.

Just like the current pilot operation, resources from higher levels will gradually be allocated downwards only after success is confirmed.

Another arduous day of fierce fighting has passed. In the pitch-black night, with the Honkai Energy reactor in operation, the Honkai Energy fluctuations in the arsenal successfully attracted Su Qing'an's attention and, before dawn, produced three batches of brand-new mechanical soldiers equipped with Honkai Energy -powered weapons.

On the same day, the commander used the entire battlefield as a pilot site to conduct preliminary tests on the factory quality of these mechanized soldiers and weapons.

Nothing unexpected happened during this time; the increased number of mechanical soldiers and the more intense firepower significantly reduced the pressure on the three-man squad.

The wreckage was collected by battlefield-cleaning robots and transported to the arsenal to be smelted into new materials for initial recycling, preventing unnecessary waste.

I've heard that these recycling systems already have separate records for nanobot ore, making corresponding preparations for the recycling of mechanical soldiers made from this material in the future.

Although the scientific name of this material is quite long, in Su Qing'an's view, these so-called nanorobot ores are the Soul Steel of the post-era.

The only difference is that later-generation technology is not capable of replicating the same materials, which makes them all the more precious.

In the context of today's Previous Civilization, these materials would be strategically militarized and widely deployed by the government, possessing high value, but lacking uniqueness.

Su Qing'an looked at the trucks that were bathed in the morning light and were driving away in the direction of the arsenal.

Fu Hua had cut his long hair a few days ago, but the Black Rope used to tie his hair was carefully tied around the little girl's wrist, attracting the cryptic glances of the two girls next to him for a long time, as if the Black Rope held a significant meaning in their eyes.

Su Qing'an couldn't understand the emotions he should be feeling at that moment, but after the Little Feather spun around on his head and bounced around trying to express something, the boy still seriously told Fu Hua that he would cherish it.

As for now, he subconsciously rubbed the Black Rope on his wrist with his fingers and asked:

"Does this mean the pilot program was a success, Hua?"

Fu Hua leaned against Su Qing'an's straight back; she was a little tired.

Prolonged battles place a heavy burden on the mind, and some unavoidable scratches are inevitable. Honkai Beast below the Emperor-class are indeed no match for those in the Clear Mirror Realm.

However, the fragility of the human body does not change because of this; those attacks that cannot be avoided can only be eliminated using the Honkai Energy shield.

In a prolonged battle, it would be difficult for her at her current level to maintain a high level of Honkai Energy defense at all times, which means she can only choose to control the defense herself in stages.

If the protective shield expands even slightly, in that critical moment, the fragile human body will collide head-on with the silicon-based shell of the Honkai Beast.

The result is self-evident: even ordinary tank- Honkai Beast, with their current armored defense systems and bodies honed through years of martial arts training, can only suffer a swift defeat.

These mistakes, which would not normally occur in combat, become difficult to correct in the chaos of battle, making it hard to maintain the precision that was previously possible.

Perhaps Fu Hua will be able to do it in the future, but a six-month combat career is still too short and not enough to hone perfect combat experience.

Bathed in the rising sun, the two stood back to back, their posture somewhat intimate. The girl lowered her eyelashes, gazing at their elongated shadows intertwined on the ground, and said with a slight smile:

"Yes, we just need to confirm the situation has stabilized in a few more days."

"The higher-ups will continue installing the missing equipment, and by then, when the battlefield here officially enters its initial phase, it won't be us stationed here anymore."

"Hmm," he said.

Fu Hua was silent for a moment, then she said softly:

"Master Su, you're not keeping your word."

Feeling the heartbeat pounding behind him, Su Qing'an closed his eyes, as if the sunlight was too bright, and said:

"Things related to danger to China are not included in the terms of the agreement."

The girl glanced at the shallow wound on the outside of her arm, which had been carefully bandaged into a pretty bow. This, combined with her cool expression, created a subtle yet endearing contrast.

On that day, the Knight-class Honkai Beast's spear should have directly eroded the outer flesh, allowing the Honkai Energy to penetrate directly into its marrow, but a gentle breeze-like current deflected it, allowing it to remain unharmed.

She said in a low, helpless voice:

"That's just being shameless."

Su Qing'an didn't reply, but through the Little Feather frolicking on his head, he could somehow sense that Fu Hua wasn't angry.

That's good.

Perhaps because of the invisible connection between the two, the Udu-dust made it difficult for him to make her sad.

That's good.

Three days later.

The instrument slowly embedded itself into the soil, and after a full ten hours of work, it was finally settled in the central area of the arsenal.

It can slowly but steadily absorb the Honkai Energy within a five-mile radius, which is the core key to the success of Dr. Mei's plan.

Such a massive instrument is difficult to move. If it were to absorb all the Honkai Energy within a five-mile radius, it would seem impossible to continue advancing. However, since the plan has been implemented, it must have already made thorough preparations for the details of its execution.

The reason this project is so massive is that it requires the construction of corresponding pipelines. Mei calls the instruments buried in the military factory the main unit, and by setting up branch stations that can connect to the main unit in areas outside the territory, it can slowly advance step by step to the edge of the country.

This is a clumsy but effective emergency measure for Mei, but it is enough to solve the predicament of Yakarta being gradually eroded by the Honkai Energy environment.

Perhaps she can solve this problem after gaining further inspiration from her continued research into the Sea of Quantum.

Two weeks later.

At this time, the media in Yakarta was heavily promoting the official success of the plan's implementation.

Data sheets showing the instrument slowly reducing the external Honkai Energy index to a safe zone, along with aerial videos of numerous defeated Honkai Beast, spread throughout the streets and alleys.

Suddenly, the survivors were freed from the half-year-long imprisonment without any real solution. They realized that their personal safety was guaranteed and they even had a chance to reclaim their original homeland. This made most of the non-radical civilians more inclined to support the government, and at the same time, the number of people signing up to support the project surged dramatically in a short period of time.

The previously unstable situation has thus eased from a tense wait-and-see state to a more favorable atmosphere.

Just a few days after the incident began, the troubles left behind by the missionaries erupted one after another.

The news that important construction plans and facilities for arsenals and other facilities were falsified or incomplete suddenly caused a series of unstoppable storms on social media.

The local government, which should have immediately cut off the source of such negative news, strangely chose to turn a blind eye, followed by a large amount of solid evidence.

Just a few hours later, the Honkai Energy reactor inside the arsenal exploded, and the Honkai Energy index rose again, even creating tidal vortexes that rushed towards the surroundings, pushing the original boundary line back several kilometers.

The most devastating loss was that the instruments, which were considered extremely valuable by the higher-ups, were destroyed just as they were beginning to prove their worth. This halted most of the project's progress, effectively forcing everyone to start over.

These images were then converted into clear videos and began to spread wildly online, but the worst was just beginning...