This Is the Last Summer

Death, like the slowly approaching darkness, irresistibly paints the entire city.

It was a silent and desolate apocalypse, and the people inside the barrier collapsed in unison, like puppets whose strings had been pulled out.

There was no resistance, no pain, no despair.

As the bioelectricity supporting nerve activity gradually fades, after the initial numbness, human consciousness quickly enters a state of unconsciousness, and the whole body becomes paralyzed and unable to move.

And so everything will remain peaceful and serene, unchanged until death arrives.

Carole is considered an outstanding soldier within the Moth to Fire, having long served on the front lines. However, even within this barrier, her resistance is not much better than that of an ordinary civilian.

According to conventional data, the heart generates 1 to 2 millivolts of voltage when it beats, and the opening and closing of the eyes generates 5 to 6 millivolts of voltage.

When thinking about problems, reading, or even concentrating intensely, the brain generates a voltage of 0.2 to 1 millivolt.

This reveals that the electrical ions converted from bioenergy are extremely weak.

This is to prevent cell death and organ damage; it is also a protective mechanism naturally derived from the human body's structure.

However, within the power field of the Herrscher of Restraint, even if the suppressed biological strength is not very strong, it is enough to quickly extinguish those extremely weak electrical ions.

As long as they remain conventional carbon-based life forms, regardless of their other qualities, they will all face the same All living beings death within this barrier.

Even Chrono-Chaos, who was hailed as a monster, could only fall into a coma under the domain of the Herrscher of Restraint, leaving him at the mercy of his opponent.

Carole's ability to remain conscious is entirely due to the habitual bioelectric stimulation provided by her exoskeleton, which allows her to retain her self-awareness.

But the others are different.

The Herrscher of Restraint remained there for ten seconds caused hundreds of thousands of people to fall into a coma, making the claim of a 100-kilometer death zone not unfounded.

If it weren't for Kevin's arrival, the number of deaths would have increased to an even more terrifying figure.

Carole was one of the few exceptions who managed to retain consciousness within it, but she was merely walking on the edge of life and death, and could step into death at any moment due to the movement of that Herrscher.

The Crimson Pattern winding along the girl's back burned intensely, and a sickly pink blush appeared on her pale face. Her vision became increasingly blurred, with multiple overlapping images.

Her lips moved slightly, uttering only barely audible murmurs:

"Don't die."

That familiar Crimson Pattern was a second-grade Stigmata.

It is much more advanced than the Artificial Stigmata originally obtained from Su Qing'an. After successful transplantation, the damage and side effects to the body are very low, and it can bring an increase in physical strength and Honkai Energy.

The Stigmata Project has never been put on hold, and the gifts brought about by researching the bodies of Herrscher of Death have had a particularly profound impact.

This means that for soldiers at the grassroots level, it's like how epidemic prevention personnel receive protection beyond masks and are able to get vaccinated, instead of having to rely solely on their own natural immunity to avoid being afflicted by the disease.

Of course, Stigmata are not as gentle as vaccines.

The risk of death and disease is not high, but it is far from being widespread enough to warrant widespread adoption.

Carole's talent was the worst of the three, so she had to catch up with the other two in this way.

Now, even this Stigmata organ, after being forcibly neutralized by Honkai Energy, is withering and going berserk, becoming a bone-devouring enemy that plunders the body's bio-energy, which was already nearly depleted, in an attempt to steal all the life within in order to preserve itself.

She ignored the pain coursing through her body, or perhaps she had long since become oblivious to it, and stubbornly carried the increasingly cold girl on her back, walking forward.

What lies ahead? Will we be saved if we keep walking?

Will that Herrscher's domain extend to this area?

Will there be a rescue team?

Can humanity truly achieve victory?

The girl didn't know, nor did she have the energy to think about it.

She simply felt that during the tsunami that swept through her entire world, it was Shiyu Qiluo who never abandoned her until her death, and that after the tsunami passed, she was still able to hold her tightly in her arms as she was on the verge of death, and finally they were rescued by their teammates.

If Qiluo can do it, then there's no reason why she can't do the same.

Only...

My whole body feels so heavy.

The senses should be numb from the removal of bioelectricity, but the erosion by the Stigmata makes the whole world seem to be spinning.

Carole's vision grew increasingly blurry, and blood began to trickle from her lips, staining them crimson, but her consciousness remained relatively clear.

Her eyes were lowered, the rain poured down, and cold droplets mixed with the blood and remains of unknown bodies dripped down her jawline as she repeated:

"Don't die."

But from some point onward, the slow and clear sound of that person's heartbeat vanished from this world, disappearing without a trace.

The rain is so heavy, so heavy that I can't even hear it.

The girl hugged the man's legs tightly, thinking this.

Carole is blind, and she doesn't have the time or energy to look.

Unbeknownst to her, her inseparable friend was frozen in an unchangeable moment, her eyes half-closed, like dusty glass, no longer able to clearly reflect the outside world.

The girl was completely unaware; she chattered on and on, trying to find topics to talk about, like companions huddled together in the snow, fearing that once the other fell asleep, they would never wake up again, cautiously and with extra effort:

"Qiluo, do you remember that movie we went to see together before?"

"Back then, I tricked you into thinking it was an idol inspirational movie starring Eden. You were so naive and believed it without even checking it online. As a result, I scared you to tears."

Looking back, I was so mean, but you were so stupid too.

"Who would believe such a lame lie? Everyone knows Eden has never been an actor, let alone acted in a movie."

"You're a fan of hers, how could you not know? But you still came. How stupid."

"Knowing it was a prank, why did you still come?"

"..."

That was the expected silence.

The girl's original response was as light and faint as a feather, as if it were drowned out by the heavy rain, making it difficult to hear her breath.

So she continued with her seemingly meaningless steps, continuing to talk about those topics that seemed so boring and trivial in ordinary times, as if the two of them were still in that home where they wouldn't be exposed to the wind and rain, just curled up on the sofa, watching TV, chatting, eating fruit, humming songs, carefree and looking forward to a future where the war might end sometime soon.

Time really flies.

"In the blink of an eye, it seems like almost everyone I know is dead. It's like a continuous cycle of reincarnation. All the men who used to be under the captain's command have died on the battlefield without me even realizing it."

"And we weren't even able to attend their funerals. Well, memorial services and funerals are luxuries... they stopped a year ago."

"The dance the captain organized was really great. At least the Ninth Squad was able to meet each other in their most complete form, drink together, and take a photo together."

She smiled:

"Qiluo, I have something to tell you."

"Actually, I'm not afraid of death anymore. When I told you guys last time that I wanted to be in a relationship, it was just a thought."

"We all know that there may never be another summer."

The girl's tone was dazed, like displaced dust floating in the fine rain, dim and dreamlike:

"So I've always wondered if this way of life is a bit too hard. You can imagine how difficult it must be for people who are afraid of death in this era. A war could break out anywhere in the world at any time, and you could end up with nothing but bones at any moment."

"I'm quite surprised that I've lived for almost two years."

"After all, even someone as strong as Mom is dead."

She said:

"So I feel like I'll die soon if I join the Moth to Fire, just like my mother did."

"But everyone is so kind. The captain, you, Hua, they're all so kind."

"So gradually I felt that it wouldn't hurt to struggle a bit, even if I was going to die sooner or later, it didn't matter."

The girl's eyes were lowered, their color like flowing gold.

Even the foolish and reckless moth, destined to die, has its own way of living before it truly faces death.

She parted her lips:

"Think about it, if you're going to die anyway, why not choose the way you like to live?"

"Later on, I came to understand the captain's thoughts more and more."

"Everyone was prepared to die at any moment. Even if they ended up with no trace of their bodies, it was enough for them to know that someone would remember them, or that they would leave behind only a photograph."

Carole's pace gradually slowed, but the loss of energy did not stop her from resolutely walking in the cold rain.

But the girl remained unusually silent, as if she had completely shut out her words. After a long while, she heard the unresponsive heartbeat from the lifeless, cold body behind her, and felt the breathless lips not far from her ear. She smiled and whispered:

"Qiluo, we haven't had a meal with Teacher Su yet."

"Don't you feel regretful?"

But in the end, there was no response.

This friend, who had been with me through my student years, through our first life-or-death crises, through countless battles and natural disasters, and who had stood by me until now, had become a cold corpse.

How could Carole not know?

The life force signals emanating from inside the armor had already indicated the shutdown of the other party's functions three minutes earlier.

She just still had something to say, and she was still a little unwilling to accept it.

After all...

She was able to pull herself out of the abyss of death last time, so why can't I do the same?

My thoughts came to an abrupt halt after a few breaths.

The torrential rain stopped in an instant, and all the water droplets floated between heaven and earth, as if the passage of time had been halted.

This is an extremely restrained, yet undeniably existing fluctuation of Honkai Energy, confined to a single line.

The answer is obvious.

She gazed at the extinguished flames in the sky and the snow-white maiden against the backdrop of the clearing clouds, a smile appearing on her face. She took her final step, sighing softly:

"This is... the last summer."

Before consciousness fades into stillness.

Carole turned and gazed at the man's lowered eyes, the smile still on her lips.

Since we will all eventually die in this era.

To die in this way, nestled together, might not be such a bad ending.

Let's rewind to ten minutes ago.

Kevin and SU received news of the birth of the Herrscher of Restraint.

Based on their observations of parallel worlds, the two were fully aware of whether Su Qing'an could be hindered.

With the blockade and pre-arranged interception plans rendered obsolete, the two soldiers had no reason to refuse to go to the front lines.

Meanwhile, the remaining Fusion Warrior were also rushing to the scene through quantum portals around the world.

Through excellent discipline, the Moth to Fire quickly formed a highly disciplined army.

These warriors, each with their own duties, are the sharpest blades within humanity. Now, well-trained and having quickly learned their respective Gene Ability, they, led by Kevin, launched an attack on the Herrscher.

The output of Judgment of Shamash can cross an area of 100 kilometers, but it cannot cross the terrifying barrier that is continuously weakened by 100 kilometers.

The blazing sun, which should have burned like a star, was slashed down to earth as it surged toward the enemy, losing much of its intimidating power.

Therefore, faced with this inescapable hellish realm, knowing that the probability of death upon entering it was outrageously high, the only option left for everyone was the most brutal close-quarters combat.

Under the premise that Honkai Energy ineffective, no matter how complex or strange the monsters are, or how powerful their Gene Ability are, they can only be rendered lifeless.

Technological means have also been reduced to almost non-existent.

Since even the brilliance of Jie Mie can be extinguished within it, the existence of the Honkai Fission Bomb is even more meaningless.

Thus, these pioneers who risked their lives and sacrifices to take a forbidden step for humanity challenged the Herrscher in the most basic form of combat.

Despite being weakened to this point, the Herrscher of Restraint still has the instinct to manipulate Honkai Energy at will, and she can also choose whether to nullify the Honkai Energy within her own barrier.

This was an unfair battle from the very beginning.

The enemy remained as nonchalant and careless as ever; she only needed to dodge aimlessly to witness the soldiers dying of their own accord.

The research department demonstrated terrifying efficiency in Herrscher of Restraint emergency, urgently deploying a batch of armor capable of forcibly slowing the loss of bio-energy within the body, and allocating all the Blank Core of the Thousand Herrscher to every soldier.

Even with this assistance, their survival time inside is still limited.

It took less than five minutes in total.

This is the limit that most Fusion Warrior can withstand.

The Blank Core of the Thousand Herrscher is roughly equivalent to Divine Key that has been separated into a thousand parts.

Even a complete Divine Key struggles to unleash its power within this domain, only able to barely input some Honkai Energy autonomously through the open Imaginary Space.

For Fusion Warrior who haven't yet wielded the Divine Key, the Blank Core is like a small device that can provide oxygen in a vacuum.

However, because the permission for the Imaginary Space linked within is too fragmented, it is almost immediately nullified by the barrier as soon as it enters the body, so its effect is predictable.

The nine Divine Key that have been activated so far each have their own owners.

Apart from the Black Abyss White Flower and its master, this war has brought together the most elite beings in humankind.

However, the result was still extremely dismal.

The Herrscher of Herrscher of Restraint is not actually that powerful. Kevin, who fought against her, could clearly see that her powers were almost passive.

It is impossible to expand the 100-kilometer barrier further, nor is it possible to reduce the barrier's range and increase its suppressive power.

At the same time, the level and skill of Honkai Energy she possesses, as well as the strength of her Honkai Energy shield, are much weaker compared to previous Herrscher.

In fact, if half of the Fusion Warrior on this battlefield could unleash their full power within three seconds...

Those Herrscher of Restraint will absolutely not survive beyond the second.

However, this power itself is an all-powerful shackle and defensive barrier, and an indispensable part of its combat power considerations.

The truth is, even the world's strongest Fusion Warrior, wielding every single Divine Key they could muster, were no match for their opponents on the battlefield.

The time that the armor could retain bio-energy was ultimately limited, and almost without exception, the warriors equipped with Blank Core fell near the Eleventh Herrscher.

Only warriors whose abilities, derived from genetic advancement, are inclined towards immortality and regeneration can retain the qualification to continue fighting, even with the slight enhancement of Blank Core.

Of everyone present, only Fu Hua possessed the truly immortal passive Gene Ability.

This is also why she was able to survive Brahma's pursuit.

With the support of Udu-dust and immortality, the loss of bio-energy remained within acceptable limits; however, the constant ineffectiveness of Honkai Energy was extremely unbearable.

For the Fusion Warrior, this battle was like normal humans fighting in an environment where they were forced to hold their breath.

If a battle remains undecided for a prolonged period, defeat and destruction are inevitable.

Therefore, in the mental communication linked to by Udu-dust, the girl made a decision:

"Kevin, I'll create an opportunity using Udu-dust's first rated power in a moment."

"At that time, the barrier that is suppressing us will disappear."

This is a suggestion that is unlikely to succeed.

The effects of the Divine Key ultimately rely on Honkai Energy, so their effectiveness in such extreme environments is predictable.

However, if it were to be pushed a hundred kilometers away, Udu-dust would also be unable to pinpoint the location of the Herrscher of Restraint.

The first rated power capability differs from the large-scale output of the Jie Mie; its fundamental method of targeting enemies also limits its ability to cross distances of 100 kilometers.

The man silently wielded his greatsword, knowing the price he would pay for allowing the first rated power to take effect against Herrscher under these circumstances.

But when that heavenly fire, which had overcome countless constraints and reached its limit, was cut down from the sky by that person and flickered and died out in the rain, humanity seemed to have no other choice.