The Normal World That Doesn't Exist / The Wrong People at the Wrong Time

A black and white spear emerged from the electric current, slicing through the grid and aiming straight for Mei's head. Immediately afterward, the man, his body emitting black smoke, broke free from the electric current. His festering, charred flesh regenerated at an incredible speed. Golden chains, trailing with light, wrapped around Mei's legs, and the electric current on her body instantly dissipated, even the giant arm armor on her back could not be fully maintained.

Oh no!

In the nick of time, Mei could only hold the sword in front of her. But to her disbelief, just as the Knight Lance was about to collide head-on with the sword, it adjusted its angle. The lance and the blade rubbed together, creating intense sparks, while the tip of the lance sliced straight through her neck!

"Hmm..."

Mei Honkai Energy break free of the chains binding her feet, and retreated while clutching her bleeding neck.

It didn't hit a vital spot. If it had been just a little bit further inward, even just a little bit, her carotid artery would have been pierced.

"Don't fight him." The woman's voice, which had disappeared, reappeared in your ears. "That guy is dangerous for you right now."

"You..."

"Stop talking nonsense and come here."

An anchor point appeared behind Mei and took her away before she could react.

Do you need help?

The sophisticated-looking receptionist greeted the suspicious-looking hooded man in front of her with a professional smile.

"..."

Lin didn't have a deep impression of Shenzhou's branches, but as far as he knew, most of Shenzhou's branches were key departments and research institutes, so they either disguised themselves as high-end research institutions or were directly hidden in the city.

So... what type of high-end research institute is this Bathhouse City?

Lin remained silent for a while before asking, "How much does it cost to become a member here?"

"The annual meeting fee is only 2333, and it can be even cheaper if you buy in bulk!"

"Hmm, group purchase?" Lin glanced at the price list with an air of importance. "Then wait a moment, my friend is coming, let's do it together. Can I go to the restroom first?"

"Go straight to the end over there and turn right."

After entering the restroom, Lin opened the window and climbed out of the twenty-one-story building. He nimbly climbed upwards like a gecko. Once on the rooftop, he looked at everything before him and remained silent.

The Research Institute of the Moths of Fire? A branch?

No.

There were only billboards and a cold wind blowing through the deserted area.

Lin couldn't possibly have misremembered the location; members of the Fire Moth would prioritize memorizing the branch locations in each region in order to be able to provide support at any time and receive support.

But what's going on? Are the branch locations of the Fire-Chasing Moths different in this world?

Or is it...?

A deeper feeling was brewing in his heart. He came to the edge of the rooftop of the high-rise building, looked out at the brightly lit city, rubbed the floor, and sat down.

With her feet dangling outside, Lin propped her chin up and looked down at the bustling traffic below.

This is... a world that hasn't yet Honkai?

Humans did not touch the lunar remains, the Honkai Energy had not leaked, and the original "one" had not separated from the remains and come to Earth, so the Moth of Fire was not established?

"Hua, let's go, let's go play video games today!"

"Are you really going...?"

Two teenage girls, laughing and joking, walked into the mall.

A person, alone in the moonlight, gazes into the distance.

Chapter Three: The World That Doesn't Exist but Is Normal

In this world, there are no moths drawn to flames.

Lin spent three days trying every possible way to contact the Fire Moth, but all his efforts were in vain, without even a ripple. The political and economic situation, which should have been controlled by the Fire Moth, also showed no signs of being controlled. Lin even compared the time of the Third Honkai War outbreak and found that the Honkai should have broken Honkai on the night he came to this world, but nothing happened.

This is a world without Honkai or moths chasing the flame.

The world is thriving, without explosive technological growth, but it is steadily improving.

This is a world without... and should not have, those disasters that caused the disappearance of one-sixth of the world's population.

"..."

Lin walked along the road under the blazing sun, realizing that he hadn't eaten for three days, yet his physical strength seemed to remain undiminished.

Is this also a change brought about by the core...?

He had lost the means to leave, and he had no way to commit suicide.

Lin suddenly stopped in his tracks, raised his hands, and looked at the hands that had once held countless weapons.

"Tick-tock".

Blood flowed from between his fingers, forming a blood-red line.

Blood was dripping from all ten fingers, but to him, this liquid flowing from his body was not his own blood.

Because he could not feel pain, nor could he see any blood.

But his memory was covered by the thick blood of others who had died.

"Tick-tock".

"..."

The fingers were intact.

There was no blood.

Lin lowered his hand absentmindedly; he wanted to go somewhere.

What is he like in this world that hasn't Honkai?

Mei stopped in front of the abandoned workshop. She looked up at the Spiral Workshop, which had been silent for half a year. Even though it was cleaned every day, it still looked dusty.

She knocked on the door.

There was no response, nor did she expect one. She simply opened the door and went inside.

The workshop was gray and cramped, but it was spacious and no longer cluttered. That person often used the word "big" to describe everything about herself, even her workshop, which she made seem grand and imposing.

But now, Mei only feels that this is just a small workshop.

"Should I say... welcome, May? Welcome to the Alchemy Workshop of the great magician Vill-V?"

Mei walked around and looked around, then stopped in front of a sound.

The person hadn't changed much compared to six months ago. Wearing her personalized corset and the top hat someone had given her, her beautiful face shone brightly under the lights. She seemed to still be the same genius engineer, magician, inventor... Those numerous titles she had bestowed upon herself, which no one could deny, were simply a reflection of her narcissism and arrogance.

But a sparkle had been lost in her eyes, as if the most vibrant colors had been erased from a perfect portrait. Her smile had never been so "deliberate," even though she had genuinely acted before.

After observing the scene, Mei let out a sigh of relief, "It seems that our Dr. Vill-V hasn't been sleeping very well these past six months."

"Sleep is an activity that satisfies more the mind than the body. If the mind doesn't need to be satisfied and the body can overcome the physical needs, then there is no need for sleep," Vill-V explained earnestly, but her eyes were unfocused, and her mind was clearly not on the matter.

Mei took in all of this.

"Phew... Although I can't speak for you, but..."

"But people should always look forward. The dead cannot be brought back to life, and so far, far more than just Lin has sacrificed his life. The pain has etched itself all over human history." Vill-V smiled calmly. "I understand."

She picked up a stack of design drafts from the table next to her and handed them to Mei.

"I haven't been idle in the past six months; it's just that I get more inspiration when I'm alone."

Mei glanced at the design draft and nodded. It seemed she had underestimated Vill-V's fragility.

In the dim light, Vill-V sat on the tool table, half of her face shrouded in shadow.

Mei put away the design drafts and said to Vill-V, "Vill-V, Doctor Einstein has an unfinished research project, and I hope you can complete it for her. Is that alright?"

What is it?

"A massive weapon of mass destruction against Honkai, its prototype comes from Previous Civilization."

"... Well, let's forget about it then."

"..."

Vill-V took a deep breath, smiled, and wagged her finger. "And the Fifth Divine Key, I hope to redesign and rebuild it."

"I can approve it." May moved a stool over and sat down in front of Vill-V. She calmly gestured for her to sit down. "But I'd like to hear the reasons."

"..."

"..."

Vill-V never allowed the atmosphere to fall into a tense silence. In her words, a magician who lets the atmosphere go cold is unqualified, so heating up the atmosphere is a must-learn skill for magicians.

But now, she is so serene, unlike herself.

"What percentage of all humanity was killed or injured in the Ninth Honkai War?"

One-sixth.

Vill-V spread her hands, everything was self-evident.

She no longer wanted to create weapons of mass destruction that would cause further loss of life.

Even if the Honkai are defeated, those weapons will eventually fall on humanity's own heads.

As May was leaving, Vill-V, with her back to her, calmly said, "Also, I want to undergo the Hypervariable Surgery."

Lin looked up at the familiar Chienyu Academy. He would occasionally dream of returning to this school.

At that time, the future seemed like it would never come.

Lin jumped over a low wall into the Chienyu Academy. Wearing a hood, he strolled across the playground, where a physical education class was in session, and slowly made his way to the teaching building. Then, he walked step by step toward his classroom.

What would he be like in this world?

Could the name be "Zero"?

Will my personality become much more outgoing?

Will he still be Kevin and May's friend?

Lin noticed his palms were sweating. He was even somewhat expectant. What would he be like if he lived in a world that hadn't Honkai? Would everything be different? Or would nothing change?

With many questions swirling in his mind, Lin walked steadily to the window of his classroom.

The gaze from beneath the hood pierced through the glass, looking into the classroom, which was packed with students.

The white-haired boy, dozing off, was drooling so much that it was almost dripping onto his book; he probably stayed up all night playing games again last night.

Even though the black-haired girl with glasses already knew all the knowledge, she still took meticulous notes.

Lin shifted his gaze from them back to where he had been sitting.

"..."

It was a strange girl with pale yellow hair; Lin had no recollection of her.

"Thump."

My chest is pounding violently again.

He clutched his chest and coldly surveyed the entire classroom.

This is a world that has not Honkai.

"Sir, is there anything I can help you with?"

"Excuse me... is there a student here named Lin or Ling?"

"I'm sorry, we don't have a student with that name in our class. Are you sure you're not mistaken?"

This is a world without "him".

"Your very existence is a mistake."

The cold words of the past still echo in my ears.

Chapter Four: Meeting the Wrong Person at the Wrong Time