Honkai, Survive

Fang Jie knew all about Dusk Street, a place that produced many talented individuals. And after the Honkai outbreak, everyone except those talented people who were killed by your sister and Kalpas, were gone. Only Pardo, who escaped early, and the survivors Kalpas and Aponia remained.

Even so, Aponia and Kalpas were imprisoned for a long time afterward, with the possibility of being silenced by the higher-ups at any moment.

He remained silent, and Rin likely didn't expect an answer. She let Rin speak of the past, of her memories of the apocalypse.

However, Rin didn't want to say much more, only whispering, "Resolve, courage, hatred, fear, loneliness... everything will spoil and twist with time, no matter what expectations you hold."

Fang Jie said nothing. He had already approached those vying for the scarce resources. They all looked gaunt. After all, even with productivity approaching that of a star civilization, resources were scarce in the upper districts due to energy constraints. The lower districts could only rely on bartering for heavily exploited Subterranean Vein resources.

Don't worry about who is exploiting whom; just assume Cocolia ate it all herself.

In that other world, Otto alone consumed nearly all the Soul Steel of the current civilization, not to mention other resources.

Production and distribution were disconnected, and production required energy. The more resources there were above, the less Subterranean Vein there was; the more Subterranean Vein there was below, the fewer resources there were.

But the Subterranean Vein could not increase indefinitely, and everything below would only become scarcer.

A vicious cycle.

Until collapse.

The so-called apocalypse was actually more terrifying due to the lack of order. Even if that order itself was unfair, or perhaps had never been fair—at the end of the apocalypse, people might be crushed by fear before the Eternal Freeze even arrived, degenerating into beasts amidst the chaos.

Rin fell silent again. In front of others, she was terrifyingly quiet, only speaking a few rare words to Fang Jie occasionally.

"Who are you?"

Someone among the Wanderers and miners had already noticed the uninvited guest. Clearly, they didn't intend to share, and they shouted a challenge and opened fire as they spoke—after seeing how unusually clean the newcomers were.

Before the Wanderer's attack could land, a purple figure suddenly appeared, leaving afterimages. With a scythe, she cleaved through the bullet, her voice irritable:

"How dare you cause trouble in my territory."

She didn't seem like she had just arrived.

She was slender and tall, but by no means weak. She possessed an unusual vitality, exuding toughness and a heroic spirit—evident in her ability to move freely in such cold weather wearing a miniskirt and a crop top, with no stockings on her fair, long legs. As she moved swiftly, her dark blue hair whipped back like a cape, making her charging head particularly prominent.

And that flash, it was so bright, like a flashbang in the darkness, announcing her arrival with a bang!

"People from Underworld Fire are here!"

The Wanderers immediately exclaimed:

"It's that monster butterfly, damn it, run!"

Grabbing whatever they could carry, they fled in disarray.

The newcomer did not pursue.

"Cowardly scum who bully the weak!"

The rather dashing young girl glanced at the remaining supplies and gestured for others to continue transporting them.

These supplies were obtained without exchanging them for Subterranean Vein ore, so they were essentially free. She should have been happy, but the thought of the upper echelons making such an abnormal move diminished her joy.

When something is too strange, there's bound to be a ghost. Those people she had seen with her own eyes, who would rather eat half their food and discard the rest, how could they suddenly be so kind.

"And who are you people?"

In the center of the deep mine shaft, the young girl blocked the retreating team, confronting the exceptionally clean Fang Jie and the 'injured' person behind him, the scythe glowing faintly.

Rin was, as usual, completely ignored. Perhaps because they were both pink, she was overshadowed by Yae Sakura like a doll.

Fang Jie stepped forward to communicate: "We are aliens."

"What? Never mind, whoever you are, since you've come down here, I can't just leave you be. Follow me."

Seele didn't understand and didn't bother to listen. She acted according to her own judgment.

After all, there was an injured person, and although they were clean, they couldn't even react to gunfire. Considering that foolish woman who claimed to be sent by the Great Guardian to deliver supplies not long ago actually escaped down here, these two were probably caught in the aftermath and had nowhere else to go. Otherwise, why would anyone from the upper levels come down here?

Underworld Fire had the capacity to treat people like this, and they might even be talented individuals. She had this much foresight.

Fang Jie was thus arranged, feeling a bit bewildered by this Seele...

"Don't dawdle, keep up."

Seele snapped.

She was in a hurry to question that woman about what happened. This lower district was getting more and more chaotic. Not long ago, Sampo brought some strange people looking for a Stellar Nucleus, and even brought Garrison Officers from the Silvermane Guards. The thought alone was annoying!

Fang Jie and Rin exchanged a glance. Rin was indifferent.

"Then let's go. The doctor I'm looking for is also on this path."

Could there really be a good doctor in a place like this?

Rin was skeptical, but then she remembered Dusk Street, a place that produced many talented individuals, and didn't object.

Along the way, seeing them follow obediently, Seele conversed more: "My name is Seele, and I'm a member of Underworld Fire. Since you've come to the lower district, you need to understand something. You listened to the Silvermane Guards so much up there, you'd best listen to Underworld Fire down here as well. You can ask Underworld Fire for help if something comes up, and we'll help you when we have time. Remember that?"

"It's nice to meet you, Seele. I'm Fang Jie, this is Rin, and this is Yae Sakura."

"I don't care who you are, just keep up."

Clearly, Seele was beautiful and kind-hearted, just a bit short-tempered.

It was understandable. The lower district was so much harsher than the upper district, and she had to manage affairs and deal with various troubles. If she wasn't fierce, she wouldn't be able to maintain control.

This is also why Natasha isn't the overt leader of the Underworld Fire. She's too pretty, and being a doctor with a grenade launcher makes her a target for more scrutiny.

Fang Jie observed everything along the way. The Underworld Fire had indeed maintained a certain order. The group followed the supply exchange route, which, despite being well-maintained, was inevitably showing signs of age and damage, heading towards Boulder Town.

The path wasn't particularly rough or winding. The tunnels, converted from mining shafts, even had 'transportation.' However, Subterranean Veins were too precious, and the Underworld Fire personnel didn't intend to waste them on transportation. Everyone carried their supplies on their shoulders or by hand, pushing mining carts. The advanced tools they carried looked jarringly out of place.

The closer they got to Boulder Town, the more they emerged from the darkness. The vast underground space opened up, with giant mining lamps serving as the primary light source, casting a considerable brightness.

Boulder Town itself was almost as bright as daytime, with a warm light guiding them towards 'home.' Seele, who had been on high alert and running back and forth the entire journey, visibly relaxed.

"Hey, Fang Jie, right? Your friend seems to need help?"

Seele couldn't help but glance at Yae Sakura again. Honestly, growing up, she hadn't encountered many people as beautiful as her. The constant labor and scarcity of resources usually left people looking sallow and thin. Only someone like her, a 'monster,' could withstand the bitter cold and still possess such beauty.

A talented individual.

Seeing how beautiful you are, you must be a talented individual.

"Then thank you very much."

He spoke kindly, as if to a friend.

Seele spat, "You're so dull-witted. You probably won't last long down here."

"..."

Shouldn't you be thanking me instead of telling me this?

Fang Jie knew Seele hadn't let her guard down. After all, Fang was also handsome and dashing—his handsomeness was his downfall, making him a target of suspicion.

If he weren't carrying injured people, Seele would have at least interrogated someone as dangerous as him thoroughly.

No joke.

Resources dictate the order and state of survival for a civilization. When even obtaining food is a problem, expecting civilized behavior is arrogance.

This tendency wasn't very apparent in the upper districts, especially with the Astral Express team's impactful entry into Belobog. But in the lower districts...

One had to be cautious of someone who looked so different from everyone else, someone particularly beautiful.

Seele, occupying that beautiful niche, had a sour expression. "Listen carefully, even when you get to the Underworld Fire, don't trust just anyone, not even me. I don't know why you trust me so much. You're very confident, aren't you? Did I make a mistake saving you? Maybe you didn't need saving at all."

Rin let out a silent scoff, her expression teasing.

Frankly, she quite liked this crude and rough Seele. Perhaps everyone liked Seele.

Fang Jie felt wronged. "I trust you not because I'm confident, but because of your face."

Seele's expression soured further, looking as though she was about to argue with Fang Jie.

"What's wrong with my face?"

In her wandering life, she had encountered many people with various intentions, especially as she grew more beautiful. Whenever that happened, Seele would use her fists to show them what it meant to be the number one expert of the Underworld Fire.

"You look a lot like an old friend of mine. Of course, she was younger than you, maybe... only this tall. You look like her when she grew up."

Fang Jie gestured, indicating a height reaching up to Seele's chest.

Actually, a bit shorter. Both the dark-haired and white-haired Seele were little lolis at the moment.

It was even more so for the Bronya. So, that Bronya, Fang Jie honestly found it a bit strange, especially the black stockings.

"Oh, so where is this friend of yours?"

Seele moved closer with ill intent, her fists clenching with a creak.

"She's not in this world. If there's a chance in the future... I'll show you her photo."

Fang Jie had decided that unless it was a situation where 'it doesn't matter if something happens,' he wouldn't easily transport people to different worlds.

After all, [Nihility]...

"Hmph."

Seele punched Fang Jie in the chest, not too hard. "Stop with the nonsense and follow me. I'm just in a good mood today. Otherwise, who would care if you lived or died."

She led them to find the doctor.

Before long, Natasha's clinic was ahead. Fang Jie already saw March 7th nearby, with her back to him, eyes closed, counting.

Strange, he looked around but didn't see any Stellaron Spirits refreshing near any trash cans.

Chapter Twenty-Eight: That's Not the Roof, Hook, That's the Sky.

"Man's existence in this world is like morning dew and a fleeting shadow. The March remains, but the little grey-haired one is gone."

Fang Jie was filled with emotion, a sense of inexplicable grief...

After the grief.

Unable to find the Stellaron Spirit, Fang Jie could only watch March 7th earnestly playing with children, completely immersed.

And the child playing with her, although others couldn't be seen, the characteristic of a small figure hiding with their back to March 7th was so obvious:

—The Will of Preservation Awakened at the End of Winter, the Dark Hook Awakens!

Fang Jie felt an astonishing and terrifying talent surging within her—a peerless genius, with the potential to save the world and become a hero.

But the arrival of the Astral Express had stifled this possibility. Congratulations, congratulations.

March 7th, with her eyes closed, shouted, "Are you hidden? Big sister is coming to catch you~!" completely oblivious to Fang Jie.

No one answered.

What a sneaky little March 7th, trying to trick the children into revealing their positions this way.

It didn't matter if they didn't answer, she had other tricks up her sleeve.

"Here I come!"

March 7th's expression was one of sheer audacity. She opened her eyes and looked around, only to see—

"Gah! It's you?"

She was startled. Meeting Fang Jie's teasing gaze, she didn't falter at all. "Wait a minute, this young lady has something important to do."

She then focused on catching the children.

Seele found it difficult to judge the situation. She couldn't quite figure out either Fang Jie or March 7th. She paused and turned back, her expression growing more suspicious about his background: "Do you two know each other?"

She knew March 7th had been brought by Sampo, and was supposedly one of the outsiders. Since Fang Jie knew her too...

"You're not from Belobog?"

"Obviously not."

Fang Jie's expression was natural. He had already said he was an alien.

"Hmph, so what if you're not,"

Seele's attitude improved considerably. It was hard to describe her state of mind, but the relationship between the Underworld and the Upper City was evident.

"You outsiders are truly strange,"

Seele couldn't help but glance at Fang Jie's group a few more times, then looked at March 7th. "You all brought a companion who's unconscious, yet you still have the energy to play with the children here."

'Of course.'