Honkai Impact 3rd, a simulator of lifelong regret!

however……

When Jiang Cheng raised his head, it wasn't the expected change of topic. Before he could even speak, something wet and soft blocked his mouth again. He felt his pupils tremble and his body go limp.

—Those were Vervie's lips, which the boy had tasted many times.

In her amber eyes, the girl's cherry-pink pupils shone brightly, not with the satisfaction of moments before, but deep within, her desire seemed to speak to the boy:

Let's begin here.

58. The peaceful daily life is shattered; the Second Herrscher descends.

[At twenty-five, life is beautiful like a dream. Although there's no real progress and nothing particularly special about it—at most, it's just a further step forward on a more perverse level—isn't this kind of ordinary happiness something in itself worth stopping for?]

[In the days that followed, you began to have more contact with the outside world, and in your spare time, the young woman experienced a world that might not have been so wonderful.]

You hope to give Vilvie a better and more memorable life.

[May the girl's future memories not be of the darkness before she met you, but of a warm, happy, and dreamlike life.]

Since that day, the girl seems to have become a normal person, no longer clinging to you all the time, and focusing more on work and study.

Perhaps it was because that one date was enough to fill the void in her heart.

There's no longer a need to hide in the comforts of a gentle embrace.

During this period, Vervier demonstrated her talent by constructing aesthetically pleasing and practical private buildings for the scholars and manufacturing new weapons.

[Originally, we would only collaborate on research when Möbius initiated the contact and you were present and couldn't refuse.]

[Now, Vilvie will even take the initiative to seek her out.]

[A significant amount of time each day is spent researching various backup plans that you know exist, but whose specific effects you are unclear about.]

Especially after realizing the disaster and attack stemming from the Honkai, the girl became even more attentive to the matter. Without needing prompting, she spontaneously began researching it, fully utilizing her talents.

[I also know that only now do you realize how much of a slacker you were back then, and how much attention you poured into me.]

[The Superhuman Project to develop the human body, the Fusion Warrior Project to explore Honkai Beasts, and even the core found on the corpse of the First Herrscher could potentially be exploited; for this purpose, a project called the Divine Key was specifically created.]

[Theoretically impossible to use, as if its core were sealed by something, yet they still managed to utilize the artifact in an unconventional way.]

With Dr. Möbius's and your full support, Velvey actually obtained research rights and began her research at a rapid pace.

[Even Dr. Möbius's praise was perhaps somewhat inappropriate and unsuitable; calling her "human" was practically an insult to Velvie.]

After giving it their all, one person alone can drive the entire Moth Chaser forward.

[Even that's a bit conservative. To think that one person could drive the advancement of an entire civilization, turning countless technologies that only existed in fantasy into reality one after another, making the whole world as fast and efficient as a factory.]

Countless geniuses were no match for her; most couldn't even understand the simple formulas she explained.

They may have held countless titles and were once top-tier academic geniuses.

Only at this moment.

Of all times, at this very moment.

They're just a bunch of complete idiots.

The changes that have occurred in Velvet during this period are not incomprehensible; Honkai energy, which the organization has always considered a major threat since its inception, has resurfaced.

[You've heard that Berlin, already a ruin beyond saving, has recently made some big news.]

[It seems that the Honkai energy, which had previously been nearly calm and isolated into a no-man's-land, surged once more, from which emerged Honkai Beasts worthy of being called Emperor-level, directly triggering another large-scale Honkai explosion.]

Fortunately, since there were no survivors there, only a few hundred patrolling soldiers died.

[And this isn't an isolated case; just because it's associated with Berlin, Honkai energy activity has been steadily increasing worldwide recently.]

[The Far East region was already in a terrible state, plagued by earthquakes and other natural disasters. At least we could have offered some consolation by the lack of devastating attacks, but today even that last point has been filled.]

Several tank-class Honkai Beasts suddenly appeared in the international metropolis called Changkong.

[It is said that it was only thanks to the intervention and heroic fight of a kind-hearted student named Kevin that the hazard numbers were prevented from causing cardiac arrest.]

[It's hard to understand why a student could kill a tank-class enemy with just a baseball bat?]

Perhaps this is also a gift.

This is just like the so-called spiritual energy revival you see in Chinese novels—all sorts of chaotic disasters are happening.

[This morning alone, a significant Honkai event occurred—that infamous Twilight Town, the place that once made you want to argue with Alicia about which travel destination to visit, was half-destroyed by a massive Honkai attack.]

The death toll is currently unknown; however, it is said that one of the nursing homes was destroyed in the bombing.

Perhaps that was the last vestige of warmth on the twilight street.

What's even more tragic is that if that place hadn't been so unusually famous, you probably wouldn't even know that a collapse had occurred there.

[Aside from the few that were shot down during the First Herrscher's operations, every single satellite in the sky now shows signs of the Honkai eruption.]

From the sky, it resembles a series of fireworks displays, except that they are displays of human life and civilization.

[Theoretically, small-scale Honkai attacks shouldn't cause serious damage and could be easily resolved by sending in soldiers. However, this still had a significant impact on the Firemoth faction, even affecting their future funding.]

—Because this is the bleeding point.

[Those things that constantly squeeze time and strain and drain energy turn human civilization into a constantly exhausted and mentally strained entity.]

Although all countries theoretically have their own armies, apart from a few major powers that barely have any means to combat Honkai Beasts, most countries probably don't even have a single fishing boat, and their bolt-action rifles aren't fully equipped.

Previously, it would have taken at least five thousand elite troops from a world-class superpower to fight against an Emperor-level being; now, the Honkai energy is several times stronger.

Unfortunately, these issues are difficult to resolve with current technology. Let alone a permanent solution, even providing a decent method is challenging.

Even with the combined efforts of all the scholars at the Flame Chaser Academy, working together, they still haven't found a good solution.

[The Honkai seems to possess intelligence or be able to detect your actions; each of its plans only yields modest results.]

[Furthermore, these methods are usually limited to one use only; their effectiveness diminishes significantly with subsequent uses. Even Vilvie's plans can only be used a few times.]

The damage so far is not considered severe for human civilization, but it continues to drain everyone's energy and spirit. Even ordinary residents are forced into a state of tension due to the frequent evacuation reports.

Even the strongest bowstring will eventually snap if stretched too tightly for too long; a collective called society needs sufficient lubrication.

Many people have already starved to death, not because there isn't enough food, but because of fighting over it.

[What was originally plentiful can quickly become scarce once a sense of crisis arises, because everyone thinks there isn't enough, so they will inevitably buy more and hoard things they can't possibly consume.]

If you save a little, and I save a little, then in the end, there's not enough left for others to share.

This is the most brutal economic crisis.

Deflation.

Any disaster or war will trigger a chain reaction, which may be why humanity is now choosing to unite to stop wars.

Although these matters won't directly bother you, as the owner of the Spiral Workshop, which is closely related to engineering, weaponry, and infrastructure, and a nominally top scholar, you'll still encounter your share of troubles.

"So, this Honkai Beast named Parvati will have to be attacked with nuclear weapons again?"

You gently tapped the table, dissatisfied with the method, and looked once more at the soldier who had made the request.

"Yes, Dr. Jiang Cheng." The soldier, who still exuded a serious air even after removing all his equipment, nodded without hesitation.

"Parvati is classified as an Emperor-class Honkai Beast, but its destructive power is even greater than that of the First Herrscher's companion beast in Berlin."

"Honkai energy is reacting violently around the world, and small to medium-sized Honkai attacks could occur from time to time. The current forces of the Firemoth are insufficient to protect the three continents of Asia, Europe, and Australia simultaneously."

"If we continue to lose troops in the fight against Parvati... it could very well lead to partial collapses in other war zones, and even trigger unrest, large-scale strikes, and protests."

"You shouldn't be discussing this with me. I'm just a field operative. Even if the destructive power of the hydrogen bomb is controllable, it will still inevitably blow Parvati to pieces. You should be discussing this with Dr. Möbius."

[You don't want to get involved, nor do you want to be involved in any factionalism or power struggles—Spiral Workshop has the right to do so.]

[Should we just let Möbius do whatever she likes?]

As long as it doesn't harm you and Velvi, that's fine.

Anyway, the doctor and the girl were friends.

【"But……"】

The soldier, or rather the messenger, was not satisfied with this answer and did not want to pass the buck to someone else, because if he went to Möbius, there would only be one outcome.

In these extraordinary times, the status of scholars has risen exponentially. Even if the Honkai remains relatively normal, the status of any doctor is far beyond what a so-called part of the military can arbitrarily demand.

Ultimately, you didn't confirm the demand to use nuclear weapons, and even helped them schedule a doctoral appointment.

"—Parvati's genes are crucial material; they must not be lost in any way."

Mebius's words remained as cold as ever, showing none of the leniency he displayed when others came to plead for his life.

Those vertical pupils, like those of a venomous snake, revealed an extreme inhumanity; one wonders what kind of experiments had led to such a cruel appearance.

"Dr. Möbius, just fighting an Emperor-class enemy requires the mechanized armed forces of several cities. If we're asking for well-preserved remains..."

"If the casualties are too high, Parvati could consider retaining only a portion of the body. Isn't the Spiral Workshop also preparing brand new weapons?"

[In the end, Möbius's expression softened, whether from hearing about the high death rate or simply because his conscience wasn't completely extinguished.]

[This doctor, who hadn't even lost his first assistant, wasn't yet as insane as he later became after experiencing countless setbacks and losses.]

[If she doesn't pass the ball back to you.]

[As expected of a founding member of the Firemoth, his passing-the-blank skills are still impressive; he just doesn't like to use them usually, and is too lazy to do so.]

【have to.】