I am a hero of the former civilization.

Actually, I joined earlier than you, but I wasn't officially employed.

Ryan mentally scoffed and nodded: "The Firemoth is too complicated, full of factions and power struggles. There are always some 'geniuses' who are self-righteous, just like they never trusted you."

“Whether they trust me or not is their business. I just need to stick to my own beliefs.” She adjusted her glasses and said with a smile, “I have traveled the world and seen many bad things as well as many beautiful things. If I hate something because of bad things and change because of good things, it would be too troublesome to keep changing. It’s better to stay true to myself.”

As expected, this was Alicia's answer; she didn't care about betrayal or backstabbing, and would only happily do what she wanted.

Ryan scratched his nose. He couldn't be that open-minded. Just as he was thinking, he heard Alicia speak again.

"You think you're too special and that people are always worried about you, right? Actually, the solution is simple: just increase the number of people like us."

More?

Ryan was momentarily stunned, then his eyes lit up. That's right, the best disguise is to blend into the crowd. Those fusion warriors are all incredibly powerful; it's normal for them to have many special abilities, but...

How did you find out about the Fusion Warrior Project?

"Hehe, don't underestimate the pink-clad agent." Alicia smiled mischievously.

He's actually playing dumb; he must have found out from Mebius. Anyway, that's not the point.

Ryan didn't think much of it, and said sullenly, resting his chin on his hand, "Actually, I'm not worried about myself. This is just the beginning. The situation will only get worse. They might become an obstacle and reduce humanity's hope of survival."

“It’s not that time yet, is it? At least for now, no one can replace the Firemoth.” Alicia blinked, as if she could see right through what Ryan was thinking.

“Yes, so the Fire Moth has its value, it just needs optimization. I will take it one step at a time and make the changed future controllable.” Ryan looked up slightly and saw Alicia smiling at him with clear eyes, without any wariness or doubt, nor any intention to join.

She was just smiling, a genuine smile: "Ryan, I'm really happy. You've changed a bit since we last met, and it seems like you've figured some things out?"

“We’re all in this together. Solving the Honkai doesn’t conflict with my goal, so I’m choosing a more efficient way.” Ryan nodded first, then silently shook his head: “It has nothing to do with understanding. It’s just that changing the course of fate gives me a sense of joy from the bottom of my heart.”

"Satisfaction comes from saving lives?"

“No.” Ryan shook his head, wiggled his fingers, and after a long while gave a vague answer: “Turn the known into the unknown, and then explore the joy of the unknown.”

He began to understand: the previous civilization was known to him, but the butterfly effect caused by Ryan was turning that known into the unknown, and exploring the unknown was his instinctive desire.

His thoughts are somewhat idealistic and difficult to describe, but they are his true feelings.

So Moth's idea is not wrong. He does not hate that kind of sacrifice, but almost becoming a victim is always unpleasant.

"Is this the latest tongue twister?" Alicia blinked as if she didn't understand, pouting slightly. "Ryan, sometimes you're even stranger than Möbius. I can actually read people's minds at a glance. Möbius is always changing, but you..."

"There was simply no result."

Alicia's tone was serious, but Ryan just smiled. This wasn't just for show; there were too many mysteries that even he himself couldn't figure out.

Unlike a system that can answer questions, his destiny was something he suddenly awakened when he was ten years old, and even his hypothetical understanding lacked clues.

"This answer is also unknown to me, but my attitude against the collapse will not change; it is also an instinct as a 'human being'."

"So you've set me up for a riddle game? Not bad, I'm happy to take on this challenge." Alicia stood up lightly. "I have to go help out at Canghai this afternoon, so I'll be going now. Remember to call me if you need any help."

“Wait…” Ryan raised his hand, but only saw the girl’s back. After a long while, he put his hand down heavily.

That Alicia is really clever; she ran off before even telling me the answer, and...

He glanced at the messy tabletop, and his blood pressure rose slightly.

Could you please take your trash with you after you finish eating?

Chapter Sixty-Four: The Gate of Love!

The higher-ups of the Fire Moth never imagined that the very blade they had recruited was already plotting how to cure their chronic ailments and focus all of the Fire Moth's power on dealing with the Honkai.

Since arriving at Thousand Feather Academy, as his power has increased, Ryan has also felt his ideas expanding step by step.

From initially just trying to survive, to protecting the friends around him, he gradually began to explore the unknown fate of the world, like taking a walk after dinner, walking faster and faster, and taking bigger and bigger steps.

He began to actively respond to the call in his heart, which is also the meaning of destiny. No matter which path one takes, it will lead the traveler deeper and deeper. There is no logic to it; it is simply that one's heart actively aligns with destiny.

As for the Moths, just as the higher-ups never trusted Ryan, Ryan would not entrust his life to them.

"Let's start planning slowly, it's quite difficult." Ryan looked in the mirror and slowly buttoned up his shirt. Except for the bandage around his neck, his injury was almost healed.

He had been thinking about this problem repeatedly these past two days and was gradually getting some ideas. It was easy to kill the commander-in-chief with one stroke, but the difficulty lay in how to prevent the Moth Chasing the Flame from falling apart.

"After all, I just want to deal with the Honkai better, not destroy this organization with my own hands."

He looked at the handsome young man in the mirror and smiled gently. The first thing he had to do was to categorize the factions of the Fire Moth, who were the enemies and who were the allies.

"If they really get rid of the Firemoth, the Honkai will laugh themselves to death."

Smoothing out the wrinkles on his shirt, Ryan left the ward. It should have been the height of summer, but the weather was unusually cool, and the "abnormal" weather that the experts had been talking about had finally come true.

Wanting to see the post-war sea for himself, Ryan went down the gangway, asked for a military jeep at the dock, and headed north along the dilapidated road.

Even in the outer suburbs of Canghai, there are only collapsed houses, and occasionally you can see two huge Honkai Beast corpses. There are also bomb craters and car wrecks on both sides of the road.

Some tents were pitched in the fields, with people holding signs, but it was unclear what they were protesting. Occasionally, civilians and riot police could be seen exchanging pleasantries.

The dead suffered terribly, and the living are not having an easy time either. This is only half of the city, and humanity can concentrate most of its resources to help them. The only conflict lies in the unfairness of property compensation. Once they are heading into the abyss, there will probably be no way to help them anymore.

[Please remain calm. Supplies from various locations will arrive soon. Trust the League of Nations' announcements and do not believe or spread rumors.]

The announcements played over and over again on the loudspeaker and radio, and Ryan listened absentmindedly with his hand on the car window.

Gradually, a gate appeared ahead, cutting off the road. The endless barbed wire seemed to envelop the entire city, and drone sentry towers could be seen everywhere.

As soon as the car stopped, heavily armed soldiers came up.

The Third Honkai Impact affected the entire East Asia region. As the core area, Canghai City suffered the most severe damage. There are still remaining assassins and Honkai beasts there. Anyone without Honkai adaptability must wear protective suits to enter. In addition, a terminal illness called 'Honkai Disease' has emerged, and doctors around the world are searching for a solution.

The benefits of joining the Firemoth became apparent; Ryan simply handed over his credentials, and the gate slowly opened.

Ryan opened his eyes slightly as a vision of the apocalypse appeared before him.

The once bustling city was now eerily silent. Piles of wrecked vehicles and ruins lined both sides of the road. Soldiers in white protective suits walked through the rubble, while bulldozers shoveled soil into pits to bury the bodies.

This place is a silent purgatory, making it hard to associate it with the bustling sea.

Although you get used to it, this change is just too drastic.

Ryan frowned, lightly pressed the accelerator, and slowly drove in. He then meandered through the ruins, casually looking around.

Aside from his perpetually expressionless face, he seemed more like a tourist, even though the dilapidated scene wasn't much to see, and Ryan didn't even know why he was there.

Feeling the pain personally? Empathy seems meaningless; being moved by the scenery? He has never been a sentimental person.

Ryan just wanted to take a look, then leave the past behind and not lament that such scenes would become more and more common in the future. It was dusk before him, but he was seeing the dawn of tomorrow.

squeak-

The SUV suddenly stopped, not because some Honkai Beast had sprung out, but because Ryan saw a familiar figure.

On the mountain of ruins, a young girl, like a human crane, lifted a huge floorboard. Her beautiful pink hair was stuck to her face with sweat, and her gorgeous dress was covered in dust.

She didn't seem tired at all. She chatted and laughed with the people next to her while working, even though their smiles were awkward and their eyes were filled with fear and disgust. She seemed not to see anything and just kept her head down and did her work. But you would be wrong to think she was a pushover.

Suddenly, assassins rushed out of the ruins. Amidst the screams, the girl calmly and decisively shot one of them dead with an arrow.

In an instant, she exuded heroic spirit. She would not show mercy to her enemies. Just like when she besieged the Third Herrscher, she talked a lot, but she was ruthless when it came to taking action.

So what is she doing here?

Ryan thought for a moment and then opened the car door.

"Oh, Ryan, you're here." Alicia saw Ryan, who had just gotten out of the car, standing on the ruins waving and giving a teasing smile: "Hmph, you really took it to heart. I just casually mentioned it yesterday, and you came to help."

That's ridiculous, you didn't even say where it was.

“Just happened to run into you.” Ryan put his hands on his hips and looked at the dirty Alicia. “I didn’t expect you to do these dirty and tiring jobs.”

“Flowers look even more beautiful when they have dew on them.” Alicia suddenly leaned down, took Ryan’s hand, and pulled him away. “You’ve come at the right time. Come and help.”

"Wait a moment......"

Ryan thought to himself that he was just going to take a stroll around the city today, but he couldn't persuade her otherwise, so he had no choice but to climb up the ruins and huff and puff as a laborer.

As the place where the Herrscher descended, there is no intact building left in this area, and large machinery cannot enter. Rescue can only be carried out manually. With two superhumans, the work efficiency has been greatly improved.

Ryan didn't care that his shirt was dirty; he just cut the concrete slabs apart. This used to be a high-end shopping mall, but the luxury goods had been turned into garbage.

It's completely pointless. There's no point in searching or rescuing people in this area. The higher-ups are really going all out for their public image.

He sneered, because all he was digging up were twisted corpses and zombie-like, tenacious assassins. He thought he might as well fill the hole with explosives and blow it up, but when he saw the pink figure working so hard in front of him, he had no choice but to patiently continue.

The two were so efficient that the rescue team, who were supposed to be digging, were left idle, standing by with guns drawn. They clearly knew they were wasting their time and were even somewhat resentful.

The reporter should have left after taking the photos. Why take it so seriously? These ruins are very dangerous; there might be suicide bombers inside. Don't risk getting yourself killed before you can save others.

So what exactly did I come out for today? Just as Ryan was getting a little impatient—

"Ryan, come quick, come quick!"

"Hmm?" Ryan looked up and saw Alicia cheering and jumping for joy, as if she had dug up some treasure, so he walked up to her in confusion.

This was the lowest level. A twisted iron door and steel beams supported the ruins. A woman had been dead for some time, holding a seven or eight-year-old girl in her arms, motionless. But with Ryan's senses, he could hear a faint heartbeat.

"She's still alive?"

Even with Ryan's composure, he was somewhat taken aback. Five or six days had passed, and they were still at the epicenter of the Honkai. It was simply unbelievable.

"Yes, isn't it a miracle?" Alicia nodded, her face filled with obvious happiness. She didn't use Honkai energy, but carefully and gently dug through the ruins.

This isn't a miracle, it's a divine intervention!

Ryan didn't know what to say, so he just turned to the people below and shouted, "Come quickly, there are survivors."

"What? Survivors?"

The soldiers were stunned for a moment, then climbed onto the ruins and watched as Alicia gently lifted the half-ton steel beam. They quickly went up to rescue the people.

"There really were survivors."

"Quickly bring the stretcher up and prepare the nutrient solution."

"Call the 'mother nest' and send a rescue helicopter immediately."

Ryan stood aside, watching as a group of people hurriedly rescued the little girl. He even saw that she was still conscious, staring around with a frightened look at the excited rescue team, the smiling Alicia, and Ryan with a look of surprise.

"Uncle, I'm so thirsty, do you have any Coke?"

The girl spoke in a weak voice, which amused those around her.

"Yes, Uncle will buy it for you right away."