Regarding the question of whether one thousand lives are enough to beat Honkai Impact 3rd.

Even if she didn't understand all of this, Fu Hua could still grasp some of the reasons behind it.

Even in pure martial arts... I am far inferior to Master Su.

Fu Hua tried to recall that person's strengths, attempting to fill the void in her heart with them.

I am very strong; if I wanted to, no one in this world could kill me.

She silently recalled that person's words, her left hand clenching her sleeve so tightly that her knuckles turned pale.

Master Su...wouldn't lie.

……

……

Carol and Shigure Kira are still unaware of the truth behind this disaster.

In the face of such an unimaginably cruel reality as collapse, the reasons born from one's own imagination may seem gentler.

Himeko did not reveal the reason behind the disaster. Besides the fact that the government was still keeping the survivors in the dark, she also had some concerns about taking care of their feelings.

Finally, the vehicles drove into the military camp.

None of the girls chose to talk.

They got out of the car, breathing in the cold air outside, and gazed into the distance amidst the howling wind.

The familiar, vast city came into view, but it no longer held the warm echoes of my memories.

Even if one survives in this world, and is fortunate enough not to die...

But what should we do in the future?

This is an answer that no one can give themselves.

But those flames burning brightly in their hearts will one day illuminate something in their own way.

Even if they are still struggling in the dark and endless wilderness in the future, they will eventually be able to grasp that trace of warmth that makes them feel the meaning of their existence.

And now.

Shigure Kira, holding a drawing board from the lounge, gazed at the city while sketching a chaotic musical score with a pencil.

She really does want to be an idol.

The girl firmly believed it.

Even in this increasingly desolate and shrouded world, idols still have value.

Or rather, it is precisely in such a world that idols are needed who earnestly radiate their own brilliance and offer heartwarming strength.

Her eyes, reflecting the absurd world, overflowed with tears.

Shi Yu Qiluo pursed her lips, her expression serious and stubborn.

So... I can't be sad anymore.

I must become that kind of person.

……

……

It was all just an illusion.

Carol leaned against the corner of the wall, the sunlight slanting down and making her golden eyes appear unfocused.

The girl thought, if I could really think that way, wouldn't things be much easier?

Unfortunately, I'm a bit of a half-baked person; I'm neither strong enough to immediately accept reality nor weak enough to deceive myself.

The little girl was lost in thought, fiddling with the embellishments she had designed herself on her denim jacket, her fingertips feeling the icy coolness of the metal penetrating to her very core.

The soft rustling of fingernails against jewelry brought a sudden, overwhelming sense of peace and tranquility, and the grand attic I had built in my mind crumbled amidst these tiny whispers...

Carol was momentarily lost in thought when she recalled a sentence she had read in a book.

Back then, we had dreams—dreams about literature, about love, about traveling the world. Now, as we drink late into the night, the clinking of our glasses is the sound of shattered dreams.

After looking around at everyone's faces, the girl slowly closed her eyes and pursed her lips slightly.

She thought, "The dream hasn't shattered yet."

……

……

After the stationed troops resupplyed him with some special equipment, Himeko returned to the city of Canghai alone.

A simple human wave tactic is meaningless to the Herrschers. Regardless of the inclination of their powers, the pure Honkai energy level is enough to crush everything.

She naturally had no intention of facing the Third Herrscher alone.

Even as the captain of the fifth squad of the Firemoth, Himeko can only act as an intelligence informant in this situation.

The woman stood atop a building on the outskirts of Canghai City, where she had upgraded specialized detection equipment at the military camp.

Her eyes were no longer greeted by standard equipment extending from her armor, but by brand-new instruments capable of detecting Honkai energy, thermal energy, and biological reactions.

It would have made no difference if these tasks had been handed over to the mechanical soldiers, but Himeko, harboring her doubts, chose to take on the task herself.

Why is the Third Herrscher simply destroying the city?

It seems particularly strange that no one has thought about this simplest of questions.

Perhaps subconsciously, everyone regards the so-called Herrschers as pure beasts, and it is only natural for beasts to do any unreasonable things.

Perhaps subconsciously she also thought that it was much more fun for the Third Herrscher to stay in the city and destroy countless buildings than to go outside Canghai City and kill real humans.

The framework of thinking is always so illogical.

But Himeko is different from the others.

If I had to pinpoint a reason, it would probably be curiosity.

It is also similar to the piety of knowing everything on paper but wanting to verify something with one's own eyes.

life.

These two words always evoke a unique and special meaning in a woman's heart.

Is the Herrscher life itself?

Every time I routinely check the information of the previous two Herrscher bodies in an attempt to find patterns useful for the battle, these seemingly meaningless questions always arrive as expected.

As the field of vision rapidly expanded under the instrument, passing through areas of Honkai energy that were lighter in color than the center, Himeko arrived at her answer with a small, blood-red Honkai energy dot carrying heat and exhibiting biological reactions.

Unlike pure monsters like Herrschers and Honkai Beasts, Herrschers clearly possess the power to threaten the world, but in essence, they are still life forms just like humans.

This fact, which had always been displayed in a cold database, suddenly made the woman realize something after it came to life before her eyes.

This is a very peculiar feeling.

For Himeko today, it won't cause much of a stir, nor will it change the status quo or the facts.

Yet it left a lasting impression on her, and made her subconsciously believe that this feeling must have some necessary meaning.

But soon, the faint biological reaction surrounding the red dot, which had been confirmed to be a Herrscher, silenced Himeko.

Her mind nearly trembled the moment she realized this reality; a tremendous shock coursed through her consciousness, leaving a momentary blank despite the thunderous roar.

Himeko suddenly realized something: why did she think it was normal for the Third Herrscher to stay in this city?

The Honkai deliberately used thousands of beams of light to divert humanity's attention, in order to allow the Third Herrscher to pass through the initial hatching period.

Assuming the birth of the Third Herrscher coincides with the outbreak of the Honkai, then less than three hours have passed.

The time it takes for a Herrscher to reach perfection is inevitably longer. Given that humans have clearly detected the other party when they approached Canghai City, why did the Third Herrscher still stay in Canghai City?

Why didn't she choose to leave immediately and continue to hide herself?

What infuriates women most is why they didn't notice something so simple?

Even if I'm aware of this problem now, I no longer need to think about the answer.

Because the reason is very simple.

Humans are currently engaged in battle with the Third Herrscher.

An extremely powerful single entity, far exceeding the imagination of civilizations at this stage, has entangled the Third Herrscher in the center of Canghai City.

When several coincidences come together, the answers to many questions can naturally be found.

Himeko understands.

The biological reaction that allowed them to fight the Third Herrscher alone could only be that of Su Qing'an.

"————".

The communicator connected automatically, and a command, delivered in a cold, electronic voice, reached my ears.

Twenty seconds later,

"Orders issued. Fifth Squad Leader Himeko, please return to the camp outside the city immediately to participate in the retreat."

The woman's amber pupils contracted sharply. She struggled to suppress the turbulent emotions churning in her chest and calmly said:

"The Third Honkai Impact was completely different from previous Honkai outbreaks. The Honkai Impact used 3726 beams of light to divert our attention from the Third Herrscher. This means that the Herrscher must have had a plan to hide after the hatching period before being truly exposed to the human eye."

"There's a reason why this Third Herrscher has been staying in the center of Canghai City. The boy I reported to headquarters earlier is currently entangled with him. Headquarters can access my observation records to confirm this."

"So if it were at this time..."

The electronic voice paused for five seconds before interrupting Himeko, replying indifferently:

"This is the best opportunity. No matter how great the benefits are, they are nothing compared to the chance to kill the Third Herrscher."

"Himeko, you should understand that humanity cannot afford to take unnecessary risks at present."

"And...it's too late."

The communication was then automatically disconnected.

Clearly, they didn't intend to give Himeko any more opportunities to argue her case.

She ripped off her headset and glanced expressionlessly at the distant thunder.

The woman's figure stood out on the vast, deserted high-rise building. Under the huge, gray sky, her unbound red hair was bright and beautiful, falling naturally down her back in the still, windless silence.