The deep sea water pressure didn't hinder Ryan in the slightest. Like a fish, he was pushed forward by the current, conserving his energy.
For him, the situation was complicated, but after analyzing it, his next steps were clear.
Elysia and Kevin were holding off the Herrscher. Even though the Herrscher of Flame was much stronger than in the original timeline, the Herrscher of Ice's death had already been foreshadowed.
They couldn't deal with Elysia and Kevin right away. Even if Fire Moth remained passive, once Ryan took action, orders would be spread worldwide, and reinforcements would soon arrive—Hua, Mobius, Hen, and even Kalpas. Ryan had never been a pure gambler; the reason he could afford to bet was based on his strength.
With the overall combat power in his favor, he stepped forward without hesitation.
What I have to do is simple: open the way for Ying, let her bring Aponia in, and explain the pros and cons.
The sea water was warm, and Honkai energy from miles away was starting to influence his surroundings. The probability wasn't 100%, especially with multiple operations running simultaneously. Any point could go wrong.
But he didn't think about it any longer. Just as Kevin trusted himself, Ryan trusted these heroes.
There was no need for hesitation. No need for overthinking. He just needed to calculate the remaining energy, see the boundless continental shelf, and let the current carry him toward the shore.
Minutes later, he saw a giant ice block break the river's surface. The riverbed was full of ruins. The current pushed him up again, and he leaped out of the river.
Here we are.
He had laid the groundwork when he dropped the falling ice star earlier, marking his location with a coordinate.
Splash.
He jumped out of the water and knelt on one knee. The temperature was still below freezing, and a layer of ice mist lingered in the ruins.
"Why do you think I specifically used the power of ice? Why did I choose to advance along the river?"
Ryan grinned. The ice mist was the perfect cover. He looked around and saw lifelike ice sculptures.
The fusion warriors were frozen inside. Ice didn't kill people directly; it solidified objects at the molecular level, acting like a dormant chamber.
"It seems you're very smart. You know how to use the Honkai energy to thaw and free the people inside."
He turned his head toward the Honkai TV tower.
There, a green-haired boy and an orange-haired girl with a ponytail stood. Their expressions were nearly identical, and they both looked like they had seen a ghost.
"You, you, you..." The girl saw Ryan's face clearly and instinctively opened her mouth wide. Before she could scream, the boy covered her mouth.
"Calm down, Dystopia."
"How is he alive? Didn't they say he was dead? No, no, we have to report this immediately."
"Okay, if you want to die, just scream. You saw Dr. Ryan's tricks last night."
Dystopia trembled all over but finally closed her mouth. She realized Ryan's speed was faster than her screaming, so she cautiously watched him, still dizzy from the shock.
Why did he come back? Shouldn't he have run away after saving himself? Unless—
Everyone was fooled by this man like a clown.
Yo, what a twist of fate.
Ryan hadn't intended to take action. He recognized the two instantly, especially the quiet green-haired boy—wasn't that Kosma?
He knew Kosma had joined Fire Moth, but since he wasn't a combatant and there had been no interaction, Ryan hadn't paid much attention to him. However, he spotted him on the battlefield. Now, seeing him in person, he could tell that Kosma was both clever and silent.
In the ice mist, no one spoke. They simply stared at each other. Soon, Ryan noticed that Kosma didn't seem hostile, just... respectful.
"You... forget it. I didn't see anything." Kosma spoke slowly, his tone calm but with his hands shaking behind his back.
"Not following orders?"
"The arrest warrant has expired. Major Coleman's latest order is to prepare for the Herrscher battle. Preserving combat power is the priority," Kosma said flatly, his expression neutral. But in his heart, a storm was brewing.
Ryan looked unharmed, his power terrifying. If Kosma didn't believe him and tried to stop him, he would be dead. It was all Dystopia's fault—this fool always causing trouble.
As expected of the Thirteen Flame-Chasers, his calmness has surpassed his age. Looks like Andevich has succeeded.
Ryan became slightly intrigued. Kosma certainly had the demeanor of a leader.
"Well, it's just an order, right? Don't you suspect I'm working with the Herrscher?"
Kosma raised an eyebrow. "One more thing."
"You're saying..."
"A year ago, I was in San Diego and owe you my life." The boy spoke, still expressionless.
Ryan realized. No wonder you're so familiar with me. You and Elysia blocked the Wind Herrscher's storm in San Diego. He hadn't realized their paths had crossed back then.
"Not bad. You have a clear mind and know how to advance and retreat. After this battle, come to me. You're qualified to get stronger."
Kosma was stunned. The legendary hero had actually praised him!
"Thank you," he said, still calm, though his heart was racing.
Interesting. Since it's him, there's no need to knock him out.
"Please send Coleman a message: pretend to be deaf and blind for now. I'll explain to him later."
"Okay."
Their exchange was brief. Ryan nodded, satisfied, then raised his hand. Just as Kosma was a little confused, a black shadow cut through the ice fog.
Guns incoming!
Feng used his hands to make a dramatic gunflower. Ryan carried it on his shoulder, turned, and walked into the ice fog. When his back disappeared, he waved lightly.
"I'm going to talk to the councillors. See you later."
With that, he left. Dystopia sighed in relief, but when she turned, she saw Kosma staring at Ryan's retreating figure.
"Hey, you don't want to follow him?"
"I'm not qualified to join his battle. But I've made up my mind—" Kosma's face lit up with excitement, as if something had ignited inside him.
"I want to use a gun too!"
"Why do you think so?"
"Because it's cool."
Ryan had no idea that he had lit the fire in Kosma's soul. As he stepped deeper into the ice fog, he activated the stealth mode, his footsteps silent. He moved through the fusion warriors like a ghost, avoiding detection.
He made his way toward the northern city, walking past soldiers and frozen warriors, and kept his movements smooth, careful not to trigger any alarms.
If I'm not mistaken, Vinal and the others should be at the ground headquarters, with the Cocoon guarding the main entrance to the north of the city. The guards directly under the parliament are more reliable.
But he didn't go to meet Vinal. It was the same reason: it would be too troublesome to explain. He didn't like to talk, and they just needed to stay quiet and watch.
So, he made his way north, unhurriedly, until he reached the entrance to the ruined subway, where he saw a cherry blossom logo on the wall.
Sakura has entered through this entrance.
Now, Ryan was confident. When Mei and Vil-V had built the underground city, they left many secret entrances—entrances that weren't on the design blueprints. The city was too large, and these hidden paths were too remote to be easily found.
The enemy wasn't stupid. They'd likely guess that the underground city designed by an "insider" had a backdoor.
What Ryan had to do now was cover Sakura. Even if Fire Moth still had some combat power, in a small space, Sakura's combat traits could be fully utilized, as long as she wasn't overwhelmed by too many opponents.
He glanced at the clock. It was two in the afternoon. Based on Sakura infiltration speed, she would soon be discovered. The timing for the Cocoon's confrontation with him was perfect. The foreshadowing was about to unfold.
Then, I'll give it my all.
As the ice fog cleared, Ryan looked to the north. There, he saw a massive aerial battleship looming over the financial district. The area hadn't been destroyed yet. Skyscrapers towered over Central Park, and the shadow of the Minerva covered everything.
From the rooftops, Ryan could make out the vaguely visible firepower points. He hoped for failure.
The enemy wasn't foolish. They were on high alert, and even the reserve team had been deployed. With the battleship overhead, it felt like a copper wall and iron gate.
But Ryan wasn't in a hurry. He carefully controlled the airflow and assessed the situation. The data being fed back to him made his head spin.
We need to find the user of the Seven Thunders of Purification. It hides in the dark with deadly force, and I'm past my peak.
His plans for assault routes were set, but before acting...
"Vil-V, your timing should be up by now!"
Just as Ryan clenched his weapon, the aerial battleship, which was the heart of the defense, suddenly began to malfunction.
Buzz—
The anti-gravity device flickered, and the ship slowly tilted. Soldiers on the roof looked up in shock.
Why was the ship shaking? There hadn't been any attack.
"The Honkai energy core failed. The control system is locked!"
"All teams, evade!"
Chaos erupted. Without the anti-gravity device, this massive ship—millions of tons of steel—was now falling from hundreds of meters.
Everyone scrambled to avoid it. Even Freya, concealed with layers of optical camouflage, leapt out of her bunker with the Seven Thunders of Purification in hand.
It was Dr. Vil-V. She had hidden a device in the battleship's main control program—a secret door no one had noticed. It activated when the conditions were right.
And the condition?
She leapt from a hundred-meter-high building and stared at Central Park.
Isn't it obvious? He's here!