"We've arrived."
The portal slowly opened.
The Black Knight's silhouette materialized in the pitch-black night sky, where one couldn't see their own hand in front of their face.
Lu Xing gradually descended, the entire process utterly silent. His left forearm, bent at the elbow, became Ange's perch, allowing the girl to sit steadily on his shoulder… Of course, with the current strength of Lu Xing's armor, he had essentially lost the ability to feel softness or warmth.
"Whoosh."
The night wind brushed past.
A faint luminescence flickered and vanished as Lu Xing's perception, carried by the diffusing Honkai energy, rapidly extended into the distance.
"Just as I expected."
"This place is indeed a treasure trove."
Lu Xing was exceedingly glad he had chosen this location.
The intelligence fed back by his perception gave him a clear understanding of this land—even a cursory scan revealed a massive number of "living" entities possessing Honkai energy.
Those capable of "cohabiting" with humans, no matter how one thought about it, wouldn't be Honkai Beasts.
Simply put, based on an analysis of the terrain and architecture, this city—very likely named "Heng He Li"—contained at least over 600 human settlements afflicted with Honkai Sickness.
As for the number of infected…
The count of infected individuals was so vast, so uncountable, that Lu Xing could only make a rough estimate:
120,000 people.
This number seemed incredibly exaggerated.
But that was when comparing it to Australia's population base.
Considering the urban population of "Heng He Li"—this city with 11 million permanent residents actually had only 1.1% of its population infected with Honkai Sickness. Factoring in the Indian Peninsula's local natural mortality rate…
One could only say that certain organizations had truly done their utmost in preventing the spread of Honkai Sickness.
"Let's begin."
Ange learned quickly.
Leaping lightly from Lu Xing's shoulder, she stood effortlessly on the river's surface—psychic energy coalesced beneath the young girl's feet, forming an invisible platform that gently supported her body.
Lu Xing's movements were like those of a silent specter.
Devoid of any trace of "life," he merged completely with the darkness.
A dense fog roiled and lingered over the water—water vapor and smog intermingled, obscuring all visibility on the river's surface. From the distant opposite bank, only the faint sounds of laughter, anger, and curses could be heard, along with neon lights that seemed as if they were blocked by another dimension.
120,000 was far from enough.
The Great Honkai Eruption capable of birthing a Herrscher, the Honkai energy contained within, invariably possessed the power to easily destroy an entire city. "Heng He Li" had an enormous population base; if humans infected with Honkai energy were used as kindling, perhaps merely half would suffice.
However…
"Emperor."
Ange, barefoot, paced upon the water's surface.
Her psychic control, which had grown increasingly refined since she "pledged allegiance," allowed her to tread upon the not-so-turbulent current, creating delicate, clear ripples.
"Do people have inherent differences in status, high or low, noble or base?"
Her hands clasped behind her back, Ange took two light steps, then suddenly turned sideways. Her mid-length hair, just brushing past her earlobes, completely veiled her divine eyes in the hazy, dim light.
"No."
"They should be born equal."
Lu Xing had not told Ange his name. "Emperor" was a term Ange had devised by combining the appellations used by other Honkai Beasts with her own thoughts.
"Should be…"
Ange's clasped hands slowly loosened.
As if to embrace the night sky, she forcefully raised her arms to her sides.
"Then now,"
"We, who can decide their death, their affliction, or their ignoble survival, should we not treat everyone equally—"
"Equally."
"Let them choose death?"
"…"
The armor trembled, almost imperceptibly.
Even though a Herrscher consciousness had not yet been born, from the moment Ange chose Honkai, her mentality had undergone a tremendous transformation.
The image of humanity in the young girl's eyes was now just as Honkai appeared in the eyes of humans.
Then, what about him?
Lu Xing hadn't been in this world for long.
Since when had it begun?
When had his human desires and memories started to gradually fade?
And since when had humans, in Lu Xing's eyes, transformed into a threat that must be eradicated?
"…"
So that was it.
Conscience and hypocrisy, separated by only a thin line—it began when this "sentiment" was trampled by the mushroom cloud exploding in the sky, and ended when, with a desperate yearning to "survive," he was saved by the Emperor.
If he could not save this inevitably doomed generation,
Then he might as well…
Bury it with his own hands.
"No."
Lu Xing's negation brought a fleeting look of surprise to Ange's expression.
Ting.
A soft halo flickered above Lu Xing's head.
The Honkai energy surging from his body began to coalesce around him into a massive, deep purple ring.
"Being eroded by Honkai energy does not equate to death."
"Some among them may become our fellow travelers—humans should be born equal, yet death will always show偏颇 (piānpō - bias/partiality)."
"…"
"But you're right about one thing."
The surrounding Honkai energy grew increasingly potent. Its intensely penetrating light even attracted the attention of humans on the riverbank—Lu Xing could already hear the approaching sounds of oars from the more curious among them.
"Since we're doing this,"
Pshh!!
With Lu Xing at the center, a profound radiance swept outwards, covering the entire city in a few heartbeats.
The diluted Honkai energy merged with the dense fog; in human eyes, it was merely a fine drizzle that slightly dampened their clothes.
"Then let's be as fair as possible."
It had begun—
For a city of such enormous scale to suddenly experience an explosive surge in Honkai Sickness, no matter how incompetent the government, they would eventually sense something amiss and seek external aid… Even if they didn't, they would at least report the city's situation to higher authorities.
This was not good.
With the concentration of Honkai energy just diffused, it would take at least a week for the Honkai Sickness to truly take effect.
Considering Ange's current abilities, successfully "harvesting" their "faith" would require at least an equal amount of time for arrangements.
A full fourteen days.
There were far too many variables that could induce unforeseen complications within that period. Lu Xing had used the same method in Australia once before; if certain "acquaintances" sensed something was wrong, it could very well place him in a disadvantageous situation.
Therefore…
Lu Xing still needed to make another round following the map, to "hit up" several other cities, at least to make the situation in "Heng He Li" seem less abrupt.
"Together?"
"No."
Ange smilingly declined Lu Xing's request.
In any case, Lu Xing would eventually return here—as long as the coordinate in her mind remained, he could easily find Ange.
The sound of oars parting the water was now close at hand.
Plop!
Ange dispersed the psychic energy beneath her feet.
The sudden force of gravity pulled her into the water.
"Help!"
"Help!!"
A small wooden boat emerged from the dense fog. Long wooden oars were hastily extended by two young men seated in the boat—
"Hey! Are you alright?!"
Dressed simply, not very old.
They were at the age most full of vigor, most impulsive, most blindly faithful, and also most easily tempted.
Lu Xing, having teleported high into the sky, was using his perception to take in the entire "hero saving the damsel" scene below.
Ange's somewhat "tragically beautiful" expression seemed to be telling Lu Xing:
She was already…
Unable to wait.