The combined fleet was annihilated.A comprehensive, three-dimensional assault from the sea, sky, and underwater—the combined fleet, already breached, was utterly incapable of resisting.Merely fifteen minutes later.The last maritime force capable of reinforcing Mu Continent, and also the final grand combined fleet, had entirely sunk into the cold seawater.Up to this point.The entirety of humanity's remaining naval forces consisted of only one fleet each for North America, Shenzhou, and Europe. However, due to the annihilation of the combined fleet, they would henceforth become "existence fleets"—already stretched thin merely protecting their own maritime territories, let alone patrolling the vast oceans.Moreover, from this moment on, humanity's influence over the oceans would be completely reduced to zero.
"The land army has retreated."Plague Temple appeared soundlessly beside Death Temple.The roles of the navy and army had been completely reversed. Apart from providing token artillery support for the fleet, the Soviet land army could play no other role.The over-concentration of personnel, conversely, increased the possibility of being wiped out by the Honkai Beasts in one fell swoop. Knowing that they couldn't save the fleet, the land army, which had initially prepared for an encirclement, retreated at a speed even faster than their arrival.
Death Temple nodded lightly.Its attention was not on Plague, but rather distantly fixed on the Emperor-class Honkai Beast swimming towards them alone."Lord Pontos.""Lord Death Temple."Although Pontos was very powerful, its status was that of Cheche's subordinate. Given that Cheche and Sheshe's positions were only slightly higher than the Four Holy Temples, Pontos's status was actually half a step lower than the Four Holy Temples.
"In the plan Lord Emperor entrusted to me, your appearance, Lord Pontos, did not seem to be explicitly indicated."Pontos's appearance was unexpected.The other party was indeed an ally, but this unforeseen assistance still made Death Temple somewhat displeased—it prided itself on being the subordinate who understood the Emperor best and was most worthy of the Emperor's trust.
"I did indeed come here under the Emperor's command…"Pontos did not resolve Death Temple's doubt, but instead used the experience accumulated over its immeasurably long life to tell it—"The Emperor's thoughts.""How could beings like us possibly glimpse the entirety of them?"
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The perspective shifts back to the Flame-Chasers.Several days before the legion launched the Mu Continent campaign.
"Oh my.""This place…""Let alone carrying out 'Project Chimera,' even a normal Fusion Warrior surgery, if I weren't doing it myself, probably couldn't be performed properly, right?""At best…""It could be used to 'repair' minor malfunctions."The alloy door opened with a violent shudder.Mobius, followed by Klein who was carrying a stack of documents half a person tall, slowly walked into the new laboratory.
This was a backup base for the Flame-Chasers.Backup in the truest sense—the laboratory's equipment deployment rate was less than 50%, and the technology was several minor versions behind. In terms of personnel, it was barely maintained by over 200 people who were essentially "coasting and slacking off." More critically, if not for the presence of Fusion Warriors, the defensive capabilities here, let alone dealing with Honkai Beasts, were practically zero against humans with malicious intent.
"Just this scale."Mobius strode towards the control console.A thin layer of dust, and the soft crackle of static electricity when her fingers touched it, made her eyebrows furrow involuntarily."And the three of us have to share it… Even when I was an assistant on Mu Continent back then, I never encountered such shabby conditions."
Vill-V, who had entered almost simultaneously, glanced around and continued Mobius's thought:"It certainly can't compare to before.""But having something is better than nothing. We're not in a position to be picky right now."
Behind Vill-V, others walked in successively:Kevin, Elysia, Mei, Qianjie, Su, Sakura, Griseo, Kosma.These individuals were all the forces the Flame-Chasers had managed to temporarily gather—the number of Fusion Warriors scattered across the world who hadn't returned was even less than the number at this backup base.And.This was a group of battered and defeated soldiers.Apart from Qianjie, Griseo, and Kosma, everyone else had yet to recover from the impact of the Emperor's attack—Fusion Warriors had strong self-healing abilities, but recovering completely from near-fatal injuries required certain equipment.This was also the reason for Mobius's earlier statement.
"That being said."Mobius took the documents from Klein beside her and turned to Dr. Mei, who was next to Kevin, saying:"Mei, you don't actually intend to use the equipment here to execute 'Project Chimera,' do you?""It might just…"As the true executor of the Fusion Warrior project, Mobius knew very well just how deranged this plan was."No, Kevin will absolutely die, you know."Mobius was a scientist.Although science and theology were separated by only a thin wall, the essential trait of "rigor" was absolutely indispensable.
"No.""This is merely the venue. The experimental equipment…"As Dr. Mei shook her head in denial.The deafening roar of machinery was slowly approaching from outside the base."…We have the latest."Just behind the Flame-Chasers, a woman with long, wine-red hair slowly walked over."Miss Eden!?"
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"I hope these can be of help to you all."Eden spoke, her face gentle, tinged with a hint of sorrow.Since the Sydney Campaign, Eden had frequently undergone psychological therapy with the Flame-Chasers. During this process, she had met Elysia and truly understood the meaning of the Flame-Chasers' existence.Now.With the Flame-Chasers at the end of their rope, Eden had proactively expressed her intention to provide assistance.
What did the Flame-Chasers lack?Money.Severely damaged and with countless things needing to be rebuilt, the Flame-Chasers urgently needed a large injection of funds to recover quickly.
What did Eden lack the least?Money.Eden herself didn't care about wealth, but she was, in the truest sense, wealthy enough to rival a nation.Among the various funds and trusts held by Eden (managed by her team of agents), many were 100% wholly-owned large laboratories. After the Sydney Campaign, Eden's investment in such laboratories had reached an unprecedented level.
Before this.The Flame-Chasers' funding gap wasn't tight, and the level of their experimental equipment was beyond comparison for these second-tier facilities, so they hadn't needed Eden's help.But now…Eden's aid had become the Flame-Chasers' lifesaver.A large amount of specialized equipment was dismantled from various laboratories and transported here with utmost speed.
Using the backup base as a foundation, coupled with Eden's support.They…Would rebuild the "Flame-Chasers."