"Tap, tap, tap..."
Mei's fingers danced across the keyboard. Stacks of documents streamed across the screen like light, and she closed each file after only a glance. Her information processing speed was astonishing. She had gone from being a novice who didn't know what the Honkai was to calculating the density distribution of Honkai energy in Changkong City in only about ten minutes. Even with Mobius's prepared knowledge about the Honkai, Mei's learning speed was terrifying.
"You're amazing, Mei..." Kevin still stood nearby, holding the gun Lin had given him. Having nothing else to do, he could only marvel at Mei's computer-like ability.
"Information processing is only a few steps: collection, organization, simplification, and absorption," Mei actually found the time to explain to Kevin. "It's not hard to achieve this level if you're trained. Moreover, this information has already been collected, organized, and simplified to an extent. I just need to absorb it."
"But even if you say that..."
Kevin glanced at the astonished command personnel and smiled helplessly at Mei, who was unaware of her own ability: "It still feels incredible to me. I doubt anyone else could do it."
"No, there's one other person who can."
Mei's fingers stopped moving. She stared at the variables on the screen, lost in thought.
If the Herrscher's Authority was not limitless, then the most convenient way to consume that Authority was through powerful attacks. To achieve this, they needed to use the constructed Honkai Energy Conversion Particle Cannon.
However, the power of the Honkai energy converter could only reach the level necessary to shatter the Herrscher barrier. This technology, which could convert Honkai energy, gave Mei an idea, but that idea would take a long time to realize. The immediate priority was defeating this Honkai Eruption.
And how to hit the target was also a problem. Hitting a human-shaped target inside the city from the city's edge was similar in difficulty to skewering a mosquito with a needle.
She suddenly turned to the monitor and asked: "Can you precisely monitor the coordinates of the operating personnel?"
"Y-yes... Although communication and monitoring equipment are affected by interference, the operating personnel's monitoring signals operate on a different principle..."
"What about Lin's signal? Can you detect it?"
"Yes, we can. The screen shows MSA-079 is currently engaging the Herrscher."
"..."
Mei fell silent. At this moment, she had a plan, but there was one step she absolutely had to take.
A step concerning sacrifice and morality.
She thought of Mobius's meaningful smile toward her, wearing a white lab coat, and the unforgettable words: "Would you choose to be an enemy of humanity for a better future for mankind?"
Mei, who was usually shy and reserved, answered with the most resolute tone she had ever used in her life: "I would."
"Kevin, do you believe me?"
This time, Mei lowered her head, letting her bangs obscure her eyes.
She didn't want the white-haired boy to see the resolute and firm look in her eyes. At least at this moment, she wished she could waver, even for a single moment.
Kevin hadn't expected Mei to ask him, the person least relevant to the decision, this question. He looked at the girl's bowed head, confused: "Mei, what are you talking about?"
"Kevin, my decision right now might lead to Lin's sacrifice."
"..."
Something exploded in Kevin's ears, followed by a ringing sound. He shook his head and forced a strained smile as he asked: "What... what does that mean? Why would you possibly lead to Lin's..."
"Kevin, do you believe me?"
"..."
In Kevin's memory, the girl before him was always timid and reserved in front of others. Only when discussing her favorite topics related to science and philosophy would she show the expression of a normal girl.
At this moment, Mei was neither timid nor a normal girl. There was a familiar resoluteness about her.
This familiarity came from Lin.
The expression Lin had when he left that day was exactly the same as Mei's now.
"Mei... Should I say I believe you right now?" Kevin held his forehead, feeling lost. "Is this the correct thing to say, or is it what you want to hear?"
His mind was in chaos. Why did he have to be the one to make this decision? This feeling was like he was pushing his friend onto the guillotine...
Kevin froze for a moment, then stared at Mei's obscured face.
"...Mei, are you also like this right now?"
"..."
The moment Kevin saw Mei lift her head, the lost look vanished completely. He made his decision: "I understand, Mei. I believe you."
"Thank you, Kevin..."
Mei turned back, rearranging the data. The cold light of the screen illuminated her face.
In their moments of silent understanding with Lin, they both deeply trusted each other as friends.
Lin believed Mei was the most useful person to the Moth of the Flame-Chasers and that Kevin could protect Mei. Mei also believed Lin could distract the Emperor-class Honkai Beast.
Now, Kevin believed in her too.
Mei would eventually shed the sentimentality that interfered with her decisions, but now, she needed these emotions to open the door to this road of no return for her.
"Boom!"
The spot where Lin stood was shattered by divine lightning. He reappeared in the Third Herrscher's blind spot two seconds later.
He was panting heavily, leaning on the wall behind cover. His burnt pores prevented him from expelling heat and sweat. Heat gathered inside his body, intensifying the burden on his internal organs.
"Two seconds..." he murmured.
This was Lin's phase transfer time. It was a whole second shorter than his first use, meaning the distance he traveled in that void space was shorter than the first time.
Every time he entered that void, Lin's mind would be invaded, preventing him from using phase transfer for long periods. Moreover, the residual corruption would accumulate. If he didn't control the time precisely, Lin would either suffer the previous fate of having body parts severed, or he would simply go insane.
This was a war of attrition. Lin wanted to drag it out until the Third Herrscher was forced to use an energy-consuming attack on him. At that moment, the consumption of the Third Herrscher's Authority would increase, and her surrounding barrier would weaken. He could then seize that split second opportunity to kill her.
Just like defeating the serpentine shadow.
"Thump..."
Suddenly, the ground beneath his feet began to vibrate. Lin froze for a second, then saw tiny, fine black particles, indistinguishable to the naked eye, fly up from the surroundings.
That was... iron sand?
Lin's heart clenched as he realized what it was. He activated the Phase Transfer Device.
"Boom, boom, boom!"
A heap of iron objects and reinforced concrete, accompanied by two lightning strikes, smashed down on Lin's location. Had he been any slower, he would have been flattened into iron meat paste.
Manipulating the electromagnetic field... that truly is a broad ability.
The iron sand coalesced into a stream around the Third Herrscher. She manipulated one hand to control the lightning, and the other to transform the iron sand into spears, her eyes searching for where Lin might reappear.
"Cough, cough..."
Lin fell to the ground. His body twitched, giving off danger signals. He hadn't even stayed in the void for one and a half seconds this time. The next, or the one after that, he might die inside it.
Not enough...
Lin screamed internally.
"Whoosh!"
A signal flare suddenly rose in the distance.
Signal flares—a method of communication that had been phased out since communication technology developed. The Moth of the Flame-Chasers considered the possibility of communication being blocked, but signal flares could only convey very little information, mostly just a few simple meanings.
Red—the signal to attack.
Lin stared at the slowly rising crimson. He trembled, forcing himself to stand up one last time.
Lin, do you believe me?
Mei looked up at the crimson signal. Her rain-covered glasses obscured her eyes beneath.