"This time, we're heading to a remote coastal town on the continent of Mu. Due to multiple small-scale Honkai Eruptions and natural disasters caused by its geographical location, the area has been in a long state of disorder and chaos. That's one point to note."
Immer explained the upcoming mission location to Lin and Hua. Neither the Fire Moth nor the government wanted to waste resources on such a remote coastal town; the nearest shelter on the map was more than thirty kilometers away.
The definition of a small-scale Honkai Eruption is relatively narrow, usually referring to the lowest-tier Honkai Beasts and Zombies formed from animals and humans corrupted by Honkai Energy. The scale isn't large, but it's still difficult for ordinary people to handle, so it's normal for the area to descend into anarchy.
"This mission is a joint investigation with the First Squad and the Third Squad into the high Honkai Energy readings detected in this area, as well as the abnormal typhoon phenomenon that has persisted for an entire month."
As Immer waved his hand, the local map and the typhoon's distribution were projected onto the interior wall of the transport plane.
"A typhoon typically makes landfall on the continent of Mu from here around this time every year, so the Fire Moth initially thought this was a normal natural phenomenon. However, this time, the Category 12 typhoon has not continued to move inland but has stalled over this small town. Furthermore, its wind speed has been gradually increasing, escalating into a Severe Typhoon yesterday. It is estimated that in three days, the wind speed will increase to Category 16 or higher."
A Super Typhoon is rarely seen over land. With high wind speeds that can exceed 300km/h it can easily generate extreme waves of 14 meters more, often accompanied by torrential rain and tsunamis, making it one of the most severe natural disasters.
A typhoon that stalls over a city for a full month and whose wind speed is still increasing is no longer a natural phenomenon. Coupled with the unusually high Honkai Energy readings, it's no wonder that three squads have been dispatched to investigate. This situation suggests the emergence of at least a High-Tier Honkai Beast.
"The Seventh Squad and the Third Squad are primarily responsible for evacuating the remaining residents and investigating the source of the typhoon. The First Squad will be on alert. Any crucial findings must be reported to headquarters... Captain, is there anything you need to add?"
Lin, who had been silently observing the map, said, "Do not split up in harsh weather conditions with low visibility, and be sure to contact the other squads at regular intervals."
"Understood," Hua and Immer replied in unison.
This kind of city-wide disaster and unnatural "natural disaster" felt unsettlingly familiar...
[Lin, Delta is calling.]
Lin, who had been lost in thought, glanced at the text in the upper right corner and accepted the call.
Prometheus returned from Vil-V without any anomalies. When he asked Vil-V what she intended to do with Prometheus, the only answer he got was the vague, confusing remark, "It seems I need to adjust it further to release 3.0."
As for Prometheus... Lin had already given up on questioning the disobedient AI.
"Hello? Lin."
"..."
"Hello, hello, hello... Honestly, I thought the call hadn't connected since you didn't answer. Forget it, just listen. I have super good news."
Delta stood proudly in front of the suspended Floating Turret, smiling smugly.
...
"Delta, you know, wouldn't it be great if humans could grow wings?"
"What? Are you dreaming? If you want to grow wings, you can go ask those people in the lab."
"No, that's not what I mean."
The man rubbed his blurry, sleepy eyes and looked at the empty sky.
Out at sea, the sky was visible like an immaculate dome, seemingly within reach if he stretched out his hand.
"Growing wings isn't quite right... I meant, I wish humans could fly more like birds."
Tapping the keyboard, Delta yawned, "We do, planes, right?"
"Not like a plane."
"Then what do you want?"
"Hmm... it's a bit hard to express." The man sighed, clutching the back of his head. "It's that feeling, you know, of not being bound by gravity."
"Huh? What are you talking about?" Delta scoffed. "You're not thinking about anti-gravity suspension flight, are you? That's just a concept, not a reality. There's neither enough energy to support it nor any theoretical knowledge to reference. Do you think humanity progresses by reading the Creator's design book to conjure up an imaginary technology with no foundational structure?"
"Then I'll hand over this genius idea to you." The man stood up and saluted Delta solemnly. "Just let me have a blast with it once you build it."
"Get lost! Who said I'd build something like that for you? I plan on going to the front lines. You should try to figure out how to build it yourself." Delta closed his laptop and glared at the man, annoyed.
"The front lines? But your Honkai Energy Adaptability is not..."
"It's terrible, right? It's so annoying. Why does everyone treat that as the standard?" Delta impatiently tapped the lid of his laptop. He complained indignantly, "How can I hide in this shell, just waiting for news from the front lines? How am I supposed to sit still?"
Those soldiers were genuinely fighting for humanity. How could he shrink away here, afraid to die?
If they fought side by side, even if he died in battle, he'd feel his life was well spent.
"Anyway, the R&D Department can go to whoever wants it. I won't be a coward."
"..."
The man stroked his chin, staring at the disdainful Delta.
"What are you looking at?"
"Nothing. I just think it's a shame," the man said with a regretful smile. "You could help far more soldiers survive, but you chose the stupidest way."
"What do you mean?" Delta looked at him suspiciously.
The man narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Delta, you should stay in the R&D Department."
"..."
"..."
"...You too?" Delta's eyes became sharp and sullen. He stared at the man who was always smiling and said, word by word, "You also think I'm afraid of fighting?"
"How could I? In fact, you're probably better at fighting than I am," the man patted the back of his head. "But your place of combat shouldn't be the battlefield. You can't unleash your talent there."
"I truly... genuinely envy you, having such a high aptitude for research and development. Soldiers can't fight without a spear or protect themselves without armor. So-called war is actually the war of the weapon manufacturers. And you're the one who creates the spears and armor, which means you are the one who can truly fight."
"I really... yearn for the clouds you'll step on."
Delta sat silently next to the man, seeing the genuine longing in his eyes.
Delta never expected him to think that way. After all, he himself envied the man's sufficient Honkai Energy Adaptability.
The two of them should have swapped lives.
"...Now that you mention it, maybe staying in the R&D Department isn't so bad after all."
"Hehe, see?"
"After all, if you ever come back for equipment, I can charge you an arm and a leg."
"Whoa, spare me. At least give me a discount sometimes, for the sake of us being friends who have been through everything together for years."
The two sat side-by-side on the deck of the Fire Moth, talking about a future without the Honkai, the future they were fighting for.
Suddenly, the man looked up and happily tugged at Delta's shirt.
"Hey! Look!"
Delta looked up.
A clear bird song cut across the sky.