"These pollen grains…"
Ato gravely observed the state of the objects that had come into contact with the pollen, and quickly reached the same conclusion as Einstein.
The more radiant the tree looked on the outside, the more flowers it bloomed, and the wider the range the pollen spread. At this rate, it would cover the nearby cities in a matter of days.
Moreover, they were completely unaware of how far this tree could spread, and whether it was possible for multiple trees to propagate. If the Sixth Herrscher also had the ability to plant such trees elsewhere…
It was truly an apocalyptic demon tree.
It had to be uprooted before it could spread completely.
But how could it be destroyed? The damage Ato inflicted could be healed in such a short time, and the tree's sheer size was already beginning to overshadow the entire city. It also possessed a self-defense consciousness. Even the remaining Titan squadrons might not be able to sever its root system in a short time.
Fire? The Titans had flamethrowers. Everyone knew wood was flammable, but this tree clearly defied logic. Its nature as a plant was even questionable, let alone the fact that a house fire would probably be just a tiny flame it could extinguish with a casual sweep.
What exactly should they…
"Hey, can you hear me? Sound check, sound check. Can those iron lumps flying in the sky hear me talking?"
Ato's tense concentration was suddenly interrupted by the voice in his communicator. He paused for half a second, then realized that only internal personnel could access the Fire Moth frequency. But this voice, besides being somewhat familiar, felt… detached from his emotional state.
He hesitantly replied: "This is Fire Moth soldier MSA-013 Ato. Who are you?"
"Oh? It's Ato, is it? I thought only Lin would be sitting in those iron lumps." Ato hadn't heard this light chuckle in a long time, but it was so distinctive that it immediately triggered his memory. He blurted out—
"Elysia?"
"Yes, yes. Don't be so surprised. Even though I'm very popular, I get shy sometimes." Elysia's familiar, nonchalant tone came through the communication channel. "This is MSA-001 Elysia, formally returning to Fire Moth to participate in the subjugation battle against the Sixth Herrscher."
This was baffling.
Ato had always regarded Elysia as a strange woman, abnormal yet normal. She often did inconspicuous things, but when the truth was revealed, those things were always just… very subtle trivialities, like spreading gossip, using alternate accounts on forums to praise herself, or writing strange books to sell at headquarters…
Her disappearance from the headquarters was, ironically, the boldest thing she had ever done.
But upon Elysia's appearance, this unconventional tone inexplicably brought a sense of… ease.
It was as if no matter the upheaval of the world or the apocalypse, this person would never change, always offering a mysterious, playful smile.
Ato's hand, clutching the gun, relaxed with relief, then immediately tightened again: "Elysia, the situation is urgent. I won't ask what you've been up to. Where are you located? We must…"
"Wait a moment. Why is one of the Titans traveling in a different direction? Is the Titan you're controlling malfunctioning?"
"Malfunctioning? No. I'm not piloting these Titans. It's Prometheus II. The number of Titans here is currently…" Ato paused, seeing an autonomous Titan signal on the radar at the edge of the area. He frowned and asked Prometheus II: "Prometheus II, what's going on with that Titan?"
"That Titan is executing another mission and is returning to the Fifth Branch."
A mission? Besides subjugating the three main targets, what other mission could there be right now?
"What mission?"
"Transporting Prometheus I, and the remains of MSA-079."
"…"
Ato suddenly let go of his gun. His eyes were wide and blank as he stared at the screen, asking Prometheus II: "What did you say?"
And on the other side of the communication channel, Elysia's smile froze as she watched the Titan emitting faint particles.
"MSA-079…" Her voice trembled in a way it never had before. "Lin?"
…
"Clang!"
The edge of the dagger was chipped by the scythe. Kevin dodged the immediately subsequent black mist, retreating to a safe range. He glanced at the young couple with their child, whose path was blocked by rubble in the shattered house. He let out a deep breath laced with the smell of blood.
Kevin understood now why Lin was so severely infected with the Honkai Virus, even with Fire MOTH advanced medical technology.
His finger lingered on the activation button of the Phase Transfer device, then moved away uncomfortably, clenching his fist.
Every use of this Phase Transfer device was like drinking poison.
That space, which acted as a transfer junction point, was imperceptible to human senses. Every time one entered and exited, it drastically consumed one's consciousness and willpower. Those with weak willpower might lose themselves upon the first entry, their consciousness dissolving. Even if they exited and could still breathe, they would be nothing more than moving corpses.
A weakened consciousness reduces resistance to Honkai Energy erosion, naturally leading to the contraction of the Honkai Virus.
This was exactly what happened to Lin, Seele, and the Councilman.
And Kevin, with his extraordinary talent, had mastered the use of this device without any guidance or prior connection. His inherently high willpower and Honkai Energy adaptability allowed him to use it with ease.
But after just two uses, he already felt his consciousness becoming significantly fatigued. Continuing would only impair his combat ability.
He had once suggested to the R&D department that he should use the same type of device as Lin, but Lin opposed it. At the time, he didn't understand why Lin would prevent him—someone comparable to or even more outstanding than Lin in terms of physical condition—from using the Phase Transfer device.
Now it seemed Lin was merely trying to prevent others from following his path.
To the young couple below, the scene unfolding was no different from a horror sci-fi movie coming true. The world's dome had been broken. People wrapped in black mist and people fully equipped with technology were fighting, and the residual power of their movements could destroy an entire street. With the battle happening directly above their heads, even the slightest misstep could crush them into pieces.
"D-Darling, protect the child…"
The husband's pupils were constricted with fear. He shielded his wife and child behind him, swallowing hard. He picked up a bent steel bar from the ground, wanting to hide his family in the shadow of the ruins.
Please don't come and destroy our happiness.
Kevin kept glancing at the family. He didn't rush to attack again, instead maintaining a stalemate with the Sixth Herrscher, waiting patiently for them to hide in a safe place.
But he forgot one thing: in a battle of this intensity, any distraction could become a fatal flaw.
"Boom!"
The black mist surged in from his blind spot. By the time he reacted, the natural enemy of living organisms was practically face-to-face with him!
Fortunately, he activated the Phase Transfer device at the last moment, completely vanishing, only to reappear in another location seconds later, drenched in cold sweat.
But when he realized his new location, his fingers and expression froze.
"N-No! Don't come closer!" The husband shouted at Kevin, who was hovering above them, holding the bent steel bar up.
Kevin didn't have time to show any emotion. Only one thought dominated his mind:
Leave now.
Driving the flight device with all his might, he had to leave immediately. One second… No, he couldn't stay here for even a tenth of a second!
The Sixth Herrscher would use him as a target!
An azure streak of light zipped past over the family's heads. Kevin flew back into the sky.
However, before he could relax, the black mist, surging with energy, descended.
It struck the spot where the family was located squarely.
When the mist dispersed, all that was left was… No. Nothing remained there.