Europa, within German territory.
A certain border town's beer hall.
The hall's originally open sign was reversed, indicating temporary closure to customers.
However, inside, this ostensibly closed beer hall was extraordinarily lively. People wearing Fire Moth emblems on their chests gathered together, arguing with flushed faces.
"Nicholas, that bastard! We supported him to become leader, and he actually betrayed us!"
"Bruto, our respectable comrade, has now been thrown into prison on 'crimes against humanity' charges."
At this moment, a young yet extremely powerful voice rang out: "Everyone quiet! Everyone, quiet!!!"
This voice carried a strange sense of authority, making everyone present instinctively look toward where the sound came from.
They saw a white-haired, blue-eyed youth with a streak of black highlight on his head standing on a table, arms raised high.
"Comrades, colleagues, look over here! Please hear me out!"
However, after seeing the youth standing on the table, quite a few people showed confusion.
"Is there such a person at our secret gathering?"
As if hearing everyone's confusion below, this white-haired youth clapped his hands, attracting everyone's attention, then said: "I'm Mu, a lower-level officer who joined Fire Moth two and a half years ago. Quite a few of you here should know me."
This youth calling himself Mu spoke extremely sincerely, his blue eyes seemingly reflecting people's hearts.
Some even saw crimson feathers falling in these eyes.
"That's right, I remember now. He's Lucius. We fought side by side not long ago."
"I also remember. Luciussaved me not long ago."
"I remember I still owe Lucius50 bucks."
...
Seeing quite a few people echo this, those who'd felt doubt dispersed their suspicions, believing this Lucius was indeed their comrade.
Lucius clapped his hands, once again attracting everyone's attention: "Since you all know me, I won't introduce myself further. Time is limited. I'd like to express some immature views here."
Because quite a few present owed him 'favors,' they subconsciously echoed after Lucius spoke these words.
"Lucius, we're all comrades who've lived and died together. The battlefield doesn't have so many twists and turns. Just say what you want directly."
"In that case, I'll express my views."
"Everyone, I think our path has gone crooked. Supporting that old Nicholas to become our leader was a terrible move."
"This old thing is already United Government high-level. Fire Moth is dispensable to them. Compared to doing great things with us, selling us out to exchange for United Government benefits is more worthwhile to him."
"I think we need to reconsider the leader's candidate."
After hearing Lucius' statement, quite a few people fell into thought, but some also raised rebuttals.
"These old things are indeed hateful, but without their prestige, how do we make other Fire Moth members accept us?"
Regarding this question, Lucius clapped vigorously.
"Good question! But I ask—is great reputation and prestige necessarily connected to these old things?"
His gaze swept over everyone present: "Can't we choose someone who both possesses great reputation, isn't one of United Government's old things, and also has noble character?"
"Mu, you make it sound simple. Where do we find such a perfect candidate?"
At this moment, Lucius suddenly raised his hand. His pinky, ring finger, and middle finger pressed against his thumb, leaving only his index finger raised high, face showing a knowing smile of 'I have an idea.'
"Eh~ there really is such a candidate!"
"Among our younger generation comrades, there's someone with great reputation, excellent character, and achievements that can convince the masses."
Seeing this, quite a few people frowned: "Lucius, you're not talking about yourself, are you?"
"Of course not. I consider myself compared to her like firefly to bright moon. How dare I compete with her for the leader position?"
"Stop being mysterious. Who exactly are you talking about?"
Meeting everyone's inquiring gazes, Lucius slowly said: "Elysia!"
Hearing this name, everyone seemed to freeze, then their eyes lit up.
"Right! We still have Elysia!"
"She successfully defeated the Second Herrscher. Her power and achievements can convince the masses."
"She's a noble person. Many have received her help."
"Her reputation is also high. Everyone in Fire Moth knows her name."
"She also has exceptional charisma. Rumor has it even Eden has close relations with her."
As soon as Elysia's name came out, everyone present thought it made more and more sense.
Seeing this, Lucius called out with firm tone:
"To escape those old things' influence and forge our own path, we must completely cut ties with them!"
With these words, quite a few people showed interest. Thus Lucius said:
"Seems everyone thinks it's feasible. In that case, let's vote!"
"I choose Elysia as our leader. She's the people's choice!"
"In that case... I also choose Elysia."
"Same here."
Soon, everyone present completed the vote.
The result—passed by high vote count.
Thus, Lucius somehow found a large photo of Elysia and hung it in the beer hall's most prominent location.
Then he led everyone present in a loyalty oath.
"From now on, Elysia is our New Fire Moth's leader!"
"Loyalty!!!"
...
"Damn it, almost discovered!"
While everyone was swearing loyalty to Elysia, a middle-aged man clutching a black case was running through the wilderness.
His face was covered with black patterns, eyes completely pitch black. If walking on the street, he'd probably make the news quickly.
Suddenly careless, he tripped on an exposed rock and fell to the ground.
Through this, the black case in his hand also flew out.
The moment the black case left his hand, the black patterns on his face and pitch darkness in his eyes receded.
"Wait, how am I here?"
The middle-aged man stood up, face showing some confusion.
Soon, his blackout-drunk memories became continuous.
As a member safeguarding the virus prototype, he'd originally prepared to attend the secret meeting. Just about to enter the beer hall, some groundless fear prompted him to turn and run.
"What madness was I having just now?"
With doubt, the man walked toward the black case that had fallen to the side.
"Hope it's not broken... hmm?"
Getting closer, the man suddenly heard some faint sounds. Soon, his gaze settled on the overturned black case at his feet.
The sounds seemed to come from inside the black case.
The man felt somewhat frightened, wanting to retreat, but thinking of this black case's importance, he stopped.
Then under some strange curiosity, he couldn't help approaching it.
When his ear got close enough, he heard a girl's tone entering his ear. Simultaneously, he heard clearly what this voice was expressing.
"You all, why spread it! I... I... I can't hold it anymore!!!"
"Hmm?"
"Boom!!!"
The black case suddenly exploded. Rolling black smoke rushed from the case, blasting the man crouching on the ground away.
Then this black smoke became a pitch-black tornado penetrating heaven and earth, charging straight to the sky, quickly shrouding the clear sky.
Wherever it passed, the sun was hidden, night drew light veils.
Simultaneously, a wild voice echoed between heaven and earth.
"I'm finally free!!!"
Black energy rolled in cloud layers, but two completely different consciousnesses flowed within—two pink-haired girls with nearly identical appearances, both pink-haired and blue-eyed.
However, one had fox ears and tail, expression extremely furious.
The other was like a normal person, face showing urgency: "Higokumaru, what are you doing?!"
"What am I doing? Didn't I already say? I'm going to create a world where Sister exists!"
"Sister wouldn't want you to do this!"
"Shut up." Higokumaru with fox ears and tail furiously pushed her back. "Yae Rin, that's your sister! My sister died fifty thousand years ago long ago!"
Rin's face showed grief as she persuaded: "I've seen your memories. Your sister... she also wouldn't want you to become like this. She stained her hands with blood hoping you could live."
Hearing this, Higokumaru's face actually truly calmed down: "You're right. Sister wouldn't want me to kill people."
But before Rin could breathe relief, her face showed a malicious smile again.
"But have I killed anyone? These people spread the virus. I even weakened toxicity, didn't let them turn to ash upon contact~"
"..."
"Alright, Rin, move aside. I'm going to start pulling Sister back from death."
Rin stood before her, spreading her arms, face full of determination: "I won't let you out!"
"Too late. Thanks to these fools, I'm already free." Higokumaru easily bypassed Rin.
The black clouds in the sky paused, then began expanding toward the distance. Faintly visible, an incomparably huge fox face seemed to surface in the clouds.
"Higokumaru, your sister is already dead. This will only needlessly make those innocent people lose their lives!"
While controlling black energy, Higokumaru scoffed:
"I possess Corruption authority. I am the most powerful virus here. Since I can hack networks and human bodies, why can't I hack reality?"
"As long as I can make reality error, make it think Sister hasn't died, then I can revive Sister!"
"You can't do it, Higokumaru. Your power fundamentally can't do these things!"
"Of course, even possessing Herrscher power, I still have limits. But since I'm weak, then find ways to become powerful!" Higokumaru's face gradually became crazed. "I'll continuously multiply until filling the entire Earth. Draining the entire Earth's energy—I can do it!"
"If swallowing Earth doesn't work, then swallow the Moon, swallow the entire Solar System!"
"Higokumaru, even if I can't stop you, this world will have others stop you. Give up!"
"Hehe... you think I'm really a reckless fool?" Higokumaru was confident. "At this time point, those monsters haven't been born yet. The current me is invincible!"
"Yae Rin, just watch! I'm not as powerless as you. I can do anything!"
After this strong declaration, Higokumaru looked at Rin and found she was indeed shocked.
But Higokumaru quickly discovered Rin's gaze became wrong. She was pointing behind herself, as if seeing something terrifying.
"Higokumaru, look behind you!"
The corner of Higokumaru's mouth showed disdainful smile: "Such a clumsy lie still wants to fool me. You..."
Before finishing, intense crisis surged. She suddenly turned back and saw an incomparably magnificent golden great cross rising from the earth, directly smashing into her face.
...
Time rewinds slightly.
Austria, Kallen's home. Lucius and she sat under grapevines, seriously staring at the sky.
Until her neck went numb, Kallen finally lowered her head, suspiciously asking Lucius: "Great Director, are you sure a Great Honkai will happen here?"
Lucius lowered his head: "The Shoggoths said so. Their Outer Key's Great Honkai outbreak point warning is quite accurate."
"But we've been looking up like this for three hours already!"
"In that case..."
Lucius pondered, pulling two beach chairs from the system inventory and throwing them in the yard, then choosing one to comfortably lie on.
"This way our necks won't get tired."
Seeing this, Kallen was somewhat speechless. She glanced at the sky and found it still clear for miles.
"Seems temporarily fine."
She somehow pulled out several books and threw them on the table under the grapevines: "In that case, I'll do homework for a while..."
However, before she could put pen to paper, she detected a gust of wind sweeping through the courtyard, flipping her book pages one by one.
She suddenly looked up and saw a pitch-black tornado forming in the distance, continuously dyeing the sky. Soon it generated a huge fox face.
This large face occupying the sky was actually rapidly expanding.
"It really came!"
Kallen immediately looked at Lucius and found his eyes invaded by deep purple, pupils flickering with lightning. She knew this was a sign Thunder Herrscher authority was about to activate.
But she saw the lightning in Lucius's eyes quickly disperse again.
"Great Director, why not act?"
Lucius shook his head, looking gravely at that pitch-black sky:
"This black fog is all bacteria parasitized by Corruption authority, possibly even connected to those infected. I could eliminate it, but those infected should also be doomed."
"Although rationally speaking, sacrificing the few to save the many is a rational approach, but..." Lucius sighed, looking at Kallen: "Sacrificing the few for the many—can the script still be called healthy and sunny?"
Kallen looked at Lucius with surprise. After silence, she sighed, but her eyes showed undisguised admiration.
"Great Director, my impression of you has improved."
Then Kallen felt weightlessness in her body.
—She was lifted by Lucius grabbing her collar.
Then, accompanied by extremely strong inertia, she saw the scenery before her rapidly retreat. In an instant, only the increasingly close sky remained.
She was thrown toward the sky by Lucius grabbing her collar. Simultaneously using Thunder Herrscher authority to accelerate her, throwing her at supersonic speed toward the pitch-black clouds.
Even though speed already exceeded sound, through miraculous Honkai energy, she still heard Lucius's voice.
"Kallen, use Binding Domain on her!"
"Lucius, you bastard... give back my emotion!!!"
Although shocked by Lucius's callous methods, looking at the increasingly close pitch-black fox face, she still didn't forget the main matter.
Her azure pupils began being invaded by golden color. Golden chains began surfacing around her.
Behind her, a cross flickering with golden light, magnificently immeasurable in size, rose from the earth.
"Pika... no no, Binding Domain! Deploy!!!"
Using Binding authority remaining in her body, Kallen gripped the chains in her hand. Like wielding Oath of Judah hundreds of times before, she smashed the magnificent cross behind her into Higokumaru's face.
---
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