Honkai: Fire Moth Herrschers

The blood-red lights flickered, accompanied by the piercing sound of alarms. The heavy composite armored doors slowly closed, the gears grinding with a "clank clank" sound between the metal seams. White mist escaped, adding a touch of haziness to the steel-filled base.

In the instant before the doors completely sealed, the morning sun's rays shot through the final gap, coating the silver-white emblem of the Fire Moth on the base wall with a golden sheen. However, the next moment, the glaring fluorescent lights flicked on, illuminating everything in a ghastly pale light, as pale as the snowfield outside the base doors.

"Whirr whirr," "clank clank," "buzz buzz," these were the sounds of the logistics department performing routine maintenance on the large mecha and the soldiers' exoskeletons.

"Tap tap tap," a flash of vibrant red, like a burning flame, swept through the crowd and arrived at the spacious training grounds.

"Attention!"

"At ease!"

Himeko watched the twenty members of her squad perform their synchronized movements and nodded with satisfaction.

Her face seemed to carry a hint of fatigue, but the moment she faced her team, it was concealed by a determined expression.

"From now on, Squad Five is entering Level One combat readiness, prepared to deploy at any moment. Everyone, do you understand the meaning of this order?"

"Understood!"

The so-called Level One combat readiness meant that, according to computer predictions, the Honkai energy concentration in some areas was about to rise to the point of triggering a large-scale Honkai outbreak.

"I wonder where the Honkai is going to break out this time... I hope it's not my home!"

"Ugh! Dealing with Honkai beasts is no problem, but finding a suitable excuse afterward is too hard!"

"Exactly! It's always a military exercise, and people don't believe it anymore. Didn't someone post a video of us fighting Honkai beasts online before? Luckily, the network department was quick... but when will these days end?"

After being dismissed, the soldiers who didn't have training tasks gathered in twos and threes. Some worried about the Honkai attacking their homes, but most were complaining about the cleanup work.

No one was worried about the potential battle.

Well, even though Squad Five was the last squad to be formed, in the face of increasingly frequent Honkai outbreaks, those who could still stand here had all been through the wringer.

Moreover, some had already contracted Honkai sickness, and a long future was more like a comforting lie they knew was impossible.

In comparison, the doubled allowances during combat readiness and the wine and dance parties after a victory were more attractive to them.

But there were two new recruits who were different.

Six years had passed since the first Honkai outbreak. After escaping Vostok, Michael and Ellie had traveled to many places, met many people they would meet again in the future, and secretly eliminated many Honkai beasts.

At the end of their journey, the two made the same decision—to join the anti-Honkai organization that had been reorganized into the Fire Moth.

Even though Michael was a Herrscher, his Herrscher core only contained a small amount of Honkai energy. As long as he didn't actively connect to the Imaginary Tree to gain power, the Fire Moth could only conclude that "his Honkai energy adaptability is excellent."

It was precisely because of their outstanding Honkai energy resistance that the Fire Moth, which had not yet experienced a devastating Honkai outbreak and insisted on not recruiting minors, made an exception and agreed to the two joining.

"Oh, this is such a pain. I was planning to invite you to see Eden's performance!"

"Hmm... did you buy the tickets?"

"Nope!"

"..." Michael sighed and smiled helplessly, "I knew it."

"Oh, don't always look so gloomy. You look like you're carrying so many heavy things, not cute at all like you were when you were little!"

Michael closed the book in his hand and replied with a wry smile, "Elysia, first, you were just complaining to me yesterday that I always had a straight face when I was little."

It wasn't that he didn't want to live a little easier.

But he was the only one who knew the ending, and this invisible burden constantly pushed him forward, turning into the books he rarely put down.

After all, to use the power of the Herrscher of Reason well, he couldn't do without all kinds of knowledge.

The problem was, if he really exposed his identity as a Herrscher, who in this world, besides Ellie, could accept him?

"Then what's second?" Elysia poked his cheek.

Michael snapped back to reality, somewhat annoyed: "If... if this is the Second Honkai War, do you have anything to say?"

Elysia nodded knowingly. She understood what he meant, it was a Herrscher's intuition.

But she didn't care, and was even a little excited.

"Hey, what's with that eager expression?"

"Hmm?" Ellie pouted, "Can't you guess! Of course, I'm thinking about waking up this one too! Just like how I woke you up back then!"

"Elysia..."

"Hmm?"

"Ellie..."

"Hmm?"

"It's nothing."

Michael put down the book in his hand, put on his helmet, and walked towards the assembly point.

In the end, he was...

He had never told Elysia the truth.

And in the end, he couldn't bring himself to tell Elysia that truth—that once a Herrscher was born in this era, there was no possibility of turning back into a human.

There were only two exceptions.

One was Michael himself, who had glitched due to a soul transmigration.

And the other was...

The girl as dazzling as a fleeting flower, who was still unaware of this.

And an equally important point was—humanity was still unaware of this.

Perhaps from the moment this organization was named "Fire Moth," it had already foreshadowed the fate of this civilization.

What an ironic name... the so-called Fire Moths, weren't they just moths flying towards the flames, only to be burned to ashes?

"The Second Honkai War..." Michael murmured to himself as he walked ahead.

A pink crystal rose solidified into a physical form in his hand, but judging by the brooch style, the edges were a bit too sharp.

"Hey, how's this brooch? Do you want me to pin it on for you?" He awkwardly changed the subject.

The girl showed a surprised expression.

"Yay! What a beautiful crystal flower, it suits me so well! Hmm~ You said it! Come pin it on for me!"

"..."

Behind that flawless smile, did she really know nothing?

Sometimes, Michael would wonder.

After pinning the crystal rose to her chest, Ellie suddenly put her hands behind her back and swayed her shoulders a little bashfully.

"Don't hide it, what do you want me to do for you?"

Ellie smiled slyly and casually put her arm around Michael's shoulder.

"Although it's a bit inappropriate to bring it up now, but Michael, don't you think... a beautiful girl, besides a pretty brooch, should also have a one-of-a-kind medal!"

Michael held his breath, trying to make his tone sound normal and natural.

"One-of-a-kind?"

Michael took off the Fire Moth emblem on his chest. It was a metal badge with a moth engraved on it. The ring in the center of the badge was made of an unknown material, and even a sliver of light reflected off of it, it would refract a flame-like glow. On the back of the badge was a string of characters: MSA-014.

"Generally speaking, isn't everyone's medal one-of-a-kind?"

"Hmm~ This kind of badge can't show Elysia's unique beauty, cuteness, and gentleness. I want a truly one-of-a-kind one!"

"One-of-a-kind? Then that would only be that one..."

Michael scratched his head. He had already guessed Elysia's goal, but just thinking about that person... he felt a little apprehensive.

He sighed softly, "Even if I don't help you, you'll get it yourself, right? If I'm there, at least I can clean up any mess you might cause."

"Yay! I knew it! Michael is the best to me!"

"But that medal... how are you going to get it? Besides, even if you get it, you can't wear it openly, right?"

"Hehe~ Whether I can wear it is one thing, having it is another! You'll definitely help me, right? My dear Michael?"

Michael was about to bite the bullet and agree to Elysia's request when he was interrupted by the piercing alarm.

"Alarm! Level One combat readiness! All squad leaders, please proceed to the war room immediately!"

"Repeat! Level One combat readiness! All squad leaders, please proceed to the war room immediately!"

"Repeat! Level One combat readiness! All squad leaders, please proceed to the war room immediately!"

"What's going on?"

Himeko walked into the war room and immediately saw the constantly updating numbers on the giant display screen.

[A large Honkai energy reaction has appeared in Irkutsk City, Eurasia. Honkai energy concentration:

990 HW...

1000 HW...

1200 HW...]

"Although we successfully predicted this a few hours in advance, I am still very sorry to inform everyone that after that incident six years ago, humanity is once again facing a Honkai outbreak with an energy reaction exceeding 1000 HW," Phamas said in a deep voice, standing in front of the electronic screen.

"Where is Dr. Mobius?" Someone questioned. His words immediately caused a stir. Himeko scanned the crowd and indeed, she didn't see that conspicuous green hair.

"Ahem!" Phamas coughed heavily, and the war room instantly fell silent, with only the alarm in the broadcast echoing.

"Dr. Mobius has important matters to attend to and will not participate in this operation for the time being. However, she is not part of the combat unit anyway, so her absence shouldn't have much impact on you all, right?"

Several squad leaders looked at each other and nodded helplessly.

The man was right. The only reason everyone was confused was that this was the first time Dr. Mobius had missed a war meeting.

Besides, Dr. Mobius's command level... let's just forget about it.

Himeko did not participate in these discussions, but instead stared intently at the numbers jumping on the screen until it stopped at 1800 HW.

"Irkutsk City..." Himeko murmured to herself. If she remembered correctly, this place seemed to be a former military base of the R country.

"For this operation against the Honkai, only Squads One to Four will be deployed. The remaining mecha units and air forces will be directly transferred from the Shenzhou branch. Do you all have any objections?" Phamas quickly arranged the combat missions.

"Commander!" Himeko stepped forward, her flame-like hair instantly becoming the focus of everyone's attention. "Although Squad Five was formed last, I believe my team members have the strength to participate in this battle."

Phamas first nodded, then shook his head, "Himeko, first go and convey the standby order to Squad Five, then come see me alone."

In the exchange of glances, Himeko seemed to understand something.

According to a soldier's intuition, she understood that that look meant... there was a more important mission for them.