Honkai: Man(Sludge) From Future

Dr. Tesla's fame was widespread. This included her friend, Einstein.

The frazzled-haired scientist stared at the video, equally dumbfounded. Tesla wasn't a complete idiot, but she leaned towards practical engineering. She occasionally displayed uncharacteristic tsundere tendencies, but after becoming a Herrscher, she'd completely lost it.

"What… is this?"

A naked man entered, a naked woman emerged. A naked woman entered, a naked man emerged. The researchers, far from censoring the process, celebrated the transformations like soccer fans after a goal.

What happened to Anti-Entropy's researchers?

Einstein wanted to contact Tesla, but the timing seemed inappropriate. She could only contemplate the impending gender freedom in North America.

Should I just run?

Einstein considered abandoning her research and fleeing the impending eruption. With so many from Anti-Entropy and Schicksal in Nagazora City, she had no reason to remain at North American headquarters.

Only logistics and economic personnel remained in North America; most researchers had relocated to Academy City at the First Herrscher's request, to monitor internal developments. Now, Einstein knew, albeit too late.

While some personnel remained to repair the Selene, it was useless without Honkai. Einstein knew only that the highest Honkai energy concentration was on the moon. Was she supposed to launch the Selene and bombard Earth from orbit?

North America had weathered the skin color freedom turmoil, but the unrest hadn't fully subsided. Einstein regularly saw news of senators changing their skin color, along with fluctuating online forums and even the removal of ethnicity-based categories on adult websites.

People argued online, forcing website owners to delete categories and even search tags. A new group emerged online dedicated to identifying "true" racial identities, focusing primarily on Hispanic and Indian descent, ironically ignoring Asian ethnicities.

Many, to avoid the racial conflict, had even opted to become Asian.

A strange calm settled over North America, mirroring Hachiman's experience in Academy City. This unnatural silence, as if nothing had happened, felt like the prelude to a major event. Everyone waited, hesitant to act, even news outlets.

While some independent journalists discussed the issues, they lacked the influential force to ignite a true firestorm.

"What now?"

As Einstein pondered, an emergency alarm blared.

A panicked, elderly female researcher appeared on screen. "Dr. Einstein, there's been… a murder."

"What? A fight between Anti-Entropy personnel?"

"No. Our team leader… she killed her husband…"

"Calm down. I'll handle it. Keep everyone calm, call security if necessary. I'm on my way!"

Einstein immediately contacted the First Herrscher. She couldn't leave him alone in Academy City. She sensed Anti-Entropy would fracture over gender freedom. North America was a predominantly conservative Protestant region, even among researchers.

The arguments within Anti-Entropy were… interesting. Unlike the online debates about gender-based social and economic interests, they argued about the impact on their research.

"Could this enhance Honkai resistance? Women have higher resistance than men."

"What about existing modifications? If a woman with artificial Stigmata from Schicksal transitions back to male, does the resistance remain?"

"We should test this…"

"Where do we find suitable female test subjects? Human experimentation is forbidden in Anti-Entropy."

"Borrow from Schicksal?"

"Their Valkyries are in Academy City!"

"So is Tesla! If we fall behind, we'll stay behind! Anti-Entropy's future is at stake! We can't let Japan monopolize this!"

"Monopolize? We're stuck here with useless Selene research!"

"So you'd rather manipulate human bodies and shatter ethical boundaries like Academy City? Is this why you became a scientist? To destroy normal life?"

"There's no Honkai! Idiot! Academy City locked it down!"

"F**k you! It's contained, not gone! It still infects plants and animals! Go snort some formula milk and fix your brain!"

"Sh*t! You think you're a scholar? I'll show you a scholar's fist! Tesla stole all our resources!"

A punch landed.

"You insulted my idol! You're dead!"

"You worship a monster Herrscher!"

The floodgates opened.

Security, fearing harm to valuable intellectuals, hesitated, only shielding some while getting pummeled.

"Stop! Help!"

"Help!"

"Come on! You motherfuckers!"

"Must be the honkies!"

"Leave me alone!"

The scene devolved into a chaotic free-for-all, a flurry of curses and slang, a resurgence of the Wild West spirit. Even the few rational voices were quickly drowned out and drawn into the fray.

Einstein, opening the door, was knocked back by a flying file box.

Amidst the chaos, her anger towards Tesla surged.

Tesla, we're done!