Honkai, why do you only throw me into high-level battles?

Southern China, a coastal region.

It should have been a calm season, but today, the waves were unusually fierce. They crashed against the reefs and seawalls with a thunderous roar, spraying white foam across the shore. Before the churning water could recede, new waves surged forward, an endless, furious assault.

The sky in the distance was ominously dark. Fishermen had long since returned to shore, and news broadcasts urgently relayed weather warnings, urging citizens to stay away from the coast.

The usually bustling coastal boardwalk was deserted, save for the crashing waves and the cries of hungry seagulls. Save, that is, for a couple of figures…

"Heh, I never took you for the sentimental type," Jackal sneered, glancing at Gray Serpent, who held a bouquet of flowers in one hand, his signature black umbrella in the other. "Have you forgotten? Everything happening out there is your doing. Why this sudden display of compassion?" Having recently learned the truth, Jackal was furious about being kept in the dark.

"There's no contradiction, Jackal," Gray Serpent replied calmly, his voice a low rumble.

"Before the first animal crawled onto land to breathe air, before the first bird took flight, they should have looked around, looked down—at the beaches littered with fish that died of thirst, at the valleys filled with creatures that fell to their deaths before becoming birds. Those were the sacrifices that paved the way for their evolution."

He tossed the bouquet into the churning sea, where it vanished beneath a wave.

"The law of the world is constant: only through sacrifice can new life arise—as it is today, as it will be tomorrow."

"Heh, you're quite the philosopher…" Jackal scoffed, then frowned. "So, what's next?"

"The gateway to the Quantum Sea has resurfaced. Once the world's energy levels rise, the door will open, and our Sovereign lord will return." Gray Serpent turned to the eager Jackal. "From now on, Jackal, preparations for the Stigmata Project can officially commence."

"Really? That's fantastic!" Jackal's earlier anger vanished, replaced by excitement and determination. She had waited a long time for this. After a moment, she asked, "The plan remains unchanged?"

"The Heliopolis Life Sciences Pharmaceutical industrial park in Arc City is complete. With Schicksal and the World Serpent's backing, our operations there will proceed without hindrance." Gray Serpent gazed at the turbulent sea, his voice firm. "That city has been chosen as our testing ground. No changes are necessary."

World Serpent's influence ran deeper than anyone imagined. Despite Schicksal's vigilance and efforts to expose them, World Serpent had become their official partner in certain fields.

Under this guise, Heliopolis Life Sciences Pharmaceutical, operating under the pretense of medical aid, could act freely in Arc City without attracting suspicion.

"Let's go, Jackal. Our business here is concluded." Gray Serpent cast a final glance at the sea, then turned to leave. "For the sake of the plan, it's best you remain out of sight for a while." Jackal's involvement in Manila had been too conspicuous, making her a target.

"Hmph, I know that," Jackal muttered, following him. Until their Sovereign returned, she planned to stay in Arc City, keeping a low profile.

They departed, leaving the raging sea behind. What transpired beneath the waves no longer concerned them; World Serpent had already obtained what they sought.

However, the events unfolding in the ocean's depths exceeded everyone's expectations—not only Schicksal and Lin Wei, but also Anti-Entropy and even World Serpent themselves.

Tesla's calculations painted a grim picture. She believed her mistake would cause devastation on par with the Second Eruption. The Honkai Beast horde would quickly engulf Southeast Asia, and the consequences would be irreversible.

However, reality unfolded differently…

From a god's-eye view, piercing through the water, a surprising sight would have been revealed:

The massive swarm of Honkai Beasts, while partially dispersing, largely followed the Mariana Trench towards Southeast Asia, colliding head-on with the Philippines.

Some were swept inland by the tsunami, while most remained in the deeper waters, bypassing the islands and heading towards the South China Sea. Then, they vanished without a trace, as if swallowed by a bottomless abyss…

Southeast Asia, unknowingly, had narrowly escaped a devastating calamity. All except the Philippines.

......

Manila, the Philippines' most populous and economically developed city, cursed with an excellent natural harbor, bore the brunt of the disaster.

The very advantages that had fueled its growth now became its downfall, a cruel twist of fate.

"Help! Somebody help!"

"What's happening? Why are there monsters?!"

"Has anyone seen my husband?"

"My child! Where's my child?!"

"Daddy… Mommy… Waaah… where are you…"

Cries of anguish and despair filled the air as people searched frantically for loved ones, calling out their names, their faces etched with fear and desperation.

Some found each other, embracing with tears of joy. But most were left with nothing but crushing despair, collapsing in defeat. Some, overwhelmed by grief, simply stopped breathing.

Suicides became increasingly common, adding to the horrific scene… Perhaps it was a form of release, an escape from this nightmare, a reunion with loved ones in the afterlife…

…As far as the eye could see, it was a scene of utter devastation. Yet, amidst the ruins, there remained a single sanctuary…

A relatively isolated stadium, transformed into a fortress, desperately defended by Team Snow Lotus. Its higher elevation and inland location had spared it from the initial tsunami and the immediate onslaught of Honkai Beasts, making it an ideal last stand.

Inside, thousands of survivors huddled together, protected by the Valkyries…

Thousands. A large number, yet insignificant compared to the city's millions.

This was the best Team Snow Lotus could manage. And even this small haven was on the brink of collapse…

Outside, the Valkyries held a makeshift defensive line, struggling against the relentless waves of Honkai Beasts.

No rotations, no reinforcements, no supplies…

It was a desperate battle, each Valkyrie exhausted, yet the Honkai Beasts kept coming, an endless tide threatening to overwhelm them.

Valkyries began to fall, their numbers dwindling, the pressure on the survivors mounting. The defensive line crumbled, the beasts closing in, their living space shrinking.

Some brave civilians attempted to join the fight, rushing to the front lines only to be swiftly killed. Jell and her team had no resources to spare. Others, seeing the Valkyries' retreat, understood their role, returning to the stadium to rally more people.

They gathered whatever they could find—debris, felled trees—constructing makeshift barricades, one after another…

These simple defenses, though crude, were precious. They allowed Jell and her team to retreat gradually, barely holding the line. But even these were slowly being overwhelmed.

Despair began to creep into the hearts of the exhausted Valkyries…

"Captain… are we… are we going to lose?" A Valkyrie, half her body torn apart, lay in Jell's arms, staring blankly at the sky, tears streaming down her face. "I… I don't want… to die…" Her voice faded until her breath stilled.

"..." Jell clutched her cold hand, fighting back tears, forcing a smile as she spoke in her usual gentle voice. "Don't be silly. Lieutenant Anna will be here soon, and so will Valkyries from other cities. And HQ, and Durandal…" She listed the reinforcements that would never arrive, her voice weakening. "We will hold on…"

Even Jell didn't know if she was reassuring her fallen comrade or herself. She had lost too many today, and the rest were living on borrowed time. Both she and Team Snow Lotus were at their limit…

"Is this the end?" Jell gently laid the Valkyrie down, rising to face the next wave, her steps unsteady. No, there was no "next wave," the battle had never stopped…

"Swish!" "Thump!" A flash of silver descended from the sky, cleaving a Honkai Beast in two. The figure swept through the remaining beasts, clearing a path for the Valkyries.

"Team Snow Lotus, you've done well. I'll take it from here," Rita said, rising from the carnage, impeccably clean amidst the blood and gore. She flicked the blood from her scythe, her voice cold and filled with rage. "Rita Rossweisse, commencing battlefield sweep!"

With that, she charged into the horde, her fourth-generation Battlesuit unleashing a storm of devastation, single-handedly pushing back the enemy lines.

"Wow, for such dense swarms, artillery is definitely the way to go," Lin Wei said, arriving late, having set up several heavy cannons on the stadium roof. With a snap of his fingers, the cannons roared to life, raining down a hail of bullets.

He landed beside Jell, surveying the devastation with a sigh. "Captain Jell, it's good to see you again. Sorry we're late."

"No, it's good that you're here," Jell replied, tears streaming down her face, but a smile on her lips.

"Truly… it is…"