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

Lin Wei, a law-abiding citizen all his life, had never experienced such reckless driving. The sharp turns, sudden accelerations, and airborne leaps—narrowly avoiding the claws of Honkai Beasts—were even more thrilling than his rooftop escape with Fu Hua in Nagazora.

At least with Fu Hua, he had felt completely safe!

"Bang!"

Another shot rang out. A leaping Honkai Beast faltered mid-air, allowing Jell to swerve beneath it. Lin Wei checked the rearview mirror—the beast didn't get back up.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The shots continued intermittently.

Jell focused on driving, while Lin Wei provided cover fire, eliminating threats she couldn't avoid—thanks to Yae Sakura's timely guidance. Their coordination improved, and Jell pushed the motorcycle even harder.

The engine roared as they sped through the ruined city, leaving a trail of Honkai Beast corpses in their wake. The remaining beasts, losing their target, either wandered aimlessly or continued advancing inland, drawn by the scent of life—only to encounter the waiting Valkyries.

But that was Rita's battlefield. Lin Wei and Jell had a different objective.

"Screech!"

The motorcycle came to a sudden halt in front of a damaged building.

"We're here…" Jell said weakly, her body slumping to the side.

Lin Wei, fighting back nausea, caught her before she fell, removing her helmet.

Her short blue hair was plastered to her forehead. Her face was pale and drenched in sweat, her breathing shallow. She looked as if she had poured her entire being into that frantic ride—a desperate dance with death, a defiant act against fate.

Jell had given it her all, seeking victory regardless of the cost.

"Hey, wake up!"

Lin Wei pressed on her pressure points, trying to rouse her, then projected the Third Divine Key. It transformed into a makeshift defibrillator, which he applied to her chest to restart her failing heart and stimulate blood flow to her exhausted body.

Why could the Third Divine Key become a defibrillator? Lin Wei didn't know. Vill-V's designs were always full of bizarre surprises.

"Ugh…"

Jell stirred, weakly pushing Lin Wei away and gesturing toward the damaged building.

"This… is the place… Mr. Lin Wei… the place you need…"

"…I know. Rest now," Lin Wei said softly.

This was Manila's most luxurious hotel, its tallest landmark—or at least it had been, until yesterday.

He didn't mention that he had stayed here during his previous visit. A cruel irony he couldn't bear to share. They had both strived for a certain outcome, only to find their efforts were in vain.

"She's already vulnerable. No need to add to her burden."

Lin Wei shook his head, gathered the equipment from the motorcycle, and summoned a small drone. Supporting the still-weak Jell, he boarded the drone and ascended to the hotel's roof, over three hundred meters high.

Jell glanced at the drone, then at the abandoned motorcycle below, realization dawning.

"…It seems my efforts were pointless after all," she murmured, disappointment washing over her.

"Not at all, Captain Jell."

Lin Wei helped her off the drone. Standing on the rooftop, overlooking the devastated city, he continued,

"Your persistence gave me a reason to come here. How could that be pointless?"

It wasn't just about her team's heroic defense, preserving a last vestige of hope for the city.

For Lin Wei, a traveler from another world, it meant something more.

This woman—a character who would have been lost to the background noise of the original "story"—stood before him, vibrant and full of life. She had sacrificed everything for her ideals and duty.

He had seen her. Remembered her. Acknowledged her existence.

And there were countless others like her, their stories untold.

He couldn't save everyone.

But he could at least acknowledge Jell's efforts. He could offer his help.

"Elysia, is this why you fought for this world? Because you saw so many like her?"

Lin Wei looked up at the sky, feeling a deeper connection to Elysia, a better understanding of her motivations.

Jell, oblivious to his thoughts, looked at him quizzically. Why was he being so cryptic?

"Alright, let's get to work."

Lin Wei dismissed his unshareable thoughts, recalled the drone, and walked to the center of the rooftop. With a touch, a steampunk-style signal transmitter materialized.

"..."

He stared at it, speechless, baffled by Vill-V's eccentric design.

Why did the antenna base have rotating gears? What purpose did they serve?

"Mei was right to cut your funding. You deserved it!"

He shook his head.

Jell finally voiced the question burning in her mind.

"Mr. Lin Wei, who are you?"

She hesitated before continuing.

"Are you the Sovereign of Anti-Entropy? The First Herrscher, Welt?"

That ability to create objects out of thin air… only the Herrscher of Reason could do that. But why? Weren't Anti-Entropy dangerous terrorists? The Nagazora incident proved that! She couldn't reconcile this contradiction, so she decided to ask directly.

Lin Wei sighed.

"Sigh, you people are truly…"

He chuckled, a mix of exasperation and amusement.

"Anti-Entropy thinks I'm Otto and wants me dead… Schicksal thinks I'm Welt. Anna, Rita, and now you… can't you at least get your stories straight?"

He spread his hands.

"I'm Lin Wei. Nothing more. Just an unlucky guy who seems to be disliked wherever he goes…"

Uh… you don't look anything like Otto, Jell thought.

But before she could press further, Lin Wei interrupted.

"Alright, that should do it. Try your communicator now."

He gestured towards her device.

During the Previous Era, sudden Honkai Eruptions were common—not just Herrscher-level incidents, but also Judgment-class Honkai Beast outbreaks, each devastating entire regions.

Establishing communication was crucial, and many MANTIS soldiers served as communication specialists.

Lin Wei had learned this in the Elysian Realm, and now, unexpectedly, this knowledge proved useful.

"Okay!"

Jell, snapping to attention, tried contacting Anna.

"Anna! Anna! Where are you? Do you read me?!"

"Static…"

Only silence answered.

Lin Wei narrowed his eyes.

"…Nothing," Jell said dejectedly.

"Try Rita," Lin Wei instructed.

If even Rita couldn't be reached, then this device was useless. But if it worked…

"Static… this is Rita Rossweisse. Signal established. Good work, Miss Jell, and Mr. Lin Wei."

Rita's elegant voice filled Jell's communicator.

Lin Wei's heart sank.

If communications were working, then Anna's situation was worse than he had thought. He had to hurry.

"Good. Now test long-range communication," Lin Wei said. "See if we can reach Valkyrie units outside Manila."

"Alright."

Encouraged by the restored contact with Rita, Jell ended the call and tried reaching her friends.

"Sea Lion, this is Snow Lotus. Do you read?"

"..."

Silence.

"Starlight, Starlight, this is Snow Lotus. Do you read?!"

"..."

Still no response. Jell continued calling, her voice growing fainter.

"…Mr. Lin Wei, it seems long-range communication isn't so easily restored…" she said, trying to sound optimistic.

There were six Valkyrie teams stationed in the Philippines. All close friends.

She couldn't bear to think of the worst-case scenario.

"Static…"

"This is Starlight. Snow Lotus, it's good to hear from you…"

A weak voice suddenly responded, making Jell's heart clench.

"Starlight! What's your status?" she asked quickly.

"The Eruption was too sudden. Our defenses were breached, and everyone had to retreat…"

The voice grew weaker.

"I'm too injured to move. I didn't want to be a burden, so I hid… I don't know what happened to the others…"

Jell's breath caught in her throat.

She hesitated—then forced herself to speak.

"…They're… they're fine."

She choked back tears, forcing her voice to remain steady.

"We've established contact. They're safe…"

"Is that so? That's… good…"

The voice faded into silence.

Jell broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.

She had lied.

There had been no other responses.

"Sigh…"

Lin Wei patted Jell's shoulder comfortingly, then took her communicator.

"Miss Rita, this is Lin Wei. The device is operational. Communication within the Philippines is confirmed."

"Thank you for your assistance, Mr. Lin Wei," Rita replied.

"Wait, there's more," Lin Wei continued. "This device is a projection and can only operate at full power for ten minutes. Then it requires a recharge period."

A brief silence.

"So, Miss Rita, as the supreme commander, use this time wisely to coordinate your forces and deploy your strategy."

"This…" Rita was surprised.

Lin Wei spoke firmly. "Don't worry, Miss Rita. I'll restore communications as soon as possible."

He glanced at Jell with pity.

"Too many innocent lives will be lost if everyone continues to fight alone…"

"I understand. Thank you for your help."

Rita ended the call. Time was of the essence.

Lin Wei sighed, returning the communicator to Jell.

"In ten minutes, I'll be leaving to find Anna. This device won't function without me."

He looked at her seriously.

"Anna is missing. Every second counts. I can only wait for ten minutes. I hope you understand, Captain Jell. I promise I'll return. With Anna."

Jell wiped her tears.

"No need to explain."

Her voice was steady.

"Anna is my Valkyrie, my partner. Please bring her back!"

Lin Wei nodded, his brow relaxing slightly.

"Thank you for your understanding. I will."

He took a deep breath. "To save time, I need your help."

Jell straightened up immediately.

"Anything."

Lin Wei projected a detailed map of Manila onto her communicator.

"Captain Jell, knowing this city and Anna, what are the most likely routes she would take from the Central Hospital, trying to reach your team?"

He locked eyes with her.

"Time is short. Searching blindly is like looking for a needle in a haystack. We have to start with the most likely locations."