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

"Your life was bought with the lives of a thousand others. Remember that, Chen Tianwu."

Lin Wei's sudden seriousness startled Chen Tianwu. He nodded instinctively.

"I understand. Thank you for saving my life!" He stammered, his mouth dry. "If you ever need anything, I'll…"

"Don't mention it. I don't need anything from you. You don't owe me anything." Lin Wei's expression softened, his voice returning to its usual calmness.

"Live a good life with your sister. If you really want to thank me, remember who you are today, and in the future, if you see someone in need, lend a hand…" He looked up at the sky and sighed. "This world is already messed up enough. Don't become a part of the problem."

His words, both a lament and a blessing, warmed Chen Tianwu's heart. He straightened up, nodding firmly. "I understand. Thank you."

Lin Wei nodded, his impression of the young man solidifying. Even in his terror, he'd urged them to flee, willing to sacrifice himself for others. It might seem foolish, but for an ordinary person caught in such a disaster, it was commendable. He possessed a rare kindness and courage.

Still, he couldn't simply hand over the serum without a word. Not only was it incredibly precious, but he understood a fundamental flaw in human nature: freely given gifts were rarely cherished. They were often taken for granted.

That's why he'd given Chen Tianwu this small test, planting a seed of caution in his mind. If he ever strayed from the right path, this gift could be taken away. That knowledge would make him appreciate its value.

But he couldn't push too hard. If the pressure was too great, it would backfire, crushing him beneath the weight of a thousand lives.

That's why he'd made it clear he didn't expect anything in return. Chen Tianwu just needed to remember the weight of this gift.

That was his intention – a simple act of kindness, a helping hand offered to someone he found decent. Nothing more.

Of course, if Chen Tianwu had been a selfish, ungrateful person, this tactic wouldn't have worked. He might have even scoffed at it.

But Lin Wei wouldn't have offered such a gift to that kind of person in the first place. Live or die, it wouldn't be my concern. People died every day. He couldn't save everyone.

"Alright, give me your arm." He judged the moment right, then injected a third of the serum into Chen Tianwu's arm. He carefully stored the rest. "Done."

"That's it?" Chen Tianwu blinked, then felt a warm sensation spreading from his arm, flowing through his veins, revitalizing every cell. It was like soaking in a hot spring, incredibly soothing.

What is this stuff? It's amazing… he wondered, enjoying the sensation.

"Lin Wei, what was that? It's incredible!" Anna watched in awe as the Honkai corruption markings on Chen Tianwu's skin faded and vanished. No matter how closely she examined him, she could only see healthy flesh, as if the markings had never been there.

She rushed back to Lin Wei, her voice filled with excitement and curiosity. "What was that? It's a miracle cure for Honkai corruption! If we could mass-produce it…" Wouldn't that mean the end of the Honkai threat?

For a moment, she imagined a world free from the Honkai's grasp.

"Don't get ahead of yourself, Anna. It's not that simple." Lin Wei checked the vial, confirming it was intact, then put it away. "If you knew what it really was, you'd be disappointed."

"Disappointed?" Her excitement evaporated. She hesitated, then asked, "Are there… side effects? Is the technology still experimental?"

Chen Tianwu listened intently, his own life hanging on the answer. Am I a guinea pig for some experimental drug? he wondered. Even if it were true, he wouldn't complain. This gift was too precious. He just wanted to know what to expect.

"Side effects? Don't worry. There's no healthier, safer anti-Honkai drug in existence," Lin Wei said calmly. "However, the 'raw materials' required to produce it are… incredibly rare and precious."

"Raw materials? Precious?" Anna was relieved that it wasn't an experimental drug. She looked at him, protesting, "What cost, what raw materials could be more precious than human lives, than the fate of humanity?"

"It's not that simple. You only think that because you don't know what the raw materials are." He flicked her forehead. "Are you sure you want to know? Alright…" Seeing her eager nod, he sighed and turned to Chen Tianwu. "As the recipient, you should know what saved your life."

Chen Tianwu, feeling the strength returning to his limbs, sat up straight, listening intently.

"Technically, it's a specialized treatment for Honkai corruption," Lin Wei began.

"Mm-hmm!" Anna nodded vigorously, her heart pounding, but she didn't interrupt.

"When a human is infected by Honkai energy, they usually die instantly, or turn into a Deadman… which is also a form of death. Only a very few are lucky enough to survive."

Chen Tianwu's expression darkened as he recalled his own experience. Lin Wei glanced at him, then continued, "There are two possible outcomes for survivors. One is to possess a naturally high Honkai resistance, like his sister. The other… is like Chen Tianwu. Their resistance isn't high enough to prevent infection, but it's not low enough to kill them instantly. The Honkai corruption remains dormant in their body, but after a period of incubation, it will eventually claim their life."

"…Yes, I know all that. And then?" Anna prompted impatiently.

"And then? Heh…"

"The human body, after millions of years of evolution, has a powerful immune system. Even against Honkai corruption, as fragile as it may seem, it still fights back. These 'Honkai patients' with longer incubation periods often develop small amounts of anti-Honkai antibodies."

Lin Wei smiled sadly, holding up the vial again, watching the gray liquid swirl within. "But the quantity is too small. The antibodies produced by a thousand infected individuals, until their death, are only enough to save one person."

"This vial contains enough for three people – three thousand lives – and that's all…"

"Theoretically, even if we used all eight billion people on Earth as 'raw materials,' we could only save eight million. And of those eight billion, how many would even reach the incubation stage? The actual number would be far lower…"

Anna stared at him, stunned. He took her hand and placed the vial in it, gently closing her fingers around it.

"Do you understand now?"

The cold, hard numbers sent a chill down even the little girl's spine.

"Chen Tianwu, do you now understand the magnitude of the gift you've received?" Lin Wei looked at the young man, his voice grave. "You carry the weight of a thousand lives – a thousand people who suffered like you, a thousand people who fought to survive. All their hopes and dreams, all their struggles… they are now within you, in that single dose of serum."

Chen Tianwu shuddered, overwhelmed by the revelation.

"So, cherish your life. It was hard-earned." Lin Wei sighed, patting his shoulder. "This is the weight of a thousand lives. It is a gift, and a responsibility. So, treat everyone around you with kindness. Don't let their sacrifice be in vain."

"…I won't," Chen Tianwu replied, his voice thick with emotion.

"Ah!" Anna gasped, realizing she was holding the vial.

Knowing what it represented, it felt like a burning coal in her hand. She almost dropped it, then quickly recovered, clutching it tightly, protecting it from harm.

"Lin Wei, how… how did you get this… this thing?" She struggled to find the right words, but they would have been negative, filled with revulsion. Her voice was a mix of urgency and confusion. "Is your Honkai resistance… because of this?" She dreaded the answer.

"Of course not. I'm not worthy of carrying the weight of a thousand lives." He smiled, patting her head. "I simply received a Stigmata when I obtained the Divine Key. It's thanks to her protection that I'm still alive today."

"Then this…" Anna hesitated, looking at the vial in her hand.

"I stole it," he replied casually.

"Stole it?" Anna's eyes widened, then her expression turned grim. "From… Schicksal?" Could Schicksal do such a thing, create such a… horrifying drug?

"Don't worry. I took it from someone else. It has nothing to do with Schicksal." He reassured her. "They don't have the technology…"

He wondered if Schicksal and Heliopolis Life Sciences' joint project, the so-called "anti-Honkai drugs" and "anti-Honkai vaccines," were based on this serum, a secondary development of this… monstrous creation. It was possible. Where else would such a miraculous drug come from?

"Oh…" Anna breathed a sigh of relief, then carefully placed the vial in Lin Wei's inside pocket, making sure it was secure. "Keep it safe! It would be a terrible waste to lose something so precious!"

Lin Wei chuckled at her seriousness, nodding in agreement.

Anna smiled, satisfied.

The aircraft descended, leaving a trail in the sky, returning to the tall building where they'd left Jell Meister.

"Welcome back." Jell, now calmer, greeted them with a smile. She nodded at the siblings, then turned to Anna, her expression relaxing. "Anna, I'm so glad you're alright…"

"Captain…" Anna's voice was thick with emotion. She stood at attention and saluted. "Anna Schariac, reporting for duty!"

"Welcome back." Jell patted her shoulder, checking her for injuries, then nodded, satisfied. She turned to Lin Wei. "Mr. Lin Wei…"

Something else? He quickly responded, "Miss Jell, what can I do for you?"

"Communication has been restored. Thank you for your assistance earlier. You helped us through the worst of it." Jell delivered the important news. "Rita contacted us personally. She said we don't need to rejoin the main force yet. We just need to hold our position and wait for them to reach us."

"Is that so? That's good news…" Lin Wei said, his expression turning serious.

Communication restored? That's good news, and also very bad news… he mused.

So… Rita has reconnected with HQ, with Otto?

What did her message mean?

Is she subtly warning me to leave?

Heh, that sounds like Rita.