Honkai: You're telling me this difficulty is from Honkai Impact 3?!

Shu quickly dismissed the idea of moving in. While the weaponry and accommodations were tempting, the risks were too high.

The mutated creatures could be lurking anywhere, and he couldn't be everywhere at once. He had a whole train full of people to consider. Relocating everyone to Heliopolis would require a thorough sweep of the entire facility.

That wasn't a task he could accomplish quickly.

But it wasn't impossible. He filed the idea away for later, focusing on the immediate task.

"So… is there anything we need on this level?" he asked Ethics.

Ethics nodded, clutching Pet, and headed towards the distant Wotan.

"Wait, didn't you say the Wotan was incomplete?" Shu hurried after it.

"Incomplete, yes, but that doesn't negate its status as the most powerful single-unit tactical weapon in existence," Ethics replied, as if stating a simple fact.

I get it, it's Schrodinger's Wotan. Shu rolled his eyes at the strange phrasing. "But do we need the Wotan?"

Ethics stopped, turning to Shu in silence.

Considering Shu's… thorough disposal of the previous mutant, the Wotan seemed excessive.

But Shu's state after that display gave Ethics pause. It wasn't willing to sacrifice efficiency and safety for a minor gain in time. Streamlining procedures was one thing; cutting corners was another.

What if Shu didn't perform as expected? How would it explain that to the First Sequence? To Sykes?

And, for that matter, how would it explain it to Fire Moth?

"We will be facing a… unique mutated organism. As a precautionary measure, I will activate the Wotan," Ethics said, resuming its march towards the colossal mech.

What kind of mutant required the Wotan? Weren't the Titans enough? Was there an Emperor-class or a Herrscher down there?

Shu frowned, but didn't argue. "How are you going to use it? It can't even stand up straight in here," he asked, catching up to Ethics.

Besides, we're going down to lower levels. Are you planning to bring the Wotan in the elevator with us?

"Activation is sufficient. Should we fail, the Wotan will… eliminate the organism."

So, it's a cleanup crew?

Shu's eye twitched. He sighed and followed.

The closer they got, the more imposing the Wotan became. Seeing it from afar was one thing; standing beneath it was another. Shu craned his neck, his gaze meeting the Wotan's downcast mechanical eyes.

Ethics looked at Shu, shook its head, and walked towards the activation console, leaving Shu alone with the giant.

Shu swallowed, reaching out almost involuntarily. He traced the contours of the massive metal frame, his fingers brushing against the cold steel. It felt surreal.

His own insignificance was starkly apparent.

The Wotan remained inactive. A corpse. The corpse of a giant.

A giant that, if standing, would touch the sky. But for now, it knelt, head bowed, a defeated titan.

And Shu stood below, looking up.

He was human. A living, breathing human.

A survivor gazing upon the remains of a fallen civilization.

He met the Wotan's dull, mechanical gaze, and for a moment, he saw a flicker of life in the dead giant's eyes.

Civilization wasn't dead. It was clinging to life, holding onto a single, fragile hope, like a gambler at the end of a losing streak, clutching their last chip.

There was still a chance…

He sensed movement and turned. Ethics stood behind him, Pet in its arms.

"Mr. Shu, we may proceed." He looked up again. A faint red glow had appeared in the Wotan's eyes.

But it wasn't the same dying giant he'd seen a moment ago.

He lowered his hand, clenching it into a fist, and turned to leave. "Let's go complete our mission," he said.

Ethics watched Shu walk past, then stood where he had been, looking up at the Wotan. Its red eye flickered.

"A fascinating perspective…" it murmured, looking down at the faint handprint Shu had left on the Wotan's armor. Then it turned and followed.

"Mr. Shu, I will be unable to accompany you further," Ethics said, stopping at the elevator and offering Pet to Shu.

"Huh?" Shu took the small robot. "Why not?"

"I am of the Third Sequence, a diplomat. I lack the… robust capabilities of the Second Sequence," Ethics replied. The voice, still raspy, now emanated from Pet in Shu's arms.

That doesn't sound like something someone incapable of fighting would say. I bet you could lift a Honkai Beast with one hand.

Shu scratched his head. There wasn't much he could do to force Ethics to come along.

Regardless of its bravado, Ethics's rusty, dilapidated body was clearly unsuitable for the lower levels. B9 and B10 were infested with mutated organisms. Bringing this creaking, groaning liability along would turn a stealth mission into a bloodbath.

He wasn't some assassin who could shrug off fall damage with a conveniently placed haystack!

As for whether he could trust them… well, he didn't have much choice. And surely there wasn't an Emperor-class down there?

From the moment he'd encountered Ethics, Shu had maintained a subtle [wish] for reconnaissance. That's how he'd sensed Ethics approaching.

But to Ethics, it simply seemed like Shu was exceptionally alert and well-trained.