I am, Flame-Chaser of Previous Era

The incident ended abruptly, like a movie climaxing then cutting to black, leaving everyone unprepared.

Helicopters circled overhead; soldiers equipped with specialized tools were neutralizing residual Honkai energy. The disinformation department was already active, suppressing trending topics and guiding public opinion.

The incident, which had destroyed nearly a third of Chiba Academy's campus, would be spun as a terrorist attack. The government and police were preparing press conferences; memory manipulation specialists were already at work.

Witnesses would be hypnotized. With this efficient, professional approach, everything would become a mere urban legend, quickly overshadowed by some unfortunate celebrity scandal a few days later. After all, for the public, gossip was far more interesting than truth.

"Professional cleanup, efficient aftermath management. But how long can you fool the public? Don't you agree, Lieutenant Himiko?"

Ryan, in fresh clothes, sat in a room, sipping hot coffee, calmly self-assured.

Across from him sat the red-haired woman, Himiko, looking troubled.

After the battle, Ryan had been invited here. Naturally, Fire Moth was polite; they had to be.

Single-handedly defeating a Honkai Emperor, even knowing he had connections, operating outside regulations, was significant; they had to keep an eye on him.

No heavy weapons, no fire support. If it weren't for existing precedents, she would have considered Ryan a monster.

"Ahem, Dr. Ryan, don't worry about that. We'll just keep deceiving them, one day at a time." Himiko paused noticeably on the word "doctor," suppressing her urge to swear.

What scholar could single-handedly handle Honkai Beasts? Shouldn't they be tinkering with machines in a lab?

"I'm sorry I had to summon you. Honestly, I have no idea how to write this battle report!" Himiko felt on the verge of a breakdown. Rose quickly placed a hand on her shoulder, calming her, then handing her pen and paper.

"For the sake of my paycheck, I need to ask the doctor a few questions. How did you deal with the Honkai Emperor? How did you control the Honkai energy? Was it difficult fighting that monster?"

The dust had obscured much. To Himiko, it seemed like the Honkai Emperor had been killed with a single punch, unbelievably simple.

Path is my biggest secret; I can't tell you. And my true strength must remain a mystery.

Ryan considered this, then replied. "I don't know either. Like you, Honkai energy-adapted individuals appear within the human population. In religious terms, they're the chosen ones. Like those two students who escaped. Each of them was unique."

Himiko recalled the two students. The girl was relatively normal, but the boy was like an elite soldier. Reports said he'd killed two Knights with a baseball bat, literally fighting his way out.

That was already unbelievable, but it paled in comparison to the humanoid demolition machine before her.

"But you're exceptional. Even Honkai energy-adapted individuals require extensive training and heavy weaponry to combat high-level Honkai Beasts."

"Don't scare me. Fire Moth's records aren't lacking in cases of ordinary people using their fists to kill Honkai Beasts, nor individuals with special abilities." Ryan sipped his coffee, recalling a certain nun whose precognitive abilities were far more mystical than his.

So they're either imprisoned or dissected. Why are you leisurely drinking coffee?

Himiko put down her pen, her casual demeanor gone. "Writing a report, applying these experiences to future battles—that's my job. You can have another cup of coffee to calm down."

She was getting annoyed. This bastard should at least provide some intel. And downplaying his combat capabilities—he acted like a student, not a seasoned veteran. Where did he gain that experience?

"Like I said, I don't know. Can I meet those two students?"

"No. You're not like that person from headquarters; you're not Fire Moth personnel. If that power goes out of control, it will cause a disaster. I need to keep you under observation." Himiko rejected him bluntly, then called to her subordinate. "Rose, order two Katsudon sets and two beers. I'm having dinner with Dr. Ryan."

"But the field command…"

"What's there to command? Everything's following procedure. Take the money; remember the change."

Watching Rose leave with a disgruntled expression, Ryan's lips twitched slightly. This woman was clearly trying to avoid work. Her words, however, were true.

Honkai energy-adapted individuals were more than simply "chosen ones." Judging from the first and second Herrscher incidents, Fire Moth suspected they were conduits for Herrschers—a constant worry.

Officially, there was no problem, but he was concerned about Kevin and Mei. He also wanted to analyze the data obtained from the Honkai Emperor and didn't want to eat Katsudon.

"Lieutenant, you really want to know my secret?"

"Of course. If we can develop it, we can save countless lives. From another perspective, we are uncontrollable, like Zombies. Those elites are also Honkai energy-adapted individuals." The red-haired woman grew serious, a hint of sadness in her eyes, as if she'd experienced similar events, followed by weariness.

"So I hope you cooperate. The world is already chaotic enough; we have no time to consider everyone's feelings. At the very least, you can join the combat forces, operating under command to handle various incidents."

So it wasn't about a promotion; it was about acquiring personnel.

Ryan understood, shaking his head. "Lieutenant, you're a member of the young progressives, aren't you?"

"Ah? You know all this?" Himiko was surprised. Fire Moth had various factions; the young progressives advocated for concentrating all resources on combating Honkai.

"So, after discovering my ability to handle Honkai Emperors, you felt you couldn't ignore me, even knowing I haven't been idle?"

"Exactly. Time doesn't allow for their petty games. Those in higher positions haven't seen the front lines, yet they're still fighting for power. Do they really think Honkai is that weak?"

Ryan looked at the simmering woman, understanding her feelings. Frontline soldiers saw countless corpses; the future seemed increasingly bleak.

But my Path is unique; I must continuously understand Honkai through combat. That growth can't be revealed; otherwise, human nature is unpredictable. One such unpredictable being is enough.

In short, I'm not as strong as Elysia. If the higher-ups discover the problem, they can only hold their noses and accept it. Besides, Elysia is also concealing her full strength.

These thoughts flashed through his mind. Ryan steepled his fingers under his chin, equally serious.

"Lieutenant, I'll tell you something to prepare you. You'll soon receive a call from headquarters, conveying an order from the Fire Moth Council. They'll congratulate you on averting another disaster, contributing to humanity's future, and remaining faithful to your post, diligently performing your duties."

Himiko unfolded her hands, a sarcastic smile playing on her lips.

"I know Fire Moth has connections with your family, but influence is limited. This incident has proven your importance; you can no longer operate freely."

"Exactly. Therefore, they'll inform you that I've joined Fire Moth, as part of a special forces unit. Where do you think all those resources come from? Why do politicians obey so readily? Why is Fire Moth the only official organization combating Honkai?"

The woman's smile froze; she seemed to understand something, her voice stiff. "Continue."

"The world is complex; the enemy isn't just Honkai. You underestimate my value, and the world's value. All freedoms are measured by value, and the value I provide surpasses staying in a lab or fighting on the front lines. At least, that's the current state of the world."

Looking at the young man's calm, composed face, Himiko's mouth twitched, countless thoughts unspoken.

She suddenly understood Ryan's composure. He'd planned everything, making choices based on his will. No wonder he dared to act as a hero.

The room fell silent, until the ring of a phone. Himiko unconsciously checked her phone, her eyes twitching slightly.

He was right.

...

Military vehicles sped past the shattered streets; the terrorist attack was being cleaned up. Needless to say, Fire Moth personnel were orchestrating it all.

Ryan stood on the roadside, watching the busy soldiers, his hands in his pockets, a self-mocking smile playing on his lips after a while.

No one was a fool. Under Fire Moth's powerful intelligence network, there were no unknown heroes. That's why he'd started planning years ago—to secure his freedom of action. Ryan knew how desperate the outcome would be; simply following orders wouldn't solve anything.

He needed both power and knowledge; more importantly, he needed to protect his secrets. The first principle of survival: don't treat others as fools.

If every battle were recorded by Fire Moth, reviewing the files would reveal the problem: a person who struggled to defeat Knight-class Honkai Beasts ten years ago could now single-handedly kill a Honkai Emperor. He'd be dissected without a doubt.

Ryan wasn't selfless enough to sacrifice himself for humanity. He knew that Path was beyond human comprehension; dissection would yield nothing.

"Mystery is the best protection. After the appearance of the third Herrscher, the beleaguered Fire Moth won't have time to deal with me. By then, the soldier fusion project will be complete; I'll have plenty of ways to let them fill in the blanks."

But Fire Moth's coffee really was awful.

He glanced at the red-haired woman in the room, then, as if nothing had happened, calmly walked through the crowd, quickly finding a temporary base.

Several armored vehicles and large medical transport vehicles formed a circle, a bonfire burning in the center to ward off the cold. Soldiers armed with various weapons stood guard on the vehicle roofs; others were being led away for treatment by friendly medics. Soon, only a man and a woman remained in the open space.

The girl was pensive; the young man curiously examined the surroundings, furtively looking at the soldiers' weapons, like any boy fascinated by firearms.

But the soldiers wore heavy protective gear, only their eyes visible. After a while, he grew bored.

"Mei, when are they going to let us go?"

"I don't know. We saw things we shouldn't have; it won't be easy." The girl was calm, sketching on her notepad.

Kevin tensed, movie scenes flashing through his mind. He clenched his fists.

"Mei, I'll protect you!"

"Relax, Kevin. Someone's already taken care of it; you don't need to risk yourself." Mei closed her notepad, seeing Ryan, in a fresh white shirt, walk through the security perimeter as if unseen by the soldiers.

"Should I call you a secret agent or a mysterious master?"

The sarcastic tone left Ryan speechless. Seeing Kevin also looking at him with a strange expression, he spread his hands.

"That's irrelevant. Besides, this is how you treat your savior?"

"That… thank you. You saved us." Mei gritted her teeth, pointing towards the medical vehicles. "And you spared me from 'treatment'."

"Your brain is valuable." Ryan winked; this was enough for someone as intelligent as Mei. He quickly placed a hand on Kevin's shoulder.

"Don't hug me; I'm not gay."

"Oh, how about a handshake?"

"Forget it. We're friends; there's no need for this nonsense."

Kevin stared at the young man. Perhaps much of what had happened was unreal, but those words were certainly true.

"Right, we're friends." Kevin calmed down, the intense battle flashing back into his mind, causing him to feel dizzy. He muttered in a daze, "Ryan, am I dreaming?"

Giant monsters, devoured classmates, a campus reduced to rubble… he felt familiar things becoming alien. A bottomless pit lay before him, and he was about to step into it.

Ryan stuffed his hands back into his pockets. Even the sunny, handsome young man seemed strange now. Fortunately, he was prepared; he didn't need to fabricate comforting lies.

Looking around, soldiers in protective gear were carrying body bags. Honkai Beast "flesh" was being collected into special containers. Helicopter rotors whipped up swirling dust.

The students discussing games, the couples walking hand-in-hand were replaced by soldiers. The occasional thud of gunfire signaled the elimination of stray Zombies.

He looked up at the sky, seeing the scattered stars—this night was more like a cage.

Sitting and gazing at the sky, escape from this cage meant freedom. Ah, but survival comes first.

Rumble—

The sound of armored vehicle tracks reached his ears, almost like the accelerating wheel of fate.

After a long silence, he patted Kevin's shoulder, softly saying,

"No, you're just waking up."