I am, Flame-Chaser of Previous Era

Whether it was a dream or awakening, even Ryan didn't have the answer.

The ruined academy, juxtaposed with the peaceful daily life of just hours ago, blurred the lines between reality and illusion. The world shifted without warning, leaving the ending unpredictable.

Even the usually optimistic Kevin fell silent; his simple intuition was sharp. He sensed this was only the beginning.

"Ryan, is this the real world?" After a long silence, he finally spoke.

"Whether before or after, your eyes won't deceive you. They are both real worlds." Ryan paused, devoid of arrogance. "What matters is what you want to do, how you'll face it."

Kevin fell into contemplation. Ryan merely patted his shoulder, then quietly left. After years of friendship, he knew Kevin was outgoing, sunny, and resilient. This wouldn't break him, let alone turn him into a fanatic.

So what kind of pain had he endured in the future, to become almost undead?

"You should console him, Mei."

"Kevin isn't naive; he'll figure it out."

"But he's very emotional. If you died, if Su and I died… what do you think he'd become?"

Mei remained silent, gazing deeply at the young man before her, finally replying after a long moment. "I think… he would carry our wishes and continue forward."

Typical lovers, deeply understanding each other. Good. Kevin's the type who shoulders burdens, easily influenced by those around him, swinging from extreme enthusiasm to profound coldness.

"Come on, let's drop this heavy topic. With me here, Kevin definitely won't end up like that." Ryan chuckled, pulling a small table and chair closer. "What are your plans? If you want to return to your old life, I can help. We can sign a non-disclosure agreement; you can go back and just keep quiet."

"As if nothing happened? You said it was a dream."

"Haha, even if it was a dream, you can pretend to be asleep. No conflict there." Ryan smiled, then his expression grew serious, looking at the girl's unsmiling face. "I seem to have overstepped; you've already decided."

Mei wasn't naive. Years of research had yielded evidence; her studies of Imaginary Space were of significant interest to Fire Moth.

Her gaze fell on a medical vehicle bearing the Fire Moth insignia. She murmured, "Some say you can't change the world; you can only adapt. But I don't believe that. I want to change this world."

Ambition and confidence shone in Mei's eyes, eliciting a bitter smile from Ryan.

Not unexpected. A genius like Mei wouldn't simply drift along.

"What about Kevin?"

"He… he'll probably follow me. You know he overthinks; he worries about everything." Mei hesitated, pursing her lips. "But I don't want him to. Can you convince him?"

"Forget it. I don't want to experience the pain of lost love. Solve your own problems. I'll just do my best to ensure you survive."

"Ah? That sounds like something a savior would say."

"Don't get cheeky. I do what I can. Besides, I'm just a harmless researcher." Ryan produced a pair of rimless glasses and put them on, slowly standing up. "Fire Moth headquarters is here; they want you to officially join."

Researcher? The researcher who destroyed half a classroom building?

Mei muttered under her breath, then turned to see a man in a dark suit and dark glasses emerging from the shadows. The word "agent" was practically written on his face.

The man noticed her gaze and slightly bowed, gesturing for her to proceed.

Finally able to uncover the world's secrets?

Mei looked at him, feeling neither anxiety nor fear, only excitement and a deep sense of duty.

"Kevin, let's go."

"Okay." The young man recovered, looking cautiously at the Fire Moth agent, then taking Mei's hand.

They left, walking into the darkness beyond the bonfire's light. Ryan watched from behind, noticing their hands remained clasped.

Suddenly feeling full.

Unexpectedly overwhelmed with "dog food," Ryan wiped his face. Honestly, sometimes he envied those two lovebirds; at least they wouldn't be alone when facing life's changes. But that envy quickly vanished.

My power can't protect many; now there's a new puzzle.

Calming himself, Ryan began analyzing the incident: did the particle collision trigger the Honkai, or did the Honkai cause the experiment to fail? If the experiment caused the Honkai, was it related to my proximity to the collision point?

Countless thoughts flooded Ryan's mind. He held his hands out to the bonfire, standing like a statue, his brow furrowing and relaxing.

Bold hypotheses, careful verification—he'd developed this habit over the years. After much consideration, he chuckled.

"Sufficient to arouse my interest and suspicion, but I lack evidence. I'd need ten more similar experiments, which is impossible."

There weren't ten large particle colliders in the world. Even if he found the answer, Fire Moth could also detect inconsistencies. If they discovered his potential to attract Honkai, he'd likely be eliminated.

"Forget it. Let's shelve this for now. Even if I knew the answer, it wouldn't change anything. But the results of this experiment…"

Ryan closed his eyes, focusing all his attention. In an instant, he seemed to see an invisible path breaking through the sky, reaching towards the starry sea.

Exploration, understanding, establishing connections. Every detail of his fight with the Honkai Emperor flashed through his mind. He felt a strange sensation, as if he'd become the Honkai Beast, sensing an indescribable space.

This feeling…

His fingers twitched slightly. He opened his eyes, his pupils constricting in the bonfire's light. For a moment, a smirk played on his lips.

Crackle.

A crimson arc flashed through the bonfire; a piece of wood disintegrated as if sliced by an energy blade.

"Another step forward. Next, I need a quiet place to digest this power, preparing for the next exploration."

He slowly clenched his fist, unintentionally recalling Mei's words.

"She wants to change the world? I'm not that ambitious, but I'm slowly gaining power."

When you're poor, you worry only about yourself. Ryan was clear about his future. Before he could think further, footsteps approached from behind.

"Kevin?"

He hadn't expected the guy to return, slipping past the security perimeter, thrusting a steaming object into his hands. Looking down, it was a container of instant ramen.

"I remembered you didn't eat dinner. I got this from the soldiers. Eat it while it's hot."

Still a good guy.

Ryan stared, then recovered. "You joined Fire Moth too?"

"Yeah, they agreed. Too bad I can't be with Mei. I have to attend some kind of recruit training. Don't worry, I won't lose to you. Just leave your back to me."

The confused young man was back to his usual optimistic self. Ryan twitched, unsure what to say.

"Eat quickly. I need to leave. You'd better work hard. The Lieutenant said I'm talented; don't let me surpass you!"

With that, Kevin ran off, disappearing into the night, leaving Ryan speechless.

This guy… he's gotten cheeky. He's clearly just a rookie.

Ryan didn't know what to say, only feeling the cold night wind, the warmth in his hands seeping through his clothes, warming his chest.

He suddenly felt fortunate. Not just for the enhanced power, but for understanding something new:

There's no point if I'm the only one surviving.

...

Hum hum hum.

The military transport plane wasn't comfortable; the dull roar of the propellers was unsettling; the hard seats and bumpy ride made one's backside ache.

"Ugh, I should have taken a commercial flight. Scientists always try to save money on transport," Blanca muttered, rubbing her ample bottom. She discreetly looked up; Dr. Mobius had been in a bad mood since boarding.

Partly due to the uncomfortable ride, partly because Miss Elysia kept asking endless questions, from lift structures to cloud formation principles. Mobius didn't want to answer elementary school-level questions.

Blanca looked up; Mobius was reading a report, first frowning, then showing interest.

"I knew it. That guy definitely has something going on. He even took down a Honkai Emperor. Very interesting."

"Mobius, you're so noisy. You really want to chat with me?" Elysia rubbed her eyes. She found Mobius smiling at her, which was rare.

"Elysia, I owe you one. If I hadn't followed you to Nagazora City, he would have gotten away."

"Doctor, what is it?"

"The report from the Far East branch. Look at this yourself. Unexpectedly, my luck is excellent. Even that Mei joined Fire Moth."

Ignoring the scientist, Blanca took the document, verifying it was the Far East report, detailing the Chiba Academy Honkai incident and including photos of some participants.

Ryan, Mei, and Kevin were all in the report. Mobius ignored Kevin, focusing on the other two; Ryan was quiet, but Dr. Mei was a rising talent she valued.

How many times had Honkai incidents occurred near him? Such a coincidence.

Mobius looked out at the clouds, chuckling. She was stubborn; the more restrictions placed upon her, the more she pursued her interests.

Elysia also peered out, seeing the photos of the three, and the devastation. She paused, then clapped her hands.

"Not good."

"What is it?" Mobius turned, hating interruptions.

"Void was in Nagazora City. I remember him saying he was attending school. No, I need to contact him." Worry filled the girl's eyes.

Always obsessing over the inexplicable.

Mobius found this incomprehensible; she began calculating.

The Far East branch couldn't handle it; he must have made a deal with someone higher up. Following standard procedures wouldn't work.

Use extraordinary measures? No, judging by his minimum strength—able to kill a Honkai Emperor—at least hundreds of soldiers would be needed. She didn't have the authority to deploy troops.

As a researcher, she lacked the force to subdue him. Using underhanded tactics risked being labeled a traitor and losing Fire Moth funding; how could she pursue Truth without that?

In her moment of frustration, she saw the girl opposite her, Elysia, swiftly sending a message, showing concern for a friend.

Friend?

Mobius froze, then an idea struck her.

Right, my research is at a standstill. I'm going to Nagazora City for vacation. You won't let me study him; perhaps—

You can't stop me from being his 'friend' right?