According to the intelligence gathered by Kukulkan, the Honkai Creatures have retreated three kilometers, with the Hyperion as the center point.
Based on this situation, it could only be that Raiden Mei gave the order. Otherwise, with the intelligence of Honkai Creatures, they wouldn't make such a move.
Although it was unclear why Mei gave such an order, at least they could be safe for the time being.
Himeko leaned against the railing of the Hyperion's deck, drinking alone as she gazed into the distance.
Bronya and Seele were distributing today's food to everyone. For once, Emisha wasn't cursing at Yiselian; instead, she was working with her people and Yiselian to repair the Hyperion.
Today was a good day. For a change, no one was injured, and no more family members were lost.
But why did she feel a sense of desolation and sorrow...
Penglaiji Ryn looked at everyone in a daze. It should have been a beautiful scene, but why did her heart only feel loneliness and grief.
Was it because peace was just a fleeting illusion? Was it because this world was already over? Was it because no matter what, they would all die at the end of the story?
Penglaiji Ryn clenched her fists. After training with Ryn and Seele, she had already become very skilled and powerful. Even a one-on-one fight with Raiden Mei's Retinue, Kukulkan, from before might not be a problem.
But, why did this fist feel so powerless when clenched...
"As I thought, I'm still too weak. A person like me, even if everyone thinks so highly of me... what can I possibly do..."
Suddenly, a figure stood in front of Penglaiji Ryn. He extended his large palm and clasped Penglaiji Ryn's fist.
The small fist and the large palm formed an even bigger fist.
"If you feel you can't do anything because you lack power, then try borrowing my power. I will lend you enough power to overturn the world.
But is it really about power? Penglaiji Ryn, what are you hesitating about? I can no longer see hope in your eyes."
"I... I don't know." Penglaiji Ryn looked up at Ryn before her, her expression filled with confusion and panic.
She couldn't remember her past, had forgotten who she was, and had lost her place in the world.
It was Ryn and Seele who brought her back to Fire Moth, giving her a purpose, giving her an ideal.
As a member of Fire Moth, she swore to protect this home with her life.
But everything had changed. Her family died before her eyes, Fire Moth was no more... and even the few people left before her would eventually head towards extinction.
"Big Brother Ryn, Fire Moth is gone, I…
Is there really any hope left in this world? Even if we could defeat the Herrscher and get rid of the death spots... the world has already been destroyed..."
"That's right... the world has been destroyed. So you've given up the will to fight because of that?"
Ryn pondered for a moment, looked up at the death spot in the sky, and then said softly to Penglaiji Ryn.
"The course of civilization is a history of struggle written in blood and tears. No one knows whether tomorrow or death will arrive first.
Perhaps our final destination is to die with the world's destruction, returning to infinite nothingness.
But, death is just the result, not the process.
If we ignore the joys and sorrows, the partings and reunions in life, and only remember that final destination of death... then why are people born? Why do living beings exist? Why wasn't everything just nothingness from the start?
This world has height, width, and length. It also has time, and even more so, it has our existence.
Since we still exist, there is still hope!
Do you remember what Bronya once said to us? The sunlight desperately shines through the cracks in the death spots to illuminate the earth every day!
Since the light still exists, the world is still fighting back against fate.
The Fire Moth base is gone, but Fire Moth is not just a base. It is us, who do not give up and do not flee in the face of hardship.
The light is so fleeting and dazzling. We, who are trying to grasp that ray of light from beneath the abyss, are the very moths that chase the flame of hope!
Perhaps we are all destined to die in the end, but even death cannot extinguish the spark of our pursuit of hope.
Since the result is already decided, then the journey towards that result will be written by us!"
The more Ryn spoke, the more impassioned he became, and Penglaiji Ryn gradually became immersed in his words. Unbeknownst to them, people had gathered around them one by one.
When Ryn finished speaking and was still reflecting on what he had just said, a deafening round of applause erupted around him.
"Yeah, fuck it, tomorrow we'll sail back to Nagazora City and ram the Herrscher to death!"
"Ryn said it well, fuck this life! We're all going to die anyway. Tomorrow I'll strap on some bombs. Even if I can't kill her, I'll piss her off!"
"I've wanted to die for a while now. Let's go all out against the Herrscher!"
The remaining ordinary members of Fire Moth shouted their heroic ambitions.
"It's not very rational, and a bit too ridiculous, but... rather than die a cowardly death in some unknown corner, it's better to die a spectacular death at the hands of a Herrscher."
"Indeed. In a way, a Herrscher is a god. Dying at the hands of a god is better than being gnawed to bits by Honkai Creatures."
The Gray Moth squad couldn't help but discuss it softly amongst themselves. For them, fighting the Honkai was the meaning of their existence. Plus, their lives were about to end soon anyway, so dying in a battle to the death with a Herrscher was a relatively good end for them.
Then, everyone boisterously returned to the Hyperion to prepare weapons and explosives. They all went to Yiselian to have her modify their equipment, with a surprisingly consistent request: make it as powerful as possible, without any regard for the user's safety.
"Uh... Huh?" Seele, still not having processed it, cried out in surprise.
"Wait, wait, wait... is something wrong here? How did the tone change so suddenly? Weren't we just considering how to survive? How did everyone suddenly start thinking about taking the Herrscher down with them..."
"With no hope for survival, it's a fight with our backs against the wall... It's time for this war against the Honkai to truly begin." Bronya nodded and also walked towards the Hyperion. It was time to have Yiselian make some adjustments to her gun.
"Isn't this a bit too rash? Big Sis, wait for me!"
"Rash? A little, perhaps... But you're right, kid. Since the outcome is already set, we might as well make a bigger scene!" Himeko showed a rare smile, patted Ryn's shoulder, and then walked back to the Hyperion, muttering to herself.
"I need to get Yiselian to install a self-destruct system on the Hyperion... But I wonder if Yiselian can convert those six nuclear power cores into atomic bombs. Maybe I'll just take Nagazora City down with me..."
Hearing Himeko's muttering, Ryn scratched his head with a constipated look, pulling out a few strands of hair.
"Uh... actually, I was just trying to feed you some toxic chicken soup for the soul... would you believe me?"
"That's not important anymore. Do you still have that Star of Eden you gave me before? Give me a few more... preferably single-use ones that automatically turn into exploding black holes when thrown..."
"Ah, this..."
(December 24th, Ryn and Penglaiji Ryn's birthday. Happy birthday to both!)
(Actually, this chapter was originally intended to be a birthday celebration, but as I wrote, it turned into plot...)