Whirring…
Just after dawn, Ryan and Kevin arrived at the outskirts of Nagazora City from Chiba Academy. Before them stood a high wall of reinforced steel mesh. Helicopters roared overhead, soldiers heavily armed sitting in the cockpits, watching the two figures below with puzzled expressions.
The Fire Moth Far East Branch was located in this suburban area, originally an airbase covering thousands of acres. Two runways could accommodate heavy transport aircraft, and the ground below was also hollowed out to support the entire Far East's security.
"Ryan, you're really fast." Kevin supported his knee, gasping for breath. Even he was slightly tired after running several tens of kilometers.
"Your physical fitness is far better. Honestly, my physical constitution isn't much better than yours." Ryan was effortlessly graceful, barely breaking a sweat.
"Then why?"
"Guess."
Damn it, this guy's infuriating!
Kevin gritted his teeth, hurrying to catch up. They underwent iris scans at the entrance, and only after their identities were confirmed did the gate slowly open. Entering the base, Ryan witnessed a bustling scene.
Tanks and armored vehicles lined both sides of the road, their cannons pointed skyward at a forty-five-degree angle. Aircraft loaded with missiles continuously took off and landed on the runways. On the other side of the runway was a training ground where new recruits carried logs to build their strength.
Thousands of personnel, advanced heavy weaponry, and specialized units armed with futuristic weapons—this was the power of Fire Moth, and there were over thirty similar branches.
'No wonder there's so much internal conflict. This kind of power is enough to overthrow governments. No wonder the United Nations looks for trouble at every opportunity.'
Military power and advanced technology aside, the maintenance costs for these weapons were astronomical, and this money wasn't earned by Fire Moth itself.
"Impressive, right? Like a movie." Kevin joined in, his face full of awe. "Look, a squadron of heavy transports is taking off. Seems like they're heading north?"
Ryan turned to see several transports loaded with IFVs taxiing, while several fighter jets circled overhead.
"For Mid-Rank and above Honkai threats. This firepower is overkill for Low-Rank Honkai Beasts." Ryan withdrew his gaze. He never underestimated human technology.
Those Honkai Beasts had no mystical protection; if they weren't killed, it simply meant insufficient firepower. Even a Honkai Emperor couldn't withstand two thousand kilograms of laser-guided bombs.
But Herrschers were different; it wasn't a difference in power, but in authority.
"Let's go. I've seen more impressive sights than you."
"Tell me about these impressive sights."
"Years ago, in Shenzhou, an Emperor-Class Honkai Beast appeared. That thing disrupted signals; we used eighteen-inch giant cannons to finish it. Let me tell you, those shells were something else."
As they walked, the passing soldiers ignored them. Fire Moth's casualty rate was too high, especially for these boisterous new recruits. Out of self-preservation, no one wanted to make friends.
Laughing and chatting, they quickly arrived at a four-story building. Its roof was covered with satellite dishes, and a silver Fire Moth emblem was affixed to the wall.
"I'm here. Go rest; your training starts in a few hours." Ryan saw a short-haired woman standing by the door—Lieutenant Rose, whom he'd met before.
"Damn it, why do I have to sleep in a tent? Ryan, can I ask you a favor?" Kevin scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed. "If you're free, could you teach me some skills? You're really good, after all."
"No problem. I'll find you after I'm done here. Consider it senior mentorship." Ryan smiled, seeing Kevin gritting his teeth, unable to retaliate, dejectedly turning to leave. This only amused Ryan further.
Kevin's suggestion was quite good. It would increase his self-defense capabilities, and Ryan could also devise a way to escape Mobius's clutches.
Mobius, you think you've won? You haven't seen the best of me yet.
As his mood darkened, the lieutenant approached, taking his luggage. Ryan looked at the young woman, frowning slightly. "Lieutenant, have you undergone body augmentation?"
Body augmentation was Mobius's main project. Many iterations had been developed, from simple bio-electric stimulation to Honkai energy application experiments on suitable candidates—a preliminary test for the Warrior Fusion Project.
Science always came at a price. Even something as simple as electricity required enormous prior scientific and technological investment.
"Yes, moderate augmentation. I'm not part of the operations team." The girl's expression was cold; she pointed to Kevin's back. "He has good potential; his instructors gave him all A's. He might be deployed next month. If he survives, he'll become a veteran."
"Kevin will survive," Ryan said without hesitation.
The girl's thin lips moved slightly, her left eye flashing with a hint of envy and disdain before she simply said, "Let's hope so, Dr. Ryan. Please follow me."
They entered the building; the interior was even more futuristic. The hallways and ceilings were cast from alloys; pipelines crisscrossed the walls. When the airlocks sealed, even the roar of the aircraft outside was muted.
Ryan looked around; this was his first time visiting the Far East Branch, and the facilities were impressive.
Monitors displayed dynamic mission maps; different colored red dots appeared across the Far East, indicating Honkai incidents. Unfortunately, Schicksal's operations had to remain hidden; otherwise, Ryan would have accompanied Fire Moth on its hunts.
The dull thud of boots echoed constantly; several fully armed soldiers hurried past. This was a Special Response unit, and helicopters were likely on standby outside.
"High deployment frequency."
"Honkai incidents are becoming increasingly frequent. The Mu Continent is preparing reinforcements. Rest assured; we've prepared for all contingencies." Rose didn't turn around, passing through an iris scanner; the elevator doors slid open. "Dr. Ryan, we're going to level thirty-five underground."
Only then did Ryan notice the lieutenant was still wearing tight-fitting combat gear. He nodded and stepped into the elevator.
The lieutenant was quiet, perhaps a common response for those exposed to constant, unrestrained violence. Honkai was, in a sense, monotonous.
It appeared suddenly, destroying everything, Fire Moth rushing to deal with it, eliminating the threat, then returning to rest—a cycle repeating endlessly. The only change was the ever-increasing pile of corpses.
Whirring…
The elevator descended rapidly, floor numbers flashing. The silent half-minute was suffocating, but Ryan didn't try to act as a counselor; he knew his limitations, and protecting his friends was already a significant achievement.
Ding.
The elevator doors opened, revealing a Fire Moth emblem on the metal wall, with a small inscription below.
[Forge our own flames; illuminate humanity's future]
This was the motto of every Fire Moth soldier, though most of those present were researchers in white coats.
"Welcome to the Far East Research Department. C-level clearance or higher is required to enter; it's extremely secure." Rose set down the luggage, pointing to a hallway on the left. "Dr. Ryan, the dormitories are this way. You can ask Dr. Mobius for specific instructions. I need to prepare for deployment; apologies for not being able to assist further."
"Lieutenant."
"Is there something else?"
Ryan looked at the girl, who couldn't be more than eighteen, and gently pressed the closing button for her. "For your own sake, survive."
As the door closed, he saw her eyes widen before disappearing from view.
Ryan sighed softly; this was one of the reasons he'd been reluctant to join Fire Moth. People you knew might die tomorrow. If lucky, their bodies remained intact, stored in metal caskets, buried without even a proper headstone.
He'd been here too long, understanding this world was not only dirty and complex but also no playground for teenagers. Beneath every hero lay mountains of corpses.
Taking a deep breath, he pushed away these thoughts. Maintaining himself in the face of despair was almost instinctual. He turned to see a beautiful woman with creamy-blonde hair rushing towards him.
She had a voluptuous figure, like a ripe peach, exuding a mature and sophisticated aura.
"Dr. Ryan, I'm Dr. Mobius's assistant, Blanca. Please give me your luggage. Your room is ready; please proceed to the doctor's office; she's been waiting."
"Fine, I'll go see her." Ryan was already irritated, but as he handed over his luggage, he added, "Don't put anything strange in my room."
Blanca's face instantly fell. "Please rest assured; not everyone is as stubborn as the doctor. I often have headaches dealing with her whims."
"Indeed, you must have a hard time." Ryan started to walk away, then paused. "Where's Mei? Is she here?"
"Dr. Mei is in the archives searching for data. Should I have someone from the physics department inform her?"
"No need. We'll meet soon enough." Ryan turned and left, observing the working environment.
The research staff was small, perhaps a little over a hundred. The equipment couldn't compare to a professional research institute; it was mainly for preliminary data processing, though sufficient for Fire Moth's needs. He even saw a small particle collider.
Excellent. I can further my research; investigating the nature of Honkai is crucial.
Ryan didn't consider himself merely a soldier. Changing into a white coat, aside from his sharp mind, he was no different from the other researchers with dark circles under their eyes.
Continuing his stroll, he reached the end of level thirty-five. A radiation hazard symbol was painted on the airlock. Ryan unlocked and entered, seeing a second blast door. One side of the corridor was made of thick glass, allowing him to see a tall, slender figure working diligently.
A dissection table dominated the hundreds of square-meter laboratory. Mobius, her green hair in a ponytail, used a scalpel to dissect a Honkai Beast corpse. Several other dissection tables were laden with the bodies of zombies and infected humans.
Each body was opened, yet the cuts were incredibly precise, as if meticulously dissecting the body, analyzing hair, skin, and muscles using nearby equipment.
Ryan stared, feeling as if he were watching a chef preparing a feast. Mobius's intense focus was rare, and her beautiful face—
Elegant, rational, yet concealing a fervor and excitement.
Indeed, this doctor was unfathomable.