I am, Flame-Chaser of Previous Era-Chapter 99: Stubborn

Streetlights flickered; the car sped through the streets. After midnight, even Manhattan calmed down; only the brightly lit late-night restaurants remained busy.

Ryan carried Hua along the sidewalk. The girl on his back was clearly awake but couldn't, or wouldn't, get off. The moment he tried, she clung to his neck. He couldn't use a shoulder throw or a headlock.

'Does this count as intoxication?'

Ryan pondered as he walked. It wasn't as dramatic as an anime personality shift, but it was definitely unlike the usual Hua.

The usual Hua was very proper and somewhat introverted. A few pats on her knees would have made her blush and jump away; she'd never disobey his orders.

Alcohol loosens inhibitions, right? Fine, indulging a little is understandable.

Ryan was empathetic; he imagined a refined young woman thrust onto a battlefield—a little resistance was expected, especially after achieving something significant.

"So, where do you want to go?"

Hua remained silent, pointing forward. Ryan sighed.

He'd been driving for two hours; was she planning to make him run around all night?

Fine, let's continue. Hua was unusually bold; what if she demanded a headlock later?

They reached the beach. The darkness was broken only by the sound of crashing waves; a distant lighthouse was hidden in the night, resembling a star from afar.

They arrived at the seawall; Hua slightly tightened her grip on him, as if clinging to a horse's flanks. Ryan stopped, reaching out, but Hua remained clinging to his neck.

"Hey, we should at least find somewhere to sit."

"This is fine." The girl replied firmly.

With anyone else, Ryan would have lost patience, but he was unusually tolerant, rarely seeing Hua's impulsive side.

She was always obedient, keeping her thoughts to herself, quietly following him. Without the alcohol, she wouldn't be this exhausted.

He faced the ocean, asking softly, "What happened?"

"You noticed?"

"You hid it well, but we've known each other for years. I'm a poor senior brother."

The girl behind him was silent, her grip on his shoulders tightening, her breathing quickening. Then, in a near-whisper, Hua spoke.

"I've been clearing Honkai in Shenzhou, but I can't kill them all. Ten cities have become ruins. I hunt Honkai Beasts every day, transport corpses, and my teammates keep dying..."

Ryan listened quietly. He'd seen the battle reports, but experiencing them through her perspective was different. Those terse words revealed exhaustion and despair, each sentence filled with blood and tears.

The third Honkai outbreak ravaged East Asia, resulting in tens of millions of deaths; the most terrifying catastrophe before the Seventh Honkai. And Hua had participated throughout.

Ryan was silent, regretting his initial inaction. Even prepared, this was too much for an eighteen-year-old girl.

She searched for survivors amidst the rubble; she fought Honkai Beasts; she pressed down on the bleeding wounds of dying comrades...

"Honkai Beasts kept appearing in this area; we couldn't stop them. So, later, we became protectors, evacuating survivors from high-risk areas. Then the Honkai plague arrived."

"Initially, it was isolation. The infected were abandoned, ultimately resorting to self-destruction. We received orders... to eliminate the infected."

"Stop." Ryan interrupted. He knew the current methods of treating the Honkai plague.

To prevent infection spread, disobedient infected individuals were eliminated—a necessary evil, but the psychological impact was greater than killing Honkai Beasts.

Becoming a hero came at a high cost, but this cost was exorbitant.

"Senior brother, do you think I'm being weak? Even Mr. Kevin accepted this."

"Don't compare yourself to that blockhead. He only thinks about Mei. Besides, East Asia was a living hell." Ryan wasn't simply comforting her; he realized Hua's exceptional resilience was at play.

Of all the war zones, she was stationed in East Asia and then returned from the heavily impacted regions without any visible damage.

"What you've witnessed, all humanity will eventually face. It's good you're back." Ryan patted her shoulder, then asked, "What did you learn?"

"Honkai is far more complex than the propaganda suggests. It's inexhaustible; it doesn't even need Honkai Beasts; humans killing each other is enough. Even without a Herrscher, we were exhausted. Even Captain Himiko sought psychological counseling."

Himiko?

Ryan recalled the jovial woman, a seasoned warrior.

"What happened to her?"

"Returning from a cleansing operation, she became unstable. A small town was used as an isolation zone. When Honkai Beasts attacked, the infected people surged out, attacking us from behind."

I'll die, and you won't live either?

Ryan inhaled deeply; he could guess what followed—a bloody massacre, inflicting significant damage and shattering the faith of those who sought heroism. ƒгeewёbnovel.com

"Our enemies aren't just Honkai Beasts and Herrschers; they're merely triggers, exposing humanity's ugliness." Ryan sighed. He'd killed plenty of fools on Mu Continent; they were blind, obsessed with power struggles.

"No wonder I sense your fear. But why did you persevere?"

"You."

"Me?"

"Yes, you are my hope." Hua looked up; her jade-green eyes burned with fervor. "If you were in Shenzhou, I wouldn't have felt fear. You're like a great tree, shielding me from everything!"

Her resolute tone made Ryan chuckle wryly. He wasn't an omnipotent Aeon, yet he felt a sense of relief.

If he hadn't taken that step at Chiba Academy, he'd be like the useless Yasashī, offering only comfort. But as Hua guessed, his plan was unfolding.

"If you want to stay by my side, I can arrange it."

The girl behind him showed a hint of struggle; she clearly desired his protection, recalling Shanghai's coastline, where Ryan stood like a giant before Mosha, shielding her from the storm.

"Senior brother, I've entered this world. You need a stepping stone to reach your goal, and I need strength to qualify as that stepping stone."

Ryan's expression faltered; he wanted to silence her, to stop her from setting flags. He stopped himself from reprimanding her.

They'd slain a Third Herrscher, seized power, and their plans were progressing smoothly. But he knew Honkai wasn't a simple monster-slaying game; its examination aspect meant fiercer human resistance and a more invigorated Honkai.

The phrase 'Extraterrestrial' echoed in his mind like a curse.

Even with my interference, the timeline will change dramatically. But without me, the Previous Era's fate was already disastrous; how much worse could it get?

At least, besides Elysia, another flame of hope existed. Someone was willing to pursue it, like Hua.

"Thank you for your trust. It's... somewhat pressuring."

"Are you afraid of pressure?"

"Haha, it's a catalyst for me. Without pressure, we wouldn't have met. Go ahead with your plan. When we return, I'll give you a gift."

Ryan had come to terms with it. He respected Hua's will. Since she'd chosen this path, he would facilitate it, finding ways to ensure her survival.

"What kind of gift?"

Hua was still pondering when Ryan turned, half his face obscured by shadow, his exposed eye shining brightly, piercing her gaze.

"Do you want to become a Fusion Warrior?"

Normally, Hua would readily comply, but emboldened, a hint of excitement flickered across her face.

Ryan usually followed his own whims; this was the first time he'd actively sought her out, treating her not as a child but as a partner, like Kevin.

This approval was exactly what she craved.

"Yes!"

"Then leave it to me."

"How will you arrange it?"

"You'll have to ask the woman who's been awake all night."

Hua looked confused, turning to see a ferry approaching the shore. A green-haired woman stood at the bow, her white coat billowing in the sea breeze, a strange smile playing on her lips.

Mobius??

Her muscles tensed, ready for battle, as if facing a formidable enemy.

Mobius also saw them, her gaze fixed on the girl behind Ryan. Her slender eyebrows subtly arched.

"Oh, it's late; you weren't back. Enjoying the sea breeze? Snuggling together—how warm."

She'd waited half the night to show off the Soulium breakthrough, only to find them on a date by the shore.

This is... infuriating.

Why do I feel like I've been caught cheating? I need to stay calm; otherwise, I'll be mocked mercilessly.

The man on the shore vanished silently onto the deck, his impassive face making Mobius uneasy. She'd imagined many scenarios, but reality was slightly different.

"What... what are you doing?"

Ryan didn't ask how she knew his whereabouts; this unpredictable woman would likely mock him. Explanation was pointless; Mobius would find flaws.

He simply shook his head, pulling Hua into his embrace. Just as Mobius was about to erupt, he thrust Hua into her arms.

"I've decided to immediately begin the Fusion Warrior project. We're hunting High-Rank Honkai Beasts. I have some tasks for you." Ryan spoke rapidly, already lifting into the air.

"Inform Mei; I need data on Emperor-Class and above Honkai Beasts. Have Sakura bring them to me. I'll send the gathering coordinates to your inbox. Regarding the Soulium breakthrough, I need some test samples; get them to me."

Even Mobius was stunned, as if, during an interrogation, she'd been suddenly bombarded with research materials. She stared blankly, holding the equally dumbfounded girl.

Hua, equally stunned, echoed her sentiment. "Now?!"

"Of course, now. The research is done; should I stay to chat? Saving the world is a busy job." Ryan soared higher, silencing the two with a gesture. "Hua, remember my words tonight. If you want to follow in my footsteps, you must become a Fusion Warrior. Mobius, as a trade-off, I'll find you a suitable Honkai Beast; you won't lose out."

His words were serious, presenting several challenges that made Hua and Mobius instinctively contemplate. Before they could react, he vanished over the sea, leaving only a trail of whitecaps.

"Wait..." Mobius reached out, but couldn't even grasp the dissipating vapor trail. Her eyes flickered; her plans seemed to have been cut short.

She'd planned to corner him, to find a weakness. But...

She slowly lowered her head, meeting Hua's gaze. They stared at each other for a moment before recoiling, both displaying disgusted expressions.

After a tense silence, Mobius brushed her clothes and calmly spoke. "Why were you two out on the beach so late at night?"

Normally, Hua would remain silent, afraid of saying the wrong thing and causing trouble for Ryan.

But emboldened, she boldly seized the opportunity to ask the question that had lingered in her mind. "Dr. Mobius, are you, as rumored, Senior Brother's fiancée?"

What nonsense. Oh well, that bastard made me come out here in the middle of the night; I can take my revenge on her.

Mobius quickly formulated a convincing excuse, but Hua stopped her with a raised hand.

"You hesitated; that means it's not true."

"Ha ha, when did I hesitate? I was just thinking how to avoid upsetting you. You're so sensitive; what if you jumped into the sea in despair? Then Ryan would blame me."

Mobius rattled off an explanation, but Hua simply shook her head firmly. "You're lying."

"Little sister, how can you tell I'm lying?" Mobius frowned, clearly agitated.

"Intuition."

Hua spoke sparingly, her eyes resolute. Mobius, who longed for revenge, gritted her teeth.

She had plenty of provocative remarks ready—sleeping together, massages, his discarded pantyhose—but the words died on her lips.

Hua didn't engage, her gaze clear: I don't believe you, and I don't care to discuss it.

I won't listen, I won't listen. The chanting of a stubborn fool.

The sea breeze blew, and despite Mobius's intelligence and sharp tongue, she didn't know how to respond to such unwavering determination.

This little girl...is as stubborn as a post.