I am, Flame-Chaser of Previous Era-Chapter 64: "Love"

The Fire Moth higher-ups couldn't have imagined that the blade they'd recruited was also plotting to eliminate their internal problems, focusing Fire Moth's strength entirely on combating the Honkai.

Since Chiba Academy, Ryan's power had grown, and his ambitions expanded.

From initially surviving, to protecting those close to him, he had begun to explore the world's unknown destiny. Like a post-meal stroll, he ran faster and took bigger strides.

He began actively responding to the inner call—the meaning of Path's existence. Regardless of the path, it would draw the traveler deeper; there was no logic, only the inner drive to align with Path.

As for Fire Moth, the higher-ups had never truly trusted Ryan, and he wouldn't entrust his life to them.

"Time to start the plan; it's still quite challenging." Ryan looked into the mirror, slowly buttoning his shirt. Except for the bandages around his neck, his wounds were mostly healed.

He had considered this for days, and a plan was taking shape. Eliminating the Director would be easy; the challenge lay in causing Fire Moth to collapse and fracture without intervention.

"After all, I want to fight the Honkai more effectively, not destroy this organization."

He looked at his handsome reflection, offering a warm smile. First, he needed to categorize Fire Moth's factions—who were enemies, who were allies.

"If Fire Moth completely collapses, the Honkai will laugh."

Smoothing the wrinkles on his shirt, Ryan left the ward. It should have been midsummer, but the weather was unusually cool; the experts' "abnormal" weather predictions had come true.

Ryan wanted to see the post-battle Shanghai firsthand. He descended the stairs, commandeered a military Jeep at the docks, and drove north along the shattered roads.

Even the outskirts of Shanghai were littered with collapsed buildings; the occasional enormous Honkai Beast carcass, bomb craters, and wrecked vehicles lined the roads.

Tents were pitched in the fields; protesters held signs, their cause unclear. Civilians were occasionally seen engaging in physical altercations with riot police.

The dead were numerous; the living struggled. This was only half the city; resources were concentrated on rescue efforts in the more populated areas. Further out, there was little to no aid; conflicts stemmed mainly from unfair compensation disputes.

[Citizens, please remain calm. Supplies will arrive soon. Please believe in the UN announcements; ignore rumors and misinformation.]

Loudspeakers and radios repeatedly broadcast announcements; Ryan rested his hand on the car window, ignoring them.

Ahead, a large manhole blocked the road; a seemingly endless mesh fence enclosed the city. Drones patrolled the area.

This chapt𝙚r is updated by freeωebnovēl.c૦m.

As the vehicle stopped, heavily armed soldiers approached.

The third Honkai impact affected all of East Asia; Shanghai, as the epicenter, suffered the most. Zombies and Honkai Beasts remained; those lacking Honkai energy adaptation needed protective suits. A new incurable disease, "Honkai Sickness," was emerging; medical professionals worldwide were searching for a cure.

The benefits of joining Fire Moth became apparent; Ryan simply presented his credentials, and the manhole slowly opened.

Ryan's eyes widened; the post-apocalyptic landscape unfolded before him.

The bustling city was eerily silent. Wrecked vehicles lined the streets; buildings were riddled with holes and in ruins. Soldiers in white protective suits moved through the debris; bulldozers lifted earth into pits, burying the dead.

This was a silent purgatory, difficult to reconcile with the vibrant Shanghai he remembered.

Familiarity was comforting, yet the transformation was overwhelming.

Ryan frowned, gently accelerating, slowly driving into the ruins, weaving through the debris, observing his surroundings.

His expression remained impassive; he seemed more like a tourist. The ravaged scenery was hardly beautiful, and he didn't know why he'd come.

Nostalgia? Pointless. Emotional response to the scene? He wasn't sentimental.

He simply wanted to see it, then move on, without dwelling on the increasing frequency of such scenes. The sunset was before him, but he saw the dawn of tomorrow.

Screech—

The Jeep abruptly stopped. It wasn't a Honkai Beast; Ryan saw a familiar figure.

Atop a pile of rubble, a girl worked like a human crane, lifting a massive floorboard. Her beautiful pink hair was plastered to her face with sweat; her elegant dress was covered in dust.

She seemed tireless, working while joking with those around her. Their smiles were strained, their eyes revealing fear and disgust, but she seemed oblivious, focused on her task. To assume she was kind would be a mistake.

A zombie suddenly burst from the rubble. Amidst the cries of alarm, the girl calmly and decisively shot it dead.

In an instant, her heroic spirit blazed; she showed no mercy to her enemies, just as she had during the siege of the Herrscher of Thunder—many words, but decisive action.

So, why was she here?

Ryan considered this and opened the car door.

"Oh, Ryan, you came." Elysia saw Ryan exiting the vehicle, waving from the rubble with a mocking smile. "Hmph hmph, you actually took my words seriously. I only mentioned it casually yesterday, and you're here to help."

That's ridiculous; you didn't even say where you were.

"Just happened to be passing by." Ryan put his hands on his hips, looking at the dirty Elysia. "I didn't expect you to be doing this kind of dirty work."

"A flower with dew looks even more beautiful." Elysia suddenly pulled him close, taking his hand. "You came at just the right time. Come help!"

"Wait..."

Ryan had only planned a brief drive through the city, but he couldn't dissuade her, so he climbed onto the rubble, panting as he began the manual labor.

This area, devastated by the Herrscher, had no intact buildings. Large machinery couldn't reach here, only manual labor. With two extraordinary individuals, the work efficiency increased significantly.

Ryan didn't mind getting his shirt dirty, diligently cutting through concrete slabs. This had once been a luxury mall; now, the luxury goods were just trash.

Pointless work. There was no salvage value in this area; the higher-ups were going to great lengths for social appearances.

He scoffed; they were uncovering only twisted corpses and unusually resilient zombies. He considered using explosives, but seeing the persistent pink figure working diligently, he suppressed his frustration and continued.

Their efficiency was so high that the excavation team was idle, armed guards standing by. They clearly knew their efforts were wasted, and resentment lingered.

The reporters had left after taking pictures. The ruins were dangerous, containing zombies; it was pointless to save people who couldn't be saved.

Just what was he doing here? Ryan was growing impatient when—

"Ryan, come quick! Look!"

"Huh?" Ryan looked up to see Elysia excitedly jumping, as if she'd found treasure, and approached with curiosity.

They'd reached the lowest level. Twisted metal and debris were piled against a warped iron door. A woman, long dead, held a seven or eight-year-old girl in her arms; motionless, yet Ryan sensed a faint heartbeat.

"She's alive?"

Even Ryan, usually calm, was surprised. Five or six days, in the heart of the Honkai impact zone—unbelievable.

"Yes, isn't it miraculous?" Elysia nodded, a clear sense of happiness on her face. She didn't use Honkai energy; her movements were gentle and careful as she moved the rubble.

This wasn't a miracle; it was a divine intervention.

Ryan didn't know what to say; he turned to call out to those below. "Quickly, there's a survivor!"

"What? A survivor?"

The soldiers were stunned, scrambling onto the rubble. They watched as Elysia effortlessly lifted the half-ton steel beam; they quickly went to rescue the girl.

"There really is a survivor!"

"Bring a stretcher, prepare nutrient fluids."

"Contact the 'Nest'; send a rescue helicopter immediately."

Ryan stood to the side, watching as the girl was rescued. She was conscious, staring at her surroundings with fear, then at the excited rescue team, the smiling Elysia, and the astonished Ryan.

"Uncle, I'm thirsty. Do you have any water?"

The girl spoke in a weak voice, causing those around her to chuckle.

"Yes, Uncle will get you some."

Ryan stood there, stunned, even as the stretcher was carried away. His astonishment hadn't lessened. Statistically and biologically, this was impossible, yet it had happened.

"See? Life is vibrant and tenacious. Doesn't that make all your fatigue vanish?"

Ryan turned to look at Elysia. She was still covered in dust, seemingly disheveled, yet her radiant smile made her look purely beautiful.

"You knew there was someone alive?"

"No, but that's precisely why finding survivors is so rewarding." Elysia stretched, patted Ryan's shoulder, and said in an elder-like tone, "Young man, you have much to learn. Let's continue."

Ryan turned, watching her depart. She moved lightly, sometimes observing, sometimes calling out into the ruins, like a butterfly dancing among flowers.

The setting sun bathed her in light; her disheveled appearance made her seem even more divine.

Ryan noticed the rescue soldiers dispersing, no longer dragging their feet; they were now more focused.

Seeing this, Ryan understood something.

Why the remaining twelve Flame-Chasers revered her—not just for her beauty, sincerity, and warmth, but also because of her unique voice.

Elysia had never simply spoken words; she showed her love for humanity through action. She was a true hero.

Ryan touched his chest, silently repeating the word, "Love."