I am, Flame-Chaser of Previous Era

Blood flowed down the rubble, the headless corpse still twitching from residual nerve impulses. The air was thick with a nauseating stench.

Swish—

The spear swept, leaving a crimson trail on the ground. Ryan leaped lightly over the impromptu stream of blood.

He wasn't fastidious; he simply preferred to leave a certain illusion for those unaware of the horrifying truth. He casually surveyed the courtyard, his brow furrowed.

"Not only has the frequency increased, but the scale has expanded dramatically. The entire area is contaminated."

The air was saturated with an invisible energy—Honkai energy. It appeared randomly, its concentration determining the severity of the ensuing disaster, ranging from the infection and mutation of animals and humans to viral outbreaks and natural catastrophes.

In simple terms, the energy itself is a lethal form of radiation, causing mutations in living organisms within its radius, potentially triggering events such as volcanic eruptions. These events are collectively termed 'Honkai Impact'.

"Those without Honkai-adapting abilities, exposed to such radiation intensity, die instantly, not even having the chance to become monsters."

Peering through a slightly ajar shack door, Ryan saw a young couple dead in bed, their skin marked with strange, hardened patterns.

Honkai radiation is invisible, intangible, and lethal to ordinary humans.

"I need to hurry, before Kevin starts asking questions."

He withdrew his gaze, arbitrarily entering a building. Confronting these Honkai monsters didn't require stealth; a little commotion would draw them out.

Dusk had settled; the hallway's streetlights had long been sold for scrap. The cramped space, reeking of decay and excrement, combined with the incessant emergence of grotesque creatures, transformed the setting into a horror movie scene.

Ryan knew that becoming a Zombie was irreversible. He swung his spear, efficiently dispatching each enemy, until he reached the fourth floor, where he paused.

Crash!

The floorboards shattered. A vague shadow, falling from the collapsed ceiling, landed exactly where Ryan had been moments before, punching two large holes in the floor.

Grrrr…

It lay on the ground, emitting low growls. It appeared female, yet its body was grotesquely deformed, its crazed eyes fixed on Ryan. Most striking were the crystalline, claw-like appendages sprouting from its body.

"Claw Zombie?"

Ryan frowned slightly. Just as individuals varied in Honkai energy adaptation, mutations also ranged in potency.

"Unfortunately, that's not a good sign. Unless one can resist the Honkai energy's mental corrosion, regardless of their adaptability, they simply die."

Ryan sidestepped, raising his spear.

Clang!

A bright spark erupted; the spear met the crystal claws with a metallic clang, sending the Claw Zombie flying like a piece of paper.

But it was incredibly agile, quickly righting itself in mid-air. Cat-like, it launched itself off the wall, counterattacking with impossible speed.

"No consciousness, only instinctual killing. Just a monster."

Ryan crouched, intercepting the claws, then, as the energy neared—

A sudden thrust.

The spear pierced its head, emerging from its abdomen. The Claw Zombie flew over Ryan's head, propelled by inertia, several meters before exploding like an overinflated balloon.

The spear was breathtakingly fast. Blood and gore splattered the hallway, yet Ryan's clothes remained pristine. He held the gleaming spear lightly.

Moments later, white smoke rose from the spear, vaporizing the blood. This energy remained largely a mystery to mankind, and those capable of wielding it were exceptionally rare.

"Luckily, fate has smiled on me; I'm one of them." Ryan spun, his spear a blur. Another Claw Zombie lunged silently; he met its attack with a horizontal swipe.

BAM!

The creature was flattened like a sheet of paper, punching a meter-wide hole in the thick wall.

"Controlling this energy allows me to be superhuman. This is the foundation of my survival."

Ryan didn't hesitate, sprinting a few steps before launching himself off the railing. He tumbled from the fourth floor, glancing sideways to see the wall behind him explode. Several white creatures burst forth, their wings propelling them like cannonballs.

Thud, thud, thud.

A series of dull impacts followed. The opposite building erupted in clouds of dust; shattered glass and rubble rained down. Gravity pulled Ryan down; he plunged his spear into the third-floor wall, his hands gripping the shaft. Like swinging on a gymnastic bar, he rotated, landing in a crouch, his hands on the spear, observing the dust cloud opposite.

"Ah, Seraph-Class Honkai Beasts."

Unlike the Zombies, mutated from humans, these creatures were pure concentrations of Honkai energy, thus designated Honkai Beasts. Generally, their power and size were directly correlated; these smaller Honkai Beasts were nicknamed "mosquitoes".

As Ryan steadied himself, more high-pitched screeches pierced the air. Vague white shapes hurtled back towards him. He gripped his spear, braced himself, and as he fell, thrust it forward, repeatedly.

Spear Thrusts.

Clang clang clang— Thud!

Sparks flew where the spear met the Honkai Beasts' tough hide. They were flung like ragdolls, embedding themselves in the wall, causing the entire building to tremble. He silently counted.

One, two, three…

Having dispatched five, and ignoring the lingering effects of the recoil, Ryan swiftly turned. As the Honkai Beasts prepared to take flight, he charged, spear held low.

No flashy moves; the spear moved like a dragonfly, precisely striking each Honkai Beast. What even rifle rounds couldn't penetrate was easily pierced by the spear.

Five thrusts, five lives taken. Ryan didn't look at the corpses; he exhaled, casually leaning his spear against his side.

Boom, boom, boom!

A series of collapsing walls rapidly approached. A knight-like shadow charged, a humanoid creature astride it, wielding a massive lance. Honkai energy formed swirling vortexes at its tip.

CRASH—

Ryan had already dodged. He watched as the lance scraped against his spear, creating a shower of sparks. As the Honkai Beast paused, he leaped, his speed exceeding his previous movements.

"Get down."

He brought the spear down with brutal force. A deep, resounding clang echoed as the dilapidated hallway finally gave way. The several-hundred-kilogram Honkai Beast crashed through three floors, landing in the courtyard strewn with corpses.

Ryan didn't stop, twisting his wrist, his body arching backward, like a fountain, thrusting the spear.

Reverse Spear Thrust.

Another Knight-Class Honkai Beast had approached from behind, poised for a sneak attack. Unfortunately for it, Ryan's spear was faster, and deadlier.

Thwack!

The spear pierced its body. The Honkai Beast's powerful life force propelled it forward; its lance continued its trajectory, aimed at Ryan's chest. But Ryan had already turned, assuming a low fighting stance, using his left hand as a lever.

Snap!

The black metal bent slightly. The several-hundred-kilogram Honkai Beast was flung into the air, followed by two dull thuds.

The airborne Honkai Beast smashed through the wall; simultaneously, the other, previously struck beast, was half-buried in the ground. It lifted its head just as Ryan dropped from the hole, man and spear merging into a crimson meteor.

Falling Star.

A red bolt of lightning seemed to cut through the crumbling building. Moments later, the chaos subsided into silence.

"Done. That's the 100th Knight-Class Honkai Beast." Ryan stood amidst the bisected corpse, exhaling a puff of white smoke, his eyes closed, sensing subtly.

Slaughtering Honkai Beasts benefited him; otherwise, he wouldn't be out on a midnight crusade. But in a blink, opening his eyes, a hint of disappointment flickered in his grey eyes.

A pile of Zombies, five Seraph-Class, and two Knight-Class Honkai Beasts—no breakthroughs. His control over Honkai energy remained unchanged.

"My Path has hit a plateau. These levels of Honkai Beasts are insufficient to drive my progress. And I haven't discovered any special abilities yet."

Ryan stroked his chin. Path was the core power in the Star Rail universe. Ten years ago, upon his first encounter with Honkai Impact, he'd felt Path's call. Unfortunately, it wasn't a system; it wouldn't hand him any convenient cheats. He had to explore it himself.

"I'm not a Herrscher, born with the ability to control Honkai energy. Nor am I a naturally adapted human; at least they can't control more and more of it. So my path to survival lies in Path itself." Ryan paced amongst the corpses, the moonlight gentle, easing his thoughts.

[Path] is invisible, intangible. In fantasy terms, it's like 'the Dao' in cultivation; in high fantasy, it's a 'list' of sorts. At the top of that list, the '0' entry, is the omnipotent Aeon.

The Aeons are mysterious beings traversing the starry sea of the cosmos. Sentient life can only vaguely perceive the Aeons' presence, their footing in the Paths unseen by mortal eyes. They wield immeasurable power through a certain ideal. Those who walk a specific 'list' are Pathstriders.

Obsessed with Destruction, committed to Preservation, devoted to Erudition, or enamored with Harmony—the Paths are countless. As long as there's no Aeon at the end, a Pathstrider who reaches the limit can become a new god.

So Ryan's path lay in expansion. Through his experiences, he would become something unique. As for the expanding ideal…

"Do I need stronger Honkai Beasts, or even a Herrscher, to help me understand Honkai and thus progress?"

Ryan became increasingly absorbed in his thoughts. At that moment, he heard a roaring sound and, somewhat annoyed, looked up.

Under the moonlight, several helicopters circled, their rotors whipping up a fierce wind, sending dust and debris flying.

Ryan didn't run; he stood at the edge of the clearing, calmly watching the descending helicopters, the fully armed soldiers rappelling down. On the tail of the helicopter, he saw a striking emblem—

A moth engulfed in flames.