I am, Flame-Chaser of Previous Era

Ryan spent two hours resolving the minor Honkai incident and returned to the academy. Perhaps the noise from the Fire Moth helicopters had been too loud; many students were pointing at the sky.

Of course, nobody paid much attention; under the dark night, they assumed it was a military exercise, oblivious to Ryan scaling the wall back to his dorm.

Ryan knew few people at the academy, and he walked quietly through the crowd to his dorm, only to find Kevin wasn't back yet.

Chiba Academy had high tuition fees; the dorm rooms weren't large, but they were comfortably appointed doubles. He placed his weapons back in the closet and patted his hands lightly.

"Done."

To be honest, the impact of tonight's fight was minimal. It was just a few Honkai Beasts and some Zombies. The entire world was much the same—occasional, manageable Honkai Impacts. Even the appearances of two Herrschers had been forcibly suppressed.

Global order remained relatively normal; even within Fire Moth, a sense of complacency reigned.

"If I didn't know the world was doomed, I'd relax with you guys too."

Ryan chuckled. He'd been somewhat unlucky these past few years, constantly encountering Honkai. But it was completely random; there was no pattern to predict, no reason to delve too deeply without sufficient data.

"Expansion isn't a fantasy, it requires specific conditions to proceed. Think of it as a ladder, one step at a time."

Ryan smirked; that tone wasn't typical of a girl, especially the fondness for cute emojis. Online, it often indicated a man pretending to be a girl, but he didn't mind.

His advantage was knowing the ending; his disadvantage was the same. Focusing constantly on the outcome could lead to obsession, and he didn't want to become a survival-driven automaton.

Even knowing the outcome, he wanted to enjoy the present. Maintain a balanced mindset, stay true to himself.

[Blossoming Flower]: Why'd you suddenly stop? Changed your mind?

[Void]: Nope. Classes tomorrow. Really can't force it tonight.

[Blossoming Flower]: Tired? I recently found a book on human massage techniques, helping others relieve stress. Want me to send it to you?

[Void]: No one to help me with it.

[Blossoming Flower]: Doesn't your womanizing roommate help? Is your relationship bad?

[Void]: He's the womanizer; there's no room for me. He hasn't even come back yet.

[Blossoming Flower]: Still not back? Could it be… (covering mouth), if only I were there, I could massage you while you write.

You fiend! Do you think I'm a typewriter?!

Ryan's mouth twitched; he sent a 'Sleeping' emoji, then threw himself onto the bed, ignoring his phone.

Staring at the ceiling, his pupils reflecting the hanging lamp's light, he unconsciously smiled, a momentary lightness brought by an amusing netizen. But the smile quickly faded, leaving his expression blank.

If only there were no Honkai.

A thought suddenly surfaced, leading to a comfortable fantasy. After several seconds, Ryan abruptly sat up, slapping his face, as if to shake himself out of the reverie.

The world wouldn't change based on his fantasy. At least, not yet.

...

Mu Continent, Fire Moth Fifth Research Institute.

A metallic ceiling, metallic floor, countless sophisticated instruments emitting various phosphorescent glows. Any single piece of equipment here could be considered a prized possession in a cutting-edge laboratory. However, upon closer inspection, one notices countless containers filled with a vibrant blue liquid.

Within the containers floated bizarre chunks of flesh or organ tissue, adding a chilling touch to the already surreal atmosphere.

In one corner of this terrifying laboratory, a metallic bed stood, with a young woman lounging upon it.

She had slightly curled, rose-pink hair; her violet eyes were deep and star-like, framed by delicate, long eyebrows. Her exquisite, perfectly shaped nose and slightly parted lips curved into a mischievous smile.

The girl held a phone, softly humming a tune, rhythmically swinging her legs. Her stunning beauty and elfin features were strangely at odds with the cold, unnerving laboratory.

"Hmph, they really enjoy teasing me, yet they successfully piqued my interest."

Her voice was melodious and agile. Being ghosted didn't seem to faze her; she was composing a playful message on her phone…

"They simply don't want to pay attention to you, Elysia." A slow voice echoed. A tall, slender woman emerged from the shadows of the laboratory. Dressed in a white lab coat and turtleneck sweater, she possessed a perfect figure. Her long green hair was tied in a ponytail; she adjusted her dark glasses.

"And the organization issued you a communicator, not so you could chat with internet strangers."

"Mobius, you finished your check-up so quickly?" Elysia stood, her bare feet on the metallic floor, asking with a smile. "Aren't you tired after a day's work?"

She approached, but Mobius instinctively took a half-step back, looking at the rambling woman with resignation.

This personality… she initially thought it was an act. The excessive enthusiasm and kindness were almost off-putting. But over time, she only felt resigned. Whether it was an act remained unclear, but she was undeniably outmatched.

"Move. Don't get too close. Besides, your checkup showed no problems, but I sense you're hiding something. I'll likely find out soon, so it's best to confess yourself."

Mobius removed her glasses, a confident, arrogant smile playing on her lips. She felt she'd applied enough pressure. The pink-haired girl remained motionless, a thoughtful expression on her face.

Come on, spill your secret. After all this time together, you know what I'm capable of.

Her smile deepened. Finally, Elysia finished contemplating, dropping her hand from her face.

"Mobius, why doesn't he pay attention to me?"

The world's leading biological expert, head of Fire Moth's Fifth Research Institute, and top-tier scientist Mobius nearly hit her head on a nearby apparatus, quickly bracing herself.

"I told you, you're overworked. Go rest." Elysia readily stepped forward to support her.

"Get away," Mobius muttered, cold and dismissive. "You pondered this for so long, and it's this petty matter?"

Elysia showed no sign of anger, tilting her head slightly. "Yes, it's because you, Mobius, told me to pay attention. Why wouldn't someone want to respond to a girl like me?"

Mobius looked at her with quiet resignation, yet again defeated in her attempts to probe. She took a deep breath, regaining her composure.

"Because, according to online simulation algorithms, he wouldn't perceive you as a girl. It's the consequence of overacting."

"Overacting? I'm just being myself." Elysia blinked, seemingly confused.

"You… forget it." Mobius inhaled again, gritting her teeth slightly. "Can you stop wasting time? I skimmed that novel you mentioned; besides an active imagination, the writing is mediocre and cringe. Why are you so fond of this kind of book? If you want to finish it quickly, I can have the outside team bring him in. We can just throw him in a dark room. Wait, what's that look?"

Elysia was watching her intently; her violet eyes held no impatience at the reprimand, no resentment at the misunderstanding, only elation, genuine elation.

This woman…is she a masochist?

"Mobius, I'm really happy."

"You, you're happy about what? And stay back."

"I only mentioned the title, and you immediately went to find it. You're so kind and thoughtful."

Me? Thoughtful?

Mobius almost laughed, but she couldn't bring herself to do so, turning away coldly.

"Don't overthink it. I was just looking for some research inspiration. It's also a good way to kill time. It has nothing to do with you, absolutely nothing!"

She emphasized this, but Elysia merely smiled, making her scalp tingle. She quickened her pace.

Her heels clicked on the metal floor, growing faster until she abruptly stopped at the entrance to the documentation room.

"E—ly—si—a, I told you not to follow."

"But you still haven't answered my question. Why does he often disappear after a brief conversation?"

"He might have something to do." Mobius wasn't sure how to explain, but footsteps echoed again.

A woman with white hair, also in a researcher's uniform, approached from the hallway. She, too, possessed a beautiful figure, but with a more mature feminine charm.

"Oh, Blanca." Elysia immediately abandoned Mobius, waving.

"Good evening, Miss Elysia." The woman bowed gracefully.

"Call me Ely. No need to be so formal."

"Ahem." Mobius couldn't help but cough. She knew that if she didn't interrupt, she'd be listening to rambling all night, so she folded her arms, addressing her assistant. "Blanca, what is it?"

"Doctor, we received a report from the Far East branch. They contained a minor Honkai incident in Nagazora City."

"That's all?"

"No, the individual who contained the Honkai… you're very interested, so I brought the report personally."

Nagazora City?

Mobius paused, then her eyes lit up. She snatched the report, glancing at it. Her usually expressionless face became animated.

"He's at it again. Why do Honkai incidents always happen near him? Compared to the Honkai three years ago, this one was handled effortlessly. Is he concealing his strength, or…"

The doctor's old habits were resurfacing. She'd been explicitly ordered not to investigate Ryan; yet, here she was, playing the good samaritan again.

Blanca felt a headache coming on. She knew Ryan had connections within the Fire Moth Council. The previous cut in research funding had kept Dr. Mobius quiet for a few years, but now…

Maybe Miss Elysia could persuade her. Wait?

Blanca looked up, surprised to see the elfin girl peering over the doctor's shoulder, her face alight with interest.

"Nagazora City? I want to go too."