I am, Flame-Chaser of Previous Era

For the next few days, Ryan followed a predictable routine, a straight line between the dormitory and the laboratory.

He input formulas into supercomputers, conducted experiments, participated in project discussions, and prepared for particle collision experiments, constantly busy from morning till night.

Ryan was used to this life. On the positive side, this meticulous research helped him better understand the nature of Honkai energy, improving his control and efficiency—a practical application of the 'Trailblazing' ideal.

On the less positive side, Honkai Impacts weren't frequent, and Fire Moth wasn't idle; they couldn't chase every incident globally, and he didn't need to run around constantly.

For some reason, Honkai incidents kept happening near him. He'd initially ignored it, but since the Herrscher of the Void, the frequency had increased, drawing his attention.

"The more data points, the higher the experimental accuracy. A few months ago, I'd encounter Honkai at close range once every few months. Now it's once every half-month."

In a quiet corner of the cafeteria, Ryan chewed on an onigiri, furiously typing on his laptop, occasionally frowning and deleting, sometimes lost in thought.

"I can't be causing Honkai energy accumulation. If I were, there would have been widespread destruction, and Fire Moth wouldn't ignore a mobile catastrophe."

Ryan looked at the bustling cafeteria. If he were causing Honkai accumulation, even a slight increase in concentration would be detectable.

Could it be those heretical cult theories? That Honkai is a god, detecting me as an 'alien,' deliberately targeting me?

Ryan paused, then chuckled derisively. That was unscientific; at least, it couldn't be explained rationally.

There was no evidence suggesting Honkai possessed consciousness. Moreover, if it did, the first and second Herrschers would have appeared immediately, instead of starting with Zombies and using common Honkai Beasts.

Having lived in this Previous Era for nineteen years, having awakened Path for ten, Ryan had evolved from an ordinary human. While he didn't know the full extent of his power, according to Fire Moth's records:

"That time in Shenzhou, he killed a Templar-Class Honkai Beast."

Thinking this, he opened an encrypted file, entering the password to access a document bearing the Fire Moth insignia.

It contained images and descriptions, less theory, more raw data. Fire Moth's records of Honkai confrontations—size, destructive power, Honkai energy concentration—categorized humanity's most direct enemy: the Honkai Beasts.

Excluding mutated subspecies, there were roughly three main categories and ten sub-categories.

First, creatures infected by Honkai energy: Zombies and mutated animals. These were essentially real-world organisms, flesh and blood.

Second, Low-Rank Honkai Beasts. These were aggregations of Honkai energy, more accurately described as life forms.

Seraph-Class, Knight-Class, Chariot-Class, Templar-Class.

The Seraph-Class and Knight-Class were the monsters he'd dealt with a few nights ago. Despite his nonchalant demeanor, he'd needed heavy weaponry and anti-tank missiles, and their strength was rapidly increasing.

Ryan paused on an image. According to Fire Moth's records, dealing with the Euro Honkai Emperor required armed helicopters, rockets, and heavy bombs, transforming the forested area in the image into a moonscape.

"That's peak conventional firepower. And beyond…" Ryan's expression turned serious.

High-Rank Honkai Beasts: Emperor-Class, Judgment-Class.

According to Fire Moth, these possessed a 'Core.' To defeat them, one must not only destroy their formidable bodies but also their Core—something Ryan had yet to encounter.

"This is troublesome. It feels like the wheel of fate is accelerating."

Ryan closed his eyes; countless concerns flashed through his mind, yet his expression remained unchanged.

Since the Herrscher of the Void, this sense of urgency had been growing. A few pressing problems immediately came to mind.

The frequency of Honkai appearances near him was increasing; Fire Moth would inevitably discover him, either killing him, dissecting him, or imprisoning him.

'But that's unacceptable. I don't want to be locked up until the end of the world. I must continuously grow stronger to forge my path.'

Another problem: the strength of the Honkai Beasts was increasing. If a Judgment-Class Honkai Beast appeared nearby, it would be an instant Game Over. Ryan knew he wasn't a match for High-Rank Honkai Beasts.

These life-threatening dangers would have sent others into a panic. But Ryan remained calm, rationally analyzing his only path.

"I must accelerate my progress. When necessary, I must take risks. These problems are both threats and opportunities. High-level Honkai Beasts can deepen my understanding of Honkai, solving the first problem."

Was the Honkai near him random or inevitable? If inevitable, what was the cause?

Worrying was useless; haste made waste. Living in this broken world, Ryan had no choice but to look forward.

Worst-case scenario: confronting both Fire Moth and Honkai. So be it. A Trailblazer never despairs.

Click.

He closed his laptop. The next moment, a figure appeared before him.

Kevin held a lunchbox; beside him was a long-haired young man, with refined, handsome features and a warm, approachable aura—kind at a glance.

"Su, you're free today? Did the medical students finally leave you alone?" Ryan greeted him, offering a seat.

"I just skipped a level. Although I'm not as gifted as you and Mei, I can keep up with my studies." The young man smiled warmly, like a spring breeze. "It's almost cherry blossom festival, so it's a break before the busy period."

"With your IQ, you should be in the physics department with Mei and me. Why medicine? You'll have to do internships, so troublesome."

"My purpose lies elsewhere. Someone needs to drive civilization forward; someone needs to care for the injured." Su still smiled, his tone sincere.

"Alright, alright, I sound like an idiot next to you physical education students. Let's eat." Kevin decisively sat down. His grades weren't bad, but next to these monsters, he felt like a fool.

With a smug look, he glanced at the laptop on the table. "Ryan, what were you doing so secretly in that corner of the cafeteria?"

Naturally, he was planning his next move.

That's what Ryan thought, but he said, "Nothing, just finding material for my novel."

"Why are you still writing that thing? What about your experiments? Mei's nowhere to be seen, and you're lazing around in the cafeteria!" Kevin mumbled, chewing his food. "If you put in more effort, I wouldn't need Su to have lunch with me."

He was blatantly prioritizing his romantic interest over his friends. Fortunately, Su was good-natured and didn't get angry. They'd been classmates since high school and understood the unusual couple, Mei and Kevin. Despite being in the same academy, they were often distant.

Ryan didn't get angry either, chuckling. "Kevin, I actually admire you."

"Admire me for what?"

"You have the looks of a heartthrob but are surprisingly pure. Years have passed, and you're still stuck at holding hands. Su and I are getting worried. Don't you understand anything? Let Su teach you a healthy physiology course."

Kevin froze, his face reddening. "I'm not as perverted as you think! And you don't even have a girlfriend, how can you lecture me!?"

"I don't want one. You're slow; that's the difference."

"Who's slow?!"

"Alright, alright, Kevin, you're such a glutton. Save some for later." Su smoothly steered the conversation, calming the simmering Kevin, then giving Ryan a meaningful look.

Haha.

Ryan let out a mischievous grin. Teasing Kevin was fun, and thinking of the cold, ruthless, fanatic savior of the future…

Even more fun!

He respected Su, however, and before Su could ask, he spoke. "You want to know where I'm going for the upcoming break?"

"Yeah, we have a five-day break including the weekend. Our medical students are planning a group trip. Do you have any travel plans?"

Ryan blinked, understanding Su's intention. While he wasn't exactly reclusive, besides a few scattered friends, he had few acquaintances, appearing rather odd to others.

"I appreciate your offer, but I have a particle accelerator experiment scheduled for tomorrow night. You know how dangerous that can be; we usually do those on holidays. So I'm busy."

"Really? This is the fifteenth time you've turned me down." Su remained calm, looking at the engrossed Kevin. "You're somewhat like Mei, but completely different."

"How so?"

"I can't put my finger on it. Mei is purely focused on research. You're driven by a reckless, almost frenzied energy, always ready to fight the entire world."

Recklessly frenzied?

Ryan's smile widened; he shook his head silently, grabbing Kevin's bubble tea and taking a sip, causing Kevin to glare. Then, Ryan's phone buzzed. He looked up.

"Another message from your reader? Oh, it's a different one. A junior sister? What's this?"

Ryan didn't hide it; he unlocked his phone, showing the simple message.

[Senior Brother, when will you come to Shanghai?]

No emojis, a very formal tone.

He replied, 'Will return after finishing exams,' to which they responded with a simple 'Okay.' He chuckled and put his phone away.

"Literally what it says. I met her in Shenzhou. Haven't seen her in half a year; she's now studying in Shanghai."

"Hmph, so that's why you disappeared last summer. You have a girlfriend!" Kevin exclaimed, as if uncovering a great secret. Even Su smiled faintly.

"My junior sister is very serious and formal. She ignores me after just two messages. Don't overthink it." Ryan didn't bother explaining, turning to the gentle young man. "Su, you came to see me specifically, right? Anything else?"

"You've seen through me." The gentle young man took a deep breath, his expression turning serious. "Lately, you've been particularly interested in Mei and my project. It's as if something is about to happen."

These Flame-Chasers… really perceptive.

Ryan didn't respond, only glancing at the increasingly bustling cafeteria.

The evening news played on the TV; male students discussed recent esports matches, female students gossiped about celebrities, and several cafeteria workers chatted about their vacation plans.

Life went on. The earlier discussions about the helicopters had been buried under a deluge of new news. Under Fire Moth's influence, the world saw few wars or conflicts, giving Ryan a strange sense of unreality.

"Because time is running out. At this rate, within half a year…"

"Time? Time?" Su's expression changed drastically, thinking Ryan knew some secret, perhaps that Mei was terminally ill.

"Don't jump to conclusions. My abilities are limited, but at least I hope you can enjoy the present." Ryan picked up his laptop, nodding at the stunned pair. "Eat slowly. I'm staying overnight at the lab; I won't be back to the dorm."

Kevin held his chopsticks; strands of noodles slid into his bowl. He stiffly looked at the equally stiff Su, his eyes filled with anxiety.

"I think you should ask Mei." Su tapped his phone.

Kevin, as if awakening from a dream, quickly sent a lengthy message.

"Mei, why didn't you tell me you're terminally ill? I'm coming to get you. Let's go to the hospital. If it's nothing, I won't let you die!"

He put down his phone, anxiously waiting. If Su hadn't been there to comfort him, he would have likely sped to the lab on his motorcycle. After a while—

Ding!

Kevin quickly grabbed his phone, then froze, causing Su to instinctively look, then freeze as well. The girl had replied with three words.

"You're being silly."