The Vixen's Gambit: Tonight We Hunt

Kevin's choice was simple, and the heroes' response was predictable.

It was a resounding NO!

Could heroes ever retreat? Having decided to protect the freedom and lives of this world's people, they would not back down. Otto, Kallen, and Eleanor, even more so, wouldn't accept such an action, so contrary to Lihua's nature.

The only path left was to fight. Only the strong could decide the world's future!

Kevin was undeniably powerful, overwhelmingly so. Throughout Earth's history, no one could compare. Even Lee, who had almost single-handedly suppressed all Honkai in the Previous Era, had only been defeated by Kevin, even with the Herrscher's power.

But as protagonists, they wouldn't be afraid. They were never alone. The magic of friendship and bonds connected them!

"Kevin, don't get cocky," Kiana declared, staring resolutely at her legendary ancestor. "There are nine experts here! Even if you're strong, you won't be able to kill us all before you run out of energy!"

"Kiana, where did you learn to talk like that…?" Bronya, initially serious, almost lost her composure at Kiana's outrageous declaration, staring at her in disbelief. There might be some truth to it, but isn't that a bit demoralizing?

"I learned it from a movie last night—anyway, it's not important." Kiana cleared her throat, pointing her Divine Key at Kevin. "Stop this, Kevin! No matter what you're trying to do, the people of this world are innocent!"

"It seems you've made your choice." Kevin ignored Kiana, calmly drawing the Might of An-Utu.

The people of Blue Earth are innocent—so what?

Weren't the people of Earth's current civilization innocent? Weren't the people of the Previous Era, killed by Honkai without having done anything, innocent?

Innocence was meaningless. When disaster struck, it destroyed everyone equally.

That's what was happening to Blue Earth now. It had simply encountered him, this disaster. It just happened… to be in his path.

He had already made his peace with it. Hardship, pain, sin—they were just minor obstacles on his path to revenge.

In the next instant, world-destroying flames roared forth, engulfing the pale lunar surface!

.....

Kiana's attempt to persuade Kevin wasn't due to arrogance fueled by the Herrscher of the Void within her, but a calculated decision based on their strength.

They had fought Kevin not long ago, and while they were at a slight disadvantage, they hadn't had Fu Hua, Mei, or Otto's help.

Those three were undoubtedly much stronger than her, Bronya, and Theresa.

Since they had managed to fight Kevin to a near standstill—well, maybe more like a 40/60 split—without them, with their help, they should be able to defeat him!

That was Kiana's optimistic plan. But when the battle began, they realized something was wrong.

Kevin's power was overwhelming, far greater than before!

If their previous fight was a group of elementary schoolers ganging up on Mike Tyson, this was like a group of Mike Tysons fighting Ultraman Taro!

Crack.

"Bronya!" Kiana cried out as Bronya's Project Bunny was violently torn apart.

In that instant, she realized her mistake and immediately opened a spatial rift, preparing to escape into the Imaginary Space—her reaction and movements were swift, but her opponent was simply too strong.

Just as the rift was about to close, a hand shot through, grabbing Kiana by the head. Then, before her disbelieving eyes, he pulled her out of the Imaginary Space and slammed her into the ground!

Boom!!!

Wow, Kiana's out of commission in one hit. Even protagonists have to take their lumps against the boss… Though that move looks familiar. Unit-3 took down the Herrscher of the Void the same way.

Kiana should be thankful Kevin didn't copy the whole move. She'd be a pancake right now.

Lihua was no longer near the rocket at the center of the battlefield. She stood on a distant crater rim, watching the fight with a sigh. Kiana had teleported her there at the start of the battle.

Kiana had meant well, knowing that with Lihua's strength, she would be crushed by the aftershocks. But this kindness only frustrated Lihua—she wanted to die.

How else could she activate her cheat?

And without her cheat, how could this ragtag group stand against Kevin?

If Kiana hadn't sent her here, it would all be over already!

There was nothing Lihua could do but run towards the battlefield—this feeling of running towards certain death felt strangely familiar, a warm sensation on her neck.

Black Abyss White Flower couldn't keep up with his blade. Void Archives was a mere toy. The Judah's chains couldn't even touch him.

As for the Herrschers and Valkyries, they fell with single blows.

Fu Hua, activating Active Honkai Reaction, lasted a hundred seconds against Kevin, a feat worthy of a true master.

But there was no hope. The group that had just triumphantly defeated the Previous Era's metal box legion was utterly crushed by Kevin in less than five minutes.

"Why… so strong…?" Fu Hua struggled to sit up, the only one still able to speak.

Kevin didn't answer.

Defeating Kiana and the others was a given. During their previous fight, he hadn't been at his peak.

Millennia in the Sea of Quanta had depleted his strength, and after returning, he hadn't had a chance to devour powerful Honkai beasts to recover, constantly monitored by Elysia and Fu Hua.

World Serpent, controlled by Elysia and wary of him, couldn't immediately provide the necessary… materials for a quick recovery.

Perhaps if Elysia had been gone longer, World Serpent would have switched allegiance to him. But Kevin couldn't pass up this golden opportunity.

With his two former comrades absent, he had launched the Stigma Project.

Then, while fighting Kiana and the others, he had been flung into this world… By fate or coincidence, upon landing on the moon, he had found a grotesque yet power-filled corpse.

Kevin didn't know where the corpse came from or what it was, but the power within it was real—and his Chimera was not picky.

Consuming this unknown corpse had not only restored his strength but even pushed it further. This stroke of luck was the reason for the protagonist team's crushing defeat.

"Kevin, are you really going to kill everyone…?" Fu Hua asked bitterly.

"You don't need to resist."

Kevin spoke indifferently. "No one will die in the Stigma Project. They will merely slumber in a dream… an eternal, peaceful dream, free from worry and suffering."

"Humans always want to give up. When faced with hardship and danger, they yearn for a savior to solve everything, so they can continue wallowing in their happiness… The Stigma Project fulfills this fundamental human desire."

"Whether it's Earth or Blue Earth, they face challenges they can't overcome on their own. So let them entrust reality and its hardships to the Imaginary—the Stigma Project isn't slaughter, it's salvation."

Why am I explaining this? Kevin wondered. Whether he explained or not, these people were powerless.

But he disliked Fu Hua's phrasing.

Could extracting consciousness from the body, granting them an eternal dream, be considered killing?

Kevin didn't see it as slaughter. It was salvation.

Just like what Lee had done… Yet others still couldn't understand the nobility of her actions.

He wouldn't allow the ignorant to judge Lee's final sacrifice.

Regardless, it was over. These people who had made their choice wouldn't live to see the future—

"That's not salvation. It's just a meaningless illusion."

A voice sighed from behind.

Kevin slowly turned, his gaze colder than the surrounding lunar air.

He had sensed Lihua's approach, simply choosing to ignore her. Her resemblance to Lee granted her a chance to live—but nothing more.

"And what do you know?" Kevin's voice remained calm, but with a rare hint of anger.

"What do I need to know? Wrong is wrong. It requires no explanation." Lihua shook her head gently. "Replacing someone's reality with an illusion is still killing… And the end result is nothing more than a meaningless fantasy—"

"What's wrong with a world of illusions?!"

Kevin's composure finally cracked. He immediately regretted his outburst. He shouldn't have lost control, but that face…

"Reality is too cruel! It only widens the emptiness in our hearts! Sometimes it catches us off guard, sometimes it leaves us helpless. Just like it did to me… Just like when I wasn't fast enough!"

What right did they have to scorn a world of illusions?

If Kevin could choose, he would also lose himself in a beautiful dream where no disasters had ever happened… But he couldn't. He didn't have that right.

Not only was he driven by revenge, but the Stigma Project itself needed him as an anchor.

Everyone had the right to indulge in a happy dream, to reunite with their loved ones—everyone but him. He was condemned to endless, lonely suffering.

And these people dared to scorn the very happiness he couldn't and wouldn't allow himself…

Kevin's rare display of anger and agitation surprised even Elysia and Fu Hua. Had they seen him this emotional in millennia?

But Kevin was still Kevin. He quickly regained his composure.

So what if his emotions flickered? This person wasn't her. She was just… someone who looked like her.

"Move." Looking at Lihua, who had somehow positioned herself in front of the defeated group, Kevin offered his last shred of patience.

But Lihua only responded by silently assembling her own Might of An-Utu.

Identical flames burned on the moon, a candle flame against the blazing sun.

Kevin said no more, calmly advancing with his sword.

"Wait, wait, wait! Kevin, don't! Lihua, she… she might be Lee's reincarnation!" Elysia was the most agitated, practically screaming.

Her damaged robotic limbs prevented her from standing, but she shouted with all her might, "She must be Lee reincarnated… You can't hurt her!"

"Humanity's weakness is their refusal to face the cruel reality, their constant search for false comfort."

Kevin continued walking, his pace unwavering, the Might of An-Utu blazing in his hand.

"And I… will not."

As his words fell, the world seemed to fall silent, leaving only the roaring flames to consume everything.