Ch-47 < Plans >

Kevin's mind was preoccupied as he made his way through the corridors of MOTH.

The morning had been spent settling Aponia and Kalpas into the organization, ensuring they had the resources and support they needed. But now, something else weighed on his mind—Mei.

"Five days without sleep… that girl never changes," Kevin muttered under his breath.

Elysia had mentioned how Mei had been overworking herself again, diving headfirst into countless projects without taking a moment's rest. He quickened his pace, heading straight to Mei's lab.

When Kevin entered the lab, he found Mei exactly where he expected her—buried under a mountain of papers, her attention glued to the data in front of her. She looked exhausted, her movements sluggish as she scribbled notes on the margins of the documents.

"Mei," Kevin called out softly as he walked up behind her.

Mei startled, jerking upright so suddenly that her head banged against the edge of the desk. "Ow!" She winced, rubbing her forehead and nose with a pained expression. Her eyes, misty from the pain, glared at Kevin.

"Are you alright?" Kevin asked, concern lacing his voice as he moved closer.

Mei sighed, her irritation melting away as she nodded. "Yes, I'm fine. Just a bit of a surprise, that's all."

Kevin frowned, his gaze taking in the dark circles under her eyes. "You still haven't slept for five days, have you?"

Mei hesitated, trying to avoid his piercing gaze. "I was busy preparing plans… there's so much that needs to be done." She motioned to the stack of papers in front of her, clearly trying to shift the focus away from her own well-being.

Kevin sighed and pulled up a chair beside her. "Show me what you've been working on."

Mei's expression softened as she handed over the documents. "These are the upcoming projects I've been formulating," she explained, watching as Kevin began to read through them.

Kevin's eyes scanned the pages, absorbing the details of each project. They were ambitious, no doubt about that. Mei had always been one to think ahead, to plan for every eventuality.

1. **Project Soldier:** A new initiative akin to Project MANTIS, but designed to integrate two complementary Honkai genes, enhancing the capabilities of soldiers.

2. **Project Swara:** Aimed at increasing the muscular and neural response of MANTIS soldiers, effectively making them faster and more resilient in combat.

3. **Project Ark:** A long-term project to identify and colonize other habitable planets, should Earth become uninhabitable due to the Honkai.

4. **Project Elemental:** The creation of specialized squads that could harness elemental affinities, turning the tide in battles against Honkai.

5. **Project AEGIS (Advanced Energy Grid Integration System):** Developing an energy grid that could harness latent Honkai energy and convert it into a protective shield, safeguarding cities from Honkai attacks.

6. **Project Origin Nexus:** A research initiative to locate the source of Honkai energy, potentially unraveling the mysteries behind the Honkai itself.

7. **Project Bio-Resonance:** Enhancing the natural bio-resonance between humans and Honkai, allowing warriors to tap into Honkai energy without succumbing to its corruption.

8. **Project Quantum Harmonics Resonator:** Designing a resonator that could harmonize with the Honkai's frequency, disrupting their energy patterns and weakening their influence in infested areas.

9. **Project Stigma:** A last-resort initiative designed to ensure the survival of the human race, even at the cost of more than 99% of the population.

Kevin read through each proposal carefully, his expression growing more serious as he reached the last one. "These projects are well thought out," he said finally, looking up at Mei. "But some of them… they're not necessary right now."

Mei blinked, surprised by his response. "Which ones?"

Kevin set the papers down and lightly flicked her forehead. "Project Stigma, for one."

"Oww…" Mei rubbed her forehead again, pouting slightly. "Why not? It's a contingency plan in case we fail to defeat the Honkai."

Kevin shook his head, his tone firm but gentle. "It's a plan that would wipe out almost everyone, Mei. If we ever have to consider such a drastic measure, it means we've already lost.

Also we shouldn't be deciding the fate of the next era. Our time will eventually pass, and we should leave it to future generations to decide their own fate."

Mei's gaze lowered, her confidence wavering. "But… what if they fail too?

Kevin sighed, leaning back in his chair. "I understand your concern.

But that's why we need to focus on the projects that can actually make a difference now.

Add something like Project Ember instead—something that will help us pass on our knowledge to the next generation if it comes to that."

"Project Ember?" Mei asked, tilting her head slightly.

"A project to preserve our era's knowledge and achievements," Kevin explained. "If the worst happens, and our civilization falls, we should at least ensure that the next era can learn from our successes and failures."

Mei considered his words, then slowly nodded. "Maybe you're right. We shouldn't decide for the next era—only guide it."

Kevin smiled slightly. "Exactly. For now, we should prioritize Project Swara, Project Soldier, and Project Bio-Resonance. These are the most practical and effective initiatives for the immediate fight against the Honkai."

Mei glanced at the documents, her expression thoughtful. "I guess you're right. Working on too many projects at once would just stretch our resources thin."

Kevin leaned forward, his voice gentle but firm. "Mei, I know how much you want to save humanity, but you can't do it alone. Don't take on more than you can handle. We're in this together."

Mei met his gaze, a small smile forming on her lips. "Yes ".

Kevin stood up, offering her his hand. "Now, how about we take a break? You've been working nonstop for days—you need to rest."

Mei hesitated, glancing at the pile of papers on her desk, but Kevin's determined expression left no room for argument. She sighed, taking his hand as she stood up. "Alright… but just a short break."

Kevin chuckled, leading her out of the lab. "We'll see about that."

Kevin lay quietly on the bed, watching Mei as she slept soundly in his arms. She had been so exhausted that she fell asleep almost immediately, not even protesting when he insisted she rest.

She always pushed herself so hard for the sake of humanity, but she sometimes forgot to take care of herself in the process.

Kevin gently brushed a strand of hair from Mei's face before turning his attention inward.

He had been meaning to explore the new abilities he had recently gained, especially the ones related to his newly acquired Authority and his Mauve Eyes of Purple Destruction. With Mei resting peacefully, this seemed like the perfect opportunity to do so.

"System," Kevin whispered in his mind, "tell me more about the Authority of Sound and Blood. What abilities do they provide?"

The system responded promptly, its voice calm and informative.

*"Host, the Authority of Sound grants the following abilities:

- Sound Manipulation

- Sonic Waves Manipulation

- March (boosts allies by 15%)

- Thought Transmission."*

Kevin nodded thoughtfully. "That's why Elysia and the others were able to win easily. From what she told me, the wave manipulation seemed weak, but it must have been enough to turn the tide of battle."

*"Indeed, host,"* the system agreed,

*"However, sonic wave transmission also grants sound wave perception, which allows you to detect sound waves with extreme accuracy."*

Kevin's eyes widened slightly. "That's actually quite useful in battle. Being able to detect sound waves with such precision.

Now, tell me about the Herrscher of Blood."

The system continued, *"The Herrscher of Blood includes the following abilities:

- Blood Manipulation and Control

- Hormone Control

- Pain Reduction

- Charm

- Night Vision

- Shadow Motion."*

Kevin couldn't help but be impressed. "Those are some useful abilities, especially shadow motion, pain reduction, and night vision."

He focused on shadow motion, eager to understand its capabilities better.

*"Shadow Motion,"* the system explained, *"is a space within the shadow that connects it to other shadows, allowing for near-instantaneous travel between them."*

Kevin thought to himself. "That was definitely the right choice to take down the Herrscher of Blood quickly. Otherwise I don't know what she would had done if she knows how to utilize her powers.

Now, let's see the most fascinating ability—Mauve Eyes of Purple Destruction."

*"Host, the Mauve Eyes of Purple Destruction possess the ability to reduce an opponent's power, stats, and regeneration.

Additionally, it provides resistance to fate manipulation , curses and existence erasure. It can also peer into a person's soul."*

Kevin was intrigued. "What exactly is included in power reduction?"

*"Power reduction includes the weakening of an opponent's immortality, laws, and concepts,"* the system explained.

Kevin's eyebrows shot up. "Damn, those are some overpowered abilities. But the most important one is the resistance to fate manipulation and existence erasure. That could save me from final herrscher."

"Congratulations, Host! You have escaped the curse of Kaslana cooking. The curse that was placed on Kaslana cooking is no more."

Ha ha. He laughed dryily! .I'm glad to have "escaped" the curse. Kevin don't know how to respond.

He decided to test his new eyes. Activating them, Kevin felt a surge of energy course through his eyes. His eyes turn dark purple.

Everything around him became clearer, more defined. He could see the souls of various individuals within MOTH, their auras glowing softly with different colors that signified their emotions.

As he scanned the area, something caught his attention. Among the many souls, three individuals stood out, their auras a disturbing reddish-black color, swirling ominously around them.

"Isn't that… the Herrscher of Sentience?" Kevin thought, his eyes narrowing as he quickly got out of bed without disturbing Mei. He quietly slipped out of the room, his senses heightened as he followed the eerie aura.