Volume 1, Chapter 39: Simulation - Second Honkai Eruption

[Schicksal World Simulator activated.]

[Current Scenario: Second Honkai Event of the Intrinsic World.]

[Equipped Weapon: Red Sakura.]

[Assigned Stigmata: Ana Schariac.]

[System generating records...]

[Day 1: You are a soldier from Finland...]

February 14, 2000, Oulu, Finland.

Countless Honkai Beasts emerged from the sky onto the ground, plunging the entire city into despair amidst blood and flames.

The soldiers' communicators had become useless, as everyone scrambled to flee this desolate land.

However, against the massive Honkai Beasts, their escape attempts resembled ants scurrying frantically.

Xia Chen noticed he was wearing camouflage attire, with a gun holstered at his waist and a set of keys hanging nearby.

"Even equipped with a military jeep," he couldn't help but marvel.

It seemed his status wasn't low within this scenario.

But clearly, now was not the time for such reflections, as Honkai Beasts were already approaching him.

Although the simulation scenarios provided Xia Chen with new identities, they still utilized his original body. Facing a Chariot-class Honkai Beast towering like a mountain towards him, he felt no pressure whatsoever.

Even without the Valkyrie Armor, his current physical strength was comparable to that of a Honkai Beast.

Xia Chen shifted his right foot back, lowered his center of gravity, channeled power from his core, and unleashed a forceful punch.

Surprisingly, this blow sent the Chariot-class Honkai Beast staggering five meters away.

He couldn't help but shake his arm slightly; it was somewhat painful, yet bearable.

It truly baffled him how Durandal could kick Honkai Beasts daily without feeling any numbness.

Instead of using the gun at his waist, Xia Chen retrieved the Red Sakura from the System space. The high concentration of Honkai Energy invigorated the mystic blade's excitement.

Xia Chen approached the Chariot-class Honkai Beast he had repelled earlier.

With one swift swing, the job was perfectly done.

However, eliminating just one Honkai Beast could not prevent the city's downfall.

Countless lives were lost amidst the chaos.

Despite becoming desensitized to numerous disasters, witnessing this situation left Xia Chen feeling powerless.

The city had endured enough suffering.

Yet, Xia Chen remained undeterred.

With his mystic blade raised, he swiftly dispatched every Honkai Beast and Zombie that appeared within his vicinity. Silently, strike after strike followed with precision.

The frantic sounds of fleeing had long faded away, replaced by explosions from burning buildings and the dull thuds of Honkai Beasts moving about.

Each roar of a Honkai Beast signified another life extinguished in this chaos.

After clearing the last Honkai Beast within sight, Xia Chen suddenly let out a sigh of relief.

There was a sense of satisfaction, akin to finally completing a daunting task.

He had been continuously fighting for four hours, even his anger, once burning fiercely, now felt somewhat numb.

Such is human nature; witnessing too much calamity triggers a self-protective emotional detachment.

However, when he saw Aurora, the Pseudo-Herrscher resembling the Herrscher of Wind, mercilessly slaughtering survivors like a raging storm, his fury reignited uncontrollably.

"I didn't expect anyone to still be standing in this city." The Pseudo-Herrscher's eyes gleamed scornfully.

Despite her delicate features, her words were venomous, sharp as a knife. "It would be better if not a single person survived. So, you must die too."

Aurora manipulated the fluid, sending wind blades slicing through his body.

If not for any intervention, these wind-formed blades would have severed his neck within three seconds. Approximately one minute later, he would go into shock from excessive blood loss, enduring agonizing screams and struggles throughout that time.

Aurora relished in human suffering.

Only by witnessing their torment could she repay the pain she endured twofold.

To her surprise, however, as the wind blades passed through him, they caused no harm whatsoever.

"What?"

"Are you using this wind to make me comfortable?" Xia Chen gripped the mystic blade, a mocking expression on his face.

Now possessing A-rank Valkyrie capabilities, his physical prowess had significantly enhanced due to the System's influence. Each time the System increased his Honkai Energy compatibility, it also correspondingly boosted his physique, allowing him to accommodate more Honkai Energy within his body.

"Hmph, arrogant human." Aurora was instantly infuriated.

With a wave of her hand, she directed multiple gusts of wind pressure towards Xia Chen.

However, it proved futile.

Unbeknownst to her, Xia Chen had subtly activated the power of Stigmata around himself. Although rudimentary, it was enough to halt the thermal motion of surrounding molecules.

And fluids dread nothing more than stagnation.

However, fluids fear stagnation the most.

"What?" Taken aback, Aurora instinctively turned to flee.

But Xia Chen wouldn't let her escape so easily.

With his blade raised, a blood-red glow flashed across its edge—Xia Chen had imbued Honkai Energy into Red Sakura, activating Sakura Flurry.

Even an A-rank Valkyrie could attempt to recover a newly born Herrscher, and while Pseudo-Herrschers possess authority, they aren't as powerful as true Herrschers.

A sense of imminent danger washed over Aurora.

Xia Chen pierced her body with Sakura Flurry.

Unlike Wendy, this Pseudo-Herrscher's situation was fundamentally different. She was essentially a deceased entity, merely granted memories by Honkai; there was no saving her now.

The world had wronged her, and she sought revenge upon it—a fair exchange.

However, disposing of a deceased Herrscher posed a problem. He couldn't directly touch the Herrscher Core, yet leaving it here was not an option either, as Honkai Beasts would consume it for their growth.

At that moment, he sensed an inexplicable emotion from Red Sakura.

"Hmm, do you mean this Herrscher Core is useful to you?"

[Hmm.]

The mystic blade gently vibrated.

Xia Chen was slightly surprised.

Honkai Energy from the simulation could upgrade the former Hanna, as it fundamentally originated from game data. However, Red Sakura, the mystic blade, is not the same as its counterpart within the game. He had previously attempted to feed Honkai Energy from the simulation to Red Sakura, but it had no effect.

"Since you desire it, here you go."

Xia Chen didn't mind at all.

Being in a simulation, even if he were to swallow the Herrscher Core, it would only result in death within the scenario while leaving him unharmed in reality.

Currently, aside from affecting his memories and occasionally causing blurred perception, the System's side effects hadn't manifested in any other ways.

As Xia Chen touched the Gem of Desire with Red Sakura, a sudden burst of memory flooded his mind, akin to an invisible needle piercing his brain painfully.

Following that sensation, he heard a whispered voice:

"The divine grants me authority, commanding endless storms, spanning realms near and far, I am the King of Desires."

Instinctively, he lifted his head, and then his consciousness dispersed.

[Your consciousness has been destroyed by the Will of Honkai for stealing a Herrscher's authority.]

[Honkai Event experience concluded. You may permanently retain the following items and extract them to the real world. Congratulations! You have obtained 2x Honkai Pieces and 1x Mysterious Wandering Sound. Extract now?]

[Mysterious Wandering Sound: Knowledge from a higher-dimensional space, now reduced to meaningless whispers in this world. It may inflict intense torment on one's soul but also potentially offer gifts.]

Xia Chen lay on his bed, his gaze unfocused.