Coral Island was an artificial island located on the equator, the largest land reclamation project jointly established by Southeast Asian countries and Australia. The island was composed of a main island and three enormous island-based platforms.
The buildings on the platforms overlapped each other like coral, hence the name Coral Island.
However, the core of Coral Island wasn't the buildings that had developed into the economic center of the Asia-Pacific region. It was the space elevator that pierced the sky—the Star River Stairway. So far, the Star River Stairway had reached 1,300 meters.
Once completed, it would become an important step for humanity to reach space.
Unnoticed by anyone, a figure was standing in the middle of the space elevator, 500 meters above the ground, looking down at the entirety of Coral Island.
The scorching sea breeze ruffled Ren's hair, making him look a bit disheveled. However, he clearly didn't care about such details, his gaze constantly scanning the ground.
Unfortunately, he couldn't find Kiana's trail.
"She should have arrived by now, logically speaking," Ren muttered to himself, sighing softly. He withdrew his gaze, leaning against the space elevator's railing, and somewhat bored, pulled out his phone.
Thanks to the all-out research efforts of Cocolia and numerous puppets, Ren's current grasp of information technology was completely different from before. He could even attempt to hack into organizations like World Serpent and Anti-Entropy. The information Chen Tianwu received was also specifically prepared by Ren.
He had been watching Chen Tianwu even before Moth died, and had specially set up a triggering mechanism.
Using information technology to breach World Serpent's intranet, Anna's file was completely fabricated on the spot by Ren. Even if Gray Serpent checked it a hundred times, they wouldn't find anything.
The reason he went through so much trouble was naturally for the Herrscher core of the Herrscher of the Earth (Star).
As the Herrscher of Dominance, Ren hadn't been particularly keen on pursuing power. After all, as long as he developed step by step, once the number of puppets reached one thousand, his authority would naturally transcend the limits of the Honkai. For the cautious Ren, this was the safest and most direct way.
However, his experiences in the illusion had forced him to confront his own feelings, making him pay more attention to Kiana. Thinking of Kiana, as the savior, about to face countless enemies, Ren gradually realized that his current power might not be enough to protect her anymore.
Like the sense of responsibility that suddenly arises after starting a family, Ren also had to consider whether the power he currently had was sufficient to combat the Honkai.
Even though he was already on par with Kevin, and could even fight a few rounds against the Karma-tainted Kevin with his Taixu Sword God and flawless mental state, to Ren, who was used to being foolproof, not being absolutely safe meant he was absolutely not safe.
Moreover, in the original story of the Ice and Rock Herrschers, the Honkai Will had directly intervened with Chen Tianwu and Anna's memories, forcibly creating the Herrscher of Icy Edge. This was also a huge threat to Kiana, and Ren couldn't just ignore it.
Therefore, whether it was for the sake of power or to help Kiana, Ren had to get involved in the story of the Ice and Rock Herrschers.
However, due to Ren's prior arrangements, Mei hadn't joined World Serpent, and Otto hadn't reached a deal with Kevin. It was still uncertain whether World Serpent would participate in this Herrscher capture operation, so Ren could only use Anna's information to involve Chen Tianwu.
He didn't have any special feelings for this star-crossed couple, nor did he care about their lives.
Because he was well aware that their flawed personalities were destined for a tragic end. It's just that the Honkai had exploited these flaws, forcibly twisting them into the Ice and Rock Herrschers.
But Ren wasn't going to let things unfold according to the original story. First, Kiana definitely wouldn't leave the two of them alone, and second, he also wanted to see if changing their life trajectories could counteract the Honkai Will's control.
Looking at the peaceful Coral Island, Ren waited quietly. The original story didn't specify the exact time when the Ice Herrscher awakened, so he could only wait until the Honkai erupted to take action.
…
"Captain, what are you looking at?"
Her teammate's voice brought Anna back to reality. She withdrew her gaze from the Star River Stairway. In that moment, she had suddenly felt that someone was watching her.
"But that elevator is so high. Even if there was someone, they would probably just be a staff member," Anna said, shaking her head slightly and letting out a self-deprecating laugh as she dismissed the silly thought from her mind.
"It's really tall. I've never seen such a huge elevator," a Valkyrie, who was a few years younger than Anna, said, staring curiously at the elevator in the sky, her eyes full of wonder. "Captain, if the elevator is completed, do you think we'll get a chance to experience the legendary Star River Stairway?"
Looking at her teammate, her eyes full of longing, Anna said with a smile, "Of course we will. Schicksal's Valkyrie benefits have always been good. If we want to experience the Star River Stairway, it shouldn't be too difficult."
Of course, Anna didn't say some things out loud. Special benefits were only for A-rank Valkyries. For them, who would almost certainly be B-rank their entire lives, a salary several times higher than ordinary people was already the best benefit they could get.
But so what? When the Star River Stairway was completed, maybe there really would be a chance. Giving these girls some hope was always a good thing.
Although Anna was a bit of an airhead, she was a gentle person at heart. The fact that she could lead a Valkyrie squad was proof of her abilities.
"Captain, the ice floes on the sea haven't melted yet."
This was the equator, a place that should be hot all year round. Ice was something that should only exist in a refrigerator. The appearance of ice floes in this place was already very abnormal. However, the Snow Lotus Squad had clearly long since gotten used to it. In fact, the reason they were transferred here was also related to these ice floes.
"It was from the Pacific War a month ago, right? It's terrifying. A friend of mine who participated in the Far East rescue said that the ice there hasn't completely melted even now. If it weren't for the map, she would have thought she was in the Antarctic."
"What kind of power could possibly freeze an entire ocean?"
"Shh, that's classified information. But Durandal-sama participated in the battle herself, so I think it's very likely to be a Herrscher."
"As expected of Durandal-sama, she can even deal with Herrschers."
The battle between Kevin and Ren had had a much greater impact than expected. The land in the Far East had sunk three meters, and the frozen ice floes were still floating around the equator without melting. In addition, there were so many Valkyrie squads that participated in the rescue. Soon, all kinds of rumors had spread.
However, whenever Durandal was mentioned, the topic always went off track and quickly turned into a fan club meeting.
Anna didn't join in, she looked at the ice floes, feeling a sense of unease in her heart.
Soon, this unease grew stronger, and waves of coldness began to spread through her limbs. Countless chaotic images flashed through her mind until a certain moment.
Boom—
The Honkai erupted.