[Your experiment failed, again.]
[This time, the out-of-control test subject escaped the lab, causing widespread casualties.]
[As a researcher of Honkai and biology, you were already ostracized from mainstream academia. Also, because your research required frequent exposure to Honkai and consumed vast resources, it was difficult to sustain your work alone.]
[These factors resulted in a very low success rate for your experiments. Most nations and organizations, for public image and their own interests, also labeled you a terrorist, putting you on the global most-wanted list.]
[Those who once associated with you now scorned you. Your few friends also abandoned you, leaving you alone to pursue your path.]
[Finally, the Fourth Honkai Eruption broke out around your lab, engulfing you and everything with it. You vanished without a trace and achieved nothing of value.]
[Even on your deathbed, you were regretting not being able to obtain more resources and Honkai test subjects.]
[If you could start over, you would join or create a Honkai-fighting organization to obtain resources for your experiments and secure a stable research environment.]
[But unfortunately, reality is reality, there are no "ifs," and you don't get a second chance, unless you manage to seduce a simp willing to fight for you or find another way out.]
[And soon after your death, human civilization faced another devastating disaster and bit the dust, again.]
[Simulation complete.]
Closing the simulation interface, Mobius leaned against the lab table, wearily rubbing her eyes.
She had recently acquired the ability to simulate the future. With it, she'd seen the fate of humanity and the consequences of her various experiments, as well as their success rates.
She even joined "Fire Moth," the official organization dedicated to fighting the Honkai, becoming one of its first high-ranking members. This helped her avoid the resource and material shortages that had previously derailed her work.
She was pleased with it all.
The only downside was that the simulations always ended terribly.
Whenever her ideals seemed within reach, the Honkai would destroy all of humanity.
And no matter how many different approaches she took in over a dozen simulations, she couldn't change humanity's fate. It was as if this destruction was a predetermined end.
"Can humanity really not overcome the Honkai?"
Recalling the various Herrschers she'd faced in the simulations, Mobius fell into deep thought.
Based on the current state of humanity, it didn't seem likely.
Was annihilation humanity's only destiny?
After a period of agonizing contemplation, Mobius launched a new simulation.
Okay, after this one, I'll get back to my current project, Mobius thought, as she was becoming too addicted to the simulations and had been neglecting her actual experiments.
Meanwhile, at Chiba Academy in Nagazora City, a cheerful young man was scratching his head sheepishly.
[You used your baseball bat to destroy the Honkai Beasts trying to harm you and your loved one. But the great Honkai Eruption continued to ravage Nagazora City. No organizations were responding to evacuate civilians or combat the Honkai beasts.]
[There was indeed an official Honkai-fighting organization known as the Fire Moth, but due to long-standing internal conflicts and factional infighting, the Fire Moth had no power to prevent the Honkai outbreak.]
[They couldn't even deploy military forces to evacuate civilians in the affected areas. So, despite your incredible combat abilities, you were gradually exhausted after prolonged isolation and the worsening Honkai situation.]
[Ultimately, you couldn't escape Nagazora City. Just as you were about to reach the outskirts, you were engulfed by the surging tide of Honkai Beasts, leaving behind only your baseball bat.]
[You died, alongside your beloved.]
[Simulation complete.]
Sometime in the past, or perhaps recently, Kevin had suddenly discovered he possessed the ability to run simulations.
Mei also seemed to have gained a similar ability. They deduced that they were probably running simulations in the same simulated world.
Thus, their simulations could very well be glimpses into the future.
And based on the results of their simulations, the future of humanity, as well as their own circumstances, didn't look very promising.
But that wasn't the reason for Kevin's embarrassment.
He was embarrassed because he'd failed to protect his loved one in the simulation.
"Mei, that last simulation was a fluke!"
"Trust me, I will protect you!"
Young and cheerful, having never been ravaged by the Honkai or lost anything, Kevin sat next to Mei, sheepishly scratching his head.
He managed a smile through his embarrassment.
"No, Kevin."
"It's not your fault."
Mei shook her head, recalling what had happened in the simulation. Her tone was somber.
"You are strong."
"But the future Honkai Eruption in Nagazora City cannot be solved by individual efforts. It affects the whole city and every aspect of human civilization."
"Without a large-scale Honkai-fighting force, a true organization dedicated to fighting the Honkai, nothing can be changed. Our deaths are inevitable."
"Like in the last simulation. If there was a powerful Honkai-fighting organization at the time of the Eruption, we might have been able to escape Nagazora City."
Scratching his head again, Kevin admitted he didn't really understand.
But reflecting on his experiences in the simulation, and after pondering for a long time, he cautiously replied, "The Fire Moth?"
He'd heard that name many times in the previous simulations, and he knew it was supposed to be a Honkai-fighting organization.
But for some reason, they were always ineffective. They hadn't done anything to stop the Nagazora City disaster, despite it being so severe.
"I attended an international research conference recently, where I met many senior academics."
"And an organization extended an invitation to me. That organization was the Fire Moth."
Kevin was stunned. Mei continued.
"I accepted their invitation."
"I also learned a bit more about the organization…it is different from what we saw in the simulations."
"The Fire Moth has great influence and authority in fighting the Honkai. It is actively combatting the Honkai."
"Uh..."
Kevin knew he wasn't very bright. After pondering Mei's words for a long while, he admitted he couldn't extract any useful information and decided to give up trying.
He quietly sat next to Mei, waiting for her to explain.
"Kevin, we've completed thirteen simulations now."
"In the first simulation, the Fire Moth didn't exist, and humanity was destroyed very quickly."
"But in the later simulations, the Fire Moth was established and gradually started playing a role in combatting the Honkai. Humanity managed to survive more and more Honkai eruptions."
"Although the Fire Moth didn't seem particularly effective up until the last simulation, the Fire Moth in reality has proven something to us."
"Huh? Proven what?"
"That there may be other people in this world who can run simulations. That they are working together and making changes in reality."
Adjusting her glasses, Mei said firmly.
"Perhaps we will meet them in the next simulation."
"What are we waiting for then? Let's start the next simulation!"
Kevin, who hadn't understood anything Mei had said until now, finally understood the last sentence. His cheerful grin returned to his face.
"Mei, I will protect you this time, for sure!"
It seemed that saving the world was too distant a goal for Kevin.
All he treasured was the Mei he loved. Seeing her enjoying the simulation, he felt happy.
"You…you're such a fool."
Looking at Kevin's reaction, Mei shook her head helplessly, but a shy smile had unknowingly appeared on her lips.