It wasn't persuasion, it wasn't influence, and no one dared to dictate to the Honkai.
Under the difficult situation created by Ryan and Fire Moth, the program of the Cocoon of End entered a peculiar state.
Known: This Earth civilization not only answered the question incorrectly but also repeatedly struck the examiner, qualifying it as a 'bad' civilization requiring correction.
Conclusion: The method of correction is a reboot.
However, the resistance was too fierce. Simple reboot modes failed sequentially. The highest-intensity punishment was now required, but the plan had deviated.
The key figure was not excessively consumed. Instead, under the cover of other humans, he turned into a parasite, constantly reducing the success rate. He threatened to swallow the entire trap whole, preventing the final move from being made.
The move was almost complete. If it couldn't be made, the entire plan could be rebooted. Perhaps a different solution outside of the Beast and Herrscher concepts could be found.
Further calculation showed that this contingency plan also seemed unreliable. Time was a paradox for both the Cocoon of End and Ryan. No one knew what stage the other could reach by utilizing that time.
Just as Ryan was advancing recklessly, shielded by Fire Moth, the Cocoon of End became logically paralyzed, unable to make a decision.
The distant future held countless possibilities without the ability to control destiny. But in the present, humanity's sharp blade was only fifty kilometers away, and the target's strength was increasing by the second.
Doing nothing was the most foolish option. The only choices were to either detonate all the remaining Honkai Beasts on Earth or firmly execute the original plan.
At the moment of logical deadlock, a voice manipulated the threads of destiny, adding a fractional weight to the second option.
Normally, even the Herrscher of Binding's interference would be negligible, but at this moment, that fractional weight was enough to break the balance.
The noisy battlefield instantly fell silent—so sudden that everyone was left bewildered.
The crystals and roots covering the entire battlefield retreated rapidly and decisively, like a receding tide. This left Kevin, who had just rotated to the front line, feeling disoriented. He maintained his Perpetual Collapse state and looked around.
"Did... did we win??"
His tone was full of uncertainty, because the tree was still there. But if it retreated like this, wouldn't all their forces surge forward? Even if the tree was thick, Ryan's lead would allow them to fell it.
Mei was also uncertain, delaying the order to pursue. They watched the tide recede, flowing back into the tree trunk, as if dressing it in a thick coat.
In the midst of their confusion, Elysia quietly clutched her left chest. Aponia, who had been by her side, quickly flew over.
"Ellie, what's wrong?"
"I don't know. It's a very strange feeling. That tree no longer feels like a 'Beast.'"
It hadn't looked like a Honkai Beast to begin with, but Elysia's comment suggested something more fundamental than its appearance.
"Also, I seem to sense the presence of the Herrscher of Binding. It feels like he is... pushing it..."
"He's pushing it to transform."
With a low sigh, the two turned around to see Ryan behind them, his eyes fixed on the distance.
"Ryan, why aren't you seizing the moment..." Elysia stopped mid-sentence, reaching out to grasp the air around her. There was no sensation of particles, not even a Honkai energy reaction.
The air was incredibly pure, devoid of any 'dirty' feeling.
Huh? When? How did this happen??
"You understand now, don't you? That scoundrel flipped the dinner table on me." Ryan stood with his hands in his pockets, showing little sign of tension.
It was a sense of relief, coupled with the relaxed feeling of a plan coming to fruition.
He did it after all. This is good. I don't have to worry about Elysia's problem anymore. Calis, Calis. You live up to your appearance. You managed to seize such a slim chance.
Ryan's perspective wasn't one of conspiracy, because this path was not about him, and he had no certainty that Calis would succeed.
If he failed, I wouldn't lose. If he succeeded, I wouldn't win.
Just like playing a game of chess against the Honkai, both sides had multiple paths, and there was never a guaranteed 'win.'
"He feared giving me time, and I feared giving him time. There's no need to expect a blunder. The only thing to do is ensure that no matter when End descends, I am qualified to face it."
Mobius's lips moved, but she didn't ask about his confidence. Even after another hundred years, facing the Cocoon of End would never bring absolute certainty. Ryan's greatest contribution was ensuring that the Cocoon of End also lacked absolute certainty.
At least, this looked somewhat rushed. If it had been poised, there would have been no need to prevent them from approaching. The preceding chaos felt more like an all-in gamble.
This resolve was fueled by Calis's push.
When Ryan got this information from Elysia, the anxiety that had been hanging over him finally dissipated. If the Cocoon of End had been perfectly prepared, with victory in hand, would it have needed Calis's help?
No matter how strong it is, no matter how convoluted the path, there is definitely a chance to win!
Just as everyone was taking the time to rest, a change occurred ahead—a visible, perplexing transformation.
"Is it molting??"
Amidst the earth tremors, the giant tree connecting the sky began to disintegrate, splitting open section by section from the center, like a blooming flower. Before anyone could process the consequences, a long spear made of lightning whistled past.
Boom—Rumble—
A lightning sphere hundreds of meters in diameter exploded, splattering large amounts of crystal shards.
It was effective, but futile.
Ryan hadn't disconnected. He noticed the tree had no intention of fighting back, only hearing Mei's observation through his headset.
"Honkai energy is dissipating. The curve rose sharply, then quickly stabilized."
"Did it manage to plug the leak? Since you dare to transform in front of me, I won't be polite." Ryan narrowed his eyes, then decisively ordered: "Full attack! Maintain distance! Seize the initiative!"
These three commands instantly swept away the confusion, clarifying what everyone needed to do.
Maintain distance...
Only Kalpas in the crowd paused. Seeing that even Ryan didn't dare charge forward, it would be foolish for him to charge.
You think I don't have long-range attacks, huh? Fine, I'll show you what I can do today!
Flames boiled. Kalpas charged out first, but Ryan couldn't stop him. Just as he was getting annoyed, the burning figure halted in the air.
He arched his body back like a javelin thrower, concentrating all his flames into his right hand. When it was released, it had transformed into a giant flaming spear.
"Good grief, he's competing with me."
The blazing meteor streaked across the sky, piercing through the crystal dust. With a 'boom,' it exploded on the surface of the giant tree.
The destructive power was astonishing, perhaps not much weaker than the lightning spear Ryan had just thrown. Although Kalpas himself was leaning on his knee, gasping for breath, he ignited the fighting spirit of everyone else.
It's one thing to not match Ryan, but Kalpas, you're going to overshadow us too?
There was no need for Ryan to boost morale. Ice cones flew, giant arrows tore the sky, and ordinary warriors picked up energy cannons, intertwining their barrages with the fire from the Hyperion.
The near-field was kaleidoscopic, and fireballs continuously bloomed in the distance. The previously pure air became scorching hot. Even the colossal tree was enveloped in intense light.
A coordinated barrage, a fierce bombardment. They unleashed everything they had gained over the years, letting the urge to destroy burn brightly.
Soon, craters appeared all over the surface. Even with the crystal strength comparable to Soul Steel, it couldn't withstand this level of attack, but the bombarded holes quickly filled in.
"You think you have the upper hand just because you're massive and full of energy?"
Ryan had been observing. Realizing the effect wasn't good, he licked his lips, gently tossed the Crimson Helix, and focused on the falling scarlet spear. He clapped his palms together.
Clap.
Energy expanded with the Divine Key as its center. It was shaped and molded, gradually transforming into a hundred-meter-long greatsword, with an ice body and dense electric arcs shimmering on the outside. It hovered beneath everyone's feet.
Everyone, including Kalpas, temporarily ceased their attacks. Thunder flashed in their eyes—some fanatic, some expectant, some longing. They knew Ryan was getting serious and desperately wanted to know how powerful he was now.
"Tsk, it's too small."
"Kalpas, be careful not to eat your words later if you judge now."
"I admit the power is decent, but I can do that at full output too."
"Captain, please spare me. You're too heavy. I can't carry you back."
Ryan ignored the clamor. He twisted his wrist and pointed his clasped palms forward.
"Go!"
Without a sound, gravity launched the sword. Its speed was unimaginable. In the blink of an eye, it had flown dozens of kilometers.
Ice core, lightning covering, gravity launched, blood expanded.
It plunged into the spreading dust. Like a whale swallowing the ocean, the giant tree's fragments were swept away. Kalpas immediately closed his mouth. In that brief instant, the power had soared dozens of times beyond his maximum level, reaching a point he couldn't match even if he drained his entire body.
Damn it! This scoundrel is getting stronger too fast. I can't keep up! Especially since all that power is being invested into his Authorities, like pouring a can of gasoline onto a fire!
A storm howled, cloaking the giant sword. Flames burned, intensifying the storm. Ryan remotely controlled it with Dominance threads from afar.
"Cleave!!"
There were no flashy special effects. After the expansion, it simply slammed down. This strike was the equivalent of the combined efforts of all Fire Moth members and was aimed at the exact same spot.
Clang!
Like a giant bell tolling, an explosion rang out. Even the missiles that were halfway there were blown away. The giant tree shooting up to the sky shook violently. The continuous blooming of the trunk momentarily paused.
"It's effective."
Ryan felt the feedback. This was more than just a single slash. It split a third of the trunk. The Honkai energy poured out, solidifying the air in that area and feeding the Authority of Blood like adding fuel to the fire.
But one couldn't forget that the core of this giant flying sword was the Crimson Helix. So, as the sword slashed, it visibly expanded.
"That monster! It can grow stronger by fighting!?" Kalpas's eyes twitched. He watched the kaleidoscopic giant sword pull out of the breach, lifted by an invisible hand.
"Don't stare. Attack together."
Ryan reminded them. The startled crowd quickly resumed their attacks, coordinating with the flying sword.
Clang! Clang! Clang!!
The second strike, the third strike, the fourth strike. Each one was heavier than the last. In just a moment, the rate of repair couldn't keep up with the destruction. The breach continuously widened, and the surface became pitted.
Did you really think this was an anime with invincibility time, and I'd just watch you transform?
Ryan was having a blast. As a rhythm master, he knew that even with an unclear situation, he had to firmly seize the initiative, constantly pressuring the enemy and forcing deviations from their original plan.
The fierce attack continued. The transforming giant tree looked like its progress was being interrupted. The rate of blooming slowed, and the sense of composure vanished.
If this were a game, the giant tree was casting a super spell, and he was leading a frantic charge to interrupt the casting bar, forcing the energy intended for the ultimate move into defensive combat.
The essence of this tree was still the conglomeration of recycled Honkai Beasts, plus two Herrschers. Even with an astonishing total energy, it couldn't withstand a sustained, combined assault from all of Fire Moth.
'It doesn't want to use most of its energy for defense. It's going to change tactics.'
Ryan raised his hand and turned his head, meeting Elysia's gaze. She bit her lip and nodded heavily, sensing a growing sense of foreboding.
"All units, retreat at maximum speed!"
The command was decisively issued. Everyone, including the excited Kalpas, retreated without hesitation.
Only Ryan remained. He raised his hands high, watching the giant tree suddenly accelerate its blooming, like a furious beast no longer willing to deal with humans.
It's getting anxious. It's anxious.
Seeing this, Ryan smiled instead. He clenched his hands as if grasping an invisible hilt. He stepped forward with his left foot, twisting his waist and leaning down.
After expanding a hundredfold, it was no longer a greatsword. Ryan was dominating a tsunami. It was firm, silent, and roared as it cleaved down.
Maximum Output, Cleave!
It leveled the mountains, turned the earth into a rift valley, and destroyed everything known in the world. Simultaneously, the blooming giant tree, like a drag racer starting up, instantly floored the throttle.
Clang!!!
The flying sword sliced into the center. The already cracked surface shattered into dust and spread deep into the trunk. The retreating crowd was drawn by the loud noise and turned back.
Even the poetically inclined Eden would struggle to describe the scene. The kaleidoscopic 'tsunami' embedded itself into the giant tree, causing the colossal entity connecting the sky to shake violently. Even though it looked like a fully bloomed trumpet flower after accelerating, instinct told everyone:
Before it could fully bloom, it would be cut in half by that man.
Another crisis was about to pass. Although tiring, the losses were much smaller than expected. An optimistic feeling began to surface. The Honkai's 'Beast' card looked like it was going to be completely defeated.
Among those present, only Elysia and Mei wore the wrong expression. The former was due to intuition, and the latter had participated in the entire plan, knowing what Ryan intended to do.
"Extreme pressure, and then a final push? Is this a good thing or a bad thing?"
Mei had no answer. If the previous attacks made the Honkai step on the gas, this final sword was like removing the brakes, causing the train of destiny to hurtle forward uncontrollably.
She widened her eyes, staring at the sword light that had nearly divided the earth in two. A trace of fatigue, a hint of relief, and a spark of fear appeared in her eyes.
The end of the speeding train of destiny is End.
Only ten meters remained until it fully pierced the trunk. This thickness was negligible compared to the tree's volume. Ryan's lowered body froze. His loosely clasped hands trembled slightly, and the veins on the back of his hands bulged. He seemed to be using every ounce of his strength, yet he couldn't cleave through the final thin layer.
No. This has nothing to do with strength. The threads of Dominance still existed, but they felt frozen.
"Even though the plan wasn't smooth, and there were many disadvantages, did you finally make up your mind?"
He slowly straightened his waist, looking forward. His gray eyes reflected the scene in the distance:
A fully bloomed flower, a giant sword, and nothing else but the hazy moonlight.
The light bathed the area, looking quite elegant, but upon closer inspection, the flames, storm, and thunder surrounding the giant sword had stopped moving. Even the crystal dust had frozen in the air, as if everything had been paused.
The stagnation of time and space, a domain truly belonging to a 'god.'
Ryan heard his own heartbeat. It wasn't racing. Instead, it was surprisingly steady. The problem that had puzzled him for so long finally had an answer.
Yes, Calis replaced some of Prometheus's tasks in the Post-Civilization era, taking that final step with desire at the crucial moment. Otherwise, this colossal entity would have inevitably exploded. Judging by its volume, sinking the Eurasian continent would have been no problem.
Stopping it would have been incredibly difficult, and he didn't want to stop it. Setting aside the success rate, if it were to explode now, the Honkai would learn a lesson, and there would be no more flashy tricks next time. Wouldn't an immediate explosion be more efficient?
I prepared so many methods to face the Herrscher of End. I have no extra capacity to protect the Earth itself. If 'He' completely abandons all decorum and continuously drops literal shit on my head, I would only be able to run for my life.
"Come on, come on. At least this day is within my knowledge. And just as I told Mei—"
"A Herrscher of End triggered by someone with ulterior motives is inherently an advantage!"
The flower finally bloomed to its maximum extent. The hazy moonlight pierced the sky, exceeding the limits of Ryan's vision, but without looking, he knew that a huge, indescribable object was descending in the direction of the moon.
Descending from a higher dimension, one humans could not reach.
Vast as a star, heavy as a mountain. Ryan immediately retracted his gaze. He felt a heavy pressure descend on his shoulders, as if trying to crush his spine. This power was rapidly increasing, causing his bones to emit faint cracking sounds.
Intense. Is this End?
Ryan controlled every muscle in his body, slowly straightening his lowered spine. Suddenly, the terrifying pressure stopped increasing, giving him the space to lift his head.
The Cocoon of End stalled. The reboot process seemed to be paused by a certain obsession. Ryan's gaze grew sharper.
Calis, go ahead and seek your answer. Even if you can only stall 'Him' for one more minute, it helps!