From Greenland in North America to the island of Great Britain in Western Europe.
Now that humanity had lost dominion over the seas, all islands and even peninsulas were no longer suitable for human survival. Almost all "large" cities with populations exceeding 500,000 had been occupied by massive numbers of Honkai Beasts.
Not only that.
The proliferation of aquatic Honkai Beasts further compressed humanity's living space.
The main population of Europe was now basically concentrated in the Rhine and Danube river basins. Even so, the humans living near the occupied zones still had to fight against a continuous stream of Honkai Beasts coming from their "hometowns."
"Quick! Faster!"
"Don't dawdle, there are still people waiting behind you!"
On the banks of the Rhine.
At the top of Cologne Cathedral's spire.
A singer with long, wine-red hair was listening to the sounds of the city. From the cathedral square nearby to the subway entrance far away, all sounds were gently taken in by Eden's ears.
Eden was not here on vacation.
In just half a day, the aimlessly wandering Honkai Beasts active throughout Europe had suddenly begun to gather around the city of Cologne.
Although their strength was varied, their numbers, exceeding 100,000, still plunged the entire city into despair. They could either flee eastward, escape into underground shelters, or stay at home and pray for the help of the gods.
The above.
Was all that the civilians could do.
"Click."
A pair of pistols, the same color as her hair, were holstered at her waist.
In the past, that spot would usually hold Eden's bag, containing blank sheet music and the fountain pen used to write on it.
However, Eden did not pick up these two weapons.
[Starsea Harmonia].
This was the name of the two gun-blades. Although they were also part of the mass-produced Keys of Domination, they had been modified by Vill-V and were inexplicably compatible with the awakened Eden, allowing them to exert an effect far exceeding that of other units.
That being said.
To match Eden's combat style, the output of [Starsea Harmonia] was not very powerful. At most, it could handle lower-tier Honkai Beasts; it posed little threat to high-tier Honkai Beasts or large, lower-tier ones.
Such weapons could not be used against the big guys.
Especially...
A big guy that made the very earth tremble.
"Thump."
"THUMP!"
A dull, drum-like sound echoed from the direction of the ocean.
Amidst the tide of Honkai Beasts, a giant Rock Demon slowly began to stride forward.
"Originally..."
Before she could finish her sentence.
Eden's body had already begun to change.
The light in her eyes spilled from their corners, her gentle gaze gradually turning serious, and fine, exquisite scales began to spread rapidly across her entire body, starting from the base of her neck.
"Wooo!!!"
Part whale, part ray, part crocodile, part snake.
A giant aquatic creature over a hundred meters long appeared in the formless ocean above Cologne Cathedral.
Her features were difficult to describe with any single animal, but her posture as she swam through the firmament could only be described as "beautiful" in the hearts of all who saw her.
This was.
The Emperor-class Honkai Beast that Eden had fused with—the Radiant Ocean: Varuna.
"Crash!"
Waves battered the coastal cliffs.
At the top of a grassy slope that stretched continuously towards the sea, a cross, overlapping with the western sun, cast a long shadow on the ground.
The tombstone was erected for the Mu Continent.
Before the stone base lay only a few bouquets of flowers, held down by clumps of earth.
Other memorial items had not been blown away by the sea breeze; they had never existed in the first place. The complete destruction of the entire continent meant the number of surviving humans who could still be considered relatives... was few and far between.
But today, two somewhat different "visitors" had come.
A young girl, an open canvas, and a boy standing motionless beside her with a wooden expression—
Griseo and Kosma.
With an unknown reference, Griseo's slender brush splashed vibrant yet deep colors onto the pure white canvas. And beside the girl, who stood barefoot on a wooden stool, was Kosma. Even after suffering much criticism for his "Artificial Honkai Eruption," his fervor had not changed, yet his expression no longer held its former liveliness.
He was mourning someone.
At the same time, he was also mourning his past self.
"Swoosh—"
"BOOM!!"
With a sharp sound of breaking wind, the slanted rock slope was sliced clean through. The canvas, torn by the pressure of the wind, fell violently into the churning waves below.
"Get behind me."
In front of the forest of snapped trees, Kosma gently put down Griseo, who was in his arms.
"Mhm."
The girl obediently ran behind the boy. Kosma, who normally almost never took his eyes off Griseo, was now staring intently at the sky above the broken cliff.
"An Emperor-class Honkai Beast."
A white whale with a single horn slowly emerged.
Kosma was not afraid of an opponent of this level. He didn't even need to worry about protecting Griseo; Kosma could tear an Emperor-class Honkai Beast to shreds with one hand. After the battle on the Mu Continent, Kosma's life had been reduced to just two things: going to the battlefield to kill (devour) Honkai Beasts, and returning to the "home" called the Flame-Chasers to take care of Griseo.
Among the freaks of the Flame-Chasers.
Kosma, who had fused with a Dharma-Ending-class Honkai Beast, was undoubtedly the most special one. Vishnu's devouring characteristic granted him infinite growth potential. After further surgical modification at the hands of Mobius, this ability had been developed to its short-term limit.
Even in his human form.
Kosma believed his combat power was no less than that of Captain Kevin before he underwent the Chimera Project.
However...
Although an Emperor-class Honkai Beast was easy to deal with, the one on top of this white whale's head—
The Plague Temple.
Because two "Flame-Chasers" were in one place, the "trial ground" here was a joint effort between the Plague Temple and the White Whale. The White Whale, the weakest of all the [Retainers], could certainly not face Kosma head-on. The Plague Temple was the main character this time.
"Thump!"
The Plague Temple dismantled the longbow in her hands.
"...(He's stronger than expected)."
Even considering only speed, the level Kosma had just displayed was already no less than her own, who possessed the "Authority of Wind."
"...(Great Whale, you fall back)."
The Plague Temple leaped down from the White Whale's broad back.
The Great Whale, very perceptively, retreated towards the sea and gradually disappeared from the air, just as Griseo had hidden behind Kosma. This was not a spatial ability, but a disengagement from being locked on, on both a sensory and spiritual level.
From the moment she made her move.
The Plague Temple, carrying out a "covert operation" for the Emperor, already understood that the target of this trial...
Was likely not just the human.
She just wasn't sure if her companions, who only knew how to kill, had grasped the Emperor's meaning.