I've already said this isn't a life simulator!

Unfortunately, things rarely go as planned.

"Hen?! Why?!"

“Oh dear, Kosmo, you know, for missions like this, ordinary people would just be throwing their lives away, using their lives to buy time for the Herrscher… It’s not a good thing for them.”

Listening to Kosmo's angry and confused shouts over the communication, Hen dodged the attacks of the [Herrscher] while responding helplessly.

"But they shouldn't have been so direct..."

"Alright, Kosmo, it's only natural to fear death... especially since those are Herrschers. Even we Fusion Warriors find them troublesome, let alone them. After all, they don't have the ability to fight back like we do... Or do you think it's a good choice to leave the certain death mission to them?"

"........."

Kosmo pursed his lips, unsure how to respond.

In his view, a soldier should fight bravely. To desert in the face of battle... how can that be considered a warrior chasing the flame?

But what Hen said wasn't wrong either. Sending those ordinary soldiers to fight against the Herrschers was suicide, so their escape was understandable... But Kosmo couldn't accept it.

Furthermore, those in higher-ups clearly knew that ordinary soldiers were no match for a Herrscher, even with superior equipment. And powerful beings like Kevin and Alicia weren't commonplace. Yet, they still sent ordinary soldiers… It was blatant suicide! They wanted to use the lives of ordinary soldiers to delay the Herrscher!

Can these fire-chasing moths really protect humanity?

Koss, the Demon Lord, began to have doubts about the Fire-Chasing Moth.

"Haha, but thanks for your concern. Besides, I'm very strong, at least stronger than you, kid."

"Just blow it."

Xi Wang's voice also faintly sounded from the communication.

"Stop undermining me, Wang, or I'll get angry."

"Who cares about you?"

Xi Wang's voice sounded very cold.

"Hen, how is he?"

Kevin promptly joined the conversation.

"I will arrive at the target point in about five minutes. At that time, I will activate [Heavenly Judgment]. Do you... have time to evacuate?"

"To be honest, it's not good."

Hen's voice also became steady, no longer carrying a joking tone.

"It's smarter than we thought, and it's been trying to leave... I'm starting to doubt if it's still the Herrscher we know. But thankfully, I can still restrain it, and it should have time to leave within the allotted time."

"it is good."

"However, Kevin."

"Yes."

Kevin was always willing to listen to Hen's advice, after all, he had received a lot of care from Hen in the early days.

"Even if I don't evacuate, you must still activate the [Divine Key] as planned."

"........."

"You wouldn't be thinking of doing this?!"

"We cannot accept its continued destruction. The Eye of the Sea is our hope for resolving the Honkai at this stage. If it escapes again... its retribution will be unbearable for us."

"...Okay, I understand."

Kevin remained silent for a moment, then finally agreed with Hen's point of view.

"mark!!!"

"Stop howling, Kosmo."

Xi Wang's calm yet slightly disdainful voice came through.

"That old bastard Hen has already made up his mind, and you can't change his mind now."

"...What did you just say about me?"

"Old thing."

Xi Wang repeated it in a clear and calm tone.

"........."

Hen was momentarily stunned, even doubting whether he had misheard... Fortunately, he quickly regained his senses, dodged the Herrscher's attack again, and even tried to retaliate under the pressure, but failed.

Not to mention Hen himself, everyone else on the other end of the call fell silent, wondering if they had just hallucinated.

"...Captain Wang?"

Desdovia's voice cautiously came through the communicator... For some reason, she felt that Xiwang seemed a little angry.

"Hen, did you use that?"

Ignoring everyone else, Xi Wang simply asked this question, her tone seemingly devoid of any emotion.

"Of course I used it, why wouldn't I?"

Something that can increase the survival rate is a good thing, so why not use it? He's going to face the [Herrscher] alone!

"very good."

Xi Wang turned the conversation to other people.

"Dobiya, can you hold on?"

"Yes...yes! My combat intensity isn't very high, I can hold out for a long time!"

Desdobia could vaguely guess what Xiwang was going to do, so she responded firmly and quickly.

"Kevin, if we want to delay the attack, what's the maximum possible time?"

"...I can give you one minute."

Kevin responded in this way.

"Furthermore, if any special circumstances arise, I will activate [Heavenly Judgment] according to the original plan, after all..."

"No need for explanation, that's it. We all know the reason."

Xi Wang interrupted Kevin without hesitation.

"You don't need to do this, Wang. Besides, how can you possibly get here in such a short time..."

"Shut up, old man."

"...Why were we demoted again?"

Hen was both amused and exasperated. He could tell that Xi Wang was genuinely angry.

"You don't need to risk your life to save me... Besides, I might be able to evacuate normally, right? Don't make it sound like I'm doomed..."

"Your previous attitude doesn't support the point you're making now."

Xi Wang coldly exposed Hen's lie.

"...And we had already agreed that I would come to rescue you...at least verbally."

"...I was just joking."

Reminded by Xi Wang, Hen remembered the promise Xi Wang had casually made to him before, and felt somewhat helpless.

"Then I'm serious."

"...You're making me really embarrassed, you know?"

Hen smiled bitterly.

"I've already prepared to have you and Kosmo take care of Gretsch for me..."

"Look, you're prepared to sacrifice yourself."

"...Are you trying to trick me?"

"Shut up, old man."

Xi Wang repeated the address again, causing Hen to catch his breath... mainly because he could sense the annoyance in Xi Wang's words.

He was really a little angry.

"Su, come and take my place."

"……Ugh."

Su sighed during the communication... He should have realized this earlier, after all, Xi Wang's mental state was very strange, and the current traces had undoubtedly touched something in his heart.

"You'll be held accountable by the Firemoth for this... Wang, you should know how well the Firemoth leadership views you, right?"

"It doesn't matter, the bigger problem is that you don't come to take over."

"...Alright, go ahead, I'll be right there."

Su shook his head and prepared to leave... He didn't intend to stop Xi Wang, nor did he want to. On the contrary, he wished Xi Wang success.

"You guys are really making me feel awkward..."

"Shut up, old man."

Xi Wang interrupted Hen's words once again.

"You better live well, or I'll talk bad about you to Gretsch."

Chapter Thirty-Eight: What are you doing, Kevin?!

pat-

I opened the candy box, fed myself a piece, savoring the sweetness spreading in my mouth, and then...

click-

With a sickeningly loud sound, the candy box was squeezed and deformed in Xi Wang's hands, and the remaining candy inside was crushed under the enormous force.

He doesn't need this now; even the familiar and beloved sweetness can't calm his current mood.

bang——