I'm a little panicked when I cross the collapse

Ever since the Seventh Herrscher—the Herrscher of Flame—simultaneously displayed that power, formed by the fusion of two Herrscher powers, capable of destroying the world.

After this battle, all hesitation and debate within the Firemoth temporarily ceased, and the previously halted "Project Key of God" was completely restarted. The higher-ups ordered full cooperation with May's overall planning and Vervienne's imaginative research directions.

From then on, the core R&D base of the Fire Moth was brightly lit, with the hum of machinery running day and night. The researchers worked tirelessly under immense pressure, their faces showing exhaustion, yet also an undeniable determination.

Everyone knows that the appearance of the Herrscher of Flame is just another warning of the Honkai. If a weapon strong enough to fight against her cannot be created as soon as possible, the destruction of humanity is only a matter of time.

The Key of God, a powerful weapon forged from the core of a Herrscher, is humanity's new hope in defeating the Honkai.

Time slipped away quietly amidst meticulous calculations and repeated experiments. As the first rays of dawn pierced through the thick protective glass of the research and development base, the second Divine Key—Heavenly Fire Judgment—was finally completed amidst great anticipation.

It was a massive blade that could awe anyone, its blade shimmering with a blazing golden-red luster. Even when it was not activated, it was surrounded by a heart-pounding heat. The berserk power of the Herrscher of Flame's core was temporarily sealed within it, and every inch of the metal exuded a world-destroying pressure.

It stood quietly in the center of the experimental table, like a sleeping fiery beast, waiting for the moment of awakening.

But before this joy could spread among the R&D team, urgent instructions came from higher-ups, their voices filled with such urgency that they seemed to break through the limitations of the communicator.

Without giving May and Vervier any time for adjustments and optimizations, several "fusion warriors who had undergone rigorous screening and whose physical fitness and various combat indicators had reached their peak" quickly arrived at the research and development base under special escort.

The intentions of the higher-ups are obvious. They are eager to test the strength of this Divine Key, forged from the core of the Herrscher of Flame, and whether it can become the sharpest blade in their hands.

Such swift and decisive action, which was unusually fast, cast a shadow of doubt over many people in the research and development base.

Some people are secretly speculating whether the higher-ups are so eager simply to fight the Honkai and protect humanity.

Or perhaps they had already set their sights on the unparalleled power of the Divine Key, wanting to firmly grasp this powerful weapon in their hands to consolidate their power and seek more benefits?

Seeds of suspicion quietly sprouted, but when faced with high-ranking officials who held real power, all doubts could only be buried deep in their hearts.

Mei stood beside the Heavenly Fire Judge, looking at the solemn-looking Fusion Warriors. Her unease grew stronger, and a heavy sense of powerlessness overwhelmed her like a tide.

She knew all too well the nature of the Heavenly Fire Judgment. This divine key was completely different from the previous Seven Lightning of Purification. Although the power of the Seven Lightning of Purification was strong, it was still controllable. However, the core of the Herrscher of Flame was known for its unparalleled ferocity. Even after she and Velvet repeatedly adjusted it, the power contained within was by no means something that ordinary people could control.

If one is not careful, not only will the power of the Divine Key be lost, but the controller himself may also be devoured by that scorching power, ending up with nothing but bones.

Without a second thought, Mei quickly dialed the high-level communication number, her fingertips turning slightly white from the excessive force. Her tone was filled with urgent dissuasion: "This Heavenly Fire Judgment is different from the Seven Thunders of Purification. It is forged from the core of the Flame Herrscher, which possesses extremely high destructive power. The power within it is far too violent, exceeding the controllable range of any existing weapon. Even top-tier Fusion Warriors may not be able to wield it smoothly. If we forcibly start the test, and an accident occurs, not only will the warriors be in danger, but the entire research and development base could also be affected. Please think carefully before proceeding and give us some time to improve the system..."

Before she could finish speaking, a few dismissive chuckles came from the other end of the communication, the tone arrogant and perfunctory: "Don't worry, Dr. Mei, we are well aware of the implications. The people we sent are the elite of the elite from our Firemoth, tested through countless life-or-death situations. Their physical fitness and resilience are top-notch, and they will have no problem controlling the Heavenly Fire Judgment. With the threat of Honkai growing increasingly severe, we must quickly gain control of the Divine Keys' combat power. There's no time to delay any longer. That's all."

As soon as she finished speaking, the communicator went dead with a cold, mechanical "beep beep beep" tone, completely severing Mei's last attempt to dissuade her.

Her hand holding the communicator slowly fell to her sides. Her once clear and resolute eyes were now filled with gloom. A bitter smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she murmured softly, her voice filled with disappointment and confusion: "Even the leaders of humanity are so short-sighted, so indifferent to life, with only power and strength in their eyes. Can we really... defeat the Honkai?"

Her voice was soft, fading into the mechanical hum of the research and development base, and no one answered.

Meanwhile, in every corner of the Firefly, a wave stirred up by the departure of someone is quietly settling, yet it has left an unhealable scar in the hearts of some.

Today marks the second week since Lu Qiong's death in battle.

That fierce battle against the Herrscher of Flame, a battle that shocked the world, ultimately could not withstand the erosion of time in this era of frequent collapses and unpredictable deaths, and has almost faded from the sight of all those who knew about it.

The people of the Fire Moth were busy preparing for war, busy with research and development, busy trying to survive in the cracks of collapse. Few people mentioned the figure who had fought bloody battles on the battlefield, as if he had never existed.

Just as Lu Qiong once said, in this vast world and in the boundless universe, he is but a grain of sand in the vast ocean. Even if he exerts all his strength, he can only stir up a faint ripple in the world, which will soon return to calm.

However, his decision to sacrifice himself for love, to perish together with the Seventh Herrscher, was like a sharp knife, piercing the hearts of several women who cared for him, causing them unbearable pain and excruciating agony.

Padofilis was one of them.

This person, who had shouldered the burden of life alone since childhood and worked hard to raise Lu Qiong, had long regarded him as the most important person in his life.

When the news of Lu Qiong's death arrived, Padofilis was struck dumb, all her strength drained away, and she fainted instantly.

Medical staff performed emergency treatment, which barely managed to wake her up. However, once awake, she fell into endless sobbing, tears streaming down her face like beads from a broken string. Her cries were hoarse and desperate, as if she wanted to pour out all the pain in her heart. No one could comfort her.

She huddled in the corner of the room, calling Lu Qiong's name over and over again, her expression one of utter despair and helplessness, a sight that sent shivers down one's spine.

But no one expected that when Aponia walked into her room alone and stayed for only half an hour, everything would change dramatically.

When Padofilis came out of the room again, there was no trace of grief on her face. Her eyes were calm and still, and her words and actions had returned to their usual state. She was lively with a hint of cunning, as if the person who had been crying and despairing had never existed, or as if she had never known Lu Qiong at all.

That eerie calmness secretly alarmed those around her who knew her, who assumed that she was overwhelmed with grief and had developed a mental problem, passively blocking out her memories and emotions.

...........

Fu Hua's reaction was somewhat similar to that of Padophilia, but even more so.

Since the news of Lu Qiong's departure came, she has completely locked herself in her home and never left.

The girl who used to be tall and straight with bright eyes, who could calmly deal with any predicament, now seemed to have lost her soul. She spent her days curled up by the bed in a daze, staring blankly out the window, silent, neither eating nor drinking.

The rising and setting of the sun outside the window, the hustle and bustle of the world, all seemed irrelevant to her. Her world had already completely collapsed with Lu Qiong's departure.

Her father saw this and was very anxious. He stayed outside the door day and night, gently comforting her again and again, but he could not bring her back to her senses.

In just a few days, this usually resolute father's temples turned gray, and the wrinkles around his eyes deepened. Sorrow almost overwhelmed him, yet he was helpless and could only watch his daughter grow increasingly depressed.

...............

Of all those who cared about Lu Qiong, only Aponia and Dr. Mebius's reactions seemed out of place and exceptionally abnormal.

When Aponia learned of Lu Qiong's and the Seventh Herrscher's deaths, she remained unusually calm, showing no grief or emotion whatsoever, as if this outcome was entirely within her expectations and everything was proceeding according to plan.

She remained as gentle and composed as ever, her eyes filled with compassion for all living beings, her demeanor calm and unhurried, just as she always was. Anyone who saw her would think that she didn't care at all about Lu Qiong's departure.

But if someone were to gaze closely into her eyes, they would discover that beneath that seemingly calm and gentle exterior, an undisguised fervor was surging—an intense excitement born of long-planned schemes and the imminent achievement of a goal, so intense it almost shattered the gentle facade.

That eerie expression sent chills down one's spine.

A terrifying thought quietly arose: Could Lu Qiong's death have been part of her plan from the very beginning? Was this earth-shattering battle merely a prelude to her achieving some hidden goal...?

On the other hand, Dr. Mebius's reaction was much more intense, almost to the point of losing control. As the person who constantly monitored Lu Qiong's physical condition and Honkai energy fluctuations, she was also the first person in the entire Firemoth to learn of Lu Qiong's death.

The moment the Honkai energy detector placed on Lu Qiong completely lost signal and the screen went completely silent, Mebius's long-maintained calm and rationality crumbled instantly.

For Lu Qiong, she devoted months of her life to him, giving up countless hours of rest, burying herself in the various data and medicines in the laboratory, deducing and experimenting again and again. Even when faced with doubts and misunderstandings from others, she never wavered in the slightest.

All she did was to give Lu Qiong a chance to live.

But just as her research finally made a breakthrough and she successfully developed a stabilizing agent, and was only one step away from saving Lu Qiong from the crisis, Lu Qiong died.

Months of hard work and dedication have all vanished in an instant, all efforts futile.

Such a huge drop in status, such a sudden blow, would be hard for anyone to bear, let alone Möbius, who has always been proud and has a strong desire for control.

In the laboratory, Möbius stood frozen in place for a long time, then a shrill and manic laugh suddenly rang out. The laugh was filled with endless anger, resentment and despair, and it sent chills down one's spine.

"Hahahaha! Good! Very good! Lu Qiong, you still didn't listen to me after all!"

Her voice was shrill and hoarse, filled with extreme madness, and her eyes blazed with crimson fury. "You like dying for love so much, you like being that selfless saint, don't you? Hahaha, I won't let you go! Absolutely not! Even if you're already back in hell, fallen into endless darkness, I will still bring you and that woman back! I'll make you watch as I peel away her flesh piece by piece, making you pay the most terrible price for your choices!"

In his rage, the Honkai energy within Mebius completely spiraled out of control, his body instantly enveloped in dense green energy, and he entered a state of complete collapse.

Unlike Kevin's passively triggered and uncontrollable Collapse form, Mebius had already modified his Collapse form to be relatively stable thanks to his top-notch scientific research capabilities. However, at this moment, his extreme emotional breakdown has completely destroyed that stability.

The dark green Honkai energy swept out like a tsunami, instantly shattering the laboratory's precision instruments and tearing the thick alloy walls in jagged cracks.

The aftershocks of energy spread wildly in all directions, and the headquarters of the Firemoth, which had just been rebuilt and had only partially recovered, suffered another devastating blow.

Buildings collapsed, flames soared into the sky, and explosions and roars echoed everywhere. The once well-functioning headquarters was reduced to ruins in an instant, a truly horrific sight.

The headquarters guards and soldiers rushed out, but they couldn't get even half a step closer to Mebius. The out-of-control collapsing energy was enough to devour them in an instant.

In the chaos, only Kevin stepped forward. He knew that if Mebius continued to get out of control, the entire Moth of Fire would be completely destroyed.

He tried several times to persuade Mebius to regain his senses, but Mebius was already blinded by rage, his eyes filled with only mad hatred. He wouldn't listen to any advice and instead vented all his anger on Kevin.

Left with no other choice, Kevin had to take action.

Both were top-tier fighters of the Fire Moths, and an earth-shattering battle erupted. The golden-red flames and the dark purple Honkai energy collided, and each clash unleashed a violent shockwave, leveling the surrounding ruins once again.

After a long and fierce battle, Kevin finally defeated the completely out-of-control Mebius with his more stable strength and unwavering will, exhausting the Honkai energy in her body and freeing her from her Collapsed form.

This farcical outburst ultimately ended with Mebius's imprisonment.

The cold cage confined her, but the madness and possessiveness in her eyes did not diminish in the slightest. She continued to whisper Lu Qiong's name, her tone full of obsession, as if this imprisonment was just a small episode in her revenge plan, and one day she would break free of the shackles and fulfill her vow.