Collapse, survive

Damn it, just how far have you infiltrated the Earth, even the World Serpent...?

The raven thought it was awesome!

The gray snake has been completely exposed, yet it has always boasted of being a hidden snake shadow.

However, Raven didn't believe Fang Jie could know more. The Gray Serpent was his limit; the true secrets of the World Serpent, the secrets of the Lord...

But losing a few more gray snakes wouldn't be good either, even though the gray snakes never care about the loss of individuals.

"Look, it's here already, pretty fast. I'll be leaving in half an hour, so I'll have to let Cocolia entertain me and lock me up like you until I have time."

Fang Jie has to go to work. Although the Starry Sky Train isn't a company, he still has to attend classes on time; there's so much to learn.

In the 'sky loop' surveillance footage, which the raven cannot see, a figure holding a black umbrella walks through the rain, leaving the car and heading towards the base.

Surprisingly, they were very open and aboveboard, conducting a normal visit.

"I'll go catch it."

Cocolia finally got up from Fang Jie's arms, regained her composure, and prepared to greet the guests.

They beat him until he knelt down to greet them.

late.

The gray snake spoke to the person in front of it: "Sir, please don't misunderstand, I have no hostility. If you insist on fighting, I will surrender."

The gray snake was the only 'human' wearing a black hooded sweatshirt that it never took off. It was very tall and wore a white mask that only revealed its right eye. The mask had two intersecting black dagger patterns on it. Its eyes and limbs were bionic prosthetics, and many prosthetic devices were implanted in its body. Its clothes were decorated with green lines, and there was a "martial" character on the right hem.

At nine o'clock, as the town center bells rang, a heavy tropical downpour fell from the gloomy sky, draping the bustling city in tranquility.

This is Ocean City, an artificial city located near the trench at 11°20.9” N and 142°11.5” E, between the Asian continent and Oceania, close to the Pacific Ocean.

Not long ago, when the incident happened in Oceania, Cocolia was here watching the nuclear bombs fly wildly overhead. Then, without fear, her World Serpent allies witnessed everything sliding towards an uncontrollable unknown and sent out ravens to test the waters.

'Siolla, don't blame me. Based on intelligence, sending you or Jackal here is far safer than sending the Gray Serpents, and Jackal…'

At this moment, the gray snake silently apologized.

This isn't a matter of value; rather, as fellow World Serpent cadres, Jackal is merely a researcher and doesn't possess the power of Raven at all.

The faint sound of bells came from afar, stirring up a quiet, subtle echo.

In the base, far from the noise, with Cocolia behind her, there were two. One was even more mechanical than her, expressionless and placed there like a statue, while the other Cocolia had sharp eyes and contained a powerful force that the Gray Serpent couldn't understand, and her aura was incomparable.

A young man leaning back in his chair was stroking the head of a small island crow, its hair smooth to the touch, waiting for a visitor.

The gray snake offered no resistance, even raising its hands as it followed the directions to this place, where it witnessed that one of the many gray snakes' adopted daughters, Siola, was indeed unharmed.

Raven didn't want to see it at all. She already knew that gray snakes were different from each other, especially considering her current state...

Faced with the choice between the head and the buttocks, the unashamed mercenary chose the head.

Let's just tolerate it for now!

Fang Jie stroked her like a cat, feeling the texture of her gray hair along her back, while gazing at the gray snake.

"Salute to you, warrior who came from beyond the world to fight against the Honkai."

The gray tone became distinctly respectful, ignoring the raven's hard work, setbacks, and humiliations, and expressing respect immediately.

Fang Jie was somewhat tense. Yes, he knew there were no secrets in the collapsed world, but the Gray Serpent...

"Where did you get this information from, Destiny, St. Freya Academy, or Anti-Entropy?"

He asked, "Grey Snake, who have you been listening to, using their valuable firsthand intelligence and analysis of me?"

"All."

Gray Serpent spoke with an air of self-importance and a slight tremor: "Long after everything in Changkong City spiraled out of control, I began to focus on testing that area, paying far more attention than those festering sores, and understanding Your Excellency's benevolence and kindness better than they do."

Unlike the other executives of World Serpent, Gray Serpent, as the World Serpent member who knows the most secrets, has memories that go back to the pre-civilization period 50,000 years ago, from the time it was born in the laboratory of its creator, Dr. Mebius.

During that period, the members of the Firemoth, who had just experienced the tragedy of the Restraint, took in a girl who had been identified as a Herrscher.

--bell.

The "King Kong" that Fang Jie once saw, hiding in a train cabin as a homebody, surfing the company's network, was initially pure and kind, but now he voluntarily walked into prison.

And, Gray Serpent remembers very clearly, this originally kind and harmless girl eventually transformed into the terrifying Herrscher of Corruption who extinguished the embers of civilization. To Gray Serpent Network, that was ten times, or even nine times, more terrifying.

Modern civilization absolutely cannot afford to fast-forward directly to the Corruption Disaster. Gray Serpent simply cannot imagine that scene, or how she escaped from the black box sealed by Dr. Mei. In short, Gray Serpent is prepared to sacrifice herself to fight the Corruption Virus...

Then the Herald of Erosion didn't come; instead, Fang Jie came.

With a few punches and kicks—well, with just a glance—he subdued the entire fighting force of the Far East Branch. The Hyperion was controlled, Ai-chan trembled in fear, and Gray Serpent...

Something is wrong, very wrong!

After that, Oceania fell, and the Gray Serpent Network was also cut off. Although Fang Jie only targeted Otto's Soul Steel consciousness upload, the Gray Serpent Network also suffered under the crackdown.

It can still find a way to defeat the erosion virus, no matter the cost.

But the Herrscher is still evolving rapidly...

It was just a gray snake, lacking the power of the lords.

Fortunately, Fang Jie showed his friendship after that. Beating up Durandal was one thing, and blowing up Destiny was another. He respected Fu Hua very much and also let St. Freya Academy go.

After Grey Serpent painstakingly learned all this from the secret network monitoring the world, it followed the clues and arranged for Siola to send a wave of people to verify its conjecture.

Congratulations, congratulations.

Fang Jie shook his head and glanced at the little island rapper. "No wonder you wanted to leave this world so much, snake."

We extend our deepest condolences.

"Crack, snap."

Fang Jie clapped at the gray snake as if to show his appreciation.

But the gray snake silently prepared to disconnect from the gray snake network. It could die, and the memories of this body could not be uploaded and synchronized. It must not give the erosion a chance.

Fang Jie may have appeared benevolent and kind, not directly destroying the current civilization, but what if he was just acting, deceiving everyone to gain enough time to develop before destroying the world...?

It's as if we can stop it right now.

While he's still somewhat communicative, try to appease him, cooperate, and deal with him as best you can, and buy as much time as possible before he goes berserk.

The current civilization needs time, and the Gray Serpent especially needs time. As long as the Lord returns to the World Serpent, everything will be alright, and it firmly believes this.

Although Cocolia is clearly under control right now, Grey Serpent needs to find a new collaborator to obtain a Herrscher core belonging to the current civilization.

Although Fang Jie is currently in Haiyuan City and has the Gray Serpent firmly under his control, it has neither Kevin's coordinates in the Quantum Sea nor the ability to bypass Fang Jie to open the gates of Haiyuan City.

He was clearly not as easily fooled as Cocolia. The Grey Serpent refers to the Cocolia of reverse entropy. He could use the situation to force her to do the ×10 experiment, and then use the excuse of finding Seele Elef from the Sea of ​​Quanta to control her.

If Fang Jie wants something...

At least the gray snake would find it hard to refuse.

"Since you've said that, I won't say anything more to you. To make a long story short, I don't have much to say to you. You can do whatever you want, Gray Serpent. This is my way of showing respect to Kevin."

However, the Stigmata Project has never been a priority, so you'd better not be too impulsive. You should know how I treated Otto; don't make me target you like that.

As he spoke, Fang Jie pulled out another Otto from the void and twisted off its head.

Unfortunately, this Soul Steel body only contains a backup consciousness.

Nowadays, most of the safe houses Otto finds after his aerial return are filled with this kind of people. He decisively cuts off his tail to survive, like a gecko, without feeling any remorse for these soul steels that account for 99% of the current civilization's resources.

It would be enough to build the Moon Throne and recreate the miracle of the game's demise.

Fang Jie didn't plan to use it to build the Moon Throne. Instead, he gave it to Uncle Yang to make something better, and to make sure that no warship could compare to the 'Hyperion,' the real Hyperion.

My boat!

Although it's too late to call it quits now, there's nothing I can do about it. Let's kill Otto to liven things up.

Otto did not kill Gray Serpent as a warning to him, but his tone became more respectful: "I have noted it down. I am glad that we can coexist peacefully, Your Excellency."

Whether Otto is dead or alive... Grey Serpent seemed indifferent to this.

As for the Stigmata Project, to be frank, only the Golden Serpent has been working on it, and it has management authority over the Gray Serpent Network.

It doesn't ask for much right now; it's content as long as it can buy some time. Once the Lord comes out, that won't be a problem at all.

The raven heard...

You're not an alien.

Are we on the same side?

Stop touching me, stop touching me, you're touching my butt!

It's just the tailbone; my waist is quite flexible.

"Oh, sorry, I just happened to take it."

Fang Jie smiled brightly and released her: "Let's make a deal, Gray Serpent. I've taken over an orphanage in Anti-Entropy and I'm short of a suitable vice director. How about giving me Ms. Little Island Raven?"

The gray snake had no objection, but also did not give a direct answer.

"Siolla is free, and the World Serpent does not interfere with her free choice."

Even if she falls into your hands with the Third Divine Key, Gray Serpent probably won't even flinch.

"Little Island Bakuya, what's your opinion?"

Of course I disagree!

Raven wanted to yell at him loudly. Her World Serpent executive codename was Raven, and her real name was Natasha Theora. Who did that little island Raven keep calling? Are you threatening me?

She had no desire to do any strange work, not even to discuss wages, let alone an orphanage or human experimentation project!

"I have no opinion."

However, circumstances were beyond her control, and the mercenary lady who walked the dark world was extremely pragmatic.

If she had known that even S-rank characters would be subjected to unspoken rules, she shouldn't have taken this damn mission. Wouldn't it have been better to stay in North America and enjoy a proper vacation instead of getting involved in this massive collapse?

"Then I look forward to your joining us."

As he spoke, Fang Jie stretched out his hand.

The raven paused for a moment, then quickly took it with both hands, shaking it repeatedly: "It's my honor."

A mature Miss Raven.jpg

Gray Serpent efficiently rescued Raven, taking the Seven Thunders of Purification with him. Fang Jie seemed completely uninterested in the thing, only touching it for a whole morning before returning it to her.

He even touched her.

Raven forcibly suppressed her displeasure at that strange feeling. What could she possibly have to say about Gray Serpent? He was just less skilled than her; he hadn't really humiliated her.

But it wasn't until they were far from the base, having traveled by car and boarded a plane, that Raven finally managed to roar at the gray snake before him:

"Grey Snake, did you betray me?"

This mission was wrong from the start!

Although Raven was adopted by the Gray Snakes, he couldn't help but sigh slightly every time he saw the other Gray Snakes, wondering how he could have such a group of relatives.

She must not have unrealistic expectations of it, although she could never help but have them.

Gray Serpent's tone remained unchanged: "This is not betrayal, but exploitation. The mission is as follows, Siola. This is not the first time you have received a mission like this, but you have completed it excellently every time."

"Can that be the same?"

Even if she went to assassinate Otto, this mission wouldn't be as dangerous. At first glance, she seems to be out of danger, but she's already trapped in a den of iniquity, perhaps a dark orphanage even more cruel than the World Serpent.

"Siolla, I hope you can respect that gentleman as before. This is for your own good, and for the sake of the world. He must be a respectable, benevolent, and kind gentleman, do you understand?"

The gray snake did not argue, but emphasized, looking into the raven's eyes as it had taught over the years.

Yes, Raven's foster father was only one Grey Snake, but when it came to teaching her... all the Grey Snakes were involved to some extent, or at least their memories were shared.

"..."

Finally, just as the gray serpent had predicted, the silent raven remained unchanged.

Although she does not agree with the actions of the World Serpent, due to her painful childhood experiences, Shiora is willing to obey the World Serpent and exchange the power to destroy the Honkai for the sacrifice of a few.

Even if it means sacrificing herself, leaving behind the peaceful life she wanted, and saying goodbye to her dreams.

Goodbye, my little island, the dream I've worked so hard to achieve—to buy an island and build a big house.

"By the way, Siona, don't go back yet. Don't look at me like that. I won't go back either. Any experience of contact with that gentleman is dangerous. Isolation is already 'Snake's' mercy. If there's anything you want, you can arrange for 'Snake' to send it to you. That's an order."