Four hours and fifteen minutes.
The battleship broke through the ocean surface, leaving a long, azure wake as it ascended towards the sky. The sea was quickly left behind, and a clear curvature of the Earth became visible.
With a slight vibration, the blue sky grew closer. The Honkai Energy shield rose, rubbing against the atmosphere and glowing faintly red.
Looking out, there were hundreds of white trails. The moment the Hyperion launched, military bases all over the Earth, remotely controlled by Prometheus, began their own launch sequence, firing all remaining materials into space.
A little later, Ryan, gripping the handrails, saw his 'left and right guards' floating. He himself felt a sense of weightlessness, but everyone had undergone relevant training and quickly adjusted.
Honkai energy is omnipotent. Using energy to adhere oneself to the seat instantly negated the weightlessness. Ryan's expression grew a little more serious.
Space was the enemy's home field. As humans bound by gravity, it was difficult to get used to this light, floating sensation. But he had no choice. He couldn't just hide on the ground and wait for orbital bombardment.
Geographical advantage is out for now. Everything depends on whether the plan succeeds and allows us to seize the advantage.
Ryan thought this while looking at the screen, seeing a sapphire-blue star floating like a jewel in the pitch-black universe—humanity's mother planet.
"It's truly beautiful..." Elysia floated in, hovering near the ceiling. "I said we should put some windows on the back of the battleship; it looks better that way."
She was clearly enjoying herself, flying lightly back and forth.
"You can go outside and look. You can keep up with the Hyperion anyway." Ryan glanced sideways. He had to admit, the zero-gravity state was quite nice, especially since Elysia wasn't fighting it, allowing her dress to completely billow out, like a slowly blooming narcissus.
Oh, wait. She is fighting it, with this anti-gravity skirt. I can't see anything.
"No way. I'll just get scolded again." Elysia wrinkled her nose, then looked at another screen. "Honestly, that thing looks quite beautiful too."
It was the scene of the moon. It looked as if the Moon was wearing an azure hat. A spherical object was clearly more prominent than before. More than half of it had descended, and a track of light connected Her to the Earth's surface.
Ryan didn't need Prometheus's alarm to know the big event was coming soon. He looked at the various data points, his expression growing increasingly serious.
Two hundred seventy thousand kilometers remaining. The Hyperion was faster without atmospheric drag. They would arrive in about eight hours. They didn't need to land on the moon; they could enter firing range in four hours. Staying a few tens of thousands of kilometers away would be slightly safer.
"It will be even more beautiful when we smash it. I look forward to that moment." Ryan didn't waste time chatting with Elysia. He turned his head slightly. The CIC had already established relay communication.
Mei remained in the deepest part of the ocean on Earth. Ryan was heading into space. They were both in their assigned places, with clear division of labor.
"How does it feel to march toward End?" The woman's face held a strange smile.
"Terrible. It makes me want to hide in the sea and never show my face again." Ryan cracked a joke, then crossed his legs. "The distance is close enough. We can start the first phase of the plan."
"The timing is up to you. I'm just coordinating."
Ryan remained calm, even taking full command for the first time.
"Good. Division Chief Edwin, release the equipment. Form the space station."
As the command was issued, the ships following the Hyperion began to decelerate. The restraints were released, scattering a large amount of equipment around.
These were long, rod-like devices that headed to their designated positions under Prometheus's control. As hundreds of Honkai Energy engines activated, beams of light began to connect.
A giant, semi-transparent light umbrella unfolded. Satellites previously launched into space braked around it, and the main battleship stayed behind the umbrella, forming a space fortress.
With ample time, Ryan had naturally prepared thoroughly, using almost all the resources Fire Moth had accumulated over the years. The defensive power of this light umbrella was astonishing, arguably stronger than the old New York Headquarters.
"Space station anchored. All systems activated. Giant Disintegration Cannon assembly progressing, at 3%."
Dozens of operators on the bridge were busy. Ryan saw a massive construct being assembled.
Still remotely controlled by Prometheus, thousands of robots began assembling the materials launched from Earth. A giant, thousand-meter-diameter concave mirror gradually took shape. In front of the mirror was a cannon barrel that had flown into space with the Destiny ship, looking like an iron tower.
"Time is still short. Only a few cannon barrels have been manufactured, and the energy storage devices are insufficient. We truly can't achieve rapid fire," Mei said calmly. This super cannon had been in manufacturing since before the Herrscher of Constraint, but it hadn't been put to use.
Made of Soul Steel, using a replicated Fifth Divine Key as a coolant, it fired huge beams of energy, a blend of magic and science.
"It's quite good. Vill-V was practically grinding herself to dust, and we barely made it." Ryan was satisfied. He hadn't been involved in these specific tasks. Mei had orchestrated everything single-handedly.
This cannon and space station probably didn't exist in the original timeline. Giving the resources to Mei was a hundred times better than giving them to those Councilors.
My variable wasn't just limited to myself; Fire Moth's technology tree was also expanded.
"Progress is normal. It should be completed by the time End descends. I'm now transferring full authority to Prometheus."
"Don't worry, Daddy. I will work hard!"
An 'I'll do my best' emoji appeared on the screen. This space station had no MANTIS, relying mainly on Prometheus and Vill-V's 'children,' giving it a very cyber-heavy atmosphere.
The title made Ryan awkward. He shifted his posture: "Be careful of the enemy having an ability similar to a computer virus. Also, the Fourth Divine Key is with you. Hide it first."
"Understood, Daddy. I was born to counter the Authority of Erosion!"
I should be able to relax. Besides, any problems that arise won't affect the overall situation. This is merely icing on the cake.
Ryan cut the communication. He didn't know if the first phase of the 'Star Epoch' plan would even be useful. As determined before the battle, the goal was to extract every ounce of potential from human civilization.
It doesn't matter if it works or not. Even a penny's worth of chips must be thrown onto the table. Go all in!
Two hours passed.
The Moon was rapidly 'expanding.' Even Elysia's interest began to wane, and she quietly yawned. Hua and Sakura hadn't spoken a word from the start, their faces taut.
What a torment.
Ryan lightly tapped his foot. The feeling of marching to the execution ground was indeed unpleasant. It was like finishing studying, adjusting the mindset, entering the exam room, and waiting for the invigilator to hand out the test, guessing what difficult questions would appear. Every second of this stage was agony.
What else can I do now?
His mind raced. He found that there was nothing left to do but wait. As the Moon drew closer, the psychological pressure grew heavier.
Clap.
Ryan lightly slapped his face and stood up.
"Let's go to the deck. Staying here is a waste of time. We should get used to the vacuum environment as soon as possible."
"Okay."
Everyone followed suit and went outside the ship. As MANTIS, they didn't need bulky spacesuits. The moment Ryan stepped out, a strange sensation washed over him.
We're still human?
Unafraid of weightlessness, needing no breath. He couldn't describe the feeling. It was slightly better on Earth, but it was much more pronounced in space.
Surviving in a vacuum without protective gear, yet communicating normally.
"It's so strange. We can still talk in space," Pardofelis was very curious. She took a deep breath, but nothing happened.
"It's the principle of Honkai Energy resonance, or rather, you don't need ears anymore," Mobius explained with a look reserved for underachievers. "If you didn't have Honkai energy protection, the change in pressure and extreme cold would have killed you the moment you entered space."
"Then how does Honkai energy do it? And I'm still opening my mouth."
"Opening your mouth is a habit. How it works, I don't know, but you can try exhausting your energy to see what happens. I'd be very interested in conducting an experiment," Mobius sneered. This wasn't just space; they were on a ship moving at several times the speed of sound. Even a scientist like her was curious.
In this state, why are my stockings still intact? What happens if we kiss, or do something more pleasurable?
Thinking this, she raised her hand to touch her face, feeling a rush of heat. Physiological responses in this environment? This, this is unscientific.
'Very exploratory, but I don't have time to experiment with you.'
Ryan saw Mobius's curiosity at a glance and gave a knowing smile. He, however, couldn't be bothered to seek the answer.
Honkai energy is omnipotent. It can probably even cause space pregnancy. Why question it?
Without any reference points, it was hard to judge their speed. They could only see the Moon getting closer, and the sense of oppression growing stronger.
Less than a hundred thousand kilometers remained.
His heart began to pound violently, forcing blood into his limbs. The smile on his face disappeared without him noticing. Something seemed to be on the verge of erupting.
It's coming. Faster than Prometheus calculated.
Visually, nothing changed, but his intuition was alarming him wildly. At this distance, Ryan could start estimating.
"It will definitely be stronger than the one Kevin originally encountered. I recall the Herrscher of End encountered by the Previous Era was only about half strength."
In the original timeline, the End the Previous Era encountered was less than half strength. Because the ancient ancestor Kevin fused with the Hundred Beasts, he surpassed the Previous Era's End. Then, the Great Sage Kiana fused all Herrscher powers, which was equivalent to half against half, and finally, she gained the Cocoon of End and became the complete entity.
Thus, Ryan had a hidden advantage: he knew the Cocoon of End's upper limit—Kiana was that limit.
Mobius and Elysia beside him heard Ryan muttering, and they were curious about the 'half strength' comment, but no one interrupted him.
Trusting Ryan had a rational basis. It was like he could estimate the limit now, giving him some peace of mind.
"I have no doubt 'He' is using all 'His' strength, but with eight Authorities on me, and Elysia still alive, the other half is definitely incomplete. Influenced by Calis, the Beast's characteristics were emphasized, and End was forcibly summoned with a signal tower. So, even that half is incomplete."
Ryan continued to speak, his pace quickening. He realized he couldn't precisely estimate, yet he felt like he could touch End's limit.
Neither side was complete, or rather, Ryan's entire plan was based on ensuring 'He' was incomplete.
He couldn't beat a complete End. He had to use every means to continuously lower that limit. Elysia, Calis, and all subsequent plans were designed to do so.
"At least the completion rate is good right now. Two incomplete parts combined are, at most, equivalent to eighty percent."
"But eighty percent is still terrifying. I need to weaken it further, engage in attrition, and dismember it. Only then can I find a chance!"
His voice grew louder. Everyone around him understood his thoughts, or rather, the core of Ryan and Mei's combat plan:
To gradually pull the 'God' from the divine throne, thereby creating an opportunity for a one-hit kill.
That's why they fully ensured Fire Moth's forces and desperately exploited Earth's potential, striving to achieve a result where their rise paralleled the enemy's fall.
At that moment, a purple aura bloomed on the Moon. A blinding light swept toward space, seemingly evolving into a 'straw hat,' looking exceptionally magnificent.
Instantly, Elysia clutched her left chest, her body leaning forward as if struggling to breathe. Everyone else clenched their teeth, staring ahead, feeling a shock to their souls.
A terrifying presence. The mere aura felt like it could tear the planet apart.
"S-She's coming!"
"I see it. It is indeed an unimaginable opponent. If the Herrscher of Constraint was a high wall, this thing is a mountain with no visible peak." Ryan's body hunched for a moment but quickly straightened up again.
A God? Right. Simply manipulating destiny and directing all outcomes to one's advantage was enough to be called a god, but more importantly—
Power was the reason for godhood. Only transcendent strength deserved the name End!
In that instant, his heart stopped. Ryan hadn't felt this kind of trepidation in a long time. Since there was no turning back, he consciously channeled this trepidation into excitement.
If I can tear 'Her' apart, how far can I advance? How much distance can I cover toward the unknown?
Ryan didn't know. He only drew the scarlet long spear, looking at the aura spreading into deep space, and asked the two beside him.
"Sakura, is the 'Genesis' structure complete?"
"Ninety-five percent complete. Just a little more," Sakura raised her voice, as if trying to expel the fear.
"Overload all the machines. Give them ten minutes, then transfer control to me." Ryan fixed his gaze on the distance, pointing the spear forward:
"When End descends, I'm going to blast Her in the face."