"You are..." The white-haired girl recognized the sweet-looking girl. Wasn't she one of the two people who had caught Hua's attention earlier?
She tilted her head and saw that the tightly wrapped hooded man was also there. Could he really see anything wearing sunglasses late at night?
Seele also examined the fashionable girl—the manicured nails, the permed hair, the altered clothing—she was the epitome of youthful, spirited girls. If Seele hadn't been in the Moth of the Flame-Chasers, perhaps she could have been a normal teenage girl like her.
A wave of emotion washed over her. In contrast, the girl in the slightly old-fashioned uniform standing next to her looked so different that Seele didn't think of them as being together.
"Um... you can play." As a soldier of the Moth of the Flame-Chasers, Seele felt it necessary to show deference to ordinary citizens.
"No, no, no, you play! There's more than one machine." The white-haired girl stood up as if her pants were on fire. She felt it would be a sin if she interrupted the couple's fun.
"I don't play."
"I don't play."
Lin and Hua spoke in unison, and the atmosphere instantly cooled.
The two made eye contact again, with an uncanny understanding, and then quickly looked away.
"Then, shall the two of us play?" The white-haired girl asked playfully.
Seele sighed, slightly deflated, but still smiled and nodded: "Sure."
The scene thus became awkwardly divided: two silent people stood behind two others fiercely engrossed in a game, watching them play the arcade machine without saying a word. The atmosphere was so heavy the air felt close to solidifying.
Seele was a soldier who had undergone military training, and her reflexes were unrivaled by ordinary people. Although the white-haired girl was good at games, Seele clearly had gaming experience as well. After a few rounds to familiarize herself with her opponent's play style, Seele continuously overpowered the white-haired girl, shutting her out every round.
The white-haired girl was defeated once more, smacking her lips: "Wow, you're too amazing."
"Hehe..." Seele laughed without answering.
"Hua, help me." The white-haired girl gazed pitifully at the gray-haired girl who was spaced out, sending out a signal for help.
Hua didn't play many games, but her reflexes were the best the white-haired girl had ever seen. Simply put, she could easily master any game that relied on reaction time, similar to Seele.
Hua looked surprised: "Huh? But my skills aren't as good as yours."
"Oh, come on, just help me out once." The white-haired girl pushed her into the seat without waiting for a denial.
Forced to comply, Hua avoided Seele's eyes and stared at the screen: "Just one round, okay?"
"Then let's begin."
This time, Seele found herself in an unexpectedly tough battle. Neither she nor Hua had exquisite technique, but Hua's reaction speed and adaptability were actually superior to hers. Hua eventually ground her down until she was defeated.
Lin, who hadn't paid much attention until then, shifted his gaze to Hua's hands the moment she sat down, and then slowly frowned.
"Soldier L—Lin, help me." Seele pleaded with her watery eyes.
"..."
Was this a case of beating the small one, and the big one coming next?
However, since Hua had beaten Seele, it would be rude to refuse the change of opponents. Lin could only secretly resolve to quit after this match.
The moment Lin sat down, Seele and the white-haired girl exchanged smiles. They hadn't spoken, but both their objectives had been achieved.
"Excuse me." Hua apologized for beating Seele. She then hesitated for a moment and asked, "Your sunglasses..."
"Don't worry about it," Lin replied casually.
It would be over soon anyway.
"Fight."
As the opening phrase sounded, Lin's fingers flew across the joystick and buttons, a dizzying display of speed. He maneuvered his character swiftly and rhythmically, launching an attack on Hua, who had no time to react.
Just as Lin expected, it was over quickly.
In an onslaught like a sudden storm, Lin's control and reaction time were both top-tier. In less than twenty seconds, he used a beautiful, seamless combo to corner Hua and lock her into a continuous attack, leaving her unable to even input commands.
Even after Lin pressed the final button to execute the finishing move and stood up smoothly, Hua remained staring blankly at the screen.
"..."
"..."
Seele swallowed, looking at the perfect victory display. She asked with difficulty: "...Lin, have you played before?"
"I know a little," Lin answered simply, dusting the seat off his pants.
The white-haired girl was about to console the dazed Hua, but upon hearing Lin's words, she angrily pointed at the nonchalant Lin and exclaimed: "That's too much! That's just bullying!"
No matter how skilled you were, you should still let the other person have a chance, right?
"No..." Hua, snapping out of the crushing defeat, pulled the white-haired girl back. Before she could offer an apology, Lin, folding his arms, spoke:
"Are you a martial artist?" His tone was certain, more like a confirmation than a question.
"Huh?" Hua murmured, confused.
"You have great talent, but you are not diligent enough. Spend less time in places like this, and focus more on refining your martial arts."
Hua stared in surprise at Lin as he turned to leave. This was the first time someone had ever told her she wasn't diligent enough, and moreover... he was actually suggesting she continue practicing martial arts?
Almost everyone, including her father, and even herself, felt that martial arts were useless in this era. After all, this was a peaceful age that didn't require wielding swords and spears. It would be better to acquire knowledge and dedicate one's youth to a beautiful life rather than monotonous training.
The white-haired girl huffed defiantly: "Hmph, who does he think he is? Acting like he knows everything..."
Hua watched his retreating back and shook her head: "I think he's a decent person."
The night continued. For the citizens of Canghai City, today was like any other, and tomorrow should be the same.
And this unexpected encounter had drawn to a simple close...
"Wooo—"
But that was not the truth.
A piercing alarm sliced through the night sky.
It was a type of alarm no one had ever heard before. It was triggered for only one reason—
A large-scale Honkai Eruption.
The two people walking out of the arcade heard the alarm. Seele's dark-blue pupils shrank in shock: "That's... an alarm?"
Lin pulled out his communicator almost the instant he heard the alarm. Alarming crimson red covered the screen, showing the Honkai energy in Canghai City was rapidly rising. At the same time, a communication request appeared on both his and Seele's communicators.
"ID MSA-079, MSA-208. Changkong City has experienced a Level 1 Honkai Disaster. Canghai City, where you are currently located, is also affected. The Honkai will erupt in fifty seconds. Please prepare to withstand the impact and engage in combat."
"Level 1... Isn't that a large-scale Honkai eruption that gives birth to a Herrscher and High-Tier Honkai Beasts?" Seele's face was pale. This eruption happened so suddenly; they hadn't even had time to prepare, and their equipment wasn't with them.
"Can you dispatch the nearest branch team for support!"
But the mechanical voice that notified them ceased to reply after the simple broadcast. The forces had to focus entirely on the epicenter of the Honkai—Changkong City—and couldn't possibly spare attention for one or two soldiers.
"What should we do? Soldier Lin... Soldier Lin?"
Seele anxiously watched the ominous crimson text counting down on the communicator, wanting to ask Lin for instructions on what to do next. But when she turned to look at him, a chill went straight to her core.
Changkong City... Kevin, Mei...
Lin took a deep breath. He looked up, his voice colder than ever: "Deal with the impact, and then, conquer the Honkai."
"Boom!"
Streaks of destruction descended from the sky.