When love dominates everything, power does not exist; when power rules everything, love disappears. The two are each other's shadows.
...
The rain converged in the air, flowing in streams down the helmet's visor, gathering into a current at his feet and flowing away.
The Helmeted Man seemed to have known Ato would appear here. He showed no surprise, no anger; everything was just like their first meeting—plain, with the rain carrying a hint of bitterness.
"Lin, why are humans always in conflict and opposition? It's as if even if only two people remained in this world, they would desperately plunge blades into each other's chests. Is there any way to solve this?"
Ato's face was soaked. He appeared to be smiling, but the thin rain distorted his expression beyond recognition.
"If all of humanity turned into orange juice, that would solve it," a muffled sound came from inside the helmet.
Ato froze for a moment, then laughed. "Is that your sense of humor?"
"..."
Splash.
Zheng. Lin drew his blade and gun. He had never imagined his weapons would be aimed at this man, but he didn't waver. The gaze beneath the helmet was numb to the point of cold-bloodedness.
Ato saw Lin movement and felt the biting chill radiating from him. For the first time, he understood what it felt like to face Lin as an enemy.
Yet, he didn't make much of a move. Instead, he openly exposed his chest, leaving his vital points in a dangerous position.
"Lin, go." He offered no resistance.
"..."
"I know you, Lin. You would give everything for humanity and for the soldiers who died for it. You are a man who lives in the past, so you won't tolerate any form of insult to the soldiers and the fallen." Ato spread his hands, explaining calmly. "Fire Moth has stripped the soldiers of their meaning. Who we fight for, and who we die for—that should have been for us to decide."
"Griseo didn't show physical abnormalities after the Project Soldier surgery, nor did she lose her senses like you. On the contrary, her sense of color was enhanced. This world is more vivid to her, yet she is just a blank piece of paper. Those vivid colors could dye her at any moment into... something I don't want to see."
"You asked me why. I think I can tell you now. Because I don't want the soldiers to lose their meaning. I want Griseo to live peacefully, rather than as a monster in the eyes of others."
"That was the content of my deal with that person. It's simple: I work for him, and he stops the KY Project—which makes all our efforts and sacrifices thus far lose their value. You were also a part of that cycle."
Lin finally pieced together the entire train of thought and the sequence of events.
Two years ago, after encountering the Stargate attack, Ato reached a deal with a certain traitor among the high-ranking officials. To stop the KY Project, Ato made preparations in the shadows, while the traitor did his best to prevent the project from being implemented early. Lin was a component of their plan; the words Ato left for Lin prompted him to start investigating Fire Moth and its predecessors.
After accidentally encountering the Honkai outbreak at Sviotok-51, they had Gray Serpent, who was collaborating with them, convey the truth of the Honkai to Lin. This was to push Lin to accelerate his investigation and completely revolt against Fire Moth after learning the truth.
Thus, Lin continuously destroyed KY Project bases, slowing down the project's accumulation of resources and giving the traitor more time to prepare.
Gray Serpent was very likely playing both sides. He didn't just collaborate with the traitor; he likely had dealings with the Fire Moth high command as well. He maneuvered between them, watching the script he envisioned from the best seat in the house.
The only issue was that Lin did not believe the Sviotok-51 Honkai outbreak was caused by the high command planning the KY Project; rather, it was done by the "traitor" collaborating with Ato.
Triggering the Sviotok-51 disaster offered no benefit to the Fire Moth high command—in fact, it only brought them harm. Fire Moth had gradually begun to appear in the public eye in recent years, but they clearly didn't want to be exposed too early, and had to spend massive amounts of manpower and resources to cover it up.
Furthermore, it was precisely the Sviotok-51 outbreak that made Lin completely suspicious of Fire Moth.
No, wait—it shouldn't be called a traitor. That person likely just wanted to monopolize the results of the KY Project. His secret research into the Stargate and his backstabbing of other high-ranking officials were all actions taken toward that goal.
"I am wrong."
"You are right."
Ato and Lin spoke at the same time. After finishing, Ato looked at the calm Lin in shock, not knowing why he would say such a thing.
"Don't you... hate me? I used you, and it ultimately led to the current state of affairs."
"If hate were useful, I would resent you forever." Lin performed a flourish with his blade, sheathed it back into the weapon case, and walked past Ato. "Sooner or later, this day would have come. As long as humans remain human, they cannot escape self-destruction."
"Then you..."
"We cannot decide for others, but we can decide for ourselves. If meaning is stripped away, then we take it back." Lin took a step forward. The storm overhead stopped abruptly; with just one step, he moved from the rain into a clear sky. He looked up at the sun.
As a soldier, as a hero, as himself.
It was that simple.
Ocean waves and sandy beach—this place never changed. Every wave reached the same height, the same position, perfectly covering her footprints.
Delta kept her head down as the waves washed over her ankles. She looked up at the infinite sky, where the sea and sky met in a single line.
She always had this dream. Vil-V said it was a normal phenomenon for MANTIS, but she knew this was a memory from her childhood, not a memory from the Honkai Beast.
A swim ring rolled to her feet. Previously, she had always chased after it; now, she only needed to bend down to pick it up.
"Big sister, aren't you going to pick it up?"
"..."
A blue-haired girl walked to Delta side. Behind her was a sandcastle Delta had kicked over.
Delta took a breath of the salty sea air. She pursed her lips and smiled: "No."
"Why?" The girl leaned against her side. Delta stroked the girl's head.
Now, Delta had the appearance of an eighteen-year-old, but the girl still looked as she did in her childhood memories—small, delicate, like a doll.
"Because... I've grown up. I can't chase a swim ring like a child anymore. I'm your big sister; I need to take on that responsibility."
"But big sister is still a child too."
"That's not right. I don't have older brothers or sisters, but I have a younger sister. She's waiting for me to be her hero."
Delta smiled and knelt down. Before the girl, she shone brilliantly.
The girl also broke into a smile and nodded heavily.
"Mm, Big Sister—"
"HOWL!"
Delta roared in agony. Amidst tears and rain, she raised her sword against the monster that was once her sister.