4. The Inevitable Third Honkai Eruption
[Winter break has arrived. You and Fu Hua have packed your bags, ready to return to your hometown to visit your uncle, who is recuperating at home. You've even invited Carol to come along.]
[But you know this trip isn't really about going home. It's about joining MOTH.]
[You had already arranged for MOTH to send someone to pick up Uncle Fu. The other residents of the town were also being evacuated under the pretext of an earthquake warning.]
[The destructive scope of the Third Honkai Eruption, centered on Nagazora City in the Far East, would affect the entire East Asia. You reported this 'prophecy' to MOTH to prevent a massive loss of life, even if this is just a simulation.]
[Soon, nations responded. With their administrative systems still largely intact at this time, Shenzhou began setting up numerous temporary shelters, and your school had even conducted disaster drills.]
[Of course, what you hoped for most was for you and Fu Hua to leave safely.]
[And so, you and Fu Hua arrived at the Canghai City airport.]
Carrying his luggage, Gao Qi stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows of the terminal, watching the increasingly gloomy sky, and couldn't help but frown.
Soon, MOTH would send a plane to Canghai City to prioritize evacuating him and Fu Hua, while also preparing to deal with the aftermath of the Honkai eruption in the city.
Gao Qi didn't know the exact time of the Honkai eruption, only that it was roughly around the time Fu Hua returned home for winter break. So, he deliberately reported the outbreak time to MOTH three days earlier than he knew, and set the evacuation time another day before that.
And Fu Hua... she would likely, just like in history, become a MANTIS soldier, eventually becoming "Hua," one of the Thirteen Flame-Chasers. But this time, Gao Qi didn't want her to experience too much life and death separation.
Suffering can make one grow, but no one should glorify suffering itself.
Gao Qi believed that even without experiencing so much pain, Fu Hua could still become a remarkable hero.
And he, as promised, would stay by Fu Hua's side all along.
Of course, Gao Qi also understood that in the Previous Era's war against the Honkai, only a handful survived. He definitely wouldn't make it to the end. But still—every extra moment he could spend with Fu Hua was precious, and he might even get to meet some interesting people.
Thinking of this, Gao Qi turned his head to look at the girl who had become somewhat more outgoing over the past six months.
"Carol, where are you? Stuck in traffic? It's fine, there's still some time before the plane arrives. Take your time."
Smiling, still wearing the casual clothes she bought with Carol, Fu Hua held the phone Gao Qi bought for her, calling her good friend.
Carol was originally going home for winter break too, but after Gao Qi casually mentioned their plans, she immediately insisted on going back with Fu Hua. Fu Hua couldn't persuade her otherwise and had to agree.
Taking a good friend home was something Fu Hua looked forward to, but besides that, she had something else she wanted to do—something she hadn't even told Big Brother Gao Qi about.
Since childhood, Fu Hua always felt she was an ordinary person, without any grand ideals or ambitious goals, just doing what other kids her age did.
It wasn't that Fu Hua thought this peaceful, stable life was bad. On the contrary, with Big Brother Gao Qi by her side, she had always been very happy and never felt lonely.
However, coming to the big city, Fu Hua learned many new things. Coupled with Carol's constant encouragement, Fu Hua couldn't help but develop some ideas of her own.
For the first time in over ten years of life, Fu Hua wanted to actively make a choice for her own future.
She wanted to try and, with Big Brother Gao Qi, well, that, that thing—
"Hehe…"
Thinking of this, Fu Hua, holding the phone, couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.
Whether it was running a martial arts school with Big Brother Gao Qi in their hometown, or buying a house and working in the big city, Fu Hua felt that spending her life like this… seemed pretty good too?
"What are you doing, grinning so foolishly?"
Seeing Fu Hua's expression, Gao Qi couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. But the girl just shook her head, gracefully walked over to Gao Qi, and while still talking to Carol on the phone, somewhat guiltily linked her arm with his.
Her nimble fingers subtly shifted, intending to secretly hold Gao Qi's hand.
"Qi Bro—"
Bzzzzzzzz——————
But, just as their fingertips touched, a sudden, inexplicable sense of dread surged in both their hearts.
Accompanied by a buzzing sound that grew from weak to intense, Gao Qi and Fu Hua saw, far on the horizon, what seemed like a deep purple thunderbolt, reaching from the sky—no, from the cosmos—down to the sea.
The lightning seemed to come from very, very far away, yet it was still clearly visible.
"Eh, what's that? Lightning over the sea?"
The lightning was so dazzling, so brilliant it was hard to look away. But the moment Fu Hua exclaimed in wonder, she was suddenly pulled into Gao Qi's broad embrace. He shielded her, placing himself in front of her.
BOOM!!!
The next second, a roar so loud it nearly deafened them exploded in their hearts.
Their bodies froze, unable to move, as if a terrifying gaze had swept over them for an instant before looking into the distance.
That will was so vast, so heavy, it made one want to kneel down in submission.
But Gao Qi and Fu Hua held each other, supporting one another, and neither fell.
Then, countless meteors glowing with purple light began to fall slowly from the sky. The bustling high-rises started collapsing one after another.
Crash———
The terminal's large windows shattered under the massive shockwave, and wind and rain blew in.
"Big Brother Gao Qi, are you okay! I have medicine here!"
Once the first wave of the disaster's impact passed, Fu Hua finally dared to breathe heavily and immediately began checking Gao Qi for injuries. Fortunately, the laminated glass didn't shinto sharp fragments; Gao Qi only had a few minor cuts. Fu Hua quickly took out band-aids to treat him.
Then, looking at the phone still in her hand, Fu Hua hurriedly called out loudly.
"Carol, are you okay!"
Carol's fuzzy voice came from the phone.
"Wahhh! Fu Hua, it's the apocalypse! D-don't worry, I'm a soldier's daughter! I'm going to go save—"
Meanwhile, turmoil raged in Gao Qi's heart.
[Wait, the Third Honkai Eruption has already begun?! I deliberately came so early—System, are you messing with me on purpose?!]
He had deliberately moved the timeline earlier, so how could the Third Honkai Eruption still have erupted? Gao Qi's first suspicion fell on the simulation system.
[The Imaginary Tree extends its branches, winding through the Sea of Quanta. The branches sway, the tides surge, constituting world after world, and also stirring up waves that destroy worlds—this is the Honkai.]
[Your existence is likewise enough to create ripples. Every time you make a decision, you have already altered the course of this simulation. Reasonable changes in behavior will increase the rewards for this simulation. Please keep up the good work.]
Hey, not only did the system not admit fault, it was even praising him!
After the system's explanation, Gao Qi understood—the butterfly effect was in play. The Honkai had predicted his predictions!
Snapping back to reality, Gao Qi met Fu Hua's gaze.
At this moment, the girl was clenching her fists, her legs trembling slightly. Even for a martial artist, facing a world-ending cataclysm, how could she not be afraid and fearful?
But even so, she just pressed her lips together, looking towards the road leading out of the airport, then back at Gao Qi.
She was conflicted, she was hesitant. If she were alone, she would undoubtedly rush out without hesitation to find the trapped Carol.
But now, Big Brother Gao Qi was with her. She couldn't—
"Go, Fu Hua. Do what you think is right."
Then, Fu Hua saw Gao Qi give her a slight nod and a gentle smile.
After years together, even if she didn't say it, Gao Qi knew what was on her mind.
"I told you, you can feel free to make any choice. I'll always be by your side."
Carol was Fu Hua's most important friend. In the parallel universes observed by Su, the Flame-Chaser inscribed with "Kalpa," Fu Hua might even suffer a mental breakdown and become a Herrscher on the spot if Carol died.
More importantly, how could he, as her big brother, refuse the request of his beloved little sister!
"Mm!"
Giving Gao Qi a brilliant smile, Fu Hua nodded and ran straight out of the terminal without hesitation. Gao Qi immediately followed.
[The roads weren't too congested. You and Fu Hua found two bicycles and rode towards Carol's location.]
[When you found Carol, you discovered she had already collapsed beside a taxi, one of her lower legs broken, unable to walk—clearly, her earlier phone call was just to reassure Fu Hua, while she herself planned to wait silently for death.]
[Seeing the two of you, Carol immediately burst into tears. Fu Hua quickly picked her up, preparing to take her to safety.]
[At that moment, you suddenly noticed a deceased citizen, their eyes now filled with an eerie purple light, hiding in the shadows, lunging towards Fu Hua and Carol. Fu Hua's attention was entirely on Carol, and her reaction was actually a beat too slow!]
[You without hesitation unleashed a "White Tiger Listens to the Wind" strike. But this zombie was different from the ordinary ones Fu Hua had defeated before; it was highly enhanced. Your punch was strong and powerful, but still failed to completely stop the zombie. Without any hesitation, you used your body to block its attack.]
[The zombie's blade-like arm tore through your flank, but it was immediately struck in the chest by Fu Hua, who had now freed her hands, with a "Inch Punch," causing its chest to cave in, silencing it forever.]
[You looked at the wound on your waist, and the blood rapidly turning purple, deliberately avoiding Fu Hua's gaze and covering it with your jacket.]
[Soon, the citizens who had perished in the disaster around them began to move—zombies were being born.]
[And then, a text message arrived on your phone. MOTH sent you a rendezvous coordinate.]
[Facing the gathering zombies closing in on you, you and Fu Hua had to fight your way out.]
Note: I'm new to translating so please be kind and tell me any mistakes you all find, I will try to release a chapter a day but don't expect much
Please support the original author: warboss
Raw: 崩坏模拟器,你找的人是我么?