At this moment, in Saint Fontaine's Bay, Fu Lin was casually clearing an endless amount of monsters. Before long, he arrived at the pier from his memory.
But seeing the empty pier, Fu Lin couldn't help scratching his hair.
"According to the plot in my memory, he should've fallen here... The temporary base is covered in dust too. Don't tell me the timeline hasn't reached this point?"
Just as he finished speaking, a sharp sound suddenly cut through the air from above.
Fu Lin looked up, and saw a dark figure wrapped in wind plummeting downward. Fortunately, a drone rushed forward to cushion the fall mid-air, preventing the person from becoming paste on impact. Instead, they only rolled from inertia and stopped at Fu Lin's feet.
"Well, guess I don't have to think anymore."
Fu Lin's mouth twitched as he bent down to look at the person on the ground. It was none other than the post-Honkai male protagonist, Adam.
At the moment, dark purple Honkai corrosion marks had crawled all over the side of his face. If he were left like this even a little longer, he'd probably turn from "Saint Freya Academy's only male student" into "the world's only male Honkai zombie."
Though a mischievous thought flashed through his mind, Fu Lin still half-knelt and placed his hand over Adam's neck. Warm white light gathered in his palm, gently covering the corroded area.
Adam's consciousness was still lost in chaos. A vague groan escaped his throat, and his fingers unconsciously clutched Fu Lin's pant leg like grabbing a lifeline.
That faint bit of strength made Fu Lin pause. The light in his palm softened even more. Only when the Honkai energy in Adam's body was completely suppressed did he withdraw his hand and study Adam's face.
Short black hair, sharp brows and bright eyes, a tall nose bridge, paired with a long coat, overall far more refined than the in-game model.
"As expected of the post-Honkai protagonist, Adam, also known as 'Mini Kevin' from the Final Trial. His looks are top tier."
Fu Lin rubbed his chin while muttering, suddenly remembering something. He coughed awkwardly and averted his eyes.
On the moon, Kiana☆ hugged her Fu Lin body pillow tightly upon hearing that.
"Back then when I played the game. But Mei☆ hasn't joined the third squad yet, so who's the current squad captain?"
Fu Lin didn't know Kiana☆ was staring at him. He continued mumbling to himself while Adam's complexion gradually returned to normal. Adam's fingers trembled, and then he slowly opened his eyes.
Fu Lin snapped back to reality. Seeing Adam's confused expression, a teasing thought surfaced. He waved a hand in front of Adam's eyes and joked:
"Can you hear me? Repeat after me. Three, two, one. One, two, three. Ahhh, "
Adam: "..."
Silence for two seconds.
Fu Lin withdrew his hand and poked Adam's cheek, whispering: "Don't tell me you smashed your brain on impact?"
Just as he said that, Adam suddenly moved.
Supporting himself with the ground, he slowly stood up. Gravel clung to the creases of his combat suit. Fragmented memories in his mind gradually pieced together.
He steadied himself, looked at the unfamiliar Fu Lin, and spoke in a hoarse voice:
"Who are you?"
Fu Lin arched a brow, withdrew his hand from Adam's cheek, and casually patted the dust on Adam's uniform.
Instead of replying, he turned and pointed at the monsters running toward them.
"Go get your weapon. You falling from the sky attracted all these things."
Only then did Adam snap back, following Fu Lin's gaze. He clenched his fists and sprinted toward the sword embedded in the ground.
Just as his fingers touched the hilt, a monster, code name Code 0, Fool, leaped at him from above.
Before Adam could draw the sword to counterattack, a silver figure dropped from the sky. With a crisp knight kick, she sent the monster flying and stomped it into the ground.
Fu Lin's eyes instantly lit up.
"Big Duck has appeared."
Kiana☆: Bronya showed up and THIS is your reaction?!!!
Bronya landed steadily, glancing at Adam. Her voice was icy calm.
"I advise you not to swing that weapon for now."
"Step back, Special Forces member. I will eliminate them shortly."
"My body is in perfect condition right now. Burn away."
Adam clearly ignored Bronya's warning. He gripped the hilt tightly, compressing the sword's flames into the blade's tip, and slashed toward the monster.
In a single strike, flames pierced the core. With a loud explosion, the monster turned to ash.
Bronya moved elegantly among the monsters. Seeing Adam swing the sword, her tone cooled even further: "Your body hasn't recovered. Forcing yourself to use the sword will only worsen your Honkai erosion."
But seeing Adam continue acting on instinct, she snorted and muttered: "Another hot-blooded idiot like Kiana☆."
Kiana☆ (eavesdropping): "Bronya, how dare you talk bad about me again!"
Fu Lin leaned against a lamp post with folded arms, watching the red and blue silhouettes in the battlefield. A smile tugged at his lips.
"Single-handed greatsword swings, 'Mini Kevin' really lives up to the name. And Bronya's dark circles are really bad. Truly the suffering of a corporate slave."
Soon, the monsters were cleared under the duo's coordination.
Adam leaned on the sword, panting heavily.
Bronya put away her weapon and quickly approached him. Her eyes scanned his neck. The dark purple erosion marks had vanished completely.
Her brows knit with disbelief.
"Your erosion disappeared? How did you do that?"
Adam, still exhausted from battle, looked at the girl before him with blank confusion.
"You are, "
"Oh, right. I haven't introduced myself." Bronya smiled slightly.
"Schicksal organization, temporary captain of the 2nd Anti-Honkai Squad, Bronya Zaychik. Just call me Bronya."
"Temporary captain?" Adam repeated, full of doubt.
Bronya patiently explained the situation and ended with a complaint: "In short, the headquarters didn't have enough manpower, so they shoved me into the position."
'Damn that guy named Fu Lin. If Mei☆-senpai and that idiot Kiana☆ hadn't fallen out, I wouldn't need to work on the game AND lead a squad at the same time!'
As soon as she finished speaking, a soft chuckle sounded nearby.
Bronya turned toward the voice and saw Fu Lin leaning against the lamp post. Instinctively, she spoke: "Mn, squad leader, why are you-"
But she froze mid-sentence.
His brows and eyes resembled Fu Hua, but the lazy temperament was the opposite of that strict "monitor."
Bronya's pupils shrank. She quickly understood.
"You're not the squad leader. You're... Fu Lin?"
Fu Lin raised an eyebrow and stood straighter.
"Didn't expect you to recognize me. Even call me by name?"
"Of course."
Bronya huffed lightly. With quick finger movements, she opened an encrypted file thumbnail. Cool blue light reflected off her face.
"Schicksal headquarters has a dossier on you."
Her voice was calm, but her gaze was examining him, confirming something.
"It only records your name and basic physical traits. Photo attached.jpg."
Fu Lin looked at the file and smiled.
"That's it? Want me to help you add more details?"
Bronya closed the file and tapped the console.
"Hmph."