The objective was simple and clear.
Lu Xing was going to solve a trolley problem—a "problem," not a "dilemma"—by killing a portion of humanity to "save" even more humans.
Lu Xing could precisely control Honkai energy, which meant he could spread Honkai Sickness as he wished.
His plan was to create a medium-scale Honkai Sickness outbreak within the city, induce panic, and thereby compel the humans to flee.
Without the constraints of morality and law.
To decide the life and death of other intelligent beings based solely on one's own thoughts was a tremendous test... or rather, an "interrogation" for any sentient individual.
It had to be said.
When it came to "agonizing" over such things, Lu Xing had never been particularly adept.
Compared to everyone dying.
Being able to save a portion of them was an absolute act of mercy from an "enemy race"—there would be no "moral guardians" standing on some high ground to condemn him... If there were, he'd just run them through with his spear.
For some reason.
Lu Xing suddenly recalled an old line: "My heart and actions are as clear as a bright mirror, all that I do is justice."
"In that case..."
His horns gradually began to shine.
To leave this space, he would definitely have to go through the Ice Emperor.
Lu Xing had initially prepared to revert to his Big Universe Form—after all, the height at which the Ice Emperor resided was impossible to reach in his Knight-class form—but after some consideration, he abandoned the idea.
To date.
Lu Xing had never seen any Honkai Beast, other than himself, capable of switching between different forms.
It was probably best not to expose such an "abnormality."
"...Let's set off."
————
Lu Xing rapidly approached the central area.
In fact.
Apart from the day he was brought here, this was the first time Lu Xing had returned to the vicinity of the Great Fissure.
After all, most employees don't enjoy spending all day with their leader—except perhaps in certain "business trip" themed documentaries, which don't exist in everyday life and often use an "English-Number" naming pattern.
Revisiting an old haunt.
Even before reaching the Great Fissure, Lu Xing had already noticed a difference: the Honkai energy fissure that pierced heaven and earth had shrunk to less than a hundredth of its original size.
Correspondingly.
When Lu Xing arrived within 500 meters of the fissure, the true appearance of the "fissure" that greeted his eyes was a "doorway" that had expanded into a massive circle.
The most exaggerated part.
Was the Ice Emperor, which had become the "doorframe"—the Ice Emperor's entire body had completely disassembled. Its constructed body had broken down into symmetrical, independent individuals, which, along with the Floating Wings that previously orbited it and the condensed Honkai Crystals, now formed the "doorframe" of the portal.
The scene before him was excessively shocking.
Lu Xing had never imagined that the [Honkai Emperor], a being at the pinnacle of "Lesser Honkai Beasts," possessed such an ability.
The current Ice Emperor looked like...
Lu Xing didn't know how best to describe it. The most fitting similar creature he could recall was probably the "Naaru," an astral energy race from World of Warcraft.
Now.
A new problem presented itself: could the Ice Emperor, having transformed into a gate, still communicate normally?
The answer was affirmative.
Although it hadn't transformed into a giant loli like "Gate" from "Ah! My Goddess," communication should still be possible—
"BOSS?"
Lu Xing cautiously greeted the doorframe.
Apart from the impact of the Honkai tides, the area around the Great Fissure was eerily quiet—the three Emperor Guards still stood dutifully nearby, reacting to Lu Xing's presence with their usual indifference.
"BOSS??"
Lu Xing once again transmitted his thoughts to the Ice Emperor. After repeating this four or five times, the doorframe finally responded—
"What is the matter?"
It was the same familiar, "classical" voice.
Within the non-existent intonation, Lu Xing detected a deeply hidden fatigue.
Opening this portal, even with energy support from the Great Fissure, must have consumed a vast amount of the Ice Emperor's stamina.
Perhaps...
No, no, it was best not to attempt something that trifled with life and death.
No matter how weakened the Ice Emperor was, its level was still there. Not to mention the three Emperor Guards nearby; their current inactivity didn't mean they would remain unresponsive if Lu Xing tried any funny business.
"Ahem."
Lu Xing cleared his thoughts.
He needed a suitable reason for the Ice Emperor to send him to the surface: "I have a plan..."
————
"Whoosh!"
Sand and wind swirled, dust flew everywhere.
After two weeks, Lu Xing finally breathed the fresh air of the surface again—though he didn't actually need to breathe, and the air wasn't fresh at all.
The Ice Emperor was extremely accommodating.
It, as his direct superior, provided immense help for Lu Xing's plan.
"Preemptively poison the target location (with Honkai Sickness), cause chaos to disrupt the enemy's deployment, and simultaneously create a sufficient number of Deadmen to act as our inside agents."
This was Lu Xing's plan.
Although it was riddled with too many flaws to scrutinize closely, for Honkai Beasts that only knew how, and only needed, to "crush" their enemies, this already represented a considerably advanced level of tactical thinking. The Honkai Beast region's excellent matchmaking system was somewhat at odds with Lu Xing:
His thinking was too advanced, his combat power too weak.
But regardless.
Lu Xing successfully persuaded the Ice Emperor. After agreeing to Lu Xing's plan, it opened a portal to the surface for him.
Incidentally, it also showed him how a doorframe could open another door:
Two of the Floating Wings embedded in the edge of the doorframe detached from their combined state, forming a perfectly symmetrical pattern as they traced circles in the air, one to the left and one to the right.
Energy from the Great Fissure continuously poured into the Floating Wings.
As their rotation speed increased, the deep purple streams of light rapidly transformed into a huge ring of light, and a passage, kaleidoscopic to the point of chaos, opened.
"Take this."
After opening the small portal.
Lu Xing also received a bracelet from the Ice Emperor, compressed from ultra-high-concentration Honkai Crystals... This thing was even an item!
Name: Anchor Return
Type: Consumable
Grade: Hardware
Effect: Infuse a medium amount of Honkai energy to teleport to a pre-anchored target location. Requires the holder to possess one of the following skills: [Space-Time Rend], [Teleport], or [Spatial Jump].
The Ice Emperor had even prepared a return ticket for Lu Xing!
It truly...
Honkai Beasts don't cry.
Otherwise, Lu Xing might have performed a live "crying to death" scene right there.
Waving goodbye to the Ice Emperor, Lu Xing, "with reluctance," stepped into the open portal.
And less than 5 minutes after he left...
The slowly rotating Floating Wings in the air did not return to their original positions. Instead, with an influx of Honkai energy far greater than before, they transformed into a ring of light tens of times larger in radius than the previous one!
"Wuuuu!!"
It was impossible to tell if it was the sound of wind or a roar.
One of the Emperor Guards, a Cruiser-class Honkai Beast with a body like a Kun, slowly flew towards the new portal.
"You go and help."
The Ice Emperor's will echoed in the Cruiser-class's mind.
"If necessary..."