Honkai, why do you only throw me into high-level battles?

"To those who have, more will be given; to those who have not, even what they have will be taken away."

A cruel, unforgiving world.

Fate rarely favored the weak, instead breaking their spirits with relentless blows, crushing their hopes and dreams beneath the weight of reality. It made kindness seem foolish, rebellion futile.

It wove a web of destiny, trapping all living things within its intricate threads.

It forced birds to land, fish to be caught, the weak to cower before the strong.

"Disgusting…" Lin Wei sneered.

"But when the first ape climbed down from the trees, picked up a branch, and threw a stone at the lion that threatened its life, 'fate' lost its grip."

For the individual, it was a moment of liberation.

For the group, it was a spark of defiance, awakening the others. They too climbed down, picking up stones, throwing them like rain.

And thus, humanity was born.

And now, eons later, facing a new, terrifying threat, another act of defiance, a desperate struggle to pave the way forward.

Here in Manila, the Valkyries fighting to the death, the survivors rising from their fear to fight for their future, the ordinary people like the Chen siblings, who could have remained silent, passive, yet chose to act, to defy fate, throwing their stones, regardless of the consequences.

They became heroes, unsung, unknown.

And this place, Manila, became hallowed ground, even if it would soon be forgotten.

Lin Wei had witnessed it all, and now, others were placing their hope, their trust, in him.

He was becoming one of them, no longer an outsider, their joys and sorrows now his own.

…

Thanks to their aerial vantage point, they'd gained valuable time. Despite the delay caused by their argument, Lin Wei reached the designated location before the tsunami made landfall.

"Stop! Here! This is the place!" Jell pointed below. "The left bank of the Pasig River. This location will shield both the base camp and the siblings. It will also prevent the wave from reaching further inland, reducing the number of Honkai beasts on that flank." She sighed. "The first time, we were overwhelmed by Honkai beasts emerging from the river. We had to retreat to the stadium…"

The Pasig River, Manila's lifeline, could easily become a highway for the Honkai.

"You did well, Captain," Lin Wei reassured her. "Holding your ground under such circumstances is commendable."

"Do you think so?" she replied, her tone flat. "I hope so."

Lin Wei smiled, then looked at the approaching wave, a massive wall of water blotting out the horizon. "It's… impressive. A sight best left to fiction, not reality. Not like this…" He landed the aircraft, dismissing it, and they stepped onto the ground, feeling the faint tremors.

"No world deserves this," Jell said, echoing his sentiment. "Even if other worlds exist, the people living there deserve to be safe, to be spared from such tragedies. Just like us."

"Captain…" Anna's voice was thick with emotion.

Jell patted her hand reassuringly, then looked at Lin Wei, who was silently observing the approaching wave. "What do we do now?" She realized, with a pang of nostalgia, that it had been a long time since she'd asked someone else for instructions.

"If possible, I'd like you to take Anna and leave," Lin Wei said, turning to them, forcing a smile. "You've done your part, Captain. Just…" He looked at them, shaking his head. "But I know you won't."

"Of course not!" Jell chuckled before Anna could speak, smoothing back her windblown hair. "While Anna's behavior earlier was… regrettable, she was right about one thing."

She paused, then repeated Anna's words, her voice clear and strong, carrying over the roar of the wind and the approaching wave. "Schicksal Valkyries don't abandon their posts! We won't let you face this alone, Mr. Lin Wei!"

"We are Valkyries, and you are a civilian. It is our duty to protect you." She smiled, her tone teasing. "You wouldn't want us to be… derelict in our duties, would you, Mr. Lin Wei?"

"Captain…" Anna's eyes filled with tears. She stood at attention. "Schicksal Valkyrie Anna Schariac, I swear to defend this city to my last breath!"

"Can you two stop with the dramatic pronouncements?" Lin Wei said, rubbing the back of his neck, as if trying to dislodge a flagpole. "Besides, we're still quite far from the coast. I thought you'd take me to Manila Bay. Wouldn't it be better to stop the wave in the ocean?"

"Don't be greedy, Mr. Lin Wei. If we were too far from the base camp, the wave would simply converge behind you. This distance is sufficient," Jell explained. "And being too far from shore would put you at greater risk. This is the optimal location."

"I see. Thank you for your concern." Lin Wei smiled. "Now, please, move away. As far as possible. I don't want to accidentally hurt you."

"But…" Anna started to protest, but Jell pulled her back, silencing her with a look. "How far, Mr. Lin Wei?"

"Five hundred meters," he replied, sighing at their stubbornness. Weren't Valkyries supposed to be naive and easily manipulated?

"Understood. We'll wait five hundred meters away." Jell smiled, then looked at him, her voice sincere. "Good luck."

"Thank you. I'll need it."

Jell nodded, then led Anna away.

Lin Wei watched them go, then turned to face the approaching tsunami, a massive wall of water blotting out the sky. He murmured, "Finally, some peace and quiet. Sakura, look. Isn't it magnificent?"

It reminded him of their time in Singapore, exploring the city, admiring the flowers, sharing the small joys of everyday life, experiences she'd never had before.

Even this apocalyptic wave seemed like just another scenic spot on their journey.

"Time flies…" he sighed, then asked, "Sakura, will you… blame me?"

"Blame you for what?" she asked, puzzled.

He hesitated, then fell silent. What was there to blame him for?

For his recklessness, for attracting the attention of Schicksal Valkyries, for making this decision without consulting her, for risking his life on a mission he wasn't sure he could accomplish?

"I… I owe you a lot, Sakura," he said, feeling a pang of guilt.

"I'm just a Stigmata, Lin Wei. Don't worry about it." Sensing his hesitation, she smiled gently. "Doing what others can't, or won't, forging a new path… isn't that who you are?" She paused, then added teasingly, "No wonder so many girls are drawn to you…"

He chuckled awkwardly, unsure how to respond. Denying it would be disingenuous, admitting it would be arrogant.

"What's wrong?" she asked, blinking innocently. "Did I say something… inappropriate?"

"No!" he quickly denied.

She chuckled, letting him off the hook.

He watched the approaching wave for a few more seconds, then smiled. "This is… interesting."

"What is it, Lin Wei?"

"Nothing. I just realized… I've come full circle." He chuckled. "A year ago, when I arrived in this world, I also faced a Honkai eruption. I barely escaped, then, after much hardship, I freed myself from the Honkai's curse…"

He paused, his smile widening. "I thought I had control over my fate. But after a year of… detours, I find myself in another ruined city, facing another disaster. Like drawing a large circle, only to end up back where I started."

"It's… amusing, isn't it?"

"I don't understand," Yae Sakura said, confused. "Everything is different now. You're not the same weak, helpless person you were back then."

"Just a random thought…" he chuckled, then said abruptly, "Sakura, I'm sorry."

"If I don't survive this… please apologize to RIN for me. I promised to show her the world after the Honkai was defeated. I guess… I won't be able to keep that promise." He looked at his staff, a mixture of relief and regret in his voice.

"She'll be furious when she wakes up… thankfully, this place is isolated from the outside world for now. It should be a safe enough place for her to… vent her frustration. And with her abilities, and your strength, you should be able to… survive in this world."

"You're looking for the wrong person to give your last words to, Lin Wei." Yae Sakura's voice was cold, a hint of anger in her tone. "I am your Stigmata. Our fates are intertwined. As for the other one… you'll have to convince her yourself."

"There's no need. This is my choice," he said, feeling a pang of guilt.

"When are you not making reckless decisions on your own, Lin Wei?" she retorted. "You dragged me, a ghost who should have died five hundred years ago, into this world, and now, after just one year, you want to abandon me?" She smiled, her voice laced with sarcasm. "Are you afraid that being associated with a sinner like me will tarnish your heroic reputation?"

"You know that's not what I mean." He was touched by her loyalty, but also frustrated by her stubbornness. "I'm not a hero, and you're not a sinner…"

"I am just a Stigmata now, Lin Wei. Even that girl over there is willing to die with you. Do you think I'm any less loyal than her?" She rejected his offer, her voice firm. "If you want to be a hero, my blade will clear your path. If you want to destroy the world, I will gladly stain my hands with blood again."

Her loyalty was as fierce and unwavering as it had been five hundred years ago.

"I don't deserve this," he said, feeling ashamed. "I'm just an outsider, an interloper, exploiting my knowledge for personal gain, disrupting your lives, causing chaos… why would you do this for me?"

"True or false, it doesn't matter. I am content with my life now," she replied calmly. "Perhaps there's another Yae Sakura in another world, living a different life. But that's her, not me. Just like the SAKURA in the Elysian Realm." She smiled. "And if that girl, Anna, knew your secrets, she would likely make the same choice."

"Is that so?" He paused, then chuckled. "To be so readily accepted… I suppose I really am a local now."

"You are who you are, Lin Wei. Nothing more," she replied firmly. "And I believe that's why RIN trusts you so completely."

He felt a sense of relief, a burden lifted from his shoulders. "Thank you, Sakura."

What was a "transmigrator," anyway?

In his eyes, a disruptor, an exploiter, a destroyer of worlds. He'd always felt a sense of guilt towards those who trusted him, as if he were deceiving them.

He'd always maintained a certain distance, a self-imposed boundary.

He still didn't understand why they accepted him, why they trusted him, despite the inherent danger he represented, the disruption he caused to their world's predetermined fate. Neither Yae Sakura nor RIN had ever expressed any resentment.

Even Fu Hua, cautious and conservative, had readily accepted him, entrusting him with her memories.

Why? He'd often asked himself that question, ever since he'd escaped the immediate threat of the Honkai, gaining the luxury of introspection.

I'll figure it out… eventually.

He watched the tsunami engulf the harbor, a wave of destruction sweeping inland. He smiled, pushing aside his unanswered questions. "Whether it's to atone for my mistakes, to repay a debt, or simply… fate, I have to face this."

He held up his hand, a dark, unassuming sphere materializing within it.

"Whether it's for them, or for ourselves…"

"Sakura, RIN, lend me your strength, one more time."

Yae Sakura smiled, her silence a testament to her unwavering loyalty. It was because of this man, despite his claims of selfishness, his constant giving, his reluctance to take, that they believed in him so completely.

The world outside shifted.

"Project: 9th Divine Key - Star of Eden," he whispered. The raging wind died down, the world falling silent, except for Anna's distant, panicked cry, "Lin Wei, look out!"

The massive wave, a hundred meters high, was upon him, a force that could crush him like an ant.

"Crash!" An invisible axe cleaved the wave in two, a gap of several meters opening before him, the Honkai beasts within it crushed and scattered. He, Anna, and Jell were shielded from the initial impact.

"Not enough!" he yelled, the Stigmata on his back glowing brightly, unleashing its power. The world shook, and the gap in the wave widened, extending for almost three hundred meters.

An invisible fortress, three hundred meters in diameter, held back the raging torrent, forcing the wave to split, flowing around them like a defeated beast.

Beyond the gap, the ocean was calm.

"He… he did it?" Jell murmured, staring at the scene in disbelief. She'd never witnessed such power, such a magnificent display of defiance against nature's fury.

"Lin Wei…" Anna, understanding the cost of his actions, her heart ached for him.

"No, it's not enough!" Lin Wei yelled, dissatisfied with the result. Three hundred meters. It seemed like a lot, but against a tsunami that stretched for kilometers, it was a drop in the ocean.

Could Rita, on the other side of the city, even see it? Would she understand?

If not, would she be able to maintain order, to organize the defenses?

And how much protection would such a narrow gap provide? Could Chen Tianwu and his sister escape?

And what about Anna and Jell? They'd come this far with him. Could they escape the inevitable counterattack, the flood of Honkai beasts that would soon surround them?

"If not, then what was the point?!" He pushed himself harder, desperately trying to widen the gap, but his power was fading.

Reality wasn't an anime, where shouting about friendship and bonds magically unlocked hidden power.

His reserves were depleted, the Stigmata's power waning. The Honkai corruption markings reappeared on his hand, spreading towards his wrist.

He gritted his teeth, ignoring the pain, his frustration growing.

Pandora, sensing his weakening condition, the projected Divine Key flickering, tried to intervene, to stop him.

"Don't stop!" he roared, his grip tightening on the Divine Key, overriding its protective instincts.

Pandora whined, reluctantly obeying.

He flew higher, hoping to gain a wider range, but it was no use. The wave was already receding, converging behind them, his efforts futile.

"Damn it…" He felt a surge of frustration.

Why was he even trying so hard? This had nothing to do with him. He could have just… ignored it.

But he couldn't. He didn't want to see Rita die, or Anna, or the Chen siblings, who'd faced their fate with such courage.

These people, who shouldn't have been here, were in danger because of him, because of his arrogance. They trusted him, they believed in him. He couldn't fail them.

And what about Jell and her squad, the Valkyries who'd fought so bravely? Should they die for nothing?

And the thousands of survivors, hoping for a new beginning?

And the other Valkyries, the other survivors, fighting their own battles across the city?

He'd seen their struggles, heard their cries, imagined their hopes and fears. A magnificent, tragic tapestry of human resilience.

They were behind him, and he was their shield, their last line of defense.

He wouldn't let the Honkai crush him, a pathetic, insignificant clown.

"I don't want to die. I want to live. I do…" he murmured, his strength failing, his voice filled with a quiet despair.

"But do they deserve to die?"

He wanted to protect them, to cherish the precious gift of life. Was that wrong?

"Lin Wei, stop! It's enough!" Anna's distant cry, her voice choked with tears, reached him.

Have I failed? He felt a wave of exhaustion, his body weakened, the Honkai corruption spreading. He chuckled bitterly. It's over… there's nothing left to do… game over…

But I'm not ready to give up…

His consciousness faded, his body swaying in the air.

But even in his weakened state, a spark of inspiration ignited in his mind.

He grabbed onto it, his eyes snapping open.

"Elysia!" he yelled, his voice carrying over the roar of the receding wave. "If you still love humanity, you can see this!"

"Help me!"

He heard a faint cracking sound from deep within his consciousness, like a crystal flower shattering, a flash of brilliant light.

His mind went blank, and for a moment, he felt… powerful.

...

Schicksal HQ, the floating island.

"Overseer!" Amber's visor lit up. She looked up at the golden-haired man on his throne. "Our sensors have detected a massive energy spike in Southeast Asia! It could be…"

"A Herrscher," Otto interrupted calmly, his expression strangely amused as he watched the screen, a cryptic smile playing on his lips.

Amber was surprised by his composure. She looked at the screen, a satellite image of Southeast Asia – the vast ocean, the sprawling landmass, the countless islands, and a large, dark cloud… the Philippines.

"This is…" she gasped, seeing a large gap in the cloud cover, allowing sunlight to pierce through, illuminating the ravaged land below.

"Welt, it was you all along…" Otto murmured, his voice filled with a strange mixture of amusement and disappointment. "You haven't changed one bit. Still so… predictable."

...

Manila, Philippines.

"Lin Wei!" Anna, her tears dried, her eyes red and swollen, ran towards the falling figure, leaping into the air, catching him in her arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

"You idiot! You stupid idiot!"