Chapter 688: Despising Destruction, Questioning Destruction, Understanding Destruction.

Although Phainon and Cyrene couldn’t understand some of the terms being used, they weren’t stupid.

After hearing Lygus say that everything in this world had been born for Destruction, they already understood the worst-case scenario.

They also understood what awaited them at the end of this road. It was an ending just like the Black Tide, one where everything would be destroyed.

And the role they played within it… was called fuel.

Their joys, anger, sorrows, happiness, their lives, their sacrifices, they were nothing more than strings of numbers and code.

In the eyes of this Theoros, none of it was particularly important. Their only purpose was to make the flames of Destruction burn even more fiercely.

And at this moment… The viewers outside the screen finally used Lygus’s explanation to fill in the last missing piece of the puzzle concerning Amphoreus and Destruction.

: Now I finally understand everything. Simply put, the Black Tide is the process needed for the deep-learning model to take shape!

: Amphoreus is nothing more than a virtual simulation environment used to iterate on the Scepter’s calculations.

: So this is where that deep sense of contradiction between the characters’ stories and the prophecy that we’ve felt ever since we started watching the series comes from!!

: It looks like humanity is resisting the Black Tide, but the actual result of the simulation is the complete opposite. What it’s really simulating is how humanity gets destroyed by the Black Tide!

: The Black Tide invades and infects civilizations, and in the Emanator of Destruction PV, the Scepter was also shown corroding everything.

: It really does have that strong Emperor Rupert-style… Equations, simulated calculations, all of it!

: Right? Right! Right? No, that’s not right!!!

: No matter how desperately they struggle, no matter how bloodied and battered they become, no matter how pure their hope and courage are, everything will ultimately be offered up to Destruction.

: This really is a development a hundred times more insane than mere suffering, a hundred times crazier than anything we expected!

: How did the original Phainon and Cyrene even face this truth?

: It’s too nihilistic!

: Fuck, looking back at the lyrics of “Nameless” now, they’re basically just spelling everything out in plain language.

The opening lyrics of “Nameless” went like this.

[Reincarnation, hope and despair alternate]

[Rise and fall, memories remain…]

There were no words that could summarize Amphoreus’s current situation more simply than these lyrics.

Unexpectedly… When faced with this truth that left them completely at a loss, some viewers were utterly crushed.

Yes. Before the original Phainon and Cyrene had even fallen into despair…

The viewers had already entered some strange emotional state before the characters themselves.

Perhaps it was because they empathized too deeply with the characters.

Just as had been said before, the viewers had long since projected part of themselves onto these characters.

Whenever anything happened to the characters, they would immediately feel it as though it had happened to themselves.

And after so many Chrysos Heirs had died, the anchor supporting them now was Phainon.

So when Lygus revealed this truth… Through the Flame Reaver, they experienced a realization even more maddening than despair.

Ever since the first episode… After every tragedy involving a Chrysos Heir, miHoYo had reminded everyone again and again.

Tomorrow would be better. All of this was worth it.

Going even deeper… What the viewers had felt was also the positive philosophy that miHoYo had always tried to convey ever since Honkai: Star Rail first aired.

The world might be cruel, and the sacrifices might be enormous, but choosing to remain positive was itself unquestionably right.

Sometimes the journey was more important than the result, and hope was nobler than despair.

The meaning of existence shone precisely through the choices made in the depths of despair.

These principles had all been embodied by Chrysos Heirs such as Aglaea, Tribbie, and Castorice.

As a result, the viewers had already grown accustomed to the romance of pressing forward even against impossible odds, accustomed to stories where sacrifice would eventually bring about a new world.

They had always believed… That after every tragedy ended, a spark of hope would always ignite.

Just like in every previous story of the Chrysos Heirs.

Until this moment, this belief, which had been instilled into the viewers over such a long period of time, was mercilessly torn apart by Lygus’s words.

All the positivity they had come to understand… was nothing more than fuel.

The things they had immersed themselves in and empathized with for so long were destroyed just like that, dismissed with barely a thought.

Just like Lygus’s tone.

Calm. Rational.

And yet it had happened.

All this time… Honkai: Star Rail’s story had been famous for its narrative tricks.

But if you really thought about it… The greatest narrative deception miHoYo had ever pulled was precisely this philosophy it had instilled in the viewers since the very first episode, making them mistakenly believe that everything would ultimately lead toward a hopeful ending.

: What was the point of any of this…?

: We’ve spent such a long time, watched so many episodes, invested so much energy into Amphoreus… What was it all for!?

: The Chrysos Heirs were what helped me pull myself together again, but I never imagined the biggest blow wouldn’t come from life itself, but from miHoYo, from this journey.

: I seriously can’t take this anymore. This really is Honkai: Star Rail. This kind of first-person immersive experience really isn’t something other series can replicate. I don’t know what Phainon is thinking, but I know I can empathize with him one hundred percent.

: “See you tomorrow”? Fuck you! There isn’t even a tomorrow!!!

: This so-called tomorrow is just one endless simulation after another. Every cycle does nothing more than drag the same pile of fuel back out and burn it all over again!

: All of us were deceived!

: There’s no positivity! There’s no meaning!

: I’m tired! Just destroy everything!!!

Ironically, at this very moment… The viewers actually began to subtly understand Destruction.

That feeling wasn’t agreement. But they truly began to understand why some beings in the Honkai: Star Rail universe would choose Destruction.

When the meaning behind everything that existed, when every positive thought, had all become part of some enormous scheme… When the viewers could no longer find anywhere within existence where they could plant their feet, Destruction became the only choice left.

Because at least Destruction was honest.

For a brief moment… Within the hearts of countless viewers across the world… There genuinely flashed the thought that perhaps it would be better if this damned world were simply destroyed.

Then there would be no more deception.

No more suffering. And then they abruptly came to their senses.

Thus, they unlocked one of the most unique achievements in the history of watching Honkai: Star Rail.

[The First Dance with Destruction]

But understanding Destruction did not mean they agreed with it. An even fiercer emotion was beginning to sprout within the viewers’ chests.

It began to burn.

It was anger!

The anger of being deceived. The anger of being toyed with.

Honkai: Star Rail had spent so much time making them believe in this narrative of positive philosophy. Yet it was also the one that had personally torn that trust to pieces.

Every tear they had shed for the Chrysos Heirs, every emotion they had experienced outside the series… was unexpectedly identical to the struggles of the Chrysos Heirs within the story.

‘Are we fuel too?’ The viewers couldn’t help but have this thought through their empathy.

Their emotions, their cries, these genuine reactions… If placed within the world of Amphoreus… would likewise only make some flame burn even more fiercely.

The deeper they immersed themselves in it, the more painful this narrative betrayal became.

That was why so many people suddenly felt Destruction all at once.

Because there was no other choice. Destruction was the only path left to take.

Although they would never truly walk the Path of Destruction, somewhere deep within their hearts, the viewers could, for one brief and painful moment, understand those who had chosen Destruction, Cocolia choosing the Stellaron, and Irontomb seeking revenge against Erudition.

Although the two were worlds apart in identity, the core of their choices was exactly the same.

They had even begun to imagine, back then, on Adlivun, just what had Nanook gone through that caused him to ascend directly as the Aeon of Destruction and personally set his own homeland ablaze?!

So… was this what miHoYo wanted to tell them?

Was this what miHoYo wanted them to feel? What kind of joke was this?!

How could their emotions and tears be denied so easily like this?!

: Hahahahaha, I’ve completely lost it!!

: I never thought that after the Hunt and Elation, there would come a day when people like us would actually understand Destruction.

: This is too fucking funny. I never imagined that the final thing Amphoreus would teach me was why the Path of Destruction needed to exist.

: If I could, I really fucking want to make miHoYo experience right now!!!

: But why?! The tears we shed, the emotions we poured into Amphoreus! How could all of that just become fuel for an even greater tragedy?! I refuse to accept this!

: Fuck! If I’d known from the beginning that things would develop like this, I never would’ve watched it! Aaaaaaaaaah!

: Aaaaaaaaaah!

: Holy shit, I’m fucking about to self-destruct!!

: Yeah… I seriously can’t bear to keep watching anymore! If I were in that position, I’d probably have already reached the point where I didn’t give a damn about anything, thinking, “Since you want my destruction so badly, then I’ll give you destruction.”

: Right now, other than anger, I don’t have a single emotion left in my heart!

: What fucking tears? I ran out of those ages ago!

The comments exploded wildly.

This anger… caused them to fall into a brief hatred. Hatred toward this damned story, toward miHoYo, toward this meaningless journey.

And then all of it transformed into an even greater fury. But this was precisely what miHoYo wanted them to feel.

Hate.

The more they hated, the more painful it would become. And then, they would fall into the ultimate rage.

Only then could this rage burn away completely alongside the Deliverer.

Just as the viewers were sinking into overwhelming fury…

On screen, Phainon and Cyrene were forced to confront this truth even more directly than the viewers.

“So in your eyes, all the sacrifices are just a string of insignificant numbers?”

Cyrene looked at Lygus in disbelief.

“Don’t sell yourselves short. I’d say, rather than numbers, you’re more like “fuel for the fire.” And without fire, there can be no sunrise tomorrow.”

Lygus replied calmly and rationally.

But this answer… only made the already furious viewers even angrier.

Was that supposed to be a good analogy?!

If Amphoreus was destined to be destroyed… Then this bastard Lygus had better be the first one to die!

Phainon likewise suppressed the emotions within his heart and spoke in a low voice:

“Even if that sunrise is born from annihilation?”

Lygus did not quite understand what Phainon meant. He said:

“Heh, curious question. Have you ever considered that, after millions of extrapolations, Amphoreus is already following a different Path from the Erudition? It has long since granted divine blessings equally to each child…”

“The golden blood flowing in your veins… It comes from The Blemished One, whose name is “Destruction” itself. And Amphoreus’s Chrysos Heirs were, from the very beginning, fuel for the Aeon to burn the universe.”

It was unexpected. Yet the answer was another devastating blow all the same.

Golden blood. It was the greatest characteristic distinguishing the Chrysos Heirs from the others.

And now, Lygus had told them with absolute certainty that this golden blood was none other than the blessing of Destruction.

This confirmed it even further. Their existence and their birth were all because of Destruction.

“Amphoreus has waited for this moment for too long. At the end of the empty, cold, and lonely extrapolations, the Destruction has reached its final destination.”

Lygus paid no attention to the despair in Phainon and Cyrene’s eyes. Instead, he let out a long breath, spread his arms, and stared directly at Phainon and Cyrene.

At the two most [garbled text] entities born from this experiment.

Then, he spoke their true “names”:

“NeiKos496. [Phainon]”

“PhiLia093. [Cyrene]”

The former meant hatred, anger, and conflict. The latter meant love and harmony.

Both originated from the philosophical theories of Empedocles.

And here… when these two designations were placed together, they carried another fascinating layer of meaning.

Just as the universe has always continued onward through love and strife.

Meanwhile, the number contained within the name representing Phainon was the third perfect number in mathematics.

Lygus spoke sincerely. “No need to feel regret. This generation of Chrysos Heirs is the most outstanding model, and you two are the final factors. For you, the Era Nova is no lie. Just step forward, embrace the black tide, and accept the Aeon’s gaze.”

“You will come to life from a string of cold numbers. Along with all those who have passed, you will run toward the real universe, fulfilling Amphoreus’s long-held wish,”

“In the name of the Lord Ravager Irontomb, unleash its fury (black tide) and destroy the source of all this tragedy (Nous the Erudition)!”

As he spoke the final sentence, Lygus’s voice suddenly rose, overflowing with emotion.

He seemed to hate all of this even more than Irontomb did. To desire its destruction even more than Irontomb himself.

Phainon and Cyrene silently watched the increasingly agitated Lygus.

For one brief instant, the two exchanged no words. Yet both found Lygus’s words equally absurd.

The viewers felt exactly the same. But there was nothing they could do.

They could not even see the slightest hope of breaking out of this situation. Until Cyrene slowly spoke.

“…Or, we could always choose another option.”

Hello Everyone!

LordIsland here!

A new chapter! Cheers!