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

Manila, outskirts.

The sun had long since risen above the sea, and the morning light had just spread across the land, penetrating the misty morning air and awakening the chirping of insects and birds.

The whole world seemed to have woken up, full of vibrant life and energy.

"Ugh... uh..."

Jackal groaned, waking up with a slight headache.

The fragrance of plants and the unique smell of soil mixed together, entering Jackal's nostrils along with the slightly cool morning mist, refreshing her mind and quickly clearing her head,

"Where am I?"

She vaguely remembered that she was saved by a hooded woman just as the Valkyrie, who appeared like a volcanic eruption, was about to reach her. And then...

She fainted.

"Was it Raven?"

This was the only answer she could think of, and she couldn't think of a second possibility.

But, of course, it wasn't Raven, who was far away.

In fact, Yae Sakura disliked this arrogant and conceited woman. After slashing that time-freezing slash and taking her away from Durandal's "clutches," perhaps because she wasn't skilled enough at sheathing her sword, the scabbard accidentally tapped Jackal's neck lightly.

Lin Wei could only express his apologies for Yae Sakura's lack of skill regarding this accident...

In short, the accidentally unconscious Ms. Jackal was completely unaware of what happened during the evacuation.

"You're awake? Did you sleep well?"

Lin Wei, who had been looking up at the distant sky, turned around and said with a smile,

"I feel sorry for you, you just missed a particularly beautiful sight."

Then, as if he hadn't seen Jackal's still somewhat dazed eyes, he described the scenery he had been admiring,

"It was a shooting star flying in reverse, rising from the ground, piercing the sky, leaving a long trail, dividing the boundary between morning and dusk, one side still dark, the other gradually whitening. After that, the dawn of the morning gradually spread across the land..."

"What a pity, if a bard had seen that beautiful scene, they would probably have composed a moving poem. But only someone like me, who doesn't know how to appreciate it, saw it. It's truly a pity..."

Lin Wei shook his head, shook his head, and concluded with a somewhat regretful tone,

"After all, in the ending of all hero stories, people like me usually become the villains that heroes have to defeat... Hehe, perhaps before that, I'll wash my hands of it, change my name, and hide in a remote, dimly lit tavern, becoming a mysterious 'storyteller' who never shows his true face, (:з」∠) wouldn't that be nice?"

As Lin Wei spoke, he seemed to think that such an ending would be quite good, and he couldn't help but beam with joy,

"Then, when the hero's adventure is over and they occasionally pass by this tavern, push open the door, and happen to hear me telling passersby about her heroic story... Hehe, at that time, perhaps we'll just smile and let it go?"

Lin Wei thought to himself that after today, it would be best not to meet Durandal again, otherwise the atmosphere would be very awkward.

Strictly speaking, Durandal wouldn't feel awkward. It's just that her fists, which could pierce a hole through the Earth, would make him feel very awkward...

"Enough!"

Jackal couldn't stand Lin Wei's nonsense any longer. She stood up abruptly, first checking her body and finding nothing wrong. Slightly relieved, she said arrogantly,

"Raven was able to bring you out too, I'm really impressed. When the Lord returns, I will definitely report her contribution to him!"

As Jackal spoke, her tone gradually became excited, and then she suddenly calmed down, turned to Lin Wei, and said mockingly,

"As for you, you didn't take this opportunity to escape. Shouldn't I also say 'I'm impressed'?"

Lin Wei didn't speak or interrupt her, just kept looking at Jackal gently, with a kind of pitying gaze.

This gaze directly angered the self-esteem-driven Jackal. She glared at Lin Wei and asked in a hostile tone,

"Where's Raven? Where did she go?"

She still believed in Raven's existence until now?

"Respected Ms. Jackal, don't you feel like you're missing something?"

Lin Wei couldn't help but shake his head and reminded her with a bit of disinterest.

At this moment, he suddenly felt that teasing her like this was a bit boring.

"What do you..."

Hearing this, Jackal felt uncomfortable and quickly touched her body again, confirming that everything was normal, even the empty pistol was still there. Just as she was wondering, she suddenly froze, quickly reached out and touched her face. Her fingers touched warmth, delicacy, and softness.

"You took my mask?!"

Jackal was shocked and angry.

"Hmm, not bad, not too stupid."

Lin Wei nodded approvingly, throwing the mask he had been holding back to Jackal.

He had originally planned to use this thing to tease Jackal and play a game with her. But seeing her unimproved appearance, he suddenly felt like he was bullying a child. This made him suddenly lose interest in doing so.

Jackal fumbled to catch the mask, quickly checked it, and asked again in a deep voice,

"Where is Raven?"

This time, her voice sounded like it was squeezed out from between her teeth, full of exasperated embarrassment.

Raven hadn't appeared until now, and even allowed this man to take her mask. This gave her a very bad guess.

"Did Raven join forces with this guy to ambush me?"

Jackal finally took a reluctant step closer to the real answer, although she was still far from the truth.

"Raven can't come here. You don't need to ask or wait any longer."

Lin Wei shook his head and said softly. The content of his words made Jackal's heart sink. Then she heard Lin Wei change the subject and ask with a smile,

"Do you think Raven would be my opponent?"

"...What do you mean?"

"Isn't the meaning obvious?"

Lin Wei said matter-of-factly. Then he suddenly slapped his forehead and said in realization,

"Ah, I forgot, you seem to have always looked down on me?"

Again!

Jackal saw the hateful smile on Lin Wei's face, and various negative memories awakened and superimposed, making her feel three times the disgust.

"Let me ask you a question, how do you use this thing?"

Lin Wei leisurely took out a black and gold box from his pocket and played with it in his hand.

Before Jackal's three subordinates "captured" him into Jackal's laboratory, he specifically asked Yae Sakura to manifest, carrying the demonic blade and this trophy, following behind, like she was carrying things while shopping. Later, after finding an opportunity to merge, it returned to Lin Wei's hands.

"The Staff of Catastrophe?"

Jackal recognized this thing at a glance and exclaimed in disbelief,

"How is it in your hands? Isn't it..."

Wasn't it consumed when capturing Lin Wei? Shouldn't this Lin Wei have lost his ability to resist?

Why did it suddenly appear now?

Jackal suddenly felt that the continuous reversals and changes in this world were a bit beyond her comprehension.

First, "Yuno" suddenly turned into Schicksal Overseer Otto, taunting her to her face.

Now Lin Wei suddenly took out the Staff of Catastrophe and flaunted it in front of her?

Can you two just go die?!

Jackal cursed in her heart.

"Is it strange?"

Lin Wei smiled slightly and said,

"Respected Ms. Jackal. I'm really curious, how insignificant am I in your heart that you thought sending three useless guys would be enough to take me down?"

As Lin Wei spoke, he gently tossed the Staff of Catastrophe, which he had been playing with for a while, back to Jackal, sneered, and said disdainfully,

"Plus this ridiculous thing? By the way, I advise you not to make any rash moves."

"Ridiculous? Hmph, you're the ridiculous one!"

Jackal caught the Staff of Catastrophe thrown by Lin Wei, her eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but curse the other party's stupidity. She was about to activate the device in her hand, but at the last moment, her action stopped abruptly.

"Clang!"

A sharp crimson blade suddenly appeared from behind and rested on her neck. The cold touch of the blade and the thick ominous aura surrounding it made Jackal's hands and feet turn cold.

"Shh... I told you not to make any rash moves."

Lin Wei shook his head slightly, walked up, gently took the Staff of Catastrophe from her hand, then used two fingers to gently pinch the tip of the blade, gently removing it from Jackal's neck, and then rubbed his fingers, which were a little cold after touching the blade, and chuckled,

"See, you dare to act rashly without even knowing what kind of backup I have?"

Lin Wei sneered and concluded,

"You're asking for humiliation."

"It's you?!"

After Yae Sakura drew her sword and retreated, Jackal, who was sandwiched between her and Lin Wei, quickly dodged to the side, but also happened to see her cold and pretty face, the smooth and flowing cherry-blossom-colored long hair, and the iconic long ears. She couldn't help but exclaim,

"How are you here?!"

Undoubtedly, she, who had once "studied" in the Elysian Realm, mistook Yae Sakura for the one in the Elysian Realm.

Yae Sakura ignored her, sheathed the demonic blade, and stepped behind Lin Wei, disappearing.

Lin Wei just smiled slightly and didn't explain.

Yae Village was just an inconspicuous small village in the ancient Far Eastern country 500 years ago. It just so happened that a Schicksal Saintess once fell into it, and some stories happened, which became known to Lin Wei from outside the world.

But to the people of this world itself, it was unknown—otherwise, the black box carrying the Honkai corruption wouldn't have been buried there for 500 years, and remained unknown.

But why should Lin Wei explain these things to Jackal?

From the moment Yae Sakura swung that slash in front of Durandal, her identity could no longer be hidden from World Serpent.

Instead of letting them find out themselves, it was better to hint at it ambiguously before that, which would have a more deterrent effect.

"...So Raven fell into your hands?"

Sure enough, the shocked Jackal said dejectedly. Then, as if she remembered something, she suddenly became excited again,

"Since you can make the Flame-Chasers of the Previous Era fight for you, then you and we should be gathered under the same banner!"

Jackal said excitedly,

"Do you know what your special constitution means to this world? No, you don't! You're just a lucky person who happens to have this talent!"

"But it doesn't matter, as long as you agree to let me study you, our chances of defeating the Honkai will be even higher! Our Stigmata Project will also..."

"Defeat the Honkai, with you? You can't even defeat me."

Lin Wei sneered and interrupted,

"And your ridiculous 'Stigmata Project'?"

Kevin has given you countless opportunities. But over the years, you have never been able to come up with a better plan to replace the original version in his and Gray Serpent's hands. Where do you get this confidence?

"Shut up! I won't allow you to slander the great Stigmata Project! You..."

Jackal became as angry as a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Before she could finish her curse, Lin Wei held the Staff of Catastrophe upside down and stuffed the end directly into her mouth, stuffing all the remaining words back.

"Ptooey, ptooey! Ugh..."

Jackal staggered back, couldn't help but bend over and retch. But even though she was so uncomfortable, she still glared at Lin Wei with hatred.

"Just like your plan to capture me and 'Yuno'? You didn't even know she was Otto in disguise!"

Lin Wei pouted, feeling a little disgusted by the saliva on the Staff of Catastrophe, but he couldn't bear to throw it away, so he had to vent his frustration on Jackal,

"Do you really think the whole world revolves around you?"

"Hmph, my plan has always been successful! If it weren't for you colluding with Schicksal, if it weren't for Raven killing Otto... how could a despicable guy like you have the chance to snatch the fruits of victory?"

Jackal said resentfully. She also secretly regretted not listening to Raven's suggestion earlier and always underestimating this man.

"And then fall into Durandal's hands and be taken back to Schicksal Headquarters? And then, be tortured to reveal the Second Divine Key and even the entire Stigmata Project?"

Since Jackal still didn't suspect Raven, Lin Wei didn't bother to point it out, but directly followed her words and said, marveling,

"Then what kind of mess would Kevin see when he returned from the Sea of Quanta? Tsk tsk tsk... Dr. Jackal, do you know how irreparable a mistake you almost made?"

"Hmph, do you think I would reveal these secrets?"

Jackal was a little weak, but she continued to be stubborn, but suddenly exclaimed,

"Wait, what do you want to do?"

"Ah, me? I want to see if I can find these things in your memory."

Lin Wei held up a constantly jumping black feather and said playfully,

"Believe me, Otto also has Fenghuang Down, and more than one. He will only do it more ruthlessly..."

With that, Lin Wei reached out. He was really curious about how much resistance World Serpent's cadres had to the Divine Key of Sentience.

"Don't come near me!"

Jackal finally broke down and screamed.

"Tch, boring."

Isn't this too vulnerable?

Lin Wei lost interest and put away the feather. He suddenly understood why Mei was too lazy to waste her breath on her.

Arguing with a self-righteous idiot will only make you look like an idiot too...

Since that was the case, Lin Wei was too lazy to waste his breath on her.

He raised his head slightly, raised his voice slightly, and said in a not-so-loud voice,

"Come out, Gray Serpent. You've been watching the show in the dark for so long, it's time to show yourself!"

Instead of wasting his breath on Jackal, it was better to negotiate directly with the main party.

With this in mind, Lin Wei sneered and said loudly,

"I now have a trophy ready for auction. It depends on whether Mr. Gray Serpent can offer a price that satisfies me."

Lin Wei held a black greatsword surrounded by blasphemous black flames and pointed it directly at Jackal's chest. The black flames leaping on it seemed to burn her clothes to ashes,

"If the auction fails, I'm afraid I'll have to destroy this item."

His words showed almost no regard for Jackal as an equal—just like she usually treated others.

"Rustle, rustle, rustle..."

A calm footstep approached from afar, and a strange voice with a black umbrella slowly appeared, speaking in a muffled voice,

"Long time no see, Mr. Lin Wei."

It was Gray Serpent, who hadn't appeared for a long time,

"Every time we meet, you always bring unexpected surprises, although this is not unexpected..."

Of course, he was still speaking in a way that people couldn't understand.