"Why do birds fly?" Phaethon repeated the question softly, glancing at Welt as if perceiving something deeper.
Then, Phaethon gave an answer whose core resembled the one in Welt's memory: "This sounds like a pointless philosophical speculation. But if you insist on an answer... then I will tell you this:
When the devastating 'Black Tide' descends upon the land, sweeping away everything, if birds do not strive to fly, then drowning in destruction is their only outcome! For the sake of survival, they must take to the skies!"
The Judgment of Shamash in his hand suddenly raised, its scorching blade pointing directly at Welt, destructive energy surging and roaring within it, distorting the surrounding space with its heat.
"Small talk ends here. Amphoreus is about to face its most critical moment and cannot tolerate any interference from variables!" Phaethon's voice carried an unyielding resolve. "So, traveler from beyond the stars—friend, or enemy? Choose!"
Looking at that familiar starting stance, hearing those lines etched into his DNA, Welt felt countless sealed memories frantically assault his brain like a bursting dam.
For the sake of so-called "saving the world," to plunge all people into eternal slumber. For the savior to alone bear the weight of all life, to confront the relentless tide of inevitable "destruction"...
Damn it, Honkai is still chasing me! Even across worlds, it won't leave me alone?
The psychological shadow of facing that face nearly made him want to immediately take out some quick-acting heart medication.
But—
Welt Yang had experienced countless losses and struggles; he also bore the name "World" and the responsibility of protection.
He might feel intimidated when seeing certain familiar faces, might experience profound psychological shadows, might even need medication to calm violently fluctuating emotions.
However, when someone with such ideals truly stands on the opposite side of innocent people, trampling on the dignity of life under the noble cause of "saving the world," he would never shrink back! Nor would he fall because of personal psychological trauma!
He had once, in that endless Quantum Sea, as a mortal, faced that true warrior bearing the inscription of "Deliverance," and ultimately, at the cost of himself, temporarily sealed him away.
Today, on this unfamiliar land called Amphoreus, facing this counterpart who believed himself burdened with the destiny of Deliverance, he, Welt Yang, also had the courage to once again raise the banner of rebellion against this familiar face, against this distorted ideal of "saving the world"!
The Star of Eden in his hand blazed with light, and the scale of the Pseudo-Black Hole expanded once more.
In Welt's eyes, the last trace of hesitation and uncertainty had vanished, replaced by a resolve as firm as a rock and the determination to do what must be done.
"Friend or enemy?"
"My choice is 'WORLD'!!!"
Hearing Welt's decisive answer, the faint light used for communication in Phaethon's eyes completely extinguished.
There were no more questions in his mind, no desire for conversation, only a cold and pure thought—since not a friend, then only an enemy remains.
BOOM——!!!
The air exploded with the sound of extreme compression!
Phaethon's figure abruptly blurred in place, and in the next instant, he had broken through the barrier of air, tearing through space at a terrifying speed far exceeding sound, boldly thrusting forward to appear before Welt!
No flashy starting stance, no deceptive feints, not even using that Judgment of Shamash—just the most primitive, most direct straight punch!
This fist carried overwhelming force, and where it passed, even space rippled with faint distortions, as if unable to bear the pure pressure of the power.
In this fleeting moment, Welt's body seemed completely unable to make any effective dodge or block, only able to watch helplessly as that destructive fist rapidly grew larger in his pupils.
However...
THUD——!!!
A dull explosion rang out!
The anticipated scene of Welt being sent flying by the punch did not occur.
His body, using this immense impact force, slid rapidly backward. The metal components covering his legs violently scraped against the amber ground, erupting in dazzling sparks, and plowing two deep grooves into the hard surface!
It was the mecha! A sophisticated silver-gray suit covering his entire body had deployed itself at the critical moment, its crossed arms narrowly blocking this punch that could have shattered mountains!
"Ugh...!" Welt grunted, even with the mecha dispersing and absorbing the impact, the terrifying kinetic energy transmitted through the armor still made his internal organs churn.
Even more alarming, black smoke was continuously hissing from the various joints of the mecha on his body surface, and inside came the teeth-grating whine of overload.
Clearly, this defensive mecha he had meticulously designed, capable of withstanding conventional starship artillery fire, after enduring this seemingly casual blow from Phaethon, its structure was on the verge of collapse.
Welt did not pause, quickly tapping on his arm guard. The nano-repair program immediately activated, attempting to stabilize the mecha's condition before it completely failed.
Phaethon did not pursue, only quietly watching the smoke-emitting yet rapidly repairing battle armor on Welt, lightly nodding, and stating in a calm tone that revealed no emotion: "An enemy not solved by one punch. You have earned... my qualification to use a weapon."
Before the words completely fell—
HUM!
The surrounding environment underwent an earth-shattering transformation! The ruined cityscape of Okhema rapidly faded, blurred, and dissolved like an oil painting soaked in water! Sky, earth, Crimson Tide, amber... everything in an instant was swallowed by boundless darkness.
The world, it seemed, was forcibly dragged into a pure binary realm. As far as the eye could see, only boundless darkness remained, and within this darkness, cascading fluorescent green data streams like waterfalls—"0" and "1"
In an instant, Phaethon had forcibly pulled Welt into a data layer independent of Amphoreus reality!
Here, he was part of the rule-maker. He no longer needed to be restrained, worried that overly powerful attacks would affect the ordinary people sealed in amber within Okhema city who needed protection.
This special space, constructed by the Path of Erudition, allowed him to mobilize everything within range except the enemy, maximizing the environmental advantage.
"Disappeared?!" Welt's mental alarms blared. The Star of Eden floated before him, fully sensing for any energy fluctuations around him.
The next second, Phaethon's figure materialized out of thin air without warning directly in front of Welt, completely crossing the spatial distance between them!
That great sword of amber-wrapped Judgment of Shamash was already raised high, its magma-like core erupting with scorching light bright enough to evaporate stars, the sword tip now less than twenty centimeters from Welt's brow!