Honkai: You're telling me this difficulty is from Honkai Impact 3?!

How does a person react when they learn they might die?

Perhaps a scornful laugh, dismissing it as mere scaremongering, believing themselves above such pronouncements, that their life wouldn't be dictated by a single sentence. They'd carry on as usual, unaffected.

Or maybe sorrow overwhelms them, lamenting the unfairness of it all, feeling like they've walked on thin ice their whole life only to plunge into the icy depths. They might give up, blaming everything and everyone.

There's another possibility. They might, like countless sages before them, cease to see death as an end, but as a transition to a new beginning. They'd face death with curiosity, composing songs and poems in its honor, then calmly await its arrival.

Most people in this world fall into the first category, believing death is a distant shore, only briefly intersecting with their own.

The second type often meticulously crafts a persona, pretending to be the third, using it to inflate their meager sense of self-worth.

They cry out, "I want to die, I'm going to die," constantly emphasizing it, putting on a show, diligently playing the role they've assigned themselves.

Until death truly arrives.

Until… the prophecy of death becomes reality.

This was Xiao Chen's current situation. She walked silently amidst the group of ten, one hand clenched into a fist, lightly pressed against her heart.

Besides her own breathing and the footsteps around her, Xiao Chen could only hear the frantic thumping of her own heart.

Her heart seemed to be protesting, protesting her using her life to shoulder a crisis with no reward.

After the initial surge of impulsive bravery, Xiao Chen, now gradually calming down, realized this might be a completely losing proposition.

She regretted it… regretted that she could have just sat there like everyone else, doing nothing. She could have avoided this position entirely.

But she had already stood up. If she backed down now…

No one would stop her, but no one would look up to her again either.

Taking a deep breath, Xiao Chen, inexplicably feeling guilty, looked up at Yun Feng at the front, and the middle-aged couple still arm in arm right behind him.

The couple didn't speak. Behind them, the three college students were rather animated, chattering away.

Could they be scared too? Are they discussing how to back out now?

Xiao Chen strained her ears, picking up snippets of their conversation.

"Do you think Fire Moth has mechs? How do they fight those monsters?"

"Definitely mechs! Maybe even special ones like the Arahato!"

"What if they have special abilities? Like Homu Superman! Flying, lifting buildings, shooting lasers from their eyes!"

"That's a bit much, don't you think?"

"If only we could see it with our own eyes, I can't even imagine how cool that would be!"

"No chance~"

What's this?

Xiao Chen blinked in disbelief. The lighthearted chatter behind her suddenly made her feel ashamed.

She stopped eavesdropping, covering her face with her hand.

What am I even thinking?! These college students are the easiest to fool! They're all so chuunibyou, they'd never pass up a chance like this!

I'm past that age!

"Huh?" Just then, the three college students suddenly stopped talking. Xiao Chen felt three burning gazes on her back.

"Was she just looking at us?"

"Dude, you're thinking about girls at a time like this?"

"Shut up! Don't be ridiculous!"

The harmony between the three instantly shattered, their unbreakable alliance crumbling.

Somehow, listening to the "infighting" behind her, Xiao Chen felt a bit better.

"I think she's probably scared." After arguing for a bit, one of them voiced a serious guess.

The relief Xiao Chen had just felt vanished.

"That makes sense. There are three of us, but she's alone. It's natural to be scared."

Xiao Chen's eyes suddenly lit up. She even subconsciously nodded.

Yes! I'm not afraid of dying, I'm just afraid of being alone! That's the reason! Since I dared to stand up, how could I possibly…

Silence.

"Um…" A tap on her shoulder startled Xiao Chen. She practically jumped out of her skin, her eyes wide with barely concealed terror.

Behind her, the three college students stared at her with clear, innocent eyes.

"Wh…what is it?" Xiao Chen, the usually composed receptionist, stammered. If Yun Feng saw her like this at work… she'd probably lose her job!

"How about I switch places with you?" The student at the front gestured to the other two. "I'll go first, and you can be the third with them?"

"Huh?" Xiao Chen was stunned.

The three had clearly seen her nod after their earlier words; otherwise, they wouldn't have offered to break up their group.

Xiao Chen was tempted, but only slightly. She forced a smile. "No, thank you."

"Oh." The student shrugged at his companions, then looked down. "Those shoes… are you sure you can run in those?"

Xiao Chen looked down at her slightly yellowed white canvas shoes.

Thankfully, she hadn't been on shift the day the Honkai struck; otherwise, she'd be wearing high heels right now.

"They're fine…" But thinking that these three were athletes, Xiao Chen gave a nervous laugh.

"Hmm…" The three wore pained expressions. A moment later, they spoke in unison, "Let's give you some emergency training!"

"Huh?" Xiao Chen, bewildered, was surrounded by the three, listening to them explain some inexplicable "techniques."

She didn't understand a single word.

"Wait… why do I need to learn this…"

"Uh… so… you can maybe run further?" The student struggled to explain, then was promptly choked by his companions.

"Creak—" The sound of a door opening snapped Xiao Chen back to reality. Her breathing instantly became heavy.

"Xiao Chen." Yun Feng stood at the door, looking back at her.

"Yes, Boss!" Xiao Chen snapped to attention, speaking formally.

The three college students stopped their antics, quietly waiting for Yun Feng to speak.

Yun Feng paused for half a second, then stepped aside, revealing the door to the outside world.

"Towards North Railway Station. Run. Don't stop. Keep running. Understand?"

Xiao Chen stood at attention, not immediately answering.

A sliver of hesitation lingered in her heart.

Yun Feng waited patiently.

Until…

"Hey! Remember to keep your breathing steady!"

A yell from the college student spurred Xiao Chen forward.

She really couldn't stand those three goofballs anymore…

That was her thought as she stepped out the door, a faint smile on her lips.

"Run!"