Carrying the out-of-control Honkai Reactor, Nancy Thomas Alva Edison streaked across the sky like a meteor, flying high above the Americas.
At this point, the reactor was no longer a reactor, but a condensed sphere of Honkai energy.
Suppressing this Honkai energy sphere was steadily draining her strength. She did not know how much longer she could hold on, but she had to push it into the open sea to minimize civilian casualties.
Through a certain experiment in the past, Nancy had established communication with an unknown existence, and from it obtained a mysterious device she named the Interferometer.
It was a device created by an eleven-dimensional existence. Through the Interferometer, Edison could borrow the immense power of that eleven-dimensional being and perform acts that altered reality.
But the Interferometer's power could not be used at will. It required a bridge to be built with reality.
The cornerstone of that bridge was Nancy Thomas Alva Edison's own existence.
The width of the bridge was the sum of all her historical possibilities.
The wider the bridge, the more power she could borrow.
Yet once that borrowed power was exhausted, the connection between reality and the eleven-dimensional realm would sever, and the bridge would collapse.
Of course, what truly collapsed would not be Nancy Thomas Alva Edison herself, but the pathway for her soul to return to the material origin. All her historical possibilities—once she died—would vanish from the world forever.
But Nancy did not care. If anything, she yearned for more power.
She was willing to pay with her life to save the innocent civilians implicated by her mistake.
The Honkai energy sphere in her hands grew increasingly scorching. Nancy watched as her modified arm was gradually eroded by Honkai energy.
Her arm was secondary. The real problem was that as the erosion intensified, she was gradually losing control over the Honkai energy sphere.
Nancy shouted urgently, "Hey! You coward who only knows how to cling to banknotes and talk! Think of something!"
"You have already done very well, Miss Edison." In Edison's pocket, the portrait of Franklin printed on a U.S. banknote began speaking miraculously.
Yes, this banknote bearing Franklin's portrait was Edison's Interferometer. Her original experiment had merely attempted to make banknotes self-replicate. Instead, she received the banknote's "gaze"—and obtained this thing.
At the time, Edison had even hoped to sell this Franklin for a good price. The moment that thought arose, however, the Franklin immediately backed down and began explaining economic principles to her, narrowly avoiding the fate of becoming merchandise.
Franklin's voice projected directly into her mind:
"I represent the mode of thought you are capable of understanding. I will emphasize once more—I am merely a creation of a greater existence, no different from you as you are now."
"The abilities you currently possess are the result of exhausting countless possibilities of your existence."
After accepting the interference of the eleven-dimensional existence, Nancy Thomas Alva Edison was no longer merely human. She had become closer to a creation of that higher existence—an adjustment made so that she could contain more power.
"As for Them, They will not ignore the anomaly on this planet," Franklin continued.
"But that intervention will certainly not occur in any way we can comprehend."
"Presumably, to Them, the rise and fall of humanity is utterly insignificant. What truly interests Them are certain ripples in eleven-dimensional spacetime that we cannot yet understand."
"And the anomaly on this planet is nothing more than a few irritating croaks of frogs."
Edison said angrily, "And how does telling me this solve anything? Useless nonsense! I should've sold you when I had the chance."
Though she snapped at Franklin, Edison understood clearly how valuable this banknote was. Without it, she would already have perished in the reactor's explosion.
Looks like I can't count on those beings in eleven-dimensional spacetime to lend a hand.
Damn it... a bunch of bastards watching from the sidelines.
In the end, can I only rely on myself...?
At this moment, Edison could clearly feel her life slipping away. Her vitality was being continuously converted into electricity, supplying the power she needed to control the Honkai energy sphere with her hands.
Planck... I suppose I'll never get to see your "surprise."
Tesla... your "patent fee" will probably have to be refunded by the company.
This all started because of me. I can't just stand by and do nothing.
Just as Edison, helpless and despairing, prepared to sacrifice herself and push the Honkai energy sphere into the open sea to reduce casualties in New York City—
A massive locomotive suddenly appeared out of thin air before her. Its silver-black coating gleamed smoothly across the body like a mirror, reflecting the surrounding light so perfectly that Edison could not immediately tell whether it was real or an illusion.
Is the Honkai energy making me hallucinate?
The conductor's window slid open, and a brown-haired girl wearing a conductor's cap leaned out with an adorable face, asking playfully, "Miss Meteor, do you require assistance? Perhaps some background music? Starfall, Scarborough Fair, or Flower of Hope? These are recommended for you based on big data."
The absurd and unexpected scene left Nancy momentarily flustered, but she quickly steadied herself. Whoever had arrived before her might very well be reinforcements capable of solving the reactor crisis.
Stay calm, Nancy. I need to calmly present my request to this unknown existence.
Taking a deep breath, Edison pleaded, "Could you help me push this thing above my head into the open sea?"
It was not an unreasonable request. After all, when the train had appeared, it had clearly demonstrated spatial abilities.
Vill-V looked up at the Honkai energy sphere, blazing like a miniature sun and radiating massive Honkai radiation. She wore a troubled expression.
"Ah... that won't do."
The answer made Nancy's heart sink. As expected, higher-dimensional beings enjoyed toying with people. In the end, would she still have to rely on herself?
But Vill-V's next words turned the situation around.
"You see, if we push that thing into the open sea, the resulting pollution won't be minor. It might even give birth to an Emperor-class Honkai Beast."
"How about I help you clean up all this Honkai energy instead? Guaranteed spotless. What do you think?"
"Then do it!" Nancy agreed without hesitation. This was the ideal solution.
Click. The door of the Cosmic Juggernaut opened. Dressed in a dashing conductor's uniform, Vill-V made a graceful gesture of invitation.
"Please board, my passenger."
Nancy had no intention of boarding. She shook her head nervously. "No. The moment I let go, the Honkai energy sphere will detonate immediately!"
"Don't worry. Even if it explodes, nothing will happen... Now get up here!"
Without waiting for Nancy's response, Vill-V grabbed her arm and yanked her straight into the carriage.
In an instant, the conductor became a train robber.
"Ahhh—!" Nancy cried out as her hands separated from the unstable Honkai energy sphere.