Three months later, the individuals of the Herrscher of Legion began to appear one after another. Somewhere in the ruins of the Mu Continent.
"Captain Destoria, something isn't right. This Herrscher individual is clearly dead, so why hasn't the Honkai energy reading decreased?"
On the scorched battlefield, Hua looked at the Honkai energy counter on her wrist. The moment she raised her head to voice her confusion, she saw Destoria's vigilant expression.
Strange. This Herrscher is already dead, why is the Captain still so on guard?
However, Destoria had no attention to spare for Hua's question. Her eyes were bloodshot as she stared intently at the person at the very back of their squad.
It was the other MANTIS in the team besides herself: Li.
...…
White. There was nothing but white.
A puff of white breath escaped his lips, melting into the pure white space in the next second.
A familiar space, a familiar feeling, a familiar God.
So, it's true. Does everyone who becomes a Herrscher get a chance to meet God?
God slowly turned around. He wore the same face as Fu Li. He pressed one hand on a table, upon which sat a set of wine utensils.
God was not surprised that Fu Li would appear before him again. He waited for Fu Li to ask him a question.
God did not care about him. Struggle, resistance, evolution—these were precisely the things he wanted to see.
Therefore, every person who met God was granted the right to ask him a question.
This time, Fu Li did not rush forward to swing his sword at God in a fit of passion as he had before. He simply strolled to God's side and met his gaze.
As if he were not God, but an old friend.
"May I ask… how do I kill the Herrscher of the End?"
Fu Li asked his question.
And God would surely give him an answer.
God picked up the wine bottle and poured the colorless liquid into a glass. Then, he materialized a black and red core in his hand and dropped it into the drink.
That color… it was the Core of the Herrscher of Corruption.
Fu Li raised an eyebrow. He watched as God lifted the glass and drank the liquid, Core and all. Black紋路 then appeared on God's body.
The illusion shattered, and the Core of Domination condensed within Fu Li's body.
...…
The moment he opened his eyes, a familiar malice flooded his heart. A hatred and despair for humanity enveloped Fu Li.
Instantly, the world seemed to be stained by a black malevolence, giving rise to an involuntary sense of despair in one's heart.
"All personnel, prepare to retreat! This is the aura of a Herrscher! Carole, get Hua and run, now!!"
"Ah… yes, I understand!!"
The Honkai energy counter flashed red, its beeping incessant.
Destoria's voice rang out urgently. Hua felt the Herrscher aura emanating from Fu Li, and her pupils dilated. The gun in her hand slipped and fell to the ground.
What is happening?
First it was Himeko, and now her brother?
"Hua… snap out of it! We have to run!"
As a soldier, Carole was just as distraught, but she gritted her teeth, grabbed Hua's arms, and began dragging her away.
She couldn't imagine—every previous Herrscher had been terrifying enough. How monstrous would a MANTIS and top-tier researcher be if they became a Herrscher?
However, before they could get very far, Fu Li launched an attack on Destoria.
"Li, are you conscious?"
Although Fu Li was her savior, the moment he attacked, Destoria grit her teeth and sent several flying swords shooting toward him from her back.
CLANG!
The collision of flesh and Soul Steel produced a piercing, mournful sound.
Destoria knew she could not afford to hold back in a fight against Fu Li. Whether it was for the sake of humanity or for the squad members behind her, she had to engage him.
However, reality was far crueler than one's hopes. In just three minutes, Destoria's telekinesis and flying swords were completely overwhelmed by Fu Li's various techniques.
One hand clamped around Destoria's long, pale neck. The sharp fingertips pierced her skin, yet he did not take her life.
"Tell Mobius… p-246 island. Five days. If this isn't over by then, use the final measure."
That was the last sentence Destoria heard. In the next second, her consciousness was abruptly cut off, and she plunged into darkness.
Ten minutes later, the squad members who were still conscious saw a figure with two wings on its back leaving the area.
---o---
[Despite the interference of the Honkai consciousness, you suppressed it temporarily with your powerful willpower, sparing Destoria while also successfully relaying your message.]
[Talent 'Herrscher of Domination' has awakened to its first stage.]
[You have gained partial authority of Domination. When all other individuals are dead, you will become the final individual and obtain the complete authority of Domination.]
---o---
"p-246 island. Is that what Li told you?"
In the MOTHs' infirmary, Mobius looked at Destoria lying on the hospital bed and asked the question.
"That's right, Doctor."
Destoria spoke in a hoarse voice, a trace of sadness in her eyes.
"Li is my savior. Even after becoming a Herrscher, his consciousness was still fighting against the Herrscher's will. Otherwise, I would already be dead."
"You're right," Mobius nodded, her expression equally grim. Out of sight, her fists were clenched tightly.
"Thank you for the information. I will make the preparations just as Li wished. Until then, please…"
Before she could finish the words "get some rest," a massive explosion suddenly erupted from Dr. MEI's laboratory not far away.
A figure with dragon wings flew out from it, soaring towards the sky.
"I'll go see."
Recognizing the figure, Mobius was alarmed. Forgetting her decorum, she immediately took Klein and jumped out the fourth-floor window.
"Cough, wait, Doctor!"
Seeing their urgency, Destoria, whose injuries weren't severe to begin with, shot up from the bed, wrapped herself in her telekinetic power, and burst through the glass to follow.
The medical staff standing nearby stared at the completely shattered window, remained silent for a moment, then turned and left through the door.
Outside Dr. MEI's lab, an unscathed MEI watched the distant figure, lost in thought, until Mobius called her back to her senses.
"Dr. MEI? What happened?"
"Dr. Mobius, it's you."
Seeing her, MEI rubbed her temples with a headache. "I was just performing some calibration work on the Judgment of Shamash. Then, Li suddenly appeared and stole it."
"The Judgment of Shamash?"
Hearing the name, Mobius, though she already knew, still feigned an anxious expression and asked with concern.
"Putting that aside for a moment, Dr. MEI, was anyone hurt?"
"No, not at all. But Li has become the Herrscher of Domination and has stolen a Divine Key. This is truly a major crisis…"
As if thinking of something troublesome, Dr. MEI sighed, her eyes filled with worry.
---o---