"The results are in. 694 votes to attack, 149 votes to flee. So, everyone, the final result is quite clear. That is..."
The people of the Previous Era, whether human or Herrscher, are certainly tough, Fu Li thought to himself.
He took a few steps forward and looked up at the airship in the sky. A guilty curve formed on his lips as he declared, "To declare war on humanity!"
"Yeah! Let's go, let's go!!"
"Alright! Let's teach these damn humans a lesson!"
"The plan to destroy The MOTHs Who Chase the Flame was made by Lord Li!"
"Tsk... a bunch of brutes... but there's no other way..."
Since the decision was made, the Herrschers no longer hesitated, turning one after another to activate their powers.
I'm sorry...
After a silent apology in his heart, Fu Li raised the greatsword, which was now burning with a scorching flame, and made a motion as if to slash at the heavens.
The temperature continued to rise, like a fireball gathering its power.
In stark contrast to the Herrschers' eagerness, on the distant sea, Mobius, Kevin, Dr. MEI, Hua, and Klein couldn't help but clench their fists.
My Judgment of Shamash... Kevin thought.
Zeroth Power... MEI thought.
Why does this hurt so much... Mobius and Klein thought.
Brother, why does it have to be you... Hua thought, her fist slamming heavily onto the armrest of her chair.
"Hah... I'm truly, very sorry..."
Fu Li closed his eyes, his words directed at either Hua or the Herrschers, he wasn't sure. Then, he swung the greatsword.
In that instant, it was as if the great fires of Australia had been rekindled. The water surrounding the island boiled and evaporated in a flash. Before Hua's eyes, Fu Li became the sun.
[You have used the Judgment of Shamash, achieving the achievement 'Heavenly Fire Self-Immolation'.]
[The bombs within your body have been melted by the extreme heat. You have sustained heavy injuries and entered a state of suspended animation.]
"Is it... over?"
In the airship's command room, the monitor showed that Fu Li's life signs had vanished. The numerous red dots on the island had also disappeared in an instant.
Fewer than thirty of the Herrschers of Domination had been lucky enough to survive.
Mobius collapsed into her chair, her body trembling slightly. Under the immense psychological shock, a deeply buried memory resurfaced.
Thankfully, she wasn't the one who pressed the button. She wasn't the one who killed Li.
Mobius buried her face in her hands, her long green hair spilling around her. Her serpentine eyes held a mix of relief and a hint of madness.
No matter which cycle it was, the one Li trusted most was always her.
Therefore, as long as... as long as Project Ouroboros succeeded, she could definitely stop Li from endlessly repeating this cycle in this world of despair.
---o---
Inside the special life-saving cabin, Hua lay slumped on the floor, hugging her knees. Her body trembled softly, but she remained silent.
Why couldn't she do anything?
---o---
"I never expected that Li... that he truly still retained his own consciousness."
At the rear of the battlefield, Dr. MEI stared at the screen, now a wash of white static, and nodded thoughtfully.
They had originally planned to execute Himeko and Seele, but Li had undoubtedly succeeded in proving with his actions that Herrschers were not necessarily enemies.
"MEI, what now?"
Watching the scene unfold, Kevin crossed his arms, his brow furrowed.
Although his relationship with Li hadn't reached the level of close friends, as a teammate he had worked alongside, his feelings were undoubtedly very complicated.
"What else can we do? Arrange for the MANTISes to go down and clean up. Tell them that although there aren't many individuals left, they still need to be careful."
"We are dealing with a Herrscher, after all. A little caution is never a bad thing."
Dr. MEI sighed, picked up her thermos filled with goji berries, and took a sip, her mood exceptionally complex.
"Alright, I understand."
Receiving MEI's order, Kevin didn't hesitate, immediately leading his people out.
Three minutes later, MEI's personal communicator buzzed. Kevin's face appeared on the screen, his expression indifferent as he spoke.
"MEI, Elysia is gone again. She didn't take any of her equipment except her bow. Do you know what happened?"
"Elysia... is missing?"
Hearing this news, Dr. MEI's brow tightened. She said:
"I understand, Kevin. Continue with the cleanup plan. As for Elysia, this isn't the first time she's disappeared. Don't worry about her."
"Mm, understood."
---o---
Flames, ruins, chasms, rivers...
Under the full power of the Judgment of Shamash, the not-so-large island had not only been turned into a sea of fire but had also been split by several massive fissures.
Scalding river water poured into them, washing over the island's ruins, carrying away much of the island's debris and people to other places.
Splash... Splash...
Near a beach on the west side of the island, Fu Li's body, like a broken doll, was carried and tossed by the seawater.
Several times, he was slammed against the reefs, yet none of it was enough to extinguish the boy's faint spark of life.
Until a pink figure suddenly swam out from the sea, her slender yet powerful arms gently lifting the boy up.
"Li, you've worked so hard. You can leave the rest to me ♪"
---o---
At the same time, within The Deep End, the nun slowly opened her eyes.