"Damn it, these wretched humans!"
The Eighth Herrscher was hopping mad, cursing wildly.
Even as it raged, it shifted a portion of its consciousness elsewhere.
It knew all too well that its location had been discovered by those humans.
It might fail...
But... it wasn't completely out of chances for a comeback.
Back when it had been spreading dreams across the globe, it had made an unexpected discovery.
On a certain island in the Pacific Ocean, there was actually a living, yet consciousness-less, Herrscher body...
Whether this was some mysterious guidance from fate or pure coincidence, it couldn't say.
If it could obtain that body and retrieve the core, it might be able to seize the authority of the Seventh Herrscher as well.
Even in the worst-case scenario, it could lie low, find a safe place to hide, and bide its time for another chance to rise again...
Thinking this, it made its decision and immediately set off for that island.
...
The red-haired body seemed to be surrounded by some kind of mysterious barrier, as if protecting something...
The Eighth Herrscher struggled and strained for quite a while before finally managing to break through.
In the distance, Aponia watched quietly, her gaze as placid as a still lake.
She seemed utterly indifferent to everything happening before her.
The people here, under her protection, would not easily fall into the dream trap.
Moreover, with her abilities, making the Herrscher unaware of any abnormalities wasn't difficult.
In fact, snuffing out that portion of the Herrscher's consciousness would be as easy for Aponia as crushing an ant.
Of course, that's just a metaphor—Aponia certainly wouldn't go around crushing ants for no reason...
She didn't do it.
Because, from the faint traces of fate, she saw a better outcome, a possibility she had never seen before.
So, fate really could be changed...
Aponia mused silently to herself.
With that thought, Aponia slowly turned her gaze in another direction.
She knew someone was coming, and she began to wait quietly.
"Hey! It's windy up there, careful you don't get blown off!"
Kosma couldn't withstand the children's persistent pleading and had come out to look for Aponia.
He hadn't expected to find her perched high up somewhere.
She stood there like a statue.
"Kosma, please wait a moment. I'm still waiting for someone."
Aponia spoke without turning her head.
"If you fall into the sea, I won't be fishing you out."
Kosma snorted dismissively, then turned and left without another word.
Hmph, he'd found her. Whether she came back or not had nothing to do with him. He couldn't be bothered.
...
Himeko was currently running like mad...
She'd long since settled into that leisurely life of '007' with year-round relaxation.
Every day, she'd just watch her squad train, chat with the adorable Vya, and occasionally go out for a stroll.
But when alone, she still felt rather bored.
Later, with the emergence of the sleeping sickness, everything changed.
She was surprised to find she could enter the dreams too, and leave whenever she wished.
But it didn't seem to be of any practical use...
She still couldn't do anything.
She could neither influence the dreams nor awaken those trapped within them.
But now...
A wrenching feeling gripped her heart, as if something immensely important was about to be taken away by someone else.
Himeko didn't care about anything else anymore, just kept running desperately...
She knew the direction—it led to the Deep End, the place where her body was kept...
Although she hadn't been back there since that one time she'd seen it.
But this was different. It felt like something was calling to her, urging her to keep running forward.
Soon, she arrived.
In her spirit form, she moved quite swiftly.
And she spotted Aponia at a glance.
Aponia happened to be looking right at her.
Himeko knew of Aponia, because she had specifically gone to see her before Aponia underwent the MANTIS surgery.
What surprised her was that Aponia had glanced in her direction back then, though she hadn't said anything afterward.
So Himeko had simply taken it as a coincidence.
And after that, she never saw Aponia in the base again.
She never expected to run into her here today, and it seemed Aponia was waiting for her?
"You've finally come."
Aponia's voice was calm, just like her gaze.
"You... can see me? And you were waiting for me?"
Himeko asked, somewhat astonished.
Aponia said nothing, merely giving a silent nod.
"Then, do you also know what's happening?"
Himeko pressed.
"The Herrscher wants to seize your body."
Aponia stated succinctly.
"?"
"What should I do?"
Himeko was at a loss.
"This is also your chance."
Aponia looked at Himeko, her gaze still calm as water.
"My... chance?"
Himeko was a bit slow to react, repeating the words in confusion.
"Because of the Herrscher, with my help, you can re-enter that body."
Aponia explained.
"You mean... I can come back to life?"
Himeko ventured, a long-dormant thrill stirring within her.
"Correct, Miss Himeko."
Aponia said, looking at her.
"You will contend with the Herrscher for the body..."
"But if you fail, you will disappear completely..."
Aponia added.
"Is that all?"
Himeko paused, then laughed. "I'm already someone who's died once. What is there to fear? Besides, who's to say who will win?"
A fighting spirit ignited in Himeko's eyes, that thing called determination quietly kindling deep within her soul.
The corner of Aponia's mouth lifted slightly. "Good."
"Follow it. You will understand afterward."
As she spoke, a golden butterfly slowly fluttered from Aponia's hand, dancing in the air.
"Good luck."
Aponia said.
"Thank you, Aponia."
Himeko also felt time was short. There was no chance for lengthy words, so she hurriedly followed the butterfly.
Watching Himeko depart,
Aponia murmured, "She will ultimately raise a sword of rebellion against fate.
She will succeed. It is meant to be."
Aponia left, as if having uttered a prophecy destined to be fulfilled.
…
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