Honkai Impact 3rd: Catching the Herrscher of Sentience at the Start

Mei and Pardofelis exchanged glances, seeing the same disbelief in each other's eyes—

"Mobius... is dead?!"

(Crack... Mobius shattered.)

Between her fingers, the Herrscher of Corruption held a photograph, gazing at Mei, Hua, Pardofelis, and Vill-V in the distance. A smug smile curled on her lips.

"Mmhm~"

"Who would've thought? Even though Dr. Mobius had no memories of interacting with Fu Lin, she still managed to fool everyone and secretly leave behind a picture of him. How cunning~"

----------------------------

"Ahhh, Mei... Mei-nee... let's not say things like that..."

"People say... they say this is... a... a self-fulfilling... what was it again?"

"It's like I'm really going to die... don't scare me, how could that be possible..."

"I've always... had good luck..."

"Mei-nee... I... don't want to die..."

Mei felt the weight in her arms disappear.

It vanished so quickly, and so completely.

For a moment, Mei didn't know how to return to her usual posture.

Then, she picked up the coin Pardo left on the ground, held it to her chest, murmuring, "Pardo, when you wake up again, everything will be just like before."

(Crack... Pardofelis shattered)

"What I truly desire... I know I have no right to have..."

"..."

"But this time... this time... did I...?"

"Did I truly 'protect' something...?"

"Answer me... you... answer me..."

After receiving Aponia's answer, Kalpas seemed to be liberated. His broken body slowly faded away until he completely disappeared into the dim space.

(Crack... Kalpas shattered)

"As long as you 'open your heart,' it's fine—"

Great Magician Vill-V, "Farewell, my dearest audience!"

"Expert" Vill-V, "Hmph... don't push your luck."

Conductor Vill-V, "Alright... then, goodbye."

Vill-V of Hundred Flavors, "It's a real pity I couldn't let you taste my cooking..."

Vill-V Who Overlooks the Stars, "Accept... the true 'Inscription of the Spiral.'"

"Spiral" Vill-V, "This is all the 'arrangement' I could complete... What I could do... you can as well. And then..."

"Go unveil all the mysteries."

(Crack... Vill-V shattered)

—————————

Mei clenched her fists, looking at the Herrscher of Corruption who was impersonating Elysia, her face darkened, "You... why are you doing this?"

The Herrscher of Corruption crossed her arms, meeting Mei's murderous gaze with a charming smile,

"Oh my, it seems that Fu Lin has already told you about my identity. How does it feel to watch the person you love slowly disappear before your eyes?"

Mei drew her sword, pointing the blade at the Herrscher of Corruption, "Herrscher of Corruption, answer my question."

The Herrscher of Corruption placed a hand on her hip and said, "Because of jealousy. We both fell for the same person, after all. I'm jealous that you can openly be with Fu Lin, while 'I' could only hide in my heart and pretend not to know."

Mei, ".....What do you mean?!"

The Herrscher of Corruption placed both hands together by her face, "Mmm~ Just what I said. Fu Lin is really wonderful, isn't he?"

A barely noticeable shadow flickered in Mei's eyes. The answer she least wanted to accept was laid bare before her—so the mysterious man by Elysia's side was indeed Fu Lin.

Without hesitation, she launched an attack against the Herrscher of Corruption, demanding, "Even so, what does it matter? Elysia and I love the same person, and that has nothing to do with a fake like you!"

"And is this what you call love? Mercilessly erasing him?"

The Herrscher of Corruption dodged Mei's attacks while putting on a pitiful expression, "Mei, you're really misunderstanding me here."

"I originally planned to summon him back after everything was over. But who knew what he did—now it's all ruined. He's completely erased from the data of the Elysian Realm."

————————

Sakura, "Do your worst—make me despair, make me regret, make me feel utterly alone..."

"That way, I can understand just how 'incompetent' I once was..."

"And only then will I know how, in the end... I upheld my 'pride' as an elder sister."

Herrscher of Corruption, "Sakura... you still haven't let go, have you?"

Sakura, "No, and I never will."

Herrscher of Corruption, "Even so, you're still standing here, blocking my way, unwilling to listen to your own heart... to keep on living?"

Sakura's response was to slowly raise her blade, repeating her previous words, "Never... I never will."

(Crack... Sakura shattered)

"In the end, 'another person made the choice in his place,' that's what Kosma said... isn't it?"

"Then on this painting, there should also be 'another person'..."

"Since everyone calls me a blank canvas... I'll use myself as the 'canvas.' Kosma wouldn't mind, would he?"

...

"Kosma... he never says it, but he's most afraid of being alone."

"I just... don't want him to be alone... even in the painting..."

(Crack... Kosma and Griseo shattered)

Light spread forth, like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, dancing from the depths toward a radiant distance.

"If possible, please convey my apology to 'it'... to that one..."

"The former 'Twelfth Herrscher.'"

(Crack... Aponia shattered)

"This is a one-time chance, Kevin."

"Let me... become your sword!"

"Heavenly Fire—Unsheathed!"

(Crack... Su shattered)

"...My choice will, of course, be the same."

"Fenghuang Down..."

"Help me one last time."

"Then I'll understand... what I can do."

"First output level..."

"Let me break free from constraints once more!"

As the Edge of Taixuan struck down, the Herrscher of Corruption could no longer maintain Elysia's image, and before Hua's power could fully take effect, all of her data... was finally about to be completely erased.

(Crack... Hua shattered)

"Please don't blame yourself, Miss Mei. Elysia's life was so colorful—it would be too much to ask you to reconstruct all her memories from the short time you spent in the Elysian Realm."

"You coming here has already been 'enough.' From here on... let 'us' fulfill our mission."

"A missing memory must naturally be filled by another memory."

"You have taken ninety-nine steps toward Elysia, and for this final step, Fairy Ellie and I shall take it in your stead."

....

"Then, let us begin. The time for them to bloom has finally arrived."

....

"Then, please allow me to sing one last song, as your farewell gift, Miss Mei..."

"I shall sing... her favorite song..."

"Elysia, my friend..."

"May we never be apart, may time... forever remain at this moment...?"

(Crack... Eden shattered)

....

"My name is Elysia..."

"The 'First Herrscher, the Herrscher of Humanity.'"