***
Although MEI was appointed as the frontline commander, the higher-ups of Fire Moth were obviously not so reassured about MEI, who was still green and had been recommended into the organization by 【Elysia】.
For example, right now—
Regarding the matter of restraining Jiang Qiao, MEI adopted an attitude of turning a blind eye and letting things take their course.
Perhaps considering that such a situation would arise, the Fire Moth higher-ups would naturally dispatch another commander to replace MEI in the aftermath.
Of course, this wasn’t the main point.
“Although I had such suspicions from the beginning, I didn’t expect it would actually be you.”
Looking at MEI, whose complexion wasn’t very good and whose neck bore shocking purple Honkai corruption marks, the sweet, energetic girl’s voice carried helplessness and surprise.
Jiang Qiao gazed at her, and at this moment he could clearly sense that she was transforming toward his own “kind.”
“This place should be far enough from Nagazora City, where the Honkai eruption occurred, right?”
Initially, he had thought that the powerful Honkai Energy in the center of Nagazora City was the 3rd Herrscher itself.
But when he arrived at the scene, he discovered it was merely Sesa, the accompanying Honkai Beast of the 3rd Herrscher.
What was strange was that after eliminating Sesa, Jiang Qiao couldn’t find any trace of a Herrscher reaction within the bounds of Nagazora City no matter how hard he searched.
Had one not been born? Or perhaps…
The 3rd Herrscher had actually already been born, but wasn’t in Nagazora City?
And now, the answer had emerged.
MEI, who was stationed at the frontline, was the Herrscher vessel chosen by The Cocoon.
“Good thing I considered this possibility and left a contingency plan in advance, otherwise things would have gotten troublesome.”
The words full of relief made the very weary MEI nod:
“Yes, thanks to that power you left in my body, otherwise I might not have been able to hold on in the first moment.”
For MEI’s safety, Jiang Qiao had left traces of Origin within her body.
The main purpose was to protect MEI at critical moments, such as… certain people’s assassination attempts on MEI.
Right now, there was no Kevin to serve as MEI’s bodyguard.
However, having a Herrscher of Origin use part of their power on her provided protection far stronger than the original need for someone to risk their life blocking those assassination attempts.
It was precisely because of this power that MEI didn’t immediately have her original will worn away the moment she was chosen by The Cocoon to become a Herrscher.
“Can you resolve it?”
Feeling the restless consciousness in her head, MEI looked at Jiang Qiao with a somewhat pained expression as she held her forehead.
After noticing the abnormality in herself, she had immediately chosen to contact 【Elysia】. From a rational standpoint, MEI felt that 【Elysia】 might be able to help her get through this ordeal.
“No problem, no problem. Although the previous one was a bit too late, now… well, at least in your situation, it’s still quite easy to resolve.”
The later Herrschers of the Previous Era became increasingly able to retain their consciousness, such as the 11th Herrscher who chose to stop moving, and the 12th Herrscher who showed no abnormalities initially.
The reason for this anomaly came from Elysia’s influence.
Because she later became aware of her identity, the gradually awakening Origin was able to preserve a certain degree of self-consciousness for subsequent Herrschers to some extent.
And for the current Jiang Qiao, he was 【Elysia】, he was the Herrscher of Origin.
Having recognized this point and completed the self-recognition that belonged to a Herrscher, 【Elysia】 power was sufficient to influence those subsequently born Herrschers and interfere with them to a certain degree.
The 2nd Herrscher was because she had already become a Herrscher before Jiang Qiao took control of the body, and her consciousness had already mostly disappeared.
And the current MEI—
Just right!
Pressing his forehead against MEI’s forehead, this intimate gesture would have made even the rational MEI quite shy under normal circumstances, but MEI, who was currently struggling with another personality spawned by The Cocoon, obviously had no such leisure.
— The authority of Origin turned at this moment.
“It might hurt a bit, bear with it.”
The sweet girl’s voice carried a few traces of seriousness and earnestness. The warned MEI unconsciously relaxed her mind, let out a muffled groan, and her pretty face became somewhat distorted.
A moment later—
“Alright, done.”
As MEI broke out in a cold sweat, sitting on a chair to the side, the pink girl with her nylon-wrapped black stockings crossed her legs, her fleshy, snow-white thighs quite eye-catching.
A crystal highly similar to the Herrscher core of the Seven Thunders of Retribution, with 100% similarity, was being toyed with in Jiang Qiao’s hands.
This was precisely the 3rd Herrscher’s core.
MEI looked at the Herrscher core that had been extracted from her own body, feeling relieved as if she had survived a disaster, while also feeling somewhat frightened in hindsight:
“I never expected I would be chosen as the 3rd Herrscher’s vessel.”
“Hmm… maybe it has a soft spot for your face?”
The girl speculated in such a way, her words carrying a hint of teasing.
According to the original situation, the 3rd Herrscher of the Previous Era had not chosen MEI, who was crazily stacking buffs at Senba Academy, as a vessel.
But they had made quite a bit of interference after all. Although Jiang Qiao could ensure through certain means that the Herrschers of this era would be largely identical to the originals, the selection of Herrscher candidates and even some small details were impossible to control.
Just like now, The Cocoon had forcibly chosen MEI, who was outside Nagazora City, as the Herrscher vessel.
“Please spare me.”
MEI smiled bitterly and sighed: “I definitely won’t get close to Honkai eruption sites again in the future.”
Who could understand? She was so far from the Honkai eruption site, yet the damn Cocoon insisted on making her become a Herrscher.
“Hmm~ You’re being a bit ungrateful after getting a good deal, you know. If Dr. Mobius knew about your situation, she might cry from envy~”
The girl’s words carried some amusement.
Although MEI could no longer use Herrscher authorities after the core was extracted, and the core’s development was extremely poor due to being far from the Honkai eruption site.
But regardless, MEI’s current body no longer belonged to the category of ordinary humans, but was a genuine Herrscher body.
“MEI, the experience of becoming a Herrscher, how does it feel?”
“Hard to say, but it’s indeed much more perfect than the fragile human body.”
MEI clenched her palm and moved her wrist, the crackling sounds making her feel emotional.
Compared to her previous frail constitution as a human, the Herrscher body didn’t need to worry about disease, could rapidly recover from injuries as long as there was Honkai Energy, had an immeasurable lifespan, and powerful physical capabilities.
It indeed made her feel very wonderful.
Looking at the core in the girl’s hands, MEI said softly:
“However, with this…”
“This Honkai eruption can be considered roughly over, right?”