” — “Oh right.
There are also Stigmata.” Zane raised one finger.
“Stigmata are special databases created by Mobius and Dr.
MEI.
They put technology far ahead of their time straight into human genetics.” “When those genetic fragments are complete enough, they show up as a physical Stigma mark on someone’s body.” “Some Stigmata also hold records left by Herrschers from the Previous Era, like the Herrscher of Thunder or the Herrscher of Death.” He pointed at Raiden Mei’s waist.
“Mei, the mark on your left waist is exactly that.” “Eh??” Mei froze.
For a moment, her mind went blank, and then her pale face turned red, the blush spreading down her neck.
‘When did he see that?
Was it earlier, when he was carrying me?’ Even she had only discovered the mark recently.
“What?
Mei has a weird tattoo?
Let me see!” Kiana’s eyes lit up as she reached out quickly.
She caught Mei off guard, grabbed the hem of Mei’s oversized T-shirt, and pulled it up.
Fortunately, Mei reacted fast enough to slap the shirt back down.
Even with just a quick look, the others saw a strange, deep-purple pattern on her pale left waist.
It flickered softly, glowing like lightning.
“KI-A-NA!” Mei’s face turned even redder.
When Zane glanced at her, her embarrassment grew, and anger soon followed.
She squeezed her eyes shut, took a deep breath, and then hit Kiana on the back of the head without hesitating.
“Ow!
That hurts!” “THAT IS WHAT YOU GET FOR BEING SO HANDSY!” “Ahem.” Now that the commotion was over, Zane quickly looked away.
“The other personality inside you is your Stigmata Persona.
It carries the data of the Herrscher of Thunder.” Mei straightened her shirt and fell silent.
She tried to speak, but nothing came out.
Gratitude?
Yes, part of her felt that she should thank Elysia.
She had inherited the legacy of the Previous Era.
Because of Elysia’s sacrifice, Herrschers in the Current Era could keep their own personalities instead of becoming puppets controlled by the Honkai.
But Mei’s Stigmata awakening had also caused the Great Eruption in Nagazora, where many innocent people died.
The thought made her chest feel tight…
“Eh, so that’s how it works?” Elysia clapped her hands together.
“No wonder Mei’s aura felt so different from the Herrscher of the Void I fought.” Her pink eyes crinkled with happiness.
Zane gave her a teasing look.
“Did she feel a lot weaker than the Herrschers from the Previous Era?” “Hmm.
Isn’t that a little mean?” Elysia blinked innocently.
“You might hurt Mei’s pride if you say it like that.” Mei wasn’t sure if she should laugh or cry.
Her pride was already hurt.
“We have you to thank for that, Elysia,” Zane said.
“Eh?
Me?” Elysia pointed at herself, confused.
“Yep.” Zane leaned back on the sofa.
“Previous Era Herrschers were pure vessels for the Honkai.
They connected directly to higher-dimensional Honkai energy and carried out their orders of destruction in the coldest, most efficient way possible.” “No hesitation…
No emotion…” “Just the mission!” He took a sip of juice and glanced at Mei, Kiana, and Bronya before going on.
“Because of you, Current Era Herrschers retain their personalities.
The problem is that almost all of their vessels are high school or middle school students.” “They have Herrscher-level power, but their knowledge, maturity, and understanding of that power cannot keep up with the strength they possess.” Zane offered a simple example.
“It’s like giving a high schooler the most advanced math theories and expecting them to master it right away.” “The Herrscher is not the idiot.” He looked straight at the trio.
“The user is.” “…” The living room went quiet.
“If the Previous Era Honkai was Hell difficulty, then the Current Era is Normal mode.” “Uh, it works like that?” Elysia stared at him.
If that was true, the Current Era had a much better chance to defeat the Honkai.
Her death had meant something after all.
Mei’s face turned red again, and tears started to form in her eyes.
This guy was insufferable.
She had just started to think he wasn’t so bad.
Too bad he always said the wrong thing.
“Don’t talk about Mei like that!” Kiana flared up, instantly jumping to defend her best friend.
“I wasn’t only talking about Mei.” Zane sank further into the sofa and gave Kiana a mischievous grin.
“Kiana, you don’t think you’re off the hook, do you?” “I…
What’s wrong with me?” Kiana’s confidence collapsed at once.
“You’re the same as Mei, idiot.
And Bronya, you have Project Bunny 19C and its Reconstruction ability.
That belongs to the Herrscher of Reason.” Zane shook his head and glanced at the quiet Bronya.
“You are all Herrscher candidates, and none of you even realize it.” Bronya’s heart skipped a beat.
‘Does he already know who I am?’ “AH??
ME TOO?” Kiana pointed at herself in disbelief, completely lost.
Elysia nodded.
“Mm-hmm.
You do share some traits with the Herrscher of the Void I killed.
Fate really likes playing clever little games.” “K-Killed…” Kiana shrank back.
Her courage disappeared, and she moved away from Elysia without thinking.
Did she have to say “killed” so casually?
No wonder Kiana had felt a strange instinctive tension around her from the start.
Was this the reason?
Did she have an unawakened Stigma too?
Wait…
Something about that did not feel right.
“Tell me, Elysia.” Evanescia narrowed her eyes from the side.
“How are you still smiling after hearing all of this?
Your future ends with your own death.
Death is not something to celebrate.” “Oh my.
No need to be so serious, Eva.” Elysia waved her hand, still smiling brightly.
“If we count the years, I still have some time left, right?
It is far too early to start being scared and sad.” “Who knows?
Maybe in a few years, we will find a way to defeat the Honkai.
Besides, we have Zane now~” Her pink eyes sparkled with confidence.
“Are you ignoring a fundamental problem?” Furina crossed her arms, her small face turning serious.
“If you defeat the Honkai in your era, what happens to the Current Era?” She glanced around the room.
“Even a tiny, harmless-looking change in the past could alter the present…” “People could be erased from existence.” “…” Kiana, Mei, and Bronya felt their stomachs sink.
That could not happen…
Right?
“Like I said, we have Zane.” Elysia’s smile remained sweet.
Everyone turned toward Zane, their expressions filled with questions.
“Oh?
Did I forget to mention it?” Zane looked perfectly calm.
“I’m a master of time management.
Before I stepped into your timelines, I conveniently severed the ‘time’ connection.” The living room fell dead silent.
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