“Reporting, sir.
The First Herrscher’s remains have been recovered.” The adjutant jogged over to Ato, stood at attention, saluted, and delivered his report.
Yes, remains.
When the front-line soldiers began clearing the battlefield, they had already prepared themselves to piece together fragments of the Herrscher.
Instead, they discovered that even after taking a strike comparable to a nuclear explosion, the Herrscher merely had a massive hole in her chest.
Her deactivated core lay at its center.
Although the rest of her body was badly damaged, it still retained a humanoid shape.
“Good work.
Have you found any clues regarding that strike?” Ato asked while writing his report on the operation.
“The technicians traced the attack backward and located its point of origin.
Tests revealed residual Honkai energy at extremely high concentrations, but the trail ends there.” “So the strike was actually a high-energy Honkai attack?” “Yes.
The technical experts believe that is the most likely explanation.” “Then why did it cause no other damage?
A Honkai energy eruption of that magnitude should not have behaved like that.” Ato frowned.
“They believe the Herrscher passively absorbed all of the energy before she died.” “Fine.
That truly is unexpected.
In theory, no organization in the world has studied Honkai energy more deeply than MOTH.
We’re still in the experimental stage, yet someone else has already weaponized it?” Ato tapped the tip of his pen.
“Keep monitoring the situation.
Report immediately if anything new is discovered.” “Yes, sir.” After setting down the documents, the adjutant pushed open the door and left.
Ato stared at the operation report with a deeply troubled expression.
Their operation against the Herrscher had unquestionably been a failure.
Their command coordination, emergency planning, rapid response, and strategic deployment had all fallen far below acceptable standards.
Aside from launching missiles, the allied European Union forces had not fired a single shot from beginning to end.
Without that unknown assistance at the end, every one of them would have died there.
If he submitted a report like this, the MOTH council would undoubtedly fly into a rage.
Worse still, he ran a hand through his hair.
They knew almost nothing about the unknown entity, and the subsequent investigation would consume an enormous amount of effort.
Just as his thoughts descended into chaos, someone knocked on the door.
“Come in.” He composed himself and straightened his collar.
He still had an image to maintain in front of his subordinates.
A pink-haired girl entered.
Although she had yet to fully mature, a calm and steady air already surrounded her.
“Elysia.
It’s been a long time.
Traveling around the world seems to have changed you quite a bit.
Unfortunately, you’re too late.
The Honkai Eruption is already over.” Ato relaxed slightly.
Because Elysia’s phone had been fitted with a custom anti-tracking device made by Vill-V, MOTH had completely lost track of her after she left the European Union.
When Ato contacted her, he had done so with little more than desperate hope.
Elysia said nothing.
She merely drew a bow covered in cracks from behind her back.
“Hm?
That bow doesn’t look ordinary.
If you need it repaired, I can help you contact the engineering department.” As Ato spoke, he picked up his communicator.
“I was the one who fired that strike.” Ato froze instantly.
…
Several dozen minutes earlier.
“Calling it somewhat exaggerated might be an understatement.” Vill-V climbed out of the vehicle, dug a still-functioning surveillance device from the ruins, and connected it to a storage unit.
When she saw the arrow sweeping away the Honkai, she clicked her tongue in amazement.
“There will be even more exaggerated things in the future.
After a few more cycles, you’ll probably see a Herrscher sink an entire continent.” “Didn’t you say the strength of the Honkai is tied to the level of a civilization’s development?
If we start suppressing technology now, would that stop future Herrschers from becoming stronger?” Vill-V asked.
She had already listened to everything Elysia knew about the Honkai.
“It wouldn’t help.
We would still have to face the Herrscher of Finality in the end.” Elysia sighed.
“It possesses the Authorities of every Herrscher as well as the Authority of Time.
Without pushing technology far enough, we would have no chance of victory.” The Current Era had managed to surpass the Herrscher of Finality despite having a technological level far below that of the Previous Era.
In truth, it had benefited enormously from everything the Previous Era left behind.
Without Kevin hijacking the Cocoon of Finality through Project STIGMA, the trio’s chances of defeating the Herrscher of Finality would have been so low as to be negligible.
Even then, the final outcome had merely been Kiana absorbing the Herrscher Authority within the Cocoon of Finality and becoming the new Herrscher of Finality, rather than achieving a true victory over the Honkai.
“So we’ll have to trouble our genius Vill-V from now on.
I’m only a warrior.
I don’t possess that kind of intellect.” Elysia winked.
“After all, science and technology are the foremost productive forces~” “Fine.
I suppose I’m stuck with you for the rest of my life.” Vill-V resigned herself to her fate.
“How do you intend to explain the strike that killed the Herrscher?” Vill-V continued.
“Or are you planning to pretend it never happened and bluff your way through?” Elysia thought for a moment.
“I can’t avoid using my abilities when fighting the Honkai in the future, but their personal characteristics are far too distinctive.
It would be easy for others to connect them to me.” “Wouldn’t that expose you immediately?
You’d have a hard time explaining yourself once MOTH started investigating.” “Mm, that’s true.” Elysia lowered her head and thought for a moment before an idea came to her.
“Vill-V, did you bring the Soulium with you?” “Of course.
This is my most brilliant invention.” Vill-V pulled a large container from the drilling vehicle’s trunk and pressed a button.
The container unfolded automatically, lifting a mass of viscous black liquid into view.
“All the Soulium is here.
The production line was destroyed not long after we finished setting it up, so there isn’t much.” The corner of Elysia’s eye twitched.
That’s enough to make several Divine Keys…
“This is already more than enough.
Soulium is a specialized material, not something common.” Elysia walked over to the liquid Soulium and extended her hand, raising her voice playfully.
“Watch carefully~” Pink radiance emerged around her body and gathered in her palm until it nearly became solid.
Drawn by her Authority, the Soulium churned.
A sharp peak rose from its center, slowly lifting until it floated in midair and began changing shape.
Elysia focused her Authority.
Pink crystals grew across the Soulium, shaping it until it finally condensed into an ornate longbow of pink, white, and violet.
Its name was Whisper of the Past: Sonnet.
Elysia then continued pouring Honkai energy into the longbow.
Under the sustained influx of energy, the bow began to tremble and cracks spread across its surface, releasing pink light from within.
“It’s going to explode, Elysia,” Vill-V warned hurriedly.
“That’s exactly the effect I want.” Elysia stopped just before the structure collapsed completely.
The longbow fell into her palm, and she turned it over to inspect it from every angle.
“That should do it.” “That scared me.” Vill-V wiped the fine sweat from her forehead.
“So this is a Herrscher’s Authority?
It truly is astonishing.
Does that mean your Authority is crystal?” “No.
It’s wishcraft, but I haven’t developed it very far,” Elysia answered frankly.
“Uh…
all right.
Then what exactly is the point of making this bow?” Vill-V took it and examined it a few times.
“It’s an advertisement for you.
You don’t mind, do you~?” Elysia smiled faintly.
…
“That strike was fired from this bow?” Ato felt as though Elysia had come to play a joke on him.
“Was the arrow tipped with a nuclear warhead?” “No.
It was a condensed mass of Honkai energy.” “That’s impossible.
No material can withstand Honkai energy of that magnitude.” Ato immediately refuted her.
This was also the greatest obstacle in manufacturing Honkai weapons, a problem MOTH’s engineering department had spent years trying and failing to solve.
“Mm-hmm~” Elysia handed him the bow and pointed at the cracks across its body.
“Uncle Ato, look closely.” Ato took the bow and inspected it at close range.
To his astonishment, the cracks were gradually closing.
“Nanomachines, Uncle Ato~” Elysia explained from beside him.
“Since the erosion and destruction caused by Honkai energy cannot be avoided, wouldn’t the problem be solved if the material could repair itself?” “The only difficult part is gathering Honkai energy.
I traveled all over the world and spent two full years collecting enough energy to fire a single arrow.” Elysia lied with remarkable fluency.
“Can I get reimbursed for that~?” Part of it was actually true.
The bow really could withstand that arrow.
“Wait a moment.” He retrieved a Honkai energy probe from the edge of the desk and carefully inserted it into one of the cracks still glowing faintly pink.
The connected meter immediately shot beyond its maximum reading.
“Someone actually succeeded.” Ato hurriedly pulled out the probe, and his grip on the bow immediately became much gentler.
“The engineering department proposed this theory a long time ago, but those useless fools all insisted it was nothing more than fantasy.” His gaze immediately turned eager.
“Who made this?” “Vill-V, of course.
She’s a genius.” Elysia began fabricating history without the slightest hesitation.
“Before Uncle Ato introduced me to the Honkai, I often encountered pale violet crystals during my travels.
I sealed them in containers and sent them to Vill-V.
“Her tests revealed that they contained enormous amounts of energy, so after discussing it, we originally decided to use them for power generation.
“To contain that energy, Vill-V invented Soulium, which is an aggregate of these nanomachines.” Over the past decade or so, global Honkai energy concentrations had indeed been rising.
Scattered Honkai crystals could genuinely form, although they were extremely rare.
“We originally intended to make a bow as a prototype, and it happened to become useful after the Honkai Eruption began.” Elysia spread her hands.
“Unfortunately, there’s none left now.” “Wait.
Shouldn’t Soulium have been used to make a generator?
Why make a bow?” Ato asked in confusion.
“Because production was far too slow and I couldn’t wait, so I wanted her to make a finished product.
She’s working for me, after all, so she has to listen to me~” Elysia blinked innocently.
“Besides, isn’t this bow beautiful?” “Fine.
I have nothing to say.” Ato admitted defeat before Elysia’s strange imagination and returned the bow to her, though his enthusiasm remained undiminished.
“When I show you around the base later, can you bring this bow?
The useless fools in engineering will probably drop their jaws when they see it.” Trying to steal her techniques, are you?
“Of course~” Elysia changed the subject.
“But since Uncle Ato said the engineering department is full of mediocrities, shouldn’t the position of department head go to someone capable?” Ato understood her implication and immediately guaranteed it.
“If Miss Vill-V is willing to join us, nothing could be better.
Leave the negotiations with the council to me.
“The invention of Soulium alone is more than enough.
She will receive all the resources she needs.
If anyone under her refuses to accept it, tell them to come to me.
I’ll beat some sense into them.” “Then here’s to a pleasant partnership~” “There’s one more thing, Elysia,” Ato added.
“Personally, I’m willing to believe that you ended the Honkai Eruption.
This bow also counts as evidence.
However, you left no direct visual proof, so officially crediting you may be difficult.” “That makes sense.” Elysia tilted her head in thought.
“Saving up enough energy for another arrow would take a very long time.” It was time to make MOTH reimburse her expenses.
“MOTH’s base has a stockpile of Honkai crystals.
Once you reach the testing ground, reproducing even part of that strike should be enough,” Ato suggested.
“Then thank you, Uncle Ato~” …
“It’s done.” Elysia clapped her hands together.
“All of the European Union’s resources need to go toward postwar reconstruction, so MOTH can cover your future research expenses, Vill-V.” “Thanks, Ely.” Vill-V looked slightly embarrassed.
“It feels like I’m claiming credit I don’t deserve.” After Elysia revealed the truth, Vill-V had begun addressing her much more intimately.
“Not at all.” Elysia did not mind.
“Honkai weapons will definitely become mainstream in the future, and Soulium will become a highly sought-after material.
You’re merely receiving your reward in advance, so have more confidence.
Besides, we’ll split the credit fifty-fifty at most.
It’s fine~ “I’ll also be staying in the European Union for quite some time, so you can go without worrying.” “You’re not going to continue traveling?
Isn’t Helixcraft important too?” Elysia walked to the window and looked out at the ruins.
Her voice became slightly subdued.
“We have to set our priorities.
Postwar reconstruction is unquestionably the most important thing right now.
There will be an enormous amount of work ahead, so I need to stay and help share the burden.” Elysia spoke as though it were only natural.
“You worked hard to expand so quickly without causing any major problems.” “Not at all.
Honestly, you’re probably the only person carefree enough to offer unlimited funding and complete freedom.” Vill-V scratched her head.
“Mm-hmm~” Elysia tilted her head and smiled faintly.
“So in a certain sense, does that mean we were both running toward each other?” “That sounds far too intimate…” Vill-V could not help looking away.
The evening glow spilled across the sky, brilliant and magnificent.
Half of the city’s collapsed ruins were bathed in gentle orange light, while the other half lay hidden in shadow.
The city’s former prosperity had once rivaled the splendor of heaven and earth.
Now, it could only serve as a backdrop to the sunset.
As though sensing something, Elysia turned around and asked a question.
“Vill-V, what would you think if I described the Honkai as an ’embrace’ that caused no more than a little pain, or perhaps as a ‘test’ for civilization?” “I would think something was definitely wrong with your brain.” Vill-V looked outside at the post-apocalyptic ruins and answered speechlessly.
“Yes.
If I said something like that, there would definitely be something wrong with my brain.
“After all, a disaster is nothing more than a disaster.”