"Herrscher powers are a conceptual form of energy—wind, thunder, fire, ice, and so on, all function the same way."
"Their upper limit depends entirely on the user's strength. For instance, when the Commander obtained the Herrscher of Corruption's authority, he could use it to corrupt other Herrschers as well."
"The same power, when wielded by different users, can display vastly different levels of might."
Hearing the little loli's conclusion, everyone nodded. The concept was easy to grasp.
Senti, who was dragged into the topic for no reason, looked unconvinced. Even though she too wielded Herrscher powers, she couldn't really do much when facing Setsuna, the man of miracles.
"So, judging from the energy the Commander controls, he should be the Herrscher of Finality—his power surpasses the combined strength of all Herrschers throughout the history of Honkai."
"After all, not everyone possesses multiple core drives like the META Cube and the Allspark."
Kayo Senju gestured for Setsuna to activate the Eternal Snowfall.
Whoosh—
The warp engine flickered a few times, and the group arrived in a strange, unfamiliar region of the universe.
"According to my calculations, if the Commander releases too much Honkai energy within the solar system, it might cause a large-scale energy storm—far too dangerous for testing in a system environment."
"From a safety standpoint, it's better to conduct the experiment on an interstellar scale."
Grey spoke up.
"Let's first test your control over the different powers. The first Herrscher's ability is... the Core of Reason, right?"
"What can you create now? The largest-scale object possible. I'll calculate your current power output."
"Hmm..."
Setsuna stood outside the bridge.
When he had first obtained the Herrscher of Reason's power, it took him quite some effort to construct a few large starships. Even modifying the Eternal Snowfall had cost him plenty of time.
After fusing with the Cocoon of Finality, however, his control over the Herrscher of Reason's power had improved drastically.
Crack—
He extended his hand toward the distant void.
Zzzt—
At first, far away in the deep darkness of space—tens of millions of kilometers out—a small fireball appeared.
Everyone initially thought it was a meteor.
Within just a few breaths, the fireball swelled, growing rapidly in size.
It expanded into a blazing orange-yellow star, so bright that it was almost impossible to look directly at it.
On its corona, flames danced wildly, burning fiercely in the vacuum, illuminating the surrounding darkness of the cosmos.
Intense solar winds and ionized radiation swept outward. Einstein glanced up—if not for the energy shields surrounding the ship, the exterior temperature would have already exceeded 3,000 degrees Celsius.
"A sun!!"
"Commander, you just created a star?!"
The accompanying research team was utterly shocked.
They stared dumbfounded at the colossal object before them.
Not long ago, within the Theater of Dominance, Setsuna had used the Herrscher of Reason's ability to construct an entire new kingdom, even throwing a party there.
He had also created a small sun back then.
But that one had been a poor imitation—a mere glowing sphere that wasn't even the size of a starship, taking advantage of the Theater's special properties.
The one before their eyes now was a true star.
Its mass was more than ten times that of the sun, radiating light and heat throughout the frigid void. Staring at it for too long induced dizziness.
Destroying a star was easy—a shipgirl armed with a Photoid cannon could easily do that.
But creating one from scratch was an entirely different matter. The sheer amount of energy and material required was beyond comprehension.
Einstein quickly ran a calculation.
If left undisturbed, this newly formed star would have a lifespan of over ten billion years—until its hydrogen core depleted, its fusion slowed, and it eventually transformed into a red giant before collapsing into a black hole.
"It's not over yet."
Setsuna let out a small hum—he still felt he had plenty of energy left.
Crack—
In the void, several smaller rocky planets began to form.
From dense, heavy-element cores to molten outer layers, liquid mantles, and solid crusts—each was identical to a real planet.
The planets' surfaces were barren wastelands stretching endlessly across their horizons. Some even contained traces of liquid water, forming lakes and seas.
"Recreating an ecosystem from scratch is too troublesome... Let's leave it at that."
Setsuna lowered his hand slightly.
Boom!
The planets were released at precise distances and fell naturally into orbit around the star. Under its gravity, they began to rotate and revolve slowly.
Heaven and earth were divided; day and night began.
After finishing everything, he looked a bit tired and sat back down to take a sip of his drink.
"Ababa..."
Those watching nearby were utterly dumbfounded.
In just half an hour, Setsuna had created an entire star system right before their eyes!
A blazing sun, several planets orbiting it, and part of the cosmic matter caught by gravity condensed into moons.
Using the Herrscher of Reason's power—normally used for making ships or small constructs—he had demonstrated creation on a cosmic scale.
"The internal structure of a star is actually simple. Essentially, it's just a massive reactor—easy to understand when using the Herrscher of Reason's authority," Setsuna said casually.
"Strictly speaking, it's even easier than modifying the Eternal Snowfall—just more energy-intensive."
"Is that really what you call 'simple,' huh?!" Tesla stiffly turned her head, feeling as if she were witnessing a god.
If he spent a bit more effort creating atmospheres and ecosystems with plants and life cycles on those planets, they would be fully habitable colony worlds...
Even left alone for billions of years, they might eventually evolve life on their own.
"Besides stars, I can create other celestial bodies too," Setsuna mused.
"Like black holes? I mean real ones—forming an actual singularity and throwing it into space. Not like Welt Yang's pseudo-black hole."
"Neutron stars or other exotic objects are possible too—they're just a bit more complicated."
The Starsea Empire possessed deep knowledge of cosmology and astrophysics, and naturally, the Eternal Snowfall's databanks contained vast amounts of Research Division data.
With the ship's AI, it was easy to reproduce such phenomena.
"Don't! We're still too close to the solar system!" the nanomachine assistant shouted in alarm. "There are outposts nearby. A sudden black hole could destabilize the entire gravitational balance!"
"Can you take back what you've created?"
"Of course."
Setsuna clenched his hand.
"You forgot one of the main traits of the Herrscher of Reason's power—it holds absolute control over its creations. Manifestation and retraction, both occur in an instant."
Whoosh—
Like magic.
The distant star suddenly went dark. The planets, losing their gravitational anchor, drifted freely for a moment.
Then, like a sandcastle collapsing, they disintegrated into countless fine particles.
Within seconds, everything had vanished into stardust.
Other than faint traces of residual Honkai energy, nothing remained in the void.
The sun, the planets, their oceans, rocks, and dust—all gone without a trace.
If not for the recorded footage, Einstein might have believed they had all experienced a collective hallucination.
"Ah... 4.3..."
Tesla's throat went dry as a thought crossed her mind.
"Genesis...?"
"The same principle," Setsuna shrugged. "Just on a smaller scale."
"Smaller?!" Tesla exclaimed. "This is already insane!"
Once again, they understood why the Herrscher of Reason's power was considered the ability closest to that of God.
While the Herrscher of Reason on Earth could barely create aircraft or missiles, Setsuna could casually create—and erase—entire stars.
And from what they could tell, he hadn't even reached his full potential.
Grey rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Commander, hey... how about you come with me and the Bulin girls to start constructing some Wonders?"
"You could actually build a Dyson Sphere now, couldn't you?..."
...
In the boundless starry sky, Setsuna spent quite some time experimenting with the Research Division lolis.
Aside from the Herrscher of Reason's power, they also tested and measured the energy levels of his other Herrscher abilities one by one.
"Judging from the results, the Commander's control over Herrscher powers is roughly at the galactic scale."
After an incredibly complex series of calculations, the nanomachine assistant came to a conclusion.
"Whether it's elemental manipulation or material construction through Honkai energy, the overall interference range covers about an entire star system."
"That's probably because your ability to draw Honkai energy far exceeds that of any other Herrscher. The others can barely affect the planet's surface—destroying even a small planet is hard for them."
Grey scratched his head.
Herrscher powers sounded grand and almighty, but they were limited by the user's own strength. Most Herrschers had never transcended Earth's boundaries.
For example, during the Previous Era, the Herrscher of Fire—famous for her destructive power—had taken an entire week to turn Australia into a sea of fire. That alone was hailed as a godlike feat.
Now, with just a wave of Setsuna's hand, an entire planet could be incinerated into molten lava.
"The attack range is a bit shorter than the Eternal Snowfall's main cannon, but the versatility is unmatched."
Formidable ran her fingers through her hair as she thought aloud.
"Exactly. Compared to the basic spells they teach at magic academies—like fireballs or lightning storms—Herrscher powers are clearly more suitable for the Commander."
Grey nodded, handing him a huge stack of data.
"Here—these are the detailed construction schematics for the Sentry Array, the Strategic Coordination Center, the Aetherophasic Engine, and the Horizon Needle—some of the Galactic Wonders."
"Have the Eternal Snowfall's ship AI analyze them right away, then come help us build these wonders! You're basically an upgraded Bulin now!"
"A Bulin still needs raw materials to build things. You, on the other hand, can just analyze the schematics and directly recreate them with the Herrscher of Reason's power!"
"..."
Setsuna glanced over the transmitted documents.
The complexity was despair-inducing.
As engineering and physical marvels of the Stellar Era, they contained countless cutting-edge theories and knowledge.
Every component of a Galactic Wonder carried mind-numbing intricacy—the modifications on the Eternal Snowfall were but a drop in the ocean compared to them.
Bonk—
He knocked Grey on the head.
"What do you take me for, a foreman? Bulin just grabs her hammer and gets to work, but this stuff's way more complicated, you know? I'll take a look when I've got time."
After satisfying the Research Division's curiosity by testing several Herrscher powers, Setsuna began pondering another matter.
"The Cocoon of Finality, being a unique Imaginary singularity, should have the ability to infinitely divide and define its own authority."
"In other words, I can create and define new Herrscher powers?"
"Mhm."
Einstein nodded in agreement.
"In the Previous Era, they wanted Herrschers of this era to appear in a relatively controlled sequence. But since you arrived, the world line has been altered."
"Now, with your control over the Cocoon of Finality, you can project Honkai energy from higher dimensions and bestow power upon others."
"Even the very concept of authority itself—Herrscher powers—exists because you define it. If you wish, you could create entirely new, bizarre types of Herrschers."
"For example, a Herrscher of Chocolate who can turn cocoa beans into chocolate out of thin air, or a Herrscher of Weather who governs Earth's climate—or maybe even a Herrscher of Cuisine who's just really good at cooking..."
As she spoke, Einstein casually munched on a snack.
"God doesn't roll dice. God eats chocolate. Mm."
"...Huh???"
Her heretical statement left everyone stunned.
Setsuna cleared his throat.
"Assemble."
...
A few hours later.
In the administrative center, a group of girls bustled in noisily.
"Commander, greetings—it's been a while."
Kanae entered with Shinobu and Kanao, offering him a gentle bow.
There were also girls from worlds like Akamae ga Kill and Konosuba.
"..."
Setsuna had been pondering whom to bestow the new Herrscher cores and authorities upon.
The shipgirls drew their strength from technological advancements and new equipment enhancements. Dragonkin, Heroic Spirits, and Spirits were all extraordinary lifeforms in their own right—each possessed unique powers and needed no additional help.
Coincidentally, there was also a group of ordinary girls in the capital. They had previously undergone genetic ascension and hypermutation surgeries, and had also trained in the Taixuan Eminence, granting them control over Honkai energy.
By all measures, they were excellent candidates to serve as vessels for Herrscher cores.
As for the Valkyries in the academy... Setsuna planned to wait until they had trained a bit longer. Although they were native to the Honkai world, their control over Honkai energy wasn't necessarily superior to Kanae and her group.
"Commander, is there something you need?" Kanae asked, glancing around with slight confusion.
"Come forward."
Setsuna motioned with his hand. Kanae obediently stepped closer.
He stood, gently brushed her flushed cheek, and took her hand. A surge of immense Honkai energy flowed into her body.
In an unseen higher-dimensional layer, a tiny fragment of projection was divided from the Imaginary singularity.
"I grant you authority—the power to bestow growth upon all living things, to govern life and death."
Whoosh—
Kanae's expression went blank for a moment. She felt herself enter a strange, void-like space, as waves of knowledge poured into her mind.
Imaginary space, Imaginary energy, entropy increase, entropy decrease...
She instinctively established a connection to the Imaginary realm.
After a few minutes, she returned to her senses. Looking down, she saw a green crystal merging into her body.
With it came a mysterious new power.
"What... is this?"
"I've granted you Herrscher authority. From now on, you shall preside over all things related to plants—their growth, their structure, all under your command."
"It's a power well-suited to you, don't you think?"
Setsuna brushed her cheek again.
"Ah..."
Kanae froze for a second, then blushed and rose on tiptoe to give him a kiss.
"Thank you, Commander!!!"
She had trained tirelessly, always striving to catch up to the others. But the gap in talent and race had made her realize that, during most expeditions, all she could do was cheer from the sidelines.
Now, she finally felt recognized.
"Plant manipulation? Did that kind of authority exist before? Is it part of the Herrscher of Death's power—or did you make it yourself?" Tesla asked curiously.
"I created it," Setsuna replied.
"The Cocoon of Finality grants me the right to define Herrscher powers. I can freely create and assign new authorities."
"This particular one... you could call it a specialized variant. I just thought it suited them."
As he spoke, he beckoned for Kanao and Shinobu to step forward.
"I grant you the same authority as Kanae—to jointly govern life, death, and all that grows."
From the Imaginary Singularity, two more Herrscher core projections were cast.
Originally, Herrscher powers and cores existed in a one-to-one relationship. But after fully mastering the Cocoon of Finality and the Imaginary realm, Setsuna could now link multiple cores to the same authority.
"Wah!!—"
The two girls squealed excitedly, each giving Setsuna a quick kiss on the cheek before eagerly experimenting with their new powers.
They had mastered Flower Breathing—now, with authority over plant life, their abilities had reached an entirely new level.
"Uh... plant manipulation? Let me think..."
Shinobu pondered for a moment, trying to recall if she had seen or learned a similar ability before.
Suddenly, inspiration struck.
"Got it!"
Clap—
She brought her hands together, forming a seal.
"Wood Release: Advent of a World of Flowering Trees!!!"
Crackle!—
With a series of creaks and groans, lush green branches and trunks began sprouting from the floor and walls, twisting and expanding wildly.
In mere seconds, the entire administrative center was overtaken by greenery.
Towering trees reached the ceiling, while thick vines, shrubs, and wildflowers spread everywhere—some even broke through the windows, climbing toward higher levels.
Thud—
Gudako, who had been watching from the side, suddenly found herself lifted off the ground as branches grew beneath her feet, sending her out the window. Now perched awkwardly on a branch, she stared down at the view below, completely stunned.
"Ah? So that's how it works?"
Kanao was instantly inspired and decided to try something else.
Forming another seal, she activated her new authority.
"Let me try another move... True Several Thousand Hands!!!"
Rumble!—
In the open plaza beside the administrative building, a massive Thousand-Armed Kannon statue burst from the ground, towering over the city. The nearby shipgirls and little lolis who were out shopping stood frozen in disbelief.
"Huh? What the..."
"Stop!!!—"
Gudako yelled from outside.
"Hey! Senju Kanao and Senju Shinobu, you're in the wrong anime!!"