Inside the Sydney Super Dome, Australia.
"It's been so long since Eden's last concert."
"Yeah, after all, the world has changed so much."
"Lately, there have been rumors about Lord Elias and Eden being in a relationship. I wonder if that's true?"
"No way, impossible! Definitely fake!"
From the circular audience seating, tens of thousands of spectators were talking. Some discussed the Honkai, some spoke of Eden, others speculated about the future. The noisy chatter was utterly chaotic.
Clang!
Suddenly, the brightly lit dome went dark. On the central stage, two dazzling figures appeared.
Spotlights instantly locked onto them.
A boy and a songstress stood there, both wearing matching stage costumes.
Eden drew a deep breath, lifted her microphone, and began to sing.
"Shaded by the trees, calling out to the wind, I'm lying face-down crying
I saw a version of myself I didn't even recognize
On this guitar I'm playing the melody of someone who's passed on
A star falls in the grief of someone who'll never be seen again
Please don't go, no matter how much you scream, all it will do is quietly stir these orange petals
Saved on my soft brow, I send the memories in my palm far away
An eternal farewell as I keep strumming..."
(Akatsuki no Kuruma)
The songstress' clear, heavenly voice echoed throughout the dome. Soft yet sorrowful, her song was like a farewell to someone dear. Elias' accompaniment matched her every syllable perfectly.
In that moment, the souls of Eden and Elias began to resonate.
From the instant she began, Eden's voice captivated everyone in the venue—and all those around the world watching the broadcast. Whatever they had been doing a second ago, now all eyes were fixed on the two performing on stage.
"As expected, Elias and Eden's music and singing… it's the most beautiful sound in the world."
From the front rows, Elysia revealed a mesmerized expression. And not just her—everyone was the same.
The theme of this concert was "Apocalypse and Resistance."
Eden: "On the scorched earth where memories are burned away~ tender shoots of remembrance take root, watching the dawn's train depart. Where do the orange blossoms sway today?"
The golden diva's singing was sorrowful and haunting, as though mourning all those who had perished to the Honkai.
On the ring-shaped screen behind the stage, tear-inducing scenes played: ruined cities, cold and lonely graves, people weeping over tragedies, and lands consumed in flames.
With her voice, Eden once again told everyone—the apocalypse was already upon them. At this moment, sorrow overcame all, bringing tears to countless eyes.
"I-I suddenly feel so sad…"
"So many tragedies have already happened…"
"My family was taken by the Honkai too…"
Everyone felt as though their hearts had been pierced open, grief and emptiness spilling out as they mourned the compatriots who had vanished in blood and fire.
Eden: "With this song, I bid farewell to all who have passed."
The very first song already had the entire audience in tears. Perhaps this was unprecedented for any concert, but this was the song Elias had stubbornly insisted on. In his words:
Elias: "People must remember tragedy, must not forget humiliation. Life is bitter like a song, but only by bearing the sorrow of the past can we fully chase the beauty of tomorrow. And moreover…"
Eden: "Tragedy is not the end."
Elias: "It is the beginning of hope!"
His hands crashed down on the black and white keys, releasing powerful tones that jolted the audience from their grief. All their hearts beat as one in that instant—
As though a current surged through their entire bodies. Before they realized it…
"Don't be afraid, daybreak has come! Don't be afraid, daybreak has come!"
"Don't be afraid, daybreak has come!! Don't be afraid, daybreak has come!!"
"Don't be afraid, daybreak has come!!! Don't be afraid, daybreak has come!!!"
It was as if the words were being declared to the entire world.
The impassioned lyrics burst forth, each note filled with power. Eden sang the opening of the second song—"Ninelie."
It was one of the many songs Elias had given her.
In an instant, everyone felt the lyrics crash against their hearts like the strike of a heavy drum, pounding their chests like war drums!
The audience looked up at Eden, who sang with all her soul. She had become the symbol of this era, declaring war on the Honkai.
In that moment, people saw a fragile yet radiant white flower, standing alone against the storm of night.
Even if its petals were to be torn apart in the very next instant, even if lightning crashed down beside it—though weak, it was never humble, but instead beautiful!
Eden: "Don't be above your daydream, our visions will be softened by maturity
Even if your dreams have lost their way
But I'll keep singing, stretch you a bridge
That's why we need silence in order of ring..."
At that moment—
In Eden's song and Elias' music, the countless thoughts of the crowd gathered into a single will. Together, they lit a fire in every heart—the fire of resistance!
All over the world, countless people watching the broadcast clenched their fists.
"Humanity will definitely defeat the Honkai!"
"We won't lose! We will survive!"
"I want to join Fire Moth too!"
"Fight to protect our world!"
The people's cries rang in the ears of the two on stage. Eden raised her voice into the chorus, pushing every emotion to its peak and etching it forever into their hearts.
Elias lifted his head toward the full moon above, battle spirit burning in his eyes like an unquenchable flame. In that instant, he longed to raise a rebellious sword against the heavens themselves.
And then—just as Eden's song reached its end, it was as if the Honkai itself had felt the will and ideals humanity had gathered.
To destroy this blazing melody.
To shatter this defiant will.
God sent down its own apostle!
BOOM!!!
"Urrrraaaaaahhh—!!"
A woman's cry of agony rang out, accompanied by the roar of blazing flames. In an instant, the legendary concert was broken apart. The searing heat felt as though it would boil the entire dome alive.
Himeko clutched her head.
Just moments ago, she had been moved and shaken by the performance. But suddenly, something terrifying invaded her mind, smothering and overwriting her very thoughts.
A violent new personality seized control of her body. With it came overwhelming power and new authority—the curse to destroy civilization and slaughter humanity was branded deep into her mind.
God's apostle had descended upon her.
And when Himeko opened her eyes once more—
Herrscher of Fire: "Humans… how dare you be so insolent?"
[Alert! Alert! Honkai Eruption detected! Honkai Eruption detected! Seventh Herrscher confirmed! Target location: Sydney Dome, Australia! All personnel prepare for immediate deployment!!]
At that instant, alarms blared across every Fire Moth base. Though they were seasoned in facing the Honkai, the data now being observed filled them with dread.
"It actually spiked to this level?!"
Inside one base, Mei leapt to her feet, staring at the calculations derived from her Honkai energy formulas. Even her absolute rationality couldn't hold steady in that moment.
Prediction: Seventh Herrscher Honkai Energy—18,000 HW! Eruption range: the entire continent of Australia!
She recalled Elias' warning: from the Seventh Herrscher onward, Honkai would undergo a qualitative leap. But this eruption's readings were nearly triple that of the Sixth Herrscher, making her tremble.
Mei's gaze turned toward the direction of Australia beyond the window.
"Elias, Eden, Ely… I'm counting on you!"
...
Inside the Sydney Dome.
Five seconds after Himeko's Herrscher consciousness was born—one second after the Honkai Eruption began—everyone was already on the brink of death, Honkai energy flooding into their bodies.
The fate of everyone across Australia seemed sealed—either turn into the dead or vanish into ash.
Yet this was only the natural reaction to the Herrscher of Fire's awakening.
"No matter how strong your will, what of it? You are so small, so powerless. Humans, you can do nothing. Death is your only end."
Herrscher of Fire—Himeko (not fully awakened).
Because the Herrscher's will had seized her body first, the eruption's Honkai energy had not yet fully merged into her. But the Herrscher Core within her was glowing ever brighter.
As for Aponia's pre-set [Discipline], it had no effect. Naturally so—for the Herrscher of Fire was a new consciousness, not Himeko's own.
Even without reaching her full 18,000 HW form, she already possessed overwhelming strength. She ignored the ordinary humans being eaten away by Honkai energy, their lives seconds from ending.
Her gaze locked directly onto Eden standing on stage.
"Now, I will kill your art."
The Herrscher of Fire walked step by step toward Eden.
She already knew how dangerous this woman was. Eden's voice was a tremendous threat to the Honkai—that song which could bind countless wills together.
Such a thing could not be allowed to exist!
Moreover, while Eden's singing brought hope, if she were slain by the Honkai, it would inevitably bring despair.
Too many in this world treated Eden as their spiritual pillar. To the Previous Era, the importance of this diva was greater than a single city, a nation—even greater than tens of millions of lives.
The Herrscher of Fire tasted the despair radiating from the crowd. She wanted to savor how this elegant diva would look when fear overtook her face in the face of death.
But instead—
"Hehe…"
She did not kneel. She did not fall.
Eden held onto her mic stand, supporting herself.
As a human, she neither bowed nor showed the slightest humility before the Herrscher. She stood proudly on her stage, even wearing a smile.
The Herrscher could not comprehend it.
Her flames could easily burn Eden to ash—yet they could not burn away her will.
"Human, why do you not despair?"
"Despair? My hero is by my side. Why should I despair? Don't you agree, my dear Elias?"
Eden looked straight at the Herrscher without the slightest fear.
Her eyes even carried expectation. And in the next moment, Elias met that expectation.
"Herrscher of Fire, this stage belongs to Eden and me. Get off it."
"What?!"
Before she could react, a white shadow stood in front of Eden. With a single kick, he blasted her down from the stage, embedding her into the floor.
"Overestimating yourself."
After kicking the Herrscher away, Elias quickly caught Eden, who nearly collapsed. Though the diva had remarkable Honkai adaptability, being so close to a Herrscher had left her deeply eroded.
But in the next instant—white flowers bloomed. The Honkai marks on Eden's body faded instantly.
"Elias, I leave the rest to you."
"Alright. I promise you, Eden—this time, no one will die. I won't let death taint your stage."
"Ridiculous! Foolish! Arrogant! The Honkai Eruption cannot be stopped! Everyone here is doomed!"
The Herrscher of Fire clawed herself out of the floor, glaring viciously at Elias. To her, his vow with Eden was laughably pathetic.
The Eruption had already begun, flooding her with Honkai energy.
Its scope covered all of Australia! Everyone on this land was fated to die. Even if Elias struck her down instantly, the Eruption already underway could not be reversed.
Tens of millions—would die!
"Heh, that's not certain."
Elias' lips curled into a confident smile.
"What?!"
Before the Herrscher of Fire's stunned gaze, a white-bladed, black-shafted knight's lance appeared in his hand.
In an instant, she felt the threat of death. Her instincts screamed that she must never be pierced by this weapon.
This was the Sixth Divine Key—Abyss Flower!
Though six Herrschers had already been defeated, Elias had made sure Vill-V forged this weapon first.
All for this very moment!
"I am the Black from the abyss, I am the White descending from the heavens. Born before Creation, existing beyond Oblivion, I shall grant the fountain of life freely to those who thirst."
Elias recited the incantation of Abyss Flower's release.
"The White Flower's Zeroth? No—just that alone won't be enough to save everyone!"
Elysia and the others could hardly stay calm.
They knew Abyss Flower's power. Perhaps with Elias' over-30,000 HW Honkai energy, the Zeroth Output's range could indeed cover all of Australia.
But the weapon itself had no power to heal Honkai erosion. Then, in the next moment, Elysia realized something. Her pupils shrank, and she gasped sharply.
"Elias… don't tell me you're planning—"
Drip… drip… drip…
Blood dripped down the lance gripped in Elias' hands.
"With my blood… to save all… Lilium Sanguineum! Abyss Flower—Zeroth Output!!!"
His face turned pale as countless flowers of creation bloomed, instantly forming a vast sea of blossoms.
But unlike the pure white flowers that had bloomed when he used Zeroth Output before—whether on Dusk Street or with the Herrscher of Rebirth's power—this time the blossoms were crimson.
They were dyed red with his blood.
With the ultra-pure Schariac Holy Blood!
Elias: (Holy Blood has the power to purge Honkai. As long as I activate Abyss Flower's Zeroth Output while infusing it with my Schariac Holy Blood, I can add the effect of cleansing Honkai energy!)
The price was immense.
Not only would it consume two-thirds of Elias' Honkai energy, but it would also drain nearly all of the Schariac Holy Blood within him.
But in that moment, his only thought was—
(Ah… these flowers… they're truly beautiful.)
At the same time, the tens of thousands in the stadium who came into contact with the blood flowers found the Honkai erosion within their bodies halted and rapidly healed.
"Impossible! This is impossible! A mere human—how can your blood restrain the Honkai?! And losing so much blood at once, aren't you afraid of death?!"
The Herrscher of Fire stared in disbelief. The people who were supposed to be doomed—ordinary humans already written off as dead—were now all restored.
But Elias ignored her words. He raised Abyss Flower high overhead, aiming at the sky choked with dark clouds.
"Blood flowers, bloom! This is—the moment of salvation!"
He hurled the Holy-Blood-infused Abyss Flower with all his might. The strike shattered the stormy sky.
Brilliant sunlight poured down upon the land. And within that sacred light, a rain of crimson petals fell, blanketing all of Australia.
On this day, the Herrscher of Fire's Honkai Eruption engulfed the continent. And just as despair was about to claim the lives of all, the crimson rain of flowers descended from the heavens—saving them.
All thirty-five million lives—without a single death!