Golden Courtyard / Elysian Realm
"How long... was I asleep?"
The moment consciousness returned, the first sensations that reached him were familiar softness and a faint, sweet fragrance. His whole body ached, every small movement sent sparks of pain through him, and even twitching a finger was difficult—
Yet somehow, he felt lighter than ever before.
As if the weight of the entire world had finally been lifted from his shoulders.
"Ely...?"
Elias opened his eyes, and as naturally as breathing, the first thing he saw was the pink-haired girl beside him. Just like countless mornings before, she was the first sight that greeted him upon waking.
Only now did he realize his situation—he was lying on a luxurious, soft bed in the Golden Courtyard, wrapped in the embrace of the girl he loved most: Elysia.
"Hi~ Eli, you're finally awake," Elysia greeted with a smile.
"Mm... Ely. What about Finality? The Herrscher of Finality—how is she?" Elias asked immediately, his tone filled with concern.
"Relax, relax. Finality's still out cold in orbit. You knocked her out for five whole days. But today's the fourth, so you've already slept three and a half."
Elysia quickly explained the situation, though even as she spoke, she continued to hold him tightly—as if unwilling to let go for even a second.
"Everyone's been evacuated into the bubble world. Not a single person died, Eli. You saved the world—again."
"Is that so? That's... good." Elias smiled faintly, then noticed how tightly Elysia was hugging him. "Though... you're holding me awfully tight, Ely. What's the occasion?"
He reached out to touch her cheek. Though he asked, he didn't really mind—after all, the soft, warm embrace of Miss Pink Elf was something he'd never refuse.
"Because my dearest Eli looks so cute right now~ Ah, it really reminds me of the past," Elysia said playfully, blinking as she smiled down at him.
Because of his excessive use of Shesha's resurrection ability, Elias's physical form had regressed into that of an eight-year-old boy. Seeing this version of him—the very image of the child she had once met long ago—Elysia felt both nostalgic and utterly smitten.
"I'm honestly jealous of my past self," she teased, rubbing her cheek against his affectionately. "That little Elysia got to have such an adorable Eli all to herself."
"My dear Ely," Elias said with mock suspicion, "you didn't happen to do anything improper to me while I was asleep, did you?"
"Eh—n-no! Of course not! I swear on... on Aha's possible future existence that I did nothing bad!"
Elysia froze instantly, her guilty tone not helping her case in the slightest.
"..."
Elias raised a brow and glanced at the nearby mirror. On his face and neck were several faint red lip marks. For a brief moment, he felt a pang of regret—wishing he'd woken up just a bit earlier.
"Eli, I can explain! I mean—uh, I can defend myself—no, wait—"
"Alright, alright. It's fine, Ely. Honestly, even if you had done something improper, I'd probably just be happy about it... ow—ow ow ow!"
The moment he tried to sit up, pain flared throughout his body.
Elias assessed his condition.
He was, in short, utterly wrecked.
There wasn't a single undamaged part of his body. His Honkai energy reserves were still completely drained. Right now, he probably couldn't even defeat a lone Judgment-level Honkai Beast.
He instinctively tried to invoke the Herrscher of Death's authority to repair his injuries—but found that all his Herrscher Cores were cracked, with several shattered entirely.
"Looks like recovery's going to take a while..." he muttered with a sigh.
Still, it wasn't all bad news. Though his Cores were broken, Elias noticed that the powers they once contained were slowly merging with his own being.
In other words, he was inching closer to the state of the Herrscher of Finality herself—where authority and self were one and the same.
If this fusion ever completed, then even without Cores, Elias would be able to wield all Herrscher powers as his own.
As for why such a change was happening—
Elias figured it was probably because he had overused his Cores—or perhaps because, though only for a short time, he had truly wielded the power of Finality and been bathed in the divine blood of the Herrscher of Finality.
In short, he had been partially assimilated by Finality itself.
"Well, whatever—small details can wait~"
Ignoring the stinging pain, Elias stretched with a satisfying pop, his body crackling like tiny fireworks. He then patted his stomach and groaned.
"The most important thing right now is... I'm starving! I feel like I could eat ten plump pink fairies in one sitting!"
"What kind of weird comparison is that, Eli?! The 'plump' part was totally unnecessary! But if you're that hungry, I'll take you somewhere you can eat to your heart's content," Elysia said, amused.
"Oh? Then hurry and take me there—otherwise, I might just have to eat you instead." Elias leaned closer and gave her elven ear a playful nibble.
"Uwah! Eli, doing that while looking like a little boy is so wrong—it feels kind of dangerous... and... kind of exciting? Wait—hold on!" Elysia's eyes sparkled mischievously. "Right now, Eli's so weak... isn't this my chance to get even?"
Her eyes gleamed as she wiped the corner of her mouth. Thinking back to the countless nights she had been overpowered by the white-haired boy in all sorts of ways, she realized this was finally her chance to turn the tables.
"Our roles as hunter and prey have finally reversed. Today marks Miss Pink Elf's grand counterattack!"
"Ely, I should warn you—if you lay a hand on me now, you'll be getting a pair of shiny silver bracelets. Still want to try?" Elias crossed his arms, smirking.
"I think it's worth it. If it's you, Eli—three years in jail would be a bargain. Death penalty? Totally worth it!" Elysia declared with absolute seriousness.
"Uh... what."
Elias froze. He realized he had completely underestimated just how dangerously charming he'd become in her eyes.
He glanced at the mirror again.
A white-haired, golden-eyed boy stared back—adorable to an impossible degree. He looked like a smaller version of his ELF counterpart, Hero Elias, only far more perfect. Even he had to admit inwardly: Damn, I'm cute.
And as Miss Pink Elf teetered on the edge of losing all rational thought—ready to commit crimes against heavenly beings—Elias decided to sacrifice a bit of dignity to save them both.
"Ahem! Ely—Ely sister, I'm so hungry... if you don't take me to eat soon, I might just... starve to death..."
"Guhah!! T-That's unfair!!"
The attack hit straight through her defenses.
Elysia gasped sharply, clutching her chest as she fell back dramatically. The cuteness assault from the now-childlike Elias had a destructive power surpassing even the divine judgment of Finality!
A mere pink elf could never withstand such force!
Elias cupped her cheeks gently, his small, soft hands stroking her pink hair. His bright, radiant smile was pure sunlight.
"Ely-nee, what exactly were you planning to do to me just now?"
"Ugh! I'm sorry! I confess! Eli, forgive me—no, wait, don't forgive me! Elysia, you wretched sinner, how could you even think of defiling an angel?! I'll turn myself in to Fire Moth right now!!"
Miss Pink Elf's mental health bar was fully depleted. Looking at the boy's pure, divine smile, she could practically hear the gates of the White Church ringing in her mind.
She truly felt that if she laid a hand on Elias now, she'd become an irredeemable sinner.
"It's okay," Elias said with a mischievous grin. "I told you earlier—if it's you, Ely-nee, I wouldn't mind you doing bad things to me."
The little angel's smirk turned devilish. He hooked a finger under Elysia's chin and gave her elven ear a teasing pinch.
"E-Eli, pause—hang on—I need a minute. My heart can't handle this. It's—it's going to burst!"
"Oh? Then... can you give me that heart before it breaks? I'll trade you mine instead. How about that?"
"...It's yours!!"
Elysia practically ascended on the spot. Compared to this, Kevin's succubus mode was nothing. Her Eli didn't need any of those flashy gimmicks—he was naturally lethal!
It's just a heart, right? Fine—take it!
Elysia buried her face against Elias's chest, nuzzling him as she took slow, deep breaths. She told herself she wasn't into little boys—she simply loved a boy who happened to have turned into one.
"Hehehe~ Eli~ my sweet Eli~ I love you so much. I couldn't live without you~"
"Don't say impossible things like that. We'll always be together. But, my dear Ely, if you don't take me to eat soon, I swear I'll starve to death right here! Ah—!"
Feeling the emptiness in his stomach, Elias inhaled two deep breaths of nonexistent air, then bit down lightly on Elysia's elven ear again—this time not as a tease, but out of genuine hunger.
Though, to his own surprise—
He realized the thing he craved most right now was... noodles.
Elias: (Oh no! I've caught Kevin's noodle addiction! I'm turning into a noodle maniac!)
Elysia: "Got it! We're going right now! Hold on, Eli—if you really can't last any longer, then... just eat me instead!"
Elias rolled his eyes. There was no way he could ever bring himself to do that.
...
After changing into fresh clothes, the two headed toward the Fire Moth headquarters—Elysia carrying the still-weak Elias in her arms.
Along the way, Elias looked out at the world.
The streets that were once filled with life—now empty and silent. Not a car, not a person. The city lay still, eerily calm, as if the end of the world had already come and humanity had truly vanished.
But...
Elias knew it was only an illusion.
Everyone was still alive.
Civilization had not been destroyed.
Everything now resided safely within the bubble world he had created.
"They're all there, right?" Elias asked instinctively, wanting to confirm it again.
"Mhm. Everyone except for those at headquarters doing final tasks has been relocated into the bubble world," Elysia replied gently.
"And thanks to you buying us five extra days, even the supplies that couldn't be moved before have all been transferred safely. You won't find a single grain of rice left in any supermarket now."
"I see... that's good."
Elias nodded. Though the bubble world had abundant resources, developing them would take time. And once the Herrscher of Finality awakened tomorrow to reset the era, everything from the Previous Era—except for a few Fire Moth bases like The Deep protected by special measures—would vanish from Earth.
If they hadn't evacuated everything now, it would've been too late.
Although he couldn't yet enter the bubble world himself—his Dea Anchora armor destroyed, Holy Blade Durandal silent, his body weak—he decided he would visit it soon.
Before long, they arrived at the Fire Moth base.
The moment Elias stepped through the doors, he heard Eden's singing, smelled the aroma of food, and caught the sounds of cheers and laughter.
"Uh... this is the 'necessary work' everyone stayed for?" he asked dryly.
"Mhm~ after surviving the final battle, of course we had to throw a victory feast! Actually, this is already the third day—but it seems everyone's planning to keep celebrating until Finality wakes up again."
"Heh... sounds like a good plan."
Elias couldn't help but feel he'd missed out by sleeping for three whole days.
When he and Elysia entered the grand hall of the celebration, the entire room fell silent for a heartbeat—then erupted into thunderous cheers loud enough to wake the Herrscher of Finality from orbit.
"Woohoo! Elias is awake!!"
Vill-V instantly summoned her mechanical turrets, activating automatic confetti cannon mode. With booming celebration shots, colorful ribbons rained down upon Elias and Elysia.
"Boss Elias! You're alive! Thank goodness!" Pardo, who had been happily devouring food moments ago, leapt into his arms—tears of joy sparkling in her catlike eyes.
"How do you feel, Elias? Hungry? I'll grab you something right now!" Sakura, living up to her [Setsuna] Signet, dashed off and returned within seconds carrying a pile of food.
Everyone surrounded him—their joy, relief, admiration, and affection pouring into his heart all at once.
"Don't worry, everyone. It'll take a bit of time for me to recover completely, but there's no way I'd miss the celebration. Let's party until the very last moment!"
"Yeah—!!" ×N
Everyone raised their glasses high, the sound of clinking echoing through the hall.
This was Fire Moth's final victory banquet. Those present were, of course, the Flame-Chasers, as well as the staff who had stayed in the command center during the battle against Finality.
In the past, Fire Moth always held a celebration after defeating a Herrscher—but most of those events had felt more like high-society galas than actual parties.
This one, however, was different. Every person here was simply rejoicing, basking in victory, releasing all the emotions they had suppressed for so long.
Eden was singing passionately, her voice clear and warm. Sakura and Rin chatted happily nearby. Mobius, utterly drunk, was dancing with a wine bottle in hand. Even Hua, usually reserved, had loosened up—her face flushed red from too much alcohol.
Not far away, Kevin was slurping noodles—three bowls at once. Su was tending to a baby, mixing formula for little Adam Kaslana. Kalpas had even removed his mask and pushed an entire food cart in front of Elias.
"This... feels really nice," Elias said softly, eyes glimmering. The warmth and laughter filling the air made his heart swell.
"Brother Elias, are you going to stay like this forever?"
Griseo ran over barefoot, eyes shining with curiosity. Of all the Flame-Chasers, she and Elias matched the most right now—one small boy, one little girl.
"Well, probably not," Elias replied, shaking his head. Once his Herrscher of Death authority recovered, he'd be able to restore his body.
"Aww..." Griseo pouted, visibly disappointed.
She had been secretly hoping she and Brother Elias could grow up together like this.
...
After eating to his heart's content at the banquet—
"Eli, there's only a day and a half left. Let's make the most of it! We should do everything we want before it's over!" Elysia said with a mischievous smile.
"Yeah, you're right!" Elias nodded firmly. There were a lot of things he wanted to do—enough that a day and a half might not be enough. He'd have to make every second count.
And the first thing he wanted to do was—
Elias: "In short... time to settle a score!"
Elysia: "Oh~ I see where this is going!"
Half an hour later, the two stepped through the star gate, returning once more to the Moon. Elysia carried Elias toward the still motionless Herrscher of Finality.
The goddess's divine body still burned faintly with golden fire, and atop her head was a large swelling bump—the aftermath of Elias's mighty blow with the Judgment of Shamash: Finality An-Utu.
Even Elysia winced just looking at it. It was unbelievable—though the wound from Elias's saving strike had already nearly healed, the bump on her head remained completely untouched.
Elias folded his arms and smirked. "You killed me so many times, and you think one sword swing evens the score? Herrscher of Finality... I hope you're ready to repent."