Within the Elysium Everlasting.
"Ely, you built the castle this quickly?"
"Mm, because it was your good suggestion, Eli."
Inside a platinum-colored castle that looked both fairytale-like and sacredly luxurious, Elias curiously surveyed everything around him. He hadn't expected Elysia to move this fast.
In these three days, the aquarium, the cinema, and now even the castle had all been completed.
If there were a third person present, they would surely marvel, wondering whether they had stepped into a dream world.
And if they saw Elias and Elysia, they would certainly sigh that the two looked like angels who truly belonged in this dreamlike castle.
In this secluded paradise of the Elysium Everlasting, the two of them seemed destined to accompany each other until the end of time, spending ages longer than eternity itself.
However...
(Ahh, I really don't want to fall asleep...)
Elias gazed longingly at everything within the castle.
Tomorrow would be the final day.
The last day of this era—and his last day as well. Once tomorrow passed, this journey would come to its end. How could he possibly bring himself to sleep tonight?
Elias's hands slowly clenched, his eyes lingering on Elysia beside him. He knew that tomorrow he would have to take that final step—to bring this long journey through the Previous Era to a perfect close—with the most perfect ring.
"Eli, I really don't want tomorrow to come. I wish today could last forever," Elysia said softly.
"Mm, I feel the same way."
"But time always moves forward, and so must we. Even if we rest for a while when tired... tomorrow, the curtain will fall."
"I know. I... am ready."
Elias pulled Elysia into his arms.
In that moment, he had already made the resolve that required even more courage than stepping onto the battlefield against Finality itself.
His body trembled faintly—not from fear, but from nervousness, anticipation, and excitement.
"Then~ I'll go deliver the invitations to everyone, okay? Eli, you should rest for now." Elysia said, taking out fifteen invitations she had prepared beforehand.
They were addressed to everyone—including Prometheus and Misteln—inviting them all to the Elysium Everlasting to witness their final moment together.
Incidentally, each invitation was handmade by Elysia herself. The sizes, patterns, and colors were all different, showing just how much thought Miss Pink Elf had put into them.
"Then I'll come with you," Elias said.
"Nope~ Eli needs to rest early. You're still injured, remember? And you know, sleeping early and waking early helps you grow fast. You don't want to greet tomorrow still looking like a little kid, do you?" Elysia shook her head gently.
Without waiting for his reply, she waved and dashed out of the castle with the fifteen invitations in hand.
"Don't worry, I'll be back soon!"
"Alright then..."
Elias nodded blankly. For some reason, a strange feeling welled up in his heart as he watched Elysia's figure disappear into the distance.
It felt... like he might never see her again.
Elias quickly shook his head. He knew that was impossible.
"Ely's right. I should rest early. I should be fine by tomorrow. But before that... I need to pick what I'll wear tomorrow—it has to be the best one."
And so, amidst nervousness, anticipation, unease, and yearning, Elias finally closed his eyes.
Meanwhile, at the Fire Moth base—
"Everyone, this is my truth. Tomorrow... please come witness our ending."
Elysia revealed everything about herself. Everyone was instantly struck with grief and disbelief.
"Elysia... so that's who you really are? Does Elias know about this...?"
"I'll reveal everything tomorrow."
"...How could this be? It's too cruel—for both you and him. You two finally came this far..."
"Yes... fate can be cruel, but I have no regrets about this decision. After tomorrow, I'll remain by his side forever—just in another form."
In her mind, Elysia pictured Elias's face, and her eyes instantly softened with affection.
"Eli has worked so hard. He deserves a reward—and I am that reward. I'll make sure his future continues to shine, no matter the price I must pay."
"So... please, everyone, come witness the ending of our story, alright?"
What an earnest yet cunning girl she was. Everyone couldn't help but feel moved, thinking that the young woman before them was as flawless and beautiful as the [Ego] Signet she bore.
"We understand. We'll all be there tomorrow."
"Mm, thank you, everyone."
After handing out all the invitations, Elysia immediately returned to the Elysium Everlasting. To her, every second now was worth more than gold.
As she gazed at the sleeping white-haired boy, her pink eyes shimmered with love and reluctance—but more than anything, with determination.
...
When the next day arrived—
"Good, I've recovered a little of my power."
Elias looked at his reflection in the mirror.
He had returned to his original appearance. Though the Herrscher of Rebirth's Core was still fractured, he could still use a portion of his powers, enough to restore his body.
He now wore the most exquisite outfit designed for him by Eden—a white suit trimmed with gold, with a flowing cape engraved with runes of Deliverance.
He looked like an angelic prince descended from a holy paradise. Such perfection could make any woman fall in love at first sight—but that wasn't what Elias wanted.
He only wished to show his most beautiful self to the girl he loved most. That alone was enough.
"Has Ely already gone ahead? Honestly... I wanted to prepare first and wait for her. But Misteln held me up in the dream world. Still, I guess I'll forgive her, since she's so cute."
After checking himself one last time, Elias nodded in satisfaction and picked up the card lying on the table.
It was a message from Elysia, inviting him to a banquet in the castle's grand hall.
"So Ely wants to host today, huh."
He brushed his fingers across the card, gently tracing the lifelike portrait of Miss Pink Elf drawn upon it, then pushed open the door and headed toward the hall.
...
The Everlasting Castle truly lived up to Elysia's design—every corner radiated delicate elegance and charm, just like the fairyland Miss Pink Elf always spoke of.
Elias wanted to stop and spend an entire day admiring every detail, but he knew that the radiant girl—beautiful as a dancing petal—was waiting for him.
So he quickened his pace toward the hall.
And the moment he opened the grand doors—
"Hi~ You're finally here, Eli!"
"Yeah, I'm here, Ely."
In the dazzling hall decorated with colorful balloons and ribbons, all fifteen Flame-Chasers had gathered.
Kevin and the others were dressed in well-fitted suits or elegant dresses. Though every one of them was strikingly attractive, Elias's eyes were drawn only to Elysia.
The pink-haired girl wore a gown that blended elements of crystal, magic, and nature. White fabric trimmed with gold, elegant yet pure. Small winged bells floated behind her like flower sprites—one holding a strand of her long hair, another adjusting her bridal veil. Crystal leg bands and anklets shimmered above her delicate white high heels.
Beautiful, flawless, perfect, pure, adorable—every word that represented beauty could be used to describe her. Just looking at her made one feel blissful.
Elias's heart was stolen in an instant.
"Ely... you're so beautiful."
He felt his tongue had turned clumsy.
He wanted to say more—to praise her with every word he knew—but no matter how many beautiful phrases he could think of, none could capture even a fraction of the girl's radiance before him.
And then he noticed—what Elysia was wearing was no ordinary dress, but a divine gown.
The pink-haired elf was now radiating Herrscher-level Honkai energy, and that elegant gown adorning her figure was the sacred attire that only a Herrscher could possess.
"So, my Ely is actually a Herrscher."
Elias looked at her in surprise, but his eyes remained filled with tenderness and love. Not only did his affection not waver—it grew stronger by the second.
"I'm so glad... that you still love me like this."
Elysia sighed in relief. Her heart, once tightly wound, loosened slightly. Though she had always known that even if she were a Herrscher, the white-haired boy before her would never hate her—
Even the slightest lessening of his affection would've broken her heart.
But there was no need for words. The look in his eyes—filled with compassion, delight, and a love so deep it could melt her entirely—said everything.
"Thank you, Eli. And thank you, everyone, for coming to our celebration. Now, let us spend the remaining moments before the awakening of Finality together."
Elysia snapped her fingers. Instantly, a gentle melody filled the air as she gracefully floated up, wings of light fluttering behind her.
"Now then—may I have this dance, my dearest, dearest, dearest Eli?"
"Of course. It would be my greatest happiness, Ely."
Elias took her hand without hesitation.
Their steps did not touch the ground. Instead, they danced upon the air itself. The white-haired boy and the pink-haired girl twirled together above the floor, moving in perfect harmony with the music.
The Flame-Chasers all stood entranced.
It felt as though they were witnessing a pair of angels dancing in the sky—so graceful, so in sync, so divine that it made their hearts ache with longing. Elias and Elysia themselves seemed to embody the essence of beauty.
"So this is your secret, Ely? You're a Herrscher... one born with humanity, who fights for humankind."
"Mm. In fact, I'm the very first Herrscher ever born into this world. From the moment I met you—from the very beginning of our story—I was already a Herrscher."
Elias and Elysia gazed deeply into each other's eyes.
They needed no rehearsed movements; though it was their first time dancing such a miraculous aerial waltz, every step they took was flawlessly in tune.
"I was actually nervous, you know. I kept thinking—if my being a Herrscher made you love me even a little less, I'd probably cry right here."
"How could I, Ely? No matter what you are, you're perfect. To me, whether human or Herrscher makes no difference. The one who captured my heart has always been the same girl—Elysia."
"Ah, that's unfair, Eli. You always say things like that... words that make my heart flutter without even trying."
"But it's the truth. I love you, Ely."
"Mm~ And I love you too, Elias."
Elias wrapped his arm around Elysia's waist; her hand rested upon his chest. Neither could restrain the swell of love in their hearts any longer—they shared a kiss, gentle yet burning with passion.
Their bodies felt hot, their hearts racing out of control.
Their cheeks flushed red, shimmering tears of happiness threatening to spill from the corners of their eyes.
As the music rose to its climax, their love seemed to reach its own.
Elias and Elysia slowly descended from the air.
This was the perfect moment.
Even Elias could no longer contain his emotions. He felt as if his blood and very soul were set ablaze.
Lifting his hand, he opened the Imaginary Space and retrieved a small ring box he had prepared long ago—ready to present it to the girl before him.
However...
Just as Elias knelt down, ready to do as he had imagined countless times before—to place the ring upon her finger—
"Sorry, Eli, but... I've already got it."
"What?"
Elysia slipped off her white lace glove, revealing that the ring was already on her left ring finger. Elias instantly recognized it—it was the same ring he had prepared.
When he opened the box in his hand, it was indeed empty.
"Sorry, Eli... I couldn't resist."
Elysia said apologetically, nuzzling her cheek against the white-haired boy's hand in a gesture of playfulness and affection.
Elias looked at her helplessly, his emotions a complex swirl. He didn't even know what to say. His mischievous pink elf never played by the rules.
She had already placed the ring on her left ring finger—a silent way of saying "I do."
Though there was never any doubt about her answer, Elias still felt an immense wave of relief.
He cherished her so deeply that even the tiniest chance—one in billions—that she might refuse had filled him with anxiety.
However...
"Ely, I was actually looking forward to savoring that nervousness for a while longer," Elias said with a bittersweet smile.
As for how Elysia had managed to retrieve the ring hidden within the Imaginary Space, Elias realized the answer almost immediately. He had lent her the Herrscher of the Void's Core several times before—plenty of opportunities.
"I'm sorry, Eli. I wanted so badly to let you be the one to put it on me, to ask me that question yourself. I wanted to hear you say it. But... I can't."
"Ely?"
Elias froze. Before he could process what she meant, Elysia stepped back.
"Eli, do you know what my power is?"
"I don't... but I'm sure it's something beautiful—something that suits you perfectly," Elias said confidently.
"Mm. I'm the first Herrscher ever to descend upon the world—the Herrscher of Origin. My authority... is to grant wishes."
Elysia's form began to change. Her veil and the wings on her back became translucent like silk membranes. Blossoms bloomed and intertwined behind her, forming a fin-like tail that shimmered with starlight.
A golden staff adorned with pink crystal appeared in her hand. At that moment, the elf girl looked divine—more radiant, even, than the Herrscher of Finality herself.
"As long as I make a wish, Honkai will grant it. I can make flowers bloom, bring rain or sunlight, preserve beauty forever... even restore the humanity of Herrschers."
"...!!!"
Elias's heart skipped a beat. He stared at her in shock—never expecting that she was the answer he had been searching for all along: the one who could free Herrschers from the shackles of Honkai.
"So leave it to me, Eli. I'll make the wish—to free every Herrscher from Honkai's control, to let them regain their humanity, to give them the freedom to choose their future... and the chance to fight for beauty, just like us."
"What's the price? Tell me, Ely."
Elias's hands clenched tightly, his voice trembling.
"..."
Elysia said nothing, gazing at him with gentle eyes.
But that silence was already enough of an answer.
"It's alright, Eli. I've... already made my peace."
Then, just as Elysia raised her staff—ready to make the wish that would free all Herrschers from their bondage—
"I won't allow it!!"
Elias moved first.
Six white wings unfurled behind him, and a crown-shaped pair of horns appeared above his head. Though his body was still recovering and he could only manifest a fraction of his [Reverse God] power, it was enough.
"E-Elias!!"
Before Elysia could react, Elias closed the distance between them in an instant. Forcing the barely recovered authority of the Herrscher of the Void into motion, he thrust his right hand into the chest of the Herrscher of Origin.
"Ely... this wish—I'll be the one to make it."