"Your Majesty, Legion Commander Alex reports that they have temporarily captured one of the leaders of the otherworldly nations..."
"Hm? Captured, temporarily? What does that mean? Is there something special about this prisoner? Such minor matters—Alex could have handled them himself," Selene said lazily, opening her eyes as she reclined on her luxurious chair.
Since observing this new world, Selene had quickly lost interest. Whatever the Gastrea Virus could achieve, the Honkai could achieve as well—and what the virus could not, the Honkai still could.
The manifestations of the Honkai encompassed every possible catastrophe that the Gastrea Virus could bring about—war, plague, climate disaster, meteor impacts, even the descent of colossal divine weapons.
Thus, this world possessed nothing that Selene needed, or even found intriguing. Its value was limited to that of a resource supply and manpower colony.
Leaving the conquest to Alex to carry out independently was the perfect way to temper the Astartes Legion.
"This is Alex's written report, Your Majesty. It also contains a live recording of his conversation with the leader of one of the otherworldly nations—the one they call the Seitenshi."
Seeing that Selene had no objections aside from mild curiosity, Sebas respectfully placed the report beside her on the small table.
"Seitenshi? That title... Where exactly did Alex invade?" Selene turned lazily, a trace of interest flickering in her amethyst eyes.
She couldn't be blamed for her ignorance—apart from the Cursed Children and the Gastrea Virus, Selene knew little about the world of Black Bullet.
And a title like Seitenshi—Holy Emperor, especially with the word 'Holy,' sounded like something used by rulers of the ancient Eastern realms...
"So, where is this Seitenshi now? And why is she only 'temporarily' captured?"
"Your Majesty, she has taken her own life," Sebas replied respectfully. "According to Legion Commander Alex's report, before her death, she requested that Your Majesty show mercy to her people."
"Oh? Suicide? Hm, quite a backbone."
Spreading open Alex's report, Selene began scanning through it swiftly.
"Tch... the Seitenshi of Tokyo, is it? No wonder I didn't recall the name." She continued reading.
"Hmm, not bad. Efficient as always..."
According to Alex's report, within an exceptionally short time, the First Astartes Legion had completely subdued Tokyo, eradicating all resistance. Imperial auxiliary forces had since been deployed to maintain order throughout the city.
Through captured personnel and intelligence gathered from City Hall, Alex had mapped the power structure of the Black Bullet world. Beyond the Japanese archipelago, humanity maintained scattered strongholds across the globe.
Alex had already issued orders to divide his forces—each Company Commander was to lead his own contingent of Astartes and mixed auxiliary troops to secure and expand into designated territories.
Next to the section on operational updates, Selene wrote her approval—'At your discretion.' Then she continued reading.
Recommendations and Observations:
Your Majesty, during the occupation of Tokyo and its surrounding human settlements, we discovered large numbers of abandoned young girls in the districts referred to as the 'Outer Areas.' I humbly suggest that since these children are homeless, and the Imperial Palace is vast, they may be appropriately trained as palace attendants.
As for combat adjustments: the Honkai Energy Strong Nuclear Grenades designed by Your Majesty possess excessive destructive yield. Recommend subdividing them by class—offensive, defensive, and tactical levels.
The vector-jet propulsion backpacks provide immense thrust but consume too much energy, limiting sustained pursuit capacity...
The Astartes Legion still lacks fast deployment transports, both for ground and air insertion, remaining overly reliant on Your Majesty's spatial teleportation ability.
...
Selene nodded slightly, signing off with 'Read' beside the remarks before turning another page.
"Hmm? A live recording of Alex's conversation with the Seitenshi? ...Let's take a look."
She pressed her finger against the purple-red crystal embedded on the file casing. In an instant, a soft glow spread outward like a 3D projection.
Over the ruins of Tokyo City Hall, a frail girl with white hair and pale violet eyes appeared before Selene—standing helplessly before the towering form of a massive Astartes warrior.
"'Accept the rule of the Empire, and you will be worthy to bask in the glory of the Great Emperor. Refuse, and you will die this day. What is your choice?'" The deep, metallic resonance of Alex's voice filled the projection.
"I refuse. How can a sovereign surrender while her subjects still fight and die?"
Her voice was frail, trembling even—but the girl in the recording, despite her fear, spoke with unyielding resolve.
"Oh? That reasoning doesn't seem to hold. Along the way, many of your people have already surrendered, haven't they?"
"That was their choice. I won't stop them—in fact, I bless them. But there are still soldiers and ministers dying to protect me... No matter what, I will not betray their sacrifice."
...
"Very well. You've spirit, I'll give you that. But I've no time to waste with a false queen... Farewell, ruler of another world."
As he spoke, Alex's projection slowly raised his bolter.
"There's no need to dirty your hands, Commander..." The girl's projection suddenly coughed blood, her tone growing faint. "Before meeting you, I had already resolved not to live. I will die alongside my fallen subjects."
"I only wished... cough cough... to see your face once—to ask that you tell your Empress this: though it's a foolish hope... please... treat those... who surrendered... kindly..."
With that, the Seitenshi's small, fragile body collapsed amidst the ruins before the towering Astartes.
Click!
Selene turned off the projection, flicking the report with her finger. "Seitenshi, is it...?" She murmured, her expression unreadable. "Your wish has been heard, by me... I may spare them—but kindness? That much will depend."
"Sebas," she said lightly, "tell Alex that I have received the Seitenshi's final request—and that I consent, partially. To what extent it is fulfilled... I leave to his judgment."
Selene closed the file calmly.
After all, she was the Empress now—what was wrong with speaking in riddles once in a while? From ancient times to now, rulers have always enjoyed veiled words. Why shouldn't she?
In truth, she had approved the suggestion of leniency, though not entirely. The lower boundary had been set; how far it would be interpreted was Alex's problem to solve.
Compared to the great extinction in the Jackie Chan Adventures world, this was indeed merciful.
Still, the Seitenshi's death cooled Selene's pride somewhat. Without strength, one could protect nothing—mercy and ideals meant nothing when powerless.
Rising from her seat, Selene handed the report to Sebas. "Copy it. Send one to Alex as a reply, and another to Dr. Stylish. Tell him to improve and manufacture new equipment based on the needs of the front-line troops."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Creak—
After Sebas exited through the great doors, the Imperial Guards slowly closed the grand and ornate gates of the palace. Selene watched in silence until the doors sealed completely.
"Phew..." She exhaled softly, turning toward the stack of documents on her desk—her latest set of administrative plans. "All state matters have been arranged. Now... it's time to take a look."
"Not long ago, through the astral network connecting Akame ga Kill and the Type-Moon world, Mine participated in a Holy Grail War. Two impressive Lancers... and something about a 'Banquet of Three Kings'..."
Recalling the memories buried deep in her mind, Selene cross-referenced them with the incoming data from the Type-Moon world. "...So it's the Fourth Holy Grail War in Fuyuki City."
Closing her eyes again, Selene directed the consciousness of the Overlord she represented through the lingering remnant of Mine's soul, toward the Type-Moon world. Her will traveled along the stabilized transdimensional network that had grown increasingly firm over time.
This network had been forged using the powerful wish Mine had left at the moment of her death—amplified and redirected by Selene's manipulation. Through her immeasurable mental and physical strength, she had used the Imperial Teigu, Dimensional Formation · Shambhala, to forcibly open a cross-world channel under disguise.
With such a deliberate and concentrated signal, the Type-Moon world soon detected this 'anomaly'—a strong, defiant wish that appeared within its scope.
And thus, the two worlds connected. After all, the Type-Moon world contained countless fictional Heroic Spirits; to its Root, alternate-world civilizations were merely another extension of human history—a supplement, not an intrusion.
"Hm? Is it... tempting me?"
No one knew how long it had been before the presence from the Type-Moon side reacted. Once it detected Selene's existence, waves of information surged into her mind—whispers of a miraculous world where a wish-granting omnipotent machine existed, where endless heroes clashed in eternal battle...
It was like a shady recruiter painting grand promises—Type-Moon was offering every enticement to lure Selene into becoming a Heroic Spirit.
"So eager to extend an olive branch? Was it Mine's performance in the Holy Grail War that drew the Counter Force's attention? Or perhaps after I sent over this world's information, the Type-Moon world wants to 'recruit' me further? Gaia or Alaya, I wonder..."
In the spirit of reciprocity, Selene quickly crafted and transmitted her own modified data in return.
"..." The flood of information entering the Type-Moon system visibly stuttered—almost as if it had frozen.
Selene couldn't blame it. After all, she had deliberately inscribed into Mine's consciousness an idealized version of herself—her power, her empire, her deeds—and now supplemented it with tales of her Astartes warriors and their conquests.
She had painted herself in glorious, almost blinding hues: the pinnacle of all protagonists, the ultimate convergence of divine and human legend—a living synthesis of myth and supremacy.
Even if she openly presented the collective legends of the Akame ga Kill world before the Type-Moon Root, not even it could find fault.
From the perspective of the Type-Moon world, this newly emerging being—bearing the same name as its own lunar goddess—appeared to be nothing short of cosmic perfection: a divine monarch, embodiment of order, the God-Empress who ended the Age of Chaos and unified the realms beneath her dominion.
And now, that Root must be feeling rather awkward. It had hoped to reel in a few minor heroic souls—and instead, it had accidentally hooked Leviathan herself.
"Greetings, Counter Force of the new world," Selene said with feigned politeness. "I am Selene."
"One of my subjects, in her final moments, used a Teigu to escape into your world. I apologize for the intrusion. However, I request that you return her residual concept. I am the Lord of my world—your realm is beyond my rule, but the dominion under my authority must remain flawless."
Her tone perfectly matched the persona she had projected—limitlessly powerful, impossibly proud, cold yet commanding, the wise and cruel Empress who ruled with divine authority.
"..."
Sensing the response from the other side, Selene's expression did not change. "What do you mean, 'it was her wish, and you cannot interfere'? If you refuse... then I shall retrieve it myself."
"..."
"So, you will release her... but only if I participate in this so-called war for an omnipotent wish-granting machine? I must win and make my own wish? What? You also intend to restrict my authority—no descent of my true form? Afraid I'll blow up your solar system?"
At last—the words she had been waiting for. Suppressing the amusement rising in her heart, Selene feigned contemplation for a moment, then slowly nodded. "Hmm... very well. I accept your proposal."
"Then tell me, shall I go there directly? And to what extent may I exercise my destructive power?"
For a long moment, silence reigned. The entity on the other side now understood clearly—Selene was no minor spirit, but a being beyond Grand rank, a world-ending force, a cosmic calamity.
Even within the Type-Moon world, she ranked among the rarest of high-dimensional existences.
Thus, the Type-Moon Root responded carefully, transmitting in greater detail the mechanism of the Holy Grail War—the function of the so-called omnipotent wishing device.
It explained that in the Type-Moon world, magic and magecraft were entirely different concepts.
Magecraft was the use of extraordinary methods to reproduce phenomena within the bounds of the natural world—miracles that merely deceived reality. Its function was limited to what existed within the world and could hold meaning there.
A magus could summon lightning or conjure flame, but could never create something that did not belong to this world.
Moreover, anything achieved by magecraft could eventually be replicated through science.
Magic, however—true Magic—was that which neither technology nor any amount of effort could ever accomplish. It was an act beyond human limitation, beyond reality itself.
For instance, long ago, before humankind mastered fire, the act of producing flame was itself a miracle—a form of Magic. But once fire-making was understood and reproduced by human hands, it became mere magecraft.
"So," Selene said with feigned ignorance, "if my true body does not descend, and I am converted into a Heroic Spirit by your so-called Throne, then the power I wield to shape and bind worlds—the magic you speak of—will be greatly diminished, is that it?"
"..."
"Hmph. It matters not. Even so, I will not lose." Her lips curved into a cold, prideful smile. "Now—receive my legend."
With that, Selene split a fragment of her consciousness and released her mythic radiance—the accumulated legend factor from the Akame ga Kill world. The Type-Moon world, eagerly responding to her invitation, welcomed it.
In a surge of divine resonance, her existence was drawn seamlessly into the records of legend—her name, her empire, her rule, all engraved within the Throne of Heroes.
She had entered at last...