— — — — — —
Seeing Sirin like this left Kiana and the others with a heavy feeling in their chests. Sirin wasn't born a Herrscher of the Void—she was created by Schicksal.
As a child, she had been injected with massive amounts of Honkai energy by Schicksal's researchers. Because she was compatible, a Herrscher core eventually formed inside her.
Her friends had all died in those experiments. That was why she hated Schicksal, hated humanity itself.
"Ah…" Himeko let out a quiet sigh as she looked at the broken girl before them.
"Sirin!" Kiana reached out her hand. "Will you give me a chance? I want to be your friend." Her eyes were firm, unwavering. She couldn't help thinking—if one day she lost her own friends, would she end up as desperate as Sirin? Maybe even more extreme.
Sirin froze, tears slipping down her face as she stared at Kiana.
"I think you can start over," Kiana said softly. "Give me a chance. Give yourself a chance. See the world again."
"Why? Why treat me this way?" Sirin whispered.
"Can you trust me, just once? It's true—there are bad people in this world. Some would sacrifice anyone for their own gain. But not everyone is like that. Sirin, live. Come with me, and see what the world really is."
Kiana's hand closed around hers.
"This is… unbelievable." Mei looked at Kiana, stunned, then smiled. "But… that's just so like you, Kiana."
"Yeah. That idiot." Himeko's voice was gentle, her eyes soft on Kiana. Foolish as she could be, sometimes her words cut right to the heart.
Back on the battlefield—
"What the hell is that?" The Herrscher of Reason half-kneeled on the ground, staring wide-eyed in disbelief.
"Perfectly normal you haven't seen it before. This is Magisteel," Bronya said flatly.
"Ma…gisteel?" The Herrscher blinked, dumbfounded.
Bronya now wore gleaming knightly armor, radiating a suffocating defense. No matter what the Herrscher of Reason threw at it, she couldn't break through. It was like bashing against an impenetrable turtle shell.
Floating at Bronya's side were constructs forged from a fusion of magic and technology, brimming with destructive energy, waiting to strike.
After learning about the Herrscher's ability, Rimuru had entrusted Bronya with his nation's Magisteel. The cannons were inscribed with runes—anti-magic, armor-piercing, penetrating. Against that, the mech's defenses were meaningless. It was blown apart with ease.
"You've got to be kidding me! Something like this actually exists?" The Herrscher staggered to her feet, determined for one last stand.
"Annihilation Construct." She forced the remaining Honkai energy in her body to gather. A small, blood-red capsule materialized in her hand, radiating danger.
"Want me to explain? This is a Honkai weapon I created using all Herrscher cores as reference. I never intended to use it—it guarantees my death. But right now? Who cares." She crushed it in her fist, eyes blazing with madness.
In an instant, a storm of Honkai energy condensed. Her body shriveled like it was being drained of life.
"Bronya, right? I'll remember you." With that final sentence, the Herrscher of Reason disintegrated into ash.
The released Honkai energy swirled, drawing toward the center. Even zombies and honkai beasts crumbled into raw Honkai energy, feeding the mass. The sense of impending doom weighed heavily on Bronya.
"Bronya-nee! Seele will help you!" A familiar voice called as Seele ran up.
"Seele! Why did you come here? Leave, now!" Bronya's voice wavered. She could not allow Seele to be hurt.
"Bronya-nee, I won't leave." Seele's gaze was steady. "I'll stay with you."
"…Honestly." Warmth bloomed in Bronya's chest, and the crushing tension melted away. "Seele, do you know the coordinates of the Sea Of Quanta?"
"Huh? Why are you asking that?" Seele tilted her head. "I don't, but… the other me might."
"I can make a spatial gate and send this thing into the Sea Of Quanta. If it detonates there, it won't hurt anyone here," Bronya explained. "So please, Seele."
"…Got it." Seele drew a deep breath. Her eyes turned crimson, her hair stained with streaks of blood-red.
It was the other Seele—her dark side, the Stigmata Symbiont. Veliona.
"Looks like Bronya-nee needs help," Veliona teased, a sly smile tugging at her lips. "Well, since it's you asking, I'll oblige."
Bronya sighed. "Still not used to hearing Seele talk like this."
"Are you ready?" Bronya opened a spatial gate using the Herrscher of Reason's power.
"No problem at all," Veliona replied smugly.
She poured her energy into the gate, tearing open a path to the Sea Of Quanta.
Bronya seized the chance. With Project Bunny's assistance, she shoved the annihilation core inside and sealed the portal.
Seconds later, it erupted. The explosion of all Herrscher powers rocked the Sea Of Quanta, shaking it violently before the surge finally calmed.
"Bronya-nee, I just helped a lot. Don't you think I deserve a little reward?" Veliona's voice purred in her ear as she wrapped her arms around Bronya from behind, hot breath brushing against her neck, full of mischievous intent.
"You…" Bronya sighed helplessly.
.
.
.