Two consciousnesses existing in one body is a horror story, and it is the same even for a Herrscher.
Even the slightly duller Kevin could tell that the Sixth Herrscher's state was not an act. Lin had successfully infiltrated the Sixth Herrscher's Herrscher Core in the seam.
"Lin!" Kevin shouted loudly at the Sixth Herrscher.
"I am not that fool!" The Sixth Herrscher snarled, her veins bulging like a demon's as she shouted at Kevin, "I am… I am…"
Who am I?
She suddenly realized something.
Before Lin exposed her, she was the unconscious Seele, but after that, she was no one.
Even that despicable pest, whose body and memory belonged to someone else, had the name "Lin." Yet she only had a codename given to her by humans?
"I am the Herrscher of Death!" The Sixth Herrscher crushed the vine in her hand. Her crimson eyes flickered unstably. "I am no one! I am neither Seele nor Lin!"
Lin's consciousness was ultimately the weaker party. Even in her weakened state, her control over the Authority was not something a human could compare to. He could only interfere with the use of the Authority; he couldn't freely use the body, nor could he transmit information to the outside world.
That brief second of appearance earlier was his last chance. Now, she could feel Lin's interference weakening. After all, he had been worn down for too long in the seam. No matter how strong his willpower was, it was insufficient to directly confront her and compete for the Authority.
But in her memory, this guy had no other virtues except for tenaciously clinging to his enemy. He either defeated the enemy or died trying, completely disregarding his own life.
She could either deal with Kevin and Elysia now, or deal with Lin first. She leaned toward eliminating Lin first. Otherwise, enduring Lin's sudden, treacherous strikes while facing attacks from Kevin and the others with incomplete Authority would raise the chance of an accidental defeat by over fifty percent.
Wait, she could use Lin's presence in her body to make Kevin and Elysia stop. At that moment…
"Elysia, what should we do now?"
Kevin met the Sixth Herrscher's gaze. He clearly knew that the person standing there was undoubtedly the Sixth Herrscher. That fierce, fiery, and slightly contemptuous look definitely belonged to the Herrscher, not Lin.
But in that brief, shocking glance earlier, he saw Lin's utterly familiar demeanor. Even in its indifference, it wasn't the Herrscher's extremely cold, inhuman apathy. Lin's unique composure had already been conveyed to his heart through that single look.
"…" Elysia snapped out of her lengthy contemplation upon hearing Kevin's words. She certainly knew that Lin was now inside the Sixth Herrscher's Herrscher Core. This unprecedented situation was something even she didn't know how to handle.
But one thing was clear to her.
"Attack, Kevin."
"…"
Kevin showed no surprise or resistance this time.
Even though he had just lost Lin only a short while ago.
Years ago, in the ruins of the Fifth Branch, Mei stood behind him. Spaciel's heart-wrenching wails, and his own trembling hand holding the gun.
Mei had said the exact same words to him.
"Attack, Kevin."
He and Elysia needed no verbal communication at this moment.
Lin's intentions and actions were already conveyed to them when he used his final opportunity to damage the Sixth Herrscher's body.
Because this was… what Lin wanted.
"Boom!"
Just as the Sixth Herrscher was planning how to deceive Kevin and Elysia, a soul-piercing gunshot erupted from Kevin's gun. Having learned her lesson, the Sixth Herrscher reacted in time and dodged, looking at the expressionless Kevin with shock and uncertainty.
In this moment of distraction, Lin's consciousness once again frantically seized control of the Authority, forcing her to focus entirely on battling Lin.
This provided a golden opportunity for Kevin and Elysia. The distracted Sixth Herrscher couldn't deploy her Authority as she wished, leading to more unhealing wounds on her body.
Out of necessity, she could only activate the Phase Transfer device, retreating into the seam.
…
"Boom!"
The Sixth Herrscher glared fiercely at Lin, who was standing in the darkness. His figure was the only thing emitting a faint light in this space devoid of objects and illumination, like a silhouette against the sun, incredibly dazzling.
"You damned cripple! Why won't you just die properly!"
Lin stared coldly at the Sixth Herrscher, who was not far from him. Even though the darkness was constantly eroding him, he stood firm like a leaf in a storm, that layer of light defending him against the darkness's encroachment.
"You're dead, yet you still come to obstruct me? You worthless nothing! Do you intend to let your consciousness be completely worn away for the sake of these humans who used you as a tool!"
"…" Lin's eyes and mouth moved slightly.
The Sixth Herrscher's expression froze, because she thought she saw the emotionless man show a look of… contempt.
Unlike the contempt she used to break the enemy's mental defenses, he seemed to be genuinely smiling at her with contempt.
The person who had always been emotionless, without expression, and even without vocal inflection… was actually mocking her?
"Everything about me does not belong to me. I can't find any part that belongs to 'Lin' in that body." Lin still showed no change in expression, and his voice was the same, suggesting it was only an illusion.
"But this heart is 'Lin.' This light is the proof of my humanity."
The light gathered around Lin, emitting tiny sparks of light particles.
The Sixth Herrscher heard laughter, all kinds of laughter, emanating from those light particles, as if countless people were within them.
"It is the light coalesced from countless predecessors who could not leave their names. It can never appear in the light but will eternally reside in the endless night."
"It may not illuminate this darkness, but it will surely guide the way forward for those who come after when they need it."
Lin opened his hand. The light particles gathered in his hand, forming a broad sword.
Such a dim blade, incapable of cutting anything.
But it was the only existence that the darkness could not devour. It existed only in Lin's hand, protecting him as he stood firm in the darkness.
"I don't need to be anyone. I am simply a human, a nameless one. That is enough."
Lin pointed the tip of the sword at the Sixth Herrscher's completely broken face.
"And you are truly the one who is nothing."
"Neither Seele nor a Herrscher."
"You have no name, and you will not be remembered."