Anti-Entropy Base
Conference Room
"—So you're telling me that Mei has already become a true Herrscher, and even joined an organization called World Serpent?"
Himeko leaned back in her seat, disbelief written all over her face.
Of all people, she never expected Mei—calm, gentle, always rational—to take that path.
If only I'd been there…
Maybe I could've stopped her. Maybe I could've talked to her…
The thought weighed heavily on her chest.
When Theresa had left Schicksal to go after Kiana, Himeko happened to be handling other matters and couldn't go with her—and she had missed everything.
And Himeko hated that.
She should have been there for her students.
Fortunately, Otto had not caused trouble for her when she departed. He had simply let her go, allowing her to join Anti-Entropy without incident.
Theresa nodded.
"Yes. What happened to Kiana hit her far too hard. Mei wants strength—enough strength to protect Kiana.
But even so… her decision was still far too reckless."
Theresa sighed. She didn't understand Mei's choice either.
But what had happened had already happened. All they could do now was accept it.
As long as Mei was alive—there was still hope.
Still a chance to bring her back home, back to the people she cared for most.
Cecilia…
Theresa's eyes dimmed for a moment. That familiar figure in her memory resurfaced.
Himeko exhaled.
"That girl… sincerely… haah.
Anyway—what about Fu Hua? What happened to her?"
If Mei's situation was painful, then Fu Hua's transformation was something Himeko simply could not wrap her head around.
The Fu Hua she knew—disciplined, calm, reserved, burdened by centuries of responsibility—
had all but vanished.
Now, this "Fu Hua" was a carefree, excitable girl who fought like a force of nature, talked like a delinquent, and even teased Kevin like an old friend.
Everything about her was wrong.
Theresa replied:
"Based on all scans and tests, she is Fu Hua…
But at the same time, she's also the Eighth Herrscher.
Whether she's a Herrscher who carries Fu Hua's memories, or Fu Hua who somehow awakened Herrscher powers…
We still don't know.
The only thing we can confirm is that she bears no hostility toward us."
Theresa sighed again.
Herrschers, in general, fit into two categories:
Those like Mei—who retained their consciousness and controlled their power.
Or those like Sirin—who became avatars of Honkai, driven by hatred and destruction.
But Fu Hua was neither.
Her personality had dramatically changed, but she didn't hate humans.
She didn't even take Honkai seriously.
She still remembered everything—her past, her long life, and everyone she'd known.
A Herrscher who treated Honkai like background noise, humanity like old acquaintances, and Kevin like an annoying coworker…
Theresa and the scientists had been completely stumped.
Himeko rubbed her forehead.
"So in the end… our academy ended up producing Herrschers."
A helpless laugh escaped her.
She looked around the table at everyone present.
Bronya—Herrscher of Reason.
Mei—Herrscher of Thunder.
Kiana—Herrscher of the Void.
Fu Hua—Herrscher of Sentience.
And if one counted Theresa's former student, Wendy—Herrscher of Wind…
That was five.
Five Herrschers from St. Freya.
If anyone else had said this to her a year ago, she would've laughed in their face.
Now it was simply reality.
Her emotions were all over the place.
But one thing comforted her:
None of them had turned against humanity.
If they had…
Himeko swallowed the thought. She didn't want to imagine it.
Walter Yang folded his arms.
"If Mei has joined World Serpent, then we also need to discuss the Fourth and Second Herrschers.
And… that girl Jiuxiao. She seems to be a Herrscher as well."
He truly had not expected Theresa to return carrying two top-tier Herrschers with her.
If Wendy or Sirin wished it, Anti-Entropy headquarters could be vaporized in moments.
And that wasn't counting the Herrschers already living inside the base.
Bronya.
Fu Hua.
Jiuxiao.
Wendy and Sirin, now temporarily following their group.
That was five, potentially six Herrschers under Anti-Entropy's roof.
Walter had led Anti-Entropy for years, but even he never imagined something so absurd.
Humanity only knew of fourteen Herrschers in total.
But half of them now stood on his territory.
It was insane.
Theresa answered calmly:
"Walter, I understand your concerns.
But right now, we have no means of defeating Wendy or Sirin.
Whether they stay here or elsewhere makes no meaningful difference.
At least if they remain near us… we may have a better chance of guiding them."
Einstein nodded.
"Don't worry too much, Yang. The Fourth Herrscher isn't like the others.
As long as we provide her with ice cream and movies, she's completely docile.
And she's already helped us multiple times."
Walter stared at her.
"…Ice cream.
Movies."
"Yes," Einstein repeated.
Walter took a deep breath.
He knew Einstein wasn't joking.
That made it worse.
"…Fine. If you've both verified it, I'll trust your judgment."
But then he added:
"However, this Jiuxiao girl is suspicious.
She claims to be chosen by a 'god', helped you find Kiana, and her power resembles the Geo Herrscher.
We should investigate her seriously."
Theresa nodded immediately.
"I know. I was already planning to talk to her.
There are so many questions I need answers to."
At that moment—
Jiuxiao froze mid-conversation with Bronya, a faint twitch in her expression.
In her mind, two words suddenly flashed:
Island…? Herrscher…?
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