I've already said this isn't a life simulator!

Countless figures emerged from the surrounding shadows.

Without exception, they are all "individuals" of the [Tenth Herrscher].

But it's "us"!

They talked and laughed together.

Want to give it a try, Kevin? Annihilate "us" all of us now, relying on the "Key of God" in your hand.

Want to come? Want to come?

[It's so scary... so hot... so scorching... I want to run away...]

He can't win. We've exhausted a lot of his strength outside, so wiping us out completely is definitely out of the question!

Then we'll take our revenge, kill everyone outside, and those ordinary people won't be able to resist "us."

【Okay, okay! Kill them! Kill them!】

Want to give it a try? Kill "us," but we won't just sit here and wait to die~ We'll run away~ Just like the "Ninth Herrscher" did back then.

We will run away and repay the harm you have caused "us" a thousandfold, ten thousandfold, to those ordinary people, turning your society into a complete mess! Ah... sorry, we forgot that you were already a complete mess.

[Truly worthy of being called "us"!]

…………

Their voices were noisy, mocking, and annoying.

"Kevin, that's enough. Hand over [Heavenly Judgment] to me for now."

Perhaps having recovered from her previous weakness, Mei straightened up slightly and came to stand next to Kevin.

“No… the load on the [Blank Key] is too great, Mei, you absolutely cannot continue using it.”

Kevin swung his sword again, forcing the advancing "individual" back, and retorted... He originally wanted to kill that "individual," but the other "individuals" around it saved it, which was too troublesome, and he had used up too much of his power.

You should have listened to Dr. May, Kevin.

It spoke again, with a smile on its lips, speaking casually.

[Let Dr. Mei use the "Blank Key" to connect to the most destructive "Seventh Herrscher Core," maybe... no, maybe it will kill "us"? It might even burn this building to the ground, so... why not give it a try?]

You should know that if we miss this chance to wipe out "us" in one fell swoop... we might never have another one like it!

Its attitude was relaxed and arrogant, as if it didn't care about their lives.

Of course, given Dr. Mei's current physical condition, if she were to make another connection... hmm... she'd probably be even closer to death.

[And this process will involve being tormented by Honkai. Perhaps in the end, Dr. Mei, this genius scholar on whom humanity has placed so much hope, will be accepted by Honkai and become a "Herrscher" like "us"? Or will she simply be reduced to a monster? I can't wait to find out!]

[Then she'll be hunted down by humans! As the strongest human—Kevin—you'll have to face her with swords! After all, she'll be "Collapsed" then! Just thinking about it is hilarious! Hahahaha...]

"........."

Kevin unconsciously tightened his grip on the sword.

"Alright, Kevin."

Mei said softly.

"On this point, I agree with its view."

"plum……"

"We can't afford to miss this opportunity, and... it's all worth it."

Mei's voice was calm yet firm.

"Everything is for the purpose of eliminating the Honkai."

[Pfft... Hahaha... Don't be ridiculous, Dr. Mei. What do you mean by "eliminating the Honkai"? Look at you! Look at the Flame Chasers! Look at the so-called Fusion Warriors and all those plans you devised! Aren't they all using the power of the Honkai itself?!]

[What do you mean by eliminating the Honkai...? Look at yourself now, look at your lover whom you've turned into "non-human," what's the difference between you and "us"?!]

"You're nervous, Herrscher."

Mei said calmly.

"You're afraid of dying... Obviously, you think I won't continue using the [Key of Blank] anymore. You think I'll cherish my life for the future of humanity and then have concerns, so you can use this to leave and escape, at least a few [individuals] can survive. As long as [individuals] survive, you can still hide in the crowd and continue to destroy the whole society... Unfortunately, there's something wrong with that."

“I don’t think my life is that precious. Everyone has to pay a price to eliminate the Honkai, and I am no exception.”

"Besides, without the present, where is the future..."

It seems the negotiations failed... What a pity.

They seemed somewhat helpless.

[Then... please try to unravel the mystery of "us"...]

tick-

? !

It was the sound of water gently falling.

swoosh-

It's the sound of water evaporating at high temperatures.

For a moment, everyone present was somewhat taken aback... because a drop of water fell onto the [Heavenly Fire Judgment] and was then evaporated by its high temperature.

This is nothing strange; it's just water evaporating at high temperatures. What's really strange is... why is there water here?

The [Heavenly Judgment] is still here, still operating, baking the entire space until it's incredibly dry. At this point... how could there possibly be any water?

"Ahem... Dr. Mei, I have some not-so-good news to tell you."

"Vilvi?"

The engineer's voice came through Mei's communication channel.

"A unit emitting extremely strong Honkai energy is rapidly approaching your location. Based on the wavelength, it should be... Ah, you'll be meeting it soon."

click-

A sickening sound came from the locked door, and a dark blade pierced through from the outside, creating an opening in the alloy door.

Then, a hand reached in through the small opening, grabbed the warped and cut alloy, and slowly tore a gap in the door that was big enough for a person to pass through.

A damp smell instantly filled the entire enclosed space. Water droplets appeared on the ground at some point, then quickly turned into puddles, and soon covered the entire floor of the enclosed room. The water touched the insoles and submerged the soles of the feet in the blink of an eye.

[Heavenly Fire Judgment] radiates heat, evaporating countless puddles of water, which then condense into white mist. However, the mist quickly disappears and returns to the puddles on the ground.

Tiny ice crystals kept condensing around Kevin, falling onto the small ice surface beneath him.

clatter--

A dark figure dragged a strange, dark greatsword through the door. The hunter's clothes, as deep as the ocean, were surprising, and the white hair, like waves, was eye-catching. The golden pupils were surrounded by a conspicuous scarlet ring, giving one the illusion of being targeted by a predator.

The important thing is that the aura of decay emanating from him is undeniable, and even more important is... his appearance.

"……see?"

Not only Kevin, but even Mei was taken aback. Even as the Tenth Herrscher, she was surprised by the arrival of Dawn.

“Kevin…and Dr. May.”

Xi Wang looked up at the two of them, then her gaze lingered on it.

It's been a long time... the sharpest "knife" among our poisonous pupae.

It sighed softly.

I'm so glad to see you're still alive. Maybe we should have a reunion hug...

chap——

【hug……?】

Before it could finish speaking, a thin stream of water suddenly emerged from the puddles that barely reached its ankles, sweeping across its neck like a whip.

In the end, all it could see was its own headless body lying limply in the water, and then... little by little, it began to dissolve.

The water is consuming its body.

In the end, it left only the core of the [Tenth Herrscher] on the water-covered ground, while its body completely disappeared, like bubbles in the water.

"...[Herrscher]?"

Xi Wang's pupils swept around, taking in the wary and frightened expressions on their faces, and he spoke indifferently.

"Still in the midst of the extermination campaign... Dr. Mei, are all the people here [Herrschers]?"

"...Yes, not a single one can escape."

Mei quickly regained her composure and said calmly.

Regardless of Xi Wang's current situation, at least he showed friendliness and acknowledged his identity, which is enough for now.

"so……"

Xi Wang understood, slightly retracted one hand, clenched it into a fist, and then swung it towards an "individual" that was about to make a move.

A killer whale, made of water and with a blue, translucent body, leaped out of the foot-deep puddles on the ground, opened its mouth and bit off the body of an "individual," blood splattering everywhere and staining the surrounding water.

The azure orca fell back into the puddles and disappeared, leaving only scattered limbs and a red color that gradually spread in the water.

Soon, the severed limbs dissolved in the water, and the stained red water quickly returned to normal, leaving only its [Herrscher Core].

The attack by Xiwang caused them to riot.

But even more turbulent than them were the shallow puddles on the ground.

Giant, azure tentacles emerged from the water and crashed down, crushing any "individuals" that couldn't dodge in time, shattering their bones, or even turning them into a pulp.

But soon, all of these will be accepted by the water, and no matter how tragic their death was, the water will take care of everything for them.

Water... is all-encompassing; it will accept even blood and severed limbs.

With light steps, he moved his body to dodge the attacking "individual," then with his five fingers together, he thrust forward like a knife. A translucent, azure swordfish leaped out of the water. In just a moment, the "individual" was sent flying against the wall and then slid down helplessly.

Its abdomen had a huge, penetrating wound from which blood flowed continuously, staining the surrounding area. Finally, its body slowly disappeared, turning into bubbles in the water and being swallowed by the "water," leaving no trace whatsoever except for the [core] in place.

Kevin wanted to step forward and join the battle, but just as he took a step, a water blade struck him rapidly, slicing past him and leaving a clear mark.

"Don't get in the way."