K424 of the Collapse World

The execution ground created by the Herrscher instantly fell apart under the cover of golden light.

The underground passage, which had been completely twisted and compressed into a hemisphere, was penetrated by this beam of light for hundreds of meters, directly tearing open a gap leading directly to the sky. This precise beam of destructive light perfectly avoided the positions of Iselin and Walter, allowing them to quickly escape from the opened gap, leaving no chance for the enemy to intercept them.

In the blink of an eye, the First Herrscher who was trapped here disappeared, and was replaced by another figure with long silver hair. Her golden eyes stared directly at the metal ruins corroded by energy, and the pervasive black fog was already visible to her.

"...got you."

Kiana murmured softly, gently stretched out her hand forward, summoning a wave of energy, and pounced on the point where the black fog was condensed in front of her!

The collision of the black mist and the golden ripples was like a mixture of two combustible colors that exploded, turning each other into ashes and smoke in the confrontation, just like the annihilation of matter and antimatter at their energy limits.

"Oh~ The weak and cowardly first traitor has found a scapegoat..."

The Herrscher still had time to mock, but after only a moment's confrontation, the dark mist was dispersed by the golden light, which overwhelmed it without any suspense, blocking the second half of his sentence.

The power of the Herrscher can destroy matter, and the power of the Herrscher can also destroy the Herrscher.

Iselin, who was forced to maintain the barrier, could not use her full strength as the Herrscher of Reason in the battle. But if she were replaced by Kiana who was in good condition, the situation would naturally be overturned.

Maintaining the barrier of the Anti-Entropy Headquarters and the Far East Branch at the same time is equivalent to covering half of the planet with energy flow. In this extreme situation, Iselin's load is indeed quite terrible, but even so, she can try her best to break through her own limits and open a gap in the nearby barrier that can be entered from the outside, but cannot be reversed from the inside.

Yes, it was Diana's seemingly whimsical and simple method that allowed Iselin to receive the message sent by Kiana from outside the barrier and make this decision.

The brief encounter with Kiana in the imaginary space was enough for her to be sure that this girl had never betrayed humanity. And now, Iselin was willing to place all her remaining hopes on Kiana to help her cross the fault of the alien barrier.

(I can't trust the defector with help, but if it's you...)

Silently watching the dawn light in the dark fog, Iselin turned her head with a smile, allowing the anti-gravity wave launched by Walter to drag her to the exit and escape from this battlefield that did not belong to her.

(We're not going to lose, are we? We can put an end to this disaster if we just hold on a little longer...!)

At the same time, deep down in the cave, surging light surged like a tide, refracting in the broken metal passages, rushing towards the aggregate in the center of the shadow with unstoppable force, like a touch of aurora penetrating the darkness.

In a split second of confrontation, the winner was immediately apparent.

Faced with the unstoppable brilliance, the Corrosion Ruler immediately realized that his power could not corrode this seemingly pure energy. When the Corrosion Rule, which had always been invincible, collided with the unknown golden energy, it was like a stream of water blocked by a steel partition, unable to penetrate into it at all...

Not a Herrscher, but possessing energy and authority of the same or even higher status?

So, it chose to give in without hesitation.

The next moment, as the overwhelming golden light was approaching, the center of the thick fog suddenly collapsed and dispersed in all directions!

The high-energy beam broke through the twisted steel passage, creating a half-melted red hole in the metal wall behind! In the previous attack, although two-thirds of the black fog that failed to escape was completely annihilated in the beam, Kiana frowned as she watched the few shadows that penetrated the wall.

The twelfth Herrscher, the Herrscher of Corrosion, exists in a different form than other Honkai agents. It has no real entity, and its existence is a kind of Honkai energy aggregate of a similar concept. In every wisp of black mist, there are unknown units of the Herrscher of Corrosion. If it cannot be completely destroyed, as long as there are tiny particles left, the Herrscher will not really die. It hides in unknown corners of the entire planet, slowly waiting for its power to recover as before, waiting for the opportunity to once again set off the disaster of Honkai...

It is true that the direct power of the Corrosion Ruler is far less than that of any other Ruler, but this almost immortal quality, coupled with the terrifying power of the Corrosion Force, makes it not an exaggeration to regard it as the most troublesome Ruler.

According to the information obtained from the World Serpent, even in the pre-era that fully reached the late stage of mechanical civilization, the Herrscher of Corrosion was not completely eliminated in the end. Dr. Mei only captured and sealed most of the Herrscher's energy and consciousness. The remaining Herrscher factors have been floating in the wasteland at the end, and can only be blocked outside by the base barrier of the Fire Moth...

Kiana knew that even if all the attacks just now hit, it would probably not kill the Herrscher, but only weaken it relatively. After all, the Herrscher energy that permeated the entire underground base was far more than what could be seen in front of her.

928 Death Place>>

Around here, whether it is the cracks in the metal, the veins in the rock strata, even the subatomic layers of electric current, the network disk of the terminal system... the Erosion Law is everywhere, like a new kind of elementary particle entrenched in the structure of matter, and even capable of penetrating the realm of concepts.

The powerful special ability brings the inherent arrogance of the God's Envoy and a more fearless mentality. The Herrscher of Corrosion, which is quickly hatched according to the strong will of Honkai, will naturally not be afraid of an unknown existence that is not even a Herrscher.

——Crack!

The thunderous sound of metal colliding roared in the distortion of the base passage. The various substances that were eroded and manipulated by the Herrscher began to move with the manipulation of energy, moving towards Kiana's reassurance.

It pressed in like an overwhelming tidal wave, like the bloody mouth of a steel monster, biting towards the little silver-haired girl!

You are just an ant that stole divine power, yet you dare to challenge the Sublime Herrscher recognized by the Honkai Will?

Well, as you wish!!

The collapsing and crushing metal produced dazzling bluish-white arcs, and ominous smoke particles filled the air at the same time. Chaotic elements completely filled the increasingly narrow space...

Use attribute energy to release high-voltage current through steel to convert oxygen into ozone; extract radioactive harmful substances from alloys and fuse them into corrosive toxins; manipulate huge concrete blocks like limbs to cause collapse, all directed at the enemy in front of you!

Lack of oxygen, over-electricity, severe poison, heavy pressure... As long as it is a fragile carbon-based organism, there is always a way to destroy it.

Since you can't be my dependent, then die! !

The corrosive shadow fluctuated in the energy flooding, carrying the material aggregate as a carrier, and attacked with the momentum to tear Kiana apart.

However, facing the Herrscher's active attack, Kiana simply swung her right fist wrapped in energy ripples, and instantly destroyed the Herrscher's Honkai energy creation and its carrier in the air! The dissipated powerful energy even created an open underground cave out of thin air!

“Oh? It seems like your power is not inferior to that of a real Herrscher. Then…”

Not surprised at the failure of her first attack, the Herrscher of Corrosion was about to launch another offensive, but Kiana took action first. Countless blades of light spread out behind her like wings, bombarding the area shrouded in black fog, destroying the underground rock formations and nearby metal debris, and the black fog energy wrapped around them was also destroyed.

But the Ruler of Erosion saw it and just sneered in response.

It's useless! This level of attack can't threaten me at all. Even if it slightly reduces my strength, it's easy to replenish it. All I need is...

"Do you think my attack can't threaten you?"

Kiana suddenly spoke, and the condensed golden light covered her body like armor, waving slightly as if ready to go. The calm golden eyes made the Herrscher suddenly feel a sudden palpitation...

Even though it no longer has any living organs.

"Indeed, with your immortal vitality, even if the entire surface of the planet is destroyed, it may not be able to destroy you. But, have you forgotten something?"

"..."

"Do you realize it? Although your existence can extend to any place, you just became a Herrscher, but you just instinctively slaughtered the humans within your reach, and did not maximize the spread of your own body in time... Therefore, you were blocked in two areas by Iselin's law barrier, and your retreat route deep underground was also cut off."

Kiana spoke softly, with no emotion in her cold and indifferent eyes. As she whispered, the slight fluctuations of the surrounding black mist were like the trembling of a soul...

"This means that as long as I can completely destroy everything within the barrier, I can also destroy all of your "existence"! It's just an area of ​​a few hundred kilometers in radius. Do you think... with my power, which is almost equal to that of a Herrscher, I can wipe this land off the planet?"

"you......!"

"By the way, the one in charge of cleaning up the Far East region is a true Herrscher. If you still think you have a way out, you'd better give up this extravagant hope as soon as possible, Herrscher of Corrosion."

Kiana's voice echoed in the quiet dungeon, like a blade of judgment that sentenced her to death, piercing fiercely into the spiritual sea of ​​the Herrscher.

"Now, if you can't defeat us head-on, you will definitely die today."

"You... damn ants!!"

"Just struggle and pray as hard as you can...see if the miracle of the world will favor a Herrscher like you who has collapsed."

929 She is the Lawgiver

Suspended in the air, purple crystals of all sizes illuminate the dark sky. The fluctuations of imaginary energy are like false stars. At the end of the extreme field of vision is the boundless, empty and blurred boundary of the sky.

This is where reality and the void meet, another world born beyond material existence.

Now, I have finally arrived here...

"Before this, have you ever seen a moment when everything became silent, the sky collapsed, and even the stars were completely black?"

The woman, with her back to her, asked softly in a calm but unquestionable tone, and then continued with the next sentence.

"I have seen it, and more than once. So I know better than the mortals who survive in this world how to reverse all this, using another method that is better than the fire moth."

"...If you still remember my self-introduction just now, you wouldn't ask such a meaningless question."

The silver-haired girl who stepped on the void crystal looked at the woman's back and responded in a low voice. The pressure of the dimensional energy that traveled through the different space was far more than she expected. But even so, the girl still tried to straighten her back and not show any weakness in front of her eyes.

That is his own true self, hiding alone in the cracks of imaginary space, the common master of all split and derived consciousnesses.

"Ah... yes, you are me, and these are also part of your memories."

With a little surprise, the woman on the edge of the crystal platform slowly turned her head and looked at the girl possessed by K438 with her calm eyes for the first time.

"In this universe controlled by higher wills, the world we live in has been destroyed countless times... I have experienced it myself time and time again, but I can't even remember how many reincarnations there have been..."

"That guy said it 261027 times."

"Heh... If we forget the specific experiences, how can a string of simple numbers carry our memories? How can the lives and civilizations born in each era be fully summarized by a simple '1'?"

"I know - but you should know that I am not here to discuss these old things. I have all your memories until more than a month ago, and I also know everything you know, such as the reason why you chose to hide here..."

"So, since you know all this and know the reason why I made this judgment, why did you come here to look for me? Do you also want to stop me... Just like the minions of Honkai and the foolish mortals believe, before launching a protracted decisive battle, you should first eliminate me, the unstable factor that interferes with the world?"

“No one thinks that way! At least among the humans I know, no one has ever cheered for your disappearance. On the contrary, everyone is anxious because of your leaving without saying goodbye, and even the strategy to face the Herrscher has been disrupted... Even if you have been corroded by the Honkai and become like this, you shouldn’t have left like this.”

Become like this...

The woman looked at her hands speechlessly, and shook her head gently as if to drive these words out of her mind.

"They have found a way to deal with the Herrscher. If humans lose to the Herrscher, it is because of my excessive pampering and tolerance, which corrupted the original will of the anti-Honkai Organization. If I hadn't been there from the beginning, and if we hadn't provided the power, they would never have become as weak as they are now, and would never have placed their hopes on the Herrscher. You have to admit that it was our rash interference with fate that destroyed the savior who was supposed to appear in this era, and took away the trials that were supposed to belong to her, so that she could no longer grow to the height that matched her destiny."

"I... can't deny your opinion on this, but what you said can no longer be changed. We who have already entered the game have indeed changed the established direction of this world, but we have also become part of the fuel for the evolution of civilization due to the collapse. This cannot be a reason for you to think you have seen through everything and reject reality."

"oh......?"

"We may have changed Diana's fate, so that she can no longer become someone like Kevin. But you haven't seen the end of fate yet, so how can you predict the future of this era? Speaking of which... is fate really something that can be changed so easily?"

"If fate really cannot be changed, it means that our struggles so far are meaningless. If you think so, you wouldn't have wasted your energy running to me, but should have cherished this hard-earned independent personality and found a remote place to spend the rest of your life before the end of the world."

The silver-haired woman took a step forward, the crisp sound of her heels hitting the ground echoing in the space, and stopped two meters in front of k438.

"After all, it was my interference that changed this era, so I will take good care of that responsibility... in my own way."

"Responsibility? What...exactly...?"

Even though they had the same memories and personality, the girl was shocked to realize that she could no longer see through Shirley's thoughts. She couldn't imagine how drastically this woman's way of thinking had changed in just over a month...

Without paying attention to K438's doubts, the woman just turned her head silently, cast her gaze into the void where shadows gathered in the distance, and slightly opened her red lips.

929 She is the Ruler>>

"Once the connection between the thirteen executors and the origin of imaginary numbers disappears, there will be no more shackles on the coming of the Herrscher of the End. And the civilization power of this era will have no chance of winning against the Herrscher of the End."

"Since I have destroyed the disaster that humans were supposed to endure, causing them to accept the protection of the Judge with peace of mind and gradually lose the motivation to move forward, then I will become the test of civilization, allowing fragile humans to regain the power they deserve in the prophecy of the universe and launch a counterattack against the so-called advanced civilization."

"—!"

Staring blankly at Shirley in front of him, k438 seemed to be getting to know this stranger self for the first time, and he couldn't help but tremble at the other person's thoughts.

"The First Herrscher is the inheritance of human will. The Second Herrscher was reversed in Diana's awakening. The Third Herrscher was controlled by Raiden Mei. The Fourth Herrscher was redeemed by our intervention... Whether it is the betrayed Herrscher or the deceased Herrscher, they will be disconnected from the Tree of Imaginary Numbers. But

Yes, as long as I, the Ruler of Constraint, actively accept the secondary erosion and restore the connection with the Will of Honkai, the Ruler of the End will not be able to descend upon this world. And I, as the eleventh Ruler, will force civilization to continuously transform in war and suffering until it defeats me... or is destroyed by me."

"What's the difference between you and the true Herrschers who are loyal to Houkai?"

"No, I won't destroy them just for the sake of destruction. I will choose to hold back appropriately, leaving room for humans to adapt and grow within the limits of what civilization can bear. If their fragility disappoints me too much, I will grant them equal destruction like a true Herrscher, preserve the flame of civilization, and place hope on humans in the next era."

"Don't other Herrschers do the same? They regard destruction as art and killing as entertainment. You are just finding a high-sounding excuse for your behavior that caused the disaster..."

"It's up to you. Since I've chosen this path, I should bear the sin of killing. For the continuous progress of this civilization, I am willing to bear all of this as a Herrscher."

The woman said calmly, her eyes still showing no emotion. At least, at this moment, she could no longer be viewed from a human perspective.

"Blindly guarding is meaningless. It will only make a civilized race lose the motivation to move forward in comfort... Yes, I did want to protect everything by myself, and fight against the Herrscher of the End alone to delay time for the Eye of the Abyss, even if it means letting this world escape into the quantum sea and degrade to a world bubble. But what is the difference between doing this and the parallel world that was destroyed before and only left fragments? We should have made a decision long ago, instead of letting it go and continue to go to destruction."

"You...have changed so much."

"Yes, I have changed. Although I don't want to admit it... but I should have realized a long time ago that I might have undergone terrible changes. The thought factors that I can't even perceive are subtly eroding my consciousness. But even if I realize this, it won't be a reason for me to stop here."

"..."

Looking at the silver-haired woman in front of him with complicated eyes, k438 sighed deeply, and his resolute expression relaxed, adding a hint of helplessness to his eyes.

"...I don't think I would say such a thing, especially when facing my own parallel personality."

"Then I hope you can adapt as soon as possible. No matter what I was like before and how much I have gradually changed, my current decision will not change."

"Even if this means killing the people you cherish, is it okay?!"

"Since I have taken on the duties of a god, I should no longer be bound by mortal emotions. I love this world, so I want it to continue, even if it means sacrificing the people I once cherished, and they should be prepared to sacrifice for it."

"really......"

For some reason, after hearing the woman's matter-of-fact and plain words, k438 suddenly felt relieved, as if he no longer had to find reasons to deceive himself.

"Even if you told me that you would protect your important friends even if the world was destroyed, I would not doubt your identity..."

Facing the tall woman in front of her, the silver-haired girl raised her head slightly.

"Even if you inherit a person's memories intact, the shape of the soul cannot be changed in any way... This is a very valuable lesson I learned from a person."

"Yeah......"

"Now I can answer your question. I absolutely do not agree with your philosophy!"

After hearing k438's last words, a ripple finally flashed in the woman's eyes.

"Very good... The most ridiculous thing about being a human being is to be denied by oneself. But are you really another me, and not an unknown existence in the skin of Kaslana's experiment? I don't know, but no matter who you are, you can't shake my will."

"Yes... I can't change you, because you are no longer Shiris inside, am I right? The Herrscher of Constraint of Sequence 11..."