Honkai: Fire Moth Herrschers

Walking out of the ward, all he saw were doctors and nurses in white coats coming and going. This made the pink figure dozing off on the bench not far away look particularly eye-catching.

Michael pursed his lips and stood not far away, leaning against the corner of the wall, watching her head bob up and down with interest.

Ellie seemed to sense something. She opened her eyes, her vision still a bit blurry, but she immediately saw Michael in his hospital gown, a smile on his face.

"Hey! You're all better so quickly! Don't you need to rest a little longer?"

She jumped up instantly, naturally hooking her arm in Michael's, and casually stuffed a cold, blue gemstone into his hand.

Michael was stunned. His lips moved, but in the end, it turned into a sigh.

That moment... that moment of beauty almost made him lose his head.

It wasn't until he held the cold Herrscher core that he suddenly realized a fact: this was a Honkai world heading towards its countdown, and the smile of the girl in front of him was a beauty that would eventually shatter and disappear.

And he...

Was the enemy of humanity, an apostle of the "gods."

"Obtaining power from the gods and using it to rebel against them. Is such a thing really possible?"

Mobius's words echoed in his mind.

Humanity must have already discovered the absence of the First Herrscher. How long could he hide it?

When humanity discovers the Second Herrscher, the Third Herrscher, the Fourth, Fifth, Seventh...

When humanity discovers that all the other Herrschers do not have human consciousness, how would he face them?

Or... would the Honkai really not turn around and corrode him again?

"Hey! What's wrong, Michael?" Elysia sensed the silence of the person beside her and asked in confusion, "Are you still feeling unwell? Do you want to rest a little longer?"

"No, let's go."

Ellie tilted her head, a little confused as to why Michael had suddenly become so cold.

Suddenly, as if she had thought of something, she quickly lowered her head to hide the grayness in her expression. When she raised her head again, she regained her usual smile.

She grabbed Michael's hand and ran down the narrow corridor.

"Quick, quick, we can make it to the victory party if we go now!"

"Wait a minute, Elysia, we still need to go through the discharge procedures..."

Half an hour later, in the huge banquet hall inside the base.

The huge circular floor-to-ceiling windows held the setting sun that was about to sink into the distant mountains. Wine and food were generously displayed together.

There was no need for a host, and no one was hosting. Everyone raised their glasses and celebrated wildly. Some were eating with unrefined manners, crudely stuffing delicious food into their mouths, the overflowing meat juices and cream flowing all over the expensive carpet, as if they were afraid that this would be their last supper.

Someone, no one knew who, found a retro phonograph, put on a record, and Eden's heavenly voice flowed out like clear river water, slowly enveloping everyone. The beautiful sound floated around their ears, making them unable to help but sway gently.

Along the way, everyone who recognized Ellie and Michael raised their glasses to them—it didn't matter if they didn't recognize them, they still had the Squad Five emblems pinned on their uniforms.

An uncle, whom Michael had never met before, came up and hugged his neck:

"Good kid! You're so lucky! Amazing! Finish this glass of wine!"

Michael was stung by his stubble, and for a moment he forgot his previous worries, showing a helpless expression.

Luckily, Ellie pulled him out in time and jokingly waved to the uncle, whom Michael didn't know at all: "Uncle! Michael isn't an adult yet! If you don't prepare two bottles of good wine for his birthday in a couple of years, that won't do!"

"Okay, okay, it's a deal!"

Privately, Michael quietly pulled Ellie aside, "Do you know him?"

Ellie stuck out her tongue, "Of course not!"

"..."

Suddenly, a cheer erupted from the crowd in front of them. Michael stood on tiptoe and saw that the people in front of them had formed a circle, and at the center of the circle was that familiar fiery red.

When the two of them squeezed to the front of the crowd, Himeko had already finished a dance. Ato, who was beside her, was smiling shyly, looking awkwardly at a woman with blue-gray hair in the crowd.

Himeko let out a long breath, closed her eyes, and raised her head, basking in the brilliant lights and applause. She shook her head, and her red hair, which had been tied up, suddenly scattered. The sweat on her head splashed, and under the light, the trajectories they drew became colorful.

"Is anyone else coming!" Her eyes were as bright as the lights. It was clearly a question, but her gaze was already fixed on Michael, who was standing in the front row.

Michael silently lowered his head.

Seeing this, Elysia covered her mouth and chuckled softly, then suddenly gave Michael a kick in the back, sending him onto the stage.

Michael smiled wryly, unable to refuse, and was pulled over by Himeko.

Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and she forced a smile, saying, "I'm borrowing you from Ellie for two minutes, no objections, right?"

Seeing that it was a boy who had come onto the stage, the crowd of onlookers instantly burst into a chorus of boos, but when they saw the Squad Five emblem on his arm, they gradually quieted down.

Many people had only realized that they had won this battle against the Honkai, but they hadn't had time to reflect on what they had lost. Clearly, the three-person Squad Five was like a heavy hammer smashing into their hearts.

Many people couldn't help but wonder:

Did they really win this battle against the Honkai?

The Honkai could make a comeback, but the comrades they had lost could not be brought back to life.

Even if they killed the Second Herrscher, all they got was a corpse that once belonged to a human.

What the Honkai had paid in this battle that determined humanity's fate was just a negligible amount of power.

This was a party for the victors, but none of those present were victors.

But a few seconds later, before this feeling of despair could spread, the dark cloud that hung over everyone's heads was dispelled by the blazing flames.

"I can only say, as expected of Himeko. As long as she is there, the soldiers can always maintain high morale..." Ato said, crossing his arms, lost in thought.

"Hmph!" Blanka snorted coldly from the side, making Ato feel at a loss.

He randomly tried to find a topic of conversation, "Blanka, the Second Herrscher's body has just been recovered. Doesn't Dr. Mobius need your help?"

Blanka turned her head, her eyes wide, then after a long moment, she rolled her eyes and walked away angrily.

Leaving Ato alone, confused.

"Um... Instructor Ato..."

"What's wrong, Ellie?"

"Is there a possibility... that Blanka took a special leave just to accompany you?"

"..."

Ato was silent for two seconds, then turned around and chased after her.

"Ato is still the same, too insensitive to Blanka's feelings."

Ellie turned around. The people in the midst of the revelry had taken over the stage, and pairs of men and women were dancing gracefully.

Himeko grabbed Michael's hand and extended it to Ellie.

"Here! I'm returning your guardian to you."

"Guardian, what do you mean?" Michael asked curiously.

"Ah? You don't know? Ellie's name means eternal paradise, and Michael's name means the guardian of paradise... I thought your names were chosen intentionally..."

Elysia looked at Michael, winking playfully, as if she had known the meaning behind their names all along. She naturally took Michael's hand and jokingly drew a circle on his palm with her index finger.

Michael could only smile helplessly, his smile full of undisguised fatigue.

Away from the crowd, Himeko's smile gradually faded. Finally, the three of them found a seat by the window. Unknowingly, the moon was already hanging in the sky. Himeko raised her glass, as if to scoop up a cup of moonlight.

But in the end, she couldn't get her wish.

It wasn't until there were no other people watching that she slowly shed a tear.

"I'm sorry, I'm going to the restroom."

She said, choking with sobs.

"Actually... the captain is probably more heartbroken than anyone else." Michael sighed, "Eighteen people, just like that, gone. And she still has to force a smile, to encourage the other soldiers."

Elysia was uncharacteristically silent.

After a while, she narrowed her eyes and smiled, "Michael, smile! Don't be so gloomy... Although I don't know what that Dr. Mobius said to you, but... but we won, didn't we? Just smile, okay? I like it best when Michael smiles!"

Michael twitched the corners of his mouth, but he couldn't manage an even slightly decent smile, "Elysia, before you tell me that, can you wipe your own tears away?"

"I'm sorry... those soldiers, I couldn't even remember all their names... and, and the Second Herrscher, why she..."

Michael lowered his head. He silently reached out to help Ellie wipe away her tears, while deceiving himself, "Maybe this is just an exception? Maybe the Second Herrscher was just more dedicated? Maybe the Third Herrscher will be as irresponsible as I am?"

Elysia was amused by Michael's strange analogy.

She suddenly grabbed Michael's hand that was wiping away her tears, holding it tightly, "Michael, tell me, you are really here beside me... okay? You'll never leave me, right?"

"I promise you, Elysia."

"But you also have to promise me one thing."

"If one day, you find that I'm not me anymore, at that time you just need to put the gun to my forehead and gently pull the trigger, and you can save countless lives..."

"Please, don't hesitate!"