Elysia: Is This What the Herrschers of the Next Era Are Like?

"Can I treat this as a date?"

As the coffee cup swirls, Elysia smiles and asks Zhu Yufeng.

"Hmm... if that's what you think, then let's just say that," Zhu Yufeng replied. "Actually, I also have a question I want to ask you."

"Ask away! I'll tell you anything I know~" Elysia said.

"I've always wanted to know why you fell in love with me?" Zhu Yufeng asked with a puzzled look. "Although you said before that you've been paying attention to me since the Sixth Herrscher incident, but... why did you fall in love with me?"

This is what he's always been confused about. He could understand Lilith's case as people developing feelings for each other over time, but Elysia's case...

To be honest, his relationship with Elysia wasn't actually that deep, although he did keep track of some of Elysia activities... But in his previous life, after his confession during the Sixth Herrscher event, until he decided to join the Fusion Warrior Project during the Seventh Herrscher event, he hadn't seen Elysia at all. After becoming a Fusion Warrior, because Kevin developed a serious mental illness, he also went to comfort Kevin, because he felt that since they were all Fusion Warrior, his words might have some effect. It was at that time that he truly met Elysia again.

He briefly collaborated with Elysia during the Eighth Herrscher Incident, Fallen Angel Squad was officially formed before the Ninth Herrscher Incident, and then...

In short, his relationship with Elysia is similar to that of everyone else, a relationship that's more than acquaintances but less than friends. How did Elysia fall in love with him?

Elysia was silent for a moment before giving a slightly bitter smile, "Is this the question... Maple? Actually, I don't really want to answer this question..."

Because whenever I recall it, I'll inevitably think of the time when Lilith confessed to Kaede, and the time of the Twelfth Herrscher incident...

"Then I won't insist."

He was just curious, but he didn't care if Elysia didn't want to tell him.

Before she could even say "I won't force you," Elysia continued, "It's okay, Maple. Since you want to know the answer, I'll definitely tell you... When you and I met on the way to Kevin, I actually secretly measured your temperature with a device."

Zhu Yufeng: "?"

Why do we need to take his temperature?

Elysia continued, "After all, the Fusion Warrior surgery wasn't perfect back then... Kevin had such severe side effects. His fused Parvati could control ice and snow, while your fused Agni could control fire. I suspected your side effects were elevated body temperature, but it turned out to be... more severe side effects than Kevin's."

He was able to Kevin even though he himself was completely unaware of it.

Zhu Yufeng thought about it and realized that he did have some mental problems during that time. After all, the constant pain was really torturous, and he had broken down to the point of thinking about committing suicide to end it all.

But he held back, because he wanted to try, to try to change that predetermined fate.

Later on, I got used to it and became numb to the pain.

Elysia looked up at the colorful dome and said softly, "The Eighth Herrscher incident, when you and I were working together, the way you methodically arranged the clearing of the Honkai Beast, and the way you visited Lilith's room every day to check on her... you were both so cool."

"Actually, I don't know when I started liking you. I only know that I probably had these feelings before Lilith confessed to you. I don't want to see the outcome because I'm afraid of the outcome I don't want to see. You see, I'm actually a timid girl too."

Zhu Yufeng remained silent.

Elysia closed her eyes, and after a while she opened them and said softly, "Later... it should have been the last time we officially met. I wanted to comfort you, but you made me leave... I always felt that you hated me and resented me. Maple, you said you never hated me, but at that time, did you really... not hate me at all? Hate me for instigating the other Fusion Warrior to act ahead of time, hate me for almost causing the annihilation of Fallen Angel."

As she spoke, Elysia looked into Zhu Yufeng's eyes, waiting for his answer.

Zhu Yufeng looked away. At that moment, he did indeed have negative feelings towards Elysia. Why couldn't they have waited a little longer? Are the lives of ordinary people more precious than those of the Fusion Warrior? Without the Fusion Warrior, they wouldn't even have the right to survive!

That's what he was thinking at the time, so when he said those words to Elysia, there was a hint of emotion in them. "Please, let me be alone for a while."

He knew it wasn't Elysia's fault; rather, if she hadn't done that, she wouldn't be Elysia. Because that's just the kind of person Elysia is—she's willing to sacrifice herself for others. When the plan to enter the Divine Blessing Barrier began ahead of schedule, Elysia was always the first to go in.

Even if Elysia wanted to start the Eleventh Herrscher extermination war ahead of schedule, she would still need the consent of the other Fusion Warrior. Shouldn't she also hate those Fusion Warriors?

Ultimately, it's just a difference in stance and ideology.

"You're right. At least when I said those words to you, I did have some resentment towards you." Zhu Yufeng said, looking at his shoes. "But I didn't see you during that time not because I hated you. I only hated myself for not doing my best and for not considering everyone's thoughts, which led to the situation in Heqing."

"But... what did you do wrong again?" Elysia recalled the angry rebuke Mobius gave to all the Flame-Chasers present after the Twelfth Herrscher incident.

Rebuke their incompetence, rebuke their hearts.

The pain that strikes constantly, the sleepless nights...

"Actually, I wanted to confess to you at the Final Banquet, even though I was prepared to be rejected," Elysia said. "I prepared a crimson crystal flower just for you and decorated the venue... but it was Kevin who came with the invitation."

Zhu Yufeng: "..."

Okay, it's confirmed that Kevin got beaten up; it really was him who ruined Kevin's life.

The two of them remained silent for a long time.

Zhu Yufeng was the first to break the silence. "This topic is too heavy. Let's not bring it up again. It's all in the past. Dwelling on it will only upset us... Okay, it's your turn to ask a question, Elysia."

Elysia composed herself and asked her question, "In that case, let me ask... what will the next era you see be like? What kind of Herrscher will the next Herrscher be?"

Zhu Yufeng started counting on his fingers. "The First Herrscher of Reason, died protecting humanity's freedom. He gave the Herrscher Core to his chosen successor. His successor, the Second Herrscher of Reason, had his body shattered countless times, but he reconstructed his body countless times to continue fighting for humanity, and passed this will on to the Third Herrscher of Reason." Although his subsequent record was nothing but defeats.

"Will the First Herrscher of the next era also be the Herrscher of Reason? Wait, he's a man?" Elysia looked at Zhu Yufeng in surprise. Could it be? Aren't all Herrscher girls... Oh, Feng is also Herrscher, then that makes sense.

"Not only the First Herrscher, but the Ninth Herrscher is also male," Zhu Yufeng said. "He and the Fifth Herrscher are even a couple." Then he was shattered by the Herrscher of Thunder.

Are there any cute girls?

"Yes. The Third Herrscher of Reason is a emotionless loli," Zhu Yufeng said, adding that Bronya also created the unique mathematical problem of 8 > 50000 in the Honkai world.

"Hmm, anything else?"

"The Second Herrscher is like a pufferfish that gets arrogant once it gains some power."

"Ah, this..."

"The Third Herrscher is a talking rice cooker."

"Huh?"

"The Fourth Herrscher was knocked unconscious by several Titans."

"?"

"The Seventh Herrscher is a Kiana with an extraordinary appetite."

"Ah?"

"The Eighth Herrscher is a little kid who's not even a year old."

"... Wait a minute, isn't the art style of the Herrscher in the next era a bit too outrageous?" Elysia hurriedly stopped her. She never expected that Feng would describe the Herrscher of the next era like this. This... her power... creating Herrscher...

And what about the Fourth Herrscher? Does a Titan... have any fighting power against Herrscher- level being?

"Okay, just kidding~" Zhu Yufeng said with a smile, "The Third Herrscher is actually a very gentle girl, and she cooks very well. She is actually the Third Herrscher whose powers were sealed, but in order to protect the people she loves, she risked being Honkai by the Honkai and became Herrscher again."

For the one I love... I become Herrscher...

Elysia looked at Zhu Yufeng, as if there was someone right in front of her—oh no, back then he already didn't like her anymore... Heartbreaking...

"The Seventh Herrscher is Herrscher truly born to fight for humanity. The Third Herrscher actually overcame her own Herrscher Persona, but the Seventh Herrscher was born to fight against Honkai," Zhu Yufeng said. "As for the Eighth Herrscher... she should be considered Hua's daughter..."

"Hua's daughter?!" Elysia's eyes widened.

"Hmm... She wanted to fight against the Honkai from the very beginning, but she always did more harm than good. After being lectured by Hua, she ran away from home. That's not all, Hua later tricked her out of her Herrscher Authority."

"Hua... she... no matter what, she's just a child who's not even a year old yet, this... sigh... then... what happened to the Fourth Herrscher?"

"... This really means exactly what it says."

"..."