If-Line Ending 1: Only To Embrace You

A heads-up: This is an alternate timeline. Some settings might conflict with the main story. You can consider the conflicting settings as discarded ones from the past, or just treat this as a parallel world.

The True Self could not approach the Divine Shadow. The one who embraced the world could not embrace the traveler from another world. She made a wish to Him, to invert her True Self, to be untainted by the world, all for the sake of... embracing him.

"Mei." The silver-haired young man walked up to the woman who seemed to always prioritize reason over emotion. He glanced at the documents on Mei's desk and the still-warm coffee cup. "You didn't rest last night again, did you? If you keep this up, your already poor health won't last much longer."

"Heh..." Mei let out a wry smile. "Won't last much longer? You're the last person who has the right to say that to me, Feng. How much time do you have left yourself? Can you even feel any other pain now? Can you even fall asleep anymore?"

Zhu Yufeng froze, then asked, "Did Mobius say that? How many people know?"

"Probably everyone except Griseo knows," Mei said, looking into Zhu Yufeng's silver eyes. "You shouldn't be carrying all of this alone."

I wasn't carrying it alone originally... Zhu Yufeng wanted to say, but he swallowed the words and instead said, "You're different from me. You still have Kevin, and people who love you."

And those who loved me, and whom I loved, are no longer here.

Zhu Yufeng, as a person, probably died after the tragedy of the Herrscher of Binding.

Mei remained silent.

"Kevin's practically giving up instant noodles for you. You should take care of yourself a little, for him," Zhu Yufeng said.

"Humanity is out of time," Mei said, not looking at Zhu Yufeng. She looked at the data on the electronic screen. "After the incident with the twelfth Herrscher, we are the last surviving humans. Civilization has already fallen. There isn't much we can leave for the future..."

Zhu Yufeng also looked at the electronic screen. After a moment of silence, he spoke, "If... we were to use some method to gather all the Honkai Energy currently spread across the globe into one place, could we forcibly bring about Finality's arrival earlier?"

Mei looked at Zhu Yufeng and pushed up her glasses. "Theoretically, in the near future, this Honkai Energy will automatically gather on the moon, and Finality will be born from it. Forcibly gathering all the Honkai Energy would indeed bring Finality's arrival forward, but what's the point?"

"Since Finality's birth requires the gathering of global Honkai Energy, and at the moment of Finality's birth, a new Herrscher is born from it, wouldn't the power possessed by Finality be weakened?" Zhu Yufeng asked again.

"Finality is different from other Herrschers. It is a special lifeform composed entirely of Honkai Energy. Your idea is theoretically feasible, but it's too insane. Where, or rather, by what means, would we gather Honkai Energy, and then find a Herrscher who hasn't awakened yet?" Mei said. "According to calculations, the twelfth Herrscher is the last Herrscher before Finality. Moreover, even a Fusion Warrior couldn't withstand the Honkai Energy that would converge at the moment of Finality's birth."

Zhu Yufeng looked at Mei calmly, then placed his hand on his chest, and then extended it towards Mei. A pure white Herrscher core floated quietly in his hand.

"This is..." Mei's eyes widened. "Feng, you don't mean..."

"This is Lilith's Herrscher core," Zhu Yufeng said, looking down at the Herrscher core emitting a pure, flawless, soft glow. "It's ironic, isn't it? She did so many wicked things with me, yet her heart remains untainted."

"Lilith... is a Herrscher? But why..." Mei began to fall into thought. "All the medical reports..."

"I tampered with them. She told me from the beginning about her Herrscher identity," Zhu Yufeng said, looking up at Mei. "I have already completed the Chimera Project. Before my life runs out, I am undoubtedly a Herrscher substrate. And Lilith's Herrscher core can help me open the door to the Imaginary Tree, allowing me to connect to it and become a new Herrscher."

"If that's the case, you will undoubtedly..."

Zhu Yufeng looked at Mei, saying nothing.

Mei took a deep breath and said, "I understand. We can't bring about Finality's birth prematurely, but I can work with Mobius and the others to give everyone a false timeline for Finality's arrival."

"Thank you," Zhu Yufeng nodded.

Just as he was about to leave, Mei suddenly asked, "How confident are you?"

Zhu Yufeng paused, then replied, "If we include the Moonlight Throne, then ten out of ten. I can definitely defeat Finality, but what happens afterward..."

"I understand."

"...You agreed so readily this time. I thought you'd ask something else. At least, from a rational standpoint, you should have spent some time proving the feasibility of this plan?"

"I cannot stop someone who wishes to die."

"..."

"At that time, I will also have Kevin and the others stand by near Thousand Worlds as a second echelon, ready to provide support."

"Then, I hope you can tell them the truth only at the very end, if possible?"

"..."

"I know Kevin considers me a brother, but this is something I feel I should do alone... to bring it to a conclusion by myself."

"..."

"When that time comes, Mei, please pass on a message to him for me."

"What is it?"

"I'm sorry. I was the first to despair."

"...I will."

"Thank you."

Watching the young man's solitary retreating figure, Mei slowly sat down in her chair, propped her forehead with one hand, and closed her eyes.

After a while, a pair of hands covered her eyes. "Guess who?"

"Elysia, stop fooling around," Mei said with a soft sigh.

"As soon as I walked in, I saw you looking so glum. Anxiety is a girl's worst enemy, you know. Careful, you'll get wrinkles~" Elysia said. "I've been standing here for ages, and you didn't even notice. It's heartbreaking. Hmm... did Feng say something to you?"

Mei recalled Zhu Yufeng's instructions and looked at the coffee cup by her hand. "He told me to get more rest. At least for Kevin's sake, I should do that."

"Feng is still as gentle as ever..." Elysia looked towards the doorway.

But no matter how gentle he is, it's not the kind of gentleness that was once exclusively mine.

I really want to see him again, to see myself reflected in his eyes once more.

Elysia thought to herself, then pursed her lips and looked at Mei. "Mei, there's something I want to tell you."

"What is it?"

"I... might be a Herrscher..."

Mei: "???"

Do you know that we've already had a Herrscher fighting alongside us, and another Herrscher of the Future just left?

Seeing Mei's expression, Elysia thought she was surprised by what she said and quickly added, "I know. Since almost all the Herrschers who have appeared so far can't communicate, you might find it hard to believe that I'm a Herrscher."

Mei snapped back to reality, looked at Elysia, and said, "I... understand. So, what do you want to do?"

Zhu Yufeng was on his way back to his dorm when he saw Kevin walking towards him. He nodded at Kevin as a greeting and was about to continue back to his dorm.

"Feng." Kevin called out to him.

Zhu Yufeng turned to look at Kevin, "Is something wrong?"

Kevin looked at Zhu Yufeng, and after a long silence, he finally spoke, "We will definitely defeat the Honkai, we definitely will."

"Yes, of course," Zhu Yufeng turned back.

"Regarding your body, after the Honkai is over, Mei and Mobius will definitely find a way to cure you. You are the strongest Fusion Warrior, and they are the strongest scientists, so..."

"Kevin."

"...?"

"Thank you."

After speaking, Zhu Yufeng returned to his dorm without lingering.

Back in his dorm, he looked at the room, which had become quite messy after Lilith's sacrifice. He sighed softly and began to tidy it up slowly.

He picked up a sapphire pendant, thought for a moment, and placed it in a box labeled with Kevin's name.

Then there was the crystal flower that had always been placed by his bedside. He took it down from the bedside table, covered it with his hand, and the crystal flower gradually shrank, eventually returning to a seed.

He placed it in a box labeled with Elysia's name.

He was preparing to return all the gifts he had received from them over the years.

He came with nothing, and he would leave without any attachments.

"Forgive my final indulgence, Kevin. This time, you have to live well with Mei," Zhu Yufeng muttered to himself.

He then looked at the photo of him and Lilith at the amusement park on the bookshelf. He stepped forward, took down the photo frame, took out the photo, and turned it over. On the back, it was written: "Lilith will always like you."

Zhu Yufeng looked at the familiar handwriting, then turned the photo over and looked at the girl in the picture, who was almost carved from the same mold as Elysia, except for her hair and eye color.

"We will meet again soon, on the other side of the Imaginary Tree," he said. The Herrscher core within him seemed to react, as if someone was gently leaning on his shoulder.

"Perhaps, I might be Elysia's sister~"

"Although I don't want to believe it, I can't refute it..."

"But you must remember, Lilith only likes you~"

"...But I..."

"Shh..." The silver-haired, purple-eyed girl pressed her index finger to his lips. "I know what you want to say, but no matter when or where, I will be here, with you."

Zhu Yufeng put the photo back in the frame and sighed.

If only I had met you sooner, if only I had seen myself clearly sooner...

"How could you agree to this plan?!" Kevin looked at the calm Mei in shock. "To let him become a Herrscher when Finality is born, to let him face Finality alone?"

"He promised a ten-tenths chance of success."

"Did he say he could come back?! ...Sorry, I didn't mean it like that, Mei, I..."

"I understand how you feel, Kevin. This is his choice."

"No, I'm going with him..."

"Kevin."

"...He's my brother, my brother who has fought alongside me since the Seventh Herrscher incident."

"Then do you want to tarnish his resolve and honor as the last Fallen Angel?"

"He is one of us, an Anhänger."

If you think this book is good, remember to add it to your bookshelf to avoid losing it next time.

"Only now do we know what he carries, and this is something only he can do. He originally intended not to let you know until the very end, but I think at least you should know that when that moment comes, you will need to hold back the others."

"..."

"Kevin, we have no choice. Even if you don't accept it or acknowledge it, can you change his mind?"

"..."

"Kevin."

"...I understand."

The man slammed his fist against the wall. With his strength, he could have easily shattered the wall, but his fist landed on it with such powerlessness.

A few days later.

"Feng, so you were here. I was looking all over for you," Elysia found Zhu Yufeng holding a large box. "About that matter, I've always..."

"It's fine, it's in the past," Zhu Yufeng said calmly. "Actually, I have something I need to talk to you about too."

Elysia paused, looking at Zhu Yufeng's silver eyes. "What... what is it?"

Zhu Yufeng placed the box in Elysia's hands. "It's nothing major... Thank you for taking care of me all these years."

"This is..."

"All the gifts you've given me over the years, I've kept them safe," Zhu Yufeng said. "With every gift, I could feel the sincerity you put into preparing it. It's wonderful to have met you in this world."

"Huh?!"

"That's all. I'm leaving now."

"Wait!" Elysia called out. "Feng, why are you..."

"..."

"About Lilith's matter, I..."

"Don't worry, I've never resented you for it. Because you are Elysia, the Flawless One who embraces the world. Making that choice was only natural."

"Then..."

"I came with nothing, and I should leave without any attachments."

Elysia's pupils contracted. She quickly realized what Zhu Yufeng meant and whispered, "No, you can't die!"

Zhu Yufeng turned his head, saying emotionlessly, "My opponent is Finality, an enemy more terrifying than Herrscher of Binding. Who can guarantee they'll come back unscathed?"

Elysia's body stiffened, then she forced a smile. "How could that be? You... you're the strongest Fusion Warrior..."

"This time, let me go first," Zhu Yufeng said, not stopping. He still had to return gifts to others.

Elysia held the box of gifts and watched the young man's retreating back.

She looked down at the box. When she had discussed her plan with Mei before, Mei had disagreed. Now, even her resolve to carry out the plan alone was wavering.

She wanted to fight alongside him again.

Regardless of humanity's future, regardless of the fate of all living beings, she wanted to walk with him once more.

But... she couldn't ignore the future of humanity in later generations. This was something only she could do.

There was still some time before the Finality's descent, as Mei and the others had predicted. Perhaps she could figure things out during this time.

Meanwhile.

Kevin silently accepted the box Zhu Yufeng handed him. As Zhu Yufeng turned to leave, he suddenly said, "Can you make it back alive?"

Zhu Yufeng paused, looked back at Kevin, and after a moment of silence, said, "When I return, we'll revisit yesterday."

"It's a deal."

"...It's a deal."

A week later.

"Look, what's on the moon's surface..." a researcher pointed at the pale moon outside the window.

Someone immediately activated the Honkai Energy monitoring system and exclaimed, "Honkai Energy is gathering in large quantities on the moon's surface! But this is completely inconsistent with Dr. Mei's analysis!"

When she noticed something was wrong with the moon, Elysia already had a bad feeling. She wanted to discuss it with someone, but she couldn't find Zhu Yufeng anywhere. She could only go to Mei's studio and saw Mei gazing at the moon. Mei's expression showed no surprise or panic.

Suddenly, Elysia understood everything.

Her voice trembling, she said, "Mei, is this... your and his plan?"

"Yes," Mei admitted straightforwardly.

"You hid it from everyone, just so he could go to the moon alone at this moment? To face Finality by himself?"

"Yes."

"Even if he's the strongest Fusion Warrior, he can't fight Finality alone!"

"He will become another Herrscher of Finality."

"...What?"

"He will use himself as a vessel, dividing the Honkai Energy needed for Finality's birth, becoming a new Herrscher."

"But..."

"This is something only he can do."

Elysia took a few steps back, Zhu Yufeng's words from that time echoing in her mind: "This time, let me go first."

Because he knew she would never agree, so...

But why...

"I never expected that he, Dr. Mobius, and Vill-V would actually find a way to gather Honkai Energy in advance," Mei said, looking up at the sky. "It's even earlier than predicted."

Mobius and Vill-V knew about this too?

"If we use the Second Divine Key, there's still time..." Elysia murmured to herself as she ran towards the Thousand Worlds at top speed.

Then, what she saw was Kevin, holding Jie Mie, standing beside the Thousand Worlds.

"Kevin, you too...?"

"This is his resolve," Kevin said calmly.

Why?

Why did Kevin know too?

Mei, Mobius, Vill-V, and even Kevin...

Why... didn't she know?

After a while, Mei announced the plan to the other Schicksal, ordering them to stand by the Second Divine Key. If Zhu Yufeng failed, they would step in as the second wave.

Vill-V was already piloting the Moonlight Throne on the moon.

Sakura wanted to unleash that time-freezing slash again, but this time Kevin easily stopped her. Kevin said, "I won't be careless a second time with the same move."

Qianjie wanted to go berserk and fight Kevin directly. Kevin placed Jie Mie on the Thousand Worlds, as if daring them to try and he would destroy the Thousand Worlds.

They could only wait on the ground, agonizingly awaiting news from the moon.

After a burst of intense light, Vill-V sent a message: "The battle is over, we won."

Seeing this, Kevin prepared to activate the Thousand Worlds. Before he could, Elysia had already rushed past him and activated it.

The ruins on the moon were a mess.

The silver-haired youth leaned against a stone wall.

His body was slowly disappearing from the bottom up.

Elysia came before him and helped him up. He raised his head, his unfocused pupils proving he had lost almost all his vision.

"Feng..." Elysia called out.

He seemed to hear her, squinting his eyes, trying to see the person in front of him. After a long moment, he seemed to finally see her. His lips moved slightly, then he closed his eyes and disappeared into Elysia's arms with a smile.

The other Schicksal who arrived witnessed this scene, all lowering their heads. Even the most defiant Qianjie turned his back.

Elysia knelt on the ground, stunned for a long time, until cold tears landed on the back of her hand. She wore an expression that was neither a smile nor a cry.

He had indeed seen her, but he had seen her... as Lilith!

Even until the very end, she was not in his eyes.

"Finality is gone, but Earth is no longer suitable for civilization to develop. Even with the repair effects of the Fourth Divine Key, it will likely take a very long time..."

"Let me do it."

"Elysia?"

"I am also a Herrscher, and there is still a large amount of Honkai Energy remaining on the moon."

"You mean to..."

"Feng could do it, and so can I."

She returned to the place where he had disappeared, gazing at the blue crystal ball in the universe.

She raised her hands, unleashing all her authority. At the same time, she made a wish to the God who might not exist: "If Elysia, who embraces the world, cannot embrace him, then please let me become Lilith, even if I lose my True Self, even if I am no longer flawless... as long as I can... embrace him."

"Hi~ Hello there, nice to meet you, my name is Lilith, please take care of me from now on~"

The silver-haired girl extended her hand to the young man and said with a smile.