The Thirteen Flame-Chasers-Not One Survived. (Continued)
"I'm afraid... I'm still missing. Although Mei and Elysia exchanged their true feelings, she still doesn't understand Elysia from the past enough. With my memories added, it should be enough."
There's a lot of speculation online that Eden was left until the end because the writers were afraid Eden's fans would criticize him.
Although Elysia has a huge fan base, compared to the globally-oriented Eden, it's like starlight compared to the moon, or the moon compared to the sun.
No one doubted Eden's knowledge of Elysia.
Meanwhile, on the other side...
"It failed?!"
Mobius was stunned.
She did verbally express her dislike for Elysia, but seeing the failure of the resurrection didn't leave her feeling good either.
The Flame-Chasers' repeated sacrifices were all for the sake of bringing back Elysia.
Yaqing saw the stunned expression on Mobius.
He must know in his heart that although Mobius said he hated Elysia, he never explicitly refused Elysia's advances.
"Snakey, how can you witness the ending without experiencing hardships?"
"Speak like a human being..."
"The process may be tough, but the ending will definitely be satisfying."
"You mean Flame-Chasers will be resurrected and won't die?"
"Well..."
Yaqing scratched his head.
Mei called out to Elysia, but the next second, the voice of the Fairy Elysia appeared in Mei's ear, along with her helper, Eden.
Eden entered Mei's memory space by using the Fairy Elysia's power.
She already knew everything that had happened before, and comforted Mei, who was almost crying, not to blame herself. Elysia's life was so colorful, and it was already a bit too much to ask her to restore all her memories based on the short time they spent together.
Mei has completed ninety-nine steps. The final step will be completed by her and the Fairy Elysia.
The lack of one memory must be made up for by another.
Upon hearing this, Mei understood that, as a memory entity, if she used her own memories to complete Elysia's existence, Eden would...
"I will become a part of her forever. Isn't that... a very romantic thing?"
"Eden ..."
"Please don't worry about me, Miss Mei. I'm never afraid of death in any form. To me, life is just a long drama, and as long as I can take my final bow at the most appropriate time and in the most beautiful way, then the performance will be perfect."
A gentle smile appeared on Eden's face.
"This... is also her wish."
No one doubted Eden's death.
The title of this episode has already clearly told the audience.
[Eden Chapter: Farewell to the Song of the Past]
"Eden... you really are my best friend!"
Moved, Elysia hugged Eden's slender waist.
If she could, she really wouldn't want to see Eden die, especially not to die in order to resurrect her.
"No need for that, Elysia, I don't think I've done enough."
Eden gently stroked Elysia's pink hair.
"No, Eden, you have done your best."
Elysia disagreed with Eden's words, and spoke seriously.
Eden smiled.
Just like in the story, becoming a part of Elysia is indeed a very romantic thing.
Eden suddenly paused for a moment.
She thought this idea was similar to that of Yandere, and if it continued to develop, it was unimaginable...
Eden opened his palm, and so did Mei.
The four Crystal Flower of different colors were finally collected, and the four keys together guarded a piece of the past.
The memory of Elysia was unaware of what happened at the banquet, but the four people who witnessed the banquet and saw her leave this world would never forget it.
That banquet was a farewell prepared by Elysia for herself. She had arranged everything for the banquet, including, of course, her final act as Herrscher.
Now that Mei has collected all four keys, it means that the custodian of the secret has acknowledged her will, so it's time for everything from back then to see the light of day again.
"Mei, I'm entrusting everything else to you..."
Eden grasped Mei's hand.
"Please make sure to bring Elysia —our [hope]—back to this world."
Mei finally asked Eden a question: there was something she just couldn't understand—was Elysia's death really as she had predicted?
In order to unite the remaining warriors and to strengthen people's resolve to fight against the Honkai, Elysia chose to become Herrscher, sacrificing herself without hesitation to achieve what she had gained.
But all of this is fraught with problems. Regardless of how Elysia could have willingly become Herrscher, even if she Herrscher, how could she make the warriors realize the truth? If that were the case, how could the history of the Thirteenth Herrscher be erased?
This statement contains many inconsistencies.
"Could there be a twist? Elysia isn't the Thirteenth Herrscher?!"
Little Knowledge's eyes widened.
Eden is about to end, but at this moment, Mei actually asked this question.
Elysia herself looked completely bewildered.
Just when everyone had accepted Elysia's identity Thirteenth Herrscher, an unexpected reversal revealed many inconsistencies in this Herrscher.
No wonder Mei couldn't revive Elysia; Mei still hadn't figured out what happened at that banquet.
"Elysia is really mysterious. We thought we understood 80% of her, but it turns out we probably don't even understand 8%."
Mei couldn't help but sigh.
Among the Flame-Chasers, the most mysterious is Elysia.
They seem to know, but in reality they know nothing at all.
"If Mei wants to know more about me, I'd be happy to."
Elysia turned around and winked her beautiful eyes at Mei.
Kevin panicked and quickly stepped in front of Mei.
He had just witnessed Elysia transform Mei, whose mind was filled with Kiana, into her shape in a short period of time.
Although Mei and Mei have very different personalities, they look extremely similar.
He believed that May would not betray him, but he also believed that Elysia was indeed skilled at turning women gay.
Eden is a perfect example.
Upon hearing Mei's final question, Eden nodded in agreement.
The Thirteenth Herrscher does indeed have many irrationalities, and she also admits that this statement is only for the purpose of explaining to others and future generations.
"And there is only one solution that can turn all the unreasonable into reasonable... and that is the truth you have been searching for."
Eden smiled.
"Is that so...?"
The past events did not rise to Mei's mind; those casual conversations had already revealed the answer.
"That's true, maybe... I really did tell a huge lie, the only lie in my life."
"After all... I can be scared too. Hmm—I wonder what everyone will think of me? But the ending should be considered good, otherwise there wouldn't be Elysia in the Elysian Realm."
"Haha, thank you, Mei. I'm so lucky to have met you this way. You gave me... a gift that I've always longed for but never dared to ask for."
The fragmented words from the past gradually connected to form a line, leading Mei's thoughts to the only answer.
Elysia was never the Thirteenth Herrscher!
Mei looked at Eden in astonishment.
Eden nodded.
"Yes, [thirteen] is a false number. She told the world a lie, only to reveal the truth to her loved ones on her deathbed."
Eden's whispers were deafening to the audience.
When they heard Eden admit it himself, it was like a bolt from the blue.
Elysia's mouth opened slightly.
May and Vill-V kept staring at each other, and even the two smartest people present couldn't figure it out.
From the very beginning, they never doubted Elysia's identity Thirteenth Herrscher.
Eden was happy for Mei.
Mei eventually found the answer on her own.
"This is what you have been seeking all along, the final secret buried in the Elysian Realm..."
Eden whispered the secret.
"The second of the Flame-Chasers, Elysia, the one with the inscription of 'True Self,' this girl who deeply loves all people... she was born to be a Herrscher."
When Mei heard this secret again, her eyes widened and her lips trembled slightly.
When they heard this truly hidden secret, the audience's reaction was no less than Mei's, filled with confusion, helplessness, and stunned silence.
There has never been Thirteenth Herrscher; there has only ever been the first Herrscher.
This can be described as a huge reversal.
"What?!"
Sakura even started speaking her native dialect for a moment.
Elysia was stunned.
She finally understood why she was afraid to tell everyone the truth and why she was afraid to see their reactions.
It turns out that she was Herrscher from the very beginning, and her fight against the Honkai alongside everyone was a deception, concealing her identity as an Apostle Herrscher of the Honkai.
This is why Mobius called Elysia a traitor.
She never betrayed everyone, but rather the Honkai.
This is probably the source of Elysia's fear and dread: that if she tells the truth, others will look at her with strange eyes, and that people will distance themselves from her because of the initial deception.
"I finally understand why I kept this secret, and didn't even tell Sue."
Kevin sighed.
This is the greatest secret hidden in the Land of Reincarnation, and it is also Elysia's True Self.
"So, does that mean Sister Elysia is the First Herrscher?"
Pardo discovered the blind spot.
"But speaking of which, since Elysia is Herrscher, why is she able to retain her individuality?"
Mei frowned.
The Herrscher of the Previous Era are vastly different from Herrscher of the current civilization.
There has never been Herrscher who fights for humanity. Once Herrscher, it's as if they've lost their mind, their thoughts consumed only by destruction and annihilation. The Herrscher of Death revealed her humanity in death, causing Kevin to waver, and the result...
Himiko was the only one who smiled before she died, but Kevin would no longer hold back.
Now, Elysia is on the initial journey, so how did she retain her humanity? This is the biggest question, and also the biggest gap between the Previous Era and the current civilization.
It was only at this moment that they learned that the Previous Era also had Herrscher who fought for humanity.
"I'm getting more and more curious about what exactly happened at that banquet? Is Kevin really...?"