Herrscher of Flames

"Keep it under control. Don't lose to the Honkai."

Watching Himiko struggle before him, Yoshikage Kira let her attack him, but his hand pinning her down did not loosen in the slightest.

"Yoshikage... Yoshikage Kira?"

"Yes. It's me."

"I... I'm... Aaaaaaaaaah!"

"Yoshikage Kira, I'm fine now."

Yoshikage Kira summoned his Stand to test Himiko. She showed no reaction, so he increased the pressure. No matter how Himiko screamed, he did not react at all.

How long has it been?

He did not know.

How much longer do I have to hold on?

He did not know.

Should I give up?

Impossible.

Yoshikage Kira did not know whether Himiko would succeed. With her mind being eroded by the Honkai, awakening a Stand was already an incredibly difficult task.

But was Yoshikage Kira the kind of person who backed down in the face of difficulty? Obviously not.

The hymn of humanity was a hymn of courage, and humanity's greatness was the greatness of courage.

The blades condensed from flame were all blocked by Killer Queen. At the same time, Killer Queen absorbed the Honkai Energy from Himiko's body, creating a greater chance for her to overcome the Honkai.

Yoshikage Kira stood before Himiko and held her down, as though nothing in the world could shake him.

Kevin walked across the scorched earth. As far as he could see, there was nothing but flames.

Kevin used ice to clear a path for himself as he rapidly moved toward the Australia Dome.

But the closer he came to the dome, the higher the temperature rose, forcing Kevin to slow down.

After an unknown amount of time had passed, the wound on Himiko's arm where the arrow had pierced her no longer bled, instead forming a circular opening.

Himiko seemed to have exhausted all her strength and fell into Yoshikage Kira's arms. Through her haze, she saw Killer Queen behind him and a humanoid creature wreathed in flames behind herself.

"Welcome back, Himiko." Looking at the exhausted Himiko, Yoshikage Kira smiled.

Yes, it was like the joy of putting on a fresh pair of underwear on New Year's Day to welcome the first rays of morning sunlight.

The inferno raging across Australia surged toward the Australia Dome, gathering around Himiko's Stand. With a wave of its hand, the Stand dispersed every last flame.

Yoshikage Kira picked Himiko up and walked outside.

"..." Kevin had just reached the entrance when he saw Yoshikage Kira carrying Himiko toward him.

Yoshikage Kira walked up to Kevin and said, "Say that you defeated Himiko. Understood? And get me a set of clothes."

The commanding tone did not give Kevin any negative feelings. Instead, it made him breathe a sigh of relief.

Senior Kira was alive, and Senior Himiko seemed to be all right as well.

He did not have to kill the captain he respected with his own hands.

There could be no better ending than this, could there?

Kevin nodded and did not ask any questions.

As expected, Senior Kira was helping me from the shadows. Remembering what had happened with the Herrscher of Death, Kevin felt fortunate.

Senior Kira is really strong. Kevin could not help but sigh.

You and Kevin successfully returned to Flame Chasers headquarters.

Kevin followed your instructions and publicly declared that he had defeated the Herrscher of Flames.

Afterward, you carried Himiko's "corpse" into the Spiral Workshop Vill-V had set up at Flame Chasers headquarters.

Thus, the Seventh Honkai ended.

Australia was destroyed. No one survived, and the land scorched by the flames could no longer be used.

But you had good news. How could a Herrscher be saved? By weakening the Herrscher's Honkai Energy yourself, using the arrow, and relying on their own will, a Herrscher could be turned into a Stand User with humanity.

But how many people had such unwavering will?

As far as you knew, among the thirteen Herrschers of the Previous Civilization, only Himiko had briefly regained consciousness after being chosen by the Honkai as a Herrscher.

The others willingly sank into depravity.

Such people did not need saving.

Though you had never planned to save them in the first place. After all, the more Stand Users there were, the greater the risk of exposing yourself.

After placing Himiko on Vill-V's workbench, Yoshikage Kira felt someone wrap their arms around him.

Yoshikage Kira turned around and held Vill-V in his arms. Looking at the girl crying her eyes out, he stroked her hair and softly said.

"I'm back, Vill-V."