The assassinations did not cease because of the disappearance of the first few people. Instead, they only grew more intense.
Of course, the assassination attempts had been carried out right under the noses of everyone in the Golden Courtyard.
Watching wave after wave of people come to throw their lives away, everyone felt conflicted.
Sakura was furious that people were trying to assassinate her younger sister.
Elysia was caught in a dilemma. On one side were the people of the Golden Courtyard; on the other was the humanity she wanted to protect.
Elysia sought out Apponia to see whether the Commandment could be lifted.
Apponia shook her head, saying that the Commandment could not be undone.
You explained to everyone that the Herrscher within Ling would awaken only after her death, and Elysia eagerly relayed the news to the Flame Chasers.
But no one believed it. They only took it as an excuse the Golden Courtyard had made to protect Ling.
The state of a world being destroyed by Honkai, coupled with the Golden Courtyard's protection of a Herrscher, drove the rank-and-file members of the Flame Chasers into despair.
The Flame Chasers fell into suspicion and gloom. Everyone seemed to have lost hope for tomorrow, and they stopped trying to assassinate Ling as well.
On the premise that humanity could not defeat Honkai in this era, Dr. Mei established Project Seed, cultivating the next generation of humanity in advance as seeds to overcome Honkai. The embryos of humanity in the new era were all designed with hereditary Stigmata factors capable of resisting Honkai.
Based on the data provided by Chiyou, Vill-V officially completed the Ark that would sail the cosmos. She appointed Cosmo, who possessed the ability to devour and evolve, as its executor, sending him and the Fusion Warrior Griseo away from Earth before the battle against the Herrscher of the End. After the battle was over, they would bring the new human beings prepared as "seeds" back to Earth and scatter them across the planet.
"Come to think of it, Kevin's birthday is coming up again, isn't it?" Su suddenly brought it up to everyone.
"Yeah. The last birthday before the End arrives. Elysia, you'll be coming, right?" Yoshikage Kira said.
"Huh? Oh, of course. We have to give Kevin a proper celebration." Elysia seemed to have something on her mind and only answered after a brief pause.
Seeing Elysia's reaction, Yoshikage Kira realized what she had been thinking.
She merely wanted to sacrifice herself to restore the Flame Chasers' spirits.
There were two ways to save Elysia.
The first was to stop Apponia from placing the Commandment on everyone from the very beginning, then have Ling fake her death.
The Flame Chasers would eliminate the Herrscher without any losses, and everyone would be happy.
But Yoshikage Kira did not want to do anything unnecessary, so he chose the second, simpler and more brutal method.
"Elysia, if you want to sacrifice yourself to save humanity, then I'll bring humanity before you and kill them one by one."
"...Yoshikage Kira, you're joking, right? Haha, that isn't funny."
"Indeed. Why would I do something so boring?"
"Right? How could you possibly..."
"There's no point in bringing them before you one at a time. I'll just have Ling take a stroll outside."
"..."
"Still want to sacrifice yourself?"
"...I don't."
Yoshikage Kira patted Elysia on the shoulder, satisfied that she had seen reason so quickly.
"I'm leaving. Don't forget to prepare a birthday gift for Kevin."
"...Yoshikage Kira, do you think humanity still has hope?"
"I'm not dead yet, am I?"
"Honkai is blocking my path too."
"Is that so? Then that's good."
Hearing Yoshikage Kira's words, Elysia returned to her usual lively self.
"Yoshikage Kira, you always know what I'm thinking."
"No one understands you better than I do."
"Oh, is that so...? I'm going to prepare for Kevin's birthday. See you later!"
With that, Elysia fled in embarrassment.
Yoshikage Kira watched Elysia's retreating figure and shook his head, not believing that an offhand remark from him could have stirred her heart.
After Ling was saved, humanity's last three cities survived.
Humanity was highly adaptable. Even though the world was already riddled with devastation, there were still people looking forward to tomorrow.
The Flame Chasers gradually accepted the fact that Ling was a Herrscher and was being protected by everyone.
For some time, Honkai did not erupt, and everyone chose to believe that you truly were merely keeping the Herrscher under house arrest.
Elysia was delighted by the improving situation.
"Was this within your calculations too, Yoshikage Kira?"
Soon afterward, Kevin's birthday arrived as scheduled. Everyone chatted and laughed at Kevin's birthday party, just as they had in the past.
Pardo was still stuffing herself with food and drink, while Vill-V's legendary original personality appeared before everyone.
Yoshikage Kira was surprised by the original personality's appearance.
"Aren't you very shy? I can't believe you actually dared to show yourself in front of everyone." Yoshikage Kira teased.
"Ah... 'Evil' pushed me out here. Besides, when I think about you being by my side, I'm not so scared anymore."
"Is that so?"
"Then... cheers?" Vill-V said, raising her glass.
Looking into the girl's expectant eyes, Yoshikage Kira truly did not know how to refuse.
"Cheers."
"Clink."
Their glasses touched, and Yoshikage Kira drank his fourth cup of wine.
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