Himeko Is a Herrscher

Su Qing'an frowned slightly as she sensed the dissipation of this strange power.

The memory of being forced to kill over a thousand people in Yakarta remains vivid, and he naturally wouldn't forget the missionary's distinctive and eerie aura.

At that time, he was in a state of personality disorder, which is why he was able to make up his mind to suppress people in such a ruthless way. However, as his emotions gradually recovered, the sensation of killing repeatedly gave him a chilling sense of guilt day and night, making the memory more and more vivid.

He did consider whether, should a similar situation arise again, a solution other than killing could be found.

Even today, he still struggles to arrive at a definitive method for correcting the mental state of those who have been misled.

The only thing worth trying is to Soul Scale, attempting to precisely melt away that strange power, thereby restoring the bewitched person to their original state.

However, given the current situation, it is not realistic to apply it on a large scale, and a 100% success rate cannot be guaranteed.

Once human memory and cognition have been altered, will they truly return to their original state simply because the persuasive power has disappeared?

Su Qing'an remained skeptical, but if such a convenient outcome could not be achieved, then his previous approach would still be the only viable option.

He took a deep breath and understood the tricky part.

This is the first time we've encountered an enemy who dislikes being overt and prefers to act covertly.

It's very uncomfortable in every sense of the word.

From the Yakarta incident to the current betrayal and assassination within the Australian branch, it is evident that the mastermind behind it possesses extremely high intelligence, influence over cognition with near-authoritative abilities, can evade technological detection, can even modify their own appearance, and harbors immense malice towards humanity.

Based on the fact that the process of applying this ability is similar to that of Herrscher wielding power, yet it is weaker and more simplistic, Su Qing'an suspects that the other party is either an extremely special Honkai Beast or Pseudo-Herrscher lurking in human society.

The latter is more likely than the former, because Pseudo-Herrscher can possess human intelligence and abilities similar to human powers, while Honkai Beast have never had such a precedent.

After the Yakarta incident, its existence was like a drop of water mixed in with the ocean, without making a sound. But this time, this unknown enemy no longer concealed its true existence and accurately targeted Mei.

The target chosen by the other party is arguably the very heart of human civilization. If they successfully alter Mei's cognition silently, the hidden consequences are already imaginable.

By orchestrating the accidental death of Kevin Kaslana, the first Fusion Warrior, during the Chimera Project, and planting deadly traps within the Divine Key and the Eye of the Abyss, they exploited their status as the founder of Soulsteel to deliberately and blatantly exploit vulnerabilities in subsequent war resources...

Even that's unnecessary. The enemy only needs to prevent her from conducting further experiments and research, and Su Qing'an will be powerless to influence the subsequent battle.

No one in this world is a perfect savior.

Mei isn't either, but one thing is certain: if human civilization were to lose her, the future would inevitably descend into hopeless darkness.

The missionary's choices and plans were completely unlike those of previous Honkai creatures that only knew how to demolish, plunder, and destroy. It understood what was key and what was core.

The human population is countless. Even if the world is repeatedly sifted through by the Honkai tides, there will still be too many people who can continue to survive. Reducing these insignificant numbers for the entire civilization is not a very interesting choice.

What if all of Australia is gone?

Even if no survivors remain in Australia and the Moth to Fire division is completely wiped out, from the perspective of the overall strategy and the future, it may be considered heartbreaking and tragic, but it is far from being a state of despair.

But Mei is different. If she dies here, even if Australia is completely unharmed, it will still be a huge victory and achievement for the Honkai side.

Even missionaries understood this principle, and Su Qing'an understood it even more profoundly. He stared at the crimson blood slowly seeping out from the writhing soul steel, his expression dark.

These are all outstanding warriors of the Moth to Fire, who have faced life and death on the battlefield many times, possessing excellent resumes and pasts. Some of them have even received treatment from Black Abyss White Flower and [Stigmata], and are people who have spoken a few words to you and whom you can still remember.

But now, this unreasonable force has tainted their resolve and ideals, forcing them to choose this way to leave this world.

The boy couldn't help but feel angry, nor could he avoid the sorrow welling up from the depths of his heart. However, he had no choice but to remain calm, otherwise he would only miss more clues and indirectly cause more sacrifices.

Currently, it appears that the enemy possesses the ability to use humans who have altered their cognition in advance as a medium to release the power of altered cognition a second time, thereby interfering with the surrounding area.

Based on the Yakarta incident, it can be concluded that this cunning enemy can control far more than this number, and the targets are likely mostly the Moth to Fire soldiers who can withstand this Honkai outbreak.

Su Qing'an suddenly connected this to an even more terrifying possibility.

Could it be... that the Seventh Herrscher was born in Australia because of this enemy?

Otherwise, why would everything happen by such coincidence?

The fact that the assassination attempt against Mei was deliberately timed to coincide with the outbreak of the Honkai was far too lucky to be attributed to mere luck.

However, if we assume that this is not a coincidence, but some kind of inevitable event, then it can only mean that both the Honkai Beast and the Pseudo-Herrscher on the other side undoubtedly have established a clear communication link with the Honkai Consciousness.

In theory, this is a privilege reserved for Herrscher.

The so-called Herrscher are the apostles of the gods; they can directly communicate with the divine.

However, the unknown monsters at present are clearly not Herrscher. Even among the Pseudo-Herrscher, based on the cases that Su Qing'an has learned so far, it can be seen that the connection with the Honkai Consciousness is far from reaching the level where it can be reasonably commanded and communicated effectively.

If the other party possesses the qualifications and permission to know the actions the Honkai Consciousness will take, or even to assist or influence the outcome, it can only mean that either even in the eyes of the Honkai Consciousness, this monster has extremely special characteristics, or its very existence is a reserve for the Herrscher.

Regardless of the outcome, Mei is in a dangerous situation right now.

The appearance of the Seventh Herrscher is a momentous event that cannot be ignored. Even if she is defeated and all the Honkai Beast and Zombie are killed, the harsh Honkai Energy environment of an entire continent cannot be purified. This means that the loss of the entire Australian base is almost inevitable.

Meanwhile, an unknown monster lurking in the shadows is ready to deliver a fatal blow to Mei at any moment. This means that the original plan could not be fully executed even before the outpost against the Seventh Herrscher was launched.

Su Qing'an understood that the only one who could stop this strange power was himself.

If Mei chooses to leave, no one knows whether he can avoid the various attacks that follow. But if he can't leave, the original plan to assist Kevin in combat in order to indirectly fight against the Seventh Herrscher will be ruined.

There's no time to linger and worry about unnecessary things.

The boy unfolded [Udu-dust • Critical Point], and countless illusions extended from it, surrounding and enveloping Mei, who was still in a state of thought.

Under Prometheus's command, the underground laboratory, entirely made of Soul Steel, naturally cracked open like Parting of the Red Sea. He glanced at the heavy, oppressive sky and left the spot in an instant.

Mei could only feel the wind pressure and the trivial noise gently brushing against her ears. In the next moment, her vision shifted to the extremely high and distant sky.

She trod upon the deep, dark ground beneath her feet, seemingly designed to provide a sense of security, and gazed at the nearby wisps of clouds, asking:

"The self-destruction earlier, and other attacks that Prometheus failed to detect?"

Su Qing'an stated:

"Yes, that's an unknown and mysterious power, somewhat similar to the situation in the Yakarta incident last time. It's most likely an enemy."

"It possesses the means to use these manipulated people as a secondary medium to unleash this power."

"You should understand how dangerous that was just now, Mei."

Mei calmly said:

"This means that, apart from Mechanical Force, I need to be on guard and even take precautions against any sentient life form. Soldiers will no longer be allowed to participate in patrol systems in future laboratories."

She hesitated for a moment, then asked:

"How far do you think this ability can reach through the Radiation Range?"

Su Qing'an replied:

"Theoretically, the radiation of this power should not be affected by the physical medium, but it seems that because it uses the power of dozens of souls linked together as a secondary medium, it can only radiate within a range of less than a hundred meters."

Mei said softly:

"Then the situation isn't at its worst. Even if it conceals the specific range of transmission, there must still be a limit that cannot be ignored. To be on the safe side, let's assume it's one kilometer."

"Otherwise, it could have chosen a time when you weren't there and directly used that area to influence me, but it didn't, which only means it couldn't."

"For now, we can extend the security perimeter to five kilometers."

The girl stared at the data on the tablet, her expression grave.

Even though her own life was being threatened, she did not delve further into the lingering influence of the missionaries for the time being.

Currently, communications in various cities and even regions have been submerged and cut off by the Honkai Energy currents. Their own vision, which was once all-knowing, has been reduced to being able to connect and deploy only through specialized Honkai Energy detectors and satellite communications.

She can only deduce the area where the Herrscher will descend by observing the direction of Honkai Energy flow and using Prometheus's algorithm.

The initial conclusion was in Sydney.

After carefully comparing satellite maps, the center point of convergence was discovered, leading to a more precise answer.

Sydney International Airport.

The birthplace of the Seventh Herrscher is right there. Based on the timeline of previous Herrscher births, if you had arrived earlier, you might have been able to prevent the perfect birth of the Herrscher, thus indirectly increasing the chances of killing the Herrscher.

Sydney is Himeko's temporary residence, so Mei naturally chose to try to communicate with her first. As the person in charge besides herself, and a warrior with many battlefield experiences, her presence was undoubtedly very important at this time.

A call could not be established; it appeared that there were no devices nearby that could connect to the other party.

Considering that Himeko is different from abnormal humans like Kevin and Su Qing'an, Mei had already mentally prepared for the worst.

She had the authority to monitor all armored vehicle locations, an authority she had never used out of courtesy or necessity, but now it was the best tool to ascertain the other party's current situation.

Himeko's armor is made of nanotechnology. Even if it is completely destroyed by external forces, a portion of it will still remain embedded in her body. This is also the reason why she usually wears casual clothes.

Since armor itself is, in a sense, part of the body, the rest of the combat uniform naturally becomes meaningless.

This also means that as long as Himeko herself has not been burned to [Ashes], one can find clues.

Sydney International Airport.

This is the answer we got.

The girl looked gloomy; she found it hard to believe that this was such a subtle coincidence.

The captain of the Moth to Fire encountered the phenomenon of Herrscher birth shortly after the Honkai eruption, making communication impossible.

It all seemed like a premeditated plan.

With Himeko dead, it was no longer possible for him, who was only nominally and authorized as the leader and had no experience in commanding troops, to effectively direct his soldiers and deal with any potential traitors planted by the missionaries, thus preventing further losses.

Mei is well aware of her own talents, so she understands that what she can do right now is really limited.

It is essential to ascertain the other party's exact situation.

Holding onto the hope that Kevin could go there and rescue him, the girl silently zoomed in on the satellite-broadcast map, following the residual armor signal.

Immediately, a coincidence occurred that caused my heart to beat faster involuntarily.

Located in a sacred world painted with oceans of Honkai Energy and white flames, only that faint signal steadfastly exists in the center, like a hollow area inside a storm, possessing a luxurious tranquility and peace.

Based on data analysis and prior understanding of its capabilities, the armor was unable to leave any trace in that area.

But the reality is that she can still confirm the presence of the armor.

Unlike normal electronic signals, this is a confirmation method that the Honkai Vortex itself cannot interfere with, so it is impossible for errors to occur.

Mei's expression grew increasingly somber; she understood the absurd, ridiculous, and almost scandalous nature of the situation she was facing.

Himeko, the leader of the Fifth Squad the Moth to Fire.

It is highly likely that he became the Seventh Herrscher during this Honkai.

Otherwise, there is no other reason to explain why the armor, located in the center of the sea of fire, still exists. Apart from the fact that the creation of the power itself cannot affect the Herrscher, thus indirectly causing the armor to remain, she cannot find any other possibility for the time being.

Since the incident involving Seele Fulei, Mei has developed a resistance to such things, but it is still very difficult for her to accept them calmly.

Himeko is an excellent and resilient warrior. The loss of a captain-level figure in this way by the Moth to Fire is undoubtedly a great loss. However, her interpersonal relationships have become the biggest problem in the fight against the Seventh Herrscher.

Su Qing'an was unable to fight, and the plan to have her assist Kevin in fighting the Herrscher was, in Kevin's subsequent report, a bad move that was already pushing him to his psychological limit.

If the Seventh Herrscher is Himeko, then she is the benefactor who once dragged him back from the brink of death, placed him in a medical pod, and hid his whereabouts for a full six months, allowing him to survive.

Continuing to have the boy assist Kevin in fighting the Seventh Herrscher would be an extremely cruel act.

Mei analyzed the cause of his psychological illness. Seele's final method of suicide was to use the Stigmata in his body as a medium to use her power and force him to kill her.

This behavior caused Su Qing'an to unconsciously recall that scene the moment he felt the will to fight, and to experience hallucinations and sensations of killing his own loved ones. He would feel this way even when attacking strangers or mindless Honkai Beast, let alone Himeko, with whom he was relatively close?

The girl calmly sent the information she had gathered to Kevin, her eyes lowered.

If, after verification, it is confirmed that the Seventh Herrscher's original form is indeed Himeko.

The positions have now reversed. If Mei originally intended to persuade Su Qing'an to disregard her and go directly to cooperate with Kevin in fighting the Herrscher, now she needs this reason to keep Su Qing'an by her side.

But...

Could Kevin really kill the Seventh Herrscher alone?

Mei remains pessimistic about this, and can only hope that the Herrscher will be born as expected, allowing Kevin to interrupt the process and weaken it to the greatest extent possible, which would greatly increase their chances of winning.

She said:

"The Herrscher is at Sydney International Airport; I've already informed Kevin to go there."

"Because of this unexpected event, I need to change the original plan. Until I come up with a specific solution, Mr. Su, please stay with me for now. Kevin can handle things over there. As long as we can interrupt the process of the Herrscher's birth, he should be fine on his own."

Su Qing'an did not refute Mei's suggestion. Rather, he also believed that her safety was the most pressing issue at present. With Kevin's strength, even if the Seventh Herrscher was exponentially stronger than the previous Herrscher, he would not be so easily killed.

As long as they survive, the losses can be offset with the subsequent support from Black Abyss White Flower.

The boy gazed at Brisbane, which was drawing ever closer, and at the place that had long felt like home, and whispered:

"This is a serious problem; I'm afraid the higher-ups will need to redeploy security measures around their area."

"Anyway, let's stay here for a while."