Honkai: Fire Moth Herrschers-Chapter 231: Promise Me Two Things

"Maintain Honkai Energy output. Continue increasing."

As the blue light within the lab grew increasingly blinding and the numbers on the screen climbed rapidly, Mei glanced at Mobius. Her fingers tapped twice on the metal tabletop. Then, all the lights vanished, and the experiment halted... no, perhaps it's better to say, the experiment was complete.

"So, how's the data?"

Though asking a question, Michael's hands moved quickly, snatching the automatically printed data sheet before Mobius could.

"Well... it's better than the best-case scenario we envisioned."

Mei hadn't finished speaking when she saw Kevin and Michael leaning their heads together, their eyes scanning the data in unison. Both gasped sharply.

"Michael, your Core... it actually develops and grows on its own?"

Kevin's words were playful, but Michael didn't respond. He clutched his head, feeling a strong sense of unreality.

"It's not that fantastical." Mei spread her hands. Seeing the 93.33% synchronization rate and the Honkai Energy output surpassing five digits on the screen, she let out a long sigh and explained:

"Describing Michael's Core as 'developing and growing' isn't entirely accurate—although human development also involves rapid growth spurts during specific periods, it doesn't mean the body stops developing entirely in between those times."

"Uh, Mei, do you mean Michael's Core mostly stays the same, only reaching this level through a few mutations?"

Mei gave Kevin a slight smile.

Michael, however, stroked his chin and asked with certainty, "Specific periods, meaning the Third Honkai Eruption and this time?"

"Looks like you have some idea yourself." Mobius chewed her fingernails off to the side. "We didn't have the equipment to gather data back then, but referencing the data from the Second Honkai Eruption and subtracting the Second Herrscher's Honkai Energy output, your Core's maximum output was only around 2000 HW. To some extent, that's why you ultimately lost to the Third Herrscher in Nagazora City."

"But after you came back from the dead during the Third Honkai Eruption, records from the Fourth and Fifth Eruptions show your Core's output was over 4000 HW, equal to or even slightly higher than the Third Herrscher's."

"And now, your Core's output has surged again. I initially thought it might follow a geometric progression, multiplying by two each time, or an arithmetic progression, adding 2000 each time. But it seems the increase isn't fixed. Instead, it corresponds to the power level of the Herrscher associated with the change in your Core, or perhaps, slightly surpasses it, correct?"

"A perfect assessment, Mobius."

Honestly, Michael couldn't figure out the reason for these changes either. Or perhaps, life itself was just a game of fighting monsters and leveling up. Since failing to defeat a monster inevitably led to destruction, then succeeding, even without a reward, should at least grant a level up, right?

Things are never that simple!

The strange thing about human civilization was how discovered scientific principles always seemed to coincidentally align with philosophical ones.

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For instance: heat transfer always involves loss. In real life, this translates to—most of the time, your efforts far outweigh your gains.

This is precisely why games are simpler than real life; clearing a stage grants a reward. Yet, aside from the inexplicable increases in his Core's output limit during the Third and Seventh Honkai Eruptions, Michael hadn't received anything he could truly call a reward.

But whether the increased Core limit even counted as a reward was debatable—Michael still didn't understand his relationship with the Honkai or the Imaginary Tree. Hmm, more accurately, his relationship with the consciousness in Imaginary Space that had tested him multiple times.

It—if it was the chaotic consciousness Elysia spoke of—was the power it incrementally granted Michael part of some law it couldn't violate, or was it part of a destiny it had woven?

He wasn't without trying to bait the hook, proactively entering Imaginary Space. But whenever he approached with such intent, the entity wouldn't appear.

Michael shook his head. Thinking was a good habit, but excessively pondering an unsolvable problem with no clear answer was just a waste of time.

Just then, he heard Mei speak—

"Speaking of which, Michael, your luck is quite good."

"Hm? What do you mean?"

"Hm? Didn't you notice? The Third and Seventh Honkai Eruptions, whether by reaction magnitude or the Herrscher's destructive power, were watershed moments."

Michael took a couple of deep breaths. It was true.

In terms of reaction magnitude, before the Third Eruption, his and the Second Herrscher's Honkai Energy reactions were around 2000 HW. After the Third Eruption, the Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Eruptions all registered around 4000 HW.

The Seventh Eruption's peak reaction exceeded 10000 HW. It was conceivable that the subsequent Herrschers would be on the same level as the Seventh, or perhaps even stronger.

And in terms of destructive power, the First Eruption, because of Michael... caused only minor damage to Vostock. The Second Eruption destroyed the entire city of Irkutsk.

But then, the Third Eruption devastated the entire eastern coastal region of Shenzhou and the Far East. The Fourth Eruption's direct damage seemed smaller, but it altered the global climate, making the once warm Attica cold, and the Nya Highland, where Fire Moth HQ was located, humid and hot.

Setting aside the Fifth and Sixth... the Seventh...

Was all of this truly just coincidence?

"There's something else strange."

Prompted by Mei's glance, Kevin reluctantly took out the fiery red gemstone and held it out to Michael.

"This Core lacks the ring structure. Personally, I think it's better suited for making a Divine Key." Mei suggested flatly, ignoring Kevin's incessant eyebrow-wiggling.

Unexpectedly, Michael agreed readily, "Yes, that's best. No need to mimic Surtr's design this time. Kevin, how was that sword I constructed for you earlier?"

"Great! Excellent!" Kevin pocketed the Core before even finishing his sentence. Surtr was truly damaged beyond repair this time, making him cherish this Herrscher Core even more. It was strange, though; his MANTIS genes were Parvati's ice, yet he always wielded fire-manipulating weapons.

However, he was extremely satisfied with the Herrscher Core, especially the greatsword Michael had constructed based on it yesterday. With his dream realized, he was already absentmindedly considering improvements based on that greatsword—like, could the main body transform into a firearm?

Mei was right there, but Kevin's mind was already in Vill-V's workshop. He was actually spacing out in front of Mei, a first for him.

But Mei wanted to discuss something else:

"There's another issue, Michael. Factoring in the synchronization difference, your current Core output rate is identical to the Seventh Herrscher Core's maximum rated power. Exactly the same, no difference whatsoever."

"Hm?"

Michael didn't understand her point.

Even Mobius frowned. While the phenomenon was suspicious, it wasn't entirely inexplicable, right? Perhaps after Michael's reconstruction... Ugh, this is annoying. Ultimately, it could be rationalized away.

Mei wouldn't abandon her doubts just because of a plausible explanation, but Mobius believed she wouldn't deliberately raise a question without an attainable answer—even if she asked Michael, would he know the answer?

Of course not! How could that idiot possibly know? Various thoughts flashed through Mobius's mind. Predictably, her resentment towards Michael was currently quite high.

"Uh... Michael, this Core in Kevin's hand, how exactly did you obtain it? Did you replicate it with your powers, or..."

"This?" Michael scratched his head, a helpless look on his face. "Honestly, I don't know how it happened. Back then, I was only focused on regaining the First Herrscher's power to reconstruct my body. I paid no attention to this, let alone replicating it. But it just appeared in my reconstructed body, in its pre-shattered state..."

"But it still lacks the ring structure, right..."

"Yes."

Seeing her hints weren't working, Mei pondered for a moment, then made a direct request: "Michael, could I ask you to try something... Since the Seventh Herrscher could directly generate your Core within its body to replace the original, could you, without using your construction powers, try to directly generate another one..."

"Eh? I see. But I can't guarantee anything."

He closed his eyes. A moment later, he opened them disappointedly and shrugged.

Seeing this, Mei assumed he had failed.

But Kevin's expression suddenly changed. He pulled his hand from his pocket, staring at Michael in astonishment.

Sure enough, Michael opened his hand, revealing another red gemstone.

"No need to look. Still no ring structure."

But this proved he could use this Core like the Seventh Herrscher. Still, he pushed the Core into Kevin's hand.

In terms of powers, he wasn't lacking. This Core primarily offered an increase in Honkai Energy output. Perhaps he would have been tempted before, but with the Stigmata and... his Honkai Energy output was actually overflowing. He didn't need the contribution from this single Core.

Of course, in an emergency, generating another one like just now could solve the problem, though it might inconvenience Kevin...

He still didn't understand what Mei was getting at. She should have anticipated this phenomenon.

Mei seemed to realize that all her indirect probing was insufficient. Even Kevin couldn't grasp the full meaning behind her words.

In the end, honesty was the only way forward.

She looked at Michael with a solemn expression and asked softly, "Michael, the things you construct with your powers... are they truly Herrscher Cores?"

"Aren't they?"

Michael spread his hands, half-puzzled, half-showing off, constructing six Herrscher Cores. Including his own, seven Cores lined up...

But the next moment, he froze.

---||---

Leaving Lab 1, he checked the time. Theoretically, he could head back to his dorm, and he intended to.

However, passing by a lounge, his eyes couldn't help but catch a flash of pink.

Turning, he saw Elysia, Eden, and Aponia sitting around a circular table laden with Eden's treasured red wine and glasses.

Elysia seemed to have had quite a bit to drink; her cheeks were even deeper pink than her hair.

Eden cradled a ornate wine glass, leaning back on the sofa, eyes half-closed, murmuring softly.

Only Aponia remained clear-headed, though her face bore a smile rarely seen.

Regardless of the past or future, they were, at least in this moment, genuinely happy.

Suddenly, Aponia turned her head towards the lounge's transparent glass wall.

Michael met her gaze for an instant, then spun 180 degrees and walked towards the Anti-Entropy office area.

By the time Elysia followed Aponia's gaze, the space outside the window was empty.

---||---

"Honkai Energy can flow freely between the six pseudo-cores and the original Core, but the total amount exactly matches the First Herrscher Core's previous output. This means what I construct aren't truly [Herrscher Cores], but more like projections of my Core onto different dimensions... Consequently, this means I'm constructing powers, not... The more I think, the more confusing it gets."

Michael walked back towards his dorm, completely ignoring the shimmering lake under the splendid sunset glow beside him, head down, lost in thought.

"A Herrscher Core isn't just a container for power. Fundamentally, it should be a node connecting the Imaginary Tree to the real world. And consequentially, this node contains a sliver of power... But if I can't construct this node, how did I obtain this power?"

"I should have realized this sooner. Like Bronya and Otto, when using the First Herrscher Core and Void Archives, they only ever constructed Divine Keys, not 'living' Cores. I initially thought it wasn't worth the cost, but clearly that wasn't it. Then I thought maybe because I was the original Herrscher of Reason, I possessed this talent, but apparently, I'm not the first Herrscher of Reason either. What is going on?!"

Michael quickly recognized this inconsistency thanks to Mei's reminder. He should know more than Mei did now, but even memories from a "god's eye view" offered no help on this issue.

The wisest course was to shelve it for now, like Mei chose to do, but Michael felt a nagging worry.

He reviewed all the problems he had mentally shelved. They seemed interconnected, yet simultaneously unrelated.

When scientific logic failed, perhaps looking towards metaphysics was an option. And based on Michael's own sixth sense...

He felt like a net hung above his head. It couldn't completely trap him, wouldn't restrict his movements, wouldn't suffocate him. Most of the time, he couldn't even feel its presence.

But whenever he looked down, he could see the shadow cast by its fine mesh.

It, He, what did it want?

"Hey! Michael!"

A familiar greeting reached him. A smile involuntarily spread across Michael's face as he bent his knees slightly and hopped into the field beside the path.

"Captain, planting flowers again? Still sunflowers?"

Michael looked at the tangled vines at his feet and realized his question was redundant.

"Definitely not. After all, I just wanted to see the underground city's sunflowers turn once. Since that wish is fulfilled, time to plant something more normal."

What she wouldn't tell Michael was that during that period, she constantly felt a strange restlessness, as if flickering flames licked at her heart every night...

Now that feeling was completely gone, so naturally, it was time to cool down.

"These are watermelons. I checked the season; it's just about right. This summer, Sakura won't need to buy watermelons; she can just come pick them from my patch."

Michael smiled and shook his head. "Captain, this small patch won't be enough for her to slice... Besides, she's not at the base much these days."

"Fine, fine. You youngsters always have endless work." Himeko grumbled. Michael stood up with her, about to say goodbye, when she suddenly spoke, looking straight at the "setting sun":

"Michael, you seem much more energetic than before."

"Really? I hadn't noticed myself."

"...But sometimes you're also more silent, colder."

"...That's because I've resolved not to run away from certain things anymore."

"Michael, actually, I still prefer the original you... Forget it, let's not talk about this. Since you mentioned not running away... Then, Michael, there's still one more thing you have to face, right?"

"Hmph..." Michael let out a soft snort through his nose. "Yeah."

By the time he reached his dorm door, the sky outside had darkened.

Michael's steps felt heavy, as if carrying the weight of a mountain, yet he walked lightly, afraid to make the slightest sound.

He reached his own door but didn't turn. Instead, he continued forward, stopping before the next door.

He raised his finger, preparing to knock.

But, perhaps it was his imagination, through the thin door panel, he heard a sudden, heavy breath.

His hand froze mid-air.

His shadow hung there too.

Time mingled with the solidified moonlight, flowing away together in the utter silence.

By the time Michael finally made some sort of decision, his shadow had moved from his right side to beneath his feet on the left.

"..."

He took a step, not forward, but to his right.

Finally, he laboriously turned around, moving further and further away from that door.

"Can't run... Can't run... Can't run..."

His right hand clenched and unclenched, then clenched again.

But his steps moved in the exact opposite direction of his words.

Even if it was only a centimeter per second, he was still moving away from her, wasn't he?

For Michael, everything else could be overcome, could be faced.

But how exactly should he face Elysia?

He didn't know. He couldn't sort out his thoughts at all.

He truly had a bellyful of things he wanted to say to Elysia, and he believed Elysia felt the same.

But he was more afraid of a different, negative outcome.

No, no, no, not a negative outcome.

In fact, he couldn't even articulate what kind of attitude he truly desired from Elysia.

Did he hope Elysia would scream at him, beat him up, say things like, "Michael, we're done! Forever! It's all over! Past, present, future, all of it!"?

Of course not. He couldn't accept that, and Elysia wouldn't do that anyway.

Yet, the next moment, he felt it would be best if she did. That was, after all, the absolute punishment he deserved as the betrayer in a relationship.

Or did he hope Elysia would open the door, pleasantly surprised, then smile and say she held no grudges?

That would certainly be the best outcome in some sense, at least for Michael personally.

But was it truly the best?

No, all of that would be built upon Elysia's own tolerance and sacrifice.

The betrayer unpunished, while the betrayed bore everything.

Then there was another possibility: Elysia opens the door, still gentle and considerate, intimate as always, but that intimacy no longer held any romantic undertones.

"..."

This last option truly combined the worst of both worlds.

Michael laughed self-deprecatingly, his hanging hands clenched together.

He stopped walking, suddenly placing his hands on his hips and gasping for breath—the situation strangely reminded him of elementary school, getting a bad grade and being told by the teacher to get a parent's signature...

No matter what, once something happened, the result was only a matter of time.

Delaying tactics, clever evasions—how utterly...

Childish! ...in the face of life itself.

"Michael, when will you ever grow up?"

He sighed softly.

He was still somewhat lost.

But another echo resonated in his ear—

"But good, decisive is good... Heh... cough! Let your weakness die with me... My dear self, I don't know if I'll be the last, but if this happens again... please, be as decisive as today. Don't hesitate. One can only truly move forward by killing their past... cough, cough, cough!"

It was his own voice, a warning and... a plea from his past self to his future self.

Running away, delaying—it was all useless.

Just because he was afraid of losing something, should he lose the courage to even walk towards the future?

If he didn't even have the courage to face everything, how could he believe he could overcome everything?

Michael turned around resolutely, walked back to Elysia's door, and raised his hand once more.

Except... this time, just as he raised his hand, the door opened on its own.

"Hey— Let's stick to the old greeting. Long time no see, Michael."

"Long time no see, Elysia..."

"Mm-hmm? So, esteemed Mr. Michael, what exactly were you planning, loitering outside my door in the dead of night?"

She stared at Michael teasingly for a couple of seconds.

Michael met her gaze like a man facing his execution.

His expression immediately amused her, but given the atmosphere, she couldn't just clutch her stomach and laugh, making her feel quite uncomfortable holding it in.

Michael saw her discomfort and felt somewhat apprehensive.

He thought she might be cold, so he kept glancing back, hesitating whether to close the door—but if he closed it, should he stand outside or inside?

"Hm? What are you standing there for? Come in, quickly."

"Ely, I..."

His vision blurred instantly, but Michael, choking back tears, still tried to explain clearly.

"Ely, there are some things I need to explain to you clearly, about me—about my complete origins. I don't hope to use this to beg for your forgiveness, but..."

"Alright, don't say any more. Wash your face!"

She produced a pink, hot, damp towel from somewhere and gently tossed it onto Michael's face, conveniently interrupting him.

"Aponia's calculations were spot on. But she asked me to tell you, it's not yet time to say those things."

"Then..." Michael's fingers felt stiff. He didn't know how much Aponia had told Elysia, but it seemed he was a step too late.

"Thinking... Michael, actually, you don't need to... Heh..." Elysia kept changing her wording, clearly nervous herself, which paradoxically eased Michael's mind somewhat.

But her slightly flustered appearance made Michael feel even more ashamed to face her.

"Ai-ai-ai— In the end, it seems being more honest is best... How about this! Michael, you... promise me two things—they're both very fair. Even if you insist on seeing this as some kind of exchange, it's completely equivalent. You don't need to feel guilty... No, perhaps the weight you need to bear is even..."

"What two things? Of course, I'm willing!" Michael automatically ignored the latter part of her sentence.

"The first thing..." Elysia sucked her finger, speaking indistinctly, "I want you to make a vow."

"A vow?"

"No matter the cost, humanity will defeat the Honkai. You will defeat the Honkai."

"No matter the cost, humanity will defeat the Honkai. I will defeat the Honkai." Michael repeated firmly, perhaps without fully grasping the weight.

"And the second thing..." Elysia blinked, facing the moonlight.

"Haven't decided yet. Let's leave it as a Young Girl's little mystery!"

But back then, he couldn't even fully comprehend the weight of the first vow, let alone the sorrowful future implied by this second mystery.

---||---

(Author's Note below)

I really couldn't find a good way to handle the emotional resolution between the last two characters.

I wrote countless versions and ultimately could only choose this one. Because Aponia got involved, it feels somewhat like a rushed or unsatisfying ending.

Although it's flawed, it's the relatively smoothest version I could come up with.

No one dies heartbroken or gets overly emotional; everything proceeds calmly.

Correspondingly, it's also the version where Elysia makes the smallest sacrifice I could think of—she sacrifices the past to save the present, while Michael bears the burden of the future. That's all.

Okay, I admit the emotional storyline in this volume has completely collapsed due to being too rushed and goal-oriented. Trying to salvage it is basically impossible. All I can say is...

Please be gentle with the criticism...

On a side note, the Previous Era arc is starting to wrap up.