After taking a swig from her drink, Bronya said, "Zeke mentioned this long ago: To combat Honkai, we must unite everyone on the same warship. Thanks to our collective efforts over these years, people still fear Honkai, but they now have a direction for resistance, knowing what they can and should do. Compared to the previous era, this unity and freedom from constraints are our strengths—we must capitalize on them... Ladies, let's be mindful of public opinion and education; don't focus too narrowly and miss the bigger picture."
Hera and the others nodded, acknowledging the reminder.
Then, Hera smiled and concluded, "That will be all for today. Indeed, we don't have much time for further discussions. Please continue with your respective duties, striving for humanity's future. Farewell!"
With that, Hera ended the communication.
Afterward, she held her teacup, but her radiant smile suddenly faltered.
"Fighting for humanity's future... Since when have I started uttering such grandiose words without ulterior motives?"
"Crack!"
The teacup unexpectedly shattered, sending shards of porcelain and tea splashing onto her clean, elegant red dress, leaving damp stains and rising steam from the heat.
Amber's hands, folded at her waist, trembled slightly. After a momentary pause, she knelt down, silently picking up the broken ceramic pieces from Hera's skirt, then produced a handkerchief to carefully dab at the water stains on her dress.
Hera remained unresponsive as Amber tended to her. A while later, she abruptly tilted her head, picked up a pastry, and cheerfully offered it to Amber.
"Open wide, Amber..."
Amber's wiping motion halted, and she gently lifted her gaze to meet a pair of flawless jade-green eyes, filled with a gentle smile, looking back at her.
So, Amber knelt before Hera, parting her lips slightly.
"Ah..."
She accepted the morsel fed to her by Hera.
Smiling contentedly, Hera reached out, tenderly caressing Amber's silver hair, and asked:
"Is it tasty?"
"Yes," Amber replied mildly.
Praising her own cooking did carry a hint of self-promotion, akin to a melon seller boasting about his wares.
Hera pressed a hand against her lips, mischief gleaming in her eyes. "I might have poisoned it!"
"As long as it's your will, Lady Hera, there's no issue."
"Pfft! Foolish girl, how could I harm my Amber? Of course, I was just teasing you."
"Then, should Amber pretend to be affected by the poison, Lady Hera?" Amber asked, her voice calm—though she secretly wished to rest her head on Hera's lap, hoping to soothe her mistress slightly. However, the notion of maintaining propriety took precedence in Amber's mind.
Unlike Kallen or Theresa, obedience and companionship were the sole purpose of Amber's existence. She knew not to overstep boundaries, avoiding any discomfort for her mistress.
Hera shook her head with a long sigh. "No need. Amber, tell me, do you think I've changed?"
"I'm unsure, Lady Hera."
"You can't see it?"
"Amber is merely Lady Hera's subordinate."
As merely a subordinate, fully devoted to serving Hera, Amber had neither concern nor standing to comment on her mistress's changes.
Hera understood what Amber meant, but these words made her purse her lips. Gazing at the girl obediently crouching before her, seemingly crafted by divine hands with perfect precision, she let out a soft sigh.
This can't go on, Amber.
Indeed, Hera didn't care about her own fate, but Amber... Now that her obsession had reached its conclusion, Hera finally found the strength to shift her gaze inward. The girl standing before her, who entrusted everything to Hera, truly entered her focus as an issue that could no longer be ignored.
What would happen to Amber if I disappear?
Considering this question left Hera somewhat uncertain.
The operation to defeat the Herrscher of Corruption continued steadily.
Simultaneously, its resistance intensified. With vast numbers of infected bodies at its command, it launched wave after wave of suicide attacks against the source of the Demolish Forcefield, attempting to breach the blockade. Additionally, the remaining aggregates evolved increasingly diverse forms, seemingly trying to find ways to break through the forcefield's containment and spread infection across the barrier—unfortunately for it, Yae Sakura wielded the Key of Corruption, using the Theater of Domination as she roamed the globe under the Herrscher of a Thousand People's control. She maintained a firm grip on the evolution direction of the Herrscher of Corruption, leaving no room for breakthroughs.
More troublesome was how this Herrscher continually modified already-infected organisms, seeking escape routes by advancing underground, deep into the sea, or high up in the sky.
But you're trying to flee either below ground or above, huh? You know about Herrschers, right? Those monsters that might not even perish if they take a trip to Earth's core? Humans with such combat power can be counted on just one hand—what?! You are a Herrscher? And still trying to run away? Do you really think you can escape?
So far, humanity hasn't had the resources to investigate its origins fully. They remain uncertain about the source of this Herrscher of Corruption—its background and extent of knowledge. However, Bronya boasts an IQ of 180 and extensive war experience, while Einstein, Tesla, and Otto represent some of the greatest minds across both fifty millennia past and future.
Even if the Herrscher of Corruption's true form was Mei Ying's reborn self, challenging such a formidable lineup would be an uphill battle.
In any case, having single-handedly confronted an entire civilization, the Herrscher of Corruption has given it their all.
For humans, though the path ahead remains fraught with challenges, victory is steadily within reach, inexorable and unstoppable.
Bronya's grid blockade gradually lifted one by one, signaling the easing of crises. The Herrscher of Corruption's operational range, once spanning thousands upon thousands of grids worldwide, slowly dwindled: from four-digit numbers to three, then two... By the third month since global machinery went haywire, the Herrscher of Corruption's territory had been compressed to just a few square kilometers deep within the new continent.
The remaining area was roughly equivalent to that of a large city, surrounded by heavy firepower protected by Honkai Energy's Demolish Forcefields. Even Hera herself sat above, unceremoniously positioning her Sky Base at the city outskirts, calmly observing the chaos unfolding below among countless mechanical beings.
"Phew—finally coming to an end. This ordeal has been quite exhausting. However, after such widespread destruction, it presents an opportunity to re-plan global infrastructure without constraints. Many new facilities can now be implemented freely, so perhaps there is some silver lining amidst the calamity."
Welt took a seat across from Hera and accepted the fine tea Amber offered, gulping it down before letting out a weary sigh.
Indeed, the situation seemed promising, but one must not overlook the countless sacrifices made along the way. While the grand concept of civilization remained intact, beneath it lay each irreplaceable life lost—a precious uniqueness for every individual who perished!
Welt closed his eyes, slowly composing himself.
There was still much work to be done; they couldn't stop here. Pressing forward relentlessly until victory is achieved—that would be the best tribute to those who have passed away.
Hera glanced at him and continued sipping her tea without speaking. She knew just how incredibly resilient Welt's will was; he didn't need specific comfort—only some time to compose himself.
Below them lay a platform extending from the Sky Base, hovering almost directly above the dense swarm of mechanical beings.
One by one, distinct figures materialized on this platform.
Durandal descended like a shooting star, Raiden Mei arrived amidst thunderous roars, Wendy stood silently upon arrival, Seele surrounded by black-and-white butterflies, Ana emanating chilling cold alongside Siegfried... Each exuded a unique yet terrifying aura of Honkai Energy, causing the mechanoids below to tilt their heads upward simultaneously, emitting a cacophony of electronic noises.
It sounded like furious roars or menacing threats—but perhaps it was merely panic and confusion?