Honkai: Strijder
Chapter 460: Battle and Reason
Theresa felt as if she were being torn apart.
On one side, she stood in a vast white space, facing a pale, snow-like god. Step by step, slow yet unstoppable, she advanced—like a fanatic longing to touch a divine statue, inching ever closer.
On the other side, she stood in a dreamlike world where golden light fell like rain, fighting against another version of herself—cold and brimming with killing intent.
Theresa realized something: she could not stop herself from approaching the god. But she also came to understand that only by defeating this other self—this Herrscher persona born from the Honkai and her own darkness—could she break free from the god's control and reclaim herself.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Golden chains shot forward like arrows, like venomous fangs, carrying terrifying force. Theresa swung the Judah she had drawn from her memories to block them, only to find her energy rapidly draining away.
"Elysion Pedion—activate!"
The golden cross struck the ground. Chains identical to those of the Herrscher of Binding shot outward into the surrounding space, only to vanish again in an instant.
But the Herrscher persona, whose face was filled with cold killing intent, suddenly felt her body grow heavy. She sneered:
"Hmph! Do you think something like this can oppose me?"
"I don't know how effective it'll be, but it's worth a try. That said… do we really have no room for negotiation? Aren't you another me? Don't you have anything you want to talk about?"
"Drop the act! I have no interest in a weak, hypocritical thing like you. You deserve to cower in the darkness of your consciousness and watch me create the world I desire—that's all!"
"Sigh… You have the same face as me, yet you're completely unlovable. Looks like you need a bit of 'love-filled education.'"
Boom!!!
Two flawless white legs collided midair, producing a violent sonic blast.
Both of their Honkai energy was suppressed. In this moment, pure hand-to-hand combat was far more effective than any other method.
Crack! Snap!
Lightning-fast exchanges of fists and kicks erupted in rapid succession. Both were Theresa—both possessed Kaslana blood and the genes of the Emperor-class Honkai beast Vishnu. Their physical strength was unquestionable. And in this mental world, that strength was equal.
Fighting oneself meant every punch and kick mirrored the other in technique and force. Back and forth they went—ending in a perfect stalemate.
After one clash, the two separated, standing amid drifting golden particles, watching each other as they adjusted their breathing and focus.
Theresa stared at her counterpart, once again drawing forth the radiant Oath of Judah from the void.
"I've calmed down, so I just remembered something I can't accept… You killed Himeko, didn't you?"
"Oh? You mean that disobedient one? Yes, I killed her. Her body's probably already turned to ash by now. A bit of a pity—but what can you do about it? Useless trash."
The Herrscher persona grinned maliciously.
Theresa fell silent for a moment. Pain flickered in her eyes before she spoke slowly:
"Other people's Herrscher personas can coexist peacefully… but I've realized something. Between you and me, only one can exist."
"Then try it!"
The Herrscher Theresa replied nonchalantly. She pulled a golden chain from the void—and crushed it in her bare hand.
"Hah! So this is the foundation of your Elysion Pedion? Others might not be able to detect or destroy it, but for me—the true Herrscher of Binding—this kind of toy can be seen through with just a bit of effort! Now, what do you have left to fight me with?"
As her harsh words fell, the golden network of chains maintaining the barrier appeared in the air—then shattered and vanished.
Only then did the Herrscher Theresa burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! See that? Your so-called advantage means nothing to me. Accept defeat and crawl back into uselessness!"
Amid her manic laughter, she summoned her chained weapons once more and launched another fierce assault.
Facing the countless chains about to pierce toward her, Theresa took a deep breath.
"Elysion Pedion—activate again!"
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Golden chains extended from Judah once more, enveloping the surrounding space and dispersing the Herrscher Theresa's Honkai energy. Her chain attacks instantly lost their power, dropping limply to the ground.
"In terms of authority, I'm still far inferior to you. But I've long mastered Elysion Pedion to the point it's as natural as eating and drinking. Break it as many times as you want, I'll just deploy it again. And in this mental world, many forms of exhaustion can be ignored… I can keep this up with you all day!"
"…"
The Herrscher Theresa's smile vanished instantly—though to be precise, her eyes had always held nothing but cold calculation and killing intent. She had never truly been carried away by arrogance.
Theresa had originally been an exceptionally intelligent and outstanding Valkyrie. She had countless admirers, many of whom praised her intellect highly—and that praise was well-founded. The truth was that, after breaking free from Otto's mental influence, and for the sake of Kiana—and the other Kiana whom they had no solution for at the time—Theresa had quickly regained her original clarity of mind.
Now, that same intelligence was equally possessed by the Herrscher persona.
So from the very beginning, Herrscher Theresa had been rational. She knew to focus her full efforts on the greatest threat—Hera. She knew to destroy the dangerous Honkai energy inhibitors immediately. She also understood the combat awareness and capabilities of her other self. She was completely different from types like Sirin or Senti—perhaps the most intelligent Herrscher persona known.
In short, both sides took each other very seriously. Neither had ever underestimated the other.
"A weak, cowardly fool like you can be surprisingly troublesome at times. In that case, I'll just twist your neck off with my own hands!"
"I'll return that line to you. And by the way, do you know how many ways Judah can be used?"
Theresa gave a sly smile, hurling the massive cross forward, a chain extending from it back to her hand.
Bang!
Herrscher Theresa raised her arm to block, forced back a few steps. Then the heavy cross came crashing down from above—Theresa was now swinging Judah like a flail.
Boom!!!
Herrscher Theresa endured the powerful impact, her legs bending as she held her ground. Then she saw Theresa standing atop Judah with a smile, pulling a golden spear from within it.
"Apologize to Himeko!"
Theresa smiled, her eyes cold as ice. The spear thrust downward through the air with a piercing whistle.
Clang!!!
Two golden spears collided—it was Herrscher Theresa, who in a flash had manifested her own Judah and drawn a spear to block the attack.
Theresa narrowed her eyes.
"Weren't you just going on about Herrscher powers and authority? And now you're using human weapons you supposedly look down on?"
"That's not important. What matters is victory!"
"You're right. What matters is my victory—and your defeat!"
"How arrogant!"
With a sharp shout, Herrscher Theresa blasted Theresa and her Judah away. Holding a spear in one hand and her own Judah in the other, she surged forward in pursuit.
Two identical girls, wielding identical weapons, launched into another fierce clash of strikes and collisions.