Blazers.
Speaking of which, she was the one who caused all of this today.
By now, Ling Ke already knew the truth of those years from Cocolia's own mouth.
—"I never expected that all the endless darkness I've endured over the years—enough to drive anyone insane—came from a single distrustful call to the police..."
Looking back now, it's almost ironic.
—"Is this what they call the arrogance of a time traveler?"
—"I thought I could do anything just by having foresight."
—"I was born with a filter over my eyes, looking down on everyone else… and in the end, I paid the price."
Now, Ling Ke couldn't help but wonder:
If he hadn't been so arrogant from the beginning… if he had chosen to live like a normal person, quietly leaving Changkong City early…
If he had let Coco Leah use her Raiden Mei as a mere pawn, unknowingly triggering the Third Eruption artificially…
Would his fate have changed?
—"Bah... thinking about it just brings more headaches."
—"What's the point?"
Inside the Theater of Domination, Ling Ke's main body sat alone in a grand hall built like a Western medieval courtroom.
He rested on a tall-backed, majestic throne, one leg crossed over the other, his cheek supported by one hand, while playing with a red crystal in the other.
Its name: Gem of Sickness!
Yes, that thing had manifested naturally last night, after he completely destroyed the West Asia Branch, cleansing that auditorium of all its original filth.
—"Just like in the plot at Honmihara…"
The core power of the Law of Fire had fallen into the hands of the Dominating Herrscher.
However, the current situation was very different from the original script.
Because…
—"I'm not stupid enough to just be a well-equipped kid."
Ling Ke's objective was crystal clear: he didn't need to fan the flames of legacy.
What he wanted now was revenge—on everyone who directly or indirectly made him suffer all these years.
Otto, Rita, Cocolia, Bronya, Raiden Mei…
It didn't matter whether it was intentional or not.
Didn't matter whether it was direct damage or collateral fallout.
Every one of them… was a target of his vengeance.
Ling Ke also understood: if he went after any of those people, others would inevitably come to their aid.
Rita, with her "laundry"…
Ciel, who cared for Bronya…
And those who cared for Raiden Mei… far too many.
And Ling Ke—no matter who he faced—would never back down.
From now on: those who stand in his way will die.
Just like in the West Asia Branch, those not directly involved… will die to simplify matters.
As for the "Proper Lords"…
He's sorry, but unless he shatters them until they break, he won't let them go.
They broke him.
Now he wants them to feel the same.
Even if he dies in the process… he'll come back and continue raging.
Anyone who dares call themselves the "World-Destroying Player" holds that kind of power.
So today…
Yellowstone Base, under Anti-Entropy control.
—"Don't worry. I won't kill her…"
—"At least not for now."
In the underground prison zone, a gray-haired girl stood in front of Cocolia's cell, smiling faintly.
She looked exactly like Bronia, with an attractive figure…
But right now, she was utterly different.
Like a human form of negative emotion, exuding chilling malice from head to toe.
—"You've all read the reports about me, right?"
—"If not… you'd better sign up for remedial classes soon."
The gray-haired girl—that Silver Wolf of the Dominating Puppet—mocked Cocolia.
—"Don't worry. Until I decide she's paid every bit of her 'debt,' I won't let her die."
Only fall.
Buzz!
A spatial door opened.
—"Neary, take her!"
In a flash, before Bronya or anyone could react, Cocolia was dragged away.
At the same time, the character template from the game Dawn of the Silver Wolf was activated, and the dominating puppet—the gray-haired girl—also leapt lightly through the spatial door.
—"Wait, don't go!"
At that moment, Bronya, closest to the scene, lunged directly toward the portal.
Having obtained the Core of the Herrscher of Reason, her previously paralyzed legs were now completely restored.
Her speed and reflexes were astonishing.
However—
Boom!
She was instantly repelled.
The spatial door was right in front of her. The other side was clearly the Theater of Domination.
Even the gray-haired girl could be seen, grinning mockingly on the other side.
But that spatial door was an unbridgeable abyss.
At that moment, Ling Ke, hidden backstage, fully confirmed it: his Theater of Domination—with its "rebirth chamber" properties—could completely isolate any external threats.
That's why he didn't close the door immediately.
And so…
—"What will you do to Mama Cocolia?"
After being repelled, Bronya was naturally shielded by Kiana and Fu Hua.
But right then, her mind was clouded. She quickly stood up, locked eyes with the gray-haired girl who looked just like her through the portal, and asked anxiously.
In response…
—"You tore my limbs off in front of her. For over half a year, until the Third Honkai Eruption, her subordinates tortured me… over and over, without rest…"
—"And now, for the next six months, I'll give her that exact same pain."
The gray-haired girl, in sync with Ling Ke's consciousness, smiled:
—"I clenched my teeth and endured… so very hard."
—"I haven't forgotten a single second of that pain."
—"It's etched into my body… burned into my mind."
At that point, the gray-haired girl's body trembled slightly.
A fully formed conditioned reflex.
But her expression remained deranged.
And her words, even more so:
—"So if Cocolia can endure… I'll let her go after six months. Then we're done."
—"And if she can't…"
The girl smiled dangerously:
—"Then those closest to her will pay the price."
—"For example: her beloved self-proclaimed daughters…"
Upon hearing this—
—"Then let Bronia take her place!"
Bronya rushed back to the spatial door, pounding on it hard:
—"Bronia was the one who attacked her first, so let Bronia take the punishment!"
—"No, no, no."
The gray-haired girl sneered:
—"You won't get off that easily."
—"You know very well you're also my enemy."
—"Why would I let you take her place?"
—"In cases like this… the more you resist seeing something, the more I insist on showing it."
—"Oh, and by the way, take good care of your little sisters!"
—"Because I don't think your 'mother' will last much longer."
In that moment, Bronya fell into complete panic.
She desperately wanted to cross that portal.
Even…
Boom!
She directly activated the Core of the Herrscher of Reason. With a flash of blue light, she donned that elegant outfit.
Bronya had a sky-high IQ. (Note: IQ 180.)
And she instantly remembered the old records in Anti-Entropy's database about the previous Herrscher of Reason—Mr. Walter.
Back then in Siberia, when he faced the Law of the Sky, he shattered Celine's spatial barrier.
And now…
…!!!
Useless.
Bronya confirmed it immediately.
It wasn't a lack of skill. Nor a lack of mastery over the Power of Reason.
It was that the Power of Reason simply couldn't touch the invisible barrier before her.
Unknowingly, Bronya was facing the power of the System.
A power that represents the absolute.
In that instant…
—"It's useless. Don't waste your strength."
From the other side, the gray-haired girl was still mocking her.
—"Also… how's that little attempt to secretly link space with your partner Kiana going?"
…
Behind Bronya, Kiana was also activating her own Herrscher power, face serious.
She was the Herrscher of the Void. Though she couldn't fully use that power due to the shared consciousness in her body…
Just like Bronya, Kiana instantly realized:
—"Even with all the power of the Herrscher of the Void, I can't break this barrier."
She too didn't understand the System's power.
So she could only guess:
—"As I thought… the later a Herrscher is born, the stronger they are."
Now she was completely calm. Doing everything she could to find a solution.
Suddenly…
—"You say you're a seeker of vengeance."
Kiana asked seriously:
—"Then after satisfying your hatred… what do you gain?"
Upon hearing that…
—"Hah, that question is so old…"
The gray-haired girl smirked with disdain.
—"Very simple:
—"I feel refreshed! Clear-headed!"
—"Just… incomparably satisfied!"