"You came?"
"You handed over Fenghuang Down to me and asked me to use it to put the other personalities to sleep. What horrifying plan do you have this time, Silas?"
"…"
"You know I'd do anything for you. So, what is it that you want me to do this time?"
"The 'Universal Hibernation' project we discussed. Is it ready?"
"Mmm... The Expert has nearly finished modifying the 5th Divine Key. It won't take much longer."
"And how many cryo-pods can we produce? I mean, within three months—what's the best-case number?"
"With Spiral Workshop and MOTH's remaining engineers working together? A hundred thousand shouldn't be difficult."
"Good. And the nuclear bombs you've been building—are they capable of completely erasing those three cities?"
"?! Silas, don't tell me you're actually planning to—"
"I will select one hundred thousand of humanity's finest. They will survive in hibernation, carrying humanity's hope into the next era."
"...Will you do it yourself?"
"The 12th Herrscher will do it for me. But if she fails... then I will."
"Silas..."
"I don't care what others say. History will judge my choices."
"…I understand. I'll leave the activation program somewhere obvious. And I'll make sure the city gates can be locked down easily. No one will be able to escape."
"That's for the best."
Pure Evil Vill-V swayed gently on a swing at dusk, humming to herself as she reminisced about the secret she shared with him.
As the embodiment of Vill-V's pride—the one who possessed nearly half of her talents—she had known from the start that this civilization was doomed. After the Binding Tragedy, the fall of humanity became inevitable.
But what she didn't expect was how decisive that man could be.
While everyone else clung to fantasies of defeating the Honkai, he had already made the decision on their behalf.
"Better I decide their fate than watch them tear each other apart later."
Even if the Twelfth Herrscher was defeated, what then? When the Final Herrscher came, where would humanity go?
The hibernation pods were their only hope—but there would never be enough for all. When that time came—what would happen?
"I've never trusted the goodness of humanity. Rather than gamble on their mercy, I'll bear the sin myself. I'll turn 'maybe' into 'certainty.'"
This was true wickedness.
Something even more wicked than Pure Evil.
"That's why I'm the only one who truly belongs at his side. Lilith? Elysia? They could never do what I can. Because if I will it—it will be done!"
"Found you~"
A familiar voice sang behind her.
Vill-V turned, a smirk playing on her lips. "Took you long enough, Elysia. 'We' have been waiting."
Elysia's smile didn't falter. She already knew which Vill-V this was—the most troublesome one.
"I didn't expect Pure Evil herself to wait for me. Should I feel honored? You rarely wait for anyone." Elysia took the swing next to her.
"That makes things easier," Vill-V replied with a teasing grin, though the moment she finished, her expression stiffened slightly with embarrassment.
"I had backup plans ready in case it was someone else who showed up, but since it's just you, I'll make some time… so you old friends can catch up."
"Sorry, Elysia. Pure Evil isn't really interested in anyone except Silas… sorry…" Vil-V said awkwardly as she apologized to Elysia.
"It's alright, Vil-V. After all, we're good friends, aren't we~" Elysia gently swayed on the swing. "So… you're all here to find Silas?"
"…Yeah." Vil-V lowered her head, not daring to meet Elysia's eyes.
"Don't be like that, Vil-V. Silas is a really outstanding boy, isn't he? It's perfectly normal for many girls to like him," Elysia said with a smile.
She had already thought it through on the way here—if she liked someone, then she liked them. There was no need to beat around the bush and let it affect their relationships. It was better for everyone to just be honest.
"But… you like Silas too. And this version of him… he likes you as well…" Vil-V whispered.
"Mm, Vil-V really is a kind and thoughtful girl Then I have something to tell you too—Silas was reincarnated as well"
If Silas remembers everything... then he knows.
In her memories, after the Binding Tragedy, he'd avoided Elysia entirely. Even when invited to the final banquet, he'd refused. But if this was that Silas...
Pure Evil was practically humming and dancing in Vil-V's head with joy.
"I know what you're thinking," Elysia said gently as she rocked the swing. "Actually, Silas and I have already cleared things up between us. There was a small misunderstanding between us… but it's okay now. We were honest with each other and worked through it. We… can start over. But this time, it seems I'm standing on the same starting line as all of you…"
"Honest with each other?" Pure Evil instantly seized control. "Are you sure he was honest with you? That's absolutely impossible!"
Elysia looked at Vil-V with some surprise. "Vil-V, has your control over your personas weakened since your reincarnation?"
After the other personas helped suppress Pure Evil, the original Vil-V—Vil-V of the Helix—came forward and apologized to Elysia. "Sorry about that… it's true. Pure Evil embodies all of my arrogance and half of my genius. If not for Silas, she would've been sealed away. You just said… you and Silas were honest with each other?"
"Mhm. About why he skipped the banquet... and why he avoided me after the Binding Tragedy." Elysia smiled. "As for the Rebellion Purge and his darker side, I'll slowly learn about those things in time…" Elysia said.
Pure Evil, still pinned down by the other personas, relaxed.
Of course he didn't tell her. That secret was theirs alone.
Hmph. I'm still special.
Though... she hadn't expected Elysia to confess so boldly.
I've fallen a step behind.
"I see..." Vill-V nodded slowly. "Then... Dr. Mobius must have been reborn too, right?"
"Yes. It was Mobius who helped me understand my own heart—and truly see Silas for who he is." Elysia smiled wryly. "Though now, she's also my rival."
"Is that so..." Vill-V fell into thought. "Actually, before coming here, I visited Sundown Alley. Not just Aponia and Pardofelis—even Kalpas was reborn. So, I suspect... all Fourteen Flame-Chasers have returned."
"So Eden and the others have returned too…" Elysia rested the back of her hand against her chin. "I'm suddenly starting to wonder if my Authority reversed time itself."
Otherwise, why would it be the Flame-Chasers who were reborn, and not the Thirteen Fallen Angels? Though... it wasn't impossible that both groups had returned.
"Unlikely," Vill-V said hesitantly. "If your Authority was time reversal, there would've been signs before. I think... it's more likely Silas' doing."
"Silas... is a Herrscher?" Elysia's eyes widened.
"You'd have to ask Mobius." Vill-V's voice grew quiet. "During the final battle against the Finality, Silas revealed his Herrscher form. Mobius called it the completed version of the Chimera Project—the Ascension Plan. An artificial Herrscher."
"An artificial... Herrscher?" Elysia's voice trembled. "A human... becoming a Herrscher?"
"I couldn't believe it either. But that's what happened." Vill-V's gaze darkened as she recalled the scene. "For a moment, he fought the Finality to a standstill. But his body couldn't withstand the Honkai energy. In the end, he and Kevin forced the Finality into a 72-hour dormancy... and then he vanished before our eyes."
"Silas..." Elysia's lashes lowered.
"I remember... he briefly warped space-time. That's why I think our rebirth might be tied to his Authority as a Herrscher." Vill-V sighed. "But... it's just a theory."
"Hey, Vill-V."
"Did you think of something, Elysia?"
"No… I just wanted to ask. Now that we've come back... do you think we can really defeat the Honkai this time? Is there a way to keep Silas from walking down the same path again, and still defeat the Honkai?"
"...I don't know."
Both girls fell silent.
Meanwhile, deep in Vill-V's mind, Pure Evil rolled her eyes.
Save the world? Screw that.
Right now, all she wanted was to live happily ever after with Silas.
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