"Report, Captain. We've reached the center of the Honkai energy eruption, it's just that…"
"Just what?"
Hearing Hua's hesitant voice in her earpiece, Himeko frowned, tightening her grip on the greatsword in her hands.
This was her first time facing a Herrscher as part of the vanguard team, and she couldn't help but feel a little nervous for her squad members' safety.
"It's just… the Fifth Herrscher seems to be dead already. Her body has been torn into several pieces."
"What?!"
Two minutes later.
"How is this possible? Who did this?"
Himeko rushed to Hua's side. Staring at the mangled remains of the Herrscher of Ice, she lowered her greatsword.
"Captain, the surrounding Honkai energy concentration is still slowly decreasing," Hua reported, glancing at the data on her wrist device.
"I know, Hua."
Himeko wasn't surprised. The effects brought by a Herrscher would linger for a long time, even after its death.
Like this ice and snow that might not melt for a thousand years, or the wandering Honkai Beasts—they were all equally fatal, whether to ordinary people or to soldiers like them.
"Maintain alert. Li, you're on lookout. Carole, Omi, Tai, stay on guard."
"Understood."
---o---
[After confirming the Fifth Herrscher's death, Himeko contacted the higher-ups.]
[The order from command was to retrieve the Fifth Herrscher's body and Core. The clean-up team would handle the rest.]
[You returned to base with the Core and received commendations, but none of you were happy.]
[Following the death of the Herrscher of Ice, you completed the replica of your New Second Divine Key - Void Hand, Soul Probe, and prepared to use the Sixth Herrscher for an experiment.]
[Six months later, the Sixth Herrscher was born. In a single day, she destroyed two MOTHs branches.]
[You ordered the high command to temporarily hold back from sending anyone to deal with the Sixth Herrscher. You set out personally, heading for the Sixth Herrscher's location.]
---o---
The Sixth Herrscher, Seele, was a girl who bore a striking resemblance to the Seele of the later era.
"Give it up. You can't beat me. I'm just borrowing your Herrscher Core for a bit."
"Damn you! Human, ahhhhh!! Damn it, damn it! Who the hell 'borrows' something like this?!"
Fu Li used his left hand to pin Seele's slender, pale arms above her head while his other hand reached into her quantum-phased body, forcibly pulling out a Herrscher Core.
"What's going on?"
Looking at the girl who was still struggling relentlessly, Fu Li frowned and stood up, letting her flail her fists against him.
Her strength was now greatly diminished; she was no longer the humanoid T-Rex from before that could shatter a building with a single punch.
The Herrscher Core had indeed been extracted, but Seele's personality seemed to have already been assimilated by the Honkai, her mind consumed with the desire to annihilate humanity.
Even if she was now just a weak little girl.
Alright, perhaps her physical constitution was still stronger than a top-tier special forces soldier, but that was hardly useful.
"Alright, stop fooling around."
Placing the Core of Death into his pocket, Fu Li felt a headache coming on. He took Seele's hand and began walking away.
"Let go of me, you despicable, filthy, ugly human!"
"Give me back my Herrscher Core! That's mine! You thief! Robber! Shameless bastard!!"
Although she was only about 1.5 meters tall, she had been a Herrscher, after all, so she could still easily jump up and hit Fu Li's shoulder.
"Okay, okay, I already said I'm just borrowing your Core. If you stop thinking about destroying humanity, I might just give it back to you."
This wasn't a lie. Although he didn't know why Seele was still dominated by the Herrscher personality after the Core was removed, he still had other methods.
Since so many Herrschers from the future civilization could be turned, there was no reason they couldn't try to tame a Herrscher from the current generation.
And Seele, having lost her Herrscher Core, was the perfect candidate for domestication, even if her physical abilities remained terrifying.
Besides, she looked a lot like Seele. She was quite cute, wasn't she?
---o---
[You brought Seele back to the MOTHs, bound.]
[Seele was not cooperative. Even after entering the MOTHs' facility, even without her Herrscher Core, and even while being condemned by everyone, she remained relentlessly foul-mouthed.]
[Whenever someone tried to raise a gun to shoot her, you would press your own gun to their head.]
[Your actions drew the dissatisfaction of many, but after they heard your plan, you gained the support of Dr. MEI and Mobius.]
[On the condition that you would be responsible for taking care of Seele, they agreed to support the project.]
[They believed that although a Herrscher without a Core still posed unknown risks, the potential benefits of success far outweighed the dangers.]
[Just like capitalists, researchers shared one thing in common with them.]
[With a 20% profit, they become active. With 50% profit, they become reckless. And with 300% profit, they will dare to trample any law underfoot.]
[Although there were many who opposed it, the project was officially initiated.]
[But before that, you all had to attend a 'victory banquet'.]
---o---
"Hua, that qipao looks really beautiful on you."
Looking at Hua, who was wearing a qipao and seemed a little shy, Fu Li gave a mischievous smile and pressed the camera's shutter.