Wendy?
Why was she suddenly here?
Teresa blinked in shock. Only one explanation came to mind:
Did Kiana and Mei already find ice cream for her?
Their whole plan hinged on borrowing the Fourth Herrscher's ridiculous yet terrifying strength to stop World Serpent's scheme — and Wendy's only "price" had been ice cream.
So… was she here to help them?
But…
"I was watching a show."
That line Wendy had said earlier left Teresa uncertain. Still, if Wendy truly started fighting Kevin, that would buy them the perfect chance to disable the Honkai reactor atop the signal tower.
With that hope rekindled, Teresa steadied her breath.
She knew one thing for certain — on their own, they could never defeat the leader of World Serpent.
Kevin's Dread
Kevin's gaze remained locked on the floating Herrscher.
The Fourth Herrscher.
Even now, the memory of their battle in the Quantum Sea resurfaced with chilling clarity.
That wasn't a fight — it was humiliation.
He had swung Heavenly Fire with full strength.
Wendy had avoided the blow so casually he couldn't even see what she did.
And when he activated the "Zero Rated Output," the attack meant to erase anything it touched, she had dispersed it—
with a flick of her hand.
Which meant one thing.
A truth he hated confronting.
The Fourth Herrscher's strength exceeded his.
And that was something he hadn't said in fifty thousand years.
The Herrscher of Sentience Intervenes
Identifying Wendy's presence, the Herrscher of Sentience cracked her knuckles with a broad grin.
"I wanted to spar properly with Kevin, but since a Herrscher is here to ruin the mood… fine, business first!
I, the mighty Red Kite Immortal, shall never let a Herrscher run wild!"
Wendy smirked back.
"Oh? Then come on~ Wendy can't wait."
Of course she'd been prepared. She had swapped the waking Fu Hua with her own avatar, stuffed the real one inside the system space, and beat up Otto for fun before coming here. If Otto hadn't been present, she still would've beaten him up eventually.
Truly vindictive.
Kevin Unleashes His Power
"Kevin…? Why are you already using that form?"
The Herrscher of Sentience looked visibly startled.
Wendy's eyes lit up with anticipation.
Kevin's body had partially transformed — obsidian chitin, a serpentine tail, the left arm resembling a Honkai beast. His Super-Evolution Factor was already partly released.
He wasn't playing anymore.
So this is the man Mei entrusted herself to.
Wendy licked her lips.
Fascinating.
Kevin tightened his grip on Heavenly Fire, flames roaring skyward as he prepared to unleash lethal force.
He would not go fully into Artificial Herrscher mode — not unless the world was on the verge of destruction — but he was prepared to use far more than before.
The City Burns Light
"Now!"
Kevin swung Heavenly Fire.
BOOM—!!!
Night became day.
A column of flame tore through the heavens, bathing the entire city in crimson light. Buildings trembled; the sky seemed to burn.
Wendy was swallowed by the inferno.
The Moment to Act
"Teresa! This is it!"
Jiuxiao's voice jolted Teresa from her shock.
Kevin wasn't being burned — he was completely unharmed.
But Wendy was now distracted.
That meant—
This was their chance.
"I'm going!"
Teresa sprinted toward the reactor atop the tower. Jiuxiao raced ahead, her steps light as feathers.
From above, the Herrscher of Sentience noticed their movements.
"Oh? Planning something suspicious? Need help?"
Jiuxiao pointed upward toward the unstable reactor.
"Kick that ball-looking thing toward me! Easy — don't use too much force!"
"Got it!"
With a delighted grin, the Herrscher of Sentience shot forward and delivered a precise kick.
CRACK—!
The reactor hurled through the air toward Jiuxiao.
She reached out — and a swirling black sphere materialized before her.
A miniature void.
A black hole.
Teresa froze mid-step.
W-wait… since when could Jiuxiao… use this kind of power?
The reactor vanished into the void.
Jiuxiao dispelled the vortex and dusted off her hands.
"The Savior never fails~"
Herrscher Banter
"Oho? Kid, your powers feel a lot like that old Walter's. Are you her daughter or something?"
The Herrscher of Sentience leaned in, curious.
Durandal's brows furrowed. She too had witnessed everything.
Who was this girl?
Jiuxiao just smiled mysteriously.
Wendy, still floating high above, looked down with mild annoyance.
"What? Still not using your final card? This form can't even make me serious~
But honestly, I don't want to go all out. If I do, you humans won't be able to make me ice cream anymore.
You're already so few — I need you alive."
Then she added with a sniff:
"As for that broken record called the Will of Honkai— I don't give a damn about it. Wendy is free."
Kevin blinked.
Ice cream?
The Will of Honkai??
None of this aligned with any Herrscher he had ever known.
Delivery Arrives
"Wendy, I brought the ice cream."
Bronya's calm voice echoed from below.
Wendy's eyes sparkled like a child's.
"Nice timing~"
She let go of Kevin mid-combat and dove straight downward.
Kevin slowly exhaled.
He now understood why Mei had made that earlier request.
But… this Fourth Herrscher was—
What even IS she?
Ice cream?
Ignoring the Will of Honkai over snacks?
Choosing to help humans because she was bored?
She was unlike any Herrscher in recorded history.
Kevin's Dilemma
The Herrscher of Sentience dropped beside Bronya, snatched the spare ice cream from her hands, and pointed her spear at Kevin.
"Well then, Kevin! Your turn next! Let's fight!"
"I'm not in the mood."
Kevin sheathed Heavenly Fire.
He wasn't just tired — he was reconsidering everything.
Wendy's existence contradicted all Honkai laws.
And she wasn't hostile to humanity.
Not truly.
If anything…
Could she join World Serpent?
Wendy loved ice cream.
Could he use that as leverage?
The thought was absurd — yet strangely logical.
For the first time in fifty thousand years, Kevin hesitated to fight a Herrscher.
Because this one…
This one might be an ally.
Kevin Leaves
He turned his back to them.
The reactor had been dealt with.
There was no more reason to remain.
And Wendy…
Wendy wasn't an immediate threat.
As long as she had ice cream, she wasn't going to destroy the world.
Kevin disappeared into the darkness.
Meanwhile… Otto
"Ice cream…?"
Otto Apocalypse stared at the feed from Durandal's armor.
He replayed it three times.
"Are they truly discussing recruiting a Herrscher with dessert?"
He drummed his fingers rhythmically against the desk.
"…Would that work for Schicksal too?"
Even he knew the idea was ridiculous.
But before he could ponder this nonsense further, the screen switched to show the recently awakened Senti beating him unconscious.
And his expression darkened.
"What happened to the Red Kite Immortal…?"
Everything had become strange.
Too strange.
After the Fourth Herrscher's reappearance, the world was unraveling.
Otto leaned back in his chair.
Just what is the Will of Honkai trying to pull?
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