"No, Sheele doesn't want to become a Herrscher..."
Inside Elias' bedroom.
After learning that she only had five minutes left before turning into the Herrscher of Death, Sheele's face was filled with sorrow and despair.
Of course she knew what a Herrscher was—humanity's enemy, the apostle of the Honkai, the villain fated to be defeated by the Savior. That was what the people of the Previous Era believed a Herrscher to be.
Sheele held the hourglass tightly in both hands, staring at the sand that continued to fall endlessly. Every grain represented the remaining time she had left as a human—in other words, her very life.
She thought about flipping the hourglass over, but deep down, Sheele knew that even if she did, time would not turn back.
"I finally... finally found happiness..."
Tears shimmered in Sheele's eyes.
She raised her head and looked at the white-haired boy before her, her gaze filled with longing and attachment. She would never forget that day two months ago—when this person reached out his hand to her and promised to bring her happiness.
And Elias had kept that promise. During these two months, Sheele had felt happiness every single moment. This was the first time since her parents' passing that she had ever experienced such warmth.
She had believed that this happiness would last forever.
She had believed that, this time, she wouldn't have to say goodbye again.
Yet fate was cruel and unreasonable.
Once again, it was dragging her into the abyss of despair.
However, Sheele didn't know—this was the true nature of the world, of that era.
Unfair and irrational, persecuting the good while nourishing the wicked. Ugliness filled every corner, and beauty had no place to survive. The world was far more vile than Sheele could ever imagine.
But because of one white-haired boy who defied fate over and over again—sacrificing himself each time—the world had become a little more beautiful.
Suddenly, Sheele seemed to realize something.
"Big Brother Elias... did you already know from the start... that Sheele would become a Herrscher?"
"Yes. I knew from the very beginning."
"I see... Thank you..."
At that moment, Sheele felt she finally understood.
Why, back at the orphanage, among so many children, Elias had reached out and taken only her hand.
Because he had known everything from the start. He knew she would become a Herrscher—and that was why he treated her so kindly. He wanted her final days as a human to be free from sorrow.
What a gentle person he was...
With that thought, Sheele slowly stood up.
For the first time, the girl took the initiative to hug Elias. Normally, she would have been far too shy to do such a thing—but now, with so little time left, she wanted to make as many beautiful memories as she could.
"Thank you, Big Brother. Sheele is ready now."
"Sheele?"
"Please... kill me. Rather than becoming a Herrscher and turning against you, Sheele would rather die by your hand."
Perhaps this was the only way she could repay him—by letting herself, who was about to become a Herrscher, die at his hands. That way, Elias' achievements would shine even brighter. If it was for the boy who had saved her, Sheele was willing to accept that fate.
With that thought, the girl took a deep breath and lifted the weapon shaped like a simulated Abyss Flower, pressing its tip against her own chest.
Perhaps it was because she had eaten better these past two months—Sheele seemed to have grown a little.
"Please, do it. Sheele is prepared. It's alright. To end my life in Big Brother Elias' hands... that would be the happiest ending Sheele could ask for."
"Silly Sheele. Is that really what you think?"
"...Yes."
"I don't like bad girls who lie."
Elias gently patted the girl's head. Hearing those words, Sheele's body trembled.
"Only thirty seconds left. Sheele, tell me your true feelings. As long as you do, I can create a miracle for you."
"...Sheele... doesn't want to die."
The girl's strength finally reached its limit.
Or rather, before Elias, Sheele never had any need to be strong. Whether she laughed or cried, Elias would always accept everything about her.
"Sheele is so scared... Sheele doesn't want to die, doesn't want to become a Herrscher... Sheele likes you. Sheele wants to stay with Big Brother Elias forever, so... please, save Sheele once more!"
Just like that day two months ago when they met in the orphanage, the girl once again cried for help from the depths of despair—and once again, the white-haired boy answered her call.
"Of course I will. No matter how many times it takes, I'll always save you, Sheele."
Elias smiled softly as he cut open his own arm. With the release of his Holy Blood and the power of the Heilige Lanze Welwitschia, blooming crimson flowers of creation filled every corner of the room.
At the exact moment when the last grain of sand was about to fall, the simulated Fenghuang Down activated at Zeroth Power. Sheele's consciousness was transferred into another body—soft, warm, and identical to her original one—that Elias had prepared in advance.
The next second, the Honkai Eruption that should have consumed an entire city was forcibly suppressed by Elias alone. This flower-filled room became a prison that confined the destructive energy.
The now-empty shell that had once been Sheele's body opened its eyes again—but this time, those eyes were red. The girl's aura had completely changed.
The Herrscher personality had descended upon her body.
At that moment, the Herrscher of Death was born.
Along with her came a Judgment-level companion Honkai Beast.
But…
"Finally, we meet—Dark Sheele."
Elias welcomed the birth of Dark Sheele, though to any onlooker, his smile would have seemed terrifying.
Before the Judgment-level Honkai Beast could even roar—barely a second after its birth—it was cleaved cleanly in two by Elias, wielding the scythe form of the Seven Thunders of Retribution.
It didn't even have time to supply Dark Sheele with Honkai energy before it perished.
"Damn you, human! How dare you—"
"Come on now. Hand over the Core."
"What? You wretched human, what do you think you're doing?! I'm warning you—don't come any closer, or else I'll—"
Before Dark Sheele could finish her words, Elias' right hand—infused with the power of the Herrscher of the Void—had already plunged into her chest, breaking through the protection of the imaginary space and seizing the Herrscher Core of Death.
Then, with a single motion, he pulled it out.
Dark Sheele: "!!!"
A new record—shortest subjugation time ever. From the moment of descent to the extraction of the Core: five seconds flat.
White Sheele: "W-what just happened?"
Her consciousness had just been transferred into her new body. Still dazed from the process, White Sheele watched as Elias pulled a black gem from what had once been her body.
And that was it…
A few minutes later—
"So, you're saying... my body was taken over by the Herrscher's consciousness, and now I'm using another body that you made for me? That means Sheele won't turn into a Herrscher anymore?"
"Mhm~ that's right. I never said becoming a Herrscher necessarily meant dying... In fact, all the Herrschers so far are still alive—well, in prison."
"I see... Big Brother Elias is amazing... hic... Sheele really thought it was all over..."
When Sheele realized she was safe, all the strength in her body vanished. She threw herself into Elias' arms and burst into tears. Elias, as always, gently patted her back to comfort her.
"By the way, Sheele, you basically confessed to me just now, didn't you? Ah~ it's true what they say—people only speak their true feelings when facing death. So, how do you feel now?"
"Eh? Th-that... um..."
Recalling what she had said moments ago, Sheele's face turned bright red. She no longer had the courage of someone facing death, and she let out a cute little squeal like a boiling kettle.
"And you know, Sheele, you even wore slightly more mature pajamas tonight—and you smell even nicer than usual. Were you expecting me to say something like..."
"P-please stop talking!"
Sheele quickly raised her hands to cover Elias' mouth. At this point, she wished she could crawl into a hole and disappear. Remembering all the bold things she had done earlier, she suddenly felt like maybe it would've been better if she really had died.
But just as Sheele was about to bolt out of the room...
But before Sheele could escape, Elias caught her slender wrist—and without hesitation, pressed his lips against hers.
"Mmm—!"
At that moment, Sheele's mind went completely blank. Elias' sudden attack shattered her fragile defenses in an instant.
This girl, as gentle and innocent as a rabbit, was far too pure, while the Chimera before her was a man of immeasurable experience. The difference in skill was like heaven and earth.
After all, even Elysia herself had long since become nothing more than a mischievous little elf—unable to last even three minutes under Elias' advances before surrendering completely.
For a first-timer like White Sheele, there was no contest. With just one kiss, she fainted on the spot.
Elias: "Emmm, alright then... I'll let you off for tonight. But next time, you won't get away so easily."
White Sheele: o(////▽////)q
Dark Sheele: "Enough! Do you two think I'm just decoration?!"
There were, in fact, three people in the room. After her Gem of Serenity had been removed, Dark Sheele had been restrained by the simulated Oath of Judah—five chains binding her tightly and suspending her from the ceiling like an angry black cat, baring her fangs at Elias.
It was utterly disrespectful to a Herrscher!
He had killed her companion Honkai Beast, dug out her Core, then hung her up—and now he was flirting with White Sheele right in front of her. Dark Sheele was beyond furious.
Yet, despite her anger, something strange stirred in her heart. Watching Elias and White Sheele embrace and kiss, she suddenly felt... jealous. And envious.
Dark Sheele thought something must be wrong with her head.
"Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about you."
Elias smiled at her. After all, to him, this Sheele had technically come first. He could have chosen to take things slow and gradually win Dark Sheele's heart again, like in the first cycle...
But this time, he had no patience for that.
So, he decided to cheat.
"Y-you human, what are you trying to do?!"
"Relax. I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to share my memories with you... uh, give me a second—there are a lot of them, so it takes a bit to find the right ones."
Elias closed his eyes in concentration, recalling the memories from the first loop. Once he located the ones involving them, he pressed his forehead against Dark Sheele's, transferring the memories directly.
Even without using Fenghuang Down, he could perform such an act. After all, what a psychic-type fusion warrior could do, a perfected Chimera could certainly do as well.
He could have also transferred memories from the other loops, but there was no need. He didn't want anyone to know he had lived through ten reincarnations.
Besides, if he transferred all those memories, the affection meter might just explode. A single loop's worth of shared memories was already deep enough.
If the love he'd built with others in one loop was like an ocean, then in ten loops, it could drown the world.
Meanwhile, as Dark Sheele witnessed all those memories—and truly felt Elias' emotions—her hostility melted away. Her scarlet eyes softened, filled now with hearts of affection.
"You really are... always doing something incredible, Elias. To make everything begin anew again..." she murmured, awe in her voice.
"Mhm~ I won't give up until I reach the happy ending I want. So... will you love me again, my dear Sheele?"
"You're impossible... Fine then. Since that girl didn't get to finish what she started, let me take over. Hurry up and let me down, Elias—I can't wait to devour you~"
Dark Sheele licked her lips, excitement gleaming in her eyes. For the first time, her heart was overflowing with joy—because Elias had truly done it. He had erased her sins completely. This time, her birth hadn't harmed anyone.
Even the human personality she was supposed to devour—White Sheele—was still alive. Elias had successfully prevented the tragedy.
Now, Dark Sheele finally felt worthy of standing by his side. And she could no longer hold back her feelings.
That night... Dark Sheele nearly died from happiness.
The next morning, when White Sheele woke up, she found that the other version of herself had turned into a cream puff—and immediately made a complicated face. After all, that had been her body just last night!
(Come to think of it... this is even more intense than what I read in that doujin.) White Sheele shuddered at the memory.
But it was only natural. After all, the artist, Miss Stars, had only drawn from imagination—she had never seen the real thing.
Still, looking at Dark Sheele's "condition," the girl couldn't help but feel both terrified and... a little envious. White Sheele silently cursed her useless self from last night—how could she faint from just a kiss?
White Sheele: "Next time... next time, Sheele will definitely do better! I'll seize the chance!"
And with that, the Sixth Eruption came to an end.
...
Deep within the prison known as the Deep End—
The five Herrschers of Reason, Void, Thunder, Wind, and Ice were forced to live lazy, unhurried lives. These days, they spent their time watching anime, dramas, and movies. Immersed in human culture, their attitudes had softened considerably.
Even so, they were still Herrschers of the Honkai. Though boredom had led them to develop hobbies and interests, if they were ever given the chance to reclaim their Herrscher Cores, they wouldn't hesitate to once again become the divine apostles of destruction—though perhaps they might spare a few of their favorite things.
Incidentally, there had been one time when the five of them watched The Shawshank Redemption, Escape Plan, and Prison Break together. After finishing, their eyes lit up with the same idea—they decided to try escaping using the methods from those movies.
Unfortunately for them, the Deep End was constructed entirely from Soulium. The idea that movie tricks could break through that was laughable. Moreover, when Vill-V had designed the Deep End, she had made sure to watch every prison break film ever made—leaving not even the tiniest chance of escape.
Herrscher of Reason: "How long do you think we'll have to keep living like this?"
Herrscher of the Void: "Yeah, why hasn't the Honkai come to save us yet?"
Herrscher of the Wind: "Honestly, I think this lifestyle's pretty nice."
Herrscher of Thunder: "Have some pride! We are Herrschers—the apostles of destruction! How can we keep living like this?"
Herrscher of Ice: "She's right! We still need to get revenge on that human!"
But just as they were talking, the massive gate of the Deep End suddenly opened. With the sound of boots echoing across the metallic floor, a familiar figure stepped into their view.
Elias: "Hey~ Missed me?"
The Herrschers: "..." ×5