After saying these words, Prometheus resolutely led the others on this inevitable journey to their deaths.
"Everyone, it's time to go."
Prometheus took the lead, directly using the Herrscher Core to output Honkai energy.
The others did the same, resonating with her.
The resulting output far exceeded the simple sum of their individual efforts, achieving a magnitude much greater than 1+1=2.
After all preparations were made, everyone entered the Binding Field together.
In that brief moment, many things happened.
The Binding Field shattered, and all the artificial Herrschers lost control—or rather, lost everything—due to the collapse of the Binding Field.
In that same instant, computers all over the world flickered.
Elysia seized this fleeting opportunity, drawing her bow and aiming an arrow at the central Herrscher.
Whoosh—!
The arrow pierced through countless spatial barriers, striking the Binding Herrscher directly in the head.
In just a breath's time, the Binding Herrscher was dead.
But this victory, aside from the cheers of human civilization, brought no joy to the other members of the Thirteen Flame-Chasers.
They shared in Vill-V's grief.
After all, even a pet, after being raised for seven or eight years, would evoke strong emotions, let alone Prometheus and the others, who had been raised like children.
Looking at the data, which had returned to the backup bodies of Prometheus and the others, Vill-V, the "Expert," forced herself to stay strong.
She forced herself not to dwell on those thoughts.
As the backup consciousnesses were uploaded to the terminal and then flowed into the backup bodies, the artificial Herrschers opened their eyes.
However, something was still missing—their Herrscher Cores.
"Dr. Vill-V, did we succeed?"
"...Yes, we succeeded. Let's go. You are the heroes of this battle. I... I've prepared a celebration for you."
As she said this, the "Expert" Vill-V's voice trembled.
But just as she turned and took a few steps, the next words from the artificial Herrschers froze her in her tracks.
"Mom, I think the priority right now isn't the celebration, but celebrating the fact that we've returned alive."
"!!!"
That one word a term they had only used before their heroic sacrifice, struck Vill-V like a thunderbolt. She turned around in disbelief, staring at them.
"You..."
"Mom... no, I guess I can only call you that in such moments. Normally, I'll stick to calling you Dr. Vill-V.
I kept my promise. I brought everyone back. The moment we entered the Binding Field, our Honkai energy spread out and neutralized the Binding Field.
But in that instant, I consolidated all our computational power and used the Authority of the Herrscher of Reason to replicate the Authority of the Binding Herrscher. Then, in that same instant, I neutralized the Binding Herrscher's Authority.
And in that moment, we uploaded all our consciousnesses to the terminal. So, all we lost were some insignificant bodies."
"...It's good that you're back. It's good that you're back."
At this moment, the "Expert" Vill-V no longer resembled the unparalleled genius she usually was. Instead, she was overwhelmed with emotion, overjoyed at the return of the children she had raised as her own.
Without another word, she rushed forward and hugged Prometheus. However, Prometheus, annoyed, tried to push her away.
After all, those two things were completely blocking her vision, which was extremely irritating.
If you're going to treat us like your own children, couldn't you at least make the bodies more similar?
She hadn't cared before, but now Prometheus found herself becoming more and more human, experiencing emotions like envy, which she had never felt before.
"Hey, stop pushing. You're all grown up now, do you still want to drink? Let me make it clear, I don't have any."
"Dr. Vill-V, I suggest you go get your brain checked. After all, a doctor can't heal themselves."
With a completely expressionless face, Prometheus spoke without a hint of emotion.
"Tch, you're no fun. I much preferred it when you called me 'Mom.'"
Seeing Prometheus like this, the "Expert" Vill-V clicked her tongue in annoyance.
Indeed, all beautiful reunions are fleeting, followed by the usual banter and teasing.
"Hmph, I won't call you that a second time, Dr. Vill-V. What you should be doing now is continuing your research, not bothering me."
Hearing the "Expert" Vill-V's teasing, Prometheus simply coldly retorted.
As expected, Dr. Vill-V was the type to get carried away with even the slightest bit of encouragement.
She couldn't let her get too full of herself, or who knows how insufferable she'd become.
"Sigh, children grow up and leave their parents behind."
"Dr. Vill-V, you should watch fewer dramas. They'll turn you into a romantic."
Rolling her eyes, Prometheus took on the task of handling the other small experiments.
The others were also super AIs, so they had considerable intelligence and could assist as well.
Of course, this excluded a certain Skadi.
It wasn't that she wasn't smart, but her gaze had a certain clarity and foolishness to it that made her utterly unsuitable for conducting experiments in such a serious and solemn place as the research institute.
Meanwhile, Elysia, who was closest to the battlefield, was alone, cleaning up the aftermath.
First, she collected the nine Herrscher Cores from Prometheus and the others, followed by the Binding Herrscher's Core.
After completing this task, Elysia felt a sense of melancholy.
Since the "Expert" Vill-V hadn't informed her yet, Elysia still believed that the Prometheus she knew had perished forever.
"Everyone, I'll take you home."
Carrying the remains of Prometheus and the others, Elysia thought of bringing them back to give them a proper burial.
"By the way, did we forget something?"
At the celebration party in the meeting room, Chang Yuan, who had swapped the fruit wine Griseo was about to taste for juice, scratched his cheek.
He had a feeling they had forgotten something.
"Probably not? Hehe, whatever. It's great that Prometheus and the others made it back safely."
"Friend" Vill-V laughed, downing a cup of Chinese baijiu in one go.
This stuff really packed a punch.
At least, that's what "Friend" Vill-V thought.
"I want to try some wine too. I'm not a kid anymore."
"Haha, how are you any different from a kid? Sure, you're more developed than someone, but you're not even 18 yet. What else would you be?"
Flicking Griseo's forehead, Chang Yuan once again swapped the fruit wine she had secretly taken for juice.
"Brother Chang Yuan, you're mean. I don't like you anymore. I'm going to find Aunt Mobius."