Within the Imaginary Space a realm without direction and unchanging for eternity a blizzard suddenly howled to life, as if the frozen lands sealed for millennia had awakened.
"Such a shame… the Will of Honkai is far smarter than Raiden Shogun ever was."
Cracks like spiderwebs had already spread across the massive ice pillar without anyone noticing.
The entire structure trembled violently like something inside it was ready to burst free!
"I thought I was only dealing with a program… but looks like the Will of Honkai isn't showing up this time."
Perhaps sensing Nagami's presence, the Will of Honkai completely abandoned the idea of corrupting Kevin's consciousness.
Normally, the birth of a Herrscher follows a process: as Honkai energy descends and gathers, the Will gradually infects the host's mind.
But as long as the descent isn't instant, Nagami can simply isolate the Will, lock each fragment inside Code's little time-out room, destroy them one by one, and then absorb the purified soul core afterward.
After suffering losses to Nagami multiple times, the Will finally learned its lesson:
Showing up would only feed the enemy, so better not show up at all!
As Nagami's voice faded, the trembling pillar suddenly fell silent.
'BOOM!'
The ice pillar exploded, a tidal wave of Honkai energy surging from the white-haired figure revealed within — vast and overwhelming like an ocean crashing into the sky.
"This temperature…"
Nagami raised a brow in mild surprise as he examined the man — or rather…
The Herrscher of Ice.
Time and space themselves seemed to freeze under the sheer cold, everything halting in a breath of ruthless winter.
Nagami felt nothing to him it was merely a refreshing breeze but if any of the current Herrscher stood beside Kevin, the chill would sting their skin and freeze every breath on their lips.
This was no ordinary Herrscher a fusion warrior strengthened by multiple super-factors, now ascended through the core power of Ice.
"So… this is a Herrscher?"
Kevin murmured, his head low.
His glacial eyes stared at his own hands, coated in a faint mist of frost.
Fusion warriors had strength beyond conventional humans, true.
But evolution of their life form had never been complete.
Herrschers, however — they are proof of evolution.
A leap in the very nature of existence.
Even when Nagami uses his special vision on Herrscher girls, he sees no large pores, no mites, no grime or bacteria.
Take the Herrscher of Flames: if Himeko didn't regulate her power, her body heat could probably boil an entire swimming pool.
Mei? She could ionize any impurity in her body into raw atoms.
Beautiful girls really can become beings who don't need to poop!
…If they want to.
But since they still retain human sensibilities, they keep some old habits by instinct.
Kevin raised his gaze to Nagami.
Inside his body, the Honkai energy was refining itself, to become sharper, and purer.
"What? Interested in testing your new power?" Nagami smirked playfully.
"No. There's no need." Kevin shook his head.
Not everyone becomes a pufferfish — inflating with ego every time they gain power.
The terrifying might of the Final Herrscher from fifty thousand years ago remained carved in his memory. Yet now…
Kevin's fist tightened.
He believed… he might finally be able to halt the end — even without the Throne of the Moonlight.
But more importantly—
Kevin activated the Herrscher of Ice's authority.
The frost around him faded.
His temperature began to rise…
For the first time in 50,000 years above freezing then settling at a warm, human temperature.
A silver breath escaped his lips.
Nagami caught the flicker of excitement in Kevin's crystalline eyes.
'With this… perhaps now… I can finally touch you again…'
Nagami blinked surprised.
He had never seen Kevin look like this before.
So it really was Dr. Mei's death that drove him into this ice-cold shell.
After all this was the same Kevin who once screamed and cheered during Eden's concerts.
Nagami completely failed to picture that scene…
"Well, looks like you won't need me here anymore. If anything comes up, contact me via St. Freya Academy. See ya~"
"Oh, right! If all of the Flame-chaser ever plans a reunion, I'll let you know in advance. We have great team benefits, maybe even group events…"
Then you can slurp ramen with Welt in some dark corner of the restaurant.
With that, Nagami vanished from sight.
No need to worry a Herrscher can always escape Imaginary Space.
Using resonance between counterparts, Nagami pinpointed Lumine's location in the real world.
One step later, he appeared in a cozy café somewhere in the Far East.
British-style decorations lined the walls, a bar counter stood to one side backed by priceless paintings, and rows of pale-colored high stools waited like dutiful servants.
Of course, this was the miss Pink Elf's choice of meeting spot… and Lumine had booked the entire place using World Serpent funds.
The Elysian Realm may be vast, but after thousands, no — tens of thousands of years, even paradise becomes a suffocating cage.
Now, reborn under the sun, the fusion warriors sat quietly around the bar even the most violent among them, Kalpas, unusually calm.
"Yo~!"
A cheerful voice behind them froze everyone mid-conversation.
Nagami didn't bother asking what they were discussing, the moment he arrived, his mind reconnected with Lumine's, their thoughts merging effortlessly.
"Welcome, Nagami~ Wanna try my hand-brewed coffee? I promise it's delicious! Oh — but since you're from Shenzhou, if you prefer tea I can make that too!"
Elysia either still unafraid, or just too curious had already forgotten what happened last time.
Like a bubbly hostess, she slipped behind him and gently pushed the slightly startled Nagami into a seat.
"So, if you're here… that means—"
"Yep. Kevin completed his Herrscher transformation perfectly. Kept full control of his mind. And honestly? The Will of Honkai never even showed up. Total disappointment."
Nagami casually grabbed the cup in front of Elysia.
He placed his lips exactly where her faint lipstick mark lingered… and took a slow sip.
"Mmm, this tastes wonderful."
"..."