[Although the situation had changed so suddenly, the moment she saw an existence completely identical to herself, she didn't even need to think much to arrive at the answer.
"You are?"
Ultimate Evil looked at the True Self, her eyes filled with endless killing intent: "As I thought... we are all just dispensable [limbs], and you are the one and only [torso] right now, correct?"
"As long as I haven't disappeared, you can exist forever."
"Definitely not [dispensable]... but the latter part is correct."
"This is our first time meeting, right? How do you do?"
No meeting of minds was possible. As the resentment imprisoned for fifty thousand years, the current 'Ultimate Evil' only wanted to kill the True Self!
In the midst of battle, she vented her boundless fury at being imprisoned towards Vill-V, the original self!
The Ultimate Evil, who had previously been fearless against Mei's blade thanks to the invincibility hack given by the Corruption, was truly harmed this time!
"No need to be so surprised, right? Within one's own mind, against an external force... one can always do something."
"Cutting... I'm quite good at it too."
Seeing how indifferent the True Self was even towards her own mind, the anger-ignited Ultimate Evil also began to attack with all her might!
Of course, it was still Mei who bore the brunt of the beating.
And then... as expected, Mei lost to a fully powered 'Ultimate Evil' Vill-V.
"Alright, it's all over."
Looking at Mei's unwilling expression, 'Ultimate Evil' seemed even more pleased:
"Let me tell you what I plan to do next, alright?"
"—I'm not going to separate you two along with that thought sector anymore."
"I'm going to imprison both of you right here—in this darkness, with me, for eternity!"
"So... did those fifty thousand years make you like this?"
The 'True Self' Vill-V walked from behind Mei towards 'Ultimate Evil':
"It is indeed my fault."
'Ultimate Evil's' resentment still surged to the heavens:
" Mere imprisonment couldn't change me—from the very beginning, wasn't I pure [malice]? I'm just seeing the light of day again."]
[Qingque]: "Looking at it this way, the difference between the 'True Self' and 'Ultimate Evil' is way too big! One is arrogant and confident, the other is quiet and reserved."
[Kiana]: "It's clearly a joint battle scene. Pardo aside, why is it still Mei fighting the Ultimate Evil even when Vill-V is there!?"
[Stelle]: "Do you think Vill-V looks like someone who can fight on the front lines!?"
[March 7th]: "She really doesn't."
[Theresa]: "So after being locked up for fifty thousand years, she just wants revenge on the True Self now."
[Honkai: Star Rail - Void Archives]:'After all... being locked in darkness couldn't possibly feel good, right?'
[Otto]: "Are you talking about yourself, my old friend?"
["What if you aren't?"
Vill-V explained: "The area you were in wasn't meant to imprison [malice]."
"What truly existed there and was constantly being merged into it was..."
"Was my..."
"Was my [confidence]... and [arrogance]..."
"Inspiration, sparks, intense ideas, and... the belief that [I can change everything]."
"Unfortunately... they were neither suited for [that era], nor for [human civilization]."
'Ultimate Evil' fell silent. The 'True Self' chuckled softly: "Absurd... isn't it? You don't have to believe it. I just faintly felt... I should tell you."
"You've guessed it somewhat, haven't you? Only this explanation can account for why I knew what you wanted to do, could anticipate your every move..."
"Because the choices made by someone who wants to change something... ironically, never change."
Hearing this, 'Ultimate Evil' Vill-V couldn't resist sneering:
"...What, are you trying to say I'm actually a good person?"
"Should I raise my hands now and weep in repentance?"
"How could that be? You are indeed a villain now."
"If any single [talent] had been allowed to blossom and bear fruit, I might have walked the path of a genius... but I also might have walked the path you are on now."]
[March 7th]: "The true nature of 'Ultimate Evil' Vill-V is... Vill-V's confidence and arrogance?"
[Theresa]: "Wouldn't it be better to support Vill-V's development in that situation?"
[Su]: "It couldn't be done. At that time, all we could do was fight against the Honkai with all our might, with no room to waste even a sliver of resources on anything else."
[Herta]: "Hmm... To achieve armaments comparable to an Emanator using the resources of an ordinary planet in about ten years... even for a genius, that's nearly impossible."
[Herta]: "What a pity. In that environment, Vill-V's [talent] was wasted."
["The mistakes I made, I will be the one to end them."
"[The you who only believes in yourself], and..."
"[The you who absolutely does not believe in yourself]." The Ultimate Evil Vill-V continued.
"Although it's not exactly like that, compared to words..."
"It's better to use a more practical [performance]... for explanation."
At this moment, the 'True Self' Vill-V was no longer timid either. A flash of white light passed, and only Mei remained on the scene.
"That person... disappeared?"
"You still haven't realized what she intends to do?"
"That's why you are merely a [Charlatan]."
But the currently enraged Vill-V had no mood for riddles; all she wanted to do now was pilot the battlefield and smash Mei to pieces!
"Welcome to watch—Vill-V's One-Woman Show!"
Hearing this familiar tone, Ultimate Evil was very confused: "What... Magician?! That's impossible... I clearly already..."
"Don't jump to conclusions so quickly, dear audience."
"Because next, you will see an even bigger surprise—"
The helpless voice of 'Expert' also appeared on the battlefield: "I've said it so many times, I'm not interested in participating in this sort of thing."
"Don't call the wrong person every time you try to summon Scholar."
Next, Gourmet, Scholar, Conductor, and the taciturn Model Five all appeared one by one!
"This... no..."
But soon 'Ultimate Evil' found the reason for this:
"It's you! You've been... re-segmenting your thoughts, destroying my [ability]?"
"To be precise—first becoming [them], then segmenting them out."
"They were originally thoughts from [my] mind... Even if you destroyed them, they're easy to get back, right?"
Vill-V's gentle words now also seemed incredibly arrogant:
"You said I [don't believe in myself]... but that's not true."
"My name is [Many]. Only like this, can I be considered me, [Vill-V]."]
[Stelle]: "Is, is this right? Don't make segmenting thoughts sound so simple!"
[Sparkle]: "What a grand show! A single Mei sandwiched amongst a group of Vill-Vs!"
[Sushang]:'Vill-V fighting Vill-V, a group of Vill-Vs fighting one Vill-V, help, I'm starting to not recognize the word Vill-V anymore!'
[Fu Hua]: "So that's how it is. The Sigil of 'Spiral' isn't something a single Vill-V can bear. Only when all the Vill-Vs gather together does it become 'Spiral' Vill-V!"
[March 7th]: "Vill-V's thought sectors have already been mostly destroyed, right? Is it really okay for the 'True Self' to keep segmenting like this?"
[Stelle & Silver Wolf]: "March 7th, shut up!"
[Guinaifen]: "We all know, but let's keep a little room for imagination, okay?"