The Herrscher of Sentience reached out and gave it a squeeze. It really was much smaller.
Fu Hua frowned and grabbed the Herrscher of Sentience's hand. "Stop it."
In that world, after she had Little Sentience, it had indeed grown quite a bit.
Ji Xuanyuan lowered her head and walked to Fu Hua's side, nearly pressing herself against her. "Husband, the child is still young."
"Ji Xuanyuan!"
Fu Hua's thoughts were in complete disarray. Out of nowhere, she had gained a wife and a daughter.
What kind of situation was this?
Dan Zhu, Cang Xuan, and Ji Xuanyuan being revived should have been a joyous occasion.
"Ji Xuanyuan, you should know, right? What happened in that world... none of it was real," Fu Hua could not help saying.
"Husband..." Ji Xuanyuan's delicate body trembled as tears streamed down her face. Her voice quivered. "Do you dislike me?"
"Mom, don't bully Mother." The Herrscher of Sentience put her hands on her hips like an angry kitten.
"..."
Fu Hua covered her face with her hand. She could no longer even determine whether that world had been real or fake.
"Hua, you should just accept it," Cang Xuan advised in a calm, rational tone.
Now that she understood the situation, she knew that the mastermind behind all of this was still watching their amusement.
Sigh...
Fu Hua regained her composure. Her gaze softened as she reached out and gently caressed Ji Xuanyuan's cheek.
Though she said nothing, it felt as if she had said everything.
Ji Xuanyuan's face flushed as she placed her hand over Fu Hua's.
Although she had recovered her memories from before in this world, the memories from that imagined world were just as real to her.
It was as if she had lived through another lifetime in reincarnation.
Ji Xuanyuan was a traditional, conservative, and virtuous woman. To her, once married, she would follow her husband no matter what.
The Herrscher of Sentience had just been born and had not yet been overwhelmed by Fu Hua's memories into believing she was Fu Hua. Before that could happen, Vita had pulled her into the imagined space and turned her into Fu Hua's daughter.
...
Human Contract Alliance Headquarters.
Merlin Cavendish looked over the intelligence gathered through covert dealings among the students of Chiba Academy in Nagazora.
The future of humanity? What future did humanity in this world even have?
Beyond the solar system were the Aeons and the factions that followed them.
Within the solar system were the Will of Ruler and the Finality Empire—two forces capable of crossing universes and traversing infinite worlds.
The information was so outrageous she almost did not dare believe it.
Mechs larger than planets. Space fleet clusters numbering in the tens of millions. Technology capable of shrinking an entire star down to the size of a fist to forge it into a weapon. A dual-vector foil the size of a card that could reduce an entire planetary system's dimensionality just to create a painting. Herrschers who could, by their own power, carry an entire planet and instantly leap to anywhere in the Milky Way...
And then there were the Aeons beyond the solar system, their Emanators, and more.
What made her feel the most helpless was that within the Will of Ruler's system, human civilization in this world was regarded as unrecognized refugees.
She was beginning to understand Otto's plan.
If they did not find a way to obtain official status within the Will of Ruler, then with humanity's current technological level, they would be flattened in minutes by something like the Antimatter Legion in the cosmos.
The Honkai's mechanism of civilizational selection and reset might be forcing human civilization to evolve, but it was also protecting it.
If all the intelligence was true, then the Will of Ruler's faction was indeed the best backer.
Independent governance. Mutual non-interference.
But precisely because of that independence, human civilization was stuck at Sirin's checkpoint.
On top of that, within the Will of Ruler, only Herrschers could trade with other Herrschers. Transactions with outsiders required additional applications and were subject to various restrictions.
If they wanted to break free from being confined to Earth and being treated as invaders in other worlds—
Then cultivating Herrschers truly was the best option.
Merlin Cavendish turned to Fabela. "Totorri wasn't brought back?"
Fabela shook her head. "Alliance Leader, Councilor Situ Qinghong of Shenzhou refused to hand her over."
"Mm."
Merlin Cavendish smiled faintly, unconcerned. The Herrscher of Wind, Wendy, had already been captivated by Totorri. As long as Wendy remained within Shenzhou, that was enough.
During the period of the massive Honkai Eruption, the Human Contract Alliance had also produced a Herrscher.
That was their trump card.
But one card was far from enough.
"Bronya..."
Merlin Cavendish stroked her chin. That girl was far from ordinary.
Both parents deceased.
Ambiguous relationships with many girls at Chiba Academy.
Including several Herrschers.
If they could pull her into the Human Contract Alliance, it would be equivalent to bringing several Herrschers with her.
Based on the intelligence available, Bronya was only interested in women.
Strange.
Why did Herrschers all seem to like girls?
Merlin Cavendish suspected that this girl named Bronya was an important chess piece Otto had arranged in advance—someone meant to indirectly control the Herrschers by targeting their hosts.
Otherwise, why would a girl go around building close relationships with so many other girls?
A very clever method.
Direct control would only amplify the Herrschers' negative emotions and likely fail the Will of Ruler's assessment.
But if they could influence Herrschers through an intermediary—like whispering into their ears on a pillow—
That would undoubtedly be the best approach.
"Rita, I hope you won't disappoint me."
Rita Rossweisse had originally been a Valkyrie of Schicksal. After Otto abandoned Schicksal and lost control over the world, Merlin had secretly taken control of Rita's parents and turned the Valkyrie to her side.
Nagazora.
Raiden Mei's home.
Bronya lay lazily on the living room sofa, eating chips, drinking cola, and playing on her phone. Hearing the door open, she turned her head. "You're back."
"Mm." Raiden Mei set down her bag and changed her shoes. "Did you miss me today while you were at home?"
"I did."
Bronya answered simply.
Raiden Mei smiled gently. She walked over and sat beside Bronya, lifting her head and placing it on her own lap. "I missed you too. Were you good at home?"
"Sister Mei, don't treat me like a child," Bronya said expressionlessly.
Raiden Mei stroked Bronya's hair affectionately. "I'm not treating you like a child. I'm treating you as the person I love most."
She cupped Bronya's face in both hands and gazed at her deeply.
In Raiden Mei's eyes, Bronya saw something almost pathological.
Raiden Mei was starting to break.
She no longer attended school and was being kept by the Herrschers, spending her days idling at home—eating, drinking, and playing.
Honestly, this kind of life wasn't bad.
In the Honkai universe, Sirin lived like this too—often staying in one place, rarely interacting with others.
Raiden Mei gently kissed Bronya's forehead before heading into the kitchen. "I'll start cooking. Kiana and Seele should be back soon."
"Sister Mei, how about hiring a maid? That way you wouldn't have to work so hard," Bronya suggested.
"No need. It's enough that I cook at home. We don't need anyone else," Raiden Mei replied while busying herself in the kitchen.
"But if we had a maid, you'd have more time to play with me. If you still want to cook, she could help you."
Bronya intended to arrange for Rita—the double agent—to stay close. Without an opportunity like this, Rita would never be able to approach them.
"...Mm, alright." After thinking it over, Raiden Mei realized Bronya had a point and agreed.
She took out her phone and contacted Schicksal's staff.
Very soon, someone arrived.
After all, they were all in Nagazora, attending the same academy.
Rita Rossweisse stood respectfully at the door. "Good evening. I am the maid, Rita Rossweisse."
That was fast.
Raiden Mei looked her up and down. Though slightly puzzled, she sensed nothing unusual. "Please, come in."
After entering, Rita behaved with impeccable professionalism, quickly familiarizing herself with the environment and assisting Raiden Mei in preparing dinner.
When Herrscher of Fire Kiana, Seele, and Ana returned, they were somewhat surprised to see Rita. Seele hid behind Kiana, secretly observing her, while Kiana asked bluntly, "Mei, why did you suddenly hire a maid?"
Raiden Mei smiled and explained that it was Bronya's idea. Rita bowed slightly at the appropriate moment.
During dinner, Rita moved with elegant precision, serving everyone while discreetly observing Bronya's interactions with the others.
After the meal, Bronya pulled Seele back to the room to play games.
Maintaining her flawless maid persona, Rita cleaned up quietly.
"Miss Rita, thank you for your hard work," Raiden Mei said, feeling considerably more relaxed.
With so many people in the house, she had been struggling to manage alone.
"There is no need for thanks, Lady Raiden Mei. These are duties I ought to fulfill as a maid," Rita replied with a gentle smile.
Raiden Mei turned toward Herrscher of Fire Kiana, who was sprawled on the living room sofa. "Kiana, once Ana finishes her bath, you can go next."
"Why don't we bathe togeth—"
"Kiana~"
Herrscher of Fire Kiana had barely begun to suggest bathing together before Raiden Mei cut her off.
Rita was still here. What nonsense was she saying?
"You two share such a close relationship," Rita remarked calmly.
Among Valkyries, such matters were hardly unusual.
In the past, Valkyries bore immense pressure fighting the Honkai. Any day could be their last.
Rita had seen everything.
"Please excuse us," Raiden Mei said awkwardly.
"If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave for today. I will return tomorrow," Rita said before departing.
After Rita left, the household returned to its usual rhythm.
Bronya and Seele played games in the bedroom.
Raiden Mei sat in the living room watching television with Herrscher of Fire Kiana. After Ana finished her bath, she joined them.
Because they believed Herrschers were humanity's evolution, the girls did not reject the Honkai. Their longing to become Herrschers had led many of them to obtain cores of the Herrscher of Dominance.
Though each individual was far weaker than a true Herrscher, they all possessed a Herrscher's perfect adaptability to Honkai energy.
Most of the Herrschers of Dominance were concentrated at Chiba Academy, with a smaller number scattered across the world.
Unlike the Previous Era's Herrscher of Dominance, the new generation did not share consciousness or mental links. They could manipulate basic elements, possessed a personal subspace, access to a vast shared super-subspace connecting all Herrschers of Dominance, and a special evolutionary ability.
All of these subspaces were segmented from Imaginary Space.
After becoming a Herrscher, Angelia Schariac felt little joy.
She discovered that many people around her had also become Herrschers like herself.
Compared to the strength of Wendy, the Herrscher of Wind, Ana, the Herrscher of Ice, and Raiden Mei, the Herrscher of Thunder, they hardly resembled Herrschers at all.
Influenced by Vita, everyone had believed she would be the next Herrscher to emerge—a figure worthy of envy.
Now, the result was that she had indeed become a Herrscher, but merely one of the extremely weak Herrschers of Dominance.
The greater the expectation, the deeper the disappointment.
"Sister Vita... what should I do?"
Angelia Schariac clenched the earring Vita had given her.
At that moment, the earring emitted a faint white glow, and Vita's voice echoed in her mind.
"Hi there, my dear Angelia."
"Sister Vita!" Angelia looked around in surprise before her gaze settled on the earring in her hand. "Is that you?"
"It is. But this is a message I left for you. If you've activated it, that means you've already become a Herrscher of Dominance."
"Listen carefully. You may be a very weak Herrscher of Dominance, but your kind can evolve by conquering and dominating one another. By linking together, you can stack all attributes and abilities. As long as you grow strong enough, you can even dominate other Herrschers."
"So that's how it works!"
Angelia suddenly understood. If that was the case, once she developed fully, she would not be inferior to Raiden Mei and the others.
"While the other Herrschers of Dominance still don't know this, hurry and dominate them. As for how to accomplish that, I'll tell you quietly..."
As Angelia listened to Vita's instructions, her face grew increasingly red.
But remembering that Sister Vita had foreseen all of this, her gaze gradually hardened with resolve.
Following Vita's method, Angelia entered her personal subspace, then from there accessed the shared super-subspace.
She began searching for her first target.
She chose a fellow female student from the academy—also a Herrscher of Dominance—who had likewise entered the space.
Angelia approached her under the pretense of discussing Herrscher abilities and entered the girl's personal subspace.
Inside, the other girl was completely unguarded. Angelia struck, leaving behind a mark of domination.
After exiting the personal subspace, Angelia felt her own abilities double. Her confidence soared.
She immediately went in search of the next target.
The power of a single Herrscher of Dominance might be weak—but what about the combined power of a thousand?
Having seized the initiative, Angelia Schariac grew stronger and stronger, like a snowball rolling downhill.
Still, a thousand Pseudo-Herrschers was no small number. She could not absorb everyone's power at once.
Angelia's rapid growth and unusual behavior soon caught the attention of Einstein and the others.
Originally, Angelia had been a key figure under observation. After becoming merely one of the Herrschers of Dominance, the level of attention on her had declined.
Yet they had continued monitoring her.
Recently, Angelia Schariac had transformed—from a timid, bottom-ranked Cinderella into a confident girl exuding a bewitching charm, becoming the center of attention among the other girls.