---o---
[Although you saved Rin, just like before, she is still regarded as an outcast and a demon.]
[The surviving humans fear them, yet they must rely on their power to survive.]
[You hear the people's cries of anguish, you see their hearts disintegrating, you notice the Honkai's maniacal laughter!]
[The faith of those who were not placed under the precept begins to collapse. A growing number of suicides catches everyone off guard.]
[Now, even the high command of The MOTHs Who Chase the Flame has begun to fear for their own safety.]
[They have truly become like headless moths, aimlessly flying into the fire.]
[Just then, a rumor from an unknown source begins to spread: Elysia is the Thirteenth Herrscher.]
[Right as the meeting regarding the Thirteenth Herrscher is about to begin, Elysia contacts you privately, inviting you for a talk.]
---o---
The night was silent.
Perhaps because it was the end of the world, there wasn't a single soul on the streets, even though it was only 10 p.m.
And for him, who already knew the contents of Dr. MEI's meeting, it was meaningless.
"That woman, Elysia… what does she want with me?"
Fu Li walked down the street, seemingly muttering to himself.
But deep down, he had a guess. Elysia was likely done with the charade and was preparing for a showdown.
He walked into the dim forest and arrived at the appointed place, only to find that Elysia was nowhere in sight.
Strange. Normally, Elysia is the most punctual one.
Just as he was thinking this, several pink crystals suddenly shot out from the corner of his eye, followed by a barrage of countless light arrows.
"Elysia, stop messing around."
Nimbly dodging the light arrows, Fu Li brandished the Key of Domination, shattering all the crystals with ease.
Clap! Clap!
"As expected of Li. Your swordsmanship is as superb as ever. Ah, I'm so envious♪"
Elysia's figure appeared along with the sound of applause.
Like a pixie, she had silently materialized atop a lamppost, her posture elegant, devoid of any malice.
It was as if she wasn't the one who had just fired those arrows.
"Elysia…"
Fu Li frowned and sheathed his sword. "Why did you call me here?"
"Oh~ my dear Li, how can you speak to a cute girl like that?"
Elysia leaped down lightly from the lamppost, a smile playing on her lips.
"Alright, don't make that face. Relax, or you'll be wasting such a handsome face."
Fu Li: "…Let's get down to business, Elysia. I don't believe you called me out here alone just to test my strength."
Because a test of this level was utterly meaningless.
"Oh my, don't look like that. One Kevin is more than enough ice among us, don't you think♪"
"Elysia, I hope you realize I skipped a meeting to get here," Fu Li said, his tone hardening as he decided to cut straight to the chase.
"So, if you have something to say, you can just tell me directly, Elysia. Or should I say… the future Thirteenth Herrscher."
"Oh my, you found me out♪" Elysia covered her mouth with both hands, feigning a look of complete and utter surprise.
"What should I do, what should I do? Li? We're good friends, you wouldn't have the heart to take me out, right?"
Fu Li didn't answer, his hand moving back to his sword.
If he didn't make his stance clear, this woman would never speak seriously.
"Alright, alright. I just wanted to come and have a chat with you."
"Everyone was called to a meeting by Dr. MEI, leaving me all alone. It's quite boring."
Elysia spread her hands as if in resignation, but she still maintained a distance of a dozen steps from Fu Li.
Fu Li: "If you want to clear your name, you don't have to go through so much trouble."
"My purpose in creating the Void Hand, Soul Probe wasn't just to deal with the Herrscher of Corruption."
"And then, Li?" Elysia suddenly spoke with a serious tone.
"Li, you should understand this better than I do."
"Humanity, as it is now, cannot possibly endure another round of 'infighting'."
"Regardless of the reason, regardless of the process… there will only be one final result."
"The human race will self-destruct because of it."
Fu Li remained silent, letting Elysia continue as he released his hand from his sword.
"But the people of this era… they have fought against the Honkai for so long… they deserve a better ending, don't you think?"
"Li, in your opinion, what would be the most effective way to reunite humanity?"
Fu Li answered grimly, "The appearance of an enemy more terrifying than the Herrschers, or finding a more serious threat."
Clap!
Elysia clapped her hands again, her smile as radiant as a flower.
"Oh my, it seems we're on the same page~ You really are my confidant, Li."
"An enemy so powerful that the survivors have no time for disputes and are forced to unite… that is indeed the most effective method."
"But at the same time, it's also the most difficult method."
"After all, who can say for sure whether an enemy more troublesome than a Herrscher… will unite humanity, or will it simply hasten humanity's extinction?"
Fu Li didn't reply, just watched her in silence.
"Sigh, of course, I don't want to see the world fall into such a state again. But well, if the situation truly becomes irreversible…"
The young woman raised her fingertips and casually conjured a pinkish-purple crystal flower.
"…it wouldn't be so bad for the story's heroine to occasionally guest-star as a charming villain, right♪"
"So, could I trouble you to not interfere with my plan, just as you did for Aponia?"
Fu Li shook his head. "You know I can't possibly stand by as you wish, not when I have the ability to save you from death."
"I see. As I thought, I can't convince you," Elysia said.
"That's right. And I can't convince you, either," Fu Li replied.
The air fell silent once more. Elysia and Fu Li stared at each other, both gripping their weapons, like fire and water, ready to clash at any moment.
Suddenly, Elysia was the first to release her hand, and the tense atmosphere vanished instantly.
"Alright now, Li, there's no need for us to be so confrontational. In fact, we're still friends, aren't we?"
"You're right," Fu Li did not deny it, lowering his weapon as well.
They both knew that a fight right now would decide nothing.
"However, Li, if it's possible, could you grant me one wish?"
"What wish?" Fu Li asked, perplexed, until he noticed where Elysia's gaze was directed.
Her gaze was the same as always, but then… it slowly drifted upward, finally stopping at a very particular spot.
"You… want to touch my horns?" Fu Li's mouth twitched.
"Mhm♪ Can I, can I, can I?" Elysia suddenly closed the distance, leaving less than half a meter between them.
"You can." Unexpectedly, after a long moment of hesitation, Fu Li agreed.
"Mmm…"
...
"Hmm?"
"Huuu…"
"Ooh~"
Gritting his teeth…
"Wow, this is really… completely different from what I imagined~"
"Have you touched them enough?" Fu Li finally couldn't help but ask.
"Alright, alright, thank you for satisfying my curiosity. However~~"
A crystal dagger materialized in Elysia's hand, and she suddenly struck, clashing with a hand that Fu Li had abruptly thrust forward.
The sharp dagger failed to pierce Fu Li's skin. It was as if it had struck hard steel, letting out a grating sound.
The stealth function of the Void Hand, Soul Probe failed in that instant.
At the same time, the device on Fu Li's hand emitted a shower of blue sparks and completely stopped working just three centimeters from Elysia's body.
Elysia's strike seemed to have been planned all along.
"Li, you really are something else. To think you'd sacrifice so much just to take my precious core~♪"
"But for now, looking at the results of this encounter, it's a double win for me, you know♪"