"You've arrived?, hand over [Fenghuang Down] to me and asked me to place the other personalities into dormancy. So—what reckless plan do you have now, Lumine?"
"…"
"You know I'll do anything you ask. So tell me—what do you want me to do this time?"
"Is the universal dormancy protocol I mentioned to you ready?"
"Hm… the experts are nearly finished modifying the Fifth Divine Key. It should be completed soon."
"Then how many hibernation pods can be produced? I want projections—how many within three months."
"If the Spiral Workshop cooperates with the remaining Fire Moth technical staff, producing one hundred thousand won't be difficult."
"Good. Then can the nuclear device you designed fully cover those three cities?"
"?! Lumine, you don't mean to—"
"I will select one hundred thousand human elites. They will survive in hibernation pods and carry humanity's hope into the future. They will usher in a new era."
"…Are you planning to do it yourself?"
"The Twelfth Herrscher will act in my place. But to be safe—if she fails, I'll do it myself."
"Lumine…"
"I don't care how others judge me. History will decide right and wrong. Merit and sin."
"…Understood. I'll place the activation program in the most conspicuous location. I'll also ensure the access control systems of those three cities can be fully locked. No one will be able to escape."
"That will be enough."
…
"[Evil]."
Vil-V sat on a swing beneath the fading twilight, gently humming a tune as she reminisced about the secret she and that person had once shared.
As the embodiment of Vil-V's pride—holding nearly half of her talent—she had known from the very beginning that this civilization was destined to sink. After the tragedy of the restraints, that future had only become clearer.
What she hadn't expected was how decisive he would be—making the choice for everyone while the rest were still clinging to fantasies of defeating the Honkai.
"Rather than watching them tear each other apart, I'd rather make the choice for them."
Even if the Twelfth Herrscher were eventually dealt with, what would become of humanity when the true end arrived?
Entering hibernation pods and hiding underground was the only option. But the number of pods was nowhere near sufficient. When survival slots ran out—what then?
"I've never had expectations for the goodness of human nature. Rather than gambling the future on uncertainty, I'd rather shoulder all the sins myself and turn possibility into certainty."
This was true evil—an existence even more ruthless than herself.
"So I'm the only one truly suited to stand by his side. Whether it's Iliya or Elysia, I can do what they can't. Because if I choose to… I can."
A familiar voice sounded from behind.
"Found you~"
Vil-V turned around, a faint smile curving her lips. "You've finally arrived, Elysia. We've been waiting for you for a long time…"
Elysia maintained her smile. She already knew which Vil-V this was—the most troublesome one.
"I didn't expect [Evil] to be waiting for me. Should I look even happier? After all, there aren't many people who can make [Evil] wait, right?" She sat down on the neighboring swing.
"Seeing you makes things easier. I had prepared contingency plans in case someone else showed up. Since it's only you, I'll leave you some time to catch up."
Vil-V's flippant smile vanished, replaced by a trace of embarrassment.
"I'm sorry, Elysia. [Evil]… isn't really interested in anyone except Lumine. I'm sorry…"
"It's fine, Vil-V. We're friends, after all~" Elysia gently swung back and forth. "So… you're all here to see Lumine?"
"…Mm." Vil-V lowered her head, avoiding Elysia's gaze.
"Don't be like that. Lumine is an outstanding boy. It's only natural that many girls would like him," Elysia said with a smile.
She had already decided on the way here: if she liked someone, then she liked them. There was no reason to hide it and damage their relationships. Honesty was better.
"But… you like Lumine too, and at this point, Lumine likes you…" Vil-V murmured.
"Hehe, you're very considerate~" Elysia replied softly. "Then I should tell you something as well. Lumine was reborn too."
Vil-V froze.
In her memories, Lumine had never met Elysia again after the restraint tragedy. He hadn't even attended the final banquet despite receiving an invitation. If this Lumine belonged to this period…
Inside her mind, [Evil] was practically dancing with joy, humming happily.
"I know what you want to say," Elysia continued gently, swaying on the swing. "I've already been honest with Lumine. There was a misunderstanding between us—but it's been cleared up. We can… start over. It's just that this time, I may be standing on the same starting line as all of you."
"They confessed to each other?" [Evil] surfaced instantly. "Are you sure he confessed? That's impossible!"
Elysia looked at Vil-V in surprise. "Vil-V, has your control over your personalities weakened after rebirth?"
After the other personalities suppressed Extreme Evil, Vil-V's true self emerged, apologizing.
"I'm sorry… it's true. [Evil] is essentially all of my pride—almost half of my genius as Vil-V. If not for Lumine, she would have been sealed away. You said Lumine confessed to you?"
"Mm. He explained why he missed the appointment, and why he didn't come see me after the restraint tragedy," Elysia replied. "As for the resistance purge and other darker aspects… I'll learn about them slowly, in the future."
Pinned down, [Evil] finally relaxed.
Of course. There's no way Lumine would tell her about that. That secret belonged only to him and her.
Hmph. I'm still one of a kind. I just didn't expect Elysia to choose honesty… she's a little behind.
"I see." Vil-V nodded. "Then… Dr. Mobius must have been reborn as well, right?"
"Yes. Mobius helped me understand my own feelings—and Lumine as well," Elysia said with a wry smile. "Though she actually tried to match Lumine with Eden."
"Is that so…" Vil-V looked thoughtful. "Actually, before coming here, I went to Twilight Street. Not only Aponia and Pado, but Kalpas was also reborn. Based on that, my speculation is that all of us—the Fourteen Heroes—have been reborn."
"Eden and the others as well…" Elysia rested her chin against the back of her hand. "It makes me wonder whether my powers reversed time."
Otherwise, why would it be the Fourteen Heroes who were reborn, rather than just the Thirteen Fallen Angels?
Then again… it was also possible that all Thirteen Fallen Angels had been reborn as well.
"That seems unlikely," Vil-V said hesitantly. "If your power were time reversal, it should manifest in daily phenomena to some extent. I think it's more likely related to Lumine's power."
"Lumine is a Herrscher too?" Elysia's eyes widened slightly.
"I'll probably need to confirm that with Dr. Mobius," Vil-V replied. "During the final battle, Lumine revealed a Herrscher form. At the time, Dr. Mobius stated that it was the final outcome of the complete Chimera Project—the God Ascension Project. An artificial Herrscher."
"An artificial Herrscher… is that really possible?" Elysia was clearly incredulous. "From a human to a Herrscher?"
"I find it hard to believe as well, but that's what happened." Vil-V recalled the final battle. "At the time, he was almost evenly matched with the End. But in the end, his body collapsed under the strain of overwhelming Honkai energy. Using the last of his strength, he and Kevin suppressed the End for seventy-two hours… and then he vanished from our sight."
"Lumine…" Elysia's eyelids lowered slightly.
"I remember he briefly distorted spacetime," Vil-V continued. "So our rebirth is likely connected to his abilities after becoming a Herrscher. But… that's only speculation."
"Hey, Vil-V."
"Did you find something, Elysia?"
"No. What I mean is—if we're starting over, can we really defeat the Honkai this time?" Elysia asked quietly. "Is there any way to stop Lumine from walking the same path as before… and still defeat the Honkai?"
"...I don't know."
Both of them fell silent.
Inside Vil-V's mind, [Evil] curled her lips in open disdain.
Saving the world? What a joke.
All she wanted now was to live together with Lumine.
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