Honkai: Strijder
Chapter 461: Theresa, You Went the Wrong Way
The battle dragged on for a long time.
Theresa had initially thought she would gain the upper hand. As time passed, she would gradually become more familiar with the unfamiliar power of Binding, reducing its suppression on her and eventually tipping the stalemate in her favor.
But as the version of herself in the white space continued to move uncontrollably closer to the god, Theresa realized that the Herrscher persona was also growing stronger.
'This won't work. If this stalemate continues, I'll be completely controlled by the God of Honkai… No wonder she isn't in a hurry. She doesn't need to defeat me—she just needs to avoid losing and wait until I fully embrace the Honkai.'
"Ugh!"
Impatience led to openings. In a single moment, Theresa felt her strength fading, her thoughts becoming heavy and sluggish.
Boom!!!
Herrscher Theresa slammed Judah into her face, sending her flying.
"Hahaha! You finally understand! Under the gaze of the god, we will complete our ultimate transformation! You've already lost, idiot!"
While being knocked back, Theresa flung Judah, forcing the laughing Herrscher Theresa to retreat. She landed, her strength giving out, dropping to one knee as she gasped for breath.
"Haa… haa… haa…"
"Suddenly… everything feels so heavy. Is this also… the effect of that so-called god?"
"The closer you are to the god, the stronger Its apostles become—and the weaker ordinary humans grow. Is that really so hard to understand?"
Herrscher Theresa landed at a distance, speaking calmly. She held the advantage—no, victory was already within her grasp—so she didn't mind wasting a bit more time. After all, time was on her side; the longer it dragged on, the more favorable it was for her.
Theresa rose expressionlessly. Judah flew back into her hand.
"What a shame. I thought I could lure you in."
"Oh? So it was a trap? Or are you truly exhausted and just bluffing, trying to stop me from pressing the advantage?"
"You tell me."
"I won't guess. Why would I gamble on uncertainty? All I need to do is wait, and victory will be mine. Why take risks?"
Herrscher Theresa smiled, her eyes brimming with malice.
Theresa sighed and shook her head.
"I thought you'd have some backbone. Turns out you just rely on external power. A Herrscher, after all—an apostle of the Honkai. Just like it, you reek of something vile and disgusting."
"Your provocation won't work on me!"
"I'm just stating facts. Someone like you, who so easily becomes a dog to that so-called god, could never be Theresa Apocalypse. You're just a crude imitation molded by something I don't even know what it is!"
Holding Judah, Theresa raised her thumb—then turned it downward, her indifferent expression dripping with mockery.
"…"
Herrscher Theresa fell silent. The fake smile vanished completely, replaced by killing intent flooding her golden eyes.
"I know you're playing mind games, but I really am angry now. What could a useless person like you possibly understand? You failed to protect the wonderful Cecilia. You couldn't protect Durandal or Kiana either. You tried to confront Otto, only to be toyed with like a puppet. For over a decade, all you've done is laugh and act like an idiot—what value does someone like you even have living on?"
"Heh, so you want to play mind games too?"
"Whether it's mind games or not, you know the answer! Theresa Apocalypse, admit it—you're a useless coward! Your existence has no value. But if you hand over this body and these powers to me completely, I can change everything! Cecilia can be revived, Otto will be ground to dust, I can take care of Durandal and Kiana, the people we hate will disappear, the people we love will stay—I'll create the world we've always dreamed of. Isn't that wonderful!?"
"But you killed Himeko! How dare you?!"
Theresa hurled Judah like a cannonball toward Herrscher Theresa.
Bang!
Herrscher Theresa caught it effortlessly with one hand—and in that moment, Theresa's weakness was completely exposed.
This should have been the moment for Herrscher Theresa to proclaim her victory.
But instead, her expression wavered.
"I… that… she was too agitated, and I had just been born—I was too immature! I had no other choice! It's fine, Himeko can be revived too. I can slowly convince her later!"
"Is that really what you think?"
"I— what does it have to do with you!? Just hand over the body and the Authority to me—that's enough!"
Herrscher Theresa flung Judah away. She looked arrogant, but the golden eyes that had remained calm the entire time now flickered with a trace of unease.
Was she supposed to tell Theresa that she had never intended to kill Himeko? That it was Himeko who had first gone all-out destroying her own body, leaving no time to stop her? That when she angrily grabbed Himeko's throat afterward, she had actually held back a little—only for Theresa to suddenly emerge and fight for control of their consciousness, causing her to fail to catch Himeko in time…
There were reasons behind it—but Herrscher Theresa would never lower herself to explain. And besides, Himeko was most likely truly dead; she didn't even have the confidence to justify it.
In truth, this Herrscher—shaped by Theresa's emotions and obsessions—was also, in her own way, a rebellious "filial daughter" defying the elegant Honkai God… she just didn't realize it.
Theresa stared at her other self, her expression growing increasingly strange.
"You…"
"I'm not lying!"
"I never said you were. What you did is unforgivable. I will never coexist with you."
"Hah! Like I'd want to coexist with you either! Then let's keep fighting—only one consciousness is leaving here today, and that will be me—the Herrscher of Binding!"
Herrscher Theresa slammed her cross heavily into the ground, her tone fierce and menacing.
Rumble!!!
At that moment, the golden, rain-like world began to shake violently. Theresa clutched her head and collapsed to the ground, her body flickering as if phasing in and out of existence.
"My… my mind… I… I…"
"Hey! You… are you okay?"
Herrscher Theresa instantly flashed in front of her, crouching down with a frown.
Theresa endured the unfamiliar heaviness dragging down her thoughts. Her face pale, she gritted her teeth and said:
"Isn't this what you wanted? I won't lose—whether it's you, or that so-called god, I will never lose! I'm human—I have people I love, and people waiting for me to return! I won't lose!!!"
She roared with everything she had, startling Herrscher Theresa so badly that she fell back onto the ground.
Before Herrscher Theresa could even react, Theresa's figure completely disappeared.
…
In the pale white space, Theresa watched helplessly as she arrived before the god.
Facing the figure identical to herself, arms spread open, she slowly raised her hand. From her unmoving feet upward, her body began to turn pale, little by little.
"No…"
"I can't surrender…"
"I can't go…"
"I won't lose!!!"
She muttered weakly, but she could not stop her hand from reaching forward, nor could she halt the whitening of her body and the descent of her mind into chaos.
'So this is what those children have been enduring… and overcoming… just to smile every day…'
Theresa let out a bitter smile in her heart. Only now did she truly understand how difficult it was to become a Herrscher who retained their humanity.
What she didn't know was that Kiana's burden had once been borne by Sirin; Wendy and Raiden Mei had Herrscher personas that stood on their side, sharing most of the strain; Seele and Fu Hua… their Herrscher counterparts were practically devoted supporters—there was nothing to endure alone; As for Ana, she had passed through this stage gradually with the help of Otto and the Herrscher squad.
In short, the others all had support—and most had time to adapt.
Only Theresa had none of that.
Her Herrscher persona was highly rebellious against her original self, she had no buffer at all, and as the special Herrscher of Binding, the intensity of the Honkai God's gaze upon her was far stronger…
Her difficulty was undoubtedly the highest so far—not because she lacked strength or will.
As her hand was about to touch the god's chest, despair finally surfaced within her fading consciousness.
"Sorry… everyone… but… at least… take my core…"
She spoke in broken fragments. The pale color spread across her face, her eyes dimming.
At that moment, a streak of gold flashed before her eyes, and a hand rested on her shoulder.
"Little Theresa… it seems you've gone the wrong way."
BOOM!!!
Golden light burst forth, instantly flooding the entire white space.