"I didn't expect there to be such a possibility. But if it can really be realized… if I were Honkai, I'd probably be completely devastated. Hahaha~"
Elias imagined the potential of forming a Herrscher legion and couldn't help laughing out loud. What did it mean to use Honkai's power against Honkai? Wasn't this exactly that?
Using the Herrschers of the Previous Era to deal with the Herrschers of the Current Era. And in the Current Era, only a handful of Herrschers had not defected. On top of that, Elias possessed the ability to charm Honkai Beasts.
Previous Era: "There has never been such a marvelous situation!"
Honkai: "How the hell are we supposed to play this game anymore?!"
As for whether the one thousand and eleven Herrschers of the Previous Era would be willing to fight for humanity—the answer was… complicated.
Elias had once used human culture to influence them, helping each of those thousand-plus Herrschers find something they were genuinely interested in. But asking them to fight for humanity outright?
Their goodwill toward humanity hadn't quite reached that level.
However—
If it was for Elias, they would agree without the slightest hesitation.
They had originally stood in opposition to humanity—Herrschers created by Honkai as personalities and puppets meant to destroy the world. Logically, even if they had been killed, they would have had no grounds for complaint.
But there was one white-haired boy who stubbornly saved every single one of them, erasing the mountains of corpses and oceans of blood they were destined to bear, again and again.
He had even broken Honkai's shackles for them, allowing them to choose their own futures.
With such a debt of gratitude, how could those one thousand and eleven Herrschers not feel immense affection for Elias?
Therefore…
If Elias wished for them to fight for humanity—
If doing so would make him happy—
Then they would not hesitate in the slightest.
To them, it would merely be a trivial act of repayment.
"In that case, I'll need to plan this carefully. Theresa was talking about recruiting new students for the Academy this spring anyway. I might as well have all of them enroll at St. Freya Academy."
But that would raise an interesting question.
When one thousand and eleven Herrschers enrolled—
Should St. Freya Academy still be called a Valkyrie academy… or would it become a Herrscher academy instead? The title of 'Herrscher Academy' might finally become reality.
"Sigh~ If only the Herrscher of Finality could join too… Forget it, forget it. That's way too unrealistic. You can't be too greedy. Besides, the Finality of the Previous Era has already returned to Honkai."
Elias shook his head, tossing aside the absurd fantasy.
What he didn't realize at that moment was that reality could sometimes be even more fantastical than fiction…
"Let's go, Sakura. Rin. I'll take you two to visit St. Freya Academy. And I think you already know—Eden and Aponia have joined as well."
"I-is that so…"
Sakura's eye twitched, and she suddenly felt the urge to draw her blade.
Know? How would she know?!
So that was why she hadn't seen those two recently—they had received the news early and run off ahead of everyone else! In that case, she wouldn't hold back either.
"Sorry, Elysia!"
The three of them set off toward what might soon become the future Herrscher Academy.
What Elias didn't know—
Was that war had already broken out inside the Academy.
...
St. Freya Academy. Inside the Valkyrie dormitory, MEI, who had already arrived, glared angrily at the four people before her.
"Eden, Aponia, Fu Hua, and Misteln. I'll remember this grudge. You knew and didn't report it. We'll settle accounts later!"
"MEI, did you inform anyone else?" x4
"Of course not!"
MEI replied righteously.
A certain good man named Otto from a bubble world once said that a person's life goes through three stages of growth.
The first is understanding right and wrong.
The second is understanding that some matters are not simply right or wrong.
The third is understanding that even when something has no clear right or wrong, one still chooses to firmly do what one believes in—and take responsibility for it.
MEI: "Even if something is wrong, you must still firmly do it. After all, in love there is no right or wrong—only victory or defeat! But if you get caught, you still have to accept punishment!"
If you were going to do something bad, you couldn't get discovered.
The women of the Previous Era: "…Tsk!"
At the same time, the atmosphere in the Valkyrie dormitory turned strange.
With MEI, Griseo, and Prometheus joining the Previous Era faction, their numbers had reached six, forming a distinct force.
Meanwhile, Mei and MEI, as well as Bronya and Prometheus, shared such strikingly similar appearances that both sides found it fascinating. Anyone unaware might have thought they were two pairs of twin sisters.
"Wow! She really looks exactly like Mei! I wonder how her cooking skills are," Kiana exclaimed.
"T-two Sister Bronyas?! Ah—no, Miss Prometheus doesn't seem to be human, but she really looks similar," Seele murmured.
"How interesting. Maybe in the future we'll meet people who look exactly like us too, Seele," Dark Seele said playfully.
"Even if she looks like me, she's no threat. Bronya possesses infinite possibilities. In five years, I will achieve the perfect figure!"
"Oh? Then my advantage is even greater. Nano-soulium allows me to alter my form at will," Prometheus replied.
"Let me make this clear—if you're going to fight, don't do it in the dormitory. Go to the training room," Himeko warned.
Who still remembered that this Valkyrie dormitory had once been her personal villa?
Now it had become Elias' harem palace.
And at this moment, the pinnacle combat forces of both the Previous Era and the Current Era had gathered here. The air was thick with gunpowder.
Though it wasn't as grand as the battle against Finality, from another perspective this battlefield was even fiercer.
After all, what boss fight could compare to a full-scale PvP team battle?
"Ahem. Eden, Aponia, Fu Hua, Griseo—I have a proposal."
MEI adjusted her glasses.
Clever as she was, she had already analyzed the situation and immediately began drafting tactics.
"I know we can't exactly be called united. But if we're going to compete, shouldn't we eliminate the outsiders first, and then settle things internally? That way our chances of victory are the highest."
In terms of raw individual strength, the Current Era group was inferior to the Flame-Chasers. However, they had greater numbers—and far better teamwork.
On the other hand, if the Flame-Chasers could truly unite and form a single front, then defeat would be almost impossible.
Of course, that was nearly impossible.
The Elysian Realm had another nickname: the Psychiatric Ward of Paradise. Anyone who became a Flame-Chaser had at least a few screws loose. Their wildly distinct personalities made cooperation exceedingly difficult.
In this world, the only person capable of commanding all Flame-Chasers into seamless coordination was Elias.
However… MEI also possessed extraordinary qualifications as a commander.
In the original timeline, she had been the one to lead the Current Era all the way to the Herrscher of Finality.
"To stabilize the interior, one must first confront the exterior! Let's unite against them first. Leave the command to me. I may not match Elias, but handling a third of his scale is no problem."
MEI spoke confidently—and she had the ability to back it up. The pinnacle of human intellect was no empty title.
Hearing this, Mei and the others' expressions darkened.
They had already experienced firsthand how powerful each Flame-Chaser was. Even the non-combat types could confront a Herrscher head-on.
The record spoke for itself. Aside from Pardofelis and Griseo, which Flame-Chaser hadn't slain thousands—if not tens of thousands—of high-level Honkai Beasts?
At least in pure combat experience, Mei's group couldn't compare.
If these gods of solo combat truly coordinated, the Current Era would struggle greatly. In fact, just dealing with the Red Phoenix Immortal already required ninety percent of their strength.
However, unexpectedly—
"It sounds like a good idea. But we'll pass."
"MEI, this situation is different."
"Sigh~ You look exactly the same. Why is the one on our side so underwhelming? I truly don't understand."
Eden, Fu Hua, and Aponia refused to unite. They even cast sympathetic looks at MEI—as though staring at a defeated dog.
MEI: "???"
Eden: "It is a good idea. But if the commander is completely countered, then it's another matter."
MEI: "Countered? How am I countered?!"
Fu Hua, Eden, and Aponia looked at MEI.
Then they looked at Mei.
"Sigh~" x3
They shook their heads in unison.
Eden: "MEI, that young lady over there who looks identical to you—Miss Mei—is Elias' first love."
MEI: "What? First love?!"
Aponia: "And she has perfect cooking skills. Her dishes are excellent."
MEI: "P-perfect cooking…"
Fu Hua: "She can freely switch between domineering queen mode and gentle virtuous wife mode. And her combat strength surpasses yours as well."
MEI: "Pfft—!"
Clutching her chest, MEI nearly coughed up blood.
She trembled as she stared at Mei across from her, feeling an indescribable aura—
The aura of the rightful main wife.
In that instant, she understood.
She might have already lost.
(Elias' first love. Excellent at cooking. Two personality modes? What kind of broken Tier 0 character is this?! How did she manage that? Is there a guide?)
Thinking back to the first cycle, she had appeared as the female lead right after Elysia—yet it wasn't until after the Tenth Herrscher that she had finally risen to prominence.
If not for the plank-immortal cushioning the bottom, she might have been the greatest defeated dog of the Previous Era.
"Um… although I don't quite understand what's happening, I guess I'm allowed to feel a little proud?" Mei said hesitantly.
"Of course, Miss Mei," Eden replied warmly. "You're far superior to our MEI. Back then, she even had her account stolen by Ely."
MEI: "…Eden, we're at least on the same side, aren't we? And why don't I remember that happening?!"
Fu Hua coughed awkwardly. "We were afraid the blow would be too much for you. Ely created a group chat in your name and calculated everything in advance."
MEI's breathing grew shaky.
She had never imagined that her already tragic record wasn't the full story—that there were hidden defeats she hadn't even known about.
Thus, the pinnacle of human intellect, vice-commander of Fire Moth, the coldly rational genius of the Previous Era—
Collapsed forward in utter defeat.
MEI: OTZ
She was on the verge of shutting down emotionally.
Why did I invest all my skill points into scientific research back then? Does the scientist class give any bonus to conquering Elias at all?!
"Is she really that miserable?" Mei whispered.
Fu Hua sighed. "From a purely rational standpoint… yes. But far less miserable than me. Who can understand the pain of failing to ascend after twelve full cycles?"
"Class monitor… that's tragic," Bronya said sympathetically.
"Ah~ Poor Hua. In the future, you still seem to face a great calamity," Aponia added gently.
Fu Hua: "…Is the world targeting me?"
And so, with MEI thoroughly crushed by Mei's presence alone, the Flame-Chasers who might have temporarily cooperated under her command were now forced back into solo combat.
It could only be said—not every face resembling Mei was destined to be a queen.
Some were the Herrscher of Coocking.
Some were defeated-dog scientists.
Some were reclusive gods.
And some were directionally challenged Emanators.
"I thought this would be a massive crisis. Turns out it was a false alarm," Rita remarked lightly.
"It's almost dinner time. Let's prepare the evening meal. That one called MEI—you can assist," Mei said calmly.
MEI: "…Fine!"
Previous Era faction: "No!!"
Unwilling to accept such a massive gap, MEI gritted her teeth and resolutely stepped into the trial ground known as the kitchen.
(I've been practicing since the Previous Era. There's no way I have zero chance. That pot earlier… I just didn't use my true skill!)
(MEI! Awaken your potential! All those years of training cannot have been meaningless! It's just cooking—how could it possibly be harder than fighting Honkai?!)
Tying her apron firmly, she picked up a kitchen knife. Seeing her own reflection in the blade, she steeled her resolve.
Prometheus: "Attention all units! Dr. MEI has entered the kitchen! Highest-level alert! Highest-level alert! This is not a drill. I repeat, this is not a drill!"
"I-is it really that serious?" Kiana asked nervously.
"There was once an incident where Sister MEI's cooking caused a massive explosion. It nearly destroyed the entire Elysian Realm," Griseo explained solemnly.
"Are you sure she was cooking and not manufacturing explosives?" Bronya muttered.
"We… are not certain," Aponia replied.
The Current Era group, still unaware of the severity of the situation, stood frozen.
The Previous Era group, fully aware of the impending disaster, had already taken defensive positions.
Fu Hua activated Artificial Cascade.
Prometheus raised her soulium gauntlets as shields.
Aponia pulled Griseo behind her.
Eden was already considering drafting her will.
Perhaps luck was on their side.
This time, MEI's cooking did not result in a catastrophic accident.
Boom—!!!
It merely blew up the Valkyrie dormitory kitchen.
Current Era group: "The kitchen—!!!"
Previous Era group: "Phew~ Good thing it was only the kitchen."
—
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