Takamiya Mayuri was a powerful fictional character. The proof was that even the system had granted her five stars (✯✯✯✯✯).
Yet… before the Herrscher of the Void, all of that was nothing more than decoration.
Mayuri's power depended on her Angel, Kerubiel, along with her five other Angels.
Even so, those additional Angels were merely shadows of their true power.
Mayuri was not a fighter designed for prolonged battles. She was an executioner, a bringer of judgment, "one hit one kill", reflecting her title of Mayuri Judgement, but… her abilities had clear limits.
Meanwhile, the Herrscher of the Void stood at the peak of the power hierarchy with spatial manipulation that surpassed logic.
Although both were five-star characters, the gulf between their powers was unbridgeable.
Space… was not merely an abstract concept. It was the very foundation of reality, a fundamental law undeniable across all universes.
And the Herrscher of the Void… could control it as effortlessly as a breath.
Before the Herrscher of the Void, every one of Mayuri's attacks felt like a pathetic joke.
Held back, twisted, or turned against their creator… That was what happened every time Mayuri tried to resist.
Even Lahathelev, Kerubiel's ultimate form, could not injure the Herrscher of the Void in the slightest. On the contrary, the colossal figure became an easy target for the ruler of the void.
Hundreds of Subspace Lances rained down on Lahathelev's enormous body like giant needles, piercing through and lodging inside.
Terrifying white creatures, the Honkai Beasts, crawled across its surface, tearing at it with unimaginable ferocity.
Lahathelev's regeneration was also hindered by the Subspace Lances' effect, which prevented recovery.
The once-blue sky now darkened with a blood-red tinge.
The clouds were distorted, twisting unnaturally as if reality itself were screaming in pain as the chaotic Honkai energy seeped in every direction...
***
"𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵..."
Thick blood clogged Mayuri's throat before finally spilling from her pale lips.
Her vision blurred, obstructed by the red stream soaking her eyelids.
The figure who was once like a holy angel now lay pitifully on the ground. Both hands, both legs, and her abdomen were pierced by Subspace Lances, creating gaping wounds that bled without end.
Her body was pinned to the ground, helpless.
Even though she had used the Angel Gabriel to ease the pain, it meant little.
But the most astonishing thing was the purple lines slowly creeping from her neck up to her right cheek, a sign of Honkai corruption beginning to gnaw at her.
In the midst of that despair, a figure stepped toward her.
The Herrscher of the Void walked gracefully through the destruction, accompanied by Subspace Lances floating around her like a crown of death.
Her gaze was chillingly cold, without a shred of mercy.
"𝐇𝐞𝐡, 𝐈 𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞," she said mockingly before her lips curved into a disgusted smile. "𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝, 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭."
Mayuri tried to retort, but no sound came out, only a weak groan and more blood flowing from the corner of her lips.
"𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥, 𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐈'𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧."
The Herrscher extended her hand arrogantly.
One of the Subspace Lances rotated slowly before aiming at Mayuri, ready to destroy her existence once and for all.
"𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥."
The spear shot out like lightning—
𝙆𝙍𝙄𝙉𝙂!!!
—only to be deflected by a flash of a sword that appeared out of nowhere.
The Herrscher of the Void's eyes widened for a moment before turning grim. Rage overflowed in her voice, "𝐖𝐡𝐨—"
𝘽𝙊𝙊𝙊𝙊𝙊𝙈𝙈𝙈...!!
Without warning, a tremendous explosion of fire thundered right where the Herrscher of the Void stood, cutting off her words.
Blast after blast kept appearing, sweeping across the entire battlefield in waves of destruction!
The Honkai Beasts howled in pain as their bodies were showered with arrows flying with deadly precision.
They were not ordinary arrows, but high-concentration [mana] projectiles, the kind of attack that even made every Rank S Hunter afraid!
Benares, the giant blue dragon, a Judgement-class Honkai Beast, roared in fury and tried to retaliate to protect its queen!
But before it could move, an extraordinary pressure of energy slammed into its body, throwing it to the ground and creating massive cracks stretching thousands of meters!
"You..." Mayuri whispered weakly, her eyes slowly opening.
A sensation of warm light slowly filled her body, trying to heal her gaping wounds.
"Please don't speak yet, Miss. You are still gravely wounded," said a gentle voice.
Mayuri's blurred vision caught the figure of a girl in luxurious healer's robes with two glowing magic staves floating nearby. Healing aura flowed from her fingertips.
"Rina, how is her condition?"
Another firm voice sounded.
A silver-haired knightly girl approached, Laura Silver, the "Queen of Gravity" and First Commander.
Though her face was always expressionless, the cold sweat running down her temples showed that even a Rank SS Hunter like her felt threatened facing the Herrscher of the Void.
Laura was not alone. Behind her, several Rank SSS Hunters stood ready, their power, usually a bane to enemies, now feeling like candlelight before a storm.
Rina, a Rank SS healer, shook her head with a serious face.
"This is strange. Even though I've sealed her physical wounds, these purple lines... aren't normal. Like an infection, but not from our world."
Laura frowned and was about to respond—
𝘽𝙊𝙊𝙊𝙊𝙊𝙈𝙈𝙈...!!
A tremendous explosion cut off their conversation.
The two turned and found a colossal tengu-like figure with six giant arms standing in the way in the distance.
Within that giant energy form, a Rank SSS Hunter named Killin could be seen concentrating fully, manifesting all of his power without holding back.
He knew exactly who he was facing, a being that had even dared to challenge True Cthulhu.
"𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐨𝐧𝐞... 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠..." The Herrscher of the Void's voice echoed with deep hatred. "𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐛𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐲, 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡!"
The sky suddenly darkened as if the sun had vanished.
A giant shadow covered their vision and when they looked up, dozens of meteors were plummeting down at terrifying speed.
Even the Rank S Hunters stepped back at the sight of this cosmic attack.
But the Rank SSS Hunters were not afraid.
"That was an amazing attack," a calm voice said, "but it means nothing to me… <<𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐫>>"
𝙅𝙀𝘿𝘼𝘼𝘼𝘼𝘼𝙍𝙍𝙍....!!
A dazzling flash of blue light split the heavens.
Bolts of electricity intertwined to form a colossal pillar of energy that pierced every meteor, destroying them instantly!
𝘽𝙇𝘼𝘼𝘼𝘼𝘼𝘼𝙍𝙍𝙍....!!!
From the midst of the lightning strike emerged a handsome young man in blue robes with a crown of lightning adorning his head.
Blue sparks of electricity coiled around him, creating a terrifying aura of power.
He was Lingyun, a Rank SSS Hunter, the lightning wielder.
His gaze narrowed as he studied the figure of the Herrscher of the Void in the distance!
"She's dangerous..." Lingyun muttered before speaking to empty air, "How about it? Have you been able to see her strength?"
A shadow rose from the ground, forming a gloomy-looking young man.
Black hair and a brown right eye, while his left eye glowed silver, as if probing invisible dimensions.
Zamian, another Rank SS+ Hunter, furrowed his brow.
"It's unfortunate, but I think we should retreat. That girl... no, calling her a girl isn't right. Monster suits her better. She has nearly unlimited energy. Fighting her right now would be suicide."
"Is that so?" Lingyun raised an eyebrow. "Then we must retreat."
"𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐮𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐦𝐞?"
The Herrscher of the Void's voice cut through the air, followed by killing intent that was almost physical.
Lingyun remained calm, replying only briefly, "Unfortunately, that's not your decision to make."
Thousands of Subspace Lances immediately shot toward them, ready to tear apart anything they touched.
But just before the spears reached their targets, a spatial fluctuation occurred and the two Hunters vanished.
The Herrscher of the Void laughed mockingly.
How dare they try to escape with spatial manipulation before the ruler of dimensions? She prepared to shift after their coordinates, but suddenly sensed a deadly threat from the heavens.
Her expression froze, turning into a cold, calculating gaze.
"𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐲, 𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧... 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬."
The next second, a dazzling light exploded from the sky, widening a circle of destruction that erased all matter within its reach!
𝘽𝙊𝙊𝙊𝙊𝙊𝙊𝙊𝙊𝙈𝙈𝙈𝙈....!!!
***
"All right, that was my Judgement Arrow, consuming about 40% of my power."
In the distance, an elegant woman gazed at the colossal explosion occurring thousands of kilometers from her position.
The ornate bow in her hand slowly crumbled into shards of light, unable to bear the weight of the overwhelming [mana].
Artelis, a Rank SS+ Hunter specializing in bows, looked at her comrades returning from the battlefield. "So... how did it go?"
Laura rose gracefully, dust and blood doing nothing to diminish her poise.
"Mission accomplished. We successfully secured the SSS-level target 'Unknown Spirit'."
Their mission from the start had never been to defeat the Herrscher of the Void.
Even with Rank SSS Hunters, facing an entity capable of killing True Cthulhu, a Rank Unknown creature, would be collective suicide.
Their top priority was rescuing the mysterious Spirit that had drawn the World Organization's attention.
This decision was made after careful consideration. First, because of her potentially uncontrollable power, and second, more crucially, they needed information.
Laura was certain this Spirit knew something about the terrifying entity capable of annihilating True Cthulhu.
"We should leave soon. My Talent senses those white creatures starting to move toward us," said Zamian, his eyes glinting with vigilance.
"Very well, for now we retreat. We'll think about our next strategy later."
A dimensional portal opened wide before them.
Without further delay, the entire force entered the portal, leaving the battlefield with the mysterious Spirit they had managed to rescue.
As for the Dungeon Break at Cthulhu Island... there was nothing left to worry about.
Not only the island, but most of the surrounding region down to the ocean floor had turned into a death zone that could not be approached…
***
Several days had passed since the terrifying incident at Cthulhu Island...
The World Organization was not merely a name in world politics.
They were the vital link between the oldest kingdoms, the mightiest empires, the leading guilds, and legendary Hunters from every corner of the world.
The organization stood as the backbone of global stability in a world filled with supernatural threats.
Their headquarters rose magnificently in the heart of the city of Lumina, the most advanced metropolis on the central continent, nicknamed "One of Humanity's Strongest Bastions."
The city's walls were lined with ancient runes and protective magic said to be impenetrable even to the attacks of a Rank SS Magical Beast.
But today, the atmosphere in the round conference room was so oppressive it was hard to breathe.
Around the oval table of rare white oak, a material that grows only once a century in the Silver Forest, sat the most influential figures in the world.
Their aura of power was so thick that the air seemed to vibrate around them.
The conference hall was designed with a blend of aristocratic grandeur and futuristic technology.
Its walls were plated with anti-teleportation metal engraved with defensive runes glowing bluish.
On the ceiling of the high dome, ancient protective magic symbols glowed dimly, ensuring that no spies, physical or astral, could penetrate.
Crystal windows as tall as the walls revealed the glittering panorama of Lumina below, with towers piercing the clouds and busy floating transport lanes.
Several seats remained empty. Above them, holographic projections displayed the faces of rulers who could not attend physically, whether because of distance or because their power was too dangerous to bring into one room.
At the center of it all, standing with a straight back and a sharp gaze, was… Grand Marshal Valerian Brightblade.
This sturdily built man in his fifties had an undeniable commander's aura.
His neatly tied silver hair contrasted with the terrible scar running from his left temple to his right jaw, a gift from a battle against a Rank SSS Magical Beast two decades ago.
His silvery battle armor gleamed, covered in medals and symbols of valor, but the most striking was the World Organization emblem shining on his chest.
Valerian gazed at the holographic projection in the center of the room with eyes holding deep worry.
"The latest report on the situation at Cthulhu Island," he said in a deep voice that echoed throughout the room.
"The area within a 200-kilometer radius has become an absolute death zone. Unknown radiation has reached unprecedented levels in history, even surpassing the Void Breach disaster 80 years ago. Our best research teams cannot approach the area even when equipped with extremely powerful shields."
"How laughable." A mocking voice cut through the tension.
All eyes turned to the holographic projection of a young man in royal robes layered with gold and glittering jewels.
A crown resembling a rising sun sat on his head, marking his identity as Emperor Lysander of the Solaris Empire.
His lips curved in a cold smile that contrasted with his sharply glinting amber eyes.
"Unknown radiation? Why not simply name the one who spread it, the mysterious entity whose existence even the World Organization, in all its greatness, failed to predict?"
The room instantly fell into oppressive silence.
The World Organization, though the strongest entity backed by all the world's great powers, could not casually summon kings and emperors to an emergency meeting.
Diplomatic protocol required an exceptionally strong reason, and the destruction of Cthulhu Island more than qualified.
The loss of a strategic island along with its satellite cities was not merely a local tragedy.
Cthulhu Island was not only a trade hub, but also a source of rare natural resources and a training ground for talented Hunters.
Now, the region had become a wasteland of death emitting foreign energy that even elite and powerful Hunters could not identify.
"If only I had that answer, Your Majesty," Valerian replied calmly, though lines of tension showed around his eyes. "But the fact is, this entity is not registered in any database. There are no historical records, ancient legends, or prophecies that have ever mentioned its existence. As if it... appeared from absolute nothingness."
Several leaders raised their eyebrows skeptically. One large king with a fiery red beard tapped the table with his ring-laden fingers.
"So, what you mean is—this terrifying creature simply appeared out of nowhere? Without warning?" he retorted.
"Correct. At first we suspected it was a Dungeon monster appearing in humanoid form, but... analysis suggests a different conclusion."
"Not convincing enough?" one of the kings asked probingly.
"I will clarify." A calm, methodical voice came from the other side of the table.
Professor Hawthorne, an old man with a long white beard and a dark blue robe covered in arcane symbols, rose from his seat.
As the supreme leader of the Arcane Association, his authority in magic and supernatural energy research was undisputed.
"It is true that the simultaneous appearance of two Dungeon Breaks at Cthulhu Island was shocking," he said, moving his hand and activating a small magic circle that created a projection of complex data in the air.
"It's not surprising that the Magical Beasts that emerged also had power beyond our predictions, but—"
The Professor looked sharply at everyone present, his wrinkled fingers moving along the glowing data.
"The possibility of a Rank Unknown entity emerging from within a Dungeon, even during a Dungeon Break, is theoretically zero."
His voice was firm and certain.
"Unlike Rank SSS creatures, which remain within the spectrum of our understanding, Rank Unknown entities have a supply of [mana] far exceeding the capacity any Dungeon structure could hold. Such [mana] pressure would destroy the Dungeon itself from within, like a vessel bursting under too much pressure."
"Oh? An interesting theory." Emperor Lysander tilted his head, his eyes glinting with calculation. "Then how do you explain the appearance of True Cthulhu?"
An oppressive silence once again enveloped the room.
Shocked faces appeared among most of the attendees, especially those without access to the highest-level classified information.
Even some faction leaders seemed surprised by the Emperor's openness in naming that legendary entity.
Professor Hawthorne frowned, the corner of his lip twitching before he sighed heavily.
"It is true that the reappearance of True Cthulhu was extremely unexpected," he admitted heavily.
"But we have all made a fatal mistake. Although we claimed to have defeated it decades ago, who can truly be certain that a being of such caliber was completely destroyed?"
The projection in the center of the room changed, displaying historical footage of a tremendous battle in which the largest fleet humanity had ever assembled faced a colossal giant octopus-shaped figure with glowing red eyes.
"Rank Unknown entities possess natures that surpass our understanding. Regeneration, long hibernation, even the ability to be destroyed and return are not impossible for them." The Professor gazed at the hologram with a somber look.
"The latest analysis shows that the Dungeon Break itself was a result of True Cthulhu's awakening, a kind of energy tremor produced as it restored its power."
To prove his claim, the Professor displayed an extremely detailed energy comparison simulation.
On the advanced holographic screen, the mana structure of True Cthulhu and the Dungeon Break anomaly showed an undeniable similarity, like identical fingerprints.
"And what is more perplexing," he continued as he changed the projection, "this foreign entity appeared with no energetic connection whatsoever to the Dungeon Break or True Cthulhu. As if it came from... a completely different dimension."
The screen changed, displaying a figure that made some of the attendees shudder.
A young girl with snow-white hair fluttering in the wind.
Her skin was perfectly pale, contrasting with her cross-marked golden eyes. The simple white dress she wore looked unremarkable, but the aura radiating from her made the air seem to vibrate.
Behind her, a large blue dragon floated with wings that seemed to sparkle with electricity, and countless white creatures of various sizes moved like clouds dancing around her.
The world's strongest leaders looked at the figure with a mixture of fear and… fascination.
It was truly ironic that a being with such a beautiful appearance could annihilate an entity of True Cthulhu's caliber.
"Human?" asked one with an incredulous look.
"Do not be deceived by her appearance," Professor Hawthorne replied in a grim tone. "Our analysis shows that she is not human at all, nor anything we have ever known."
"I understand," another king said. "But what exactly are you trying to explain by showing her figure?"
"This girl," the Professor moved his hand and the projection showed an extremely complex energy reading, "emits energy never before detected in our world. Not [mana], not the basic elements. This is a completely alien type of energy, as if… it came from a fundamentally different reality."
Grand Marshal Valerian stepped forward, his face tense as he looked at the projection.
"And this is our main problem," his voice was heavy with caution. "Although the discovery of new energy is usually good news for the development of magic and technology, this energy is extremely dangerous. Unlike [mana], which is the backbone of life in our world, this energy is corrosive, chaotic, and destructive. It also contaminates and damages the natural [mana] patterns around it."
"What exactly do you mean?" asked one guild leader with a furrowed brow.
"Let me show you concretely," Professor Hawthorne took over again. "This energy, which we are temporarily calling 'Void Radiation,' has a horrifying contamination effect."
The screen switched to surveillance footage, showing a small village on the edge of Cthulhu Island before the incident.
The residents appeared happy, going about their normal activities. Farmers tended their fields, children played in the streets, merchants hawked their wares.
But in an instant, everything changed.
Glowing purple lines began to appear on the ground, then crept onto the residents' bodies like a deadly infection.
Frightened faces turned to blank expressions, then slowly transformed into something no longer human, eyes glowing purple, skin cracking with dark energy radiating from the fissures, and unnatural movements.
Several leaders gasped in shock, while others showed suspicious scientific interest.
"Every living thing, humans, animals, even plants, with a constitution below Rank B will undergo this horrifying transformation within minutes of exposure."
Professor Hawthorne explained in a cold tone.
"And I emphasize very clearly, never think of exploiting this energy for any purpose."
Several leaders who had earlier shown interest now narrowed their eyes, clearly feeling called out by the warning.
"Then according to the World Organization, what should our next step be?" asked one diplomatic emperor.
"What a ridiculous question!" exclaimed a burly military commander. "Just send one 'Atomic Destruction' at that girl and be done with it!"
"Rejected," Valerian answered firmly. "Using Atomic Destruction is still far too risky. We don't yet know how this foreign energy would react to a magical nuclear strike, it might even worsen the contamination."
"Then what? Are you planning to send Hunters to face her? Have you lost your minds?" a king exclaimed scornfully.
"Even though that girl is not equal to True Cthulhu in its prime, even if we deploy every Rank SSS Hunter we have, the losses we would suffer would be enormous!"
"We need to form a special force trained specifically to face this entity. This approach is more measured and safe," suggested a calm general.
"Safe?" mocked one of the guild leaders. "Although the constitution of Rank B Hunters and above is enough to withstand the radiation's effects in the short term, what about long-term exposure? Losing our elite Hunters would be a strategic setback we cannot accept!"
The room was once again filled with heated debate.
The leaders proposed strategies and rebutted one another, some wanting instant solutions like a magical nuclear strike, while others advocated a more careful and planned approach.
"Calm down," a calm yet authoritative voice broke through the commotion.
Instantly, the once-noisy room fell silent again.
Even the notoriously arrogant kings stopped speaking and turned their attention.
From the head seat at the end of the table, an old man with a faint golden aura enveloping his body stared sharply at the Grand Marshal.
The Emperor of the Holy Spirit Empire, acknowledged as the strongest force of humanity in the world, finally spoke after having merely observed until then.
"I hear you managed to bring that Unknown Spirit home with you?" he asked in a tone that could not be refuted.
"Correct, Your Majesty," Professor Hawthorne nodded respectfully. "However, her condition is very unstable."
"Explain in detail."
"This Spirit suffered severe physical injuries from the battle with that unknown creature, injuries that we have technically managed to treat with the healing of elite Hunters." The Professor displayed medical data on the screen.
"However, the problem is that she was exposed to that foreign energy radiation for a very long time. Its effect on her spiritual body seems different from its effect on biological beings. To this day, she remains unconscious."
"I see." The Emperor nodded slowly. "Now, Laura Silver, I wish to hear firsthand testimony about the foreign girl's power from your own mouth."
All eyes turned to the woman who had been sitting calmly near the Grand Marshal.
Laura Silver, dubbed the "Queen of Gravity," one of the world's Rank SS Hunters, rose gracefully.
Her long silver hair gleamed in the light, and her sharp eyes swept across the room.
"As reported by Rank SSS Hunter Zamian," her voice was clear and calm, "this entity is different from anything we have ever faced before. Her energy... has almost no limit."
Laura opened her palm, creating a miniature battle simulation above it. "In addition, based on Hunter Lingyun's observations, she possesses high-level spatial manipulation far surpassing the most advanced spatial-element Talents we know of. Even Hunter Artelis's Judgement Arrow, an attack capable of injuring a Rank SSS Hunter, was only able to divert her attention for a fraction of a second."
An oppressive silence once more enveloped the room.
The implications of this report were too terrifying to imagine. Rank SSS Hunters were the pinnacle of human power, symbols of hope and part of humanity's strongest force.
"I see," the Emperor of the Holy Spirit nodded slowly. "Then what do you think we should do, Queen of Gravity?"
Laura blinked, clearly not expecting her opinion to be requested directly by a figure so exalted.
Carefully, she answered, "Although Rank Unknown entities still far exceed the individual capacity of Rank SSS or SS Hunters, I believe that with the right composition of Talents and strategy... there is still a possibility for us to at least hold it back or defeat it."
"Then we grant you full authority to form and lead this special force."
The Emperor looked around the room.
"I assume no one objects to this decision, correct?"
No one dared object, not even Grand Marshal Valerian, who seemed surprised but could only nod in agreement.
No one dared openly oppose a decision of the Holy Spirit Empire.
Laura Silver bowed respectfully, but behind her calm demeanor, her eyes held deep gloom.
This responsibility was not merely a task, it was a burden that could determine her fate.
Success meant survival, failure meant total ruin, at least for her career.
"And one more thing," the Emperor added coldly. "Although this information has leaked, do not let the illegal Guilds interfere in this operation."
A different kind of tension swept the room.
Not a single representative of the dark Guilds attended this emergency meeting, which meant they had already been excluded from the highest circle of trust.
Everyone knew that the three strongest illegal Guilds had been involved in the Cthulhu Island incident, though their motives remained a mystery.
Even more shocking, the three top Guilds that had long been a thorn in the World Organization's side were now almost entirely destroyed.
The Moon Order had vanished without a trace. The Sun Order was now in custody and under strict surveillance. And from the Shadow Order, only one person remained alive...
"Fufu, this is my fault for being too careless~"
In another corner of the room, sitting casually despite part of her body being wrapped in bandages, Queenie, leader of the Shadow Order and one of the Rank SSS Hunters, smiled as though all this were merely a small joke.
Her exotic beauty contrasted with her cold, calculating eyes.
"Shut up, bitch," hissed the Emperor of the Light Sun Empire with a grim face.
"I am grateful that your Guild and especially the Frost Assassin have vanished from the face of the earth."
"Yes, how unfortunate~" Queenie sighed in an obviously feigned tone.
But then her gaze narrowed dangerously, like a venomous snake ready to strike. "But you are gravely mistaken about one thing... the Frost Assassin is not dead."
The leaders merely raised their eyebrows and ignored her statement. Queenie's obsession with that legendary assassin was an open secret, an embarrassing one to the elite circles.
"Queenie, leader of the Shadow Order Guild," Laura said calmly but firmly. "As part of your punishment, you will be a member of the special force that will face this foreign entity."
"Oh?" Queenie blinked with a feigned look of surprise, before a teasing smile returned to her face.
"Are you sure you want to bring me along? Well, I don't mind at all."
Laura nodded briefly.
She was about to continue speaking when the sound of ragged breathing broke the atmosphere.
"Let me join you..."
The door of the conference room, which was supposed to be guarded by several Rank S Hunters, suddenly swung wide open.
Nearly everyone present flinched in shock, security in this room was supposed to be absolute, without gaps.
Stranger still, several leaders looked confused because they saw no one enter, only the door opening by itself as if pushed by the wind.
The Hunters and leaders of lower power levels could only stare in confusion, while those with high spiritual sensitivity could see a young girl with golden blonde hair and softly glowing pink eyes.
The girl wore a pristine white uniform with intricate golden accents and a short skirt that fluttered whenever she moved.
A pair of crystal earrings on her ears kept changing color, red, blue, green, purple, as if responding to her emotions.
Her expression looked extremely urgent, like someone who had crossed a great distance to deliver an important message. More worrying still, faint purple lines were still visible on her cheek, a sign of exposure to the foreign energy radiation.
Behind her, Rina, a Rank SS Hunter, followed with a panicked face.
"I'm sorry for letting her—"
"Enough." The Emperor of the Holy Spirit raised his hand, stopping Rina's explanation.
The emperor's sharp gaze now fell upon the girl's transparent blonde figure.
But instead of rage, his expression softened in an unexpected way.
"Judging from the reports we received and the varied reactions in this room," he said in a voice that sounded almost like a grandfather speaking to his granddaughter, "may I assume that you are the Unknown Spirit?"
Hearing the phrase "Unknown Spirit," several leaders who had been confused were now astonished.
They realized that their inability to see the girl was proof that their power level was too low to perceive a high-level spiritual entity, a subtle insult that was hard to swallow.
"...Yes," the girl answered in a voice soft as the chiming of crystal bells.
"I see." The Emperor of the Holy Spirit closed his eyes for a moment and then, in a surprisingly fatherly tone, asked, "May I know your name, child?"
"Takamiya... Mayuri."
"Takamiya Mayuri? A beautiful name." The Emperor nodded. "And you wish to join the mission to face that foreign monster?"
"She... is not a monster." Mayuri's voice was faint. "She is just... a girl who was abandoned by the world."
A different kind of silence now enveloped the room.
No one had expected such a statement of empathy to come from the lips of a Spirit...
"You... know her?" Laura asked carefully, catching a flash of familiarity in Mayuri's tone.
Takamiya Mayuri looked at Laura and nodded slowly.
"Yes... that is why I ask you to let me join you. I will tell you everything I know about her… her past, her power, and perhaps... a way to stop her."
***
"Very well." A Rank SS Hunter tapped the table slowly, his eyes sharp and piercing.
"So, who is the terrifying monster we're actually facing?"
"She is not a monster," Mayuri said gently but firmly.
Her clear eyes looked straight ahead, unafraid of the intimidating gazes of the elite Hunters in the room. "She is human, just like you."
"Oh? Human?" Professor Hawthorne raised an eyebrow, his expression a mix of doubt and scientific curiosity.
"According to the Talents of several Hunters, her race is no longer human. Something that... goes far beyond our definitions."
"That is her condition now, but before, she was indeed human," she said pensively and softly.
"It's just that... a certain experiment changed her into something different, into a being called a 'Herrscher.'"
An oppressive silence enveloped the room. The air felt heavy with tension.
It was no longer strange that somewhere, experiments were being carried out by mad researchers and scientists.
In fact, so many similar cases had occurred but remained undiscovered, hidden behind a curtain of secrecy…
"You call her a Herrscher?" asked a general with a furrowed brow. "Is that some kind of classification or title?"
"It's hard to explain in simple words," Mayuri answered, her gaze drifting for a moment.
Her fingers intertwined in her lap. "It's the name for humans with high resistance who have been exposed to Honkai Energy for a very long time. In the end, they become something known as a 'Herrscher.'"
She paused as if choosing her words carefully. "To put it more simply... Herrschers are born with one pure purpose, to destroy civilizations deemed too advanced. And in this case..." Mayuri's gaze turned wistful,
"...Humanity cannot escape that destruction."
"What's with this background that sounds like a Terminator story?" one of the Hunters snorted, half amused and half skeptical.
"And Honkai Energy? Is that the name for the destructive radiation detected lately?"
Mayuri tilted her head slightly, a faint crease appearing on her forehead.
The term "Terminator" seemed unfamiliar to her, but she answered patiently anyway.
"Honkai Energy is something similar to the [mana] you know," she explained gently, "but at the same time far more dangerous, because this energy..." she looked at each face before her,
"Possesses consciousness and aims to annihilate humanity. The stronger a civilization becomes, the more this Honkai Energy also develops and reacts. In its manifestation, several types of entities appear that can infect weak living beings: the zombies you have seen, the Honkai Beasts in their terrifying white forms, and the most feared of all... the Herrscher."
Mayuri's voice as she explained sounded calm as ripples on a lake, yet every word sent a cold wave creeping down the listeners' spines.
Some looked pale, others frowned deeply.
"That's getting more interesting," interjected a king with a dangerous glint in his eyes.
"In that case, why don't we create Herrschers of our own? As weapons..."
"No, that is impossible," Mayuri shook her head gently.
"Creating Herrschers artificially is not possible, because fundamentally Herrschers are chosen directly by the Honkai itself." Her fingers moved softly.
"As emissaries of destruction, their numbers are always limited. There are always 14 Herrschers, never more or fewer than that..."
"Wait a moment," interrupted a Hunter with a pale face. "You mean there are 13 more terrifying beings like that?"
Astonished expressions instantly filled the room.
Even the most powerful rulers and leaders looked tense. The Emperor of the Holy Spirit merely narrowed his eyes in silence.
Mayuri nodded slowly, her soft locks moving with her. "Yes, and each represents a certain Authority, reflecting the abilities they possess. Some have the ability to manipulate lightning, fire, wind, ice, and so on." Her voice grew softer.
"In that girl's case... she is the Herrscher of the Void. As you might guess, she has the authority to manipulate the space around her..."
A oppressive silence enveloped the room again.
This information was truly unexpected. Imagining there were 14 beings equivalent to Rank Unknown, they had to admit that this threat must be taken with the utmost seriousness.
Although in this world there were beings called Gods and Goddesses, creatures who had reached the Transcendent Tier, not all of them were strong enough to face Rank Unknown beings.
And now, they were hearing that there were 14 beings with such terrifying power?
How could they not be shocked?!
"Setting that aside," Grand Marshal Valerian Brightblade massaged his forehead, which had begun to throb.
"How do you know this information in such detail? Given how tremendous their power is, it couldn't possibly have been hidden from our intelligence networks. Yet here you are, speaking of them as if you had known them for a long time."
"That..." Mayuri hesitated for a moment, her gaze softening and a faint smile forming on her lips. "All of this information comes from him... the Frost Assassin."
"???"
A question mark almost seemed to hang in the air.
They were all astonished to hear that unexpected name suddenly appear in the conversation.
What's more, when they saw the Spirit beaming, her gentle smile spreading with affection as she mentioned the legendary assassin, as if merely uttering his name brought happiness.
They had to admit Mayuri was truly beautiful, but her expression right now...
"Frost Assassin?" The Emperor of the Light Sun Empire hissed in irritation. "As far as I know, he died buried on Cthulhu Island?"
"He is not dead," Mayuri retorted in a tone that remained gentle, but her aura turned dangerous in an instant.
Her gaze sharpened, offending the Emperor of Light Sun and making the atmosphere in the room tense.
Fortunately, Mayuri quickly returned to her calm expression and continued.
"As for why you know nothing about Herrschers... it is because they come from another world. A dimension that should never have intersected with our world."
"..."
Grand Marshal Valerian Brightblade again felt his head throb painfully, but this information at least remained within the reach of their understanding.
In this world, there were indeed some monsters and races that came from other dimensions and settled here.
For example, the Evil Gods and the Demon race were confirmed to have come from different dimensions.
So the statement that Herrschers were beings from another world was not too shocking...
The question was how the Frost Assassin could know this.
Some people wanted to ask further, but they knew this was not the time.
Moreover, there was no guarantee Mayuri would be willing to answer, considering how this Spirit seemed to have developed a deep bond of trust and affection toward the Frost Assassin...
"Then this being known as a Herrscher," Laura spoke up, breaking the silence, "does she have any weaknesses?"
"There is," Mayuri nodded slowly. "And perhaps... it is the only way to defeat her."
***
Meanwhile, the magnificent city of Meridian stood gracefully amid green valleys and mountains.
Its beautiful architecture featured slender towers soaring into the sky, surrounded by lovely gardens and crystal fountains.
Its residents lived in peace and prosperity, far from the threats of the increasingly turbulent outside world.
But that night, the sky above Meridian slowly changed.
The stars vanished one by one, replaced by a blood-red tinge spreading like ink across a black canvas. The air felt heavy, filled with a foreign, oppressive energy.
Then, one after another, hundreds of eye-shaped portals with blackish-purple irises appeared in the heavens, surrounded by a dazzling yet deadly golden aura.
The split sky produced a rumbling sound like the groan of a wounded earth.
Warning alarms sounded deafeningly throughout the city.
Automatic defense systems emerged from behind walls and buildings, while residents ran in panic seeking shelter.
Screams of fear filled the streets that had been so peaceful!
Amid that chaos, a graceful figure slowly floated down from the largest portal.
A girl with silvery-white hair fluttering softly even without wind.
Her white dress shimmered under the portal's light, contrasting with the dark purple aura enveloping her like a living dome of energy.
She was the Herrscher of the Void.
Beneath her, thousands of Honkai Beasts with glowing white bodies began to roam, exploring the new territory that was now hers.
The creatures moved like starving wild beasts, attacking anything that moved!
"One more time..." she whispered, her voice melodious yet carrying a terrifyingly hollow tone.
Her slender hand reached forward, as if trying to grasp something far away on the horizon, now stained red.
"This entire world will become a long grave for a humanity so arrogant."
A cold smile appeared on her pale lips as she watched destruction begin to creep over the city below.
***
In a nearby city, the Hunters who had survived gathered with pale faces.
Report after report came in of sightings of strange white creatures they had never encountered before.
Those creatures emitted a nauseating, destructive aura, an energy that could be felt even by those without sensory abilities.
They attacked indiscriminately, destroying everything in their way with a strength never before witnessed.
Even more terrifying, anyone bitten or infected by the creatures' blood slowly turned into a zombie with the same purple aura, expanding the army of destruction at an alarming speed.
Amid the devastation, in ruins that had once been the city center, a white-haired boy sat weakly on the cracked ground.
His clothes were tattered and his body covered in wounds, yet his clear gray eyes were full of confusion as he stared at the horizon, now stained with purple-red light.
As if sensing his presence, the sky rumbled louder for a moment and a cold gust of wind swept through the ruins.
It was then that a strange voice rang in his mind, clear and calm amid the chaos of the world:
[𝗗𝗶𝗻𝗴! 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱!]
***