"The Herrscher is a messenger that brings destruction to the earth. Born from the Honkai, they descend in human form, mocking humanity's tens of millions of years of evolution. In their eyes, humanity is nothing more than smoke that vanishes with a snap of the fingers."
"From the two previous Honkai Eruptions, we can clearly see that these arrogant Herrschers—even with power enough to shatter heaven and earth—cannot escape humanity's judgment."
"The Herrscher is not a god. We can use its power against it, turn it back upon itself, trap it within our cage, and make it into our obedient dog."
"Comrades, raise the weapons in your hands and strike down the lofty Herrschers. Now is the time to demonstrate the strength of humanity!"
Inside the combat command hall on the Pacific artificial island, the commander of MOTH's Far East Theater was delivering his final impassioned pre-battle mobilization speech.
Outside the hall, a middle-aged man in the uniform of MOTH's Special Operations Unit was running frantically through the corridors, seemingly searching for someone.
"Hey, watch it!" a staff member cursed after being bumped into.
"Sorry... excuse me."
Amid the bustling crowd, the man finally found the person he was looking for—a white-haired warrior with a short ponytail.
"Ah, found you, Instructor!"
The man addressed as instructor turned around and looked at him.
"Oh, it's you, Ato. Instead of listening to the mobilization speech, why are you running around?"
Ato hesitated, then made up his mind.
"Instructor Siegfried, are you planning to face the Herrscher alone?"
"Take me with you!"
"Heh." Siegfried gave a casual laugh, then immediately changed expression, scratching the back of his head. "Ah, I just got released from [Deep Blue Vortex]. I was thinking of sneaking off for a drink of Bordeaux and slacking a bit. Didn't expect you to catch me."
"Instructor Siegfried!" Ato looked at him with unwavering determination.
If Siegfried truly intended to do as he claimed, Ato would not have come looking for him.
A person's fate is shaped by their character. Ato knew exactly what kind of man Siegfried was. Though he appeared carefree and dashing, once he stood on the battlefield, his heart never wavered.
As Siegfried himself once said:
"I've never believed in grand principles like protecting the world or sacrificing the small self for the greater good. I just do what I think is right."
During the Second Honkai Eruption, to prevent Ato and the others from dying in vain, Siegfried had ordered them to retreat while he stayed behind to complete the mission.
Ato did not know what exactly had happened afterward. He only knew that Siegfried had miraculously survived.
From the severed left arm and the wounds that covered his body when Ato visited him, the situation must have been unimaginably brutal.
That made sense. After all, Siegfried's squad had been assigned a mission doomed from the start—to hold back the Second Herrscher until the nuclear missile arrived.
Siegfried completed that mission flawlessly—and survived in defiance of reason.
He once said that at the final moment before the nuclear explosion, he had been saved by a pink crystal flower. Ato did not know whether that had been a hallucination at death's door or a miracle born from his will.
What Ato did know was that what awaited Siegfried afterward was not the treatment of a hero, but a military tribunal. He should not have ordered Ato and the others to retreat. He took all the blame upon himself.
It was only last month, when unrest broke out in [Deep Blue Vortex] and MOTH was no longer capable of detaining certain prisoners, that Siegfried was released.
Of course, there was a price. He had to once again step onto the battlefield against a Herrscher.
This time, he would not return.
And he would not turn back.
That was simply the kind of stubborn man Siegfried was.
Seeing that he could no longer evade the topic, Siegfried patted Ato's shoulder with his single arm.
"Don't talk nonsense. Blanca is waiting for you at home. And little Griseo—she needs a good father."
"As for me, I'm alone. Nothing tying me down. I can go wherever I like. Much freer than you."
Ato's wife Blanca and daughter Griseo flashed through his mind. He clenched his fists, then slowly let them loosen.
"I heard from Blanca... she gave you the [ICHOR Serum]."
Only then did Siegfried realize that Ato had learned about it from Blanca.
He sighed. "Some people in MOTH were getting restless. I had to help them cut off a few dangerous thoughts—save them the trouble."
"Ato, be more careful from now on. Protect Blanca and Griseo."
At that moment, a mature female voice interrupted them.
"Siegfried, finished chatting? It's time to depart. Or you'll be left behind."
"Himeko, don't rush. This is a manly farewell—mmph—!"
The stunning beauty with flame-like long hair showed no mercy, grabbing Siegfried by the back of his collar and dragging him away.
Through his blurring vision, Ato saw Siegfried flash him a dashing farewell gesture.
Holding back tears, Ato saluted.
"Instructor, may fortune favor you in battle!"
...
The Fifth Squad of MOTH, led by Himeko, piloted MOTH's most advanced Honkai-powered battleship and swiftly arrived over Sapphire City. After easily eliminating the Honkai Beasts blocking their path with laser cannons, they landed smoothly at the Sapphire City airport.
"I can only take you this far."
"Himeko, thanks for helping me make up my mind. Otherwise, I might really have been persuaded by that kid Ato."
"He's gotten more and more eloquent. Used to be such a quiet guy. Becoming a father really changes a man."
Siegfried mounted a jet bike and waved.
"I'll be borrowing the jet bike."
Himeko waved helplessly.
"Fine, fine. On your account, you don't have to return it. I'll apply for battle damage reimbursement."
Siegfried's hearty laughter faded into the distance along with the roar of the engine.
"Hahaha... Oh, and don't forget to record the Homu Project for me..."
Other MOTH battleships streaked across the sky. Originally, Siegfried should have been aboard one of them. Yet true to form, he had once again defied superior orders and smuggled himself to the battlefield.
According to him, being on a battleship meant following orders and being constrained at every turn. He might die inside the ship before even seeing battle.
Himeko opened a hidden side compartment above the hatch. Inside was a bottle of Bordeaux she had secretly brought. Strictly speaking, drinking before deployment was prohibited.
The elegant red wine flowed smoothly into a crystal glass.
As she filled it, Himeko slowly recalled her past with Siegfried.
The day they first met, he had been in a bar, ordering a glass of Bordeaux for her.
He was a persistent flirt, always offering more help to women than necessary.
He was a warrior worthy of respect, forever charging at the very front to protect his comrades.
He was open and upright, straightforward and honest. Back when she had studied abroad in Europe, she had once admired him from afar.
He truly was a good man.
Unfortunately, he had never been her type.
Because of this endless Honkai, she could not keep him. She had not even had the time to invite him for one final drink.
Now, to save all of humanity, he once again chose to sacrifice himself without hesitation.
Even though he had already done more than enough.
Even though humanity had already failed him once.
Breathing in the fragrance of the wine, her face faintly flushed, Himeko raised her glass toward the dark sea and the heavy sky.
"A toast to Siegfried!"