[Ultimately, in this lifetime, the Ark Project was abolished.]
[The one with the biggest reaction to this was not Dr. MEI, but Vill-V, who had spent considerable funds and effort to create a starship, only for it to be mothballed.]
[In the end, however, she only complained briefly before dropping the matter.]
[At the same time, everyone began to prepare for the arrival of the Herrscher of the End. They were terrified, yet they never stopped moving forward.]
[One week later, as the Herrscher of the End was about to arrive, you, along with some of the Flame-Chasers and the 23 additional MANTISes who survived thanks to your existence, naturally went up together.]
[Perhaps due to the increased numbers, the psionic-type MANTIS Aponia, who was supposed to set foot on the moon, was swapped out. In total, 32 MANTISes journeyed to the moon.]
[Children like Griseo, of course, were not required to go to the battlefield.]
In the dark expanse of space, a starship laden with MANTISes traveled onward.
The feeling was completely different from seeing it from Earth. Only when they were truly immersed in it could they feel their own insignificance and helplessness.
Specks of starlight filtered through the windows, flickering in and out of view, as if bidding them farewell.
—There are too many people this time...
—I'm sorry. For me, the priority in battle will always be protecting the Flame-Chasers over you.
Fu Li lowered his gaze, sighing internally.
There was a proverb from Shenzhou: 'There's strength in numbers; enough ants can bite an elephant to death.' This saying, which seemed to fit their current situation, could not be used as a source of encouragement.
Even if enough ants could kill an elephant, the number of MANTISes required would have to be staggering.
Moreover, describing the enemy they faced as an 'elephant' was a gross understatement. If he had to make a comparison, it would be a [Whale].
Furthermore, because the Herrscher of the End had shown itself so few times, a question had always lingered in his mind.
This giant, machine-like Terminus that could be forced into a shutdown state like a computer program—was it truly the Herrscher of the End?
Why was the Herrscher of the End in Honkai Gakuen 2 an awakened Kiana, while theirs was something that had drifted in from outer space?
But despite his doubts, despite his tension, he squeezed Pardo's hand, gently rubbing her palm with his thumb to soothe her anxiety.
Even though she kept saying, "I'm ready," her slightly trembling body still betrayed her fear.
"Don't be afraid. I'm right here with you."
"Mm, I know."
Feeling the familiar warmth in her palm, a smile touched Pardo's lips, and she gently scratched his palm back with her fingers.
The gesture naturally drew a few glances, but they were already used to it.
[Unexpectedly, the battle against the Herrscher of the End this time was concluded with considerable ease.]
[Perhaps due to the participation of several times the number of Flame-Chasers and semi-Herrschers, the battle easily achieved its preliminary objective: successfully forcing the Terminus into a 12-hour downtime state.]
[Throughout the entire process, although everyone was wounded, not a single person died.]
[And these injuries were quickly healed by Seele, who wielded the Abyss Flower.]
[After their wounds were healed, an irrepressible joy and relief at having survived a calamity appeared on everyone's faces.]
[But for the few who knew of the plan that was to follow, they could not bring themselves to smile.]
On the moon, Pardo, Kevin, and Fu Li stood facing each other.
Kevin had personally extracted the Core of the Herrscher of Fire, and was now looking at the bizarre opening in the Terminus's chest.
The wound did not resemble a human one; it was more like that of a Honkai Beast.
Within it, there was no blood, no organs—only a converging mass of fine, shimmering light that was slowly repairing the Terminus's injuries.
And deep inside, there was something that resembled a heart but was, in reality, just a massive core—an energy node. That was their target.
Even if it meant waking the Terminus and causing it to revive ahead of schedule, it wasn't a major problem.
After all, this time, the combat command center and the hibernation site were both buried at the deepest point humanity could currently excavate. The kindling left for future generations would not be extinguished because of this.
'In any case, since MEI also approved the plan, it should be fine...'
Though his instincts made him feel uneasy, Kevin was long accustomed to it. Or rather, that sense of unease had always accompanied everyone in this world.
"Here, Li."
"Mm, thank you. If there's a chance, I'll give it back to you."
"...Mm."
Watching the most important component of his Judgment of Shamash being handed over, even Kevin, who was as cold as ice, couldn't help but feel a strange pang of reluctance.
But it was necessary.
Fu Li took the Core of the Herrscher of Fire and placed it in the final empty slot of the [Infinity Gauntlet]. He then exchanged a look with the two Pardos.
"Are you scared?"
"I am. But if you're here, then I won't be afraid."
"Good. Then I promise, no matter what happens in the end, I will make sure you get out."
With that, he looked at the other warriors, who had donned serious expressions and tightened their grips on their weapons. He gave a slow wave, then turned without hesitation and stepped into the rift.
He had proposed that attacking the energy node might awaken the Terminus prematurely, so he advised the others to board the ship and head back first. He would conduct the experiment after they returned.
But led by Eden, none of them agreed. They felt that if the Terminus were to reawaken, it was their duty to buy more time for the Earth behind them.
This was the resolve of ordinary soldiers. As for Eden and the others...
What a familiar scene...
The brave pioneer... the fearless re-visitor of the cycle...
Eden closed her eyes, sighing in her heart. She knew that this cycle was not the end. So even if the Terminus reawakened and buried her here, it didn't matter.
In the next cycle, she would still be waiting by Li's side, until the very end.
At the same time, in a secret laboratory on Earth.
Mobius's eyes snapped open in the underground lab. Beside her, Aponia's face turned deathly pale at almost the same instant.
Even after becoming [Artificial Corruption], Mobius's human psyche still couldn't wield its full authority. Therefore, she had sought out Aponia.
Aponia would provide a mental boost, amplifying her abilities to the point where, for a limited time, she could use Prometheus to rapidly deconstruct a portion of the Terminus's secrets.
She had succeeded, but the result was not good.
"Tsk! Damn it, go stop Li, quickly!"
"There's a demon dwelling inside it, one that he absolutely cannot confront in his current state! That is the true core of the Herrscher of the End, its true body!"
Author's PS: This more or less patches the bug from the last cycle where the Herrscher of the End was written as just a giant lifeform. yawn