A Herrscher's energy reaction is completely different from other Honkai Energy reactions.
It's not just a difference in energy level, but more of a conceptual difference.
The Herrschers of the Previous Era were basically Honkai puppets, rarely having intelligence, and most of them died shortly after appearing, so it was difficult to find a distinction.
But everything changed when the Herrschers of the current civilization became sub-personalities built upon and nourished by the main personality.
On one hand, this meant that Herrschers possessed higher intelligence and could use more complex tactics. On the other hand… they had the possibility of apotheosis.
However, in the beginning, losing one's mind to the Honkai's malice was an almost indispensable step.
And Ais was in such a state at this moment.
She had been engrossed in battling and slaying Honkai Beasts when she seemed to hear a sound during the fight.
No… not a sound, but something originating from within her body.
What was it saying?
Ais felt this confusion.
The voice was too faint, so much so that even though it came from within her body, she couldn't hear it clearly.
After several unsuccessful attempts, Ais turned her gaze to the Honkai Beast before her.
Fighting the Honkai Beast reminded her of her past experiences fighting in the Dungeon.
After coming to this world, she hadn't been able to fight in the Dungeon, which still made her a bit unaccustomed.
However… it was truly good that these things were genuine monsters.
After fighting Revis, Ais had learned how to wield that power of hers, which could be called forbidden.
Who is a friend, who is an enemy, who is a companion, who is a monster.
It was truly good to be able to clearly recognize these things.
"Ariel—Awaken!"
The short chant magic Wind Spirit Sprint was used again. Ais slew a Temple-class Honkai Beast, earning cheers from a group of survivors, but she didn't linger too long.
For her, killing monsters was not for the cheers of others.
Lightly treading on the green breeze, Ais vanished from her spot.
The wind had told her the location of her next enemy.
But just as she was speeding along with the wind, she suddenly felt something unusual.
That power, called Observation Haki, carried within her Stigmata, allowed her to react in advance. A light tap of her toes on the ground instantly shifted her a dozen meters, allowing her to dodge the attack descending from the sky.
Only after steadying herself did Ais look at the entity that had attacked her.
And with that one glance, she froze.
The enemy before her seemed very familiar.
Jet-black scales, wings that blotted out the sky, and that tightly closed right eye…
Although its name was unknown, in that world, this monster had a title.
King of the Sky, One-Eyed Black Dragon—
In Norse mythology, the world-destroying black dragon was Nidhogg, but in that world, Nidhogg was already occupied by another entity, so no one knew what this black dragon's name truly was.
But just the fact that it was a one-eyed dragon was enough for Ais to remember for a lifetime.
"You bastard!"
Ais, who was usually expressionless, uncharacteristically showed anger.
She had always thought the one-eyed dragon had been killed.
No, not thought, that one-eyed black dragon was truly slain before her by the man who brought her to this world, Takatsuki.
But… why was it here again?
Ais didn't know, nor did she want to know. She only knew that her chance for personal revenge had come.
"Ariel—Avenger!"
A new usage developed after Wind Spirit Sprint and Vengeful Princess resonated.
A pitch-black hurricane, formed by a super-enhanced attack against dragon-type monsters combined with the enhanced attack of Wind Spirit Sprint, swept over Ais.
This power, which could only be ignited by a heart of vengeance and negative emotions, once again manifested in this world.
Ais, whose mind was clouded by hatred, didn't notice.
The almost inaudible voice within her gradually grew louder with her anger.
But even as it grew louder, she still couldn't make out what the voice was saying, because her attention was long gone from that place.
The girl, enveloped by the pitch-black hurricane, clashed with the giant black lizard.
And just as battle erupted on this battlefield, the detection device on the other side also sounded an alarm.
…
"How could this be, a Herrscher actually appeared!?"
Takatsuki stared at the alarm on the device, stunned.
Had the Herrscher of Earth awakened?
"It seems your prediction was wrong, this is what they call man proposes, God disposes."
Einstein wasn't in a hurry. She said to Tesla, "Dr. Tesla, come help."
"Coming, you chicken-head always tell others what to do."
Although a Herrscher had appeared, Einstein wasn't in a hurry.
Because with the combat power present, let alone a newly awakened Herrscher, even Sirin from back then would have died on the spot.
"The Herrscher's location has been determined, the rest is…"
The two scientists quickly pinpointed the Herrscher's location, but that was all they could do.
"I'll handle the rest, this is my mistake."
Takatsuki hadn't expected that a Herrscher would be born in this Houkai that had no Herrschers in the original history. The butterfly effect caused by his arrival had finally become evident, which meant that the appearance of subsequent Herrschers might become uncontrollable.
This was not a good sign.
Takatsuki wasn't too worried about one Herrscher; he was worried that the appearance of Herrschers might cause the Herrschers who were supposed to be helpers to disappear, or the growth opportunities that should have existed to vanish.
The combat power inflation in Honkai Impact 3rd was exaggerated; Kiana, for example, skyrocketed to the level of the Finality within a year. Although he now had ways to become stronger, he wasn't sure if he could catch up with the advent of the Finality.
Perhaps he would have to spend time grinding in dungeons later to buy time?
Thinking this, Takatsuki stepped out of the camp.
He merely took an ordinary step, but in an instant, he appeared hundreds of meters away.
In just a few steps, Takatsuki traversed tens of kilometers and arrived before the newborn Herrscher.
At this moment, the Herrscher seemed to have not fully mastered her power. She was standing on her symbiotic Honkai Beast, absorbing the vast Honkai Energy around her.
"Tsk… I didn't expect it to be you, Ais."
Although a pitch-black hurricane enveloped Ais, Takatsuki naturally wouldn't fail to recognize that giant one-eyed black dragon. Looking at the pitch-black hurricane and the black dragon, even an idiot would guess the Herrscher's true identity.
"Hehehe… You've come, Takatsuki."
Seeing the usually emotionless Ais with a somewhat twisted, even corrupted, smile, Takatsuki felt speechless.
"You bastard! If it weren't for you! I would have completed my revenge!"
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