I've already said this isn't a life simulator!

"...Yes, for the sake of humanity, we must do this."

"........."

Raiden Mei opened her mouth, but in the end, she couldn't say anything in rebuttal.

"Be prepared, because of the Herrscher of Corruption, the Paradise of the Past can no longer continue, and we should give him... a release."

As Kevin finished speaking, a tremor was felt around them, and the cabin door opened. Kevin took the lead and walked out, following the alloy passageway deeper into the cabin.

The group followed Kevin to the deepest part of the deep-sea structure, where they met another [Yingjie], and... a robot?

"Greetings from Prometheus 17 to the new generation, the Herrschers, and Lord and Miss Hua."

The robot girl, who bore a resemblance to Bronya, gave a slight bow to the group, and then, disregarding everything else, immediately led them to the observation window and control panel.

“Miss Wilvi is ready. Of course, as you wish, we will maintain [Paradise of the Past] and try our best to keep his emotions stable, which has also bought us an opportunity.”

"Once... that's enough."

Kevin glanced at Raiden Mei, nodded, and then looked at Velvi, who was engrossed in the control panel not far away.

"Vilvie, we can begin."

"Oh? Kevin, you're here!"

As if only now noticing everyone, Vilvie spoke with a slightly exaggerated expression of surprise.

"Let me see... Hmm, Mei is in there too. Come to think of it, this should be our first meeting, right? Oh dear~ I'm sorry, I didn't have time to prepare a grand opening performance for you this time... What a pity."

"Hello... Miss Velvet."

Raiden Mei nodded, then said something rather strange.

"As for the performance... let's postpone it."

"Vilvie, it's ready."

"Don't be so boring, Kevin. I haven't even explained to these lovely [audience members] how we managed to [arrange all of this] yet~"

"Vilvie spoke quickly as she operated the control panel," she said.

"Like that saying again... oh, before the final [ending], there always needs to be [narration] to supplement some [setting] and [background], right?"

"that's not important."

"Yes, yes, I know you're the one who skips the plot, but I still have time to explain a little bit. Or are you worried that he'll give up early and wake up prematurely?"

"We can't go through that again."

That's all Kevin said.

"...That's true."

After a moment of silence, Wilvi nodded in agreement, but then resumed her usual lighthearted, almost strangely cheerful demeanor.

"However, there are still corresponding explanations available. After all, it's our job as seniors to help our lovely juniors fill in the gaps in their knowledge of history."

Then, Wilvi quickly recounted what the surviving heroes had done, or rather, what she had mainly done, and incidentally resolved some historical mysteries.

First, of course, is the issue of his premature awakening... Due to the rapid restoration of civilization by the Heroes, he woke up early. Although civilization survived the cataclysmic flood by "destroying all machinery that did not conform to the progress of civilization" and "soothing his spirit with the Land of the Past," it still dealt a heavy blow to civilization... Fortunately, Virvi helped a little guy named "Noah" build an "Ark," otherwise this new era of civilization would probably have been directly destroyed.

Moreover, ever since then, Vilvi has had to stay in the deep sea for extended periods to keep an eye on him and maintain the stability of the Land of the Past as much as possible... At most, she would go out to build some "ruins" along the way to accelerate the development of civilization to a limited extent.

Of course, Velvet didn't do nothing during this process. Relying on Prometheus and her own research, she successfully found the Cocoon through him and gradually guided the new generation of Herrschers through him. In other words, everything related to the Honkai in the new era is under her control.

Of course, once he wakes up... the situation will be hard to predict, since he is an obstacle that no one can avoid.

So, our next step is to deal with him?

Xiao Shi said this.

"Couldn't we have taken care of him while he was still asleep?"

"The seawater won't allow it, and..."

"Vilvie began to explain."

"As the ultimate Herrscher who is closely connected to the ocean and water, if one cannot wipe out all the water on this planet in an instant... then it will be very difficult to kill him."

"Therefore, what we need to do is... make him relinquish the power of [End] and then seize it, so that we can have a chance to defeat him head-on."

"Kiana, Kevin, it doesn't matter who ultimately obtains the power of [The End], but only in this way can we have a chance of winning."

"As for Kevin's [Stigmata Project]... firstly, it allows all ordinary people to temporarily leave this [planet] to avoid being affected by the battle; secondly... if we fail, humanity can continue to live."

Vervi opened a hatch, and a thin curtain of light shut out the deep-sea water.

"And next, we need you, who have inherited Alicia's powers... Raiden Mei, to negotiate with him, since you are the most suitable person here."

"Hey, is it not good enough for me? I am the great Herrscher of Knowledge!"

You can give it a try!

"Just try it!"

"Wait! Small recognition!"

Before Fu Hua could stop him, Xiao Shi had already activated his powers, and then...

[Xiao Shi: Born from Mom.jpg]

Fortunately, Xiao Shi, as expected of the great Herrscher of Knowledge, recovered after a period of confusion and then spoke with a lingering fear and a distorted expression.

"I (swearing)...where did all these memories come from...?"

"As I said before, [Hai] won't allow it, so... we can only make him accept us on his own initiative."

Velvi looked at Raiden Mei.

"And Raiden Mei is the most suitable, and only, candidate here."

"...Did you arrange all of this?"

"Of course not, I only played a tiny guiding role. After all, I don't know who will inherit Alicia's powers in the end. Besides... you have an aura that is very similar to Sakura's, which is enough for him to accept you."

Velvi put a ring around Raiden Mei's neck, then pressed her thumb and forefinger together slightly to show that she really had only done "a little" work.

"Now, please proceed."

Vervi gestured to the dark, deep sea outside the light screen.

"If possible... please thank him for us. Although he may not accept it, everything we have accomplished so far has been done with his tacit approval. Please thank him for his efforts on my behalf."

Before Raiden Mei left, Velvet said this softly.

"He is indeed a hero."

"……I see."

Raiden Mei nodded and then walked into the deep sea.

Everyone's gaze shifted to the observation window on the side, watching Raiden Mei's blurry figure gradually approach him.

Gollum—

A few bubbles rose to the surface and quickly disappeared. The heavy water pressure of the deep sea was pressing on her body, but... thankfully, the body of the [Herrscher] was enough for Raiden Mei to resist.

She continued forward, getting closer to him. When she was close enough... the pink crystal flower in his arms emitted an even stronger light, and Raiden Mei sensed it—it was from his power.

She did not resist, but simply let the flowing water carry her away, and her spirit followed the pink light and its guidance, continuing forward. In the blink of an eye, she arrived in another space.

The sky here is pale pink, and pink and white petals fall from time to time. Judging from the scent, they seem to be cherry blossoms and lilies... Below is an endless ocean, so calm as a mirror, without the slightest ripple.

Besides that, there were only... candy wrappers scattered everywhere.

They were everywhere, leaving Raiden Mei with almost nowhere to step. She could only step on the numerous candy wrappers and follow her inexplicable senses as she moved forward.

A moment later, a faint sweet smell filled her nostrils, and Raiden Mei saw him.

"...Sakura? Alicia?"

He seemed to have eaten another piece of candy, tossed the wrapper aside, turned around, and looked at the newcomer with his almost unfocused golden eyes.

"...I'm sorry, I'm not one of them."

"Ah...it's you...[Herrscher]..."

Xi Wang shook her head and said softly.

"I'm sorry, I'm not fully conscious... You smell like them, I'm sorry for mistaking you for them."

"...Your attitude is somewhat different from what I expected."

"What? You prefer my attitude in [Paradise of the Past]?"

"That's not..."

"That's okay."

Xi Wang's pupils narrowed slightly, and his speech became much clearer.

"...Now that you've come, it means Kevin and the others are ready to attack me, right?"

"That's not bad, and... at least your current situation proves that you, the new generation... have not let Alicia down."

“You are also, Mr. Xiwang… no, the Yingjie who holds the name of [Revelation].

"...I've said I don't like this title, and...how can someone who uses the codename 'Herrscher' to refer to 'Heroic Warrior' be worthy of being called a 'Heroic Warrior' for humanity?"

"But your insistence and acquiescence have indeed allowed our civilization to continue to this day, which is an indisputable fact."

Raiden Mei said very seriously.

“We are all very grateful to you, including Kevin and Wilvi. It was your persistence that delayed the end, and it was your acquiescence that allowed Miss Wilvi’s research to proceed smoothly, which ultimately led to this situation.”

"Hmph, that sounds nice, but in the end you'll still be attacking me, won't you?"

"........."

"Alright... you've been talking too much nonsense, [Herrscher]."

Xi Wang lowered his eyelids slightly, and with a casual wave of his hand, the azure water quietly surged, bringing a strange, dark-colored greatsword into his hand.

"Get ready, new generation, [Herrschers]."

tick-

It was the sound of raindrops falling.