Honkai: It’s broken, I have become the Herrscher of Corrosion?

Hua watched as the Herrscher of Corrosion destroyed the scroll in front of him, and he unconsciously increased the strength of his fist.

"So... you brought them here in the form of paintings, Hua?"

Her tone was a little strange. Before this... she had never shown such a tired and helpless emotion.

"What does that painting look like? Can I see it too?"

"It's too late. You just destroyed the painting yourself."

"...I know. Can you describe it for me? I'm just...a little curious."

Recalling Gresh's "last work", Hua fell into deep thought. On the painting made of black and gray, there were only countless lines blooming, as if it was just a child's scribble. She didn't know the technique used by Gresh, nor could she explain the meaning of it. But for some reason, that scene reminded Hua of a scene she had accidentally seen in reality -

"Kosmo, Kosmo! What does "Asahi" mean?"

"Why do you ask this suddenly?"

"Just curious."

"... Let me explain it with your seal. The star you can see in the sky... the so-called 'rising light' is the light emitted by the star closest to us."

"So, it's not special at all?"

"No, it is very special. Although it comes too early to illuminate anything, when people see it, they will know that since the stars are all over the sky... there will be countless more rays of light coming... sooner or later. That is their own "color" that they will eventually leave behind in this colorful world."

Hua thought of this and shook his head slowly, his tone still calm:

"…Describing it in words is beyond my ability. And, I'm afraid you are not the kind of audience that Grayshu is expecting."

"Well, Hua... you must be feeling the same way I felt when I deleted Kosmo, right? Sending your companion to death with your own hands... is not a pleasant feeling, right?"

"This is not sadness. It is the "respect" I must give them. Next, it is my turn to complete my mission..."

"'Mission'? ...Oh...Huh, so-called...'original plan'? What is that?"

"I will reveal to you... the true 'meaning' behind their sacrifice."

(Although the hope is slim,... let's give it a try. ... Time is running out, we can't delay any longer.)

After a brief thought, a red feather emerged from her hand, and then disappeared with her thoughts. But...some changes have quietly occurred.

"Yu Duchen, second rated power!"

Fifty thousand years ago, when she first faced the Herrscher of Corrosion, she used the same power to save the lives of many members of the Fire Moth, although the outcome of that battle did not change.

But this moment is not the same as before. She believes that her companions are already prepared on another battlefield.

(Switching to Su's perspective...)

【When I come back, we will return to yesterday. 】

This was Kevin's last words when he entrusted him with his crystal flower. Obviously, from beginning to end, he was convinced that his best friend would not break his promise. But at that time, Su would never have thought that yesterday would happen again in this way.

"Is the 'inside' of the Herrscher of Corrosion actually like this..."

Trying his best to magnify his spiritual perception, he tried to feel everything around him as usual - unlike the "depths of consciousness" that Aponya had once set foot in, after being completely eroded, he was now in the place where all the data of the Ruler of Corrosion was integrated.

"I can't sense anything... Apart from being able to retain my identity after being eroded, as a spiritual perception type... am I no longer any different? Well, as long as I can find Kevin, my ability is insignificant. Let's get going as soon as possible. The answer to the mystery should be revealed here."

Soon, Su felt as if he had entered a garbage dump blown by strong winds. Strange-shaped objects made up of various data were coming towards him at different speeds.

"Go away, we are not enemies."

A green light shone from his body, like a protective shield, bouncing away all the flying data.

"Is the data of the Herrscher of Corrosion already so complex... Trying to find Kevin among them is like looking for a needle in a haystack... Hmm?"

He felt a light coming on his body.

"This is... One Thousand Worlds One Vehicle? Can it be used normally here..."

After a while, Su landed in a relatively stable place on the Thousand Worlds Vehicle, and Kevin seemed to have anticipated it and had been waiting there for a long time.

"You're here, Sue."

"Kevin... is still him."

Seeing that his best friend did not show any abnormality due to the erosion of the Herrscher's body, Su felt relieved. In this way, the two stood there for a long time, and there was no other movement except staring at each other.

"How far along is the plan?"

"For you, this is the 'final step'. How much did Vivi reveal to you?"

"She believes that even if I am not a psychic, I can temporarily maintain my "self" after being eroded. When necessary, she needs me to strike from the inside with all my strength to create an opportunity for the "decisive battle" outside."

"Is that all?"

"Yes."

"…This is not a lie, but…it is not detailed enough. In fact, she left me a three-fold puzzle, two of which I have already solved, and the remaining one…she used the word "the safest place" as an irony, and her purpose was to corrupt me and bring me here—the most dangerous place—to assist your full-strength attack."

"Is it necessary?"

"Well, after all, you have been eroded for too long. Although you can still maintain yourself, even if you put all your "data" on it, it is not enough for you to launch that powerful and unstoppable attack. Therefore... you must use all of me as a "replacement"... no, as a "supplement."

"What will happen to you and me after that?"

"They all dispersed together, leaving no trace."

Kevin just said lightly:

"I see."

"You don't seem ready to stop me."

"If you weren't my "best friend", I would. But since you think that's what we have to do... I certainly believe you."