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

"Eden…can I…ask you one last question?"

"Of course, Miss Mei. The rest of my time... they all belong to you."

"There is one thing I can't figure out no matter what... When the Fire Moths were torn apart and her own survival was in doubt, in order to unite the remaining people, Alicia volunteered to become the "Thirteenth Herrscher" and stood on the opposite side of humanity... In the end, she sacrificed herself and put the world back on track... This is the history I can deduce from the Paradise Archives and the few words of the heroes... But..."

"But... is this really the case?"

"Regardless of how she "actively" becomes a Herrscher, and how she "sacrifices" to make everyone realize their mistakes, if this is the true "ending" of Alicia... then why did the whole story of the "Thirteenth Herrscher"... become a piece of history that was erased?"

"Ms. Mei... you are really smart. You have discovered that there are many "irrationalities" in this statement... because it is just a "statement", a "statement" to explain to others and future generations why she left. And there is only one answer that can turn all the "irrationalities" into "rationalities"... that is, the "truth" you have been looking for."

Eden smiled. All the past events came to mind. Those casual conversations had already revealed the answer.

"So... Alicia... she was never the 13th Herrscher, right?"

"Thirteen is a false number. She told the world a lie just to tell the truth to her loved ones before she left. Miss Mei, I'm glad that you finally found the answer. This is what you've been looking for, the last secret that was buried in the paradise of the past."

"The second of the Fire Chasing Heroes, Alysia, the Inscription of the True Self, this girl who deeply loves all "people"... She was born a "law enforcer."

"So... this is the truth? What Enosia said before, that she and Alicia are [sisters], not only does it mean that she and Alicia have a close relationship, but also that... they are both Herrschers who were born directly from the Honkai?"

"Yes, the answer was right there on the puzzle from the beginning."

"No wonder Kevin was in so much pain, no wonder Mebius called her a 'betrayer', no wonder my 'existence' made her feel so happy... If all this is true, then the 'true self' beneath her smile... how lonely... how sad..."

"If it was Ellie, she would definitely say that...

[That is not "sadness", but a kind of "joy". I am happy for having had some happiness in the past, and I look forward to miracles in the future. ]

"Look, Miss Mei, your arrival... is the "miracle" she has been waiting for. As for loneliness... Ai Li is indeed a girl who is afraid of loneliness, just like a crystal flower, beautiful, flawless, but also very fragile."

"She loves humans so much, and she wants to become human so much. This is the cross that Ellie has to bear throughout her life, and it is also the destination she reaches in the end... beyond her fate."

"So... Miss Mei, please go and witness that ending on our behalf. Ai Li will be waiting for you behind that door, and your journey will eventually bloom at the end of all memories... In this way, the last mission of the "Thirteen Heroes" here... will be completed."

"I understand...Thank you, Eden...I promise."

"It seems like I haven't had such a pleasant time for a long time. It reminds me of the time when I first knew her. Whenever she had free time, Ellie would come to me. At that time, we would sit and drink like this, and we could chat for a whole day with just one glass of wine."

"Even if it's just some random topics, I still feel that everything is satisfying. I really miss her. It's a pity that this time... I have to say goodbye to her in advance again."

"However, although I can't watch the finale with Ai Li... But I believe that this time, she will still give us the "best" ending... Right? Then, please let me sing another song as a farewell gift for you, Miss Mei... I will use her favorite song..."

"Alisa, my friend...you and I will never part, may time...stay forever at this moment...?"

"...Goodbye, Eden."

There is still some good wine left in the glass, as if waiting for someone to finish singing the unfinished song.

That "door" is right there. A door forged by the sacrifices of countless people. A door condensed by memories and longings. It gathers everyone's last wishes before the end - and now, it has finally opened.

"I'm ready. Come, Alysia, show me everything about "that party". And... all of "you". "

Soon, a screen was being projected in front of Mei. In the beautiful auditorium, Alicia was in the center, and next to her were Eden, Kevin, Aponia, and Velvet.

[Alicea]: "Okay, let them accompany you as "Alicea" from now on. Even if I leave, these four crystal flowers will never wither. So... everyone, smile, okay?"

"Come on, Velvet. I'm sorry, I really told such a big lie... I hope that the term "The Thirteenth Herrscher" won't cause you too much trouble. After all, I am such a special "existence"... Telling the truth will probably only cause more chaos."

[Vilvi]: "Don't worry, Alysia. I will use many lies to cover it up... to protect your secret. It is not difficult for me to deceive the world, or even deceive history. Let the Thirteenth Herrscher become a blank page in the book."

"As for the Yingjies who are not present today... I think their absence is the best proof. Those who left the table refused to fight because they believed in Alicia; those who were present attended the banquet because they believed in Alicia. Look... the people you trust have always believed in you. The people you love have always loved you."

[Alicea]: "Well, thank you, I didn't expect that... I'm... really happy. It's a pity that dear Mebius is not here. I wanted to give her a green crystal flower.

[Vilvi]: "After receiving the report from the Fire Moth about the Thirteenth Herrscher, she threw it into the shredder without even reading it. After all, she is that Mobius. Maybe she saw through everything a long time ago and didn't want you to say goodbye to her as you wished, so she refused to attend. Of course... maybe she just didn't want to be seen crying?"

[Alicea]: "Yes, Mobius always has such a girlish side. Well, Aponia... although the deepest place no longer exists, I know that it still exists deep in your heart, right? The thread of fate can no longer bind your steps, so, occasionally step out of that cage and take a look?"

[Aponia]: "For me, the deepest place is outside the cage. However, that is no longer important... I have already stepped into the sunlight. Because... you are here. Therefore, I don't want your "story" to become a dusty past. I will remember everything about you in the paradise, read it carefully over a long period of time, and wait for people with the same will as you to visit."

"Then... I look forward to the day when 'this page' is reopened by future generations."

[Alicea]: "Yeah, sure. I'm looking forward to it too... it's my "story" after all."

"Eden... this time, we really have to say goodbye. I'm sorry for keeping it from you before. You won't hate me, will you?"

[Eden]: "How could that be, Ellie? I know you, perhaps the best person in the world to know you. And... there's no need to say "goodbye". You're still "here", aren't you? You will exist forever with the heaven and earth."

"Then, no matter where I am, no matter what I have become, I will sing for you... until the last moment."

[Alicea]: "Okay, after all, that's our promise... No matter how it ends, we have to see it together... Okay?"

"As for Kevin... Actually, I don't have much to tell you. You are a true hero, the undisputed leader of the Thirteen Heroes. If there is one person who can "support" humanity towards a tomorrow without collapse, then... that person must be you. However, I have one last request, which is the question you have never told me the answer to..."

"I really want to know - Kevin, if you shed tears, do they freeze?"

[Kevin]: “…”

[Alicea]: "Oh... I'm just asking, don't really cry... act more like a boy, okay?"

"But, thank you, now... I know the answer. Look, it really freezes... But it's so warm."

"Ah... I really hope this moment can last forever. But no play lasts forever, right? So now, let's put a perfect end to it. If, in the distant future, you meet a Herrscher like me... please tell me by all means, if that happens... I'll be very happy!"

"Because I know that people in the future will no longer have to face the difficult choices we are facing now. Because I know that the footprints we leave in the world will eventually become a light for another person to move forward one day in the future."

"Tragedy is not the end, but the beginning of hope. Only humans can think this way, and only humans can turn such beliefs into reality. So, please tell me, at the end of this story... have I become a "human"? "

"of course."

The people in the audience said.

[Wei Weiwei]: "Isn't this the 'fact' before us?"

[Aponia]: "Tonight, there are no more Herrschers here."

[Eden]: "Because the one who sleeps here and will be sung by future generations is the noble and proud warrior of the Fire Moth, the creator of the Thirteen Heroes..."

[Kevin]: "The flawless one - Alicia."

"Thank you."

The person on the stage said.

Finally, it’s time to say goodbye… Because I’m a Herrscher, I may be able to do it. But because I’m a human, I can definitely do it. So, my friends, my confidants, my most important companions… Alicia’s farewell must be brilliant and beautiful, so… please say goodbye to me for the last time! ”

Then, the stars began to rotate. There were originally countless glowing filaments gathered there. Those were the "strings" of fate that only Aponia could see. And now, those strings were disappearing into nothingness bit by bit. It was as if a pair of hands arranging the stars were erasing the originally defined future one by one.

"I see. No wonder the Herrschers of modern civilization all have the possibility of gaining humanity... This is... the truth."

The whiteness in all directions gradually faded away, and Mei was surprised to find that she was actually on the flower bed of the Eternal Paradise. What surprised her even more was that the Thirteen Heroes of Chasing Fire and two Herrschers, a total of fifteen people, surrounded her.

Among the fifteen people, except Qianjie and Mobius who snorted lightly, and Kevin who remained where he was, everyone else began to applaud Mei, and voices of "Congratulations" rang out one after another.

"Mei, congratulations on passing all the tests successfully. I knew that a cute girl could do anything."

Mei, who was confused, looked at the smiling Enosia and showed an expression of sudden enlightenment.

"So... this [tragedy] was actually directed by two Herrschers of Corrosion... a performance?"

"That's right, but I didn't tell anyone except my sister and Ling. So everyone's [feelings] in various aspects are genuine."

"...Ino, I don't understand. If the ultimate goal is to discover the [Secret] of the Paradise of the Past, as a Herrscher of Corrosion, you can directly obtain it with the Herrscher's power. Why..."

Enosia shook her head slightly:

"Mei, do you really think that the purpose of the existence of the Paradise of the Past is just to show the living conditions of the previous civilization to future generations and to tell them the truth about the Thirteenth Herrscher?"

"Now, how many Keys of God do you know?"

“…12.”

"Except for the End, how many Herrschers are there in the current civilization?"

"...12"

"So, after you learned the whole truth, how many Herrschers and God's Keys do you think there should be now?"

Mei was shocked.

"You mean..."

"Yes, a story from the past civilization is just one of the treasures left by the paradise of the past. This treasure brings more spiritual encouragement and inspiration."

"And the other treasure can directly increase a person's stats."

"That is the inheritance of the Herrscher of Origin."