Starting from the Collapse World, I became the behind-the-scenes boss

"That's it!"

With a loud shout, Yae Sakura flicked her fingertips, controlling the remaining crimson katana to pierce deep into the white fox's body, completely sealing off its movements.

At this point, the Herrscher of Corruption was completely at their mercy, powerless to resist.

"This time, you lost."

Holding the demon sword horizontally in front of the white fox, Yae Sakura solemnly declared.

"Hmph! Yae Sakura, I admit you won this time." Looking at the crimson blade so close to her, the white fox snorted coldly, her eyes showing no fear. "But our battle will not end here!"

As long as there is resentment in one's heart, it will never perish.

What humans couldn't do 50,000 years ago, humans in this era can't do either!

"Of course I know, but..." With a long sigh, Yae Sakura suddenly plunged the demon sword in her hand into the ground, bent down and gently hugged the white fox's head, "These five hundred years of entanglement must have been a kind of torture for you as well."

Although Rin in the dream was created through your manipulation and transformation, your smile when you ate that plate of beautiful dreams was equally genuine.

In their five hundred years of symbiosis, the Herrscher of Corruption certainly controlled everything about her, but she also sensed the hatred in his heart and understood that he was also a victim of some tragedy.

"A sweet dream..."

Upon hearing this word, the white fox's expression suddenly became complicated.

The white fox glanced around and then looked at the boy beside him, saying, "Kid, where did you learn to make those kinds of snacks?"

That is definitely not something that could appear in this era.

"As a prisoner, didn't anyone teach you manners?" Shihen stroked the white fox's head, a nostalgic smile appearing on his lips. "This kind of snack came from the hands of an older sister who misses her younger sister."

If you want to learn, you'd better beg me honestly.

"Hmph! Shameless scoundrel!"

The white fox's head immediately tilted to the side.

Even though 50,000 years have passed, the memories associated with this kind of dessert are still deeply imprinted in His mind.

"Lord Hen!"

Yae Sakura also gave a coquettish sigh.

She could tell that the pastry was quite important to the Herrscher in front of her, with whom she had been entangled for five hundred years.

Shihen could only helplessly shrug at the shrine maiden's complaints.

He wasn't lying.

If the Herrscher of Corruption had been more accommodating, he wouldn't have minded restoring other pre-civilization delicacies for him.

Sakura taught him more than just "Sweet Dreams".

"Herrscher of Corruption, if you are willing to let go of your resentment, I can allow you to move freely within a certain range."

As she spoke, Yae Sakura gently beckoned, and the crimson katana inside the white fox's body was pulled out slightly.

Five hundred years ago, it was Karen who saved her from the darkness.

And now, a young man has brought a ray of light to her as she is trapped in a nightmare.

Moreover, just as the other party said, what Karen gave her was far more than just a power.

The trust and warmth between people is the more precious treasure she received and wants to pass on.

"Yae Sakura, don't think I'll give in as easily as you." The white fox said defiantly, her tone less menacing. "But this time, let me rest a bit..."

After fifty thousand years of struggle, His heart was riddled with holes, sustained only by a burning hatred.

If even a ray of light could shine in, this hatred would naturally fly away completely, like the air inside a balloon.

With a sigh, the white fox's body turned into light and vanished, leaving behind only a black soul steel box.

This is a black box that seals the true form of the Herrscher of Corruption.

In the pre-civilization era, humanity did not have the means to completely eliminate the Corruptors, so they could only seal them in a black box completely isolated from the outside world, hoping that a solution would be found in the future.

Unfortunately, this delay lasted for 50,000 years.

"The Herrscher of Corruption..."

Looking at the Soul Steel Black Box that had been with her for five hundred years, Yae Sakura's expression became complicated.

Theoretically speaking, she should hate the other party, after all, she destroyed the entire Yae Village under the other party's control, and even almost killed Karen, and now she almost caused Shihen to lose his life as well.

On the other hand, after sensing the Herrscher's inner emotions, she couldn't help but feel pity for him.

"For Him, this is the best possible outcome."

Shihen offered a soft word of comfort.

Unlike Yae Sakura, the real Rin died completely 50,000 years ago, leaving behind only hatred for humanity and civilization.

Once this hatred is lost, the Corrupting Herrscher will naturally cease to exist.

pat~

With a soft click, the tightly sealed black box suddenly opened, and an incomparably dazzling light burst forth from it.

"This is?"

With her eyes narrowed, Yae Sakura gasped in surprise.

"The Key of God, Jizo's Soul".

As he explained, Shihen stepped forward and grasped the light tightly.

In an instant, all the light receded, condensing into a magnificent black and red katana in the boy's hand.

After the Herrscher of Corruption disappeared, the program already present in the Soul Steel automatically activated, forging the power left behind by the Herrscher into the Divine Key.

With this, the last Divine Key was finally completed.

Chapter 116 Shrine Maiden, Will You Register Your Household?

"Jizo Mitama... Is this sword very important?"

Looking at the black and red katana in the boy's hand, Yae Sakura frowned and asked.

As a typical village girl from the Far East, she actually had no idea about the concepts of Herrscher and Divine Key.

"It's alright. It's somewhat useful, but not that useful."

As Shihen sensed the information transmitted back from his right hand, he frowned as he activated [Gandalf].

This final key of erosion seems to have never been designed for human use.

The reason is simple: humans are carbon-based life forms and cannot process large amounts of information instantly like the Herrscher of Corruption.

After all, even the Herrschers of Corruption from previous civilizations could only truly unleash their power after they died and lost their physical bodies.

The Herrscher of Corruption's true terror lies in its ability to replicate infinitely, like an electronic virus.

Unfortunately, humans cannot do something similar.

Is it to complement Prometheus and the Stigmata Project?

Feeling the unique texture of the soul steel of the Jizo Soul, Shihen began to speculate.

In the final battle of the previous civilization, the Firemoth spent a great deal of effort hacking Prometheus 17 into the Cocoon of the End to create a Honkai Will, ensuring the future rule of the Three Kingdoms. If the Key of Corruption had existed at that time, this matter would probably have been much simpler and easier, and the results would have been much better.

After all, judging from what happened later, the powers of the Herrschers of the two civilizations were quite different, and even their ways of being born were becoming increasingly different.

The fact that Herrschers, as stated in the lore, are all transformed from humans seems to have disappeared later on, completely eliminating the possibility of Herrschers turning against their former allies.

However, these things have little to do with Shihen, and he doesn't care whether he can turn more Herrschers to the side.

As long as the other party can arrive smoothly, he will be able to obtain the power he wants. Shihen does not care about the survival of these Lawbringers.

If it's just about fighting the end, he could do it all by himself.

For the boy at this moment, the only things that truly matter are the Key of Corrosion and its all-pervasive corrosive properties.

As for whether this divine key can be brought to its full potential... Shihen doesn't intend to become the will of Honkai.

"Since Lord Hen needs this weapon, then the Jizo Mitama will be yours to use."

Upon hearing the boy's words, Yae Sakura immediately revealed a bright smile, as if she didn't care at all that this was a legendary limited-edition divine equipment.

"You don't understand the true value of the Divine Key."

He twirled the knife to test its feel, and Shihen shook his head slightly.

"It is precisely because Lord Hen understands this that the Jizo Mitama can be more effective in your hands than in mine."

As she spoke softly, Yae Sakura's smile grew even brighter.

She knew how powerful the weapon was, but she did not crave that power.

Strength is something that is sufficient when you have enough.

"...It was my arrogance that led me astray."

He paused for a moment, then shook his head and chuckled.

Despite being deeply moved by Yae Sakura's magnanimity, Shihen had no intention of giving up the Divine Key.

At least for now, he still has situations where he must use Jizo Mitama.

"Please do not belittle yourself. If it weren't for your help, I'm afraid I would still be trapped in this nightmare."

Yae Sakura shook her head slightly, her expression becoming more serious.

"In that case, I will accept this Jizo Mitama."

As he spoke, the black and red katana in Shihen's hand simultaneously turned into specks of light and disappeared.

Soul Steel weapons all possess the ability to suddenly disappear and then suddenly reappear.

Don't ask about the principles; the answer is simply the setup.

"That's exactly right."

Yae Sakura nodded slightly, a smile appearing on her face.

The boy was her benefactor.

For the shrine maiden, being able to help her benefactor was a joyful thing.

"Speaking of which, Miss Sakura, have you thought about what you should do after you leave here?"

Five hundred years have passed in the outside world since you were sealed away.

As he asked the question, Shihen glanced around, a hint of doubt in his eyes.

We couldn't find the little fox. Is it still sleeping in some corner of the Sacred Mark Space?

At the moment the Herrscher of Corruption disappeared and the Divine Key was forged, he sensed a rather strange mental fluctuation.

Initially, Shihen thought the little fox would appear with the Jizo Mitama, but it seems that this was not the case.

Was Himeko's birth actually due to Yae Sakura's wish?

Shihen glanced at the shrine maiden beside him and began to speculate.

The Stigmata Space has the function of preserving consciousness.

If this were in the real world, the Herrscher of Corruption would probably have been completely annihilated.

But here... all I can say is that anything is possible.

Shihen did not fully understand all the secrets of the Holy Mark.

Even if Himeko is successfully born, she will have little to do with Rin and the Herrscher of Corruption, just like Kiana and Sirin.

It's just a new shoot being drawn from the embers of the past.

That will be a brand new life.

“Five hundred years…” Upon hearing this number, Yae Sakura couldn’t help but sigh. After pausing for a while, she continued, “I hope to embark on a journey across the world like those priestesses in history, cleansing demons from all directions.”

As she spoke, Yae Sakura drew her demon sword, twirled it with a flourish, and then slowly sheathed it, her movements crisp and possessing a unique beauty.

Exorcising demons and monsters was her duty as a priestess.